I hoped Lauren had my phone number. She had never asked for it.
A full day went by with no word from her. Then a second day.
She knew Jessi, after all. And Jessi had my number. So it's not like she didn't have a way to get it. And I was in the campus directory too, though who knows if she knew my last name? I spent those two days wondering if the first day had even been real. The experience had seemed entirely too bizarre. Between recreating every moment of it in my mind, I tried to catch up with my school work.
Once when I ran into Jessi, I asked her if Lauren had my phone number.
"I...well I guess she does. Why do you ask?"
"It's just that she's supposed to call me, she told me she would, and I haven't heard from her, but I never gave her my number, so I was wondering..."
"I could give you her number. I have it right here. I'll message you."
"I...well it's just that I don't think, you see, that might not be such a, how should I say, such a good idea."
"Really?"
Jessi was looking at me funny.
"This probably sounds totally strange, but I don't think, like, I don't think I'm supposed to, well, to have it."
"Weird. And why... Oh! Is this some sort of domination thing? OK! OK. Say no more! I won't ask. Not a word! None of my business, not at all. So I guess that conversation went well then?"
"Well, maybe. It's just that, yes, yes it did. But with Lauren, it's strange. With her, I never really know where I stand."
"Yeah, I can totally see that."
The third day, there was no word, and I found myself replaying every moment from our afternoon together.
The fourth day, no word. I did my laundry. I found myself fantasizing that it was Lauren's and that I was doing it for her. Dear god, I needed to hear from her. I wanted to do something for her, to hear her order me around. I needed her.
The fifth morning, Sunday morning, my cell phone rang. It was a number I didn't recognize.
"Hello?"
"Chris, this is Lauren."
"Hello, Lauren! I've been waiting to hear from you!"
I knew I sounded too eager.
"I know. Listen, Chris. Be at my dorm, in the lobby, in 20 minutes. Got it?"
Holy crap. I had plans to cancel.
"Yes, Lauren."
And just as suddenly as she had called, she ended the call. I quickly texted a few people, and started walking across campus toward her dorm. This time, Lauren was waiting for me, in the door. I never even entered her building.
"Let's go."
We walked, and as we did, I found myself in a position that was becoming quickly familiar - following Lauren, trying to anticipate each turn, staying with her, listening for any questions she might ask, but otherwise remaining silent. Knowing, in other words, to shut up.
After about ten minutes, we reached Lauren's car, and she told me to get in. I did so, and she took off, driving quickly. She was a speed demon. Little blue sports car, fashionable sunglasses, Lauren escorted me off campus, toward the outer ring of town. Five minutes into our drive, which had proceeded without a word, she suddenly turned off the radio.
"So Chris. Do you always hang out with Steve Black and Eric Friel?"
Huh? How did she know that? This was getting very weird.
"Well, sometimes, Lauren. I've known them since my freshman year. We play basketball together sometimes. And have lunch sometimes. Once in a while we play some video games together."
"You don't go to the strip clubs with them, do you?"
Oh dear god. How to answer? I honestly didn't, but it's not like I never had.
"Well, Lauren, no, I don't."
I felt, though, like I couldn't be anything but completely honest with Lauren. I was starting something new, something undeniably real, something I'd wanted for a long time. I couldn't start it off wrong.
"I don't now. But Lauren, I've gone with them before. Once or twice."
Lauren suddenly pulled over to the side of the road. She put the car in park, took off her sunglasses, and looked at me. Not just looked at me, but stared me down, hard.
"So how many times has it been? Once, or twice?"
I suddenly got that in-the-principal's office, in-trouble feeling. I swallowed, hard.
"Twice, Lauren."
I looked down, in embarrassment.
"I see. So you DO go with them. Don't lie, and tell me you don't go to those places with them. You DO go. You've gone. Not once, but twice."
"I'm sorry, Lauren."
"I know. And about your time at those places - that ends, right now. Understood?"
"Yes, Lauren."
"That's not something you do. Ever. Or look at those sorts of pictures. Or look at the female body, naked, ever. It's off-limits to
you, Chris. Is that clear?"
I looked at Lauren in slight disbelief.