College by Corbin Chapter 13 ********** "Let bravery be thy choice, but not bravado." -Menander (342 BC D 292 BC) ********** Not long after College, when I first started working at The Nursery, I was shocked when a truck would pull up around back to have plants, bags of top soil, mulch or whatever loaded and the driver would get out and say; "Could you go up and see if one of the guys will come back and give me a hand loading this?" The first time that happened I sort of just stood there in a state of shock, like...what the hell am I? It kind of hurt my feelings ya' know. "That's what I am here for." I said in a cold manner right back at him. "Oh...okay..." He sort of hands me the yellow order slip, but I could tell he was hesitant to do it. Then he says "Here let me help you with that, kinda' have a bad back, that's why I asked if one of the guys up front could help." So let me see if I understand this jackass, he is now pulling the old martyr-bad-back complaint, just so he can make another dig at me because I tell him 'I am all the help he needs!' and I am a 'Girl!' Well I was no longer ready to cry, but now fuming mad...down right pissed off...so I stand up and touch him on the shoulder and say, "Why don't you just get up in the truck and I'll throw them to you and you stack them any way you want." He kind of stares at me funny and then awkwardly climbs up into the bed of the truck. I then proceed to toss him the bags faster then he can keep up until he snaps "Hey! Slow the hell down!" To which I shout back "Why? Are you so weak and slow you can't keep up?" So great I'm expecting to get fired because I'm betting he's going to run up and complain to my boss, and I've been on the job for only about a week now. But instead I'm surprised...it sometimes takes a lot to surprise me because the man (maybe in his late 40's) just makes this kind of smirk and says "Okay you got me there." I knew what he meant and he was basically admitting he was wrong for what he insinuated earlier. Now (and I have a big smile on my face as I type this) he requests that *I* help him load his truck every time be pulls up. Even if someone else happens to be around back he will ask "Could'ya go get Corbin for me?" (Imagine your best hick accent while reading that). ********** My cell phone went off around 2:00 am waking both of us up! But it was Dale so I answered because he never calls this late he then asked in that agitated tone 'Is Nikki there with you?' I said 'Yes'. "You know what!" He growls but never finished his sentence, made some deep agitated breaths and hung up on me, PUNK! But Dale will not be discouraged (although I wish a lot of other guys would get discouraged and get lost) seems most people assume Nikki and I dating was more of a ploy to break up with our respective boyfriends. Anyway Dale shows up on my doorstep the very next night, which annoyed me because I had just gotten off from work and was tired but actually we needed to talk about something very important so it all worked out. "Hi there." He said when I opened the door I responded in kind, there was that awkward ex-boyfriend/ex- girlfriend thing going on at first. "Sorry about last night, I shouldn't have hung up on you." "Yeah don't do that again! Very rude!" I could tell he wanted to say something in response but was biting his lip. "Can I come in?" "Sure." I stepped aside and then closed and locked the door. "Nikki not here, for once? I'm shocked!" He quipped looking around. "Really? You were always excited to see Nikki when she came around, now your glad she's not here?" I couldn't help but be a smart ass. "Well that was before YOU started dating her, besides all the guys get excited to see Nikki. You as well Corbin but I guess it's double the pleasure since you two are dating." He banters right back at me. Since Dale was here I decided to settle another issue that has been bugging me, to let him know that dating Tiffany was OUT OF THE QUESTION! He is NEVER to date that bitch! "Come in my room and sit down for a minute." I say in my somewhat bossy tone, I tend to get very bossy around guys. But I have to admit Dale was looking very, very hot! A little scruffy and not his usual well- groomed self, I like that rugged, handsome look sometimes (On men, not women). Definitely that chemistry is still there between us, always has been and always will! "I have a favor to ask Dale." I sighed and nervously wring my hands together as I paced the floor to collect my thoughts. "A favor Corbin?" He sat down in a chair and slumped back a little looking shocked that I had the audacity to ask something like that, "Better be a small one." He said and even smiled a little which caused me to smile. So I began speaking as I continued to pace the floor in front of him, but suddenly I realize that he is not even listening to me! How do I know that? Because I can tell! You know when someone is 'tuning' you out, he isn't even looking up in my eyes adding insult to injury. AMAZING! What