The Taunting (College Life #1)

I don't want to talk of it, it's unnecessary

Andreas P.O.V-

"She's gone?"

"Yep."

"When did she leave?"

"Just this morning."

Elizabeth Pratt is no longer in my life. Her residence is now at Foothill Hall, the residence for Freshman. I stayed in my room, refusing to leave it until she did. Everyone thought I was out. I watched from the cracked door as Doug and Carlee and Bridget and Daniel and Monica helped carry her stuff out the room, down the stairs. Trunk after trunk, suitcase after suitcase.

I couldn't muster enough courage to walk out the room, to face her after what happened at Doug's match. The painful look on her face struck a chord in me that hasn't been played since the night I found Jessie fucking my best friend.

Pain.

Loneliness.

I quietly shut the door and lay on my bed, wallowing in my own self-pity.

"So, are you guys over then? No more playing around for you." Teddy teases, pushing my shoulder.

"I ended things; it was for the better."

"What was for the better?" asked Jace as he sits his tray on the table. We are currently in the school's cafeteria. I don't come here often, but since I called in sick to work and called off my classes, I have all the time in the world.

The thought of having to do equations and filing books seemed ludicrous to me. I don't want to do anything, I can't do anything. The pit of guilt in my stomach has been bubbling up to the surface, dancing and screaming and laughing inside of me.

I made a promise to not hurt Elizabeth, and if I did, I would ripe every fiber from my being.

That's impossibly impossible.

"Andreas here cut all ties with Eliza. And the worst thing, he won't tell us what happened between them." Teddy explained, squirting out Ketchup all over his fries.

I groan, punching my fork into my salad. I hate salad, but I need to meet weight this week. My mind punctures me once I realize I have a football game tomorrow against Norte Dame. This game is important, we beat them then it's on to Washington then, hopefully, the championships.

"That's not fair, we tell you everything," said Jace.

"It's not something that needs to be talked about, we're done and that's it. Don't you two have better things to do than worry about me."

"Do we, Teddy?"

"No, we do not Jace. Please, tells us." They both lean back in their chairs, interested in hearing about my woes.

If I don't tell them now, they will keep asking and asking, "It was getting too serious, so I ended it. That's all you need to know because that's the only thing about the situation. Now, can we eat in peace?" My voice held irritation.

We spend the rest of our time eating and playing on our phones. Teddy and Jace start a conversation while I stare off in the distance.

Contemplating my life.

Elizabeth's P.O.V-

Mary Allen was my new roommate here at Foothill Hall. I think her other roommate moved out, I wonder why, no one ever told me.

Bridget and the others helped me move out all my stuff, Andreas sat in his room while we did the heavy lifting. He acted like I didn't know he was there; I could see his eye peeking through the door. For a moment, I stood there and stared, he didn't move, and neither did I.

I remember making a joke with Daniel on my first day here that I wished my roommate would be a virgin Christian girl, and that is what the universe has bestowed upon me.

Every night she bows in front of her bed, praying to God. It takes her all of 20 minutes, at one point I thought she was reciting the entire bible. She refuses to change in front of me, and I've never seen her wear a pair of pants.

When I'm on the phone with Jill, she looks at me with a sour tone when I curse or do anything that would be improper of a young woman. I thought she would set me on the fire with the heated look in her blue eyes.

Mary Allen and I may not last that long as roommates.

Every Monday she has her bible study group over, which means I need to leave the room for approximately 3 hours and find something to do. During that time, I walk to the third floor above me to Jill's room where she tells me about Daniel, her classes, and how she thinks she has a rash on her butt.

"I'm telling you Eliza; I have a red rash on my ass! I don't know where it came from."

I laugh inside her star-shaped pillow, "Go to the doctor."

"I'm scared of the doctor!"

"Then how is it supposed to get taken care of?"

"I don't know!" She screams, scaring any animal in a 50-yard radius.

"You are entertaining Jillian Del Campo." I grin at her.

She sits on the window sill of her room, Tana left over an hour ago having to go take her test. It's just been Jill and I for about an hour.

"I'm glad you're finding this entertaining." She turns to me. "Daniel has asked me out on a date."

I almost fall off the bed at the news, "Are you serious! When did this happen? What are you going to wear? Where is he going to take you?"

She holds up her hands, "Eliza, one question at a time. He asked me out yesterday when we were hanging out at the coffee shop. I just got done studying for my Algebra test and he was nearby, and he asked me. It was horrible, I was in the middle of eating Tiramisu, and the powder caught in my throat and almost choked me. He had to Heimlich me; it was so embarrassing. I surely thought after that he would be done with me, but he wasn't. He wanted to take me to the park, on a picnic."

"Daniel on a picnic? I can't picture it."

"Well, you better. You're in charge of doing my hair, I want to look elegant but not like I put in much effort." I watch as she stands in front of the mirror, balling up her black hair, showing off her neck.

"Do I have any say in this?" I ask.

"No."

Then it's final.