Rules on Relationships

"It actually takes a lot of effort to get comfortable"

Michael Phelps with his brown curls, cute smile, brown eyes and tall stature, ah, I can imagine why women are letting out 'oohs' and 'ahs' so easily, especially when they're stalking the male Swimmers during afternoon practices. Though I can only see the exterior of him, his personality seemed to be lightly coming out as well, and I must say, he was well raised by his Mother. Well, we spent a majority of the morning sitting around the benches in Campus, and he even let me take a look inside the pools where the Swimmers train. He was telling me all these things about what he did around the University grounds and what he did to help his coach, Bob Bowman, that I never got the chance to talk about myself, as a matter of fact, I think I didn't even say what I did around the campus and when I moved there and why. I thought that dates usually take turns on talking?

We're still in the 'Get to Know' Phase.

"Oh, I'm probably boring you about me," Michael took notice as my responses back to him were mere nods and a 'mhm' murmur just under my breath or while I was sipped on the smoothie that we bought one our way to the Campus. He looked at me with a curious gaze as he added, "You know that there's a better view up here than the ground? Are you counting the cracks on the floor or something?"
I let out a laugh. "Oh no," I stuttered as I looked up to meet his brown eyes.
Ah, my God, I can get a more understanding how those women say that his eyes can make them melt - or so they say - I don't actually know. And to be frank, I don't actually have any feelings for this guy, and I might sound like such a bitch at the moment, but this is for research purposes, and I guess it would lift up my book rating if it involved celebrity dating. Though, now I think about it, if I confessed that I was only dating him to see what it was like, the output on his half would be different - less natural than I would want it to. So I guess, I shouldn't say anything about my project.
Yeah.
That's it.
"I talked too much, didn't I?" He asked as we stopped by another bench near the other end of the Campus where the shortcut to the Carnival was. I casually situated myself right next to him as though I had no other choice to, I mean, it would be awkward just standing there. I cleared my throat and brushed a loose strand of my brown hair behind my ear and looked at him, it was really awkward for me, I don't know why.
"Well, the thing is, I don't really know where to start." Smooth. Very smooth, Roxanne, geez.
Michael only chuckled. "Maybe I should ask you a question to get things started, right?" He asked as I shyly nodded as he leaned back and looked up at the sky. "Okay, well, you came all the way from New York, right? The big apple, so why'd you come here? What made you move here?"
Did he just remember what I said this morning?
"I just wanted to come here," I shrugged. "Actually, Lia told me to come here with her, because she was accepted in a Swimming team here and she was offered a scholarship at the same time. She and I were planning to either come here or back to Los Angeles to study," I explained as I leaned back and enjoyed the little scenery in front of us. I could hear him move about as he muttered, "Well, it's a good thing that you chose to come here then..." I looked at him as he quickly added, "...Or else Derek and Lia wouldn't have met, that is."
"Isn't Derek a year older than you?"
"Yeah, he won one medal and is a World Champion in the long distance."
"I know, he brags so much about it to me," I spitefully grunted which triggered a chuckle from Mr. Phelps.
"You two never seem to get along."
"I think it's because we just don't like each other."
He shook his head. "Who could dislike you?" He asked. I cocked my eyebrow and smiled. "Oh, is that really so?" I teased as he quickly avoided my gaze and turn a bit pinkish on his cheeks. Surprisingly, it was cute. He was like a cute High School boy trying to hint his feelings or something, but I have heard for a while from the female Swimmers gossiping about with the other Sportswomen in Campus about overhearing my name whenever Michael, Lia and Derek were talking to each other - or was it just Derek and Michael? I can't really remember, but it was a month after he came back from Athens when I first met him, and we have been around each other once and a while, but we weren't really that close and were rarely alone. Though, I think it was just three months ago that I kept overhearing that this Olympian and World Champion has interest in me.
I'll admit, I'm attracted to him too. I find him attractive, but I think the same to the other hot athletes out and about.
"I think that came out weird," He mumbled as he swept his fingers through his hair and let out a nervous laugh. "Anyway, what I was meant to ask, what's up with you and Derek?"
"Nothing," I laughed. "It's just how we interact, but deep down, I think it's like a Brotherly-Sisterly interaction."
"Speaking of which, do you have siblings?"
I stared down at my fingers as I stroke the water that was dripping down the red plastic cup. "I have an Older Brother in the army and a younger Brother with my Mom in Chicago, but he likes travelling back and forth every break because he likes the attention he gets from the female flight attendants," I sighed. "What about you?"
"Two older Sisters, Hilary and Whitney," He seemed to have been reminiscing out of the blue. "I actually haven't seen my Sisters and Mom lately, been so busy."
I couldn't help but notice that he went a bit down, but it was exactly how I felt - and I didn't like the feeling at all. So I reached over to grab his empty cup to throw away in the bin, and I reached over to pull him to his feet and shook my head with a cheeky smile. "We should get going," I beckoned to the Carnival. "I want to see how good you are at those shooting games," I smirked. "We'll have a bet."
"What bet? Are you sure about that?"
"What? You think a girl like me can't play a simple shooting game?"
"Fine, what are we betting on?" Michael sounded competitive - and it worried me. He tucked his hands away into the pocket of his shorts as he kicked around a mini pebble along the pathway, his head was down and he seemed like he was distracted.
Well, he wasn't the only one.
I was actually fiddling with the hem of my shirt while my head was turned to the side and nibbling nervously at my lower lip, so, I didn't really know how awkward we looked from a far. We probably looked really obvious that we were on a first date.
"I can't think of anything," I groaned.
"How about if I win, then I get to take you out - properly?"
We basically turned our heads towards each other at the same time. My eyes were narrowed, but both our cheeks were tinted in a pinkish tone, we smiled nervously before turning our heads away once again.
"And if you win, then..." He didn't know what else to add. Me neither.

