College Years: 31 By Corbin, corbinforte@yahoo.com How life tests the endurance, patience, and sometimes faith of one young woman. Pre-Story Introduction/Ranting/Venting/Observations... Back when I first started working at The Nursery, I was shocked when a truck would pull up around back to have plants or whatever loaded and the driver would get out and say; "Could you go up and see if one of the guys will come back and give me a hand loading this?" The first time that happened, I sort of just stood there in a state of shock, like...what the hell am I? It kind of hurt my feelings ya' know. "That's what I am here for." I said in a cold manner back at him. "Oh...okay..." He sort of hands me the yellow order slip, but I could tell he was hesitant to do it. Then he says, "Here let me help you with that, kinda' have a bad back, that's why I asked if one of the guys up front could help." So let me see if I understand this jackass, he is now pulling the old martyr-bad-back complaint, just so he can make another dig at me because I tell him 'I am all the help he needs?' Well I was no longer ready to cry, but now fuming mad...down right pissed off...so I stand up and touch him on the shoulder and say, "Why don't you just get up in the truck and I'll throw them to you and you stack them any way you want." He kind of stares at me funny and then awkwardly climbs up into the bed of the truck. I then proceed to toss him the bags faster then he can keep up until he snaps "Hey! Slow the hell down!" To which I shout back, "Why? Are you so weak and slow you can't keep up?" So great, I'm expecting to get fired because I'm betting he's going to run up and complain to my boss, and I've been on the job for only about a week now. But instead, I'm surprised...it sometimes takes allot to surprise me because the man (maybe in his late 40's) just makes this kind of smirk and says "Okay, you got me there." I knew what he meant and he was basically admitting he was wrong for what he had insinuated earlier. Now (and I have a big smile on my face as I type this) he requests that *I* help him load his truck every time be pulls up. Even if someone else happens to be around back, he'll ask "Could'ya go get Corbin for me?" (Imagine your best hick accent while reading that). ~~~~~~~~~ 'Get a life!' So this happened at the gym the other night: I am becoming infuriated as I sit on the workout bench, pushing a pair of dumbbells up into the air (I guess there are those that want to know HOW MUCH I was pushing? I get emails asking for details like that. Gheesh...65lbs...there! Happy now! And that's a piece, not the combined weight). Anyway, you see this bench is on about a 45 degree incline and my shorts are giving me grief. I have just noticed that the flap on my right thigh is wide open giving everyone who happens to look at me a free peep show, although a very, very small one. One...two...three guys are looking at the mirrors that line the wall, looking at just the briefest of my white panties peaking out. Now I always wear those long thigh length, loose shorts for good coverage, but for some reason this pair has worked it's way up my right thigh and a flap now lays open exposing a bit of my personal area (again, a very little bit). I mean normally it's no big deal, people are always bending, squatting, pulling....something in the gym with shorts on, so every once in awhile both men and women give each other an unintentional flash. (Then there are those that dress provocatively in the gym with the intention of flashing, but that's another rant...or have I already vented on that?) So anyway, this little exposure is going on longer then I like because I am not willing to set the weights down, I've only got a few more reps to do and I don't want to stop. Yet my mind is drifting; 'Well you clowns, just a small wiggle of my butt and shift of my leg will fix that...' So I rotate my butt on the seat and bounce my leg up and down a couple of times, all the while I try and keep count of my reps. DAMN!! That no-good-lousy-rotten-blankity-blank flap now opens up even more!! And I'm trying to multitask while pushing the weights up into the air...AHH DAMN!!! I've lost count now....and my fucking underwear is visible, right up to my crotch, now...one...two...three...FUCKING FOUR guys are now checking it out.... Not the whole area mind you, but enough that you could still see some of my undies. I swear I am going to kick all their asses in a minute. That's it! The whole routine is ruined and I gently set the weights down. (That's another rant, about people who are incapable of setting weights down, but feel they must DROP them hard enough for the whole gym to feel and hear. God I hope you hit your big toe one day and bust it wide open, don't worry I'll be right there...LAUGHING!!!) Okay...deep breath....ahhhh...all better now :) Anyway, I sit up and the flap closes, what a pain and I give a quick glare up into the mirror and the guy sees me looking. He turns around and starts to fiddle with some weights, trying to play off he just got caught. Some guys don't care if they get caught, that's because they have no class. 