Chapter 6

Andrew was up early the following morning to head out to the airport. Heloise was following in a couple of days when she was off to stay with Abi. They promised to be regular correspondents that term as the first ‘proper’ week of shoots was arranged and scheduled. With a hug and kisses Andrew left Heloise in bed, Hermès was paying for the room and she could have a lie in before check out time. Before the tunnel flying between London and Paris was an almighty pain. A long cab ride, long wait at the airport, short flight, long Tube into London; by the time he reached Green Park rather than change Tubes Andrew exited the station and found a bench at the edge of the Park and shut out the world for a moment or two. It was good to breath fresh air and escape from the crush of people. With his rucksack over his shoulder he walked the twenty something blocks to Jim and Freya’s flat, skirting past his house, resisting the temptation to walk down Hays Mews and past it. They were out when he returned so he dumped his bag in his room and was eating a late lunch in the kitchen when they returned. And the questions started. Once he had finished eating Andrew joined them in the drawing room and told them about his week.

“So you are an exclusive model for Hermès, for the rest of your time at university?”

“Yes. It just made everything easier. I have a contract for 35 days of work spread one week at a time over all the remaining breaks. I am getting paid whether they use the commercials or not. I am getting paid whether they use me in a shoot. It is a very good rate and it is all agreed and up front. No residuals, no hold periods, nothing like that. I am a contract employee. For example I got paid for a full day of eight hours yesterday and we shot nothing at all.”

“They must really want you if they are going to these lengths.”

“Yes and no. This simplifies things and keeps me off the streets. I cannot work for anyone else, especially competitors and although it took me several discussions, they finally understood that this was not my dream job and that I was going to quit when I graduate. And Heloise will still only shoot with me, and she is a star, and that was the key point right there. Without her, none of this exists, December, this week, any of the stuff in the future. Sure I am tall with a swimmer’s body but I am hardly unique. There are tens of guys, hundreds of guys who could do what I did, and would kill for the chance.”

Jim and Freya let Andrew get himself sorted out and do some laundry before they all went out for dinner. He focused the chat on them over dinner and they filled him in on their lives, well as best they could without going into any of the details. Freya was apologising after one such story and Andrew laughed.

“I am going back to the same job as last year, it will be no different for me. ‘How was your day dear?’ ‘Fine’. End of discussion.”

“I am not sure I want you calling me ‘dear’ Andrew.”

Jim’s comment made them all laugh. They asked about the wedding and he told them he had behaved with his speech. It was nice to have a relaxing time with his friends, people who were becoming more and more the key mentors in his life. When they got back to the flat Andrew remembered the package that Manon had given him the previous evening. As he anticipated it was a videocassette, all of the commercials. He was intrigued to watch them but was not going to watch them in front of Jim and Freya. This was not something he could leave lying around at College so he would watch them either first thing in the morning or while they were out at church. Of course at that moment Freya walked past the open bedroom door.

“What is that Andrew? Is this your copy of the commercials?”

His blushing countenance was all the answer she needed.

“Are you going to watch them. Can we see them?”

Andrew tried to say no but once Jim arrived to add his amused comments to the argument he gave up. He had tried to warn them but for someone who looked on him with motherly feelings Freya sure was keen to see him naked. When the tape started they were both sitting forward watching with anticipation and six minutes later Freya had said ‘oh my’ at least four times and Jim muttered ‘bloody hell’ right at the end of the mini-movie when Chiara was high up the wall. Jim recovered first.

“I think we have something that tops the Allison Page story at last.”

Freya giggled but the two of them looked at him with a mixture of concern, pride and a touch of awe.

“You asked us to not make you show those, so we have no one to blame but ourselves. But oh my, Andrew! That is a whole lot of nudity. And they show these on television.”

“I overheard an American tourist say it was on at 9.20 at night.”

“So the first three were the famous model, Heloise, yes?”

He nodded.

“Then the next two, what you did to that girl while she was in that dress, Andrew! And the last one, I just about kept up with the French, ‘I used to worry that I was too old, no longer desirable. Does it look like he doesn’t desire me?’ and you lift her onto your shoulders and bury your face, well anyway, and then she just flings her arms back against the wall.”

“It is just a perfume and cologne commercial Freya.”

He would have definitely been whacked if he had been within reach. Jim had gone and poured three glasses of whisky and passed the largest one to Freya.

“There is nothing there that you did not describe to us before. What is surprising to me, and I think to both of us, is how different it is to see it compared to the description. Can you imagine the reaction if you showed that commercial in Britain? And you have agreed to how many more of these, 35?”

“It will be more likely closer to 50 I think. Some of the days will involve double shoots. If they decide to carry on the campaign.”

Jim took a big gulp of whisky. Freya came over and sat on the couch next to him.

“I am sorry that we made you show us those. It was stupid and a shock, more to us than to you I think.”

