Rudy sat on the couch trying unsuccessfully to study for the British Literature exam. She and Keagan decided it wouldn’t be the best idea for them to study together. It would be entirely too distracting. They had already skipped breakfast due to their newly awakened passion. Trying to study would be futile.

Reading over a poem by Sir Thomas Wyatt the Elder, she sighed with disinterest. She liked to read the stanzas out loud, being able to internalize more that way. On the exam, she’d be required to identify a quote by listing the title and the author as well as telling what the significance of the quote was. "My Lute, Awake! Perform the last Labour that--" Groaning, she gave up trying to read the poem. Nothing was making an impression anyway. Rudy flipped through the pages, but it seemed like every poem she came to was suggestive and reminded her of Keagan. "The Ecstasy", by John Donne. "That’s it! I’ve had it! I can’t study anymore." She slammed the book closed.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Courtney, ever the social animal, came barreling down the steps to answer it. Still clad in her robe, her hair was a bit disheveled and she quickly tried to fix it. Noticing Rudy sitting on the couch, a brief flicker of surprise crossed her face. "When did you get in?"

"A few hours ago." It was almost 2 o’clock and Rudy grinned at her roommate’s state of dress that late into the day. Must have been a long night, she thought wryly.

Figuring it was one of Courtney’s friends, Rudy opened the book again and decided to give it another shot. Trying to block out the voices at the door, she nonetheless looked up when a few seconds later Courtney closed the door and was holding a long box in her hands. It was obviously a delivery of flowers. Her roommate stared at her expectantly, heading over with the package. "I see someone got flowers. How sweet. Aren’t you going to open them?"

Courtney plopped down next to Rudy and grinned with delight. "Why would I open up your flowers?"

Rudy’s eyes widened. "Mine? No way! Give it here quick!" Opening the box, her eyes were treated to a dozen yellow roses with one sweetheart red rose in the middle of the bunch. "I can’t believe she did this."

Courtney was getting impatient. "Open the card! See what it says!"

Rudy looked at Courtney amusedly. "You’re almost more excited than I am." She opened the card and read, "Thanks for a fun evening. L., K." Smiling a bit, she put the card back into the envelope.

"That is so romantic!"

"Hmm..."

"What do you mean, ‘hmm’?"

"I wish I knew what she was trying to say." As an afterthought, she added, "we slept together last night."

Courtney laughed. "I already figured that out. You don’t come home last night and when you do, you have this big thing on your neck!"

Rudy almost blushed. "It’s called a ‘hickey.’ And quit trying to change the subject."

"So what’s bothering you about this, then?"

"Keagan and I had a very exciting, passionate very sexual night and morning together and all she says is, ‘thanks for a fun evening.’ And she can’t even write ‘love.’ Why do people always do that? Write L. when they mean ‘love. It’s not like ‘love’s’ that big of a word that it needs an abbreviation. I never got that."

"So you don’t know how she feels?"

"No, I don’t and it really bugs me, you know? I know I shouldn’t worry about it and I told myself it wasn’t going to be a problem but I told her I loved her, and she didn’t tell me. So, what are these flowers supposed to mean? All I am is a good time?"

Courtney put her hand on Rudy’s shoulder and squeezed it. "I’m sure that’s not it. Why don’t you call her?"

"What if this is her way of saying, ‘I really like you, but--"

"Somehow, I don’t think so. Let me put these in water for you and you give her a call, okay? And if things don’t go your way we’ll get a gallon of mint chocolate chip and talk."

"Thanks." Rudy watched her roommate go into the kitchen. Picking up the phone she dialed Keagan’s number and got the answering machine. After leaving a message, she tried to concentrate on her studying again.

"Flowers. I sent her yellow roses." Keagan gave up the idea of studying. Instead, she found herself over at Brad’s. He was getting ready for "Drag Queen Night" at the bar and was trying on outfits as they talked. Presently, he was sporting a long, golden wig and a short, strapless, black dress. Keagan tried not to laugh as Brad began placing two balloons into his dress to serve as breasts.

"Oh, that’s good girl. You gotta keep ‘em happy. But you know, the only time, and I mean the only time I ever sent anyone flowers I was really in love. Are you--?"

Keagan threw her hands up in the air. "Of course! Yes, yes, yes, okay? I’ve thought about this and the only conclusion I can come to is that yes, I am!"

"Ah. Young love. It’s so sweet."

Keagan groaned.

"What do you think of my boobs?" Brad thrust his chest into Keagan’s face. The balloon size he used made his false appendages look like a size D.

"I must say, you are really stacked, sweet thing." Getting a mock lecherous look on her face, she reached over and with both hands "fondled" his balloons. "But a little too pliant, methinks!"

"Hey, stop that! I’m not that kind of girl!" He backed up in mock horror. "And besides, what if little Rudy found out? It’d break her heart!"

"Yes, I’m sure it would break her heart if she found out I was fooling around with a drag queen." They both laughed at the utter absurdity of her statement. "What is "Drag Queen Night," anyway?"

"Oh, it’s simply divine! Everyone who’s ever wanted to be a drag queen but didn’t have the guts--"

"Sounds like a book title. ‘Everyone Who Ever Wanted to be a’--"

Brad frowned and glared at his friend. "Do you want to know or not?"

Obediently keeping her mouth shut, Keagan gestured for Brad to continue. "Like I was saying, anyone who never had the guts to go out and strut her stuff can do so this one night, and do it in relative anonymity, since everyone there will be dressed up."

"You mean, you can’t get in unless you’re in drag?"

"Of course not! That would ruin the whole idea!"

"But aren’t the real drag queens going to get offended?"

"Oh, certainly not! It’s the highest form of flattery."

Keagan looked skeptical. "Just like being spoofed on Saturday Night Live? Is that kind of what it’s like?"

Brad clapped his hands and pointed his index finger at Keagan. "Exactly, my friend." Keagan can be so dense sometimes.

"Hmm."

"So, do tell. What did you put in the note? Something like, ’My darling, Rudy. Last night was so perfect and you were so divine that I can do nothing but pledge my eternal love and devotion to you forever. With every bit of love I have in my heart, Keagan.’" As he said this, his eyes turned intense and he swayed his arms dramatically through the air.

Keagan rolled her eyes and sighed in mock disgust. "Nope, I just told her thanks for a fun evening." She shrugged.

"You told her what? That’s it? Haven’t I taught you anything? Now we’re going to have to do damage control, girlfriend!"

"I was just being honest. It was a fun evening." And morning.

"You were just being honest, you were just being honest?" His voice rose considerably in pitch and tone. "Love isn’t about HONESTY! Don’t you know anything?!" Shaking his head in disgust, he began formulating a plan to help Keagan.

Keagan laughed. She almost thought that Brad believed what he was saying and that was the scary part. "I felt other things, too, besides it being a fun evening, I just didn’t say."

"You didn’t say, you didn’t say! You never say! You’re going to have to say soon, girl, or you’ll lose that one! I had her pegged right when I met her. She’s the type that needs commitment, I can tell." He took off the wig and began looking for another one. I just don’t make a good blonde.

"Of course, you would know. Being that you have such a vast experience with relationships and all. When was your last one?"

Brad thought for a moment. That moment stretched into several. "Um, 198--, just kidding. It was 1993! So there!"

"Oooh, six years ago! I apologize for doubting you."

"That six years is by choice, I might add."

"Of course." Keagan smiled knowingly.

"We’re getting off the subject here. What are you going to do to make this up to her?"

"Make what up? I sent her flowers, for godsakes! She should be thanking me!"

Brad shook his head, that was now sporting a bright reddish-blonde wig, and patted his friend on the back sympathetically. "You don’t get it do you? What you wrote on the card is incongruous with sending the flowers. Do you realize that people send flowers for all kinds of things? Not just because they’re in love. People send them to congratulate, for holidays, for weddings and for funerals and I’m sure there’s other reasons, too. Now, unless you make it clear in the card what your intentions are, the person receiving the flowers is liable to be confused."

Keagan thought for a second. It almost made sense in a twisted sort of way. "Do you think Rudy might be confused?"

"If the sender is confused, the recipient will be, too, most likely. Correct?"

"Maybe. Let me ask you something. A theoretical situation. You’ve dated someone for three weeks, and then you have sex in a bathroom stall in a bar--"

"That was you?!"

"What? How did you know? I didn’t tell you!"

"Jackie Daniels came to The Garage last night and was telling some story she heard from someone about an encounter going on in the bathroom at the Grotto. She said the rumor was that it was you, but I defended you saying you were too rational and in control to ever do something like that!"

"Oh, terrific." Keagan put her head in her hands. "The infamous grapevine is in full force, I see. I’ll never be able to go back to the bar again."

"Are you kidding? They were lovin’ it! Everybody was applauding you for finally getting la--"

"Stop. Please." An even worse thought occurred to Keagan, one that outweighed her own embarrassment. "Did anybody mention Rudy’s name?"

"No."

"Good. I wouldn’t want her to be embarrassed. Or unwittingly develop some kind of reputation."

"Sounds like you care." He smiled warmly and reached for a pair of high-heeled shoes. As he put them on, Brad winced at the tightness. "Ah! These are way too tight."

"If it sounds like a queen and acts like a queen--" She grinned evilly.

"Ha, ha. Now tell me the theoretical situation." He pulled the tight shoes off.

"Okay. You dated the person for three weeks, you have an unplanned sexual liaison, you go home together and make love for most of the night and part of the morning, then you decide neither one of you will get any studying done if you stay together that day so she goes home, you send her flowers and you write what I put in the card. If you’re Rudy, what do you think?"

"I think, ‘Oops. She’s backing off and trying to be nice with the flower gesture, but she doesn’t really want to start anything.’"

"But I had them put the red sweetheart rose in. Doesn’t that count for anything?"

"Yeah, it makes it look like you sent a dozen yellow roses, that symbolize friendship, by the way, and then made a nice gesture with the smaller red rose. It looks like you’re saying, ‘we should just be friends.’"

Keagan sighed in frustration. She now wished she had never sent the damn flowers. I should have known better than to make a stereotypical, romantic gesture. I should have known it would backfire. I should have known! "All right. What should I do?"

Brad pressed the speaker button on his phone so Keagan could make a call and they could both hear it. "She’s probably called you by now. Call and hear her message. That way, I can tell for sure how much work we need to do."

Frowning at her friend, Keagan nevertheless did as she was told. There was a message from Joan apologizing for their last conversation, a message from work telling her that her shift had been changed to 4am for the week, and at last a message from Rudy: "Hi, Keagan. These roses are beautiful. Thank you. Uh, I needed to talk with you. Well, we’ll just talk later. <deep sigh> Bye, bye."