31 Did I consider struggling? Well yes, DUH! But you know...after last night and still feeling a bit crappy, I just gave up...'Fuck it, let's get it over with, I give up...and let my whole body go limp.' "What? No fighting this time?" One of the girls said and several more laughed, that nervous laugh cause they know if I decided to start fighting someone better call 911. "Blue...pink....futia..." Several girls were now arguing over color as they dragged me thru the dark locker room, the flashlight actually doing an adequate job of illuminating our way to the wash room. They spun me around and every once in awhile enjoyed blinding me with that stupid light. I did get a bit nervous as I felt the back of my neck touch down on the edge of the cool porcelain sink, cause now I realize that in a few seconds my blonde hair would be gone...temporarily mind you...but still, it was very unnerving. "No smart ass comments? No fighting? Nothing?" I heard Mora's voice pipe up. "No, let's just get this over with" I sighed, "Just get that damn light out of my eyes!" I did finally complain. "Shut up!" Said one girl. "I prefer blue If I have a choice." I sarcastically said, rolling my eyeballs up towards Katie's smirking face as she snapped the rubber gloves into place. And then Mora suddenly stepped up taking her place, with this big evil grin on her face; "I'm going to enjoy this!" as she held up a bottle of hair bleach and several packets of Kool-Aid. Yeah, that's right...Kool-Aid, don't you people know anything? For freaky colors you can actually use Kool Aid if you so choose (just make sure it's the sugarless packets).... Suddenly Mora paused and glanced up and over away from me, to someone standing to my right, it was Nikki. "Oh, I'm sorry Nikki, would you like to do the honors on your lesbian lover?" She laughed out loud along with several other girls. How embarrassing! I closed my eyes and tried not to cry, not from the comment but because of how tattered my friendship with Nikki was...we were barely on speaking terms at the moment. But I was shocked to hear Nikki snap, so unlike her; "Shut your fucking mouth!" and Nik's right hand lashed out smacking Mora upside the face, with a solid *POP*, again very unlike her. And boy did that set off a ruckus, with Mora and Nikki now trying to get at one another, all the while I just lay there, head back in the sink waiting. Most of the girls were now fighting to separate the two girls. I suppose I could have easily broken free at this point, but I was a little in awe of the flurry of arms and wild punches being thrown only inches above my head. 'Hey watch it!' I'm thinking, those elbows and hands are coming pretty close to my perfect little nose! :) Finally, order was restored only after the two girl's swore out their vengeance on one another, 'Mora is such dead meat' I thought, messing with Nikki is not a good idea, but then again Mora likes learning things the hard way. Well, after that intermission, Mora roughly grabs my hair and begins working it in...over and over...dumping tons the shit on. "OW! OW! OW!" I complain as she shoves my head around and keeps pulling at my hair a lot harder then it needed to be. "Shut up!" She keeps yelling and yanking on my hair harder. "Oh, this is going to be so you" Several girl's smile. Well, can you believe it, I just laid there and took it, they bleached my hair, let that soak in and then applied the mix of Kool-Aid, then wrapped a towel around my head forcing me to sit in the locker room with them for the next couple of hours. It was the most ridiculous thing you ever could imagine. MY heart was racing not knowing what to expect when that towel was removed. The other odd thing was the way everyone treated me, it was like by me going thru this all of the division and hostility started to lift. Everyone was joking and chatting it up like we were one big happy family. Yeah great, while I sit there with a towel wrapped around my head, every once in awhile some freaky color seeps out and runs down my forehead and neck, much to everyone's amusement. 