Rose 2-6: Superman's secret identity

Donovan

     The next morning, this guy comes up to me and asks me if I'm Donovan Robles. When I tell him I am, he introduces himself as Clark Grant, my new roommate. I'm immediately reminded of Superman's secret identity.

    The two of us each get a plate of whatever food we can find (salad, it works), go sit down to eat breakfast, and get to know one another. He tells me he's grateful that another opening opened up somewhere because he and his old roommate definitely did not get along. I've met his old roommate, and the guy's a bully. I can't help but think that this Clark should've stood up for himself and beat up the bully. He doesn't look puny. Although, this other guy is also the captain of the wrestling team.

     I tell him who my roommate used to be, and he starts laughing.

     "Sorry, sorry." he quickly apologizes like he thinks I'm going to get mad at him for laughing at me. "I just don't understand it. They actually put you with a chick and you complained?!"

     I laugh a little and say, "You didn't see her."

     "Point taken then."

     Again, I feel bad for being so judgmental about her, but neither am I going to deny my own thoughts.

    His voice gets quiet as he says, "Too bad they didn't 'accidentally' room you with someone like that Karri Elrod."

     I feel myself raise an eyebrow as I consider telling him how Karri has given me not-so-subtle hints that she'd give me 'the time of day' if I asked, but I decide against it. Instead, I simply agree with him that that would've been a much better alternative. Hm, so he has something for Karri?
    I have to ask. "Why do you specifically say Karri?"
    He looks up at me like I'm crazy and answers, "Because she's hot." He blushes a little before he says, "You're not going to believe what happened in regards to her."
    I sit back and fold my arms. "Tell me, and we'll see."
    Once he makes me swear to secrecy, he starts to tell me about how one day he walked past her in the computer lab and saw that she was on an online chatting site, so he logged into the site himself, incognito, across the room but with her in view.
    "She kept talking about someone that was ignoring her, and I helped make her feel better. It turns out we have a lot in common." he states with a shrug.
    "So why didn't you walk over to her and say it was you?" I ask, completely surprised that first of all: she was on a chatting site and second: that she'd have things in common with the man in front of me.
     He looks up at me like I should already know the answer. "Like she'd look twice at me."

    "Besides, if I did that then all other communication since would've never happened." he says in a guarded way since Jacob has joined us in the dining hall.
     They must have agreed to meet in the chat room again or traded emails. I should figure out a way to help him.
     "You should still try." I tell him as I turn around and pick up my plate to take it to the building's dishwasher.
      "Yeah, maybe." he tells me without the slightest conviction that he means what he says.
      As it turns out, Clark is in my next class. I didn't know the class was required for architects. This university has crazy standards sometimes.

    My professor for this class wears a bowler hat and a university t-shirt.
    I feel very sad that Tiffany isn't in this class.
    Even though I force myself to sit in the front, I find it very hard to stay alert. The past few days and nights with little sleep start to catch up with me. I'm exhausted.

     Just before my head can slam down on the table, I realize I'd fallen asleep. Oh no! And to think that last term I rolled my eyes at students that did this. 

     Must ... stay ... awake. I cannot make an A by sleeping through class.
     He's already on chapter three.
     I wearily pull out my notebook to scribble down some notes to hopefully help me later as I try to catch up to the rest of the class. I hope that Clark can perhaps help me later this afternoon.
     When class ends, I walk back to where Clark sits in the back, but before I get to him, the girl at the table behind me glares at me. What?! It's not like I was the only one sleeping!
     "I thought about throwing something at you to wake you up." he tells me. "But I was afraid of hitting the person between us."
      "Thanks anyway. Could I have a glance at your notes later?" I ask.
      He agrees to let me, and I vow to myself to not fall asleep in class like that again.

    I slip into the room with the cool-looking science machines so that I can have little to no background noise while I call Willow. I don't want to be accused of not calling the next day. She answers sleepily. It's so good to hear her voice.
    "You sound tired." I say almost laughingly. "Have I once again awakened you by calling you? You do realize it's ten, correct?"
     "Yes, I know. I don't have class until two. And I'm so tired because somebody almost wore me out. Then I had to go home and cram in some homework."