is wrong with him? What is wrong with you guys! You SIMPLE MINDED Goofs! How did Dale drift off in a matter of only a few seconds! "Pay attention!" I snap my fingers close to his ear and then place my hands firmly on my hips. "Sorry! I can't help it! Your ass...it's just...so perfect!" He stutters out with a sheepish smile and stares up at me with some attempt at an innocence look. I look down at my jeans 'My god here we go again' and now I'm getting very irritated because I might loose my train of thought, I have something important to say and he is checking out my ass! "I'm getting irritated!" I snap. "Can I touch you?" He says and reaches his hand out. "What? NO!" and push his hand away. "You always used to let me touch you." Dale huffs and looks like he has some justification for being offended. "We're not dating anymore Dale!" I say getting more abrupt. "I bet Nikki gets to touch you anytime she wants! Okay fine, sorry I said that, I'll look at your breasts, I love them equally as well." Dale says with a faint smirk. Now I am biting my lower lip not to smile, that was kind of a funny comment, but also I am clenching my fists because I want to punch him in the arm maybe that will get his attention! So I start over, again; "Pull out of your nose-dive into juvenile mode for a few seconds!" and now he appears to be listening "Look what ever happens between us Dale," And I now stand perfectly still in front of him, even pausing until he makes direct eye contact with me "You are Never, EVER to go out with Tiffany!" Dead silence. Oh I know he heard me all right. "I don't understand." He looks at me with this blank stare. "Don't act dense!" I actually yell and jab my finger almost into his nose, which causes him to momentarily sit-up straight, "You know what Tiffany is all about Dale!" I then lower my voice and try not to get really angry. Dale's shoulders slump a little and he seems momentarily confused and lost in thought. My softer, gentler side comes out as I reach down and run my fingers thru his light brown, almost blondish color hair, the thick waves of his hair had a reminiscent feeling to it. "Corbin why are you doing this?" He sighs and seems to get a little angry, "What does Tiffany have to do with anything!" "She's a conniving, backstabbing, bitch Dale, you know this!" I yank my fingers from his hair he is damn lucky I didn't take any hair with them. "Well maybe only to 'you' she acts that way!" Dale stands up as our argument suddenly starts to escalate "She seems nice to everyone else!" "I don't care about any of that crap! It's all a bullshit charade! You will never date her, do you understand me! Never! EVER!" my voice is on the verge of yelling as I crisscross my finger in the air to make a 'X' in front of his face. "Okay, then you stop dating Nikki!" Dale raises his voice and by now we are like nose to nose. "This is not a negotiation Dale!" and I punch my right forefinger into his shoulder to further drive home my point. "It's always about what you want! What about what I want? And I don't give a damn about anyone else, certainly not Tiffany! You should know me better then that! All I want is YOU back in my life! I love YOU Corbin!" His hands suddenly come to rest on my shoulders as his eyes tear up. Wow! Now my heart is racing hard, that chemistry that is so strong between us erupts back to the surface again and I did not expect this at all! Not just a big flame here but like an explosion and I reach up and grip his shoulders as he pulls me against him, our eyes lock in for a few seconds and I know where this is going! Oh my god! I want it and he wants it our history flashes before my eyes, even the arguments, but mostly the many, many great times we have had! "You know I love you too." I sigh as his head is tilting and I am opening my mouth, how much I've missed our kissing, we begin with a slow open and deep kiss as his arms move around my waist pulling me in tight. We are both moaning as we kiss, I then feel him lean back some lifting me up to my toes, anxiously I draw my legs up and wrap them around his waist, locking my ankles behind his back. Doesn't matter that we are fully dressed, the position and close embrace conveys how much our bodies ache for contact, my crotch grinds against the erection inside of his own jeans. This is nuts! Love is nuts! I feel his body tense as he moves to lower us down to the bed where we stretch out, holding and continue kissing for several minutes. He wants to really start getting intimate by moving his hand up under my shirt but I put the brakes on, I need to get a grip. I slowly pull away and give him a sad smile as the tears well up in my eyes, I watch his head slowly rest back into my pillow as Dale continues to study my expression. "It feels wonderful be close with you like this, I miss it so much." He sighs and fights to keep his composure, but his cheeks tremble as he begins to cry. He wraps his arms around me as we lay there for just little awhile "I miss