JoBeth & Amy #2: The Start of Something New

JoBeth & Amy: Story 02 – The Start of Something New - CHAPTER 7

*Note: This story got a little longer on me than I expected - it is not completely edited, so if you see any little errors in there... that\'s why!*



Note: THIS chapter talks a little about bondage, but doesn\'t have any in it. Upcoming chapters, however, do have bondage again, of course, if that matters to anyone.



*WARNINGS: This story IS FOR 18+ ONLY! If you don\'t like adult situations, don\'t read any further!! This story will eventually contain BONDAGE, a sexual situation, and will involve a suggestive bit of girl/girl fun...*



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“You totally abandoned me, Lauren!” Amy protested, darting under the restaurant’s awning and out of the cool rain to join her best friend. Despite the threat of storms, she’d decided to catch Lauren at Union Station to have dinner downtown that night, hoping to be able to talk a little bit about the one thing that had been on her mind above everything else for nearly a week.



Lauren herself had been rather surprised to find Amy waiting for her at Union Station. She’d been on her way back to their apartment with the plan to going out somewhere for dinner and she was happy to accept the change in plans. Within a few minutes, they’d quickly made their way to a taxi stand and to one of their favorite restaurants.



Stepping out of the way of an elderly couple leaving the restaurant, Lauren propped the door open with her foot and watched Amy shake off and close her umbrella. “Hey, you’re the one carrying our umbrella,” the dark-haired girl retorted with a laugh.



Amy cocked her hips to the side and let out a small huff. “That’s not what I meant...” she said flatly, giving Lauren half of a smirk. “You left me high and dry and you know it,” Amy added a moment later, arching an expectant eyebrow at her friend.



“I went home to help my folks and get paid, Aims. My cell phone works just fine out in the suburbs,” Lauren replied with a laugh. “Besides, I told you that I was going home Tuesday morning and that I would be coming back tonight. Why else would you have met up with me at the station?”



“Alright, true,” Amy allowed, her expression already softening.



“There you have it,” Lauren smiled triumphantly, gesturing towards the door. “Now are you going to come in and tell me what happened or should we just stay out here in the rain all evening?”



Dropping her arms to her side along with the momentary pretense, Amy let out a long sigh. She’d been jumpy all afternoon and she hadn’t meant to pounce on her friend. “Yeah. Just been a long day is all,” she half-smiled, looking over at Lauren apologetically.



“You’re allowed,” Lauren said softly. “Especially after the week you’ve had.”



Smiling over at the blonde, Lauren wanted to do whatever she could to support and help Amy find a way to solve her JoBeth problem, but there was only so much she could accomplish herself. Her best friend had let her natural confidence in herself slide away in the face of a bunch of contrived obstacles and school rules and it would be a cold day before she stood for that.



Reaching out to take Amy’s arm, Lauren gently pulled her friend towards the entrance. “Come on, now, let’s get in there and eat something,” she implored. “Good food always makes you feel better.”



A chuckle escaped Amy’s lips and she gave a small nod. “Sounds like a plan,” she agreed, heading through the open doorway. “I’ve been starving all afternoon.”



“So, food it is!” Lauren declared, following the blonde into the restaurant.



The two girls made their way between the other groups of people already waiting inside, heading towards the hostess’ stand. The girl that had been behind the wide, stained wood podium had just grabbed a pair of menus and disappeared around the corner with a few people in tow, leaving Amy & Lauren waiting until someone returned.



Their dinners together were never quite as enjoyable when one of them was bothered by something and Lauren hoped that she could cheer Amy up a little. A playful smirk crossed her lips and she took the opportunity to nudge Amy in the arm. “You know, I’m not sure why you wanted to give me such a hard time about going back home for a night,” she teased when Amy turned to look at her curiously. “You used to like it when I paid my half of the bills.”



Laughing, Amy threw her arms up in a mock surrender. “Alright, I’m sorry already,” she replied, well aware that the disconcerting frustration that she felt about the situation with JoBeth was getting harder and harder for her to mask.



“You know I’m just teasing you,” Lauren said softly, resting her hand on Amy’s shoulder. “It’s one of my favorite hobbies.”



“Oh, I know it is,” Amy chuckled, a thankful smile cracking her lips. “And thanks.”



Patting Amy’s shoulder, Lauren returned the blonde’s smile with a warm one of her own. “It’s what I do,” she chirped, glancing down the long walkway that led to the seating area of the restaurant. “And we’ve got all night to talk, my dear. As soon as we get to our table, you’re going to tell me all about the last two days and we’re going to figure out how you’re going to get that girl!”



There was still a large part of Amy that thought she was reading too much of her own desires into the situation and that it simply wasn’t going to work, but her friend’s confidence that she’d be able to have a relationship of any kind with JoBeth was comforting. With only a slightly discouraged sigh, Amy tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear.



“I have no idea what I’m supposed to do next… I’ve spent the last two days just grinning and stammering at her,” Amy explained, breaking into a small, disbelieving chuckle. “Normally I don’t yammer on around girls, but with her…?”



Propping herself against the hostess’ stand, Lauren turned to arch an amused eyebrow at Amy. She’d seen Amy around girls that she’d been attracted to in the past. Considering what she’d seen between her best friend and the undoubtedly cute freshmen on Friday, even she knew that there was something about this one that was different.



“Well, that’s because she’s smart, funny, curious, obviously open-minded… and because you’re interested in an actual relationship with her,” Lauren pointed out with a smirk. “And those are your words, Aims.”



Suppressing a laugh, Amy fixed Lauren with a glare. “She probably thinks I’m an idiot.”



Shaking her head, Lauren refused to let Amy buy into the self-confidence degrading nonsense. “She does not, and I can prove it,” she stated with certainty ringing in her tone.



“You can?” Amy asked.



Locking her gaze with the blonde, Lauren wanted to make sure that she was getting through Amy’s stubborn resolve. “Look,” she started, pausing until she knew she had her friend’s undivided attention. “I know that because she’s told you that she wants to spend time with you. That’s what that whole thing at the library was about,” Lauren elaborated, watching Amy’s expression soften.



“You told me yourself that her paper was already in great shape when you saw it, so whatever she thinks of you, I say that she likes you and that she wants to be around you more…” Lauren finished, seeing a smile start to pull at the corners of Amy’s lips once again.



With a small laugh, Amy nodded, unable and unwilling to refute Lauren’s claim. “Alright, you win,” she conceded.



“That’s right I do,” Lauren seconded, wearing a triumphant grin. “So we can throw away all of this silliness about her not liking you and you can get to telling me all the juicy details.”



Amy happily voiced her agreement with Lauren’s plan just as a girl with her auburn hair up in a ponytail, glasses and a nametag emerged from the hallway and walked up behind the stand. “Speaking of which…” Amy said, turning to smile at the hostess. “Hey, Kat!”



“Hey you two!” the girl behind the stand replied, her expression lighting up with recognition. “It’s been a few weeks since I’ve seen you in here! How are you?”



“We’re good. Still warming up a bit, but we’re good,” Amy replied warmly, drawing a dubious arch of an eyebrow from Lauren.



A knowing smirk crossed Lauren’s lips and she gently nudged Amy in the side. “Liar,” she chided.



Kat looked back and forth between the blonde and brunette, a little confused about what exactly was going on before Amy spoke up to dispel the implication. “Oh, just ignore her,” Amy said, waving a dismissive hand in Lauren’s direction. “We’re both doing just fine.”



With a relieved chuckle, Kat nodded. “I’m glad to hear that,” she said cheerfully, picking up a pencil to cross the next name off her sheet of paper. “And I probably should have recognized ‘A. Reynolds’ on the reservation list!”



