Authors' Note:
Sorry to everyone for how long it's taken to get some of these stories out, it's been a long year...
I thought about breaking this story up into parts but decided against it so it's a long one. I also understand its similar to another story of mine. Sometimes things are!
As always, all person's engaged in sexual activity are over the age of 18.
Please enjoy!
PATHWAYS TO LOVE
Soulmates are a hyped-up term. People constantly seem to use it to refer to whatever person happens to capture their attention at that moment. No sense of patience, love, relationship, trust, and understanding. The last two may be the most important of all because without understanding and trust, how can love flourish and truly identify a soulmate?
Of course, when I was first in college, I had no sense of any of this. I was just another dumb kid looking for a connection anywhere I could get it. My sophomore year, I was just about to turn 19, attending a medium sized state university. I was popular enough, having friends from geeks, Greeks, athletes, and ROTC even. I'd been on dates, a few one-night stands, but really no one I would consider even close to girlfriend material.
I was at a party early in the semester that some friends were throwing. Underage drinking, beer pong, girls lying about guys they slept with and guys lying about girls they hadn't slept with. All in all, a typical Friday night party. At a school of 10,000 students, it's kinda hard to know everyone, so virtually every party I went to would have another bunch of people I hadn't met before.
That night, I was two beers in and just finished a game of beer pong. I was thinking about possibly heading out and sleeping in my comfy bed, when I saw her.
She was gorgeous. 5'7", thin build with flowing red hair down past her shoulders. I could also see she had curves as well, at least a D cup bust with an ass to match. Of even greater importance, she was looking directly at me and smiling. The two beers gave me enough liquid courage to approach her.
"Hi," she said as I approached, still flashing me a smile.
"Hi," I replied back with an equal smile, but keeping my distance slightly so she wouldn't think I was a creep. "I'm Ted," I said extending my hand.
"Beth," she said simply taking my hand and giggling a bit. "You may be the first guy who's actually given me their hand to shake."
"Sorry, force of habit."
"No, it's nice," she said, keeping her smile going. "Most guys here aren't that polite."
"My mom believed in etiquette," I said shrugging.
"Nice to see someone still does," Beth replied looking around the room. "Most guys try to get the hug or grab my ass or something."
"They clearly didn't get the memo from their moms," I retorted, making her almost snort out her drink. "Do you go here?" meaning the school.
"Yeah, sophomore," she replied.
"Same," I replied, which surprised her it seemed.
"Really? Guess we don't have any classes together; cause I think I would've noticed you." I almost blushed.
"Well, that's flattering, thank you," I replied getting another smile.
We must've talked for a solid 45 minutes. Where we grew up, thoughts on our majors, people we hang around and places we go. She was easily the first girl I'd talked up at the school who didn't give me any weird vibes. She seemed incredibly normal and nice. Also, incredibly hot. She looked over at her friend who was motioning to her.
"My ride wants to go," she said, somewhat sadly.
"Oh, well it was nice meeting you and talking to you," I said, hopeful I could get her number.
"You too!" she said, seemingly sincere. "Here, let me give you my number."
YES!!!
She put her number in my phone and then called herself. I saw her information my number pop up on her phone, clearly not giving me a fake. We shook hands again as she followed her friend out of the house, giving me a wave as she did.
My friend Luke came over about then.
"So, you were trying to talk up the 'cold fish', huh?"
"Huh?" I said, confused.
"Dude, that chick has got a reputation of turning down guys, left and right. Rumor is she's a dyke."
"She seemed nice enough to me when we were talking."
"Trust me, dude," he said. "You'll get nowhere with that chick."
The thought stayed with me through the night and into the next day. Luke was normally right about these things, but I still wasn't entirely sure. She seemed so nice and easy to talk to. I decided to trust my own instincts and sent her a text.
"
Hey, its Ted. Just wanted to say it was really nice meeting you last night. Hope you got home safe!"
I figured it was worth a shot. Within three minutes, she messaged back.
"
Hey Ted! I got back fine, thanks! I really liked meeting you too! I was actually just about to text you."
That was encouraging.
"
Great minds..."
"HAHA! Exactly!"
she replied.
After some simple texts back and forth, she asked if I wanted to grab a coffee. I jumped at the chance and we agreed to meet at a Starbucks near campus. I showered and changed and headed over, trying to remember to walk, not run.
I got there before she did, my single dorm room being pretty close to it. I grabbed a table outside and five minutes later, Beth walked up. She definitely dressed to impress. She had a green wife beater on with her mid-riff showing. Her jeans looked tight enough that they could've been sewn on. Her hair was done up perfectly as she came up to me.
"Hey," I said, somewhat lamely.
"Hey, nice to see you again," she said giving me a hug, her amazing curves pressed against me.
'Cold fish', huh, Luke?
We grabbed some coffee and chatted. The conversation was so easy, just like before. Most times I'd been on dates with college girls, they only wanted to talk about themselves and their bodies. Beth seemed to be genuinely interested in talking with me, not just to me. This made it so much easier to just talk to her, not at her. We were joking and laughing within minutes.
After about a half hour, she looked at her watch and realized she had to get to a study group.
"Hey, wanna grab a bite at Red Robin later?" she asked me.
"Sure," I replied, trying not to jump up and down with joy.
"Great, can you pick me up at seven at the commons?"
"I'll be there."
She hugged me again and left, again looking back at me as she left. I got back to the dorm and cleaned up. I lived in a single, so it was always on me to keep the place somewhat tidy. Shower, fresh shirt, the works. I even had time to clean out my car so Beth wouldn't think I was a total slob. I got to the commons ten minutes before seven just to make sure I wasn't late.
Beth came out five minutes early and it was quickly clear, she'd cleaned up again as well. She was wearing a sundress that showed off her amazing cleavage. I knew instantly it was going to be hard to keep my eyes on her eyes with her wearing that.
I got out of the car and opened the door for her.
"Wow," she said, "you really are a gentleman."
"I have moments," I said as she came up to me. She got me in another hug. "You look great."
"This ole thing?" she said with a smile as she got into the car. My heart was pounding really hard in my chest now.
We drove to the Red Robin and got a table. I saw some people I knew there too and waived. They all looked at us curiously it seemed as we sat down. After we got our menus and ordered drinks, Beth seemed to notice it too.
"Must be jealous I'm sitting here with a beautiful girl," I told her, getting a grin from her.
"Honestly, they're probably just curious to see me out with a guy," she said. "I don't go on many dates."