Chapter 8
2151 Words
Ava’s Point of View
Lunch was supposed to be simple.
We had one hour between lectures and the plan was to get some food, and coffee and to complain about the upcoming final exams.
Everything was going well, until I look up near the end of lunch. My entire body freezes when I see him.
Adam.
He is standing near the entrance of the campus café like he owns the place, his eyes scanning over the crowd.
"Ava? What's wrong?"
Spencer asks and I can hear the frown in her voice.
She follows my line of sight and she frowns.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
She mutters, and Luna turns slightly, trying to see what we are looking at.
“Is that him?”
She asks, glancing at me and I slowly nod my head.
“Yeah, that’s him alright.”
I murmur.
Adam spots me and his expression shifts between relief, irritation, and something possessive as he begins to walk straight towards us.
“If he even breathes wrong...”
Spencer mutters under her breath, but I stop her.
“It’s fine. I’ll handle it.”
I say quietly just before he stops at our table.
“Ava, hi. Can we talk?”
He asks casually, like we are just two people meeting for coffee on a normal day.
I don’t look up from my drink when I answer him.
“No.”
I glance up and I see his jaw tightening.
“Come on. Stop this nonsense. Don't you think you have had enough time to calm down?”
He snaps and Spencer snorts.
“Calm down?”
She says, but he just ignores her.
“We need to talk.”
He says firmly and I shake my head, taking a sip of my coffee.
“No, we really don't.”
I reply evenly and his eyes narrows slightly at me.
“Yes, we do. You have to let me explain.”
He insists and I arch a brow.
“I don't think there is anything to explain. I am pretty sure I got it.”
I say coldly and he frowns.
“There is. You’re not even giving me a chance to explain my side.”
He snaps at me and I arch my brow again.
“I gave you many chances, and you used them to cheat. I don't need to know more than that.”
I say calmly and his face darkens.
“That’s not fair.”
“Not fair?”
Spencer repeats and he shoots her an annoyed look.
“This doesn’t involve you, so stay out of it.”
He snaps.
“It does if you are bothering her.”
Luna says as she leans back slightly and Adam clenches his jaw, turning to look at me again.
“Ava, can you please just come outside with me?”
He asks and I shake my head.
“No.”
“It’ll take five minutes.”
He says and I shake my head again.
“I don’t care how quick this will be, I don't want to go with you.”
“You are being dramatic and unnecessary.”
He snaps, his voice sharp and I let out a short laugh.
“Dramatic?”
I repeat and he nods his head.
“You are. You just walked away without listening to me.”
“I walked away because you cheated on me Adam.”
I snap at him and he sighs, running a hand through his hair.
“It wasn’t like that.”
He says and I snort.
“Then what was it like?”
I ask flatly and he hesitates for a second beforehe answers.
“You were distant.”
He says and Spencer makes a strangled noise.
“Oh my...”
“You were always studying...”
Adam continues, cutting Spencer off.
“Always at the hospital. I felt like I didn’t even have a girlfriend.”
“So you slept with someone else?”
I ask and he frowns again.
“You pushed me away. What was I supposed to do?”
He snaps at me and I scoff.
"How about talking to me about it instead of cheating?"
I say as I push my chair back and stand up slowly.
“You made a choice, Adam. Don’t blame that on me.”
“I wouldn’t have done it if you...”
“If I what? If I studied less? If I gave up my last semester? If I wasn’t trying to become a doctor?”
I say and he scoffs at me.
“It’s not like you are the only one with goals.”
He says and I nod my head.
“Yeah, you’re right, but I didn’t cheat on you because you were busy.”
I say flatly and he steps closer to me.
“You are throwing this away over one mistake.”
“One mistake?”
I say, shaking my head.
"No, it wasn’t a misplaced textbook, Adam. You cheated on me.”
“It didn’t mean anything.”
He insists.
“Then why did you do it?”
"I told you..."
He begins but I cut him off.
"That is bullshit and you know it. This wasn't my fault. You did this all on your own."
“You’ve embarrassed me. People know, you just left me.”
He says and I frown at him.
“I embarrassed you?”
I say and he nods his head.
“Yeah. You made me look like the bad guy.”
He says and I stare at him in disbelief.
Spencer stands up and answers him before I can even get over the shock.
“That wasn't her doing. You are the bad guy here and everyone can see that except for you.”
She says and I see his jaw clench but he ignores her again.
“Ava, we have been together for years. You can't just throw that away.”
He says and I shake my head.
“I didn’t. You did when you decided to cheat on me.”
I say coldly and his eyes flash with frustration.
“You owe me a conversation, Ava.”
He snaps and I shake my head again.
“No, Adam I don’t owe you anything.”
I say firmly.
He steps closer to me, lowering his voice.
“Stop being stubborn, and let's talk about it.”
“We are over, Adam. There is nothing to talk about.”
I say clearly, turning to leave but he reaches for my arm.
I try to pull it back instinctively, but he grabs me anyway, his fingers digging in hard.
