Second Chances

By Michael Paterson

Jack is a college student who is well on his way to be a computer programmer, until his world is turned upside down by things that are out of his control

• Language: English
• Publisher: michael paterson
• Release date: Mar 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215939956

Michael Paterson

I write from my childhood for the love of adventure. My imagination has never changed writing is part of who I am.

Book preview

Second Chances

Chapter 1

On my way to Monday classes I had to stop at my girlfriends' apartment to pick up some items I'd left there yesterday. I got to the 4th floor and opened the door, using the key that she had given me months ago. I really didn't expect anyone to be there, she should have been at school, so I was surprised to hear some moans coming from the bedroom down the hall. Had I not had to go into the second bedroom that served as an office and computer room, I probably would never have heard the moaning.

My curiosity was aroused, I walked silently down to the bedroom door that was open just a few inches. There on the bed was my beloved Lauren with one of the football players pounding into her. The moans I heard were Lauren approaching orgasm. Her head was thrown back on the bed, eyes rolled to the back of her head as she called out for Vince, the football player, to give her more and more.

I was in total shock but I did grab my mobile phone and take a few photos and a short video of her calling out that she had never had it so good and that he (Vince) was getting better every time. My heart sank to the floor to find that not only was the love of my life cheating, she'd probably been doing it for quite awhile. How long, I didn't know, or at this point, care.

I turned away from the bedroom, tears blurring my eyes and heart pounding in my chest. Instead of leaving right away, I took the time to quickly and quietly as possible pack up my laptop and all the various disks and items of mine that were in the computer room. I just tossed them into the bag, not worrying about neatness or order as I usually would. I had no plans of ever coming back here again. There were some clothes in the bedroom closet as well. Obviously, there was no way to get them.

I didn't care anymore at that point. As I walked out, I took a quick look around, and saw a photo of me and Lauren in better times sitting on the coffee table. There were some highlighters and markers on the dining table that served as her desk. I took the black one and with a heavy heart, in large, bold strokes, put an X across the photo, then placed it on the table next to the books that Lauren was supposedly studying. She wouldn't be able to miss it, or the message.

I left the apartment as silently as I had come in, throwing my key on the floor just inside the door. I wouldn't need it again. I don't think they even heard me leave, or knew that I had been there. A little about Lauren and me. My name is Jack Wright. I'm not what you'd call good looking or a stud or anything like that. I've got brown straight hair that I wear fairly short and blue eyes. I'm not overly muscular or anything, but not a lot of flab either. I think average would be a good description for me.

I grew up in a small town in Featherstowe. Lauren Hart and her family had moved into our neighbourhood when Lauren was three. I was a year older. Her parents and mine became close friends over the years and Lauren and I basically grew up together. She was my best friend, and we shared everything throughout the years, from the first date to the first kiss (on the swing behind her house) to almost the first everything. Through junior high school and then high school we were pretty much inseparable. People that didn't know us usually thought that we were brother and sister or just close family.

We gave our cherries to each other the night of my graduation prom. It wasn't the normal quickie in the backseat of a car at lover's lane, but a night of unbridled sex and passion in a hotel suite near downtown Featherstowe. While our parents weren't thrilled with it, they accepted the inevitable. My dad even remarked that he was surprised that we had waited for so long. Though we had done some heavy petting and oral through high school we had made a pact that we would hold off on doing it until I graduated. It was magnificent, and I pictured the two of us together forever.

Even when I went away to college, we kept in touch and she would come to visit me or I'd come home on weekends. During the year that I was in college and she was finishing high school I don't think we spent any more than ten weekends apart except during exams. Then it was a little longer but not that much.

When Lauren graduated, she got a full scholarship to the same college that I was attending. Her major was biology with a view to the future in the medical field. I was working my way through college as a tech support guy for the college computer network. As well as getting a fairly good pay cheque, the experience was invaluable since it reflected real world conditions that I would eventually move on to.

Already I had had some head-hunters showing an interest in me because of my grades, and the work that I did on the college computer network. I also did some one-on-one tutoring for some of the students who needed help in maths or some other courses related to the computer systems programme. When Lauren started at the college, she didn't want any part of the dorm life, and the thought of that lifestyle left her feeling cold, so she coerced her father into renting an apartment not too far from the college. I, on the other hand, lived in the dorms because it was affordable, and I was paying my own way.

