Bad Things To Love (Book One)

Chapter Six

            Thankfully, it was Friday. My body had never been so sore and worn out. After working the last few days at the clinic and juggling my classes, I needed a break. Maybe I had taken on more than I could handle. I was already doubling up on my classes for the two majors I was going for and maybe adding my volunteer work was just too much right now. I really enjoyed keeping myself busy though. It kept my mind off things, at least for a little while anyways.

            I had been so busy that I had not even noticed that Damien had returned from his suspension. Apparently, he had been back for a few days now, but I had been so busy that I did not notice until now. Lunch had already started, and I was sitting in the same spot I always did. Alone at the short table in the far corner of the cafeteria. With it being Friday, there were not too many students here. Most had already begun their weekends which were full of partying the whole time. After classes, my objective was to buy a laptop and cell phone. I had spent the rest of the week so busy that I could not find the time to do it just yet.

            Damien started to approach me, and I shifted in my seat uncomfortably. Should I try and get up why I had the chance or sit and endure whatever cruel thing I knew he was bound to say to me?

            Too late. "Hey Sam. I know I am the last person that you want talking to you right now after what I did. I just came over to apologize. Sincerely. I had some stuff going on back home and I took it out on you. I do not expect forgiveness from you or anything. Truth be told I do not blame you one bit. I was a class A jerk and you deserve better than that."

            His apology was sincere, but it was not enough. "Thank you for being an adult and coming to apologize for what you did. I know it took a lot for you to do that."

            "So, you forgive me?"

            "Not so much. That is going to take time and a little more than an apology, but it is a start."

            "Whatever you need Sam." He nodded his head at me before he walked away.

            I was finally able to exhale after holding my breath for so long. It was time for me to leave before anyone else decided to come over and disturb my lunch. After leaving the cafeteria I headed straight for the school store. It did not take me long to find a small Dell laptop that was perfect for me. In my opinion it was a little overpriced and the ugly pink color did not help but it would do the job. After that I went across the street to a small owned cell phone shop. They sold a lot of Apple products, but I did happen to find a few Androids which was the one I preferred. I tried an iPhone once but it took me too long to figure out, so I ended up switching back to Android within a week. I spotted the perfect phone which was a Samsung Galaxy. It was the last one they had available, so I snatched it up quickly.

            While walking back to campus I spotted Robbie. We really had not gotten a chance to talk after our game of seven minutes in heaven. I did not know if he was avoiding me or it was just coincidental that we did not see much of each other. I decided it best that I not start up that conversation. I liked Robbie but he was in that tight knit group with Levi and that was who I was trying to avoid. But Robbie noticed me and ran over before I had a chance to walk in the opposite direction.

            "Hey Sam. What are you up to?" He walked beside me as we made our way back onto campus.

            "Hey Robbie. Nothing I just bought a new phone and laptop."

            "Yeah Levi mentioned what happened. I wanted to come find you to see if you were alright but I did not want to overstep or anything."

            "What do you mean overstep?"

            "You and Levi of course."

            "Whoa. There is nothing going on between Levi and me. He has been a bit pushy, but I told him to leave me alone."

            "Oh. Sorry. He just kind of painted a different picture." He stopped talking as we approached the front entrance of the school. He shifted nervously as if he wanted to ask me something. If right on cue, he did. "Would you mind if I walked you to your dorm?"

            "That would be great Robbie."

            We made small talk on the way to my room. Like what the weather was like, how we both enjoyed our classes, even the topic of families got brought up.

            "It is just me and my dad. My mom left us when I was just 9 months old. My dad says she really was not cut out to be a mom, but I guess I will never know. He is great though and we are very close. He is my dad and my best friend, and I would not have it any other way. What about you?"

            I could instantly the tell the topic was a sore one for him. "I am not close with any of my family. I moved out here from Virginia when I got accepted here. It was the best damn decision I ever made. There is not much more to tell about my tragic life story."

            I unlocked the door and invited him in. I wanted to continue talking with him because he made it so easy. Conversations for me were hard to come by these days so I took any opportunity I could to have one.

            We sat on the edge of my bed while I struck back up the conversation not wanting it to end just yet. "I have lived in Arizona all my life, but I come from Phoenix. It is already so much different here than it is back home. I love it here."

