# Espresso--Fourth Installment

Author: Ink-arrow
Tags: Cat, Cheetah, Romance

_Well, it took a little longer than I thought, but here's the fourth part of my romance.&nbsp; Yeah, at this point, you must surely doubt my choice in calling it a romance, but trust me on this.&nbsp; It's weird and silly, but that's just the way this is going to work out.&nbsp; As usual, comments are quite welcome, as is productive criticism.&nbsp; I will ask, though, that you would pose a suggestion in addition to the criticism, because unless you can tell the builder how to build better, it doesn't do him any good to tell him his building lacks definition.&nbsp; You know what I mean?&nbsp; Thanks!&nbsp; Love ya.&nbsp; Go._

&nbsp;

I waited on the steps outside the student union for Kieran to pull up.&nbsp; He'd sounded sleepy when I called for the ride, like he'd just woken up.&nbsp; I'd swear that he never really did anything, but he still managed to pay the bills and he was allegedly a student here as well.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It took a while, but his car eventually slid up to the curb.&nbsp; I hopped in and Kieran greeted me with a light punch to the shoulder.&nbsp; "Hey punk."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hey."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Work go alright?" he asked as he started driving home.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Not too bad, I guess."&nbsp; I paused for a bit, then added, "well, it was a little awkward for a while, you know.&nbsp; But things are sorted out--I mean, I hope they are."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yeah man, I know."&nbsp; Another moment of quiet.&nbsp; "You know the rules, though.&nbsp; Sex with co-workers is a no-no."&nbsp; He laughed, but when he noticed that I didn't think the joke was so funny, he stopped.&nbsp; "Sorry, man."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Eh."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kieran drove on for a while before he spoke up again.&nbsp; "So, you had class today too, right?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Oh, uh, yeah."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Didn't you say you were watching a film today?&nbsp; How was it?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It was--er, not too bad, I guess."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You guess?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I don't remember.&nbsp; Not really."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He laughed.&nbsp; "What, did you fall asleep during it or something?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Heh.&nbsp; Yeah, you got me."&nbsp; I turned to look out the window.&nbsp; I wasn't quite embarrassed by my little adventure, but I knew Kieran would never let me live it down if he found out about it.&nbsp; He let the subject die, to my satisfaction.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We got home a few minutes later, and after taking a much needed nap, I got to work on the paper I had due the next day.&nbsp; Kieran was off in his room doing whatever he did when no one was watching--homework?&nbsp; Either way, the relative quiet made it easy to get my work done.&nbsp; Nearly as soon as the last sheet of paper left the printer, my phone rang.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hey Sarah, what's up?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Not a lot.&nbsp; I was wondering if you wanted to watch a movie or two with me."&nbsp; She raised her inflection at the end of her sentence, which marked her as unsure.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Oh?&nbsp; Why?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, I still feel bad about...you know.&nbsp; I just wanted to hang out as friends and get back on good terms."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Alright.&nbsp; I mean, I'm willing to give it a shot."&nbsp; Or, I at least hoped I was.&nbsp; "What movie?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, I was thinking about this one.&nbsp; It's supposed to be a horror movie, but everything about it is like, ridiculous and over the top.&nbsp; And people don't know if it's on purpose or not.&nbsp; How's that sound?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Good, actually."&nbsp; It seemed like she had the same taste in movies as I did, at least.&nbsp; "You remember how to get to my place?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I think so.&nbsp; I'll be over soon."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "See ya then."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of course, now I was left to ponder over the situation.&nbsp; It felt a lot like I'd been living in fast-forward and that things were only just coming back down to regular speed.&nbsp; Sarah seemed genuine in her attempts to have me as a friend, though whether or not she had feelings for me was something I wasn't quite sure of.&nbsp; I, for whatever consequence would come from it, was the trusting type.&nbsp; It wasn't too hard to forgive her--after all, I could have stopped her, but I didn't.&nbsp; She technically started it, but I couldn't be mad because she probably would have stopped if I'd asked.&nbsp; Best not to dwell on things past, though.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But there was still Kieran to deal with.&nbsp; He'd been a little suspicious lately, and really nice, but he was hard to read.&nbsp; He probably felt sorry for me, and maybe awkward about having kissed my cheek.&nbsp; He had, after all, been leaving me alone this afternoon, so that had to be the case.&nbsp; He'd be over it soon.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I let myself fall gently onto my side, bouncing a little on the couch cushion.&nbsp; "Ugh," I sighed, talking to myself to break the silence, "can I have my normal life back now?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Shazah! &nbsp;Your wish has been granted little one!" a voice said, booming from behind me.&nbsp; I yelped and fell off the couch.&nbsp; From the floor, I heard Kieran roaring with laughter.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Wow!&nbsp; Sorry, dude!&nbsp; Didn't mean to scare you that bad!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I jumped onto the couch and sprung off it, tackling Kieran to the ground.&nbsp; "You jerk!&nbsp; What'd you mean to do, then?"&nbsp; I pinned his arms by his sides and put my weight on him.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, I wanted to spook you a little, or make you laugh, but not to make you fall on your ass!"&nbsp; He was still laughing.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I grabbed his shoulders and slammed him against the floor once.&nbsp; "Well it wasn't that funny!&nbsp; Don't do it again, Kieran," I growled.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He grinned and flipped me over, with what seemed like ease for him.