“Hold it, what? What do you mean she was going to leave?” I ask, saddened that her world has gotten too rough and she wants to run from it.
“Yes, she was just talking about taking satellite classes from home because she doesn’t want to deal with it all anymore. Do you realize she’s only seventeen years old? That whole viral photo really hurt her. Any plans you have of getting in her pants, you can let breeze right out of that thick jock head of yours. She’s not going to be your new plaything.”
“I want to be her friend,” I lie, there is no way I’m letting her know how much I really want to touch her best friend. I have no intentions of making her my “plaything”, if, no—when I get to touch Tensanne and feed this need inside me, one touch will never be enough.
“Just know I’m watching,” she says moving two fingers in the shape of a ‘v’ back and forth from her eyes to mine. “Remember what I said. If your intentions are anything but pure you need to walk the fuck away right now. DO NOT HURT HER,” she commands, going back in the room slamming the door in my face.
Smiling to myself while I leave the dorm because I faced the first battle of being friends with Ten and I won, sort of. Now I can’t wait until eleven o’clock tonight so I get to spend some more time with Tensanne Craig.
Chapter Eight
Does anyone really care how much wood could a wood chuck, chuck or if Sally really sells seashells by the seashore? Then why the hell do we keep asking?
—Tensanne’s rambling
Tensanne
FLUTTERING AROUND THE room grabbing my supplies for Chem class, Ronnie comes back in from her talk with Kohl with a satisfied grin.
“What was that all about?” I ask.
“Just making sure his intentions were pure. Insuring he wasn’t trying to get something he shouldn’t and I may or may not have threatened to send his balls to Timbuktu if he did anything stupid.”
“I’m not sure if I should thank you or be angry. I’ll go with a shoulder shrug and head to class. Do you think he really likes me?” I ask, fidgeting with the edge of my shirt.
“I don’t like that goofy grin you have right now. Stop the crush you have forming. From what I have heard and from talking to him, he seems like a good guy but he has a reputation of love them and leave them. Tread lightly, question everything, use your head and keep any emotions hidden,” she tells me. “You want to meet up for dinner after class?”
“I’ll be careful, Ron, I promise. There will be no sending of naked pictures,” I assure her. “Where do you want to meet?”
“Do we have time to Uber over to Subway before your study group?”
“Class gets out at five, study groups at eight we should have time. But instead of taking an Uber how about we walk?”
“Ten, that’s like twelve blocks. In the cold and wind, plus it’s going to be dark. You sure you want to walk? The weather’s calling for a big snowstorm tonight,” she asks, looking at me like I’ve gone insane.
“A snowstorm? How about we get Z Place Pizza tonight instead? You call them and have them deliver at 5:30?”
“Oh, yes,” she hums, rubbing her stomach, “Z Place Pizza, cut into those little triangles with that thin crust, covered with that tented paper, the aroma coming out the top like a pizza teepee. That sounds like a delicious idea.”
Hugging her, I bundle up to fight the dropping temperature and head for class.
Chemistry class goes smoothly; today’s class focusing on the chemical reactions of medications in the brain. I love learning, I think while I exit the building into the lightly falling snow. Taking a deep breath, I know it’s going to be a long cold walk back to the dorm and I forgot my umbrella.
“Hey, Ten.”
Wren is standing at the bottom of the steps holding an umbrella and a steaming cup of something warm that I’m hoping is for me.
Smiling tentatively, I cautiously make my way down the slick steps, meeting him at the bottom, “Hi Wren.”
“Can I walk you back to your dorm?”
“That depends; are you still angry with me?” Lies, it’s all lies. I don’t have stipulations because he has an umbrella and if that drink is mine I’ll offer up my first born.
Lowering his head, smirking, kicking an invisible rock, “Nah, I was frustrated. I can’t stay mad at you. Here, I brought you some hot chocolate as a peace offering,” he says, handing me the hot goodness.
Holding it to my nose, its warmth fogs up my glasses while I inhale the heavenly chocolate scent.
Taking a sip, feeling it warm me from the inside out, I look to the sky, “It’s really coming down, we better get walking,” I shiver, ducking under his offered umbrella.
We’re silent as we walk across the empty quad. All the student staying indoors out of the cold and snow. I’m not real great with silence. “So, how ‘bout them Game Cocks?”
“You’re asking about a sports team? Has it really gotten that awkward between us in just a few hours?” he asks through a nervous laugh.
“Um, no I mean how’s your collection of comic books? Get any new first editions lately?”
“Why are you rambling, Ten?”
“I don’t know. For the first time in our lives, things feel strained between us. You would think that having sex then not having sex would have been what made things weird, but no.”
Grabbing my gloved hand with his free one, “Stop, it’s all good. We’re good, Ten.”
Looking up, I realize we have reached my dorm.
“Did you get the alert that the library is closed
