A/N: Is it possible to have writer's block on one fic and not another? I've never really experienced it that way that I can remember, but it's sure happening with this one. My apologies. It's frustrating me to no end. But, here I am, attempting to write a decent update. It might be a bit on the short side, thanks to my writer's block issue. Even so, please enjoy!

Chapter 3: Prelude to the bar

Brennan opened the door to the dorm room she shared with Sam. It was unlocked, which meant the girl was there. She was stretched out on her bed, watching a DVD. She put it on pause and glanced at Brennan.

"Hey there girlie! How was class?"

"It was informative. How was your morning?"

"Decent. I have the same prof for chem that taught my summer term course. Good times."

"Listen Sam, I've been invited to go to a bar tonight. I was wondering if you'd be interested in going with me."

"Sure thing! I'm always up for the bar scene. We just gotta be back before the stupid curfew goes into effect. Sure hope they catch that killer soon." She shook her head. "So, who invited you?"

"Someone in my physics class."

"A guy huh? Wow, that was fast work, it's only the first day of fall term! Is he hot?" She gave Brennan a sly smile.

Sam had men on the brain. Brennan turned her own brain to Sam's last question. Was Booth hot? Angela thought so, and had explained the term, but what did she think? She knew he was well structured, a very nice male specimen, but hot?

Finally, she replied, "He's very nice, aesthetically speaking."

Sam nodded her head up and down. "Name?"

"Riley Jordan."

"Nice ass?"

Brennan's forehead crinkled. "I suppose so."

"You haven't looked?! Good god, girl, what is wrong with you? We'll have to remedy that tonight at the bar."

"I'm just looking for a friendly type of relationship with him Sam," Brennan tried.

"Never say never. I had a boyfriend last year who was taking physics. Now, I'm not saying there's any connection, but wow, was he good in the sack!"

Brennan was about to explain that there was no way there could be any connection between taking physics and sexual prowess, but instead decided to abandon the topic.

Sam checked her watch and shut off the DVD. "I gotta jet or I'm gonna be late for English. Catch ya later Leslie!" She grabbed her backpack from the floor and left the room with a wave. Brennan stood there for a moment, feeling as though she'd been caught in a small whirlwind.

She sat on her own bed and pulled out her physics textbook. She still had some time before she had to leave for biology.

Booth was about ready to strangle Chuck and shove his body under the bed. He kept talking to him, and offering him 'munchies' that he'd grabbed from the vending machines in the common room. It was annoying as hell. He'd caught a brief respite when he'd excused himself to step outside and call the police to tell them about Jake Schrader's behavior. It was over far too quickly. He'd been so close to starting a meaningless conversation with the cop he was talking to just to suck up time. Finally, he'd admitted defeat and gone back to his room. He'd unpacked quickly and now lay back on his bed, trying yet again to decipher the physics text.

Chuck waved a bag in his face. "Get that away from me," he mumbled.

"C'mon dude! They're Funions! Everyone loves Funions!"

Resisting the urge to knock Chuck unconscious with the heavy book, Booth grabbed the bag from him and tossed it to the other side of the room. Chuck, as predicted, went after it. Booth laid the open book across his face. It wouldn't do if he flunked out. Yea, sure, they'd make sure he stayed in the class because of the investigation, but if Bones found out…

Then it hit him. Zach. He knew this stuff. It would be a kick to his pride to call Zach for help, but better that than to have Bones on his ass about failing tests and neglecting the reading. That was one of the reasons she shouldn't be here. He shouldn't be worrying about flunking a stupid physics class that didn't matter, but here he was, giving good consideration to calling the Medico-Legal Lab's resident physics dweeb so as not to appear stupid in the eyes of a girl. God, it was like college all over again. Except this time, the physics club wasn't at his disposal. He only had Zach.

"Sure you don't want the Funions?" Chuck's voice floated to his ears and he could feel rather than see the bag dangling over his head yet again. Right before he was about to jam the bag down Chuck's throat, his watch beeped. Time for biology. He'd call Zach tomorrow. And swear him to secrecy.

"Wow, look at the time. Gotta go to class!" He was gone in the blink of an eye, trying to shake the homicidal thoughts from his head.

"How do I look?" Sam asked, coming into their room from the bathroom down the hall. Brennan eyed the red leather pants and halter top and searched for an adjective.

