She snuck a peek over her shoulder and her breath caught in her throat. Casanova was walking in her direction. Was he coming after her? She ducked behind a large smelly dumpster. Crouching down and breathing only through her mouth, she felt foolish, praying he’d go right past without seeing her. He did and she hoped she’d never run into him again. Pun definitely intended.
As Amber got back to the dorm she ran up the stairs to her room. She searched her bag for her keys and couldn’t find them. She must have left them in her other bag on her dresser. Great! She banged on the door. When Shawna, wrapped in a bath towel, answered Amber all but fell into the room and collapsed on her bed.
“Who’s chasing your tail, girl?” Shawn asked as she dried her face with the edge of the towel.
Gasping for breath, Amber held up a finger. She needed a moment to catch her breath before she could speak. “You won’t believe what just happened.”
“Try me. I’m from the Bronx, remember? There’s nothing I ain’t seen.”
Amber described the scene in the cafeteria for Shawna. If she had expected any empathy, she was sorely disappointed. Instead Shawna roared with laughter.
“You wouldn’t think it was all that funny if it happened to you. I felt like a total moron.”
“Chill, girl. It was an accident. You didn’t go to that cafeteria this morning with the intent of dumping the dude’s tray—unless…you wanted to get his attention.”
“Bite your tongue.”
There was a knock at the door and Shawna went into the bathroom to finish dressing.
Amber went to answer the door. She felt as if she’d fallen into a parallel world where nothing made any sense. And everywhere she went, she saw Casanova, who was standing there now. “Why are you doing this to me?
“Doing what?” He asked, cocking his head to study her.
His steady gaze sent a prickly sensation down her back. “Hounding me. Everywhere I go, you’re there.”
“What? Are you crazy?”
Amber narrowed her eyes. “I’m crazy?”
“Yes, you. You act like I have it in for you. I’m the one who’s had food dumped all over me!”
“That was an a-accident!” Amber sputtered. “And if you weren’t there to begin with, it wouldn’t have happened.” Even as she said it, Amber realized the irrationality of her statement.
“Really? How do I know you didn’t do it on purpose because you want me?”
“Want you? Want you? I would have to be certifiable!”
They glared at each other for several beats until his lips twitched in amusement. “You know, you’re kinda cute when you’re mad.”
Amber felt her face heat at the laughter lurking in his deep blue eyes. Thank God her bronze skin tone wouldn’t show her blush. She took a deep breath. “Why are you here? You already know which room Sarah’s in.”
“I’m not here for Sarah. I stopped by to give you this.” Grinning, he dangled a set of keys.
So that’s what happened to them. She snatched them from his hand. “Thanks and goodbye.”
“Jeez! That’s gratitude for you,” he said as the door closed in his face.
When Shawna came out of the bathroom, she asked, “Who was that?”
“No one,” Amber replied. How dare he laugh at her?
“By the way, there’s a rally on Friday night,” Shawna said. “You’re coming with me. No arguments.”
“I really have to study. There will be other rallies.”
“This is an important one—”
“Yeah, they’re all important, but I need to keep my grades up or else I’ll lose my chance for a residency. I worked too hard to let that happen and you know it.” Amber began to gather her books.
“You study way too much. You need to have some fun. The nuns at school back home had more of a life than you.” Shawna folded her arms across her ample bosom and tapped her foot. “You’re coming, whether you like it or not. Don’t piss me off.”
A beeping sound was heard, signaling a new text on Shawna’s phone. Amber watched as her dorm mate replied. Arguing with Shawna was futile and Friday was several days off. That girl could be as ornery as a wildcat and Amber was in no mood for another confrontation. She waited for Shawna to finish her reply before speaking. “Gotta go to class. See you later.”
“Maybe,” Shawna replied, eyes still glued to her iPhone.
* * *
On Friday night the excitement sparked in the air like electricity. The campus was abuzz and psyched up as everyone geared up for the big football game against Michigan the following day. Shawna wasn’t kidding when she called the rally important. It was the most important one of the year. The two rival schools met this time every year to duke it out on the football field.
Amber reluctantly agreed to accompany Shawna to the rally. There was no way to change Shawna’s mind once she decided on something. Her stubborn determination was as unbending as iron. The girls, joining the endless stream of other students, made their way to the football field.
The bleachers were filling quickly and they had to climb to reach the empty seats. Some idiot tossed a beach ball, of all things, across the rows of seats. When another just- as-bright person dove to catch it, he caused a chain reaction of falling bodies. Amber was shoved hard and fell sideward off the bleachers. Eyes closed tightly and arms flailing, as if attempting to fly, she landed several rows below in a soft lap.
“You? This is effing unbelievable!” A deep voice rumbled.
Amber opened her eyes and her mouth dropped, as she looked up with disbelief into the amused eyes of the man whose lap she had fallen into. How she wished she could be beamed up by Scotty in Star Trek. Of