touching you, your smell, holding your body close to me, god you're so beautiful." He says. Now this is NOT how I expected the conversation to go. The plan was to give a stern lecture about Tiffany and then I kick him out of my apartment, but what can I say, I can get swept away in a romantic moment, my big strong ex-boyfriend sweeps me off my feet! Ahhhhh...very nice! It was very late but I told Dale he had to go back to his place, it was an emotional goodbye at my Apartment door as we stood holding and hugging one another. I wonder if I will EVER be this physical with Dale again? The conversation that evening wasn't just about the topic of that idiot Tiffany, more importantly the past few days had been a torrential downpour of concern from my Parent's and Dale's parents. Everyone was calling everyone else to find out what was going on, how could this have happened, that we 'needed to work it out' because we belong together. All of our Parents were distraught over the breakup and couldn't understand...some didn't want to understand, some were in denial saying that our little break was just a phase and we would be back together in no time! Painful lectures from my Mom and Dale's mom...yeeshh!...what a bunch of busybodies all up in my business. Yet I was cutting them some slack because we left out a very important part of the entire story, that Nikki and I were the reason for the break-up. We didn't feel that both families could handle the 'whole truth' in one big lump sum. Once the emotions settle then I will let my Parents know I am dating another *gulp* girl. 'Ahhhh!!! My daughter's a lesbian!!" My mom will go running and screaming around the neighborhood, 'Where did I go wrong!!! It's all those damn sports she played!!!' (Yeah, blame it all on the Sports again). I wasn't so worried about Dad, my gut told me he would support me no matter what, he always did, well as long as I was home on time, got good grades, did well in sports, and I didn't let guys get to close to me. He also made sure guys didn't get to close to me, boy was he a mess when I went off to College! But he needn't worry, I was very tame and kind of boring to tell the truth, just did my sports, went to class, and got a steady boyfriend. Tiffany I admit is physically attractive, but a mentally deficient girl, and she continued to lash out at me indirectly with insults/slander. She hated me for one simple reason, because Dale wanted and loved me, it's as simple as that, she had it in her mind that she and Dale were going to be married one day and I stood in the way of her obsession over him. So there was a petty side of me that got great satisfaction over the news that Tiffany was even more confused/perturbed to find out that I was bisexual and now dating a girl, which meant Dale was free! Tiffany should be elated right? Wrong! And here is why; Tiffany couldn't understand how Dale could remain undeterred by me dating Nikki, Dale continued to pursue reconciliation with me! Now this truly insulted Tiffany's pride, she was even more furious with me now! And I wasn't even dating Dale, gotta love that strange twist of events! In some ways I felt bad for her, to so totally believe that you love someone and to not have that love returned must be crushing. Oh whom am I kidding, I didn't feel bad for her at all, Hahahaha!! Booo Hooo Hooo, poor Tiffany, try as she might, Dale kept giving her the big brush off, to which I would give her a little smirk whenever I would see her on campus. Even broken up I had cast my spell over Dale! I really don't know how Tiffany and I never came to physical blows, I guess opportunity never came around, and believe you me I would have loved to beat the crap out of her! :) Listen to me will ya'? Talking so tuff and sure of myself! ********** I was looking down at the tile floor, sweating profusely and feeling pretty damn good, I was starting to get my focus back into the game, the Coach had even commented that she was damn impressed with my concentration and team play today. "You go girl." Nikki said and affectionately rubbed on my back, she stepped over the bench and opened her locker next to mine. Nik's touch sent a shiver thru up my spine, my head was still down and suddenly the fog had lifted, I was looking at her dirty soccer shoes, the socks and guards that protect her shin and strong calf muscles. Her soccer shorts are long, so only the briefest of skin shows, but I stare at her tan, muscular thighs, dripping with sweat, a tingle runs up my spine and I feel her effect on me. "Hey," I grabbed her right hand with my left and gave a gentle tug indicating I wanted her to sit, Nikki's left hand ran thru her hair and over her ears as if she was thinking about something and she smiled a little, her hair like mine was damp with sweat. Most of the other girls were already gone or in the shower by now so there was some privacy to be had. She sat down next to me and looked over I swallowed hard and held Nikki's hand even tighter, I felt