A little later, we got to the Warsaw. Since it was closed, we raided the bar. I was sitting at the bar and Lewis was behind it.
      "So, you're really not mad at me, huh?" Lewis said. "Wow." He poured himself a mug of beer.
      "I never was, just freaked out. I mean, a little rolling around could be fun..." I said, then grinned, "as long as it doesn't go too far." I took a drink from my can of Cherry Pepsi. I looked at the can. "I never knew they kept this behind the ar. We'll have to raid it more often!"
      "A definite perk to living above a bar," Lewis said, raising his mug.
      I held up my can and we toasted the bar.
      Lewis put his mug down on the bar. "I wish that monkey could've been as forgiving."
      I smiled. "You could only be so lucky!"
      "Very funny," he said. "I'm gonna go wash my face off. Be right back." He left the bar and headed to the restroom.
      I put my can down, got up, and wandered over to the jukebox. Even if I'd had some change, I didn't really feel like listening to anything.
      Lewis came back out. He'd gotten out of the top half of his overalls and tied the sleeves around his waist. "Anything good on there?" He came up next to me.
      "Not much," I said, noting the only one I really like was Lonestar's Amazed.
      "So... now what?" Lewis asked.
      I turned and leaned against the side of the jukebox. "Well, I should be going back to the dorm, but..."
      "But...?" he asked.
      'I don't feel like it," I said, then went to the usual table.
      "Okay," Lewis said, moving closer to the jukebox. "You know, Oswald's at Drew's place."
      "Really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
      Lewis started fishing in his pockets for some coins. He pulled a couple out and put them in and pushed a button.
      I turned to see what he was doing and Amazed started playing. I swallowed, then mouthed, 'My God, how'd he know?'
      'Wanna dance?" he asked.
      I smiled. "Got a crate?" I paused. "I don't know how."
      "So? I don't either," Lewis said.
      I thought for a moment, then shrugged. "What the hell."

      The next day at Winfred-Louder. Lewis and Oswald go over to Drew's cubicle.
      "Hey, guys, I'll be ready for lunch in just a minute," Drew said. He looked up and noticed Lewis's scratches. "Lab monkeys or Lauren?"
      "I got the same question from Oswald. It was one of the lab monkeys," Lewis said, crossing his arms.
      Drew finished what he was doing and stood. :So, where are you and Lauren at in this relationship, anyway?"
      "Well... umm... hmm," Lewis said, stumbling. "I don't know, actually."
      "Oh, well, I'm all set to go to lunch," Drew said.
      "You guys go on, I just remembered I've gotta go do something," Lewissaid.

      I'm at my dorm. I've already been to my two classes for the day, so now I have too much free time. I'm laying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to the local country station.
      There's a knock at the door.
      "Lauren?"
      I could just barely hear the knock and my name. "It's open."
      The door opened and Lewis came in. He closed the door after him. He went over and turned the radio down a little. "Geez, I'm surprised you heard me."
      "Yeah, well...: I said, still reclined. I turned my head to look at him. "Did you want something?""No, not really," he said.
      "Oh, okay," I said.
      A few moments later, Lewis came over to where I was and leaned over to kiss me. He rested both hands on the bed, one one each side of me. I grabbed a handful of his shirt, as if to hang on to him. What followed was like what I'd said earlier, "a little rolling around"... and boy was it fun!

      Drew's backyard. Drew, Oswald, and Kate are playing pool.
      "Boy, Drew, I can't believe you asked Lewis that question," Kate said, disapprovingly.
      "Well, I was just wondering," Drew said, paused then sighed. "I guess I shouldn't have."
      "It wouldn't be because she's 20, would it?" Kate asked, glaring at Drew.
      "Well..." Drew said, then stopped when he saw Lewis and I come into the yard. "Hey, speak of the devils!"
      "I thought my ears were burning. Thanks, Drew," I said.
      "I'm gonna get a beer," Lewis said, then went into the kitchen.
      Drew followed Lewis in and closed thedoor after him.
      "Don't even say it, Drew," Lewis said. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and turned around.
      "I shouldn't have said that earlier. I don't know, it's just, I wasn't thinking," Drew said.
      "Thanks, Drew," Lewis said, then handed Drew a beer.
      They came back out into the yard.
      "So, what's the plan for tomightate asked.
      "Warsaw!" Oswald said, happily.
      "The simplest things make him happy," I said.

