I yelped and slapped my hand over my eyes as I fumbled around for the doorknob. “Sorry! Sorry! I’m leaving! Carry on doing … that.” I waved the hand that wasn’t currently shielding my eyes from the horrific sight, wildly in the air before finally landing it on the doorknob and slamming it shut.
“Good Lord,” I muttered under my breath as I slid down the wall beside our door. I could still hear Jessi’s giggles.
Shaking my head, I pulled my headphones out of my bag, plugged them into my cell and settled in to wait. Surely she would hurry it along and finish since she knew I was waiting … I hoped she would anyway.
After about two songs there was a light tap on my shoulder and my eyes flew open to find Jessi standing there with a pretty pleased look on her face. As she should have after what I had just walked in on. Landon walked out of our room and into the hallway as I started to stand, looking just a tad bit embarrassed.
Leave it to the guy to go get all discomforted and Jessi be the one going on as if I walked in on them playing a game of Go Fish instead of bumping uglies. I swear, sometimes I honestly think she’s part man. Poor Landon was just standing beside Jessi, with his eyes cast down toward the floor as if he was trying not to make eye contact with me.
At least he’s not just the average jerk that gets what he wants and hurries on his way … but that doesn’t mean I can’t use his discomfort to have a little fun myself, right?
“No need to go get all shy now,” I told him. “I have seen your bare ass and all.”
He scratched at the back of his neck and let out a nervous chuckle. “Yeah, sorry about that.”
“No problem. I was just coming to put my things away before heading back out,” I said to them.
“Out? So where are you going?” Jess questioned me. I knew she was probably a little thrown off by the fact that I had plans to go out, and that those plans didn’t involve her. Usually the only places I went to lately are the places she drags me. So this was a whole different ball game for her.
“Kane asked me if I would like to grab a cup of coffee. I told him I would. He’s probably waiting out front for me now actually. I didn’t think the room would be … occupied.” I winked at Landon because I knew he was feeling pretty uncomfortable right now, and I can’t lie, I was enjoying teasing him and watching him squirm. “So, can I get in there now? I’d like to finally get rid of these heavy books if you don’t mind.” I pushed past Jessi into the room and dropped my bag on my desk.
Ahh, yes. Relief. It felt so good to be rid of that weighty thing—for a while at least. I rushed off to the bathroom to freshen up a little bit, and had to stop myself from doing too much. I’m not worried about impressing him—or am I? Shaking the thought from my head, I finished brushing my teeth and applied a fresh swipe of deodorant. I may not be trying to impress the guy too much, but smelling good is a given, right?
I stepped out of the bathroom and found Jessi sitting in a desk chair that she had pulled up so that it was directly in front of the bathroom door. She had one of her mischievous smiles plastered across her face.
“Stop smiling like that. You’re giving me the creeps.”
“Smiling like what?” She grinned bigger while twisting back and forth in the desk chair.
“You know like what. Like the cat that ate the canary or whatever it is your grandpa used to say.” I turned and took one last glimpse in the mirror.
“You look fine.” I heard Jess call from over my shoulder.
“What? Oh I’m not checking how I look. I’m just making sure I don’t have any junk on my face?” Yeah, even I heard the questioning tone I had in my last statement. I guess I was busted.
“So what’s the deal with you two?” she questioned as she kicked off the ground, giving the chair a complete spin like some five year old playing in their parent’s work chair.
“Nothing, Jess. I just met the guy. I just figured it would be a good idea to have more than one friend, ya know? It’s obvious you and Landon there are getting a little serious. What will I do when you’re off with him if I don’t finally come around and attempt to make some new friends?”
She stopped her spinning and stared at me for a few seconds before getting up from her chair and hugging me.
“Kels, you will always have me. No boy will every change that. You’re my number one, babe. Sisters before misters and all that. And what in the world gave you the impression I’m starting something serious with Landon?” She let me go and took a step back.
“Oh I don’t know, Jess, could it be the fact that I just walked in on the two of you having full-blown rabbit sex in our dorm after knowing each other a couple days?”
She giggled. “Oh, Kelsey honey, that boy sure knows what he’s doing in the sack, let me tell ya. But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to settle down and get serious with him.” She looked down at her hands and started to pick at her fingernails.
Yeah, keep spitting out whatever you want, Jess. I don’t believe it either.
This boy had Jessi spinning and she was just too damn scared to admit it. My friend was used to boys falling quickly for her. She was mixed up about falling so fast, but I knew it would do her some good. She needed more than just a quick lay. Jessi deserved a guy that would treat her like the little princess she thought she was. Maybe finally being here at college would be a fresh start for us both. And if she just so happened to find love with the first guy she actually met while being here, so be it.
“You’re impossible, Jess. Just admit you actually like him, like him.” I playfully shoved her shoulder.
“All right, Miss Wants to Point Fingers, you know I have ten I can point right back at you. Kane.” She placed both hands on her hips. “Admit you like him, like him.” She threw my statement back in my face.
“I don’t even know him, Jess! From the few conversations we’ve had he seems like a pretty laid back person. I will admit I do feel more comfortable around him than I should, having just met him and all. But today after class, I heard some things that throw up red flags.”
“Oh, Kelsey don’t let gossip make you doubt your gut feeling about him. I mean, look at the shit storm we just got away from.”
“I know, Jess. That’s why I’m going to be straight with him when we go out for coffee.”
“Well, don’t be too rough on him. Give him a chance to clear the air.” She smiled then grabbed me by my shoulders and pointed me toward the door. “Now scoot! Didn’t you say he was waiting?”