She’s a total enigma to me. She drives an awesome car yet doesn’t care or flash it around. She’s pretty but doesn’t play it up or emphasise it and she actually talks instead of just blindly agreeing with me or talking nonsense. She doesn’t care who I am; she didn’t change her attitude with me at all when she found out I was on the football team. I wish I could speak of her body. I can’t though as she buries it under some seriously unflattering and frankly dull clothes. From beside her I can vaguely make out a decent rack but that’s all. Oh shit, I’m getting a boner.
I discretely adjust myself and try to focus on the class; it’s not working. Clearly I need to get laid. I haven’t indulged since I got here and I’ve had plenty of opportunities to. Maybe I should and I would if anyone apart from this mousey girl beside me had got my engine going, so far they haven’t. And as much as I’m curious about Bow, I’m not going there. She screams relationship and I’m strictly casual. Plus, I’ve got to work with her this entire semester and weepy clingy girls never get much work done.
After class finishes, she tries quickly squeezing past me, I’m not ready to be away from her yet so I gently grab her wrist. I don’t want her feeling awkward around me now since she embarrassed herself at the start of class.
“You wanna get started on our assignment? I’d really like to get ahead of the game before the football season gets even more hectic and I get swamped.” She’s finally looking up at me now. Good.
“Sure, when?”
“How about right now? I can follow you back to student housing. They have common rooms, right?”
She shrugs. “Now’s not great. I’ve got dinner with my Uncle. How about I come by your place after?”
“Erm, sure. I guess that’s okay. I should warn you though, I live in a frat house.”
She doesn’t look surprised and here I thought I would be shocking her. “That’s not a problem. So, I’ll get there about 7, okay?”
“Yeah. I’ll text you the address now. Don’t forget the supplies.”
“Not a problem, their still in my trunk.”
She smiles at me and I can’t move. Fuck, it lights up her whole face. In fact, this is the first time I’ve really been face to face with her, not side to side and I can’t get over how stunning she really is. Her skin is flawless and her lips are plump and glistening having been recently licked. Her eyes seem strange for some reason but they’re still pretty. Fuck, I’ve got a boner again. I clear my throat and stand, carefully positioning my notebook to hide my situation and reluctantly tear my eyes away from her.
“I’ll walk you out.”
“That’s sweet of you. Thanks.” I’ve never been called sweet before. I need to shake myself out of this, I’m starting to act like a pussy.
Reaching the parking lot, we split with swift goodbyes. I wanted to linger and fought the urge. I’d be seeing her later anyway. Why did the thought calm me? Bow was getting to me and I’d only met her yesterday. No girl has ever had such an immediate effect on me. There’s just something about her. Maybe I’d find out what is later and then this weird obsession will go.
Chapter six
Bow
I drive home excited to get going with this meeting and getting a big hug from Ralph. There is a small part of me though that wants it to be over already so I can get back to Asher. I spend the drive fantasising about arriving at the frat house and shocking the shit out of Asher with the real me, but it’s just that, a fantasy. I suppose I want to see him look at me like I look at him. I can’t see that happening while I look like this. I’ve seen girls throwing him flirty glances in class and they were way out of my league.
There is no way I’d trust him with my real identity, it’s fun to think about though. I briefly thought we had a moment earlier, he seemed to stare at me longer than usual but I quickly dismiss it as my brain’s desperate attempt to see things that aren’t there. I promptly bury my Asher thoughts and focus on the evening ahead.
When I pull up I see a town car parked at the front. I park in my regular spot then start running from my car to the front door. I swing it open and immediately jump into Ralph’s arms. He hugs me so tight I can barely breathe and it’s just what I want and need.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Ralph pushes me back slightly, before pulling me in again. “Why are you crying, baby girl?”
I didn’t realise I was. “Just missed you more than I thought that’s all.”
He presses a kiss on top of my head. “I missed you too.” He whispers into my hair while rocking me side to side. He’s done this ever since I can remember when I’m upset. It’s so comforting and I let myself soak up the feeling before I pull away. He’s my entire family now and I don’t want to lose him. I guess losing my parents has had more of an effect on me than I thought. The very idea of losing Ralph makes me want to sit in a dark corner curled in a ball.
I look into his smiling eyes and give him my brightest smile back. I hear shuffling and realise everyone has witnessed my moment of weakness. I don’t care though. These are my friends and I know they understand. It’s great not to have to lie to them, I’ve told them all about my life and they know how important Ralph is to me.
“Let’s eat, Bow. We’ve only got about forty minutes before the contractor gets here.”
I lead everyone into the kitchen and start plating up the take out that someone has brought home. Pepper and Michael help after giving reassuring squeezes to my hands. Dinner goes great and Ralph entertains everyone with stories from my childhood. The one he’s telling now I remember vividly.
