Dough Eyes

Shyloh and Colton

I don't want to believe it. I mean, really? Acacia White? He could've cheated on me with someone at least somewhat decent. Not the Junior Hoe. Literally, that's what people call her and she's proud of it.

And for some goddamn reason my boyfriend decided to phone fuck her.

Colton, my boyfriend, he's a smart guy. I mean, who in their right mind goes out with a dumb guy? I guess I wasn't in my right mind a year and a half ago when I said yes to dating the brown eyed boy whose smile made my heart jump. But anyways, Colton isn't a dull crayon. He gets rather nice grades and he doesn't waste himself away in alcohol like most of the boys in our town. When I found him, I thought fate had decided to be my best friend. But just like all good things, we had to end.

Well, we haven't ended yet. It's been two days since my best friend, Noelle, showed me the picture that was circulating through Instagram. It was very clearly Colton and Acacia sexting each other. Acacia held no shame when she posted the picture with the caption "#canhebemoresexy" But we've been on Thanksgiving break and Colton is in Kentucky. He gets back today and I've already decided that I'm going to go over to his house.

The only problem is I have no clue what I'm going to say to him. I want to hear what he has to say, even though my mind is already set on breaking up with him. But I know if I look into those damn dough eyes I'm going to lose all sense of control.

He just texted me.

Colton <3:

Hey baby just got home.

I quickly delete the heart after his name. Seeing 'Colton' all by itself in the bold, black lettering causes a pinch to my heart. I've been having a lot of these pinches lately. They really hurt. I decide to reply that I'll be on my way over in a few. He doesn't return with a message, so I get up and throw on a t shirt, jeans, converse, and my north face jacket.  The air is chilly outside, but living in the Midwest my entire life has made me unfazed by it.

I get into my little junker and start the short drive to Colton's house. On the radio, love song after love song plays until I can't take it anymore and slam my finger into the off button. The silence forces my mind to replay my relationship with Colton as if it was a chick flick I went to see with Noelle. I can't even pinpoint when he started slipping away. This Acacia thing was completely out of the blue. And that scares me.

I stand on the front step of his house for awhile. Half of me is urging to ring the bell but the other half just wants to run and hide in my car. Finally, I come to my senses and press my chipped nail polished finger into the bell. Colton emerges at the door looking gorgeous as ever in a white v neck and grey joggers. I ignore that and allow the Instagram picture to blow up in my mind.

He immediately senses something is up once I step into the living room. But when he goes to question me, I quickly ask, "Is your family home?"

He shakes his head, "No they went out to eat. I stayed because you said you were coming over."

I nod and follow as he leads downstairs to his room. It smell just like him; hair product and the cologne I got him for Christmas. I'm going to miss that smell. We sit on his bed and he smiles at me, but it doesn't affect me in the way it used to. Now it just hurts. And he notices because that smile quickly fades.

"Shy-" Again, I cut him off.

"Did you plan on telling me?"

"Telling you what?"

"Really?"

"What?"

I push myself off of his bed and start pacing around, "About you and Acacia? You know it just makes it all worse that it was her. Like goddamn, you know how much I don't like her. Did you plan it that way? To make it hurt more?"

His eyes are puzzled as he replies, "What do you mean, me and Acacia? Acacia White?"

I roll my eyes, "Yes, her. God, you're just avoiding it. Did you think I wouldn't find out?"

He stands up and walks toward me, "Baby, I-"

I push him away and my heart breaks even more. I've never once rejected a hug from him in our entire relationship. And I see it hits him too. "Why did you have to cheat on me?"

His expression shatters. If this had been a horror film, I would've literally watched his face crack and fall into pieces at my feet. But it's not; it's just a sad reality.

His dough eyes start to water and his lip quivers, "Shyloh, I did not cheat on you."

"Don't lie to me, Colton."

He cautiously takes a step towards me, I don't budge. Then he says, "Shy, I love you. I did not cheat on you with Acacia."

I feel the three word reply on his lips, but I choke it down. "I don't believe you." Then I pull out my phone and open the picture. The picture I'd spent the last two nights staring at and trying to make it disappear. The picture that was ruining my relationship. He takes the phone and reads and then lets out a deep breath of relief.

"What?" I ask, irritated that he seems so relieved for some reason.

He looks up to me and says, "This wasn't me."

I scoff, "Yeah and my dog ate my homework. C'mon, Colton, do you think I'm that stupid?"

"Baby, please. Hear me out..."

I shake my head and the first tear of many slips down my cheek. "There's nothing to hear. It's right there in black and white." I shake my head again.

"Look, when I was in Kentucky I was hanging with my cousin, Josh. I was talking about school and how Acacia is the Junior Hoe and how she's always all up on me. And how I think it's disgusting. Anyways, Josh wanted to talk to her because he's a perve like that. So I gave him my phone, since I had Acacia's number from way back when. He started texting her, I guess. Baby, I swear to God I didn't even know what they were talking about. And apparently, Acacia didn't care to mention it was him and not me."

I believe him. Trust me, if you could see the way he's looking at me you would believe it too.

"I love you too." I breathe.

That cute smile of his returns and he steps even closer to me, pulling our waists together. "Do I have permission to kiss you, Miss Shyloh?"

I answer by pressing my lips to his.