her squeeze mine back. The past few days had been very tough emotionally dealing with the break-ups and now all the repercussions. Softly I spoke as I spilled my guts to my exotic Portuguese girlfriend, "You're my whole world Nikki, my whole world, it's so overwhelming to think that at the age of 21 you are my whole future," Tears streamed out of my eyes and down my cheeks. Suddenly I didn't feel like I was making sense and leaned away, in fact I turned my head away embarrassed, "I just overanalyze everything, I guess I just end up wasting so much precious time, I don't know how you put up with me." The corner of my left eye caught her face moving in close to my left ear, I smelled the sweat coming off her body and of all her other wonderful scents, it was glorious. "I love you, that's why I put up with you." She whispered. A bustle of noise snapped us to attention and once again we were making ourselves look busy, standing and digging thru our lockers, "I'm just going to shower here, you?" "Yeah, might as well." Nikki sighed. I wrapped a towel around my midsection, slipped on my flip-flops and walked toward the showers passing some noisy girls just leaving. With all the dirt and sweat it was easy to mask our tears. "No hanky-panky you two!" A couple of them shouted at us. "Ho ho ho, ha ha ha" Nikki mocked them in return and I even smiled. I felt like I was moving so slow motion, removing the towel and hanging it up, the initial spray of cold water didn't even register, I kept turning the handle until the hot water was finally coming out. I glanced over to my right and found Nikki only a couple of shower heads away from me, I shuddered and found myself admiring her body like I have done a thousand times before, each time feels like the first though. Her body reminded me of a sculpture, flawless in its design and beauty, her toned muscles revealed themselves in every movement. The glossy sheen of water really brought out her tanned skin, but her skin was naturally dark anyway, yet for some reason her Portuguese heritage was really on display now. 'And this amazing creature of raw sexual beauty is my lover' I ponder and smile as a rush of sexual thrill surges thru my naked body, now I have the urge to touch myself, to touch my aroused clit as images of us float thru my brain. Nikki looks over at me again and we smile at each other, I watch her eyes sweep up and down and it feels wonderful to have her look at me like that, her expression telling me she wants me so bad, she even licks her full lips as her hands massage her breasts with soap. *POP* A harsh smack on my ass echoes throughout the showers "AHHHH!" I shriek and now I am literally grabbing my own ass from the painful smack. Nikki is laughing as I turned around to check out the smarting red mark on my left butt cheek. "Hey sexy!" came next from the girl that had just appeared almost out of nowhere. "What the hell!" I blurted out, it was Dana she had just come wheeling around the corner and slapped me on the ass, hard, really fucking hard and she was now standing to my immediate right. "Shit you scared me!" I took a deep breath and started to rub my left butt cheek "that really stung!" I complained. Nikki kept watching with this look of pure amusement on her face. "Good!" Dana smiled, "Can I do it again?" "Hell no." I said and twisted around again to check out my ass, I could literally see her hand print on my bare butt, "Shit" I moaned and kept rubbing. "Damn Nikki," Dana looks over at Nikki as she slowly rubs the soap over her shoulders, "You are looking hotter then ever, you know what, you should never wear clothes, it's a sin to cover up that body." "Hi Dana." Nikki smiles and blushes. You see Dana was an out-and-out lesbian, she had her hair cut really short, kind of spiky, and had that masculine air about her, she even walked like a guy. She is a combination of what I call pretty and handsome, easy on the eyes overall, and (this part is most annoying) she was always slapping me on the ass which irritated me at first, not because I was totally offended but because she did it ALL THE DAMN TIME! Walks past me in the locker room...POP! On the soccer field...POP! "Get away from me!" I used to protest but Dana would just say things like "That beautiful ass of yours is just begging for a slap!" Dana got very 'forward' when she was drinking, coming up to me and saying things like "If I didn't have a girlfriend I would take you to my bed tonight and every night!" She also would hit on Nikki all the time, but it was different, she would always hug Nikki and bump into her, she wasn't as physically aggressive with Nik because she said Nikki intimidated her. I guess I can understand that 'Intimidation' comment, Nikki can be quiet, is extremely smart, and her exotic beauty seems to radiate sexuality, (You've seen the type, wouldn't matter if she was filthy dirty from playing soccer, or in sweat pants/shirt, or in formal evening wear, she radiates that I've got a *hot* sexy