Her soft hands began to stroke my chest. “Sounds like a plan.”
Thirty-Two
Bella
Life looked a little brighter on Monday than it had in weeks. Maybe it was the revenge. Maybe it was the sex.
Okay, it was probably the sex.
Whatever the reason, I felt more like myself than I had in a long time. I walked all the way to my psych seminar thinking dreamy thoughts about Rafe instead of ducking my head when people passed by.
Twenty-four hours had elapsed since my prank. And then forty-eight. There were still plenty of pics and videos on social media, but I hadn’t heard my name in conjunction with any of them. And there were no more scary mentions of Beta Rho alumni taking legal action.
Life was good.
On Tuesday I went for a run with Rafe before Urban Studies. After class he left for a dining hall shift, and I took a moment to call the nurse practitioner on my way back to Beaumont.
Ms. Ogden answered on the first ring. “How are you, Bella?”
“I’m good. Really good. But I have a question.”
“Shoot.”
“Well, I have a new boyfriend…”
“Congratulations!”
“Thanks. And I wanted to get tested once again, just out of an abundance of caution.”
“Right. You don’t even need to make an appointment for that. Just come in during business hours.”
“That’s easy,” I said. “So here’s one more question — I had a swab test of my fun zone when I was sick. But I’m assuming that this time I just have to pee in a cup?”
“That’s right. And it’s the same for him if he wants to be tested. If you’re starting a new relationship after a non-monogamous time, it’s good practice for anyone to get tested.”
“Right.” Monogamy was treating me really well these days. I’d woken up this morning with a horny Rafe in my bed again. And after we’d scratched that itch, he went out and brought back coffee. If I hadn’t already seen the point of having a boyfriend, it would have sunk in while I was drinking that latte in bed.
“Remind me, Bella,” Ms. Ogden said into my ear. “What’s your major?”
“Psych.”
“Huh. Have you ever considered nursing school? I think you’d make a great nurse practitioner. Or a midwife. There’s definitely some psych involved. You have a great attitude, and you’d get to talk fun zones for a living.”
“Wow.” What a crazy idea. “I’d never considered anything medical. Because the people who are trying to get into med school are the most stressed-out students at Harkness.”
“I’ll bet they are. And maybe nursing isn’t as glamorous as being a full-fledged doctor. But the grad school piece is so much easier. If your plans for next year aren’t firm yet, you should take a peek at the Harkness nursing program. Just to see if it interests you.”
“Harkness has a nursing program?”
She laughed. “I suppose the undergrads wouldn’t necessarily notice it because it’s hidden inside the med school. I’m on the faculty, actually.”
“Wow,” I said again. Me, a nurse? Maybe that wasn’t as crazy as it sounded. “I’ll look it up. Today.”
“You do that. And call me if you want to talk more about it.”
I walked home in a daze, wondering if I had the right coursework on my transcript to get into a nursing program. For the first time all year, I felt a tug of interest toward life beyond my Harkness degree.
The happy high I was riding lasted an entire week.
Then, inevitably, a certain voicemail message plunged me back to earth. If I’d thought there would be no repercussions for pranking Beta Rho at the football game, I’d been naive. My stomach bottomed out when I listened to the voice on the other end of the line. “This call is from the offices of Wilma Waite, dean of students. Please call us immediately regarding a confidential matter.”
Oh, shit. It was time to pay the piper. Wilma Waite wasn’t just a dean. She was the top-dog dean.
She wasn’t an easy lady, or so I’d heard. Her nickname was Whomping Wilma. My hands were actually sweating as I hit redial. I put the phone to my ear, listening to it ring. Then I gave myself a pep talk. Short of expulsion, whatever punishment they doled out to me would be worth it, right? Getting even with Beta Rho had felt very, very good. I just needed to remember that while they were grilling me in Whomping Wilma’s lair.
“Dean Waite’s office.”
“This is Bella Hall returning your call…”