JoBeth & Amy #2: The Start of Something New

JoBeth & Amy: Story 02 – The Start of Something New - CHAPTER 8

*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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JoBeth watched Amy settle in behind the lecture hall’s main podium and smile the way she always did when she was about to start her part of the lecture. The blonde caught her gaze and gave her a small wink that made her heart beat faster and sent a wide, giddy grin spreading across her lips.



“Alright, everyone,” Amy said sharply, quieting the chatter of conversations that had sprung up between the students. “Those of you that plan on writing your papers this weekend are probably going to want to listen up,” she continued, drawing a knowing chuckle from the classroom.



As Amy started reviewing the paper’s requirements, JoBeth found herself transfixed by the girl that had quickly commanded the class’ attention. Outside of the fact that it was the last one before their midterm papers were due and mentions of the reference material that had been set aside at the library, the discussion in their Thursday morning class hadn’t been anything out of the ordinary. Her paper had been done for two days, letting her concentrate less on the lecture itself and more on noticing the fond and playful ways that Amy had been looking at her during the class.



The flirtatious glances they’d traded while the professor was talking already had JoBeth blushing a light shade of pink. The promise that there was something yet to come made it hard to resist losing herself to fantasies of what Amy might have wanted to talk to her about once the lecture was over.



She’d given a simple, silly note to Amy during class on Wednesday in hopes that it might help Amy feel more comfortable thinking that their attraction was mutual and this morning, JoBeth couldn’t help but notice that something with Amy was different in what seemed like a very good way. The hesitation and worry that used to temper Amy’s every smile was gone, replaced by a sense of unreserved excitement and desire that hadn’t been there before. Thinking back to what had happened before class with Amy, JoBeth let out a small smile, feeling that same sense of anticipation herself.



When she’d made her usual morning smoothie run to the literature building’s coffee shop, JoBeth had been surprised when Amy had come up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. She’d fumbled for a moment with the straw when the warm smile on the blonde girl’s lips had immediately set her whole body tingling with excitement.



“Hey there, you,” Amy said teasingly, echoing the very same words that JoBeth had written to her on her note. After spending all evening with Lauren trying to think of what she could say to JoBeth, it had been a simple glance at the scrap of paper that had told her exactly what to say.



Behind a shy laugh and a smile of her own, JoBeth finally pushed her straw through the drink’s lid. “Hi, Amy,” she replied, following her a few steps away from the counter and away from the other people standing in line. “How are you?”



“I’m good,” Amy said, smiling affectionately at the brunette. “How about you? Awake yet?”



Nodding, JoBeth finished her first sip of the cold, strawberry drink. “Yeah,” she chirped. “It’s not always easy this early, but I, uh… Well, it helps having someone to look forward to.”



Arching a curious eyebrow, Amy felt her cheeks warming in response to what she hoped JoBeth was referring to. “Someone?” she asked, prompting a grin from the freshman.



“Yup,” JoBeth confirmed, giving Amy a seductive little smile.



The blush on Amy’s cheeks brightened slightly. “I see…” she chuckled, confident that she was the ‘someone’ that JoBeth had implied. “Well, in that case,” she continued, taking a quick glance around to make sure that no one was listening in and a moment to gather herself with a deep breath.



A group of people heading out of an earlier lecture started walking around them and JoBeth took the opportunity to move a half-step closer to Amy. “Yeah?” she asked innocently.



Comfortable with the rush of distractions around them and the openness she felt coming from JoBeth, Amy decided to act on the promise she’d made to herself the night before. “I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind waiting a few minutes after class today,” Amy said, her brow rising in curiosity.



JoBeth had been hoping to catch Amy on their way out of class already as it was and the invitation couldn’t be more perfect. “Of course,” she replied without a moment of hesitation, a bright smile shining across her features.



“Alright,” Amy smiled, already feeling the gentle tug of impatience for the end of class. Looking over at the digital clock that overlooked the main lobby, she wished that she didn’t have to leave JoBeth quite yet. “I should probably get upstairs and check in with the professor…” Amy trailed off, brushing her hair back behind her ear.



