Stay away from him. He’s poison, Theo. That family will destroy you. Just like they tried to ruin me. My mother’s warning blared loud and clear. I also wondered whether that night finding Roman rummaging through my mom’s things was more than him trying to get rid of all her prescription medicine. What the hell was he doing in there?
Theodora
Why did I feel there were more pieces of that night I couldn’t recall? I knew I’d lost a lot of blood and fell unconscious. My mom had never spoken to me about it. It was almost as though she’d erased it from her memory. Any time I would bring it up, she would tell me it was better to forget about it.
Roman told me the local sheriff came out to the house to investigate, but it was written off as an attempted robbery that went wrong. They assumed the perpetrators took off whenever the glass shattered. Even my mother said whoever they were ran off into the wooded area of the vast Martinez property. Roman, Antoni, and his father were also questioned about their whereabouts. Their stories checked out and were verified.
I’d recounted to Roman what happened so many times in the past whenever I couldn’t sleep and he’d hold me and listen, giving me comfort. Vowing he’d find out who did this, assuring me it would never happen again. Never did I consider that Roman could’ve been involved in this. Until now.
I rubbed my temple and returned to my room after classes. I had a few hours before I had to do an evening shift at the pub. When I keyed into my room, set my things on my desk, and kicked back on my bed, I willed my brain to shut down. As my eyes closed, the door crashed open, and Kenzie rushed in red faced saying the words, “That’s it. I’m over him.” She threw her bags on the bed and hung her head in her hands taking some deep breaths. When she calmed, she twisted her head stroking the space between her brows. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there.”
I kicked my feet over the side and sat up. “What happened?”
“Justin’s a liar and an asshole.” She huffed. “I’m the idiot because I knew the first time it happened, but I didn’t want to believe it.”
“He cheated on you?”
She nodded with her lips flattened. “The weekend of the frat party.”
Which one? I wondered, since there was a party every weekend. But I didn’t ask.
“It happened a few weeks ago.” Kenzie pinched her nose. “It was a packed party, and I was downstairs in his house having drinks and dancing with friends. Justin had been gone for at least thirty minutes. I searched around looking for him and as I went upstairs to his room, he stepped out with another girl. I was drunk at the time, and he denied it telling me he’d only let her in his room to use the bathroom. I knew he was lying, and I ended up sleeping on the couch downstairs. He’d tried to convince me all night he didn’t cheat.”
“Oh, Kenzie. I’m sorry.”
“I am too. I wouldn’t speak to him and didn’t for several days, although he called and texted every night telling me how much he loved me. He even had Will, one of his fraternity brothers, waiting for me after class one day to vouch for him.” She closed her eyes in resignation and ran her hands through her hair. “I was questioning myself beginning to think I had judged him wrong, and Justin was so persistent. He’d leave me messages every day. It was that Thursday before Taylor’s party when Justin came to my door telling me how miserable he was and how he couldn’t focus on anything because all he thought about was me.”
She blew out a heavy breath. “Stupid me because I’d been so hurt about it too, and devastated, and wanted to believe his words. I wanted to be with him and gave him another chance. So, when he asked me to go with him to Taylor’s, I did.” She groaned and scrubbed her eyes. “I’m such an idiot. I found out he fucked another girl that night, at Taylor’s party. In her fucking bathroom of all places. Here’s the kicker…she’s in our Western Civilization class and sat next to us every day. She acted like we were friends. Gah! How stupid can someone be?” She pointed her index finger into her chest. “This girl!”
My heart went out to her. Hell, I was sleeping with someone who might’ve tried to kill me, and was apparently using me for some unknown reason. What did I have or my mother that Roman was obviously after? I shook off my thoughts. “You’re not stupid, Kenzie. Like you said Justin’s a piece of shit, and if he doesn’t realize what a beautiful person you are inside and out, then he’s a douchebag. Screw him. You’re better off without him.”
“I know. In my head, I know. It just hurts. So bad.”
I knew the feeling. My heart hurt too. I was so cautious of Roman and promised myself to never let him wreck me again. I’d shoved my feelings down in a vault long ago with a lock and key, but lately with what he’d said and shown me, I let my guard down. Trust me. He’d said it several times much like a mantra if I’d heard it enough, it would brainwash me. I should’ve known his hate and revenge would catch up to me. I should’ve known by the way his family looked at me like I was nothing. In the end, I should’ve known better.
Regardless, I stood up and walked over to my roomie wrapping my arms around her shoulder. She’d always been the one to bring me out of my shell and give me words of encouragement. I wanted to be there for her. “You’re going to get through this, Kenz,” I reassured her. Not just for her, but for myself too.
A few nights later, after a shift at the restaurant, I walked out to the back parking lot to my car. It was late, almost midnight, and there were only a few cars around probably Chris’ and some other employees. A lone telephone pole leaning pathetically with a lamplight was the only illumination in the area.
The central Texas evening was mild, by no means cold, but I shivered regardless and sped up my pace. I clicked on the key of my old white beaten down Corolla unlocking the door. As I pulled the door handle, I was crowded from behind and a hand landed on my door keeping it closed.
I panicked and screamed before my mouth was covered. “It’s just me.” A deep, familiar voice whispered in my ear. Unease scrambled through my nerves, but I stilled. He twisted me around.
I took a deep breath and said as calmly as possible, “You scared me.”
“I didn’t mean too.” Roman shrugged as he stared. “You haven’t answered my calls or texts.”
“I’ve been busy.”
He tilted his head studying me like a human lie detector, but eventually glanced around. “I don’t like you being alone here at night. Something could happen.”
“I’m fine,” I answered.
“You’re avoiding me,” he reiterated. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. It’s late. I have to study.” I turned to my car and he pulled me back.
“Nuh-uh. You’re lying again, Theodora.” He kept a firm grip on my arm.
I glanced around, seeing no one. I was somewhat apprehensive being left alone with him. However, would he really try to kill me and then save me? I placed my clammy palm on my forehead trying to calm myself. “That night, Roman. When I was…” Almost killed. “Injured. Tell me again what you saw?”