"I'm gonna take a walk," Vanessa yelled over the music to her friend Sarah.
"Don't get lost," Sarah yelled back, taking a sip of her apple cider.
Vanessa just forced a laugh and turned away from the bonfire into the darkness. It was the last weekend before finals, and graduation was so close she could taste it. The stress was getting to Vanessa, and a bonfire with everyone on campus was the last thing she needed right now. She looked back over the last four years at her small, Midwestern Christian college with mixed emotions. She had made a lot of friends, and had some unforgettable memories. On the other hand, it felt like she had been cheated out of part of her college career.
Her time at Vent Moon Run Nazarene University had been lived under very strict rules. Three days per week the students attended a chapel service, complete with worship and preaching. Opposite genders stayed in distinctly separate dorms and apartments, only visiting one another in common areas and during certain times in apartments, under constant supervision. Alcohol and tobacco were strictly forbidden, as were R rated movies or revealing clothing of any sort.
Vent Moon Run was not known for its progressive tendencies. It was only in Vanessa's junior year that shorts became permitted in classrooms. While the overall experience was a great one, she felt something was missing.
As Vanessa walked away from the fire, she crossed the bridge toward the library, taking a right toward the Student Union. The full moon was out and almost dazzlingly bright as she walked through the grass. Vanessa suddenly had the urge to kick off her shoes and walk barefoot as she went to the Union.
As she entered the building, flip-flops in hand, the air conditioner stood her nerves on end, stiffening the nipples on her sizeable breasts.
"Oh boy, I wish I could have found a clean bra," Vanessa thought to herself, knowing her white shirt and short shorts would hide very little.
She went to the counter and ordered a pina colada smoothie. As she turned around, she saw through the large window into the game room. There, playing pool with some friends, was her old friend Brendan.
Vanessa had known Brendan since she was a freshman. He had been a year older than her, and had left after his junior year to study at a state school. They had been good friends, having been in the ballroom dance club together and sharing the occasional video game and suggestive conversation.
"Brendan!" Vanessa shouted, having not seen him in over a year.
Brendan looked up from the shot he was about to take to see who had called his name. "Vanessa!" he said, "I hoped I'd see you while I was in town."
He hugged her tight, as she tried in vain to keep her smoothie upright.
"Holy shit!" he cried as the ice ran down his back, causing him to flail his arms about with chills. As his arms waved, his left hand gently grazed Vanessa's breast, causing a shocked pause from both of them. They simply stared at each other for a brief eternity.
Brendan broke eye contact first, looking back at Erica and Amanda.
"Hey guys, I have to go change," he said. The game was all but lost anyway, with most of the striped balls still on the table.
"You coming back?" asked Erica, a short girl that walked with a limp and spoke with a sharpened wit.
"Eh, I don't think so. I'll probably head down to the fire."
"Loser! Fine, just abandon me here to lose all by myself." It was Amanda, Brendan's blond pool partner with a Valley Girl voice.
Vanessa didn't know why Brendan hung out with Amanda, she was a bit of an airhead. It must be because she's cute, or because she's Erica's best friend.
"OK. Don't stay out too late," said Erica. "You have a long drive tomorrow."
With that Brendan turned from the game room back toward Vanessa.
"Want to walk with me to get a spare shirt?" he asked.
"Sure. I need a walk anyway," she replied.
As they left the Student Union the heat of the night was all but solid in the air. "Oh my god," Vanessa said, breathing heavily from the change in temperature. She then breathed a sigh of relief as her nipples relaxed without the cold air.
Brendan was relieved to be out of the Union. The heat soothed the icy pain in his back from the smoothie, and the darkness hid his reaction to seeing Vanessa.