"Uh, oh. Big trouble, girlfriend, big trouble!"

"What? She thanked me, she said she wanted to talk to me which is obvious because she called and she said we would talk later which we will. And she said ‘bye.’ I don’t see the problem."

Brad rolled his eyes with drama. "Don’t you know how to read between the lines? This girl is hurting. Didn’t you hear the sigh?"

"Sigh, sigh? What sigh? What are you talking about?" Keagan was a patient person, but Brad thoroughly tested her ability to maintain her temper. What the hell is he talking about?

"Do I have to play it again? Right before she said ‘bye’ she sighed, indicating a struggle over what kind of closing to use. Do I say, ‘I love you, I miss you, I hope to talk to you soon, do I call her honey, sweetie, love kitten--’"

"Love kitten?!" Keagan looked aghast.

"Okay, drop the ‘love kitten!’ I’m trying to make a point here, girlfriend!"

"All right, so since I’ve screwed everything up so badly, what should I say to her?"

"Say nothing! Yet. I know exactly what you need to do." Brad grinned and raised his eyebrows. Keagan knew that he was up to no good, but that she’d probably go along with it anyway.

Later that evening, after Rudy and Courtney had eaten ice cream, made a crockpot of chili for dinner and talked about relationships, the strawberry-blonde found herself answering yet another knock at the door. Looking through the peephole, she saw a young man standing there...with a box of flowers. Shaking her head in disbelief, she opened the door.

"Delivery for Ms. Rudy Whitman." He handed her a clipboard and she smiled at him and signed it.

"You’re a very popular woman today. Is it your birthday?" He smiled pleasantly at her.

She couldn’t help but laugh. "It’s not my birthday. I think I must have an admirer."

"He’s very persistent." He took the clipboard back from her.

"Thank you." Choosing not to tell the deliveryman that he had the wrong gender, she took the box inside, but before opening it, looked at the card first. It said, "Last night was special. So are you. Love, Keagan." Smiling broadly this time, she opened the box to see a dozen red roses. "Courtney! Get down here!"

After a few moments, her roommate came barreling down the steps. "What? What happened?"

"She sent me red roses this time."

"This time? Geez," Courtney sighed. "Why can’t I find a man like Keagan?"

Giggling, Rudy handed the box to Courtney. "Would you mind...please? I have a phone call to make."

"Oh, cruel time! Which takes in trust our youth, our joys, and all we have, and pays us but with age and dust; who in the dark and silent grave when we have wandered all our ways shuts up the story of our days." Keagan recited the stanza from Sir Walter Raleigh’s poem, with no enthusiasm. "How depressing," she said aloud. "Why did I become an english major?"

Hearing the phone ring, Keagan perked up. She walked over to her answering machine as it clicked on. "Good evening. You have reached Keagan’s Den of Lesbian Desire. If you are anyone but Rudy, please leave me a message and I’ll get back to you. If you are Rudy, don’t leave a message. Just hang up and come over immediately. The Den requires your presence. Ciao." Beep. Click. Hangup. "Hope that was her."

In less than ten minutes, there was a knock on her door. She looked through the peephole to see Rudy standing there. "Who is it?"

"Is this Keagan’s Den of Lesbian Desire? I don’t have the wrong place do I?"

"Yes it is and no you don’t."

"Can I come in?"

"Is your name Rudy?"

"Yes, and I think I have something you want."

Keagan opened the door. "Like--?"

"Like this." Rudy stepped inside, and was instantly enveloped into Keagan’s arms. Their lips met forcefully as she felt her lover’s tongue inside her mouth while she straddled Keagan’s thigh. Strong arms picked her up and lips found her neck. "Why don’t you...come...inside?" she heard Keagan say. As Rudy was drawn in, she sensed her lover shutting the door with her leg.

"If you insist." They collapsed onto the couch.

"I want to show you something." Their bodies writhed together, the heat between them increasing.

Green eyes stared into blue. Rudy’s frustration showed in her actions. She held onto Keagan, breathing heavily, both wanting what was being done to her and knowing that they should be talking, not ravishing each other. "What?"

"This." Keagan maneuvered herself underneath Rudy and gazed into her eyes. She kissed her and Rudy responded ardently, wondering if she wouldn’t come from that alone. Keagan’s hands found her breasts through her shirt and fondled them. Her lips found Rudy’s neck and she heard a welcoming sigh as they feasted on a familiar place.

"Wait a minute, wait." Rudy tore her neck from Keagan’s lips with reluctance.

Keagan tried to get her breathing under control. "What’s wrong?"

"We are not doing this. I came over here to talk, not just jump into bed."

"We’re not in bed." She kissed Rudy on the neck.

Rudy glared at Keagan, not at all impressed with her tendency to be literal. She climbed off her lover and sat at the other end of the couch. "Because I don’t want to feel like our relationship is just about sex."

"It’s not." Keagan sat up on the couch and looked over at Rudy, hoping they weren’t about to have a revealing conversation, but fearing they were about to. "I’m sorry. You’re just...so attractive to me. I can’t keep from touching you. Please don’t think it’s just about sex."

"Is that all I am? Just attractive to you?" The tone of her voice was not accusatory, but honestly questioning.

"Oh, no. You’re much more than that. You’re my grammar tutor!" Knowing that it wasn’t the right response, Keagan averted her eyes. When Rudy didn’t respond but sat watching her, with a hint of a smile on her face, Keagan took that as a sign that she wasn’t angry. "Did you like the roses?"

That got the smile to grow broader. "The first or second bunch?"

"Second."

"I liked the first."

"Better than the second? Why?"

"The first bunch was more you. The second bunch was like somebody stepped in and said, ‘this is how to be romantic, Keagan. Now do it right this time.’"

Keagan looked at the floor. "Brad said the flowers and the card were ambiguous." He didn’t know that the yellow roses were supposed to tie in with a theme she had in mind. They were the same color as the rose Rudy gave to Keagan at the bar.

"Yes, but that’s you, right?"

"Ambiguous?"

"Not exactly, you just don’t wear your heart on your sleeve. But I know you care."

Keagan smiled. "Shall we try to get some studying done, now?"

"Let’s."

Keagan laid on her back, a floor pillow supporting her head, with her eyes closed, trying to concentrate. Rudy sat on her lover’s stomach, her legs straddling Keagan’s torso. This studying arrangement worked well. It suited their desire for physical contact, while precluding anything physical happening due to Rudy’s rules. They were clear on this subject. The only touching allowed was the touching made necessary by Rudy’s position. And they had to study for at least three hours, not including breaks. Rudy even went so far as to deduct the time used for bathroom and snack breaks. Keagan avoided eye contact as much as she could. That always got her into trouble.

Flipping through her notes, Rudy located another quote. "’But, ah,’ Desire still cries, ‘give me some food.’" Keagan looked up into her companion’s green eyes and grinned. "That’s from ‘Astrophil and Stella’, but it’s not on our study list."

"So what?" Rudy put her notebook on the floor. She leaned down closely to Keagan, face to face, so their lips were almost touching. Keagan put her arms around her and moved their bodies together, rubbing against her playfully. She could feel Rudy’s pelvic area grinding against her own. It caused familiar sensations to course through her body.

"Oops," Keagan chastised, as Rudy’s hands moved to her hips, "I think you’re breaking the touching rule."

"It’s been three hours. Time’s up." Rudy’s lips captured Keagan’s in a passionate kiss. Soon, her hands moved to Keagan’s shirt to pull it out of her jeans, but a hand stopped her.

"Just leave our clothes on." Keagan whispered the request into Rudy’s ear.

"But I want--"

"Trust me. You’ll like this." Keagan brought her hands around to touch Rudy’s breasts through her shirt. The sensation of what lay beneath her shirt and bra was arousing to Keagan as she melded her body into Rudy’s and kissed her neck.

After a brief look of confusion, Rudy gave into the sensations their fully clothed activity created. She stared into Keagan’s eyes, as their bodies moved together. She felt hands move to grasp the backs of her legs tightly, as they both felt their arousal heighten. Keagan’s lips moved back to meet hers once again, then, and their tongues met hotly. Only a few moments later they were both on the edge and almost came together, Rudy beating out Keagan by a few seconds. Panting and still aroused they collapsed together on the floor. Keagan spoke first.

"You’re amazing." She held Rudy close, enjoying the feeling of their entwined bodies.

Still gasping, Rudy spoke with effort. "That was incredible. We didn’t even strip. I never knew it could be done that way."

"There are lots of ways to do it." Keagan grinned.

Rudy turned her head up to gaze into azure eyes. "Feel like showing me?"

"Yes." Remembering that they had more studying to do, Keagan began to feel guilty. But that didn’t stop her lips from seeking Rudy’s again. As the kiss deepened and their mutual arousal returned, Keagan reached behind her lover and grabbed her butt playfully. The grab soon turned into a tickle. Rudy began to laugh. "Ticklish? There?" Keagan laughed throatily.

Rudy laughed again. "It’s even worse when my jeans are off."

"Naturally. I guess we’ll have to take them off then."

After another heated kiss, they parted, Rudy trying in vain to retain her self-control. "We should study some more, you know."

Keagan kissed Rudy’s neck, slowly, torturously. "Study your body? I’m for that." She moved her hands around to the button-fly of Rudy’s jeans, giving a mock growl. "These take forever to unbutton."

"It’s better that way." Rudy panted. "It heightens the anticipation."

Keagan undid one button. She ran her hands across Rudy’s back and kissed her again.

"Ah, oh, that was good, but we should finish studying first or we might not get to it."

"You don’t think?" Keagan nuzzled Rudy’s neck and breathed in her scent with pleasure. Her hair always smelled so great. "What shampoo do you use?"

Rudy had begun grinding herself into Keagan a few moments before. "What?" She couldn’t focus on thinking.

Keagan undid two more buttons. "Is it Pert? It kind of smells like that, but it’s different." She slipped her hand inside Rudy’s jeans and began massaging the area above her underwear, enjoying the sound of her moans.

"Uh, huh. Yeah." Rudy’s only thought centered on her desire for Keagan to rip her clothes off.

"It smells great." Keagan kissed Rudy on the cheek before moving her kisses lower and managing to fulfill Rudy’s unvoiced desire.

Some time later, Keagan was awakened by the sound of a telephone. She opened her eyes with annoyance and noticed that it was dark outside. Rudy rested half on top of her and Rudy was lying at the foot of the bed purring softly. The phone rang twice, and the message clicked on. Not taking notice of it, she preferred to stare at her beautiful, slumbering lover. "Good Evening. You have reached Keagan’s Den of Lesbian--"

"Oh, shit!" She was up like a shot, trying to gently but quickly ease Rudy off of her and onto the bed, while barreling into the kitchen. Not bothering to grab her robe, she ducked down as she approached the machine, the blinds from her window being open. "Desire. If you are anyone but Rudy--"

The whole commotion woke Rudy up. "What? What is it?"