After a non-committal nod, JoBeth bit her lower lip demurely. “Or we could just get out of here,” she suggested, in no rush to part with the blonde she’d be happy to play hooky with.



Chuckling softly, any doubts that Amy had about JoBeth liking her were completely wiped out. Wanting nothing more than to be able to take the girl’s hand and go anywhere with her, Amy let her practical side win out, content with the knowledge that if they played their cards right and with a little bit of patience, that time might be able to come. “I’ll see you after class, Jo?” she countered, still offering her same adoring smile for the student.



“You know it,” JoBeth agreed. “I’ll be waiting,” she added, exchanging a bright grin with Amy before she headed off towards the main stairway. The blonde looked as gorgeous as ever and JoBeth watched her all the way up to the stairway’s first landing, spotting Amy’s quick look back at her. Stifling a giggle and feeling a small thrill that she’d turned around, the freshman returned Amy’s wave before the girl she was crushing on disappeared around the corner.



Amy’s little wave made her heart beat faster and it helped JoBeth believe that everything she was trying to do to let Amy know how she felt was getting through. She’d never expected Amy to come find her like she did before class and she certainly wasn’t going to complain about the warm and tingly feeling that had settled over her since Amy had asked to talk to her.



Watching the blonde in front of the class was something that JoBeth never got tired of doing. There was something powerful and a little exciting in the way that she commanded the students’ attention with ease, using her sneaky sense of humor and a delivery that managed to make the class pay far better attention to her than to the professor himself. A bashful smile tugged at the corners of her lips and JoBeth shifted in her seat, wishing that there was something that she could do about the warmth that Amy had started to stir up inside her.



Out of the corner of her eye, Tara noticed her friend squirming a little and sinking into her seat, wearing the same grin she got when she was talking about what she and Amy had done together. The telltale blush on JoBeth’s cheeks and the way that she was looking down at their TA brought a mischievous smile to Tara’s lips. Nudging the brunette gently in her arm, she arched an eyebrow.



“And just what are you thinking about, JoBeth?” Tara asked, waiting for JoBeth to recover from whatever fantasies had been distracting her.



Sitting back up in her chair, JoBeth tried to shake off the pleasant haze that had started to overtake her. “Huh? Me? Nothing,” she replied quickly.



“Nothing?” Tara said dubiously. “You mean you weren’t imagining things about a certain blonde that we know?”



JoBeth glanced around the room in hopes that no one had spotted her. She didn’t harbor any particular fear that someone would realize what she was thinking, but at the same time, it was too easy to get Amy into trouble and that was the last thing she wanted.



Her blush still glowing on her cheeks, JoBeth let out a soft chuckle. “Okay, maybe I was…” she allowed. “But can you blame me? She said she wants to talk to me after class!”



Cocking her head to the side curiously, Tara set her pen down on her notebook. “Yeah, but that’s a good thing! You like talking to her,” the redhead teased.



“Of course I do…” JoBeth agreed. “But she didn’t tell me what she wanted to talk about…”



Patting JoBeth’s hand reassuringly, Tara smiled at her roommate. “You’ll find out soon enough. Either it’ll be something about class…” she trailed off, her mischievous smirk returning. “…Or maybe she wants to ask if you’ll let her tie you up again!” Tara finished with a playful wink.



“Tara!” JoBeth scoffed through a laugh, her voice barely above a whisper. The blush on her cheeks spread the deep shade of scarlet across her face and after making sure that no one was looking back at them, the brunette let out a knowing giggle. “I wish…” she added with a wishful smile.



“There it is,” Tara said encouragingly. “That’s all you’ll need.”



One of the brunette’s eyebrows rose slightly at Tara’s cryptic statement. “What do you mean?” JoBeth asked.



“Your smile,” Tara explained. “When it’s time, just relax. Give her that cute smile of yours and talk to her. We both know you don’t have anything to worry about, Jo. Whatever it is she wants to talk to you about, I can’t imagine it’d be anything bad.”



A pensive look crossed JoBeth’s face and she paused for a moment before voicing the concern that she’d been circling around since Amy had disappeared around the turn of the stairs. “But… What if it’s that she can’t talk to me anymore?” JoBeth asked worriedly. “What if someone said something, or if she doesn’t like me anymore?”



