Campus Life: 3. Morning After Syndrome
by filmtheory
“Yo, Terry,” Connor called as he pounded on the door. “You in there? You up? You alive?”

The door swung open. “Yes, yes, and yes,” Terrell answered. “But I’m hung over, so stop pounding.”

Connor frowned. Terry looked like hell. He had a black eye and a swollen jaw. “You and Craig went at it pretty bad, huh?”

“Yeah. You were right. He’s an ass.” Terry held his wrist. “Just wished I hadn’t banged my hand up punching his lights out.”

“And then you got plastered, huh?”

Terrell nodded. “Seemed like a good idea at the time. Sorry I ditched you, man.”

“It’s cool. You need anything?”

“Nah, I’m good,” Terry smiled. “You go on about your day.”

“I’ll check on you after class.”

“What’re you? My mother?”

Connor laughed and waved at Terrell. He pulled the door closed and headed off to see werewolf suspect number one.

Craig Pierce had been missing when Connor came to meet him last night. He was definitely a horn dog, bragging about his many sexual exploits which, unlike most guys’, actually happened. These facts, combined with his fist fight with the very docile Terrell Jackson, made Craig seem an obvious suspect.

Connor knocked on the door, getting no answer. He knocked herder. He considered knocking the door in, but that was just impatience. Sticking his ear to the door, he heard shuffling inside. Suddenly, the door began to open. Connor quickly backed his head away before Craig could notice.

“Connor?”

“Hey Craig,” Connor said. He tried to look into the room, but Craig blocked the opening with his 6’3” frame. At 5’11”, Connor had a hard time keeping eye contact and scanning the room. “Where were you last night?”

“Got busy.”

There wasn’t a scratch on Craig. He seemed to have gotten the better of his fight with Terry. Either that, or he had the benefit of some werewolf healing.

“Can’t be more specific?” Connor asked. “Or was it like CIA spy stuff?”

“You know, you’re worse than a chick. If I wanted this kind of crap, I’d have a girlfriend.”

Connor heard shuffling inside. There was girl with him. Connor gave a slight smile.
He doubted Craig had just met the girl and already ravaged her within the one hour since sunrise. The star quarterback stood there in only his boxers.

“Sorry, man,” Connor said. “Just, after you had that thing with Terry, I couldn’t find either of you.”

“Oh,” Craig said, looking slightly nervous. “So you heard about that?”

“Yeah,” Connor said with a shrug. “It’s no big deal.”

Craig smiled and nodded, backing away from the door slightly. “See, I told Terry you’d be cool about it.”

As Craig backed away from the door, his heart sank into his stomach and all thoughts of the werewolf hunt dissolved. He did his best to not sniffle or cry. There were so many girls on campus, the long, slender, beige legs in Craig’s bed could be anyone’s. Even the shining black hair covering the head buried in the pillow didn’t mean anything.

When she looked up, it was all over. A tear rolled down Connor’s cheek before he could stop it. It wasn’t so much that it was her. It was the look in the emerald green eyes. They screamed of regret, shame, pain, and embarrassment. Alyson Inoue glanced at Connor only a heartbeat, before burying her head in the pillow again.

“What can I say, man?” Craig said with a shrug and a sadistic grin, as if he were enjoying Connor’s tearful response. “I told you she liked football players.”

“You piece of-”

Craig shoved Connor into the hallway and stepped out, pulling the door closed behind him. “Don’t say anything you’ll regret, Reilly.”

“You knew how I felt about her,” Connor said through clenched teeth.

“She obviously didn’t feel the same way about you, because she hooked up with me before we even made it to the Quad.”

“She was so upset about Megan, she’d have hooked up with anyone!”

“Maybe she would have hooked up with anyone, but would she let anyone bone her?”

“I like her. A lot.”

“Meaning what?” Craig said smugly. “She’s your property?”

“So you’re Mr. Respect for Women now? So, what now? You two are an item?”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Craig shrugged. “She was good for a few rides, but I don’t see me dating a slut who’d give it up without so much as a-”

Before Craig could finish, Connor punched him in his nose. He felt a violent satisfaction at the sound and feeling of bone crunching under his knuckles, exceeded only by the sight of blood spraying Craig’s face. The quarterback’s eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he slumped to the ground unconscious.

A rush of fear passed through Connor and he checked Craig’s pulse. Connor sighed with relief as guys started clapping and cheering around him.

“One punch!” he heard someone call. “Did you see that?”

**

Dawn limped from the living room into the kitchen. Buffy, Willow, and Kennedy sat eating cereal. “I waited up all night for you!” Dawn yelled, giving all three a scare.

“For someone who was waiting up, you were snoring pretty loud,” Buffy smiled as she resumed eating.

