Ask Lacey about herself

You decide it's best to play things safe and be polite, at least for now. You sit down at your desk and pull out your planner to begin mapping out your courses while Lacey awkwardly shifts her weight across the room in Terence's chair. After a few moments, you realize that your roommate isn't going to return immediately and push your planner away from you, clearing your throat.

"So, uhhh, Lacey...where are you from?" you ask.

She smiles politely at you. "I'm from Duplass...ever heard of it?" You shake your head, and she chuckles. "It's a really little town, about a three-hour drive upstate...don't worry, most people don't know it."

"I see. What brought you all the way down here to Ephesus, then?"

"Oh, I've wanted to go here since I was fourteen! My youth pastor back at home went to school here. He said it was the greatest. Not like all those liberal colleges out on the coasts - where you can major in something silly like Gender Studies or Basket-Weaving. I really think a traditional education is best - as long as you're learning from brilliant minds, most of the world's wisdom is old but really important, you know? So why would you go learn from those snooty liberals who want to tear it all down?"

This girl is really something else - but she seems sincere, and nice enough despite her sort of astonishing conservatism. You shrug. "Some people might not like this whole scholarship competition...fake marriage...thing," you comment. "It does seem a little strange. It doesn't bother you to be **** into this?"

Lacey laughs. "You must not have read the acceptance packet very closely! I didn't know the exact details of what the competition was, but I had a pretty good idea. And no, it doesn't bother me. I think it's kind of beautiful, really. A little practice for a loving marriage, where everyone knows their role - as it should be! And besides, Terence seems really sweet."

"I guess," you say dubiously. "But what would you do if he ever told you to do something you weren't comfortable with?"

"He wouldn't," she says with a smile.

"I mean, you can't possibly know that. You only met him today, right?"

"Yes, but...he seems like such a good guy. and I have faith, Luke," Lacey says with a smile. "You should too. Where's your girl, anyway?"

"Her name's Jenny. She, uh...was not really interested in getting to know me." You shrug.

"Well, she's probably just nervous about this situation," Lacey says gently. "You should spend some time with her when you can...show her that you're going to be good to her and that she can trust you, follow your lead..."

"Maybe," you say dubiously.

"Well, and if she still doesn't want to cooperate, you'll just have to be firm with her. Show her how strong your hand is," Lacey says simply. Your jaw drops open slightly. Is she...suggesting you discipline Jenny? "A girl, particularly a girl with outsize ideas, needs to be reminded of her place in the order of things sometimes."

You raise your eyebrows. "Is that...how you see it?"

"Of course! It's clear who should be in charge in a relationship. You just have to remind her. It can be really enlightening - and healthy - for a man to take a firm hand with you." Lacey smiles.

"What if you and Terence disagree about something?" you ask.

"Well, I'll ask him to explain and I'll listen to what he has to say and try to see his side. After all, he's probably more right than I am. And if he ever asks me to do something really wrong...I mean, I guess I could leave him." She frowns. "I don't want to, though. And I don't think I'll have to! He seems like a godly man."

You sigh. "Well, you two are well matched, at least. You're both very lucky."

"Thanks." Lacey smiles beatifically at you.

Just then, Terence walks back into the room. "You two getting on ok?" he asks. Lacey nods, beaming, and you shrug, more non-committal. Terence smiles. "Thanks for keeping an eye on Lacey," he says to you.

"Uh, no...problem? She's cool," you say, giving him a bit of side-eye.

"I thought we could take a walk around campus," Terence says to Lacey. "Sound good?"

"Of course!" Lacey bounces up, smiling warmly at him, and takes his arm. "Whatever you want, hon."

Terence blushes furiously and chuckles. "Heh...haha. Uh, great. Well, let's go, then! See you later, Luke."

You give them a laconic wave as they head out of the dorm room; Lacey smiles warmly at you on the way out.

Dinner that night is a bit chaotic, and the dining hall is an interesting social scene. {if Makenzie > 0}You look around for the girls, but you don't see them.{endif} Some of the people eating are clearly couples, who have...embraced these rules to various degrees, clearly. Most are just eating, but you spot one couple where the guy is lounging while the bored-looking girl drops grapes in his mouth, and another where the girl is kneeling beside the table her man (presumably) is sitting at with his friends, head bowed. Every once in a while the guy she's sitting next to will reach out and pet her hair, or reach out with a morsel of food and let her eat it from his fork. The other guys all laugh and smirk when he does this, and the girl blushes furiously. But clearly the girls who don't like their treatment haven't yet made up their mind about who to take a risk on yet...

Wandering back toward your dorm, you consider your choices for the night. You could just stay in...it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to go over the course schedule and start picking out your courses, so you can get signed up as quickly as possible when registration starts. On the other hand, you could socialize with the other guys in your dorm. Or, if you wanted to really get a sense of the college experience, you could always head out to a proper party at one of the frat houses.