Laura Clarke
"Hi, Laura"
One of Laura's classmates shouted over just as she was pinning the details of the after-school debate meeting times and topics to the student notice board. She didn't know the girl well but knew that her name was Kate.
"Hi Kate," she said, before quickly going back to face the board.
Laura hoped the younger girl wouldn't stop for a chat. Part of the problem with running after-school clubs was that people thought you should talk to them outside the clubs as well.
Laura managed the club with the foresight that it would enhance her college application.
Although she was still unsure whether she would follow her dad into politics (in his case, local politics) or her mother into journalism (covering local news), she knew she was determined to elevate her career beyond what her parents had achieved.
She grabbed her bag and jacket from the floor before turning to go to her first class after lunch break.
Laura jumped, startled because she wasn't alone like she had thought.
"Hello," she said out of pure reaction. He was too close for comfort.
Laura knew his name was Jamie. She couldn't recall having spoken to him before, at least not to her recollection. His presence always seemed to be lingering somewhere nearby, yet he managed to remain unnoticed by most people.
She hadn't really expected a response and had already begun to manoeuvre around him when he spoke up. He simply nodded his head, saying, "Ballsy, debating." He said while nodding towards the notice board.
She stopped even though he never made further conversation. Laura was fantastic at reading people. Body language, tone, choice of words, even at nineteen, she was gifted with the ability and it had served her well. He had her puzzled. She had thought of him before as short on confidence and lacking social skills. He seemed confident now, smug even.
Laura found herself re-evaluating him. It was the shortness of the response, either because he was nervous about talking and wanted to keep the conversation to a minimum or that he felt confident enough to speak to her.
He had said it so confidently, so she aired on the side that it was the latter and that interested her. She eyed him up and down with more appreciation before having it confirmed from the confidence in his posture that it had been the latter.
Barely above a whisper he said "I know, Ballsy to just approach you like this, so forward but it is rather attractive, I mean, you just simply appreciate it and of course, it's so Ballsy, it's the biggest turn-on, EVER".
He had approached her with such confidence that she couldn't help but be captivated by him. The intensity of his aura made her momentarily forget about her upcoming class.
Laura gradually felt her muscles relax, and her body language softened. Her initial tension seemed to dissipate as she became more comfortable in his presence. In an effort to further accentuate her femininity and allure, she gently ran her fingers through her golden tresses, brushing them away from her forehead and allowing them to cascade down her neck and shoulders. The sensation of her thick mane moving from one side of her body to another provided a sense of release and liberation. It was almost as if she were shedding some invisible burden that had been weighing on her mind and spirit.
He remained as he was, confident and still.
"All cool" She tried not to cringe at her choice of phrase, but the inquiry had served its purpose and given her an opportunity for further conversation and, more importantly, visual interaction. Since he had made the first approach she figured she owed him, but more than that, she needed to reward him for being so ballsy about it.
He looked into her eyes and then back to the board. "Yea, all cool."
'I'm an idiot,' she thought. 'He wasn't approaching me, he was looking at the notice board. I was just in the way.'
In an instant, she found herself overcome by a sudden wave of self-doubt and apprehension. It felt as if her usually steady composure had been shaken, leaving her feeling unsure and uneasy. This unexpected transformation within her took her aback, yet at the same time, it appeared to have a profound effect on her for a completely different reason. Jamie also seemed to have become increasingly more assertive and confident. To her surprise, these traits only served to enhance him, making him more attractive.
He stepped towards the board while reading the notices. Instead of taking her leave, she found herself wanting to engage more; she stepped beside him.
"Looking for anything in particular?" she said, her words far more measured this time.
He shrugged, dismissing the question.
'God, this guy has balls to ignore me like this,' she thought.
"How about this?" She purposely and impressively leaned against him before pointing to the notice she had just put up.
"Debate," he said as he looked at her. Her pulse quickened. Then he looked back at the notice. "That's your club, isn't it? Not really my thing, to be honest".
'Ok, so he isn't into debate, but at least I have him talking,' she thought, feeling she had achieved something.
"Yes, I run it. What are you into, then?" she asked.
He smiled. "It's more a question of who I would like to get into".
No mistaking the innuendo. She shot back, "The question was, what are you into?" She admitted his bravado, during the school day, worryingly excited her, and she hoped he would press on.
"I know," he chuckled, casting an amused glance at her. "But being so Ballsy like that really turns girls on. Really, really turns them on for that guy and him alone".
"You should come along with me, after school," she said with a little bit more enthusiasm than she would have liked, the thought of how sexy he was running around her thoughts scattered brain.
"Just so your mouth can engage in an act of fellatio upon my penis?" His smile grew wider as he continued, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Attempting to sound offended, her demeanour betrayed her. "I have a boyfriend," she declared, trying her best to assert herself as uninterested. But deep down, she couldn't help but revel in his bold advances. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and her heart raced at the thought of what might transpire between them. She found herself unable to resist the allure of his confident mannerisms and undeniable charm.
"It wasn't him I wanted to suck me off," he joked. His ability to joke and shrug off her reprimand excited her more.