“Don’t you worry about it,” Amy said. “It’s not exactly an unusual last name!”



“That and we’re just sneaky like that,” Lauren added teasingly.



Picking up two menus, Kat gave the girls another smile. “Well, if you’re ready, you can come on back,” she said, gesturing towards the hallway and the seating area of the restaurant invitingly.



“Trust me, Kat, we are more than ready,” Lauren said, following Amy around and past the stand. “I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast.”



Stepping aside to let Kat take the lead down the hall, Amy felt the pangs of hunger striking intensely. “That makes two of us,” the blonde echoed, already thinking about what she wanted to order.



“Then we’re going to fix that right away!” Kat said brightly, bringing the girls down the long, main walkway between the two main dining areas. She knew that Amy and Lauren liked watching the people outside coming and going down Michigan Avenue and luckily, according to her sheet, there was a booth open along the tinted windows that lined the outside of the dining room.



The trio dodged an oncoming waiter carrying a large tray full of different dishes that instantly caught Amy’s attention, while Lauren was more intrigued by the way Kat was carrying herself. She’d noticed that the sagging shoulders and tired smile that had haunted her features in the past seemed to have been replaced by a much happier sparkle in her eye and a bit of a spring in her step.



One of their friends, a local Mistress, loved hosting parties every so often for girls from the city that shared the same romantic interests and kinkier fetishes. She and Amy were frequent guests, and Kat had been a friend of theirs ever since they’d met her at one after she’d moved into town almost a year ago. At the time, the auburn-haired girl had just finished school and was looking for jobs, but there was a profound sense of loneliness about her.



They’d quickly adopted her as a friend and once her initial shyness had worn off, Kat had become a frequent visitor to their apartment, hanging out with pizza, games and movies every so often. In keeping with one of her side-jobs and after discovering Amy’s hobby, Kat would model for Amy. She was too sweet not to help and seeing Kat leave each time with a smile and part of her rent money was more than worth it. Seeing her now look even happier was a welcome sight indeed.



“So, Kat, how’s life treating you?” Lauren asked, her question catching Amy’s interest as well.



They made a turn at the end of the table-lined walkway to approach an empty booth and both Amy and Lauren noted the bright blush that lit Kat’s cheeks. “Good,” she replied, looking over at Lauren with a smile dancing across her features. “I signed up for that clothing design class you mentioned and we had our first one last week.”



With a proud smile, Lauren felt happy for the girl. She’d always thought that Kat was a bright girl that just needed to find something she enjoyed doing in life. “That a girl,” she purred, wrapping her arm around the girl’s shoulder and giving her a warm squeeze.



“That’s what I like to hear,” Amy seconded, lightly ruffling Kat’s hair. “Good for you, Kat.”



A beaming smile lit Kat’s eyes and she let out a small giggle. “Thanks,” she finally got out after Lauren let her go a moment later. “I’ve already got a few designs I want to try. You’ve seen a few, and I sketched out a few more last night.”



“Well, keep at it,” Amy said encouragingly. “We know you’ve got some good ideas in there!”



“And if you need ever anything,” Lauren added, locking gaze with the still faintly blushing hostess. “Anything at all, you have our numbers, right?”



Taking a moment to compose herself, Kat gave the girls an acknowledging nod. “Yep,” she said through another smile. Taking a deep breath let, she finally came back to what she was supposed to be helping the two girls with.



“Anyway,” Kat started with a chuckle, looking back at Amy and Lauren with a curious look. “Will this table be alright?” she asked, gesturing towards the empty booth with the menus.



Hanging their umbrella on a nearby coat hook, Amy noticed another tray of food walking by, bringing her hunger pangs back in full force. “It’s perfect,” she replied, drawing a quick agreement from Lauren before she started to unbutton her jacket.



“Great!” Kat chirped, setting a menu on each side of the table. “I’ll make sure that Emily comes over to get your order right away!” she said while the two girls took their seats. “And… thanks,” she added, her blush still glowing bright on her cheeks.



“You’re always welcome,” Lauren replied.



With a warm smile, Amy nodded. “Definitely. And keep at that class work! You’ll be making some awesome stuff before you know it!”



“Always the teacher,” Lauren teased, drawing a laugh from both Amy and Kat. “It was good seeing you again, Kat,” Lauren chimed. “And don’t you go being a stranger.”



“Yes, Ma’ams,” the auburn-haired girl replied with a smile. “And I’m glad I got to see you two again as well,” Kat added. “I guess I should probably get back up front there, huh?” she asked, inclining her head towards the entrance and her post, stifling a chuckle.



“Go get ‘em,” Lauren said, and after a polite nod, the hostess turned and headed off down the walkway. Turning back to the table, Lauren reached to pick up her menu before being interrupted by a very amused look from Amy.



Arching her eyebrow, Lauren left the menu sitting in front of her and returned a curious gaze. “What?” she asked, shaking her head slightly.



“So…” Amy began, pausing for a long moment behind a smirk. “You’re after Kat now, huh?”



Lauren’s eyes widened a little and she shook her head defensively. “What?” she asked, her surprise evident in her voice. “What gave you that idea?”



Her mischievous smirk spread wider and Amy couldn’t resist pressing on. “The last 3 minutes?” she responded, noticing a faint blush glowing on Lauren’s cheeks.



“Amy, she’s a nice girl, and we know that she was kind of down when she moved here,” the brunette explained, unable to completely mask the slightly flustered reaction that Amy had incited in her. “She’s a nice girl and just needs some encouragement finding something that makes her happy.”



Her best friend’s heart was always in the right place, even when she seemed to be up to no good, and Amy agreed with her wholeheartedly. “I know,” she said, smiling warmly.



“I just wanted to let her know that if she needed someone, she’s got people she can talk to…” Lauren continued, trailing off after realizing that Amy wasn’t being serious and that the blonde was trying not to laugh. “Wait a minute…”



Amy tried hiding her grin behind her hand, but Lauren’s defensive reaction was too much. “I’m just teasing you,” she chuckled, finally dropping her hand and the pretense. “I know what you meant.”



“Evil!” Lauren exclaimed, grabbing a packet of sugar out of the holder and tossing it at Amy.



The packet bounced off Amy’s shoulder and fell harmlessly to the table. The blonde laughed quietly at Lauren’s dirty look and her playful smirk had yet to disappear. “Oh, so I’m not allowed to tease you all of a sudden?” she asked.



Lauren sighed, sinking back into the booth’s comfortably padded seat, unable to refuse taking what she dealt out regularly herself. “Alright, I suppose that’s fair…” she said, giving in to a smile.



The brunette lived to play with and poke at her friends when the right opportunities presented themselves and Amy had been her favorite target for years. “It better be, considering you’re little Miss ‘I tease because I love’!” Amy replied jokingly.



“Hey now,” Lauren started, arching a questioning eyebrow. “I’m here to help you figure out what you can do about the whole JoBeth problem and this is the kind of thanks I get?” she asked in mock disbelief.



Amy’s smile softened into one that beamed with affection for the girl across the table. She wouldn’t trade her support and friendship with her for anything. “You know I love you for it, Lauren,” she purred, reaching across the table to rest her hand tenderly on Lauren’s.



“Yup,” Lauren replied, twisting her hand to take Amy’s in hers. With a warm smile, she gave her friend’s hand a squeeze before letting go. “And besides… Kat’s sweet, but she’s not my type…”



She’d lived through all the drama that Lauren had sorted out in her life up until a year ago. A few too many crazy girls and a little too much leaping before looking, but thanks to many deep, late night discussions over the years, Amy hoped that she had a pretty good idea of what Lauren needed in a relationship. One day, she hoped to be able to offer her best friend the same help and encouragement that Lauren was giving her with JoBeth.



