Rob lay on his bunk and stared at the ceiling. He tried to count the holes in the perforated particle board panel directly above his head to take his mind off the previous evening's events. After his tussle with Brett he decided it was safer to stay away from the idiot in case he lost it and knocked the guy out. Genevieve had come to find him but he'd told her to leave in the politest way he could. There was no way he could sort out what was going on with him if she was in the room.

Calvin was right. He did have an attraction to the girl but it wasn't the sort of pull where he laid daydreaming about her. She was just there, smiling at him, warming his soul with a quick glance or word.

So different from Becky. Rob felt his heart glow as he thought about how they'd met. Becky had been fire and brimstone. It'd been an exciting ride with heaps of ups and downs. He chuckled at the memory of having to communicate with her by writing notes, and then how he'd had to ask to be moved in math because his leg kept touching hers and he couldn't concentrate on the lesson. The first time they'd made love and his leaving her in Adelaide were moments he'd never forget.

Genevieve. What was she? Soft grass and sunshine. He remembered looking at her the day of their first parade. Seeing tear filled eyes looking up at him and wanting to help but not knowing how. From that moment he felt he was being pulled upstream against a heavy current until the waterway had forced him to stand on the edge of the falls not knowing whether to dive into the flow or, swim against the undertow life was throwing at him.

Rob picked up his phone and looked at the photo of Becky in his contacts list. He'd lied to her and he knew that she knew. He needed to speak to her, to tell her why he'd done it. This thought had him asking that very question. Why? Always why? Calvin had really good points. Being nineteen with a lifelong partner was a big ask when they were both in different cities, meeting different people, focusing on different careers.

He needed to talk to Becky. Rob hit the call button. The phone rang twice and cut off. She'd dismissed the call. Again. Her phone had never had a short ring time like it had over the last twelve hours. "Fuck this." Rob threw the mobile on the bedside cupboard. It slid across the metal top and fell down the back onto the floor. He sat up on the edge of his bed and ran his hands over his face and head. His text message notification beeped.

Becky. It had to be Becky. Rob jumped to his feet, kicked the metal cabinet aside, and then scrambled onto the floor reaching around the unit to grab his phone. He grinned when he saw her name lit up. She'd finally contacted him and now to mend things. Rob flopped back on his bed and opened the message. His chest constricted. A lump caught in the back of his throat. He jerked to sitting. No way. No fucking way. This was not happening. Rob reread the message.

Hi Rob, I apologise for not taking your calls. I'm sorry to have to tell you this but I've met someone else and have been unfaithful to you. It just happened and I have no excuse. My shame won't let me speak to you in person and I know this is really cowardly of me telling you over text message but, I'm breaking up with you. Please know that I am so grateful for everything you've done for me. You have been the best thing to ever happen to me in my life but now it's over. Please stop ringing me because I won't answer and will be blocking your number. I'm also ending our social media contact. I do love you, Rob but not as I did. I wish you all the best and will contact your mum, dad and Linc to tell them so you don't have to. I suspect your parents realised before we did that this would eventually happen. I am so sorry if I've hurt you. Lots of love, Becky.

There was no way any of this was true. The Becky he knew wouldn't have had sex with someone else. He'd be able to tell in the way she spoke to him. She was always so happy to hear his voice when he rang. Rob thought about his last conversation with her. The one where he'd lied to her. She'd been so excited as she'd answered his call. How did she say it? "Hello, boyfriend. What are you doing ringing me on a Wednesday night?" Then she'd said, "It must be my lucky day." Rob shook his head in disbelief. If she'd had intercourse with someone else and was thinking of breaking up with him then, there was no way she would have answered the phone like that. He studied the message again not knowing what he was looking for. No hearts. There were no love hearts.

Rob quickly typed. This is bullshit, Becky. I'm not accepting this. You have not screwed around on me. I don't believe it. I know why you're doing this. I lied to you and I'm so sorry but please answer my call so I can explain. Please, Becky. I'm so sorry. I love you. Don't do this. Please. ♥♥♥

The instant he hit send, Rob punched the call button. No answer.

Poor Rob. I do feel his pain :(