Chapter 34:Time together

The first week was both stressful and relaxed. Stressful in a way that it took them a while until they figured out where they had to go and got lost on campus the one or other time, but also relaxed, because other than the introductory courses they didn't have very much scheduled. So they had enough time to figure out their normal schedule, which looked a bit busier than the first week. They had also found an extracurricular class they both wanted to do, so while all of their courses were separate they had that class together.

One afternoon about a month after they started college Piper had some time off and nothing to do, hoping Alex would have time too and maybe they could do something together. The recent days had been rather busy for both of them and they hadn't had much time to spend together. Piper missed her girlfriend. She went down the hallway to Alex's room and knocked. Ashley opened.

"Hey, Piper. Alex isn't here." she assumed correctly that Piper was looking for her girlfriend.

"Oh, okay. If she comes back, can you tell her to come over to my room, please?" Piper asked her, feeling a little disappointed not to see Alex.

"Sure." Ashley shortly replied and returned her attention to her desk, where she had many papers spread across the whole surface. "Sorry, I am in the middle of this task for my basic education class."

"Don't worry, I'll leave you to go back to work." Piper replied and went back to her room.

"Hey, Piper." Zelda greeted her when she came in.

"Hey Zelda. Done for the day?" Piper asked.

"Yeah. No plans so far, but a free afternoon and nothing to do can be great too, right?" Zelda said and smiled at Piper.

"Yeah. Same here actually. I hoped that Alex had time to hang out but she's not in her room. So I guess I don't have anything to do." Piper told her.

"Don't you know each other's schedule?" Zelda looked at her surprised.

"We do. And her last class ended fifty minutes ago. So I assume she got held up or is chatting with some friends or whatever. She's a free human being and can do whatever she wants. Would be nice if that was me sometimes… but I'm trying not to be that girlfriend that gets jealous and wants to control her girlfriend's free time." Piper explained and Zelda laughed. Piper was a little surprised at what was so funny about what she said.

"Well, if you need me out of the room at some point, let me know." she couldn't help but keep giggling.

"Why are you still laughing? I think I missed something..." Piper tried to remember, but just got more confused.

"Alex can do whatever she wants. And it would be nice, if she did you sometimes…" Zelda kept laughing when eventually an expression of understanding spread across Piper's face.

"Well, not what I meant at that moment, but well, I'm not gonna say no to that." she joined in the laughter. "Okay, since Alex seems to be occupied right now, do you want to play something or watch a movie or just hang out and chat?"

"We can play something and chat while playing." Zelda suggested.

"Sure." Piper replied and got the cards out. "Rummy?"

"I'll beat you this time, just wait." Zelda seemed quite energized and determined.

Piper laughed. "Oh, do you have any idea what Prof. Langdon meant with that literary theory we should all know about? She didn't go on explaining, and to be honest, I have no idea."

"No me neither. I asked Jennifer and she said she had an idea but didn't know how to explain it. So I guess she had no clue either. If it doesn't come up again next time, I'll go ask her after the next lecture." Zelda explained.

"I'll join you." Piper replied.

"Thanks, that'd be great." Zelda said appreciatively. "Oh and by the way, it would be nice if you left the room for me too when I want to have a girl over, is that okay with you?"

"Of course. Same rights for everyone in this room." Piper laughed. Just like that Zelda had confirmed her guess that Zelda was into girls too without Piper asking for it. She had been curious but also didn't want to ask that directly for some reason.

After a couple more rounds Piper had beaten Zelda another time and they just kept chatting. Just then they heard a knock on the door and Alex peaked in.

"Hey, Pipes. Heard you already asked for me." Alex said.

"Yes, you weren't here. So Zelda and I played some rounds of rummy and talked. What did you do most of the afternoon?" Piper looked at her curiously. Alex walked over and kissed her as she sat down next to her on Piper's bed.

"Well, if you two need some time, I'll go visit my friend Jennifer." Zelda shortly interrupted them.

"You actually don't have to. I was about to pick up Piper." Alex told her and looked at Piper questioningly.

"Oh, okay. Where are we going?" Piper wanted to know.

"You'll see. Let me surprise you." Alex said with a smirk on her face.

"Uuhh, I love surprises. Can you at least tell me what I should wear to your surprise?" Piper replied, slowly getting excited.