“I know,” Amy said, trying to sound encouraging. “And soon, we’re going to find her for you and we’ll all hang out together!”



A laugh broke the momentarily reflective mood between the girls and Lauren gave a wishful smile. “Thanks, Aims,” the brunette chuckled. “But until then, we’ve got your half of the equation to straighten out, don’t we?”



“You make it sound so easy,” Amy laughed, prompting a grin from her dinner companion.



“We’ve solved bigger problems in our sleep,” Lauren scoffed dismissively just as their waitress walked up to the booth. “Speaking of which, it looks like we’ve got a few decisions to make…”



The familiar waitress pulled out her notepad and pen, a welcoming smile on her smooth, Asian features. “Hey, you two,” Emily said cheerfully. “Kat just told me you’d come in today!”



“Yup!” Amy replied and both girls giving the girl a friendly wave. Emily had been their waitress the first time they’d visited the restaurant and had never been anything less than excellent. “We figured it was about time that we got back in here.”



“Hey, Em,” Lauren chimed in.



Flipping to a clean page, Emily clicked her pen once and prepared to write. “Well, I’m always glad to see the two of you in here. What can I get you?”



Looking over at Lauren, Amy arched a curious eyebrow. Neither of them had cracked open the menus, but they both had favorite dishes there and considering how hungry she was, Amy was more than happy to stick with what she knew to be delicious.



“To tell you the truth, we got so distracted that we haven’t even opened the menus yet,” the blonde chuckled, getting a quick, agreeing nod from Lauren. “But I think that we’ll both go with the usual, tonight.”



After a few quick scribbles on her notepad and a small laugh, Emily clapped the little black book shut. “Then pasta and salads it is,” she smiled, slipping the book into a pocket of her apron.



“On mine, can I get the house dressing instead of the thousand island this time?” Lauren asked.



“Of course!” Emily replied. “I’ll be right back with your drinks!”



Their waitress turned to head towards the kitchen and a relieved look appeared on Lauren’s face. The last time they’d come, Lauren had gotten adventurous with her order and an evening of pain had followed that neither one of them cared to relive. “Good call there,” Amy laughed, watching Lauren shudder and make a disgusted noise.



“I’m never eating that stuff again…” Lauren said, shaking her head and trying to suppress the very unpleasant experience. “I was hugging the toilet all night…”



“Oh, I remember it well,” Amy replied. “I was in there with you, keeping you company and keeping you clean in your hour of need.”



Chuckling, Lauren offered an apologetic smile. “Did I ever thank you for that?”



“Repeatedly, in between the glasses of water I kept giving you,” Amy said.



With a wide grin, Lauren settled back into the booth’s padded seat. “Good,” she sighed, taking advantage of the opportunity to relax. “And now that we’ve averted one potential catastrophe…” she trailed off, an anticipatory twinkle in her eye. “I believe you own me a story about what’s been going on the last few days, my dear!”



All of the conflicting emotions and worries came rushing back and Amy shifted sank into her seat, overcome by a strange desire to disappear. “Heh, I suppose I do…” she laughed shyly, thankful for Lauren’s warm and accepting smile. “The last two days?”



“If you want to talk about it,” Lauren said softly. She wanted more than anything to help and she hoped that Amy would find a way to explore the possibility of a relationship with JoBeth, but Lauren also knew where the line between gentle nudging and outright pressure was drawn.



Amy was idly toying with her sweater’s sleeves, looking like she was trying to sort out where she could begin, and Lauren was happy to wait until the blonde was ready. “I still say that if you called her, she’d be over at the apartment inside of ten minutes,” Lauren teased, gently kicking the side of Amy’s legs under the table.



Pursing her lips, Amy gave a ponderous sigh. “I know…” she trailed off, trying to fight the dozens of fantastic thoughts that had sprung to mind for what she might do with JoBeth if that actually happened. The younger brunette had certainly insinuated that she might be willing. “I mean, I’m pretty sure she likes me…”



“Good!” Lauren exclaimed. “That’s going to save me at least five minutes.”



Snapping out of her momentary fantasies, Amy fixed Lauren with a curious gaze. “What do you mean ‘save you five minutes’?” she asked.



Lauren propped her elbows up on the table and a cheshire smirk crossed the olive-skinned girl’s lips. Resting her chin on top of her clasped hands, she was happy to elaborate. “That’s about how long I figured it would’ve taken me to convince you that I’m right,” she explained confidently.



Cocking her head to the side, Amy couldn’t resist breaking into a laugh at the assertion. “Oh, really?” she retorted with mock disbelief. “Pretty confident there, huh?”



“Yup,” her dark-haired companion replied, adding a confirming nod. “I’m very persuasive.”



The two girls chuckled, both knowing just how persuasive and persistent Lauren could be when she was after something. A moment later, Emily returned with the girls’ drinks and the appetizer basket of garlic bread. Setting them down on the table, she said that their orders were already put in the kitchen before heading back off into the crowded restaurant and the rest of her charges.



Unfolding the cloth napkin that covered the bread, Lauren pushed the basket over for Amy to grab one of the pieces and the butter first. “And besides,” she continued, taking one of the pieces of bread for herself before covering the basket again. “Now, I’ve got the added benefit of being right.”



Buttering the breadstick lightly, Amy shrugged. “Yeah…” she through an acknowledging sigh. “I suppose you might be on to something.”



“The sooner you’re comfortable with that, the sooner you two will figure out a way to see each other,” Lauren said confidently. “And you know that you’ve got a place that you two could hang out in secret where we can do whatever we like…”



She’d always thought that Lauren made for an excellent co-conspirator and she felt the warmth and affection that she had for her best friend glowing strongly as ever inside her. “Well, it might not be impossible…” Amy allowed, trying to fend off a mischievous smile at the suggestion of using their apartment as a secret hideaway.



“Not in the least,” Lauren agreed, shaking her head dismissively and taking a bite of the pleasantly warm breadstick. One of their favorite things about the restaurant was how wonderful the bread was and this time was no disappointment. Taking their time, the roommates savored the first snack that either of them had since early that morning.



After a sip of water, Lauren leaned back over the table, ready to find out what Amy had been hinting about in the entryway. “Now…” she drawled, inciting a curious look from the blonde. “I want to know everything that’s been going on between you and JoBeth these past two days and don’t you dare leave any details out!”



A chuckle escaped Amy’s lips and she felt her cheeks warming in a faint blush. “Alright…” she started, taking a quick drink of her own. “You know what happened at the library on Monday…”



“Uh huh,” Lauren nodded, her lips curling into a grin. “And I’m still disappointed that you didn’t march that girl straight back to our apartment after that kiss she gave you, Aims…” she added.



The blush on Amy’s cheeks brightened and she couldn’t deny that she’d considered the same thought in the last few days, but at the time, she’d barely been able to keep herself from giggling. “I wanted to so bad,” Amy laughed, remembering the thrill that had rushed through her when JoBeth’s lips had pressed against her cheek. “I was frozen in my seat!”



“Yeah, I think you just might like her a little bit…” Lauren teased. “You know, maybe.”



“Just a little,” Amy replied, biting her lip bashfully. “But anyway!” she continued, hoping to distract Lauren with the story and stave off any further teasing. “On Tuesday…”



Furrowing her brow for a moment, Lauren picked up her drink. “You’d have seen her before class, right?” she asked, taking the straw between her fingers and bringing it to her lips.



