by Mott, Teisha
“I can’t wait until you have to tell all of Preston Hall that you’re still a virgin!” Nathan said smugly, as Jeremy emerged from the shower. Jeremy had just performed an entire Beenie Man concert in the shower, ending with an impressive rendition of ‘Gial in a bundle’.
Nathan was sitting in the common area with Micah Elliott and Omar Phillips, going over some past Econometrics midterms.
“You haven’t banged her yet, Hansen!” Jeremy pointed out.
“It’s not a matter of ‘if’, but a matter of ‘when’!” Nathan returned.
“Well it’s not over till the fat lady sings.”
“If that’s the case, send for Leslie, and Karen and Nadine!” Nathan said, naming who he thought were the three heaviest girls on Preston Hall. “Tell them to start tuning up, because they will have an entire opera to sing before long.”
“Screw you!” Jeremy seethed as he went up the stairs.
“That will not be your job!” Nathan called after him. He chuckled. “This is sweet!”
Micah was looking at him.
“What?”
“You hear yourself?” Micah asked.
“Jeremy started it!” Nathan stated in his own defence.
“You could have stopped it,” Micah stated. “You are just as stupid and immature as Jeremy is, and what is worse, you are messing with a really nice little girl. She trusts you, and she likes you!”
“I like her, too!” Nathan exclaimed. “This stupid bet has nothing to do with my feelings for Andie!”
“Well is a good thing you like her, because I wouldn’t like to see what you would do to her if you didn’t!” Micah pushed his chair back and left the common area.
“You see why I am doing this, don’t you?” Nathan asked, turning to Omar for approval.
“I see why you’re doing it,” Omar nodded. “But just pray that this whole bet thing doesn’t turn around and bite you in the ass!”
Nathan sighed deeply and pulled his fingers through his hair. He wondered what to do. His mind went back to earlier in the evening when he had kissed Andie. As he held her in his arms, the bet was the furthest thing from his mind. All he could think about was how soft and sweet she was. It was not until Jeremy had opened his mouth that the fact she was a means to an end had returned to his thoughts.
He didn’t lie to Micah. He liked her. He truly and deeply liked her. He had said as much to her father when he walked her to the car. Dr Persaud had outright asked him whether he did, and he had not hesitated in responding.
“Jesus!” He thought. “What am I going to do?”
It was a precarious situation – torn between his feelings for Andie Persaud, and the fiery yen to beat Jeremy Malcolm. Which meant more to him?
“I’m going to my room,” he told Omar, gathering his books.
“Safe!” Omar grunted, turning to another problem set.
Nathan threw the books on the floor and lay on his bed. The lights were in his eyes, and he was beginning to get a headache.
“Dammit!” He thought. He closed his eyes and covered them with his hands.
The telephone in the common area was ringing. It was almost eleven. Nathan hoped it was not for him. His hopes did not materialise, as Omar banged on his door.
“Your call, Nate!” He called.
Nathan grumbled to himself as he went to get the phone. He took it back to the bedroom with him. “Hello,” he mumbled.
“Nathan? Did I wake you?”
His face lit up at the sound of his mother’s voice. “Hey Mom! No you didn’t wake me. I was studying.”
“Midterms?” Dr Hansen asked.
“Yup!” Nathan confirmed. “Had Microeconomics today and Econometrics tomorrow.” He settled himself in bed. “So how are you Mom? How are grandma and grandpa and Joie?”
“Joie is down here trying to bad-man off everybody as usual,” his mother said. “She is the oldest ten-year-old in the fourth grade, I tell you. Grandma and grandpa are fine.”
“And you?” Nathan repeated.
“I just came in from the hospital. Had to pronounce a twenty-year-old boy dead this evening.” She sighed. “He fell off the back of a motorbike. Made me think of you, and realise how much I miss you, so I thought I would give you a call.”
