“I’m really glad to see you guys,” Doug smiled.

“I wish I could say I was glad to be back,” Mike grinned. “Want a smoke?”

“Nah, Doug’s New Year’s Resolution was to quit smoking,” Dave announced.

“Congrats! How’s it going?” Mike maliciously took a deep drag on his cigarette and let it out in a long stream.

“Alright. Actually, it was easy. I couldn’t let my parents know about it so I hadn’t had a cigarette in two weeks by New Year’s Eve so I just kept right on going.”

“I’m glad. We were worried about you.” Mike gave him a long look. “You were falling apart at the seams back there.”

“I was. Fall Semester nearly killed me. I got in over my head with Beth and things went downhill from there. Hard to graduate early when you don’t attend a single class for the last month of the semester.” Doug grinned. “It’s all in the past.”

“Yeah, he managed two B’s for Winter Session,” Dave agreed.

“Doug, glad to see you’re still alive,” Anne greeted him as she strolled in with her roommate, Becky.

“Yeah, I’m glad of it too. Not only did I get good grades in Winter but I even had a great time dating Judy.”

“Judy? She’s like the married one, right?” Becky gave him a look of disapproval.

“Nah, she’s just engaged and we didn’t do anything either.”

“Doug’s one of the last to be saving himself for marriage,” Mike smirked.

“Hey! Lay off him!” Anne glared at Mike. “I kinda wish I’d saved myself for Mister Right. Now, when I find him, I won’t have anything left that’s special to give him.”

“Anne, you’re special just by being you.” Doug hoped he wasn’t blushing. “Besides, I was labeled at birth. I’m stamped `Eternal Virgin.’”

“Nah, you’ll find the right one. You just have to stop going for psychos.” Dave smiled to soften the blow.

“So, where’s the stamp?” Mike tried to look innocent.

“Right here,” Doug replied while pantomiming a mooning.

“You’re such an ass,” Dave quipped.

“I can’t believe there’s no music,” Doug complained. “We’ve only got one last night of freedom before classes start back up and we’re not partying!”

Becky walked over and started the CD player. It was Dave and Mike’s room but they weren’t the selfish sort. The rule was share and share alike. All of the assembled crowd had personal property left here. The room was its own commune in the middle of a college campus.

“Ah, the Beatles!” Doug cheered. “How about something to drink?”

“Oh good! You still drink.” Dave pulled out a bottle of whiskey to pass around and the five friends started singing along and dancing despite a shared complete lack of such talent. Doug passed around a paint brush to use as a microphone while they all laughed and sang along, sometimes even getting the words right.

“There’s this girl in my Art History class,” Mike began after a while.

“Gonna bang her?” Doug asked.

“I hope so,” Mike admitted to unabashed cheers.

“I’ll never have to have sex because I get to hear all about it from Mike,” Doug grinned.

“After all I’ve heard from him, I’ll never be able to take guys seriously again,” Becky added. “He’s told us about every line in the book.”

“Hey, it’s not like they complain,” Anne jumped to his defense.

“To each his or her own,” Doug agreed.

“Oh, I’m not knocking him. Everyone should make their own choices.” Becky clarified herself.

“How about some Pink Floyd?” Dave put the CD in after everyone agreed.

Feeling the effect of the whiskey, Doug just sat back and listened. The next to last song once meant a lot to him. “Wish You Were Here” seemed to describe all he’d been taught to fear.

“I don’t think trading `a walk on part of the war for a lead role in a cage’ is such a bad thing,” Doug asserted.

“You’d rather have a meaningless but prosperous life?” Anne hit the right question.

“Healthy and wealthy or happy and wise?” Dave echoed.

“I’ve been in a few wars lately and they aren’t pretty,” Doug lamented.

“It was rough what happened with you and Beth,” Mike comforted him.

“It’s all well and good to fight for something you believe in but it just isn’t pretty when it all falls apart.” Doug took a long pull on the whiskey bottle.

