The Girl in Question

The Girl in Question

Cam Masters was hunched over a desk in his bedroom, brow furrowed as he read the story-problem. He hadn’t had much experience with practice tests so he was taking a few slowly on his own before trying them timed. The Primus had promised him he would get to enroll next semester if he could get a high enough ACT score. His hopes weren’t high, though. It wasn’t going very well.

He wondered what it would be like to go to college. Just thinking about it nearly blew his mind. It seemed he was changing so much recently, improving himself. First Zo had talked him into that hair cut, and now his dark hair was gelled into spikes on his head. She’d convinced him to add some maturity to his wardrobe too, showing off his body a bit. He still felt a little weird going out in a tank top and no shirt on top, but Zo swore he looked good. Now that he thought about it, it seems she was at the center of everything good happening to him. She had saved him so many times.

His thoughts were banished when a knock came at his door.

“Oh, hey, Zo,” he said when he saw who it was.

She looked as beautiful as ever. Her blonde hair was perfectly straight, and her pink t-shirt set off her skin. She smiled at him, her blue-with-contacts eyes crinkling. Then happiness slid off her face.

“We may have hit a snag,” she said.

“You can’t find anything?”

Zo shook her head. “Knox doesn’t know who any of the council members are, and he’s not quite suicidal enough to break into the Primus’ office to snoop around.”

Sighing, Cam ran a hand over his hair. “So what now?”

“I dunno.” She shrugged. “The only person I can think to ask would be Sybele.”

Cam shuddered.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” she said. “It wouldn’t matter anyway. It’s not like we have anything of value to trade. I’m sure she knows everything that I could think of to tell her. So we’re back at square one.”

“Maybe she wants something other than information,” Cam said.

“Like what?”

“I don’t know, it was just a thought.”

For a second she looked at him, an intense look on her face.

“What?” Cam asked, self-conscious.

She hesitated, then said, “No, forget it.”

“Come on, tell me,” he insisted.

“I just…I had a thought,” she began slowly. “Of something to offer Sybele that wasn’t information. Everyone knows she’s got a major hard-on for domination, and, well, she is attracted to a certain type. A tall and dark type.”

That strange look was back on her face again. It took him a minute to understand, but when he did what little color he had drained from his face.

Seeing his reaction, she shook her head firmly. “No, you’re right. It’s too much. Gods, it must be the desperation talking, I don’t know what I was even thinking. I couldn’t ask that of you—”

“I’ll do it,” Cam said quietly.

She stopped dead, scrutinizing him. “Are you sure? This is pretty intense. I don’t want you feel like something this important is your responsibility.”

“It’s just sex, right?” He forced a grin and shrugged. “What guy can turn down a no-strings hook up?”

Slowly, Zo came toward him. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him in close.

“Thank you so much, Cam,” she breathed against his ear. “No one else could do this for me. I couldn’t count on anyone else like I can count on you.”

Cam closed his eyes, enjoying the feel and smell of her. She pulled back, and he reluctantly let her go.

“Well, guess I’ll go find the big bad bitch,” she said. She gave him one last smile and then left his room.

On unsteady legs, Cam walked over to his desk and sank into the chair, resting his face in his hands. Suddenly the practice test didn’t seem so bad.