Love is like the rising sun

During freshman orientation, my boyfriend, Leo, gave the hot chocolate Id bought for myself to his girl best friend, Fiona.

This time, I didnt get mad. I didnt get jealous. I didnt throw a fit. I just looked at him calmly and said, Leo, this isnt working. Lets break up.

I was completely serious.

He just laughed, that cocky, careless laugh of his. You mean it this time, Chloe?

I nodded.

He pulled out his phone and, right in front of me, blocked my number. Alright, Chloe. Lets make this breakup last a little longer than usual. Give me some peace and quiet. Let me see what other girls are out there in college.

Then he slung his arm around Fionas shoulders, turned, and walked away.

One of his friends asked him, Leo, man, Chloes gorgeous. Are you sure you want to break up with her?

He scoffed. Nah. But were in college now. I gotta teach her a lesson, knock that attitude out of her. Let her sweat a little.

You dont believe me? I bet you, in less than three days, shell be crying and begging me to take her back.

That night, I called my mom. Mom, Ive decided to study abroad. Can you start the application process for me?

1

It was the last day of orientation, and my period was due any minute. It was always a nightmarecramps, bloating, the works. At home, Id make a big pot of hot chocolate, which always helped. But here, in the middle of a college campus, that wasnt an option. So I ordered one from a local cafe.

The moment the delivery notification came through, my stomach cramped, hard. I had to go, now. I asked my boyfriend, Leo, to grab the delivery for me from the front gate, then ran for the nearest restroom.

When I came back, my hot chocolate was in the hands of Fiona, Leos girl best friend. She had already drunk half of it.

I frowned. Leo, why did you give my drink to someone else? My stomach was twisting in knots, and Im sure I looked as terrible as I felt.

Oh, this was yours? Fiona said, hopping over to me like an annoying grasshopper and holding out the cup. Sorry, Fluffy I thought Leo bought it for me. I mean, out of all his friends, Im the only one who drinks this stuff. My bad.

Fluffy, youre not mad, are you? Please dont cry again, I cant handle it

I took a deep breath, trying to push down my irritation. My name is Chloe, Fiona. Can you please stop with the ridiculous nicknames? The way she drew out the Flu in Fluffy was dripping with a strange, mocking tone.

Chloe, Fluffy, whats the difference? she said with a shrug and a smirk, bouncing her leg. Youre not even fluffy. Why do they call you that?

Leos friends all burst out laughing.

So, Leos little girlfriend is a cat?
No wonder shes so high-maintenance!
Making our boy Leo get her deliveries for her!

The hot chocolate was forgotten. I was now the butt of their jokes, as if it was the most natural thing in the world for Fiona to just take my stuff.

I looked at Leo. What is this?

He was getting impatient. Its just a cup of hot chocolate, Chloe. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?

You know I started, but I didnt know how to finish. I couldnt exactly announce to a group of guys that I was on my period. The cramps were getting worse, and I felt my face pale.

Know what? Leo snapped.

Fiona pointed at me and laughed. Fluffy, you must have really bad cramps. You know what they say, if your cramps are that bad, you probably cant have kids. Leo, youre going to be heirless! She paused, then added, Okay, okay, dont cry. Here, you can have it back.

She held the cup out to me, but I just grabbed Leos arm. Apologize.

What? He looked at me like I was insane. Chloe, you want me to apologize to you?

Yes, I said. You gave my drink to someone else. You should apologize.

I was dead serious.

Leo stared at me as if Id grown a second head. What, you want me to write a ten-thousand-word apology and post it on the campus bulletin board? Who do you think you are? And who gave you the right to order me around like your personal delivery boy in the first place?

I took another deep breath. If you dont apologize, were breaking up.

Before Leo could even respond, Fiona jumped in. No, no, no, Fluffy, dont do that! Leo and I are just friends! Dont break up with him because of me!

That was it. I had reached my limit. Fiona, I yelled, Ive told you a million times, stop calling me Fluffy! Dont you understand English? And what does our relationship have to do with you?

Leo snatched the half-empty cup from Fionas hand and threw it at my face.

We were so close, I had no time to react. The hot chocolate splattered all over me, and the straw, by some cruel twist of fate, poked me right in the eye. In an instant, tears and hot chocolate were streaming down my face.