Nathan imagined his mother sitting at the kitchen table, still wearing her scrubs, and her hair up in a bun. She was drinking a big mug chocolate milk, no doubt. Nathan had gotten his love of chocolate milk from her. She was tired from a twelve-hour shift, but had to check in on Nathan before she went to bed.
“So how are you, Nate?” She asked. “Midterms aside?”
“I’m good, Mom, really,” Nathan confirmed.
“Do you have enough money?”
Nathan remembered the huge balance she would see when she got his credit card bill in a couple of weeks. “Yeah. I’m okay.”
“And Jeremy isn’t getting you into trouble?”
Nathan was convinced his mother was clairvoyant. “Jeremy is the same as always,” he said. “Tell me more about your patient. I’m sorry he died.”
“So am I,” Dr Hansen said wryly. “But there was nothing we could do about it. Dr Persaud and I worked on him for over two hours. Whenever someone dies on the table, it just brings back to me that I am just a doctor, not God. There are just some people that I cannot save.”
There was a period of silence. Nathan knew his mother’s last statement was an indirect reference to his Dad. Nathan squeezed his eyes closed. It may be ten years later, but thoughts of his father still made his mother so sad, and he hated to see her unhappy.
“But on the bright side,” she continued, trying to change the tone of the conversation. “Can you believe that come December, I will be at Mobay Mercy for ten years?” Dr Persaud – Michael – was going on about it tonight. There’s going to be a ceremony, and I’m going to be one of the guests of honour. It’s gonna be pretty close to finals, but I hope you can take a break from being the perfect UWI student to come.”
“Wouldn’t miss it!” Nathan promised. “Jeez, imagine – ten years at Mobay Mercy. Do you still love it?”
“I certainly do!” Dr Hansen said.
“And Dr Persaud? Is he great?”
“They are both the best!” Dr Hansen chuckled. “And when you decide to get serious and get a girlfriend, they have a very precious daughter…”
Nathan smiled to himself, as Andie’s face appeared in his mind. He did not have the heart to tell his mother that he had his eye on another Persaud girl. “We’ll see about that, Mom,” he said.
“Well, let me not keep you from studying,” Dr Hansen said. “Don’t stay up too late, okay and good luck tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Nathan said. “Say hi to Joie and Grandma and Grandpa.”
“I will,” his mother said. “Be good, and stay safe, okay? And ignore Jeremy. I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom. Bye.”
Nathan hung up from his mother. He was glad she had called. He always felt better talking to her. It was a pity that he couldn’t talk to her about some things. He picked up his books from the floor and organised them neatly on the desk. He would go to sleep now, and wake up at four and practice some more problems for the Econometrics midterm. He would do as his mother said. He would ignore Jeremy, and allow his relationship with Andie to work out on its own.
187
The Bet
chapter eight
Two weeks later. Tuesday afternoon
Andie glanced at her wristwatch, hoping that class would end. She loved her father with all her heart, but in her opinion, there was no subject on earth as boring as Microeconomics. She wondered how her father could have done a PhD in Economics and worse, teach the same thing over and over semester after semester. She sighed and glanced at Fern. Fern was not listening either. She
was busy working Calculus I problems.
“What you doing?” She whispered.
“Practicing for Calculus!” Fern whispered back.
“During Econ class?”
“I already understand the Economics!” Fern retorted. “What I don’t get are these stupid Calculus problems! I don’t know how I ended up in this class without A’Level Mathematics!”
“Well just mind my father sees you!” Andie said, as she headed up her page ‘Oligopoly Market Structure’. She did her best to pay attention in class, so her father would not have reason to be upset with her, or worse, to express his displeasure in front of the other students.
Dr Persaud was explaining to the class all the characteristics of the oligopoly market structure. He had left the whiteboard and was walking up the aisle of the Inter Faculty Lecture Theatre, while he gave, what Andie thought were some really droll examples of firms operating in Oligopolistic situations. Fern was working away at her Calculus problems, and not noticing that her lecturer was almost over her. He was looking over her shoulder before Andie could motion to her to put away her calculator.