'Glow in the dark Pink' is the only thing that comes to mind, I'm not even sure how to describe that color. It was like a mix of strawberry and something else...but it came out pretty wild looking. I didn't even look like the same person. I looked like a freak! "Now Corbin, if anyone on this team sees you trying to hide your hair under a hat, we will keep jumping your ass and coloring your hair for the rest of the year...got it?" Katie smiled. The point being, they wanted the whole campus to know what happened, along with the pleasure of all the snickers...comments and such. I got heckled by fellow students...professors...you name it. I took it all in stride though, I walked with my big, pink head held high for all to see. 'That's right, I have pink hair, so what!' "AHHH I BLIND!! How many times did I hear that retarded comment? Too many times. Well, slowly but surely my blonde hair began to reclaim it's territory and I had started to let it grow out long again. Dale and I dated casually but it was not to the extent he wanted or hoped for. It actually messed with his head terribly, to the point I was stopped by one of the Assistant Football coaches on campus one day, he pretty much insinuated that it would be good for Dale and the Team if we could work things out. So, let me get this straight, for the sake of the Football Team, Dale and I should be a couple again? I'm surprised he didn't come straight out and tell me to give up my virginity on the eve of one of their big games. It would really boost Dale's performance and confidence! Uh-huh... ~~~~~~~ I did something one weekend that really caused a stir. But I need to give you the setup: I was taking a computer class, I hated it, but it was very basic, very easy, but a core requirement...you know, junk like 'This is a mouse', 'This is your keyboard', 'Now we are going to copy a file.' Well, I am just your basic user, someone actually speaking about the inner workings of computers can send me into an instant coma. Well anyway, the point of me bringing this up is because that class is where I met Chris. This was about a few months after Dale and I had officially split, and I was fed up with the frat boys, muscle worshipers, gym dorks and whatever guy that hit on me. I did not have a boyfriend or date anyone seriously after Dale, classes were getting damn hard anyway and I valued my private time now more then ever. Not to mention that my relationship had totally crumbled with Nikki where we had become almost passing strangers. THAT really messed with my mind for awhile. So there I was, sitting in my 'puter class, when we were told to pair up with someone...that the project we would be working on would require a partner over the next several weeks. So I am sitting there, in my standard attire...sandals...running shorts, and tee shirt. All that coloring had just about washed out by the way, so anyway I look to my right and there is Tony (he was a real dork...tried to dress cool, wore stupid caps on backwards, and talked to me non-stop...and a Frat boy...*GROAN*). To my left was Chris, Chris is the kind of guy that gets lost in a crowd, wears glasses (could use an updated pair btw) and is shy...very shy around girls. He was a Freshmen while I was Junior, I could also tell he still had some residual High School issues...like he was not popular in school, had a small circle of friends and most definitely did not have a girlfriend. (Gheesh, listen to me, like some expert here! I could probably be describing myself to some varying degree. But in the three years in school, I was exposed to allot of things. And I was a terror in the gym more then ever, like that means anything.) So I see Tony turn to me and open his mouth, I know what's coming, he is going to ask to partner up with me for this project. Hell with that! I had other ideas and jerk my head to my left and whack Chris on his right shoulder with the back of my hand (lightly) and say, "You want to be my partner?" Both Tony and Chris were stunned...but for very different reasons. Tony was dumbstruck because his plan was totally shattered when I blew him off. Chris was dumbstruck, like he was having some panic attack and literally sat there for a second (Come on, you can do it kid, just pronounce that word 'Yes' I know you want to). I think when a guy (like Chris) is confronted by a girl asking them to do something together, they panic, but his lips seemed to open and close several times as if he was trying to manually start his vocal chords...when finally; "Yeah...yes....okay..." He was now staring