Resistance

Dan saw a flicker of panic pass across Laurie's face. She wasn't ready. He squeezed her hand and smiled.

"The only thing I would ask of you is to do your best - don't waste your talents. Come on. Bring your notes in here and and we'll study this together."

Laurie sighed with relief. "Thank you Dan! You're such a hero!"

'I was so wrong about him' Laurie thought to herself 'he's a really nice guy'.

Laurie skipped back to her room and grabbed her paperwork. She sat on Dan's bed, and they worked through biochemistry together til late in the night. They restarted again the next day, and the following, spending hours sat studying together. Dan was patient and encouraging - a far better tutor than she could have expected. When Monday came around, and the exam went far better than any other so far, Laurie felt an unexpected warmth and gratitude towards Dan.

After this, Laurie and Dan became much closer. They revised together most days, and went to the Student Union bar after exams. Often Alex would come along, or another friend or two. Dan wasn't quite the perfect gentleman - he still flirted casually, and took any excuse to give Laurie a squeeze - but he behaved himself around Alex and never went too far. By the end of the exam season, Laurie counted him among her best friends. Alex didn't quite trust Dan, but he had faith in Laurie, and that was enough for him.

The summer - and their time at university - was coming to an end. It was a rush of ceremonies, exams, and goodbyes. One event Laurie was particularly looking forward to was the final party of her Chemistry course. All of the people she had spent the last three years studying with would be saying their goodbyes - including Dan. She had invited Alex, but he too had an end of term party with his coursemates.

The morning of the party, she and Alex had breakfast together in the university canteen.

"Are you looking forward to tonight Bunny?"

"Yeah! I think it'll be kinda fun. It'll be good to say goodbyes properly"

"Have fun but, uh, please don't be out too late? I'd like to meet for lunch in the afternoon."

"Alex... you know me. Do I ever stay out too late?"

They smiled at each other, a real tenderness in their eyes. Then Laurie spoke:

"You have fun with your friends too. I'll be thinking about you"

"I will, I will, just please text me, keep me posted. I'm not trying to..." - they both started to giggle - "...I trust you, don't worry about it."

"I trust you too. Anyway - I need to go and get ready. I'm meeting with some of the girls beforehand for predrinks."

And with that, Laurie stood up. She gave her boyfriend a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and trotted back to her room.