“I’d like something to believe in,” Anne mumbled.

“I believe in friendship and that’s what we have,” Dave smiled ironically. One could see him smiling but there was no joy behind it.

“I believe in treating others they way you need to be treated. That’s like a war of its own.” Becky spoke up.

“Without something to believe in, you’d just be going through the motions. Me and women...well, there’s nothing to believe in there. I’m just going through the motions until I find something there I can believe in.” For Mike, that was quite a statement.

“Judy and I aren’t doing anything more than going through the motions but it’s nice. We aren’t going anywhere and we know it. She’s getting married and I’m working on academics.”

“Doug, I can’t believe you would just go through the motions with a woman,” Anne protested.

“You’re right. It’s more of a fantasy war. I can pretend that we’ll make the difference in each other’s lives. Then, the fantasy will be over and we’ll get back to real work.” Doug frowned.

“What’s your goal?” Dave wanted to know.

“I’m just marking time and trying to get out into the real world. I’m useless here in college. If I can get good grades, then I’ll get a good job and make my parents proud.” Doug smiled and thought about the good start he had just finished in Winter Session.

“I don’t think you’re useless. I think we all have a lot to offer each other. My life would be so much emptier without all of you in it.” Anne looked Doug right in the eye.

“Do you really just want to please your parents?” Dave’s tone was incredulous.

“Well, I tried life my way and failed in every way last semester. I figure I need to give my parents’ way a shot.” Doug couldn’t help but look down. It sounded so fake. “So far, I’m enjoying my lead role in a cage. It’s nice not to be ashamed of myself.”

“I think we’re all in cages and deluding ourselves. The only truth is in oneness with everything.” Dave asserted his philosophy.

“I don’t like this new Hindu kick you’re on,” Doug complained.

“It’s not just a new kick,” Mike argued. “It’s a goal we’ve had for years. I’m ashamed of myself for not moving toward it. I’ve been wasting all this time fucking around with women. I want to be in a state of nirvana.”

“I don’t know what I believe in but I don’t think the answer is to be found in nothingness,” Anne protested.

“I think like the answer is gonna be found in sleep for me,” Becky yawned.

“Yeah, we might as well start working on a regular sleep schedule,” Doug agreed.

“I still have work to do. I have to paint for my portfolio. We all need to bring one in and present it the first day of class.” Dave frowned at his blank canvas.

“On the first day?” Everyone was shocked.

“We do another on the last day. The point of the class is to measure how we’ve progressed between the two,” Dave explained it.

“And I thought summer reading sucked,” Mike quipped.

“Let’s all get some sleep,” Doug asserted and, to his great shock, get got the last word.

* * *

The University of Delaware Library is famous for its size and completeness. Among its students, it’s more infamous for having more books in the wrong places than the right ones. One can spend hours searching through the catalogues and shelves before finding a single book.

That’s one of the reasons why most professors put their required library reading on the reserve list. That means a student must sign his life away in exchange for two hours with the needed book. Usually, this was enough.

Doug certainly hoped so this time. Professor Callahan was notoriously tough on his students and a reserve reading assignment on the second day of class was just par for the course. The class was called “Barbarian Europe” and the mighty professor seemed perfect for the part.

“I’d like to get this one out,” Doug informed the clerk as he handed over a slip of paper.

“Sorry, just handed that one out five minutes ago,” the clerk mumbled from behind a book.

“Is the person still here? Maybe there’s a chance we could share it.”

“She’s over there. If you’re going to talk, go to one of the conference rooms.”

Over there was a girl Doug seemed to recognize. She was heavy set to put it politely with long dark hair and wore jeans with high heeled boots. She was definitely in his class but she was more familiar than that.

“Excuse me. Think we might be able to share that stuff?” Doug wore his most charming smile.

“I don’t know. I’m kinda busy with it.” The girl didn’t even bother to look up.

“When your time’s up, I’ll already have to be in class.” Doug figured this explanation would do it.

