Chapter 32: Gary Tells All

He hated this place with a passion. He couldn't wait to graduate. He was unfortunately labeled a dork. Gary couldn't believe those kind of labeling still existed in University. He was probably just unlucky enough to have chose the one university filled with immature students.

Tall, skinny with glasses and no sense of style; Gary always had a hard time in school. He barely had friends and no girlfriend which was fine with him because he wanted to concentrate on on his studies. His one distraction was in a sociology class he had chosen to complete his curricular. Her name was Victoria. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, whenever she'd catch him staring, she would smile. He would spend his night dreaming of her, hoping someday he could work up the courage to ask her out.

It was a friday, He remembered it clearly. He woke up the morning feeling like a million bucks. He would ask Victoria out and whatever her answer would be, it wouldn't bring him down. He wasn't expecting a positive answer but at least it would be an ego boost knowing he was confident enough to walk up to a beautiful girl and ask her out. Once the class was over, Gary rushed out side the class to catch up to her.

In the middle of a crowed hall, he yelled her name. She turned around and smiled.

"Hi, Victoria."

"Hi...I'm sorry, I don't know your name."

"It's Gary...We share this sociology class."

"Oh, that's where I know you from. What can I do for you, Gary? You'd like my notes, help? You think I'm beautiful and want to ask me out?"


Gary laughed nervously, for a second, he was tempted to tell her he wanted her notes, but she was standing right there. It was too late to back out.

"Actually, it's the latter."


Victoria looked at him. She then let out this obnoxious and loud laughter that had everyone close by turn to see what was going on.


"ME? ON A DATE WITH YOU? Surely you gotta be kidding."


She turned around and left, she was gone. He was humiliated. He could hear everyone around laughing and pointing fingers. It would be a long semester. A very long one. He had expected to be turned down but not that she would make this rejection so public.


About a week after, Victoria came out of nowhere right outside the campus as Gary was walking home.


"Hey you! Remind me your name."

"It's Gary, what do you want?"

"Hmm...angry, I like that. I wanted to apologize. I was mean the other day. You know what? You are kind of cute. I would like to be forgiven for how I treated you. Let's go on a date."

"Really?"

Gary would've punched himself for sounding so enthusiastic. He should've known she had a hidden agenda but he was taken aback by her proposal. The thought went through his head that she probably changed her mind because he looked so confident when he asked her out before. He should be as confident now.

"I mean, absolutely. Sure, let's go on a date. How about thursday? Friday is a holiday after all, no class."

"Amazing! You'll pick me up?"

'Uh...sure."


Victoria had him right where she wanted at that very moment. He didn't like thinking about it, it just made him angry.

"Gary, you seem on an entirely different planet."

"Sorry, Graham, I was just thinking I never told you all that happened with Vicky."

"All that happened with Vicky? What? When?"

"No worries. Nothing recent. Funny, she either didn't remember me or never put the pieces together. Then again, she's never been very good at caring."

"I'm lost, Gary, wasn't your history with Vicky limited to asking her on a date and get publicly rejected and humiliated?"

"Oh, thanks, Graham, really sensible. I know you find it funny, but it hurt. Anyways, that was years ago. I didn't held a grudge for that. No, if this was all, I would've moved on easily."

Chapter 31: An Interesting Phone Call

Keshia had about given up on the idea Alice might call her. She wanted to get back at Victoria badly. She didn't want to contact Graham herself. Alice would've been the perfect messenger. No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't find another plan. That was before Mandy volunteered.

"You do realize that if you do this and Vicky finds out, your friendship is over."

"Yeah, well, with friends like that, who needs enemies? I don't really care. Let's just go over the plan again.

I accidentally "bump" into Graham after an interview at the building and I ask him how Vicky's doing. Whatever he answers, I manage to talk about how upset you were that Vicky read your diary and found out about the infidelity. This should be enough to get him right where we want him. Best of all, no need to get Alice involved."

"Are you sure it will work?"

"I don't see how it could possibly fail unless he trusts Vicky blindly which I doubt. Not so soon after they got back together. Hell even after years being friends with her, I still watch my back in case she's about to stab me."


Everything had gone exactly as planned according to Mandy. Not long after, Keshia's phone rang. It was Graham and he had a few questions.

"Keshia, how are you?"

"I'm great...Graham?"

"Yes it's me. I'm not going to beat around the bushes here. I have a few questions and I would like a straight answer from you."

"Yes, sure, ask away."

"I ran into your friend, Mandy today. Of course, I don't know her very much so our small talk revolved pretty much about you and Vicky. Now she mentioned something I did not pay much attention too and it's only ringing a bell right now... Did Vicky read your diary? Is that how she really found out we slept together?"

