"Me or Tucker?" Gabby asked as they watched a movie.

Mandy rolled her eyes. "Shut up, I'm not answering that."

"I answered for you, frosh." Goosebumps flooded her arms.

She knew the question would come up especially after asking Gabby who she preferred, her or her ex-girlfriend, Deb. Gabby had picked Mandy causing the latter to blush uncontrollably. She didn't know if it was a line, but she appreciated being chosen over someone more experienced. Though the idea that Gabby had done the things they'd done with someone else kind of ticked her off. Like their sexcapade in the shower, that had sent them into a frenzy of orgasms hours after they'd finished. "You didn't have to."

"Fine, girlfriend," Gabby huffed, pulling her braids on top of her head. They'd become official. Not fully out to everyone, but they belonged to each other. And it felt so good.

"Why do you want to know so badly?"

"I just find it fascinating that you like men and woman. You're bi."

Mandy's face warmed and she couldn't find a rebuttal. She still wasn't sure about the term. It seemed to fit, but did she like women? Could she find herself in love with another woman like she was with Gabby? "Maybe I am. I don't know."

"You're mad."

"I'm not, I just don't want to talk about it." Gabby nodded and adjusted her body to see the screen. The room became silent. "Fine!"

The sophomore looked at her. "What?"

"Our conversations are better. You taste better," she smiled and Gabby blushed. "The sex is good and you're… you're my girlfriend and that's all that matters."

"That's all I wanted to hear," Gabby told her, rolling toward her. "So, Callie told me about a party tomorrow, do you want to go out?"

Mandy shook her head. "You go. I gotta study."

"I don't want to go without you," Gabby whined.

She shook her head. The sophomore turned to complete mush when they were together and Mandy loved it. She stroked Gabby's head. "You're lucky I love you," she said and the two of them kissed. "But if I can't study tomorrow night, then you have to let me study tonight."

Gabby grinned and climbed on top of Mandy. "One kiss for the road."

"You don't know how to give only one kiss," she egged laughing as Gabby kissed down her face and across her clavicle.

"I'm learning."

Alone, Mandy's body was raging. Each time Gabby got ready to leave, she felt the urge to pull her back down and kiss her until they fell asleep or until they were panting after descending from their highs. God, she was so in love. So many times, she wondered how she'd introduce her parents to Gabby if they were still together. But nothing ever seemed right. Her girlfriend told her not to worry about it, but it was all she could think about sometimes. When she talked to her mom and she asked about her, Mandy had been close to blurting it out. Could she keep her a secret forever? Shaking her head, she stuffed down her feelings and opened her textbooks.

A knock on her bedroom door disturbed her just as she was falling asleep whilst memorizing information for a pop quiz she knew was coming. "Door's open."

"Mandy?" She recognized the voice as Callie's and sat up, clearing her throat as she came into view. "Hey."

"Hey back."

"You got a second?"

"For you… I have two," Mandy said with a smile. Callie milled by the door. "You can sit if you want. You don't have to stand." The bed moved as she sat down. "What's up?"

Callie sighed. "Arizona and I broke up."

Mandy put her head down a little. People outside of college relationships always said they wouldn't last, but people inside of them didn't want to think about it. Well, she knew she didn't want to think about not being with Gabby. "I'm so sorry, Callie."

"Yeah. I don't know what happened. One moment we were good and the next…"

Mandy got up and got a soda from her mini-fridge and poured some into a cup for Callie. "I know it's not alcohol, but it's the strongest thing I have." The friends laughed together as she sat down next to Callie.

"Thanks. I didn't know who else to talk to. Maria would just say 'that's what you get for being with a white girl' and I don't want to hear that." She turned and their knees touched. "You're a good friend." She leaned in quickly kissing Mandy on the lips.

Mandy's hands flew to Callie's chest, stopping her. "You know I'm w-with Gabby." Her friend nodded. "And I think you're beautiful and you're one of my favorite people, but I don't see you like that."

With tears in her eyes, Callie stood up. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have."

"You don't have to go."

"I do," she said walking away from the bed. "Um, tell Gabby that I probably won't go to the party tomorrow, okay?" She nodded as the door opened and closed.

Mandy lay back on her bed. The one consolation of Callie kissing her was that she didn't have any inclination to kiss her back. Didn't feel any of what she felt for her girlfriend and that meant something—it meant everything.

When Gabby asked why Callie was no longer coming to the party, Mandy told her that it was nothing. "You're lying, frosh."

"She broke up with Arizona."