The blonde girl nodded, already nearly done with her drink. “I was a little late getting to class, so I didn’t get to see her before…” Amy said, her shy smile returning. “But luckily, the professor wanted to run the lecture yesterday… I’m pretty sure that JoBeth and I spent all ninety minutes grinning, blushing and trying to see if the other one of us was looking…”



Lauren shook her head, laughing at the completely believable mental image that had sprung immediately to mind. “How very clandestine of you…” the dark-haired girl chuckled, relaxing back into the pleasantly soft booth seat. “Nice job there!”



“What was I supposed to do?” Amy asked, holding out her upturned hands in protest. “It was during class!”



“I know, but still!” Lauren said, offering an encouraging smile. “I’d say that’s a good thing!”



With a deep breath, Amy let her frustration melt away against the memory of the warm rush of exhilaration she’d felt in class between their furtive glances. “I don’t think either of us heard a single thing that the professor was saying…” she chuckled, the pink color on her cheeks glowing in the soft light of the restaurant. “And I’m pretty sure that everyone else in there thought I had some kind of fever with all that blushing.”



“Bah,” Lauren waved her hand dismissively. “Who cares what they think. JoBeth was smiling at you!” she added brightly, her excitement shining in her eyes. “This is a good thing!”



With another laugh, Amy glanced over at the rain still falling outside the window, watching the changing streetlights and taking a moment to gather herself. “Well, that was Tuesday…” she said, looking off past the procession of cars through the busy intersection. “I survived and came back home. It was today that was really messing with me…” Amy explained, tuning back to face a curious Lauren.



“Messing with you?” Lauren asked, arching an eyebrow.



“Yeah... I just couldn’t sit still or focus on anything…” Amy replied, shaking her head. “I tried everything, but kind of ran out of distractions at home…” she trailed off, feeling her cheeks heating up behind a deep shade of crimson. Her thoughts of JoBeth after class had driven Amy to take advantage of the empty apartment for a bit of personal time, but she’d been waylaid by an unanticipated expiration of batteries that had left her even more flustered than before.



Even in the dimmed lighting of the restaurant, Lauren noticed Amy’s suddenly bright red cheeks, piquing her interest even further. “I know we were planning on heading out somewhere tonight, but I’ve got to admit… I was pretty surprised to see you waiting for me at the station.”



A small shrug lifted Amy’s shoulders, and she sank back into her chair. “I don’t know…” she said softly. “I just had to get out of there… I needed a pleasant distraction and you’re my go-to girl.”



“Aww…” Lauren cooed, her heart melting under Amy’s warm, appreciative smile. Even with everything that had been going on with JoBeth, she knew that it took quite a bit to get under her best friend’s skin. Whatever had ended up happening earlier had to have been something out of the ordinary. “What happened?” she asked.



The momentary pause in Amy’s story was filled with the buzz of other conversations around the room and the blonde tried to decide where she wanted to begin the last part of her story. “I ran the first half hour of lecture today,” Amy started, a faint smile already curling up the corners of her lips. “And JoBeth was there, ponytails and all, smiling at me all cute-like, of course…” she trailed off into a chuckle, looking up and meeting Lauren’s gaze. “I swear, I kept imagining tackling her right there in class and carrying her off to the nearest closet!”



“You should have!” Lauren teased.



“Honestly, I have no idea how the heck I got through it…” Amy said, still not entirely sure how she’d managed to resist the surprisingly powerful urges she’d had while watching JoBeth in class.



Taking a second piece of the still warm bread out from its basket, Lauren started to butter it, an amused smirk crossing her lips. “Well, you obviously did…” she said suggestively.



“I did…” Amy agreed. “But it was what happened after I sat back down that was the kicker…”



She hadn’t burst out and told her anything right away, leading Lauren to wonder what tidbit Amy was keeping secret until they’d found a moment of privacy in their booth. “Oh?” she asked, watching Amy slip her hand into her pocket. “So what happened then?”



Amy’s eyes lit up with a longing smile and a moment later, she pulled out the simply folded piece of paper that had started everything that morning. “Once the professor started running through his slides, she got up to get one of those smoothies that I was telling you she had me try…”



“She really likes those things, huh?” Lauren said with a laugh.



“You really should try one…” Amy replied, idly toying with the folded paper. “She’s definitely onto something… They’re amazing.”



Her amusement over Amy’s sudden affection for the smoothies was matched only by her interest in what Amy’s note said. “Next time we’re both on campus, I’ll let you buy me one then,” Lauren chuckled, her gaze falling down to Amy’s hands. “But that still doesn’t explain that piece of paper you’re playing with there, Aims…”



“Oh! Yeah, this…” the blonde stammered, her bright blush returning to her cheeks. The way it had happened in class had been a bit of a blur thanks to all the different things that had been running through her mind when JoBeth was walking towards her. Amy took a deep breath, trying to ready herself to explain what had her walking a fine line between unbridled joy and confusion.



“Well, on her way out of the room, she walked past my desk…” Amy began, feeling her heart starting to beat a little faster at the mere memory. Across the table, Lauren wore an anticipatory smile, looking nearly as eager to hear the story as she’d been just before she’d first had a chance to read the note. Unfolding the paper, Amy ran her eyes once more over the simple, handwritten text and all the little doodles that surrounded it.



Looking back up at Lauren, Amy flashed a beaming grin, barely able to contain her own silly excitement. “When she did… she dropped this in my lap…” the blonde finished, setting the paper down on the table and resting her hands on top of it.



Amy’s unintentional but devilishly slow reveal had Lauren’s sent curiosity running at a fever pitch and the dark-haired girl wanted to know what was on that half-page scrap of paper. “Oooh…” she purred with a hint of her own excitement in her voice. Sitting back up, she tried to get a peek between Amy’s fingers. “What’s it say? Did she write you a love note?”



“No, nothing like that,” Amy laughed, still a little too distracted by thoughts of the girl she had a crush on to notice Lauren doing everything she could to see through her hands. “It makes sense, when you think about it. I mean, if someone saw her slipping a note to one of her TAs and they took the note from me, a love note could be pretty easily misinterpreted…”



The situation that Amy found herself in with JoBeth was certainly unusual, but the more that Lauren heard about how JoBeth was trying to find ways to talk to Amy, the more impressed she was with her. “Smart girl,” Lauren said with an agreeing nod, even more confident in her assertion that JoBeth liked her best friend.



Amy knew it would be incredibly difficult to make the first move in any sort of courtship, but if she was absolutely certain of the outcome, she thought that there was a rapidly increasing chance that something could happen. She’d adored the subtle and the not so subtle overtures that JoBeth was trying to make and she felt a sense of pride over how brilliantly the girl was going about it. The girl really was something special.



A longing smile spread across her lips and Amy shifted in her seat, wishing that she could just go find and wrap the freshman up in a tight embrace. “I know…” she sighed.



Seeing her best friend glowing with all the delight and joy of having a crush was a welcome sight for Lauren and from her perspective, their mutual affections were getting closer and closer to being realized. “She’s thinking about the same problems you are…” Lauren observed, trailing off while Amy finished off her drink. “And that’s a really good thing! Especially since that means she’s probably after the same things that you are…” she added with a suggestive wink.



“I hope so…” Amy laughed, the blush on her cheeks still glowing the bright shade of pink.



“Well, if that note’s any indication, you’re going to find out as soon as you two find a moment alone!” Lauren added, her playful smirk returned to her tanned features. The teasing comment had made Amy lose her battle against a giddy grin of her own and her curiosity was still dying to know what the note read.



