This is my first posting. There won't be any sex in this chapter. You'll have to wait for that. This is about the forming of a relationship. Enjoy. Please send any comments to: another_face101@hotmail.com I would love to hear from you.
Second Time Around
CHAPTER 1 Too Much of Something
I had been back at university for a month when the workload started to pick up. When I wasn't working, I would be up late at night either in the library or in my room reading, taking notes and finishing assignments ready to hand in the next morning. Lately my life had revolved around work, University and study so I hadn't really had any time to socialize or just relax.
I've lived in an apartment with my friend Liz for just over a year now. Our place is a five-minute walk from Uni. Every second night she comes home with her boyfriend.
Her room is next to mine, which I hate as it means I can hear everything. I have never experienced a worse distraction than two people having sex in the next room!
It was late Friday afternoon when she got home, surprisingly enough without her other half.
"Hey, where's Steve?" I asked "Oh. He's doing something with a few mates. Do you want to go out tonight?" Liz looked at my notes. "Ah, well, I'm not sure. I-"
"Actually, that wasn't really a question. You need to get out of the here and do something! We're going to a party". Liz opened up my cupboard and pulled some black pants and a tank top out. "Put these on" she said before walking out of my room.
An hour later she was pulling me by the hand down the street. "This will do you good," Liz explained as we turned a corner. "I'm not really in a socializing mood" "You'll be able to meet some new people" "Are you listening to me?" "You know, it's been awhile since you've been out with anyone" "I'm not interested! I like being by myself" "What?! I was just stating."
Liz was right though. My last relationship ended a year and a half ago. The relationship itself had lasted four years. I wasn't really sure if I was over it yet though - four years is a long time. The breakup was painful and I didn't really want to go through that again. We started going out when I was 17 and it was my first actual relationship with someone. He was a nice guy - more than that I guess. I always knew I liked women too, but had never really acted upon it. So maybe breaking up with him was a mistake. Maybe once I've been with a woman I'll realize that I do in fact like men. My brain was working over time as Liz and I continued to walk. I couldn't stop thinking about everything and if I had made the right choices. Sad really. You would think I had sorted things out by now.
The party was full of people I didn't know. Occasionally I would see someone I recognized from Uni. I heard my name being yelled from somewhere, but I couldn't pin point it. I turned around, searching through the crowd until I found a familiar face and walked towards it. "Sweetie! I thought I'd never see you again! Liz told me you've become obsessed with study"
"Mark. Hey, how are you?" I replied smiling. We embraced in a hug.
Mark and I had gone to school together since grade 1 and had lived in the same street for as long as I could remember. He would have to be one of my closet friends. I pulled out of the hug and looked at the floor. I was still thinking about everything that had happened in the past. Mark had been there and supported me whenever I needed help. He was gay. I had always known that, though, I suppose he never really tried to hide the fact.
"I want you to meet some people, Ashley" Mark said taking my hand, as we walked over to a couch with a few people on it. "Everybody this is Ashley. She has come here to be reunited with her soul". He squeezed my hand a little as he pointed to the first person. "Ash, this is Aaron, he works with me down at the shop" Aaron shook my hand and smiled. "Now, this is Daniel, who is in her fourth year at med school. And next to her is Rebecca. You remember Rebecca don't you?"
I nodded and said hi. I hadn't seen her for about a month. We used to go to parties and clubs together all the time. She was quite attractive, though I knew she had been with a lot of people. Too many for my liking. But who was I to judge? At least she was happy.
Mark sat me down next to Daniel and the three of us talked while Aaron and Rebecca went to dance. Mark hit me on the arm "Ashley, tell Daniel about yourself"
"There isn't much to tell," I replied "I'm pretty boring actually" "I'm sure your not" Daniel said.
I looked up at her. Man she was attractive! She had brown, wavy hair and green eyes. I looked back down at my hands in my lap. As I did I ran my eyes over her body. That was perfect too. I was brought out of this trance when Mark hit me again. "I'm at Uni studying media"
"What year?" Daniel smiled. "Second. I took a year off after school to work. How about you?" "I'm doing medicine. Fourth year" I was impressed. I didn't know anyone doing medicine. "Ashley's also single" Mark added, grinning as he went to take a sip from his drink. I smiled shyly. Liz had found me and handed me a beer. She put a hand on my head. "Where's Steve?" asked Mark "With friends" she replied taking a seat. "Can't stand another night of passionate sex?" Liz blushed and drank her beer
"How many times a week?" Mark was doing his best to embarrass her. He had obviously had a few drinks before Liz and I arrived.
