Storiesonline.net ------- Valentine Magic by Lellan McLemore Copyright© 2006 by Lellan McLemore ------- Description: A little something I wrote several years ago for a friend who needed a pick me up on Valentine's day. Boy runs into girl, literally. Codes: MF no-sex rom sch cons ------- "How come I don't have a body like Summer's," Amanda wondered as she stared at her wet, naked body in the mirror. She turned a little sideways and frowned as her breasts barely stuck out from her chest. Her hair hung wetly down just to her shoulders, framing her oval face. She wrinkled her nose as she wished for the sprinkling of freckles over her nose and cheeks to just disappear. Methodically, she blow-dried and brushed her dark blond hair, fussing with it until it curled just slightly at the ends. She opened her drawer and sorted through her panties. "Valentine's day and not a red one in the bunch," she moaned. "Except," she touched the never worn red-lace bikinis. "I couldn't. What if someone saw?" she told herself. "Like who," herself answered. She shrugged and pulled the red lace out of the drawer and up over what she felt were her "too fat" thighs. "I gotta start trimming these or they'll be calling me thunder thighs," she groaned. "Or bubble butt." She winced as she turned her back to view her backside. It always looked too big to her. She squirmed a bit and then looked in the mirror again. A couple of wisps of her brown curls peeked out around the edge of the skimpy panties. She poked them back under the elastic and opened her closet door. What to wear today, that was always the hardest decision of the day. She pushed hangers around until she came to a denim skirt she had bought on a whim two weeks ago. It was just a little tight. And a lot too short, she reminded herself. "What the hell," she said aloud as she pulled it off the hanger and up her legs. It wasn't as tight as she remembered, but it was just as short. She pirouetted in the mirror and watched as the bottom of the skirt rose almost to the point where her lacy panties were visible. It was a little cold out, so she pulled the hem of the skirt up and pulled a pair of thigh high stockings on. The silky stockings felt good as they slid softly over her newly shaved legs. Too bad no one else gets to feel these, she wished to herself. She opened her underwear drawer again and pondered which of her plain Jane white brassiere's to wear. "Sometimes I wonder why I bother with these things," she said as she pulled one out. "It's not like they are big enough to need any kind of support." With a wicked glint, she tossed the bra back into the drawer and closed it with an audible thump. She pulled her red sweater over her head and smoothed it over the top of her skirt. She smiled as she pulled her hair out of the turtleneck. Not bad, she thought. "A little makeup and I'll be," she mused, opening her purse. "The best looking girl without a date on Valentine's day," she answered. Amanda put on a little mascara, a bit of blush, a touch of eye shadow, and some lipstick. Then she picked her thin gold framed glasses and put them on her face. "Okay, so I'm a cute nerd," she said. "I guess I can live with that." She picked up her books and her coat and headed off to class. Danny was in a hurry. Boy he hated his schedule. English Lit at 8 in the Compton Building followed by Geology 101 at 9 in the Garrett Building all the way across campus. So far Ms. Maxwell had been nice and not said much about his arriving a couple minutes late every day. But she did frown each time as he opened the door and slipped into the back of the class room. Ten minutes was just not enough to get across the crowded campus. He frowned as he looked for a path through the throngs that crowded the campus sidewalks. Maybe if I, his thought was interrupted as he bumped into her. She fell immediately at his feet. He looked down stunned. "I, I, um, oh, I'm sorry, Miss," he stammered reaching down to help her up. His eyes were drawn immediately to her stocking clad thighs and the red panties peeking out between them and her denim skirt. Amanda blushed as she realized that her skirt had flown up and this boy could see her lacy panties. She blushed even more when she felt the tingle between her thighs. "Why don't you watch where you're going, jerk," she said pushing his hand aside and standing up, straightening up her skirt. "I'm really sorry," he said blushing himself. "I guess I wasn't paying attention. It's just that I have... Oh Christ, I have two minutes to be in Garrett 107. I'm really sorry." He handed her the books he had picked up and quickly penciled his name and campus mailbox number on a piece of paper. "If there's anything I can do to make up for it, put a note in my box. And I'll pay for the stockings. But I have to go. Just put a note in my box." He dashed away leaving her staring at his fleeing backside. "And a very nice one at