She left to go to dinner with some friends, since he didn't want her to come tonight to the meeting. Couldn't bear to see her, probably for the best. Energized by laughs, glances at cute waiters and empowering "maybe it just wasn't meant to be's", she heads back to her room when her phone rings. "Hey, what are you doing tonight?"
Next thing she knows, she's in her yellow Mazda off to Raleigh. The drive started slow, fraught with memories and what-if's. No problem, drown it out with music. She arrives at his dorm, they hug and go hang out. Not a date--that'd be moving too fast. Just two friends who have innocent feelings for each other, nevermind the third party, and who are just spending some time together.
She remembers "The Office" is about to come on, so they watch it. 20 miles away he is too--alone. The thought crosses her mind, as well as old memories of "their" show. Without realizing it, she is soon comforted by the arm around her shoulder. Don't move too fast, she thinks. Can't get involved too soon.
By the end of the episode, they are laying down, gazing into each other's eyes, having whiled away the commercials to the point where they missed the last segment altogether. Smiles are in their eyes. She decides to make the leap and kisses him, and it is more than returned.
An hour later (don't let the imagination go wild), she decides she needs to head back to campus...she has class at 9 the next morning. After telling him this, he asks if he can tag along too--he'll drive himself and get back the next morning, after all his Friday's are free. With a little hesitation, she consents.
The return drive is silent--no music, a couple rear-view glances to make sure he's still following in tow. Her thoughts plague her with guilt as she debates what she's in the middle of. Her internal dialogue gets heated, but ultimately she realizes it is too late to ask him to turn around--they're almost there anyway.
Back in her room, the kissing resumes. Throughout night it is taken farther, but not too far, not yet. She has blocked the guilt out of her mind. This is what she needs, she tells herself. This will help me get through this. Her night of sleep is mostly sound, sometimes disturbed by waking up to more kisses.
Waking up at 8:30, she tells him she has to get ready and go to class. He playfully pouts and asks if he can stay--he can sleep while she goes to class. She agrees and goes to class, sometimes thinking of the other one and how he cannot find out about this. He doesn't need more pain, there will be an easier way...no need to know the blunt truth.
Returning to her room at 10, they kiss one more time and say goodbye. He smiles, saying "That was the best night of my life." She is somewhat charmed, simply replying "bye" with a smile and a bounce in her voice.
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It's even more plausible written out than it was in his head. Unwittingly, his paranoia is justified.
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