I walked into the engineering building for my 8 AM class on Tuesday morning and was met in the main lobby by Sue Martin. She was obviously bubbling over with news she couldn't wait to share with me. She was a close friend of mine and we'd shared a few classes together even though she was a chemical engineering major.
"Have you heard the news about Tom Braddock?" she asked conspiratorially.
My heart was in my throat. Had something bad happened to him? Had he been in an accident? I kept my face blank of emotion.
"Haven't heard a thing, Sue. He sent me a text message yesterday that he wouldn't be able to make the tutoring session Monday night. I figured he had something else come up."
"Oh, something came up alright," she snickered. "Yesterday he caught Sandy fucking Roger Kitchens in his office. BUTT. ASS. NAKED. I hear he went ballistic and they've busted up!"
I was shocked but I didn't want to over react to the gossip.
"I guess SO, he couldn't very well let her get away with that, could he?" I laughed. "It seems the quarterback and the cheerleading princess were not the fairytale romance we all thought they were. Isn't it odd that Roger Kitchens would be having sex with a student in his office?"
"That's where it gets even more scandalous," she giggled. "I hear he's been called on the carpet over it and it could cost him his job."
"Yeah, what is it that he does exactly? I've heard his name but I don't know anything about him."
"He's an associate professor of French literature in the language department and he's a good looking bastard too. I wouldn't mind doing him myself."
I laughed.
"Come on, Sue. I can't imagine you getting involved with a professor."
"Come on, my ass. Lucas, sometimes I think you live in an air bubble. You've got this reputation as a great lover but to me you border on being a total dork."
"Thanks a lot, Sue," I grinned. "I love you too. So what happened with Tom and Sandy or do you know? How did he even come to be at Roger Kitchens' office anyway?"
"Well, I heard that he'd been following Sandy around because he suspected her of cheating," she whispered. "So he had a screaming fit and threatened to beat Kitchens' ass and several people came around to stop the fight. And Sandy and the professor were totally naked while this was going on in front of everybody. Tom threw their clothes out the window and they were on the third floor!"
I laughed to myself. Tom must have thoroughly enjoyed that episode. It definitely saved him from the pain of initiating his breakup with Sandy.
"What about Sandy? What did she have to say about all this?"
"Oh, she was crying and screaming and accusing Tom of stalking her. It got really nasty with her claiming it was all his fault because he stopped having sex with her. I'm sure it'll all be in the campus newspaper this week."
"I'm sure," I said sarcastically. "Nothing like adding to the continuing soap opera saga of this university. I swear more shit like this happens here than at a dozen other schools combined."
"I haven't seen Tom this morning and I heard he called the engineering office and said he's going to be out a few days. To recover from the shock, I guess.
"Somehow I doubt that," I snorted. "At least he'd better not. His classes are too damn tough to skip. Plus, he's got Barnes AND Crenshaw in the same semester."
"No wonder the poor guy needs a tutor. One of them alone is enough to drive you crazy, both of them together could give you a nervous breakdown."
At that very moment Tom walked in the front door, saw us, and walked over, grinning.
"Goddamn, you guys. Can you believe all this shit? I feel like a rock star. I must have been stopped fifty times on the way across campus. I even got my picture taken several times. Fucking unbelievable."
That was my arrogant Tom at his zenith, posing for the campus paparazzi.
"Sue was just telling me how brokenhearted you are," I deadpanned.
"Brokenhearted? Relieved is more like it. I've been wanting to play the field for some time now and I was stuck with Sandy. Guys, I AM IN HEAVEN!" he laughed.
These comments were directed at Sue for her benefit and the shock on her face was priceless.
"I heard you were going to beat Roger Kitchens to a pulp," she gasped.
"Well, it was hot there for a minute or so but I think I'm going to send the guy some flowers or something as a thank you present."
"I can't believe it. I guess it's a good thing guys can recover from these things so fast. What about Sandy?"
"What about her? I'm just glad to be rid of her and I don't care what she thinks. Look, I need to go to the little boy's room before class and I'll catch you guys later."
"I need to get to class early so I'll see you two later."
Sue waved and left us.
"Tom, you do realize most of the campus will know about this conversation before five o'clock today?"
