Strings with Professor Theodore

Bianca practically skipped down the hallway of the college, her heart beating faster than it ever had.

Her face glowed with excitement and she clutched a small, neatly wrapped box in her chest.

Today was Benson birthday and she had been planning his surprise for weeks.

She had woken up extra early, gone to the city to pick out the perfect leather bracelet she knew he'd love and even added a tiny engraved plate with his initials and hers

She imagined his face when she saw it, the way his brown eyes would light up, the smile that would spread across his lips, and the way he would pull her into a tight hug, whispering how much he loves her.

Bianca stopped near the library, looking around eagerly. She spotted a few of Benson’s course mates and ran over, her red hair bouncing behind her.

“Hey,have you guys seen Benson?” She asked, her voice bright and full of energy.

One of the shrugged. “Uh…last time I saw him, he was headed toward the east wing classrooms”

“Thanks!” She said, giving them a quick wave before hurrying off.

She walked quickly, her mind running wold with ideas of how she would surprise him.

Maybe she'd sneak up behind him, cover his eyes and then hand him the gift.

Or maybe she'd call his name and watch his face light up when he saw her.

And as she approached the east wing, the hallway grew quieter. Her steps slowed as she listened, tilting her head slightly when she heard muffled voices coming from one of the empty classrooms.

Curiosity sparked inside her, and she tiptoed forward, peeking through the small glass window on the door.

Her heart stopped.

There he was, Benson standing so close to another girl that their bodies almost touched.

The girl's long hair fell down her back, and she was laughing softly as she traced her fingers along his chest.

Bianca's eyes widened when she saw his hands slip around the girl's waist and pull her closer

Then before Bianca could even blink, Benson leaned down and captured the girl's lips in a long hungry kiss.

Bianca felt her entire body freeze. The box slipped from her hands, hitting the ground with a soft thud her hands echoed loudly in her head.

She felt like she couldn't breathe.

Finally, she shoved open the door, her eyes wide with shock and rage. “Benson!”. She screamed, her voice trembling.

They pulled apart quickly and the girl whose name was sarah turned with a mocking smile curling on her lips.

Bianca didn't think.

She rushed forward and shoved Sarah so hard that she stumbled backward and hit a desk, almost falling.

“What the hell are you doing with him?!” Bianca shouted, her voice cracking as she pointed at Benson.

Sarah's face twisted with anger, but before she could respond, benson hurried to her side.

He gently helped her up, his hands supporting her back and arm as he checked to make sure she was okay.

“Are you okay, babe?” He asked Sarah softly, completely ignoring Bianca's shocked face.

Bianca felt her world tilt. She stumbled back a step, her lips parting as she stared at him. “Babe?” She whispered her voice barely there.

Benson finally turned to look at her, his expression cold and uncaring. “Yeah, Sarah is my girlfriend,” he said softly as if he was telling her the weather.

Bianca's mouth opened and closed. “What…what do you mean? I'm your girlfriend! What do you mean Sarah is…”

Before she could finish, the classroom door swung open again.

Two of Benson’s bestfriends walked in, laughing loudly about something.

When they spotted Bianca, they froze and then burst out loud, cruel laughter.

“Look who it is!” One of them jeered, clapping his hands sarcastically. “The queen of daydreamers herself!”

“Yeah! The idiot who thought she had a future with Benson!” The other added, doubling over with laughter.

They started mimicking her voice in a high pitched tone.

Benson, when we graduate, let's get a house together and maybe a dog

Benson, I can't wait to grow old with you

They laughed harder, slapping each other's backs as tears rolled down their cheeks from how funny they found it.

Bianca felt her legs weaken.

She reached out to the side, grabbing a desk to stop herself from falling.

Her eyes darted from Benson to his friend then Sarah who was now smirking with arms crossed.

She turned back to Benson, her tears finally spilling over. “How do they know all this? How do they know what I told you in private? You discussed everything with your friends?” She demanded, her voice shaking violently.

Benson tilted his head slightly as if considering whether to tell her the truth. Then he let out a laugh, cold and sharp

“Why wouldn't they know?” He said, shrugging causally. “You were all just a game Bianca. A bet we frequently talked about”

“A bet?” She echoes, her love so soft it was almost lost under the sound of their laughter.

“Yeah,” Benson countined, his tone mocking. “I was dared to date you and see if I could get you into my bed before the semester ended. If I did, I'd get that new sports car I've always wanted.”

Bianca's heart stopped.

She shook her head wildly. “No…no, that's not true! You told me you loved me! You said I was special, that we'd be together forever!”

Benson rolled his eyes, scoffing. “Lord, binaca you're really dumb. You actually believed all that crap?”

His friend howled with laughter again, slapping the walls and each other.

One of them moved forward, wiping tears from his eyes. “She seriously thought he was in love with her! This is too good!”

Sarah stepped closer too, her eyes sharp and hateful. “You should have seen your face just now. Pathetic,” she said shaking her head.

Bianca felt her knees finally give way and she collapsed into the floor. Her hands went tonger face as sobs ripped through her.

This was unbelievable and hurtful.

Bianca felt her knees finally give way and she collapsed into the floor. Her hands went to her face as sobs ripped through her.

Her mind replayed every moment they had shared, every kiss, every promise, every whisper of forever and each moment stabbed her deeper than the last.

She felt like her chests was caving in.

Through her cries, she heard Benson's cold voice again. “I didn't even enjoy it that much, to be honest. You were boring, Bianca. Weak. It was actually funny to see how easy it was to fill you.”

His friends countined to laugh and echo his words.

“She even talked about baby names!” One shouted.

“And about matching wedding rings!” Another mocked.

Sarah bent down slightly, her face close to Bianca's. “You really thought you were special? You're nothing. Just a pathetic lovesick fool”

Bianca looked up at her, streaming down her face, her vision blurry. She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out

Only more cries, heavy and raw.

Benson snorted ad walked over to Sarah, wrapping an arm around her waist. “Come on, babe. Let's get out of here. I can't stand her crying anymore,” he said.

Together, they walked past Bianca as if she didn't even exist, laughing and whispering to each other.

Benson's friends followed then out, still mimicking her words and laughing.

Bianca stayed on the floor, her body shaking violently.

She pressed her hands harder against her face, trying to block out the sound of their laughter echoing in her mind.

She felt empty, humiliated and destroyed.

In that moment, she realized that everything she had believed, every dream she had held onto so tightly had all been a lie, a cruel game she never even knew she was playing.

Her tears soaked her hands and the cold floor beneath her.

Her heart felt like it had been shattered into pieces too small to ever fix again.