Sitting back up, Lauren looked at the note again, arching an eyebrow before she caught Amy’s eye. “But first… You haven’t told me what that note says yet…”



Chuckling softly, Amy lifted her hands off the piece of paper. “Nothing much…” she said.



“Oh, just give me that,” Lauren interrupted, reaching out to snag the note away from Amy, who did nothing to stop her. The note was a simple pair of elaborately drawn words, sitting in the middle of various shapes and amusingly cute little faces scattered haphazardly around them.



The shy smile on Amy’s face matched the rosy glow on her cheeks and the blonde felt her heart beating a little faster in anticipation of Lauren’s reaction. “She just said ‘Hey there, you…’” Amy said, content to watch Lauren study all the little details on the piece of paper.



There were so many doodles of different smiley faces and other faces giving weird looks that Lauren couldn’t help but chuckle. There weren’t any hearts on it, in keeping with the note’s innocent theme, but it was still delightfully cute that JoBeth had given this to Amy. “Aww…” she cooed, handing the paper back to Amy. “Looks like she was working on that for a while there…”



“When I opened it up, I had to laugh too,” Amy said, gazing at the note fondly. “I know it’s so silly and high school, but the thought and everything is just…”



“Cute,” Lauren finished. Amy gave a small nod and the dark-haired girl met Amy’s shy smile with a warm one of her own. “She’s definitely got a fun personality, Aims, that much we both know. She’s smart enough to keep it innocent, but she’s still wants to try and tell you that she likes you…”



Curling the ends of her sweater’s sleeves over her hands, Amy shrank back into her seat with a sigh. “And I like her, Lauren…” she said before a gentle shrug of her shoulders. “But it’s just not as easy as I want it to be…”



She could hardly argue against Amy’s point but Lauren refused to let that stand in the way. “Yeah, that whole student and teacher thing has been a bit of a drag…” Lauren chuckled, hoping to dissolve whatever tension and worry Amy had started to feel.



“Just a tiny one,” Amy replied, one corner of her lips rising up in a smirk. She was thankful to have someone that was willing to listen and help. With Lauren, she could vent at least some of her pent up frustrations about the freshman girl.



Reaching for her empty glass, Amy teased the straw around, hoping to fish out one of the ice cubes. “I’ve had more fun in the few hours we’ve spent together this week than I’ve had with a girl in years and all it’s making me want to do is see her even more…” she continued, lifting the edge of the glass to her lips and nudging one of the cubes past them.



“And you two haven’t even done much together… yet,” Lauren added with a playful wink.



Amy’s blush spread from her cheeks to her ears, turning the blonde beet red. “Lauren… That’s not what this is all about…” she protested, crunching the ice cube and setting her glass back on the table. “I’m not trying to just ‘do her’ or something…”



“I know, Aims,” Lauren smiled, patting Amy’s hand gently. “You know that I don’t think you’re like that anyway, and besides… I’ve seen you two. You’re somewhere new with this one.”



“Really?” Amy asked.



With a confirming nod, Lauren patted Amy’s hand again before reclining back into her seat. “Really,” she said simply. “I’ve seen you with other girls and I saw you with JoBeth on Friday night. There was a lot more than lust going on between you two.”



A mix of embarrassment and excitement swirled through Amy’s mind at Lauren’s statement. Knowing that her best friend had sensed their connection as well helped the longing flame that she’d started to carry for JoBeth to grow hotter. “Well, there was a lot of lust there, too…” Amy admitted.



“Just a bit,” Lauren smiled across the table at the blonde, filled with happiness that she’d finally found someone worth being so discombobulated over. “But there was more than that, too,” she said affectionately. “After all the things we’ve been through, I can tell the difference between a horny Amy and one that’s actually interested in a girl!” Lauren added, causing both girls to break into a laugh.



In the moment it took the two girls to recover and gather themselves, Emily stopped at the table to drop off new drinks for Amy and Lauren. While Amy took a bite of the bread, Lauren thanked the girl for them both before taking a sip and turning back to the blonde.



“Anyway... Beyond all that, I just want you to be able to explore whatever you can with JoBeth…” Lauren explained, a sweet and caring sparkle shimmering in her brown eyes. “I think it’d be worth it to see where you two can go together…”



With a beaming smile, Amy reached out to take and squeeze Lauren’s hand. “Aww... Lauren!” she sighed, drawing a bashful blush out of her best friend. “Thanks… That’s what I’m hoping for, if I can figure out how to get there…”



Lauren squeezed Amy’s hand tenderly in return and Amy sat back into her seat with her blush still glowing across her features. The other girl looked so happy and JoBeth had managed to give that note to her without even starting a relationship. She was holding out hope that the best was yet to come for Amy and that it would be bringing all sorts of new joys they could share. “You know what the best part is?” the dark-haired girl asked, her grin transforming into an impish smirk.



“What’s that?” Amy asked, not quite sure what to make of the playful twinkle in Lauren’s eye.



“She’s totally going to be into bondage,” Lauren said with a grin.



With a small giggle, Amy’s entire face brightened with embarrassment at just how much she hoped Lauren was right. While it was not even close to being the only reason that she hoped that she could find a way to go out with JoBeth, knowing that there was a chance that the girl might share her sometimes difficult to explain fetish was an incredibly exciting prospect. “Well,” she started, hiding a little behind her glass. “A girl can hope, can’t she?”



Her best friend was trying her hardest to look innocent while she took a slow drink of water, but Lauren knew better. “I don’t think you’ll have to hope, Aims…” Lauren purred, leaning over the table and propping herself up on her elbows. “She might be new to it, but we both agreed that she was enjoying herself on Friday…” she said, still wearing her playful smirk.



“She was pretty into it…” Amy agreed, looking away shyly and remembering JoBeth’s decidedly erotic experience inside her bonds vividly. The girl’s reaction to being bound and gagged had been so calm, so accepting and even playful. When Amy had held her in her arms, their incredible kiss had been enough to let her know that JoBeth was more than a little turned on herself.



“After what you said she was wearing on Monday,” Lauren continued, referring to the ankle cuffs that Amy had mentioned JoBeth turning into makeshift bracelets. “I think you’ve crushed on one open-minded girl there, my dear…”



Amy agreed that JoBeth was both open and curious and the possibilities of what they might do together were almost limitless, if she could earn JoBeth’s trust. If she ever earned something as precious as that, she couldn’t imagine ever doing anything to jeopardize that. A decidedly naughty part of Amy wanted to take JoBeth to her boundaries, testing them and pushing past them, but only if the younger girl felt safe in her care and if it was something that they could do together.



With a longing sigh, Amy finally gathered her composure back up and looked over at Lauren. “I just don’t want to pressure her, Lauren…” she explained. “If she’s curious, I just want to help her explore. If we were together and if she wanted to, I could introduce her to things and let het discover what she likes and what her own fetishes are. If she does like it and if she wants to know what I like, I could show her what she might not have found already... It’s something that I’d want us to share with each other…” she trailed off, hoping that Lauren hadn’t been bored by her babbling. “I just wouldn’t ever want to force her.”



A wide smile lit Lauren’s features and she felt a tremendous pride in how adorably noble her best friend was. She knew Amy well enough to be certain that she would never force herself on anyone, let alone a girl that she already cared for as much as JoBeth, but it was still heartwarming to hear Amy try and explain how she felt.



“Oh, something tells me she’s a curious girl,” Lauren said through a small chuckle. “The way that she was responding to being bound and to you on Friday was amazing. With a girl like you as her guide, there’s no way on Earth that she doesn’t fall in love with being all helpless in your arms!”



