On a hunch Jon opened the book at a page at one of the countless coloured bookmarks sticking out seemingly at random and nearly dropped the book when he saw the photo stuck to the top of the page with a paperclip. “Leonard!?”
Jon stood there holding the notebook in trembling fingers as he stared at the picture. On the one hand he was glad Sarah had kept her word and didn’t try to force him together with some asshole like Biff. But the idea of Leonard being the player seemed just as bad in their own right. His friend(?)….. acquaintance(?) neither word felt completely right. Leonard was someone Jon occasionally talked to about games and books or played the occasional game with, but their interaction never reached the personal level he shared with Mark or Karyn. But the idea of his gaming-buddy suddenly looking at him as just a tool to satisfy his lust……
Jon shuddered. Leonard didn`t seem like the type to harm a girl, but…. But he thought this was just a game! That it would be ok to do what he wanted because Jon wasn’t a real person. He would….would….
oO No! Oo Jon threw the mental brakes before he could slide into full blown hyperventilating panic attack. oO Think! You were glad Mark befriended him because you were no longer the only one trying to give him a reality check when Mark says something thoughtless about women. Oo
And – Jon was loathe to admit- also because Karyn stopped hanging out with the two of them after one thoughtless comment too many, and Jon didn’t have to feel as guilty whenever he ditched his oldest friend to hang out with her instead. oO Think before you panic and do something stupid. Like punch him in a panic if he walks over to say ‘Hi’. So… Oo Jon took a calming breath, wincing slightly as he felt his bra try to contain his expanding chest oO What are the facts?
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According to the manual even if Leonard wanted to, right now he can’t command me to kiss him much less to sleep with him.
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I can’t just hide because Sarah set this twisted game up so that it will push back against any attempt to avoid him completely.
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since I have to face the music sooner or later I’d best do it on my terms. And on the off chance Leonard doesn’t care about showing restraint after all, I’d best do it in a crowded place.
…….like school.
Damn! Oo
But there wasn’t really any point putting off the inevitable, was there?
With a sigh Jon closed the book and walked towards the door, which silently sprang ajar when he stretched out his hand towards the doorknob. oO Weird. Oo.
Instead of the inky void that had greeted him the last time, the door had opened onto a corridor. It looked pretty normal at first glance, but it seemed awfully artificial as Jon walked down the hall. The floorboards were immaculate, no scuff marks to mar their waxy sheen, no pictures on the wall, no personal touches of any kind.
The doors were helpfully labelled 'Guest room', 'Bath', 'Master Bedroom' and 'Stairs' by tiny bronze plaques, Jon noticed as he ventured into the hall (his room was labelled 'Maureens room' when Jon looked back to check).
Each door swung open in the same eerie fashion when Jon reached for the door handle, to reveal not a room so much as a showpiece. Unlike the sterile corridor each room had a personality, but they looked like something you'd find in a catalogue, not like a room actual people lived in.
Jon took a look back when he descended the stairs checking the label on the other side of the door, it read 'Maureens home'. At the bottom of the stairs was another short corridor and two doors, one labelled 'Job(Office)' and the other one was probably the side entrance.
When Jon stretched out his hand for the door handle, he found himself hesitating 'I'm not dressed for school yet. ' Maureen said, letting out a faint sigh 'I'll forget my own head some day.'
Not dressed yet? Jon looked down at his/her attire. Granted a tracksuit was a bit unconventional. But it's not like it was. against. ...the. dress.....code. oOPlease no Oo Jon pleaded as the memory flashed across his mind: a school uniform appearing on a hanger at the wall as Maureens occupation changed to 'student'.