"Damn." Mandy looked down at her shoes which were actually Scotty's shoes. "Is she okay? Should we go over and keep her company or something?"

"Um, no, she's… fine. I'm sure. W-we can check on her later."

"Wait. Why are the roles reversed?"

"Huh?"

"You're the kind one. I'm the 'let's move on' one. Why are you me and I'm you?" The young couple cracked up. "What aren't you saying, Miranda?"

Damn it, when Gabby used her first name, her entire body reacted. Why did she have to know her so well? "Callie kissed me."

"There is a ringing in my ear. You let another woman kiss you?"

"No. I thought she was going to hug me or something, but we kissed." Gabby's eyes grew to the side of saucers. "I mean, she kissed me. I stopped it."

Gabby scoffed. "Yeah, right. I know she likes you."

"Does she?" Mandy made a face. Had that happened before? A girl having a crush on her and her not noticing or knowing? "I don't think so. I think she just misread my kindness for attraction or something."

"So you don't like her?"

"Not in that way, Gabrielle."

Moving in her direction, Gabby touched her waist, gripping her jean-covered hips. "Good."

"Do you like her?"

"Is she you?"

Mandy grinned, hating that she was turning into a puddle of love. "No."

"There's your answer." Their mouths moved in sync. Her hands went to Gabby's braids, stroking them slowly. "I only love you."

"You'd better."

At the party, Mandy stayed close to Gabby. When she was invited to the dancefloor by a guy, Gabby encouraged her and that made her a little sad. "It's just one dance, babe," she told her. "When you're finished, we can dance."

The guy was really handsome and a good dancer. And she didn't mind having fun with him. "You're really beautiful," he said in her ear.

"Thank you," Mandy smiled.

"I'm Ben. From Fram State."

"Miranda. Wellesley." The song changed and they stopped dancing. She tried glancing around for her girlfriend, but the room was crowded and she couldn't see much.

"If you're looking for you friend, she's over there," he said pointing behind her. Gabby was dancing with another girl. Their bodies were pressed against each other and the other woman had her lips near Gabby's ear. Mandy's chest heaved and she saw red. "She looks like she's busy."

Ben turned to her. "So, what do you study?"

She imagined in an alternate universe that they would have been really close, but right now she couldn't think about that. Mandy wanted to march over there and pull them apart, but then everyone would know that she was in love with a woman. But was that so bad? Why was she hiding this piece of herself? "Um, it was nice meeting you, Ben."

"You, too, Miranda." The bass in his voice made her turn to look at him once more before going over to Gabby.

Instead of interrupting their dance, she caught Gabby's eye and headed toward the door. Outside, the sophomore grabbed Mandy's arm gently. "We're leaving?"

"I am."

"Why?"

A few people walked by and she lowered her voice. "Because you're busy," she told her. "And…"

Gabby shook her head. "Are you jealous?"

"No."

Smiling, she put her lips on Mandy's chin. "You're jealous."

"Stop. We're…" She was about to say, "in public," but she caught herself. Why shouldn't she kiss her girlfriend in front of anybody? Gabby was used to it, but she was just getting used to loving a girl in private never mind in public. "You were dancing a little too close to her."

"Mmhmm. And?"

"And it made me mad?"

"And?'

"I was jealous," she whispered. She'd hated seeing Gabby with someone else. Why hadn't she felt the same way about her and Ben? "And I don't appreciate you pushing me to other people to dance with other women who are… all over you."

"That's not what…"

The freshman crossed her arms. "Your intent, Gabrielle, doesn't mean that's not how I felt."

"You called me 'Gabrielle,' you must be serious."

"Very."

"I'm sorry, Miranda."

"You should be."

Gabby slid her arms around her waist, hugging her. "Can I kiss you?" Mandy nodded. As they kissed, the entire world disappeared. She could only feel Gabby. And that was all she needed.

When they pulled apart, still holding onto each other and smiling, someone was staring at them. The woman looked away when Mandy raised a brow. "No one gets to touch you but me."

Gabby slipped her fingers into her beltloops pulling Mandy closer. "I'm yours?"

"Yes," she whined as they kissed again.

"You're mine, too."

Back in the party, they danced together, laughing and having a great time. Ben found her again and she pushed against his front as Gabby danced behind him. "Y'all are wild!"

"Too wild," Gabby said over the music.

In her dorm, they kicked off their shoes and tossed their shirts. "Hold on, did we both kiss Callie?" Mandy asked. "Should we do a threesome now?"

"Shut up," Gabby laughed loudly before pushing Mandy down and moving on top of her.