“Then come back after class,” was the response.

“Please?”

“I don’t think you’re gonna let me get anything done until I share. Are you?” She finally looked up to reveal an impish grin.

“Probably not. I usually get my way before I succumb to the boredom.” Doug returned the grin.

“Both of you. Go use a conference room or get out. Now!” The clerk actually looked up from his book.

“Alright.” Doug gave a childish sigh and was rewarded with a long glare from the clerk.

The girl led the way out of the resource room and up the stairs. Doug found himself nearly skipping to keep up with her casual pace. It wasn’t exactly dignified but he wanted that book!

“I can’t believe you got us kicked out of there,” the girl snapped but the grin was still there.

“Well, I didn’t like his attitude. Speaking of attitude, what do you think of our class so far?” If she were going to get mad, she might as well direct it toward a sadistic professor.

“It’s alright. I kinda like the prof.”

“So do I,” Doug admitted begrudgingly.

“Really? I was just trying to be nice. The man obviously flunked out of charm school.”

“Sorry to change the subject but I know you from somewhere.”

“Really? I don’t even know your name.”

“I’m Doug.”

“Karen,” she replied and smiled politely.

“I’m going to think of where I know you from,” Doug warned.

“Then you’ll run away in terror?”

“No, I usually kill what I fear,” Doug smirked.

“Hmmm....kill me baby,” Karen giggled.

“So I should be afraid of you?”

“Only if you’re into normal.”

“I don’t like normal, actually.” Doug grew serious. “It’s kinda a character flaw of mine.”

“What do you mean?”

“My parents always told me I’m not normal. I don’t wear normal clothes, have normal friends or even have a normal sense of humor.”

“I think you’re pretty normal looking,” she replied.

“Gee thanks!”

“Just kidding! I’m not much for normal either. I’m a 23 year old metal chick.”

“Really? What do you consider metal? There’s some that I really like.”

“Well, not really all metal,” she decided. “Mostly hard rock. I’m really into the old Van Halen or Aerosmith. You know...that sort of thing.”

“Stuff from the late 70’s and early 80’s?”

“Yeah! I can’t stand most 90’s stuff. Rap makes me sick.”

“I know. These kids listen to some pretty lame shit these days. My sister’s stereo once played the same beat for two hours. She claims it wasn’t all one song.” Doug put the proper emphasis on claims.

“My sister’s older. She got me into all the good stuff.”

“Didn’t work on my sis. Her older brother just isn’t cool enough.”

“She’ll learn as she grows up,” Karen replied.

“What makes you think so?”

“I did,” she winked.

“That’s too bad,” Doug deadpanned.

“Why?”

“Being an old fart must be such a drag,” he mumbled.

The reply was a shove that nearly pushed him from his seat. He turned back to her exaggerating the effect it had on him and she laughed.

“Are you some sort of hockey player or something?”

“Nope, just a big fan.”

“Flyers?” Doug guessed hopefully.

“No way! I could never root for a bunch of sissies led by that gorilla!”

“Then what’s your team?”

“I am a fan of the New York Rangers,” she stated in such a way that it only seemed natural that he should have known.

“Oh, that figures,” Doug shot back.

“What do you mean?”

“Say coffee,” he grinned.

“No,” she mumbled as she started to blush.

“Say chocolate,” Doug added.

“Oh, we’re here for coffee talk and we’re going to eat some chocolate,” she shot off in an exaggerated Brooklyn accent.

“Yep, you’re from New York, the city of bad drivers and worse teams.”

“Hey! The bad drivers are all from Jersey and our teams are pretty damn good!”

“Shit!” Doug looked at his watch. The two hours were nearly up and he’d accomplished close to nothing.

“What’s wrong?”

“We’re almost out of time and I haven’t done much.”

“You mean you really wanted the book?” She exaggerated a gasp that made him howl.

He stopped laughing just in time for some inspiration. “Karen, I’m going to get some lunch. Wanna come along?”