that," she caught herself whispering. Amanda frowned as she looked down at the tear in her stocking. I can't wear these now, she thought. They look terrible. After a quick stop in the women's rest room next to her calculus class, she sat down self consciously in her seat and listened to Mr. Strong ramble on about limits, again. Her mind wandered for a bit and then she opened her notebook. The piece of paper the boy who ran into her had given her was on top. Danny Watson, Box 39456. I wonder what class is in Garrett 107 now, she thought. Damn right, he's paying for these stockings. They weren't cheap. Amanda was glad he had chosen to use the campus mailboxes to communicate. They weren't very private, but they were very anonymous. She wrote and rewrote the note five times. The first one was too bitchy. The second sounded desperate. The third, well, it wouldn't do at all. And the fourth, she wouldn't even admit to having written the fourth. Finally, she made it short and simple. "Danny. Damn right you're paying for these stockings. They cost me $10. Amanda, Box 45721." Suddenly nervous, she peered around the campus mailbox kiosk. Dozens of people pushed and shoved their way through the kiosk, picking up or dropping off messages and papers. Finally satisfied no one was paying attention to her, she put the note in his box. She checked hers to make sure it was empty. Well, except for the usual ads to the local record store and a couple of restaurants. She tossed those out automatically and headed for her 11 o'clock English Lit class. She was looking forward to that. Mr. Reid was skipping his usual lecture and talking about sonnets and love poems this week. She smiled and walked into Volkman Hall. Danny walked slowly back up campus. Ms. Maxwell laid into him good today. He had been nearly ten minutes late. If only he hadn't run into that girl. Well, truth be told, he thought, I'd like to run into her again. She was kind of cute. But nah, he frowned, girls like her with their fancy panties didn't have time for poor ex-farm boys like him. He shrugged. The campus mail kiosk was on his route back to his dorm room, so he slipped into it. He always checked for messages, even though he knew it would just be ads. But this time there was a note. Amanda. Her name was Amanda, he mused. Something in the way she signed it struck a chord in him and instead of going back to his room, he slipped into the student hall and sat down at a study carrel. I haven't done this in ages, he thought to himself as he pulled a clean sheet of paper out of his notebook and stared out the window. She'll probably just rip it apart, but," he said to himself, "nothing ventured, nothing gained." So he pulled his red pen out and began to write. It was trite, he knew, but sincere. "A fleeting glimpse as we crashed, Miraculously thrown together, And I was captivated, Not able to get to know you better. Dare we remedy this And have lunch together?" He smiled. At least I made the first letters spell her name, he thought, feeling a little clever. He drew a heart around the poem; after all it was Valentine's Day. Then he signed his name and his box number and scribbled, "Ludwig's at one? I have a 12:00 math class. If you're not there by 1:15, I'll assume you weren't interested. Sorry about the stockings." He pulled a ten dollar bill out of his pocket and carefully folded it inside the note. "Hmmm. I better get some more cash before class," he said almost aloud as he checked his wallet. After a quick stop to put the note in her box, he was off. I wish someone would write stuff like that about me, Amanda thought to herself as she strolled out of class. She sighed. Instead, I get some geek running me over and ruining my best pair of stockings. Oh well. On a whim, she stopped to check her box to see if she'd gotten lucky. She was down to her last twenty bucks until her allowance from Dad came. Tomorrow, I hope, she said to her self. There was a note. She pulled it out and carried it to a bench nearby. Looking around nervously, she opened the note. The ten dollar bill floated out of the note and she grabbed it quickly and put it in her purse. Well, at least he paid for the stockings. Her opinion of him rose a notch; no longer a geek, just a boy in a hurry. She opened the note completely and stared at it. Poetry! About her! Never mind that it was trite and pretty lame, she admitted, but it was about her. Lunch? Hmmmm, did she dare? She had no more classes today. But one was kind of late, and she was hungry. Still, he had a cute butt and a sincere smile. Maybe... Nah, that stuff only happens in fairy tales, she reminded herself. Still, she thought, she had nothing to lose. After all, he would be buying her lunch, wouldn't he? Well, he asked anyway. That was more than anyone else had done lately. Okay, she dared. She folded the note back up, stuck it in her purse, and walked purposefully to the bookstore. They