at me....still staring at me...gheesh I hope I didn't make a mistake here. Hahahaha! Boy was Tony pissed! He also thought I was playing hard to get too and after class walked right up to me in front of Chris inviting me to a Frat party. Chris was not a member of any Fraternity...or sports...or anything I think...I think he just went to class and that was it. Anyway, he looked intimidated by Tony. "No Tony." I gave a little glare and saw Chris tentatively approach me. Now wait, it seems like Chris is more intimidated by me then Tony, I'm like three inches taller then Chris in sandals and I am in a hell of allot better shape. Poor guy could use some gym time, put some muscle on his lanky body. Not a bad looking guy over all, dark brown hair, parted on the side and cut short. His clothes were also a little bit outdated, but let's not even go there because I am probably the bigger fashion victim. "Did you still want to get together on the project?" Chris asked. Now I wonder what made him think I had changed my mind between the fifteen minutes I asked him in class, and now, standing outside of class? How odd...like he almost was expecting me to blow him off. "Yeah...absolutely!" I just smiled, but he still looked at me funny, like from the way he was clutching his back pack and looked so stiff and anxious....nervous. "I'm Corbin by the way." Just to formally introduce myself although we already knew each other's names. I gave him a firm shake of the hand, had to be careful I just about crushed his poor hand, he must have been very nervous cause his hands were a bit damp...a little clammy maybe? But not too bad. So, would it be over the top to think he was a little star struck? Ah, well maybe he was, I mean in his eyes I must have been this superstar; Popular, athletic, soccer team member...well that might be his view of me, but in my eyes I was just a dorky girl who liked lifting weights. Everything else was excess baggage. "You have plans tomorrow night? We could met at the library?" I asked. "Tomorrow's Friday, you sure?" Chris seemed to almost gasp. "Yeeeahhhhhhh...." I raised my eyebrows like I am actually NOT clueless, "....I know it's Friday." I smile a little. Maybe he thought I automatically had plans for a Friday night, wow this guy is so nervous around me, it's kind of cute...right now, but might get annoying if he keeps it up. Now, let's clear the air about something...I did have some ulterior motive here. Dale and a few other guys were keeping tabs on me...even though I wasn't dating any of them. Tabs as in: Where I went, what parties I attended, when I went out with the girls from the Soccer team and so on. And then, *POOF*, those guys just happened to show up at the same place. I definitely would not classify them as stalkers, but I think some of these guys wanted to socialize with me...then date me, a method to the madness you see. So they would coordinate their social attacks...pretty funny...same crap that women do. Oh yeah I had some women chasing me cause of the Nikki rumor...which wasn't a rumor as you well know. So anyway, my ulterior motive was to send all these people in my immediate and distant social circle into a tizzy by hanging out a little with Chris. But Chris is a decent, nice guy so I wanted to be careful with his feelings, as long as he doesn't turn out to be some kind of freak! "Who's Chris?" Was the question that I got peppered with by everyone. "My Computer Lab partner" I would say casually, and that was the end of it. For now....hahaha! ~~~~~~~ That Friday night I met Chris. I was on time and he was early, but had this twitchy look going on, like thinking I might not show up. Lordy, this poor guy has either been used/played by girls, picked on in school his whole life or both...and many more. He constantly had his defenses up. Well, I'm going to help build his confidence up! I think? :) We'll see. So we find a study room to work in and begin mapping out our project. I felt bad because I found out he lives at home and had to drive all the way into school to meet me at the library. "Hey, I could meet you at your house if you want?" I suggested and his face got flushed. 'Please tell me he's not going into cardiac arrest!' I worry. "You sure?