When A Nerd Dates The Ice King

Eliana “Did you have to bring her?” I heard Rosalind’s whiny voice with barely concealed annoyance. My heart fluttered as I paused, taking my hand away from the handle and pressing my ears against the door. “Yes. She seems to think she’s my girl for some reason.” Sam replied, “I can’t shake her off.” He groaned. “Cause my boy Sam finally managed to tap that virgin ass” I heard Colin coo and felt something in me shatter as the entire room filled with Sam’s buddies and some people I had no idea who they were burst out laughing. “He wouldn’t” I whispered feeling my knees go weak, “It’s just friends telling each other stuff right?” Sam scoffed, “To think she was crying the whole time. Could’ve just stuck to my sweet Rosalind and not take this stupid bet. Now I can’t act like I have no idea of her little crush. “FEW HOURS EARLIER” I sat across from Sam, barely able to see his face as the dim lights made it harder to see through my glasses, I never thought he would actually do it, but he had, brought me to one of those parties I could never dream of getting an invite to, cause I was too busy being buried in my books, while he was too busy being the campus sweetheart. But now, sitting in this noisy room, barely registering the beat of the music, all I felt was the hollow growing in my chest as I watched him and Rosalind. “Sam” I tugged at his shirt. He ignored me, still fixated on the mean bimbo hanging off his arm. I pressed my lips together, promising myself not to cry, not here, not in front of these people. Looking at his face practically buried in her chest my stomach churned, “Sam” I called again, this time louder. His tongue clicked, “what?” annoyance written all over his face as he finally gave me a shred of attention. “I’m uncomfortable” I whispered, “Take me home” “Grow up Eliana. Stop acting like a brat.” “but..” “Shut up.” he snapped, veins bulging, “I came here to relax and blow off steam, not to listen to you whine. Take a cab or something if you must leave.” I stared, stunned, Sam had never raised his voice at me. Just two nights ago, he held me in his arms whispering sweet nothings, and now? I bit back the sob that threatened to fall, adjusting my glasses, I was already feeling the stares on me, I swallowed my words. “Excuse me,” I stood, “I need to wipe my glasses” I muttered not bothering to hear if he actually responded before rushing off. I stood in front of the mirror, holding my tear stained glasses, the back of my hand wiping the tears that just kept pouring. It was the game, It had to be, I reassured myself. Sam would never shout at me and in public? No. He was still hurting from the loss. Yes, I have to understand and make him feel better then he would go back to being my soft spoken best friend. No, I don’t think I should still call him that. A little light bloomed in my chest, we already did the deed, I’m the one he’s been holding to sleep whenever things go bad. Me. Not Rosalind, not anyone else, just me. Something in me screamed out in frustration, ‘you just watched him nearly get swallowed whole in Rosalind’s bosom and body. Use your head’ I ignored it, “Sam loves me, I just need to be more proactive, then he’ll pop the question. Or I could even take the first step.” Feeling even more emboldened, I wiped my glasses against my cloth, this would have to do for now. “Sam is just friends with Rosalind, I’m thinking too much” my grey pupils stared back at me as I kept reassuring myself in front of the mirror. A stall opened, a lady walked out, and I felt blood rush to my cheeks, did she hear me? She stopped next to me, washed her hand, then glanced at me once before walking away, but somehow I couldn’t scrap out the look in her eyes. Pity. She looked at me with Pity. Now standing outside the private room I finally understood that look that seemed to be hunting me. My heart clenched hearing the laughter ringing out from the room. Led by the boy I had grown up with, the boy I had hoped would one day see that I was a woman and stop treating me like one of his bros, but it wasn’t real, he doesn’t see me at all. Rosalind tsked, “Poor Eli, all she wants is attention from her bestie, don’t be so cruel. That’s my job, remember?” “Of course babe, just don’t break her so much. Even if I don’t love her, we still grew up together. I wouldn’t want to hurt her” the righteousness and indulgence in his voice had me chuckling bitterly. “Fine. No more bringing her out though, she’s ruining the mood.” “Anything for you, babe” My knees buckled and I leaned against the wall, tuning off the rest of the conversation. All I could think of was how I had been kidding myself, I thought it was finally paying out. My silent devotion, keeping myself for him, and making myself useful however I could. I pulled myself up from the ground, biting my lips to swallow the sob, my heart screamed as I stumbled through the long hallway. I had to leave here. Now. Suddenly, I collided with a wall, my body launched backwards, I didn’t bother trying to steady myself, maybe this was the best option, the best way to numb this feeling. I closed my eyes, letting gravity do its thing.