Chapter 01.3

The following week was awful. I was tired all the time, barely able to study, just counting down the days until the weekend so I could finally rest.

But the weeks that followed only brought more disappointment. The weather was different—much colder—and even though I kept tagging along with different groups, I couldn’t really connect with anyone. I tried to call Jenny, but her phone was off all the time, so I casually asked Brian during one of our conversations.

“Amber’s model’s phone is off,” I said lightly. “Is everything okay with the shop?”

Brian just smiled and sighed.

“Oh, right,” he admitted. “Jane asked me after your night call, and I forgot to tell you.”

“Tell me what?” I tried to hide my anxiety.

“She asked me and Amber to remind you that since you didn’t keep your word—her never hearing from you again—she took care of it.” Brian hesitated, then added, “She didn’t explain further, but Paul confirmed she blocked your number.” 

“I see,” I said, hiding my disappointment.

A couple of days after the call with Brian, I stopped going swimming. Somehow, I just didn’t feel like it anymore.

My real friends were far away. Even though I talked regularly with Brian and the others, I could feel the distance growing between us. School didn’t feel special either—Uncle Steve had already told me about most of the things we were learning. Most of my classmates didn’t study much; they only opened their books before tests.

Uncle Steve often called on weekends, but Jenny’s picture had been replaced with a horse, and her name changed to Uncle Steve’s.

It was already late autumn when, one Saturday morning, I called Amber. She never brought up that I called her in the middle of the night—never even mentioned Jenny.

“How are you, bro?” Amber asked. “Go ahead and talk, I’m listening—just cutting fabric while you do. I’ll put you on speaker.”

“If you’re not alone, I don’t want to bother you,” I said quickly. “I know your partner blocked my number.”

“Yes, right,” she said apologetically. “I forgot to tell you… I’m alone now.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I replied, trying to sound proud. “I have something to tell you anyway. I’m kind of seeing this tall, slim girl with short brown hair. Total opposite of your partner—she knows everything. I’m learning more from her than she is from me,” I added smugly. “Her name starts with an H, but you know me—I always forget names,” I laughed. “She’s got a tattoo on her left hip and—”

I was about to go on, but Amber cut me off.

“Sorry, bro, I have to go.” And just like that, she ended the call.

After Amber, I bragged to all my friends about my new fling—and then decided to make the story real.

That evening, after studying, I headed to the party district. The brunette from the pool was there again, sitting at the bar with her friends, drinking and chatting. This time, I approached her with purpose. She’d make a perfect trophy.

She was wearing a mini skirt, high-heeled boots, and a top that looked more like a bra. I asked her to dance. She smiled and nodded after I offered her my hand.

A mid-tempo song was playing—not too slow, not too fast. Perfect for dancing with a girl: close enough to put an arm around her, to gently touch her, but still requiring some actual dance skills. I ran my hand along her bare back, but the whole thing didn’t excite me like it used to. The spark was missing—the kind of connection I had with my ex from our very first dance. Jenny had someone now, so I had the right to move on too.

The song ended, and I walked her back to the bar, to her drink.

“Do you know somewhere quieter?” I asked as I sat down beside her.

“I do,” she said, finished her drink, stood up, and I followed.

We headed toward her room. I took her hand, and she smiled at me. We walked, and I asked her the usual questions—about her family, her studies. I answered her questions too, but I wasn’t really listening. Her room was on the fifth floor of the girls’ dorm. While we waited for the elevator, she turned to me and smiled.

“We don’t have to talk so much. I’m not looking for a husband,” she said with a grin and pulled me into the elevator as the doors opened.

Inside, she gently pushed me against the mirror, wrapped her arms around me, and kissed me. I didn’t have to bend down—wearing boots, she was almost my height. I tried hard to return the kiss, but the whole thing felt wrong. I don’t know why, but it just didn’t feel right. After a few seconds, I pulled away—luckily, the elevator doors opened just then.

“I’m sorry,” I said as I stepped out. “This wasn’t a good idea.”

I left the surprised girl behind and ran down the stairs, back to my room.

After that night, I mostly just studied and slept. I couldn’t bring back the old Jay, and I started avoiding parties altogether. I slept way more than I used to. This place wasn’t what I thought it would be.

In truth, I hated being here.