WHOOF! "Eeeeek!"
And that's how I found myself falling backwards with a bundle of terrified girl in my arms. I landed on my butt and rolled sideways to avoid slamming my head on the floor, automatically tightening my grip around Laura to protect her. We ended up with me nearly on top of her, my arms under both of us.
"Are you alright?" We both said it at the same time, and then we both laughed.
That broke the disorientation, and I suddenly realized what my right hand was tightly squeezing. A firm, very nicely shaped, breast. Laura's breast. Laura the super brain.
I let go. "Sorry!"
"It's alright. Small price to avoid banging my head." Laura stood up as I scrambled up behind her. She added in an offhand tone, "But you'll have to date me to do that again."
"I'd love to." Shit, what just came out of my mouth? Before I even thought about it?
Laura turned, an arch in her eyes. "Which one, date me or feel me up?"
"Both." Again, I couldn't believe what was coming out of my mouth. My face started burning.
"How romantic." But there was a small smile playing across her lips. I decided to gamble before I lost my nerve.
"Laura, could I interest you in a date this weekend?"
"Maybe. What do have in mind?"
"Dinner and a movie? Saturday?"
"Sounds lovely. I think I can fit that in. Now, let's get this experiment working again."
And she was back to business. We went through the procedure and discovered we had the Bunsen burner a little too close, and the next time we got the reaction to occur without the pyrotechnics. Laura's cool efficiency mirrored over to me, and it kept my mind off the ramifications of our earlier discussion. We put things away and notified the bored student on duty that we were done.
"Thanks for getting this lab done during a free period. It's much better without everyone else around."
"Especially when we nearly blew the lab up," I added. We both laughed.
Walking out, Laura bumped my hips with hers. "Looking forward to Saturday, Shawn."
"Me too."
She waved. "See ya' around."
My mind went into overdrive as soon as she walked away. A lot had happened in the last hour. First request for a date. Check. First request accepted. Check. First boob in my hand. Well, maybe not a complete check. But Laura kept a nice pair tucked under her loose shirts. Very nice. She also kept a sassy, playful side hidden under her high-achiever exterior. The brainy, driven girl I had known for so long was changing in my mind.
And what about me? What the hell was I doing when I answered her? I had known Laura as a lab and study partner for a while now. She and her friend Susan pulled their weight and kept me challenged. But I had never been attracted. Laura just seemed too smart to be any fun. Apparently, a hidden side of me thought it knew better, and it hijacked my mouth during our conversation. I was just happy that she took it well.
Saturday found me walking up to Laura's house. Her mother let me in.
"It looks like our daughter's giving you the full treatment. She'll be down in a few minutes, so you have to talk to us for a while."
I laughed. "At least I've been here many times, studying with Laura and Susan. And enjoying your fine cooking."
Laura's mother laughed. "Buttering us up before your date?"
"Well, you're not cleaning your gun collection for my benefit, but I thought I had better play the part of the respectful boy taking your daughter out."
Both her parents laughed. "I can see why she likes you. Now, let's see what embarrassing stories from her childhood we can discuss."
"Alas, there's no time!" Laura's voice came down the stairs. Her mother winked, then I turned to the sound of steps.
"Wow, Laura, you look great!" Laura was decked out in a soft, fine shirt over a skirt of equally fine fabric. A set of tasteful sandals completed the big picture, and matching necklace and bracelets filled in the details. She had that effortless classy yet casual look that only a few people can pull off. Compared to her usual t-shirt and jeans, she really caught my eye. The hidden side of me said
this is what you've been missing.
"Why thank you, Shawn. You look very nice yourself."
"In fact, you both look so nice that we'd like a picture, if that's okay."
"Going through all the family rituals, Mom?"
"They wouldn't be rituals if we didn't, right?"
Laura sighed. "Where would you like us?"
"How about on the staircase, here? And Shawn, please put your arm around her waist and act relaxed. We want to show off Laura's dashing date to family. It'll ruin the effect if you're all nervous and stiff."
Laura leaned in and whispered, "Just grab me like you did in the lab."
"I'm not sure your mother wants me
that
relaxed," I whispered back. We both laughed, and I heard the click.
"Fantastic. Must be some inside joke. Keep going."
That broke the ice, and Laura's mother coached us through several shots. Laura felt really good next to me, and my smiles took no effort at all.
I look back now and wonder if Laura's mother was subtly helping me out. After posing with my arm around Laura, the entire date was more relaxed. We kept up an animated conversation over dinner.
"I just want to say again that you look fantastic, Laura. That outfit really works for you."
"Thank you again, Shawn." Her eyes arched. "And the implied question is why don't I dress like this more often?"
I started to protest, then laughed. "Maybe."
Laura winked. "Long story. I don't have a lot of time to dress up for school, and I'm not fighting to get into the popular cliques. I've got a good set of friends who like me for who I am. Finally, I want to attract the right kind of attention. I figure I can play the high-achiever nerd in high school and then maybe branch out into hot sorority babe when I get to college."
I laughed. "It won't take much additional effort."
Laura laughed. "You say that now, high school boy. But wait till you get to college and see the competition."
We kept up the banter through dinner and held hands at the movie. Laura sparkled, and I saw a playful side of her that I didn't really know, or maybe I hadn't recognized in our study sessions.
As well as the date had gone, I didn't press my luck at her doorstep. I gave her a brief hug and said goodbye.
That date was the start of many others. We still studied together with Susan, but we became girlfriend and boyfriend. Laura maintained her nerd credentials, but she did change her look a bit. My friends noticed.
"You're having an effect on Laura," one of them mentioned. "She catches attention with her shirts and tight jeans these days. She also seems more...alive."
"There's a lot more to her than I realized," I replied.
"No kidding. Good catch, bud."
But I kept my approach low key. I had asked for, and gotten permission, to kiss Laura, and I could tell we both enjoyed that, but I didn't go further. I still remembered her tease about "feeling her up," but I figured that was in jest. I was raised to respect women, and I was pretty naive to boot. If Laura was sending any signals, I was missing them.
Laura's parents had me over a lot, and mine did the same. In fact, they got to know each other and were becoming friends. Laura and I celebrated each other's 18th birthday in the early fall, and we grew closer. Between studying and dating, we saw each other a lot. I also got to know Susan better. I could tell she and Laura were close, and they slept over frequently. I went to sleep more than once wishing I were in Susan's place.
It took a pretty direct push to move me along in the physicality department.
"Which convent is Laura choosing next year?" Susan had fallen into step beside me between classes.
"What?"
"Well, you treat her like a nun, so I figured you knew."
"Very funny."
"Look, Shawn, I care for my friend, so you're going to get some free advice. Laura may be wicked smart, but she is also fully wired for fun. She trusts you. And she's more open-minded than you think. So be a little daring. I want to hear some steamy details."