Chapter four: What are you doing in a place like this?

I couldn’t look at my reflection in the mirror as I washed my bloody knuckles, I focused on the water as it turned red. I closed the taps, pulled out my medical kit, and bandaged my hands. I left the bathroom to go check up on Mandy, I found her in the kitchen pouring coffee into two mugs. She looked up when she heard me. “I feel pathetic.” She admitted, turning her face away from me. No one can miss the scars on her face, it looks as if the douche used her as his personal punching bag.

“You’re not pathetic, you didn’t know he slapped girls around for fun.” I went around the island counter to get myself some of the coffee she made.

“There were girls who complained about him.” She said, still not looking at me. “And I have chosen to ignore them and look at me now.” She said lifting her head, fighting back tears.

“I almost lost my life because I was being stupid.” She said slumping down on one of the high seats at the counter.

“Was there any evidence of him hurting them?”

“Only on their wrists. I thought they were overreacting.” She said looking guilty.

“You didn’t know, stop beating yourself up. You have chosen to ignore the rumors. I would have probably done the same.” She just shook her head in protest. “You even warned me about throwing away my life and I didn’t listen.”

I looked at her sitting and it triggered some of my memories when I used to be where she was now. Just a little bit worst. “Look, I know what it feels like to throw away your life and to get a second chance to fix all of that. Think of this of getting a second chance.” I told her, not telling her too much.

“This was my second chance.” She said pulling out her necklace from underneath her shirt, she unclipped it from the back and held it in her hand holding it out to me. I looked at her palm where the necklace laid and I notice it was a ring tied to her necklace. “An engagement ring?” I asked confused.

“Have you ever had a taste of real love?” She asked pulling her hand back and taking the ring off the necklace. “I have.” She continued, staring at the ring intensely. “He was my very first love. We met in high school at a camp, we hit things off immediately. We had so much in common, he was so interesting that I wanted him to teach me things. He was attractive, smart and everything I ever dreamt about meeting a guy. He was the guy.” She said smiling. “We dated for two years, things were going great until we reached the path, where we had to choose what road we want to take, what we want to become.” Her smile faded. “His life was planned out for him, he moved to England with his father.” She said standing up.

“He gave me this ring before leaving, he promised me that he would return to me but he never did. I held onto this ring hoping that he would come back to me. But it has been 4 years, with no sign of him.”

“So, you gave up?” She nodded. “I gave up as he gave up on us.” She looked at her ring lying on the counter before deciding to walk off towards her room.

I sat there looking at her ring, wondering why a guy would go out of his way to give her an engagement ring with a promise that he would return but he never did. Does love even truly exist? I too decided to turn in for the night.

“How are you feeling?” I asked Mandy who entered the kitchen still wearing her jammies. “Fine, what are you doing up this early?” She asked frowning. “Couldn’t sleep,” I answered with a shrug. “The only thing you love is your bed.” She said rubbing her eyes. “Not today,” I replied grabbing my bag, helmet, and keys. “What are you going to do today?” I was referring to her face. “I’m going to go to my classes and not to let him win.” She was stronger than I thought she was. “Good luck.” She nodded. I left the house, got onto my bike, and drove off towards the University.

I made a stop at my locker, I haven’t been at my locker since the start of the first semester. I found my old leather jacket in my locker with a few of my things, I decided to leave my helmet in my locker before closing it up. I was on my way going to class when I crossed paths with Giselle, I haven’t met her before, physically. But I’ve heard from her, guys around campus were in love with the looks of her.

Even Corbin used to be in love with her looks for a while until he got tired of her and broke up with her. She took it hard according to the rumors and people still believe that she is in love with him. The way she would look at him or make sure they would cross paths just so they would talk.

I don’t know if much of it was true and I wasn’t planning on finding out. I watched the way she looked at me as if she was better than me but, I decided to ignore her and continued making my way to class. She definitely thought highly of herself, maybe that wasn’t attractive to Corbin as he hoped it would be.

I stopped at the vending machine as it was on my path, I got myself a peanut butter energy bar when I saw Corbin making his way over to where I was. I was waiting for one of his stupid remarks but I got nothing. Instead, I found his eyes focused on my bandaged hands. “Should I ask about the other guy or should I worry about you?” He asked eyeing my hands.

“Depends,” I replied with a shrug, depends if he likes boys who slap women around.

“I didn’t know it can get rough at the bar.” He replied, frowning.

“What do you think drunks do? Hold hands while singing carol songs?” I could see the humor in his eyes. He didn’t say much because we got interrupted by his ex-girlfriend who obviously, didn’t like the exchange between Corbin and me. Not that she had to be worried. “I got to get going anyway.” I told Corbin as I noticed the look on Giselle’s face.