Atelophobia

Chapter One: The Beginning of the End

Nights like tonight, Olivia considered the direction of her life. She was young yet – only 25. She'd been a police officer for two years now. She loved her job. Loved it. She liked helping people, she liked the feeling she got when someone thanked her, and she liked knowing that she was doing more for someone than anyone had done for her own mother.

"I can't believe you're getting rid of it." Abigail Carmichael ran her fingers through thick dark hair, "And letting me do it, on top of that." She made a motion to reach for a pair of scissors.

"I must be insane."

"Well, I am your best friend."

"Monique's my best friend. You are a bit more than that, dear."

Abbie chuckled, remembering that no more than two hours ago, she'd been wrapped up in cotton sheets and Olivia and that twenty minutes ago, she'd been in the shower in this very bathroom with the same woman, clinging to her for dear life as she fucked her against the wall. And now, she was in Olivia's boxers and Olivia was in her Longhorns tank top and she was getting ready to chop her hair off.

It crossed Abbie's mind that it had been close to two years since she met Olivia at Palace – their favorite, discreet, gay friendly bar. It was Abbie's first year at Hudson – she was 22. Olivia was still in the Academy and she was 23. There was something about her, something about her toughness, but the gentleness in her tone and in her attitude that she loved. She knew they would never be more than fuck buddies, but she was happy to find someone as fucked up as she was – maybe even more than she was. And perhaps, in that, Abbie felt more comfortable than she'd ever felt revealing more about herself to Olivia than she did anyone else. No matter what it was.

"Yeah, maybe a little more than best friends." Abbie responded, "Now, you're sure you want to do this?"

"Hair grows back."

Abbie shrugged, "Fine."

First were the few snips she made to get rid of the majority of Olivia's shoulder length hair. Then she turned on the clippers and went to work. Thirty minutes later, Olivia was left with a pixies cut.

She stared at herself in the mirror for a few long moments, before speaking, "My mother will hate it, but I think it looks good."

"You look good, stud." Abbie winked into her reflection in the mirror and ran her fingers through the short hairs at the nape of her neck, "I did a damn good job, huh."

"You did. You think it looks good?"

Abbie smiled, "You look damn good." She placed a kiss on her shoulder, "Ya hungry?"

Olivia turned to Abbie, "Not the way you're thinking."

With a soft chuckle, Olivia turned toward Abbie. And with a low growl, she lifted Abbie in the air. Abbie knew she was being led back to her bedroom.

"First day of class tomorrow, Olivia. I can't."

"Yes, you can. And you want to." She placed Abbie on the floor. Abbie placed her hands on Olivia's shoulders and pushed her to the bed.

"Shut up and take what's coming to ya. And you better not keep me up all night."

"Scout's honor." Olivia's self-assured grin intensified as Abbie lowered herself to her knees in front of her.

Abbie smirked and reached for the waistband of her panties. The best thing about Olivia, Abbie had determined was that she always seemed ready for sex. The woman's libido was unstoppable. Olivia raised her hips and the underwear were quickly disposed of.

XXX

Hudson University's School of Law was a top ranked program and Alexandra Cabot's father, the great Senator Alexander Cabot IV, was proud of her for attending the prestigious school. Her mother, Claire (nee Montgomery), was happy that Alex's boyfriend of two years, Trevor Langan, was also attending the same school. For Claire Cabot, it was much more important that her daughter marry a lawyer than become one.

And it was important for Alex too, that she made both parents proud. And being with Trevor made her happy. He was clean cut, a beautiful man by every standard, smart, and charming. Best of all, he loved her.

Most convenient of all, he wasn't a woman.

While Trevor was her boyfriend – a good boyfriend at that – it wasn't as if Mr. Perfect was the only person Alex slept with - in fact, he was the person she slept with least. Her set of female paramours consisted of women she considered to a part of circle – daughters of politicians, women who were politicians themselves, women with a lot to lose, just like her. No hassle. No falling in love. Just a way to scratch that itch.

"Why can't we live in the same place? It doesn't make sense, Alex." Trevor placed his hands on hips as Alex paced around her bedroom looking for shoes before class.

"Because I'd like my space for the duration of law school." Alex smiled.

"And after law school?"

Finding the shoes she wanted and sliding into them, she looked over herself in the mirror before turning back to Trevor, "Then I'm all yours." She winked, retrieving her things from the table. She placed a kiss on his lips, "See you this afternoon."

Unlike most 1Ls, Alex wasn't restricted from taking electives. Her father pulled a few strings, because his daughter was going to do big things and how would she do big things if she weren't ahead of her class?

And that is exactly what brought her to Sexuality & Gender Law; a class filled with students a year or more ahead of her.

She chose a seat toward the front of the class. She wanted to be seen by the professor. She needed to be seen; she needed to talk to Dr. Sharon Roth – legal scholar, so very knowledgeable in gender studies and the law – so she could perhaps be a step ahead of the rest.

Exactly one minute before class was set to start, Abbie rushed in, pissed that the only seat available in the front of the class. An animal of habit, Abbie noticed the lithe body beside her. Perfect posture, obviously organized to the point that she could have a complex – blue blood all the way. Long, lean, golden blonde hair, and dark framed glasses – if she'd ever had a librarian fantasy, this girl would fit the mold. She was also obviously straight.

Shame. You'd have made a wonderful addition to Team Carmichael-Benson.