College Years: 10 By Corbin, corbinforte@yahoo.com "An only child alone and wild," -Dan Fogelberg Pre-Story Introduction/Ranting/Venting/Observations... In case any of you are wondering (I'm actually surprised anyone finds this story interesting), I am not posting this as I write it, it is done...finished...terminado...fini...beendet...finito...afgewerkt.... avsluttet. That's about all I know, so no one get offended, that's the extent I little brain can handle...and don't inquire if I can carry on a real conversation in each of those languages, I can't, I just dabble a little bit when I can. ***WARNING*** The following is not very exciting...this involves some personal stuff between me and Nikki, it means allot to me to think and reflect on it...so I wrote it down, if it bores you then fucking skip it! 10 The car ride was peaceful, I sat staring out the window thinking about how far away from home I was, about my small room back at my parent's house, how I had spent so many years growing up in that house. Suddenly I looked over and studied Nicole for a few minutes, she had such beautiful features...her eyes...neck...cheek bones...'She belongs on a cover girl magazine not getting banged up on some soccer field' I thought. "What?" Nikki smiled and looked over, catching me staring. "Just wanted to say that I had a great time tonight Nic, thank you." "Oh, well...thank you!" Nikki smiled as she pulled into the parking space of her apartment complex. "You know..." putting her right arm around my shoulders, "...I'm really proud of you...you were the more mature women tonight for blowing off that idiot Tiffany." "Oh? My...yeah, well I almost snapped...but I guess it's a good thing I didn't because I suppose we might have gotten thrown out of there and so much for a nice night." I smiled. Upon entering her apartment Nikki turned the light on and froze. "What's wrong?" I stopped dead in my tracks and looked around as if something bad just happened. "I forgot, I forgot drove...remember, shit I was suppose to drop you off at your dorm...I'm so sorry." Nikki turned and pulled her keys back out of her purse. "I can take you back or you can stay here, it's totally up to you." "Oh, uhm..." I looked around and smiled giving up a shrug as if it was no big deal, "...I'll just stay here if that's okay, and I don't want you driving all the way back." "It's okay, I really don't mind" Nikki replied sincerely, "But like I said, your more then welcome to crash here." Nikki watched as I wonder aimlessly into the apartment's small living room and flopped down on the sofa. "I'm okay with it." I sighed and spread my arms out over the back of the couch. "You're wasted." Nikki teased and smiled. "I know" I smiled back. "Well, since you're staying here for the night, I'm going to have a nightcap." and Nikki opened the fridge pulling out a bottle of wine. "Oh, pour me one too" I bolted upright and walked into the small kitchen. Nikki poured the white wine into my glass and we both held up our glasses, "Let's toast to our friendship." "Let's" I beamed my smile and clinked my glass with Nikki's as we simultaneously took a sip. "Oh this is good" I admired and took another sip. "Let's sit down on the couch before one of us falls down." Nikki pointed. "Good Idea" I sighed and followed Nikki who had the wine bottle in her hand. I had just finished off my second glass when I burst out laughing, "I am so wasted Nikki!" I giggled covering my mouth with my left hand to try and hide my embarrassment. "Me too" Nikki laughed and looked down in shock at the empty wine bottle sitting on the table. "I've never been this drunk before...come to think of it...I've never been drunk!" and began laughing, wiping the tears from my eyes. "You're fibbing!" Nikki stared opened mouth, "Well now you're a lush for sure" and both of us seemed to find that hysterically funny. "Oh god...Nikki, I really appreciate what you said tonight...I felt like I worked out so many things, you have no idea." I sighed, suddenly getting serious and maybe a little mushy as I leaned back against the soft cushion, rubbing my tired eyes. "You did wonderful Corbin, you have so much to offer and the way you handled yourself tonight with those guys while they flocked around you, a real class act." Nikki reached over and touched my left shoulder to punctuate her sincerity. "Thanks Nic, but really it's harder then you think, I was so introverted and shy in high school so I don't really have any experience at this sort of social thing." I opened my eyes and slowly tried to focus on Nikki's face, difficult to do given my inebriated state. I gave no