      At the Warsaw, we all gathered around the usual table.
      "It's so great to finally have anotehr female in this group!" Kate said.
      "Thanks, Kate. I'm glad I'm here, too," I said, then glanced at Lewis.
      Lewis caught the glance. "I'm glad you're here, too."
      Drew, Kate, and Oswald "Awed."
      "Oh, stop," I said, shaking my head.
      "And she's a tomboy, too!" Kate added.
      I smiled. "Thank you, again, Kate, you can stop now."
      "Okay," Kate said, then sipped her beer.
      "So, now what?" I asked.
      "Now, we sit here and drink until Oswald makes a fool of himself," Drew said.
      "Which usually doesn't take long," Lewis added.
      "Great! Drinks and a show," I said.
      "Hey!" Oswald said.
      "Great defense, Oswald," Kate said.
      Suddenly, the jukebox kicked in and Amazed started to play.
      Lewis nudged me. I ignored it. He nudged me again. I glared at him. He shrugged.
      "I'm gonna go to the ladies' room," I said, standing. I started away from the table.
      Kate stood. "I think I'm gonna go, too." She followed me.
      "They always go together," Drew said. "Why do girls always go to the bathroom in groups?"
      "One holds the door, while the other..." Oswald started.
      "Oswald!" Lewis said, cutting him off.
      "What?" Oswald asked.
      "Shut up," Lewis said.
      Kate and I entered the restroom and she stopped me.
      "Okay, spill it, what happened earlier before you got to Drew's?" Kate asked.
      "Enough," I said, smirking.
      "Wait, what's that supposed to mean?" Kate asked.
      "We were kissing, happy?" I said, crossing my arms. Okay, so that wasn't quite what happened.
      "Oh... I thought it was going to be something good," Kate said, then went into one of the stalls.
      I held out my arms. 'What?' I mouthed. I let my arms drop and went into a stall.
      A few moments later, we came out of the restroom and went back to the table.
      "Hey, I gotta ask: Why do women go to the bathroom in groups?" Drew said.
      "So we can gossip," Kate answered.
      I rolled my eyes.
      "Gossip about what?" Lewis asked.
      "Guys," Kate said.
      I put m hand on my forehead. "Kate, shut up."
      "Wait a second. What's this gossip usually about?" Lewis asked.
      "Now, you're the one asking all the questions," Kate said.
      I glanced at Kate.
      "Stuff," Kate replied, returning my glance.
      "I'm lost..." Oswald said.
      "And?" Drew said.
      "Nothing happened!" Lewis blurted out.
      I put my head on the table. Everyone else just stared at Lewis.
      "You're whipped!" Drew said, smiling.
      "Am not," Lewis argued.
      Drew kept smiling, but didn't say anything.
      "I am not," Lewis saisd.
      "Stop arguing!" Oswald said, pounding the table.
      I lifted my head. "Someone's made a breakthrough!" I had hoped to change the subject.
      Kate smirked. "And someone is trying to change the subject. Gee, wonder why."
      "This is ridiculous. I mean, does it really matter?" I said.
      "We just like to know what goes on within the group, that's all," Kate said.
      "And I just go along with Kate, otherwise she'll hurt me," Drew said.
      Kate glared at him.
      "Besides, before you showed up, we hardly ever knew about his..." Oswald started.
      Lewis punched him in the arm.
      "Ow!" Oswald said, rubbing his arm.
      "You were saying?" Kate asked.
      Oswald looked at her, unknowingly. "I was saying something?"
      "Nevermind," Kate said, leaning back in her chair.
      "Nothing happened, okay? Now, can we talk about something else?" I said.
      "What happened last night? Lewis didn't come up until 4!" Oswald said.
      "Wait a minute... you were upstairs?" I said.
      "Yeah, I couldn't sleep. I kept hearing the jukebox," Oswald said.
      I slugged Lewis in the arm. "I thought you said he was at Drew's!"
      "Well, I was wrong," Lewis said.
      "That's it, I'm going back to the dorm," I said, standing. I started to leave.
      "Lauren...!" Lewis said, following me outside.
      "What did I say?" Oswald asked.

      I started down the sidewalk.
      "Lauren, wait," Lewis said. "I didn't know Oswald was there last night, I swear."
      I turned around abruptly. "That's not the problem... I'm gonna tell you what it is. We've been going out since I came here, practically. Fine. The problem is that they're always expecting some big..." I apused, then toned my voice down. "Lately, I've been getting the impression they're waiting for a sex story... that's my problem." I watched the look on his face remain the same. "Well?"
      "I'll tell 'em to knock it off," came Lewis's response.
      "Really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
      "Yeah," he said, then paused, "in the morning?"
      I rolled my eyes, then smiled. "You know I gotta get some sleep sometime." I paused. "Oh, alright, I'll meet ya after closing."

The End