WARNING: This story includes extremely dark themes, please do not read unless you are interested in such a genre.
Thank you for your generous response from the previous act, whilst these stories are not intended for everyone I do appreciate your feedback and support.
Natural Consequences
Act 2
With crimson morning rays shining through the window, the silhouette of the large oak tree casted itself along the walls of the dorm room. The birds that were nesting busily gathering the final twigs that they needed for the looming winter; chirping merrily as they went about their business. This wonderful morning provided a brief distraction from the scene that laid inside the room, as I laid slumped over a chair my back ached and my legs hurt from an uncomfortable night's sleep.
Beyond the mess of clothes that laid strewn across the floor, my best friend and girlfriend were still sleeping peacefully in my bed; half covered under the crumpled bed sheets. Emily was lying to the side of Dominic so that her arm rested on his chest, her hair and make-up a mess from the night before. They looked so tranquil as their bodies glistened in the early morning sun, to anybody else they would have looked like an endearing couple recovering from an innocent night of pleasure; unfortunately, I knew this was far from the reality.
As I got changed into a fresh pair of clothes, I quietly left the dorm room as to not awake them. Looking back one last time before I closed the door, I gazed upon the once innocent treasure that was Emily; embracing who I had thought had been my trusted best friend. My mind couldn't yet process the immense feeling of pain and betrayal that lay inside, at this moment of time I was merely acting on auto-pilot.
"Hey Matthew!" I heard my friend James call from down the hallway as I quickly fumbled to close the door.
"Hi mate, good morning" I replied as to my relief he hadn't glanced inside in time.
"How was last night? I noticed you talking to Emily," James asked.
For a moment I couldn't almost bring myself to answer such a question, or even to form the words necessary. Eventually I managed a couple... "Went well," I nodded towards my door with a smug grin as we fist bumped each other. Of course, as James continued along the corridor, I knew last night wasn't anything to be smug about in the slightest.
As I heard rummaging from inside the room, I hurried along the corridor yet unable to confront the situation. Not knowing where I would go, or how I could ever act normally around my 'best friend' or 'girlfriend' I just needed away, away from all the pressure, away from all the confusing feelings, and most of all away from whom I had thought were the two most important people in my life.
I took a breath of the fresh autumn air as I stepped outside the dormitory, after what I've been through I welcomed the tranquillity and serenity that the day offered all the more. Campus was slowly starting to awaken, a few drowsy students scuttled about undoubtedly reaping the consequences of the night prior.
On the face of it I too was in no different a circumstance, though as I looked up at the tall almost barren oak tree, it's limbs reaching out towards the façade of the dormitory; inside where Dominic and Emily would be getting ready for the day ahead I knew this was merely denial.
I decided it would be best for everyone to have some space for a while, time to fully process the previous night and time for them to work on their apologies. I took a walk around campus, appreciating the chirping of the birds and the fall of autumnal leaves. Looking at everyone going about their day, from friends to couples that no doubt had never felt even a fraction of the betrayal and humiliation that I had experienced just stirred even more wretchedness inside.
Sitting down on a secluded park bench, that by being shrouded beneath tree cover and circled by lush foliage was often my preferred lunch time location when I eat alone; I felt finally at ease. Closing my eyes, I thought back to the night before, how things had gone wrong from the start; and indeed, how everyone had got totally carried away. Was I to blame for agreeing to a foursome at the start? Or was my critical mistake choosing to watch instead of participating in some form? Albeit at the time, I felt like I had no choice at all.
After all, how could I be to blame, when Dominic was the one that broke his promise and chose to fuck the brains out of my girlfriend? How could I be to blame for all the cruel words that my girlfriend had thrown my way, that purely sought to belittle and to humiliate. The words that had seemed so true last night, providing answers that I had been searching for all my life, yet in the clearness of morning I couldn't bring myself to believe.
However, what hurt most of all, was that these wretched words were spoken by the person whom up until late last night, I was absolutely convinced was the girl of my dreams. And further still, that the one who stole this girl from me in the most wicked of betrayals was my childhood best friend. As these dreadful thoughts plagued my mind I had finally started to grip with what had happened, and now finding myself utterly alone; I buried my head in my hands and began to weep.
