While we were watching The Empire Strikes Back, Eric had stealthily drawn a fraction nearer to me. I hadn't even noticed until the scene when Han kissed Leia for the first time.

Casting a sideways glance at Eric, I realized his knee was now pressed against the left side of the beanbag. Because of his long legs, he still remained a polite distance away, his palms cupping his shins.

So close, and yet so far away.

What would it be like to kiss him?

Enough! You've only known him for what? Five minutes?

I've known him for weeks now. Okay, I only met him today, but--

So? You never wanted to kiss Bryan. Or anyone. Get a grip!

This is...different.

That realization made a jolt of adrenaline surge through me, followed by a cascade of tingles. A rushing sensation. Warm, fuzzy, and comfy like relaxing in a warm bath after hours in the freezing cold. And it was spreading all over my body.

I nestled further into Eric's beanbag, causing a soft rustling of beads. And I could have sworn that I detected the tiniest hint of extra pressure from his knee against the chair.

Just the thought of him sitting close enough to touch me but deciding to stay a gentleman made my head spin.

What does this mean? Am I really asexual?

Don't be silly. Infatuation doesn't negate asexuality.

What is it, though?

Romantic attraction, dummy.

It's too soon. It can't possibly be that.

Hormones? Who the hell knows?

Infatuation is sexual in nature, isn't it?

My rational mind huffed with impatience. Infatuation is chemical, but it doesn't have to be sexual. When was the last time you had a sexual thought about him?

Uh...

Exactly, now hush and let me watch the movie.

After the rolling credits, everyone got up to stretch, and Eric hit the lights. "Right, time for our usual coffee break."

"Cool Beans Café, here I come," Teddy said in a triumphant voice. 

"More like instant coffee for me, I'm afraid," Eric said as he filled the kettle in the bathroom sink.

"Aww, man!" Teddy burst out laughing. "C'mon, dude."

While the other guys were distracted hunting for snacks, I tapped Helen on the arm. 

"Hey, what's up?" she asked.

"Mind if I head back to the room real quick?" I asked in a soft whisper. "Personal issue."

She gave me a nod and a wink. "I got ya covered," she whispered. Turning to the other guys, she said, "Hey, dudes, we're going to fix up our makeup. Be back in five."

"Awww!"

"What the hell do ladies do in there for hours?" John asked with an arrogant smirk. 

"Do you really wanna know?" Helen said with a wink, prompting a quick shake of the head from a blanching Dave. Eric raised a quizzical brow like Spock. "Right, so we'll be right back."

Once we got to the room, Helen took a walk outside to give me privacy. I snuck my phone out of my bag. Already three missed calls from them. Good grief. 

Hi, Mom. It's Jess.

Well, it's about time.
I was starting to wonder
whether I needed to call
the campus police.

Oh, for the love of God!

Language!

I meant gosh.
*eye roll*
Anyway, I'm just about
To head to bed.

Are you having a good time?

It's awesome so far! I just love it. 
The language labs are amazing.
The library is phenomenal.
Helen's super friendly.
Her friends are great. 
I could stay here forever!

Awww, I knew you'd love it.
Too bad you can't start this semester. 

I know, right? 
Helen wants to head to bed soon.
So I better say goodnight now.

Don't forget to call tomorrow morning.

Awww, Mom! Come on!
We have a busy day planned.
Don't you trust me?

It's other people I don't trust. 

Ugh!!! I'm always having to find
The time when no one's around.
It's really embarrassing.
No one else's parents call them 
Every five seconds.

Jessica...

Please, Mom? I'm eighteen.
At some point, you need to let go.
Most normal parents let their
Kids have a good time and talk
When they come home to visit.

Grandad muttered in the background, She's right, you know. Jess needs to stand on her own two feet. At which point Mom shushed him in a muffled tone, presumably with her hand over the receiver. 

 She sighed audibly but finally conceded. 

Fine, Jess. You don't need to call.
But at the first sign of trouble, you
Call us. Or call 9-1-1 if it's an--

Yes, Mom. I promise. 
Okay, I love you.
I-gotta-go-bye.

While Helen was punching in the door code, I hung up before Mom could change her mind. 

Helen giggled when she caught me red-handed with my phone. "Strict family, huh?"

"Ugh, you don't even know the half of it," I replied, rolling my eyes. "If Mom knew we were hanging out with guys at this time of night, I'd be hanged at first light."

Helen chuckled. "Well, your secret is safe with me. As far as I'm concerned, we watched Star Wars in my room with a bag of popcorn and a gallon of Diet Coke."

I shook my head. "You mean with baked chips and water."

"Oh, man!" She grimaced. "That bad? Really? Well, come on. Time to corrupt your very soul and turn you over..." She did her best Darth Vader impression. "...to the dark side."