"The message!" Keagan bellowed from the kitchen. "I forgot to change it back!" Reaching the machine in good time, she pressed the on/off button. The message continued to play anyway. "please leave a message and I’ll get back to you. If you are Rudy, don’t leave a message. Just hang up--" Desperately, she pressed the on/off button a second time. It still continued to play. "and come over immediately. The den requires your presence. Ciao." Finally remembering that she was supposed to press the stop, not the on/off button, she glared with irritation at the machine and listened as it beeped. She sighed with relief upon hearing Brad’s voice. "Hi, girlfriend. I’m at the bar. Just thought I’d check on your progress. Nice message. <snicker> Not really my style at all, but I’m sure your babe will appreciate it. Gotta go. And please remember to change that! I could have been your mother, Keagan!" After an overly dramatic sigh, he hung up. She could hear laughing coming from her bedroom.

"No laughing! It’s not funny!" She pressed the record key. "Call back later. I’m busy. Thanks. Bye." Feeling a chill coming on from her nudity, she bolted back into the bedroom and under the covers.

Rudy was still laughing. "It’s very funny. That’s what you get for being so clever!"

Keagan looked over at her quite naked companion and graced her with a mischievous smile. "And this is what you get for laughing!" With no further warning, Keagan pounced on Rudy and proceeded to tickle her without mercy. As Rudy’s laughter subsided, Keagan’s tickling turned to slow caresses. Rudy ran her fingers through her long, dark hair and pulled her head down to lay on her chest. They stayed like that for a few seconds until Keagan’s arms tightened around Rudy for a small hug. "Did I tell you I have to work at 4 in the morning?"

"That’s inhuman. You would have to get up at--"

"3 in the morning." Keagan laughed.

"Why so early?"

"Our freight processing...isn’t."

"Do you enjoy it at all?"

Keagan moved out of her arms and leaned up against the pillow. It was past ten o’clock, and if she had any intention of being awake the next day, she should have been in bed at seven sleeping. Normally, she wouldn’t consider not going in. The first time she called off in a couple of years had been the Monday before. But the place she was in at the moment was so compelling that she began to consider it. Rudy made her feel safe. She wasn’t quite ready to leave that safety yet. "I used to convince myself that merchandising was somehow artistic. I used to enjoy it a lot. But after awhile, I realized that everything I created was very soon torn apart. There’s no immortality in the retail world." She chuckled lightly.

"Is that what you want? Immortality?"

"No. I just want somehow to know that everything inside of me isn’t worthless." Keagan shrugged and wondered what had caused her to voice such thoughts.

"Look at me." She turned her gaze back to Rudy. "I’m sure someday everyone will know that. But until then, would you settle for me?"

"That wouldn’t be settling." Rudy smiled gently. She marveled at how time and again, Keagan revealed so much through saying so little. She fell back into Keagan’s arms, then, but instead of sleeping they talked.

In spite of her true desires, Keagan forced herself to get up and go to work. She and Rudy had talked for almost an hour the night before and they didn’t get to sleep until almost 11:30. She was exhausted in the morning, but didn’t regret her evening with Rudy. She was beginning to fulfill many roles for Keagan, the least of which was lover. Although the lover part was incredible, the role of friend was just as important. Being lovers would have been devoid of all substance without their growing friendship. Rudy also began quite unknowingly, but simply through her actions to function as a teacher. She taught Keagan that expressing emotions didn’t always have to hurt. It was quite an unconscious revelation to Keagan who slowly was beginning to internalize the idea.

At around noon that day, Keagan was called to the manager’s office. Wondering what they wanted, she made her way back to find both Madeline Slone and the store manager, Nelson Johnson in attendance. Nelson Johnson. What kind of parents would name their kid that? It’s almost as bad as naming your kid William Williams or Jacqueline Jackson or David Davidson or...

"Um, Keagan, what were you doing?" That annoying buzzing sound dragged Keagan right out of her thoughts. Shaking her head, she realized it only resembled a buzzing sound. It was just Slone. "Packing the defects on a skid." Like you told me to do an hour ago. What did you think I was doing?

"I need you to record about 10 adcasters by the time you leave. Here’s a list of the items and the sales." Nelson handed over the list to Keagan as he spoke. She groaned silently. Adcasters were short, brief advertisements that played on the store’s PA system. When Nelson said "record" what he really meant was that she needed to write and record ten of them. This would take a bit of time and she hadn’t finished skidding the defects yet. Staying over was out of the question because she had some last minute studying to do for British literature, and a nap to squeeze in as well. She had been doing the adcasters for years, and it was always the same. Thirty minutes left of her shift and they’d ask her to do them.

"I’ll need more than a half an hour to do these."

"You can stay over. We need these done," said Slone. Her beady eyes bore into Keagan’s, who never could figure out the color of them. It almost seemed to Keagan that each eye was a different color. A scary thought and one that she quickly abandoned.

Keagan grinned. Obviously, being an english major meant that she was the only possible candidate to do the adcasters. Probably the only literate one. The only one who could write, the only one who could speak. Should have told them I was an engineering major. Nah. They’d just ask me to fix the baler when it breaks!

"I can’t. I have an ex--"

"I’ll let you out early on Friday. Or you can come in later. Becker’s on my case because we don’t have any ads playing." Becker, the district manager, was an anal retentive, pain in the ass. Keagan sighed. Becker couldn’t help it. Those must simply be the qualities looked for when hiring district managers. Because every district manager she had ever worked with had no common sense and lived to make everyone’s job more difficult. Taking pity on her boss, she finally replied.

"Sure. The defects--"

"Um--" When Slone said "um" it carried with it a connotation of annoyance, superiority and tyrannical intentions. She was annoyed at life to begin with, wanted to flaunt her self-created superiority, and enjoyed acting the tyrant. So, her "um" wasn’t stumbled over in the normal way. It wasn’t used to mask her inability to form thoughts into words (although she did have this problem as well). She actually made it into a word. A word that meant, You are lowly hourly employee scum and I will see you one day scrubbing the stockroom floor with a toothbrush! "Um," she repeated for emphasis. "You can finish those Friday."

"Okey Dokey!" Upon saying that, Keagan had a fleeting thought of how irrational her behavior often was at work. When she heard herself saying things like, ‘okey dokey’ it only reminded her.

As Nelson and Slone left the office, Keagan sat down at the desk and perused the list of items. A 12-pack of toilet paper, grape jelly (Now what does that remind me of?), personal massagers (Just a cover for vibrators.), foam cups (How unenvironmentally conscious!), boy/girl diapers (Does that mean they’re for hermaphroditic children? Hmm, I may have to inquire about that one.) Non-wet roll-on deodorant (I can’t believe it actually says ‘non-wet!’), condoms (In the adcaster? They asked for it!), douches (This is like a dream come true!), ladies bras (Ooh, baby! I’ll have fun with this one!), and men’s bikini briefs. Keagan smiled with glee. This list was a veritable fountain of lewd material just waiting to be exploited. She picked up her pen. I know. I can tie them all into a common theme. Smiling again, her eyes took on an evil glint, and she began to write.

Keagan decided that if she was going to tie all the ads into a theme, she could do it by using a common character. One the shoppers would identify with. Being that the Gigantic "mascot" was a hare (It looks like a hare to me and it’s pictured next to the official store logo), she called the character, O’Hare. Now, the customers could join O’Hare as O’Hare (she let the character remain genderless, to add more mystique) shopped the store.

An hour and a half later, having completed writing and recording the adcasters, Keagan found herself back in the manager’s office as not even the second ad played. She had almost made it out the door when she heard the page. Returning to the office, she saw Nelson looking perplexed, and Slone seething with rage (kind of like she usually looked but with a red face). "Who is this...O’Hare?" Slone asked, suspicion lacing her voice.

Keagan took one breath and began slowly. "O’Hare is a character I created for fun to tell the shoppers about the items. I felt that if I introduced myself by a name, the shoppers would be more likely to listen, first of all, and, secondly, if they liked me, maybe they would take my advice about buying the items. See?"

Nelson squinted his eyes. "So...you are O’Hare?" He couldn’t hide the confusion on his face. Not that he was even trying. Slone continued to stare at Keagan with contempt.

"No. I’m not O’Hare. O’Hare is a character I created." So far, so good, Keagan.

"But in the ad, you say, ‘Take it from me, O’Hare.’"

Keagan tried to hide her sigh of frustration. "Right. I just portray O’Hare, so I would say that. Does that make sense?"

"But nobody’s going to know who he is anyway!!!" Slone interjected with ire in her voice.

At least she understands the character part. "Um, no. O’Hare isn’t gender specific. O’Hare is simply...O’Hare!"

"What does that mean? Do you know that people are coming up to me and asking who he is? I’m sick of their prying questions!" If it were possible, Slone’s face would have turned redder.

"After only one announcement?"

"Yes!"

"That’s great! See, that’s my whole point. People were listening. They were listening enough to ask you."

"Keagan, I understand that part." Nelson, if not the brightest man, could usually be reasoned with. If things were explained to him at least twice he almost always understood. "It’s this drag queen announcement." He indicated Keagan’s adcaster notebook that she left lying on the desk, in her haste to leave. "We read your announcements and some of them I’m not sure about." As if on key, that very announcement began to play: "Hi, shoppers, it’s just me, O’Hare again, with more great deals! Check out our ladies department this week where we’ve got a special on bras. That’s right! This week only you can get an UltraFlex sportsbra with extra lace for only $1.99! So pick a few up today for the man, woman, or drag queen in your life while they last! As always, thanks for shopping Gigantic and remember you’ll only get the truth from me...O’Hare!"

"Um, that is barbaric!" Barbaric? "Men don’t wear bras! It’s, it’s...OH!"

"Were I not to include men and drag queens, it would be excluding a portion of our customer base."

"I think you should turn that one off, though." Nelson tried to look apologetic.

"Sure."

"I thought drag queens were men," said Nelson.

"They are, but they also have egos. I wanted to cater to that by naming them."

Filled with rage, not unlike her usual state, Slone confronted Keagan. "You have an answer for everything, don’t you?"

Keagan projected her best smug look. "Just about everything, yes." Would you rather have an imbecile for an employee, she added silently.

"Um, um...Keagan I want you to turn off the massager one, too!"