“What about your class?”

“Oops. I meant afterward.” Doug blushed. “How about Russell at noon?”

“I’ll be there,” she smiled and they parted company for the moment.

* * *

“You’d never believe it if you knew me better but I really like this time of the morning,” Karen went on.

“You like eyelids heavy as hammers?” Doug yawned

“Nah, I almost never see this time of day because of that,” she protested. “I usually sleep too late for these 8ams.”

“Me too. I was born early in the morning and have been making up for it ever since!”

“Oh God! Who said that one?” Karen laughed and sprayed coffee.

“Just me. I can’t think of any other explanation why I’d be born before 5:30 AM and almost never see that time of day again.”

“I think half the time I’m still up then,” she smirked.

“I don’t count those times as mornings! I have to sleep before it can be morning or the next day at all.”

“That’s one way to look at it. Of course, it could make for some pretty short semesters.”

Doug sipped at his coffee and managed not to choke. “I’ve heard you used to get shot for bad jokes like that.”

“Luckily for you not anymore. Otherwise that coffee would run right through you!” She chuckled at her own joke this time.

“I think my bladder’s still asleep,” Doug moaned.

“I know my ass is on these stairs!”

“You picked the spot, my dear.” Doug flourished his arms for emphasis.

“And you vetoed my first two choices, babe!”

* * *

“I’m sorry,” Doug apologized after the fifth yawn.

“Just getting up?” Deb, his best friend, let her disapproval show in her voice.

“Nah, I’ve been up since at least 6:30. I do try to make it to class.”

“And usually fail,” Deb added nastily.

“Not this early in the semester,” he argued..

“Why so early, though? You can get up at 7:30 and still make it.”

“Actually, I’ve done 7:45 frequently,” he noted with a grin.

“That’s nuts and don’t dodge the question,” Deb countered.

“I was having breakfast with a friend.”

“Dave?”

“No, a new friend named Karen. Maybe not a new friend because I know that I know her from somewhere. We had a breakfast of coffee and doughnuts on the steps of Memorial Hall.”

“Sounds romantic,” she baited.

“Actually, it was just damned cold!”

“Just can’t place her, eh Doug?”

“I do know a couple hundred people by face. It’s a little much to ask that I remember them all by name, home state and mother’s maiden name.”

“Don’t get grouchy with me,” she warned.

“Must I always be on my best behavior with you?”

“Not if you really need to be grouchy. You seemed like you were in a perfectly good mood, though.”

“Deb, I think I’ve had 23 cups of coffee today.”

“That’s not good. You need to take better care of yourself.”

“You can be such a mother sometimes, Deb.”

“So can you!”

“The difference is that I’m expected to take it and you bitch about me patronizing you,” Doug sighed.

Deb broke the long silence that resulted. “Think you and Karen might be serious?”

“Serious? We haven’t been the slightest bit romantic!”

“You’re spending all your time with her, then. You’d never wake up early for me!”

“She’s a lot of fun, Deb. She’s a wonderful compromise between having a mind of her own and being bossy. You’re bossy, Deb.”

“I am not bossy,” she protested.

“I feel like I oughta go. We’ve been on the edge of a fight all week. Now I’m tired and grouchy.”

“Yeah, you’d better go. Call me when you’re not feeling so damned grouchy.”

* * *

“I don’t know why I put up with her, Karen!”

“She’s your best friend. It’s normal to put up with a lot from your best friend.”

“When I correct her, I’m being patronizing. When she corrects me, she’s right.”

“Well, then don’t ever date her, Doug.”

Doug laughed so hard he nearly fell over. “You’re the first person to ever say that! We’ve been best friends for over two years and just about everyone thinks I’m dating her.”

“Why do they think that?”

“We know each other so well that we act like we’re married half the time. We fight over stupid things, we’re seen going out together all the time, we talk about everything and we have absolutely no attraction to each other!”

“Me thinks thou protesteth too strongly,” Karen quipped.

