I woke up to ten text messages from Brad. They started off Sweet and concerned. Then quickly escalated to angry and demanding. When I stepped out side to go lunch with john. Who I was going to meet at the cafe Brad was there waiting for me to come out.
I'm sorry about the text I was just worried about you . You know how you make me get when I don't hear from ..... he paused without finishing his sentence. I could feel his eyes examining me. Are you wearing that today? You need to go inside and change.
I answered him short and sweet it's hot. I was wearing a white skirt with a pink collared shirt and a pair of white sneakers. I had my hair which came down to my shoulders tied back in a ponytail.
I'm not going to sit with you in the cafe looking like that. I didn't ask you to I'm meeting John there.
I suffer from anxiety attacks when I'm around a crowd of people. Especially people I don't know. I've always been this way. My body tenses up, and I feel like I can't move my neck . I end up just sitting there not able to talk. Over the years I have found ways to conquer it. John has been my friend since elementary school. So he knows about my problem. Whenever I go in the cafeteria I usually get my friends to sit around me. One sits in front of me and the other sit beside me. That's my safe place. If I don't have anyone to eat lunch with me then I don't go . I'll just fine whatever I have in my room.
In the past Brad has used this to get what he wants from me. If I'm wearing something he doesn't approve of. Like lipgloss, shorts, tops or even a dress. He would threaten to take a picture and send it to my mom or tell me that I'd have to go to lunch alone.
This time it didn't work I could tell he was getting mad but, he was trying to control hisself because people were around. He didn't like not winning. The walk to the cafe was a quite one. Every time a male spoke to me or waved I could feel his anger growing.
After we finished with lunch. Ashely#1 my roommate, Ashely#2 and John where done with their classes for the day. They asked me if I wanted to walk down town with them.
Sure I don't have anything else to do. I'll come too Brad invited himself. Don't you have three more classes I asked him. Yeah but I'll just shoot them a email saying that I'm not feeling good today.
We walked down town and ate some Chinese food from LuLu's. I love their shrimp egg rolls. After LuLu's we went into a different stores window shopping. Our last stop was the music store. I had so much fun that I forgot about all my worries. Maybe Brad was just scared and unsure like me. He would never hurt me.
As we were walking down the side walk that lead back to campus. I laid my head on Brad's shoulder and he put his arm around me and his had on my stomach. The others were walking behind us. As he Kissed me on my check he gave me a shove into the road.
What the hell are you doing I screamed out. Oh I'm sorry I did mean to push you that hard. It was a joke I was trying to scare you. He picked me up in his arms bridal style. I'll make it up you. That was a stupid joke Brad, John said.
Leave it to Brad to do something stupid like that the Ashely's said shaking their heads and laughing. At that time everyone was laughing. Everyone but me because I knew that was a warning. That if I didn't give him what he wanted he would just take it with out any help from me.
Brad whispered in my ear do you see how easily I would get away with it. Just a joke gone bad he made a fake tear fall down his face and then he kissed me. Make sure you get some rest tonight Nicole. We are going to the clinic in the morning.