I was so surprised that I jerked up and my shoulder hit the door, causing a loud thumping noise.

“Shit! I thought they went to sleep!" Cherys hissed. There was some hurried fumbling outside, and meanwhile I managed to pull my shorts on.

Without even looking at the girls in the Living room, I passed quickly right into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Only once I stood in the wonderful, warm spray did I allow myself a smug grin of pride. emp OOOO OOK

Hero --

FALL QUARTER, JUNIOR YEAR (November 2000)

“So, some kind of party, wasn't it?"

“Hmm?" Amber Looked over at me with half-dead eyes to see that I'd fallen into step with her on the way to our Art History class. Her hair was pulled into a simple ponytail and I noticed her makeup was significantly Lighter than usual. Instead of her typically stylish blouses and short skirts, she was casually clad in an off-the-shoulder peasant shirt and jeans. She was still pretty, but clearly wasn't making the effort to be as gorgeous as she usually did.

“Uh, yeah..." Amber quickly Looked at her feet.

Ny eyebrows furrowed, she was clearly embarrassed about something.

I reached out and put my arm around her shoulder.

“C'mon. Let's stop for coffee. My treat. I owe you for the last fifteen or so."

“Um, sure." She was quiet the rest of way, and I knew something was off. For one thing, she usually settled into my arm contentedly. Today, she was rather stiff.

“Amber, you okay?"

"Yeah, it's just..." Her eyes wavered and I got the distinct impression our topic bothered her.

“Look, we don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." It was the first time we were seeing each other since Carmita's party, and I assumed her reticence had something to do with that.

She looked back at the floor, and I didn't press her.

Eventually we arrived at the coffee cart. After a minute or two in line, she stated her order: something-iatto, caramel-this, venti-that.

Despite Amber's care, the cafeteria company barista didn't get it all on the first take. But instead of getting huffy, she calmly repeated her order and then waited patiently.

Once we both had our drinks in hand, we headed off towards the classroom. But we didn't get more than twenty feet away before Amber took a detour, found a convenient bench, and then sat down. I followed her.

We sat in silence for a few seconds as the pretty blonde was clearly trying to compose herself. It was perhaps the first time I'd ever seen her rattled, except perhaps for our surprise meeting at Carmita's house. In high school she'd been the snobbish bitch. In college she was still confident and elitist, even if she wasn't as mean. And every time

I saw her she exuded self-assuredness in everything she did. To see her this unsettled went straight to my heart.

Automatically, I reached out and held her hands in mine. She trembled and gave me a nervous smile.

“David, you don’t... you don’t think I'ma slut or anything, do you?"

“What? No. Why would you think that?"

“Isn't that what you call a girl who has sex with different people?”