Inconstant Moon - Default Font Edition (14 page)

“He went to the BEP concert.”

Krystal laughs. “The world must've slipped on its axis.”

Kate's ready to go when she realizes Krystal hasn't started packing up, and is still working on her web page. “Aren't you coming?”

Krystal shakes her head. “I don't have another class 'til after lunch, but this room's empty, so I stay and get more done.”

“I hear you. It's funny, but a lot of the time I'm glad Nick's course load is so heavy because it leaves me the time I need to get my own stuff done. You coming tonight?”

“Absolutely.”

Back at Fyfield House, Natasha is curled up in the rocking chair, strawberry blonde hair jutting out at all angles. Scrolling through the images on her camera to make preliminary selections, she looks up to see a bleary eyed Boris, wearing only shapeless gray track pants, stumble through the common room en route to the kitchen.

Natasha grins. It's not that she's admiring the rippling muscles of his torso, or his washboard abs. It's more a kinship of bad hair. Boris is the only human being she's met in her life who has worse morning hair than she does.

She reaches for the dregs of her coffee and takes a sip as Boris comes back with his own. She says, “That's what I like about you Bo, you're even less of a morning person than I am.”

Boris sets his coffee on the table and sprawls out on the red sofa with an inarticulate grunt.

“I'd be careful if I were you. If you nod off you'll end up missing composition.” He groans this time. “Again,” she says.

Boris pulls himself into a sitting position and picks up his coffee, taking a tentative sip. He glances over at Natasha. “You're awfully chipper for such an ungodly hour.”

Natasha laughs. “It's almost eleven. Practically afternoon. I've been up for . . .” she studies her watch “ . . . minutes.”

Boris snorts a laugh, making the hot coffee slop back and forth in the mug held dangerously above his lap. In an effort to boost consciousness, or perhaps sentience, he takes a somewhat bigger sip before returning the mug to the safety of the table. Flopping back he says, “We're soul mates, Nat.”

“Naw, just too stupid to go to bed at a decent hour.”

“Good we were smart not to schedule morning classes.”

“Except Friday. That 9 am elective is nasty.”

“Think they rescheduled it on purpose?”

“It's too early for conspiracy theories, Bo.”

“Where'd you go last night?”

“Couldn't sleep so I went over to Callaghan's. You should've come if you were up. Man, Q was wasted. I sat up half the night with him, and you know what? Poor sap wants to make movies.”

Boris fights down the pang of annoyance that Natasha was out with Q last night. “Better tell him he's in the wrong program.”

“He knows. He's really just trying to work up the nerve to tell his wife. She's a med student.”

Boris drinks his coffee. Wife? First he heard Q was married. Good. Then, “What are you doing?”

“Looking for pictures for Ethan's slide show.”

“Your eyes must be more open than mine.” Setting the coffee mug down again, Boris leans back and closes his eyes. “You know, that was interesting. Liz and Ethan, I mean.”

Natasha says, “Yeah, I never would have guessed.”

“I think they're both a little bugged by the height thing.”

“Of course they are. She's an Amazon princess and he's Eric Idle's shorter brother.”

“Aww, cut 'em some slack. They make a pretty cute couple.”

“Mmmmm.”

“Like us,” says Boris.

His eyes are closed but hers are not as she glances over at him. Danger signal if she ever heard one. What to do what to do what to do. Let it lay. It will pass. Concentrate on the pictures.

Natasha rocks a little faster, pretending she hasn't heard as she tries to keep focusing on the camera screen.

Boris watches Natasha's consternation through his veiled lashes. Why does she look like a deer in the headlights? It's not such a crazy notion. She just needs to get used to the idea.

Not a spare ounce on her but he kind of likes that. He was surprised at how good she felt in his arms when thy were scrambling around on that bloody statue. He hasn't been able to get it out of his mind. He opens his eyes and sits up, picking up his cup, looking at her. Sticking up hair and all. Hell, he's never known anyone else with worse morning hair than he has.

“Hey Nat? Wanna try having a date?”

“Aw, Bo . . .” Natasha flushes a little, and looks over at him, “Why ruin a perfectly good friendship?”

“It doesn't have to ruin anything.”

“It's not a good idea, Boris, I'm sorry.”

Boris sits rigid, trying to keep her from seeing how hurt he feels. But of course she does.

