PART 2
XXDSPMXX
Only one week before exams, students were sparse as they were in their dorms studying or in the library. Paul and Hamilton resorted to staying in their respective dorms so their girls could study without any distractions. They knew how important it was for the ladies to serve in a man's world. Women were needed just like them, and messing up their bright future wasn't what they stood for, even if they broke up.
Heading to the library for some quiet time and hoping to see Della again, Perry had left his room early, with his notebook and a few books in his hand. Della and Valeri were waiting patiently for their friend Janet to hurry so that they all could go study in the library before the best spots were taken.
"Janet, will you come on already? If you don't hurry up, we're not going to get the couch," Valerie called out to her, donning her sports jacket, that Paul lent to her.
"I'm hurrying as fast as I can Val. Give me a few seconds I'm fixing my hair and makeup," Janet replied walking out of her room picking up her books from the coffee table.
"If we have to sit on those old rugged chairs so help me, Janet…." Valerie's voice trailed off before she could finish her threat.
"Valerie, leave her alone. It'll be fine if we don't get the good section, we can always go off someplace else in the library. They have plenty of space and furniture no need to worry," Della maneuvered around the two walking out of the room waiting on them in the hallway. The trio had left their rooms walking across the campus and entering the library. Students had already occupied some seating areas but were not as crowded as they had thought it would be, it was still early, not even ten o'clock.
"I was told you can get the best study rooms back that way. Come on you guys, hurry up," Valerie pointed. As the girls headed down the aisle towards the secluded area, Valerie opened the door slowly. Opening the door slightly ajar not to disturb anyone that might be in the room, only one person had been seated. A young dark-haired man was seated in the far corner of the sofa, away from the chairs and tables. He never looked up until the door creaked and shut softly. Noticing that he was not alone, he remained interested in the girls, glancing up from his notes and paying attention to see how many were joining him.
He didn't like to be cramped while studying and if it was a full room of ladies, he was going to have to go someplace else, but something he noticed stopped his thoughts completely. Thinking to himself only seeing two girls walk into the room was not an issue but the third one was a brunette with curly hair. He was curious so he stayed seated to see if it was Della, he lingered and listened to the whispers of the girls.
"Come on guys, there is only one young fellow in here," Valerie walked softly toward the other side of the room trying not to disturb Perry's attention too much. The two girls had taken their seats in chairs that left Della with only the table, lounge chair or the sofa with the young man seated on it. Della made the most of it, taking the table and not paying attention to the young dark-haired man seated at the end of the couch, for he never paid her any attention. Little did she know, he was watching her every move, even if she didn't make eye contact, he most certainly was glancing up at her.
Della opened her book and her notes looked through the pages she remembered that she forgot her watch back in her room. She absent-mindedly scanned the room for a clock on the wall. Not only did she find it but also found a certain young man who had been eyeing her, Perry Mason. She gave a wave across from the table finally acknowledging him while she glanced back over at her friends who were studying. He gave her a quick smile returning to his notes quietly enjoying the quality time he spent with her even if she wasn't seated next to him.
The two girls glanced up at the clock noticing that they had spent nearly two and half hours studying. Getting up from their chairs they interrupted Della. "Della, you want to grab lunch before we go back to our rooms?" Janet asked.
"I'll grab a quick bite in a little while. You two go on without me. I have to babysit tonight," Della whispered to them returning her eyes to her notes.
"I forgot, okay, we'll see you later then, bye," Janet whispered and left quietly as Valerie exited the room and shut the door quietly. Perry checked his watch one hour later after Della's friends had departed. He was starting to get hungry, closing his book and notepad, he glanced up to see if Della was making the same decision. Holding her chin up by the palm of her hand reading her notes. He paused thinking to himself should he ask her out for lunch or would she refuse him. He took the gamble got the nerve up and slowly rose from the cushion of the couch and approached her. Della was reading a paragraph when suddenly a large shadow blocked out the light.
"You want to grab something to eat?" Perry offered interrupting her thoughts and gave her an innocent smile as she leaned back in her chair.
"Am I buying you lunch or is it your treat?" she teased him cocking her eyebrow and tilting her head, just to make him blush a little.
"No, it's my treat. It's always the man that should be taking care of his girl, especially when he asks her to go to lunch," he quietly said. Not realizing he just said 'his girl' he turned his head as if he intruded on her relationship status with the other man she was promised.
"What do you say? I'm harmless I swear I will be on my best behavior." Perry stood waiting on her to reply.
"I'm famished. I thought I could hold out a little longer but I guess I couldn't," Della sighed and folded up her book, and grabbed her purse. He debated if he should question Della about her plans tonight but decided against it was none of his business. He decided not to at all. He pulled the chair out from where she was seated and opened the door, following her out enjoying the view for a moment. The cafeteria was not as nearly busy by the time Perry and Della arrived for lunch. He motioned to go outside with his hand and exited out the main doors. The wind had a slight breeze and the sun was shining brightly. Della's dress whipped around her legs while she walked with Perry getting a table under a shaded oak tree. Sitting down their belongings and lunch, they sat enjoying the nice weather and each other for the moment.
"So do you come from a well-to-do family or did you work your way through the hustle and bustle?" she took a bite of her sandwich looking at him as he took a sip of his cola.
"My family had inherited a lot of money from my great grandfather. He was a judge back east. He was married and had one son, who was my father." Perry told her finishing his lunch and pulling his cigarette pack out of his suit pocket and lighting it.
"What about your family, Della?" he asked before taking a drag blowing it out of his lungs, looking at her then back out onto the lawn of the school, tapping his fingertips onto the table.
"Our family moved from Chicago; my father had lost his job at the local plant. He looked for work but nothing came of it. He wanted to see if something interested him out here in California. He found a good job as a mechanic at a local dealership. My mother takes on small jobs around the neighborhood and my brother Joe, he's younger than me." Della wasn't much of a boaster and Perry liked that about her. Soft-spoken but knew how to say it in a manner that made him love her even more. He hadn't known her long but was finding himself smitten every single minute of being with her. His mind was churning, did she think less of him of being born with wealth in his family. Before anything else was said between them, his thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice that sounded like a razor's edge gutting him.
"Perry, I thought we were supposed to be going out this evening with Hamilton, Kerry, Paul, and his girl. But what do I find, you getting all cozy with this low life….." Laura's tone stung his ears and angered Della but being the respective person Della held her own.
"Perry I should go. Thanks for lunch but I really should be going. I have a prior engagement anyway tonight," Della grabbed her things off the table and left without looking back. The words that Laura had said against Della sparked a fire in Perry and he wasn't going to hold back.