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah, it's only fair, cause you drove all the way out here." "It's no problem." He said meekly. All the while I could tell he was looking at me...my legs...arms...chest, checking me out if you will. I don't think he was even focusing on my muscles...yet, he was still amazed an attractive girl was interested in talking with him...to him...sitting only a couple of feet from him. So we spent the last half hour, till almost 10:00pm, talking about a little bit of everything...my sports activities, High School, some politics. He asked about the pink fringe around my hair and I told him about my little initiation at the hands of my Soccer buds. He laughed, he had a nice laugh now that I think about it. I blew his mind when we stepped out onto the sidewalk and I said, "So write down directions to your house and I'll come over some time this week." He couldn't whip that paper out fast enough, it was pretty interesting, the way his hand was shaking a little as he wrote it down. Initially, I think it might have been a bad decision to go over his house, it was definitely making this look more then it was. I remember pulling up into the drive way of this rancher style brick house, pretty nice. Well maintained yard (foreshadowing here folks of my gardening days to come :) It was getting late, sun was setting behind the line of trees and then I catch site of this car rolling down the road...but now it's slowing down and it's a car load of guys. 'What the fuck are you looking at?' I stop and watch to see what their problem is. They creep on by looking at me like either they just like the view or maybe they know Chris and having some girl, like me, showing up at his house is very uncommon, or just a non-occurrence all together. Yes, take a good look fella's, this tall blonde is heading up to your buddy Chris' house, but not for what you think...but go ahead and fantasize. Now, why did I think this could have been a bad decision? Well for starters, his parents greet my like some visiting Dignitary, warm smiles, chatty, very nice parents in all. I actually wanted to say...'Hold on, I am NOT his girlfriend, we are just doing a project together.' Gheesh, before I left that night I think they were planning our wedding or something. So, while I was over there, I did enter hallowed ground...a boy's bedroom. I didn't stumble upon any embarrassing items/articles (porn magazines, videos...whatever). Chris did start to act a little awkward around me at times, because I am not sure if he was properly coping with the vibe I was putting out. I had not given him any romantic or flirtatious cues, but look, I know how it is, a guy's little sex drive engine is always running...always, so I may sitting back talking about finishing this paper, but he is looking at my ass...wondering what it would be like to kiss me...hold me...so on. Our next meeting, I invited him back to my Apartment (Yeah, I skipped a short period of time where Sharon and I got an apartment together, out with the dorm room!). With that act alone, word was going to get out...not only that, it was going to get back to Dale and others. Maybe that was my ultimate goal...snubbing my nose at guys...girls...friends....anyone that had started to pigeon hole me into their social structure. Perhaps a part of me was also trying to send a signal to some people that they needed to move on with they're lives...I don't' know, read into that what you want. So Chris was a nervous wreck in my apartment, not sure what to say or do...he fumbled with his thoughts, although he was in far better shape now then he was first around me. But he seemed sharp enough to realize I wasn't putting out any physical vibes, so he didn't try and put the moves on me. ~~~~~~~ So, I remember sitting outside one day and here comes Dale...'Let the games begin!' cause he's walking towards me with a purpose, 'oh he must have something on his mind!'. He gets within earshot range when he pipes up; "Who's this guy your seeing? Chris? Is that his name?" Blah blah blah blah....he goes on. "It's none of your damn business and Chris is my FRIEND, jackass!" Wow, calling him a jackass sent him into neutral for a second as he didn't expect me to be so hostile towards him. "Well some consideration would have been nice!" He snaps. "Why?" I say in a flat tone. "Cause I am your ex!" He stammers. "I don't report to you Dale, got that!" Now you see? Yes I am using Chris to instigate this confrontation with Dale because he still hasn't gotten it thru his head that he and I are over. Although he can understand it verbally...it just hasn't sunk in yet. "You went to his house...he's been to YOUR APARTMENT CORBIN!" He starts yelling, now drawing the attention of a few distant students. "Not shit Sherlock, I invited him, remember?" I groaned. "Dale don't you think it's about time you got on with your life, don't you have some other poor girl in your sights you should be harassing." I flip down my sunglasses and groan as I stand up. But, that was a particularly hash statement, I could see the pain on his face from what I just said. "Why are you doing this?" He sighed. "Cause you won't let go, we could be great friends Dale...we used to be..." I started. "I don't want to be friends Corbin, I've tried, but I can't. It still kills me to think about you with another guy." He looked down at the ground and frowned, taking a deep breath. "Dale..." I touched him on the right shoulder, "...