Betrayal

Sandra crunched across the gravel in the cool night. Five minutes ago she had felt warm and tingly inside after she gulped that shot of tequila in her room. Now she was cold and nervous. Was she really doing the right thing?

Of course she was! She had been dating Ryan since the start of the fall semester, that was almost two months and well beyond the standard three date rule. She was 19 years old and had waited long enough. Ryan had been more than patient and waited long enough too. Her refusal to go up to his room at the end of their date a few hours ago was the reason they had argued. Sandra didn’t need this type of drama in her life anymore. It was time to finally give it up. 

The usual cast of characters were in the Warren hall common room playing FIFA on PS4. Sandra took a peak in but did not see Ryan. He must have already gone up to his room. Good! The surprise would be easier and more private this way. 

She opted for the stairs. It would be harder on her feet, not used to the stilettos, but easier than riding in the elevator with nothing but a trench coat and black lace teddy separating her from whoever might be riding up with her. 

Sandra was out of breath when she got to Ryan’s floor. It was only three flights, thank god, but a reminder that she really needed to go back to spin class. 

She paused at Ryan’s door to undo the belt and buttons of her coat. This was it. There was no more thinking at this point, only doing. 

She knocked softly at the door and waited for what seemed like an hour. Where was he? Maybe he was already asleep and didn’t hear. 

She knocked louder this time. This time she heard rustling and the door cracked open. Ryan peered out.

“Sandra!” he said, 

“Hi,” she said with a smile wider than the hallway. “I changed my mind.”

She pushed the door wider and opened her coat. 

“Wow!” 

Oh yeah, he was surprised! 

Sandra heard the bell of the elevator followed by voices coming down the hall. She forced her way in the door not wanting to be seen. 

The room was dark and Sandra began to giggle. 

“I’m so glad you were already up here,” she said. 

“What’s going on?” 

There was another voice in the room. It was a woman’s voice. What was going on? 

A light clicked on and Sandra saw a girl sitting up in Ryan’s bed with a sheet across her bare chest. 

“Who is she?” Sandra asked. 

“I’m Terry,” said the girl. “Who are you?” 

“Ryan?” Sandra looked helplessly from the girl to Ryan and then back again. Her face suddenly became very hot and her heart began a whole new kind of thumping. 

“Sandra, I’m sorry” Ryan said. “I thought it was over with us. Terry is from back home. She came up to surprise me for the weekend.” 

“Wait a minute,” Terry said. “Is this the girl you told me about? I thought it was only one date.”

“One date!” Sandra said. “You told me you broke up with Terry after graduation.” 

“I’m sorry…l...” Ryan’s normally confident demeanor seemed to evaporate and he suddenly didn’t seem so attractive to Sandra anymore. 

“I can’t believe how stupid I was,” Sandra said tugging her coat belt shut. She stomped down the hall. The elevator door flew open as soon as she punched the button, like it knew she was mad. If there was anyone else on Sandra didn’t notice. She was too humiliated to think about anything besides how foolish she had been. To think she was going to lose her virginity to that son of a bitch. 

She was hobbling across the gravel path back to her own dorm when she heard someone call her name. 

“Sandra!” It was Terry. She was wearing a UCLA sweatshirt, pink leggings and a pair of Ugg boots. 

“I have nothing to say to you,” Sandra said. 

“Listen, I’m sorry,” Terry said. “We really did break up after graduation but he started calling me a few weeks ago. I had no idea you guys were still dating. I wouldn’t have come if I had known.” 

 “It’s a long drive back to L.A.” Sandra noticed the keys in Terry’s hands and the oversized tote on her shoulder.

“I’m not staying with him!” Terry said. “I should have kept my ass in L.A. It’s cold as shit up here and I have a midterm to study for.” 

Despite her being Ryan’s ex, Sandra had always secretly wanted to meet Terry. The few things Ryan said about her made Sandra think they probably had a lot in common. 

“Ryan told me you want to go to Boalt,” Sandra said. 

“If my grades are good enough,” Terry said. “I’ve got three years to work on it.” 

“Me too,” Sandra smiled. “And so far I’ve been wasting my time on a loser who thinks his FIFA coin balance is more important than his GPA.” 

“Oh god,” Terry rolled her eyes. “He thinks he’s going to make it big as an influencer.”

“He’s got 6 followers on Twitch,” Sandra shook her head. “Six!” 

When they finished laughing Sandra said, “You can stay with me tonight if you want. My roommate went home for the weekend.” 

“I’d love to drink this instead of driving all night,” Terry lifted a bottle of wine out of her bag. “Do you have a corkscrew?” 

They’ve been friends ever since.