"Aww, that was my favorite." Keagan allowed herself to grin then. As if on cue, the announcement began to play: "O’Hare, here. Ohhh, I just hate the feeling of sore muscles at the end of the day. And all that built up tension that simply can’t be eliminated in the workplace. That probing, deep-seated feeling that no amount of willpower can defeat. That all encompassing need for utter physical bliss that the demands of a post-college, entry level accounting job tend to create...<sigh> So you know what I did? I went to Gigantic and purchased a personal massager! Today for only $3.99 you can get the travel size and for only $7.99 the mega size! Get ‘em while we got ‘em and feel your tension drift away! Take it from me...O’Hare!"

Nelson snickered. Slone slapped him on the arm. "Stop that! That announcement is obscene!"

"Only from a certain point of view," said Keagan. "I realize that the target audience may be a bit narrow, but--"

"That’s very creative, but I’m afraid you’ll have to take that one off, too." Nelson shook his head trying to convey sympathy. He was the type that hated to disappoint anyone.

"Sure." Keagan stood patiently, waiting for them to continue. How much more of her work would they tear apart? Deciding not to stand by without a good argument, she continued. "But I must state in my defense, such as it is, that my announcements promote the item, and also get people’s attention. You can’t deny that."

"No, it’s just the way you do it--"

"They’re awful! Especially the one about the condoms!" Slone looked aghast.

Funny, I thought she’d relate to that one. As if on cue, the announcement began. Keagan began to worry about the perfect timing. It was eerie. Almost unreal. "Hi, it’s me O’Hare again. Picture this: You’re out on a date and things turn interesting. It begins to rain, but you don’t have any protection. A little wetness won’t bother you, but you don’t want to get drenched, right? Of course not. Make sure you’re always covered by shopping Gigantic. This week only we have a special on condoms! Only $2.99 a pack! And remember, it’s not cool to get caught in the rain! Take it from me...O’Hare! As always, thanks for shopping Gigantic!"

"I know," Keagan began. "A little heavy on the metaphor. I could kill the metaphor if you like." She spoke matter-of-factly as if they were in a negotiation.

"Kill them all!!!" Madeline Slone’s screech could be heard as far as the breakroom, which was located a considerable distance from the manager’s office. Keagan had to fight to keep from shivering at her brutal tone. It was all quite scary. Time to go home for the day.

After she got home, Keagan took a nap and by the time she awoke there was a message on her machine. It was Rudy asking if she was in the mood for Chinese. A starving Keagan had agreed enthusiastically. They had eaten their dinner, chatted about the day, and then retired to the living room as Keagan related each and every one of her announcements to Rudy except one.

After Keagan had stretched one too many times trying to ease her sore muscles, Rudy took over. "Turn around."

"Why?"

Rudy grinned at her clueless lover. "Better yet, take your sweater off and turn around. I’m going to give you a shoulder massage." Keagan admitted to herself that it would feel great and did what Rudy asked. Feeling the small but adept fingers probing into her aching flesh was like heaven. She moaned with pleasure.

"That feels great. Thank you."

"I live to bring you pleasure." Rudy laughed. "What about the jelly one? You didn’t tell me that one."

Keagan had a difficult time thinking due to the pleasure she was feeling. "I’ll try. Let’s see." She thought a moment and then switched into O’Hare mode. "Hi, there shoppers. It’s me, O’Hare again and have I got a deal for you! Do you feel like enhancing your sexual pleasure? Want to hear your lover moan while reaching unknown heights of ecstasy? We’ve got just the thing here at Gigantic! This week only, pick up a jar of Gigantic brand grape jelly! It’s not only great with peanut butter! Take it from me…O’Hare!"

Rudy laughed and swatted Keagan playfully. "You did not say that! You’re awful!"

"I most certainly did!" Keagan feigned indifference. "That’s the one that almost got me fired!"

"As if. Not even you would allow an announcement like that to play!"

"That’s what you think!"

Rudy stopped her massage as Keagan turned around to face her. "Admit it now, oh great guru of advertisements! You’re in a real vulnerable place here, you know." It was true. She was topless and could very easily be tickled senselessly.

"Nope! Never." Keagan smiled evilly as Rudy tickled her stomach and pushed her back as she started giggling. Then she jumped on top of Keagan and straddled her stomach while continuing the torture. "I think you’re really enjoying this. You aren’t even fighting this time."

"Why wouldn’t I enjoy your sweet hands all over my naked torso?" The low tone of Keagan’s words caused Rudy to shiver involuntarily. Their eyes met and locked as Rudy moved her hands to the sides of Keagan’s face.

"All you had to do was ask." Their lips met softly as Rudy settled her body on top of Keagan’s. She felt strong arms settle around her as their tongues moved together slowly, passionately.

The sound of the phone ringing was the only thing that brought them out of their exploration. They parted and Keagan listened as the answering machine clicked on. "Call back later. I’m busy. Thanks. Bye."

"I see you also forgot to change your flippant message." Rudy laid her head on Keagan’s chest and chuckled.

"It’s still appropriate. Seems I’m always busy when you’re here lately." She tightened her arms around Rudy and sighed as the machine finally beeped. It was Gerry. "Okay, you old grump. Sorry you’re busy. <laughter> If you and your little girlfriend want to come by tomorrow, please do. I really want to meet her. Hope to see you tomorrow, sweetie. Bye."

Rudy looked into Keagan’s blue eyes that were trying unsuccessfully to avert themselves. "So, are we going, sweetie?" Rudy’s eyes gleamed with mischief.

"Oh, no. Not two of you." Keagan groaned.

"Well, you get to call me La Roux."

"That’s a nickname!"

"Pet name!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Okay," said Keagan. "I give up." She kissed Rudy.

"Good." Rudy smiled. "Are we going?"

"If you want to."

"I told you I would like to meet your grandma."

Keagan nuzzled her neck. "My mom might be there, too."

Rudy moved her neck to give Keagan better access. "Uh, oh. Is this where you take me home to meet your family?" Keagan began planting kisses up and down her neck.

"Sure."

Rudy sighed with pleasure as Keagan added to her actions by pulling her closer and massaging her back. "Your grandma seems like such a nice lady."

"She is." As Keagan kissed Rudy again she thought fleetingly of the fact that Gerry was a nice lady, but only when she was sober. Let’s hope she’s that way tomorrow.

As the kiss ended, Rudy ran her fingers through Keagan’s hair and got a devious look on her face. "So, Keagan, why did your grandma call me your girlfriend, hmm?"

"Rudy?"

"Hmm?"

Keagan’s answer was to kiss her again quite thoroughly, but Rudy broke away with effort.

"Won’t work." Rudy laughed. "But that’s okay. I’ll let you off the hook like I always do."

"You make me sound like a fish."

"Nope. A fish would be easier to reel in!"

"Ooh! Touché! You are too clever for me, darling!" God, did I just say that? How did that slip out? I sound like a drag queen!

"What did you just call me?" Rudy began moving her hands downward to Keagan’s hips.

"Um…darling? But it was my drag queen impression."

Rudy playfully punched her arm. "You are so unromantic!"

"Then why are you with me?"

Because I’m so in love with you I can hardly breathe when you’re near me. "I like unromantic women. I like the challenge."

"Hmm." Keagan sensed that wasn’t necessarily Rudy’s first choice for an answer. As she felt warm hands begin to wander her body she wondered if she could ever give Rudy what she needed. Her responding heartfelt kiss to Rudy attempted to convey everything her words couldn’t.

Keagan opened her eyes drowsily; her attempt to stretch instantly thwarted by Rudy’s very solid, warm, and welcoming presence lying almost on top of her. Instead of stretching, she tightened her arms around the still slumbering woman, breathing in the always-pleasant smell of her hair.

As her mind gradually came into focus, she could hear something in her head. Not that it was any surprise to her. She always heard so many things in her mind at so many different times and in so many different ways, that as a child she had suspected schizophrenia as the cause. Some minor research had led her to the conclusion that she was simply weird, not schizophrenic. And adulthood had labeled her mental musings as imagination. This time, though, it wasn’t imagination. It was the jitters she got before an exam and it was manifesting itself by running the opening lines to "Goblin Market" over and over again in her head. Hoping to shut off the poem brandishing mechanism in her head, she began to recite aloud: Morning and evening, maids heard the goblins cry: "Come buy our orchard fruits, come buy, come buy: apples and quinces, lemons and oranges, plump unpecked cherries, melons and raspberries, bloom-down-cheeked peaches," She paused. "Bloom-down-cheeked. I love that." Glancing over at the clock, she frowned briefly and continued her recitation. "Swart-headed mulberries, wild free-born cranberries, crab-apples, dewberries, pine-apples, blackberries—"

"Is it time for breakfast?" a very sleepy voiced asked. Rudy’s tousled, strawberry-blonde head rose to gaze at Keagan inquisitively. All that was registering at that moment was the sound of various fruits being recited. It made her hungry.

Keagan glanced over at the green eyes, now fully open. She leaned over, her lips finding a neck. "Uh, huh. This is breakfast." She proceeded to explore the soft area underneath Rudy’s chin with small but lingering kisses, ending her journey by licking at the pulse point at the bottom of her neck.

"Uh. That’s your breakfast. Where’s mine?" Rudy felt her body’s response to Keagan and shivered. It was a very pleasant way to wake up.

"Right here." Keagan cupped Rudy’s face in her hands and kissed her thoroughly, their tongues meeting sweetly in mutual exploration. When they parted, Rudy moved over to completely lie on top of Keagan. They stared at each other with knowing smiles on their faces. Rudy got a very thoughtful look on her face, as if she was seriously considering something. "You know, I must say that was the best sex I ever had last night."

Keagan snorted. "It’s the only sex you ever had!"

"Not with you!" Rudy moved her hands down to Keagan’s stomach as if threatening to tickle her.

Keagan quickly grabbed both of her hands and held them, a devilish grin on her face. "So what are you doing? Rating it each time? Sheesh!"

"No. But it’s definitely improving." She deadpanned the remark.

"Improving?" Keagan released Rudy’s hands and began tickling her. Soon, Rudy was on her back and pleading for mercy. As spasms of laughter overtook her lover, Keagan whispered into her ear. "Like it was so bad at first. I feel so sorry for you!"

"You should!" Rudy knew that remark was inviting even more trouble than she had already started, but didn’t care.

"I would really love to continue this conversation but I think we’re gonna have to get going. Seeing as that it’s already 7:15." Keagan knew that if she didn’t stop tickling Rudy, they would be even later than they were already going to be.

"7:15?!" Rudy instantly jumped out of bed and glanced at the clock in horror. "That’s means we only have 30 minutes to get to the exam!" She grabbed her clothes and rushed into the bathroom.

Keagan remained characteristically calm. Being late for an exam was significantly better than developing grotesque, incurable sores over 90% of one’s body right? Shrugging, she rose and stretched languorously. "I suppose this means we’ll have to skip the shower?" she called after Rudy, not really expecting her lover to hear or respond. "I hate skipping showers."

