by Sm Donaldson
She looks up, “So she cheated on you huh?”
I look up at her, “How did you know that?”
“I could tell by her voice and the fact that you said she was possessive. Normally it’s a trait of bitches that cheat.”
“Yeah, with most of my teammates with the exception of Russ…I tried to forget and forgive too many times. I also didn’t exactly find out about how many times either.”
She nods, “Huh what a bitch…I mean you seem like an awesome guy…why would she? I guess bitches like her don’t think they have to have a reason.”
She looks back at the movie just in time to see “break the wrist and walk away.”
She burst out laughing, “I love that part.”
She looks back at me, “So was football the only sport you played in high school? Were you like Uncle Rico?”
I laugh, “Oh Yeah that’s me…Yeah pretty much just concentrated on football, I played baseball earlier, but football pretty much dominated.”
She nods, “Well from what I saw today you seem to have taken all of that pretty seriously, you seemed determined.”
“How did you see that, you were running the rocks?”
“I can do two things at once…I used to do it all the time when I would watch Cade. Hey do you mind if I stretch me legs out on the couch, they are killing me from today?”
I laugh, “No why do you want me to move?”
She laughs, “No, but feet freak some people out. Like Cade.”
I laugh, “What? Feet freak him out.”
She smiles, “Yes he thinks they are the nastiest things ever and he almost throws up. I used to pick on him and lay my feet on his lap and the facial expressions were hilarious.”
I laugh, “Well I don’t have a problem with feet as long as they are clean, and they don’t belong to Russ, because his feet are horrible.”
She laughs and puts her legs up, reaching down she rubs the arches of her feet, God she is so damn sexy…here goes nothing.
“Hey I happen to be an expert foot rubber, I’ll help you out.” She smiles and leans back and I take over…I have been told I give pretty awesome foot rubs…the sounds escaping her mouth make me…damn oh it’s hot.
I look over a few minutes later and she is asleep, the next thing I know Russ and Cade are waking me up.
Cade looks at me, “Hey douche-bag what are you doing?”
I stretch and look down at Gabby’s feet on me, “Oh nothing I guess we both fell asleep watching the movie.” I look up and see that it’s two o’clock, “Well I guess you guys had a good date.”
Russ smiles, “Oh yeah… Hey I told Cade he could crash here his roommate has umm company.”
“Yeah that’s cool; Daria’s gone home for the weekend so he can use her bed. Should we wake up Gabby or just move her or leave her alone?”
Cade laughs, “Yeah don’t wake her because she’s a bitch, I’ll take her in there and I’ll crash on Daria’s bed.” He reaches down to pick her up and stumbles a little. I realize how drunk he and Russ both are.
I laugh, “Hey you guys are pretty lit. Let me pick her up.” He nods an okay. I reach down and pick her up; she stirs for a minute and looks up at me and smiles. Then she rests her head on my chest. I place her on her bed and Cade collapses on Daria’s bed. I walk to my room and fall on my bed.
Russ looks at me, “So you and Gabby huh?”
“Dude, no we just watched a movie and ate take-out. Shut it I’m tired.”
And if I think too much about her and the way she looks while she’s sleeping or the noises she makes when I rub her feet….I’ll need another cold shower.
Chapter 4
Gabby
I roll over in my bed to see Cade lying in his boxers on Daria’s bed. I throw a pillow at him, “Hey get up loser. What are you doing here?”
“Russ and I came in late from our dates; you and Linc were asleep on the couch. Looking cozy I might add.”
“Whatever, how did I get in here?”
He smiles, “Well I was going to bring you, but I could hardly walk myself, so Linc brought you in and I crashed on Daria’s bed since my roommate was occupied.”
I stretch, “Oh, okay I was really tired after yesterday, between running the rocks and then the weight room for a couple of hours with Linc.”
“Are you sure that’s all you guys did is weights…you guys looked pretty fucking comfy when we came in? Your nasty ass feet in his lap.”
