by Sm Donaldson
“His name is Cade Johnson.”
I nod my head trying to seem cool, “Okay well I guess I’ll go help Russ unpack our stuff.”
She laughs, “What are you guys brothers or something. I saw that you have the same last name.”
“We’re actually cousins/best friends, but he could be my brother. We act like it most of the time.” Russ’s laughing breaks my thoughts of her.
He’s laughing, “Really that’s some awesome shit…Hey Daria this is my cousin Linc…Linc this is Daria…she was here last year…she says the people across the hall were straight up Jerry Springer shit last year…All like you slept with my man…you hoe…you bitch…”
I start laughing, “Really Russ…”
Daria sticks her hand out, “Hi nice to meet you. Yes I was here last year. That’s what I wanted to talk to you guys about, I told Gabby that we need to have some ground rules and stick by them. If we don’t shit gets messy and all full of drama and I hate messy drama.”
I nod, “I agree I said something like that to Russ. Since you’ve done this before and all of us haven’t I’m nominating you.”
Gabby raises her hand, “I second…I’m just as new at this.”
Daria looks around, “Okay first of all it’s best if none of us get involved with each other…that’s how the Jerry Springer shit from across the hall becomes reality. Second we make a chore chart and hold each other accountable. We also have to figure out an agreement on shopping, but we can do that later. Third, just respect each others boundaries…we will be in here a lot together…we are going to get on each others nerves…in each others space…just respect each other…oh and don’t be uptight…have fun with each other.”
We all nod in agreement.
Chapter 2
Gabby
There is someone knocking at our door at freaking 5:30a.m. What the hell? I stumble out of my room and head for the door. I swing it open ready to kick someone’s ass only to see Cade on the other side. “What the Hell Cade? Are you drunk, this isn’t your room and it’s five fucking thirty in the morning?”
He laughs, “No, I’m here to get the guys for our workout.”
I shake my head, “Oh, well go over there and wake them up I’m going back to bed.”
“Why don’t you come for a run with us?”
I roll my eyes, “No.”
“Come on Gabby you haven’t run in the month you’ve been here and the cross country stuff starts in a few weeks…so that scholarship that helped get you here…you need to be ready to follow through with your obligations. I’m sorry we haven’t been running together already, but practice has been killer.”
“Gabby’s an athlete too?” I hear Russ say from behind me.
I turn around to see him and Linc ready to go work out. Russ laughs, “Alright Gabby, go get your shit on, so you can run with us.”
I look at him like he’s lost his mind, “Who in the hell do you think you are?”
Linc tries not to laugh. Russ looks at me, “Okay well I want you to come train because if you lose that scholarship then we have to get another roommate and I like you being my roommate not some crazy girl so get your ass in gear. I’m sorry I’m a selfish bastard okay?”
I laugh, “Okay since you put it so nicely.” I go into my room and put on some old red running shorts and a black and red sports bra/tank. I tie up my running shoes and pull my hair up to meet the guys.
“Okay I’m ready.”
Cade looks at me, “Damn Gab what did I tell you before about covering up those tits around me.”
I’m pissed and embarrassed, its one thing for he and I to joke around alone, but these are my roommates that I have to face everyday. I punch him in the arm, “Fuck you Cade.”
He laughs, “I’m just saying, you…never mind lets go.”
Russ is dying laughing behind us, “Hey Cade is that where all of your bruises come from? Does Gabby beat you?”
I laugh, “Oh probably I’ve been kicking his ass on a regular basis since I was born.”
We all stand in the courtyard stretching for our run. I look over to Cade, “How far are we running?”
He laughs, “Oh we are going to jog down to the field for practice and while we do our practice you are going to run the rocks.”
“What the Fuck Cade? I thought we were all running?”
He glares at me, “No that’s the way I got your ass out of the apartment. I have to get you training baby girl…forget all that shit that drags you down.” He shrugs, “You can be mad with me if you want. But we both know you do better if I ride your ass.”
I grab his shirt collar and pull him to me, “Fine, but if you start that yelling shit like last time I’ll drop your ass…don’t try me…oh and if you bring up my boobs again…you won’t have children…get it?”
I hear Russ and Linc chuckling and I remember they are standing there. I look at them and Russ smiles, “That was awesome Gab. Did you guys date before?”
“Hell no we didn’t date he’s like my brother…well step-brother.” I wink at Cade because now that I think about it I’m sure I embarrassed him a little in front of the guys.
I look over at Linc and Russ I can tell I’ve confused them. Linc looks at me he’s normally pretty shy, he shakes his head, “Step-brother?”
Cade looks at me as if to ask for permission…I go ahead and nod, so we can get this started. Cade smiles and says, “I always tell her I love her like a step brother, no blood so I can still enjoy the view…but I don’t want to date or have sex with her.”
Both of the guys burst out laughing…Russ looks up, “Man it’s a miracle she hasn’t really taken away your ability to have children.”
I start pacing myself toward the practice field and the guys fall in behind me. After a few minutes we get to the field. Cade looks at me, “Okay Gab you know the drill my practice is an hour so you run the rocks. When I’m done you’re done.”
