Being toyed with is something I can relate to....back in college, I was involved with a club. I got elected by our membership to one of the staff positions during my sophomore year. i got along with everyone, which was why I won the election. There was a girl, freshman, who got elected to the staff as well. We had a lot of time together from the get-go since our positions required coordinated efforts.
After awhile, she started to get flirty. Sat next to me, even in a class we shared. She'd come up to the office area in the evenings if i was there late, full of smiles, and flirty. I can't recall how it transpired, but one fall afternoon, we went for a walk / hike on the campus. As we neared to top of the ledge / overhang in the park, we sat down on a huge boulder to talk. She wanted to know why I was "shy" around her. I slowly opened up to her. She seemed very compassionate and understanding. It was difficult, as I had endured a very traumatic time in high school.
She told me she really liked me. We got a bit closer after that. i asked her out on a date to see a performer, she happily agreed. It was the first time I had been accepted for a date after failing 50 or more times before that. I was high on a cloud. She was my first kiss, my first snuggle and probably would have been my first sexual experience, had I not been so nervous and bumbling when the potential presented itself - we were hanging out in her dorm, alone in her room. I misread signs, etc, and besides, there was a party going on right outside.
Just when I find confidence to think things are well on their way to a happy relationship, I spy her hanging out with another guy. Just like she had done with me. It was during an event our club sponsored on campus. He wasn't from our campus. I think they spent the weekend together. I was crushed.
When she saw me again the next week, she was all smiles. The club's staff members were headed off to a big regional meetup with other college clubs - a large gathering, sponsored, so all we had to pay for was food. Hotel rooms were paid for as was travel, etc. She and i were of the selected staff that made the trip to the big city.
Nightime, we all were on our own to do as we wished. That's when I noticed the girl who supposedly (and said that) liked me as more than a friend was now hanging out with another guy on our staff. I saw the same flirty eyes, and smiles. They ended up hooking up.
I was very upset, and decided right then and there that I would shut her out - completely. And I did, for the rest of that weekend. Our staff went togther to eat, but I sat by myself and acted like i had no care in the world. She and I had to share our 5 hour ride back to campus in the same car with 3 other staff people. I'd talk to them, but every time she started to talk, i put on my headphomes from my walkman cassette player, and turned up the volume. Van Halen cranked up... i think she got my message loud and clear when we pulled over to refuel and grab snacks, as I overheard her talking loudly to another girl about me.
When we got back to campus, I headed off. Wrote her a note, blasting her and her actions. Left it in her inbox. She was pissed! I saw her the next day, she was stomping around, slamming doors in my presence. She wrote me a short note saying "How DARE you judge me, blame me...", etc.
But, here was the key phrase that summed it up:
"I care about you. A lot. I know you've been hurt and lonely. I just wanted to show you that there is hope in life.
AS they say, nowadays, WTF?
Blaming me for her slutty ways, and using me for affection until she moved to another.
A charity case.
F-You, baby.
Afer that she tried to be friendly. I only interacted with her on a need to do club required business level. Never again casual.
I ran into her in a nightclub around 10 years later. My band had just finished our set. She told me was still single, playing guys to her heart's content. And she looked, well.... OLD. And empty.
Touche!