Not Mine

3

I had never had a lot of luck when it came to relationships. I think the only decent relationship I've had with a guy was my best friend named Thomas from first grade. He ended up moving in the third grade - so actually, scratch that because I've just proved my bad luck.

I dated a guy named Kevin in the eighth grade but all we did was hold hands. I broke up with him because he danced with some other girl at one of our school dances. He cried.

Middle school relationships were always such a a hassle, no?

Then in freshman year, a guy named Travis asked me out. We had been friends for a while and then dated for about three months but that prick played me. Turns out, it was a dare to ask someone out and I happened to be the chosen prey. But because I wasn't going to let him get the satisfaction of letting him watch me in misery, I pretended I didn't know why he asked me out and dumped his b***h a*s in front of the whole school at a party. Truth was, I was crushed inside and spent the whole weekend locked in my room, only leaving to get food.

Then in sophomore year, I started going on with this boy named Christopher. Our relationship went fairly well - actually no, it was amazing. We dated for almost 6 months. He was an angel; the kindest and most genuine and chivalrous guy I've come across - then he moved. His dad passed away and I had been by him through the whole thing until he had informed me that him and his mum were going to move to England to stay with his aunt until their family worked things out. I was beyond crushed and didn't get over him for the longest time - up until my brother and Angelo started comforting me, taking me out to get food in the middle of the night, watched chick flicks with me and all.

Somewhere along then, I realized I had started feeling attracted to Angelo.

Trust me when I say that I tried so hard, for the longest time to ignore and avoid that feeling.

Then there's Angelo himself. A guy I've liked who I have no chance with because to him it'll probably seem like i****t and add in the fact that he has a perfect and charming girlfriend.

And finally, we have Oscar, my current boyfriend.

Things were going well between us minus the occasional stupid arguments about nothing relevant, but then - but then Oscar hit me.

Oscar told me to come to his apartment after I was done with my classes because he wanted to talk about the previous night since I had told him that I would discuss that today. Though I didn't actually mean it.

So I did. We talked about it - he says I've been distant and unusually quiet and that he thinks I'm hooking up with someone else. I didn't yell as I was a fairly quiet person but I was starting to getting angry at his assumptions and accusations. Anyone would be if someone inquired that they were a cheating w***e.

I get that he was mad but it showed how much trust he had in me and that hurt.

I shed a few tears as we continued arguing, me also getting more mad as each second passed.

And then he hit me.

It was such a spur of the moment thing; it happened so fast and almost instantly, his body softened as he came to try to hug me and continuously apologized but I told him I had to leave and walked out. When I got to the elevator, I started breaking down crying.

I didn't come home right away. I sat in my car and cried until I started seeing a bruise about to form so I attempted to wipe away my smudged mascara and all, and I went home.

I was slightly hiccuping now, as I stood in my kitchen and held an ice pack to my cheek in hopes there wouldn't be a bad bruise but I could feel it and knew it would be there without having to look.

I groaned as I sat down at the island and stared at it. My mind was filled with so many thoughts that a headache was starting to form.

You don't know exactly what to do or think when something like this happens. 

"Venezia, you're home?"

I cursed under my breath and placed the ice pack down before turning around and giving Angelo and small smile. "Yes, I don't have any more classes today."

"What happened?" He slowly started walking over to me, ignoring my previous statement. He saw my eyes that looked smaller thanks to the crying as well as the side of my face that was bloodshot red and getting a little purple and blue with a bruise.

I chuckled awkwardly and avoided his gaze. I didn't think he'd be here until later in the evening because Galen had classes right now. My parents were also at work and if I thought anyone would be here, I would've stuck to locking myself in the bathroom so I didn't have to face anyone.

"Venezia... are you okay?" He said slowly with furrowed eyebrows and a worried look in his eyes. He came over to me and lifted my chin so he could take a better look. "What the hell happened?" 

I slowly took a step back and away from his hold. That's not what I needed right now. Maybe if the circumstances were different, I would've been dreamily sighing but not now.

"Well I... I got elbowed. While I was walking out of the lecture room." I forced out a chuckle. "I wasn't watching where I was going because I had papers I still had to put in my binder and some kid got pushed by his friend and I... I was there. And got elbowed." I tried my best not to stammer and make it sound believable but knowing Angelo, I wasn't completely sure if he would fall for it. 