"Oh, wow. That's bad."

"I know, right?" she said with a laugh. "I suck at impressions."

We topped up our lipstick to make our covert operation more believable and headed back to the room. Eric opened the door this time. "Come in, ladies."

"Where's everyone else?" Helen asked. 

"Teddy and John are getting emergency snacks at Hogan," he replied, "and Steve and Dave decided to stretch their legs in the meantime."

Helen gasped. "I just realized I have something that I needed to do for the resident assistant application," she said, her voice wavering. "You know, the thing with the thing. I'll be back in five minutes."

"Should I come with you?" I asked.

"No, you stay here," Helen insisted before she softened her tone. "It's...confidential, I'm afraid."

She closed the door quickly behind her, and Eric chuckled as he turned on his keyboard. "She's about as subtle as a flying brick."

When I chuckled, he played a rapid succession of scales.

"Eric?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you something weird?"

His eyes twinkled when he braved a glance in my direction. "Now I'm scared."

"Can you play that piece of music again?" I swallowed the lump in my throat. "It was so beautiful."

"Which piece?" he asked, curling his lip.

"The one you were playing this evening before The Imperial March."

"Moonlight Sonata?"

I nodded.

He ran his fingers over the music stand to remove the dust. "If only I had someone to turn the pages for me," he said in a low baritone, staring down at the keys.

"I could," I said with enthusiasm. "If you tell me when. I can't read sheet music, I'm afraid."

"Very well," he said, reaching into the music bench. "Feel free to sit beside me if you like."

When I joined him, my heart began to race. We were close. So close I could smell the faint scent of his body wash. A fresh, masculine tone with a hint of citrus. He stretched his fingers, took a deep breath, and began to play the languid first movement. 

His fingers moved with beautiful grace--long, lithe, and nimble. My heart slowed to match his rhythm. I imagined us on a lake, paddling in a canoe by moonlight, staring at the ripples we made in the still water. 

Eric nodded at me, and I turned the page. 

My daydream morphed into us walking side by side along the shore, hand in hand, the breeze teasing my hair. Listening to owls hooting in the distance. Staring up at the clear, starry sky.

Towards the end, I realized he wasn't even glancing at the music. No, he was rendering this completely from memory. From time to time he closed his eyes, pouring himself into the poignant notes. Joining us with a magnetism I'd never known. 

Caressing the keys with a gentle touch, he finished the last remaining chords. "Was that the piece you meant?" he asked in a deep whisper after the last note had faded.  

I couldn't clap. It didn't express the depth of my feeling. Instead, I allowed the tears to well in my eyes. He turned to me and smiled in his shy way. 

"Thank you," I whispered. 

"My pleasure, Jess." He watched as a tear trickled down my cheek. "Allow me?" 

I nodded.

It was crazy. I'd known Eric in person for less than twenty-four hours. Even after seven years, I hadn't let Bryan touch me that way. And yet I knew I was ready to try. Just once. With him. 

What am I thinking? Have I lost my mind?

Expecting his kiss, I closed my eyes, my heart on the verge of implosion. What would I feel, if anything, once his lips touched mine?

His hand cupped my cheek with the gentlest touch, and my eyelids fluttered while closed. He brushed the wayward tear from my face with a swipe of his thumb. 

The tender gesture almost made his effort for naught.

When our eyes locked once more, it felt like staring into the depths of the moon. He braved the second swipe while we gazed at each other. In that instant, time had no meaning. 

Clearing his throat, he withdrew his hand to retrieve the music book.

"Perhaps you will let me play for you again sometime?" he asked as I relished his deep voice. "I rarely find such a keen and appreciative audience."

"Yes, please." 

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he turned off his keyboard. "Next time, I'll play for you in the Music Hall or at the chapel. They have a beautiful organ."

"I thought you weren't religious," I said, furrowing my brow.

"Music transcends dogma," he replied. "It is the language of the soul. Perhaps that's why it touches you. You can synthesize the words. The phrases. The deeper meaning."

"Heeeeey!" Teddy shouted outside the door, jarring me to my feet. "Lovebirds! We're back!"

"Stop it!" Helen hissed at him in a voice loud enough to hear. "You're worse than me."

I rolled my eyes at their banter. Eric took one last look at me, his eyes twinkling with delight before he raced towards the door. 

___

A/N: If you watch how Valentina Lisitsa's fingers glide over the keys in the video above--caressing them and displaying the depth of her emotion while playing--you'll see what I meant.

How do you convey that in words? Gahhh...she's a genius. And if you think that's amazing, watch the third movement below. Her talent is just stunning. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zucBfXpCA6s