My College Years Part 11 By Corbin How life tests the endurance, patience, and sometimes faith of one young woman (That would be me!). ********** No angst to vent today. I woke up this morning and the weather is turning wonderfully warm. I look forward to heading off to the gym later today :) and a long summer ahead. ********** Practice was typically exhausting and while most people were up and just starting to party their assess off at ten or eleven o'clock at night, I was turning my light off and that Thursday night as I routinely went to bed around ten or eleven. 'Damn' I blinked as I heard the door knob unlock, rolling over I looked at the clock, "1:35am" and rolled back over in frustration. 'Damn Sharon, have some courtesy!' I sighed privately, although Sharon 'tried' to be quiet as she went into the bathroom, the sound of sink water running was actually soothing for some reason and my eyelids became heavy again. But my peace was soon significantly startled when I felt additional weight on my bed; "What in the?" I jerked my head up to see Sharon kneeling on the edge of my bed. "Sharon, do you know what time it is?" I hissed. "Scoot over!" The brunette drunkenly slurred as she crawled over the bed, decked out in a nightshirt. "You've been drinking, haven't you?" I moaned and scooted over as Sharon pulled the covers over her. "Just a little. Oh your body puts off so much heat!" Sharon squealed with delight. I felt Sharon curl up behind me and snuggle up close, this wasn't an odd occurrence, and Sharon did this frequently when she drank, wanting to crawl into my bed and oddly enough, I thought little of it, in fact it was all very innocent to me. Unlike what happened with Nikki a couple of nights ago, something was going on with me and Nikki and I found myself fighting to keep my thoughts from spinning off too far out of control. "You and that Nikki-Girl are getting to be good friends huh?" "That Nikki-Girl Sharon? What kind of statement is that?" I sighed. "Don't get defensive, I didn't mean anything by it." Sharon complained and wrapped her left arm around my torso, giving me a friendly hug. "Yes, we're hanging out and doing stuff, ever since I started with Soccer." "How's that going?" I felt her left hand move up and begin playing with my blonde hair. "Good, so far." "I know it's late, I'll shut up and let you get some sleep." Sharon said, still stroking my hair. "It's okay Sharon, I know you mean well, thanks." My left hand reached back rubbed Sharon's thigh, although covered by a blanket. "Hey, don't get fresh." Sharon teased. "You wish." I mumbled. "Pervert." Sharon quipped right back. "Freak." I snapped and pushed my elbow into Sharon's ribs. "Don't start something you can't finish." Sharon grabbed my prodding elbow. "Tough talk for a wimpy cheerleader!" I jerked my left elbow sharply, freeing it from Sharon's grasp. "OW!" Sharon suddenly belched and I felt her curl up. "Sharon? You ok? I'm sorry!" I spun around in the bed, "I was only teasing!" I moved the covers back to see Sharon clutching her ribs. "I'm such a clumsy idiot. I'm sorry" I flipped my hair back and went to sit up, "Let me turn the light on." and I reached for the bedside lamp. My fingers touched the knob and I was about to give the switch a click when suddenly an involuntary groan came from my mouth as a pair of thighs clamped around my waist. I tried to feel my way around in the dark and twisted my torso, quickly feeling Sharon's legs clamp even tighter. With my back turned, I felt an arm flung around my neck as Sharon pulled me back down to the bed. "What? What were you saying about some wimpy cheerleader?" Sharon whispered into my ear as she flexed her thighs again causing me to moan in discomfort. "But I thought..." I gasped. "SUCKER!" Sharon smiled and kissed my left ear. "Fuck Sharon, not so hard." I whined as my legs kicked and thrashed on the bed, agonizingly I struggled first by grabbing Sharon's forearm and managed to out muscle her, forcing Sharon's arm from around my neck. Slowly I began to twist my body, my abs flexing to keep Sharon's incredible thighs from crushing all of the air from my lungs. "Not so hard Sharon!" Sharon mocked as I strained, "Now do YOU give?" She demanded while struggling to keep me from turning around. "Okay fine, it's going to be like that." I moaned getting irritated at Sharon's mocking and went about trying to secure Sharon's wrists, but the brunette was tucking them in close to her chest and was pretty strong. I hated this, my nightshirt had ridden way up and as I drew my knees up, forcing my butt to stick way up in the air. With my right hand, I reached behind my back and found Sharon's left foot, giving it a twist to break her locked ankles. "Ouch...ouch...ouch!" Sharon snapped as her left foot was wrenched from around my backside ankle. "Cry baby." I smiled. Sharon gave up the scissor hold; it was only a matter of time anyway and jerked her legs back, trying to kick out from under me and we both thrashed back and forth a little as I fought to keep from