The College Quad

The town of Beaver Falls was nestled against a small mountain in Southern California. A population of only 19,000, it had been the site where Johnathan Pryce Rooksmith had decided to start a small college to encourage education and growth after the Civil War in 1886. It was considered one of the best schools across the country. With top programs in business, teaching, and one of the first schools to operate a top notch computer science program.

As Liz pedaled her bike across the quiet streets, she enjoyed the wind brushing against her ponytail. One of the nice things about going to school in California was Liz never had to worry about the rough April’s as much as her hometown in Minnesota. Her parents had died when she was just two, leaving her big sister Ally to take care of her. Always telling her to bundle up with thick coats, snow pants, and boots that clung to her feet like a second skin.

It was a far cry from her chucks, still freshly bought and digging into her feet as she glided her way to the main quad of Rooksmith. Stopping to lock her bike as she bent down to ensure its safety.

“Look who’s here early,” Nick Brooks said as he continued playing chess on one of the quad’s tables as he saw Liz bike her way in. “You think she ever does anything besides study?”

“I heard she's this close to getting kicked off the softball team. Sarah and Penny are not happy their shortstop stop looks like the pillsbury dough girl,” Terry Mount said as he put Nick in check.

“How could you tell, girl wears so many layers that I don’t think she’s even a chick. Plus she doesn’t even talk to anyone. Just Franky,”

“She talks to me,” Charlie Kuzak said as she walked by the two, chowing down on a bagel with jelly. “And is she a little quiet and conservative compared to us boys? Absolutely, besides, last time I checked I cleaned you boys out that last time she didn’t have a belt. How many times did I guess the right waistband?”

“You sit next to her, that’s not fair,” Nick groaned. “Which is kinda amazing considering all she does is raise her hand. I mean who actually reads the Great Gatsby.”

“Someone who doesn’t fail the essay boys,” Charlie said with a smile. “I’m going to go with basic white. Anyone want that action. I’ll bet my bagel for your coffee Terry.”

“I’ll go all black with the string on the sides,” Terry said with a grin. “Not gonna get my coffee this time Kuzak.”

“Famous last words,” Charlie said as she walked towards the nerdy girl.

Charlotte “Charlie” Kuzak was an odd duck. A pre law student on her fifth year, her jet black pixie cut and love of sports jackets had stuck out in a crowd of alpha males and blonde bimbo paralegals trying to work their way through Rooksmith’s law program. She was someone who saw most of the angles, and was always woking on something to get herself ahead.

“Katz!” Charlie yelled out as she continued chomping on her bagel. “What are you doing here so early?”

“Oh, hey Charlotte,” Liz said as she turned to face her classmate. The two had sat next to each other in their American Lit class. And had done so the last year or so. They weren’t close, with Liz often quietly scribbling notes and ideas in her notebook while Charlie often bent the stories to make the other students laugh.

Quietly though, Charlie always asked Liz for the occasional help on figuring out the deeper meanings of the book by borrowing her notes. Liz was completely unaware of the little betting pool she had on about her panties however.

“What did I tell you Katz, it’s Charlie, and I was just wondering if you wanted to compare notes for the paper on the Marvel Letter,” Charlie began.

“You mean the Scarlet Letter,” Liz said.

“Yeah whatever the hell is,” Charlie said as Liz quickly got up. The suspenders were going to make this challenging, but Charlie didn’t want to pay for coffee today. “Something something, Puritan America sucks.”

“Well it’s really about how society will ostracise someone who’s trying to do the right thing,” Liz explained. “Like…Professor Thorne covered this on day one of the unit.”

“Uh huh, I think I was winning a couple of bucks on pool. O’Malley’s just put their new table in,” Charlie began. “Also not to be mean, but I think you didn’t lock your bike right? You got to make sure you lock it body to rack. I mean someone could steal your tire.”

“Really? I could have sworn,” Liz mumbled, turning around and bending over to check her bike.

“Damn it,” Charlie muttered as Liz’s suspenders held her pants high up, no panty peeks today. “You know Liz, I usually tied some rope or even my belt to just be…extra secure, you know?”

“Well I’m not an adventurer, I don’t exactly carry rope Charlotte,” Liz mumbled as she checked her lock. The bike was secure, but Liz had very few things. Part of growing up poorer than most meant treasuring the decent wardrobe and the NES she had convinced Franklin to drive her to get in LA. And the last thing Liz wanted to lose was one of her few modes of transport. “Do you think my suspenders would work?”

“I think they would more than work,” Charlie said with a Cheshire grin. She felt bad taking advantage of Liz a bit, but she really wanted that coffee. And as Liz began unsecuring her suspenders, her jeans hugged her shocking large rear. The tightness of the jeans showing a large panty line as Liz’s jeans slowly rode down, the hint of white cotton peaking out on an early morning.

“Yes,” Charlie mumbled.

“You say something Charlotte?” Liz asked as she finished tying her second “lock”/

“Nope everything’s good, yo-the bike is too,” Charlie said as Liz popped back up, pulling up her pants in the process.

“I really appreciate it,” Liz began. “If I didn’t have my bike I’d have to get a ride, and well…miss my shot at valedictorian.”

“And softball, right?” Charlie asked.

“Well, softball’s how I got here,” Liz said, remembering her scholarship. She was part of Rooksmith’s first team. Joining in 83’ as a freshman. “But being valedictorian opens a whole lot more doors.”

“What? Don’t want to play shortstop for the Dodgers?” Charlie asked.

“More of a Twins fan,” Liz said as she slung her bookbag over her shoulders and headed to the computer lab. “And hey…Charlotte, if you need help with the Scarlet Letter we can meet in the library. It might be f-”

“I think I’m good Katz, besides you don’t want a motormouth ruining your chances of success,” Charlie said. “I’m sure you’ll have a great day today.”

“Thanks Charlo…Charlie,” Liz said as she moved to the science lab, pulling up her jeans every so often. Her hidden ass swaying as Charlie couldn’t help but keep looking.

“Thanks…Liz,” Charlie said as she turned back to the boys playing chess and mouthing pay up. It would be a good day for Charlie Kuzak, in more ways than one.