Danielle was exhausted, both physically and mentally, by the demanding schedule she had incurred at her new school as a college freshman. She spent the first semester trying to get un-lost on campus (University 101 isn't worth shit), and the second was a blur of studying and turning out papers that came back with more red ink than black. Everybody in her small hometown expected her to go off to a fancy New England college and do so much for them, but as the end of the second semester loomed near, Danielle felt that she could only fall short of their high hopes.
She slouched in the unforgiving wooden chair in front of her equally unforgiving research paper in her dorm as music from "Knoxville: Summer of 1915" filled the air. Her paint stained hands were typing through another paper just like the half a dozen others she had handed in to her English professor this semester. She longed to go back to the studio and finish her latest painting, but her priorities set getting a paper finished higher than something that fun.
Out of nowhere, an instant message popped up from her online friend from Australia.
rustNrot22
: Hey babe! Just wanted to say I'm in the office for today and that I had a great time talking with you last night. You're alright for somebody that can't surf.
starve_this_artist
: And you're alright for somebody old enough to be my father! I enjoyed talking to you too, Shane. :)
rustNrot22
: Glad you had a good time. How's life over your way? Flirting with any cute boys or are you just teasing them from afar? ; )
starve_this_artist
: I spent some really relaxing time in the studio again today, but it wasn't enough. My slave driverβI mean, English professor has assigned yet another paper that isn't on the syllabus. And on the subject of boys...I don't have time to tie my shoes, let alone put on something nice before I go off to class. Near or far, the boys are definitely not seeing anything they like.
rustNrot22
: If it was up to me, I'd let you spend all day anywhere you want just painting to your sweet heart's content. I'd even let you go around without any shoes so you wouldn't have to worry about tying them.
starve_this_artist
: Well thank you kindly. If only you were my English professor...Or if only I was in Australia.
rustNrot22
: What's stopping you? You could stay with me while you take a break from all the stress over there. I promise I'd leave you to paint while I'm at work, and then I'll take you out for a nice dinner when I get in.
starve_this_artist
: What would I tell my parents? "Oh yeah, Dad, by the way, I'm going to Australia to meet the only man who makes me happy. Hope you have a good summer going on fishing trips alone!"
rustNrot22
: Tell them you're going on sabbatical. Tell them you're going hiking across Europe. Tell them you're joining the Peace Corps. I don't care what you tell them as long as you come spend time with me down in the sun. : P
starve_this_artist
: You're serious? Promise? I'll be on the next flight out of here after class tomorrow if you are.
rustNrot22
: Dead serious. Bring a swimsuit, a couple of nice dresses to go out to dinner in, and some heels. Very laid back atmosphere down here so you'll have a place to unwind.
That night, Danielle tossed the suggested items into her suitcase along with rudimentary painting supplies, her rarely used make up bag, and some sexy lingerie she hadn't had the chance to wear yet. She called her parents and told them that she'd be going home with one of her friends that she made in the studio. After getting those things in order, she wrote a short letter explaining her whereabouts incase Shane was some psycho-murderer and left it on her bed. The paper was finished 10 minutes after that. That night, Danielle didn't sleep a wink.
At the end of a few lectures and a lab, Danielle rushed to turn in her paper and be the first out the door. It was easy enough to get a direct flight out of such a big city once she got to the airport. Shane had given her his contact information so it wouldn't be a struggle to find him once she arrived.
Most of the flight over was spent sleeping or thinking about meeting Shane. Upon arriving at the airport in Perth, Danielle bought some water and contacted Shane by phone. "Perfect timing!" he chimed, "I'm just leaving work. I'll be there in 20 minutes."
Danielle scurried off to the bathroom to primp before Shane arrived. She stood in front of one of the mirrors and pulled her makeup bag out. After brushing her teeth, she put on some lip gloss and pulled her hair back. She put her bag away and adjusted her tight white t-shirt and low rise denim jeans. Her nipples poked through her shirt in a way that brought attention to her perky b-cup breasts.
When she realized she was in the bathroom alone, her hands slid down the sides of her body. She mad a pouting face in the mirror, and then she proceeded to attempt sexy poses she'd seen other girls in. "Who am I kidding?" she thought. "He probably just wants some entertainment."
Danielle stepped back outside and sat down in a soft, black lounge chair. She pulled out a beaten up copy of Catcher in the Rye, but she couldn't concentrate on Holden's story this time. After trying to read for what seemed like was an eternity, she realized that she'd read the same paragraph over and over. "I'm being silly," she thought.
Silly or not, she was being watched. Shane knew that Danielle loved to read Catcher in the Rye. He had also seen several pictures of her, but none compared to the cute face she made as she concentrated on a book. Her lip was caught between the two white lines of teeth, and her foot bounced at the end of her leg that was lazily crossed with the other.
Using his best Brooklyn accent, Shane stepped behind her and said, "Yo lady, you's just gonna sit there readin' all day or what?"
Danielle turned, prepared to be indignant and set this rude man straight. "Excuse me, but I can sit here and read as long as I want. You on the other hand, should step off."
A smug grin painted its way onto Shane's face. "Step off? I's didn' step on nothin, lady!" This made Danielle even more indignant. She stood up to face him, but soon realized that was a mistake because she was a good six inches shorter.
Danielle was never lost of words though, so she continued, "It's an expression, you oaf. You obviously don't know how to treat a 'lady,' though, so I wouldn't expect you to know anything about comprehending figures of speech." An equally smug grin was proudly displayed on Danielle's face when she finished.
When Shane finally said, "Aw, I never thought you'd be so cute when you got mad!" in his real voice, Danielle turned six shades of red. She had no idea what to say, and Shane saw that. He pushed a strand of hair out of her face and quietly cooed, "Wait 'till we tell all of our friends that when you finally got around to meeting me, you tried to attack me for flirting with you."
To get out of responding, Danielle hurriedly stooped to pick up her bag. "Ah, no, miss. I'll be getting that!" Shane said as he grabbed her bag up and put his arm around her hip. "Cat got your tongue?"