Get settled back at the room first

"Why don't we get you settled back at my room first, then we can decide."

Mark seems cool with that suggestion, which is a good thing, because you are just getting to the campus by that point.

You park the car and help Mark with his bags. You are surprised that even though his dad works here at the university, he has virtually no knowledge of the place.

"My dad is under the impression that most college students have rather loose morals," he explained. "I'm sure he's going to be ok with me being here with you, since he has such high confidence in you."

If you didn't feel so guilty about that, you would laugh at the irony. You could be the poster child for loose morals. Still, you are pretty proud of yourself that you have honored your responsibility and have thus far kept Mark away from anything unduly scandalous.

As the two of you make your way to your dorm, you notice Mark's eyes darting all over the place -- particularly toward the women who are walking by. So far, none of them seem to be particularly a knockout, but you guess that for Mark, coming from such a sterile environment, all of them must seem like supermodels.

"Say, Mark.... I'm curious.... How do you -- you know -- suppress the instincts to -- well -- pursue romance?" Your words might not be the most eloquent, but you mentally pat yourself on the back for cleaning up the original question, which was, "Dude, how do you survive without getting a piece of ass once in a while?"

Mark keeps his eyes on a senior who walks by in a tank top as he answers. "Well, romance doesn't happen because we're never given the chance. The only time we even see a girl is if it is somebody's sister who is visiting, and even then, girls are only allowed in the main visitor's center in full view of the staff."

"So you've never been on a date or a dance or anything?"

"Never. I wouldn't even know what to do on a date."

You shake your head in amazement. He might as well be describing life as a single-celled organism, for as much as you are able to relate to it.

You enter the dormitory and lead Mark to your room. Grateful that this is a relatively quiet time, you were pretty confident you could get him to your room without having to pick your path through an orgy or fraternity hazing ritual. Despite your caution, you had one anxious moment when a door opened and a male and female student emerged, each wrapped only in a towel, hand-in-hand, on their way to the showers. You glance at Mark and see his eyes wide and sweat forming on his forehead. It wouldn't surprise you if he creamed his jeans right then and there.

"Are they going to shower together?" he asked, in astonishment.

"Yeah... Um... They are really into water conservation here," you say, realizing that was about the lamest explanation you could have given. "Listen, the rules are a lot less strict here; you're probably going to see some things that seem pretty wild. I don't want to cause any problems for you, so if you'd prefer, we can go somewhere else."

"NO!" Mark's answer was so immediate and forceful that it startled you. His follow up was a bit more subdued. "I mean, it's all ok. It's not like I have no idea of what goes on outside St. Fidelus, right? It's all cool."

Relieved at his response, but also a bit more on guard about the risks involved, you unlock the door to your room and usher him inside.

"Just make yourself at home," you say, pointing toward your roommate's bunk. "You can crash there. Help yourself to anything in the fridge. There's snacks in the top drawer over there..."

You stop your brief tour when you realize that Mark is frozen in the doorway. His eyes are taking in the pictures on your wall. You mentally slap your forehead. If this guy reacted the way he did at the sight of a girl wrapped in a towel, what did you think he would do when he saw the pictures on your walls. Bikini models, beer advertisement posters, and a few speedo-clad male bodybuilders met Mark's eyes from each wall.

"Um.... Let me take those down," you say, moving quickly to pull the nearest poster off the wall.

Again, Mark's answer was immediate. "NO! OK, I know I'm gawking, but I get ZERO chance to see anything like this!"

"I know, Bro, but your dad would wig out if he knew I was exposing you to things like that. Besides, it's just going to get you horned up, with nothing to do about it."

Mark smiled. "I think my dad would wig out if he knew a lot of things about you, Bryan. I'm beginning to suspect that you're not quite as pristine as he thinks you are."

You nervously chuckle, but also wonder whether you are setting yourself up for a major disaster if Professor Clark ever does find out about this. Still, Mark seems to be pretty cool, and he doesn't strike you as the type who would rat you out.

You are about to resume your tour of the room, when a knock on the frame of the open door interrupts you. Mark turns at the sound, blocking your view, but you can tell from the way his body stiffens that he is seeing something way out of the ordinary for him.

You step around him to take a look and immediately understand. Sandy, a senior from upstairs, is standing there. While you are unquestionably more used to the female form than Mark is, you have to admit that what you are looking at is definitely a thing of beauty. Sandy is blonde, well-tanned, and dressed in a bikini top, short jean shorts, and an open, loose-fitting jacket. She is clearly dressed for the beach.

She looks approvingly at Mark for a moment before seeing you. "Oh, hi, Bryan," she says, sweetly. "Kelli and I are going to the beach. We saw your door was open and wondered if you wanted to come along. And your friend, too, of course, if he wants."

Kelli and Sandy on the beach in bikinis? Has someone been peeking at your Christmas list? Kelli is Sandy's roommate, and she is easily as gorgeous. You are about to jump at the invitation, but then consider your guest. You're pretty confident Professor Clark would frown at this activity.

Sandy continues. "There are probably going to be some other folks coming along later. We just wanted to get an early start, since it is such a gorgeous day."

Hmmm... with more people coming, that might be safer. It's just a few hours on the beach, enjoying the sun and water, after all....

You glance at Mark. You aren't sure he has yet to notice Sandy's face. His eyes are locked on her breasts, which nicely fill the bikini top. Sandy seems to notice the attention, and you would swear that she pushed her breasts outward slightly to show them off to an admiring fan.

You know that you would have trouble under the best of conditions keeping your hands off these girls -- especially if they were flirting with you. You don't see how Mark could possibly resist them, since he's practically drooling right now. Of course, out in public, with lots of people around, and it could be an entirely different story.

You need to make up your mind quickly. You turn to Sandy and answer her.