Lafayette

I was staying with him in the dorm, again. It felt like we were actually living together, this time. It was strange. We actually talked to each other when we needed to, and even talked when we didn't need to.

His level had been raising at a fast rate. I made him food as a reward.

I was laying on the couch one night, reading out of one of my textbooks, when I noticed him watching me from across the room.

"Did you need something?" I asked.

He jumped and hurriedly looked around as if trying to find a way to escape. "I...stop doing that."

"What? Startling you? You're the one staring at me."

He swallowed. "Sorry. I was just...zoning out, I guess."

"Mhm."

There was a long pause, so I assumed the conversation was over. I went back to reading.

"Do you..." He did not continue.

"Do I what?"

And then he asked me a question I had been dreading. The question.

"Do you...shave your legs?" He sounded hesitant, scared. I slowly pulled my legs up and under me. "I-I mean...I know it's a really weird question...I just...um..."

I stared down at my book, internally panicking. How had he found out? I thought of a few possible reasons. Maybe he had found my shaving supplies in the bathroom. But wouldn't he assume they were for my face? Well, I did leave my legs exposed much of the time...maybe he just happened to notice that they were extra smooth. But there are plenty of people that just don't grow much body hair. Is it possible he really hadn't considered that?

Perhaps he had been staring at my legs from day one.

Perhaps I had the upper hand.

Don't get your hopes up.

"Why do you ask?" I muttered.

"I-I, uh...I don't know. I've just...kind of...noticed?" When I didn't respond, he continued, "I'm sorry. That was probably a creepy thing to ask. Just pretend I didn't-"

"I do," I said.

"O-Oh." He went silent.

"I've done it since I was little. It's relaxing, in a way. I know that it's not normal, but I...I don't feel normal without doing it."

Hercules still didn't speak. I started to feel uncomfortable on a new level. I was itchy all over. My hands swiped over the sides of my legs, checking for any unwanted hair. Nothing was there. Yet, I still felt so terrible.

I stood up, holding my legs so close together that they made a soft noise when I walked down the hall.

"It's not that weird," Hercules blurted out after me. When I turned to face him, he winced. "I-I mean, it's definitely...different, but it's not bad or anything. It-it isn't hurting anyone, and it seems to benefit you, so...uh...um..." He was blushing. Was it because I had an odd look on my face?

"Fifteen points," I said quietly. "For not being rude." I calculated the points in my head. "Level Ten. Congratulations. You've earned a reward."

"Um...what reward?"

I looked him over. "I haven't decided, yet."

I felt his eyes on me while I walked away.


Hercules

Why the hell did I ask him that?

The second Lafayette was in his room, I dropped face first onto the couch, groaning and muttering, "Shit." Lafayette probably thought I liked him or something. Maybe he thought I was into his legs...which I didn't. Neither of those things were true. Of course they weren't. I was straight, after all. One hundred percent. I was just trying to be on somewhat good terms with him. Nothing more.

I sighed. I had no idea what had come over me. I clearly hadn't been thinking. I immediately regretted speaking at all. That question had been such an awful thing to ask.

But...he didn't seem to be mad at me about it, which really concerned me.

Sure, I wasn't into him, but what if he was into me? What the hell would I do with that?