Chapter 5

Natalie joined me a few minutes later.

"Morning. You're up early."

"So I've heard. Good morning to you too."

"What did Doug want?"

"Nothing important. I guess he wanted to brag about his latest conquest or something. He got boring real fast, so I scared him away."

"I saw him running out of here as if he had a vengeful father with a shotgun on his heels. You do realize that most of the girls here would kill to know how you did that, don't you?"

"Wouldn't work for them." Leaning in conspiratorially, I whispered, "I pretended to hit on him."

"Get out of here!"

I raised my right hand. "As God is my witness. He lit out of here like it was contagious or something. You'd think a player like him would be more secure with himself."

"Maybe he's overcompensating. But seriously, you're not gay, are you?"

"Nope. Haven't the inclination. Besides, I don't think I'd have the courage to be open with it, like Jenna."

"Good thing, too; you'd be disappointing more than a few people around here if you were."

I let a look of mock horror creep across my face. "You mean there's more? Anya wasn't just an aberration?"

"God, that bitch really did a number on you."

"Excuse me?"

"Your ex-girlfriend."

"It's over and done with. Water under the bridge. But enough about my lack of a love life--doing anything today, or just going for the kick back and relax bit?"

"I'm not sure yet."

"If you feel up to some tennis, I'll be up in my room. See you later."

"Later."

I placed my tray over on the conveyor belt, and headed back to Pellis. A friend had sent me a pre-release copy of Warcraft III Tuesday, and I had promised myself not to touch it until the weekend. So, why hadn't I stayed in last night? I'm not that much of a geek to stay in Friday night to play a video game. Granted, going out all by my lonesome wasn't much better, but one does what one can.

There was a knock on my door thirty minutes later, as I was laying waste to the computer opponent's fortifications. "Just a minute," I said as I paused the game before going over to open the door.

"Hey," said Natalie. "You said you'd be up here."

"Indeed I did." It was on my lips to add "Come on in," but a playful urge suddenly took over. Instead, I stepped away from the door in an implicit, but unspoken invitation to enter. We stood like that for a second or two before I arched an eyebrow while saying, "You weren't waiting for an invitation, were you? Or have you turned into a vampire since I saw you last?"

As she stepped through the doorway, she poked me none too gently in the ribs. "Anya was right; you are mean."

"Oh yeah? And what are you going to do with me, big bully that I am?" I riposted.

Her eyes flashed, and before I knew it, I was flat on my back. She had tripped me in a controlled takedown, and ended up straddling me, her body pinning me to the floor. My arms were held in a death grip above my head by her hands. "Now, will you play nice?" she mock-growled.

I struggled to free myself, with limited success. "Now that you've demonstrated your ability to knock down an unsuspecting male your size, can you please let me up?" I said irritably.

A polite cough came from the hallway. "Would you two like me to close the door?" said Anya. At least, it sounded like Anya--I couldn't see the speaker from my, um, limited vantage point.

"Come help me, Anya," Nat said without turning her head. "I'm trying to get Alex to apologize for calling me a vamp."

"I did no such-"

"Oh, let him up already," Anya said, interrupting me. "He all but accused me of being that yesterday, and you don't see me beating him up." As Nat released me and stood up, Anya came over and squatted by me. Shaking a finger at me, she continued, "Weren't you the one that said not to mess with a lady, especially one that can beat you up?"

I raised my hands, acknowledging her point. "Touché," I conceded, getting to my feet. "So, what brings both of you here on such a fine Saturday morning?"

"I was just passing by, and stopped to watch the show," replied Anya. Turning to Natalie, she said, "Are you still looking for people to go on that nature hike of yours?"

"Well, it's probably the last nice weekend we're likely to have till spring, what with that weather system moving in."

"When were you planning to go?" I interjected.

"Well, now. I talked Cassie into making up a few bag lunches earlier than usual."

"Hmmm, it sounds like fun. Give me a few minutes to dig out my hiking boots, and I'll be ready to go."