“Look, I've gotta go take a shower.” She sets her camera down on the table. “Later, O.K?”

Boris suggests hopefully, “Maybe I could wash your back?”

Natasha looks at his puppy dog eyes and . . . flees.

Boris closes his eyes again. Why can't she see it? They are so alike. It would be perfect. He sighs in frustration. She's his best friend dammit. Isn't that what women want? Maybe he needs to try the cave man approach. Be firm.

Don't ask, just kiss the girl. Make Natasha understand what she means to him.

Ethan sits at the terminal in the cramped TA room organizing the first submissions that have come in by email. He can't believe the volume of response.

Jake only stuck up a few posters yesterday, they haven't even put a notice on the photo blog. At this rate maybe better not to. Suddenly hands are pressed over his eyes, momentarily disconcerting him until he breathes in the heady scent of soap and girl that tells him it's Liz.

“Guess who!”

He swivels the chair around to face her, grabbing hold of her hands he kisses each palm in turn. Liz shivers in delight, then bends down and takes his breath away with a kiss. Coming up for air, she reaches back without looking and pushes the door closed, then smiles and straddles his lap to make smooching easier. Eventually both have to stop to catch their breath.

“Wow,” he says, noticing even through his euphoria that they are eye to eye even though she's perching in his lap.

What legs.

Liz smiles and says, “Natasha and I are heading over to the Antique Car Show down at the Waterfront this afternoon. So I thought you might like to get lunch.”

“Yeah, that was good.”

She giggles. “I meant food. You know, like at the caf. Or the coffee shop.”

“Uh. If you want me to go out in public, it's gonna be a little while before I can walk.”

Liz flushes. “Oh I'm sorry.”

Ethan laughs and tells her, “Oh, don't be sorry.” and pulls her in for an encore.

Barbie and Tamara are depositing the remains of their lunch trays in the cafeteria garbage and recycling bins when Jose joins them.

He says, “Hey guys. Anybody up for a little walk in the woods?”

Tamara shakes her head, “I can't afford the time today, Jose. We've got to prep for a big test.”

Tamara watches Jose's face fall, noting how intently he is looking at Barbie. And Barbie is just as intently not looking at him. Uh oh. Suddenly she gets the dynamic, realizing her friends have crossed the line. Bad shit. Trying to save face for both she says, “Maybe we can get together on the weekend. Supposed to be nice.”

“I guess,” Jose is realizing that Barbie won't look at him.

“You can probably catch Q later. He's finished after comp. Whyn't you guys go out for a pub crawl tonight? I'm not going to have any time for him today.”

“Maybe.” Jose mutters miserably, beating a hasty retreat.

Tamara watches him go, before turning back to her friend. “Barbie girl, what did you do to that boy?”

“The other day it was so warm out, and well, we all kinda dozed off. When I woke up it was down to just us, and Jose kissed me, and I kind of let him. I was half asleep, and I was half dreaming, you know. So. Maybe I kissed him.” She shakes her head. “Either way big mistake.”

“Too bad,” says Tamara, watching Jose. “Yum.”

“Stop it Tam.” Barbie giggles wickedly, “You're a married woman now.” They gather up their things from the table.

“Marriage may have taken me out of circulation, but it didn't take out my eyes. Maybe you can turn off your feelings but I can't. Married ladies can look, just not touch.”

Barbie giggles. “You're baaaaad!”

“So who did you go to the concert with?”

“That guy who fixed up my computer. Alan.”

“I would never have pegged him for a Peabody.”

“Me either, but he got great seats. In the A's even.”

“So was it great?”

“Oh, Tam, I could have reached out and touched Taboo.”

“You are so lucky. But we better hurry now.”

“Don't worry so much, Nick's only a T.A.”

They step through the doors, Tamara pulls her sweater tighter, but Barbie doesn't have one. “Brrr, suddenly it's winter.”

Barbie and Tamara briskly cross the oval toward the Bio Building extension off the Medical Centre. Hurrying because of the cold.

Everyone is hurrying because it's so cold.

Natasha walks fast across the oval. Huddled into her coat, she doesn't notice Boris until he falls in step beside her.

“We have to talk, Natasha.”

“Not now Boris, I'm gonna be late.”

“Then we can both be late. Can you please just look at me? I thought at least we were friends.”