The last thing I needed was him finding out what really happened. That would escalate the situation and turn into a much bigger issue than I wanted to deal with. 

He gave me an uneasy look as if he were debating whether I was speaking the truth or not.

"Are you okay?" He finally spoke as he brought his gaze back to my red cheek.

I nodded and swallowed a lump in my throat; I hated lying. "Yeah, I'm okay. It's not even that bad." It was really bad.

He nodded his head slowly, "Keep your head out of the water. Wouldn't want anymore bruises."

I chuckled weakly at his joke as he lightly smiled and tried to brighten the mood. Normally I'd feel better by now but the whole situation was too messed up for me to think straight.

"I think..." I bit my lip, thinking. "I think I'm going to head out. I'll see you soon." I grabbed my bag from the counter and started heading out until he stopped me.

"Where are you headed to?"

"I need to go talk to Ellington. I'll be back soon though," I didn't wait for much of a reply and quickly rushed out of my house, not wanting to be bombarded with any more question.

Ellington was one of my closest friends. I had met him in senior year and then he went to college that wasn't too far from the one I go to so we've always stayed very close. Things were never awkward or weird between us like it could happen with a boy-girl-friendship - mainly because Ellington was proudly gay and I was happy to hear his cute stories about the time he talked to some attractive specimen while buying coffee.

"Hun, what brings you here? Is everyth- woah, what happened to your cheek?" His eyes widened as he turned my shoulders to look at my red cheek.

I sighed as I sat down, watching as he poured the two of us some coffee.

He came and sat down beside me, placing the coffee cups in front of us and watching me expectingly - waiting for an answer. I could see the worry flooding through his eyes. 

"Ellington... you cannot freak out." I looked at him cautiously, trying to see if I could tell what he was thinking.

He narrowed his eyes, "Babe, you're already freaking me out. What's going on?"

I exhaled a deep breath before talking. "Oscar... He uh, he hit me." I stared down at the cup, not wanting to see Ellington's reaction but it didn't matter because I could already feel his hard gaze on me.

He didn't say anything.

"We got into an argument and... it happened. I left, went home but when Angelo came home earlier than I thought, I came here because I don't know what to do." I continued to explain but still didn't look at him.

I didn't want Ellington to judge me and I knew he wouldn't but I was still scared and already so confused with the different things going on in my head. The last thing I needed was him freaking out at me.

"Ven..." He said softly, his voice barley over a whisper.

I shut my eyes and exhaled another deep breath.

"Venezia," he said a bit louder this time. "Have you told Angelo? Or your brother?"

I shook my head, "I lied to Angelo and haven't seen Galen yet but I also don't think it'll be a good idea to tell them the truth."

I heard him sigh before he put his hand on my shoulder and moved me so I was facing him. He looked a bit disappointed, mad and sad at the same time.

"Ven, you know you can't stay with him. Sure it may have been a spur of the moment thing but you're a smart girl and are smart enough to know that if he did it now, he can do it again."

"He tried apologizing," I muttered weakly, shifting my gaze to the ground.

"It doesn't matter." He said sternly. "He still hit you and that is completely wrong. No man should ever hit a women - screw that. Nobody should hit anyone - man or women and especially if you're in a relationship. There is  absolutely no way that is acceptable."

I sighed and looked back at him, "I know, El, I know ... I just don't know what to do right now."

"You leave him." he stated with wide eyes as if I were an i***t. I was acting like one, I know.

"But-"

"No," he cut me off. "There is nothing else to say. You leave him and you tell your brother. I'm being serious - if you don't I will and I know that sounds harsh and its your spot and your decision but you know that the right thing to do is tell him."

I nodded, "Okay. I'll go see him tomorrow and tell him I'm done."

"Don't go alone."

I gave him a flat look. "I'm not a child."

"I never said you are," he shrugged nonchalantly. "You know why I'm saying that, Ven, don't push it."

I sighed, "Okay, fine."

And then Ellington sighed. He pulled me into a big bear hug and then I lost it.

I cried in his arms until I didn't think I was capable of any more tears.