Inevitable

The Truth

My first thought was that it was my neighbor letting me know that we were making too much noise. I would be mortified if that was the case.

"Henry I have to get that."

"No you don't."

He continued kissing my neck but his hand had stopped it's downward movement. There was another knock. He finally rolled off of me. I sat up and tried to fix my hair as best I could. I quick went to the door and cracked it open to see who it was. It wasn't my neighbor but a friend of Jane's that lived down the hall.

"Hey Em! Is Jane here? I had a question about this lab assignment we got in Bio on Thursday."

"Sorry Liz. She's not here. Maybe try texting her."

"Okay I'll do that. What's up with you? I haven't seen you in a while"

I wasn't in the mood for small talk.

"Not much. Just getting ready for finals."

"Yeah me too. I can't believe the semester is almost over. Doesn't it feel like we just moved in?"

I heard Henry behind me stifling a laugh. At least one of us was enjoying this. Liz must have heard him as well because her eyes got huge when she realized I had a guy in my room and she interrupted something.

"Sorry Em, I didn't realize you had company. I'll see you later." She quick turned and made her way back to her room at the other end of the hallway. Well that was embarrassing. I shut the door and walked back over to my bed. Henry was smirking at me.

"That was awkward. Talk about impeccable timing." He took my hand and tried to pull me back down onto the bed but I resisted. He looked hurt.

"Henry, I think we should hit the pause button on what was happening before. Jane could have walked in on us. My neighbor could have heard us. I think I need to slow down. This is all happening really fast. For me, anyway."

He sat up and patted the bed next to him for me to sit down. I obliged. He took my hands in his and looked me directly in the eye.

"We will go as slow as you need. I'm not going to lie. I want you. Probably more than I've ever wanted anyone before. But I want it to be right. I'm not messing this up. So you set the pace. And I'll follow."

I leaned over and kissed him softly. "Thank you."

"Let's go eat. I'm starving. You made me work up an appetite." He stood up and grabbed his shoes. I checked myself in my mirror and slipped on my sneakers. We left my room and made our way to the dining hall. I lead the way to the little coffee stand that stayed opened all the time. We ordered bagels and coffees and went back outside to eat on a bench. My mind kept wandering to what happened in my room and what would have happened if Jane's friend hadn't knocked on the door. It scared me and exhilarated me. I felt so alive when I was with Henry. He brought out a side of me that I've always been too scared to show anyone else.

"What are you thinking about? You look like you went somewhere else."

"Sorry. I was actually thinking about us. It's so different from anything else I've ever felt. I didn't expect this. I wasn't even looking. Sometimes I can't believe it's real."

"I know what you mean. I've always been so against having a serious relationship in college. It always seemed so pointless. And then I met you. And I just knew I had to be with you. Nothing else matters."

I couldn't help the smile that came to my face. It made me so happy to know he was feeling the same way as me. Before I could say anything else, Henry's phone rang. He looked at it and said, "I have to take this. It's about a gig." He stood up and walked away to take the phone call. I took a bite of my bagel and watched Henry talk on the phone. He looked adorable. His clothes and hair were disheveled after sleeping in them but it looked good on him. It also looked like he hadn't shaved all week and I hoped he kept it like that.
    I was interrupted from appreciating him by my phone ringing. I really hoped it wasn't Jess. I didn't want her to ruin my day. I saw that it was Jane so I answered.

"Hey girl, what's up? Are you still at Bill's?"

"Hey Em, I need to tell you something. Are you still with Henry?"

"Yeah but he's on the phone. What's wrong?"

"It's bad Em. Last week, Henry told the guys in his band that he was going to sleep with one of Jess's friends to get back at her for being so mean to him. They said his exact words were 'I'll fuck her prissy friend as payback for being a total bitch.' And this morning, when they realized he never came home, they thought he had done it with you. They crashed here last night and they were all talking about it this morning. I'm so sorry Em. I had to tell you though. I really thought he was a good guy. Bill and Nick swear they didn't know. And I'm a little scared of what Jess is going to do. She wanted to be the one to tell you but I thought it was better if I did it. Especially after what she said to you last night. Do you need me to come home? I can have Bill drive me."

I almost dropped my phone. The bagel I had been eating felt like it was going to come back up. I was devastated. Every doubt I had about Henry was right. And how stupid could I be. Jess was right. I was pathetic. I was a joke.

"Em are you still there? Should I come home?"

"No, that's okay. Thank you for telling me." I hung up before I completely broke down.