Chapter 3
After I got over my injury, I went back to school.
Besides catching up on regular classes, I had a ton of stuff to handle.
This month, I was supposed to lead the debate team in a competition.
But since I broke my ankle during the sports event, I could only have a few online meetings with my teammates to talk about the upcoming competition.
Online meetings just weren't the same as meeting in person.
So we still needed to practice together to get ready for the competition.
When I got back to the dorm, my roommates were all looking at me with sympathy.
I was confused and asked, "Why are you guys looking at me like that?"
One of my roommates tried to comfort me, saying, "About what happened between Christopher and Queenie... don't be too upset."
"What kind of drama are they causing on campus now?" I asked.
My roommates filled me in bit by bit.
While I was away, Christopher and Queenie were hanging out all the time. It was obvious that they weren't just friends anymore.
They didn't even pretend to be just a senior and a junior.
Christopher seemed to be over our breakup.
He had moved on quickly.
I kept a straight face and said, "Christopher and I are done. What he does with Queenie is not my business anymore."
I figured my roommates would pass the word around for me.
After hearing my side of the story, one of them said indignantly, "You just broke up. It's way too soon for him to be with Queenie."
"Christopher and Queenie sure made a quick switch," the other mocked.
It was hard to know the full story. Only Christopher and Queenie really knew what was going on.
I kept quiet.
Even though Christopher didn't seem to care about my feelings, I had to remember that his parents were close friends with my parents and had always been really nice to me.
So I couldn't say anything bad about him.
Unexpectedly, in the afternoon, Christopher showed up again.
Right after a class ended, he was waiting outside the classroom.
I had been chatting and laughing with my roommates, all linked arm in arm, until I saw Christopher standing there.
My roommates slowed down, and after looking at each other, one of them said to me, "Emily, you guys talk. We'll head to the next classroom and save you a seat."
With me out of the picture, Christopher was probably having the time of his life with Queenie.
He was tapping his foot, waiting for me to finish saying goodbye to my roommates. As soon as they were a few steps away, I heard Christopher mutter, "What's taking you so long?"
"I didn't ask you to stick around. Who do you think you are, acting all superior?" I snapped.
My irritation showed through.
"Pot calling the kettle black. Maybe you should check your own attitude," Christopher retorted.
His voice dripped with blame, more hostile than ever before.
"Emily, did you tell them to gang up on Queenie?" Christopher asked.
His certainty caught me off guard.
It was Queenie again.
Just hearing her name annoyed me now, and so did seeing Christopher. "I have no idea what you're talking about," I replied, keeping my cool.
Christopher kept pushing, "Queenie joined the school debate club. You're a key member! If you didn't set this up, why would the club members shut Queenie out?"
Queenie was already busy with her weekend job and the External Relations Committee. Now she'd taken on the debate club too.
I had to admire her energy. "Why should I care if she doesn't get along with people? I just got out of the hospital, and here you are, trying to blame me for everything," I said, my anger growing.
Seeing how furious I was, Christopher fell silent.
He didn't apologize.
In front of me, Christopher seemed to have no idea how to say sorry.
After a moment, he softened a bit.
In a tone that sounded like he was doing me a favor, he said, "Even if you didn't do it, as Queenie's senior in the debate club, you should look out for her. People would respect you more."
I almost laughed at how out of line he was. "Christopher, have you lost your mind?
"Let me make this clear again, Christopher. We're done.
"If you want to look out for a junior or date Queenie, that's your business.
"But if you keep dragging me into it, don't expect me to be nice."
I made sure to say every word clearly, staring into his eyes so he knew I was dead serious.
Christopher's chest heaved, veins bulging on his forehead, eyes blazing.
Clenching his teeth, he said, "Emily, I really don't understand why you've become like this.
"You were the one who broke up. Don't you dare regret it!"
It was merely a quick breakup in the midst of everything.
There were far more important things in my life than Christopher, and I didn't have time to feel sorry for myself.