"I thought you set the alarm for six." Keagan’s car sped toward the university. She was trying to purge her mind of poetry by listening to the Rolling Stones. She hated walking into an exam with poetry running through her mind haphazardly and that’s what often happened. So she began a ritual that involved singing songs in the car on the way to class. That way her stress level subsided and her brain felt clearer. "Is there nothing I can say, nothing I can do to change your mind, I’m so in love with you—"

"Keagan?" Rudy moved her hand in front of her lover’s face with annoyance.

"Hmm?"

"Didn’t you set the alarm?"

"I’ll be your savior, steadfast and true, I’ll come to your emotional rescue, I’ll come to your emotional rescue—"

"Will you quit singing that song and answer me?"

Keagan sobered and turned down the volume. "Yes. I set the alarm for six. There are a few possibilities as to what happened, but we’ll only be 10 minutes late, 15 at the most anyway."

Keagan’s lack of concern over their impending tardiness calmed Rudy considerably. "I want to know what the possibilities are." She requested it more because she liked to hear Keagan talk and reason out things than because she really cared.

"You would." Keagan allowed herself a brief glance at Rudy’s now twinkling green eyes. "Anything for you. Here we go. Possibility one: the alarm went off, but we were really tired and turned it off quickly and fell back into a deep, winter slumber. Possibility two: the alarm clock is crap and malfunctioned. Possibility three: you and I were in the throes of such a deeply passionate embrace that we neither heard nor cared about the alarm, the exam, or getting out of bed at all."

Rudy laughed and joined in. "Possibility number four: I was too busy giving you that big love bite on your neck to notice and you were too busy enjoying it to hear."

Keagan pulled into the parking lot. "Oh, no. Did you get a chance to--?"

Rudy flashed her lover a cocky smile and displayed the left side of her neck, which was no longer blemished by the hickey that Keagan knew was there. "Liquid makeup. And of course I got a chance to put it on. You think I want to go around looking like a cheap hussy?"

In spite of the embarrassment Keagan knew she would soon be subjected to, she couldn’t help but laugh. "Oh. You mean looking like I look, right?"

"You really need to tell that girlfriend, uh, that woman of yours to control herself better."

"I would, but she really has no control. She’s so into me she can’t help herself. I can hardly blame the poor wench. I am pretty irresistible." Snickering, Keagan pulled into a parking spot and turned the car off.

"Poor wench? I’ll show you who’s a poor wench," said Rudy, placing her hand possessively on the side of Keagan’s neck and smoothly guiding her lover’s lips to her own. Her kiss was teasing, but long and deep letting Keagan know that she wasn’t the only one that was irresistible.

Keagan took several deep breaths, trying to regain the composure that Rudy’s kiss had stolen. "First you’re complaining about being late, now you’re making us even later." Keagan’s tone was chastising, but her sexy grin told Rudy she was joking.

"Don’t press your luck, you veritable fountain of sarcasm, you." Rudy’s eyes took on a dangerous glint as she grabbed her backpack.

"Yes, but that sarcasm’s good for something." Keagan got out of the car and watched with amusement as Rudy scrambled quickly over the driver’s seat. She locked the door and they began walking together…fast.

"Oh and what’s that?" Rudy sprinted ahead.

"It got me one hell of a kiss," came the whispered reply from Keagan, who had easily caught up with Rudy. She smirked in response and Keagan winked at her. And then they both took off running toward Denney hall, ignoring the stares they were getting.

"I hate being late." Rudy was grumbling as they finally entered the building. The halls were cleared of students, which confirmed their tardiness. Keagan, walking along calmly, had to jog to catch up with Rudy who was actually beginning to sprint down the hall.

"It’s not like the classroom’s going anywhere."

Trying to ignore Keagan’s lackadaisical attitude, Rudy nonetheless did not spare her lover a scathing glare as they finally reached the room. As they entered the quieted classroom, Keagan began to mockingly shake as if out of fear and saw this as a prime opportunity to tease Rudy. "I loafe and invite my soul," she whispered. "I lean and loaf at my ease observing a spear of summer grass."

"Shhh."

"Apparently, Ms. Donovan, you’ve been loafing too much." Keagan’s devious smile ended upon being faced with her nemesis, Dr. V.M. Addison. Dr. Addison picked up two exams, handing one to Rudy and then to Keagan. Keagan smiled at the professor, trying in futility to charm her into lenience. "Good morning, Dr. Addison." With an even brighter smile this time, she took the offered exam.

Dr. Addison smirked slightly and Keagan winced as the professor’s eyes obviously spotted something. Something large and purplish-blue in color on Keagan’s neck. "Have too much fun last night, Ms. Donovan?" To the professor’s credit, she whispered her teasing comment low enough so that no one else heard. This fact, however, didn’t stop the blush that immediately appeared on Rudy’s face. The professor had seen them at the party after all.

"Oh, that." Keagan rolled her eyes with nonchalance. "Cat bit me."

Dr. Addison leaned closer to the two women, her eyes sparkling impishly. "Funny how a mere cat bite makes your friend blush so."

As a thoroughly embarrassed Rudy took off in pursuit of a seat, Keagan tried hard to contain the laughter welling up inside of her. It was quite amusing after all. Smiling to herself, she sat down deciding that appearing to be a cheap hussy was fun after all.

Later that afternoon, Keagan found herself, in spite of her great anxiety, taking Rudy to meet her family. She wisely chose to stop at home and dig out the one turtleneck sweater she owned. She hated turtlenecks but sometimes they came in handy. It just wouldn’t do to be sporting a hickey in front of one’s relatives.

As they pulled in the driveway, Keagan found herself shaking. She had taken a couple of aspirin for the nausea she felt but it wasn’t having any affect. She tried to clear her mind of all the things that could go wrong but her mind wasn’t cooperating. Overall, she felt quite ill.

As they headed to the front door Rudy spoke. "I’m actually kind of nervous."

"Why?"

"What if they don’t like me?"

"I guess I’ll have to dump you and date somebody new, then." Keagan glanced at Rudy challengingly.

Rudy punched her on the arm. "Good luck finding somebody to put up with you!"

"I would definitely need it." Before Rudy had a chance to react to Keagan’s sober response, her lover had stepped forward and opened the door, which was unlocked. The faster we get this over with, the better. Peeking her head in, Keagan was greeted by an enthusiastic Rosey, who jumped off the couch where she was sitting next to Gerry and bolted over. "Hi, grandma."

"Hi, sweetie."

Keagan decided to do the introductions first, before assessing the situation. "This is Rudy." As Rudy began to step forward to shake Gerry’s hand, Rosey positioned herself right in front of her and jumped up in a friendly, playful way. Rudy laughed and began petting the animal’s soft head. The dog soon settled down having gotten some attention.

"Meet Rosey, my other sweetie. Rosey, get down now! You’re not making a good first impression."

Rudy smiled at Gerry and politely reached forward after placating the dog. She shook Gerry’s hand. "It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Rafferty."

Keagan’s eyes darted to the coffee table in front of Gerry nervously. Sure enough, a glass of liquor was sitting on the table and this time it wasn’t vodka, it was whiskey. "Please, please call me Gerry. Mrs. Rafferty was my mother-in-law and God knows I don’t need any reminders of that witch!"

Rudy chuckled. "Okay."

To further test the situation, Keagan approached her grandmother and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Nice to see you, grandma." Her breath reeked of whiskey. This hadn’t been her first drink. You can’t even stay sober to meet my girlfriend. "We can’t stay very long," she announced as she and Rudy took a seat on the loveseat across from Gerry. At Rudy’s look of confusion, she added, "We’ve got an exam to study for."

Rudy wondered why Keagan lied, but felt it best not to ask. There was a palpable tension in the air and although she didn’t know what had started it, she had no desire to add to it.

"You? Study? I didn’t think you did. Isn’t that why you’ve been in school so long?" Gerry chuckled as if it was a joke, but Keagan clearly didn’t take it as one.

"Ha. Ha." Inside, Keagan was seething. She was quite used to attacks that were masked as jokes. And quite tired of them as well.

Rudy, for her part, felt her protective instincts kicking in. She immediately saw through the veneer of humor. And then she spotted the whiskey on the table. "Keagan’s actually a more diligent student than I am. I tend to want to goof off a lot." She smiled at the elderly woman, in an attempt to make the conversation lighter and to shift the focus from Keagan.

"You must be a lousy student then, if she beats out you!" Gerry exploded into hysterics and Keagan laughed lightly. Rudy wondered why she accepted this kind of abuse.

"I’ve been helping Keagan study grammar. She’s picked it up very quickly. She’s doing a great job." Rudy looked at Keagan as she said this and thought she saw a flash of appreciation in her blue eyes.

"Grammar? What’s there to study with that? Grammar’s easy!"

Oh, no. Now she’s done it. Keagan knew instantly that her lover was going to come up with one hell of an answer to that one.

Rudy took a deep breath and began. "Well, first a mastering of the ten sentence patterns is necessary, followed by an understanding of modal auxiliaries which are extremely important to understand in order to grasp the verb-expansion rule. After that, it’s necessary to master completely expanded determiners, expletives, nonrestrictive modifiers, relative clauses and pronouns, and do transformations. And none of that even begins to take into account phonology, which in my opinion should be a required study along with grammar. Studying things like alveolar stops, labio-dental fricatives and affricates. Yes, Keagan’s doing quite well with it all." Rudy smiled sweetly and secretly enjoyed the look of utter confusion on Gerry’s face. Keagan remained silent, but Rudy almost thought she heard a small groan coming from her.

"My, my, it appears you’ve picked a brain Keagan. Congratulations. Maybe she can support you when you insist on sitting at home and writing." Gerry laughed and Keagan followed suit. Inside, though, she was beginning to feel deeply hurt.

"I’m not a brain, Mrs. Rafferty. I’m just someone who really enjoys the study of English grammar. And as for supporting Keagan, I would be happy to do it if it was financially possible. I want her to do what she loves to do." Keagan cast a startled glance at Rudy and met the sincere green eyes looking back.

"I said you could call me Gerry, dear."

"Yes, I know." Rudy knew her mouth was probably getting her into big trouble, but the alternative was to sit passively and allow the woman she loved to be attacked by her own family member. It was an alternative she refused to embrace.

As if on queue to break the uncomfortable silence, Joan came in the back door. Keagan tensed involuntarily, knowing what was coming next. And dreading the fact that Rudy had to be there to see it. In a few seconds Joan entered the living room holding a bottle of Seagram’s in her hand.

"Hi, mom. I’d like you to meet…my friend, Rudy." Ignoring the introduction and Rudy altogether, Joan focused on Keagan alone. It was obvious what she was thinking.

