Whatever Common People Do

Tuesday, September 4th

Andy went to class in the morning to re-establish basic relationships with Sara and his professor once more, but picked a different seat this time, so he didn't end up on the study date with the former. He was still hoping to make something happen with Sara during the current run but, the way he saw it, he had already nailed the study date, book club and actual date, banked all the affection he could from them, and it still hadn't been enough to lead to sex. If this had been a video game with a romance mechanic, it felt like he needed a new event to spawn with her. That probably meant running into Sara outside their usual Tuesday and Thursday routine.

So Andy now essentially had a free hit of a day. Lessons were minimal that week, so most people ought to be free and available to hang out with, assuming he was able to persuade them to spend their time in his company. With his confidence high, and his most recent experience with her having gone so well, Andy decided to try something a little maverick with a girl he couldn't get out of his mind. He figured he had nothing to lose, and she had told him to knock for her any time he felt like it. Admittedly, that was when she knew who he was.

"Hello?"

"Hey, I'm Andrew. Wanna go bowling?"

Tamara looked at Andy in confusion as she stood in her semi open doorway.

"Bowling?"

"Yeah"

"Do you usually knock on random people's doors asking them to go bowling with you, Andrew?"

"No, only yours"

"Why?"

"Because I'd like to get to know you, and part of the full university experience is getting involved with the local culture. Plus, bowling is fun. Trust me, you'll like it if you give it a try!"

Tamara was still looking at Andy like he was crazy, but she hadn't slammed the door in his face. He really wasn't sure which way this was going to go.

---

"Wow, the balls are huge. How are you even supposed to hold them?"

Tamara lifted one up with both hands awkwardly.

"You have to put your fingers in the holes" Andy advised her "Look!"

"Oh I see" she nodded as he demonstrated on his own ball "I hadn't spotted those"

"Why don't I go first and you can watch how it's done"

"Thank you Andrew, that would be very helpful of you"

Tamara stood in close proximity to Andy and observed as he took his first turn. He provided a running commentary for her bowling education as he managed to knock down half the pins with his first ball and a couple more with the spare.

"Okay, now it's your go. Don't worry about the score in this game, it's just a practice run"

"Gosh, these balls are so heavy. Am I doing this right?"

Tamara allowed Andy to stand close behind her, take her hand and guide her fingers into the correct holes.

"Thank you"

She nodded appreciatively, walked forward and launched her ball into the lane. It flew straight down the lane, curving towards the centre at the last moment and smashing all ten pins to the ground in one fell swoop. She then turned and smirked at Andy.

"Full disclosure, my parents have a bowling lane in their home"

Andy paused in shock for a moment, before bursting out laughing and raising his hand for Tamara to hi-five.

"I can't believe you played me like that!"

"At least I didn't persuade you to put money on it" she shrugged.

After having his arse handed to him in both the games that followed, Andy decided that was enough bowling for now, though it was clear his new aristocratic friend wanted to continue their day together.

"Shall we check out the arcade?" she suggested.

"I dunno, do your parents have all the machines in their home?"

"No!" Tamara giggled cutely, giving Andy an affectionate stroke on the arm and kiss on the cheek "I'm sure you'll beat me next time"

The pair then walked around the arcade section of the Mansfield Mega Bowl until Tamara's eye was caught by a dancing game.

"Oh, that looks fun!"

Minutes later, Andy was getting his arse handed to him again. He believed Tamara when she said she had never played the game before, she just seemed to have a great natural sense of rhythm and coordination. That could bode well for elsewhere, if he played his cards right. She was also very obviously enjoying herself. which was the most important part.

They tried out a few more games, with Andy winning some pride back on the air hockey and basketball hoops, the latter of which he particularly excelled at, winning enough tickets to exchange for a teddy bear, which he presented to Tamara as a memento of their day together.

"Aww, he's cute. I'm going to call him Andrew" she announced as she gave her new buddy yet another appreciative kiss on the cheek.

The pair then went for dinner in the retro American diner on the floor above. There was a mini jukebox on their table, and Andy's eyes lit up when he saw one of the listed tracks. He found a pound coin in his wallet, and couldn't resist putting it in the slot.

"This one's for you" he told Tamara with a mischievous smirk, as Pulp's 90's Britpop classic began to play.

"You cheeky fucker!" the aristocrat made an expression of mock outrage "You think I don't know this song?"

Nonetheless, she played along gamely as the chorus hit, imitating Sadie Frost in the original video by miming the lyrics while jokingly eye fucking Andy and preening her hair.

I wanna live like common people

I wanna do whatever common people do

I wanna sleep with common people

I wanna sleep with common people like you

Andy had fully expected her to wimp out of the last line, but she went through with it, blowing him a kiss before dissolving into giggles. Andy was now fully hard under the table.

The rest of the meal was lovely, as the unlikely pair got to know each other better and laughed about the crazy, impulsive experience they had just shared. Andy would have liked to have spent even longer in Tamara's company, but once the bill had been settled, she needed to head back to Halls.

"Okay, I guess this is me" She told Andy as they arrived back at her floor after what had felt like a perfect spontaneous day out.

"Thanks for today. I really enjoyed myself, and you're actually the first person here who has made any effort to get to know me"

"I'm glad I did, you're so much fun to hang out with" Andy told her quite genuinely before, feeling almost like James Bond these days, he added "You're also extremely beautiful"

As the pair kissed goodbye - on the lips this time, and not just a friendly peck - Andy couldn't help but consider what he had just accomplished. He had knocked on the door of a gorgeous aristocrat who had never, as far as she was aware, met him before, randomly invited her bowling, and successfully romanced her within the space of a few hours. It was amazing what a bit of confidence and an infinite timeloop could do for a guy.

Once he was back in his room, his head still spinning from the day's events, Andy felt his phone buzz in his pocket. It was Leah, with another photo and message combo.

These rooms are sooooo boring when you're on your own! Wanna come hang with me in mine? Xx

There was no chance of him playing this one cool.