Chapter 3

The next morning, Ashley woke up but found Trisha had already left. Ashley showered, got breakfast, and returned to the room. Her roommate was nowhere to be found. She tried texting her but didn’t get a response. Uncertain what to do, Ashley opened her laptop and started working on an assignment due in a couple of weeks. She was somewhat distracted, her mind wandering back to the previous night. She wondered what to say once Trisha returned, so her work was sloppy.

Ashley spent the entire day and into the evening, only half-paying attention to that assignment. It wasn’t until after 9:00pm that Trisha walked through the door. She carried her backpack and had a stack of books in her arms. Ashley jumped up to help, but Trisha waved her off

“Trisha, what’s wrong? Where were you?”

“I was at the library all day, I just wanted to get some work done.”

“Please, can we talk about last night?” Ashley asked, her stomach twisted in knots.

“No, there’s nothing to talk about. I had a few drinks and didn’t know what I was doing. I’m sorry, and let’s not speak of it again, ok?” Trisha’s voice was firm. She was trying to sound more confident than usual, but Ashley could hear the tremble in her voice.

“Look, I’m not...” Ashley tried to say, but Trisha cut her off.

“Just drop it, Ash. I’m going to go find Justin now.” With that, Trisha walked out of the room.

As the door shut, Ashley sat alone in the dorm room. It felt cold and empty, more than when she’d actually had it to herself a few weeks ago. She looked around the room at all the pictures and decorations that Trisha had put up. Photos of her as a little girl, winning some award that Ashley couldn’t quite make out. Or Trisha dressed in a fancy gown, standing next to some guy, who Ashley guessed was Trisha’s ex she’d given her virginity to.

All these things reminded Ashley that people have their own histories and backstories that you never truly know unless you lived them yourself. You only get glimpses in the mementos they keep, photos they show, or stories they tell. Ashley didn’t want their new friendship to fall apart and be just a forgotten moment in time.

It was difficult, though. Ashley tried all week to talk to Trisha about different things, but it seemed like walls had been put between them. Anytime Ashley tried to talk, Trisha would deflect, retreat elsewhere, or say she was too busy. They didn’t even go to the cafeteria for meals together anymore, which left Ashley feeling more alone. She needed an outside perspective, someone who she trusted to talk to, and there was only one person who came to mind.

On Friday, Ashley finished her morning classes and returned to the dorm to find Trisha sitting around in PJs reading a textbook. Ashley greeted her and got a lukewarm response. She sighed. There wasn’t much more she could do but wait.

“What’s your plans for today?” Trisha asked. She noticed Ashley was gathering some things in her purse.

“I’m going out for a bit. I’m sorry things are weird between us. They don’t need to be. Anyway, have fun tonight if you’re going out with Justin.” Ashley then walked out the door and headed towards the stairs. She found the Uber waiting for her, and off they went to the other side of the city.

The car pulled into the Travers College campus and up to the large main building that looked like a concrete bunker. Along the wall of grey stone was a splash of color. When Ashley stepped out, a petite redhead with a familiar face came bounding towards the car at full speed.

“Well, look who decided to pay me a visit! What got your panties in a twist that brought you all the way over here?”

Ashley hugged the diminutive girl. “Good to see you too, Nikki! Come on, show me around first.”

Nikki showed Ashley the campus and the veterinary wing where she studied to be a vet tech. The school was not as big as the one Ashley attended, focusing more on hands-on learning compared to the theoretical philosophies and frameworks of Ashley’s school. Despite being in the same city, the two girls hadn’t had a chance to see each other since Ashley moved into the dorm. The tour ended with Ashley and Nikki sitting on the grass in one of the quads, the fall sun still warm in the sky.

“Ok, now that you’ve seen the place, what’s going on? Did you break a nail or something?” Nikki teased her attractive friend.

Ashley looked around to ensure no one was in earshot, “Remember my roommate I was telling you about?”

“The Nebraska farm girl or whatever?”

“I don’t know if she was a farmer...”

“They’re all farmers. What else is there to do there besides drink and have sex?”

“She didn’t do much of either of those things. Well, the other night when I got home from the studio...”

Nikki couldn’t help but interrupt, “Oh yeah? How are Rick and Scott? I really should stop by and see them again.”

Ashley gave Nikki’s arm a shove. “They’re good, now focus. We can discuss your vagina afterwards.”

“My favorite subject ... go on then.”