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said what I just said. But I have to go now." "Bye." He whispered. "Good bye." I sighed and stepped back, slowly turning to walk back inside the building. And that was pretty much it for me and Dale....... It was close to the end of the semester and the project was done...finished! A++++++ :) So, anyway, I suggested a movie as a way to celebrate, I think Chris saw it as a date. Oh well, I did dress-up some...short skirt, low v-cut shirt with some makeup and lipstick. We looked an odd pair to some degree, everyone was used to seeing me date guys taller, with some athletic orientation. Chris was none of the above...shorter then me with a slight geeky look going on, so we got stares from my friends who were also at the movies that night as Chris and I sat together. I could tell he seemed awkward around me, he had no 'moves' or 'cool lines' he just had no confidence around girls. That' okay, I didn't mind towing the line thru our friendship. We pulled up to my apartment complex and I was ready to blurt out my usual 'Thanks for the ride, see ya' later!' and jump out. But I had a moments thought...errr....UH- OH...overload....blonde brain now attempting to think....*crunch*...*grind*...*sputter*...... "Want to come up for a second?" I ask. "Sure" He said and smiled a little. I walked up the stairs and got my keys out, Sharon wasn't home so didn't have to worry about her. He did a nervous pace around my bedroom until I sat on my bed and folded my left leg over my right. "Chris, come here a second." I said softly, and patted the bed with my left hand, indicating it was okay for him to sit next to me. Like walking on egg shells he slowly took a couple of steps and sat down next to me, nervously folding his hands in his lap...then unfolding them....he was nervous...very nervous. "Thanks for working with me on that project, I had a good time." He sighed and glanced over at me for second before looking away. "I had a good time, it was fun...well, as fun as Computers can get I guess." I smiled and he even laughed a little. "Hey, let me see something." And I reached up with both hands, he stiffened a little, like a scarred mouse, but I smiled and told him to relax, just wanted to see what he looked like without his glasses. "Hey, you look great, you should maybe get contacts" I said. "Yeah?" He said and blinked a few times, even squinting some. Okay, now I have to be very careful here...cause I've never done this before and I didn't want to mess this up...nor scramble this guys poor brain beyond repair. "Chris?" "Yeah?" He was breathing a little heaver now, the moment was pretty intense for him I think. "I think you're a good guy." I almost said 'nice', but that is not something any guy wants to hear so I substituted 'good'. "Oh, thanks, and I think you a wonderful girl." He said with a nervous chuckle. Well, that did make me blush some so I took a deep breath to clear my head. "I'm going to tell you something...and it's important that you understand, okay?" I said. "Sure, go ahead" He said, his smile a little forced now, not sure what I was going to drop on him. "I think of you as a great friend. You understand that right." And I focus on his eyes...face....body language to make sure this is getting thru. "Yeah...I know Corbin." He said, but the tone was tainted with disappointment, he was trying to put on his best 'face', but I knew he was hoping for more. Also, I think he has been on the receiving end of many rejections...as well as 'You're a nice guy' speech, so I'm sure he thinks nice guy's finish last and all that garbage. "I wanted to say that up front so that you don't misunderstand what I'm going to ask you next...okay?" "Okay" He said, now with a look of intense curiosity and I stare at him a few seconds longer...to which he nods 'yes'. When I feel like he gets my drift I then move on to my next question; "Have you ever kissed a girl?" He sits stone faced for a second, looks a little pale and I think he is even sweating now. So, is he going to bullshit