The Ride of My Life (an Ansel Elgort story)

Chapter 46

Ansel's POV

Classes have started and it sucks. I've barely had time to see Lucy because she's really busy with homework and studying.

She's making friends, which is good, but I can't help but feel like I'm being replaced. I know it's silly, but I'm jealous of her friends.

After my last class I decide to visit Lucy. I get to her dorm and knock. I'm hoping it's just her here.

"Helloooo!" She says in a sing-song voice as she opens the door.

"Hey, stranger. How's it going?" I walk into the room and sit on her bed.

Kat isn't here, thank God. She's a nice girl and all, but I need alone time with Lucy.

"Good, I'm just a little stressed." She says, pacing the room looking for something. "Aha! Here, look at this." She hands me a flyer. I don't get a chance to read it because she's already explaining what it says. "That DJ you like is in town on Friday and I think we should go. It'll get our mind off school."

"Yeah," I say, smiling. "Sounds awesome. It's a date." I give her a kiss.

The door opens, ruining our privacy. It's Kat. Well, duh. Who else would it be?

"Hey, Ansel! You look handsome today."

"Uh, thanks?" I look over at Lucy and she's rolling her eyes. I think there's a hint of jealousy in her action.

"Hey, babe, do you want to go get some ice cream or something?" Lucy asks.

After 20 years of life I've learned a thing or two about girls. Some may say I'm an expert. I can tell by the way Lucy said this that she doesn't just want ice cream. She wants to get out of this room, too.

We go outside and walk a few blocks to the ice cream shop on campus.

After we order, we sit down at a little table.

"So, you made some new friends?" I say, knowing she's dying to tell me.

"Yes! There's Sarah from Illinois, Elena from here, Mariah from Virginia, Emily from Florida and more but I can tell you've lost interest." She smiles. "But, who knew I could meet so many great people? College is awesome."

"I'm glad you're happy. You deserve it." I smile. When she smiles, I can't help but smiling.

Our sincere moment is interrupted by Lucy's phone loudly buzzing on the table.

She picks it up, reads the message and sets it back on the table.

"What was that?" I ask, curiosity getting the best of me.

"Oh nothing. Just Brandon bugging me."

"Hm."

"Hey, I'll be right back, I'm going to go to the bathroom." She stands up and goes to the back of the store, disappearing from my view.

Her phone buzzes again and I do something I know I shouldn't.

I look at her phone.

The message is from a number that isn't saved as a contact, so obviously it's not Brandon.. Right?

Hey, babe. How could you ignore me after the night we had? 😉

That's all I read. My heart sinks. How could she? She wouldn't. There has to be an explanation.

I feel hurt and I don't even know what this is about.

She lied to me, though. She's hiding something, so she had to have done something wrong.

"Ready to go?" Lucy asks picking up her purse and phone.

"Yep." I say, standing up.

Lucy's POV

I am very happy to be spending time with Ansel. In the past few weeks I haven't had much time with him.

I try to grab Ansel's hand as we walk home from the ice cream place but he pulls his hand away.

"What's wrong?" I look up at him, concerned. Something's up with him.

"Nothing, I'm just tired." He says. This is everyone's excuse for when something is wrong.

"Ansel.."

"What?"

"I know something's wrong. What is it?"

"I'm fine. Don't worry about it." He says, defensively.

I can tell he isn't in the mood to talk so I let it go. Wow, his mood took a complete turn.

When we get to my dorm building he stops and says, "I think I'm just going to go back home. I have a ton of homework." He turns to walk away.

"Ansel!"

"Yes?"

"Come here." He walks back and I give him a hug.

"I know you aren't ready to talk about whatever is making you upset, but when you are, let me know. You can talk to me, you know." I kiss him but he doesn't really kiss me back. Did I do something at the ice cream place to make him angry?

I get to my dorm and find that Kat isn't home. Great, now I'm lonely and feeling like I'm useless.

I take out my phone to kill some time. Once I turn it on I see the reason Ansel must be mad.

Crap.