body aura. So yeah I guess allot of men and women would find her to be intimidating. It also makes her the most lusted after woman on campus, a few tenured Professor's have found themselves fighting off big trouble as they succumb to temptation and tried to pursue something with Nikki.) Nik would have been all set with modeling as a career, Victoria Secret...you name it...but being told she needed to loose her athletic physique was the deal killer. Her body was well toned from years of sports, and Nik had a fantastic set of abs, but that is not 'the look' a lot of the runway and high-end fashions are going for. ********** Things seemed to be improving overall, life seemed to be calming down for me. I had started to get myself oriented for graduation and making that big transition from College to Work life. Nikki and I even had the sit-down-talks with our Parents, which went better then expected. My poor Mom was in a state of denial at first, she then went into a bit of a funk for days, but my Dad really worked at helping her try and understand that they needed to be supportive of my choices. Hey, it's my life you know, I can't live it based on how other people *think* I should! Nikki's experience was a little more involved, she had a large family, her direct family was here, but her large-extended family was in Portugal and they are extremely tight knit, so that took some more time. If you tell one person in her family something then everyone must be notified immediately and long-drawn out conversations take place...aunts, uncles, nephews, cousins, great grandparents...distant relatives. What a headache. My family is very small, so it doesn't take much effort to inform everyone...there is my Mom, my Dad, and my Grandmother who lives in Germany (she refuses to speak English, she could if she really wanted, but she doesn't want to, so that's that.) Actually there is more to my family then that but I will have to decide later how much history I go into, if at all. Hahaha! Yes! I have secrets! Dark Secrets that my family doesn't speak of...and we don't speak of the fact we have secrets so I am already breaking one of the secrets by speaking of that of which we do not...uhm...speak of...I've lost my train of thought, not making any sense now. *Aghem* moving right along... ********* As you kind readers are aware I am opposed to Fraternity's and Sororities, I despise those little-elitist- snobby-gangs. I made no secret of this fact, but I caught little crap for it because A.) My boyfriend Dale was a member of a Fraternity and a big shot Football Star, and B.) My good friend Sharon was a member of a Sorority and had mucho connections Socially. I was invited/pestered/harassed to join Sorority's, but repeatedly declined (as Groucho Marx once said 'I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member.') But every once in awhile Sharon would still invite me to a conference/meeting/whatever just to hang out and I thought nothing of it, although I knew she was hoping to ease my hostility toward such 'gangs'. (I do admit that I am guilty of frequenting many a fine party by both Fraternity's and Sorority's so what can I say). Well holy shit! It seemed like this was THE gathering of Sorority girls, but the whole event had a somewhat tense overtone to the evening. I came attired in my typical fashion statement, flip flops, tee shirt....you know the drill folks. I liked looking like I didn't belong. So I'm next to Sharon just relaxing in my chair scoping out this massive gathering trying to figure out what all this is about, and now I get the feeling like my presence is causing a bit of a stir amongst some of the girls. But so much gossipy crap was going on I thought I was just reading too much into it. "What's this all about Sharon?" I lean over to my left trying to get her attention, but her damn mouth is moving a hundred miles an hour. So I have to do some detective work on my own and go to stand up well that sure gets Sharon's attention, because she is now grabbing my left arm pulling me back down "Where are you going?" She asks. "I'm getting bored I need to walk around." I sigh. "No please just stay right here okay, please just wait till I'm done." She grips my left forearm tight. "Okay, okay." I groan and sit back down. She smiles and pats me on the back, rubbing and scratching my shoulders with her fingernails, god I love that, that is the best feeling. Sends soothing tingles up and down my spine. But damn my tummy is growling as I think about food. I take a deep breath and lean back in my chair doing another glance around. I had just finished scanning the room when my head paused, I was now looking to my right and this girl is looking me dead on she's not gossiping, finger pointing or any of that, she's just looking at me and slowly smiles, not a full blown smile but just a slight one. It had a warm quality to it so I kind of smiled back like a goof ball, cause it seems friendly enough. I don't recognize her but I can