Her mother had such a dour look, that Keagan felt an instinctual need to lighten things up. "Mom? You haven’t started drinking have you?" Keagan’s brow furrowed to simulate mock suspicion. Gerry and Keagan both laughed. Rudy remained silent, wanting to stay out of the impending family argument if possible.

"Shut up, Keagan. You’re not cute anymore. I can’t believe you would bring this poison into my house!"

Keagan instantly sobered. "Then don’t believe it."

"What am I supposed to think? You’re sitting here, she’s drinking that, and there’s a bottle in my kitchen. I know how to put two and two together."

"Apparently you do. Let’s go, Rudy." Standing up, she headed for the door, expecting Rudy to follow, but the strawberry-blonde remained standing in front of the couch. Here’s the part where I break my resolution to stay out of things.

"Not going to defend yourself, huh?"

"No. Let’s go."

In the meantime, Gerry and Joan had begun a heated argument about the whiskey. As usual, Gerry was defending her right to drink however much she wanted and Joan was telling her to stop or get out. They both completely ignored the presence of Keagan and Rudy.

"Rudy, let’s go." Keagan knew the only way to stop the pain in her stomach was to leave. What was Rudy waiting for?

"Um, excuse me!" Rudy pitched her voice a bit higher than usual to get Joan’s and Gerry’s attention. They went silent for a second and looked at her, Gerry angry with her for interrupting and Joan wondering who she was.

"Just to set the record straight, Keagan didn’t bring the whiskey. I think it’s really unfair of you to treat her this way. Nice meeting you both." Then she turned to join Keagan who was waiting impatiently at the door, but not before one final bellow from Joan.

"Don’t tell me about my daughter. I think I know her a little bit better than you do. Who are you anyway? Her latest fling or another one-night-stand that she uses to come up with plot ideas for her writing? Hmm?"

"With all due respect, ma’am, if you had allowed yourself to be introduced to me, you would have seen that I’m someone who cares about your daughter very much. And you wouldn’t have had to ask that question." Another glare was all she got from Joan who turned from her and began arguing with Gerry again.

When they returned to the car, Keagan was the first to speak. "So…what did you think? They’re very warm, friendly, and outgoing. Just like me, huh?" Keagan started the engine and they began the short trek back from German Village.

"I don’t think they’re anything like you."

Keagan forced herself to laugh through her hurt. "I’m really sorry they treated you so rudely. It was a bad idea to take you over there."

Rudy put a reassuring hand on Keagan’s thigh. The blue eyes met hers. "Well, since taking me over there didn’t work, how about taking me somewhere else? Like my bedroom."

Keagan laughed. "You endless flirt."

"No. I’m not flirting. I’m serious. I want to hold you right now."

"I want that, too." Keagan was touched by the concern showing in Rudy’s eyes. It almost made her forget about the latest family incident as the tension in her stomach dissipated. Taking Rudy’s hand, she brought it to her lips, placing a kiss upon it.

When they got back to Rudy’s house, Courtney was cooking for her boyfriend, Jake. She invited them to dinner and to Rudy’s surprise, her lover agreed. They retreated to Rudy’s bedroom when Courtney said dinner wouldn’t be ready for another half-hour.

"You must really be hungry," Rudy teased. She was lying with her back against the headboard of her bed, reclining into the pillows that rested there. Keagan’s head lay against her chest, Rudy’s arms protectively around her. She moved her hand to Keagan’s dark hair and began to gently stroke it, loving the touch and feel of the soft, beautiful strands.

Keagan’s breathing was even and relaxed, at last returned to normal from the earlier altercation. She listened contentedly to Rudy’s steady heartbeat and speculated if she was in heaven. It certainly felt like it. "Why?"

"Because you agreed to dinner with Courtney who you don’t know that well and Jake, who you don’t know at all."

"Well," Keagan placed her hand on Rudy’s thigh and stroked it gently. "The way I see it, I know you and you know them, so I think I’ll make it through."

"I think you will, too." Rudy smiled and gave Keagan a small, reassuring hug. Her feelings felt raw and exposed holding her lover like this. She longed to tell her how she felt but realized now would not be a good time. She was too vulnerable at the moment and telling her how much she loved her would only make her more so.

"You know what will happen now?" Keagan considered raising her head to look into the green eyes, but decided it would be easier to discuss these things in her current position.

"What?"

"Probably tomorrow I’ll get a message on my machine from grandma saying she’s sorry Joan ruined our visit, and would we please come back and to give her a call. And then I’ll get a message from Joan saying she’s sorry Gerry ruined our visit and for the things she said to you about me, that she really does want to meet you and she really doesn’t have a problem with me being gay and to please give her a call. It’s always the same thing. They…hurt me…and they think an apology will heal it." Keagan’s breathing began to catch and she tried to keep from crying. It always embarrassed her to cry in front of other people. It even embarrassed her to cry alone.

Rudy tightened her arms around Keagan and began to feel contempt for a family that would so heartlessly dole out this kind of emotional abuse. Her feelings of ire calmed down when she considered the seriousness of the illness that wasn’t being dealt with in Keagan’s family. She felt compassion for them, even while they hurt Keagan. "Honey, if you want to cry, go ahead. You might feel better."

"It makes me feel ashamed to cry." There was no way she could look at Rudy now.

"You’ve never cried with me around." She lovingly continued to stroke Keagan’s hair and moved her hand down to her cheek where she could feel a single tear beginning to fall.

Keagan felt her composure dwindling as her breathing sped up. "I can’t risk my big, butch image by crying in front of you." She attempted to laugh, hoping to stifle down the impending tears that she could feel coming. It didn’t work.

Rudy’s voice was soft and quiet. "Well, then, pretend that we live in the Middle Ages and I’m your knight and you’re my maiden. I just rescued you from an evil lord’s attempted abduction. Now you’re resting at my manor and I’m comforting you. We’re sitting in front of a warm fire and you’re sipping some tea. You feel better but you’re still upset. I know this, so I hold you in my arms and you begin to cry. I think it would be all right for you to cry in that case."

Keagan was touched at Rudy’s attempt to spare her embarrassment, growing speechless as wracking sobs began to overtake her. The last time she had cried it had been with her grandmother. Now she was crying because of her grandmother. She held tighter to Rudy as the tears fell down her face. She heard words of comfort as gentle fingers brushed away her teardrops. She clung to Rudy for several minutes until finally the tears stopped and her composure returned. Feeling Rudy’s hands still in her hair, she wondered how she had lived without this woman’s touch. She lifted up her head and gazed into green eyes full of compassion. "Funny," she began with a small smile, "I wasn’t ashamed this time."

Moved by Keagan’s display of vulnerability and her willingness to share it with her, Rudy merely smiled and brought her lips to Keagan’s for a kiss. And then she pulled Keagan back into her arms where she held her in silence until it was time for dinner.

Dinner was pleasant and Courtney turned out to be a nice host. After about 20 minutes of friendly conversation with both Rudy’s roommate and Jake, Keagan felt more comfortable around them. When discovering that Keagan wanted to be a writer, they responded positively and demanded an autographed copy of her first book. That got a genuine smile out of Keagan who immediately promised them both.

Eventually, the conversation turned to the subject of Valentine’s Day, which was in five days. Keagan absolutely hated Valentine’s Day. She found all the hoopla over love to be quite nauseating and hypocritical. People rushing to the greeting card shops at the last minute to purchase cards. And what for? If showing love meant buying a piece of thin cardboard folded in half with a cheesy verse written inside, then what was the point of love at all? She truly didn’t understand it.

"So, what are you two doing for Valentine’s Day?" Courtney had a romantic streak in her and she very much enjoyed the holiday and the gift giving it inspired. She also hoped that by asking, it would stir Jake’s memory. Hearing the question, Jake groaned. Keagan followed suit.

"I suspect we have a couple of kindred spirits, here." Rudy flashed a small smile to Keagan who sat across from her at the table.

"I just don’t see any point to Valentine’s Day," said Keagan dispassionately.

"Hear, hear!" Jake was beginning to like Keagan more and more.

"And why not?"

"Are you sure you want to ask her that, Courtney? I’ll just bet she’ll come up with some long diatribe about how Valentine’s Day is just a commercial holiday invented so greeting card shops can make tons of money off the hopeless romantic saps that feed into the disgustingly sweet drivel about finding your one, true love." Rudy gazed back to Keagan who was regarding her with amusement.

"Thanks, La Roux. I couldn’t have said it better myself." With a pensive look on her face, she continued. "Well, of course I could have, but you did okay!"

"Are you a Leo? That’s some ego on display there." Everybody laughed at Courtney’s teasing banter. Keagan didn’t really mind it. It made her feel more at ease.

"If you’ve got it, flaunt it I always say."

"Libra," said Rudy. Rudy recalled discussing their birthdays the other day, which naturally lead to a mentioning of their astrological signs. Neither Keagan nor Rudy knew much beyond what sign they were, however. This wasn’t the case with Courtney.

"Libra. Uh, huh. I can see it."

"Oh, no. Here she goes," said Jake. He grinned good-naturedly at his girlfriend and sat back preparing for Courtney’s in-depth analysis of all that was Keagan.

"Do tell more." Rudy grinned evilly at her lover, as Keagan cringed. She hated parties, British Literature, Valentine’s Day, and Astrology.

"Libras hate displays of intense emotionality and prefer detached, intellectual discussions of life."

"That’s me." Keagan nodded her head smugly.

"And…Libras tend to use passive aggression instead of confronting things openly. Like provoking others to act, rather than acting themselves."

"Moi?"

"Yeah, you!" Rudy directed an intense but teasing gaze toward Keagan.

"Example?"

Courtney and Jake observed the banter between the couple with amusement. They seemed very comfortable with each other.

"Like last Saturday," Rudy began, immediately noticing the flustered look that appeared on Keagan’s face. "We ran into each other at the bar. We ended up actually having this discussion in the bathroom…"

"Right. Good example. All my fault. I’m just passive-aggressive. I’ll try to work on that." Keagan delivered her words quickly, hoping Rudy would abandon that train of thought. She wasn’t going to mention them being in the stall together was she?

"The bathroom? How did you end up in there?" asked Jake.

"Oh, well, you see—" Rudy paused as she noted the look of unease on Keagan’s face. Grinning broadly, she started to continue

"Why does anyone go to a bathroom?" Keagan laughed uneasily.

Courtney and Jake looked confused.

"Actually, when you’re in a bar, the bathroom is a great place to talk if you need quiet…and privacy." Rudy looked over at the now squirming Keagan and winked.

"Oh, I agree," piped in a totally oblivious Courtney. "Sometimes when I go out with my friends we escape to the bathroom to talk about guys and stuff. I know just what you mean."