“Miss McNally, what are you doing?”
“Oh – I- uh….” Fern stuttered. “I – I – I ….”
Dr Persaud turned to the class. “I do believe I have done the impossible!” He stated. “I have left Miss McNally at a loss for words! I must be the first person in history to accomplish this feat!”
The class giggled. Fern fidgeted uncomfortably, and Andie felt bad for her friend.
“I know when my students aren’t with me,” Dr Persaud said. “My children always say I have eyes at the back of my head, but I don’t. You see, I am a pro at reading body language, and I am never wrong. There you are writing away, and I am not saying anything that you could possibly be writing at this time.”
“I was just…” Fern began.
“Put away the Calculus books, Fern!” Dr Persaud said. “Concentrate on one subject at a time, please, or more specifically, concentrate on Econ when you are in my Econ class.”
“Yes, Dr Persaud,” Fern whispered, closing her Calculus text. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m sure you are,” Dr Persaud returned, as he made his way back to the whiteboard.
Forty-five minutes later, after discussing the kinked demand curve and dominant firm price leadership, Dr Persaud dismissed the class.
“I am in some serious crap for this midterm tomorrow!” Fern moaned, as she and Andie put their books together.
“How come you don’t get the concepts?” Andie asked. “You are so smart! This should be so easy for you!”
“Politics I get,” Fern explained. “Even some Sociology and Psychology, but I am not just a Calculus person. I am sick at the prospect of getting zero on the midterm and failing out of first year!”
Andie slung her backpack over her shoulder. She walked next to Fern as they left the lecture theatre. “You are not going to fail out of first year,” Andie assured her. “I’m going to help you. Why don’t you come home with me this evening, and we go through the problem sets together. I can teach you all you need to know.”
Fern looked at her. “You’d do that?”
“Why not?” Andie shrugged. “You’re my friend. I can’t sit and watch you fail.”
“That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me!” Fern said. “I think I’m going to cry!”
“If you do, I won’t help you!” Andie threatened. She pushed the door of the IFLT open, and saw Nathan leaning against the wall.
“Hello, girlfriend!” He greeted her.
“Hello, boyfriend!” Andie said, her smile covering her face. “Happy two week anniversary!”
“Awww, young love!” Fern commented. “You two are so cute!”
“Yeah, we are!” Nathan kissed Andie’s cheek. “I’m here to walk you to your next class.”
“That’s very boyfriend-esque of you,” Andie told him, taking his hand into hers. “But you forget - my next class is not until two. I have the hour free!”
“As do I!” Nathan said. “So what will we do now?”
“You can walk me to my next class!” Fern suggested
“Or better yet, you can walk yourself, and Andie and I can get a moment alone.” Nathan countered. “Lunch at Preston, girlfriend?”
“Sounds marvellous boyfriend!” Andie replied in an exaggerated tone.
“So now that you two are hot and heavy, I become chopped liver!” Fern pouted.
“Remember you and I are spending all of tonight together,” Andie pointed out. “You are not quite chopped liver yet.”
“Why are you spending all night with Fern?” Nathan asked.
“I’m gonna help her catch up for Calculus,” Andie replied.
“And if you can help me pass, I’ll be eternally grateful!” Fern added. “What time will you be ready to go? Are you sure your parents won’t have a problem with me just coming over? What should I take? Where should I meet you…?”
“Hold up, Miss twenty questions!” Andie laughed. “I have Accounts from two to three and we have English until four. Samantha has class until four, too, so we will meet her at Student’s Parking at Old Drama Theatre by quarter past. My house is fashion central, so all you need to take apart from your school things is a toothbrush and underwear, and although you and Daddy fell out today, I am sure neither he nor Mommy will tell you to sleep outside.”
Nathan looked at Fern. ”You fell out with Dr Persaud today?”
Fern nodded sadly. “He caught me working Calculus problems in his class. I bet he wouldn’t have caught me if I wasn’t sitting next to Andie.”
