SS(S)S - Night moves

Perhaps unsurprisingly, you don’t end up watching anything at all. You haven’t forgotten your mission, but you feel the way that you do when you become distracted by side quests in games. You’re more interested in them than you are in the main story, but you still know that it’s there.

You can’t properly know Sal after so short a time, but you know more than you did before you spent half the day with her.

Her phone lies facedown on the dresser, buzzing occasionally. She’s receiving the occasional text. There’s nothing unusual about that, but she seems to be making a point to ignore them. You’re doing the same thing. You dread looking at your texts. Who are they from? Colby? Athena? You have other friends. You have a family. It’s mainly Athena that worries you.

In a lot of ways. Sal must not have known what to expect from you on this date. Maybe she wasn’t sure that you would show up. It’s obvious that she showered and prepared within reason, but she hasn’t gone the extra mile. Things got flirty in the shower, but she doesn’t know if you have come over for companionship because you don’t feel at home at CCL or because you really do want to get laid. Maybe she doubts that you have the guts to go through with it. You can’t read her mind, but you suspect that something like that is the reason for her careful neutrality now, as she snacks with you and drinks wine.

It's also impossible not to notice her discomfort. No, not discomfort. Distraction.

“Are they going to give you shit for having me over?” you ask, munching. You glance at the door so she knows that you mean the rest of CGH.

Sal shakes her head with a little sigh. “No. It’s not like one of us never hooked up with one of you,” she says.

That statement intrigues you, although it doesn’t surprise you. You haven’t heard of a CCL girl getting together with someone from CGH, but it makes sense that you aren’t the first. If this even counts. You’re still just sitting cross-legged with Sal on her bed.

She looks really pretty, though.

“But they’ll misunderstand,” she adds.

“What do you mean?”

Sal shakes her head. “Just the reason.”

“The reason?”

“The reason that you’re here with me.”

“They won’t think it’s because you can’t resist the seductive maelstrom of a CCL girl’s sultry charms?” you ask, making eyes at her.

She smiles. “I wish they’d think that.”

“What will they think?”

“That I’m up to something,” she says with an eye roll, scowling.

“Aren’t you?”

“Huh?” She looks surprised. You push the platter aside and take the cup out of her hand, putting it down. You press one finger to her chest and push. She lies back, looking uncertain but game as you crawl over her, then settle on top. You’re face to face with your full weight resting on her.

“This is how all conversations are at CCL House. It’s in the rules,” you tell her.

“Oh,” she replies. It looks like she isn’t sure what to do with her hands.

“I know you’re up to something,” you tell her. “Something bad.”

“You do?” She looks alarmed. What? Does she think you’re going to call her on blackmailing Athena?

“Yeah. You’re trying to get your hands on the nubile flesh of CCL’s most beautiful and promising pledge,” you say, tossing your hair.

“Oh,” she replies with a laugh. “That’s right. What gave me away?”