KARA
My roomies and I are sitting around the table finishing our fast food dinner from Taco Bell. Fast food row is surrounding USC and getting junk food is never a problem. I need to be careful not to gain the freshman ten.
“What do you think about giving us an extension, Deena?”
“What do you mean?”
“Let’s make it a 60 day challenge, I know I for one need the extension. I know Deena doesn’t, but what about you two,” I admit looking between Clarissa and Lexi.
“You have my vote,” Lexi says.
“I’m in, three to one Deena, we get an extension,” Clarissa states firmly, like it’s a done deal.
“Alright, I guess we can extend it another 30 days. Just clean up after yourselves until then,” Deena acquiesces to our demand. After dinner I walk into the bathroom and see Deena putting on some perfume.
“Are you going somewhere tonight?” I ask.
“I’m headed up to Apartment 72. Do you care to join me, the boys are looking for dessert?” Deena says with a twinkle in her eye.
“No, not tonight, I have to study,” I tell Deena. After Deena leaves and Lexi goes into our room to study, just Clarissa and I are left alone in the living room.
“Kara what’s going on with you and Jake, he’s quite the bad boy hottie isn’t he?” Clarissa asks.
“We’re hanging out together.”
“And other things,” Clarissa teases me wiggling her eyebrows at me.
“Maybe.”
“Come on, a bad boy like him, surely you’ve had a Close Encounter with him right?” she presses.
“Maybe.”
“Why be so coy, Kara?”
“I’ll let you know at the end of the 60 days that we now have. What about you, what’s your Close Encounter tally at?” I ask curiously.
“My lips are sealed as well.”
“Where have you been spending your all-nighters?”
“Haven’t you heard from Deena, I have a secret lover,” Clarissa quips.
“Is he hot and hunk worthy?”
“Most definitely, he’s my secret addiction, let me just say that,” I laugh wickedly.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Before this challenge, was your High School boyfriend the only guy you had ever slept with?”
“Yes.”
“Were you in love with him?”
“Yes, madly in love,” Clarissa says wistfully.
“The first time should be with someone you love, don’t you think?”
“I do, but that’s just me. Not everyone feels the same. I had some friends who were just anxious to lose their virginity and gave it away easily, even if they weren’t in love. I feel a little sad for girls who think that way. It should be special, you know what I mean? Why do you ask?” Clarissa questions me.
“No reason,” I reply.
“Kara, you’re not a virgin are you,” she asks eyeing me curiously.
“Maybe.”
“Then why on earth would you agree to this crazy challenge of Deena’s?” Clarissa says in astonishment.
“I believe it’s called peer pressure. I’m determined to lose it with Jake. If he would only cooperate. He actually wanted to wait until I was ready,” I laugh out.
“You’re kidding right?”
“No, I wish I was. I wonder if there’s something wrong with me, am I undesirable?”
“That’s a shocker, he looks like such the bad boy. And you are stunning girl, and very sexy. You just need to show off your assets more.”
“He surprises me too. Beneath that bad boy exterior is a sweet guy.”
“He sure is attractive in a tough way and he has quite the body on him.”
“I agree, but I think Jason Bancroft has it all going on.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely, you have become pretty close friends haven’t you?”
“I guess you could say that.”
“He likes you.”
“So he claims, but it’s only because I’m not fawning over him like all the other girls do.”
“Do you think he sleeps around?”
“Well he hooked up with a pledge sister and then cast her aside.”
“Typical frat boy behavior.”
“Yeah, pretty much. All the more reason to keep him in the friend zone. But Kara, seriously, you should drop out of this challenge. I honestly don’t think I will be having four Close Encounters myself. My heart isn’t in it, or should I say my heart is in it with my secret lover. He’s the reason I’m unable to be with someone else right now. I fight every day to keep in casual with him, but it’s becoming more than that for both of us.”
“You sound less than thrilled about it.”
“It’s all very complicated. Sometimes I don’t know what I want. This whole college experience, I never planned on being tied down right off the bat like this, but he intimates that he wants us to be exclusive. A couple of guys have asked me out lately and I had to turn them down. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so thrilled to be with him. He is extremely satisfying in so many ways,” Clarissa gushes and her eyes light up over her secret lover.
“You sound pretty smitten.”