Shaking her head, Tara couldn’t disagree fast enough. Just twenty seconds ago, everything had been fine and she wasn’t about to stand by while JoBeth succumbed to made up and unfounded self-doubts. “That’s not happening, Jo.”



“Maybe she doesn’t want to be around me. We don’t know, really…” the brunette countered.

Locking eyes with JoBeth, Tara fixed her best friend with an incredulous gaze. “Sure we do. You know why?” she asked. “Because she would have told you then and there if that was the case.”



A small, shy smile started to crack JoBeth’s lips. “I suppose…”



Matching’s JoBeth’s smile with a confident one of her own, Tara continued. “There we go. Now would you keep that there, already!” she chided, prompting a wider smirk and a chuckle from JoBeth. “She likes you! You like her, she likes you, and that’s the end of it. After everything you told me about the kisses and everything else, she came to find you. She even gave you a little wave. There’s no way it’s something bad.”



JoBeth was glad that their hushed conversation still went unnoticed by their fellow students, but was unable to contain a somewhat excited grin. “You’re sure?” she asked, taking a measure of comfort in Tara’s opinion.



“I’ve positive,” the redhead nodded. “Just look down there…” she added, gesturing off towards the front of the classroom and the girl in question.



Following Tara’s suggestion, JoBeth turned her attention to the girl that had been on her mind more than anything else for the last week. Amy was listening to a girl in the second row ask a question about the paper’s requirements, but she quickly noticed her looking in her direction. The blonde flashed that bright smile of hers that never failed to make her feel more than one kind of warmth inside.



Returning the smile in kind, it was all that JoBeth needed to see to let go of the few small doubts that had surfaced. Amy seemed so genuinely happy for each little moment that she couldn’t deny that there was something there, and soon, she might just find out what it was.



“See?” Tara asked a moment later, enjoying being able to see her friend share such a cute moment with someone she liked. “Whatever it is, she likes you. Whatever she wants to talk to you about is going to be fine, I promise.”



Turning back to Tara, JoBeth was glad to have someone that she was able to share her secret with, but also to have someone that could help keep her less reasonable fears in check. “Thanks, Tara…” the brunette said appreciatively. “Since when did you get so smart?”



Happy to play along with JoBeth’s facetious tone, Tara flashed a proud grin. “Since always,” she retorted, drawing a chuckle from her friend. “But anyway! After class, just go down there and be yourself. We know that she likes you so just relax, hear whatever she has to say and take it from there.”



“I know, I know…” JoBeth sighed, nodding her agreement. “I don’t know why I’m all nervous. I’m never nervous!” she added with a whispered and slightly exasperated exclamation. “We’ve talked a bunch of times since Friday night, but this time…”



So far as Tara knew, there was only one thing that was different about this morning than any other time that her roommate had talked to their English class’ TA. “It’s the first time she’s asked to talk to you, isn’t it?” Tara asked, waiting as JoBeth thought for a moment before replying in the affirmative. “Maybe it’s because she wants you, this time…” she added with a playful nudge to JoBeth’s arm.



Sinking a little into her seat, JoBeth let her shy smile back out. With the simple suggestion, the warm and fuzzy feelings that Amy inspired in her had reasserted themselves with a vengeance. “I guess you’re right…” she chuckled softly.



“I think it’s a good thing,” Tara said optimistically. “Maybe you’ve gotten through, or maybe she thinks that there’s a chance for you two, if you’re careful.”



The idea had crossed her mind a few times in the past hour and a half and it was the one that had frustrated her for days. In almost any other situation, it wouldn’t be an issue at all, but while they were teacher and student, there wasn’t any easy way to see Amy socially. “It’s not like we haven’t thought about it…” JoBeth trailed off, remembering in vivid detail the late-night brainstorming conversations that she’d had with Tara about the blonde. “At least I know we have…”



Laughing quietly, Tara bobbed her head. “Maybe a little bit,” she said teasingly. “But like we both figured… With a little care, there’s no way the wrong people would find out…” Tara clarified, giving JoBeth a reassuring look. “It’s definitely not impossible.”



