Doris drifted towards consciousness and she felt the warmth of a comforting embrace. She had always enjoyed that feeling and pet the arm across her belly as if to thank it. She took in a deep breath and her chest rose up as her lungs filled, then she let the air out in a long exhale. She opened her eyes and it took her a moment to realize that she wasn't in her bedroom.

Oh, right. I stayed at the dorm last night. Doris thought, then she took in a quick breath. She looked at the arm across her belly and its white skin was quite stark against her bare black skin. She slowly turned her head to the side to look at the person she was in bed with, and her mind couldn't make sense of it. Arnold's peaceful sleeping face was right there and she didn't remember getting in bed with him.

What did I do last night? Doris asked herself and looked at her bare chest, having no idea how both her blouse and her bustier had disappeared, then she reached down and touched her pants. She relaxed, because she wasn't completely naked, and she knew there was no way they could have had sex if she was still dressed this much.

Doris rubbed her face with a hand and thought back to what she was doing the night before. She had been taking care of Arnold and making him talk to stay awake. She had been texting Kelly every half an hour and then she kind of blacked out. She glanced around and didn't see her phone anywhere; but, she did see her blouse on the floor with her bustier on top. She kind of remembered taking them off and feeling relief, then really happy. After that... nothing until now.

It was then that there was a soft knock on the door.

“Doris? It's Mabel. I came to check on Arnold to see how he's doing.”

“Just... just a minute!” Doris said and sat up, and Arnold's arm across her belly was now wedged under her breasts. Oh, damn. She thought and carefully held his arm and slid off the bed, which rubbed the arm across the underside of her breasts. She couldn't help but think how good that felt, shook that thought away, and shoved her bustier under the bed and picked up the blouse. There's my phone!

“Doris, are you okay?” Mabel asked.

“I'm fine. I just dozed off.” Doris said and slipped her blouse on and whispered to Arnold as she buttoned it and leaned over him. “Arnold! Wake up!”

Arnold blinked his eyes and looked at her.

“It's morning.” Doris whispered.

“Good morning.” Arnold said and kissed her briefly, which stunned her.

“Doris?” Mabel said.

“What... what time is it?” Doris asked as she recovered from the kiss.

“Almost seven o'clock.” Mabel responded.

“Oh, thank god.” Doris said and stood up, then she opened the door. “I thought I might have overslept.”

Mabel smiled. “How long did you last?”

“Let me check.” Doris said and turned on her phone. “The last text I sent was apparently at two am.” She read it and shook her head. “I don't remember telling Kelly that Arnold was feeling flagsksh.”

Mabel laughed. “Well, if you kept Arnold awake that long, him being asleep between then and now shouldn't be too worrying.” She knelt by the bed and didn't say anything about the body shaped depression in the blanket. “Arnold? How are you feeling?”

“I'm okay.” Arnold said.

“Do you know who I am?” Mabel asked.

“No.”

“I'm a nurse that works for the university.” Mabel said. “You banged your head yesterday and I'm here to check on you.”

“Okay.” Arnold said she gave him a quick physical examination. She even used a pen light to check his eyes.

“The swelling's gone down on that bump, so that's good. The bruise on the other hand is going be around for a while.”

Arnold nodded.

“I'm glad you aren't any worse for the wear.” Mabel said and stood up. “I'd suggest staying in bed for the day...”

“I have to get to work.” Arnold said and sat up.

Mabel sighed. “I'll allow it, as long as you make sure that if you feel dizzy, you sit down immediately and have someone call me.”

“Okay.” Arnold said and stood up and he still had on his pants.

Mabel knew nothing had happened, even though the evidence pointed to something happening. “Doris, I'd suggest you go to bed as well; but, I know you're just as stubborn as he is.”

Doris smiled. “Thanks for coming over and waking us up.”

Mabel chuckled. “Uh huh.” She said and looked at Arnold. “I look forward to not seeing you later.” She said cryptically and left the little room and shut the door.

“She means that she hopes you are okay and no one has to call her.” Doris explained and Arnold nodded. “Arnold... last night...”

“You looked very pretty.” Arnold said, to her surprise. “I'm sorry we couldn't have sex.”

Doris caught her breath. “Arnold!”

“Are you still sore?” Arnold asked and quickly unbuttoned her blouse and slid his hands inside and under her breasts, then massaged the groves in her skin that the thick underwire had put there.

“Oh, god above.” Doris whispered and couldn't hold in her moan as he rubbed her sore spots. “Arnold.”