getting nailed by Sharon's flailing feet and knees. "No way bitch" Sharon seethed, but it was a struggle that seemed to be turning into a mostly defensive battle on her part as she was constantly yanking hands and legs free, expending nothing but valuable energy. While I had finally wiggled my way onto my right side, I kept throwing my right leg up and over Sharon's waist trying to get back on top of her. The short battle had us gasping for air although I seemed to be a little less tired. Yet both of us were bathed in a sheen of perspiration as our movements become slow and more calculating in an effort to conserve energy. [I didn't know why Sharon enjoyed these little impromptu fights], I could never quite figure it out, but every so often she would prod me into a wrestling match which Sharon always lost if I wasn't in the mood to 'go easy'. But Sharon hated to loose at anything, and would fight as underhanded as she could to win. When I finally got on top, I dropped all my weight, causing a hard slap of our sweat drenched bellies, finally pinning my friend to the mattress, forcing Sharon's arms over her head as I grapevined her legs, the sweat making it easy to hook my feet around Sharon's calves. "Fucker!" Sharon gasped. Secretly, and this is something that I would never reveal at the time, but I got a thrill out of fighting with her, yes some kind of sexual charge from it as I lay on top of Sharon. And I think Sharon loved it more then I did, she definitely threw everything she had into these moments and it could get a little too uninhibited at times. She seemed to almost clutch at me, not really wrestling but almost as if she enjoyed touching and watching my arms and legs at work I guess you could say that my muscles were a distraction for her. "Do you give to me?" I smiled as I lowered my face close to Sharon's. While Sharon's antics initially annoyed the hell out of me, I did enjoy making the brunette suffer for her games. "One of these days my tough friend, I'm going to turn the tables on you!" Sharon sneered. "Until then, tell me." I flexed my hands around Sharon's wrists. "I surrender, you win." Sharon sighed. "Good." I said as I relaxed, my entire body going limp as I collapsed on top of Sharon. Slowly as my body went totally lax, I stretched out my legs to ease some cramping in the back of my thighs. In a moment of spontaneous affection, Sharon drew her knees up and wrapped those legs around my waist as her arms came up and hugged me, almost as if she might be embracing a boyfriend, or dare I think, a lover. How true that thought would come back to haunt me.) "I love you, you're my best friend." Sharon sighed as she pulled tight, and this was one of those moments where I enjoyed that feeling of our sweat drenched bodies clinging to one another. "I love you too." I moaned into Sharon's neck. But things were not so wonderful; I was torn by the fact that deep down inside I was in hell over the suspicion that my two best friends couldn't stand one another. For another minute I laid their, until I realized a few uncomfortable things; The way our shirts had ridden up so high that our breasts were almost hanging out and most embarrassingly, the way our mounds pressed against one another, the heat from Sharon's crotch seemed to radiate out and pass thru and into my own. As if in some unspoken initiative, we both untangled ourselves from one another and rolled apart, breaking the embrace. I chuckled at this point and pulled the sheet back up over my body. "What's so funny?" Sharon rolled her head over to the right and smiled. "I don't know, just how silly we can be." I shrugged. Silly indeed. ********* The past couple of weeks had been a dramatic change in my life, in fact I felt as though my entire life up until now was unable to compare with the emotional growth and changes I was going thru. Physically, I felt like I was pushing the boundaries of acceptable behavior by being so affectionate with both Nikki and Sharon. Nikki's affection was intense, purposeful, even dangerous, while Sharon on the other hand didn't seem to take any of it too serious and that was a relief. 'Yet was such behavior between two friends of the same sex okay?' I had started to wonder, 'Thank god I haven't developed the urge to kiss any of them' while the thought of actually having sex with my friends was unthinkable. My romantic fantasy's were still dominated by a male presence, although I was miserable in that department as well, I couldn't understand how I could be on the receiving end of so many dopey comments from guys. Which left my wondering if there was an intelligent man to be found. 'Such a silly question' I considered as many of my male professors, my father, and many men I had come across over the years were highly intelligent and spoke intelligently and they spoke to me intelligently. 