“…Do you really think that’s what she wants to talk about?” JoBeth asked, letting out a small grin. The pink glow on her cheeks still shining in the fluorescent lights of the lecture hall, JoBeth could barely contain the excitement she felt at the prospect of it being true.



Chuckling to herself, Tara looked at JoBeth with a mischievous smirk. “Could be… Or maybe she’ll just ask if she can have you right here…”



Now turning a bright shade of scarlet, JoBeth sank a little deeper into her seat, trying to hide the wide and giddy grin that had spread across her face. “Tara!” she scoffed through a giggle. “Evil girl…”



“Not like you’d say no…” the redhead teased.



The many fantasies she’d had of that very thing flickered through her mind and she knew that she would be very open to the idea, no matter how wicked it seemed. She knew that the blonde cared for her and after what she’d shared with Amy, JoBeth felt that they were long past having to do any sort of required courtship dance, if the right situation presented itself. “Oh, shush!” JoBeth exclaimed, swatting at Tara playfully. The loud whisper was thankfully lost in the rustling noise of their classmates starting to close their notebooks as JoBeth struggled to contain her laugh.



Down at the front of the classroom, Amy was wrapping up the lecture. Issuing a few last suggestions while her students put their notes away, the blonde’s gaze flicked up to JoBeth, and the brunette returned Amy’s friendly smile. “…and with that, we’ll see you all bright and early on Monday with your papers in hand!” Amy said, her voice still clear over the shuffling of students starting to make their way towards the exit.



The lecture hall emptied quickly but Tara had caught the lingering smile between JoBeth and Amy at the end of class and she was happy to delay her own departure to keep JoBeth company. “Time to find out, Jo!” Tara said, offering her friend an encouraging and genuine smile. “You go get her! I’ll be waiting down in the lobby for you!”



Taking a deep breath, JoBeth gathered herself and waited for the last few students that were lined up in front of Amy and the professor to ask their questions. “Thanks, Tara,” she said. “And trust me; you’ll be the first to know what happens!”



With a wink and one more playful nudge, Tara flashed a grin at JoBeth. “Just make sure you text me if I should head home without you…” she teased, drawing a chuckle and a smile out of her friend.



“I will, I will,” JoBeth agreed, shooing the redhead away with a wave of her hand. “Now get out of here, Miss Nosy Tara!”



Slinging her backpack over her shoulder, Tara laughed. “Just text me if you’ll be a while…” she said, turning to give one last nudge to JoBeth’s arm. Drawing a chuckle from her friend, she flashed an impish smirk. “And don’t forget to give her the folder!” she added, gesturing at JoBeth’s messenger bag and causing JoBeth’s blush to turn bright red. Looking forward to hearing all about what JoBeth was about to find out, Tara headed down the aisle of seats to join the last of the students on their way out the door. “Good luck!”



“Thanks, Tara…” JoBeth finally managed to say, remembering the plan that they’d come up with the night before. At the very least, JoBeth wanted to try and hammer a final nail into the coffin of any doubts Amy had that she accepted her, kinkiness and all, and after a little bit of thinking, they’d come up with something that had to get the message through.



Walking down the lecture hall’s far stairway, JoBeth took her time making her way to the front of the room. There were still two students waiting to talk to Amy and she wasn’t entirely certain that she’d managed to gather her courage quite yet. Coming to the last step, all she could think about was how cute Amy looked in her tight blue sweater and the picture that she’d tucked in between the pages of her paper’s final draft.



Having come up with the idea late last night with Tara’s help, JoBeth had picked her favorite picture from the ones that Amy had left for her. On the back, she’d written a small, much more personal note than the one that she’d given Amy in class the morning before. It was an idea that seemed so simple, but if anything, it would at least let Amy know for sure that she was okay with the much kinkier side of their first meeting.



While waiting for the last two students to leave, JoBeth tried to fend off a bashful grin caused by the decidedly naughtier thoughts that had just sprang to mind. After dinner Wednesday night, a bright red Tara had come out and expressed her interest in the toys that JoBeth had introduced her to a few nights before. Glad to know that she wasn’t the only one that felt strangely attracted to the kinkier objects, JoBeth had decided to show Tara the prize of her accidental collection: Amy’s straightjacket.



