Campus Corner (Open)

[CarnivalBarker]

"Sore?" I ask.

 

[celestialdragon]

"A little," I confess. I stretch underneath of you.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I pat your butt. "Well, go clean up, and I'll make it up to you," I tell you.

 

[celestialdragon]

I laugh and get up and clean up a little bit before returning to you with a smile.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I suddenly pull out a bag and hand it to you. "I figured you might like something warm to wear," I say. "It's nothing big, just comfy," I tell you. "Go put it on."

 

[celestialdragon]

I giggle and pull out the sweatshirt and squeal happily. I snuggle up into it and snuggle in next to you. "Thank you baby," I say sweetly.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"I'm glad you like it," I kiss you. I stand you up and walk you into the den, and sit you in a large recliner in the corner, surrounded by the snowy view of the buildings below. I kiss your forehead and run into the kitchen. I see you looking at the twinkling, illuminated lights of the cold city. A few moments later, I come back and hand you a hot, mug, steaming through the whip cream on top. "Cappucino, for you." I smile, blushing.

 

[celestialdragon]

I blush with you and take the cappuccino from you. "Thank you, baby," I say softly. "The view is beautiful." I pat the space next to me. "Sit down with me, sweetie," I say.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I pick you up enough to sit down and sit you across my lap. "Hey baby," I say, playfully, and kiss you. I smile, rarely having been this happy. I drink my sweet coffee and stare into the city, and my lip quivers just a bit, as I try to hide it.

 

[celestialdragon]

I see your lip quiver and I look at you. "Sweetheart, is something wrong?" I ask softly, stroking your face gently with the back of my hand.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I make a noise somewhere between a sob and a cough, even as I smile as if almost ashamed. I put my drink down and curl you up in my arms. "Let me tell you a story," I begin.

 

[celestialdragon]

I smile and curl up in your arms like you have me. "Okay," I say softly.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Jason, Mike, and I grew up together, and I had a brother, Ryan," I look into the snowy city. "Ryan was two years older, and he played quarterback in high school. I was a wide receiver. Ryan was going to play for Northwestern, and people thought I could play Division 1," I look at you and smile. "Wanted to go to Texas."

I return my gaze to the streets, and begin rubbing my hand between your thighs, just innocently touching my girl. "Ryan's Junior year, we had just beaten Deltana High." I break into a grin. "46-3. You ask me today what I remember of that game, and that's it. Just the score." My face gets dark. "I don't remember catching 4 touchdowns from my brother, who was my hero, even then. I don't remember him becoming homecoming king and my girlfriend, Caroline, being on the court."

I pat your thigh, distracting myself. "We, uh, went to Caroline's after the game. Her parents were gone for the weekend. She and I went upstairs and Ryan stayed in the back yard, by the firepit with Jason and Jason's girlfriend. Jason told me they started drinking and his girlfriend pulled out a vial. Cocaine. They proceeded to snort some, and she passed out. When Jason could not wake her, they called 911."

I look outside one more time. "She died before the ambulance arrived. Jason lost it. Ran to the roof and threatened to jump from the third story. Ryan went to talk him down, and when he stepped onto the roof, he broke through. Sometime I heard the noise and came to help pull him out. I grabbed his arm and he stepped out and back onto the roof, but slipped, we both fell off and I shredded my knee. Never played again. Ryan....." I start to sob. "Ryan broke his neck instantly."

I let a few silent tears go, before continuing the story. "Mike was his best friend. Jason felt like he saved him. We all committed to doing great things after he died, to honor him. Jason and Mike," I pause. "They actually did it."

 

[celestialdragon]

I don't say anything, I felt like I couldn't. I just wrapped my arms around you comfortingly and stroke your hair, knowing that soothes you. I rock you a little bit, just wanting to soothe you, wanting you to feel better. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." I whisper. "I didn't know, I'm so sorry."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"You don't understand, babe," I say, looking once more into the wintery, urban jungle. "For years, I felt like I wasn't living up to my commitment." I squeeze your hand. "But tonight, here...with you," my lip quivers again, revealing the touched nerve, "I feel for the first time like I still can." I let myself sob lightly and let go as I lean in to kiss your neck and squeeze you close.

"I love you."

 

[celestialdragon]

"I love you too," I whisper, holding you close. I start to cry a little bit myself, knowing your story now, and sharing your pain.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I wrap my arm around you, and stare into the beautiful night. I look down and you have nodded off, and I take in your beautiful face, all cute and light. I look over your cute legs and tiny feet, and I smile, proud of you, simply wanting to protect you from anything out there. Before long, I fall asleep with you, two shadows against the city lights, warm and cozy, resting before the next day's part of this new journey.

 

[celestialdragon]

I wake up in the chair, in your arms, and smile, seeing you're still asleep. Smiling softly, I get up and walk into the kitchen to fix you some cinnamon rolls and coffee.

After about 20 minutes, I walk back into the room where we slept and I wake you up with a gentle kiss. "Morning, sweetheart," I say with a smile.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I open my eyes slowly, and shiver a bit in the morning sunlight filling the chilly room. "Hi, baby," I smile, yawning and curling back up, trying to get warm and squeeze in ten more minutes of sleep.

 

[celestialdragon]

"No, no, none of that," I gently chide, waving a cinnamon roll and a cup of coffee underneath of your nose. "Come on, we have a plane to catch." I turn on the heat a little bit.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I fuss like a little kid, but slowly come around. "It's too early," I whine.

 

[celestialdragon]

"I know it's early," I soothe, still waving the cinnamon roll under your nose. "Eat, you can sleep on the plane, baby."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I get up and take the cinnamon roll and devour it. "That was good," I say, stretching again. "You feel okay, baby?"

 

[celestialdragon]

"I'm feeling fine," I say with a smile, glad to see you up and moving. "How about you?" I ask.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I nod. "Just sleepy."