Her entire face was still lit up bright red in the soft light of the restaurant, but it was easily outshone by the giddy smile on Amy’s lips. “Lauren!” she protested, slinking down into her seat with a quiet laugh. Amy felt the comfortable but frustrating warmth that accompanied her every thought of JoBeth growing inside her and she couldn’t dent that the chemistry between them in the last few days was something that she’d never felt before.



The happiness she felt just from being around the girl was indescribable and Amy hoped that it was the beginning of something even better. “I’ve never felt like this before, Lauren…” she said a moment later, her tone hushed, almost as if speaking too loud might break the spell that had woven between them. “The way I feel when I think about her and when I’m around her… I just want to screw the rules and try to see if we can find that feeling again, together.”



Lauren wanted that happiness for her best friend. JoBeth was certainly a sweet, smart girl and she seemed to be willing to give it a try with Amy, but for that to happen, there was one small matter left that Amy was going to have to get past. “If that’s how you feel…” Lauren said, sitting up and arching a suggestive eyebrow. “I’ve got just one suggestion for you.”



Her blush had barely faded and Amy was still lost in thoughts of the touch of JoBeth’s lips and how much she wanted to kiss them again. “What’s that?” she asked dreamily, rising out of the warm haze that had started to settle over her.



With an encouraging smile, Lauren decided to cut to the chase. “Talk to her,” she said.



Snapping back to the topic at hand, Amy fixed her friend with a curious look. “What do you mean?” she asked, tucking her hair back behind an ear that still glowed bright red. “We already talk…”



“I know that,” Lauren said patiently. “But every time you do talk, who’s been the one that’s had to start the conversation?”



Amy knew where Lauren was going and with a conceding sigh, she reached out to pick up her glass. “…JoBeth,” she answered, raising the straw to her lips in a half-hearted attempt to hide the annoyance she felt about her own inaction.



Lauren knew that she wasn’t telling Amy anything that she didn’t already know, but she hoped that hearing it from someone else could prove to be a help. “She’s reaching out to you,” she continued, ducking a little to meet Amy’s lowered gaze. “You’re responding to her when she does and I think she knows you’re into her too, but…”



“But?” Amy asked, her tone bordering on cautious.



“Sometimes you’ve got to let a girl know,” Lauren said from behind a wide, knowing grin.



Chuckling softly, Amy nodded. “I know, Lauren…” she trailed off, looping the crinkled straw wrapper around her finger. “But it’s not so easy this time.”



A smirk pulled at the corners of Lauren’s lips and she arched a questioning eyebrow. “Who said that anything worthwhile was supposed to be easy?”



Sinking back into her seat with a capitulating nod, Amy couldn’t hold back another smile. “That’s a fair point…” she allowed, giving Lauren a deferent nod.



When she’d spotted Amy waiting for her at Union Station nearly an hour ago, Lauren had been afraid that something had gone wrong at school. Not only was that not the case, but after talking to Amy, it almost seemed like she was starting to come around to follow the course of action that they both knew she needed to take.



“You know just as well as I do how insecure and self-conscious a girl gets when she’s not sure about how their crush feels about them…” Lauren said, laughing quietly. It was a something that she’d experienced several times herself and she could tell that that both Amy and JoBeth had been going through the exact same thing with each other in the past few days.



“If I was giving advice…” she continued, locking gaze with the still-blushing blonde. “I’d tell you that I think you should just start talking to her. When the time is right, just tell her how you feel,” Lauren said, reaching across the table to wrap her hand over Amy’s supportively. “And above all, let her know that you’re in it with her.”



Clasping her free hand on top of Lauren’s, Amy gave Lauren an appreciative smile. Her best friend knew how to make a point. Considering everything that had happened between herself and JoBeth, she couldn’t disagree.



“I know, Lauren…” Amy replied, patting Lauren’s hand lightly before letting go. From their time together on Friday night through Monday’s trip to the library, JoBeth’s note and all of their continuing flirtations, every sign was pointing towards JoBeth liking her every bit as much as she liked her. Barring all the things that had been left unsaid between them, JoBeth had been doing what she could to tell her how she felt and Amy wanted to start holding up her end of the bargain.



“You’re right,” Amy said.



A pleased grin flashed across her features and Lauren leaned back into her seat. “Aren’t I always?” she asked jokingly.



“Sometimes you are,” Amy qualified with a chuckle. “But in this case, you’ve definitely got a point…” she added, already trying to think of ideas for what she could talk to JoBeth about. Other than the class’ homework, it wouldn’t be that hard to come up with something that might lead from an otherwise innocent conversation into something more. If JoBeth was reaching out to her, Amy wanted to meet the girl she had a crush on at least half way.



Glancing down at the table and the folded piece of paper that JoBeth had given her in class that morning, the once daunting prospect of asking JoBeth out seemed almost feasible. After they’d left JoBeth to finish freeing herself early on Saturday morning, she’d spent the whole weekend terrified that any chance she’d ever have with the girl had been blown to pieces. But on Sunday night, JoBeth had shown up to the study session and she’d obviously been interested. Since then, everything had turned into one fantastic blur that she could barely believe was happening.



“It’s just…” the blonde started, pursing her lips tightly together. As much as she wanted to shout from the rooftops how she felt about JoBeth, Amy also loved her job. If she did things right and if she was careful enough, the wild fantasy of being able to have two loves in her life stood a chance to come true without her needing to risk losing them both.



A fleeting smile flashed across her lips, and with another sigh, Amy knew that success would ultimately take all of the resolve that she could muster. “Sometimes that first step is the hardest, you know?” Amy asked, hoping that Lauren understood her hesitation.



“I hear you,” Lauren nodded, offering a warm smile in return. “But the good news?” she asked, gesturing towards JoBeth’s note resting on the table between them. “I don’t think that you have anything to be worried about from her.”



Amy chuckled softly, her excited grin resurfacing. “You might be right there too…”



“I know I’m right,” Lauren echoed confidently. “If she was going to bust you, we’d have found out by now. Instead, she’s trying to find ways that you two can spend even more time together,” she elaborated, drawing an even bigger smile from her blushing best friend.



“You’re almost there, Aims,” Lauren said encouragingly. “When the right situation comes along, don’t be afraid to talk to her about it.”



Having come to the same conclusion after she hadn’t been able to think of a good reason not to all afternoon, Amy nodded her agreement. The fact that Lauren had reached the same one was a comfort, but she had to deal with the last thing that was stopping her. “I guess I’m just nervous, Lauren…” she shrugged. “It sounds weird to admit, but when I’m around her, it just happens. And you know me… I’m never nervous…”



With a sympathetic smile, Lauren nudged Amy under the table with her foot. “It’s because you like her so much, Aims,” she said.



“I really do,” Amy laughed, her cheeks brightening another shade of pink. “But there’s so much that can go wrong…” she sighed a moment later. While she couldn’t imagine that being able to tell JoBeth how she felt could be anything other than wonderful, it certainly didn’t mean that everything was going to work out perfectly from there.



Shrugging, Lauren didn’t want to make an argument that there was nothing that could go wrong, but she refused to let Amy bog herself down with something so trivial. “That’s every relationship on the planet, though,” she pointed out, drawing Amy’s attention. “That’s why you try; because it’s special when things do go right.”



Letting out a deep sigh, Amy sank back into her seat, idly fidgeting with her sweater’s sleeves again. “I want to call her tonight and just tell her…” she said, looking over at her friend plaintively. “Maybe hope that she lets me wrap her up in a hug or something…”



“Why not?” Lauren asked, a playful glint sparking in her eyes.



