Small Bump

ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ｏｎｅ

I took my key out of the ignition as I was humming the song that was just on the radio. I had a little spring in my step as I got the groceries out of the back. I had bought ingredients to bake a cake for my boyfriend and I's third Valentine's Day together. I went inside our shared apartment and set the groceries on the counter. I heard a thump from upstairs. I didn't know Anthony was home. I heard another thump.

"What the hell," I cursed under my breath. "Anthony," I called, making my way to the stairs. "Anthony, are you here?" As I ascended the stairs, I heard a moan. "What the hell," I cursed again. I walked down the short hallway to our bedroom door. "Anthony?" I opened the door, and my heart dropped to the floor.

"Babe, Elizabeth, it's not what it- oh shit-" I heard him mumble as I tried to catch my breath. My head was spinning, I felt a piercing jolt in my heart, and my stomach was in a twist.

"What the hell, Anthony," my voice cracked as I felt embarrassment, fury, and misery all at once.

"Elizabeth, let me explain. I was just-"

"Oh, save it, asshole." I looked in our room on the bed. There was a girl there, she looked just as shocked as I was. "You, get out."

"But I-" she studdered.

"I don't care. Get your shit and leave," I tried to speak as I felt hot, angry tears welling up in my eyes. I saw her fumble for her undies to pull them on, followed by a t-shirt, and then she grabbed the pile of clothes and walked passed me and down the steps.

"Jordyn, wait," Anthony started. She ignored him, probably out of embarrassment and I heard the front door slam as I tried to remember how to breathe.

"How could you, Anthony." I felt the strings of my heart pull away from each other. At this moment, I cracked; I completely burst into tears. I have given this man three of the best years of my life, and he throws it all away, with some chick he's probably been fucking the entire time. "How long," I managed to say, "how long has this been going on?"

"This was only the second time, Elizabeth, I promise."

"Don't fucking lie to me. How long has this been going on?" Now my despair turned into rage. I felt my face glowing red as my hands started to sweat. Anthony sighed, and stayed quiet for a moment.

"Three months," he shook his head. "I'm so sorry, Elizabeth. I love-"

"Don't. Just stop right now. If you were truly sorry, you wouldn't have been fucking her for three months." I took a deep breath. "I'm going to get some of my things, and I'll be on my way. You can call your girl up so you two can finish."

"Elizabeth, I'm really-"

"Save it, dickhead." I pushed passed him and into the bedroom to grab a few sets of clothes, my pillow, a picture of my parents, and my phone charger.

"You know what? I'm not sorry. She fucked me better than you could even dream to." I almost exploaded, not with jealousy, but with resentment. All the feelings that just surged through my body built up as I walked up to him and slapped in on the cheek. It was a good slap, too, because my hand stung like hell. I ignored it as I gathered my things and he held the side of his face, trying to recover.

"I'll be back tomorrow to get the rest of my shit. Don't you dare even think about touching any of it." I put my things into a backpack from the closet, and made sure to "accidentally" hit him with it as I turned to go down the stairs. I saw the groceries I had just bought still in the bags, sitting on the counter. I swatted them on the ground, and saw them fall out of their bags and roll across the floor. I didn't feel satisfied with the small mess I had just created, but there would be more coming for Anthony.

I swung open the door and let the doorknob slam into the wall, leaving a dent. That fufilled my anger a little bit more. When I got outside, I saw the girl sitting on the last couple steps; she now had pants on and her hair was up in a messy bun, her head was in her hands.

"He's up there waiting for you, you should go finish him off," I said, walking past her and not looking back.

"Wait, Elizabeth," she called, "wait, please." I heard her running to catch up with me.

"What the hell do you want?"

"Do you think you could give me a ride home," she asked. I couldn't help but laugh.

"You think I will give you a ride home? Are you crazy? I just saw you fucking my boyfriend, and now you have the audacity to ask me for a ride home?"

"I don't have a car, and I have no money to call a cab."

"Then go get Anthony to give you a ride," I tried to walk to my car.

"He's angry, he won't give me a ride."

I stopped in my tracks. "You don't think I'm angry? I'm furious. Enraged. I'm fuming. My blood is seething. Leave me the fuck alone. Find your own god damn ride home."

I got in my car and drove away. I just drove. I had no idea where I was going. I eventually pulled into a gas station parking lot. I took a deep breath, and my head fell into my hands.

"What the fuck," I asked myself outloud. The hot tears were welling up again. I let them fall. I just cried in the silence of my car for what seemed like hours. "What the hell just happened?" I cried some more. I took a deep breath. I needed some place to stay for the night, so I unlocked my phone to call my sister, Tessa.

She picked up on the fourth ring. "Hello," she answered.

"Tessa, hey it's me. Can I stay at your place tonight?"

"Is something wrong?"

"Just- please. Can I stay with you tonight?"

"Yeah, of course. When will you be here."

"I'm on my way now."