I was six years old and trying to walk in my first pair of heels that my Mom had brought for me that day and I was excited to show them to my Dad. I trotted into his home office and promptly fell off one heel, tumbled into his desk and knocked his coffee over some important contracts. I thought he would go mad and tried to crawl under his desk to hide. He quickly stopped me, picked me up and sat me on his lap as he and Ralph burst out laughing. Dad took me in his arms, praising my new talent, then helped me to balance on my new shoes before shooing me out of the office. Everyone was laughing at my clumsiness and I joined in.
The meeting with the contractor went really well and construction would start in two weeks. Ralph explained that it couldn’t happen sooner as he wanted me to be the owner of the property before we moved forward with any changes. He pointed out that it wasn’t wise to spend money on a property that you don’t own. He’d already put an offer into the owner who had readily accepted saying that he was planning to put the house on the market this winter anyway.
Everyone looked horrified momentarily at the idea that they would have been homeless if he had followed through with his plan. Properties in this area sold quickly due to their proximity to the college and there is no guarantee that the new owner would let you see out the rest of your year. Now we are worry-free.
I explained to Ralph about the Underdog Society and how when we left the house I’d like to keep it as student living for other ‘Oddballs’ like us. He proposed we trust it to them when we’ve vacated and keep the rent in a separate bank account that could be accessed for maintenance and repairs at the agreement of the president of the society at the time.
We all agreed it was a good idea and I felt great that I could give something back that would last and help other people. Glen was particularly moved as he knew the extent of good it would do the Society to have property they could consider theirs and be totally independent from the college.
The contractor said that the work on the house would take nearly three weeks and once we moved back in, another two for the garden and pool. It is going to be epic when it’s all done. We decided to keep the house looking the way it does now. Anthony thought it would be cool for the house to look ordinary from the front and anything but when you got inside. I agreed.
Glen presented his security plan and it was extensive, including finger print entry, cameras and movement sensors. Ralph was ecstatic when he heard, his main priority was my
safety. The whole property would be surrounded from the end of the front porch to the rear of the property by a 9ft fence. This meant we had total privacy in the back yard and I wouldn’t have to wear my disguise when at home. I was thrilled.
The rest of the house would be something else entirely. New wiring and plumbing throughout, underfloor heating, air conditioning, new windows and doors, state of the art kitchen and bathrooms and my original plan for the basement was going ahead. All common areas like the dining room, family room and outside were being improved. I want them filled with super comfy furniture that gives a family feel. I’m not into the ultra-modern minimalist thing.
They were all surprised when I said I was keeping my dressing room as it is, save for new carpets and decorating. I pointed out that it was still going to be a bedroom for someone else at some point in the future and they wouldn’t want to live in a fitted closet. I also explained how attached I am to the furniture the guys built for me. I want to keep it and I’m sentimental about them. That had me sandwiched in a group hug of Radley, Michael and Anthony. Before Ralph left he mentioned that this was the happiest he’d seen me in a long time and everyone looked touched.
After he left, the buzz from the meeting was still strong but I had to leave everyone to it and get going. I only had 20 minutes before I was meant to be at the frat house. Michael and Glen weren’t happy with me going alone. I pointed out that I’m a big girl and I have them on speed dial if I have any problems. Glen promptly added panic buttons to his list of security stuff. I giggled at how his brain works and left before they decided to tag along. I could honestly see them doing it if I gave them an opening.
***
Pulling up at Asher’s frat house was more daunting than I expected it to be. There were a lot of guys hanging around outside and this damn car drew all of their attention. It didn’t help that the only parking spot available was right out front. I took a deep breath and got out of my car pretending not to notice the eyes focused on me.
I popped the trunk and started to gather our supplies in my arms. It was awkward as hell. A tap on the shoulder made me swiftly turn and nearly drop everything. I was expecting Asher and this wasn’t him. I recognised him as one of the guys who were outside the stadium when I’d dropped him off.
“Hey, I’m Colby. You here for Asher?” He was a good looking guy. More bulky than I liked, he has a kind face and a twinkle in his eyes that screams man whore.
“Yeah, he is here isn’t he?” Please say he is.
“No, but he should be back any minute now. He had to run some errands. Here, let me give you a hand with this stuff.”
“Thanks. I’d appreciate that.”
Colby grabs most of the stuff in the trunk and leaving me with odd bits. I’m glad. The last thing I want to do is drop this stuff all over the yard in front of these guys. Talk about embarrassing.
“Nice car by the way.”
I laugh. “So I’ve heard.”
I follow him into a large kitchen diner where he puts our supplies down on the side. The whole place needs a serious clean, I guess that’s guys for you. I perch on a stool by the breakfast bar and he hands me a soda. We start chatting about anything and nothing. He seems like a nice guy. Plenty of charm and easy to talk to.
I can see how he got the ladies. I’m also glad and relieved that he wasn’t turning that charm on me. It wouldn’t have worked but it saves things getting uncomfortable and awkward. There is no way this guy is used to being shot down. He’s just complimenting me on my ‘killer exit’ from the stadium when the front door slams open and Asher storms in.
“Bow!” He yells sounding almost frantic.
“She’s in here.” Colby bellows back, rattling my eardrums. Asher all but runs in. He looks just as good as in class. I let my eyes scan him briefly, taking my fill while he’s distracted. “Don’t worry, no harm has befallen your study partner.”
