A Chance for More

Chapter 2

Zack

“Damn! She is very lovely, Zack.”

I glanced in the direction Ethan nodded to. Amongst the multitude of pupils, there was one in particular that readily stood out from the others. That was certainly who he was talking about.

“Maille?”

“Yes!” he said cheerfully. “She's a goddess, she looks beautiful. Her stunning black hair, her exquisite physique. I'd do everything to get lost in those curves.”

I gazed at her again. I could understand the attraction, but I had honestly seen better.

“Yeah, I understand what you mean,” I played along. “She's extremely lovely, I guess.”

“You guess?” Ethan gave me a look of absolute disbelief. “Look, I know you're popular and all, but do you believe you can have any lady you want?”

I rolled my eyes as we strolled toward the campus library.

“I've never had an issue with it before, Ethan.”

“You're so full of yourself.” I may have taken offense to it if it hadn't been my best friend speaking. Even though Ethan was a year younger than me, we still had a deep kinship, like we were brothers. In more than one way we were. We were on the Tennis team together. I was captain and he was vice-captain. He was the only one who could go toe to toe with me on the court. He was also the only one who could come close to winning me, but he never defeated me, no one did.

“I think I would be full of myself too if I looked like you,” Ethan added, getting a giggle from me before I could stop myself. It was too late, however; we had already reached the entrance of the library and nasty stares were sent in our way. The glances quickly evaporated when they discovered it was me.

“Can we just sit?” I said. My voice had gone down to a whisper, and Ethan nodded in answer. The library, like other structures on the Lorient grounds, was immense. I could see that there were a lot of kids in there, largely first years, who had arrived the previous week. They were always the first to go inside the library. It was almost tradition; immediately after orientation, where they heard what Lorient could offer, they would rush to start their studying. The bulk of them generally quit after the first semester, when they obtained their initial results.

Even though there were so many people in the library, there was still quite a bit of room and we were able to obtain tables that were kind of separated from everyone else…

“You've got to be kidding,” Ethan said bare minutes after we sat down.

“What is it?” I questioned, turning around to see what he was staring at. Several gals were making their way toward us. “Maybe they're coming over here for you,” I whispered, turning back to him.

“Not bloody likely.”

Ethan was excellent looking. Probably one of the most gorgeous people in Lorient, but I was Zack, prince of the school, adored by virtually everyone. I wondered occasionally how he didn't hate me for constantly receiving the attention.

“Hi,” an anxious voice said. I looked around again and noticed that the group of females was directly in front of me.

“Hello there,” I welcomed warmly. “Is there anything we can assist you gals with?”

“Oh, absolutely there is,” the same girl stated again. The rest of her companions hurdled behind her. “You're Zack.” She wasn't asking, she knew who I was. The girl was cute, with brilliant red hair and dark eyes. She stood a bit taller than the rest, but not so much that I wouldn't tower over her. My gaze examined her frame. Her breasts seemed like they had a hard time staying in her top.

“The one and only,” Ethan remarked, rolling his eyes.

“We heard you were giving tours to the first years.”

“What?” I questioned, not attempting to conceal the amazement I felt. “That's not anything I'm aware of. That can't be right.”

Ethan erupted with laughter. “Oh it is,” he replied. “I signed you up to chaperone the first years.”

“What? when?”

Ethan disregarded my query and moved to the females. “Sorry ladies, but he's just providing tours to people who skipped the orientation.”

Looks of disappointment developed on the girls' cheeks as they went away slowly, one after the other. Only the girl who had talked earlier remained.

“I'm Maddie,” she remarked, as she extended a hand. Subtle indications of anxiousness still found their way into her speech, but she stood in front of me, as cool as she could make herself. It was adorable.

“You know who I am already,” I said. I took her hand and pulled her a little closer to where I sat. She gave no opposition and I pushed her towards me.

“So I have no chance for a tour then?”

“I could offer you something a little more… personal. Come down to the Dubois Estate later today, you just may be fortunate enough to catch me there.”

A big smile filled her face as she nodded. She turned around and walked away, eventually breaking into a sprint when she felt she was out of sight.

“Damn, how the heck did you flip it around?” Ethan asked.

“Charm,” I shrugged. “Also, I'm not doing the silly chaperone thing.”

“It's required, once you're signed up. Plus it's your responsibility as a third year. You have to give something back, this is your last year.”

“Oh, I've given a lot back,” I responded, wiggling my eyebrows suggestively.

“To the school, you slut!” Ethan stated a little too loudly. We were confronted with additional death glances.

“Well I'm not doing it dude, moreover I have other things to concentrate on.”

“Oh?” Ethan asked, lifting an eyebrow. “Like what exactly?”

“Not educating some fresh youngster about the glories of Lorient.”

“But you adore it here.”

“Of course I do,” I said. “Being's Lorient, who wouldn't enjoy it here.”

“Anyway,” Ethan remarked, shifting the topic. “If those girls saw your name on the board, that indicates you've been allocated to a first year already. Who may at least want to see who it is.”

“I'm not doing that bro,” I responded firmly. “I don't want to babysit anyone.”

“I knew you would say this,” Ethan grinned. “With your luck, I presume it would be some attractive chick and I could take over.”

“Be my guest,” I said. “You may take whoever it is.”

“As much as I would want to, only third years can chaperone.”

“Oh, yeah,” I said. “The pleasures of being in my final year at Lorient,” I observed cynically. “Let's see how it goes.”