50
Exams approached fast. I tried to study as much as possible, but Derek was a constant distraction – and one I hungered for. He stopped by every day, and I could never say no. He didn’t try to kiss me, he didn’t try to do anything… but just being with him was enough to make me lightheaded. I waited for that knock every day like a starving prisoner waits for his daily rations… and it was like a seven-course meal with a bottle of champagne when I heard it and opened the door to his gorgeous smile.
Finally, though, it all came crashing down.
He stopped by one evening later than usual, after 8 o’clock. “Good news – I got the next three nights off from work.”
I groaned. I knew he’d done it for me – I was leaving for home after finals – but the fear of God (and of a C in my classes) had finally crept into me. I had a three-hour exam in English the next morning, with half devoted to multiple choice, and half to an essay on an unknown topic.
“I can’t do anything tonight… I have to study for my test tomorrow.”
He frowned. “How long?”
“Late.”
“You want some company?”
I gave him a sideways look. “You want to hang out while I study.”
He shrugged. “Sure. I can quiz you off your notes.”
“You’re not going to help me study, you’re going to distract me.”
He held up his fingers in a ‘V’ sign. “Scout’s honor.”
“You were never a boy scout,” I scoffed.
“Yes I was,” he said as he shook his head ‘no.’
I laughed, then looked back at the empty room…
…and my bed, where my pages and pages of notes were scattered.
Shanna had gone to the computer lab to write a last-minute term paper, so I was alone.
Well… I had been.
Not anymore.
Don’t do it! Tell him no, tell him NO –
“Uh… sure… come on in,” I said as nonchalantly as I could. “If you want.”