Returning to the dorm

The girls chatter in the back seat; Vi who ordinarily sits in the front with Erik, was dragged to the back seat to be with Ari. Erik could only laugh as he watched Vi be basically manhandled by the small stature of her best friend.

They don’t take long inside their dorm before rushing back into the car, speeding out again (led by Ari) towards Erik’s dorm room, giving him a few minutes of solitude to park his car properly and make his way up to his own dorm room.

“What the fuck?” He mutters, realising that the key card to his dorm is missing from the centre console, “Did Ari?…”

Erik is in disbelief that he failed to notice her swiping it. It’s a bit humiliating he feels, to have to knock to get into his own dorm room.

He sighs and enters the lobby of the dorm building.

The blonde girl at the reception desk glances up and gives him her signature mouse-like smile, waving lightly.

“Heidi!” He says brightly, waving back. “You okay? Not hurt after I tackled you?”

Heidi blushes and covers her mouth with a hand, laughing softly; Erik can’t help but notice the slight flex of the muscles in her arm.

‘Is Heidi ripped?’

“I’m so okay! I’d hardly call it a tackle!” She averts her eyes downwards shyly.

Erik chuckles, standing in front of the desk for a moment, “Okay, I’m glad. I don’t think I could afford any medical bills.”

She laughs softly again, blushing furiously.

“Oh, by the way, did you see those two girls run in here?”

She nods, “You know them?”

He nods, “Yep. They took my keycard to the dorm room.” He laughs it off.

Heidi looks concerned, “Oh, Erik, that’s not good, should I call security?”

Erik looks alarmed and shakes his head, holding his hands up, “Oh no no! I know them!” He laughs.

“Oh, I see.” Heidi replies, a strange crestfallen look on her face, “Uhm, you don’t have a spare card?”

Erik shakes his head.

“You didn’t get given two when you moved in? One for you and your roommate?”

Erik looks away, “Oh my god you’re right. I do have another one!”

Heidi blushes and smiles.

“Thank you! I’m so dumb!” He pauses, “Wait,” He sweats.

She waves her hand away, putting a finger to her lips in a zipping motion, “Your big room secret is safe with me.”

Erik grins, putting a hand on the desk, “Holy! You’re the best, I owe you.”

She just blushes in response.

Erik looks up, “Okay, I should head off, who knows what those two are doing, see you, Heidi!”

“Bye…” She says softly, sighing forlornly as Erik presses the elevator button.

The elevator hums around him, and he can’t help but feel a slight hint of nerves about what might be happening. Are they going too fast? They just talked about it after all. He supposes it can stop at any time; he trusts her.

But the look on her face.

She seemed way too keen too quickly… Had she thought about this too? Did she want this even more than him?…