Roman
She didn’t show up for class. Was I shocked after this morning? No. I was one step away from murdering my best friend as well as my other roommates, but I knew I needed to get my shit together. They were already watching me like I was a psychopath. I cooled down and was civil to Nick when I saw him in class. He swore he didn’t know where Theodora was and she didn’t divulge any information. He reiterated he’d only driven her home out of concern for both of us. If I had to weather any more of his guidance-counselor-on-an-after-school-special-bullshit, I might snap his stupid neck.
Knowing Theodora, she wouldn’t say a word to anyone, much less my friends. She was never much of a talker or gossiper and whatever happened between us in the past wasn’t something you shared out on a leisurely drive.
She didn’t return my text or calls. Not that I was expecting her to.
She wasn’t in her dorm room either, and her car was gone. My guess was she went back home to look for whatever information my father so desperately wanted. She probably had a better idea of where to find it than me. I couldn’t leave campus and go after her because we had a game tonight, and Coach always gathered us together several hours before, so we dined together as a team and spent time at the stadium to prepare.
Hours later, in the locker room, my thoughts still drifted. “You okay?” Nick clasped my shoulder looking at me like he was a sports psychologist or some shit. We were in the training room getting our ankles taped an hour before kick-off.
I nodded a response. We weren’t going to sit around and share fucking feelings before we took the field to go to battle. I needed to get focused knowing Theodora was consuming my thoughts. Knowing this wasn’t good. But I couldn’t stop it. And we were playing a high stakes game. Everything was on the line tonight.
“Get your head in the game. Everything else can wait,” Nick added tapping a finger to his temple. I swear that fucker was pushing my boundaries.
“What the fuck? You’ve been on Pinterest searching positivity quotes?”
“Shut up, asshole. I’m serious. We need this win tonight,” Nick said and flexed his wrapped ankle. “We need you, man.”
“I’m good.” As soon as my ankles were taped off, I stood up. “Worry about yourself.” I walked off with my usual swagger. I’d be ready for this game. However, my mind was still on her.
“It wasn’t pretty, but in the end we won,” Coach Jones spoke after the game. He was right. This wasn’t our best game, but we found a way to win. This was probably one of the worst games I’d ever played. Our offense had three turnovers, and I’d contributed to two of them having the ball stripped from my hands when that shit rarely happened to me if ever. Nick had warned me to get focused, and I wasn’t until the second half rolled around.
Luckily, Nick kept his end of the bargain having the defense ready and held the opposing team to only two touchdowns. I thought he might try to kick my ass at halftime. I mean, he could’ve fucking tried. However, I couldn’t argue with him about getting on my ass about my play. It sucked.
Later, I was walking out of the stadium as Nick, Axel, and Dmitri followed behind talking about whatever the hell they were going to do tonight. “You going to the PIKE house tonight?” Axel asked behind me.
“Nah. I’m going home,” I muttered. No one made a comment, although they probably thought I was lying. I was. I was going to drive to Theodora’s apartment because I assumed that’s where she went. Hopefully, I could make her see reason. Let her know how ruthless my father truly was, and how I was playing his game to protect her. I was the only chance she had whether she liked it or not.
I tuned out the conversation behind me because who the fuck cared about campus parties? “I’ll see you guys later.” I waved my hand up and went straight to my jeep doing my best to avoid the crowd of fans, player’s girlfriends, and family waiting for them in the parking lot. As I approached my car, I paused when I saw two familiar people who I’d rather never see anytime soon leaning against the hood.
“Well, son, that was a very underwhelming game you had tonight.” Robert Martinez pushed off the hood to his full height as I neared. Antoni snickered beside him.
“What are you doing here? It’s been awhile since you’ve been to my games.” My father rarely gave a shit about watching me play. He only ever showed up for appearances only. He damn sure wasn’t here because he had a burning desire to see if the Hillside Falcons would remain undefeated and move up in the polls to the top five in the nation. Furthermore, he certainly didn’t care whether or not his son was in contention for the Heisman trophy.
“You question why I would be here? It’s parent’s weekend, and you didn’t even remind me or act like you wanted me here. I’m hurt, Roman.” His condescending tone displayed anything but a wounded attitude.
“Cut the bullshit, Robert, why are you here?”
“Watch your language with me.” I knew it got under his skin when I cursed. It bothered him even more when I used his God given name. What did you expect, Pop? You raised us to be uncaring robots.
“Someone is salty tonight,” Antoni added with a smirk. “I wonder why? Trouble in paradise?”
“Why are you here? You don’t have any friends at school? Or do you still get homesick and have to hang on daddy’s pant leg every chance you get?”
That tugged my brother’s smug look upside down. “At least I’m not pussy-whipped by poor white trash who whores herself out to the highest bidder.”
I clenched my fist ignoring his unimaginative jibe. One day, he was going to push me too far. “What do you want?” I turned to my father.
“I’m hosting a party tomorrow night for Richard. A small gathering and I wanted to confirm that you would be there since Taylor already committed for the both of you. I forgot to mention it this morning since you ended the call so abruptly, and you’ve obviously been too busy to talk to your old man.”
“I knew about it.” I vaguely remembered Taylor mentioning it a few weeks ago, but didn’t give it too much thought after. I’d rather run ten miles in pads than have to attend a boring dinner party for her over pretentious father to raise money for his campaign.
“You better be there. We have a surprise for you, and I hope to have this situation we discussed this morning resolved by this time as well, or I will take matters into my own hands.”
I nodded wordlessly knowing I had to get to Theodora and finish this shit once and for all. My debt to Pops would be paid, and I would put all of this in the past.
“Enjoy your evening. I would say great game, but we both know I’d be lying,” Antoni said lightly as he walked off with my father over to the red Ferrari two spots over. I watched as the engine revved loudly before they sped off. My father and his precious sports cars—a real chick magnet he was.
I grabbed my cell and called Theodora. Of course, it went to voice mail. The robotic generic message came on because she hadn’t set up a voice mail message. “Fuck.” I tossed my phone aside and took off out of the stadium hoping my hunch was right that she was at her apartment.
It was almost midnight when I pulled into the rundown parking lot, and it irked me she was here alone. I parked in the back, several spots away from her battered Corolla that looked like it was on its last leg. I saw a light on through the kitchen window. Before I stepped out and knocked on the door, I grabbed my cell and dialed her number trying in vain again. When it beeped, I clicked off and pocketed my phone.