But really, is this what those girls feel whenever they're on a date with someone who obviously has something for you? Ah, I feel so bad, but at the same time, I can't help but appreciate the attention he's giving me.

"Alright," I bluntly agreed. It even shocked me more than it shocked him. "And if I win, you have to teach me how to swim," I, once again, bluntly said. Those words that were coming from my lips were from somewhere else than my brain, and I felt really stupid when I realized that right then and there, I just confessed that I didn't know how to swim. "Oh wait," I stutter. "I-I know how to swim, b-but I just want to learn properly because I feel like an ass whenever I go to the beach with Lia and Derek. The only non-swimmer, ugh," I complained. Michael just nodded and asked, "But that's like a second date, right?"
"But if you win, wouldn't that be the first date?"
"We're just confusing ourselves right now."
"Well, let's just look at it this way, if we have fun at the carnival, then this is our first date."
"Are you not having fun already?"
"I am, but I haven't dated in a while, so I don't even know if I'm doing it right." Ugh, here I go again, I just said something that wasn't even meant to be said aloud! Dammit, Roxanne, what the hell?
"Don't worry about it. I haven't dated in a while either."
"No way," I gave him a look, and he looked back with an assuring look that he was telling the truth. "I'm sure you had some flings here and there, right?"
Michael seemed rather uncomfortable. Crap. Did I just make it worst?
There was a lingering silence between that question and his simple nod, but I think I just crossed a line that I shouldn't have on a first date. Shit.
"I'm sure you have too?"
"No, because people find me intimidating," I sighed.
"Why is that?"
We stopped by the traffic light and I shrugged. "I suppose it's because I wear glasses whenever I'm in class or when I'm working quite seriously, and I look rather bitchy as some would say. So I don't know why you have some interest in me..." I paused. I had my eyes narrowed and my head turned away. Oops. I wasn't supposed to say that. The last bit, I don't think I was supposed to mention that I knew he was interested in me.
But then, I could feel his hand on my shoulder as he turned me to face him. His eyes had a tint of sparkle as I could feel the gaze of bystanders suddenly turn our way. What do I do? He was staring right into my eyes, and it was rather intense. I could feel my lips dry up as they parted, and I wasn't sure if I should turn my eyes away or what. His lips curved as he let out a relieved sigh, a chuckle followed and he whispered, "Oh thank God that you know."

What?

This was his confession.

His eyes briefly closed which ended our mini staring contest, I was able to look away and release a sigh as well before our eyes reconnected. His hands were on both my shoulders while his face was probably just five to six inches away from mine that I could faintly feel the breath that was coming out of his parted lips. I gulped as he asked, "How long have you known? Did Derek tell you? Or was it Lia?"
"Wait, why are you so pleased that I know?"
"To be honest, I've liked you for some time, and I know we met last year and hang around similar crowds. I even see you at some of the parties, but I swear that it was this year that I definitely took notice of you."
"Why? Did I do something stupid again?" By that, I will refer to another time, but let's just say that Michael, Lia, Derek the rest of the University of Michigan Swimming team, the Football Team, Cheerleaders - pretty much the 'it' crowd - saw what I did and was therefore noticed by them. And let me add, it was one of the stupidest things I could have done, but for some reason, I did not regret one bit of it. Why? Because... Well like I said, I'll tell you next time.
He only laughed - he probably just remembered what I was talking about. "I found that cute, not stupid," He confessed as he finally let go of my shoulders and used his thumb to brush lightly at his lips before licking his lips to moisten, allowing it to glisten as we remained under the traffic light - and I admit, I couldn't help but stare the whole time. I shook my head as he returned his gaze back at me and continued, "Okay, so who told you?"
"No one, I kind of picked up the hints from Lia and overhear all these girls talking about you in the Library or just around the Campus," I answered quickly just to get to the point of what he really wanted to tell me.

Okay, I don’t like this guy the way he likes me, but this was really making my heart race.

"Well, that's good, kind of boosted my confidence there," He admitted. "When I saw you at the infirmary that day, I wasn't really going to ask you to the Carnival, I was actually trying to avoid you, but then you said something and I thought you were insulting me."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
I bit on my lower lip and turned away to face the opposite side, I didn't want to look at him when he was about to say the words that some girls probably anticipated their crush or a celebrity or an Olympian... Well, Michael Phelps to hear throughout the whole time they stalk him around Campus.
I could slightly catch a glimpse of him turning the same way, and his hand was fidgeting, probably rubbing or scratching his head as I could hear him mumble something. I pretended no to hear. So he said it again, and I still pretended not to hear him.
It was cruel, I know, but I was testing how many times this guy would say it because Lia told me that Derek said those three words to her five times, a few girls I surveyed for this said it was averaging two to four times and if he really liked you, probably more.
So one more couldn't hurt, right?
Michael's breathing was rather heavy as he reached over, grabbed a hold of my hand as he said - and I must say that he said it quite loudly, that the bystanders were really staring at us and finally noticing that Michael Phelps was amongst the mini crowd gathering - "I like you, Roxanne."
And he said that just a few seconds before the buzzer went off, and when the green man went on, he grasped my hand tighter and slightly tugged me in a bit of haste across the road.

So this is what it felt like. Oh God, my cheeks are heating up. Ah!