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The College Years (Chapter 19)
By Vader
THE COLLEGE YEARS
Entry II: A Student Who Loved Me
Continued from Chapter 18 . . .
CHAPTER 19
The foreshadowing eastern wind began to pick up speed, lost in the darkness of the outside world, howling like a tormented soul, as if trying to warn me of coming danger. But I wasn’t paying attention to anything but myself, standing in front of the mirror in my room and putting the final touches of my outfit on. It was a dark blue suit, with a silver and steel-blue neck tie, an off-white shirt underneath. It was the evening of the Winter Party at Mesa, and I hadn’t even told my parents I was going, for fear they wouldn’t allow me. I figured that if there was no other way to get to the dance, I’d ride my bike as a last resort, bringing a déjà vu of the time I snuck out to the club.
Never before had I put forth such an overwhelming amount of effort into my appearance. I wanted to look as sharp as possible for Erin, and to enhance the effect, I took a bottle of Old Spice aftershave and spread it over my cheeks and chin, careful not to put too much, or too little.
Accomplishing everything, I took a step back, sighing, turning left and right to make sure I looked proper. After adjusting my sleeves and tie, I put my hands behind my back, self-conscious about every single aspect. Once spinning my head around to make sure nobody was at the door watching, I looked back into the mirror, letting my right hand hold my chin, and folding the other across my chest. “Shaken, not stirred,” I declared, in the most debonair fashion I could muster.
“Jack?” I heard my father, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin in embarrassment. “What are you doing in there?”
“Uh . . . nothing. Why?” I stammered.
“I need to talk to you.” Frustrated at being caught, I grabbed a robe from the coat hanger in the corner and tied it around me as my father stepped inside, a puzzled look on his face. “You haven’t worn that robe in years,” he chuckled.
“I thought I’d give it a whirl again,” I smiled nervously.
“Is that cologne I smell?”
“Just shaved,” I blurted.
“Oh. Well, listen – did you start on your essay yet?” My mind raced for an answer.
“Um, yeah I started but . . . I need to do some extra research. Would you mind dropping me off at the library up there for a couple hours or so?” His expression told me that he was suspicious, but the answer he delivered displayed a different frame of mind.
“Yeah, fine. Get dressed now, because I don’t want to have to pick you up too late.” He left the room, and I hurried to shut the door, my brain whirling for a way to perform a sly maneuver. Spotting my backpack on the floor, I rushed to undress from my suit, stuffing it into the pack and changing into a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and my vest for the ride up to the campus. Making one final wish that everything would work out, I dashed out of my room, meeting my father in the car.
During the trip, any question my dad would ask me was returned with a short, concise answer to minimize conversation. All my mind could focus on was being with Erin at the gathering, and hopefully being able to hold her tight during a dance. I was quick to jump out of the car once we’d arrived, storming into the locker-room I used during Gym class to change back into my suit, and put the backpack in my locker.
Finally, I reached the library, hearing the flow of music from inside. I stopped myself before entering, looking down to check if everything on my outfit seemed satisfactory, and then taking a big gulp as I walked in.
The setting was reminiscent of the club I’d been to recently, although not quite as wild. Every single decoration was blue, fitting into the theme of winter. The room was spacious, containing enough room to fit at least a hundred students, and it had already gotten relatively crowded. But I wasn’t paying attention to anything else besides trying to eye a certain florescent beauty that would never part from my thoughts.
There she was, in a glittering, low-cut, light-blue dress, revealing nearly her entire back and exposing some cleavage. Her hair was formed into a gorgeous style, shimmering under the neon lights above. Dazzled, I slowly stepped forward, tapping her on the shoulder from behind as she’d done to me the on the very first day of the semester. The goddess turned, her blue eyes reaching a crescendo of brightness as her smile widened. “Hi!” she slipped her arm around mine. “You look handsome tonight.”
“So do you,” I grinned, a second later evoking her small laughter. “I-, I mean you look . . . beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she gazed up at me, our eyes deeply searching each others’ for the first time since the club. This time, it didn’t make me feel uncomfortable – rather, as if I’d reached a height of affection for her that rose above any other point in the past.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” a deep, unfamiliar voice boomed from behind. I glanced at Erin before turning around, seeing her shut her eyes and inhale as if knowing full well who it was. The individual who’d grabbed our attention was muscular, tall, and intimidating in appearance. “Good to see you again, Erin,” he snickered.
“What are you doing here?” she interrogated, putting her hands on her hips.
“When I heard about this shin-dig, I figured I’d stop by for a few drinks and try my luck.” He fully stared at her, chewing his gum relentlessly with his slightly crooked jaw.
“You can forget that and just get out of here!” she whispered sharply, not wanting to raise her voice.
“Nah, I think I’ll stick around.” Annoyed by this pest’s refusal to leave, I moved forward, my arms over my chest.
“Don’t believe we’ve been introduced,” I stated, getting in between him and Erin.
“I’m Kevin, Erin’s boyfriend,” he replied, reaching out and shaking my hand as hard as he could – which is to say, it felt excruciating. Doing my best not to look pained, I tilted my head, a stern look appearing on my face as I remembered Erin's description of this heartbreaker from the day before.
“So you’re the one I’ve heard so much about,” I remarked. “And don’t you mean ‘ex-boyfriend’?”
“Nope.”
“Hmm.” We both glared at each other, the air so thick you could have sliced it with a knife. At that moment, a new song started, and I forced my hand away from Kevin’s, facing Erin once agin. “May I have this dance?” I coolly requested, shifting my gaze over my shoulder at the irritation who stood behind me. “That alright with you, Kev?”
“Fine,” he declared, his voice sounding threatening, nonetheless. I ignored the tone, leading Erin into the dance floor to join the brigade of other students entering concurrently.
“Think he’ll leave now?” I whispered to my date, protectively keeping an eye on the menacing man across from us.
“Just forget him – I want to have a good time with you,” she tenderly replied, taking a second to put him out of her mind. The young woman began to move her shapely body to the beat of the music, putting her arms around my neck as I followed suit. The mesmerizing dance started against the backdrop of the memorable lyrics.
Hey DJ
Tonight into stars
Tonight I’m seeing stars
The record always spins on the trails we blaze
The walls are closing in but that’s okay
Because I’ve been waiting all week to feel this way
And it feels so good, so good
I’m on top of the world
So let me be your star for one night, that’s right
Sweatbox, laser beams, flashing lights
You’ve got to feel the rush, the spice of life
Cause what we are is victims of fun
Come on, come on, the fun has just begun
Oh my starry-eyed surprise
Sundown to sunrise
I dance all night
We gonna dance all night,
Dance all night to this DJ
Ah sugar, dance all night to this DJ
Our movements began to crawl towards a more sensual nature, and when that happened, the person who’d had Erin before, and wanted her back, snapped. Kevin ran forward, heading straight for both of us, his fists curled . . .
(More to come)
1/21/2003 7:58:47 PM
(Updated: 1/21/2003 9:51:36 PM)
(Updated: 1/21/2003 9:54:01 PM)
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