I shake my head, “You really are an ass you know that and my feet aren’t nasty. He was being nice and helping me rub a cramp out of them…I guess we both fell asleep…nothing happened but a movie and take-out.” I think back of him with that towel wrapped around his waist the V that leads down to…
“Gabby!”
I shake my head, “Huh? Sorry I’m still tired.”
“Did you get the job?”
“Oh yeah, Professor Jennings seems real nice and he’s not bad to look at either.”
“Gabby don’t say shit like that. You can’t act like that.”
I’m getting kinda pissed, “What Cade I just said he was nice to look at…and what the hell is it with you. Don’t get all territorial…I don’t get in the way of you and the skanks you bang don’t stop guys from looking at me. I heard some of the stuff you were saying yesterday to the football team. You of all people are the one who’s always tried to convince me that guys are attracted to me and now you threaten guys for even looking at me.”
“Yeah, but I don’t think I can handle it now…after that shit that happened last year. I thought I was going to kill someone.”
“Hey you are the one who always tells me not to let it drag me down…so you don’t either.”
He nods, “Okay…just watch out this time okay…and listen to my warnings.”
I smile, “Okay…I mean it’s not like I have anyone in mind…jeez Cade. So are you ready to go running?”
“Ugh the headache I have…that would be a great big NO.”
I laugh, “Lightweight, well will you go over and see if Linc or Russ wanna go. I don’t really feel comfortable going by myself yet. I’m running to the other side of campus and back.”
He nods, “Okay, let me go ask them…I doubt Russ will, but maybe Linc will.”
He walks back in my room a few minutes later, “Yeah Linc said he’ll be out in a minute.”
“What about Russ?”
He laughs, “He feels like shit, I walked in and he was bare ass up in the air naked.”
I laugh, “Okay I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t go ask myself, get out so I can get dressed.”
He chuckles and goes out to the living room and I can hear him turning the T.V. on. I dress and get ready to run. I walk out and Linc is dressed.
He looks down at me, “So where are we running to?”
I stretch, “To the other side of campus and back. Is that cool with you?”
“Yeah on our way back do you want to hit the weight room for maybe an hour…not as long as yesterday for sure.”
I laugh, “Yeah, I’m not sure I can handle two days in a row.” The truth is I like hanging out with Linc…it just seems so easy.
~*~
We walk back into the apartment after a few hours of running and working out. I can’t get past the manly scent of Linc, being around him is just…I don’t know. I really wish I could wrap my head around it though. I’m not too gung-ho with the idea of getting hung up on a guy that probably isn’t in to me…not again anyway.
He looks over at me, “Hey Gab, think fast.” He tosses me a bottle of water, “Good workout today, you seem like you didn’t feel as bad as you thought you would.”
“No I actually don’t, which is good because I start my T.A. job tomorrow.”
“Good deal, I hope you like it. You want first shower?”
I shake my head, “No I got first shower yesterday, you can have the first one tonight.”
He smiles, “Thanks.”
A few minutes l
ater Daria walks back in. I look up from my books, “Hey how was your trip home?”
She rolls her eyes, “It was a trip home, my parents bitch about how much they are paying for me to go here and how much I don’t appreciate it and how my grades aren’t good enough blah blah blah.”
“Man that sucks.”
She looks over at me, “Oh yeah how did your interview go?”
“It went well, I got the job.”
“What professor are you going to be working for? What else did you do this weekend?”
“Well I started back running with Cade, Linc and Russ. I went to the weight room a few times with Linc. That was pretty much it…not too much fun, but I’m glad I started working out; I have to be ready for my cross country stuff in like a month. Oh and its Professor Jennings…he’s a hottie.”
She kinda frowns.
I look at her puzzled, “What?”
