Page 30 of False Start

I’ve had a bounce in my step all week, even though my team lost on Saturday, and Coach has been pushing us extra hard all week. Doesn’t matter.

I haven’t seen Vanessa much this week, so I’m surprised when I go back to my dorm after my last class today and see her waiting outside my dorm. I’d planned to call Austin before he goes out on hisdatewithJustin. I don’t know why I don’t like this guy already, but I don’t.A bookstore? Really? Come on, Justin.

But Austin seemed excited, so I’m trying to be supportive.

The look on Vanessa’s face, though, as she stands up from where she was sitting on the floor outside of my dorm has my nerves kicking up and putting me on high alert. “You okay?”

“Can we talk?” She’s not looking me in the eyes. This really can’t be good.

“Of course.” I nod and unlock my door, letting her inside.

I move to sit on my bed, expecting her to join me, but she starts to pace the room. This can’t be good. “Okay, I don’t know how to start...”

“Vanessa, it’s me. You can tell me anything. Are you okay?”

She stops walking, standing just in front of me, but her hands don’t seem to know what to do. Just twitching at her sides. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her nervous before. She sucks in a shaky breath and releases it. “I met someone.”

“What?” My brain isn’t catching up to the words or isn’t hearing her right because I’m left with nothing but confusion. “Met someone?”

She nods her head, her hands still not staying still as she plays with the hem of her shirt. “I didn’t mean for it to happen, Vaughn. I wasn’t looking to meet someone else or to... to...”

“To what?” My right eyebrow lifts in suspicion. What the hell is going on right now?

Her eyes are glassy as she swallows nervously, her gaze on me. “I didn’t mean to fall for someone else.”

My chest pinches with a tight pain, and I stare up at the girl who’s been my girlfriend for almost half a decade. Is she kidding me right now? “You cheated on me?” I barely manage to croak, my throat feels tight and sore.

“No.” She sits down on the bed next to me, crossing one of her legs under the other and facing me. “I mean, maybe like emotionally?” It’s said like she’s unsure, but I mean, she’s telling me she fell for someone else?

“Emotionally? Who is it?”

She wipes away a rogue tear that slides down her cheek, and I kind of want to help her brush it away, but I don’t touch her. Idon’t want her to be sad, but what the hell? “Just a guy I met in algebra.”

And math remains my damn enemy. “A guy you met in algebra?” I repeat dumbly.

“I’m so sorry, Vaughn. It was just studying, but I can’t deny I feel something for him. That I want to explore something with him.”

I feel sick and stand up from the bed, trying to get some distance. I trusted her, and she’s off falling for someone else? Some smart math guy. This is just great. “So you’re breaking up with me?” I check.

She lets out a soft cry, more tears falling, but then nods her head as she stands up. “I didn’t mean for this to happen, but you have to admit it’s been weird since we got here.”

“Weird how?” Okay, maybe I’ve been a little moody, but this has been a big change. I needed her to lean on, not start fucking some other guy. I know she said nothing happened, but how do I know that?

“Just... you’ve been distant and moody. I’m not really used to you being moody. I was alone, Vaughn.”

“You were alone? The girl I’ve been dating has apparently been off with some other guy, and my best friend is miles away.”

She flinches and shakes her head. “It always goes back to Austin, doesn’t it?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I cross my arms, getting pissed-off now. Austin has nothing to do with her cheating on me with some guy. Physically or emotionally, it’s all the same, isn’t it?

“Nothing.” She shakes her head and wipes at her face. “I’m sorry. I’m so very sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen... it just sort of did.” I’m about to open my mouth to tell her these things don’t just happen, but she beats me to it. “It shouldn’t have happened, Vaughn. Not if we were actually meant to be.”

I stare at her in shock because I thought I’d always have Van—she’s been a constant in my life. Comforting. And now she’s going off with some math guy. “So that’s just it?”

“I hope not,” she says quietly and walks closer to me. I flinch when she reaches up to touch my face, and she pulls back. “I hope we can be friends again someday. I’m so sorry. I never, ever wanted to hurt you.”

“Yeah. Right,” I say snidely, but she takes it in stride and doesn’t try to touch me again.

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