"Of course I do, Lucas. I found out about Sue being the department gossip queen when we were freshmen." He winked at me and laughed. "Do you think I laid it on too thick? Anyway, the main person I want to hear it is Sandy."
"Oh, she will, I'm sure. Sue's best friend is Elizabeth Peters and..."
"And she's on the cheerleading squad."
"You better go do your business fast in the restroom. Classes start in five minutes."
"I've got to make a quick run to the library on break so are we on for lunch today?"
"Are you sure your adoring public can spare you?"
"Kiss my ass."
I gave him a look that let him know I'd love to kiss it and he grinned.
I had to force myself to pay attention in my morning classes. All I could think about was Tom breaking up with Sandy and that I didn't have to be jealous of her hold over him anymore. Tom was waiting for me on the green under our usual oak tree when I finished my last morning class. Somehow he'd managed to sit on a bench without being surrounded by friends and the curious.
"This looks peaceful."
"Yeah, I was just beginning to wonder if I've become invisible or something," he laughed. "People have been following me around between classes and even in class I've had people ask me about it."
We were walking toward the cafeteria.
"How did this little drama play out, Tom? You couldn't possibly have been luckier."
"I'd had a couple of guys tell me that Sandy was fucking Kitchens in his office. Man, how stupid can you get? They even told me what time she was usually there so I just followed her and opened the door. They were butt naked fucking on his couch."
"How goddamn stupid is it to not even lock the damn door?"
"They did," he grinned. "Davy Lewis is fucking Kitchens' secretary and he got the office key from her and made a copy. So all I had to do was show up, unlock the door, and burst in, the wronged boyfriend."
He was laughing mischievously and this was Tom at his playful puppy dog little boy best. I wanted to kiss him because I adored him when he was like this.
"Of course you screamed and made a scene just like Sue said you did..."
"Naturally," he snickered. "I had to make a scene no one would ever forget. The highlight was throwing their clothes out the window. Man, you should have seen them in the wind."
We'd sat down at our table with our hamburgers and fries and I could feel the eyes of the dining room on us. There was a slight hush and I knew people were listening to us. Finally, two guys from Tom's dorm came up and asked to sit with us.
"Lucas, this is Ben Atlee and Sean Combs. They're on my hall."
"You don't seem too heartbroken, Braddock. The word was that you're beside yourself with grief and anger," Atlee said.
"Ready for psychiatric counseling," Combs grinned.
"Oh, I'm so broken up over it I've decided to give up on women and I'm going to take up with men from now on, maybe Lucas here."
We all laughed as Tom and I exchanged knowing glances.
"Oh yeah, the word's already on the grapevine that you couldn't be happier," Combs laughed. "The word's also out that your ex is furious. She's been telling everyone that you quit having sex with her and she knows you were cheating on her. That's why she took up with Professor Kitchens or so she's saying now."
"Oh, really? I quit fucking her because she's as frigid as a deep freezer and I felt like my dick was going to crack off every time I stuck it in the ice. If Kitchens was able to thaw her out more power to him."
"This ought to make for an interesting situation on the football field with her having to cheer you and the team on," I said.
"Screw her. We've only got three more regular games and then however many playoff games we make. I don't give a shit if she cheers or not."
We finished lunch and Tom and I walked out on the green again. He squeezed my hand briefly.
"Can I come over tonight?" he asked quietly. "I know we don't usually have a session on Tuesday night but since I missed last night I thought maybe you wouldn't mind."
"You can come over any night you want to," I replied softly. "I'd like it if you came every night."
"Maybe I will for a while and if anyone asks I'll just say I'm spending extra time with my best friend while I'm getting over the breakup."
I burst out laughing.
"That ought to go over well since you've broadcast it to everyone that you're ecstatic that you're single again. Yeah, you're really grieving."
"I don't care what people think right now."
"Careful, Tom. And officially, you're still being charged my fee three nights a week. The other nights are gratis time between friends."
"Of course, Professor, let's keep this on a strictly tutor/student arrangement," he laughed. "I'll see you tonight. God, I wish I could kiss you right here in front of everyone on the green."
"We'll make up for it tonight. Just remember right now a thousand eyes are watching your every move and half of them will be reporting what they see to your ex."
"Damn, I know," he sighed. "Later, man. I'll pick up some KFC for us. You prefer chicken breasts right?"
"Get the strips and then we don't have to mess with the bones."