I walked into the engineering building for my 8 AM class on Tuesday morning and was met in the main lobby by Sue Martin. She was obviously bubbling over with news she couldn't wait to share with me. She was a close friend of mine and we'd shared a few classes together even though she was a chemical engineering major.
"Have you heard the news about Tom Braddock?" she asked conspiratorially.
My heart was in my throat. Had something bad happened to him? Had he been in an accident? I kept my face blank of emotion.
"Haven't heard a thing, Sue. He sent me a text message yesterday that he wouldn't be able to make the tutoring session Monday night. I figured he had something else come up."
"Oh, something came up alright," she snickered. "Yesterday he caught Sandy fucking Roger Kitchens in his office. BUTT. ASS. NAKED. I hear he went ballistic and they've busted up!"
I was shocked but I didn't want to over react to the gossip.
"I guess SO, he couldn't very well let her get away with that, could he?" I laughed. "It seems the quarterback and the cheerleading princess were not the fairytale romance we all thought they were. Isn't it odd that Roger Kitchens would be having sex with a student in his office?"
"That's where it gets even more scandalous," she giggled. "I hear he's been called on the carpet over it and it could cost him his job."
"Yeah, what is it that he does exactly? I've heard his name but I don't know anything about him."
"He's an associate professor of French literature in the language department and he's a good looking bastard too. I wouldn't mind doing him myself."
I laughed.
"Come on, Sue. I can't imagine you getting involved with a professor."
"Come on, my ass. Lucas, sometimes I think you live in an air bubble. You've got this reputation as a great lover but to me you border on being a total dork."
"Thanks a lot, Sue," I grinned. "I love you too. So what happened with Tom and Sandy or do you know? How did he even come to be at Roger Kitchens' office anyway?"
"Well, I heard that he'd been following Sandy around because he suspected her of cheating," she whispered. "So he had a screaming fit and threatened to beat Kitchens' ass and several people came around to stop the fight. And Sandy and the professor were totally naked while this was going on in front of everybody. Tom threw their clothes out the window and they were on the third floor!"
I laughed to myself. Tom must have thoroughly enjoyed that episode. It definitely saved him from the pain of initiating his breakup with Sandy.
"What about Sandy? What did she have to say about all this?"
"Oh, she was crying and screaming and accusing Tom of stalking her. It got really nasty with her claiming it was all his fault because he stopped having sex with her. I'm sure it'll all be in the campus newspaper this week."
"I'm sure," I said sarcastically. "Nothing like adding to the continuing soap opera saga of this university. I swear more shit like this happens here than at a dozen other schools combined."
"I haven't seen Tom this morning and I heard he called the engineering office and said he's going to be out a few days. To recover from the shock, I guess.
"Somehow I doubt that," I snorted. "At least he'd better not. His classes are too damn tough to skip. Plus, he's got Barnes AND Crenshaw in the same semester."
"No wonder the poor guy needs a tutor. One of them alone is enough to drive you crazy, both of them together could give you a nervous breakdown."
At that very moment Tom walked in the front door, saw us, and walked over, grinning.
"Goddamn, you guys. Can you believe all this shit? I feel like a rock star. I must have been stopped fifty times on the way across campus. I even got my picture taken several times. Fucking unbelievable."
That was my arrogant Tom at his zenith, posing for the campus paparazzi.
"Sue was just telling me how brokenhearted you are," I deadpanned.
"Brokenhearted? Relieved is more like it. I've been wanting to play the field for some time now and I was stuck with Sandy. Guys, I AM IN HEAVEN!" he laughed.
These comments were directed at Sue for her benefit and the shock on her face was priceless.
"I heard you were going to beat Roger Kitchens to a pulp," she gasped.
"Well, it was hot there for a minute or so but I think I'm going to send the guy some flowers or something as a thank you present."
"I can't believe it. I guess it's a good thing guys can recover from these things so fast. What about Sandy?"
"What about her? I'm just glad to be rid of her and I don't care what she thinks. Look, I need to go to the little boy's room before class and I'll catch you guys later."
"I need to get to class early so I'll see you two later."
Sue waved and left us.
"Tom, you do realize most of the campus will know about this conversation before five o'clock today?"
"Of course I do, Lucas. I found out about Sue being the department gossip queen when we were freshmen." He winked at me and laughed. "Do you think I laid it on too thick? Anyway, the main person I want to hear it is Sandy."
"Oh, she will, I'm sure. Sue's best friend is Elizabeth Peters and..."
"And she's on the cheerleading squad."
"You better go do your business fast in the restroom. Classes start in five minutes."
"I've got to make a quick run to the library on break so are we on for lunch today?"
"Are you sure your adoring public can spare you?"
"Kiss my ass."
I gave him a look that let him know I'd love to kiss it and he grinned.
I had to force myself to pay attention in my morning classes. All I could think about was Tom breaking up with Sandy and that I didn't have to be jealous of her hold over him anymore. Tom was waiting for me on the green under our usual oak tree when I finished my last morning class. Somehow he'd managed to sit on a bench without being surrounded by friends and the curious.
"This looks peaceful."
"Yeah, I was just beginning to wonder if I've become invisible or something," he laughed. "People have been following me around between classes and even in class I've had people ask me about it."
We were walking toward the cafeteria.
"How did this little drama play out, Tom? You couldn't possibly have been luckier."
"I'd had a couple of guys tell me that Sandy was fucking Kitchens in his office. Man, how stupid can you get? They even told me what time she was usually there so I just followed her and opened the door. They were butt naked fucking on his couch."
"How goddamn stupid is it to not even lock the damn door?"