I gazed over my leafless elm, the window dusty with dead pollen, and saw people dressed in layers and jackets. The sky was barren of all but blue, a brilliant azure primed canvas waiting for some divine artist to delivery the light of the horizon to the dense sky at the zenith, shades of cobalt swam around the edges. I saw George walking down the sloping path between Whitney and Taylor Hall. He had the same clothes on as the night before.
My interest left like ash on the wind.
Resuming my routine, I swiped up my shower accessories off the desk leaving a soapy ring from the small clear bottle of shampoo.
I chuckle and shake my head when I see Less Than Zero still in the cubbyhole.
“Really should get to that.”
Dragging my feet as I slipped through the two way door into the cold bathroom, the warmth from every cell was stolen. I needed to get under the tepid torrents of over-chlorinated water. I hung my gear up on the row of hooks over the stone shelf that held the accessories bags at the entrance to the shower stalls. Naked, carrying my extra towel, I slid on the slick chilled floor.
I was lucky to find my favorite stall. It was the one farthest from the white tile archway and was the hottest with an even soft spray. As my hygienic meditation began, I bowed my head and my folded my hands in front of me. The rest of the world was eliminated. I was soaping my back to the best of my reach and heard someone enter through the portal. A grumbled voice cursed as the stall next to me slammed shut. It was George.
“George. Good day,” I said.
He banged the wall as, “You’re in my stall. You probably just got up.” raced through the steam.
“Yup but you never shower this late!” I said.
“Just got out of bed too. Missy’s bed you stank motherfucker,” he yelled through the steam.
“You lucky bastard,” I said and he countered with, “Wasn’t luck.”
The sound of hard hot drops splattering against the tiles hissed. The smell of soap suds rode the rising vapor.
“Dude, she was awesome. Multiple orgasms is all I have to say,” he said and I had to fight down a thickening hard on as I imagined a nude Missy writhing and grinding.
“Dude. A gentleman does not kiss and tell?” I told him as I got a mouthful of water, gargled and spit.
He banged on the wall and shouted, “I’m an animal today.”
I smiled even though no one could see it as I recalled Elyssa when she tested me that day. But that was smoke and mirrors, choking and broken.
“Cool. Ravage her man. You know, she might just be in it for the sex? She is a senior. You know get dirty before getting respectable,” I yelled as I shut the shower off with a spin of the knob.
The cold air drafted in as an undulating wave.
“Fuck you. She’s not slutting around,” he replied.
I agreed but I returned the comment with, “Fuck you. Whatever.”
“Man, I thought you’d understand,” he said.
“At least you got laid and the only crap I got was this shower stall. So, you win,” I said.
“Damn straight punk ass. I’m going to set something straight before my dick shrivels up and tries to go north. All because that chick Elyssa dumped on you doesn’t mean all girls are treacherous. Chill on the paranoid shit or you’re going to be lonely.”
I was not prepared for that conversation so I hit the door with my palm and said, “Right, but that chick is too impressive for you.”
No reply.
“I will see you later at dinner,” I told him and tried to dry off with a damp towel as I headed back to my room uncovered.
Dinner that night was burnt macaroni and cheese that dashed my cravings for comfort food away. A watchful night came as a chill projected into a perfectly clear autumn sky that passed on to oblivion. There were only hours until we left so we mind mangled menagerie of misfits went out seeking mischief in the naughty night.