"You look…nice."

Sam's shoulders slumped a bit. "We gotta work on you a bit hun." She eyed Brennan. "Hey, you're not ready."

Brennan looked down at herself. She was in the same slacks and blouse she'd put on that morning. "Yes I am. As soon as Riley shows up, we can leave." She'd told Booth after biology that she and Sam would be going with him. He told her he'd pick them up at their room at 8. She'd insisted that they could get there on their own, but he hadn't been receptive to them walking around at night, even just down the street. She hadn't felt like arguing so she'd given in. Hopefully, he wouldn't get used to it.

"Oh no Les, you are not going to go to a bar with a hot guy looking like a frumpy librarian. Not on my watch."

"Perhaps he likes frumpy librarians," Brennan pointed out, wanting to get Sam onto another topic that didn't involve her changing. "Besides this type of clothing is all I own."

Sam scrutinized her carefully. "I think we're about the same size. We'll give it a try." She strode to the small wardrobe on her side of the room, and flung the twin doors open. "Let's see here…black I think." She pulled out a pair of leather pants and a low cut light blue sleeveless top with no back save for several strings that were meant to be tied to pull the top together.

Brennan balked immediately. "I am not wearing that."

"Oh, yes you are. If it fits anyway, and I think it will. Look, you want this guy or what?"

"I never said anything of the sort."

"Go get changed. I'll keep Romeo waiting here until you do, so if you want to get out of here, you better scoot!" She handed the clothing off to Brennan and gave her back a gentle shove toward the door.

When she opened it, there was Booth, fist raised to knock. "Hello Riley," she said, rearranging her arms around the pile of leather and cotton in her arms, making it less visible to his suddenly curious eyes.

"Hey Leslie. What's all this?"

"Apparently it's my outfit for the evening. Excuse me." She sidled past him and made her way to the bathroom.

"Hello there! I'm Sam, Leslie's roomie." Booth shook the proffered hand. "Wow, Les wasn't kidding."

"What'd she say?" Now he was really curious.

"That you were smokin' hot."

"She said that?" Somehow, he couldn't imagine his Bones using that term.

"Well, not in so many words, but I got what she was sayin'. Come on in." She stepped behind him to grab the door, sneaking a look at his backside as he walked in. "Very nice. I won't let you pass this up Les. No way, no how."

Brennan glowered at herself in the mirror. This was not her. But maybe it was Leslie Tylor. She tilted her head and turned to her side. The pants did look good on her. A little tight, but nothing she couldn't deal with. The top was another story however. Not that it didn't fit. It did. The problem was the air hitting her bare back. She didn't like that at all. She checked her hair. It was fine, hanging down and recently brushed. She was ready. Hopefully Sam didn't have anything else in store for her.

She exited the bathroom and made her way back to the room, opening the door with an "Ok, I'm ready. Let's go."

Booth started staring. She sighed loudly. "What?"

"You look good." It was amazing what a change of clothes could accomplish. She seemed even more confident when she heard his compliment, her back and shoulders becoming just a bit straighter. He felt his mouth drop open a little as he looked his fill. She looked more than good; she looked…well, to borrow a phrase from Sam, smokin' hot.

He felt his body respond to her as his eyes landed on her breasts, the top revealing more cleavage than he was used to seeing on any woman. Uh, oh. Not good. Hopefully she didn't notice the bulge in his pants. And that went for Sam too. He had a feeling the girl would have a few things to say about that.

His gaze landed back on her face as she said, "Thank you." Brennan felt a small smile come to her face. She felt less ridiculous now. If only he'd stop staring. She wasn't used to that kind of attention from him.

"The man's right Les. You look awesome! I'm glad that stuff fit you. No one'll be able to take their eyes off you tonight."

Booth's own eyes narrowed at Sam's statement. He didn't like the thought of strange college boys ogling his partner. He, on the other hand, could ogle as much he wanted. Or as much as she'd allow. And it seemed she'd reached her limit.

Unable to withstand the sudden tension in the room that had come with his staring, Brennan said, "Close your mouth Riley. Let's get out of here."

"I second that. The night is young!" Sam called, leading them out the door.

A/N: I hope that was ok. I hate blocks. But, now I have something to write about next chap; their trip to the bar! So, hopefully, the wait won't be too awful long. Thanks for reading, I really appreciate it!