The sound of the closing door is like a starting pistol being shot into the air. I growl through my tightly-clenched teeth while the base of my fists pummel the carpeted floor. I'm seething and want to scream, but despite my rage I haven't forgotten where I am. I stand up and try to compose myself. I'm sweaty and out of breath as I grab my bag and head home to lick my wounds.
I drop my keys on the kitchen counter along with my drive-thru dinner. I remember loving fast food, but after years of the same junk, I would pay good money for a home-cooked meal. I just need this day to end already. My mind was in a Never ending loop of everything that happened since I met her. Thinking I was going to get lucky one moment, then worrying I was going to get fired the next. Men are so fucking broken. Their brain just goes to sleep whenever they get a boner.
I plop down on the couch to eat, not caring about the mess I'd make. Who cares? Future me will have to deal with cleaning up. Hoping to find a distraction while I stuff my face, I pick up the remote and start browsing. Eventually I find some World War 2 doc I've been meaning to watch. Nothing more sobering than Winston Churchill's voice dubbed over the evacuation of Dunkirk.
A vibration comes from my pocket. I pull out my phone to see "How to know if your personal info is on the dark web." Damn clickbait reminds me that I need to send that bitch my address. I spent the drive home trying to think of a way to keep my address from her but came up with nothing and forgot about it. I pull open my laptop and go to the online portal for the course she's taking. Damnit, she doesn't have a phone number listed. I tried looking for her on social media and even tried doing an internet search of her name. Nothing. She can't blame me for not knowing her number, right? After a few minutes of internal back and forth, I decide I can't risk finding out.
"Hey Greg, can you look up a student's phone number for me?" Luckily I've got a friend with someone in the admissions department. "She left her bag in class and never came back to grab it. I just want to let her know I have it in case she's panicking. She's probably searching the halls as we speak. I remember when I lost ..."
Greg cuts in. "Hey Will, you alright man? You're rambling."
"Heh, too much caffeine I guess." Nothing suspicious going on here...
"Anyways, I'm not at work so I'll have to get it to you on Monday."
"Dang, alright. Sorry to bother you at home. Oh, and don't worry about it. She is in my Monday class so I'll just talk to her then. Thanks anyways."
"No worries, have a good one."
"Yeah, you too." I hang up the phone and throw my head back into my couch. I guess I will see just how forgiving she can be.
--
Veronica walks into the classroom and I try not to stare. Is she angry? Does she know I tried? Is she about to destroy my career? She takes a seat front and center and looks up at me with no discernible expression on her face. The class rolls along and Veronica offers nothing except for an outfit that would grab any man's attention. Her short skirt and a tight low-cut tee has most of the boys in class looking in her direction. Every time I catch myself stealing glances of her body, I kick myself for wanting anything to do with her. She just sits there taking notes as if all that shit never happened.
Finally class is over. "Thanks everyone, I'll be hanging around for a bit if you have any questions." Students grab their things and head for the door. A few of them hang back and ask about their grade or recommended topics to study for the next exam. Of course there is one seat yet to be emptied. The last student exits and I close the door behind them. I'm nervous to turn away from the door, afraid of what Veronica has in store for me.
I take a deep breath to calm my nerves and turn to face her. She's sitting in her chair with a smug look on her face, her arms are folded and her legs are crossed. I decide it's best to swallow my pride and act remorseful. "I'm sorry I didn't send you my address. I really did try to find your number."
A brief pause, then "How?"
"I looked on the school portal, social media, and all over the internet. I don't know what else I could have done?" Pride be damned, I need to look pitiful.
"That's it? Your lack of effort makes me think maybe you don't want me to have your address. But that's silly right? So there must be a better explanation."
"... I uhh ... oh! I also asked my friend in admissions to look you up, but he wasn't at the school so ... I'm sorry, I guess I'm just not very good at that sort of stuff."
She rolls her eyes. "Come. Sit. We need to discuss how you will make this up to me."
I walk over to her and sit on the floor with my legs crossed. "Are you going to ... expose me?" I mumble, not sure I'm ready to hear her answer.