“Well,” Dawn said defensively. “If I was up all night, I obviously had to sleep when the morning came.” She looked around. “So, where’s the werewolf? Chained up in the basement? Because it’s probably changed back to human by now.”

“Didn’t catch it,” Willow said. She was the only one able to speak the humiliating news.

“We’re trying to figure out who it might be,” Kennedy added quickly. “Another student’s checking into it. We’ll get the full report at dinner tonight.”

Buffy finally noticed Dawn’s slumped posture. “Are you alright?”

“I hurt my ankle. Turns out the werewolf was attracted to the kissing on the quad celebration.”

Willow smacked her forehead. “That’s so obvious! I so should have thought of that.”

“Were you bitten?” Kennedy asked, getting back to business.

“No. Just ankle twisting.” Dawn glanced at Buffy, longing for privacy to share sister news, as opposed to slayer news. “When you get a chance?” she asked, nodding toward the living room.

Buffy put her spoon down. “It’s not like these Fruit Loops could get any soggier. Besides, I want to look at your ankle.”

“So,” Dawn said happily as Buffy looked at her ankle. “I must have looked totally hot last night. I met the cutest guy on the way there.”

“Kiss him?” Buffy asked.

“Like I’m telling you that! Anyway, I kissed him at the beginning of the night and-”

Buffy glanced up. “Not telling me, huh?”

“Damn!” Dawn said, realizing her slip up. “Anyway, cute boy, good kisser. So, I’m at the party, just hanging out. Wolf comes, all hell breaks loose, you know. The usual. Anyway, this guy I kissed once, once goes running through the crowd looking for me and totally saves me.”

“So you needed saving?” Buffy asked, cocking an eyebrow.

Dawn sighed. “Well, I did pepper spray it.”

Buffy grinned. “That’s my girl!” She patted Dawn’s leg. “Your ankle’s okay. Just try not to do anything too athletic for a day or two. So, what’s your Romeo’s name?”

Dawn grimaced.

“You don’t know his name?” Buffy said incredulously.

“Well,” Dawn said meekly. “I don’t remember. I kissed a lot of guys last night.”

Buffy sighed. “I wish the English language had a word to explain how much I didn’t want to hear that.”

***

Connor felt exhausted. Track practice the previous day had drained him. After that, a long werewolf hunt, being awake for twenty-four hours, and having his heart broken by his secret crush and a quasi-friend left Connor feeling like he wanted to roll up in a ball and die. His second wind hat hit him, along with a burst of testosterone. Connor knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep.

As Connor walked, he became aware of a familiar scent. Turning, he frowned slightly.

“Not happy to see me?” Emily said. Her usually pale skin was even more so, which augmented the red of her blood-shot eyes.

“Not happy to see anyone.”

“Yeah. I heard. I’m . . . I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault unless you introduced them,” Connor said with a slight smile. “You didn’t, did you?” he added in a serious tone.

“No,” she said with a smile. “I don’t even know Erica Inoue.”

“Alyson,” Connor said. As he began walking with Emily toward her dorm. “Alyson Inoue.”

“Man, you must have it bad.”

“Had it bad. And speaking of having it bad, what happened to you? Wake up in some strange guy’s bed?”

“I wish,” Emily said with a smile. “I actually woke up in another girl’s bed.”

“Okay,” Connor said with a wide grin. “You’ve got my attention.”

“Pervert,” Emily smiled shyly. “I went to hang out with this sorority girl in one of my classes before Full Moon on the Quad. She got me stone drunk and I passed out on her bed. Missed the whole thing.”

“Upset you didn’t get to kiss any senior boys?”

“Yeah. Freedom of college, being half way across the country from my parents. Makes me feel so . . . wild.” She pointed to the dorm. “This is me. Want to come in? Get some caffeine to keep you rolling.”

“Sounds cool,” Connor said, walking in with her.

“Anyway, I think it’s because I was such a good girl in high school.” She opened her door and entered. “Now I’m out here with nobody, well, except my brother, but still. I feel so free. And horny.”

Connor laughed.

“I’m not kidding,” Emily said, laughing herself. “Ever guy I see, I look at like a piece of meat. I just want to walk up and use him as a scratching post.”

“You have to watch out for that. You don’t want to do anything stupid.”

“Like this?” Emily said as she slid her hand around the back of Cowen’s neck and pulled his head down. She kissed him, opening her mouth. Just as she slid her tongue past his lips, Connor pulled away.

“Yeah,” he said, looking amused. “Exactly like that.”

Emily walked toward Connor as seductively as she could manage while feeling hung over. She pushed her chest out and swung her hips. Connor could only make out the shadow of her body as it moved, but he couldn’t help but react to the way she moved. He looked away, feeling desire and embarrassment at his desire.