Linc looks at him, “Cade man that’s a little rough don’t you think? I mean damn running the rocks sucks.”
Cade looks at him, “No man she’s got it…Gabby has to have a goal to look at, I didn’t say how fast she had to run the rocks just how long. Her training is more about endurance.”
Linc looks at me almost worried, “Gabby are you sure you want to do this?”
I smile, “Yes Cade and I have been doing this for years. He’s a tough trainer but that’s also the reason I was one of the most sought out prospects for the cross country team.”
He smiles and for once I hear Linc make a joke, “You know they say it’s all about endurance and stamina.”
Cade cuts him a glare and Russ burst out laughing, “Finally my cousin has quit acting like a priest around you.”
They go out for practice and I start running the rocks.
~*~
When their practice is over I hear Cade whistle. I make my last run down the rocks and jump on Cade’s back. “Okay now since you’ve killed me this morning you can carry me back to my apartment.”
“Yeah right, get off me I’m sweaty and I don’t want your bo…”
I let myself down and punch him in the arm, “Remember you might want children one day.”
Linc looks over to me, “Hey Gabby are you gonna come work out with us in the weight room?”
I take a big drink of water, “What time? I’ve got an interview for a T.A. job for Professor Jennings, this afternoon at 3.”
“Oh, um how about after your interview then.”
I nod…”Okay sounds good.” I look at Cade.
He smiles, “Sorry Gab I’ve lined up and extremely beautiful coed from your building for this afternoon.”
Russ looks at him, “Don’t you mean I lined us up a couple of roommates from my building.”
Cade shakes his head, “Well I didn’t see her roommate refusing to go out with me.”
I shake my head, “Come on the testosterone is too much for me here. Let’s head back to the dorms.”
As I jog
back up to the dorms, I wonder what Russ meant earlier by saying that Linc finally quit acting like a priest around me. Linc’s always seemed pretty shy…I mean don’t get me wrong he’s hot as hell…but he seems like he’s a people watcher. He never says much and when he does he’s not like the other guys…he just hangs out and talks. We really haven’t even gotten to do that because of his summer practice schedule and their camps.
The day creeps along and now I’m sitting here waiting for my interview…God I hope I get this job. I really don’t want to work in fast food or anything.
“Gabriella Lewis.”
I look at who I’m guessing is Professor Jennings, whoa he’s hot and the way he said my name just makes me….holy crap.
I stand up, “Yes.”
He motions for me to come in, “Hi I’m Professor Jennings.”
After about forty-five minutes that didn’t really seem that long, because we talked non-stop. He let’s me know that I have the position, he can tell I’m fit for the job and he’s willing to let me work around my cross country schedule. Now I need to go get ready for the weight room. Just thinking about Linc’s chest working out, sweating, the way his gym shorts hang on his hips and show his little light brown happy trail running down to… oh Jesus help me.
Chapter 3
Linc
I’m standing here actually nervous about what I’m going to work out in…jeez. I’m really nervous and kind of excited at the thought of being alone with Gabby. I mean she’s not your ordinary beautiful girl…she doesn’t even know that she’s gorgeous. I hear her she just came in from her interview.
I step out into the living room, “Hey Gabby I’m ready to go when you are.”
She smiles, “Okay just let me get changed.”
She comes back out a few minutes later in a hot pink sports bra tank top thingy, that make her boobs look fucking delicious and yet another pair of those little black shorts. Damn this girl…cold showers, my great granny, my parents…okay whew.
She looks up, “Okay I’m ready.”
We get to the weight room and thank God we are the only people in here because the way I’m feeling right now…if anyone made a move on her, I’d beat their face in.
She looks around, “Okay so what do you want to do first?”
I point to the bench, “I’ll spot you first.”
After a couple of hours she looks at me, “Okay I think we’re done, I’m going to be sore as hell in the morning. All the running and then these weights…after a month off.”
I laugh, “Ugh yeah, you probably will.”
When we get back to the apartment Russ is still out on his date and Daria left a note saying that she went home for the weekend.
She looks at me, “So since it looks like it’s just us, you wanna order a pizza or some Chinese?”
“Chinese sounds good to me.”
She grabs the menus from the counter, she takes out a pen and circles something, “That’s what I want, I’m going to take a shower.”
I sit down with the menu and call the delivery place and my mind wonders off to Gabby naked in the shower…ugh… I have to stop I made this big deal to Russ about not messing with the roommates and here it’s the only damn thing I can think about. She thinks I’m shy, but I honestly find it hard to form words around her. I want her so bad that I’m afraid if I say too much it’s just going to tumble out. Russ knows I can read it in his eyes…he knows me too well. I think Cade suspects it too. He’s so freakin protective over her…I wonder why. Does he like her or something? I mean, he seriously tries to cock-block anyone who walks her way. Russ asked him about it, but he says that…she’s not ready. Whatever the hell that means.
“Showers all yours.” She says as she walks into her room wearing nothing but a little short bath robe. Ugh, all I want to do is grab her up in that robe and bury myself in her.
“Yeah thanks, I ordered the food, money is on the counter. I’m getting in the shower now.” So I can take a cold one….jeez. I stand here under the cold water and think about her…I smell her shampoo and soap…man I gotta stop this shower is doing no good, when I keep thinking about her.
