Despite my adventures with Mike and Emma at Christmas, and Emma and Jess's encouragement that I needed to get out there and have more fun, when I returned to Uni in the New Year I instead focused on other things; my course, my friends, and doing other activities like joining the running club and volunteering group (more to come on both of these another time!) I got to know my flatmates better, especially since they were all aware of the events with my ex and Issy before Christmas, and as a group we got friendly with the group of guys in the flat below us.
Throughout the term we would see them two or three times a week, normally for drinks in one of the flats before going out. Rosie and Simon had become an item, and it wasn't uncommon to find him in our shared kitchen in the morning, especially after a night out. Ellie and Jen had both hooked up with a couple of the other guys a few times too, but that was much more casual. I hadn't initially thought about a hook up with any of them, but over time I became more attracted to, and more flirty with, a guy called Rob. Part of what attracted me to him was also a factor in the delayed realisation that I liked him. He was a swimmer, and spent most mornings getting up early and going training at the pool or gym. I appreciated his dedication to it, and the physique it gave him - strong, toned, but not too big and muscular - but his commitment meant that he wouldn't drink very much, and would often stay behind to work or go to bed while the rest of us went out. Over several weeks of snatching snippets of time with him I knew that we got on well, and that he was flirting back. On the occasions he did come out with us we'd drink and dance, but there always seemed to be a reason that nothing ever happened.
Cut to the last night of term before the Easter break, and along with the vast majority of students we planned to have a few drinks at home and then head out to a club. Through a combination of being exhausted at the end of term, knowing Rob probably wouldn't come out as he had training in the morning, and having got back late from a volunteering project, I didn't really think too hard about what I wore, and threw on a simple black vest top and a pair of skinny fit white jeans that were so tight I had a bit of a struggle to wriggle in to them. Simple black pumps, a denim jacket and black clutch and I was done. I joined the rest of the guys for a couple of drinks at home before we headed to the club. After a couple more drinks and plenty of dancing I headed off the dancefloor towards the bar to get a glass of water, only for my journey to be interrupted when I bumped into Rob. I think he could tell I was surprised to see him, and explained as we had a small hug that he had gone training that evening so that he could come out and skip the morning session. We went to the bar to get drinks (not just water since Rob had arrived) while I wished I'd made a bit more effort when I was getting ready. The drinking and dancing continued and we all had a really great night, but I found that I hadn't spent that much time with Rob as his flatmates had been pleased that he'd been able to come out and monopolised his time.
Having had a great night a large group of us found ourselves on the dancefloor as the night drew to a close and we were shepherded towards the cloakrooms and exit. We collected our things from the cloakroom and stepped outside to be faced with an almighty downpour and a huge queue for taxis. While it was hammering down with rain, it wasn't particularly cold, and just walking to the back of the taxi queue had got those of us without umbrellas or water-resistant coats soaking wet. I had ended up stood alongside Rob, who was also sodden already, and looking at the length of the queue I had no enthusiasm for standing there any longer. Thinking that directing anything at Rob specifically might be a bit too much I just announced to the group, "I can't be bothered with this. I'm soaked anyway, I'm going to walk if anyone wants to join me?" Rosie and Simon were the first to say that they would, and Rob quickly agreed too.
The four of us set off towards campus, chatting as a group at first, mainly about the rain that continued to pour. As we got closer to campus Rosie and Simon began to focus more on each other, which I didn't mind at all, as I was able to talk to Rob properly, although in a bit of a drunken state. We walked a little quicker than the others, and having initially been sort of making small talk about about plans for the Easter break, once we were far enough ahead to be out of earshot Rob almost whispered to me, "you know, your bum looks amazing in those wet jeans."
I was quite taken aback, even in my slightly drunken state, and couldn't help but almost shriek, "Rob!" at him, while giving him a firm but playful slap on the arm. Realising I had been playful he, still speaking very quietly, added, "it's true, and I just want to grab it."
I glanced over my shoulder. We were a considerable distance ahead of Rosie and Simon, who were so interested in each other that they wouldn't have known what was going on. That being the case, and feeling hornier than I had in ages, I replied, "well, if you ask nicely perhaps I'll let you." Rob looked a bit unsure for a second, but then pulled himself up straight and almost began walking with a march. Much more clearly, while not loud enough for Rosie and Simon to hear, he asked, "Katie, I would very much like to grab your bottom, please."
I chuckled and replied with a smile, "how could I refuse such a polite request? Permission to grab granted, Sir."
Without hesitation Rob reached his arm across to me and gave a firm squeeze of my right cheek. I could feel the warmth of his hand through the cold wet jeans as he applied a little more pressure just very briefly before letting go. He immediately reached further across and repeated the squeeze on my left cheek, again squeezing a little harder just before letting go.
