Roughing

“You expect me to be seen with you…in public?” She doesn’t even try to hide her disgust.

I snicker. “You act like that’s a bad thing. Being seen with me can do wonders for your image.”

“Been there, done that,” she deadpans. “It didn’t do a damn thing for me other than…” Her voice trails off, and without finishing her train of thought, I already have an idea of what she was about to say.

I ruined her. I destroyed what we had. I made her the laughing stock of Strickland University. But I didn’t do it on purpose. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t reverse any of the embarrassment or shame she felt after our breakup, even if I wanted to help take away her pain. Tori went into a deep depression, one that I’d watched unfold over time. That’s why I made a deal with her father, kept a secret from Tori, along with my distance.

I’ve watched her from afar, made sure no one got too close, and now, it’s time to get her back. But how do I change her mind? She’s so tough and resilient. The girl sitting next to me is nothing like the one I once knew.

“So, the SAC? Wanna go or what? Otherwise, you may starve to death.”

A beat passes between us before she says, “Fine. We can go to the SAC. Let’s just get this over with, so I can come back and take a nap. I’m getting tired again.”

When we reach the Student Activity Center, the intoxicating aroma of fried food welcomes us. We sift through the masses, pass the bookstore, and walk up a flight of stairs.

Holding on to my arm, Tori whines, “You know, Bash, stairs count as strenuous activity. We’re only an hour in, and you’re already sucking as my nurse.”

“I’m doing the best I can, woman. Just calm down. Steps do not count as strenuous activity. The last time I checked you weren’t a ninety-year-old woman and are capable of climbing a flight of steps.”

“You’re fired,” she jokes, her smile reaching up to her big, blue eyes. “I should replace you with someone smarter and better looking.”

“Better looking?” My tone indicates a question that I don’t expect her to answer.

Now, she’s just trying to piss me off, a scare tactic to get me to leave. She can forget that. I plan to stay by her side until Monday morning if she’ll let me. I already have enough guilt on my conscience when it comes to Tori. The last thing I want to do is leave her sick and unattended when she needs someone most.

With hundreds of people roaming around the SAC, we step inside the crowded cafeteria. I grab a tray from the stack and slide it down the metal counter. They have everything from burgers and fries to Chinese food, paired with a few leftover breakfast foods. Tori has her eye on the massive salad bar in the center of the buffet lines.

“Do you want me to get you a salad?”

“Nope,” she says, turning her head back to me. “I want chicken fingers.”

“You had them last night.”

She scowls at me. “What do you care? I like them.”

“I’m just saying that you should eat something with more nutritional value than chicken fingers.”

“You sound like my dad. And chicken is a food group.” She sticks her tongue out at me.

“Technicality,” I say, shaking my head at her.

As we move through the buffet, Tori places a paper carton of chicken tenders on the tray. Following her lead, I opt for a greasy cheesesteak wrapped in foil.

“Why, Bash, how could you?” Tori holds her hand up to her mouth, widening her eyes in mock surprise. “What happened to food with nutritional value?”

“Keep moving, smart ass,” I say, pushing the tray with my fingers. “I guess you’re rubbing off on me already.”

She flashes a victorious smile as if she’s won a contest. At the rate we’re going, this will be one of the longest weekends of my life.

I search the expanse of the hall for Clay, hoping he showed up with Jessica. But I catch someone else’s attention.

Instead of Clay, I find Harper, smiling and waving at me. She reminds me of everything I hate. Everything I did to get to this point. I hate myself for allowing her to fuck with my life. But I hate myself more for making the stupid decisions that had forced me to go along with Harper’s agreement.

Something about her has always provoked a sudden rage inside me. There used to be a bit of sexual tension laced with anger between us. Now, it’s just anger and resentment, or at least on my part.

As Harper violates me with her eyes, I pretend not to see her. In desperate need of a distraction, I clutch Tori’s shoulder as we stand in line for the cash register.

“Why are you touching me? Hands off,” Tori says, through clenched teeth.