I finally manage to calm down as I get out of the shower I realize in my hurry to get in here I forgot my damn clothes. I wrap my towel around myself and force myself to calm down and walk across the apartment to my room. As I walk out of the bathroom she’s standing in the kitchen unpacking our food.
She starts to speak without looking up, “I was wondering if you drown in…the-re.” She looks up about the time she is finishing and I can see her blush a little. She turns her head down, damn is that a smirk on her face. I try and act like I don’t see it, I gotta go get clothes on, otherwise this is about to get middle school embarrassing.
After putting on some pajamas I walk back out into the living room, “So are we going to eat in the kitchen or do you want to find a movie and veg out on the couch?”
She looks up, “Couch and a movie sounds good to me.” Holy crap those eyes, sometimes they’re green, sometimes they’re brown…I really can’t tell. I just want to stare into them for hours. We grab our food and flop down on the couch and start flipping through the movies on. I look at her, “What kinds of movies do you like, comedy, horror, romance?”
She laughs, “Pretty much anything, I’m cool with whatever. As far as romance goes…Cade is who I normally end up watching movies with…so you know I don’t get to watch much of that.”
“How about Napoleon Dynamite?”
She smiles, “Sounds good to me. You know I think today is the most I’ve ever heard you talk. Well to anyone other than Russ.”
“Yeah, sorry…I don’t really get to talk to girls much…I mean I had the same girlfriend for like three years and she was kind of possessive.”
She laughs, “So you’re saying you’re out of practice talking to girls.”
I nod and smirk, “Yeah something like that. How did your interview go?”
She smiles, “Oh it went awesome, I start Monday. He seems pretty cool; do you have him for any classes?”
“Yeah, I have him when the fall semester starts for Purpose of Art.”
She smiles, “Do you know what time yet?”
“Umm, I think it’ll be like the eleven o’clock class.”
She laughs, “Me too. At least I’ll have someone in there.”
“How do you manage to get a T.A. job for a class you are going to have?”
“I asked that same question, he said it wouldn’t be a big deal I just won’t assist in anything from my class and that is the only time that he’s teaching that course this semester, so it’s not like I can look at the other kids work.”
I nod, “Okay sounds good.” Now’s as good a time as any, “So you and Cade?”
She laughs, “Please don’t tell me you think…”
“Oh no! I’m just wondering how you guys got to be so close. I mean you guys are constantly on each others asses about something…but I think he’d kill any guy who came near you.”
She laughs, “He’s been my best friend and next door neighbor since we were born. He gets a little over-protective sometimes…just because of some crap that happened last year.”
“Oh did you have a relationship go wrong or something?”
“Well, lets see…a friendship and what I thought was a relationship….it’s really fucked up I don’t like to talk much about it.”
I nod, I’m not going to push this. It’s the most I’ve been able to talk to her. “Well Cade seems like an awesome friend to have.”
She smiles, “He is…he’s like the brother I never had, I only have a sister and she’s different.”
I nod, “Yeah Russ is more like my brother than a cousin, I have two sisters and I’m the baby so….they pretty much tried to ruin me.”
She laughs, “Oh well, I’m the oldest. My sister Anna is the total opposite of me; she’s beautiful, blond, rocking body, dresses in cardigans and pearls. I’m into my jeans, sports and con
verse tennis shoes.”
Damn she really doesn’t realize how beautiful she is or how rocking her body is for that matter and her raven hair…jeez…I gotta stop thinking about all of this. “So what sports are you into?”
“Well in high school I did the track/cross country thing and volleyball. I also always worked out with Cade, most of the time doing the same training he did for football. Which I really have to get back into he was right, I’ve let myself go the past month.”
I laugh, “I wouldn’t go that far, but if you want to work out with us or whatever just let me know, I’m cool with it. Cade seems like he has your training under control.” I shake my head, “I don’t know many girls that would’ve ran the rocks like you did today. I think most of the team was impressed…not that they can say that in front of Cade.”
She looks up, “Why can’t they say anything like that in front of Cade? Is he really that bad about me? He’s such a dick sometimes, but he just tries to keep me from dealing with bull shit.”
My cell starts ringing with Crazy Bitch that I have assigned to Jules, “Ugh.”
She laughs, “What? Oh don’t tell me is that the old possessive girlfriend?”
I nod, “The very same one.”
She grabs my phone, “Do you mind?”
I laugh and shake my head, “No.”
She answers the phone, “Hello…Umm well he’s kinda busy…yeah well too bad…this is Gabby who is this?...oh ha ha.”
She hangs up I laugh because I could hear Jules being a total bitch. “That shit was too funny, what did she say?”
She laughs, “Okay first off you are right about the bitch part. When I answered I think she was in shock that a girl was answering your phone which is what I was going for. She’s like let me talk to Linc and I said you were busy…making it sound as bad as possible…she’s like well I really need to talk to him now….then she was like who the fuck is this and then you heard the rest, except when she said her name I laughed like I’ve been laughing about her for months.”
I burst out laughing, “That was freaking awesome. Thanks Gabby.”