had stockings, not the best, but stockings nonetheless. And they would help keep her legs a little warmer, she said to herself, as the wind caressed her bare thigh and causing her to shiver slightly. Danny paced nervously outside Ludwig's. He had raced there from class and made it five minutes early. He checked inside and she wasn't there. Oh, well, she's probably either in class or not coming anyway. But he paced anyway. "Danny?" he heard the soft voice behind him ask. He nearly broke his neck spinning around. "Amanda?" "Guilty. Thanks for inviting me." Danny smiled and waved at the door. Amanda stepped in front of him and through the door as he held it for her, nearly dropping his books. They found a table for two and set their books down on it and stepped into the line. Ludwig's was in a giant cafeteria-like building with tables in the center and a dozen little restaurant/cafeterias surrounding them. Ludwig's was the Italian food place. They served pizzas, subs, spaghetti, and pasta salads. Amanda loved Ludwig's and wished she could afford to eat lunch there everyday. Amanda picked out a pasta salad. Danny chose a plate of spaghetti. Danny paid and they carried their lunches back to the table. Amanda said, "Thank you, Danny. You really didn't have to buy me lunch." "It was the least I could do," Danny replied, looking up from his spaghetti with one noodle hanging from his chin. Amanda giggled. "What?" Then the noodle dropped onto the plate. "Oh, sorry." He quickly wiped his chin with a napkin and blushed. "I guess I shouldn't get spaghetti when trying to impress a lady," Danny said, nervously. "I guess not," Amanda replied, still giggling a little. Impress me? she thought. Why me? "So," Danny said, putting his fork down. "I'm Danny Caldwell. I'm an Earth Science major and I live in Bailey Hall." He stretched his hand out over the table. Amanda looked at him for a moment, not realizing what he wanted. "Amanda Wilson, Math major, Roxley Hall," she replied, shaking his hand softly. "Freshman?" he asked tentatively. She nodded. "Me too," he replied. "I'm from Patterson." "Middlesburg," Amanda said. "Oh, which school?" "Central." "We played you guys in football last year. I was the tight end." "Oh, yeah," she said. Obviously, she thought, enjoying the double entendre. They shadowboxed through the small talk, gradually learning a bit more about each other. And then he asked, "Boyfriend?" She looked at him carefully before answering, "Not at the moment. You?" He looked shocked and then replied, firmly, "Never!" Amanda suddenly realized what he had thought she meant and laughed. "No, I meant do you have a girlfriend?" "Oh," he smiled. "Not yet." It was like silence engulfed them, snuffing out all of the oxygen around them. He finished the last few bites, very nervously. She brushed her napkin across her lips. Her soft pink lips, he thought to himself. "I, um, was wondering," he stammered. "What?" she answered quickly. "I'm, um, sure you already have a date, but if you don't, would you, um, like to, um, go to the dance tonight?" There he had asked. He felt relieved for some reason. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head. He asked her to the dance? What do I do now? she wondered. "Um, okay," she heard herself answer. "Okay?" he didn't know what she meant. "Okay," she said, suddenly confident. "I will go to the dance with you tonight." "Um, great. I'll, um, meet you in the lobby of Roxley at 7." "Okay," she said as she stood and took her tray to the garbage can and dumped it in. He followed suit and they walked silently out of the building. He turned toward Roxley Hall, instinctively and they walked together silently back to her dorm. "I'll see you tonight, then," he said. "Yes. Thanks again for lunch, Danny." "You're welcome, Amanda." She turned and walked into the building. She could not feel the carpet beneath her shoes. She closed the door behind her and leaned back against it. "What am I gonna do now?" she muttered. "Hi, Amanda!" Summer smiled, seeing her roommate for the first time today. "What's the matter?" "I just accepted a date to the Valentine's dance and I have no idea what to wear." "All right! A date!" Summer nearly cheered, knowing Amanda hadn't had a date since she arrived in September. "I'm sure we can find something. Felicia's driving us to the mall when she gets back from class." "I can't. $20 won't buy anything anyway. That's all I've got till my allowance arrives." "Hmmmmm. Well, let's see what we can do with what you've already got." Summer leapt off her bed and opened Amanda's closet. Amanda watched with her mouth open as the vivacious brunette rummaged through her clothes. A chorus of "Hmmm, no, mmm maybe, nah" followed. "How 'bout this?" Summer asked, holding up Amanda's only summer dress, a powder blue number with spaghetti straps and big white buttons down the front. "I don't know," Amanda