An Honest, Unbiased Opinion

By Karahly

R&R Please

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Christian stared at me like I had suddenly grown another head, "Whaa…?"

"Well, it has to be you," I argued, "It'll be totally weird if I ask any of my guy friends if they thought I was hot. They'd think I had a crush on them or something."

He blinked incredulously and glanced suspiciously at the door, "Did Jake put you up to this? Because I already told him I have no intention of ever hitting on his little sister. Bro's code and all that…in fact, this is rather insulting of him, I hope you both know."

"What?" I rolled my eyes, "Please, Jake would kill me if he knew I was even hanging out with you in the wee hours of the morning… especially since I'm asking you to check me out and give me your honest, unbiased opinion."

Chris arched an eyebrow apprehensively, "Is that what you're asking me?"

I threw my hands up in the hair and watched smugly as he swallowed hard, his eyes darting away from the cloth of my camisole stretching over my breasts, "Well, that's what I meant when I asked you in colloquial terms if you thought I was 'a hot chick'!"

Christian had been best friends with my older brother since college and was now sharing an apartment with him in the city as both were beginning their first year medical residencies at St. Peter's Hospital. I had carefully used my knowledge of my brother's on-call schedule to find a time when I could corner Chris all by his lonesome.

I only hoped he was discreet.

"There's this guy…Bryce," I continued hesitantly, "He's a senior…an intellectual man and I really, really like him."

I smiled when Christian finally relaxed his shoulders and seemed to compose himself even waving me to an empty ottoman and finally asking me to sit. His face when he'd opened the door at 3 a.m. to find his best friend's little sister dressed in only a tight tank top and boy-shorts had been immeasurably priceless.

"And … well, this is about this guy? This Bryce?" Chris quirked an eyebrow before opening his mouth wide and yawning with gusto, "Oh man, this will cost you at least two weeks of doing my and your brother's laundry…" He trailed off and stroked his chin, "And the place does need a bit of a pick-me-up."

I stared disbelievingly at the crusty counters and dirty clothes strewn all over the apartment before deciding not to panic, "That's out of the question, or would you like to explain to Jake why I agreed to become your maid all of a sudden?"

He frowned, "Fine, but I'm not talking to you about boys without proper repayment. Now spill, how does you liking this guy lead to asking me whether or not I think you're…attractive."

I fell the words flow out of my mouth in torrents, "He won't even look at me! And I've even hinted repeatedly I'm interested! Tell me the truth…is it because of my major? Beign pre-med does he think nursing school students are inferior? It's that isn't?! Ooooh! It better be that because you bet I'll kick his ass if he thinks I'm ugly! I'm not ugly! Am I ugly? Because I can argue about my intelligence; I know I'm smart. I can show him my transcript! But-but the ugliness… I mean I know I'm not like gorgeous or anything but if he doesn't like me that's-that's well pitiful because he's not that well looking…and well, then I'll know I'm not even attractive to an average looking guy!"

Christian burst out laughing. "Anne…Annie…I've never heard you talk so much nonsense…"

"I've never had to!" I griped, my indignation suddenly morphing into shyness, "But I've never wanted a guy to notice me before…It's always been about school, about grades and my friends…and now the one time I want to-to find someone to like me, he doesn't even notice me. Am I that … average?"

Christ sighed finally sobering, "This is really bothering you, isn't it?"

I nodded, "And I know I sound stupid, this is stupid, but you're the only person I could think of that would be honest and wouldn't hold my weirdness against me." I smiled tentatively, "If you did ever bring it up I could always tell Jake I was here alone with you for hours."

"Wench," He snarled playfully, a grin splitting his face, "stand up, you're leaving."

"What?" I did stand up but eyed him wearily, "I thought you were going to help me after all I said."

Christian stretched himself on the couch where he had been previously sitting and yawned some more, "I will - I am- but somehow I figured words wouldn't be enough for your stage of insecurity. Touch play." He proceeded to order me, a hand pointing at my brother's sound system behind me. "Track 2."

Completely baffled I did just that and turned to find him staring at the ceiling, "I'm assuming part of the reason you chose to ask me of all people also has to do with the fact I'm incredibly sexy and completely out of your league, right?"

I scoffed. Yes, the thought had crossed my mind along with the knowledge that his opinion would not hurt as much as anyone else's because he was my brother's friend and would most likely try to soften the blow. I, however, did not have to tell him that, "You're so full of yourself."

Lazily, Christian balanced himself with one muscled arm on his side and grinned, "Maybe, now dance."

I suddenly became aware of the soft, sultry music playing from the speakers. "What?"

"You said you weren't stupid Annie."

I ground my teeth and slowly began moving my hips slowly, my arms gently swaying above my head.

I've never felt so entirely stupid in my life, "How in the name of everything that is holy, is this supposed to-"

Oh.

Oh my.

My cheeks flushed crimson and I stopped swaying as my eyes quickly darted away from the bulge forming under Christian's sweatpants. "Ah…"

"Ah, yes, now listen well," Christian's voice was suddenly husky, his eyes a darker shade of green than I've ever seen them, "this is what happens anatomically when a beautiful girl is liked by a guy – any guy." He stood up and I felt myself take a step toward the door. Within seconds he was a hand's breath away from my body, "This is not something you want the very first time you go out with a guy…or approach a guy…you want gentleness but you also want him to pay attention."

"Christian I had better-"

"No." He said firmly, "Not yet anyway, you asked for my help. I'm giving it. If this Bryce didn't respond this way, then that's good. What's not good is that he doesn't notice you either, that tells me he's stupid. You're special. He's not. I don't care how intellectual you think he is."

"Christian…"

"Chemistry. You're good at that. What you saw is a purely physical way of displaying it, there is another way, it's this chemistry that you want." His eyes were suddenly gazing into mine, searching. "I'll show you if you want."

"Yes." My mouth was faster than my brain, "yes, please."

His face was expressionless as he dipped his head and covered my mouth with his. Christian sucked lightly on my bottom lip before gently caressing the top one with the tip of his tongue, "It should feel good," He whispered, "but it should be gentle." He proceeded to show me by just how those two factors should be balanced.

When he finally pulled away, his smile was a sad one, "Now you walk away and leave."

I could hardly breathe and he wanted me walk?

"I don't want to." Crossing my arms I prepared to stare him down, well, what else was I supposed to do…did he like me? He had to…

He sighed, "Anne I've shown you all the gentleness, concern and gentleman-like behavior that I can; my daily quota is up and my present state of mind is not conducive to being sensitive my best friend's little sister."

"Stop saying that!" I growled, "I'm twenty-one and I'm not so little anymore and you-you still have a hard-on. I'm not leaving until you tell me why-why?"

"Why?" Christian sat on his couch and hugged a small pillow to his chest, "I thought you being a nursing major and all would understand about blood flow and-"

"Why did you just kiss me? Why-why did you handle the situation like you did?"

"I told you from the very beginning. That's how a guy who likes a girl responds."

"No, you implied that a jerk responds that way and though you did you also acted the sensitive part and now- I'm babbling – but I felt something with you. It wasn't all physical!"

"It wasn't?"

He relented under my glare, "Okay, so I might harbor a small crush for you but I promised Jake I wouldn't act on it – I know I told you. Didn't I mention our Bro's Code?"

I scoffed and walked purposely over to him; sat on his lap. "Tell me all about it."

I waited until Christian opened his mouth to elaborate before crushing his lips with mine.

He didn't even get to tell me the schematics.