“Don’t blame me!” Andie quickly defended. “I warned you that you should pay attention!”
Nathan laughed. “I hope Dr Persaud never catches me doing anything I shouldn’t be doing!” He said. He looked at Andie fondly. “I have too much at stake!”
Fern rolled her eyes. “I have two minutes to get to Psychology class,” she said. “See you later.” She waved and ran off, leaving Andie alone with Nathan.
“You had a nice day?” He asked, brushing loose tendrils from her face.
“Even nicer now that I’m with you,” Andie said nodding. “Did you get back your Econometrics results?”
“Yup!” Nathan said. “I got an A, and it feels pretty damn good.”
“That’s nice.” Andie was happy. She squeezed Nathan’s hand. “I have the smartest boyfriend on campus!”
They walked in companionable silence to Preston Hall. As usual, the hall was deserted at 1.00 in the afternoon.
“What would you like for lunch?” Nathan asked, as he relieved himself of his books and backpack.
“I took care of that today,” Andie told him. “I brought you one of Theresa’s infamous chicken pastrami sandwiches, and she put extra sweet pickles in yours!”
“Yum!” Nathan said. “If you weren’t my girlfriend, I would certainly give Theresa a talk.”
“Are you saying I need to learn to cook?” Andie asked as she unpacked the sandwiches from the airtight containers Theresa had given her.
“I think you’re perfect just the way you are!” He put his arms around her waist and hugged her from behind. He kissed her neck. “You are nice and sweet and kind, and I could just eat you up!”
“You know that tickles, right?” Andie said, giggling, as Nathan continued to nuzzle her neck.
“Should I stop?”
Andie turned in his arms, temporarily forgetting the sandwiches and the fact that she was hungry.
“Do you want to?”
“Nope!” Nathan murmured. “I could do this all day.”
“Okay!” Andie said, draping her arms around his neck. “Then go right ahead.”
Nathan pressed his lips to her forehead. Then he kissed her eyes and nose, and finally her
lips.
Andie felt a jolt run through her body as he kissed her. Her blood felt hot, and everything inside her began to pulse. His hands were on her shoulders and running down her arms. He lifted her on to the counter, as he pushed her hair back and kissed her neck once more.
Andie closed her eyes and twined her fingers through his hair. He had the softest, curliest hair imaginable. It felt like Christopher’s did when he was a little baby. She buried her nose in the curly mass. It smelled like baby shampoo. She hoped he would never cut it off.
“Nathan…” she moaned. She was trembling, and her head was spinning.
He undid the top button of her shirt with one hand and pulled it from her jeans with the other. His hands were under her shirt. He was touching her, and she had never been touched like that before. He kissed from the hollow of her neck to the swell of her breasts, and Andie thought she would die…
“A-hem!”
Andie and Nathan jumped, as Micah came into the common area. They both turned red in the face, but for very different reasons.
“You don’t have a room, my yout’?” He asked, looking at Nathan with disgust.
“Sorry, man!” Nathan apologised.
“Yes, sorry Micah,” Andie said, sliding down from the counter. “We didn’t know you were coming down here now.”
“Is plenty things you don’t know, Andie!” Micah said, still looking at Nathan.
“Let’s go eat,” Nathan suggested. “We don’t have much free time left.”
Andie took the sandwiches and followed Nathan to his room. She took her usual position, cross-legged in the middle of his bed.
“Is Micah cross at us?” She asked, taking a bite of her sandwich.
“Micah is cross about many things,” Nathan told her. “One of which is the idea of us dating.”
“Why?” Andie asked. “Doesn’t he like me?”
“He thinks you’re cool,” Nathan told her honestly. “He just has a problem with us dating.”
“Why?”
Nathan shrugged. “Don’t know,” he lied. “Probably thinks we too young…”
“Samantha doesn’t believe in pairing up before twenty-five, either.” Andie said with a nod. “She thinks boys are all about bragging rights, and exaggerating, like Jeremy. But you are not like that!”