"I know you do. Wear something nice but comfortable." Alex explained. "I'll meet you in front of the house in a couple minutes, I'm just quickly going to change too." and with that she was gone.

"Woah. I want a girlfriend that plans surprises for me." Zelda explained. "I'm getting a little jealous here. But I'm happy for you. Text me, if you want me not to be here when you come back." she said with a smug smile.

Couple minutes later Piper was ready to go and went down to meet Alex.

"Hey, you." Piper smiled when she saw Alex. "You look amazing, by the way."

"Hey, gorgeous. So do you." Alex returned and pulled her in for a kiss.

"So, what's this surprise about?" Piper asked curiously.

"Well… Let's start walking and you'll see." Alex took her hand and started walking. For a little bit they just walked silently until Alex broke the silence. "Okay. So I thought, since we both have been so busy lately and hadn't had much time together, I'd plan something nice. And here we are, we just have to walk up the hill and then we're at the right spot."

Piper smiled widely. "Wow. That's very sweet." After another ten minutes they reached the top of the hill.

"Someone in my ed class told me that from up here you've got a nice view over the whole campus, or at least most of it. So I packed a blanket and some snacks and something to drink." Alex took off her backpack and started unpacking. Piper helped and was a bit speechless. They sat down and started digging into the snacks Alex had packed.

"Al, thank you. That is very thoughtful and really sweet. Come here." she pulled her in and kissed her. For a minute they forgot about the rest of the world and were completely focused on the two of them for the moment.

They stayed close as they sat next to each other and with Piper resting her head on Alex's shoulder and Alex hugging Piper they enjoyed their time together and the view over the campus. "It really is an amazing view from up here." Piper said.

"Definitely. How did your week go so far?" Alex asked.

"So far quite good. Most of my classes are really interesting. It's great, but I can already see my workload get more until the end of the term. How about you?" Piper explained.

"Pretty much the same. There is this one professor, sometimes I really have trouble following his explanations. Unfortunately there is going to be a test at the end of the class, so I actually have to figure out what he wants to impact. But maybe someone else has a plan and can help me. Maybe we can find a study group or something like that." Alex told her.

"Yeah, sometimes it takes me a bit to figure out what they're trying to teach us too. How is Ashley? You two are getting along better now?" Piper asked. Alex had been quite annoyed by Ashley's constant talking which had led to a little discussion and Ashley being angry at Alex for a couple days.

"I think we are slowly getting there. I mean, she started talking to me again. That's good. I didn't mean for her to take it so badly, but well… I'm working on fixing that, as much as I can." Alex told her.

"Good luck. And if it doesn't go well you're welcome to come over to me anytime." Piper said. "And also if it goes well."

"Thanks." Alex smiled at her. "It's getting a little fresh now that the sun is gone. Do you mind if we went back?"

"How cold are you? Cause I'd actually like to stay a bit longer." Piper wanted to know.

"Not too cold, but I'd be thankful if, … Pipes, what are you doing?" she turned a little confused to her girlfriend.

"Wait a second, I had an idea." Piper just replied and went on putting everything but the blanket they were sitting on back into the backpack. "Now come scoot over to the middle of the blanket." Piper showed her where she meant. Alex moved next to her and together they pulled the now free half over their backs to wrap themselves in parts of the blanket.

"Ah, I see. Clever." Alex chuckled. With Piper cuddled into her and the blanket she felt quite warm now. They stayed like that and kept talking for quite a while until both started to get cold and they decided to go back. Piper quickly sent Zelda a text asking if she could go and visit a friend. Soon after she sent it Zelda replied with a blinking smiley to show she'd be gone. When they were back at the dorm they went up to their hallway.

"Do you want to come to my room? I still have to thank you properly for this amazing surprise." Piper said as seductive as she could, which didn't fail its purpose.

"I would love to. Zelda.." Alex started, her voice already a little raspier, as it always got when she was turned on, which was a huge turn on for Piper.

"...is visiting a friend." Piper ended the sentence.

"What a coincidence…" Alex laughed.

"Or no coincidence…" Piper laughed too but pulled Alex into her dorm room and locked the door.

"I really like where this is going." Alex almost whispered, Piper's body pushing into hers like that felt more than heavenly. They slowly moved towards the bed while their kisses got more intense and demanding. Soon they had rid each other of their clothes and Piper showed Alex how thankful she was indeed for the surprise picnic.