Natasha looks up at Boris and he's surprised to see tears in her eyes. “We are friends. I've never had a friend as good as you Boris. I mean it. You are my best friend.”

“Then I don't see what the problem is. Isn't that a good way to start a relationship?”

“Sometimes it is. Just not this time.”

Well, almost everyone. Tamara sees two people not hurrying. Standing still. But it's too cold. What's going on? Looks like Boris and Natasha. But it can't be. They're tense, body language says they're arguing. But they never argue. There's a joke around the school Boris and Natasha are actually the same person.

If it is Boris and Natasha.

It's too far away to hear, and anyway too damn cold to stop and watch.

But suddenly there's that computer guy again, Alan, on an interception path with Barbie. Tamara thinks, “Another one.”

“Barbie.” He's smiling big. “I was wondering if you'd have time for a coffee later?”

Barbie shakes her head. “Sorry, Al, not today. Can't talk now, I'm late for class!”

Adam's smile falls away as he sees she's not going to stop. Barbie doesn't even break stride.

Tamara spares the guy a shrug, thinking seats in the A's don't mean so much after all. Not after the concert is over, anyway. Poor Alan has the same look of desolation Jose had a minute ago. Tamara wonders if Barbie realizes her power.

Adam just watches his dream girl walking away. She couldn't spare him a minute. Of course, it is cold, and she's not wearing a coat. And he's heard how heavy the pre-med course load is. She probably has a lot to catch up after going out with him last night. Besides she isn't even wearing a sweater. That's probably it, it's just cold. Adam feels unaccountably deflated anyway. He decides to go get something to eat at the cafeteria.

Across the oval, Boris towers over Natasha. Trying to be calm and rational. But it's really hard because she's being so damned stubborn.

“You haven't even given it a chance, Nat. Just think about it. That's all I want. Just for you to think about it.”

Natasha clenches her fists, “I don't have to think about it, Bo. I know it wouldn't work. It just wouldn't.”

“You can't know that. Not without giving it a chance. Natasha I . . . I love you. I love you so much.”

“Oh Boris, don't,” she looks so sad.

Her eyes are all puffy, her nose is redder than the hair sticking out from under her hat in endearing little spikes and tendrils. He can't help it, he leans down and gathers her in his arms, and she's trying to push him away but he kisses her with a passion he didn't know he had. Except Natasha is wriggling and pounding on his chest. Then she stops fighting and lets him kiss her. And it's glorious.

Barbie is almost at the Bio door when she suddenly stops dead. Completely unprepared, Tamara plows into Barbie's back. In spite of the cold, the two med students watch rapt as Boris gathers Natasha up in his grand passionate gesture.

“What?” asks Tamara and swivels her head to see what's captured her friend's attention.

Boris comes up for air and looks down at Natasha. Expecting to see the flushed look of love in her eyes he's disconcerted to see . . . anger.

Fury.

Uh oh.

“What?” Boris asks as Natasha hauls off and slugs him with every ounce of strength she can muster. He reels in shock followed by a surprising wave of pain radiating outward from the bridge of his nose.

Barbie and Tamara aren't the only people in the oval to be arrested by the sight of the tiny woman . . . it has got to be Natasha . . . hauling off and pounding the big guy . . . not Boris! How could she hit Boris? He's such a sweetie and but she just slugged him in the head. And Boris . . . he just falls over. Holy shit!

Boris finds himself sitting on the ground. There's a burning pain in his left eye and he claps his hand overs it. His other eye watches uncomprehendingly as Natasha whirls and stalks away, not looking back. Not even once.

Boris realizes this might not have been such a good idea.

Suddenly there are people coming up to him. A couple of cute girls actually.

Mmm the stacked blonde one is Barbie, Jose's friend. She's touching his forehead as she kneels beside him.

“Are you OK, Boris?” Boris looks at Barbie stupidly.

The other one says, “Maybe you wanna come into the Bio Building and we'll get your head looked at?”

More people are arriving. Crowding around. Half the school must have seen it. Oh great. Just what he needs.

“No. No, it's okay. Really.” He scrambles to his feet. “No, I don't need a doctor, just some ice. I've been hit before.”

Experience tells Boris it's gonna be a heck of a black eye. Maybe even a double shiner. You don't grow up with brothers without getting pounded occasionally. Leave it to Natasha.