Sneak Peek

Only Once

"Lil, you don't get it. He has said on multiple occasions that he is strictly into girls." Lily was only trying to help but I was quickly become exasperated with her constant pushing.

"But he's curious," she insisted. "He's asked you about gay stuff before."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, but not in an interested way. He asked in like a disgusted 'how does this work' type of way."

Lily threw down her fork drawing the attention of nearby tables in the dorm cafeteria. "How are you going to know unless you try," she all but growled at me. "I am trying to help you, but all you do is give up. He's never experimented so you can't just give up on him. You have to try! I am sick of you just giving up," she hissed and pushed her tray away and pushed her chair back. She stormed out of the small diner. Everyone's heads turned to follow the little whirl-wind of a girl storm out of the cafeteria.

A guy sitting at the table directly beside mine passed me a sympathetic look. "Girl trouble?"

I shrugged. "You could say that," I mumbled and followed after the dramatic girl I considered a sister.

I searched around the communal lobby but didn't find her.

Not one stool was open along the icecream style bar that sat against the wall. Some students were just siting there talking while others were rushing to finish assignments or doing last minute studing for tests. I stopped in front of a guy with an open book on his lap. He didn't seem to be concentrated on his book so I didn't feel to bad interrupting him.

"Hey, I'm sorry to bother you. Did you see a little spit-fire of a girl come through here? She's short, about five-foot, brown eyes, pale blond hair with honey blond highlights, cut into a long bob?" I watched his eyes glaze over when I started describing her hair.

"You said she was short?" He finally asked.

I nodded, excited to finally be getting somewhere.

"Big boobs, small waist?" He continued, shifting in his seat.

I sighed and nodded my head. Should have known he was one of those college boys. He definitely looked like one.

"Ah. You're either a very lucky man or a very unlucky one, my friend," He said and picked back up his book.

I waited for him to continue. "And?" I prompted when he didn't continue. "What? I didn't come here for your crappy, cryptic fortune teller information."

He looked up at me as if shocked I was even still standing there. "She ran through here and down that hall. Went into that door right there," He pointed at my dorm room.

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks."

"Wait!" He shouted after me before I got very far. "Another guy had just went in there a couple minutes before. Just wanted to prepare you for what might be in there."

My eyes widened and I walked faster. I wasn't worried about her trying to get with my roommate but I was still worried. The last time I left Lily alone with Ryker she tried to talk him into letting her tie him to my bed and leaving him there for me to find. And that was before she knew I had a major crush on him.

I flung open the door and immediately zoned in on Lily sitting on Ryker's lap on the couch. At least I don't think I have to worry about her trying to hook up with Ryker.

Ryker jumped when the door banged against the wall before ricocheting back towards me.

"Um... a little help here," he pleaded.

"Answer the question," Lil demanded. "Are you single?"

Ryker's panicked eyes moved from me to look at the vixen in his lap. "Yes, I am single," he squeaked.

Lily clapped her hands together and popped up off his lap. "Yay! I know just the person to set you up with!"

"Lil," I warned. I knew what she was doing and I didn't like it one bit.

"What?" She shot back innocently. She turned her attention back on Ryker. "You see, I have this friend. Super cute, funny, smart. All around great personality. But the last guy happened to be a total dick. I'm trying to ease them back in the dating scene. Would you mind going on a blind date at Koshi's tonight? Just to show that not all men are assholes, of course."

I watched the sympathy fill Ryker's eyes. I shook my head vehemently at him when he looked to me for approval.

"It's actually roommate game night," Ryker said pointedly. He hesitated just when I was ready to jump up and down praising his good decision. "But I'm sure Devon won't mind me missing one night."

Lily smiled and turned to me. "Yeah," she said with a creepy smile. "I'm sure Devon will be okay with you for one night. I mean, without," she corrected smiling even wider.

I glared at her when she came closer and latched onto my arm. "We're going to his room," she announced to Ryker.

She pulled me behind her and shut the door to my room. I was one of the few lucky ones that got into the apartment style dorms. We shared the kitchen, living room, and bathroom but had two separate bedrooms.

She shoved me down into a sitting position on the edge of my bed.

I sat in silence watching her dig in her stuffed overnight bag.

"Are you going to tell me what that was out there?" I finally snapped. "If you were trying to make me jealous, it's working. You can stop now."

"Oh, hush," she sassed. "You wouldn't make the first move so I did for you."

I flopped back on my bed and stared up at the ceiling. "I can't go," I finally told her. "He's going to be expecting a girl."

I heard clothes hitting my floor as she continued digging. "His own fault. Not once did I say whether it was a girl or guy."

"I. Can't. Go," I repeated forcefully.

I heard her squeal. "Found it!"

At the same time she squealed an article of clothing landed on my chest.

"Look. I've known you since we were babies. I know you won't go. So I'm going to help you. Put that on, I'll find you a shirt. I have a wig you can wear and you won't go on that date. Delilah will."

I pulled up the clothing.

"Umm... Lil, this is a skirt. I'm gay not a girl."

A/N: I am definitely writing this one...