“I think it might have been useful to see your reactions. I lived it and although I will protest that I am quiet and shy, when it comes to stuff like this, I don’t care. I don’t have a, oh I don’t know, a British sense of perspective about these shoots. I think it is partly because I watch so little television. Fortunately they wouldn’t be allowed to show them here in Britain, plus it is forbidden by the contract.”

Freya and Jim refreshed their drinks.

“It is interesting the way you describe it. You are too close to it, it has become normal for you, so it is a shock to you to see us so shocked.”

“A good way of putting it. Anyway, I better not leave this tape lying around. I don’t want to scandalise your guests by mistake.”

Freya finally relaxed.

“Can you imagine?”

Jim piped up.

“You have to let me show it to Norman and Jean. I can’t wait to see her reaction.”

Andrew shook his head in disbelief.

“Okay. But just them.”

He took the tape through to his room and carefully placed it at the back of the top shelf in the wardrobe. He packed ready for the return to normality.

After exercising Andrew was outside Marshall Street pool waiting for it to open that Sunday morning. He knew he would be tempted to overdo it having not been swimming for a week so he took it slow and steady and made a point of keeping an eye on the time. It was good to get back into the pool and just let the flow of the water wash the stresses and concerns away. As long as Andrew could swim, nothing ever built up into too big of a deal.

Back at the flat the three of them passed in the foyer with Jim and Freya off to church. Lunch was prepared, all he had to do was put the chicken in the oven and start the vegetables at the appropriate times. Andrew sat at the kitchen counter and completed the application for summer student employment at the Ministry of Defence. Freya would drop it off for him when she got to work. She had already told him that he had the job and would be back with the MoD Police. She doubted he would even have to interview for the job. Between that and watching the lunch, the morning flew by and when they returned from church they sat and ate lunch together before Andrew headed off for King’s Cross and an afternoon train up to Cambridge.

“I think you will be busy this summer Andrew. The government is pushing computerisation out across lots of departments and we are not exempt. I think that is why they were so keen for you to return, everyone is rushing to get up to speed on dealing with computers and how it impacts their role. The Chief Constable is concerned about the potential for fraud so you may be kept busy.”

He shrugged. Busy meant not sitting around getting bored and being shouted at by Brodie. But it also meant driving frantically round the West German countryside. Andrew didn’t mind being busy but somewhere in between the two would be nice. Unless there was an interview with the MoD Police he would not be back before the middle of June. Freya’s hug was long and there were tears on her cheek when he left. You can guess Andrew’s thoughts on the journey back to Cambridge.

The sense of relief as he walked through Cambridge from the station on the way to Trinity was palpable. He was back, if not to home, then to the place where he felt most at home. Andrew was excited to buckle down to the work. His first exam was in seven weeks and there were four weeks of classes to finish as well. He had already revised the notes from the first two terms, had done well in his labs, and very well in his supervisions. He just needed to maintain his focus and he should be fine for the exams. Unlike his 1^st year where there were four three hour exams, that year it was eight two or two and a half hour exams, a significant increase in the amount of material to cover.

Andrew got to College, retrieved his key and unpacked before heading to Hall for dinner. It felt like more than half the students were back already, the place was busy. He grabbed dinner and joined his friends. Matt and Navya were back, as were Pedro and Helena, he saw Nigel at another table and gave him a nod. But everyone was gathered round Justin who was looking upset.

“Judy and him broke up last week.”

Helena whispered the news as Andrew sat down. He was sorry for Justin as he looked dejected about the whole thing but at the same time it was not a surprise. There were too many obstacles in their way. Andrew said none of that out loud but as his penance for thinking it he and Pedro had to carry Justin’s drunk carcass from the bar later that night.

Monday morning saw Andrew into his term time routine. He dropped off the money for the term with Peggy. Other than a ‘ta luv’ it was no different than any other day. She was always busy in the morning and so he drank his soup and was on his way. He didn’t realise that Helena had not expected him to wake her so little miss grumpy opened the door after repeated knocking. He kissed her cheek and left her cursing him in his wake. Matt joined Andrew in the library from the first day, Navya studied too but with her own group, Pedro joined them by the end of the first week, studying himself but joining them for breaks. It was time to study hard.

As Andrew worked away that night at Addenbrooke’s going through the ritual of re-introducing himself to a new batch of patients he as always thought about his volunteering and whether there was anything more that he could do. It was a common thought and he always ended up in the same place. He was doing this for them and the nursing staff encouraged the patients to talk to him, the rest was up to them. Andrew couldn’t force it. Each evening as he walked back to College he always wondered if he was doing enough. It never changed.

Tuesday night OTC had half the Company present, nearly all 2^nd years and up. Most of them worked on preparing for the Field Exercise simulation that was the key part to their successfully passing the year. You were given a scenario and had to create a plan for carrying out the exercise, there was an attack phase, as well as a defensive posture. It was all about thinking ahead, planning; clear communication, that was a big one; scenarios, how do deal with a range of situations. You were being assessed as a platoon leader, could you seize an objective, be aware of your situation, where the enemy was, where the friendly forces were, had you clearly communicated fall back positions. Andrew knew he would be getting a Sapper scenario and was working with the permanent staff on getting ready for the test. There were two more nights of preparation and then the testing was the first weekend in May. He was looking forward to finally sitting the exercise as they seemed to have been preparing for it all year. He would continue to attend until the end of classes before taking a break until the annual camp. It was similar to the previous year.

