© Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. All characters depicted are 18 years and over.
When the alarm went off I silenced it and then went to the bathroom. It was a Friday morning of a busy week and another school day. I looked at myself in the mirror and saw an eighteen year old girl who was changing every day, or at least it seemed that way to me. I was a late bloomer just like my two older sisters. All through high school I kept waiting for my body shape to catch up to my puberty and only now, the spring of my senior year, was that happening. And it was happening fast. I had changed bra sizes three times already in the last six months, my hips were a little larger, and I suddenly had a real growth in my underarm and pubic hair. I also had to buy new clothes twice this school year to accommodate my body changes. But it looked like it was worth it.
In the mirror my breasts were now prominent, I had a nice waist and my hips were now those of a young woman, and my legs had a really nice shape. I finally felt like I was attractive. Maybe it would help me today.
I took a shower, dried my shoulder length hair, and did all the necessary things to prepare for the day. I dressed in some nice jeans with a white shirt and a pair of tennis shoes. I looked one more time in the mirror for a final check. Today was the day. I had to ask Ben about his college plans and see if I could convince him to include me in those plans. If I was going to go to college this was the only way I could think of to make that happen.
I had gotten my acceptance to UT earlier this week and I already knew that was where Ben was going. My problem was that my parents were cash strapped with my two older sisters already in college there was very little money left for my education. They could pay for my tuition, but that was it. They could not afford to pay for books, food, or living expenses. That meant going someplace local and working to pay for everything else. My problem was twofold: I wanted to go to UT and I was secretly in love with Ben. While I was willing to mostly put myself through UT I just could not figure out a way to do that and pay for a place of my own. That meant living with someone, and I wanted that someone to be Ben. Ben and I were friends but that was as far as it went and I wanted it to be much more and go to UT. So it was on me to make that happen.
After breakfast I grabbed my books and walked down the street to Ben's house for my ride to school. Ben had been giving me a ride to and from school for the last three years, ever since he got his car. It was just a family sedan that previously was their family car but Ben kept it up so that it was always reliable. As I got to his house he was just coming out.
Ben was tall and lanky, but not really skinny. He had a crop of sandy brown hair and was already having to shave every day. Today he was in a pair of jeans and a green T-shirt with his usual sneakers. He was good looking with nice face to match his blue eyes. He kept himself in good shape with some running and routine workouts. To me he was perfect and it gave me a little thrill to see him every morning.
"Good morning, Ben."
"Morning, Terry. How are you this morning?"
"I'm good, but I have something to ask you."
"What is it?"
"We can discuss it on the way to school."
We got into the car and started the drive to school.
"What is it you want to ask me, Terry?"
I was pretty nervous and hesitated. I wanted this to go well.
"Before I ask you, would you tell me what your plans are for college. I know you are going to UT, but what are you doing for a place to live?"
"Well, I planned to drive down to Austin this summer and locate an apartment, hopefully on a long term lease. Then I was going to look for a job in Austin as near to the campus as I can get. I need to make enough money to pay for the apartment and food. My parents are going to foot the rest of the expenses. What's this all about?"
I sighed and tried to gather my courage.
"Ben, my plans for college are not going well. My parents had a long talk with me and they can barely afford my tuition, much less everything else. Unless I can come up with the money to live on, my college plans will be just a fond memory."
"Wow, that has to hurt. Are you sure it's that bad?"
"Yeah, it really is that bad. My parents just can't afford to send three girls to college at the same time. I guess I am tail end charlie so I get the leftovers, and there isn't that much."
Ben was silent for a while and then spoke up.
"Look, I know you really want to go to college. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Actually, there might be. And that is really what I want to ask you about. What I need is a place to live and a job, just the same as you. Maybe we can partner up on a place to live and we could split the rent? I would still need a job but I think I can work that out."
"Would your parents be alright with that arrangement?"
"I think so, as long as we weren't sleeping in the same bed." Ben looked at me and we smiled at each other. "My parents like and trust you. They have known you for over six years. And after all, we would have the same major so I would have a builtin study partner."
"Are you sure you could do this. We would be in pretty close proximity to one another. Things could get complicated, especially on the dating front."
"When have you known me to be a serious dater? I haven't had a date in two months."
"Come on, Terry. It is college after all. Even I have noticed how you have changed since the beginning of this school year. You will have to beat the guys off with a pretty big stick."
"Do you really think that I'm pretty?"
"Of course I do. I'm not blind, yet."
"Thanks, Ben. But what do you think of my suggestion?"
"Give me today to think about it and I will give you an answer on the way home."
My heart sank a little, but I could live with that delay. "Okay."
It was going to be a long day waiting on Ben's answer. I was practically praying he would say yes. This was the only option I had at the moment and it would be disappointing to try to find another solution, mainly because I would probably be losing Ben.
At school Ben and I only had one class together and that was fourth period computer programming. The rest of the time we usually did not hang out together as we both were in different social groups. I guess that was the reason we had never dated, that, and my reluctance to ask him for a date. But he was a really good friend and we did hang out around the neighborhood. Ben had never made advances toward me so I figured he only thought of me in that way. But I wanted more, and I hoped to get it.
We sat next to each other in fourth period as we both really enjoyed the class. Both of us seemed to be naturals when it came to writing programs. We completed assignments on time and sometimes with time to spare. It felt good to control something that would never complain about how much you gave it to do. Too much or too little, it just kept on working. Unless you screwed up. Computers were like that, they never complained unless you gave them something to complain about. Ben and I were good at keeping a computer quiet while it worked.
Ben kept me in suspense until we left to go home. After we were underway he finally spoke up.
"Terry, about your proposal."
"Are you sure you want to use that term to describe my suggestion?"
He laughed at that. I just giggled.
"Okay, okay. Any way you want to look at it. But I do think it is at least a feasible plan. It would save money for both of us as well as being convenient. But it is not without some potential problems which we will just have to work through as they come up."
My excitement almost overflowed. I wanted to hug him but I restrained myself, especially since he was driving.
"Thanks, Ben. I know we can resolve any problems that do come up. I really appreciate what you are doing for me. I promise not to be a problem to you."