"Yes, she did read it."

"Are you absolutely positive?"

"Listen, Graham, I can tell you without a doubt that she did, I could even point the exact pages she read. I'll tell you a secret. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a detective. I used to set up little "traps" to find out if anyone was messing with my things. I also had this fingerprinting kit and other gadgets.

Vicky and Mandy don't know I've never outgrown that hobby. I have fun and sometimes, it comes in handy like when I realized someone had been through my old diaries. It's Vicky and I'm not just supposing."

"Thank you, that's what I had to know. Just one other question. Why does Alice have your number?"

"I was planning on telling her about the diary. I didn't want you to get the information from me. I don't really like being involved in this mess."

"Well, unfortunately you are but thanks."


Keshia smiled; hopefully Graham would take the appropriate decision concerning Vicky.

Chapter 30: Careful What You Wish For

"Graham, I've been waiting for over 30 minutes. You know how much I can't stand being at a table on my own so I wouldn't go in. To top it off, you're cell phone was not even turned on."

"Sorry Vicky, I was at the hospital. Alice's due to be released soon."

"God, I wish I'd never hear you say her name again."

"Well you might just get your wish."

"True, she's moving out of town soon. Actually not soon enough."

"She's not moving out of town, Vicky, she changed her plans. How about we talk about it over dinner? I'm sure they've kept our reservation and I'm hungry"


Victoria was hungry too so she decided to let him off the hook. Only for that moment though.

"Let's have some wine, Graham. I want this to be a romantic diner. You owe me after all that waiting."

"Yes, sure, order whatever you would like."


Graham was distant he didn'tknow how he should bring up the subject. He had invited Victoria for diner for a precise reason. Only now, Vicky seemed to be in a romantic mood. He would ruin her diner if he started telling her why he brought her there. On the other hand, he didn't want to be deceiving. He was the one who picked up the restaurant. Somehow it all made sense to him before; end it where it all started. Now it seemed mean and cynical.


"Something's bothering you? I've asked you three times already what you were having."

"I'm sorry, Vicky. I'm just having second thoughts about this diner."

"Why would you have second thoughts about a simple diner."

"Weren't we suppose to discuss our future together? We were cut short last time we tried discussing the subject."

"It can wait after. Now I just want to spend sometime with my one and only."


Victoria smiled while inside she was torn apart. Something was wrong and she could feel it. He was late for starters; extremely out of character. Then there was this enigmatic comment about Alice. Now to top it off, it was easy to tell his mind was somewhere else.


"Vicky, how strongly do you feel about me, about us?"


The dessert had barely arrived that Graham felt he couldn't take it anymore and needed to end it as soon as possible. Vicky had been sweet through the whole diner, making future plans. Romantic gestures, romantic lines, she hadn't miss anything. He refused to believe she didn't notice his lack of candor. If he waited a minute longer, he knew he would hate himself for doing so.


"Well, we've had our differences. I believe what we have now is great. We are stronger than ever, we can tell each other everything. I love you, Graham; I'm willing to go the extra mile for you.

I've learned a lot when we were apart. Like how I can be cruel and dishonest. I still have a bit of a jealous streak but I'm working on it. You have changed also. You are more of the man I was looking for. I've never been so in love."


Victoria smiled and held Graham's hand. She was facing him and he couldn't bare the thought of seeing her face as he hurt her so deeply. He brought his hand together, away from Victoria's. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.


"Vicky...I wish I could tell you I felt the same. I do love you but all I learned while we were apart is how I wanted and needed someone different. You just said you learned how cruel and dishonest you could be and that stayed with me. I can't forget how you just played with other's emotions including mine.

I also believed the games were over and we'd be honest with each other. Only I just obtained an interesting information. You lied, Vicky; once again. Just when I thought I could trust you, I realize you haven't changed at all."


Graham opened his eyes. He could face her now. He had nothing to feel bad about, she had brought it up on herself. Vicky didn't seem to understand. He waited a moment to see if she'd try to deny or defend herself but she stayed silent.


"You didn't know from the start that I cheated, did you? You found the information in Keshia's diary. Then you came to me with this nice little story to justify your wickedness when you left me. You had lost everything and wanted it back. I guess you would do anything. I wouldn't call that love, Vicky. I will not have a life based on a lie and maybe lies since I can't tell how many you've told. It's over."


Victoria was crying. She didn't even want to stop Graham from leaving. She was out of tricks. Now she understood what he meant when he said she wouldn't hear him say Alice's name again. She just wouldn't hear him again.


"I'm sorry, Graham. I'm so sorry you wouldn't believe it."

"You're right. I wouldn't."


He got up and left.