Back to Shannon's place

After triggering the alarm on what turned out to be Shannon’s little blue hybrid car, you get behind the wheel and touch “home” on Shannon’s maps app. This will be easy, you’ve driven further with more to drink.

You crank up the radio. It’s that annoying pop song again, sung by that slut, what’s her face, the one whose naked pictures are all over the net?

The words are stuck in your head at this point, but you can’t hit those notes. Or can you? You join in the chorus with Shannon’s high, clear voice. Wow, she sounds good! You slam on the brakes, realizing that you were driving full speed toward a red light while singing Shannon’s heart out.

You put a hand on Shannon’s chest, above her breasts. Her smaller heart beats faster than your own, the one you’re used to feeling in your body. She feels so soft, so fragile compared to you.

You stay focused on the road until the maps app says you’ve arrived.

An apartment complex. You try Shannon’s keys on the first floor doors until you find hers.

You walk inside Shannon’s apartment and fumble for the light switch.

Shannon keeps her place neat and clean, as you expected. It smells nice, too. You slip off her shoes and step across the cool floor with her bare feet.

You feel like you’re intruding in Shannon’s life far more intimately by standing in her home than when you were simply touching her.

But where else would you go? Your frat house? Would you sleep on the couch, in Shannon’s work clothes? Or maybe you would sleep in your own bed, next to yourself.

What are you thinking? Too much, you’re thinking too much. You don’t really believe that you’ll be able to go to sleep now, but you have to try. You - Shannon - will have to be rested when you meet you - Sam - tomorrow.