Chapter 23
I must have been thirsty as I chugged several glasses. "Bro we need to get ready" Jake says as I walk back in the room. Yeah what time is is? I ask "It's 5:30" seeing that is was in fact 5:30 "how long did I sleep for?" Jake walks passed me in the bathroom. He's playing around with the mop of curls on the top of his head and checking himself out in front of the mirror. Watching for a moment Jake was a very attractive guy. He was thin but he had been working out all semester and you could start to tell. Looking down at my skinny pale body and over at Jakes tan body and his blonde curly hair. I thought to myself "wow, I don't know how I compete with that?" I was starting to feel super anxious as I now stood in our closet trying to figure out what to wear. Standing there in my boxers and going through the selection of nerdy shirts and my two button ups one blue and one green. Jake walks in "you tryna' look good for your lady?" responding while looking at my only two button ups. "Yeah but I'm not sure I'm going to" Jake quipped back "BS man!" Jake now holding up some of his shirts. I replied "dude I don't know what to wear and this is Ashley, Jake, mean Ashley Jacobs..." Looking over Jake sensed my distress. "Okay well looks like we're going to Wal Mart"! Wal Mart was this magical store where you could buy hunting supplies, fried chicken and the people watching IMO was amazing. Looking at his watch "Yeah we've got time. Okay here's the plan. Just get ready with what you've got and I'll drive us over to Wal Mart and you can change you shirt in the truck on our way to Jessica and Ashley". "Sounds like a plan!" I grab the fastest shower I could Jake brushed his teeth, then switched. I got dressed wearing some nerdy shirt my khaki pants Saucony shoes, grabbing my wallet it was off to Wal Mart we went. Hoping into Jakes truck "Thanks Jake, I appreciate this, I guess I'm just super nervous". As we sped away "I don't know why man, Ashley really likes you Daniel! You need to get that into that computer of yours" as he points to my head. Getting out of the truck and making our way over to the Men's section. Jake asking "Medium or Large?" I replied "umm?" Jake motioning for me to turn around Jake looks at my shirt tag. "Okay Medium it is!" They didn't have the best selection but I was in a bind. "What about this man?" Jake holding up plaid cowboy looking button up with snaps for buttons. "Or this one?" holding up a red button up. "Red!" I replied "Okay great, let get it and go!" Back in Jake's truck I go to lift my shirt off and I manage okay Jake helps a bit. Looking down at my thin body. "Jake, you think that I'm good enough for Ashely?" Jake pounding his steering wheel "Yes Daniel, for the millionth time Yes!" Grabbing my red shirt out of the bag Jake throws it to me. I can tell he's mad. I put it on and we make our way over to the girls dorm. Park and make our way into the lobby. Their lobby had this little dining room of sorts, mostly used to play games or sit and talk. Jake out front of me as he sees Jessica. "well hello ma'am" as he does an imaginary hat tip. Jessica laughs, "Oh Daniel, Ashey is just upstairs, we set up over here." As we walk over I see the girls didn't leave out a thing, there's rice, and chips and salsa and sour cream, I turn and there was Ashley carrying a 9"x13" casserole with what looked like enchiladas. "Hello Daniel, hope you're hungry?" at this point almost beaming "I am, let's eat. Jake and I pouring the girls sweet tea. the girls situate the table. "It's cheese" as Ashley points to the enchiladas. "I know you're a vegetarian and this is about the only vegetarian thing a Texas girl like me could make!" she boasted. "It looks amazing!" Now feeling more at ease. We eat our meal, we all chat, I got the chance to learn more about Jessica and she about me. We finished up, the girls took the rest of our dinner up. Jake and I standing by the door "See Daniel, nothing to worry about" wanting to apologize and Jake sensing it "don't say you're sorry, just believe in yourself!" "You're right Jake I just feel like she's gonna wake up tomorrow and realize I'm such a dork and that she can do SO much better!" The girls come back down and we walk across campus to the movie "Nice shirt!" Jessica points out "Is it new?" Trying to play it cool "Um, yeah it's new" As Jessica pulls off the "M M M M M M" sticker on the back of my shirt. Sort of chuckling Jake says, "Yeah I had to help out my boy here, we hit up Wal Mart" Ashely smiled and we made our way into the movie. Tonight was "Meet Joe Black" some movie with Brad Pitt. We grab our seat It was Jessica, Jake, Ashely and me in the middle of the row. The movie starts, now knowing okay Daniel get it together, remember all the pointers Jake's given you. Still feeling nervous I put my arm around her and she slides over. In my head I'm thinking Bingo!" Okay so this is working. Mid way through the movie, maybe it was the thought of Ashely laying her head against me and sitting for too long I start to get a boner. Not having a free arm. I just try to move my leg around to hide it or attempt to all the while trying to look cool and together. Ashley notices my fidgeting and leans into my ear and whispers. "are you okay Daniel?" still trying to play it cool. Ashley surprised me by saying "I have older brothers, I get it sometimes guys just need to move stuff around". Now sitting there I was more or less shocked. "Umm, well I'm fine, promise" I whisper back. In my head I'm screaming "STUPID FUCKING BONER!" Ashley returns her head back to my shoulder and we finish the movie. I can sense Jake is hoping we're no longer gonna be a double date. He helps it out by saying "Hey Daniel, maybe you can show Ashley around campus and point out all the plants and science stuff, this guy is so freaking smart!" Getting the hint Ashley and I stay and Jake and Jessica head on out. "So where to Mr. Scientist?" she says smiling. Not really having a plan of action I suggest a walk around campus, fall had come and gone and there wasn't any trees or plants to show her. Nervously I say "um well all the plants are gone.". Ashely chuckled It's okay Daniel, we can do that another time. Wanna go get some coffee? I can drive". Making our way towards the girls dorms Ashley tries to remember where she's parked. "Here it is!" as we come up to a silver Toyota 4Runner. Opening the door and now nervously sitting in the passenger seat. "brr... it's getting cold" as she shivers. Leaning in she smiles and gives me this sweet smirk and then it hits me "OH SHIT WE'RE GONNA KISS!" At this point in my life I had never made it this far with anyone, to be honest I never even had a date until Sarah. Our lips met and doing what I've always seen in movies I put my hands behind her head as we continued to kiss. struggling a bit with her curly hair she briefly stops, "don't be nervous Daniel" We continued to kiss and at this point I've got a massive boner, thinking "This is what Jake said happens!" It was dark outside and relatively dark inside or so I thought. I go to try and adjust myself as slyly as I can muster. "It's okay Daniel, really" she says as she puts her hand on my thigh. My head is about to blow off my body "Really?" I reply. She leans back a bit and softly chuckles. "Yes, Daniel, I know you have a boner in your pants, you're a guy it happens. I've had a boyfriend before college". Feeling both assured and yet experiencing the moment all I could muster was "I'm sorry" she looks back "for what Daniel?" flustered I say "I don't know I say sorry a lot" Ashely says with a genuine tone. "Well Daniel I'm fine with it and none of that bothers me." Sitting back in her seat and me in mine she reaches for my hand says "It's late we should probably make it hot coco!" Realizing she mean us getting coffee. Looking right at her "I think that's a great idea". And off to the coffee shop we went. On the way she asks "so is that why you were so fidgety during the movie?" responding with equal parts pride and embarrassment "Yeah, that's why" at the next stop sign she looks over "I thought so!"