I never heard from Trevor last night, not even a text message. I don’t know what’s going on with him. I’m doing my best not to let my imagination get carried away, but it’s difficult not to when he’s been acting out of character.

My mind wanders as I walk down the sidewalk on my way to class. There have been a few times lately where he had something planned, but never explained exactly what it was he was doing. I’m all for us not spending every moment together; everyone needs time alone. But I’m not okay with him being evasive about his whereabouts and leaving me to wonder. I’m up front and I expect the same from him.

Although, he’s never been in a relationship before. Maybe he doesn’t understand the basic unspoken rules of being committed to someone. I guess we need to have a talk so I can explain how a healthy relationship functions.

My stomach tosses and turns as I open the front door of the building and it continues to rumble all the way to my classroom. I’m torn between being happy to see him and upset that he dusted me last night. Especially with it being my birthday. I know I saw him earlier in the night, but I guess after the poem he wrote for me, I expected a sweet goodnight text. A quick phone conversation would’ve gone a long way too.

I’m running early when I enter the classroom. I was hoping Trevor would be here and we’d have a few minutes to talk, but he’s not. There’s a cluster of tittering girls standing around checking out something on a phone. Their comments reach me as I slink down onto my seat, dropping my backpack on the floor.

“What a dog.”

“Oh God, she has no idea.”

“I feel bad for her.”

“I don’t. She knew what she was getting into when she agreed to date him.”

“Yeah, but still. No one deserves that.”

“She’s so plain. How did she think she’d hold his interest?”

Leaning my elbows on the desk, I drop my head forward, resting my palms against each temple. This day has barely begun and I’m already exhausted. I slept horribly. I must’ve checked my phone ten times during the night to see if Trevor had texted or called and I somehow missed it.

The sound of shoes shuffling against the tile floor next to me has my head raising. I frown when I realize it’s not Trevor.

“Hi, I’m Mia.” She sits in the seat Trevor usually occupies.

“I’m Grace.”

“Yeah, I know who you are. You’re dating Trevor Lincoln, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I know we haven’t officially met, but there’s something I think you should see.” She holds her phone out and nods for me to take it from her. Tentatively, I reach out and she lays it in my palm. Bringing it over in front of me, I stare down at the screen and notice it’s on The Boston Terriers Buzz Blog. The post headline reads - Which Terrier Tight End has been stepping out on his girlfriend?

October 7th

If you thought Trevor Lincoln having a serious relationship wouldn’t last, looks like you were right. He was seen last night entering the dorm room of a well known cheerleader.

Don’t believe me?

Check out the pics below, they tell you all you need to know. A picture’s worth a thousand words - I can think of a few choice ones.

How about asshole? Cheater? Swine?

Stay tuned for my next post when I’ll be following up on the situation.

Can he worm his way out of this predicament?

What are your thoughts on the recent development?

Will Grace forgive him?

A buff body and a crooked smile can only garner so much forgiveness. I don’t care what he says or who his daddy is, this is reprehensible behavior and I hope Grace kicks him to the curb. She can do better.

Oh my God. My eyes practically pop from their sockets as I stare at the pictures of Trevor holding Sandy on the sidewalk outside his Range Rover. There are pictures of them entering the building and more of them walking down the hallway with his arm around her. Each one looks more intimate than the last. The final pic is of him entering her room.

My heart pangs with despair. I think I’m going to be sick.

The cellphone falls from my fingers to the desktop. I’m numb from head to toe. Except for the agonizing pain racking my chest, like a vise squeezing tighter with each turn.

Mia picks up the forgotten phone and rises to her feet. My gaze once more lands on an image of Trevor and Sandy displayed on her screen.

“I’m sorry. I just thought you should know. You deserve better.”

Swallowing over the tennis ball sized lump in my throat, I nod, averting my tear filled eyes as she walks away. How could he do this to me? He said he loved me and I believed him. Why did he work so hard to get me to go out with him? Was this all a game? I wish he’d left me alone. I was doing fine before he came along.

Professor Gordon enters the class before I have a chance to get my bearings, but I refuse to budge from my chair and walk out. It would only give everyone who saw the post something to talk about. Poor Grace couldn’t handle the news. I think they have enough to gossip about.

I’m so stunned from the events of the past hour, I don’t even realize Trevor didn’t show up to class until there’s only fifteen minutes left. He’s probably sleeping in with Sandy. What a fucker. I don’t know if I’m more angry with him for disappointing me, or myself for falling for his bullshit.

I pack my backpack and sneak out two minutes prior to the end of class. I don’t want to get caught in the hallway by other students and I definitely can’t deal with anyone talking to me about it.

I race to the front of the building and burst through the door. I leap down the three steps on the small staircase and run down the sidewalk until I’ve put some distance between the building and me. I don’t even know where I’m going. Everything’s a blur because all I can think of is Trevor’s betrayal.

No destination in mind, I wander aimlessly along the city streets while my thoughts are ceaselessly on Trevor. What went wrong? Was this always his plan? And if so what did he hope to gain from it?

I find a bakery on Newbury Street, far enough from school that I shouldn’t see anyone. I order a coffee; I’m too nauseous to eat any food. Taking my cup, I amble toward the farthest back corner to find a seat. I want to be invisible and alone in my devastation. I don’t need any witnesses to see what a wreck I am. The last thing I need is my splotchy face and teary eyes plastered all over that blog page.