“Sorry I’m late, Bow. I was going to text but I figured you’d be running a few minutes behind having seen your Uncle.”
“It’s fine. He just left. I don’t like being late. Call it a pet peeve of mine. Colby, here was keeping me company.” Asher’s eyes seem to darken slightly.
“Yeah, I was just trying to get her to let me take a spin in that car of hers. I was getting nowhere. If you have more luck, I call shotgun.” With that he leaves.
Asher
When I pulled up at the frat house and saw Bow’s car, I panicked. I hated the idea of her being surrounded by these guys without me being here to protect her. Most of them are sound but a few can be real cocky bastards. I don’t want her to be exposed to that and think that I’m the same way. Her good opinion of me is important for some reason that I can’t decipher yet.
Seeing her with Colby made my blood boil. He’s never met a skirt he wouldn’t chase and the idea of him with Bow made me furious and more than a little jealous. She was too innocent for him. He saw my anger too and backed off pretty quickly. I take a deep breath and force myself to calm down before I come off as a psycho. Bow is sat sorting through the supplies and it is only now that I remember why she is here. It had slipped my mind for a second.
“You ready to get started?” I need something to distract me.
“Yep. Where do you wanna do this?” She looks around her and a small grimace pulls at her sweet lips as she takes in the mess and crap lying around in here.
“We can go up to my room. I’ve got a separate small living space and it’ll be big enough to do this.” I want her away from interruptions. I tell myself that the guys will come in and disturb us, in truth, I just want her to myself.
“That’s fine by me. Lead the way.”
I study her for a second to make sure she really is okay with it. I pick up all of the supplies and make my way to my room. I can make out Bow’s soft footfalls following me. Nearly there, I hear her stumble. I swing around and she looks flushed. I can tell she is trying to ignore the pictures and posters on the walls. Spread sporadically along every wall there are pictures of half-naked women. It is a frat house at the end of the day. I keep going. I know she’ll probably be embarrassed if I bring it up.
Going into my room, I am glad I’ve picked up after myself this afternoon. I’ve allowed myself to become a bit of a slob since I got back to college. I set the supplies on the table and out of the corner of my eye I see Bow studying the pictures on my walls. They are mainly of football games and their after parties. There are a couple of me and my Mum too. I don’t want to get into a discussion about my fucked up family so I loudly sort through the supplies to draw her attention. She leaves her perusing and sits in the chair opposite mine.
“Want me to take your coat?” It’s green, bulky and hides her body from my view. I don’t know what I’d do with it if she does. Probably just put it on my bed. It’s not like I’ve got a coat stand in my room. I do want Bow comfortable around me but I also want a peek at her breasts that had teased me earlier.
“I’m okay for now thanks.” She shuffles in her chair and clings to her jacket like a security blanket. Is she that ashamed of her body? I know chicks can be weird about that shit so I let it go.
The night is gone so fast. We worked well together. Bow is very intelligent and had some stellar ideas that I never would have thought of. We had a break after about an hour and we talked. She asked about the frat and football mainly. She seemed pretty clueless about some fairly regular things like pep rallies before a game and awards handed out after the games. I thought most people pick all that stuff up in high school.
It was awesome to banter with a girl for a change. We laughed about her car and her first impression of me. I was a total asshat to her yesterday and I’m glad I could improve on what she thought of me. After, we knuckled down and worked for a couple more hours. Bow started to yawn and although I was enjoying having her in my space is was getting late. I walked her out.
Passing the common room, Jacob, one of the frat dickheads, shouted something about me ‘scrapi
ng the bottom of the barrel’ by fucking Bow. I heard her breath hitch at the insult. No thought entered my brain as a wave of rage burst forth from my centre and I flew at Jacob. After only one punch he was unconscious, slumped against the pool table. I wanted to keep going, really mess the stupid fucker up. I somehow managed to pull back. I didn’t want Bow to see me lose it like that.
I turned to her, expecting her to be headed in the opposite direction or scared stiff. Again, she surprised me. She was stood there with the biggest fucking grin on her face, all her perfect white teeth on display. I swear she would be cheering and clapping if she had the nerve. It made me want to steal a pair of the cheerleader’s pompoms for her. I shook out my aching fist and smiled back.
Ignoring the hushed talk behind me, I walked to Bow, rested my hand on her back and lead her out. That same damn zing whipped up my arm again. I felt a small shiver travel down her back at the contact, she was more affected than I realised. That pleased me immensely. No one wants a connection to be one sided. I waited until her car was out of sight before going back inside.
Tate and Colby were waiting for me just inside the door. I intended to ignore them but they moved right into my path.
“What was that, dude?” Tate asked looking utterly confused.
“What was what?” I knew I was being obtuse, I simply didn’t want to talk about it.
“You know damn well what. Why’d you lay Jacob out? The brothers are saying it’s because of that dark haired chick from earlier. I don’t believe that for a second.” Colby joined in.
“Bow.”
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