“Chill out, Em,” Connor said nervously. “Don’t get carried away just because you’re feeling a little horny.”

Emily laughed. “How can someone so smart be so dumb?” she asked as she pressed her body against his. “Didn’t you notice it this summer when you can Terry came to visit my brother?”

“Notice what?”

“How I’d always hang around and flirt with you. That I’d dress in my skimpiest nightclothes and then hang out with you and Terry and Craig.”

Connor laughed nervously. “I just thought you were friendly. But whether you like me or not, Em, you shouldn’t just-”

Emily leaned up and kissed him again. Connor felt her chest push against his as she stretched up so her lips could meet his. For someone who’d spent the night passed out drunk, she smelled delicious. Connor kicked off his shoes. Just for comfort he told himself, while knowing better.

There’s no harm in kissing Connor thought as he opened his mouth, allowing his tongue to meet hers.

Emily pushed Connor back. As he hit the soft mattress, he realized she’d pushed him into her bed. She climbed on top of him. Connor wanted to protest that things might be moving too fast, but he barely had time to gasp for air before Emily’s lips were pressed against his again.

Emily broke the lip lock and gripped Connor’s shirt.

“Are you sure?” was all he could manage to blurt before Emily pulled his shirt up. Emily could tell he was only saying the words. He raised his arms and docilely laid there as she pulled his shirt off.

“God, I want to scratch you into a million pieces,” Emily sighed as she ran her fingernails down Connor’s chest.

Connor pulled off Emily’s shirt. She wasn’t wearing a bra. She unzipped his pants and pulled them off, then her own. She quickly pulled his boxers off. She’d wanted them all the way off, but lost her patience. Quickly, Emily moved on top of Connor and eased herself onto him.

Connor looked down nervously. “Do you have a condom?” he asked nervously, realizing he was probably too late.

“Oh my god,” Emiy screamed, ignoring his question as he entered her or, more accurately, she lowered herself onto him. She began to move her hips back and forth wildly, but couldn’t manage to build any friction or pleasure. She stopped thrashing and looked at Connor desperately. Her body was telling her to move more, to find even greater pleasure than what she was now experiencing. But she couldn’t tell how.

Connor placed his hands on her hips. “Let me,” he whispered as he pushed up into her. Emily soon began moaning softly, then louder in ecstasy.

****

The whole episode was less than twenty minutes. Connor was lying on his back. Emily laid face down on top of him. He absent-mindedly stroked her hair as, for the first time, thoughts of Alyson returned to him. He wasn’t sure if it was only the afterglow, or maybe the ego boost of a girl wanting him so badly, but the whole ordeal stung less now. He felt bad about the treatment Alyson was sure to receive from Craig, which of course leant to feelings of jealousy. He wondered again how inadequate he was that she would prefer someone like Craig. But still, the pain was so much duller than he thought two hours could cure.

Connor turned and looked at Emily when he heard her sob. Her face was turned away, so he was staring at the back of her head. “Em?” he said quietly. “Em, what’s wrong?” Connor looked down and he was filled with terror. “Oh my god, you’re bleeding!”

“Oh, don’t be an idiot.”

Connor took a moment for realization to dawn on him. “Oh,” he said. “Do . . . do you want me to get you a tampon or something?”

Emily gave a laugh through her tears. “Guess again.”

“What?” Connor said, confused again. “Oh. Oh . . . wow. Um . . .”

“Surprised?”

“Yeah. A little. I mean, you seemed to know what you wanted?”

“God, I’m such a slut,” she whimpered, burying her head in her pillow.

“Hey,” Connor said, gently rubbing her back. “If you think things happened too fast, we can take things slower for a while.”

“Is that a euphemism for you not calling me for the next three years?”

Connor smiled, stroking her hair. “No. It’s a euphemism for grabbing dinner and a movie. Maybe holding hands in the dining hall.”

Emily looked at Connor and gave a disbelieving laugh. “Please don’t toy with me. It’s easier if you just let me down now.”

“Em, us guys aren’t all like your brother. In fact, very few of us are. Craig’s an asshole.” He petted her shoulder reassuringly. “If I didn’t like you, I wouldn’t have slept with you.”

“What about me do you like?” she asked, fishing for compliments. If he really, really liked her, maybe she was responding to that. Emily was dying for any explanation to counter the stupid-freshman-girl theory.

“You’re pretty. That’s always nice. And you’re funny. Goofy, but funny.”

Emily giggled embarrassedly.

“I like your laugh. And your hair. And I love the way you smell.”

Emily laughed and put her face to Connor’s neck, sniffing deeply. “I love the way you smell, too. I’d drink your sweat if you’d let me.”