The fuzzy feelings that were already floating around inside her thanks to her thoughts of Amy intensified as she remembered how it had felt to slip into the tight-fitting jacket once again. She hadn’t asked Tara to buckle her into it but it had still been a little exciting to model it for Tara. The one thing that it had done was make her wish that Amy was there with her, pulling the straps tight before wrapping her up in her loving embrace.



Before she knew it, a wide grin had spread across her face and JoBeth caught herself positively beaming at Amy. Amy was trying to listen to the last girl’s question, but the blonde had obviously noticed JoBeth’s somewhat suggestive smile out of the corner of her eye, based on the rosy color her cheeks had turned.



The nervous excitement that JoBeth felt started to evaporate when the last of her fellow students bade her farewell to Amy. This was something they’d done before and it had gone wonderfully each time. When it was finally just the two of them there in the classroom, a calm, warm feeling took over her and with a deep breath, JoBeth walked up to Amy.



“Hey…” JoBeth started, taking another half-step closer to Amy and arching up a curious eyebrow. “You wanted to see me?”



Amy smiled, setting her papers aside and taking in the adorably blushing sight that was JoBeth. The moment of truth had arrived and her heart had been racing almost since the end of class. JoBeth was here in front of her with her cute, playful smile and she was there because she’d asked her to be.



“Yeah,” the blonde said, sitting down on the wide teacher’s desk and patting the empty space beside her. “Come on over here.”



With a small chuckle, JoBeth crossed the few steps between them. “Okay,” she said with an amused smirk, sitting down next to Amy.



The entire time she’d spent helping Lauren sort through her new leather materials last night, Amy had tried to come up with anything that she could start the conversation with, but despite their best efforts, she’d ended up at the same silly beginning. Amy was okay with JoBeth thinking that she didn’t have a particular reason for wanting to talk to her, but at the same time, she didn’t want JoBeth to think she was some kind of doofus.



“So, how are you doing this week?” Amy asked, rolling her eyes inwardly at how utterly transparent the line was.



“I’m alright,” JoBeth said, stifling her last nervous giggle. It had been fairly nerve-wracking to wonder what Amy wanted to see her for, but just like the last few times they’d stolen a few moments together, something inside her settled down and Amy always ended up being so easy to talk to. “Maybe a little preoccupied, but alright…” she elaborated, feeling a small thrill at being so close to Amy again.



Arching an eyebrow, Amy turned to look at JoBeth inquisitively. “Preoccupied?” she asked.



“Yeah,” JoBeth replied, giving a single nod. Being so close to Amy again was stirring up the same feelings that she’d been trying in vain to satisfy all week. “Just been thinking about something.”



A hopeful smile drifted across her lips and Amy’s heart leapt at the fleeting thought that she might be the ‘something’ that JoBeth was thinking about. “Oh yeah?” Amy asked innocently, watching the brunette’s confirming nod. “Hopefully nothing too distracting…?”



“Oh, she’s plenty distracting…” JoBeth chuckled, looking Amy straight in the eye. Amy’s hand was so close and she could feel the blonde’s warmth next to her. She wished that Amy would bring her hand a little closer, just close enough that she might brush hers against it. “But I don’t really mind…” she added with a suggestive smirk. “I like thinking about her…”



“Aah…” Amy said, hoping to mask her own excitement behind a nervous laugh. She knew that there was no way that JoBeth wasn’t referring to her. “I suppose that’s a good thing…” she finally got out after a hard swallow.



Kicking her feet gently under the desk, JoBeth gave Amy a smile. “I like to think so…”



If anything, Amy knew how JoBeth felt and she figured that if she made her move, JoBeth would be open to it. The girl was as adorable as ever and it was all she could do to keep from wrapping her arms around her right then and there. “Well…” she started, hoping that she wasn’t wildly misreading the situation. “I’m guessing you’re wondering why I asked you to stay after class today…”



“A little,” JoBeth replied.



