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STRONG SIDE

Noelle - End of Second Year at Walker University

One more month. I can make it one more month.

This has been my mantra all day. It’s the end of not only my second semester of my second year at Walker, but almost the end of the school year at the elementary school where I not only do my early field experience, but also volunteer for their various school programs.

Today was field day, and the chaos from the day with kids ranging from five to eleven just about pushed me over the edge.

Of course, it didn’t help that it was hotter than hell out there.

And on my way home, I realized that I hadn’t eaten at all today, and the headache that’s coming on needs some immediate attention or it’ll turn into a migraine.

My cell phone rings and I quickly glance at the display screen in my car and see it’s my best friend, Casey King, calling me.

He’s been my best friend since middle school and is one of the reasons I chose to attend Walker University instead of Chandler State University.

Outside of school and my boyfriend, Trey, I spend the most time with him.

I tap on the screen to answer his call. “Hello, Casey King.”

“Hello, Noelle James.” He chuckles. “How was your day today?”

“Well, I’m hot, tired, and ready for a two hour shower to try to get rid of this headache that’s coming on. It was field day today, so it was a long day. I went straight to the elementary school from my last morning class, and I’m just now on my way home.” I huff.

“That sucks. What can I get for you? Do you want me to bring anything over?”

This is one of the things I love about Casey. He is always there for me. No matter what.

“No, I’m good. Trey is supposed to come over later, so if I can’t get this headache to drift away, I’ll have him bring me something.”

“Uh huh, yeah right. Well, let me know how that works out and when he bails on you, just text me what you need,” he grumbles.

When I met Trey in our freshman year, I was smitten. He was in my history class and asked me for my notes after the first week, then sat next to me every class afterward. Within a month, we had gone on our first date.

Trey’s my first boyfriend, and well, first everything. He was my first real kiss, I lost my virginity to him, and the first guy to make my heart equally burst and hurt. And Casey has seen it all. He’s not a big fan of my boyfriend, and nothing I say will change his mind.

“Case, he’s been pretty good about not ditching me lately since they lost in the playoffs.

He’s just goofing around until he leaves for the summer league in Minnesota.

He came over last night, too, and it was all good.

” My voice hitches slightly. It wasn’t all good really.

He was on his phone the entire night and barely talked to me at all.

So I went to bed, and when he came in later, he woke me up for sex that lasted all of maybe ten minutes, then immediately rolled over and went to sleep.

“Right. Well, why don’t I just come over with some of that soup you like from The Font? It always helps you feel better. And I’m guessing you didn’t eat much today.”

“Casey, I’m good. In fact, I’m pulling up to the apartment now, and surprisingly, Trey is already here. So if I need anything, he can get it for me. But you know I appreciate you, right?” I spot Trey’s Jeep in the guest parking spot next to mine.

“That I do, James, that I do. Alright, call me or text me later so I know you’re okay.” There’s a slight edge to his voice, but then it softens. “Please.”

I pull into my assigned parking spot in front of my apartment building and turn off my car. I tilt my head back onto the headrest and close my eyes to try to ease my headache. “Okay, I will. You should go out and have some fun with the guys tonight.”

He laughs. “Yeah, okay, I might. Later.”

“Bye.” I open my eyes and press end on my phone.

Taking in a deep breath, I try to summon the strength to get out of my car and climb the one flight of stairs to my unit. My headache isn’t lessening, and if I don’t get some meds in me stat, I’m going to be in trouble. I grab my backpack from the passenger seat and get out.

On my way up the stairs, I hear loud music playing, but I can’t tell where it’s coming from until I reach the landing on my floor.

It’s definitely coming from my apartment, which doesn’t make sense.

I don’t think that Trey would be blasting music while hanging out in my apartment. Maybe it’s my roommate, Cassie.

As I’m putting my key in the lock, I hear Trey shout, but I can’t make out what he’s saying. When I push open the door, I see him pounding into my roommate, who is bent over the arm of the couch. They haven’t noticed me yet, and I’m too stunned to say anything.

“That’s right, Cass. Take my dick like a good little slut. I’m gonna wreck your fuckin’ pussy.” He grabs her hair and pulls it as he pistons into her, forcing her head back.

When I move my gaze to her and look at her face, her eyes are closed, mouth open, clearly enjoying the wrecking of her pussy. Strange thing is…we have never, I mean ever, in the two years we’ve been together, had sex like this. I’m literally struck speechless.

“You feel so good, Trey. Fuck me harder,” she moans.

My bag slides off my shoulder and hits the ground. The sound makes them both look over at me. And he. Keeps. Pumping.

“Oh, shit, fuck. Noelle!” Cassie screeches and at least she has the decency to try to pull away from Trey and cover herself up with my blanket that’s draped over the back of the couch.

He backs up, cock still hard and without a condom, not bothering to cover it and lifts his arms. “What the fuck, Noelle. Why are you home early?”

I can’t seem to make my mouth move, both from the pain in my head and the scene before me. But when Cassie starts to walk over to me, I raise my arms out in front of me to stop her from getting anywhere near me. “Do not come near me.”

“I’m so sorry, Noelle. We didn’t think you would be home so early.” Not a I’m sorry I’m fucking your boyfriend on our couch , but sorry I came home early.

I glance over to see Trey pulling up his boxers. The ones I bought him for Christmas this year that have little baseballs printed all over them. Un-fucking-believable.

“Right, well, I’m so sorry to interrupt.

You two go ahead and enjoy yourselves.” I pick up my backpack and turn to reach for the handle on the door.

“Oh and Trey, we’re so fucking over. You need to be gone when I come back, and I never.

I mean, never want to see or hear from you again.

” I point a finger at Cassie. “And since my parents are paying for this apartment, you need to leave too.”

“What! Where am I going to go? We still have a few weeks left of school.” She whines.

“Cassie, I really don’t care. Go stay with Trey!” I start to laugh humorlessly.

“Come on, Noelle. You’re over—” he starts to speak, but I stop him.

“NO.” Shaking my head and closing my eyes, I can’t muster the strength to engage with him further, my head is full on pounding now, and I need to get out of here. Fast.

When I open my eyes, I look at them both one last time. “Get the fuck out of my apartment by five pm or I’m calling the cops.” I walk out the door, letting it slam behind me.

I rush down the stairs and get back into my car, throwing my backpack into the back seat. I know what I just saw, but also... what the fuck just happened? I never had any reason to suspect that they were messing around in my apartment right under my nose.

My hands are shaking, and my breathing is unsteady. I try pulling in some deep breaths to calm down, or at least clear my head enough so I can leave the parking lot, and don’t have to watch them leave.

Looking around my car, I search for my phone and realize I put it in the side pocket of my backpack when I got out earlier. I turn and reach for it, feeling it buzzing when I get a hold of it. I look at the screen and see it’s Trey calling, and I immediately hit decline.

I can’t hear his voice right now. And literally nothing he could say to me would erase what I just walked in on.

I’m so fucking stupid staying with him for as long as I did.

I heard rumors that he had been fooling around with girls when we would break up, and it hurt, but I convinced myself it was okay because we weren’t together. But this, I can’t ignore.

There’s only one person I want and need to see right now. The only person who could make this hurt less. I open my recent calls and tap on his name, and it dials immediately.

“Well, that was—” he starts to say, but I interrupt.

“Casey, I need you.” And then I start to cry.