Level the Playing Field

Leverage.

"Nobody!" Sadé watches as he scratches at the neatly trimmed hairs on his chin looking to the side in frustration.

"It's not my business where you put your dick, but the TA? Seriously? That's some serious power imbalance. Is it for a better grade?" She can't help but ask, he's being an asshole right now but she'd hate if he's being taken advantage of. He doesn't respond.

"How old is she anyway? Don't tell me she's some kind of coug-"

"She's four years older, not involved in any of the courses I take and I seduced her. Hardly being preyed upon in that situation don't you think?" The annoyance in his tone is evident.

"Oh, so you are just like everyone says then." Sadé doesn't even realize she says it out loud until he pauses to look at her. And it's as if he's really noticing her for the first time.

"And what does everyone say? Who are you anyway? A freshman?" Ouch. She isn't exactly sure why him not noticing her once over the past year and some months hurts, but it does. She tries telling herself that it's good, that's what she wanted. To not bring attention to herself in this hellhole of gossip and drama.

"No, I'm a sophomore, like you. We take Academic writing class together." It's barely above a whisper, because, for some strange reason, she's embarrassed.

"Oh." He clears his throat awkwardly, "well, if word of this gets around, I don't have to explain what can happen, you're a smart girl I'm sure. My entire future rides on the scholarship-"

"Blah blah, I won't say anything. If you haven't noticed by now, I don't like being the center of attention, Jude. Is there anything else or do I really have to stand here and listen to the threats to make you feel better?" She mentally applauds herself for keeping her voice steady. Every second she spends in his proximity is a reminder. A reminder of the fluidity of his hips, a reminder of the look of concentration on his face as he-

"I'm serious. You ruin this for me and I lose everything, don't fuck this up for me." And then he's gone.

************

Sadé couldn't have asked for a better roommate than Mikayla. Her gorgeous friend is of Vietnamese and Nigerian descent and on the curvier side. She stands at 5"3, with long, curly black hair and two adorable dimples in both cheeks. Mikayla is quite introverted much like her and the most selfless person she's ever met. It's why Sadé would do almost anything for her.

"I really want to go to that game, Sadé." Mikayla whispers with a hint of melancholy in her voice.

"What game?" Sadé asks distractedly, eyes glued to her laptop screen trying to make sense of the notes from today's class.

"The football game! Erlhedge and MayBerry uni! It's gonna be a big game and even scouts from different clubs will be there." her friend whines.

"Oh, and do you want to go because you're an avid football fan or because you want to ogle Ryan?" Sadé wiggles her eyebrows at her friend's blushing face. Her complexion is just light enough for the rosiness of her cheeks is visible.

"Shut up!" She pauses for a few seconds. "I know the game is already sold out but I heard through the grapevine that there will be an after party." Mikayla feigns nonchalance but her friend notices the anxious bounce of her right leg.

"Hmm 'grapevine' huh? Does this grapevine happen to be a 5 '4, Lebanese by the name of Celine?" Celine is a chemistry major and she completes their little 'clique.' Celine, just like Mikayla, is crushing on a guy on the team- Sean. She's been hunting tickets for every game, seeking him out on campus every day for the past year just to catch a glimpse of him from a distance and sigh longingly. Sadé loves to pretend her friends are crazy for even liking football players, but she's a hypocrite through and through. She'll never let them know that though.