'And then the pendulum swings in the opposite direction when guys hit on me, trying to talk about nothing put technical mumbo-jumbo, politics, or try and be too intellectual instead of just being themselves. I guess it's true about what people say; a man's brain shuts off when confronted with a pretty girl' But I shook my head at that notion, 'Sounds stupid' I never thought of myself as pretty, or attractive, or beautiful, regardless of what my friends told me or however many guys hit on me. Looking down at my watch, I was suddenly startled to see the time was getting away from me, I had a date tonight, that 'blind' date that Sharon had setup. "Fuck!" I cursed out loud as I sprinted up the stairs to my dorm room. "I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!" I mumbled under my breath with a smile, unable to remember where I had heard that catchy, corny phrase from before. ********** What I didn't know until much later, was just how nervous Kevin and Will had become from all of Sharon's 'warnings' and 'preparations' about acceptable behavior around me. I think she must have gone over board, trying to protect me and wanting the night to go perfect. For crying out loud, I'm not some Amish girl just coming off the farm! ********* Sharon leaned over the sink and placed the ruby lipstick against her bottom lip, her eyes darting over to watch me run my fingernails thru my hair, adjusting it over my shoulders. "Why the primping?" Sharon said casually. "Huh?" I froze and looked over. "Why bother, you're not having a good time." Sharon twisted the bottom of the tube and the lipstick disappeared into it's container as she evenly rubbed her lips together. "What? Who says? I'm having a fine time." I shook my head with dismay at Sharon's analysis of me. "Oh, then could you do me a favor?" Sharon leaned away from the mirror and straightened her dress a little. "What's that?" "Could you share some of that good time with Will, he looks miserable." Sharon dropped the lipstick into her case and turned to face me. I watched Sharon's jaw clench tightly and her head pivot forward, a classic sign of irritation. "I am not going to throw myself at him or paw all over him." I slowly turned to look at Sharon, my voice low and tense, with a hint of defensiveness. "I know you don't want to be here Corbin, but he's been nothing but polite to you, so you could pay a little attention to him. Is that too much to ask? I mean the poor guy is miserable, just take a look at him when you go back out there! Whatever you decide to do is fine with me, but do something!" Sharon leaned in and tugged on my left arm. Taking a deep breath I rolled my eyes, "Okay, okay, we'll see." I slipped my purse over my right shoulder. "Thanks!" Sharon smiled and gave me a slight hug before turning around to walk out, "And don't roll your eyes at me, I hate that." Sharon said as I opened the door. "Sorry" I said, following Sharon out into the bar. We navigated past a series of pool tables that were part of the back of the bar area. Actually, the entire establishment was nicely segregated into a Bar, Restaurant, and Pool area. But we were unable to make it back to our seats without several comments and lingering stares as we walked by the groups of college guys playing pool. Closing in on the table I eyed Will closely and I did in fact notice his lack of an upbeat mood which had been there earlier. I frowned a little, and realized it was my fault to some degree, I could easily make or break guy with a few kind words and some kind attention. "Hi Will, sorry we took so long." I said softly and sat down, he sat up and smiled, but it was forced, that much was evident, so I scooted my chair a little closer to his and then he sat up some more. His darting gaze bespoke of some confusion as to what that meant not to mention that one minute he looked ready to verbally trash me. But by me simply moving my chair closer to him I had caused his mood to lighten, although he still had not totally shaken the funk off. I smiled across to Sharon, who smiled back. "You guys want to bounce some pool balls around and maybe hit a club?" Kevin looked around the table. "Oh yeah, sounds good." Sharon perked up and looked at me for support. "Okay" I smiled and looked at Will who agreed and seemed to perk up a little, although it was obvious he still was in slight slump. Sharon was up first and I had moved over to stand next to Will, something that seemed to improve his mood and when he felt my hand touch his back a shiver went up his spine causing him to totally lose touch with reality. "Huh?" He quickly turned his head to the left, thinking her heard something. "You're up." I said and he blinked. "Oh shit, yeah." Will suddenly stepped forward shaking his head. For the rest of the evening I became a little more touchy feely, allowing him to hold my hand on occasion, while keeping things a little at arms length. But overall, it kept his spirits up and he was after all a nice guy I told myself. At the end of the evening, as he went for a kiss I gave a lingering, but quick peck on his lips and pulled back, but he immediately went to follow up for more and I turned my head, offering my right cheek. I smiled and he laughed a little, getting