“Thank you. So, I get in, right, and she’s making out with this guy who’s a total dreamboat.”

“ ... I thought you said she was repressed?” Nikki asked, trying to keep all the details together.

“She is. You should have seen the clothes she came in,” Ashley laughed. “It looked like a Quaker convention. Anyway, I helped her get alone with this guy ... I kind of fucked his friend ... and they sort of got together.”

“Ok, so where’s the ... wait, what did you say? You fucked his friend? You slut!” Nikki started to laugh.

“Look, it wasn’t my proudest moment. I think your dick’s bigger than his, and you can use it better too.”

Nikki fell over laughing, her skirt lifted up, and it gave Ashley a good look at the little pink panties her friend was wearing. She knew Nikki would find that part amusing, always happy to have a laugh at her little mistakes, but in a fun way.

“Yeah, yeah, Mr. Quickfire aside. Last weekend, I walked into Trisha and this guy making out. He leaves and the two of us are talking about our night. Now obviously I wasn’t about to tell her I’d just been filled like a Boston-cream donut by my two older bosses, but I said I was working. She was worried about going too fast with this guy, at least I thought that’s what she was talking about. I told her to do whatever she wanted, you know? She’s an adult and she should just go for it...” Ashley paused and looked down. She wanted to think of the right way to say it, and in part for dramatic effect.

“Well, what?” Nikki was enraptured by her friend’s tale. Her life was so much less exciting, cleaning animal pens and crates or checking temperatures.

Ashley looked up, “ ... she kissed me. Right on the lips.”

“OH! ... Oh, was it a mistake?”

“I don’t know. She won’t talk to me anymore. She has completely shut down.”

Nikki could tell her friend was upset; they’d been friends for a very long time. “Ok, do you know why she did it? Are you two...?”

“No, we’re just friends ... I think.”

“We were just friends too, remember, when you kissed me. That changed some things. Maybe she wants more or maybe she’s confused.”

“She did have alcohol on her breath ... I just wish she’d stop avoiding me.”

“See Ash, it was probably just that. Give her time and don’t push things, ok?”

“Thanks, Nikki. I just feel bad for her. She reminds me of me before I met Rick and Scott. She’s more nervous and scared though. Hell, her bush had a beard before I got the clippers to it,” Ashley giggled.

“Uh what? I think you skipped a step or two here, Ash. She let you shave her crotch? That goes a bit beyond the normal, don’t you think?”

“Well, no ... you see...” Ashley stumbled, “We were going shopping for new underwear for her, and I didn’t want it to look, you know, bushy.”

“I think you aren’t seeing the forest through the, well, bush here, Ash.”

“I’ve done yours before,” Ashley responded defensively.

“Yeah, because you were eating it at the time. I think you both need to have a real talk before things fall apart completely,” Nikki said seriously, looking at her worried friend.

“What do I say?”

“Why don’t you start with the truth...”

The two friends spoke outside for another hour. Nikki suggested Ashley come and check out her dorm room which Ashley gladly accepted. The room was similar to Ashley’s, maybe a little longer but narrower, with two beds on opposite sides of the wall. Much to both girls’ dismay, Nikki’s roommate was home instead of partying with her boyfriend. Apparently, he was sick so she stayed home, much to Nikki’s annoyance.

Nikki hadn’t been able to get any extracurricular activities in a month, and she was dying for release. She had hoped Ashley’s visit would have led to a quick roll in the sack. Despite her cute looks, Nikki’s small frame and flat body didn’t seem to attract that many guys. The ones that showed interest looked like they should be on child warning posters in post offices. She was getting sexually frustrated and there was only so much her own hand could do for her.

Ashley called another Uber for herself and promised Nikki they’d meet again soon. She’d try to organize something with Rick and Scott, if she wanted or the two of them could have a private affair. Just before the car arrived, Ashley pushed Nikki behind a tree and laid her lips on her friend. She let her hands roam over the girl’s small ass and gave it a good squeeze before pulling away.

“That’s an I.O.U.P.,” Ashley said with a grin.

“What?”

“I owe you pussy,” Ashley winked and ran over to the waiting car. She waved goodbye to her friend as the sun slowly set in the sky. It was dark by the time she arrived at her own campus. Her dorm room was dark and empty, so Ashley returned to her laptop to keep working. It gave her something else to focus on.

