Matt smiled easily at his group as he started his introduction to six couples, 8 guys and a single girl: 21 people, a good class size. He held up a climbing harness and explained its parts before demonstrating how to put it on. After handing them out, he moved among his students, ensuring they had it on properly, making the occasional adjustment. Although only a freshman, he had been climbing for years. His credentials had so impressed the staff that they allowed him to lead the Activity Center's rock climbing classes for the spring semester, from the introduction to expert classes. He approached the striking redhead and swallowed. She was gorgeous. Her green eyes glittered as she smiled at him and asked if she had put her harness on correctly. Instantly, his nerves deserted him.
Matt swallowed, his voice deserted him and a pit formed in his stomach. Talking to a group was easy, but one on one with this stunning beauty he was suddenly timid. He noticed the straps on her thigh were twisted in the back. He also couldn't help noticing her biking shorts left little to the imagination. He stuttered as he tried to motion that her strap was twisted, but was completely unwilling to touch her. Fortunately, another girl stepped up and adjusted the strap and he could steal away.
For the rest of the class he felt thoroughly intimated by the redhead, Kelly. He tried to play it cool, to talk to the entire class, making eye contact with each of them, but every time he glanced at her his nerves left him. He was acutely aware he was stumbling over simple words, racing through explanations that should have been smoother. When it was her turn to climb the wall, he was so unsettled that he couldn't bring himself to help her. She seemed so at ease, smiling freely, but Matt could hardly look at her. She was a lot shorter than he, maybe only 5 feet to his 6, but amazingly pretty.
As the class the ended, he made his usual announcement that anyone who was interested could join him tomorrow morning at eight in the shack while he inspected the equipment. He knew no one would care to show at on a Saturday, but he always made the announcement anyway.
Matt had just entered the shack on Saturday morning when her sing-song voice rang out.
"Hi," Kelly smiled as she entered, "Can I help?"
Matt noted her outfit—tight blue capri leggings, coupled with a loose red tank top from freshman orientation—before he tore his eyes away. They were alone, no one was around to see them. He immediately regretted having made the invitation to the class to have anyone join him.
"Su-sure," he stuttered, tossing her a coiled up rope before taking one himself. "Checking ropes for wear," he said as he sat down on the bench.
An instant later he realized what he had done. The shack had only one place to sit, the bench, which meant she was going to sit next to him. He momentarily considered calling a friend to come down and help, but all his friends were hung over if not still passed out from last night. He was, in reality, terrified of her.
When Matt had been a freshman in high school, a girl had falsely accused a boy of sexually assaulting her, and the accusation had destroyed the boy's life. The terrible situation had deeply affected his community and had torn it apart. His mother had lectured him endlessly about protecting himself against falling into the same predicament, and perhaps as a result, he had never had a girlfriend, never even been alone with a girl.
He wanted a future and was petrified that he would be accused of something. He said a silent prayer that someone else would show up to ensure that no unfounded accusations could be made.
"Is this okay?" She asked, holding the rope out.
"Yeah," he replied, struggling to explain to her what they were looking for as far as damaged ropes went. Talking about work was always so easy for him. Talking to girls was next to impossible. She started to talk, asking casual questions that he answered in a few words or less.
"So how did you get into rock climbing?"
"Scouts."
"You an Eagle Scout?"
"Yeah," he answered instinctively, before wishing he hadn't admitted it. Could anything make him look even more dorky? Her response surprised and reassured him.
"Cool, my brother was an Eagle also. That's great."
They settled into a routine, going through the ropes as Kelly did a lot of talking and he offered a lot of monosyllabic replies. Slowly, he started to smile and then laugh at her jokes. The morning was still young when they finished with the equipment inspections. Matt absently fiddled with a rope as Kelly sat less than an arm's length away and inquired about the more advanced rock climbing classes. An awkward silence filled the air. Matt glanced over to her, seeing her looking at the rope in his hands.
"What are you doing?" asked Kelly.
"Just playing," he shrugged. He pulled the end and it unraveled.
"How did you do that?"
Matt smiled shyly, and in no time he found himself teaching her the simple chain knot. She mastered it quickly. He soon found himself teaching her some basic knots, surprised not only that she was interested, but also that he was interacting with a beautiful girl, their knees occasionally touching, his hands guiding hers while she laughed.
"What else can you tie?" she beamed at him.
"Well, um...," he thought for a moment, running through the dozens of knots he knew. "Handcuffs?"
"Really!"
Matt nodded with a bashful grin. Kelly jumped up held our her wrists to him. "Show me!"
Matt rose and took a rope with a carabiner on the end and fastened it to a eye bolt on the post. He turned to Kelly, and with a quick, practiced snap of his hands he formed two opposing slip knots roughly two feet apart. He reached through the loops and took her hands before sliding the loops from his wrists to hers. He quickly tugged the rope tight, securing the knots around her compliant wrists. He turned and tied the other end of the rope to an opposing post, leaving Kelly standing with her hands secured over her head, and for all practical purposes, helpless. He turned to look at her, shocked at his own actions.
Kelly was staring up at her hands in amazement, twisting her arms and pulling on the rope. Matt knew she couldn't get out, the rope was too soft and pliable, and while it wouldn't hurt her delicate skin, it also wouldn't let her slip out. Matt stared at her exquisite face as she struggled, mesmerized by her beauty. Kelly gave up and looked at him with a smile.
"Oh my gosh. You got me," she said with a grin.
Matt dazedly watched his hand, as if it were someone else's, reach out to touch her freckled forearm. He slowly dragged his fingertips down her arm, marveling at it's softness. He was vaguely aware that Kelly was watching his fingers also, and their eyes locked as he looked at her. He reached out and gently brushed his hand against her wavy red hair before lightly stroking her cheek. Suddenly Kelly snapped her head around and nipped his finger. Matt jerked his hand back in alarm.
"See? I can still defend myself," she said with a laugh, but Matt wasn't listening.
"Oh my God I am so sorry!" He frantically undid her wrists, repeating his apology over and over. She was talking to him, but he couldn't hear her, couldn't even look at her, shaking with fear and disgust over what he had done. "I...I...think you should leave," he said, stumbling over his words self-consciously.
"But I was just playing!" she protested. He repeated that she should leave, and she finally did.
Matt sat alone in the shack, doubled over, shaking with fear. Sexual assault. Rapist. Pervert. He wondered if she would call the police immediately or wait until she was a safe distance away. He considered calling them himself. Maybe that would help him by showing his regret to the Judge. He robotically finished putting away the equipment and then waited for the cops to come. He couldn't believe what he had done. He imagined his mother's heartbreak from hearing of his arrest. He continued berating himself while wondering what his Scoutmaster would think. Matt barely controlled his urge to vomit.
Time passed, and he eventually decided to go back to his dorm. His pulse spiked and stomach did a flip as he saw the campus police parked near the end of his street. He took a deep breath and walked by them, seemingly not even drawing a glance. He entered his quad and went right to his room, laid on his bed and waited for the police to arrive.
* * *
Kelly walked across campus, utterly bewildered at the bizarre turn of events.
What the hell just happened?
They had been having such a nice time. For him suddenly to kick her out like that was inexplicable. Why was he mad at her? She had only nipped his finger. She returned to her dorm room to find the door open, Jules and Alana hanging out with Sara, her roommate.
"Boys are so annoying," she announced and plopped down on her bed in a huff.
"What else is new?" Sara laughed.
