This is the second installment of this story.
I always found it funny. Well, maybe funny is not a good word to describe what I'm about to say.
Interesting.
Yes, interesting may be a better word. I always found it interesting how the body works. The way it remembers, attaches and responds accordingly. The way it can shock even its host by its actions. The way a person may shiver when cold, but also shiver when hot. It should be the eighth wonder.
I wasn't aware of my body at all. I wasn't in tune with what my body was saying to me. I didn't think twice about what happened in my Communications class and went on about my day. I met new friends and new boys who would ask for my number. I spoke to them like brothers, never giving them real answers about their prospects. I wasn't trying to ignore their advances, my body just did so on its own.
Responding accordingly.
We became friends though. It was easy to talk to boys. I didn't feel threatened, or exposed around them. I felt free to say or do whatever I wanted.
On my break, I decided to head down to the cafeteria to grab a bite to eat. I saw my sister, Jess, and I smiled. She wanted to know about my day, and I hers. We found Susan with Michael and we all sat together around a circular table. Me stealing off of everyone's plate, Jess obliging me, Susan listening intently and Michael looking out of place.
We ate and we talked. We talked and we looked. My next class wasn't until around 4pm and after stealing from plates, I was a lot less excited to be in a new room with new people.
I got to Psychology and felt at home. I loved the class and hung onto every word the professor said. He was a black man, who looked too good to be teaching. He should be someplace else I thought. They're going to eat him alive. I only said this, because the girls in my class were practically salivating unabashed in his presence. They made comments, that would pass, but if taken at face value would be obviously seen as inappropriate. He took them in stride. I learned after, that he must've been used to this as he was teaching at the school for 8 years.
He glided over their statements like butter and always seemed to know how to turn-table the questions back to psychology. At the end of class, I was left with admiration and a shit ton of work due before our next session.
My last session of the day, I was due to be at was a meeting for new Psychology majors. I was told that this meeting was optional, but important to a psychology students' overall integration into the program. I made the decision to go thinking 'it couldn't hurt'.
I walked into the Psychology members room where we were to be discussing the program and have a chance to meet and greet with faculty members and other new psychology students. As well as some upperclassmen. This room felt different than every room I'd been in all day.
It was large and dome shaped with red carpet throughout. I remember the carpet for other reasons.
The body attaches.
There were steps as the room had desks seated in rows which rose above the one before it. Which meant if you were in the back, you would see the front of the room easily. Like a theater, but with desks. I was early. People were filing in little by little as I took a seat close to the back.
I wanted to use my phone without interruption, but without seeming disrespectful. The room began to get less sparse and started to get a little full. We were asked to be seated and I heard names being called out. I glanced around the room unintentionally.
"Leona, Nate" the Professor said. "Yes." Firm. I looked around for where the voice came from in the sea of new faces. My eyes landed on her and I felt my thighs move again.
Remembering.
I looked a little too long and I heard my name call with confusion. Michael appeared next to me like a ghost and nudged me.
"Hmm?" I said annoyed.
He nodded to the professor who was looking at me intently. I now realized the entire class was looking at me. Some uninterested, some humoring me, one observing me. "Here." I offered quickly. I went through the season feeling those eyes on me at every waking moment.
That's where it started with Leona. We became friends soon after. She came over to introduce herself to me.
"Hi, I'm Leona." She said.
"Leona." I repeated back to her. As if the name was alien to me. I realized I loved the way her name sounded. I also liked saying it to myself. Testing how it should roll off of my tongue.
Michael stood next to us. Wanting to join the conversation.
"Where are you from? Let me guess? Barbados?" Leona said fondly.
I laughed at her guess. "Oh, no. That was a great guess though. I'm going to give you another. It's in the same vicinity."
She was looking at my mouth while guessing. I was getting self conscious. 'Was there something in my teeth? Fuck, please I hope there's nothing in my teeth' I thought frantically.
She smiled at me, as if reading my mind.
"There's nothing in your teeth, Vanessa. My eyes wander sometimes. I apologize." She said, but I got the feeling she wasn't sorry. I realized I didn't want her to be.
Michael was still standing there. I finally noticed his presence. "Oh, this is Michael, we went to the same high school." I told her. I don't know why I added that fact.
She nodded in his direction, never taking her eyes off me.
"Say something for me." She said.