the hint; "Would you like to go out again?" He asked with a little more confidence then he had shown all evening. "Sure, that could be nice." I smiled and took a step back, signaling the end to the evening. "So how do you think it went?" Sharon asked as we drove home. "Fine" I said, but smiled when I saw Sharon grip the steering wheel with frustration, I knew Sharon was looking for a better answer and continued, "Well, I mean, Will seems nice you know, I don't know what he thought of me. I was kind of quiet most of the evening." "Oh, I don't think he minded, he couldn't take his eyes off you, especially when you more attentive to him later in the night." Sharon looked over. "Yeah, that seemed to lift his spirits. Was I still too quiet?" I looked over with concern. "No, not too bad, do you think you want to go out with him again?" Sharon followed up. "I guess so, are there any other guys that would want to go out?" I asked. "What?!" Sharon looked over at me while we sat at the stop light, "You're joking, right? I can't believe your asking that question!" "What do you mean?" I looked over, not quite following Sharon. "Fuck almighty! Do you know how many guys are in line to go out with you!" Sharon was flabbergasted and slumped back in her seat. "Really? I guess so, I don't know." I sighed with a faint smile and looked out the window to my right. Sharon was still shaking her head in disbelief. "So many to choose from." I looked over and laughed a bit. "Oh no, I've created a monster, look out!" Sharon laughed. "No, no." I quickly muttered and glanced out the window, "I've got so much work to do and with practice and going to the gym, I really need to focus." "On getting a social life!" Sharon interjected. I just let out a big sigh, "We'll see." ********** But in the days and weeks to follow, I never made any real effort to follow thru on those social commitments, seemingly more content on falling back into my regular routine. Sharon however did continue to focus on her own social priorities, and the two of us felt the growing distance in our friendship was going to have to run its course. I decided I was going to let things 'ride out' for the next few weeks or even months, 'Just try to be the best friend that you can' I would tell myself, even though it was tough as Sharon was spending more time and even nights at the Sorority house now, but I got used to going bed alone, after all I grew up as an only child. ********** "Damn girl!" The voice called out from behind me, causing my whole face to light up. Even before turning around, the voice was unmistakable as I saw Sharon standing there, sunglasses on. It was an unusually warm day and for the first time that fall, I was wearing a tank top out on a sun drenched patio while reading. Sharon removed her sunglasses and leaned down, I guess she had never seen me in this a great a shape. My shoulders, arms and abs that rolled distinctly under the tight top were impressive I suppose. My book practically fell to the ground as I reached over and hugged her as if I had not seen her in months, when in fact it had only been a few days. A few guys looked over and watched, in fact they had been stealing glances at me for the past several minutes as I sat reading. "I know..." Sharon sighed, "...I've been a terrible friend, but you wouldn't believe the schedule I am on..." I sat and listened as Sharon talked on and on about everything, it was just like that, we just chatted and talked. But underneath, despair had taken root within me as I knew our friendship was under a strain, although neither of us seemed inclined to admit it, in fact we had both become weary of discussing it at length. I watched Sharon's hand reach over to grab my tank top near my stomach, "Hey!" I smacked Sharon's hand away before she could get a grip. "Come on, let me see." Sharon teased, "I see something under there". "See what?" I growled. "Those abs, that's what, your time in the gym is paying off big time!" Sharon leaned down poking her fingers at my stomach. "Stop that!" I looked around nervously to see if anyone was watching and continued to swat Sharon's fingers away. "Not until you show me." Sharon demanded leaning back placing both hands on her hips. "Jesus SharonÉ" I looked around and rotated my body away from the where most everyone was lounging around on the large common area. "What are you doing? Just lift it up." Sharon watched me turn away. "Not in front of everyone." I hissed, "If you want to see then step around here." I whispered. "You're sad you know that, nobody gives a shit if you lift up your shirt, it's not like your flashing your tits." Sharon shook her head. "Not so loud!" I blushed and looked over my shoulder, but I did watch several guys staring in my direction and honestly did feel stupid, stupid all the way around for being bashful. "Holy shit." Sharon sighed and leaned as her right hand rubbed up and down the rolling abdominal muscles of my stomach. "Don't flex, just relax." Sharon sighed. "I am relaxed." I sneered impatiently, "This is flexed!" I sighed, feeling ridiculous watching Sharon perform some inspection like she was shopping for something. