Changing Tunes by Heather Gunter, Raelene Green Page B

“Where did you go?”
    I tell her about my new study buddy and that, beginning tomorrow, every Tuesday until the end of the semester we’ll be working on our Chemistry project together.
    “I think he likes you, girl.”
    I shake my head. “I don’t know about that, he doesn’t know me. I may not be his type.” The possibility of Zeke liking me causes goose bumps to flare from my head, all the way down to my toes, causing me to shiver.
    All I know is tomorrow I get to spend time with him, and I’m looking forward to it. But, first I want to try to be friends. Friends first? What a novel concept .
    Mac and I spend the rest of the evening eating junk food, talking about guys and laughing. There’s a lot of laughing. I don’t feel the need to seek out a guy to have sex. I’ve certainly never felt so alive and in control.
     

 
     

     
     
    Why do I have, what I’m sure is the dopiest, smile on my face? I’m excited, stoked really, at the prospect of being alone in the same room with Ashley. Nobody staring at her, because let’s face it, that grates my last nerve. The moment she noticed me sitting next to her in Chemistry, her eyes were on me. She never glanced around, and for that moment, nobody else existed. After she sat down, I looked around and almost every guy had his eyes on her. I saw how they looked at her. Half of them had a look that said they want to throw her across their desk and have their way with her, right then and there. It makes me want to pound their faces in. I’m not normally so territorial, or violent, but I see in their eyes they only care about one thing. I don’t think she even noticed it today.
    I wanted to start over and, apparently, reintroducing myself to her was the ticket, because she smiled. God, that girl has such a nice smile and it lit her whole face up. She’s gorgeous and there’s a hell of a lot more to her than what she lets people see. First thing I noticed when we were talking was she is extremely intelligent. She doesn’t give herself enough credit, though. I think she understands the material we’re studying more than she thinks she does.
    I was listening to the lecture, but kept getting distracted and would glance across at Ashley from time to time when she wasn’t looking. Why does this girl get to me like she does? There’s only ever been one person in my life that could distract me, but not to the same extent, never to this extent.
    I continue to tell myself we’ll just be friends and I’m okay with that, but truthfully, I don’t know if I can be just friends with Ashley Davis. I don’t know if I have that in me. I’m sure as hell going to try, though.
    I get to my dorm and see Joe walking in at the same time. Joe tilts his head in greeting. “What’s up, man?”
    “Not much.” Out of curiosity, I blurt, “So how do you know Ashley? I saw her coming out of your room on Saturday night.” I’m such a fucking idiot. Obvious much?
    He looks around a little uncomfortable, “I uh, just met her at the party that was downstairs. Why do you ask?”
    “No reason. She’s in a class of mine, so I was just curios.”
    “Okay, well I’ll see you around.”
    “Oh, Joe?” My head is telling my mouth to shut up, but my mouth doesn’t want to listen because I just have to know.
    “Yeah?” he asks.
    “Are you dating Ashley? I mean…” I’m such a dumb ass and decide to bang my head into the wall when I finally make it into my room.
    Joe regards me for a moment. “No, man. I tried, but she wasn’t interested. I liked her, and she’s a good lay. A real good lay; the girl sure knows how to take charge.” He laughs and I feel my hand go into a fist, ready to spring to life and connect with Joe’s face. He says a little snidely, “Granted, she didn’t want me to touch her and had these ‘rules’ I had to abide by.” He uses air quotes. “For a good time again, though, I’d go for another roll, even with her rules.”
    That’s it, I’m done,