Game On(19)

I sat there, hyper-aware of the desire coursing through my body, and was thankful that the professor didn’t call on any of the students to recite poems, because I was pretty sure if Nathan had pulled something like that again, I would have full-on fainted. Like Jane Austen-style swooning.

No one had ever recited poetry to me. And sure, it wasn’t really meant for me, more for him to prove to me that he could, but I was having a hard time shaking off the tingly sensation the soft timber of his voice with the perfect rhythm of the words had given me.

After a while, I relaxed and began to listen to the lecture. All around me students sat enthralled, some taking notes, some just listening to the professor standing at the front of the room. It was a packed lecture hall, not what I would have imagined for a poetry class at a university like this, but then again, I hadn’t ever taken the time to imagine what a poetry class was like. When I thought of what I had missed out on in college, it was all the journalism courses and mentorships. I had never thought about taking a class like this. One that was just for the pleasure of it.

“Iambic pentameter,” the professor was saying, “is a type of metrical line. It refers to the rhythm established by the words in each line, measured by groups of syllables called feet. ‘Pentameter’ indicates five feet.” The professor leaned on one foot, wiggling the other just slightly off the ground. The class laughed. “If you’ve heard Shakespeare,” he said, “you’ve listened to iambic pentameter.”

I still found myself speechless when we left, but this time it was due to the class. My notebook was full, not of ideas for the article, but notes from a class I wasn’t even taking. I clutched my notebook to my chest, suddenly disappointed that I wasn’t going to be around for the next lecture. Nathan was ever the polite gentleman, leading me through the crowd of students trailing out of the class and making sure to hold open doors for me. I got at least a dozen of strange looks, both jealous and curious, from those around us, but I was too focused on trying to remember everything I had learned in the lecture, especially since I knew I wasn’t likely to get a chance to experience that again. I was just about regain my voice when Mandy appeared next to us, looping her arm through mine.

“Hi!” She was all brightness and cheer and it took me a moment to remember that tonight was her date with Chris.

“Hey Mandy,” Nathan responded.

“Ready for tonight?” I asked and she nodded.

“I was actually wondering if you had some time to help me pick out an outfit.” She looked hopeful, and I felt that surge of affection towards her. That was something I could handle. I shook off the distracting bubbly feeling that Nathan had given me and grinned down at her.

“I’d love to,” I told her, surprised to see her looking past me, her smile fading.

I glanced back to see Chris jogging over to us with a somber look on his face. Looking back I saw Mandy’s happy expression wilt completely.

“He’s going to cancel,” she said to me under her breath.

“You’re crazy,” I said, but it did appear to be the reason he was coming over, though I had no idea what had changed. Chris was clearly crazy about her and vice versa.

“I’m really sorry, Mandy,” he said as he reached us. He looked over at Nathan. “Tonight is Josh’s party, remember?”

“Shit.” Nathan slapped his forehead. “I totally forgot about that.”

Chris’ face revealed his disappointment. “We promised,” he told us. “And you know how seriously frat guys take promises.”

“Oh.” Mandy looked crestfallen.

All four of us just stood there staring at each other for a moment until an idea bloomed on Nathan’s face. He looked over at Chris and elbowed him in the side.

“Ouch.” Chris rubbed his side and glared at Nathan, who glared back. Then understanding dawned on Chris’ face. He turned back to Mandy. “Unless you’d want to come to the party with us?” he asked, his expression hopeful.

I winced. Us? The last thing any girl wanted was for her first date to be a noisy party where she was now the third wheel between him and his best friend. I exchanged a look with Nathan, who seemed to be just as embarrassed by Chris’ total fumble of the situation.

“Oh.” Mandy looked over at me. The date had apparently just become a threesome, and not a fun one. The expression on Mandy’s face showed her disappointment—obviously a night out in a frat house wasn’t exactly her dream first date—and I couldn’t blame her. But Chris was cute and nice and clearly into her. It wasn’t his fault he lacked time management skills. Or finesse.

“You should come too,” Nathan said abruptly, and though he had his head down, his face mostly obscured by his cap, it was clear he was talking to me.

“Yeah!” Chris said. “Like a double date.”

“Not a date,” both Nathan and I said at the same time. We had already gotten started on the wrong foot by flirting, the last thing I needed was for him to think I was leading him on. Though, it felt like every time we were within a five-foot radius of each other, the sparks started flying. He made me want to act foolishly. Made me want to forget that I was here for a story, not for sex. Because at this point, one sounded a whole lot more fun than the other. And from the signals he was giving me, I could tell that Nathan felt the same.