Trustless Love

Chapter 10

Monday came and went like horses speeding around the track at the Kentucky Derby. Not one call. Not one text. Not one passing on campus. It was literally like he had vanished.

I kept assuming I'd see him while walking to one of my classes or even when I dropped by Stephen and Dustin's dorm with Mandy, but to no avail, he wasn't there.

Unlocking the large wooden door to my dorm, I walk inside and let out a sigh. As I drop my bag full of textbooks on the cold tile floor at the base of my bed, I realize Mandy is still at class. All I can hear is the slight hum of the heat coming through the unit underneath the window.

I wish they would have put carpet in here instead of tile, I thought as I open the chest drawer to retrieve my fuzzy pink socks and long plaid pajama pants. With the cool November wind whipping through campus, Fall was in full swing leaving the old dormitories to work overtime in keeping students warm. I popped Pretty in Pink in the DVD player, grabbed my computer and snuggled under my down comforter. The only thing on my mind currently was relaxing, ordering a pizza and getting my mind off of Eric. I was highly determined to have an anxiety free weekend for once.

As per any usual college kid, Facebook was one of the screens that remained up on my computer. I open another tab to bring up Domino's Pizza and scroll through the menu items. Not having to share with anyone meant I could get my usual of a medium thick crust, with ham and pineapple and a cookie brownie dessert.

Perfection.

While waiting for the order to arrive, I scroll through my Facebook feed to see if anything new has happened in the past day.

Engagement announcement.

New couple announcement.

Whoa...baby announcement.

Selfie.

Selfie.

Group picture.

Eric with another girl.

What. The. Fuck.

Okay Kailie, don't overreact. I thought to myself as I continued to stare at the picture. Every possible scenario is rushing through my head, making my breathing ragged and heart rate quicken. Who the hell is she? Is it a relative? Friend? Could it be someone that he is talking to? New girlfriend? And of course, my mind automatically sticks with the last thought...new girlfriend. Could he seriously meet someone new within the past couple weeks to where he's already dating her? Is my luck literally that shitty?

Possibly...

I reach and grab my phone off of the desk, hitting the message icon and pulling up Mandy's name.

KAILIE:

Mandy! You will not believe what I just came across on Facebook.... I'm literally freaking out.

MANDY:

What did you find? I'm sure it's nothing to have a heart attack over Kailie.

KAILIE:

It was a picture of Eric and another fucking girl Mandy...how in the hell am I supposed to take that?! You know how I am. What if he found someone else to be with?

MANDY:

Crap. I did not expect that to happen. I'll be at the dorm in like five minutes, I'm walking back from class now.

KAILIE:

Okay.

By the time Mandy got to the dorm, the pizza guy had called to say he was downstairs waiting at the front desk. I slipped on my shoes, ran downstairs and grabbed the pizza, trying to hurry so I could show Mandy what I had seen.

"Ugh, sorry. I had to go grab this, I was starving earlier." Kailie said huffing as she opened the dorm room door. "I was trying to be quick."

"No biggie. Just means I don't have to worry about ordering anything myself. So, thanks in advance." Mandy opens the lid of the pizza box and groans when she sees the pineapple on top. "Really Kailie? Pineapple? Seriously gross, but at least they are easy to pick off."

Acting like a five-year-old, I stick my tongue out at her, pick up a piece of pizza and take a huge bite. "Mmmmmm...so good!"

Shaking her head, Mandy laughs, "you are an odd, odd girl. Maybe that's the reason he left."

Ouch.

I literally stop mid bite and look at her. I knew she meant it in a funny, haha way, but hearing her say it out loud made every doubt and insecurity come flooding back. Did my one, miniscule mistake really run him off? Was I not worth another chance after he stood there, holding my hands, saying how he didn't want anything to ruin us? That is where I'm confused. Why would he say those words, just to turn around and go back on them?

The only word I can think of in that moment, is...coward.

Taking the easy way out was not something I have ever been fond of. I honestly believe that you should be able to tell someone to their face how you feel, and running from that, disappearing without a trace, made you a coward.

"Kailie, I didn't mean it that way and you know it." Mandy said looking at me apologetically. "I was just trying to be funny and it was bad timing. I'm sorry."

"I know you were. It's fine." I say with a small smile.

Ten minutes pass as we continue eating in silence. It's one of those things that I can only do with her, all while knowing she is completely there for me. Mandy has, and always will be, the most supportive person I'll ever have in my life. I smile just thinking about it.

"You know," Mandy says with her mouth half full, staring at the computer screen, "she's not even pretty. I mean, her face looks like a Bassett Hound."

Spitting out my half chewed bite, I start hysterically laughing. Only she could come up with this type of description that would literally make me laugh so hard, my sides started to hurt.

This. This right here, is why she is my best friend.