My explanation of the Law of Conservation of Energy was interrupted once again by the sudden distinct snap of elastic against skin, a quick shriek, and another round of giggles. I started to turn to see what was going on in the living room, when Rachel grabbed my arm. "Don't mind them. They're doing this just to bother me."
***
I didn't know what to do. I wanted a second date with Rachel, obviously. I wanted an opportunity to try again - to pick up on the cues this time. I had been kicking myself ever since I had dropped her off at work after our first date. Stupid, stupid! Why didn't I ask her about her roommates? Why didn't I ask about the toys she clearly left out on purpose (she left them out on purpose, right?)? Why didn't I compliment her body when she changed in front of me? Why didn't I make a move when she cuddled up next to me? Worst of all, the only correct response to a girl telling you she doesn't have a gag reflex is some variation of "I don't believe you." Is it too late to try that? Could I go up to her next time I pick up a package and say, "Hey, remember when you told me you enjoy giving blowjobs? Well what I should've told you is that I enjoy receiving blowjobs." For some reason, I don't think that will work as well in the daylight as it would've in her bedroom. Stupid!
What was worse was that I still had to see Rachel all the time. I had ordered so many packages just to have excuses to talk to her, and now they were all arriving. I thought about leaving them there to pile up, but I was afraid they'd be returned to sender after a few days, and they were actually kinda expensive. I tried to go when Rachel wouldn't be there, but the package room was only open for limited hours and it seemed that Rachel was working all of them. So, there I was, three times a week, trying to ask my crush for a blowjob, while desperately trying to not talk to her at all for fear of ruining my chances at a second date. It was not going well.
"And so that's why I think Next Generation is better than Deep Space Nine." I found myself saying. I wasn't sure how long I had been talking. Or how long I had been looking at Rachel's cleavage instead of her face.
"I hear what you're saying," Rachel answered plainly. "But what I asked was whether you knew anything about thermodynamics and wave phenomena."
"Oh..." I looked up into Rachel's hazel eyes, which had clearly been watching me get lost in her tits. She seemed more amused than angry though. For the first time today, I noticed she had dyed her hair brown and styled it like Rachel McAdams's character in Game Night. "Umm, well I..."
"Stop." Rachel instructed me. "I think your soliloquies on nerd stuff are adorable, and I happen to agree about Picard being the better captain. But I don't think either of us have time right now for you to try to answer me again with only half your brain working. So, I'm gonna assume that yes, you are good at physics and that yes, you would love to help me with my homework. 8:00 at my apartment again?"
I nodded silently, afraid that any big movements on my part might push the stars and planets out of alignment and I'd lose my second shot with Rachel.
"Great! By the way, my roommates will probably be home tonight, so get your mind out of the gutter before you come over. In fact, maybe give yourself a little stress relief at 7:30 so you can be ready to concentrate when you get to my place."
I didn't know what to make of that. I nodded silently again, took my package, and walked away from Rachel without a word. My awkwardness hurt me, but I thought it was safer than trying to be cool.
***
After pacing in the hall for three minutes, I knocked on Rachel's door at 8:00 sharp. The door swung open and I found myself face to face with my crush, dressed down for a casual night of studying. She was wearing what looked like a short-sleeved, silk button-up shirt and matching silk pants. Both pieces were light grey, patterned with little Enterprises, Spock Hands, and the words "Boldly Go." Rachel was barefoot and based on the way her nipples poked through the shirt, I guessed she wasn't wearing a bra.
"Welcome! I'm so glad you're here! There's pizza in the kitchen, help yourself. Oh, these are my roommates: Stephanie and Isabelle." As she led me into her apartment, Rachel gestured toward the living room sectional couch, where her roommates waved to me in turn.
Stephanie was tall, blonde, and beautiful. She looked like Alice Eve, but maybe 6'1". She even had heterochromia! She had the friendliest smile as she wiggled her fingers at me. Stephanie was wearing a tight yoga top and yoga pants.
Isabelle was short, brunette, and adorable. She looked like Penelope Cruz, but only 5'3". She seemed excited to see me as she waved frantically at me, before turning to laugh with Stephanie. Isabelle was wearing a sports bra and short gym shorts.
Both roommates were extremely fit. I seemed to remember Rachel mentioning that her roommates were both athletes on the school teams. I think Stephanie did some sort of track and field, and Isabelle was on the soccer team maybe?
Rachel caught me eyeing her roommates. I couldn't help but remember what Rachel had let slip last time I was here: that her roommates had hooked up on that very couch they were sitting on now. Rachel jabbed me in the ribs. "Hey! It's study time, remember?" Then quieter, so only I could hear her, "Did you take my advice about... stress relief?"
I spoke for the first time since entering the apartment. "I did, but I don't know if it worked. I drank some herbal tea, I listened to some classical music, and I tried to breathe deeply. But I'm still pretty nervous around you." I admitted.
Rachel stared at me dumbstruck. "That's not...I meant...Okay, well, I guess we'll just have to deal with it. Here, you sit here." She directed me to a chair at the kitchen table, where I'd have my back to the roommates. Rachel sat down at a 90 degree angle from me. "This'll be fine," she continued. "We're all here to study. They have exams coming up too. The little minxes aren't even really lesbians; that was just a one-time, random, experimentation." Rachel seemed to be rambling to herself now.