Cheating, Betrayal
I was coming from my last exam and I was practically floating.
God, I had never been so happy to be done with a paper. My head was light, my shirt was sticking to me from running across campus, and all I could think about was tonight.
Sebastian was waiting in the hostel. I had left him on my bed this morning, his hair still messy from sleep.
"Be back quick, Elly," he had said, pulling me back for a kiss, his hands already under my shirt. "I have plans for you tonight. Very wild plans."
"You'll be the death of me, Seb," I had laughed, out of breath.
"You'll love how I kill you," he whispered against my neck.
I had been anticipating it all through my exam. The way he touches me, the way he says my name when he's inside me. I was wet just thinking about it on my way back.
I wanted to be ruined by him tonight, I opened my hostel door with a smile on my face, ready to jump on him.
That smile died immediately.
Sebastian was on my bed, “oh f**k, Sebastian, just like that… yeah, yeah.” The blonde under him was moaning.
“Tatiana?” I whispered, loud enough for them to hear, her eyes went wide. "Elisa —"
Sebastian pulled out so fast and grabbed his boxers. "Elisa! s**t — Elisa, it's not —"
"Not what?" My voice was shaking. I could hear it crack. "Not what I think it is? You're f*****g my friend on my bed, Sebastian? On my bed!"
"It just happened! She — we were talking and —" he stammered, trying to come close to me.
"Don't you dare touch me!" I screamed, tears already blurring my vision. "Don't ever touch me again!"
Tatiana was scrambling for her clothes, "Elisa please, I'm so sorry, we were drunk and —"
"You're my friend! You sleep literally three feet away from me in this very room! How could you?" I was crying now, full tears.
"Both of you. Get out. Get out of my room!"
I didn't wait for them to answer. I slammed the door so hard and ran. I ran down the hallway, my chest heaving, my exam papers crumpled in my fist.
I knew only one place to go.
I burst into Maria and Lia's room without knocking.
Maria was on top of Lia on their bunk, her hand tangled in Lia's hair, Lia's shirt pushed up, both of them kissing so deeply they didn't even hear the door. Maria's soft moans filled the room.
They broke apart when I choked on a sob.
"Elly?" Maria scrambled off Lia, pulling Lia's shirt down. Lia sat up instantly.
"What happened?" Lia was beside me in two seconds.
“S-s-sebastian and T-T-taty,” I mumbled, through the tears. One look at my face and they knew. My eyes were red, mascara running, lip trembling.
"Oh baby," Maria pulled me onto their bed, right between them. Lia got on my other side. They both wrapped around me, cuddling me, one hand stroking my hair, the other rubbing my back.
"He was with Tatiana," I cried into Maria's shoulder. "Sebastian was f*****g Tatiana in my bed. He promised me tonight — he said he had wild plans for me and he ducked my friend instead."
"That bastard!" Maria hissed, holding me tighter. "That cheap asshole! I'm going to kill him!"
Lia pressed a kiss to my temple, "Shhh, Elly, shh. Don't waste your tears on him. He doesn't deserve it."
I cried until I had no tears left, just lying between them.
Then Maria sat up suddenly, "Okay, that's enough. We're not sitting here like some sad lot crying over a boy who doesn't know how to keep his d**k in his pants."
"What?" I sniffled.
"We're going out," Maria said, already pulling clothes from her wardrobe. "You need to unwind. You need shots. You need loud music."
"I don't feel like it, Ri," I said.
Lia cupped my face, her eyes serious, "No, you do. Listen to me, Elly. You need to get under another man to forget about a man. That bastard took your bed, don't let him take your night too."
I looked between the two of them. Their love was so solid, so real. And I had just lost what I thought was mine.
"Fine," I whispered. "Fine, let's go."
"Now... let's get ready!!!" They chorused, just like old times, pulling me off the bed.
In a matter of minutes we stood in front of The Crypt, New York's biggest night club.
"This is gonna be our best night!" Lia shouted, not minding the stares that followed as we walked in hand in hand.
Little did I know this would be the last night I experienced peace.
As soon as we entered, chills ran through my back. I turned around, to see if anyone had been following us. But I couldn't see anything in the dim blue light.
We matched to the counter, "three desperadoes, please." Maria told the bartender in a tiny high pitch voice. Her flirting voice, her hand rolling a strand of her hair.
I had no idea why this stunt of hers always worked, the guy just stood, his attention solely on Maria.
"And three shots, now!" Maria snapped at me, pushing a shot glass into my hand. "Drink."
"Ri, please, isn't it too early?" I managed to chuckle.
"No. Drink. All of it," she ordered, pouring me another one immediately after I swallowed the first. "And another one. You need to forget everything."
She kept coming. Shot after shot till my throat was burning and my head was light and floaty and I couldn't even feel my heartbreak properly anymore.
I was very tipsy now, bolder, my sadness turning into angry energy.
"Now, enough of the thinking and let's do what we came here for." Lia dragged me and Maria towards the dance floor.
Within few minutes, almost everyone was staring at us as we danced our hearts out. Sweat trickled down my body, my cloth glued to me.
I had no idea who was who or when I switched partners, but that's what we came here for right?
The dance floor was starting to spin a little, I knew I needed a break. I made my way back but I must have missed a step because I found myself falling.
Few inches to the ground, strong hands wrapped around my waist. "Careful, princess," the stranger spoke, his baritone voice sending shivers down my spine.
I looked up. He was tall, masked, broad shoulders, eyes a dirty ash color. He smelled like leather and cedar mixed with smoke. Fresh and clean and dangerous at the same time.
I tried to thank him, but then my eyes shifted over his shoulder —
Sebastian. Sebastian had just walked into The Crypt, his eyes searching and they found mine. He started walking towards my direction.
Something angry, drunk and broken snapped inside me.
I didn't think. I grabbed the masked man's shirt and kissed him.