My parents couldn't afford to pay my way through college, but the job with a good pay cheque, as well as the money I made tutoring, made my life fairly comfortable for a student. I hardly ever saw my roommate, but we seemed to get along just fine. Neither one of us were into the party scene, and Joey, my roommate, was one of the quietest and cleanest college guys you'd ever find. Granted, our room could usually be cluttered and messy, but we weren't really slobs.

Anyway, with Lauren living not too far away and having her own apartment, it was like we had died and gone to heaven. We quickly fell into a routine that had us together one or two nights a week and inseparable on weekends. I'd come over to the apartment on Friday afternoon after finishing class. By the time Lauren got home, I'd have dinner started (yeah, I can cook) and a bottle of wine chilling in the fridge. Life was good, and I thought we would eventually move on to the next logical step of becoming man and wife once we had finished our college courses.

Well, that was then, and this is now.

After leaving the apartment for my last time I trudged back to the college, my gut feeling like I was going to be sick any second and my heart just absolutely crying out, (Why?). I didn't even bother going to class. There was no way I'd get anything out of the lectures in my present mindset. I dropped of my stuff in my dorm, and made my way over to the cafeteria that was sort of a central meeting place for all the students.

I didn't want company, so I grabbed a large coffee, black no sugar, and found a table way back in a secluded corner where I could just sit by myself and ponder the events of the morning. I had just sat down when my mobile phone buzzed. Lauren. I didn't answer just let it go to voicemail. Then I programmed the phone to block any more calls from her mobile and the landline at the apartment, and even her number back at home. Let her call, it would go nowhere now.

I don't know how long I'd been sitting there; long enough for my coffee to get cold. I'd hardly touched it. I gradually became aware of a person sitting across and down at the other end of the table. It was Jane Brown, a classmate. She was one of those people you would never notice in a crowd. Very quiet and introverted. I don't think we'd spoken more than half a dozen times in the two plus years we'd been in the same program.

She was known as one of the brains of the class but I'd never had any real interaction with her. I had never seen her at any of the functions, and couldn't even recall seeing her dating anyone. She was the type of person that seemed to be taken for granted. There, but not really there. Like I said, she is the type you wouldn't really notice. The few times we had spoken, I recalled being quite comfortable talking to her.

Anyway, I became aware that she was talking. Jack, you okay? You weren't at the lectures this morning. Not that you missed much. Old man Reid went off on one of his tangents and wasted a whole period. You look like a big thundercloud is hanging over your head. Are you feeling alright?

I waited a second or two, trying to figure out what to say to her without losing it. Hi Jane, yeah it's not a good day. I didn't elaborate further.

You need someone to talk to? I'm a great listener.

I don't ... I'm not sure that...God Jane, I began to do exactly what I'd feared and could feel the tears welling in my eyes. It's just that I...I...oh goddammit, I caught Lauren with one of the football players,  Vince the star player.

What do you mean you caught... the question died on her lips as she realized what I was saying, Oh my God Jack, I'm so, so sorry. You two seemed to be destined...

I guess seemed is a pretty good description. I don't think I ever want to see her again. And as for Vince...well let's just say I hope they're happy together. My voice must have been rising since I could see some others at nearby tables looking over my way. I got up from the table and made my way out of the cafeteria and began walking back to my dorm. Actually, I didn't want to go there either.

Almost numb, I stood just inside an emergency exit and the tears began in earnest. I don't know how long I stood there, tears pouring down my face. I noticed that Jane had joined me, just standing beside me quietly, not saying anything. Just watching. Go away Jane. I'm lousy company. You don't need any of this. I angrily wiped the tears from my face. Just leave me. Go.

She didn't move, instead she placed her small hand on my arm. Jack, you're hurting right now. You need someone to talk to, to listen. It'll help you through the pain, and you must be in so much pain. I don't think I can even really understand it. But I'm a good listener.

I started walking, going nowhere in particular. I sensed, more and saw that Jane was walking