Captivated

Dean

****

          That stupid girl hasn’t left my mind all day. I keep hoping I’ll see her in the hallways, or have more classes with her. My hopes were crushed. I stopped by her dorm, knocking on the door lightly. “Elizabeth? I know you’re in here. You ditched classes today.” I rested my head on her door. I had to let my damn ego get better of me didn’t I? Why couldn’t I have said I lent the jacket to Caleb and he gave it to her? She’s never going to talk to me again.

          But why do I care? Is it because something bad happened to her? Why wasn’t she answering?

          “Elizabeth. I know you are home. Answer the door, please!” I knock harder and the door opens. Jessi is standing in the frame. Her dark legs peaked out from her t-shirt. She smiled.

          “Well hello Ray, here for more?” I rolled my eyes. What is up with women thinking they are perfect and I just beg for them?

          “No, where is Elizabeth?” She looked hurt for a minute.

          “She hasn’t been here all day.” She hasn’t? Where could she have gone?

I left the dorm and headed towards Matt’s. Maybe I could get wasted enough to forgot about my stupid guilt. 

The walk seemed endless, and my mind wondered toward Elizabeth. Why did I care so freaking much? Well, I didn’t care. I just felt guilty, women were sick creatures. They always ended the same way. It wasn’t worth the heartbreak. It never is.

Matt’s dorm was right around the corner. He should be the only one there considering Danny and Caleb take later classes. I entered the living room, realizing I walked in on Matt and some chick making out. It took me a flash of a second to realize that chick was Elizabeth. She had her arms around his neck, and his hands were lost in her hair. I felt a prickle of something inside me. He was using her, “Matthew,” I growled. Elizabeth and Matt looked up at me. I couldn’t look at her; instead I focused all my attention towards Matt. “Just because you’re a virgin doesn’t mean you can have sex with the innocent.” His face turned bright red.

“You’re the idiot that hurt her.” He muttered. Then he turned towards her, “I’m sorry Elizabeth, I didn’t mean to move that fast.” He touched her cheek lightly, making my stomach twist in knots.

“Can we talk?” I looked at Elizabeth for the first time. She nodded before leaving the couch and making her way towards me. Once she was close enough I shoved her outside and shut the door.

“What are you thinking? Do you make out with every guy you meet?” She looked at me, her face emotionless.

“I’m not like you Dean, I don’t sleep with everyone. You walked in as soon as he kissed me; I was going to push him away.” Her voice cracked when she said my name. No one called me Dean, not even my parents.

“Stay away from him.” I turned to open the door when she spoke again.

“No,” I turned around.

“Excuse me?” Her arms were crossed around her chest, and her violet eyes shot arrows through me.

“I like Matt, he makes me laugh. He isn’t bipolar like some people I know.” I ran my fingers through my hair. How can she not know?

“Listen to me, he is using you. He wants your tits not your heart.”

“Well, reminds me of someone else I know.”

I grabbed her arms tightly, leaning in close to her face. “Leave me alone, leave Matt alone, and get better friends. I don’t want to see you again. Do you understand?” She stared at me. Then she turned and left cursing my name behind her.

I walked in the room, Matt waited on the couch.

“Are you stupid?” I smacked him in the side of the head.

“Are you? What was the point of your lie earlier Ray? That girl did not want to screw you.”

“Oh, but she would you?” My voice rose, Matt had always been like a brother to me. Then Caleb came into the picture.

“Maybe, she doesn’t hate me. I hope you know I found her crying. She fell asleep in my truck today, and she was muttering your name, your real name. I don’t know how you know her, but I suggest you fix whatever is bugging her. That girl has been through hell.” Matt opened a beer.

“You think I don’t know that?” I watched him drink, thirst quenching inside me.

“Well, saying what you said today didn’t help.” He held the beer to me. I refused; it’s not too pretty when I drink.

“What was I supposed to say? That I gave the first girl in history my jacket?” Matt smiled.

“Ray, it’s just a jacket. She is a lot more.”