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the transformation take place from what was simply obvious before to something seemingly etched and hard. Sharon's fingers reached out again, moving from side to side following the deep cuts that separated the muscles along my and my waist. "Serratus anterior" I said quietly. "What?" Sharon glanced up. "What your touching now." I said. "And this?" Sharon looked down and back up. "Abdominal oblique." I replied and actually felt proud of my body and the effect it was having on Sharon and me! Sharon didn't say anything but simply dragged her fingers over my warm, smooth skin until she stopped and looked up again. "Rectus Abdominis" I smiled and a chill went up my spine at how Sharon's touch lingered and caressed my skin, gently probing my definition. She withdrew her touch and straightened up, shaking her head in disbelief, "Wow I, that's impressive, I mean I knew you were built, but..." Sharon smirked, she seemed actually at a loss for words for once. "DAMN!" A guy's voice suddenly interrupted the moment and my whole body jumped as I watched a guy walk by, but he quickly come to an abrupt stop staring at my exposed stomach. "Shit." I complained and yanked my shirt down, quickly reaching for my books feeling stupid. "I meant that as a compliment." The guy looked on. But I kept walking away, head down and embarrassed. "I didn't mean anything." The guy waved his arms out to his side with a smile. "Corbin wait!" Sharon chased me down. I suddenly stopped walking to face Sharon, "Hey, can we have dinner tonight?" "Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry, I would love too but I have this..." Sharon's voice trailed off as the look of disappointment washed over my face, a look that I fought to hide, I didn't want to throw any attitude in Sharon's direction. "...I'll see what I can do" Sharon said seriously, but I knew it was bullshit. Her entire social and dating life was a priority. Sharon gave me a somewhat reluctant hug, as it felt like the next time they saw one another might be a long time. Sharon paused as she went to leave and put her sunglasses back on, I froze and recognized the hesitation and I got somewhat excited with anticipation. "Look," She said seriously, "...I have to tell you something." "Yeah? What is it?" I stared blankly. "Look babe." Sharon gripped my right arm, "You know I've been staying at the Sorority house more and more often now, but once my pledging is up." Sharon paused, which gave I time to think, wondering perhaps if Sharon was going to say that they would have more time to spend together. "I know things have been crazy Sharon." I smiled. "Oh yeah, totally..." Sharon said, but I detected a little hesitation behind the smile and maybe this wasn't good news and I felt that 'sinking feeling'. "...but once the pledging is up, and I get accepted...well, I'm pretty sure I'll get accepted, I'll be spending more nights at the Sorority house. Basically, I've gotten a few hints they are going to offer me a room at the house, it's a really big deal!" Sharon tried to perk up and emphasize the importance of this to me and gripped my arm tighter. But, Sharon could tell by the way my smile began to fade that her news wasn't being received so well. "I'm sorry." Sharon frowned. "Sorry? About what? I'm busy with school work, practice and all that stuff, nothing as exciting as your schedule." I shrugged and half heartedly smiled, "But that's okay Sharon, really I know it means allot to you." "You sure?" Sharon stepped in and hugged me. "Oh come on!" I leaned away with a perplexed look, "I'm a big girl, it's not like I can't handle being on my own!" I laughed a little but I was falling apart inside, but would never admit it. I felt closer to Sharon then almost anyone and had started to envision our friendship falling apart day by day. "Okay" Sharon quickly hugged me again, but I didn't return so enthusiastically. Pulling away, Sharon leaned in close, "I promise babe, I'll make plans for us to get together and we'll spend loads of time together, just like we used too." "Yep, sounds great." I sighed watched Sharon walk off, another chip seemed to crumble away from our friendship. Nikki was the only saving grace along with my sports, thankfully, holiday break was coming up and I thought a few days back home would be nice and I would be able to nurture a friendship with Sharon which seemed to be falling apart. 'Who the hell am I kidding' I was skeptical, Sharon had not mentioned one thing to me about getting together, and obvious sign that Sharon had no intention of slowing down her activities at College. I paused upon entering my dorm room and glanced and Sharon's tidy, well made bed wondering if perhaps it would be the last time I would look over and see my friends' collection of stuffed animals and other belongings. "This sucks." I whimpered and tossed my back pack over onto my own bed.