    I laugh a little and pick up on part of what she said. "Almost wore you out? That sounds to me like a challenge."
    She groans and almost whines, "No, believe me, it's not. Normally, I'd say 'go for it, cowboy', but I don't think I could I'm so tired from everything."
     "You and me both." I agree and tell her about falling asleep in class.
     We talk for a little while more before I have to let her go before my next class.
     My phone rings almost immediately after I hang up with Willow.
      Tiffany again!

    "Hello, Tiffany." I say with what I hope is a surprised smile in my voice.
    "I guess we don't have every class together." she says almost sadly.
     I laugh a little as I agree, "Yes, I suppose you are safe from me staring at you for that class. I have Dr. Bowler-hat. I forgot his real name."
     She giggles at the name I gave my professor, and the sound of it makes me really miss her already. Then she tells me that her roommates are throwing yet another party -- tonight.
     "Count me in this time then." I say with a feeling of happiness. She expresses her own feeling of happiness before we both have to let the other one go.
      I see her in my next class, and we laugh as we realize the phone conversation was pointless. I love how much she's warmed up to me. I did study ahead for this class a little, so I spend half my class time remembering her lips on mine and wanting it to happen again.
     After class, she tells me that now she'd prefer if I sat behind her because she could still see me out of the corner of her eye, and it distracted her.
     "We could study later and make up for what we missed in class." I offer with a grin. She doesn't answer me.

    The weeks go by, and I settle into a happy routine. I study at breakfast before going to class, and since most of my classes are with Tiffany, I happily let my gaze drift over to her frequently. Sometimes I go to parties at her dorm. Sometimes, I see Willow at one location or another. I've discovered it's not impossible to woohoo on a single bed. Clark and I use the standard 'sock on the door' signal to the other one so that we don't walk in on each other. He hasn't used it yet.
    Speaking of Superman's secret identity, I occasionally bug him about going and revealing to Karri who he really is, but every time he shoots down the idea because he says she never even notices him. I even put forth the idea that I set them up, and he sternly asks me not to. It's really a shame, because I've discovered that Karri isn't quite as annoying as I first thought her to be... or as stupid. I have to wonder if all those times her laptop has 'broken down' if it did it on its own or was sabotaged.

    Tonight is another party at Tiffany's dorm.

    When I get there, she sends me out to light the bonfire. Once I get a decent blaze going, I hear a frighteningly-familiar voice behind me.
     "Don Robles!"

    "Willow!" I say in happy, but worried, surprise. I feel like two parts of my life are coming together in a very painful and awkward way. It shouldn't be like this because I never see Tiffany outside of class except at these parties. I've been on several dates with Willow. "I didn't expect to see you here." I say and smile.
    "Likewise." she answers, also looking a little uncomfortable.

    I smile, still a little uncomfortable and wondering what she's thinking.
    Like I said, I only see Tiffany here and at class. We haven't been on an actual date since the night before term started. Sometimes, I wonder if she invites me to these parties as arm candy. I don't really mind since we'll frequently make out ... until she gets uncomfortable and pushes me away. I never push her past that.
     Did Willow come here with someone?
     "So, what brings you here?" she asks casually.
     "A friend of mine lives here, and I get invited to these parties a lot." I answer simply.
     "A 'friend'." she states in a questioning manner, and I wish yet again that I could choose between the two of them.

    Out of nowhere, Tiffany's roommate spins Willow around and pushes her aside. Then she gets right in my face. "Finally! Now I can have proof! You are dirt! Scum! And I can't wait to tell Tiffany!"
    I take a step back from the horse-faced woman and see Willow watching her with a resigned expression. I immediately start denying that I'm doing anything wrong, but the crazy woman will not be dissuaded.