They checked Cindies as they returned to College and it was quiet so Matt got Navya and Andrew got Helena and the four of them joined Jack and Rollie there. Jack even got the first round in, so that shows how quiet it was. Helena and Andrew were standing chatting to Rollie while the others were off dancing. Jack was still going out with Karen and so the two couples were dancing. Rollie was the biggest slut of the four of them, he rarely went out with any woman for more than a week or two and he was the smoothest of the four of them in going from ‘Hi, I’m Roland, what’s your name?’ to ‘let’s go back to my place’. He wasn’t a dick about it, he had a few beers, chatted to a woman and left with her. He was not as secretive as Andrew but he didn’t brag and now that Jack was all loved up he was not pestered for details nearly as much. Rollie would stand and chat to Matt or Andrew, tonight it was Andrew and Helena, before someone would catch his eye and with a wink he was off. Helena and Andrew went out onto the dance floor for a bit but when he nodded towards the door she smiled and nodded. Five minutes later the blissful cool washed over them. Three minutes later it was freezing but that first minute coming out of the club was always great. They scuttled back to the College and she came over to his room.

“I know I said Wednesdays and Sundays but I was always lousy with the days of the week.”

Her cheeky smile made him laugh. Once he was wrapped up Andrew lay flat on the bed with his hands behind his head.

“Oh, I am going to do all the work am I?”

Andrew nodded and smirked at her.

“This is one of the two out of ten. Get ready.”

Always go out with smart women. With a high sex drive. And a need to overachieve.

Helena looked startled and then a wicked smile crossed her face. She lowered herself down onto him, rested her hands on him chest and started fucking him. She closed her eyes and Andrew could see, and feel, that she was concentrating on squeezing his dick, trying to milk him dry. When he put his hands on her hips her eyes flew open and she looked excited waiting to see what happened. Andrew smiled and put his hands back behind his head.

“Bastard.”

No sooner had Helena said it than he grabbed her hips again but this time flipped her onto her back. Her smile froze as he lifted her legs onto his shoulders and bent her in half. Andrew leaned down to kiss her and her hips came off the bed. It was his turn to smile as he started fucking her hard. Helena pulled his head down and kissed him as they both got totally into it. Andrew was trying to hold off his orgasm until Helena came but got there first, although a little clit play by Helena got her past the finish line as well. They both groaned when he pulled out and she could unfold her legs at last. He dumped the condom on the floor and she gingerly climbed up onto him.

“I am going to ache in the morning but it will be worth it. I forget how strong you are, you just folded me in half and there was nothing I could do. You were going to fuck me how you wanted and it was fantastic. Not all the time, not even a third of the time, but every now and again.”

She shivered on him body.

“It gives me chills.”

She smiled ruefully.

“In amongst everything that you were doing, do you know what I was thinking?”

Andrew shook his head.

“He listened in Edinburgh. What made you decide to do it?”

“I wish I could tell you there was a plan. But it was totally the spur of the moment. It is a testament to how compatible we are in bed. I need to be very comfortable with someone before I will be that bold and demanding. I am passive and vanilla until I get to know someone better.”

It was the truth and Helena knew it. He would only act that way with her and Suzanne. Wednesday was a quiet day of studying and Andrew had an early night. Helena was at a planning meeting for the Student Union for the following year and did not come over. Thursday brought an interesting wrinkle that he had not considered.

Andrew was not falsely humble about his intelligence, or about his need to plan, and how he tried to be ready for anything. And he was pretty immodest about it, at least when thinking about himself. Well Thursday gave him a cream pie of humility smack in the face, curtesy of Olivia Dupree. She had returned to university on the Wednesday and was at the library bright and early on Thursday morning. But Andrew could tell something was up. She was distracted and he caught her looking at him oddly once or twice. Now he had not seen her in five weeks so had no idea what the issue was but it looked like there was one. Of course there was one, but mister smug smarty-pants completely missed it. As they were packing up at the end of the day she sidled up to him and asked him to walk with her. He was happy to find out what was on her mind so they headed away from the Library, away from Trinity towards Newnham.

“So I was watching TV last week and you will never guess who I saw.”

Not since the infamous bed bath had Andrew blushed so badly. He was caught totally unawares and was a tongue tied fool. Now Abi had been there and seen the whole weekend, and he would talk to her this coming weekend about the previous week in Paris. But it was just the sheer unexpectedness of it that got him. Olivia lived in France, of course there was a chance she would she the commercials. Andrew knew all that but had just not put the pieces together. He looked round at her and Olivia’s smirk could only be described as triumphant. It had been the perfect gotcha moment.