2

Through the blur, I heard Leos voice. Always crying. Did your dad die or something? You wanted to break up? Fine. Just dont come crawling back to me in three days. I want to see what other girls are out there in college. I mean, I cant exactly marry someone whose major is swine reproduction, can I?

With that, he grabbed Fiona and walked away.

I just stood there, stunned.

He was right. My major was swine reproduction and herd management. But I had applied for English literature. I had gotten my acceptance letter for the English program. I had no idea how I had been switched to this

When Fiona found out, she had laughed hysterically. Flu-uffy, shed drawn out, hahaha, your name and your major are a perfect match! Youre both animals!

I had gotten into a huge fight with her over that.

The next day, Leo had texted me: *Chloe, Fiona and I are going to Yellowstone. Come if you want, dont if you dont.*

I was at the airport, at the gate, waiting.

Leo and I had been planning a trip to Yellowstone since we were freshmen in high school. Wed heard it was beautiful, like a paradise on earth. I had been looking forward to it for so long.

After we graduated, I had tried to make plans with him, but he had to go with Fiona to her hometown first. He was gone for days. When I confronted him, hed said, Chloe, cant you have a little compassion? You know Fionas situation.

Shes just going back to get her birth certificate and stuff for college. Im just helping her out.

I did know Fionas situation. Her parents had died in a car crash when she was thirteen. She lived with her grandmother and her uncle. Her uncle and his wife were good to her. She had everything their own kids had, and more. Her uncle, probably trying to overcompensate, gave her a huge allowance. But she had gone off the rails. Smoking, drinking, hanging out at internet cafes, getting into fights. She had even spread a rumor that her uncle was stealing her inheritance. Once, she had even hit her aunt, putting her in the hospital. After that, no one dared to discipline her. She and her grandmother moved back into her parents old house. She had access to all the money her parents had left her.

I honestly didnt see what was so pitiable about her situation.

Then, after graduation, it was time to choose a college. Leo and I had known each other since kindergarten. We were next-door neighbors. He had asked me out in middle school, but Id told him to wait until college. He had asked me out again in high school, and at my birthday party, in front of all our family and friends, he had promised to protect Chloe for the rest of his life. I was touched. We encouraged each other, studied together, and planned to go to the same college. After we graduated high school, we officially started dating.

Our test scores were similar, so we applied to the same university. But when my acceptance letter came, my major, which was supposed to be English, had been changed to swine reproduction. I had checked the willing to be reassigned box on my application, but still Its not that theres anything wrong with animal husbandry, its a vital industry. But Id only ever eaten bacon, Id never even seen a pig in real life.

My mom was worried. Chloe, this has to be a sign. Lets just send you to study abroad.

I knew she was right. But I couldnt bear the thought of leaving Leo, of being on the other side of the world from him. And I knew that if I went to the kind of prestigious school my mom had in mind, Leo and I would be finished.

So I had smiled at my mom and said, Swine reproduction isnt so bad. I can get all my certifications in college, and when I graduate, I can go to Wyoming, buy some land, and raise cows and sheep and pigs maybe even some exotic animals.

I had even added, Farming is a noble profession, you know.

My mom had just laughed.

3

And so the matter was settled.

At the same time, Leo had asked me to go to Yellowstone. It was the trip we had been planning since we were freshmen. We booked our tickets and packed our bags. But when I got to the airport, he told me he had changed his flight and had gone a day early with Fiona.

I just stood there, stunned, as the final boarding call echoed through the terminal. I sat on a bench, not moving. Im not a dramatic person, but I had to fight to keep the tears from falling.

I never went to Yellowstone. Leo kept texting me.

*Chloe, are you here yet?*
*Chloe, where are you?*
*Ill come get you.*
*Just text me back.*

I just stared at my phone.

Finally, he called, his voice full of frustration. My hand slipped, and I answered. When he found out I wasnt coming, he started yelling at me, calling me high-maintenance, petty, and difficult.

Chloe, do you have to ruin everything? So I changed my flight and came a day early. Is that such a big deal? Youre not coming? Youre going to make my whole life a regret?

Fine. Be that way.

Later, Leo and Fionas social media was flooded with pictures from their trip. Yellowstone was as beautiful as I had imagined. I just watched in silence. A few of my friends asked if Leo and I had broken up. I didn't answer.

Right before school started, my mom asked me again. Chloe, are you sure you want to go learn about pigs? And then move to Wyoming and be a farmer?