"Usually three" I stated, Liz looked at me. "The walls aren't as thick as you think"
Liz went red and mumbled something about getting another drink. Mark followed with our orders.
I could see Rebecca dancing from where I was sitting. She wasn't with Aaron anymore, but with another chick. Rebecca had her hands firmly planted on the women's but.
Daniel said something. "I'm sorry. I was off in my own world" I said as I turned back to face her. She smiled "I thought you were. You seem a little distracted" "No. I'm fine" We talked and drank for an hour or so - well I drank she said she was driving.
Later that night Mark and I were dancing, with Mark nursing a bottle of vodka, which he claimed was so we didn't get dehighdrated with the dancing we were doing. I wasn't objecting to this.
After we finished dancing, I stumbled outside were I found Daniel, Aaron and another man sitting. I joined them, with Mark slowly following behind me. I remained quite for a while convincing myself that I wouldn't appear drunk if I stayed quiet.
The two men left after a while. Mark leaned over to me, tipping my head back he poured some vodka in my mouth.
"Ashley," he said "if you were a man I'd fuck you right now"
I laughed, almost falling off my chair. I changed spots and sat next to Daniel. "Can I call you Danny?" I asked, acting as sober as I could.
"I suppose" she was smiling, probably trying to stop herself from laughing at me.
I went on to tell her about the heart and the brain, which I had learnt about in human biology at high school. It all sounded great in my head, but most likely what was coming out of my mouth was a load of rubbish.
"I think you've had enough to drink" Danny said, handing Mark back the bottle that he had passed to me.
"Have I?" I stupidly asked. "I'm sorry. I guess that means that we'll have to meet again some time, when I'm not under the influence of alcohol" I laughed.
She smiled back at me and brushed a piece of hair behind my ear that was in my face.
"You two should just get it on and fuck now" stated Mark.
"Mark Solomon!" I half yelled, straightening myself up, "What is with your obsession with fucking tonight? I have just met Danny tonight and I'm not going to fuck someone I just met!"
Mark shook his head, "I was just suggesting it as an activity you could do if you got bored."
"Well I'm not, thank you very much. I need another drink" I went to stand but Danny stopped me.
"How about I get you some water?"
While Danny was away getting me a drink, Rebecca came over and straddled me. She put her hands on my face. "How are you?"
"I'm great. Real good"
Rebecca laughed "Someone's had too much too drink" she whispered in my ear, which I giggled at.
I could see Danny return and she hesitated before Mark said something to her. I was quite sleepy at this time and was sure I was going to pass out any second. The next thing I realized Rebecca was kissing my neck and her hand was making it's way to my breast. I went to push her off but found myself actually enjoying it. Mark yelled something at Rebecca. She turned to look at him before returning to kiss my lips. I dodged the kiss, moving closer to Danny who had returned to her seat. I took the water from her and Rebecca stormed off. It seemed this was almost routine. Rebecca would get pissed at me because I wouldn't kiss or sleep with her. She never really got the message that I wasn't interested.
"Did anything ever happen between you two?" Mark whispered looking down at his bottle to see that it was empty.
"No," I mumbled "I don't like Rebecca in that way"
Liz walked up to us. She was a little tipsy and was on the water. She never got drunk. At least one of us was responsible.
"Mark! You got her drunk!" she hit him on the arm, which made him laugh. She then came and sat down next to me. I put my head on her shoulder. I then quickly turned to Danny.
"This is my flat mate Liz. She is going out with Steven, but he isn't here tonight" Danny smiled and said hi before taking my empty cup off me.
"I'm sorry about her," Liz said to Danny "she's hopeless with alcohol. Especially when Mark's around"
"Oh, that's ok. She's been good company" Danny patted my thigh lightly. I felt a tingle run through my body.
Liz stood up and pulled me up by my hands. "We should get home and put you into bed" Her smile was warm. Danny stood also and helped me up. I put my arm around Liz.
"Liz, ask Danny what her number is" I tried to whisper in her ear. "You're big enough to do it yourself"
I looked at Danny. Danny smiled. She already had a pen in her hand and was writing her number down. I guess my whispering wasn't that quite after all.