held something out to Jen. She took it, seeing that it was a CD case.
“Enjoy,” he said and disappeared.
She took a better look at the CD once she was inside her apartment. On the case was simply scrawled: For Jen
In her jammies and snug in her warm bed, Jen knew that high or not, there was no excuse for how Dave had treated her. After he sobered, he’d realize that. And if he thought gaining her forgiveness was a matter of a simple apology, he was in for a surprise. She wished she could’ve mustered up an ounce of this indignation back in his bedroom, but when he called the next day, she’d be better prepared.
He didn’t call.
He didn’t call the next day either, or the next.
Chapter 7
After a week and no word from Dave, Jen realized there would be no apology. The scumbag probably didn’t even know he’d done anything wrong. She wondered if he still might call one day, oblivious to Jen’s fury, and tell her to meet him somewhere. Next time she wouldn’t run to him like she always had. If he ever wanted to see her again, he’d have to come to her—on his knees.
As more days went by and she still didn’t hear from him, she became tempted to call him to force the issue. Then she remembered David’s warning to not call him. What would she even say if she did get ahold of him: “Hey, just so you know, if you ever ask me out again I’m going to say no”?
When she reached the two week point of not hearing from Dave, she admitted to herself that she wanted him to call. It wasn’t that far of a stretch to think he might. He certainly seemed to have enjoyed himself last time they were together. She couldn’t help but wonder if her anxiety about his silence was made worse because of how far she’d gone with him. His calling would be a vindication of her actions, proof that she hadn’t been completely used.
The last week in February, Jen crossed paths with Dave on a sidewalk between buildings at the south end of campus. At first she didn’t realize it was him. He was bruised around his eyes and had a large scab on his lip. She was only a few feet away by the time she recognized him. In the half a second before he looked at her, she steeled herself to stay strong under his persuasive powers.
Dave acknowledged her with a half nod and continued walking.
Jen would’ve preferred an actual blow to the gut rather than the simulated version that ripped through her as he moved away. He hadn’t even said hello. She pressed her books into her stomach and stared at the ground in disbelief. Even though she’d had no intention of going out with him again, and even though she’d doubted he had any more interest in her, this confirmation of how little she’d meant to him was demoralizing. She’d only ever been a game to him.
She made it back to her apartment in a blur, not remembering exactly how she got there.
“What’s wrong?” Maria asked as soon as Jen walked through the door.
Jen hadn’t filled her roommate in on recent events with Dave. She hadn’t wanted Maria to know how right she’d been. Now she was beyond caring. “You’re right. Dave’s a dick.” To herself she added, and he also has one, and it spewed in my mouth a couple of weeks ago. She felt like throwing up. Maria’s eyes narrowed, but Jen stopped her before she could say anything. “Look, I really don’t want to hear it. I’m just going to lie down for a while.” She dropped her books on the table, walked into her room, and shut the door.
She lay on her bed and waited for tears to come. They didn’t. But thoughts of all the terrible ways Dave had treated her and all the excuses she’d made for him marched through her brain like a long, torturous parade. She got up to pop in her earbuds and scrolled through her music, selecting the most un-Dave-like selection she could find. Cranking up the volume, she fell back onto the bed. Despite the peppy tunes assaulting her ears, numbness settled in as she lay on her side, staring at
“Enjoy,” he said and disappeared.
She took a better look at the CD once she was inside her apartment. On the case was simply scrawled: For Jen
In her jammies and snug in her warm bed, Jen knew that high or not, there was no excuse for how Dave had treated her. After he sobered, he’d realize that. And if he thought gaining her forgiveness was a matter of a simple apology, he was in for a surprise. She wished she could’ve mustered up an ounce of this indignation back in his bedroom, but when he called the next day, she’d be better prepared.
He didn’t call.
He didn’t call the next day either, or the next.
Chapter 7
After a week and no word from Dave, Jen realized there would be no apology. The scumbag probably didn’t even know he’d done anything wrong. She wondered if he still might call one day, oblivious to Jen’s fury, and tell her to meet him somewhere. Next time she wouldn’t run to him like she always had. If he ever wanted to see her again, he’d have to come to her—on his knees.
As more days went by and she still didn’t hear from him, she became tempted to call him to force the issue. Then she remembered David’s warning to not call him. What would she even say if she did get ahold of him: “Hey, just so you know, if you ever ask me out again I’m going to say no”?
When she reached the two week point of not hearing from Dave, she admitted to herself that she wanted him to call. It wasn’t that far of a stretch to think he might. He certainly seemed to have enjoyed himself last time they were together. She couldn’t help but wonder if her anxiety about his silence was made worse because of how far she’d gone with him. His calling would be a vindication of her actions, proof that she hadn’t been completely used.
The last week in February, Jen crossed paths with Dave on a sidewalk between buildings at the south end of campus. At first she didn’t realize it was him. He was bruised around his eyes and had a large scab on his lip. She was only a few feet away by the time she recognized him. In the half a second before he looked at her, she steeled herself to stay strong under his persuasive powers.
Dave acknowledged her with a half nod and continued walking.
Jen would’ve preferred an actual blow to the gut rather than the simulated version that ripped through her as he moved away. He hadn’t even said hello. She pressed her books into her stomach and stared at the ground in disbelief. Even though she’d had no intention of going out with him again, and even though she’d doubted he had any more interest in her, this confirmation of how little she’d meant to him was demoralizing. She’d only ever been a game to him.
She made it back to her apartment in a blur, not remembering exactly how she got there.
“What’s wrong?” Maria asked as soon as Jen walked through the door.
Jen hadn’t filled her roommate in on recent events with Dave. She hadn’t wanted Maria to know how right she’d been. Now she was beyond caring. “You’re right. Dave’s a dick.” To herself she added, and he also has one, and it spewed in my mouth a couple of weeks ago. She felt like throwing up. Maria’s eyes narrowed, but Jen stopped her before she could say anything. “Look, I really don’t want to hear it. I’m just going to lie down for a while.” She dropped her books on the table, walked into her room, and shut the door.
She lay on her bed and waited for tears to come. They didn’t. But thoughts of all the terrible ways Dave had treated her and all the excuses she’d made for him marched through her brain like a long, torturous parade. She got up to pop in her earbuds and scrolled through her music, selecting the most un-Dave-like selection she could find. Cranking up the volume, she fell back onto the bed. Despite the peppy tunes assaulting her ears, numbness settled in as she lay on her side, staring at
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