"What guys?" asked Jake.

Courtney laughed. "The guys my friends are dating." She rolled her eyes with mock disgust.

Directing a dangerous glare toward Rudy, Keagan decided to change the subject. "So, what are Sagittarians like?"

"They’re nearly perfect. There’s hardly anything they can do wrong. They devote their lives to pleasing others, expecting nothing in return. They’d give the shirt off their back to—"

Courtney and Rudy exploded in laughter, while a confused Jake got a puzzled look on his face. "Oh, I get it. Rudy’s a Sagittarian." That only made them laugh harder.

"I think I’m being ganged up on by two roommates." Keagan allowed a small grin to surface upon seeing both Rudy and Courtney get innocent looks on their faces, complete with fluttering eyelashes. She shook her head, accepting the teasing good-naturedly.

When they finally found themselves alone together in Rudy’s room, Keagan wasted no time getting revenge. She picked Rudy up bodily, threw her on the bed, and proceeded to tickle her without mercy. "Stop! Oh, please. Please, please." Although Rudy laughed uncontrollably, she enjoyed the feeling of Keagan’s hands on her body. Trying to tickle her lover back, she discovered, was futile. Keagan was simply too fast and Rudy had already lost her composure over being so unceremoniously dumped on the bed and pounced upon.

"This is apparently the only way I can teach you to behave." Keagan whispered her words into Rudy’s ear and felt her tremble. She stopped tickling her after a few seconds and relaxed into the pillows, laughing as she did so. Rudy tried to catch her breathing, and slumped down feigning exhaustion. Believing Rudy to be worn out, Keagan was caught unaware when she felt swift hands on her stomach that tickled her ruthlessly. With a yelp, she soon found herself being straddled by a triumphant Rudy who held down her arms. The look of utter astoundment on Keagan’s face caused Rudy to laugh. "You’re not going anywhere unless I let you." She raised her eyebrows, her grin wily.

"Oh, really? I’m bigger than you. I could get you off of me easily if I wanted to." But Keagan made no move to do so.

"Do you want to?" Rudy leaned closer so that their lips were almost touching.

"Not really." They enjoyed a long, thorough kiss during which Keagan took advantage of Rudy’s distraction to flip her over on her back and pin her arms over her head. "Now you’re my prisoner." Keagan chuckled and began to kiss Rudy’s neck in earnest.

"And what do you do to your prisoners?" Keagan moved her body against Rudy’s, her hands exploring.

Rudy felt a hot tongue enter her mouth. "I discipline them." Keagan’s hands came up to the top of Rudy’s sweater and began unbuttoning it.

"What kind of discipline?" Rudy moaned as Keagan’s lips began to travel down the front of her neck.

Not wanting to interrupt what she started, Keagan nonetheless allowed herself a glance at the clock. She scowled. "I have to go soon. I’m still on that early shift." Groaning with frustration, she began to pull away from Rudy.

Rudy was breathing heavily, the fire begun by Keagan not anywhere near being put out. "You can not leave me like this."

Keagan’s eyes raked up and down the now aroused body of the woman she couldn’t get enough of. "Oh, I don’t intend to. But I do need to go home since I have to work so early. You up for continuing this at my place?"

"I’m up!" And she was, heading out the bedroom door to run downstairs and grab her jacket, not even remembering to bring a night bag. Keagan ran after her.

A couple of hours later, a very contented Rudy was reading what Cody wrote in Keagan’s notebook the previous Saturday. An equally contented Keagan was lying across from her, waiting for her reaction. She figured that Rudy’s response would give her some insight into how she really felt. And she was becoming more and more curious about how Rudy really felt about her.

Young Rudy (two Rudys were too confusing) was trying to knock a ball of yarn off the bed with limited success.

"Cody’s very insightful." Rudy wanted to wait for Keagan’s input before she commented further.

"Yes. She’s a neat lady."

"I like her a lot."

Keagan picked up Young Rudy with one hand and hoisted her above her head. The little kitten squirmed a bit and then mewed. She brought the small animal back down and set her upon her chest, where she began to claw. "Oww." Keagan groaned but didn’t remove her.

"Sweetie, don’t do that." Rudy leaned over and pulled the kitten’s clawed feet free of her lover’s chest. "You can just move her, you know. You shouldn’t have to experience pain just because she’s a cat."

"It’s her nature. I don’t mind."

"I do mind." Rudy looked into Keagan’s blue eyes. "I don’t want anything to hurt you."

Keagan averted her eyes from Rudy’s. "You can’t protect me from everything."

"No, but I’ll protect you from what I can."

Keagan smiled as the little kitten settled herself onto her chest and slept no longer clawing. She gazed into Rudy’s green eyes. "Thank you."

"Anytime."

Keagan felt the little kitten purring and sighed. She was a cute little beast. Maybe I’ll keep her. "So, um, what do you think?"

Rudy put the notebook on the floor and stared back at Keagan with guileless eyes. "About what?"

"About what? About what you just read!"

"I don’t know. You tell me." Rudy’s eyes twinkled at Keagan.

"No. You tell me."

"All right, I’ll tell you." Rudy took a deep breath and tried to fight down the very uneasy feeling she was now getting in her stomach. Here goes nothing. "I think Cody is right-on…at least the part involving me."

"You think?" Keagan reminded herself that she had asked for this. It was her overwhelming curiosity that brought them to this point. Picking up the sleeping Young Rudy, she placed the animal at the foot of the bed where she yawned and fell back into slumber.

"I know."

"Hmm."

"What do you mean, ‘hmm?’" Rudy threw an exasperated look to Keagan who was now ceremoniously taking it upon herself to cover her face with a pillow. "Oh, no, you don’t." Rudy reached over and grabbed the pillow off of Keagan’s head and then bopped her with it. Keagan’s eyes remained closed, but a huge smile was beginning to form on her face. "Let me tell you something. Something I don’t think you’re aware of." She straddled the prone form of her lover and then leaned down close, their faces almost touching. Keagan kept her eyes closed. "I would have slept with you the first night I met you."

"Damn!" Keagan opened her eyes. "I knew I should have tried something!"

"You are so awful!" Reaching over, Rudy grabbed the pillow and hit her again, but Keagan didn’t fight back, she just laughed.

Keagan sobered. "But you didn’t even know me."

"You’re wrong. I knew you the first time I saw you."

Keagan reached up and touched Rudy’s lips and then drew their bodies closer together. She could feel the familiar surge of adrenaline that close intimate contact with Rudy always caused. She knew it was something she wanted to feel for a long time, but her cynical nature wouldn’t allow her to openly embrace the concept of instant connection. "Let’s see. They saw each other…across a crowded room—"

Rudy groaned. "Please don’t go there."

Seeing that Rudy was serious, she fell silent. Keagan had learned from past mistakes that sometimes her mouth got her into trouble and this might very well turn out to be one of those times.

Rudy laid her head down on Keagan’s chest to rest it snugly in the crook of her neck and felt strong hands stroking her hair. Her voice became quiet. "I meant what I said when I told you I loved you, you know."

"Hmm." Several people had told Keagan that. And most of them probably didn’t mean it. The word was frequently bandied about. It was very rarely put into congruous action.

Ignoring Keagan’s noncommittal response, Rudy continued anyway. No sense in doing things half-assed, right? "I’m so in love with you, I can’t think." She chuckled softly. "I know I probably flunked that BritLit exam. Lucky that’s not my concentration."

"But we studied for it all night." It was true. In spite of the two English majors’ mutual desire to pursue more stimulating activities, they had studied quite thoroughly.

Rudy gazed into darkened blue eyes that were watching her closely. "True enough, but all I could think about the whole time was getting your hands on me. That tended to cancel out just about everything that went into my brain." Embarrassed a little, she put her head down again.

Keagan considered this. "Hmm." She suddenly felt a need for distance from Rudy, but didn’t know why. Anyone else’s heart would be soaring with happiness over such an admission. Keagan could only feel suffocation and fear. And love. The question remained as to which one would dominate. "Thank you."

"For what?" Rudy felt strong arms tightening around her for a hug.

"For feeling that way about me."

When the embrace ended, Rudy drew back and looked into Keagan’s eyes. They seemed to be trying to say something without words. "You don’t need to thank me for loving you. It’s not something I chose. It’s just what I feel. I don’t have any control over it."

"Yeah, I know." Neither do I. And that was the one thing that frightened Keagan more than anything.

Rudy and Keagan were both pleasantly surprised to discover on Thursday that they both had passed the exam. Just passed it. Luckily, there would be the rest of the quarter to bring their grades up. Rudy was thrilled that she scored a point higher than Keagan and didn’t let one opportunity to mention it slip by. Keagan defended herself and her great mental reserve of poetry quotes by telling Rudy that she must have been thinking about her way too much during the exam. Although they hadn’t spoken about their feelings for each other since Tuesday night, and Keagan hadn’t made any declarations, Rudy noticed that she had been more open in expressing affection for her. The comment about the exam was just one example.

As for Valentine’s Day, Keagan flatly refused to attend the party thrown at the bar. Rudy tried to use her powers of persuasion to convince her to go, but it was just like Gretchen’s party. The answer was always no.

As expected, Keagan received the obligatory calls of apology from her family. She accepted with grace, but decided to distance herself from them for awhile. Being hurt was something she no longer had to endure because she had a choice. Her resolution was to set permanent limits with them.

Sunday evening saw the Grotto bristling with action and decorations. Rudy sat at the end of the bar, sipping a Coke and chatting with Cody. She took in the unfolding scene. Large three-dimensional red hearts hung from the ceiling. Red, white, and pink helium-filled balloons floated throughout the bar. Most of the people in attendance were wearing red or pink. Rudy had on white jeans and a soft, red cassimere sweater, accented with red hoop earrings. Less noticeable were the heart-spotted white socks she had on underneath her shoes. She chuckled to herself at the razzing she would get when Keagan saw them. Taking another sip of her Coke, she glanced up to see Cody coming her way. The bartender was dressed as Cupid; complete with arrows stored on her back.

"Cody? You didn’t by any chance shoot Char and Angelique did you?" She indicated the former predator Char who was sitting at a table near the dance floor with the flower girl, Angelique. Char was feeding her chocolates and their gazes never left each other.

"No, I didn’t have to!" Directing a wry grin in their direction, the bartender scooped up two empty beer bottles and disposed of them. "You know what Keagan would say about this, don’t you?"

Rudy held up her hand. "Wait! Let me take a shot." She crinkled her brow as if in deep thought and then her features took on the best imitation of a dispassionate Keagan. "’I really don’t see the need for such a sugary sweet display of affection in public. When people don’t do those kinds of things in private, it makes me think they have an agenda. That agenda being to force their relationship down my throat. I hate entities!’"