Pigs are kind of cute, Id said.

After a week of orientation, before classes had even started, I regretted it.

I wiped the sticky mixture of hot chocolate and tears from my face. I had a classmate tell the orientation leader I was sick, then I went back to my dorm, took a shower, and changed my clothes.

I called my mom. Mom, Ive thought about it. Animal husbandry is not for me. I want to study abroad. Is it too late?

My moms voice was full of concern. Chloe, are you okay?

Im fine, I said, my voice calm. I just realized that while the drama of high school is great, it eventually has to end.

My mom knew about me and Leo, so she was worried. Its never too late to study abroad, honey. If youre sure, Ill start the process now. Youll be leaving after October. You should take some time to hang out with your friends, say your goodbyes.

I smiled and agreed. After I hung up, the cramps were so bad I had to take two painkillers. Just then, my phone buzzed. A message from Fiona. I opened it. It was a voice recording.

One of Leos friends was asking, Leo, man, Chloes gorgeous. Are you sure you want to break up with her?

Then Leos cocky voice. Nah. But were in college now. I gotta teach her a lesson, knock that attitude out of her. Let her sweat a little.

Someone else laughed. Dude, go easy on her. You dont want to actually lose her.

Leo scoffed. No way. Shes obsessed with me. I can do whatever I want, shes not going anywhere. You dont believe me? I bet you, in less than three days, shell be crying and begging me to take her back.

Then Fionas voice. Leo, if youre going to do it, do it right. Make her get on her knees and beg before you take her back.

Leo laughed. Deal!

The recording ended. Then a text from Fiona: *Flu-uffy, youd better not give in so easily. Dont come crawling back and begging for forgiveness in three days.*

I blocked her number.

4

The next day, my mom confirmed that the study abroad application was in progress. I just had to handle the withdrawal process at my current university. Okay, I said with a smile.

Chloe, I have someone taking care of all the paperwork. You dont have to do a thing, my mom said. But you cant change your mind.

I wont, Mom. I promise.

Good, she said.

The week passed peacefully. Without Leo and his psycho sidekick, college was actually pretty fun. Most people were normal.

On Friday, I got a simple dinner from the dining hall and was about to go back to my dorm to binge-watch some shows. I had worked so hard in high school, I hadnt had any time for TV or books. Now that I was free, I was determined to catch up.

My good mood was ruined when Fiona showed up. The dining hall was half-empty, but of course, she had to sit right across from me.

Fluffy, she said in that exaggerated, mocking tone of hers, youve been holding out for a whole week? How many times have you cried to Leo behind my back? What, is he ignoring you? Did you know I was meeting him here for dinner, so you came to intercept him? Tsk, tsk. Just apologize to him already. I really thought you were going to hold out this time. But here you are, pretending its a coincidence. Oh, right, Leo said he wants you to get on your knees and beg. Why not do it now? Theres hardly anyone here.

I just looked at the contorted expression on her face and felt a wave of nausea.

Fiona, I said calmly, Ive told you many times, dont call me Fluffy. It makes me angry.

I know youre angry, she said with a dramatic flair. I love seeing you angry and helpless.

I was still calm. I picked up the free soup that came with my meal and threw it in her face. Before she could react, I grabbed my stainless steel tray and slammed it into her head. It all happened so fast. *Wham, wham, wham.*

She shrieked and fell backward, her chair tipping over. The sound of her short skirt ripping was audible. A flash of white thigh, a thong, and a few stray pubic hairs were visible.

I grabbed a chicken leg from my tray and, while she was screaming, shoved it in her mouth. I straddled her, made a fist, and started punching her in the head.

It took a moment for everyone in the dining hall to react. Fights usually start with an argument. I had gone from zero to a hundred in a split second. A crowd of students and staff rushed over and pulled me off of her.

Fluffy, Im going to kill you! Fiona screamed, trying to cover herself as she lunged at me.

I grabbed a plastic chair. Fiona, you can hit on my boyfriend all you want. I dont care. I can always find a new one. But who the hell do you think you are, giving me nicknames?

As I spoke, I threw the chair at her.

Just then, Leo came running in. He grabbed me by the hair, and with his other hand, slapped me hard across the face.

I tasted blood.

Fluffy, he snarled, apologize to Fiona.

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