"How long do we have?" I asked, the tone of my voice making it clear just what I intended to do with any time available.

"Seminar starts in 30. We'll need some time to set up our table. And I'm sure Marco would love it if we went to help him now." Paige looked uncertain, as if she couldn't decide between helping out or making out.

"Storage room?" I had no problem guiding her towards the right decision.

Paige smirked. "Ten minutes and not a moment longer."

After a split second pause, we threw our books into our bags and were racing down the halls to our favorite hiding spot. The moment the door closed behind us, I had my hand under her shirt, greedily feeling her up as fast as I could. These were the best make-out sessions, these few minutes we could dig up here and there. I pressed her against the door and forced my leg between hers, just to hear her gasp. Her mouth pulled away from mine and made for my ear, flicking my cartilage ring with her tongue: her revenge. I melted into her, dropping my grasp on her breast, letting my hand slide down her stomach, around to her back, and then into her pants. She hated it when I grabbed her ass – but only when we were at school and clothing removal was not an option. In her bed, it was very much ok.

"Do you want to leave early for the seminar?" she threatened, cupping my breast but stopping at that.

"Fine, you win." She always won that battle. I compromised by sliding my hands into her back pockets, pressing her into my thigh. She moaned against my shoulder – I always won this battle. In gratitude, her hand took a trip under my shirt, freeing my breast from the cup of my bra, teasing my nipple with her fingers. I pressed her harder against me and whispered into her ear, "Say I can spend the night tonight."

"You can spend the night tonight."

"Say you'll have sex with me tonight."

"No sex."

"Yes sex. Safe sex. We gotta practice what we preach." I was pestering her. It wasn't the first time. And it wouldn't be the last time.

"No. And if you ask again, you'll be sleeping in your own bed tonight." Her hand left my breast and she began to stroke me through my jeans. I shut up.

Our lips met again, hungrily, faster and faster. Time was ticking. She pulled away panting, and grabbed her cell phone from her front pocket. I kept kissing her, not wanting it to end, but she put her hand against my shoulder and pushed me back. "One minute left." Time needed to make ourselves presentable again. I sighed and flicked on the lights. Bras and shirts were straightened, hair brushed, lip gloss reapplied, breath caught. Just as innocent as could be, we were.

Marco ran up to us as we coolly made our entrance into the gym. "You're late. Is it possible that you two could keep your hands off of one another till after this is over?"

"You're lucky we made it here at all," I said, laughing at his half-hysterical behavior.

"Ah! People are arriving! Table four, pamphlets are underneath in the boxes. And wear these so they know you're here to help."

I started to hand Paige some of the informational brochures for her to lay out. "Nice of Marco to stick us at the hetero women's table. 'The Female Condom,' 'Nonoxynol-9, HIV and Pregnancy,' diaphragms, pregnancy prevention…" I stood up and looked around the room. "Where's all the safe sex info for lesbians? I bet they're not even handing out free dental dams. Looks like there's lube over there, though."

"Alex!" Paige looked mortified.

"What? I care about my sexual health. And yours."

"Could we not talk about this right now?" She looked about ready to kill me. I smiled.

And then came the protesters. Paige jumped right into the fight and I wasn't too far behind. They really were being dumbfucks. Never understood how those people can live in such an idealistic haze, completely unaware of how the world really is. No sex before marriage? I wanted to deck him right there. And that line about sexual deviance? Excuse me? Some book written thousands of years ago is the end all and be all of right and wrong?

When things started to get really ugly, Paige and I moved out of the way. And when Marco took a swing at that little piece of shit Linus, I found myself automatically tensing up, ready to protect her if the fight got too close. She grabbed my arm as Marco was dragged away from his victim. She didn't even think about it. Nothing like a pretty girl clinging to you in times of trouble, I say.

Marco stormed out of the gym and I could tell that Paige wanted to go after him. I, however, wanted her there. "Let him cool down first," I advised. She sighed and we headed back to our table, the rest of the afternoon continuing without incident.

"So, what did you think of the seminar?" asked Marco as we helped the health officials pack up.

"You did a fabulous job," said Paige.

"Except for a serious lack of information on lesbian safe sex," I added.

"There were pamphlets."

"There was one pamphlet about safe sex. There were a few on sexuality and only one specific to women. And the only freebies were condoms, which can double as dental dams but only if you cut them up the right way." I kinda went off on him then, rambling on about dental dams, non-microwavable plastic wrap, finger cots, common STDs, and in what ways a woman is most at risk when having sex with another woman. It was a good five minutes before I ran out of things to say and finally shut up.

"Wow. Guess I should have let you give a lecture."

"Guess so." He looked at a loss for something to say, so I tried to help him out a little by changing the subject. "You've got a wicked left hook. The fucker had it coming. Good on you."

"I so don't want to think about that today. Why don't you two come to The Dot with Jimmy, Ellie, and me? Grab a bite to eat. It'll be fun."

I turned to Paige, mentally begging her to remember what we could be doing instead, and found her staring at me in wonderment. She immediately turned back to Marco.

"No can do, hon. We've got other commitments," she told him.

Marco shook his head sadly. "Of course you do. Well, I'll catch you Monday."

"How do you know all that?" she asked after he left.

"It's called research. You should try it some time."

"It's sweet, you learning about all that. It almost breaks my resolve."

"That's kind of the point. I come off as caring and sensitive, you see no more reason to hold out on me, we both get laid, and all is right in the world."

"That's clever of you."

"Only clever if it works."

She looked away bashfully. I could smell my victory. "I've got a packet of dams on me right now. We could spring for a motel room and try them out." I leaned in to her and said in a mock seductive tone, "And they're flavored."

She tried to hold back her giggles, but failed. "You're terrible, you know that?"

"And yet you can't keep away from me."

"You really want to come over tonight?" she asked, her tone making it clear that she wasn't going to play along with me.

"Of course."

"Well, be forewarned that it's movie night at Chez Michalchuk. I had my parents pick up Jersey Girl. I kinda feel indebted to Kevin now."

"Can't we go out and do something else? Or just spend the evening in your room, under the covers?"

"I already told them I'd be around tonight. You know, they've actually resorted to calling me up and inviting me to spend time with them. Next thing I know, they'll be begging and groveling. If I cancel, I think my mother will cry."

"Well, I guess we don't want to disappoint the 'rents by denying them their weekly Paige sighting. What time?"

"Festivities commence at 8. Dinner's at 7. That should give you enough time to go home and grab some clothes."

"And miss spending time with you? Besides, I prefer stealing clothes from your closet."

"You hate my clothes."

"Yeah, but I love taking them off of you."

She rolled her eyes at me and started walking, letting me know the conversation was over. I could really only push her so far.