“Well Gab, just be careful with him, he’s rather flirty and I’ve heard about him and more than one or two coeds…”
I’m shocked, “I mean I knew he was very nice and I just thought that was his personality. I’m not about to get something started with a teacher…I would lose my scholarship, be off the cross country team and probably get kicked out of school.”
“Good just keep your head thinking that way, from the sounds of things he’s a charmer, so be careful.”
“I will, but hey don’t say anything about this in front of Cade, he’d go ape shit.”
She smiles, “I won’t.”
I laugh, “Oh and I put your bedding in the wash it’s drying now…it smelt like drunken sweaty guy…Cade crashed in there the other night when he was too drunk to make it back across campus.”
She laughed, “Hmm too bad I didn’t come in and find that in my bed.”
I throw her a look, “Oh my God are you telling me you think Cade is hot?”
“Girl are you blind, he’s more than hot he’s on freakin fire.”
I’m laughing so hard tears are coming out of my eyes, “I’ve always known Cade is attractive…he’s just not….I just don’t see that in him myself.”
She laughs and about that time, the bathroom door opens and Linc comes out…damn he remembered his clothes this time…no towel…
Linc looks over at us, “Hey Daria…what are you two giggling about?”
She laughs a snort, “Nothing…nothing… Hey there is a new club opening up downtown do you guys wanna go one night this week?”
I nod, “How old do you have to be to get in though?”
She smiles, “Well your ID needs to say you’re 21.”
“Well, I guess that leaves me out. I’ve never had a fake ID…I think Cade has one.”
Linc looks at us, “Yeah he has one; both Russ and I do too…so that just leaves you Gabby.”
Daria looks at me, “I thought all teenagers from Florida were issued fake IDs when they were issued the real ones.”
I laugh, “I didn’t have much need for one in high school.”
Linc looks at Daria, “Hey I know Russ and I can get her one. No big deal.”
Daria jumps up and down for a second until she realizes she’s doing it. “Um yeah that’ll be cool, we’ll have fun.”
I laugh, “Okay thanks that would be good.”
~*~
I’m a little nervous to go into work today after what Daria told me. Well it doesn’t matter he has to have a willing participant and I’m not willing. I step up and knock on his office door, “Come in.”
“Hi Professor Jennings, I wasn’t sure where you wanted me to start today?”
“Oh Ms. Lewis, you are a ray of sunshine on this dreary day.”
I know I’m about to roll my eyes, don’t roll your eyes, I smile, “Thank you…so where do I need to get started?”
“Well since the semester is just starting you can help me get my filing cabinet in order for my new student files.”
“Oh Okay, just show me where everything is.”
He walks around his desk and shows me this small room off of his office with wall to wall filing cabinets. “Here are the cabinets you’ll only need to worry with these three, the rest of those have personal files and past students. Here is a list of this semesters students, a label list and folders.”
With that he walks out of the room and I am alone to do my work. I make my way to my first couple of classes, I kinda can’t wait until my eleven o’clock since I know I have it with Linc.
As I walk into the lecture hall they use for Professor Jennings class, a hand reaches out and touches my arm, “Hey Gabby saved you a seat.”
I smile, “Thanks Linc. How’s your morning been?”
“It’s been pretty good, what about you? What about your job?”
“It’s all been pretty good, I can tell my calculus class is going to kill me…I’m just not good with equations and stuff, but I have to take it for my major so I figured I’d knock it out first. Work was good; I mostly did filing today and made student folders….Lincoln Andrew Addison.”
He laughed, “Oh and here I thought my information would be kept private.”
I laugh, “Its okay trust me I hate my middle name more.”
He has this look on his face like he’s hiding something. I look over to him, “spill it you’re hiding something.”
He tries to hide his chuckling with the side of his hand, “Nothing….Gabriella Eden Lewis.”
I punch his arm, “How did you know?”
“That day you and Cade got into a big argument over the phone, when you hung up on him he called you by all three names…he was pissed like someone’s momma. Russ and I thought it was kinda funny…he did tell us we couldn’t tell you that we knew…oops so much for that. But really don’t tell Cade…he’ll be pissed.”