XXXXX

The next weeks they tried to get everything done by Saturday, aß they had promised, so they could have Saturday evening and the whole day Sunday to themselves. Friday evenings were reserved for the one or other party they were invited to or just to hang out with their friends. That worked pretty well, especially since Alex's situation with Ashley hadn't really improved that much. Ashley did talk to Alex now and then but other than a few words here and there their relationship obviously couldn't be fixed. Piper had joked that she felt sorry for Ashley's boyfriend since she was so unforgiving, even when it was just a small thing as someone saying something she didn't like. Alex had apologized several times already and eventually just accepted that it was now what it was and she couldn't change it. She was done apologizing for speaking her mind. The only reason she had apologized in the first place was because she had used the one or other not so nice word.

Sometimes Alex was a little troubled about Piper's closeness with Zelda, but she trusted her and Piper had never given her any reason to think there was anything else but a starting friendship between them. Two months after they started college Diane and Louis came to visit for a weekend and they showed them around. Alex's parents even invited them for a nice dinner to a good restaurant. They wanted to bring Felix, but he was at that age now where he was happy to stay at home and have some time without his parents.

XXXXX

As the term was coming to its end both Alex and Piper were so busy studying and writing papers that they barely managed to take the weekends off, which meant that they barely saw each other.

Currently was another of those weekends, where both were writing and studying. Zelda was a big help for Piper as they could repeat all the subject matter they needed for their upcoming tests together. Piper had noticed that Alex had become a little uneasy about her friendship with Zelda, and even more since she had gotten to know that Zelda was gay. Piper tried to reassure her when she felt it was necessary but wished that Alex could trust her more that nothing would happen. When she had confronted Alex about this, she had sworn that she trusted Piper, but not Zelda. The discussion had turned into a fight the evening before and Piper was quite annoyed that Alex obviously didn't trust her enough, because if she did, she wouldn't worry. Piper could handle herself and Zelda knew about their relationship and that Piper was off the market.

"Hey, what's up?" Zelda asked a couple minutes after she came back to their dorm room. "You look upset."

"It's nothing." Piper started but changed her mind and told Zelda the truth. "Well that was a lie. Actually, Alex and I had a fight yesterday and it doesn't feel good."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Zelda replied sincerely. "Anything I can help you with? Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really. And I don't want to talk about it." Piper replied.

"Don't you think you'd feel better after talking to someone?" Zelda tried.

"I do think I'd feel better, but well..." Piper didn't know if she should tell her why she and Alex had a fight, especially since Zelda was the reason.

"But what?" Zelda seemed to wait for Piper's answer and looked a bit distraught.

"I'm sorry, I can't tell you." Piper said apologetically.

"Okay." Zelda replied sounding disappointed.

"Alex is jealous of our friendship." Piper blurted out and immediately cursed herself for saying it.

"Wait. How is that?" Zelda asked.

Piper told her how Alex had been always a little worried but she promised she trusted her, but that it had gotten worse ever since she found out that Zelda liked girls. "It's ridiculous, really. Alex knows I love her and that you and I are only friends. I totally get that one can not always decide how they feel about something, but I can't really do anything to making Alex feel less jealous, now can I ?" Piper finished her explanation. Zelda stayed silent.

"What is it?" Piper asked. It was a rather uncomfortable silence and Piper felt there was more to Zelda's sudden muteness.

"I..."Zelda fiddled with her zipper. "I have to be honest with you. Alex's jealousy or rather her not trusting me is not completely crazy. I know we're just friends and I know you and Alex are in a happy relationship. But... well, I do like you, Piper. And I didn't want to tell you, because I know you don't feel the same. But I can't keep it secret anymore, Piper. I'm sorry. But as you said, one cannot always decide how they feel." Zelda finished silently, almost in an apologetic manner.

Piper didn't believe what she heard. Well, she did, but she didn't want to. This came out of nowhere.

"Zelda, I... I had no idea." Piper eventually stuttered out. She didn't know what to say.

"How could you have had an idea? I didn't want to ruin our friendship, but I guess I just did." Zelda looked at Piper as to confirm that this was the end of their friendship.

"I can't do this right now." Piper quickly replied as she started to feel sick and rushed out of the room. She needed to process that - alone.