“I need to get a shower and get to work.” Arnold said and slid his hands away from her body and buttoned her blouse back up.

“Arnold, you... don't tell anyone...” Doris started to say.

“I know.” Arnold said and gave her a four second kiss with a little tongue. “Goodbye.”

“Arnold!” Doris covered her mouth. “What was that for?”

“Kelly said you can kiss me for her.” Arnold said and put on his shirt, picked up his suit coat and opened the door to the small room, and left.

“She... she only meant...” Doris said in a soft whisper. “...just once.”

*

All the girls on Arnold's floor had heard the news that he had fallen and banged his head. When he didn't return last night, they knew it must have been bad if he couldn't even return to his room to sleep. When the elevator doors opened and Arnold stepped out, nearly all of them greeted him warmly and asked if he was all right. They were relieved to hear that he was and were also a little concerned over the large bruise on his forehead.

Arnold walked down the hallway to his dorm room door and saw a plastic bag hung on the door handle. He picked it up and looked inside to see a chicken and rice takeout platter from the Chinese restaurant and a note.

'Thanks for lunch the other day. Here's supper in return. Daisy.' Arnold read and turned around to look down the hallway at the girls faces and one of them waved. “Daisy?” He asked and she nodded. He opened his door and put the food in the small refrigerator and hung his suit coat on a chair, then walked back down the hallway to her. “I can't kiss you to thank you.” He said to her surprise, then he leaned in close and turned his head. “You can kiss my cheek if you want.”

Daisy smiled and pressed her lips to his cheek for three seconds.

“Thank you.” Arnold said and walked back to his room and went inside. The other girls were stunned by what they just saw, then someone hissed and they all turned to look. Arnold stripped off completely and went to the bathroom, took a quick shower and dried off, then dressed in another suit... without shutting any of the doors. He shut and locked the dorm room door as he left and walked all the way back down the hallway to the elevator.

*

Amy had slept pitifully and she was drowsy as she showed up for work early. She usually waited until just before she needed to show up before she arrived. This time, she needed to be there early to warn the professor about Arnold's absence. She walked into Building F and waited for the elevator, then went up to the next floor and stepped out.

She was not looking forward to this conversation, because she wasn't sure how to explain it without blaming either herself or the professor. She stepped into his office and saw that he was writing something out, so she waited for him to finish before she spoke.

“Good morning, Amy.” Hamil said and put his pen down and smiled. “Writing progress reports on employees is hard work.”

Amy took in a breath and let it out. “Sir, about that.” She said and he gave her an inquisitive look. “It's about Arnold.”

“What about him?”

“Apparently he fell yesterday and banged his head.” Amy said. “He was knocked out and...”

“WHAT?!?” Hamil jumped to his feet. “Where did this happen? Is he all right? Did he see the nurse? Who is taking care of him? Where is he now?”

Amy was surprised at the professor's response and it shook her a little. “Um... well...” she couldn't remember the questions he asked and was at a loss for words.

“Arnold!” Hamil said loudly as Arnold stepped into the office.

“Arnold!” Amy said when she turned to look. “What are you doing here?”

“Working.” Arnold responded.

“Are you all right?” Hamil asked and walked over to him.

“Yes, sir.”

“That's some mark on your forehead.” Hamil remarked.

Amy saw the bump and bruise and stopped her gasp before she let it out. He really hit it hard. She thought in sympathy. “Is it sore?”

“Yes. You can't rub it or kiss it to make it better, though.” Arnold said and Amy was glad that you couldn't normally notice it when she blushed.

“It would be nice if she could, wouldn't it?” Hamil asked with a laugh and then waved behind them. “Let's get to the lab and uncover the student areas, then we'll go down to the Ice Box and get the specimens needed for the first class.”

“Sir.” Amy and Arnold walked over to the lab with the professor and they quickly uncovered everything and made sure it was all still set up properly. After that, they went down into the basement and gathered up enough calf hearts for the first class and went back up to the lab. They spread them out to place one at each student position and then brought out the large bull heart that Arnold and the professor had worked on the day before.

The professor went to the front of the lab and Amy and Arnold took up their positions by the wall on either side of the desk. The six lab workers came in a few minutes before class was supposed to start and they were surprised that everything was already set up. Cissily turned to Amy to thank her for coming in early to do it and saw who stood on the other side of the professor.

“Arnold! What the fuck?!?” Cissily exclaimed and almost ran as she went over to him to give him a hug. “How are you?”