“Don’t have her number,” Amy chuckled, crossing her arms over her stomach. “So here I am, waiting for pasta and complaining that I haven’t done anything.”



She’d watched Amy struggle with her feelings for JoBeth for the better part of a month and every time they’d talked about it, Lauren had never thought Amy was hiding behind lame excuses. “Well, you’ve had a few good reasons not to,” she said, wishing that there was something more that she could do. “But that said, there’s nothing stopping you from changing that…” she added, letting her suggestion hang in the air between them for a moment.



While Amy welcomed and appreciated Lauren’s encouragement, there was a small part of her that kept saying that it was going to be easier said than done. “I just feel so… helpless…” she lamented, dropping her arms limply onto the table.



The mere sight of Amy’s saddened expression made Lauren’s heart go out to her best friend. “If there’s one thing we both know, it’s that Amy doesn’t like feeling helpless,” Lauren said softly, her sympathetic smile returning in full force.



“You’ve got that right,” Amy replied, a small smile breaking through her pout.



With a resolute nod, Lauren pushed their empty plates aside and leaned over the table. “Well then, we’re just going to have to do something about it,” she said, flashing a confident smile.



The two girls had always been able to count on each other for support and encouragement, and Amy was thankful that Lauren was there to come through for her when she needed it. “We are?” Amy asked, amused by Lauren’s sudden outburst of activity.



“We are,” Lauren confirmed. “Smiles and notes are great, but if anything is ever going to happen between you two, you’ve got to take some initiative, Aims,” she continued, unwilling to let Amy sit back and do nothing while JoBeth slipped away. “You’re going to start talking to her tomorrow, and when you get a chance, you’re going to ask her to go somewhere that you two can be alone to have a real talk.”



Amy couldn’t help a small laugh at Lauren’s unwavering conviction. “That plan sounds great Lauren…” she started, wishing that she had even a fraction of the confidence that her friend had in her.



“But?” Lauren asked, arching an eyebrow at Amy’s hesitation.



“Do you think I should wait until the end of the semester?” Amy asked tentatively. “Maybe then, if she’s still interested…”



Dropping her hand firmly on the table, Lauren cut Amy off with the resounding thud. “Don’t you dare do that to yourself, Amy,” she said sternly, staring the blonde straight in the eyes.



None of the other people in the restaurant seemed bothered by the noise, but it had brought Amy’s thought process to a halt. Taken slightly aback by the clap and Lauren’s firm tone, she was barely able to manage more than a stammer. “Huh?”



“You’ve had legitimate reasons for not saying anything yet, Amy, but waiting until after the semester? That’s a bad excuse, and we both know it,” Lauren continued.



Amy crossed her arms defensively, sinking back into her seat. “I’m not trying to give an excuse, Lauren,” she replied softly.



With a small nod, Lauren relaxed a little and let her expression soften. “Waiting would still be an excuse, Aims…” she said, reiterating her point. “At first, you didn’t know. There was no way you could’ve known what JoBeth was thinking. But right now, she’s telling you that she likes you, and you like her…”

Laughing quietly, Amy wasn’t about to deny the accusation. “I think we’ve established that,” she allowed, a smirk curling the corner of her lips.



“Good,” the dark-haired girl replied. The way that Amy was comfortably admitting to it was progress in Lauren’s book and that was ground she didn’t want Amy to give up. “Because by the end of the semester, who knows what might change in both of your lives? Don’t draw it out and let there be a chance that it fades away,” she implored. “It’s looking like you two could be together right now, if you wanted, and something tells me that you’d both end up wishing that it had happened sooner.”



Lauren’s caring support brought an adoring smile to her lips and Amy wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to thank her for everything that she was doing to help. “Lauren…” the blonde sighed, trailing off into a small chuckle.



Her friend’s reaction was enough to tell her that she was getting through and Lauren hoped that it would lead her in the right direction. “Screw the rules, Aims,” she added sweetly, her tone softening. “Don’t put off something that could turn out to be amazing and just talk to her.”



“I will,” Amy agreed with a determined nod. She tried to imagine how good it would feel to finally do something, anything, that might lead somewhere with JoBeth. Amy watched Lauren take a drink while ideas for what she could say were floating through her head, giving in to the sense of anticipation was starting to take hold of her. “Tomorrow,” she added, smiling. “And not just because I think you’ll tell her if I don’t!”



Lauren’s shoulders shook with a barely contained laugh as she set her drink back down on the table. “Ah ha, you know me too well,” she confessed.



“Well, I couldn’t ask for a better friend…” Amy said, her eyes reflecting her sincerity. “Thanks.”

Waving her hand dismissively, Lauren smiled. “Just taking care of my main girl.”



Returning Lauren’s smile, Amy shifted in her seat before remembering the other thing that she’d needed to mention. A faint pink glow returned to her cheeks and the blonde had to fend off a bit of embarrassment over the subject. “Speaking of which,” Amy started, causing Lauren to arch a curious eyebrow. “We need to make a pit stop on our way home, if you don’t mind…”



“Oh?” Lauren asked, wondering why Amy’s shy look had suddenly returned. “What for?”



“We kind of ran out of batteries…” Amy explained, looking away bashfully.



Pausing for a moment, Lauren tried to figure out what was so embarrassing about not having any batteries. Amy had turned a bright shade of red and was trying to hide a smile when suddenly, the reason dawned on her. Lauren’s brow rose and she gave a quick, knowing nod.



“Ohh!” Lauren said mischievously, ready to take a guess at what Amy had been up to over the past few days and which toys she’d been playing with. “You dirty little thing…”



“What?” Amy laughed. “I couldn’t help it… When I got home today, she was all I could think about. Then I started looking at those pictures from Friday, and…” she trailed off, hoping that Lauren wouldn’t make her go into any more detail.



Amy’s confession only underscored Lauren’s belief that Amy needed to talk to JoBeth. “You naughty little minx…” she teased, drawing an exasperated huff from the blonde girl. Still wearing an amused smirk, Lauren took the opportunity to playfully nudge Amy one more time. “See? You need to talk to her quick!”



“I know,” Amy sighed, her grin stretching from ear to ear. Talking to Lauren had made her feel like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders and for the first time, Amy thought she had a decent plan for what she could do.



Barely a second later, Lauren let out an excited squeak and Amy turned to see Emily rounding the corner of the main walkway. The girl was carrying a tray covered by different plates and bowls, aiming a smile in their direction. Her stomach gave a small grumble and the hunger that she’d nearly forgotten about came rushing back with a vengeance.



“You ladies ready for dinner?” Emily asked upon her arrival at the booth, setting the tray down on the collapsible stand she’d brought with her.



“Like you would not believe,” Lauren answered, sliding her glass out of the way for the waitress to hand out the plates.



The delicious aromas wafted over the table and Amy’s gaze followed each plate as Emily set them down. “That looks amazing…” she sighed, trying to decide if she wanted to start with her salad or dive straight into the pasta.



Setting the last plate down, Emily tucked the tray under one arm and folded the stand. “I hope you enjoy! I’ll be right back with new drinks for you two and please give me a call if you need anything,” she said, waiting to see if there was anything else the two girls might need initially.



“The drinks would be perfect,” Amy replied, glancing over at Lauren to make sure that she was correct. Lauren gave a quick confirming nod and Amy turned back to their waitress. “Thanks, Em!”



“Thanks, hun!” Lauren echoed.



Sporting a pleased smile, Emily gave a deferent nod. “You’re welcome! And I’ll be back with those drinks in a few!” she chirped before turning and heading back off towards the kitchen.



