Thank You For Being A Friend
I met Kelly during the Spring Term of my first year. We were in a History class in the old bookstore building. On the first day, I noticed a girl smoking clove cigarettes before class. She had a cute face, and I sat beside her in class. After class, she disappeared before I could approach her. The next day she was already in her seat when I got there. After class, it was the same. By the time I got into the hall, she was gone. On the third day, I arrived early, and she was standing near the back door smoking one of her clove cigarettes. I asked her about her cigarettes, and she offered me one. We chatted before class over the next week, and I found myself attracted to her antisocial behavior and deep brown eyes. At the end of the second week, I made a lame come-on, and she rebuffed me but still talked with me. As the term progressed, we became friends. Away from our class, we'd see each other in the bars, the student center, or the library. We'd take smoke breaks together, me with my Marlboros and she with her clove cigarettes. We ran in different circles that never seemed to intersect. Which was unusual in such a small college, but it happened. Still, our friendship grew and carried into our sophomore year. We were ok being in each other's friends-zone. That is until one afternoon that never happened in early spring.
On that warm April afternoon, the sun won out over the clouds. That afternoon, we challenged the status quo of our friendship. How we ended up on that divergent path is a matter of perspective. We both made choices that could have ended our friendship. Ultimately, our friendship survived, it may even have grown stronger, and secrets can sometimes bond people forever. Here is what happened on that day.
Kelly told me she scored some excellent weed and invited me to her place to try it. We sat on her bed, and she had me roll a pin joint as it was exceptionally strong. After only two tokes, I knew she was right. We got very stoned before we finished the joint. We discussed the taste, aroma, and quality buzz like always. Much like I would discuss and evaluate wine many years later.
Kelly mentioned that she experienced a heightened libido after taking even one toke.
Don't Bogart that Joint, My Friend...
"Man, this shit fucks me up," her cadence was languid. Kelly's eyes become glassy and droopy."
"I concur..." I laugh, "wow, concur, there's a five-dollar word for you. Concur, like I'm in college and shit."
"You are in college," she slaps my arm and starts laughing.
"Oh, yeah, I guess I am," laughing harder. "I fake that shit every day. I'm only here for the weed and pussy. Man, this is good shit."
Kelly laughs so hard that she starts coughing. Hanging out like this is our modus operandi; we get stoned and talk for hours. A lot of the time, we don't remember the conversations, but we always have a good time.
"Paying tuition for drugs and sex," she manages to say as she calms down. "It seems like there should be a cheaper way to get both."
"Probably, but they pay me to go to school." This was true; my scholarships and grants exceeded the cost of tuition and books. I got a check from the school every term until my senior year.
"Yeah, I know," she says, "Yeah, I know, I've heard it a million times before. I've been with you more than once when you picked up your check. Guess it pays to be smart."
"This weed is killer," my stoned brain jumped back to the start of the conversation.
"Can I tell you something," the volume of her voice drops, "and promise not to take it the wrong way?" Kelly places her hand on my arm.
"Sure," I say, "you know you can tell me anything." I pat the top of her hand with mine.
"Well, it's just that," she's hesitant and pulls her hand back and clenches her two hands together. "It's just that this weed does a number on my libido. It gets me horny as hell."
We just look at each other for a few moments before I respond.
"So you're telling me," I try to sound serious. "That you're turned on right now?"
"Yeah," her voice is still soft.
"But not because of me?" I ask, sounding a little disappointed.
"Yeah," is all she says.
"Well, damn," I say, looking dejected. Then I get a big smile on my face. "That's why I'm feeling aroused. I'm not lusting over your hot bod. THANK GOD! It's just the WEED!" I exaggerate the last sentence.
"FUCK YOU!" She laughs and pushes me away from her.
I fall sideways on the bed laughing.
"You wish you could touch this," she almost sounds indignant. "You've wanted to dip your little willie into my mystery spot since we met."
Kelly sticks out her chest, shakes her head side to side, and then points to her body with both hands, palm up, from her breasts to her hips. We fall into another fit of laughter. I notice her nipples seem more prominent than before.
It is not uncommon for our banter to take on a sexual component. It's always good fun, and we're both laughing. I remain flat on the bed with my feet on the floor.
"I'll admit," I say, laughing. "I have thought about it from time to time."
"It looks like it might be one of those times," she says, looking down at the larger-than-normal bulge in my jeans.
I pick my head up and look down at my body. Sure enough, got a bit of a rise going. I let my head fall back on the bed.
"Friends, don't stare at friends' junk,'' I jokingly chastise her.
"I'm not staring," she is a bit defensive, "I just noticed it when you fell backward."
"You mean when you pushed me," I corrected her. "Is it getting chilly here?"
Kelly looks at me and then down at her breasts. She shakes her head and backhands the side of my leg.
"Friends, don't stare at friends' tits," she laughs, mimicking me. "Even if they are perfect."