hesitated. "We'll team it with this white sweater and fix up your hair a bit and..." Summer said holding the sweater over the dress in front of Amanda with one hand and pushing Amanda's hair up on top of her head with the other. "Not quite stunning, but cute, anyway." Amanda stood there with her mouth open. She'd never seen this side of her roommate. There was a knock on the door and Felicia, Summer's friend, stepped into the room. "What do you think, Felice?" Summer asked, turning Amanda toward her dusky friend. "Someone's got a hot date to the dance tonight! Way to go, girl," Felicia replied. She looked the outfit up and down, carefully. "It could work." She looked past Amanda at Summer and said, "I can't go to the mall this afternoon, I promised Paul I'd help him with his psyche paper and then we're going to the dance. If you really need to go, I can loan you the car." "Nah, I was just gonna go cause you were going. Mike wants to go to the dance too. I figured I'd just wear my pink sundress if I didn't find anything." "Okay. Well, I gotta go," Felicia said and then left the room. Amanda thanked Summer for her suggestions and set about getting stuff ready to wear. She unlocked her jewelry chest and picked out her mother's good sapphire earrings. "Oh, baby, those are to die for, Amanda!" "They were my mother's. Daddy gave them to me when she died." A cloud of sadness engulfed Amanda. "Well, they'll look great on you, too," Summer said softly. "I wish she was here," Amanda said. "She always knew how to fix my hair just right." "Need some help?" "Um, sure, I guess." "I work with my mom in her salon during the summer. I know just the thing. I've got class in twenty minutes, but I'll be back in plenty of time to help you get ready. So who's the lucky guy?" "Danny Caldwell." Summer gathered her books as they chatted and was gone in a breeze, leaving Amanda to her nervousness. "What have I got myself into," Danny muttered as he walked back toward his dorm. "Tickets, $20. My good slacks are clean and my shirt pressed. Okay." He passed the florist shop. "Flowers?" he wondered. "You get corsages for proms and such, does the Valentine's dance count?" He didn't know, so he asked the florist. She smiled and asked him a bunch of other questions he didn't know the answer to and then suggested a single white rose. He agreed and walked away a little less rich, but happier. He put the rose in the refrigerator like the florist suggested. "Basketball, Danny?" Pete from next door asked, sticking his head in Danny's door. Danny looked at his watch. "Sure. Give me five to get stuff put away." "Okay. We'll meet you on the court behind Walker." Pete was gone. After two hours of basketball, a shower and dinner at the cafeteria, Danny decided it was time to get ready. A couple of the guys kidded him about dressing up for the dance. They were going to pick up some chicks, but they weren't dressing up. Jeans, a nice shirt, and sneakers they said. Works all the time. "Not for me," Danny said, carefully combing his hair. He shaved and slapped on a little bit of after shave, then pulled on his navy pants and his white shirt. Dad always said a woman likes a man who dresses nice, he thought. Now which tie? Blue? Grey? Or red? Valentine's day, red, he decided and carefully knotted the tie. He checked his wallet for the third time. Two tickets, check. Cash, $40, not much, but it would do. Two rubbers, unnecessary, but nice to know they were there. Okay. He pulled on his navy dress jacket and checked the mirror one last time. Still ugly, he thought, but dressed nice. He grabbed the rose from the refrigerator and took a deep breath. A quick check of his watch. Yup, time to go. He whistled a happy tune as he walked back to Roxley Hall. Several groups of guys jokingly whistled at him as he made his way to the girls' dorm. He even noticed a few girls noticing him. Not all bad. He opened the door to Roxley Hall and stepped back, allowing the two girls in red skirts to walk out. They smiled their thanks and he nodded. "Yes?" the girl working the switchboard didn't even look up as he stepped up to the window. "Amanda Wilson, 432." "Okay. Who are you?" "Oh, Danny Caldwell." She nodded and pushed a button on the intercom. Danny turned his back on the switchboard girl and looked around the lobby. He had never been in this building, never had a reason to be here. It was open. A beautiful baby grand piano sat across the room. Sofas were arranged through out the large open area. People sat in clusters, filling most of the sofas. "She'll be right down, Danny. Have a seat," the girl said. He nodded. Nervousness set in and he couldn't sit. Two elevators opened and disgorged their passengers. Not her. He stood and started to pace. The elevator dinged again. He turned expectantly. Hi jaw dropped. Her dark blonde hair was carefully pinned up atop her head with just one errant wisp gently caressing her