tell she's kind of big, not fat but just big and tall, looks pretty damn athletic, but she also looks new...like new to the school. I can't make heads or tails of any of this, well come to think of it now that word was spreading Nikki and I are dating allot of the lesbians on campus had zeroed in on us and then I got the creeps, is this girl hitting on me? Okay enough of that, the meeting seems to be winding down and it turns out some resolution is reached because Sharon is all smiles as she makes her way back, but I can tell she has allot on her mind. She is such a little schemer. "Sharon what the hell is this..." "SHHHH!" She hushes me and leans in close "Please I'll explain when we get back to the apartment." But I'm getting irritated now 'cause I feel like I am being *used* for something and I don't like it one bit. So here is the low-down, Sharon had used me as 'a ringer', 'an ace' to be played, and all I had to do was just sit and be quiet, everyone there would just assume I was taking sides with Sharon and her Sorority (Well not just me but all of my connections with Dale, Nikki, Soccer Team, and so on, and on. Get the bigger picture?). Sharon had been planning this days in advance, her innocent invitation wasn't so innocent and put me right me right in the middle of an ongoing rift amongst several groups of girls and Sororities. What does it take to have a relaxing week? Hell, I'd take a relaxing day! ********** On a side note I thought I would mention ONCE-AGAIN that my 'ex' Dale, and Nikki's 'ex' Rob were still fluctuating between moving-on, still embarrassed, resentful, to totally furious, usually all at the same time. Gheesh for crying out loud it's been a few weeks now can't they get over it already! ;) ********** So the whole Sorority meeting came back to haunt me (Thanks Sharon! You conniving good for nothing...ARRGHHH!) I'm in the women's shower after some heavy lifting, and I'm feeling really good to, that pumped feeling where I got my heart racing and sweat oozing from every pore. So I take a quick shower to rinse off and put my bathing suit on, because now I'm looking forward to getting into that Jacuzzi and letting those jets workout some of the tension from my body. Oh boy...here I come! Like some giddy goof I have a big grin on my face as I set my towel down and slip my left, then right, leg in, easing myself into the hot bubbling water. I close my eyes and just tune all my troubles out the sizzling bubbles have this calming effect as I sit and can feel everything just melting away, the only thing that would top things off would be to have Nikki here next to me. But no matter we have a date this evening and I got all excited in my tummy and my butt scooted around on my seat because now I'm am getting turned on. 'Huh?' My head jerks up cause I sense someone else was suddenly stepping into the Jacuzzi with me, I look up and this girl is looking down at me dressed in a dark, blue one piece suite...holy fuck...it's that girl...that girl from the Sorority meeting, the one that was looking at me. She has one leg in the tub already and pauses when she sees me look up at her. "Do you mind if I join you?" She asks in a polite tone. "No, not at all." I say, actually I do mind, I was resting. So I try and give the girl a hint by immediately laying my head back and closing my eyes. "You were at that meeting the other night, were you not?" She asks. Just great she wants to have a conversation with me now? So I slowly pull my head up and blink a few times, my right hand brushes some sweat from my eyelids as I study the girl, I've never really gotten a good look at her and now she's only a few feet from me. She's bobbing up and down a little bit, her chin touching the swirling water as she simply stares at me. She's got wavy, brown hair down to about the middle of her neck. I don't know how I would classify her looks, she's got that unusual shape to her face that is almost masculine...handsome even? Her complexion is light and her eyes are dark brown. She has a somewhat square jaw line, strong chin, but a nice perfect, clean smile that compliments her face. Her nose is straight but performs a slight bend when she fully smiles, and I wonder if it's been broken before. "Your not in a sorority are you?" She asks and the left corner of her mouth slightly curls into a smile. "No, you?" I ask. "Yep so I was just curious why you were there because it was a member's only function. Sharon upset allot of people bringing you along." "I'm sorry, your name was?" I tense up a little getting irritated with this line of questioning and besides I would really like to know with whom I am talking. Well the girl actually blushes and her right hand comes up and covers her face out of embarrassment, it was actually kind of cute. "I'm Courtney, I transferred a couple of weeks ago from Penn State." She sits up and leans forward to extend her right arm to shake, so I oblige her and grasp her right hand with mine. And now I'm wondering