Level the Playing Field

Leverage.

"I didn't do anything! I was headed to the lab to ask Mr. Smith a question about the assignment and I saw Jude and Ms. Summers- the TA."

"Saw him and the TA doi... oh." Mikayla comes to the realization based on the solemn look on Sadé's face.

"No way? No way!" Mikayla almost drops the mugs in her haste to put them down on the mini island.

"Yes! Pants around the waist, her on the table." Sadé shivers at the memory, but for a reason she's embarrassed to admit.

"Isn't that... that's some power imbalance right?" Sadé nods at her friend, trying not to think too much about what she witnessed.

"Do you think they're actually dating?" The pair look up at each other and both scoff at Mikayla's question.

"Yea...Jude...dating." They both snicker at the ridiculous thought. They have all only been at University for barely longer than a year now, but Jude is already infamous. His reputation with women is well known across campus, hell, even other universities. Jude was well known before he even got into Erlhedge; the football prodigy got into the university because of a scholarship due to his talents, after all. That, combined with his apparent impeccable charm and his obvious good looks, makes his conquests easy.

"So... how big is he?" Mikayla asks innocently.

"Mikky!" Sadé pretends to be utterly scandalized, but she really wants to tell her friend that he really is.

***********

The bags under her eyes are very noticeable under the bright lights of the girls' bathroom. Her dark brown- almond shaped eyes take in her 5"6 slender frame covered in a gray hoodie and black tights. Her jet black faux locs are piled high on her head in a bun. Her smooth brown skin looks a bit dull and she knows she needs more sleep and perhaps more time outdoors. She neglects herself when stressed and a biology degree is a lot of stress. She didn't even need to use the bathroom, she just needed a break from the lecture. Sadé's brain is so exhausted that she briefly forgets the incident yesterday, so much so that she drops her guard all morning. She steps out of the bathroom, attention on her phone looking at her timetable when she's suddenly yanked by the crook of her elbow. Her feet are quicker than her brain because they somehow manage to stay up right and follow the looming figure leading her briskly out the hallway and outside before the realization hits. Jude. Jude is dragging her somewhere. The panic sets in. Sadé plants her feet into the floor, the bottom of her crocs skating across the gravel.

"What are you doing?!" Her eyes shift nervously around the lawn, assessing the benches and under the large chestnut trees to see if anyone is bearing witness. And for the first time since she moved to the country, Sadé is grateful for the inclement English weather- the light drizzle ensuring students are scarce outside except a few that are too busy trying to escape the rain to notice either of them. Not that she's recognizable anyway. The little resistance she tries to put up doesn't deter him one bit, he drags her body along as if she's a bag of feathers. He only stops when they get to the stands near the football pitch behind the school building. There's no one else there.

"Who did you tell?" He asks with a scowl on his face. His gorgeous face. She can't help it, he is the type of fine that makes your head spin. He's tall and lithe, his light skin a toasted brown, with dark brown eyes and pink plump lips. His jet black hair is curly and always kept in a neat, high taper fade. It's no surprise he's as well known as he is.

"Who have I told what?" She tries innocently. Maybe if she pretends she didn't see anything he'll buy it and leave her alone.

"Please don't waste my time." He states coldly. Sadé narrows her eyes at him. She refuses to be intimidated no matter how badly she wants to shiver under his gaze.