smile...nothing, purposively waiting to see if Nikki would figure out the hidden meaning in my comment. It seemed that Nikki was still trying to process everything I had said or was implying. "I mean, No experience...none" I reemphasized, my face turned down just a bit as I seemed to be waiting on Nikki's reaction. Nikki stared back into those waiting hazel eyes and softly smiled, the kind of smile that was supportive...friendly..."You're trying to tell me you're a..." "Virgin" I quickly chimed in and my face tensed. Nikki let out an exhausted sigh and rolled her eyes, "Well, if that's the case, we just can't be friends anymore." I surprised even myself with a short burst of the giggles and quickly covered my mouth as if to keep the rest of the laughter from escaping. Nikki chuckled and leaned over wrapping her arms around my neck not saying a word and maybe that was the best thing that could have been said or done. I returned the hug, "Thanks Nic". "Why would you ever think that would be a problem or I would react oddly." Nikki whispered as I pulled away. "I don't know, I'm a little embarrassed by it, I don't know why, actually I do know why. Allot of my girlfriends always would talk about the guys they were dating...making out with...doing things with..." My voice got very quiet and I didn't finish my sentence as my eyes drifted off to the right a little, lost in a moment's reflection. "What about you?" I suddenly looked up at my friend, putting her on the spot". Nikki raised her left hand and casually ran her index finger into her hair, brushing it up and over her left ear as she smiled at the question; "I've been with a couple of guys...they were boyfriends mind you..." I nodded and smirked a little, I wasn't surprised at Nikki's experience. A sudden shrill ring from a cell phone startled both of us as we both looked over at the kitchen counter. "I think that's mine" I looked at the phone across the apartment in shock. Quickly I got up and staggered into the kitchen. "Sharon!" I made a perplexed expression as I looked over at Nikki, "What' wrong?" "Oh...no...I'm just...I'm over at Nikki's, yeah I know what time it is..." I shook my head and rolled my eyes, "I'm staying here so don't worry...what's wrong with that...no it's better this way...Nikki doesn't have to drive me home..." I paced the floor a bit; as I listened to Sharon chew my out for not letting her know where I was. "Okay...okay...sorry...I promise...yes...I'll see you tomorrow...okay okay...yes I'm going to bed...good night...okay...take care" I let out a big sigh and flipped the phone closed. "Worse then my mother" I chuckled and then let out a sharp gasp as two sets of fingers gripped my shoulders from behind, slowly massaging their way up to my neck. "Everything okay?" Nikki asked. "Yeah, thanks, just Sharon...worried I had not checked in with her, that's all...she means well" I smiled and closed my eyes as my head rolled to the left and right. "Oh god Nikki" I moaned as Nikki's strong fingers probed deep into my muscles that insulated my neck and shoulders, "Where did you learn to do that?" "You know I'm into physical therapy" She said softly. "They teach massage techniques in Physical Therapy." I smiled sarcastically not having a clue as to what I was talking about, more to tease Nicole. "Well, something like that, but not everyone has a talent for it." Nikki smiled with self satisfaction and then released her grip, performing a small pat on my back with her left palm before stepping away, "You got great muscle definition" She said in a whisper. "Freaking tease." I whipped my head around, my long blonde hair flying over my shoulder as I watched Nikki walk towards the bedroom. "Maybe if you're a good girl I'll give you a full massage one of these days." Nikki said as I continued to walk away. "Good? If I'm anymore good I'll have to join a convent" I rolled my eyes and pushed off from the table. "Here" Nikki stood in her doorway, her left arm outstretched with a nightshirt, in her right hand a pillow and blanket. "Oh thanks" I smiled and walked towards her, but Nikki pulled her right arm away when I reached for the pillow. "What?" I paused, thinking I had done something wrong. "It's for me, I'll take the sofa, you take I bed" Nikki smiled. "No way, I'll take the sofa Nikki" I insisted. "No, I am taking the sofa" The black haired girl took a step back. "Come on, really...please" I pleaded. "No...no...no..." Nikki shook my head 'no' and held the blanket and pillow out of arms reach. "Fine" I sighed and walked towards the bathroom. I stepped from the bathroom in my night shirt, it was barely was long enough