Cody burst into laughter and Rudy followed. "Honey, you are good! Where is the elusive Ms. Keagan anyway? I know she hates Valentine’s Day, but now she has you."

Rudy smiled. "I think she still hates it. But, I’m hoping she’ll show up since we didn’t make plans."

"She’ll show up. She always shows up. This is my theory. I think Keagan likes the attention she gets for showing up late. She doesn’t know she likes it, but deep down I think she does."

"You may be right." Rudy glanced around the bar and spotted several people she knew. Milligan and Jackie Daniels were playing pool, Jill and Dani were in the midst of their latest scheme, Gretchen was attempting to stir up new controversy, and Brad was near the back just lurking around brooding. She spotted him and waved. In a few moments, he had joined her at the bar. "How’s it going, Brad?"

He sighed. "Same old, same old. None of my boyfriends want anything more than sex."

"Maybe someday you’ll find someone who does." Rudy smiled encouragingly.

"What makes you think I want someone who does, girlfriend? I was just saying that all my boyfriends just want sex. I didn’t say I had a problem with it." He grinned leeringly.

Rudy laughed. "Ah. Okay. Sorry I misunderstood you."

"S’all right. I’ll forgive you just this once. You waiting for tall, dark, and brooding?"

"You know, I could use the same terms to describe you."

"You might." He paused and ordered a drink. "Keagan and I are a bit alike. Except she wants more than sex in a relationship."

"You think so?"

"I know so." Cody brought over a whiskey sour for Brad. "Thank you my darling!" He took a sip as the bartender sauntered off. "She told me."

"She did?" Rudy didn’t want to pry information out of Keagan’s best friend, but she was understandably curious about things her lover had not yet revealed.

"Sure." He said it nonchalantly and reached for some popcorn. It was tinted pink. Rolling his eyes and grimacing, he popped some into his mouth. They really go overboard for some of the V-Day hoopla. "Not in so many words, but she told me she loves you."

"She what? What did she say exactly?" Rudy wasn’t proud of encouraging Brad to betray his friend’s confidence, but she had to know.

Brad was almost touched by Rudy’s curiosity. Ordinarily, he would never give away any of Keagan’s secrets, but this wasn’t just anyone. Rudy was the woman his best friend was in love with. And aside from that, Brad liked her. With Keagan finally having a likeable girlfriend, Brad’s life would be easier as well. "Okay, let me think a minute here. What did she say, what did she say." He remembered exactly what Keagan said, but the sadistic part of him enjoyed Rudy’s trepidation. Okay, Brad, stop it and put her out of her misery. "Ah, yes. I told her the only time I ever sent flowers to someone was when I was in love. And then I asked her if she was. She said something along the lines of ‘Yes, yes, yes, of course I am. I’ve thought about this and it’s the only conclusion I can come to.’"

"That sounds like Keagan all right."

"She’s nuts about you, okay? Don’t worry about it." He grinned at her and then his ever-travelling eyes spotted someone he knew on the other side of the dance floor. "Gotta go, girlfriend. I’ll catch ya later!"

As Rudy watched him go, she felt her mind going to pieces. Would Keagan ever be able to express her feelings for her verbally? And did it really matter that much? She realized there were no easy answers to these questions. Her eyes scanned the bar again. She noticed that Deb and Kristy were sitting on other sides of the bar. Kristy had just kissed another woman and it was very clearly a romantic kiss. She remembered the night that Keagan had told her about their "pickup" ritual to keep their relationship stimulating.

Noticing where Rudy was looking, Cody spoke in a low voice. "They broke up."

"Hmm." Keagan told her they were the token couple of the bar. They weren’t supposed to break up. "I think I’d avoid Valentine’s Day at the bar if I were them, but to each her own."

"That’s what I say, Rueday. It’s sad, though. They were together three years."

Rudy nodded but didn’t say anything.

Rudy visited with several other people before Keagan finally made an appearance. She stifled down a laugh as she saw her lover enter the bar clad in a red blazer, pink shirt and black jeans. I suppose she had to sneak black in there somehow. Rudy was genuinely surprised that Keagan indulged the inclination to wear red on Valentine’s Day. It seemed like she was carrying something, too, but Rudy couldn’t make out what.

Keagan’s eyes didn’t meet hers. Instead, she went straight for the bar and got a drink. Then she went over to the other side of the bar and sat down at a table by herself. Rudy’s eyes remained riveted on her.

Keagan made sure to find a table with an excellent view of Rudy so she could easily get her attention. She glanced up at Rudy to see the strawberry-blonde smiling at her with interest. Keagan merely grinned in response and remained seated.

Rudy watched as Cody went over to Keagan’s table. She could see her lover handing a couple of things to Cody, but couldn’t make out what they were. She did detect a smirk on Cody’s face as the bartender sauntered back to the bar. In seconds, Cody had placed a glass of red wine in front of her, along with a large red rose and a note folded in half. "Compliments of the rival poet from Shakespeare’s den of iniquity." Cody shook her head and walked off. She had no idea what she had just said to Rudy, but those had been Keagan’s instructions. She figured it was an English major thing.

Rudy glanced to Keagan whose eyes had never left her. Casting her lover a suspicious look, she opened the note and read: "I was just sitting here minding my own business when my eyes set upon the loveliest vision they ever had the fortune to gaze upon. Would you like to bring your beauty and splendor a bit closer and relieve the waves of loneliness that wash over and through me every time your eyes leave mine?" It was signed, The Rival Poet. Rudy started laughing and looked over to Keagan who was smiling at her and getting that adorable expression on her face that seemed to say, "Who? Me?"

Rudy sniffed the rose, enjoying the fragrance. Picking up her glass of wine, she started over to Keagan’s table. Her heart sped up as she wondered what Keagan had planned. "Are you the rival poet who requested my presence?"

"Oh, yes." Keagan flashed her a saucy grin.

"From the den of iniquity?" Rudy remained standing.

"Uh, huh. Please, have a seat."

"I don’t know if a woman of my virtue can allow herself to associate with a complete stranger who claims to be from a den of iniquity. No offense meant."

"No disrespect is meant, La Roux, but then why did you come over at all?"

Rudy arched an eyebrow at Keagan, but chose to ignore her use of the nickname. She sat down and took a sip of the wine. "Yum. This is good." If she can slip out of character, so can I. Meeting Keagan’s eyes, she reverted to her role. "You remind me of someone."

"Oh, and who would that be? An old lover perhaps?"

"No, my current lover." Rudy sniffed the rose again and smiled almost shyly.

"What’s she like?"

Rudy thought briefly and then brought the rose to her lips for a second. "Absolutely impossible." She smiled devilishly.

"Good one."

"Thanks. I thought so." Leaning over, she kissed Keagan on the lips. "You look very nice this evening."

"What? You’re not going to make fun of me?"

Rudy snorted. "Are you kidding? My girlfriend who says she hates Valentine’s Day, shows up at the bar I’m at, picks me up in a very sexy way, gives me a rose, and a romantic note. And to top it all off, she’s dressed in red and pink and looking so good that I can’t take my eyes off of her. Why would I make fun of that?"

Keagan gazed down embarrassed. "I see your point." But, when she looked back up, her gaze was devious. "I’m pretty good at picking up chicks. Glad you like my technique."

Rudy laughed and hit her on the arm. "Sometimes I think you’d fit in better at a sports bar! You could just sit there with all the jocks and talk about picking up chicks!"

"Nah. That’d be boring. No women." Keagan winked at her. "I noticed you called me your girlfriend. I think I like that idea." Keagan looked her squarely in the eyes.

"Oh you do?"

"Uh, huh. There are just too many logical reasons for you to be and no compelling enough ones for you not to be."

"And what would these reasons be?"

"Number one: you’re really hot." Keagan snickered. Being bad was so much fun.

Rudy rolled her eyes. "Gee, thanks. Anything else?"

"You like poetry and literature and stuff. And you’re a grammar guru. That could help me with my writing career, you know." Keagan paused as if she had to think really hard to come up with something else.

"And--?"

I know I am going to get slapped for this one, but I don’t care! "You’re pretty good in bed." Keagan smiled broadly and raised her eyebrows lecherously.

"Pretty good?"

"Well, sweetie, you’re still new to this stuff. I don’t blame you!" Keagan tried to duck as Rudy leaned over and slapped her across the head teasingly.

"She finally calls me ‘sweetie’ and she’s being a lech! I think I will ship you to a sports bar!"

"Okay, you’re great in bed." Keagan reached over and squeezed her hand to reassure her that she was just being facetious.

"That’s better." When Keagan didn’t add anything, Rudy inquired further. "Is that it?"

"No, there’s more." Keagan took a deep breath. No use in doing things half-assed. "I think we fit together well."

"Yeah, we do, don’t we?"

"I mean, you…fit inside my heart. Somehow you know me. And you make me happy."

"You make me happy, too."

Keagan felt a fullness in her heart that was unknown before Rudy. "So, ya want to be my Valentine, then?" She grinned crookedly and tried without success to avoid feeling silly.

"I thought you felt that Valentine’s Day was a cheesy, commercial holiday with no redeeming value."

Keagan nodded in the affirmative and grinned. "I still think that. But I want you to be my Valentine anyway."

"Okay, then, it’s settled. One Valentine coming up. Just let me know when you want me."

"Oh, I will. Count on it." Keagan leaned over and kissed Rudy deeply. When they parted, Keagan’s gaze fell upon Char and Angelique who were still feeding each other candy but were now licking chocolate off of each other’s fingers. She sighed in disgust. Cody came over with new glasses of wine for them both and chuckled upon seeing what Keagan was watching. "What do you think of them, Keag?"

Keagan frowned. "I don’t see the need for such a disgustingly sweet display of affection in public. When people don’t do those kinds of things in private, it makes me think they have an agenda to try and force their relationship down my throat. I hate entities!"

Cody looked at Rudy and winked. They both exploded into hysterics. "You were close, Rueday. Very close. Almost word for word. Not bad, honey!" She headed back to the bar.

"What was she talking about?"

"Never mind. I’ll tell you later. Do you mind if we go? I want to be alone with you right now."

Keagan leaned over and whispered into Rudy’s ear. "If you want to be alone, the bathroom’s only about ten feet away. What da ya say?" She snickered.

Rudy looked over at her lover, wondering if she was serious. Keagan motioned with her head toward the bathroom, to indicate she was. "I’ll consider it. But only if you use the door this time."

"Deal." They laughed as Keagan felt a wave of contentment wash over her. She also felt relief that she wouldn’t have to defy physics to crawl under the door again. Her back was thankful.