    Willow steps in. "Relax, would you?! It's not like he's going steady with her or anything." My head snaps over to her in surprise. Then, my surprise is doubled when she says, "Besides, if you're so interested in Tiffany, why don't you just tell her?"
     "Who the hell do you think you are?" the horse-faced woman asks Willow. She and Willow argue back and forth while the whole situation sinks in. The horse-faced woman likes Tiffany who likes me when I like Tiffany and Willow. Who else likes Willow?
    I gather from the argument that the woman told Tiffany how she felt, and Tiffany told her she didn't feel the same way. The woman can't stand that I'm, to her way of thinking, two-timing Tiffany with Willow. I wonder if Tiffany already knows.
    Tiffany's roommate storms off in a huff to go get her. In the meantime, Willow turns to face me. I wish I knew what to say. I want things to stay the way they are, and I'm worried that that won't happen.

    Willow kicks the sand at her feet with her toe. "Relax, Don Robles." she says. "I came here with someone else too. I think the date is over before it started though."
     "I should have told you. I don't know exactly what I should've told you, but I should've told you."
     She laughs a little. "Maybe I should've told you that I knew. After all, you never asked either of us to go steady, so I assumed that was because you didn't want to be a cheater. That's .. really good actually in my opinion. Better to not go steady and end up cheating."
     I still can't stop the wave of jealousy flowing through me that she came here with someone else. It's unreasonable, but I can't stop it.
     "You're not angry?" I ask pathetically.

    She smiles, but I can see a trace of sadness at the corners of her eyes. "Angry isn't the word. Jealous as hell is more like it. At least now everything is out in the open, and I can fight in a more obvious way."
     What she just said was really -- hot.
     "What about the guy you came here with?" I ask because I can't stand it.
     One of her eyebrows raises as she answers, "Total prick. Don't worry about it. He's inside, already making out with someone else."
      "Sorry. I couldn't help but ask."
      "No, it's cool. I like it. Actually makes me feel a little better."
      Tiffany walks out, looks at the two of us, and makes her way stoically to the keg they have placed up along the fence.

     "I should go and talk to her." I say.
     "Yeah, probably, but I wasn't going to be the one to tell you that. I guess you are her date tonight." she replies, and the now-present jealous undertone to her voice makes me want to grab her and find an empty bed upstairs. ... but I can't. Instead, I silently nod my head and make my way slowly over to Tiffany.

     She doesn't wait for me to start talking. "If that slut thinks that I'm going to suddenly back down then she has another thing coming." My jaw drops, and I completely forget the apology on my lips. "So it's true?"
     "That I'm dating Willow also? Yes."
     "You could've at least told me."

     "Yes, but how?" I ask. "How would you recommend how I could have told you?" I ask again. "It doesn't make for a very romantic conversation."
     "Donovan." she growls my name. I still like the way she says her v's.
     I watch her closely to hopefully get a clue as to what to say next.
     She speaks again. "How about, 'I'm also dating Willow. I just thought that it would be fair for you to know.' ?" She takes a deep breath and says, "I know we're not going steady, and I know what that means, but ... but no other man has ever told me I was beautiful." Her voice cracks at the end.
     My hands fly up to cup her face and to keep her looking at me as I say, "But you are beautiful. When I'm with you, I almost never think about her."
     "I assume the reverse is true." she chokes out.
     "Yes." I answer truthfully.
     "What about when you're alone?"
     "It depends on what's happening or has happened recently I guess." I answer truthfully again, and she nods like she believes me. "I wish sometimes I could tear myself in half." I hope she can see the emotion in my eyes.
      She reaches up and cups my face while I still hold hers. For a second or two, she looks past me and glares before returning her gaze back to mine. I assume that means Willow still stands behind me towards the bonfire.
     Tiffany leans forward, tilts her head up, and kisses me. The whole thing feels very awkward, and I can't help but feel like she's trying to brand me in front of Willow.
     "Tiffany," I try to calm down her jealousy, "don't worry. I'm here with you tonight."