“I might as well be dating her already and it’s not what I’m looking for. She’s the ultimate perfectionist and good enough is good enough for me. She wants to be Miss Suzy Homemaker and I just gotta be me.”

“Then why do you hang out with her?”

“Do you know how hard it is to find someone you can trust? We’re comfortable the way we are. Once, I was attracted to her and didn’t want to date her! She’s terrible to the guys she dates. She doesn’t trust them as far as she can throw them. I can’t put up with that!”

“Does it turn out that they deserve her trust?”

“Well, that’s hard to say because she’s hunting for a husband. She seems to either scare them off with this or they don’t live up to her standards and she dumps them.”

“Hunting for a husband?”

“She’s been engaged three times that I know of. She wants to have it all. She’s ready for a career, a home, kids and a husband. I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this.”

“I like the fact that you trust me, Doug.”

“Good. I’m being a royal pain in the ass to you. I’ve taken up more of your time than I should the past couple of days.”

“I don’t mind.”

“You’re just fun to be around. That’s what she isn’t. I can trust her, I can tell her anything but we don’t really ever have a smashing good time together. You like hockey and she thinks it’s a stupid sport. You like football and she just wants to be seen as clever by knowing about it. Do you like to dance?”

“Yeah, but I don’t know of anywhere that doesn’t play that rap shit.”

“I’m sure there’s a place around here somewhere.”

Doug broke the pregnant pause with a return to the old topic. “You see...she and I really aren’t compatible. I need someone with whom I can have a good time. Sharing deep thoughts is a great thing but you can’t do it all day. Most of what you will experience with a person is right on the surface.”

“So, shallow things are important?”

“I don’t know that some things are really shallow. A relationship needs a solid base in fun. My parents have been together more than 25 years and they never have any fun. They just sit in the same room and watch TV. I guess, in the really important stuff, they have some sort of connection but they always seem so bored together.” Doug grimaced.

“I can’t imagine being with the same person for that long. I’m not even that old yet.”

“I can’t imagine it either. I guess I could see myself lasting that long with the perfect person but...” Doug shrugged his shoulders.

“So you believe there’s one perfect person?”

“Nah, there’s probably not one. Perfect is the wrong word to use. I need to find someone who’s a lot of fun. We need to have strong common interests but with enough difference to not be dating myself.”

Karen snorted at this.

“I need to be able to trust that person completely. It’s more than keeping secrets.”

“Yeah, I need to be able to trust him to love me even though I’ll have differences in ideas. I need to know that he’ll love me even when I do stupid things. I need to know that, even when he doesn’t agree, he’ll understand because he’s been somewhere like it himself before.”

“I couldn’t have said it better myself, Karen. Except he would be a she for me.” Doug grinned.

“And Deb wouldn’t be able to understand like that, would she?”

“Nope. I bet your last boyfriend wouldn’t have either.”

“You’re right on that one,” she smirked.

“Not to mention that physical attraction is very important. Deb isn’t exactly ugly but I’ve grown tired of looking at her. I know that wouldn’t happen so quickly with...the one.”

“I bet she’d say the same thing about you,” Karen winked.

“I doubt she’d be that nice about it,” Doug chuckled.

* * *

“The name of the game is HORSE,” Doug explained.

“I believe I’ve played before,” Karen replied.

“Just making sure,” he nodded. “You get a letter every time I make a shot and you can’t follow it.”

“You mean you get one when you throw up a brick trying to match me,” she argued. To demonstrate her point, she dribbled the ball through her legs a few times.

“Want to go first?”

“I think I should let you. Then you might have a chance, Doug.”

“Alright. Ok. From here...over the shoulder hook shot.” Doug took the shot.

“Does it count if I make it?” Karen smirked at him and rebounded his poorly aimed shot.

“I’m just keeping it close,” he protested.

“Ok. I just want to see you hit from here.”

“That’s easy,” Doug scoffed and then promptly missed the basket.