Connor laughed loudly. “I can’t believe how dirty your mind is.”

“Why not?” she grinned mischievously. “Just because I never did anything naughty doesn’t mean I’ve never had naughty thoughts.” She licked his neck. “Even if I never touched you last summer, I wanted to. I thought about it ever since I first saw you.” Emily quickly kissed Connor. “What else do you like about me?”

Connor smiled. He could understand needing to have your ego stroked. “Your body,” he said with a grin.

Emily covered up as the mention of her body reminded her she was naked. “My breasts are too small.”

“No,” Connor whispered, pushing her onto her back and gently removing the sheet. “I like when I can fit them in my mouth.” He leaned down and put his lips to her left nipple. He opened his mouth wider and drew the whole breast into her mouth. “See?” he said, looking up again. “Perfect.”

She giggled. “Can we maybe go somewhere tonight?”

“Is tomorrow okay? I told some people I’d help them with this thing. Besides, Friday night is date night, right?”

“Yeah,” Emily said, forcing a smile that was unable to mask her disappointment.

“How about lunch at Tressider? Noon? Maybe a little after?”

Emily smiled genuinely this time. She bit her lip shyly and nodded.

The sound of keys in the door took Connor by surprise. He quickly pulled on his boxers and had his pants halfway up when the door swung open.

Seeing the outline of a half-naked guy pulling on his pants caused Dawn to avert her eyes. But she recognized the face and did a double take. “What the hell?”

“Dawn?” Connor said in surprise as he buttoned his pants. “Your Emily’s roommate?”

“You asshole!” Dawn screamed, causing passers by in the hallway to stop and watch the scene. She hurled her keys at him. Connor had to drop his shirt to catch them.

“What?” Connor said, feeling guilty, but confused as to why. “What’d I do?”

“My roommate, apparently,” Dawn answered sharply.

“Um, uh,” Connor glanced at Emily, who seemed as confused as he was. “I wouldn’t exactly phrase it like that, but-”

“Get out!”

“Okay,” Connor said in a conciliatory tone. “But . . . why are you mad at me?”

“Um, because of last night maybe?” Dawn yelled sarcastically.

“God damn” a girl in the hallway said. “What a pig!”

“You slept with her too!” Emily shouted as she jumped out of the bed, pulling the sheets off to cover her.

“What?” Connor said, looking to Emily. “No!” He looked back to Dawn as if to verify this fact. “We didn’t sleep together.”

“No, we didn’t,” Dawn said, glaring at Emily. “Unlike some people, I’m not that easy.” She looked back to Connor. “But you kissed me!”

“No, you kissed me,” Connor yelled back. “And then you went and kissed like twenty other guys. If every guy you kissed last night were all supposed to remain true and loyal, you’d have quite a harem.”

“Connor,” Emily started.

“Connor!” Dawn said. “That’s right!”

Connor looked back at Dawn with disbelief. “You’re pissed I slept with someone else and you don’t even remember my name?!”

“I just thought,” Dawn started, not sure how to finish. “You came back and saved me from that wild animal. I thought you . . .” Dawn could feel her eyes welling up with tears. She wasn’t sure whether she was more afraid of crying in front of Connor or a hallway full of strangers, but she definitely didn’t want to cry in front of both.

“You know,” Dawn started with a slight smile. “When my sister went to college, she had sex with a guy before he blew her off and treated her like this. I guess I should be happy I just kissed you.” Dawn’s smile faded. “But I’m not. So get out of my room.”

Connor nodded, grabbing his shirt from the floor. His shoes were still next to Dawn’s bed. He left in his bare feet and carrying his shirt. The hallway erupted with applause as he stepped out and the door slammed behind him.

As he pulled on his shirt and made his way slowly down the hall, Connor finally understood the popular college phrase “Walk of Shame.” Most of the guys probably thought he was a stud and cool as could be. But he felt like a complete bastard.

Connor cursed his own stupidity. He knew when Emily pulled his shirt off that the whole situation would end badly. When he told Emily he’d date her, moving at her own pace as far as sex went, he thought he’d dodged that bullet. Impromptu sex with no one getting hurt. No such animal he laughed to himself. Less than three hours ago, he’d seen his own crush in the bed of someone he considered a quasi-friend. The last thing on earth he wanted to do was to make someone else feel what he did at that moment. Yet there he was.

But Connor’s thoughts touched only the surface of what this rejection meant to Dawn. She flopped onto the bed, now crying painfully. Connor would have flirted with and come on to anyone last night. For Dawn, this, even more that the werewolf, symbolized how Sunnydale would not stay buried. College wasn’t a new start and she wasn’t a new woman. She wasn’t desirable. She wasn’t sexy. She was still only Dawn.

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