     "Yes. You are." she states firmly.
     I can feel the air crackle around me, and I watch Tiffany's eyes glow slightly. I can hear Willow walking behind me. I can also guess she is because Tiffany glares in that direction.
      I forgot. They're both witches, I think when a wand appears out of nowhere in Tiffany's hand.
      "Pissed off, aren't we?" Willow taunts, and I decide I've had enough of this for one night.
      "Actually, ladies." I say in an even voice, facing both of the witches I care for that look to be about to hex each other into oblivion, "I believe it's time for me to leave."
       Tiffany's roommate, whom I'd forgotten about, snarls over to me, "Coward."
       "No, I'm not." I tell her, still keeping my voice even. "But I don't want this."
       Tiffany looks over at me and asks, "You don't?"
       Vines spring out and hold Willow's feet to the ground.
        "Tiffany!" I yell.
       "Look, everyone! Willow sprouted roots!" Tiffany giggles, and I do not like it this time.
       "Don't worry, Don Robles." Willow tells me with a simple wave of her hands, and a feeling of sympathy for her washes over me. Apparently, everyone else feels it as well because they stop laughing and gripe at Tiffany to let her free. They, all but the horse-faced woman, rush over and work on getting her free while I walk over to Tiffany.
      "What?!" Tiffany yells to the crowd helping Willow, and I place what I hope is a calming hand on her. I get zapped the second I touch her. She gasps. "Donovan! I'm sorry."
      I hear Willow say, "Dueling is forbidden on campus, Tiffany. Have you forgotten?"
      I'm in over my head.
      "So is using powers like that." Tiffany counters.
      "I've had enough." I say, speaking my thoughts. I'm angry now. I'm not often angry, but I am now. "I don't want anyone hurting anyone else. Tiffany, I'll see you tomorrow in class. Willow, I'll see you sometime tomorrow as well. I'm going home. Goodnight." I turn and walk away.

      Ah, this is better, I think as I begin to relax. I found my favorite racing game in a drawer in the entertainment center. The disc was a little scratched, but it plays just fine.
      A man named Walter comes and sits down next to me and states, "I thought you were at that party."
      "Not anymore." I answer vaguely, and he doesn't ask for an explanation.

    I grab a Coke out of my personal inventory thing and finish it down, getting up once that Holly walks in and sits next to me. As I walk out of the room, I see Jacob putting his arm around her. Well, that's interesting.
     When I get up to my room, Clark is in there, and he looks surprised to see me.
     "Don't ask." I say and plop down on my bed to study.

     The next day, I have little talks with the two ladies I like most and find out what exactly happened yesterday. As it turns out, Tiffany has a real mastery over the elements of nature while Willow can sense the emotions of those around her and control them to a certain extent. She tells me that that's how she knew something was up, meaning Tiffany and me. (She could feel my light guilt.) That also tells me how she knew Tiffany's roommate was in love with her. I also find out, when I ask, that Willow cannot control (although she can sense) more powerful emotions like love, for example. When I ask her about lust, she merely giggles a little and tells me that that one is more difficult and that she likes to encourage it the good, old-fashioned way. I decide I like the good, old-fashioned way.

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I have to break it here because I don't quite know where else to do it.

As I, hopefully, explained through Donovan's knowledge: I've decided my little witches have extra abilities. Not much of a stretch since it's frequently done. Tiffany can control the elements of nature (lightning included, as Donovan found out the hard way), and Willow can do the emotions thing that was better explained above and I would just be redundant if I went into it again.

I debated even including the duel scene. I'd thought that maybe I could just make it some kind of emotional fight/typical thing. But I wanted to explain how Willow knew that Donovan was dating someone else, yet knew how he really felt, and how she knew about the 'horse-faced' woman that I can't remember her name's love for Tiffany. (Since playing again after writing this, I found out it's Millie, but it's more fun to call her the 'horse-faced' woman through Don's thoughts.)
Pity Don didn't really enjoy watching his 'two favorite ladies' ready to duke it out in their own special way right in front of him. I'd like to have another go at that type of special effect creation. Oh well, there's always the future.. and my other stories too. ;)

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