Page 26 of Footlights and Forever

I struggled through the open doors with my boxes, then placed them down with a clunk just next to what appeared to be a bank of mailboxes in a large open reception. I turned around to meet my knight-ess in shining armor. “I think if you’re expecting rewards from the universe then it really isn’t altruism,” I smiled and thrust out my hand, “but that’s cool because do-gooders tend to be secret assholes. I’m Dylan.”

“Hi, I’m Natalie.” Her delicate hand clutched my own as I gave it a firm shake. She was slightly shorter than me, with those red curls that framed her face in sharp contrast to her pale freckled skin. The volume of hair looked like a lion’s mane on such a slender body. “Dude, are you checking me out?”

I snapped my gaze up to meet hers. She smiled as I flushed, thinking of a way to tell her that she didn’t have the parts I needed to make my general perusal of her lithe body but huge boobs more than a passing curiosity. “No I’m not… I mean yes I was, but it’s not for what you think.”

“And what exactly do I think?” she smirked.

“Like I mean I don’t want to have sex with you,” I whispered hurriedly.

“If I knew opening doors for people in this city would get me sex, I would have come here a lot sooner.” She rubbed her chin between thumb and index finger.

“You’re fucking with me?” I sighed, scrunching my nose up as she nodded.

“Only ‘cause I have a good one I’m going to just go on out a limb here, but my gaydar is pinging like crazy. Am I right?” She sucked on her teeth, waiting for the answer like a contestant on a crappy nineties game show.

“Ding, ding, ding, you won the speedboat.” I shrugged, shooting her a wink.

“I’m gonna grab one of these boxes and help you up to your floor,” she held up a hand in front of her, “and if you try someoh don’t worry I can manage bullshitI’m gonna kick you in the shin.” She snagged one of the boxes and headed for the elevator with me following closely behind.

“Fourth floor please.” I nodded towards the buttons.

“Ah me too,” she beamed, “we’re neighbors.” Each of the floors in the dorm having only four two bed mini apartments definitely made us close neighbors. “Do you know who you are rooming with yet?”

“Yeah, some guy called Jared, but he isn’t getting here for a few days.”

She nodded as the elevator opened onto the fourth floor, and made our way to my rom. Natalie made herself comfortable onmy roommate’s mattress while I unpacked. It was somewhere between jarring and comforting that she never actually asked if I wanted her to hang around, just assumed that since we were both apparently friends as well as neighbors there would be no reason for her not to hang out.

“So tell me about you.” She nudged me with her foot as I slid a small suitcase under my bed. “Is there a special someone back home?”

“No, actually, I brought my special someone with me,” I beamed.

“Is he with us now?” she whispered, looking around the room to the corners of the ceiling.

“He isn’t a fucking ghost,” I barked out a sharp laugh, “he decided to get a house off campus with some of the other guys on his course.”

“And you didn’t want to join them because?” she trailed off.

“Because they are a house of post high school jocks and I think my nerdiness would affect the delicate balance of beauty and douche-ness.” I shrugged, unrolling a very basic bitch Klimt poster and tacking it to the wall next to my bed.

“Fuck those jock bitches.” She held up a fist is mock solidarity.

“Whose fucking who?” I snapped my head to the door, taking in the delicious sight of my very hot jock boyfriend as he leaned against the doorframe. “Hi, I’m his jock bitch boyfriend, Austin.”

“Oh hey, I’m Natalie,” she smiled, shooting him off a wink. “Lucky boy.” She sent a smirk my way.

I couldn’t hide the smile that bloomed over my face, but I bit my lip to try and reign it in as much as possible. “I know, right.”

“I’m gonna go and give you guys some space.” she slapped her thighs before pushing to her feet. “Well I don’t want to sound all ‘three’s company’, but since we’re bestest friends in the whole wide world now Dylan, come knock at my door.”

“You don’t have to leave on my account,” Austin said as I gave her a quick nod.

“Well since my new best friend here looks about five minutes away from tearing your clothes off like a rabid wolf, I’m going to make myself scarce.” She shot me a final wink before the door closed behind her.

“Hey baby,” Austin smiled, closing the distance between us. He dipped his head down and pressed his soft lips against mine. I hummed in approval as his tongue swiped at my lower lip. “Rip my clothes off huh?”

Not breaking eye contact, I pushed Austin backwards towards the door, I reached behind him and snapped the lock shut. “You have a problem with that?” I smirked as I lowered myself to my knees in front of him.

“You’ll get no complaints from me,” he said breathlessly.

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