Huh....huh.....huh....Sami's breaths coming easy for her as she neared the end of her run that January morning, running in sweats because, even in New Orleans, January mornings are chilly.
It was early in the new semester, the spring semester; Sami had done well in her first semester at the University, finishing with a 3.98 GPA; she had answered an ad near the end of the last semester from the art department seeking full-body models for selected classes, and got the part-time job.
Sami didn't care that she'd have to pose in the nude for some classes, didn't care at all; she'd never been particularly shy or bashful about nudity, hers or anyone else's. Between the occasional model shoots, her job at the Grille, and the Art Department gig, she was able to start a savings account at the Credit Union on campus; for Sami it was 'freedom' money, freedom from not having much or any.
Running up the entry stairs to her dorm, she ran the two flights to her floor, taking them two at a time.
"Good run, Sami?" Bonnie asked from her desk where she was working with her laptop.
"Yeah, it was, Bonnie, thanks," Sami puffed out as she walked in slow circles in the middle of the dorm room, cooling down, catching her breath.
Since returning from the holiday break, Bonnie had been sporting a new ring on her engagement finger but had said nothing about it, so Sami didn't ask; if she wants to say something, she will, was her thought on the matter.
She had returned home for both the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. Though she was happy to see her parents, and spend time with them, she was happier to be able to hook up with Charlene a few times when they were both at home for the holidays.
She and Toni found a really happy place with their relationship; a true, I-have-your-back, friendship and a no-string, satisfying sexual relationship for them both. Sami chuckled when she thought about their nights on the road with the team; most of the team wanted to party at dance clubs for a while after a win, and they won a lot, T and Sami just wanted to fuck each other.
Yeah, Sami thought, T and I's friendship is fucking perfect.
"Bonnie, I'll be right back, I need to hit the showers," Sami called over her shoulder to Bonnie while she gathered her 'stuff'.
"Oh wait, hang on and I'll go with you; I haven't showered, or eaten yet, working on that assignment; Can you believe that? Three weeks into the new semester and he wants a paper already," Bonnie was saying as she quickly gathered her stuff.
Since returning from the holiday break, Sami picked up a new vibe from Bonnie, one that wasn't so full of herself, one that Sami thought she might even like, given time. But, it was better so far this semester, being her roomie, Sami had to honestly admit.
Since this was a Sunday morning and relatively early, they had the facilities to themselves. They made small talk as they brushed teeth, and all of that morning crap. Taking adjoining shower stalls, they continued to talk to each other over the shower walls.
"Sami, would you like to grab breakfast with me when we're done in here, I have some stuff I'd really like to talk you about, if you'd like to have breakfast, that is," Bonnie asked.
Shit! What the fuck?
"Er, sure, Bonnie, yeah, that'd be great; after my run, I'm famished," Sami replied after a few seconds.
They both had stepped out to dry, talking about this and that, Bonnie oblivious to the fact that Sami was eyeing her with carnal desires that surprised even Sami. No denying it, Sami thought as she toweled dry, if Ms. Bonnie's not careful, I might crawl into bed with her; yeah, she looked that good.
They chose the student cafeteria, almost empty at 8 o'clock on a Sunday morning. Choosing their breakfast foods, Bonnie led them to a table that was sort of off to the side, not near any real foot traffic.
They ate silently, drank their coffees, each in their own thoughts when Bonnie finally spoke.
"Okay, I know you've noticed the ring, and..."
"Yeah, I was going to say something but never did, but anyway, congratulations," Sami interrupted Bonnie to say.
"Well, see, that's the thing; I'm not really sure congratulations are in order," Bonnie said and looking very sad when she said it.
"The thing is, Sami, the thing is that I'm not sure that Roy is 'the one', ya know?" Bonnie sadly said, her eyes searching Sami's face, as if for answers.
"The thing is," Bonnie continued, almost as if Sami wasn't there, almost as if she was talking to herself about herself, "Roy and I grew up together, our parents long-time friends; we were raised together, and from the time I can remember, both of our parents always talked about us getting married."
"Damn," was all that Sami could say.