The playful smile on JoBeth’s face only made it that much harder for Amy to resist the urge to reach over and caress her cheek before pulling her into a long-awaited real kiss. “After everything on Monday…” she finally said, her voice quiet in the large, empty lecture hall. “I just wanted to make sure that you were doing alright with your paper…”



“It’s coming along,” JoBeth said, picking up on the suddenly thick physical tension that had appeared between them. She couldn’t help but feel a bit relieved to know that she wasn’t the only one of them that felt this way about the other. “I added a few paragraphs to it the other night…” she continued with a smile. “Those books you recommended helped a lot!”



Without a second thought, Amy wrapped her arm around JoBeth’s shoulders affectionately, giving the grinning girl a gentle squeeze. “That’s great! I’m glad to hear it,” she said happily. “I knew you had it in you!”



Amy was a little surprised to suddenly find herself with her arm around JoBeth, but holding her felt completely natural, like it was something that she’d been doing her entire life and she didn’t want to let go. Despite the fact that her arms were pinned and she couldn’t return the embrace, JoBeth wasn’t pulling away and there was a kind of warmth coming back from the brunette that was incredibly comforting. The freshman was leaning back into the hug like it was familiar to her and the connection between them, both physically and emotionally, was starting to become undeniable.



JoBeth’s heart skipped a beat and she turned bright red at the sensation of Amy’s partial embrace. “Thanks to you…” she said, cuddling into Amy slightly, surrendering to the thrilling warmth that the simple gesture sent through her. “I couldn’t have done it without your help on Monday…” JoBeth trailed off, letting her head rest lightly on Amy’s shoulder.



“Don’t worry about it…” Amy replied, rubbing her hand over JoBeth’s shoulder. “For you, I’m happy to do anything I can…” she said, sending a small shiver of panic down her spine. While she’d wanted to try and return some of JoBeth’s advances and let her know that she had the same feelings herself, she didn’t want JoBeth getting the wrong message about the class itself.



“You would?” JoBeth asked, picking her head up and looking over at Amy. “I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble or anything, but…”



A relieved smile crossed Amy’s lips, her fondness for the brunette increasing by the moment. “I know…” she cooed, gathering the nerve to say what she’d meant to say. “I just meant that if you ever had any questions or anything, you could always give me a call.”



The idea of asking Amy for her number had come up between her and Tara, but she’d never considered Amy offering it to her. “A call?” JoBeth asked curiously. “But… I don’t have your number.”



With a small nod and a reassuring smile, Amy felt her usual confidence returning to her. JoBeth wasn’t going to shy away from her and she even seemed receptive to her being more assertive. “Mind giving me your phone for a second?” she asked, letting her hand slide off JoBeth’s shoulder back to draw her fingertips slowly down her back.



The simple action gave both girls a pleasant chill and JoBeth had to choke down a whispered moan at the sensation. The caress over her back had stirred a very different kind of warmth inside her and she wished that Amy’s hand hadn’t left her quite so quickly. “Sure…” she sighed, the faint arousal she was feeling evident in her tone.



Pulling her cell phone out of her pocket, she slid it open and handed it over to Amy. She watched Amy dial a number into the phone before pressing the send button and a moment later, she heard the chimes of a cell phone ringing out from Amy’s pocket. “Oh,” JoBeth said, her cheeks lighting up with a blushing smile as Amy ended the phone call.



“There,” the blonde chirped, handing the phone back to its owner with a playful grin of her own. “Now we’ve got each other’s numbers.”



Her shy smile not going anywhere, JoBeth held the phone in her hands for a long moment. “Thanks, Amy…” she said, looking back at her English TA fondly. If Amy was getting comfortable with being around her without worrying about any consequences, there was an outside chance that she might be able to use Amy’s phone number sooner rather than later.



“So I can call anytime..?” JoBeth asked, her playful side starting to reassert itself.



Nodding, Amy shifted a little on the desk to better face JoBeth. “Anytime,” she confirmed. “Just… don’t let anyone else know about that…”



A small rush of excitement ran through her and JoBeth couldn’t help feeling more than a little pleased that they’d shared something exclusive. “So it’s my special privilege alone, huh?” she asked, her slightly giddy grin widening.



For all they’d shared already, it felt incredibly good to be able to give JoBeth something in return for all the little signs she’d given in the last few days. “You could say that…” Amy replied, a suggestive spark glimmering in her eyes.