to cover my panties, but I wasn't shy around Nikki, we had each seen each other in various stages of undress in the women's locker room and nude in the showers. "Good night" Nikki said, standing in the doorway to the dark bedroom and from my vantage point my eyes noted, quickly though, the outline of Nikki's toned bare legs and how my own night shirt barely covered my private area. "Good night Nikki, thanks for letting me stay" and I took a short step forward. Nikki quickly stepped in and reached for a hug, at least that is what I perceived it to be and reached out to return. For some reason, and I wasn't sure, it was uncomfortable, 'Something surely feels awkward' I thought. Yet physically, things felt good as the front of our bodies pressed against one another, our breasts free from the confines of our bra's pressed against one another. I could also tell the free movement had stimulated our nipples to life, but nothing so intimate during our embrace then the briefest of touches that took place between our pubic mounds. A shiver went up my as I Nikki's crotch feel as if it actually was pressing into mine and shockingly, I had the urge to press back as we both willing allowed the hug to linger a second or two longer. It was an exchange that burned into my brain, leaving me confused...hostile...embarrassed...but wanting more as we both pulled away. I felt safe as I snuggled under the blanket, drawing my knees up tight to my chest in a ball as I thought about my friend in the other room...school...boys...home...and finally sleep. "Huh?" I sat up, it was sometime in the night still, my sleepy eyes looked for and found the glowing green light of the digital display clock, next to the bed; 4:30am. "You okay?" The voice startled me as I looked over to the door, seeing Nikki standing there with a glass of water in her hand. "Sorry, I must have startled you when I got something to drink, go back to bed." and turned to walk back into the kitchen. I slowly lay down and closed my eyes, I was out of it but pleasantly surprised I didn't have a hang over. I heard a glass being gently placed into the sink and I smiled as my friend tried to be quiet. "Nikki" I called out from the bed room and few seconds later she was there, but it was still so dark, I could only make out a silhouette. "Yeah?" Nikki replied. "I'd feel much better if you would just sleep in here with me, after all it's a double bed, and I feel bad about you being on that couch." "It's not so bad" Nikki smiled. I laid there, my eye lids growing heavy again and I sighed with an odd 'down' feeling came over me that Nikki had not taken me up on my request. A minute later, my head sprung up from my pillow as I felt someone's weight on the mattress and watched Nikki's long body crawl over to the right side of the bed. "But not as comfortable as the bed." Nikki whispered jokingly and we both smiled as I pulled the cover over both of us. "Nice to have another warm body nearby" I sighed, but kept my eyes shut as I remained turning away from my friend. My heart felt like it was beating in an irregular manner. I in fact could feel Nikki close...so very close. I just about had a heart attack as my eyes flew open, but I remained still. The touch was unexpected, but not unwelcome as I felt Nikki's hand simply hold still, resting on my waist. My right hand moved from its tucked position and found that of my friends' and slowly our fingers intertwined. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I scooted back closer to Nik, neither of us spoke a word as our bodies adjusted and snuggled against one another. It seemed all very innocent, both of us finding physical comfort in the other's arms...it was a kind of reassurance...a special bond of sorts as Nikki and I told ourselves in silence, but yet the silence remained as if they both knew how fragile the moment was. Nikki curled her right forearm across my tummy and pulled my in close as we lay in the classic 'spoon' position. ~~~~~~~~ "Thanks for everything" I smiled as Nikki pulled up in front of my dorm. We had not spoken allot this morning to one another as we both seemed to be having lengthy conversations in our heads about what did and did not take place last night. "I'll see you at practice later today." Nikki said and looked down at her lap. "You betcha!" I smiled and paused, quickly I leaned over and hugged Nikki around the neck, who initially was caught off guard but returned Nikki's hug with equal intensity. "You're my best friend." I whispered into Nikki's ear and quickly pulled away, bolting from the car and running up the steps to the dorm not looking back once.