“I believe that’s H.”

“Yes it is. You were in my light that time.”

“Ok, Doug. Try this one.” Karen took a perimeter jump shot and got nothing but net.

“HO!”

“Did I mention that football is more my sport?” With this, Doug tackled her onto some nearby grass and held on for just a moment.

“Let me up!” She went completely rigid and Doug immediately complied.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled toward the ground. He had no idea where that impulse came from.

“You just took me by surprise.”

“I like surprising people.”

“I don’t like surprises anymore, Doug.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

* * *

“I’ve always liked this place best for lunch,” Doug began. It was their third lunch in four days.

“It’s pretty good. They have cheesesteaks a lot.” Karen smiled.

“The only problem is that I’m feeding my cheese fries addiction,” he smirked gesturing to the bowl he’d filled with them.

“Men don’t need much to keep them happy,” she returned.

“All I want in life is to be free, well fed, clothed and sheltered.”

“Not looking for the millions and the mansion overlooking the sea?”

“I’d take them if I could get them,” he admitted. “I just don’t think I need them to be happy.”

“So you’d be happy with the absolute minimum?”

“If I had the absolute minimum and someone to share it with, I might be happy.” This released a frown from Doug.

“Me too.” She looked down at her cheesesteak for a moment.

“Don’t have anyone either?”

“I thought I’d found Mister Right last spring,” she spat.

“Turned out to be a real loser?”

“Yeah.”

Doug used the resulting pause to get a really good look at her. He definitely knew her from somewhere. “You’re Karen Jones! I knew I remembered you! How come you disappeared for so long?”

“Yep, that’s me. I’m the infamous Karen Jones and I don’t want to talk about it.”

“So I was right about Chris!”

“Wait a minute! You’re the asshole who always picked on me for being with him.” Karen’s eyes focused on him in a piercing glare.

“Can you blame me for being right?” Doug folded his hands in his lap and gave her his best puppy dog look.

“I guess not. Why did you have to be so arrogant about it?”

“Well, that wasn’t all of it. My girlfriend at the time, Tracy, wasn’t all that fond of you. I was showing off.”

“Just like a man! You guys are always showing off.”

“It’s not our fault. Testosterone just forces us to be assholes.”

“And we women just set ourselves up for it time and again,” she mumbled and looked back down at the cheesesteak.

“Sometimes.” Doug thought of some things that men did that were absolutely inexcusable. He placed his hand gently on hers for the heck of it. “Other times, it’s just our own damn fault.”

“I guess so,” she replied with a tired sigh.

“Rough class?”

“Yeah, my French prof has forbidden any English in the class.”

“I had a German teacher like that once. We got by on pantomime.”

“There’s one gesture I’d love to give that prof.” Her arm snapped up to be met by the other with a single raised digit topping it all.

“Is that a threat or an offer?” She rewarded his comment with the most impish of impish grins.

“Men,” she muttered through the grin.

“I remember you used to hang out with my friend, Sherry.” Doug changed the subject again.

“Yeah, we’re roomies now.”

“She and George are still not quite together. Some things will never change.” He’d heard George’s side of it many times.

“No, now she’s with some older Italian guy. His name’s Anthony and he’s a prick. I’d actually prefer George.” Her face made it clear it still wasn’t an easy choice.

“I wonder how many times George actually cheated on her. I can think of at least six times that he told me about.”

“I think that’s despicable,” she snapped.

“All I know is that I’ve always been a one woman man when I’ve been that lucky. That’s the way I’ll always be.”

“The world needs more guys like you, Doug.”

“Really?”

“No, I was just trying to be nice.” She smirked and gave him a little fake punch.

“Ow! Just like a Rangers fan.”

“Crying...just like a Flyer.”

“Gonna watch the game tomorrow night?” Doug tried to never miss his Flyers especially when they played that hated other team.

“I hope so. Sherry and I don’t have a TV.”

“I do,” Doug bragged.