neck. She wore a white sweater that hugged her tightly. He hadn't noticed her breasts before, but the sweater molded itself around them drawing his eyes to them. The blue skirt was short enough to show her knees and he smiled at the fact she wore stocking or hose. He looked back up to her face. Her green eyes fixed on his. He was mesmerized for a moment. Someone bumped him and galvanized him into action. He stepped up to her. "You look beautiful, Amanda," he said sincerely, holding the single rose out to her. She blushed as she accepted the rose. "Thank you." She fumbled for a moment trying to pin the flower to her sweater. "Can you do this?" she asked. His hands shook as he carefully pinned the flower on her sweater. "Ready?" he asked. "No, but let's go." She took his arm and they walked out into the cool evening. The stars were beginning to appear as they walked silently along the walkway to the Student Center. Danny searched for something to talk about. His inquiries were met with nods and shrugs as Amanda tried to calm her nerves. "Those are really pretty earrings," he said, wondering to himself what had happened to the spunky gal he had lunch with. "Thanks, they were my mom's." He sensed sadness behind those words, so he dropped that line of conversation. He stopped in the darkness between two of the bright lights that lit the pathway and turned to her. "Are you as nervous about the dance as I am?" he asked warily. "More," she replied. "Why, you're beautiful." "I've never been to a dance with a date." "I can't believe that." "It's true. I've always been an awkward nerd." "Well, you're a swan tonight, Amanda." He looked into her eyes. He could see her struggle to believe him. She wanted to, but there was fear there too. "May I?" he asked. Her eyes opened wide as he lowered his face to hers. He felt the electricity as his lips met hers. His heart pounded in his ears as he kissed her. Her eyes closed immediately. She flinched when he wrapped his arms around her. He opened his eyes and looked into hers. He could feel himself drawn into them. He slowly pulled his arms from around her and grabbed her hand in his. "Math major, huh? Well, you don't look much like a math major to me." "Oh," she said, no longer nervous. "What does a math major look like?" "I don't know, nerdy, flatchested, awkward, glasses, you know, like a math major." She giggled. "Nerdy, check. Flatchested, check. Awkward, check. Glasses, check. Yup, I'm a math major." "Well, the best looking math major I've ever seen." "And how many others have you seen?" "Counting you? Three." They walked along a little more jauntily, nervousness giving way to enjoying each other's company. Danny paused before opening the door. "I think it's only fair to warn you that I have two left feet," he said as he opened the door. "Matches my two right ones, so let's go," Amanda replied, suddenly excited to be at the dance. Danny opened the door and handed the tickets to the guy there. He tore them in half and handed them back to Danny. The restaurants were all closed down, except Ludwig's and the tables pushed to the sides of the room. A band was doing its sound checks on a stage at the far end of the room. There were hundreds of other people there. Some dressed up, some in jeans. The goths were there in their black garb. Several fraternities and sororities were there, having staked out tables for themselves already. Danny spotted a table and guided Amanda to it. He graciously held her chair and then sat down opposite her. The band stepped back and the dorm activities chairman stepped up to the microphone. "Welcome to the Valentine's Day Dance. The Dorm Activities Council is pleased to present Nowan Frevor." The band struck up a chord and then the singer stepped up to the microphone. A four count from the drummer and they launched into a well known tune. Danny looked at Amanda and held his hand out to her. She stood. He started to lead her to the floor and then stopped, took his jacket off and set it on the back of the chair reserving their table. They danced awkwardly to the rocking music, but that didn't matter, they were having fun. After a few fast songs, the band slowed the music down and began a waltz. Danny nervously reached out for Amanda. She slipped softly into his arms. His hand shook slightly as he put it on the back of her waist. Her hand felt soft in his other hand, but the spot on his back where she placed her hand was on fire. He could feel the heat radiating from her hand as she laid her head on his shoulder and they swayed to the waltz. "You smell good," he whispered as he spun her carefully around. The lessons his mom gave him coming back to him slowly. God how he had hated learning to dance. But now, he silently thanked her for her insistence. Amanda shifted when the song ended and put her arms around his neck, her fingers tickling the hairs there. He put his second hand on her hip