"I mean, Sami, I never knew that I had a choice; I'm sure he didn't either. When we were old enough to date, we dated each other; it was expected and that's what we did," Bonnie continued to Sami? To herself?
And almost as if a fog was lifted from her eyes, she was back in the here and now, saying, "The thing is Sami, I'm not sure that I am in love with Roy; and I think he feels the same way, but neither of us will actually talk about it, ya know?"
Bonnie grew silent, twirling her coffee mug in her hands on the table.
"Bonnie, look, I'm no shrink, or anything close to it, but this is your life that ya'll's parents are fucking with; one of you, you or Roy, needs to man-up, or woman-up and put it out there to talk about." Sami said, not sure why she even cared, but somehow, she did.
"I can't tell you what to do, only what needs to be done," Sami continued, "but baby, you let them keep this kind of control over you, you'll never have a life of your own; it will always be theirs. I'm not saying either of your parents are evil, I'm just saying that they may not know any better; you need to make a stand before its too late."
Finishing her thoughts on the matter, Sami said, "And it needs to start with Roy and you having an honest face to face conversation; sooner, rather than later."
Nodding her head as Sami was dispensing her dime store advice, Bonnie looked up from the hole she had stared into her cup of coffee, looked at Sami, saying, "Yeah, all of those things you said, all of them, I've thought about and I know that you're right."
"Thanks, Sami, you have no idea how much it helped to hear what I was thinking all along, from somebody else; somebody I respect and admire," Bonnie's voice sad.
Then quick as a flash, Bonnie put a smile on her face and asked Sami if she had to work today, or what? Sami was about to answer that this was the first free day for Sami since they had returned to school, when Sami's phone chirped.
"Sami? It's Marcia; have you got a sec?"
"Yeah, sure, Marcia, what's up?"
"I've had a change in plans and I'm free tonight and feel like doing some more work on your piece and I was wondering if you're available to sit for me, tonight?"
Crap! There's my free day gone, Sami quickly thought, but thirty bucks an hour is thirty bucks an hour.
"Sure, so happens that I'm free tonight; what time?"
One of the select classes that Sami body-posed for was a working adults workshop for painters; some were advanced art students here at school, most were working adults seeking self-improvement with their art, and some were trying to become artists.
Marcia was an accomplished artist who painted and displayed her works at Jackson Square in the French Quarters, one of many who did the same thing. She was in her mid-forties, a divorcee with 'means' it appeared, and while you wouldn't call her 'hot', there was an underlying sexiness about her that was 'just there', ya know? Hanging in the air, seemingly surrounding her 'space'.
Sami had started a project as her model for a large nude that Marcia was doing, at the end of the last semester, just before break, and it was almost finished. Marcia had mentioned something about another piece she wanted to do with Sami, but nothing more had been said.
Thirty bucks an hour is thirty bucks an hour. The sessions would normally last 3 hours and Marcia always, but always, added a tip to make the amount come out to an even hundred bucks.
Hundred bucks to sit around naked for three hours? Sami had no problem with that, not one fucking bit.
~
"Sami, how good to see you," Marcia said in greeting after opening her patio gate and standing aside so that Sami could enter the narrow path to the courtyard. Marcia's apartment was typical French Quarters; three hundred year old brick structures with a small courtyard and sometimes two separate buildings, if one was lucky or wealthy, which Marcia seemed to be.
Marcia used her smaller, second building as her studio, it was where she painted; she had it redone to modernize the interior a bit, adding a bathroom and a small sitting room; upstairs was part of the living quarters which connected, by balcony, to the main apartment.
Sami changed in the bathroom, putting on a small wrap to walk around in. When she walked out into the studio, Marcia handed her a glass of wine, and clicked her glass against Sami's. "It's Sunday, we're working, and we're allowed," tipping her head towards Sami and taking a sip, afterwards.
Sami liked Marcia, liked sitting for her; she seemed to set her own course, seemingly doing what she wanted, when she wanted. She had a quick and sarcastic wit, which Sami did as well, and which Sami really liked in Marcia. There was no age difference that Sami saw with Marcia, even in class with the others, she just seemed so 'ageless', like it wasn't a factor with her.
