Competing Blood

Chapter 1: So It Begins

Sitting inside the restaurant to escape the on pour of rain, the fragile couple stared silently at their steamy coffee cups. Both knew they were experiencing their last moments as a couple. The inspiring college student, Leslie, had found the perfect jock sweetheart boyfriend of 8 months, Donnie, in bed with another woman the night before. The steam rose against her face as Leslie took a sip. Deep down she knew she couldn't be the one to break things off with Donnie. It would ruin her self expectations of her perfectness. He would have to be the one to break up with her. Would he do it though? After another sip, Leslie realized Donnie was staring at her.

"I'm sorry about last night," spoken with sincere quietness.

No answer from Leslie, he went on, "Tara and I have been seeing each other secretly for two weeks now."

After the confession, only silence followed. Leslie waited patiently for the break up as a robot with no feelings waits for the next task to be done. She knew breaking up was the best thing to do. After all, no matter how much she loved him, it was obvious his love was not equal and completely devoted to her.

"Leslie, say something," came the pleading voice. Her silence always made people uncomfortable.

"Is it over then? Us I mean? Surely you don't plan to give up on your two weeks of progress," she responded acidly.

"Tara still wants to be with me. She knew that I was dating you before we started seeing each other. She's happy you found out because now things can be right between us."

"You choose her then?"

"I didn't think you'd still want to be with me."

"You know me too well," came a miserable smile from Leslie.

It was too simple. A set-up for Leslie to find out the truth before breaking up. Tara had told Leslie to come over to study for a chemistry midterm. She had found Donnie and Tara together when she arrived her usual fifteen minutes early. They knew she would be early. Something about it was merciful though. In letting Leslie discover the truth, a break up with Donnie could be based upon a truthful conflicting event instead of a general "my feelings have changed". At least Leslie knew the truth even though the hurt was far worse than any lie could have done.

Thunder sounded as Leslie put down her cup and stood.

"Where are you going?"

"An interview for a part time job. See you around, Donnie. Take care of yourself," she said steadily as she walked outside the door into the pouring rain.

The tears from her eyes were disguised from that blissful rain. Thus she walked alone on the busy sidewalk, the only one not under an umbrella.

Donnie had been the one to cause the breakup. He made the mistake. Leslie's guilt told her otherwise. She had not shared the responsibilities of a healthy relationship. Her studies came before him. Even though he made several personal sacrifices for her, such as missing sport practices, she would not miss even two hours of study to go to even one of his games. And that's what she expected out of the relationship. To receive everything and give nothing. She had neglected him, and she knew it. She knew it then and didn't care enough about the relationship to change. Now she cared though. More than anything.

Donnie was her first and probably last boyfriend. No other guy could put up with her ambitious and life-consuming study habits. If that didn't scare a guy off, her contrasting views, thoughts, and conversations would. She had an imagination of a seven year old with the ambition and knowledge of a 21 year old. Her immature nature was accompanied with a charming intellect that made her appeal to younger children and adults, although her own age found her confusing, if not weird.