Luc's fling with Jenny was a perfect beard for his pursuit of Sanaii. When he saw Sanaii outside the arts hall he always made sure to catch her eye so that they could exchange a friendly wave.
"You know her?" asked Jenny turning up her nose as if she smelled something bad.
Luc smiled. "In passing." he said.
It was too easy for him to worm his way into her quiet time in the Zen garden. She was always there around the same time Tuesday - Thursday eating her lunch weather permitting. Luc rationalized that he was bored, and though pussy fell in his lap on a regular basis, getting the kitty cat to come out and play from behind her shy girl day face like the slut she really was a far more exciting game than another bend over and spread 'em with Jenny and her ilk. If he actually enjoyed their light, casual conversation and her shy smile more than he anticipated, all the better. Since he was taking the scenic route to get his fantasy fuck, why not enjoy it?
"Started without me again." Lucas said to Sanaii as she finished her apple.
Sanaii smiled from where she sat on the bench. Lucas looked gorgeous as always. Sanaii believed she didn't harbor any illusions about Lucas. She knew she had a crush on him, and that crush was going nowhere. She certainly had no intention of ruining his warm acquaintance by dwelling on an attraction that was not shared. She counted herself lucky that whenever he saw her sitting in the garden, he stopped to talk to her. Crying and slobbering all over his shoulder the first time they meet seemed to break the barrier of awkward unfamiliarity, and she felt closer to Lucas in the short time that she'd known him than anyone else on campus.
Lucas was frank and funny, and nice to be around. She liked who she was when she was with him. His confidence made something in her unwind. She felt relaxed enough to talk, and even flirt a little. She found she was able to take a little bit of the esteem boost from their encounters into the rest of the day. She actually confronted her room mate about something that had been bothering her for weeks. After a tense moment, Sameera was quite reasonable and willing to compromise. Lucas's bold words came back to her after she had told him about how nervous confrontation made her. "The world's not going to end because someone disagrees with you, Sa'."
"I was starved," Sanaii said making room for him on the bench.
"Have one of these," he whipped out a pack of double chocolate gourmet cookies from a brown bag.
"Lucas, you're evil," Sanaii sighed her mouth watering as she took one.
"Just a little." he responded in a low voice watching her lick a crumb from the corner of her full lips.
"So, what's up? I heard you guys won another race."
Luc raised his hand in victory, "We're kicking ass."
"You're so competitive, Lucas."
"I like getting what I want. There's nothing wrong with that."
"Luuuuuccc! Come back from the dark side." parodied a raspy voice from the foot bridge.
Laughing, Luc turned and saw one of his crewmates.
"Fuck you,Darth." he called out.
Sanaii's head was downcast when he turned back.
"What? Am I too much potty mouth for you, Sanaii?"
Sanaii looked at him and tilted her head quizzically, "I think that "dark side" remark was directed at me, don't you?"
Luc shrugged, "No. Steve's a Star Wars fanatic. If he could row with a light saber he would. Sanaii, I know it's not easy for you and the other 'ships, but not everybody here has a Pat Robertson microphone stuck up his ass. If some people do want to talk shit, who cares? Our friendship is not going to unbalance the world order."
Sanaii smiled and nodded her head affirmatively.
"So you do consider us friends?"
"Sure," said Luc taking a bite out of his cookie, "You think I share my chocolate cookies with any old bum?"
Sanaii laughed and felt her heart do a little dance. It felt so very nice to finally have a friend.
*********
"I'm thinking about breaking up with Jenny, scratch the thinking part."
Sanaii and Luc sat in their usual spot. The weather was crisp. Sanaii had a light fleece blanket spread across her lap.
"Well, Jenny is sort of abrasive at times."
"Abrasive at times," Luc mocked Sanaii's whispery voice, "Code words for total bitch."
"Pretty much." Sanaii agreed. "From what I hear, you don't have any problems getting girls. You can do better."
Luc tilted his head and smiled.
"What have you heard about me, I spy Sanaii?"
Sanaii blushed and Luc was surprised at the color flush he could slightly see in her smooth dark skin.
"What, tell me? Tell me now or it's tickle monster time."
Luc flexed his fingers with mock menace.