and they stared into each other's eyes, lost in the moment. The music made a perfect background as their hips swayed to the beat. The song ended and he pulled her tightly to him and kissed her again. The lights came up and Amanda nearly panicked. She broke the kiss and started back to the table. "Something to drink?" Danny asked as they reached the table. "Diet Coke," she replied looking down at the table. Danny moved away to get the drinks. Amanda opened her purse and checked her makeup in the mirror. She didn't look any different. But she sure felt different. Her hair was starting to come down from its carefully pinned precision. Bother, she thought. But boy its getting warm in here. Danny was back with their drinks and Amanda excused herself to go to the bathroom. He sat back and watched as she faded into the crowd. He admired the soft curve of her hips as they swayed. He sipped his drink and listened to the music as he awaited her return. Danny's best friend and his girlfriend stopped at the table while Amanda was away. They chatted for awhile and then Mason guided Margaret to the dance floor as the band struck up another slow dance. Danny saw Amanda heading back toward the table. She had removed the sweater. Her shoulders were bare save the two thin straps holding her blue dress up. The white rose looked perfect nestled against the upper swell of her breast. Her hair was back down off her head and bounced lightly as she stepped. Danny stood when she reached the table and asked her to dance again. She put the sweater and her purse back onto the table and they moved off onto the dance floor. They danced and they talked, or more accurately shouted at one another over the music until Danny noticed that it was nearly ten. He had an eight a.m. class. "I hate to spoil the party, Amanda, but I have English Lit at 8." "Oh, okay. Let me put this sweater back on and we can go." Danny offered her his coat instead. She accepted and he put the jacket around her shoulders. Arm in arm they headed back to Roxley Hall. Silence was their companion all the way back to her dorm. Amanda turned to him right before the door. "I had a really great time tonight, Danny. Thank you." "My pleasure, Amanda," he managed to say before his lips met hers. He felt his pants tighten and he hoped that Amanda wouldn't be offended. After all this was their first date. The kiss was electric and they were both panting by the time they ended it. Amanda stepped back a bit and handed him his jacket. He handed her her sweater and opened the door for her. "Lunch tomorrow?" he asked as she stepped past him. She turned and said, "I'd like that, but it's got to be earlier than one." "Noon? I don't have my Math class tomorrow." "Okay. Where?" "Student Center?" "See you there," Amanda said as she let the door close and disappeared from his view. Danny walked home briskly. The night had turned colder as it often did in February. His thoughts were on Amanda and where things might be going. He could feel a bond building with her that he hoped wasn't one-sided. He remembered his only other girlfriend, Susan. She had been clingy and empty-headed. Amanda was neither. And he liked that. He liked the feel of her lips on his. And the feel of her hips in his hands. Calm down, he thought to himself. Dad always told him any woman worth knowing was worth taking the time to get to know. Maybe Dad was smarter than I gave him credit for being, he mused. "Hey, Danny," his room mate Andy said as he sailed into their room. "You're back early. Didn't expect you back til the cows come home." Danny could see Lisa buttoning up her blouse quickly. "Sorry, Andy. Hi, Lisa. I've got English Lit at 8. Review for a test on Friday. So I need to get some sleep." Lisa frowned, "No problem, Danny. I need to get back to my studies anyway. Walk me back, Andy?" "Of course, Darling," Andy replied, kissing her neck. The lovebirds headed out and Danny began to undress. What a day, he thought. No, what a wonderful day! He silently thanked the Lord for a good day and the chance to meet Amanda before rolling over and drifting off to sleep. Amanda folded her lacy red panties up and put them carefully into her laundry basket. I may have to wear these more often, she thought to herself, smiling. They sure brought me some good luck today. How she wished she could call home and tell Mom all about her night. Somehow, she could feel her mother's approval. She pulled her long t-shirt over her bare frame and slipped into bed. Part of her wondered what Summer was doing with Mike. What would it be like with Danny? Her nipples hardened just kissing him. And she felt tingly down there. Well, she said to herself, as she turned off the light and pulled the covers up, it's been a day filled with magic moments. Valentine magic, she mused. I wonder if it exists? ------- The End ------- Posted: 2006-02-14 ------- http://storiesonline.net/ -------