Enhance

Chapter 8 - Summers

Chapter 8 - Summers

“Oh, doesn’t she look happy?” Jamie asks when she sees me walking into the dorm we share on the campus. And at the words I do the worst thing I could’ve done: I blush. “Oh look, she’s blooming!” My best friend teases me and I grab the first thing I find —a teddy bear— and toss it at her.

“Shut up!”

Jamie laughs at me as she ducks my attack and I just make my way to my bed, leaving my purse on the chair of my desk. And even though I know that keeping this silly smile will only make things worse with Jamie, I can’t help it. That was a really lovely… date, I guess.

I didn’t know until now how much I missed a good gentlemen, someone from the old school, you know? I guess I got used to the jerks, always being rude or saying ‘we’re in a feminist world, now. You can do it yourself’ and walking in front of me. Louis is a real gentleman, opening the door for me, moving the chair so I could sit, being always kind and nice, always listening.

He’s most certainly nothing like all the other athletes I’ve dated, but still… I’m a bit weary. He seems so nice and kind, but I don’t know, I’ve been deceived other times. I never notice how awful they are until it’s too late. Like with my latest fiasco: Connor. I don’t know if the fact that they are these amazing athletes blinds me, or something. Or maybe I’m just stupid in that sense. Some girls go crazy for rockstars, but I go crazy for athletes, especially football players.

What if he’s just pretending or something? It wouldn't be the first time a boy does that to get in a girl’s pants. Or maybe a bet. He could be playing a part here. I can’t know. I don’t really know him.

“So… who and how is he?” Jamie asks and I snap back to reality.

“Oh, the guy I was out with, right?” I ask back and Jamie rolls her eyes in a duh expression. “His name is Louis, he’s the guy from the bar on Friday,” I explain and Jamie’s mouth forms a perfect O. “And he’s nice, he really is. Maybe too nice, it kinda scares me.”

“Why? That makes no sense!” Jamie exclaims. “You always like the jerks and you finally fancy a nice guy and now you’re scared!?”

“First, I don’t fancy him. Second, that’s why! I always pick the jerks. We know I have a bad taste in men so I don’t know, maybe he turns out to be a jerk as well. I don’t know! I don’t wanna just jump into this, blindly, just because he seems nice now. I don’t wanna make the same mistake again, Jamie. You gotta understand that,” I tell my best friend and she sighs, understanding I hope.

“Yeah, I get it. So you need to get to know him first. For real. Only friends maybe?” she suggests and I close my eyes, taking a deep breath.

The scene of the infirmary comes to my mind, when we were so close, when my hands were on his body. My heart races immediately and I have to shake my head to clear my mind. It’s not only that he’s nice, but there’s a tension between us, something different. Just friends sounds kind of hard when I remember that moment we shared at the infirmary.

“I think it’s the best way to approach this. Or the safe way,” I reply with a deep sigh.

“Don’t worry. I’ll study him and try to find out his intentions with you,” Jamie promises and I laugh. “Oi! I can totally make his psychological profile.”

“You’ve been studying psychology for less than two years. You don’t have a degree so I dunno whether I should trust your expertise.”

“I’m deeply offended. And here I was, trying to help you out. Fine, do it yourself!” And she turns around on her chair, giving her back on me. I laugh out loud and go to her, hugging her from behind.