if she knows my EX from High School Erik? (He goes to Penn State) Funny huh, small world. "I'm Corbin." But I think she already knew that, odd how so many people I don't know seem to know my name...very odd! "And to answer your question I wasn't aware of a 'members only' formality or anything else. I just tagged along at Sharon's request." I shrugged and rolled my eyes. "That's cool..." Courtney smiles "...your buddy Sharon is full of allot little mischievous tricks." And rolls her head around on her fairly strong looking neck. I still can't figure out this girl's angle but I hope this doesn't turn into a Sharon-bashing speech, I don't like people talking bad about Sharon, I'm allowed to, but no one else :) "I bet she's not the only one." I quip and can feel myself getting irritated. "Yeah, but nobody's in her league." Courtney gives me this hard stare and that's when I decide I've had enough of this pointless banter and go to stand up. My sudden movement seems to startle Courtney some as she gets this perplexed, worried look on her face. My right hand grabs the railing to my right to steady myself as my left reaches for my towel when I hear. "Please stay." She says and slowly sits up her face breaks out into this big smile. "Why?" I ask in a pretty firm voice and figure I need to make a decision quick cause I don't like having this girl eyeing me like she is. She's not giving me any kind of sexual look, but she's studying me, looking at my arms, legs and over all physique...like she is analyzing me, assessing me. So I decide to get a little mouthy with her as I place my left hand on my hips, right where the cut of the suit rests over my hips "Are you getting a good look?" "What?" She suddenly looks up at my face. "Are you done checking me out, would you like for me to pose or turn around so you can see the back of me?" I shrug in a very nonchalant manner. "Don't get defensive Corbin, please sit down for a minute." Courtney waves her hand to my former resting place. "On one condition." I groan. "What's that?" Courtney looks up, putting on this innocent act. "You tell me what this is all about?" I demand and she simply nods 'Yes', to which I slowly settle back into the water, still not convinced she's going to be forth coming, but want to hear her out anyway. "Yes I admit I was looking at you." Courtney pipes up as I adjust myself back into the water, but I'm not relaxed anymore, "Your in awesome shape, but I'm not here to talk about that..." "Good." I snap. "I'm here..." Courtney sighs "...because of why you were at that meeting." "I told you why..." my voice with a hint of anger. "Yeah I know you told me why and I believe you, but now I need to tell you something." She says and still maintains this incredibly calm exterior, a real poker-face expert. "As a Sorority member I was there because I wanted to support my Sisters." Courtney turns towards me now as I watch her left elbow raise and prop up on the edge of the Jacuzzi. "Now the secondary reason has to do with Sharon." Courtney gives me the first real hard glare of our entire, thus far, civil conversation. "If Sharon messes with our Sorority again I'm going to put the screws to that bitch anyway I see fit. We are fed up with her bullshit." Courtney says in a flat, a-matter-of-fact manner. "Now I know you are Sharon's buddy..." Courtney suddenly smiles "...and I expect that you would do anything within your power to help Sharon if you thought she needed your help, right?" "That's right." I look at her with my own hard, cold expression. Courtney's eyes drift from my own and seem to look down at the bubbling water that surrounds us before glancing back at me. "Even though you know Sharon is in the wrong?" Courtney let out a deep sigh, but I don't respond, I just sit and stare at this girl, getting more impatient. "So look Corbin..." Courtney gives me a really sweet smile "...don't worry, I like you as a person I didn't expect to like you and I didn't want to, but you seem decent enough, however if Sharon pulls one more stunt and you decide to take her side I will kick her ass, and yours." My mind is spinning off in a million directions now as Courtney goes to stand up, I remain sitting in the Jacuzzi. I must admit she had an intimidating physique...her thighs, calves and....well I think you get my point, I admire beautiful strong bodies on both men and women and Courtney was not only strong looking but she carried herself like she knew she was. "Fuck" I moan quietly when I hear Courtney leave the pool, my heart rate slowly starts settle down into a normal pace. Anyway I felt like I could actually do something good here, to talk with Sharon and maybe get her to chill for the next few weeks. I hope Sharon listens to me otherwise I just might have to literally punch some sense into Courtney. ********** "Only God says jump So I set the time 'Cause if he ever saw it It was through these eyes of mine And if he ever suffered it was me who did his crying" -Concrete Blonde