The Unexpected Roommate

Chapter 13

    "Avery?"

    The air in my lungs feels like it has been knocked out of me. That voice, that voice. This day just got worse. No more than that, it just went straight to the pits of hell. He calls out my name again and I stop. Just get it over with it, you can do this.

    "Chris," He still looks handsome as ever. His white undershirt clings to his chest, showing the imprint of his chiseled, tone chest. He layers it with the green cardigan I gifted him one Christmas. How petty would I look if I asked for it back? "This is an unpleasant surprise." I couldn't be nice to him if I tried. There is no taking the high road when some cheats on you. I'm twenty-one years old so I still have a lot of maturing to do.

    "Well, it's a pleasant surprise to see you." He smiles.

    "I'm in a bit of a rush, so see you never." I maneuver around him and he grabs onto my forearm.

    "Are you still mad at me?"

    "Mad at you? Are you really asking me this question? I'm way pass mad at you, Chris."

    "Just give me a chance to explain everything."

    "Give you a chance to lie to me again, that's what you want. You want me to give you a chance to weasel your way back into my life and heart. Chris, I was a damn good girlfriend to you, and you treated me like s**t. I don't want you in my life anymore. I'm not giving you any chances."

    Losing the person, you love seems to always feel like your world is crashing down. My world came crashing down. I had a plan and it included him—graduating together, marriage, our dream careers and then children. Chris was what I wanted, he felt like what I needed for a long time. Chris wasn't a bad guy when he started courting me, nor was he when we first started seeing each, I honestly don't know when he turned into the bad guy. Maybe he always had that side to him but was good at hiding it.

    "I still love you." He tightens his grip on my arm.

    "I don't love you anymore."

    "Avery!" Avery shouts and I look over at him. Now it's not a good time. "Avery, we need to talk." He looks down at Chris's hand on me. "Is there a problem?"

    "Just keep moving buddy, nothing here concerns you," Chris says.

    "She concerns me, so I won't keep it moving. Avery everything okay?"

     "She's fine."

    "Avery?" he looks at me with concern, then back to Chris's hand on me. "Dude let her go."

    Chris lets me go only to push Avery back. It won't take long for them to start fighting.

    "Listen here pretty boy, I don't want to embarrass you, so how about you tone it down," Avery tells Chris—I know being called pretty boy pisses him off, so this isn't going to go well.

    "Guys, don't do this." I plea. I know better than to stand in between two pissed off males. "Fighting can lead to a disciplinary action or worse arrested," I look at Avery. I don't care what happens to Chris, but Avery needs to know the consequences if they get caught fighting.

    "Fine." Avery nods at me.

    "You, f*****g him?" Chris pushes against my shoulder, I stumble a bit. "Are you?"

    "Dude don't put your hands on her." Avery grabs my wrist, pulling me behind him. "If she is screwing me, it’s none of your concern. Now go about your day, pretty bo—"

    Chris throws the first punch, hitting Avery's shoulder. He stumbles against me, I move quickly out the way, knowing nothing I say will stop these two.

    "Imma lay your ass out?" Chris lets out a hoarse laugh. Avery throws a punch connecting it with his face, Chris stumbles backsliding on the wet grass.

    "Come on pretty boy." Avery connects his fist with Chris's jaw. Then another one and another one. Chris is now on his hands and knees, catching his breath. Avery pulls him to his feet, tossing him into the tree. He has a split lip and blood is falling from his nose.

    "That's all you got?" Chris wipes at the blood with the sleeve of his cardigan.

    "You want more? Alright, then pretty boy!" Avery charges towards him and stumbles back. Chris lands a blow to his face and then stomach. Avery tackles him to the ground and then the tussling happens.

        "Please, you two just stop it." I finally find my voice. "Someone stop them, please." I look around the crowd and see Avery's friends making their way over. They both give up fighting, allowing themselves to be pulled apart.

"What the hell is going on?!" Eric holds Avery back.

    "He put his hands on her."

    "On who?"

    "Avery."

    "Dude let's go." Eric pulls at him. "Avery, can you drive us back to the apartment? We need to get him away from here before campus security arrives."

    "Sure." I look down at my car keys. "It's right over there." I walk to the car; my nerves are all over the place. I don't know what to say, so I keep quiet and stay silent throughout the entire ride back to the apartment. The only words being said are from Eric, who is calling Avery stupid for picking a fight.

    "It wasn't stupid of him." I grip the steering wheel.

    "Who was that d**k anyway?" Avery asks me. I look at him in the rearview mirror, catching his eyes.

    "My ex-boyfriend."

    "Can you pull over," Eric announces.

    "Why?" I ask.

    "I think you two should talk alone," Eric responds, and I look back in the mirror. Avery nods his head, letting me know it’s okay because what Eric is saying is true. We do need to have a chat, I rather it be because of other circumstances, but hey—s**t happens. I pull the car over a few blocks from campus and Eric gets out. I ask will he be okay, and he tells me its only noon he will be fine.

    "Where are you going?" I shout as Avery gets out the car.

    "Just moving to the front seat." He opens the passenger door getting in. "I'll call you later Eric." He shouts out the window as I drive off. "Care to share what the hell happened between you and pretty boy back there?"

    "How about you let me tend to your wounds, and then I'll tell you." He has a cut above his left eyebrow and few cuts and scratches on his hands.

    "So, you aren't going to tell me now?"

    "No, we will talk once we get in the apartment."

    "Fine." He huffs, sulking into his seat. I need to gather my thoughts now, so I know what to say when we get home. I can tell him about Chris and me but leave out some parts. There are just some things not worth talking about. I wish I didn't have to talk about Chris, Chris isn't a topic I thought I would ever need to talk about with anyone. Discussing Chris with Avery will only lead to a massive headache. Mental note, pop two Advils before having the conversation with him.