&nbsp; He pinned my wrists by my head and sat on my chest.&nbsp; "Or what?" he growled back, playfully.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I blushed.&nbsp; Dammit.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He might not have noticed, because right then the door buzzed.&nbsp; Kieran hopped off me and answered the buzzer.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hello," he sang.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hello?&nbsp; Is that you, Kieran?"&nbsp; It was a girl's voice, and I doubted Kieran recognized it as Sarah's.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You know it, babe.&nbsp; Come on up."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I got up off the floor and brushed myself off.&nbsp; Did you even know who that was?" I asked in a frustrated tone.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yeah.&nbsp; Sarah.&nbsp; I know her from class."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You actually go to class?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Sometimes," he said, a grin spreading across his face.&nbsp; He opened the door and Sarah came in.&nbsp; She looked at the two of us and raised an eyebrow.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You two get in a fight or something?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "No," I answered matter-of-factly.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Not really," Kieran said at the same time.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sarah smiled, but her skepticism was obvious.&nbsp; "You boys want to start the movie?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Sure," Kieran answered for me.&nbsp; "I'll put it in."&nbsp; He took the movie from her and fed it into the DVD player.&nbsp; After grabbing the remote, he took a seat in the middle of the couch.&nbsp; Sarah sat to his right, and I to his left.&nbsp; He started the movie, leaned back, and stretched his arms around each of us.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Cut it out, Kieran," I said, trying to pry his paw off me.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Relax, Chess," Sarah laughed.&nbsp; "We're all friends, right?&nbsp; There's nothing wrong with sitting close."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "But..."&nbsp; I sighed.&nbsp; "I guess not."&nbsp; I relaxed and let Kieran pull me closer to him.&nbsp; He tugged me over a little so that I leaned on him, matching Sarah.&nbsp; He was surprisingly warm and soft, so I didn't put up any fight; instead, I snuggled in--just a little.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We watched the movie like that, with Sarah and I both pulled close to the cheetah.&nbsp; It was just like Sarah had told me: the movie was too ridiculous to believe.&nbsp; The acting was awful and always over the top.&nbsp; It didn't take long before we were glad to see each stereotyped character die.&nbsp; We rooted for the monster-- which was some kind of swamp man that they never bothered to explain or introduce--even though his pursuits were laughably stupid in their tact.&nbsp; By the end of the movie, when the last one left (the blonde, of course) was screaming her head off, we were roaring with laughter.&nbsp; The monster actually punched her head clean off her shoulders before trudging back to the lake.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At length, our laughter died down and we settled into a light snuggle on the couch.&nbsp; It was more comfortable than I would have expected.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "So did you call that guy, Chess?" Sarah asked, killing said comfort.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yeah, I did."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Oh?" Kieran asked, giving me a nudge.&nbsp; "You didn't say anything about that earlier.&nbsp; Have you met again yet?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Er, yeah.&nbsp; We did."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Where?" Sarah asked.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "He, uh, came to my class."&nbsp; Kieran tensed up a little and I knew my cover was blown.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I knew it!&nbsp; You got down and dirty instead of watching that movie, didn't you?"&nbsp; He started laughing, and Sarah leaned around Kieran to scrutinize me.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You two made out in the middle of class?" she asked, mild shock coating her voice.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, we--yeah.&nbsp; Made out."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You totally did more than that!&nbsp; Look at you!" Kieran said, pointing out my blush.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Okay, fine!&nbsp; He went down on me during it."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Before I could add anything else, Kieran interrupted me.&nbsp; "You little perv!"&nbsp; He kept laughing.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Really?" Sarah asked, unsure if we were joking.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I could only nod, but my burning face was enough of a confirmation.&nbsp; Sarah's jaw came loose and Kieran just laughed louder.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I'm a little surprised at you, Chess," she said after she had collected herself.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hey, it's not like I planned it, you know!&nbsp; I thought we'd talk or something, but he had other ideas."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Are you sure he's not just interested in sex, then?&nbsp; Or is that fine for you?"&nbsp; She posed the question easily enough, but the look on her face told me she wasn't okay with that kind of thing.&nbsp; At least not for me.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You're getting ahead of yourself.&nbsp; I'm gonna see him again soon and we'll probably go on a real date."&nbsp; She looked skeptical, so I amended myself.&nbsp; "Did you expect me to tell him to stop?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She shook her head dismissively.&nbsp; "Boys."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kieran turned to Sarah.&nbsp; "Speaking of which, wanna come talk in my room for a while about something?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I scoffed, but she got up with him and followed him to his room.&nbsp; I turned and watched, mouth agape as Kieran waved to me before closing his door.&nbsp; Listening intently, I could hear their voices--Kieran's low and resonant, Sarah's hushed with interest.&nbsp; After a couple of exchanges, I heard Sarah giggle, but after that, things got quiet.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I couldn't do anything but watch the door in disbelief.&nbsp; "I surprised _you?_"

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/0mvLGj41