Poseidon

When in doubt...

Three weeks in, and, as predicted, I didn't see much to Tara. Sure, she was around every night, as we both had morning classes, but we didn't talk that much.

I walked to Media Writing and Reporting, when Daniel came up on my side. Yeah, we'd now made two assignments together, because he liked to sit in the back as much as I did.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi," I replied and looked at him. He had scruff on his face, blond stubbles. It made him look more beach bum than he probably thought. He was wearing a t-shirt, which I appreciated. I wasn't down with those wife beaters.

"So," he said. "I noticed you at the beach last weekend."

"It's Friday," I reminded him. "You've waited all week to tell me that?" I smiled.

He had his hands in his pockets. "I was wondering if you'd want to go for a walk with me. And I wasn't sure when, as we plan on surfing day to day, but there's a party tonight, so no surfing."

"Huh," I said. Was he asking me out?

He looked at me. "What?"

"You haven't shaved." I blurted out.

Daniel smiled, and his face lit up. He had dimples. Of course, he had dimples. "I usually don't shave daily, but I see this is a bit too much?"

I blushed. It wasn't that I hadn't ever spoken with boys before. I had. Usually, I liked that better than girls, as there was no telling on anyone all the time.

It got a little better later in life, when I learned what not to say.

Daniel was still looking at me. "I'll shave, if that makes you say yes?"

"Sure," I said and rolled my eyes.

He chuckled, and I smiled.

"Sorry," I said. "It's a weird thing to say, it just stood out." He looked like a beach bum, but I was, as most people, a socially trained animal. We knew when not to say these things. Well, most of us.

Daniel walked behind me up the stairs in the auditorium.

Was he asking me out or was this a joke of some kind?

I sat down, and he took his usual seat next to me.

I found my computer and looked at him.

He must've sensed I was watching, because he looked up at me. "What?" he asked.

"Why did you ask me?"

He narrowed his eyes. "Anything wrong with me asking?"

"No, it just confuses me." I admitted.

He looked almost pissed. "Never mind, then, Athena." He snapped.

Was it that rude to be in doubt?

Tara was in the room when I got back. Daniel had bolted out of the room, clearly signaling that that ship had sailed.

I dropped my bag on the floor, careful now my computer was in it, and sat down.

Tara looked up from whatever she was in the midst up. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun, she somehow pulled off. She wasn't a bitch, so I didn't care she was drop dead gorgeous.