me or tell me the truth, he seems to be contemplating something when his lips get really tense, now his whole face looks tense as he looks away, back down to his lap. "Nope." That was it, a simple short...very quick 'Nope'. "I don't want you to take this the wrong way Chris, okay, because what I said about me considering you to be a friend and only a friend still holds true, Okay?" "Okay" he whispers as he keeps looking down at his lap, I think expecting me to kick him out of the apartment now. But his head slowly comes around as he sees me shift my body on the bed so I am a little more angled towards him. "Now, I want you to turn towards me some, bring your right knee up on the bed...like this..." and I start grabbing and moving his shoulders and push and pull on his legs to set him up. He is looking totally confused as I pretty much move him around like a piece of furniture. "Comfortable?" I ask. "Yeah" he looks as me kind of awkwardly, a nervous smile flashing on his face some. With my left knee up on the bed, my skirt is kind of hiked up my thighs, but that's okay, I don't think I am flashing him with my underwear. Now I'm blushing a little as I try and set this up, and he's getting nervous, cause he's breathing a bit faster now and looks a bit flushed. I take his left hand and pull it over towards me and place it on my right hip while pulling his right hand up to my shoulder. Chris doesn't even ask why...what....anything he is just totally trusting me...I think he has a few suspicions but just seems to be totally going with it. "Now, how would you kiss me?" I say with a smile. UH OH, he looks like he is going to have a panic attack now! "It's okay." I say and smile some more. I can feel his fingers trembling, in fact his whole body is shaking a little and I think I better take charge. But slowly he starts to lean in. "Close your eyes." I whisper when he's about an inch from my face. "Sorry" He gasps. "Is okay" I smile and feel his lips on mine for a second, he's got soft lips, but he simply pulls away, now looking and feeling even more stiff. "Like that?" He asks. Wow, he is really shaking like a leaf now. "Well, not exactly." "Sorry." He sighs in frustration, and for a second looks like he wants to cry. "Hey...hey...." I softly stroke his cheeks with my hands, "Just relax...okay...it's your first time." "You've heard that song by Aaliyah 'Try Again'?" I ask. "Yeah" He smiles. "Well...try again!" I smile. Slowly he comes in and presses his lips against mine and I whisper into his mouth, 'Now relax okay?' "Okay" he gasps and I lean away from him, studying his body language. "Just go slow..." I say while pulling back some more, "...take your time...I can't speak for all girl's but try and find a complimentary rhythm with your partner and you'll want to softly stroke my arms and back." I smile reassuringly. Normally, this would NOT be allowed, I don't casually kiss anyone, but Chris was my pet project :) so a little light petting was in order. "Okay" he chuckles. I give him a few pecks on the lips and can tell he is breathing hard, I wasn't trying got tease the guy, just help him. Basically, I was trying to get him to open up and relax. Instead of clutching onto me for dear life, I told him that he needed to observe and be responsive to what I was doing...to what his date was doing...and yes there were times when you would want to 'Take Charge!'. No *real* kissing took place, like I said, I don't go for that, way to personal, but I think I needed to give a few pecks on the lips to Chris so he can at least say he's kissed a girl. "So there, see, not so hard." I smile. "Thanks Corbin." And the kid seems ready to fall apart and cry so I pull him into my arms and hug him, to which he then begins to quietly weep some, just holding me. He tells me it's the most wonderful thing anyone has ever done for him. Why am I always making guys cry? Gheesh. "Well, I'm no expert, but I think you'll do just fine." I smile and stand up. He tearfully thanked me again and again as I walked him to the door. I gave him a hug goodbye. Chris is a nice guy who deserves a great girlfriend, and I think it was a shame that he was a Freshman in college without having even gotten to first base with a girl. I didn't feel bad for doing what I did...I didn't' feel like a tease or any of that. I felt like I was doing a good deed, boosting his confidence and Chris was a total gentleman about the whole thing. He did get a girlfriend shortly thereafter and maybe...just maybe...I helped him in some way. We are friends to this day and trade emails once in awhile.