Piper kept walking until she reached the little hill where Alex had surprised her with a picnic a while ago. She hadn't consciously decided to go there but she was happy that her subconscious had brought her to that place. She sat down and tried to process what had just been revealed.

After a little while she heard a familiar voice from behind.

"Needed some time alone to think, too, huh?" Alex asked as she approached.

"Yeah. It's a good spot to think. Also it reminds me of that great evening we had up here." Piper replied.

Alex sat down next to her. "I'm sorry that we had that fight because of me I didn't mean to say all those things. I have no idea what has gotten into me. Really, I trust you and that should be enough. And I'm working on not letting this jealousy get the best of me. I'm sorry." Alex apologized. "And then the stress with all the papers and studying, I guess it has been a lot."

"Apology accepted. But as it turns out your jealousy wasn't completely reason less." Piper started and explained to Alex what had just transpired about an hour ago. "So I need to apologize too. You were right, I just didn't see it. I never expected this."

"Woah. Are you serious?" Alex was surprised. "Urgh. I can't believe this."

"Me neither. But you know, you're the only one I want to be with, right?" Alex nodded. "I'm not interested in her like that. I only like her as a friend." Piper reassured her.

"I know. Apology accepted, by the way." Alex said referring to Pipers apology from before.

"So we are good? "Piper asked to be sure.

"Yes we are." Alex affirmed and leaned in to kiss Piper.

"Do you want to go back? I'm getting a little cold." Piper said after they sat there for a little while longer.

"Sure. What are we going to do about Zelda though? If possible, I trust her even less now." Alex wanted to know.

"I don't know yet, but I'm sure we'll find a solution." Piper replied. "Is there a chance you could ask Ashley to leave the dorm room for a couple hours?"

"Sure I can." Alex replied and sent her roommate a text.

"Good, cause I remember we both enjoyed our last make up sex a lot. And also I don't feel like talking to Zelda right now." Piper giggled but at the same time the thought of that first awkward moment of seeing Zelda again made her quite uncomfortable. But that wouldn't be until later hopefully.

"I do remember that too." Alex agreed with a smirk on her face.

When they arrived at Alex's dorm room they luckily found it empty. Just as they arrived Piper's stomach gave away a big growl.

"When's the last time you ate something?" Alex wondered laughingly.

"I, uh, don't know, actually. "Piper tried to remember.

"I do have a banana and some leftover pasta here, if you want." Alex offered.

"Later." Piper just replied and pushed Alex onto her bed. Alex really liked when Piper took the lead and just did what she felt like.

Couple hours later they heard a tight knock on the do and Ashley cautiously asking if she could come in. They had already been expecting Ashley to return at some point soon so they were sitting and chatting on Alex's bed with their clothes back on.

"You can." Alex confirmed. Ashley shortly greeted the two of them and got ready for bed.

"I guess I better go back to my room. It's going to be super awkward, but at some point I'll have to face Zelda. I guess this is the time." Piper said and got up.

"Can't say that I like that you're room mates, especially now that I know that she's into you. But I trust you. Maybe we can figure out how changing dorm rooms works, so maybe we could be roommates. Or rather so Zelda isn't your roommate any more." Alex said.

"We can go to the housing department tomorrow and ask them. Maybe Zelda and Ashley can be roommates then. A simple swap shouldn't be difficult, right?" Piper suggested. "But I guess we'd also have to talk to our room mates about that, don't we?"

"Definitely. As soon as we talked to them we'll go to the department and ask if there is a way to swap rooms. Or should we go there first and see if it is possible at all?" Alex wondered.

"I'll check on the website and in the housing rules if I can find something tomorrow. And after that we decide what we'll do?" Piper suggested.

"Sure." Alex replied and kissed Piper good bye. "Good night, Pipes.."

"Good night, Al." Piper smiled and went to her room still dreading facing Zelda. But to her surprise the dorm room was empty. Obviously Zelda wanted to avoid that moment too. On her desk she found a little note saying that Zelda would stay over and sleep at a friend's room. Piper was rather relieved and enjoyed that she had the room to herself. 'Although', she thought. 'There is one thing better, than having this room to myself.' So she quickly texted Alex.

[Piper: Got the room all to myself. Wanna join me?]

About a minute late Alex stood in her room and they finally enjoyed sleeping in the same bed again after not doing so for far too long.