Slipping into a booth, I face away from the rest of the room and succumb to the sadness. Tears begin to rapidly flow; I’ve held them in as long as I could. They pour down my cheeks in a salty deluge and there’s no end in sight. As fast as I wipe them away, they reappear until I give up and let them fall where they may. My shirt is wet and my nose is plugged when I finally calm enough to send Amelia and Leah a text.

Me: I’m at Nina’s Bakery on Newbury Street. I need you guys. Can you come ASAP?

Seconds later my phone receives a text.

Leah: I’ll leave the dorm now. Be there soon.

She knows I’d never ask this of her if I didn’t really need her.

I’ve barely finished reading Leah’s reply when I receive one from Amelia.

Amelia: I’m out of class in five. I’ll head there right away.

Their reactions make me sniffle even more. I have great friends. They’re understanding and caring.

While I’m waiting for them to arrive I want to crawl out of my own skin. I’m so antsy and anxious. I still haven’t heard from Trevor. Should I text him? If he wanted to talk to me he could’ve texted me by now. But I don’t want him to think I’m running scared either. Even though it feels exactly like I’m doing that.

I type out a message and hit send before I can overthink it anymore.

Me: What’s going on? I haven’t heard from you since yesterday.

While I wait for a reply, my fingernails repeatedly drum on the table until I drive myself crazy with the sound. After five minutes he still hasn’t replied and I need a distraction until my friends arrive. I must be certifiable to do this, but I pull up the Boston Terriers Buzz Blog and reread the post. I study the pictures and after careful examination I’m sure they’re not photoshopped. They’re perfectly clear and I recognize the watch Trevor is wearing. He had it on at dinner last night. Ironically, I liked the way it looked on his thick wrist. I’m not liking it so much after seeing it on him in these pictures.

“Hey, are you okay?” Leah appears beside me, placing a hand on my arm.

“We bumped into each other on the way,” Amelia explains.

“I’m so glad you guys are here.” My voice quivers. Leah sits across from me and Amelia slides onto the vacant chair beside me.

“What’s going on?” Amelia gets right to the point.

“That Boston Terriers Buzz Blog broke a story about Trevor cheating on me.”

“No way.” Leah shakes her head. “He’s crazy about you.”

Using my index finger I slide my phone across the table to her. “It’s true.”

Her eyes show surprise as she reads the post. Amelia wraps her arm around me, squeezing my shoulder, lending her quiet strength.

“What the fuck?” Leah blurts out, handing the phone to Amelia. “I can’t believe this. I want to kick his ass for you.”

Amelia’s eyes sweep over the post, a frown digging a deep groove between her brows as she reads on. She shakes her head and then raises her eyes to look at Leah and I. “I just can’t believe he’d do this. He’s in love with you. I can tell.”

“Guys in love cheat too.”

“Yeah, I guess. This doesn’t make sense though. There’s got to be some kind of explanation.” She sets the phone on the table in front of me.

“Maybe he was drunk. Guys do dumb things when their faculties are dulled.” Leah shrugs.

My eyes drift down to the comments below the pictures and I immediately regret going there.

What does she expect? Guys like a girl who’s a girl. Not one who plays football. - TellMeMore

She’s a ginger. She has no soul. - Blond4tw

Maybe he found a dick under all those football pads? - laughsalot

She’s not his type. I knew it wouldn’t last. Trevor give me a call. I’ll share. - Millie

Who is this chick anyway? - Princess

“Ugh, why are people such assholes? They don’t even know me or what I’m going through and they’re going to make shitty comments. This is bullshit. I can’t read any more of this crap.” I set my phone down disgusted with myself for reading what they had to say. And even more so I’m disappointed their uninformed words have the power to hurt me. They don’t know me and yet they offer their unwanted opinions.

Leah snatches my phone up and her angry countenance gives her mood away. “This is the danger of social media. People feel entitled to say whatever they want as if it’s fact and all the keyboard warriors jump on board.”

“And no one wants to disagree with the bullies because they might become the next victim they call out. It’s a vicious, unfortunate cycle perpetuated by people with nothing better to do.”

“Just ignore this shit, Grace. None of these people matter.”

“I know they don’t. But they sure enjoy kicking me when I’m down. It’s hard enough to be cheated on, but when there are hundreds of ignorant comments from people you don’t know weighing in on what you must’ve done wrong, it really sucks. And you know some people will read this garbage and take it as gospel.”

Leah rubs my hand. “Yeah, they will, but they’re assholes so take that into consideration.”

“Have you heard from Trevor at all?” Amelia inquires.

“Not since last night at dinner. He said he’d call and text, and he did neither. He didn’t show up for class today either.”

Amelia frowns. “This doesn’t sound like him at all. He never flakes on going to class. He takes school very seriously. Owen told me that.”

“He dragged me out of bed to go to class when I stayed over at his place the other night. Maybe Sandy’s harder to leave.”

Amelia jabs her elbow into my arm. “Shut up. Don’t even think that.”

“Maybe he got what he wanted from me. We had sex and the challenge was gone.” I chew on my bottom lip and fight back the urge to cry. How can I have any more left to shed? “I don’t understand how he went from doing such sweet things and being so caring to disrespecting me so badly.”

Amelia rubs my back. “There has to be some kind of explanation. A guy doesn’t have a complete behavior change for no reason.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m done with him no matter what the excuse is. I never should’ve given him the benefit of the doubt and put myself in this position. I’m here for football and that’s where my focus needs to stay.”