I let all my pain out in a wail of raw emotion, not in the least because of the awful events of the night prior; but in addition to the all but unavoidable loss of my relationship with my sweet sweet Emily. I had secretly admired this girl for years, perhaps naively imagined that there could be a small chance that we were destined to be with each other, destined to fall in love, to start a family and to share our passion of architecture. This future had been destroyed, right in front of my eyes by my best friend in a spectacular fashion.
The friend who through the past decade has only been absolutely loyal, respectful, and just great fun to hang out with. I have always tried to see the best in people, and whilst I'm sure Dominic had acted without malice; for the time being I couldn't help weep my heart out at the sheer tragedy of it all.
"Hi, hi," I heard a soft voice call anxiously close-by before I felt the soft embrace of a hug wrap around my chest from behind. As I was gently pated and soothed by this mystery girl, they continued to talk with the most mellow, and wonderfully feminine of voices that I have ever had the pleasure to listen to. "It's okay, it's okay dear, everything is going to be alright. Can you tell me what's wrong, whatever could have happened?" she soothed as she moved positions to kneel in front of me.
"I'mm......... I'm fine.........I'm fine," I replied impulsively, gasping for air in-between every other word as I tried my best to control my emotions, holding my head down in embarrassment all I could see were her gorgeous legs; strikingly revealed by her denim shorts whilst pink All Star boots perhaps hinted to her personality. As I raised my head with eager anticipation to gaze upon this unparalleled beauty; I could immediately tell that this kindness was no mere veneer.
She had long golden hair, that sparkled in the sunlight, a beautiful complexion, an enchanting smile with a hopeful gaze; and an unbelievably magnificent body; that more than rivalled any girl I had ever seen before. For a few moments I was utterly transfixed by her remarkable looks, unable to think about anything else other than how a girl this spectacular could ever pay someone like me any attention.
"What's your name, what's your name?" she asked as she rested an arm around my back, tracing my neck with her soft delicate fingers as I gazed into her magnificent ocean blue eyes.
"I'm Matthew......... I'm Matthew," I replied, the gap between breathless gasps widening as I slowly recovered from my outburst. Throughout my life I had always hated to seem vulnerable, to seem weak. However, as I sat here in front of this mystery girl these worries were at the back of my mind, her sincere compassion and angelic demeanour instantly disarming.
"Come on now Matthew, tell me what's wrong?" she asked as she sat down beside me on the bench.
"Jesus Christ," I laughed, "It's stupid. It's a stupid...... thing to be so upset about," I couldn't help but feel a little bit embarrassed as this mystery girl hung on every word; clearly eager to help me feel better.
"I'm sure it's not stupid Matthew," she soothed.
"Okay.... Okay, my girlfriend cheated on me with my best friend," I let out the unspeakable truth with remarkable ease, finding myself unable to lie to this mystery girl, albeit this was the least embarrassing version of the truth that I could bring myself to tell. "I feel awful, I don't know what to do, I don't know if I want revenge or if I just want everything to be over!" As I looked up to gauge her reaction, I had not expected to be greeted with the same unfaltering smile and hopeful gaze as I had seen before. She seemed so pure, so incorruptible.
"Thank you, thank you for telling me the truth. Trust me I know friends this has happened to, it hurts... it fucking hurts!" It somehow seemed so unbecoming for this mystery girl to swear, yet it helped drive her message home all the more as she paused for a moment to think, "I guess, I guess you need to think about the kind of people that you choose to have in your life. If they aren't there for you, as you are for them; it's not worth it. You need to cut toxic people out of your life," every word seemed so true and reassuring.
My tears and breathing now under control as I met her affectionate gaze, even though we had just met moments earlier I felt completely at peace within her soothing company. Time had almost slowed to a still, and as a few leaves drifted down from the upper canopies as if in slow-motion I allowed myself to be overawed by her beauty. "Thank you," were the only words I managed to speak as she reached forward; cradling me within her warm embrace whilst she began to whisper into my ear.
"I know you're strong Matthew. It takes a real man to be able to show their emotions, to allow themselves to be vulnerable. Yes, you're feeling pain now, though you can get past this. In time you can find the person that is right for you, all it takes is a little bravery and perseverance." Although I wasn't under any impression that such a search wouldn't be simple, from listening to this mystery girl life at least life seemed worth living again; that I could have meaning.