“Good,” JoBeth said, sliding the phone back into her pocket before turning back to the smiling blonde. “Because I don’t think I’d like having to share my Amy…”



Chuckling, Amy felt her cheeks heating up at the statement. “I’m ‘your’ Amy?” she asked, a touch of feigned incredulity in her voice.



Biting her lower lip bashfully, JoBeth gave another suggestive smile. “Only if you don’t mind…”



Her own blush deepening to match the one on JoBeth’s cheeks, Amy let out a soft chuckle, her worries that it would be impossible to be with JoBeth completely wiped out. “Well…” she started, resting a hand on JoBeth’s thigh. “You do have my number now…” she intimated, tapping the tell tale outline of the cell phone in JoBeth’s pocket.



“Yeah, I do,” JoBeth smiled, resting her hand on Amy’s.



Before they could say anything else, JoBeth saw a student walking into the lecture hall over Amy’s shoulder. Amy wouldn’t have seen the girl with her back turned to the door, but JoBeth still didn’t want to give the slightest implication of impropriety in front of the wrong people. “And thanks…” she said, standing up off the table but staying close to Amy. With a quick flick of her eyes, she glanced at the unwitting student across the room, drawing Amy’s attention to her. “For asking about my paper…”



The look of momentary surprise fading quickly, Amy looked back at the astute freshman fondly. Her reaction was just more evidence that JoBeth was just as cognizant of the troubles standing between them as she was, and that she wanted to do what she could to keep their appearances completely innocent to anyone other than themselves.



“Like I said…” Amy started, her voice dropping quiet enough so that only JoBeth could hear her. “For you, it’s never a problem.”



Shifting a little in place until she stood between Amy and the other student, JoBeth returned Amy’s smile. All of the worries that she’d had about everything between them had melted completely and with Amy’s number, she knew that she could finally get through to the girl she’d been crushing on for weeks. They were almost there and with the pictures she’d brought with her tucked into her draft, JoBeth hoped to help Amy realize that she was okay with everything they’d done and that she wanted her completely.



“I’d actually hoped you wouldn’t mind taking a look at a draft of it…” JoBeth said, flipping the top of her messenger bag open. “I brought a copy of it with me today…”



Just seeing the girl barely a foot away made her miss the warmth of JoBeth’s head resting lightly on her shoulder. She wanted to feel it again and JoBeth seemed like she wanted to as well. Collecting herself a little, Amy tried to stifle all the tingly feelings that had surged through her when JoBeth had put her hand on hers. “Sure!” she said, brushing a few stray strands of hair out of her face. “I’d be happy to.”



Taking out the folder, JoBeth handed it to Amy with her blush still shining on her cheeks. “Here…” she said, feeling a small but exciting shiver once she handed over the pictures that Amy would eventually find. “The new section I was talking about starts on page five…” she trailed off with a smile.



“I’ll take a look as soon as I get home,” Amy replied, holding the folder close to her chest. Just having something that belonged to JoBeth was enough to make her happy. “But you get off to your next class now!” she continued, noticing a few other students sauntering into the room for the next class. “I don’t want you being late on my account…”



On Thursdays, their English class was her only class of the day and was ultimately her last class of the week, but the fact that Amy was thinking about her brought a bright smile to JoBeth’s lips. “Yes, Ma’am…” she giggled, feeling a small thrill of excitement at seeing the reaction the two simple words incited in Amy.



Amy shot JoBeth a playfully dirty look before swatting her in the arm gently with the folder. “Naughty girl…” she chided quietly, only adding to JoBeth’s giddy grin.



Starting to head towards the door, JoBeth turned and gave Amy a small wave. “Talk to you soon!” she called out, watching Amy gather her few remaining things on the desk.



“You bet, Jo…” Amy replied, giving the endearingly cute girl a fond smile while she headed out the door. Taking a deep breath, Amy tried to collect herself again in the face of everything that had happened. Looking down at the folder in her hands, she couldn’t resist a smile at just how well everything seemed to have gone.