Smoothing her napkin out over her lap, Lauren picked up her silverware and pulled her salad bowl front and center. “Not a moment too soon,” she observed, sticking a few pieces of lettuce with her fork and starting in on her meal.



The two girls sat in near silence for a few minutes, making a few comments on the food between themselves and offering reassurances to Emily that everything was delicious when she returned with their drinks. Nearly half-way done with both her salad and pasta, Amy leaned back in her seat, taking a short break to let everything settle.



“Alright,” she sighed, setting her fork down on her plate. “Now that we know what I’m up to tomorrow…”



Looking up from her own dinner, Lauren pointed her fork in Amy’s direction. “Which I expect a full report on, missy,” she reminded the blonde.



“Like there’s any chance that I wouldn’t tell you,” Amy chuckled.



Turning to her glass, Lauren gave Amy an approving grin. “Good.”



“But anyway, now that my stuff is out of the way,” Amy continued. While there had been one main reason she’d hoped to talk to Lauren so quickly that afternoon, it was hardly the only reason. “You haven’t told me how your Mom and Dad are.”



Lauren finished her drink and smiled at Amy warmly, setting the glass down on the table. Considering how often Amy’s Dad was out of town on business, the blonde had functionally lived at her house for most of high school. Her parents considered her to be a part of their family and were always happy to have her around.



“Mom and Dad are great,” the dark-haired girl said happily. “Dad’s back is doing a lot better now, and the website is making more money than ever. They had to hire a third assistant!”



“That’s awesome!” Amy replied, lighting up with a smile of her own. “I’m glad to hear he’s feeling better and that’s great news about the site!” she added, remembering one of the reasons that Lauren had travelled back home. Lauren’s parents had run a fetish supply website for years and had just started to branch out into making their own products a little over a year ago.



“And speaking of the site… How’d they like your designs?” Amy asked.



A proud smile settled over Lauren and she let out a small giggle. “They loved them,” she said excitedly. “After I showed them what I’d done, they asked if they could hire me to actually make the prototypes! They said that we could show them on the site, and if there’s enough interest, we’ll start making them!”



“Lauren, that’s great! I can’t wait to see what you come up with!” Amy said enthusiastically. Thinking for a moment, she realized that Lauren was going to be in need of some space at home to get started. “We’ll clear you some room to work when we get home tonight…”



Some of the things she’d drawn were things Lauren had always wanted to try using and Amy’s delighted reaction had only reinforced her own desire to begin. “I can’t wait to get started,” Lauren chuckled, still thinking about all of the materials she might need. “Mom and Dad were so proud of their daughter’s dirty but inventive little mind…”



“And that’s why your parents rock,” Amy laughed, remembering how amazingly supportive they’d been as both she and Lauren had discovered their own kinky interests.



“You know it!” Lauren agreed. “And they miss you too, by the way,” she added.



“Aww…” Amy sighed behind a blushing smile. “We really should both get back there one of these weekends…”



“You know you’re always welcome there, Aims,” Lauren said. “You’re family.”



Tapping Lauren’s foot with her own under the table, Amy was thankful to have such wonderful people in her life. “Thanks, Lauren… You know I love you guys…”



“You’re our Amy too,” Lauren said, grinning. “We all like having you around! And who knows..?” she trailed off, the mischievous glint returning to her eyes. “Maybe by the time we get there, you can introduce them to a certain brunette…”



Overtaken by another laugh, Amy shook her head. “Lauren!” she exclaimed in mock protest. “I’m not getting that far ahead of myself here… I’m going to talk to her and we’ll see where that goes.”



“Oh, I know right where it’s going to go,” Lauren chuckled playfully. “You’ll be introducing her to everyone in no time!”



Imagining what it would be like bringing JoBeth around to Lauren’s house to meet her parents and maybe even her Dad eventually, Amy could only wonder how she’d handle all of it. Knowing JoBeth, she’d end up making friends with all of them, fitting right in simply by being her usual adorable self. Over last few days, the notion that she might be able to share all the different parts of her life with JoBeth had become so much more real.



“Well, I’m glad that one of us is that confident,” Amy said, hoping she could cover up her giddy grin behind a laugh.



With an encouraging smile, Lauren reached across the table to rest her hand on Amy’s shoulder. “Hey,” she said, catching Amy’s gaze. “You will be too, Aims, the moment you’re able to go somewhere alone with her.”



Rolling her eyes, Amy patted Lauren’s hand before her friend pulled away. “Speaking of going places,” Amy countered, coming back to a former topic of discussion. “If we catch the seven thirty train home, we’ll have enough time to make a stop by Stephanie’s store to pick up any new materials and supplies you’re going to need…”



“Oooh…” Lauren purred, her lips curling up into a cheshire grin. She’d started a list on the train ride back from the suburbs and Stephanie’s was where her parents got their supplies. “She should have everything I’ll need to get started…” she mused, turning to arch a teasing eyebrow at Amy.



“But?” Amy asked.



“But does she sell batteries there?” Lauren asked, winking playfully.



The blush on Amy’s cheeks deepened and she let out a small chuckle. “She runs a fetish store,” Amy pointed out. “I’m pretty sure she does.”



“Then it’s a plan,” the dark-haired girl agreed, picking up her fork and taking another bite of her food. “Oh, I love this place…” Lauren sighed, collapsing back against her seat and resting a hand on her stomach, a contented smile on her face.



“There’s a reason we keep coming back here,” Amy agreed, turning to her salad.



Lauren glanced towards the waitress’ stand, hoping to catch Emily’s attention for a refill. The waitress happened to be looking their way and waved back, starting to head their way. “I wonder if she’ll give me seconds to take home…” Lauren wondered aloud, drawing a chuckle from Amy.



Emily brought over fresh drinks and their check before clearing the empty plates off the table. Amy took a quick glance at her watch and Lauren slipped some cash into the billfold. They still had plenty of time to make it back for the train and judging by the people walking by outside the window, the rain had let up as well.



“Thanks for paying, Lauren,” Amy said, smiling.



Lauren gave a dismissive wave of her hand and shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not like I don’t owe you already,” she said, tucking her wallet back into her backpack.



“Then I’m at least covering the train tickets,” Amy replied.



With an agreeing bob of her head, Lauren smiled back at the blonde. “Deal.”



“Good,” Amy chirped, standing up. Gathering her coat and messenger bag off her seat, Amy’s brow rose curiously as she watched Lauren do the same. “You ready to go?” she asked, sliding her arms through her coat sleeves.



Lauren settled her own jacket over her shoulders before holding out her hand invitingly. “After you,” she said, following Amy down the walkway.



Kat was still standing dutifully behind the hostess’ stand and the two girls each gave her a quick farewell hug. After exchanging promises with the auburn-haired girl to call and see each other again soon, the two best friends headed out the door, heading off towards the station just a few blocks away to wait for the train that would carry them back near the campus.



Glad to have the pleasant distraction of Lauren’s company, Amy turned to ask what supplies they’d need to pick up for her to start making her design prototypes and if there would be anything she could do to help. With an excited smile, Lauren started running through her own mental checklist and asking Amy’s opinions about styles and colors. Happy to share in Lauren’s enthusiasm, Amy tried to keep up with her friend’s questions as they chatted away, but rising out of the back of her mind were thoughts of the one girl she’d been thinking about all week.



A small, private smile danced across her lips and Amy sorted through ideas of what she might say to JoBeth after class the next morning. With the note JoBeth had given her that morning safely folded up in her pocket, she couldn’t help thinking of the pictures she’d taken of the adorable brunette on Friday night and everything she wanted to do with the batteries once they made it back home.



*End Chapter 7 - To Be Continued!*