Thank you ZB for your insightful edit.
Ryan paused his video game to answer the soft tap at the door. Emily stood in the hallway, wearing a long black coat and heels. She stepped in and closed the door behind her, allowing the coat to fall open. Underneath she wore only a red bra and matching panties. A thrill of anticipation rushed through his body as she beckoned him to join her on the bed. Just before their lips met Ryan awoke, his alarm blaring beside his bed. He sat up and took in his surroundings, it was just a dream. That's all it would ever be.
Emily hurried around her dorm room tossing dirty clothes into the closet so the room appeared tidy. Her roommate, Christy, looked up over the edge of her textbook with a knowing smile.
"Hot date tonight?" Christy asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Just studying for a mid term."
"You have a mid term already?"
"Yeah, physics."
"You're studying with that one guy aren't you?" she laughed. "What's his name? Ryan?"
Emily felt the heat rising to her cheeks. "You're such a snob."
"And he's a nerd," Christy reminded.
"But he's nice and he's smart," Emily knew she could go on and on about all the qualities she found attractive in him.
Christy sat her book down and looked at her friend in disbelief, Emily actually liked the guy. "But he's still a geek."
"I'm tired of dating the same kind of guys over and over. Don't you ever feel like we're just being used?"
"Well," she hated to admit Emily might be right, "sort of."
Emily finished making her bed and sat down beside Christy. "I think it's sort of like a kid on Christmas morning. The one with tons of presents under the tree just tears through the wrapping paper to see what's inside and then moves to the next one. Don't you think someone who doesn't have presents lined up would take his time? Maybe savor the packaging and then appreciate the gift once he got to it."
Christy thought about that for a moment, she couldn't argue with Emily's logic. "You planning on letting him unwrap you tonight?"
Emily sighed. "I don't think he's interested."
"He probably thinks you're way out of his league. If you're serious you'll have to make the first move." Christy looked over at Emily. "And that outfit has come and get me written all over it," she sarcastically teased.
Emily inspected her reflection in the mirror. Her auburn hair was pulled up in a ponytail, her intense green eyes were hidden behind glasses, and jeans and a sweatshirt concealed her figure. Christy was right.
"When will he be here?"
"Maybe fifteen minutes," Emily answered as she began to slip from her clothes. She tugged on her favorite pair of jeans and pulled out a low cut black long sleeved t-shirt. Still casual enough for studying but a little flirty and she slipped on black heels for some much needed height. By the time Ryan knocked on the door she'd gotten her contacts in and the ponytail had been switched to a looser clip that let wispy tendrils fall around her face.
Christy took him in, all the while pretending to be engrossed in the Chaucer work she was reading. He wasn't nearly as dorky as one of their friends had described. Yes he was tall and a little thin, with outdated glasses and dark hair that needed some kind of style, but his face surprised her. He had a smooth complexion, large brown eyes, and a charming smile.
"Just let me grab my notes and I'm ready to go."
"Let me have those, we can put everything in my backpack so you don't have to carry yours," Ryan offered.
Emily smiled appreciatively and followed him to the door. They chatted casually as they rode down the elevator. By the time they stepped outside into the crisp night air a mischievous smile crept over her face.
Ryan looked down at the petite angel leaning against him for protection from the cold wind and knew he had an opportunity. Hesitantly he put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to his side; he smiled in the darkness as she slipped her arms around his waist in response. He held his head high as they walked across campus, maybe in time she could see him as more than just a friend.
As they approached the bright lights that illuminated the library he removed his hand from her shoulder, afraid of embarrassing her if they ran in to someone she knew, yet her grip held firm. It was only as they climbed the steep brick steps that she finally let go, unable to keep up with his longer strides. As they neared the large glass doors she slipped her hand into his and held on firmly even as a group of her sorority sisters motioned for her.
"Whatcha doing?" an attractive girl with heavy makeup and platinum hair asked.
"Studying for a physics test," Emily answered as another blonde skeptically eyed Ryan.
Ryan shifted uncomfortably under their gazes, their faces not hiding that he didn't quite measure up to their standards for their sister. Emily sensed his uneasiness and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "We're going to go see if the study rooms are open, but we might be back down."
Ryan was relieved as she tugged him toward the staircase and they made their way upstairs. The study rooms were full, but Emily didn't seem to care. He was confused as she tugged his hand and led him toward the third floor stairs. "There's no talking up there," he whispered. "We have to find someplace here or go back downstairs."
"Just follow me," she tiptoed slowly so her heels didn't clack on the stone steps.
He silently followed, enjoying the view of her tight jeans a few steps ahead of him. When they reached the third floor he followed her past rows of deserted stacks then down a desolate hall.
Emily purposely chose the third floor because of its isolation. Most people only ventured up there if they needed something from Special Collections, and that had already been locked up for the day. Even as she'd led him past the stacks she knew nobody would've noticed them studying there, but she kept going. He was shy and complete privacy was her only chance.
They neared the end of the hall. "The bathroom?" he whispered.
She opened an inconspicuous door just past the restrooms, one he hadn't even noticed. Ryan followed her in and looked around at what appeared to be a storage room. He began to feel claustrophobic as he took in the narrow whitewashed room with its low ceilings, scant lighting and crowded shelves.
Emily smiled at her find. "I had to do a paper about The Restoration and couldn't find the book and when I finally asked they led me in here."
