4. Roy Faces a Dilemma Tuesday, 3:45 PM
Walking across campus in the late afternoon, Roy was feverishly thinking about how to address his problem. He had just been told to see college security about a minor altercation he'd had with another student. It was nothing, and the two had shaken hands and made up. But VJC was fanatical about campus safety and decorum, and the security officers, though usually older men hired as night watchman, did have the authority to report wrongdoers to the Head of Student Development, who had unlimited authority to expel a troublemaker. Therefore Roy wanted to be on his best behavior. He had no previous infractions, and he knew they wouldn't do more than try to scare him. But he didn't want to take his knapsack along, and he had nowhere safe to hide it. If he had known earlier, he would have left it at home. Now he was stuck.
As he entered the main walkway and turned toward the Administrative building with Security at the far end, he spied Lyn entering the Library. Yes! he thought and hurried in that direction. Roy caught up with Lyn just as she settled in one of the South Wing carrels to study her economics text. When she saw Roy approaching, she gave him such a charming smile that his knees almost went weak. For just an instant, he hesitated in what he was planning. Shit, it's OK, he told himself—besides, it serves her right for teasing me so much with her sexy body.
After they greeted each other in undertones, Roy explained his need to go to Security. Lyn immediately became very concerned and worried for him. Roy reassured her that it all would be fine. However, he didn't want to take his small blue knapsack along to complicate things. Would she watch it for him until he came back? Lynette, of course, agreed. As he got up to leave, she did what she hadn't done before, give him a mouth kiss in public, and whispered the words, "Take care. I love you."
Roy smiled and again reassured her before walking out of the Library.