“Let me go, Adam. You are hurting me.”
I hiss through my teeth, but he shakes his head
“No, not until you listen to me.”
He snaps at me again. I try to pull free from his hold, but his grip tightens and pain shoots up my arm.
I hiss in pain and Spencer and Luna step closer immediately.
“She told you to let her go.”
Spencer says slowly, glaring at Adam.
Adam scoffs as he looks at her.
“And what exactly are you going to do?”
He asks mockingly, but before Spencer can respond, Luna steps forward, her eyes dark and for a second I can’t help but frown.
“You are a pathetic excuse for a human being,and she deserves so much better than you. She doesn’t want to see you, or talk to you, and she definitely doesn’t want you to touch her. So I suggest you let her go.”
Luna say evenly, her voice calm. Too calm. And Adam stiffens.
“Trust me, you won’t like the consequences if you don't leave her alone.”
She continues quietly
There is something in her tone that makes even me shiver.
Adam hesitates and his grip loosens slightly.
I don’t waste the opportunity. I rip my arm out of his hold and step back. His eyes snap to me immediately.
“Baby...”
He begins but I shake my head.
“No.”
I says, cutting him off sharply, rubbing my arm where red fingerprints are already forming.
“Don’t even try.”
He opens his mouth again but I hold my hand up, stopping him.
“I don’t care anymore, Adam. I’m done with you. We are over.”
I say firmly, but he shakes his head.
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do.”
“You’re just angry.”
“I’m not angry. I’m just finished.”
I say calmly, shrugging at him.
He shakes his head.
“You are e making a big mistake, Ava.”
“No, I don't think I am. If anyone made a mistake, it was you.”
I say. He takes another step forward, but Luna subtly shifts closer to me.
“I don’t know how many times I need to tell you this to get you to understand it, Adam. I don’t want you anywhere near me. I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. Leave me alone and stay out of my way.”
I say firmly and he stares at me like he doesn’t recognize me.
“After everything...”
He begins but I cut him off again before he can finish his sentence.
“After everything, you cheated.”
I remind him and his clenches his fists at his sides.
“You’ll regret this.”
He says quietly and I ket ou a laugh, shaking my head.
“No, I won’t.”
I say firmly and silence stretches between us for a few secones.
He looks from me to Spencer to Luna before looking back at me and letting out a bitter laugh.
“Fine. Go. Surround yourself with your little bodyguards.”
Spencer steps forward slightly.
“You should go.”
She says and Adam glares at her.
Then at Luna.
Then at me.
“This isn’t over.”
He mutters.
“Yes, it is.”
I say firmly.
He hesitates one last second, then he turns and quickly walks away.
I don’t breathe properly until he is gone.
The second we are out of his line of sight, my shoulders sag slightly and I let out a shaky breath.
“Are you okay?”
Luna asks softly next to me and I glance at her.
Her eyes aren’t dark anymore. They’re just… concerned.
“Yeah, I'm okay."
I say quietly.
“Let me see.”
Spencer says, gently taking my wrist.
“It’s fine.”
I protest and she frowns at me.
“It’s red.”
She says and I nod my head.
“I’ve had worse from blood pressure cuffs.”
I joke weakly.
I see Luna’s jaw tightens slightly.
"He had no right to hurt you like that... You shouldn’t have had to deal with that.”
She says and Spencer nods her head.
“I’m glad you were here.”
I say, giving them both a small smile.
“Always. You know we have got your back. ”
Spencer says immediately and Luna nods her head.
“Always.”
I give them both another small smile.
“Thank you. For stepping in.”
I say sincerely and Spencer squeezes my shoulder.
“Of course.”
“You don’t ever have to handle something like that alone.”
Luna says.
I look between them.
“You guys are intense.”
I mutter and Spencer snorts.
“You have no idea.”
She says and I see Luna’s lips twitch slightly.
I take another breath, steadying myself.
“I just don’t get it. How does someone twist cheating into being my fault?”
I say quietly.
“Because it’s easier than admitting they’re wrong.”
Luna replies and Spencer nods. l her head
“People like him hate accountability.”
She says and I exhale.
“Well. He’s not getting another chance.”
I say firmly and Luna nods ner head.
“Good.”
Luna says.
“Very good.”
Spencer agrees, nodding her head.
I straighten my shoulders.
“We have class in ten minutes.”
I say, changing the subject.
Spencer groans.
“Right. Because life doesn’t pause for dramatic confrontations.”
“Unfortunately not.”
Luna replies with a laugh.
We start walking toward the medical building.
My arm still aches slightly, but it is fading.
“Text us if he ever approaches you alone.”
Spencer says and I nod my head.
“I will.”
“I mean it.”
Luna adds.
“I know.”
We reach the stairs leading up to our lecture hall.
I pause and look at them.
“Seriously. Thank you.”
I say, smiling at them.
Spencer bumps her shoulder against mine.
“We’ve got you.”
Luna’s gaze holds mine for a second longer.
“Always.”
- Writer