I can’t help but laugh, “Its okay actually Eden was my Grandmothers name.”
He shrugs, “Kinda cool.”
For the next hour every chance I could I’d glance his direction and I caught him doing the same. As we left the lecture hall, he looks at me, “Hey you wanna grab some coffee or a snack?”
“Yeah sounds great but its gotta be kinda quick, I have to go back to work for Professor Jennings in an hour.”
I felt so comfortable here with him, drinking coffee and eating a muffin…it was over all too soon. He had to go to the field and I had to go to work.
Chapter 5
Linc
That was absolutely the best class I’ve ever been in and it has absolutely nothing to do with the class. Then coffee afterwards…I’m gonna have to break my own rules about this roommate thing…this girl is just too awesome…
“Hey Linc…You here?”
“Shut it Russ, I was just thinking about a class.”
“Yeah well if coach catches you out of it like that your ass will be smoked.”
Cade walks up, “Hey have either of you guys talked to Gab today?”
I look up, “Yeah just a little while ago…everything okay?”
“Yeah well no, I’ve tried to text her and call her but she’s not answering.”
“Oh yeah she has to work for Professor Jennings.”
Russ laughs, “Whoa…I’ve heard about him…they say he hooks up with hottie students.”
I can’t help but notice Cade and I have the same look on our face…Russ looks at us like we’re crazy, “What is it with you two…Gabby will be fine…if he messes with her she’ll kick his ass. She strikes me as the type of girl who has no problem telling someone where to get off.”
Cade shakes his head, “No you don’t really understand Gabby at all, you are seeing who she wants you to see…but I’ve still got to talk to her about something else. Linc do you know what time she gets off?”
“I think she said five, because we talked about going to the weight room if she felt like it because she said it was a little late to run.”
He nods, “Ok, I‘ll meet her after her work.”
We start to walk back onto the field, I grab Cade
’s arm to slow him up, “Hey really is everything going to be okay with Gabby?”
He shakes his head, “Yeah, it’s just going to piss her off…just some people we went to school with are coming up for a weekend and she’s not going to be happy. Was she going straight to the weight room to meet you?”
“Yeah, I think so. She said she had her bag”
“Okay I’ll probably talk to her while we work out, that way she can blow off steam.”
I shrug, “Fine with me whatever you need to do man. If you need me to help with anything let me know, Gabby seems like a good friend to have.”
He smiles, “She’s the best…too good for her own good sometimes.”
~*~
A little after five Gabby comes in the weight room where Cade and I are. She looks at Cade confused, “I didn’t know you were working out with us today…I thought you had a date?”
He smiles, “I’m gonna make sure you are training…now lets do the bench.”
She shrugs, “Okay.”
While he’s spotting her he looks down, “Hey Gab...”
She exhales, God she’s so sexy, “What?”
“Um so Leslie called me today.”
“Oh really, what? Is she wanna hook up with you again?”
“No she was letting me know some of the crew from home were coming up to see my first game and stay for the weekend.”
Her eyes looked like they were about to explode, she keeps pressing through it with the weights, “The two you know who better not be Fucking coming here…do you hear me.”
“Gab they are.”
She practically tosses the bar to Cade and sits up, “What the fuck? It isn’t enough that they embarrassed me in front of our whole town, they have to come all the way to Northern Alabama to do it again.” She stands up, “Fuck it I’m going outside to smoke, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
I couldn’t tell she looks almost like she may cry, “Cade, Dude what the hell?”
Cade shakes his head, “Okay I’m going to tell you some of this shit, but you can never let Gab know you heard it from me…I want you to talk to Daria about it too or better yet arrange it so I can. I’m only going to tell you guys some of it because when they show up in this town it’s not going to be big enough, and I’m going to need help with Gabby.”