Ashley was woken up by the door opening and two people stumbling in. She got tired of waiting at midnight and decided to confront Trisha in the morning. The two dark shapes bumped and banged into everything imaginable on their way to Trisha’s side of the room.

“Shhhh ... I think Ashley’s asleep,” Trisha’s voice said in a loud whisper. It was clear they’d been out to a party or someplace loud, as they couldn’t control their volume very well.

“Should we wake her up?” Justin’s speech was slurred. He’d clearly been drinking.

“Nah, it’ll be fine. We’ll just be quiet.”

Ashley heard the sound of bedsprings struggling under the weight of two too many people falling onto them. A flurry of giggles and smacking of lips could be heard across the darkened room as Ashley listened. It wasn’t like she had a choice, but she would have listened anyway. She was curious about her roommate’s romantic dealings with the fine sexy Justin. How far would she let him go tonight?

Rustling and more giggles pierced the darkness, illuminating a picture in Ashley’s head. She imagined Justin’s hand roaming over Trisha’s large breasts, sensually squeezing them as he felt her large nipples get hard against his rough hands. Ashley imagined Trisha reaching down to stroke his large penis, finding it stiff and ready for her. Trisha’s nicely trimmed fingernails stroking his shaft and teasing him, driving him wild with desire for her.

Ashley was lost in her thoughts, her hand unconsciously lowered to her panty covered pussy as she played out the scenario in her head. She wanted her friend to be happy. She wanted her satisfied. She imagined the look on Trisha’s face as Justin entered her, and he knew what to do, unlike his friend.

“Justin, no!”

“Come on, please?”

Ashley snapped back to reality. Her fantasy was shattered by the harsh truth of what was actually happening. She focused her hearing to the other end of the room, being careful not to be heard.

“I’m not ready, I just ... give me time.”

“At least touch it, do something...” his voice was low but agitated. Ashley’s former arousal shifted to anger as she clutched the sheets in her fists.

“I ... I did. Was it wrong?”

“It’s fine, I guess. Could you at least put it in your mouth? I’m getting blue-balled here.”

“I don’t ... I’ve never...”

“Damn it! Fine, baby. At least let me touch you then...”

That was the last straw, Ashley climbed out of her bed and turned on the bedside light. She didn’t want to embarrass her friend further by yelling, so she took a different tactic.

“YEAAAAWWWWWN! Oh, hey guys, when did you two get in?” Ashley said as she stretched her arms out.

“Just a little while ago, do you mind?” Justin said, his voice raised with frustration.

“Sorry, just got woken up by some loud voices in the hall. Damned inconsiderate people,” Ashley grumbled, as she stood there in just a thin shirt and panties. She could feel Justin’s eyes on her and it increased her simmering anger. Why are guys like this sometimes, she thought to herself.

“Yeah, I heard it too,” Trisha chimed in. Ashley could see her pinned underneath Justin, her shirt off and one of her new bra’s cups stretched down.

“Anyway, did you guys have a good night?” Ashley continued to chat as if nothing was going on, like they were outside on a park bench instead of where they were.

“Uh yeah, I guess. We’re kind of in the middle of...”

Ashley cut him off, “I visited a friend I hadn’t seen in a while. It was really nice to see her. Trish, I really need to introduce you to Nikki, you’d love her.”

“Yeah, that sounds nice. You’ve told me a bit about her before.”

“Would you look at the time? I guess I’ll head back to my room,” Justin said getting off the bed. His shirt was off again, and he scooped it off the floor and headed to the door passing Ashley on his way. “See ya, Trisha.” ... and then he was gone. Ashley locked the door behind him.

“Are you ok, Trish?” Ashley asked, as she ran to her friend’s bedside.

“I ... I didn’t know what to do...” Trisha replied, as tears started streaming down her face.

Ashley got onto the bed with her and held her close as she cried. “You didn’t do anything wrong, I promise. It’s his fault and his alone, understand?”

“I just ... I just wanted to go for it, you know? Like you said, but I froze ... and ... and ... I got so scared, and he got annoyed.”

“I know, it’s ok now.” Ashley did her best to comfort her friend as she cried on her shoulder. Ashley’s white shirt was slowly soaked with tears.

“Do you think he’ll ever forgive me?”

“Fuck him and all guys like him. You are worth more than all of them combined.”

“But ... but ... what if I’m...” she trailed off, burying her face in Ashley’s chest as she continued to cry. Ashley ran her hands through Trisha’s black curly hair, trying her best to calm her down.