            "I agree. It definitely beats Virginia for sure. Anyway, I really came here because I wanted to talk to you about Levi."

            Great. Not exactly the topic I was hoping for. "What about him?"

            "Since I know now that it is just one sided, I wanted to warn you about him. He is my boy and he has looked out for me more times than I can count but you deserve the truth. When we were freshman, our group started out with me, Caleb, Levi, Jazmine, and Zoey. Mila did not join our group until much later."

            Where was he going with this? I was now more intrigued than ever.

            "When we were all freshman we got into a lot of trouble. Our group was known as kind of the outcast of the college. We all earned our way here but once we got here, we all just clicked together because of the pasts we shared. Mila was different. She was much like you when she started here. She was the innocent, by the book, do right all the time kind of girl. You would not catch that girl doing anything but homework. Her face was always buried in a book. Our group got a little bored one weekend and we all took bets that no one like us would be able to score with a girl like her. I was not much for the bet because it was not really my thing. I only played along because I did not want them thinking I was some softy or something. I even tried to warn her a few times under the radar, but it never stuck. Jazmine was the first to strike out with her then Caleb, after that followed Zoey and it all ended with Levi. He played games with her until she turned out to be exactly like us. She was the only one that had the most to lose and Levi took it all from her."

            "How?"

            "Levi all told us that he was making a game out of it and that he would be the one to break her heart. I never thought she would go for a guy like him, but she did. She fell for all his games and found herself with a broken heart. Levi played with her like a toy for over six months before he finally ended things with her. By that time, he had already slept with so many girls behind her back anyways, it was kind of sad. I felt so bad for her, but she did not listen. Now she is a part of our group. He gets his kicks off finding good girls and turning them bad. Do not fall for his games like she did."

            "He just ruined her life like it meant so little to him?" After hearing the story, I felt tears run down my face. I hardly ever cried. I got that from my dad. He would always say 'keep it in and never show anyone the weakest parts of yourself. If you must cry, do it behind closed doors.'

            Emily stumbled through the door with Caleb hot on her heels. Jazmine, Zoey, Mila and even Levi were all with them. I turned my face back to Robbie once I saw a small glimpse of his face. Operation ignore Levi was now set in place. I wanted nothing else to do with him even before Robbie's story. But now? I really could not even stand to look at him. To take such an innocent girl that had her whole life ahead of her and crush it like it meant nothing. I would be damned if he thought for a second he was going to try that with me.

            "Hi guys. What are you two doing?" Emily was slurring her words which only meant she was tipsy. Not drunk because drunk Emily was not so sweet and clumsy.

            "Sam and I caught each other outside of campus. We just got to talking. Looks like we missed the fun." Robbie did not even dare look at Levi either. I am sure even he could feel him staring us down from across the room.

            Before anyone knew it, Levi was across the room slamming Robbie against the wall. Robbie threw his hands up in defense. "Whoa man what the hell is your problem?"

            Even from the small distance between us, I could smell the alcohol consuming him. It smelt as if he had taken a bath in liquor. All eyes were on him and Robbie. After not saying anything but feeling the eyes all on him, he let Robbie go. Robbie returned to my side. It was if they had a talk with just their eyes as everything went back to normal.

            Robbie mouthed to me while Levi could not see. 'He is drunk. He is an even bigger asshole when he drinks.'

            I could not help it I let out a small chuckle. Robbie followed me doing the same.

            "Anyway, I just came by here because I forgot my cell. We are going to a party tonight. Robbie you should bring Sam along." Emily and her big mouth.

            Robbie surprised even me when he spoke. "Nah that won't be necessary. I want to stay here and finish our conversation if that is okay with you?" He gave me a slight smile.

            I tucked the small strand of hair that found its way out of my hair tie, behind my ear nodding yes to him. I am not sure what came over me but in that moment it just felt right. I did not do it because Levi was there. By that time, I had forgotten all about him. It was like Robbie and I were in our own little world right now. I leaned in and planted a quick kiss against his lips. I thought it would have felt weirder because of his lip rings but it didn't, it felt natural.

            Levi punched the door bringing me back to reality. His eyes stared into mine when I turned to look in his direction. They were full of anger, but I could see a small amount of pain hidden behind them. It was the first time I had ever looked at him that I felt a pang of guilt in my stomach. He gave me a look of disgust before he turned and left with everyone following closely behind him.