“Ok, I’ll come over and watch it with you.”

“Wanna get some dinner at the Lantern first?”

“That sounds like a date,” she frowned.

“Oh, well it doesn’t have to be.” Doug took his hand away.

“You wouldn’t want to date me,” she explained.

“Think you’re too weird for me or something?”

“No, I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Ok, then it’s not a date,” Doug whined slightly. He regretted taking his hand away and was looking for a chance to put it back.

“You didn’t have to take your hand away, you know.” She looked back to her cheesesteak.

“See you there when it opens at five? I’ve gotta get going. Class calls.”

“See you there.” She waved and he waved back and that was it.

* * *

“So, you’ve got a date tonight?” Brian smirked evilly. He was a sort of associate member of Doug’s crowd. He had an open invitation but didn’t use it that often.

“It’s not a date,” Doug protested.

“I see. I bet you’re already thinking of getting in her pants.”

“You know I’m not that kinda guy, Brian. We were just kinda sorta holding hands.”

“Kinda sorta holding hands? I thought it was an either or thing.”

“Come on, Brian! You know I’m seeing Judy. I’m not looking for someone else.”

“Doug, you know you’re not really seeing Judy. She’s engaged for God’s sake! You should go after this Karen.”

“I just met her!”

“You’re already thinking about getting her in bed,” Brian stated evenly.

“I’m not that kinda guy!” Doug stood and glared at his friend and noticed his hands were balled into fists.

Brian’s face exploded into a grin. “Temper, temper. I love setting you off like that. Remember, I agree with you. I’m waiting to find the right woman myself.”

“Well, it’s time for me to go,” Doug announced and decided that Brian would really be in for it when he finally talked about a woman.

“Want some company for the walk up?”

“Nah, I’d rather go alone.” Doug didn’t know why.

* * *

The room was dark and familiar in the middle of the night as always to its owner. The windows were cracked open for some fresh air despite the bitter cold outside and the heat was on to compensate for this. The quiet hum of the always running computer could be heard. That was the extent of the normality.

Doug had a woman sleeping naked beside him and there was nothing normal about that. It just wasn’t something that was supposed to happen to him. He was the eternal immortal virgin and the one person he’d never suspect of having premarital sex.

It was interesting to be thinking for the first time in hours. She was lying there next to him with his room as dark as it had ever been. Impossible, she was more beautiful than ever in the dark. He couldn’t really see her but he could feel her in his arms. She was still pressed up against him as she had been all night.

Doug could hear her soft snoring and feel it against his skin. Her hair was in his face again but he didn’t mind. He didn’t mind at all. Of course, having her hair in his mouth was slightly more annoying but still nothing to complain about.

She was lying with her neck supported by his left arm while his right was draped over her. He was still holding her very tightly even after she’d drifted off to sleep. Despite having every reason to feel uncomfortable, he couldn’t remember feeling quite this good and relaxed. It was just something out of the movies.

He’d slept with women before. In fact, he’d slept with two different women but only slept. Nothing could compare to this and his mind could not put the entire evening in any sort of real order. There was just a jumbled, warm and pleasant feeling where there should have been rational thought.

A glance at the clock told him the sad truth that it wasn’t the middle of the night anymore. The alarm was going to go off in three minutes and he hadn’t gotten much sleep. It was going to be a long day of classes. She had three minutes of sleep coming to her but he really didn’t want his alarm to awaken her. It just didn’t seem right after a night like this. There were far better ways to awaken.

He kissed her forehead very gently and felt her stir in his arms. She opened her eyes shortly afterward and he was afraid she’d be disoriented. It didn’t happen that way, though. He whispered gently, “Karen, we’ve got class soon.”

“Doug,” was her murmured response.

He felt her arms tighten around him as she regained consciousness slowly. It was another simple moment that made his heart beat with unaccustomed strength. She looked up into his eyes and he began to think strange thoughts of staying there in bed with her forever but the radio alarm went off at its usual earthshattering volume.