“I'm okay.” Arnold said.

“What are you doing here?” Cissily asked and reached for his forehead, then stopped her hand before it touched his skin.

“Working.”

“You should be in bed and resting.” Cissily said and put her hand on his shoulder instead. “Did you see the nurse?”

Arnold nodded. “She recommended staying in bed, then said if I felt dizzy, I should sit down and have someone call her.”

“If you do get dizzy, you tell me right away and I'll call the nurse.” Cissily said.

“Her number exchange is 826.” Arnold said, to everyone's surprise.

“How do you know that?” Cissily asked.

“It's in the directory.”

“What's the biology department?” Dianne asked.

“616.” Arnold said.

“Cafeteria.” Someone else said.

“234.”

“Library!” Someone else nearly yelled.

“989.”

“The administration office.” Amy said.

“001.”

“That's enough mental testing for a concussion.” Hamil said with a chuckle. “Please, take your places.”

Cissily gave Arnold's shoulder a squeeze, looked at his forehead for a second, then let him go and walked over to her designated table. None of the other workers missed that subtle exchange.

The students came in and the class started, so the professor gave them all a rundown on what the lab was going to be about, then started to teach them how to perform the tasks needed.

The class ended and the students left, the place settings and the specimens were replaced, then the next class came in. They learned what they needed to and left. The places were reset and new specimens brought out, then the next class came in. No one needed extra help, since the project was fairly easy, and the morning rush of students ended.

The lab workers stayed this time and they all helped clean the lab up and put the specimens away. Arnold handled the equipment and graded and marked them, the uses, and then stored it in the right spot. He sat down at the professor's desk and modified the inventory spreadsheet, shut it down, and put it and the clipboard away.

“Excellent work, everyone.” Hamil said. “Please, enjoy the rest of your day.” He said and looked at Arnold. “You as well. You know the setup for tomorrow and can do it then.”

“Yes, sir.” Arnold said and followed Amy and the lab workers out of the lab.

“Come and eat with me.” Cissily said and took Arnold's hand and one of the others pushed the button for the elevator.

“I always eat with you when you're there.” Arnold said and she smiled.

“You usually don't show up until later, though.” Cissily said and Amy sighed. “I'd tell you to ignore her, but she's been worried about you all fucking week.”

“Cissily!” Amy exclaimed and Cissily laughed. They all stepped into the elevator and rode it down one floor.

“She's been bitching and complaining about how much work you've been doing, I swear.” Cissily said as the elevator doors opened.

“I like to work.” Arnold said and they all stepped out and walked across the lobby.

“That's what I told her.” Cissily laughed. “She almost had a fit when she heard you were hurt, too.”

“You weren't supposed to tell him that!” Amy said loudly.

“Look, you can deny it all you want.” Cissily said and hugged Arnold's arm. She wore a cloth bra today, so there was no resistance whatsoever as his arm slid between her breasts and indented her top. “She's starting to have those kinds of feelings for you and she doesn't know what to do about it.”

“And what feelings are those?” Amy asked angrily as she held the front door open for everyone.

“You care about him.” Cissily said.

“I... do not.” Amy lied, badly. Cissily and the lab workers laughed.

“That was a horrible attempt at lying.” Cissily said and they all walked towards the main building with the cafeteria in it. “Can you do better than that if we give you some time to answer?”

Amy opened her mouth to respond, then closed it, because of the trap Cissily had just laid out for her. The others started up conversations as they approached the building, then when they entered the cafeteria, they got in line to get their food. Cissily had to let go of Arnold's arm to get her food and Arnold didn't even have to ask the slightly overweight woman behind the counter for his. She did up the chicken and fries and handed it to him, then handed over a small dish with ice cream in it.

“Sorry, no jello today.” She said and he nodded.

They went to the register and Angela had his root beer already done up, he paid her, and then the lab workers split up to go sit with their friends. Cissily pointed to a table off to the side and the redhead that was sitting there. She and Amy walked over and Arnold followed them.

“Hey, Maxine! How's it hangin'?”

“If I had a penis, I'm sure you would have put it to good use already.” Maxine said with a laugh.

“Fucking right.” Cissily said and sat down. “Amy, let Arnold sit on my right. That's my dominant arm.”

“Oh, for fuck's sake.” Amy said and moved over to her left. “You better not think of doing what I think you're thinking of doing.”

Cissily laughed and they all sat down and started eating.