Finals were creeping up on us... and yes, the inevitable. We ignored it as much as possible. I was thinking of something for the second to the last night before we parted. I figured our last night would be in her room, so that I could quietly leave, like she did last year. It was hard at the time, but it worked out to be the best. I wasn't sure what Kathy had in mind.
Finals week. The finals schedule came out the week before.
I had a pretty easy schedule. The final for one of my engineering classes was a computer project. The professor gave you the basics and you wrote the Code. If you got it to run without errors you were guaranteed a "B" for the final. If you got it to print out the results, you would bet an "A" for the final. The final counted for a third of your grade. Since I already had a "B" going into the final, I wasn't going to spend the extra time to get the "A". Writing computer programs in FORTRAN was not my specialty. Plus, this was an era where the program was on a deck of 'punch cards'. God help you if you dropped the deck.
My other two engineering classes were pretty easy, and my "Home Ec for Men" class was... let's say 'a piece of cake'. I was figuring on being done by Wednesday afternoon. The dorms had to be empty by Saturday afternoon. Kathy's and Valerie's finals were such that they both would be done Thursday afternoon. Valerie was planning on leaving late Friday morning.
As soon as I knew our final's schedule, I went to the Hotel to make reservation for us for the Thursday night. I had planned on using the funds from our 'Love Jar', I just hoped it would cover the type of room I had in my head.
The girl behind the desk was a coed, working there part time. The afternoon was slow, as she had her books out doing some last minute cramming for her finals. I explained that I wanted a room with a King sized bed and a tub, not a shower. She said that all the rooms had showers, except for two that had a whirlpool tub and shower. The price however, exceeded our funds. I asked if there was anything she could do to bring the price down to our budget. I briefly explained that it was going to be our last night together, as I had finished my degree requirements, and was going home to find a job. My girlfriend had one more quarter. That we would be graduating together before she would join me. That I wanted something special, and not just a cheap motel room, which is why I had come to a hotel. I also asked if making reservations for myself and my parents for the two nights during graduation, would help. I even offered to pay for the room right then.
She looked at me, she was a cute girl, used to dealing with the public, "Here's what I can do. I'll make your reservation for a standard room; but, will make a note that if a suite is available to upgrade you at the standard room rate. Also, make a note to confirm those other reservations are made. How's that sound?"
My face beamed, "If there wasn't a desk here, I'd come over there and kiss you. Thank you so much," she also added that if the room had been made up, I could check in early. Which it probably would be.
She smiled back, "I might like that. I hope you and your girlfriend have a nice time."
Kathy wouldn't know anything about it. It was going to be a surprise.
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I worked with Valerie on her two 'problem' classes to get her ready. Fortunately, they would be on two separate days. She had been doing pretty well. A high "C" in each. With a good final in each she had the real possibility of pulling a "B" out of each.
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Early Thursday afternoon I turned in my program. It ran with no errors. Close enough.
I was able to check in at the Hotel early. I got the suite. It was just as she said. A large King size bed, mini frig, a large whirlpool tub, and a large shower. We were going to have fun.
I returned half an hour later with a vase of a dozen yellow roses, a bottle of champagne, and a bag of bath oils and candles. The same girl was behind the desk. She saw the champagne bottle and two plastic champagne glasses and said, "Wait," and she disappeared into the adjacent bar area. A couple of minutes later she returned and handed me two glass champagne flutes.
"You can't drink champagne out of plastic glasses. And you don't know where these came from," the glint in her eyes told me these were ours to keep, as mementos for our evening.
"If my arms weren't full, I'd hug you."
"That doesn't mean I can't hug you," which she did, "Your girlfriend is one lucky girl."
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The girl's finals were each over by 3:00. We decided to hit the bar to celebrate the end of the quarter. Kathy already had her overnight makeup bag, as she figured we would head out to the trailer afterward for our fun. Her roommate was leaving early tomorrow afternoon. We wanted to make sure we were there to see her off, as she knew I wouldn't be back next quarter.
Alex and I had gotten real comfortable with my occasional overnighters. Kathy and I tried to keep it subdued. Not sure how effective it was. Remembering back, there were times I swore I heard labored breathing and rustling between her sheets, as Kathy and I 'played'. We never actually 'did it', just messed around. One time Kathy got playful, and actually gave me a blow-job, as she ducked under the sheets. It was my turn to be quiet. Nothing was ever really exposed. I never saw her topless. Plenty of poking nipples, and I'm sure she witnessed my bulge of 'morning wood' on more than a few occasions. We were friends. Not on the level of Valerie and me, that friendship was a one-of-a-kind. But, a comfortable and casual friendship. I was going to miss hanging out with her.
I danced a slow song with each. During the dance with Valerie, I filled her in on my plans for the evening at the Hotel. She was pleasantly surprised I picked a hotel instead of a less expensive motel. I told her I wanted something special for this night. She understood the significance. I went on and described the suite, the whirlpool, the flowers, and the champagne. I wasn't bragging, or anything, it just came out in our usual casual conversation, as things always did between us. I added that Kathy didn't know anything about it. She smiled and hugged me even closer, "You're one of a kind. You two are sooo made for each other. I'm going to sooo miss you next quarter. You are a true and very dear friend," her eyes welling up.
"I'm going to miss you too," as I embraced her in a full body hug and kissed her soft lips, right in the middle of the empty dance floor. Kathy sat watching her two friends with a loving smile.
After a couple of rounds of drinks, Valerie said she needed to get back to her apartment to get her stuff packed up, as her parents were picking her up late the next morning. She knew I knew it was a way to discretely get Kathy and me on our way.
We dropped her off and promised we would be back to see her off. We all hugged. Valerie, whispered in my ear, "Have fun. See you in the morning."
I almost said, 'wish you could join us' but thought better of it. Maybe someday.
We stopped at an Italian Restaurant for dinner. Not fancy, but good food. Quiet and romantic.
We took our time, enjoying the combination of food, wine and each other's company. I would graze my hand over hers, at times, our fingers intertwining. Her blue gray eyes sparkling. Her face alive. She had this habit of biting her upper lip every time she was about to giggle. And her lower lip quirked ever so slightly when she was about to say something mischievous. And when she was unsure of what to say, she would cover her mouth with the back of her fingers and blink at me from beneath those dark lashes.
God, I loved this girl. How did
I
get so lucky?
Kathy was surprised when I headed in the opposite direction from the trailer.
"Where are we going?"
I just smiled at her, "You'll see."
Pulling into the hotel parking lot, the light went on in her head. She wrapped her arms around my neck and buried her face into my chest, which is difficult to do sitting behind a steering wheel.
Opening the door to the room, I picked her up in my arms. She looked at me with a surprised look as I carried her across the threshold.
"I can't wait to I carry Kathy Lee to