JoBeth had taken everything in stride and she had the girl’s number in her phone. The thought of calling JoBeth that weekend sounded almost too good to be true and Amy had to turn around to hide her own giddy smile from anyone that might ask her if something was up. Excited as she was, Amy was afraid that, if asked, she just might burst out with the truth.



Tucking the last of her papers and JoBeth’s folder into her bag, Amy headed out of the lecture hall and towards the teacher’s parking lot in the back of the building. She had to find Lauren and tell her what happened. They’d already set aside the afternoon to try and work out how to start working on Lauren’s designs and it would be a perfect opportunity to see if they could come up with a legitimate reason to call JoBeth.



At the other end of the hall, JoBeth darted around the main stairway’s landing, passing a few of her fellow students and teachers, her gaze running quickly over the crowded lobby in search of her best friend. Spotting Tara waiting by the doors, JoBeth made a beeline for the redhead, her beaming grin still spread across her face.



“Tara!” JoBeth exclaimed, quickly bobbing between the oncoming foot traffic to cross the remaining distance between them and drawing a chuckle from her suitemate.



“So what happened?” Tara asked, already knowing the likely answer to her question based on JoBeth’s excited smile.



Looping her arm through Tara’s, JoBeth pulled her towards the sliding doors and out into the pleasant fall morning air. “Come on,” JoBeth said, bringing the other girl out and away from anyone that might put together the wrong names and ideas.



“Well?” Tara asked, her own curiosity pushing to the breaking point. For JoBeth to be this happy, there had to be some monumental news on the way.



Taking one last glance around them, JoBeth took Tara’s other hand excitedly. “She gave me her number!” she said through a beaming smile, just loud enough for Tara to hear.



“Really?” Tara asked, suddenly sharing JoBeth’s excited grin and not really needing to hear JoBeth’s answer. “She did?”



She felt a little silly at how she was barely able to contain her excitement but after Amy had reached out to her like that, JoBeth didn’t care what anyone else thought. “Yes!” the brunette exclaimed, her cheeks still glowing red.



For all of the talking they’d done in the last few days about what Amy might be thinking and about how plausible a relationship could be, with just a few simple words, all the possibilities had become near certainties. “Wow…” Tara sighed wondrously. “This is big, Jo…”



“I know…” JoBeth replied, having taken a deep breath in an effort to regain a measure of control over her giddiness. Amy had returned all the little gestures she’d been making in spades when she’d programmed her number into her phone, starting more than a few of her fantasies coming true. “I want to call her so bad already…” she chuckled, no longer needing to hide her smiles while they made their way across the university quad.



Laughing happily along with JoBeth, Tara was glad that the dam of worries and emotions between her best friend and their English TA was starting to crack. With a mischievous sparkle in her eye, Tara thought of all the new implications and ideas that those pictures tucked away in JoBeth’s draft might give Amy and wondered if they’d finally drive her and JoBeth together.



“Did you give her the folder?” Tara asked, waiting for her friend to pull her cell phone out of her pocked before giving her an impish smirk and a gentle nudge in her arm.



Though a blushing giggle, JoBeth nodded in reply. “I did.”



“Yeah, you’re definitely going to be calling her later,” the redhead asserted. “If she doesn’t call you first, that is…”



Having just finished programming Amy’s number into her phone, JoBeth slipped it back into her pocket. Her brow rose in hopeful curiosity and JoBeth’s smile was still as wide as it was when she’d come darting across the literature building’s lobby. “You think she might?” JoBeth asked.



“After seeing those pictures?” Tara replied, matching the question with a rhetorical one of her own. “If she doesn’t she’s gone blind or she’s crazy…”



JoBeth glowed with excitement over the wonderful moment she’d shared with her crush. It was only a simple conversation, but it felt like the start of so much more. “Tara!” she squeaked, overflowing with anticipation for whatever might come next. “Tara, I got her number!”



The two friends shared another laugh, basking in the warm light of the late morning sun and in the elation of what had entered the realm of possibility between Amy and JoBeth. “Come on you,” Tara said, looping her arm through JoBeth’s and leading her off towards their dormitory. “Let’s get back home so you can tell me exactly what happened.”



*End Chapter 8 - To Be Continued!*