**This is my submission for the
Literotica 2022 April Fools Day Story Contest
. It's simple, short, and fun. Please vote if you enjoy it. Happy reading!**
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"Nicole, stop eye-groping Rowan and ask him out already," Brooke muttered through clenched teeth.
She was lying on the weight bench at our university gym, attempting a sixty-pound bench press. I was spotting her and peeking at my crush. Rowan was lifting free weights with his buddy David on the other side of the room. Rowan had dark hair, bright gray eyes, and a lean build. David had blond hair, green eyes, and a sculpted torso.
"What makes you think I'm capable of asking a guy out?" I sighed and grabbed the bar before Brooke hurt herself. "Why are you trying to lift sixty pounds anyway?"
"Summer break is almost here. I want to be buff for the beach," she panted.
"Being hot isn't good enough? You have to be buff too?"
"Yes. Why is that so hard to understand?"
"Oh crap, the guys are coming over here. Pretend we know what we're doing," I whispered in a panic. "Okay, Brooke, you can do this! Ready?"
"Yes, mam, coach! Let's do it, coach! Grrrr..." Brooke growled and heaved the bar out of its cradle like a madwoman, then she almost dropped it on her neck.
I gasped and grabbed it to prevent an injury. David and Rowan saw the mayhem and rushed forward to grab it too. They effortlessly hoisted it back into its cradle.
"Crap, thank you," Brooke breathed.
"You're welcome. Are you okay?" David asked.
"I'm good. Did you guys know that was going to happen?" she asked with an eyebrow raised.
"No. We were coming to ask if you were done with your set so I can do mine before my spotter leaves for class."
"Oh, right. I'm done," Brooke chuckled and moved out of the way.
She stood by the bench and tossed her long dark hair behind her shoulders. She was giving David a flirty smile as she ran her fingers through her shiny tresses, pretending to straighten them when they were already perfect. Brooke knew how to get attention.
"Would you ladies be interested in some lifting pointers? I'm a part-time personal trainer," David grinned.
He was stealthily checking out Brooke's black leotard. It advertised her busty chest perfectly.
"Yes, actually. I would love that," she nodded.
They continued chatting as Rowan and I stood awkwardly around them.
"Hey, uh... you're Rowan, right?" I stammered, surprising myself with my boldness.
"Yes, and you're Nicole, right?"
"I am. You're in my Tuesday and Thursday morning class. You usually have your head down when I walk in."
"Not always. I really like your perfume. That's how I know when you get there," he grinned.
"That's also how he knows when to look up to see your ass," David chuckled, earning a punch in the arm from Rowan.
I chuckled as they gave each other murderous glances. My face felt hot as I admired Rowan's pretty gray eyes and messy brown hair. I was flattered that he knew who I was and often checked me out when I wasn't looking.
"Well, I need to get to class," Rowan said and started to leave.
He was obviously done with the embarrassing situation.
"Don't run off. I need a spotter. Your class doesn't start for an hour," David protested.
Rowan gave David another murderous glance.
"Kevin is at the front desk. He can spot for you. I have to finish an assignment before my class starts. I'll see you later. It was nice talking to you," Rowan said to me before he hurried out of the weight room.
David rolled his eyes and shook his head at his friend.
"Sorry about that, ladies. Despite his looks, Rowan is not a social butterfly. He is a nerdy caterpillar trying to spread his wings after losing forty pounds."
"Really? We have more in common than I thought," I mumbled.
I had also lost a lot of weight since starting a consistent gym routine with Brooke. She declared that I had achieved a perky blond cheerleader look, but it clashed with my normal antisocial behavior. I kept my messy blond hair in a ponytail despite protests from Brooke. She said tossing my hair around and getting it in my face was sexier. That advice reinforced my ponytail habits.
"Crap, I still have Rowan's campus ID. He's going to need this, and my phone is in the locker room," David grumbled as he pulled a card out of his pocket.
I looked through the front glass and saw Rowan stop for a drink of water at the end of the hall.
"He's at the water fountain. I'll take it to him," I boldly volunteered.
I grabbed the card and jogged out of the weight room. I caught Rowan at the top of the stairs that led to the basement locker rooms.
"You're going to need this," I smiled as I handed him the card.
"Oh, thank you. You seriously saved my morning. I would have lost twenty minutes tracking this down once I realized it was missing."
"You're welcome. I um... hope you get all your work done before class."
"What? Oh, right, my work," he nodded with his brow furrowed.
We stood there for an awkward moment, waiting for the other person to continue the conversation. It was sad and funny how much we were alike.
"Nicole... would you like to, um..." he started, then stopped.
I stared at him expectantly as he tapped his ID card against his thigh, trying to continue formulating what he wanted to say. The anticipation of what he might say was too stressful for me, so I decided to plan an escape before my nerves got the better of me.
"Well, uh, I need to get back to Brooke so we can finish our workout. It was nice chatting with you. I'll see you in class," I announced while slowly backing away.
"Yeah... I'll see you in class," he nodded.
I turned and scampered away after that. I heard Rowan let out a sigh before he retreated down the stairs. I also sighed in frustration. My crush was trying to ask me something, and I ran off like a coward. I should have given him more time, but I was an antisocial chicken to the core.
The rest of the week was a continuation of my cowardice. I planned to be bold and sit by Rowan in class Tuesday and Thursday morning. I wanted to give him another opportunity to say what he was planning to say at the gym, but I stepped into the lecture hall and got cold feet. I panicked and scampered to my seat on the opposite side of the room as fast as I could. Brooke rolled her eyes at my behavior. Four days passed, and I had failed to say one word to Rowan since we spoke at the gym. Brooke called me pathetic and ordered me to accompany her to a new downtown bar at the end of the week as punishment. The reviews were phenomenal, so I sighed and agreed to go with her.
Friday night rolled around, and concern was setting in as we entered the front foyer of Drinks & Kinks on Main Street. We were affronted by a display case full of lewd stemware. I had seen my fair share of kinky stuff on my fun nights out with Brooke, but this place was on a different level. The crystal champagne and wine glasses were shaped like breasts, cocks, testicles, vaginas, open mouths, and even butts with their cheeks spread wide. They looked tacky and expensive. Brooke said the bar was new-age artsy, but the fact that she dragged me there on April 1st compounded my concerns. We were supposed to meet classmates for casual drinks, but Drinks & Kinks seemed more kinky than casual. Brooke had also insisted I wear my cutest little black dress for the occasion. I did as she requested and wore my flowing blond locks down my back instead of in a ponytail. My anxiety was running extremely high, to say the least.
"Nicole, lighten up. You've seen these body parts before," Brooke chuckled when she noticed my wide-eyed stare.
She was handing over her credit card to a well-dressed hostess. My eyes widened more when I saw the cover charge.
"Why does it cost so much to get in? Is there a concert too?"
"Not exactly," Brooke grinned.
The hostess led us down a dimly lit hallway covered in erotic art. The images weren't derogatory, at least. They appeared to be a celebration of the enjoyment of sex. Men and women were represented equally as they performed sensual poses and sex acts. Their bodies were painted in a variety of colors and designs. They wore playful Venetian masks over their eyes to hide their identities.
Our journey ended at Room 3. The hostess led us into a small dining room with one table. There were cushioned benches on each side of the table. More erotic art was displayed on the walls over antique red and gold wallpaper. The back wall was hidden behind a red velvet curtain. A waiter entered after the hostess left and introduced himself as Kent. He explained the drink and tapas menu before taking our first order of the evening. Then he retreated, giving me a chance to question Brooke.