AN: OMG, what happened to reviews last chapter?! I was all excited about this story because somehow it managed to maintain reviews for three whole chapters and then BAM! Half. Literally half. Almost. I mean, what the fuck? Are you guys lazy or do you have something against spanking? I should spank YOU scrubs.
Anyway, thanks to those who reviewed and enjoyed the chapter. I'm not the type to get all chirpy with gratitude, but you guys know I appreciate you, right? ;)
—
Chapter 5:
—
The next night Angela and Alice got together in Alice's room so Angela could redraw the portrait that Jane had torn up. They sat on Alice's bed with clipboards and pencils, sketching each other for over an hour until Angela was satisfied.
"Thanks for posing for me again," Angela said. "I think it turned out even better this time."
Angela was holding the portrait at arm's length and Alice was standing at her shoulder to view it. Angela had drawn her with a smile and with her eyes exaggerated just a little. Alice giggled.
"It's awesome," Alice said. "You made me even prettier."
"That's impossible," Angela said, smiling and rolling the portrait into a scroll. "You're perfect as you are."
Alice giggled again. She had drawn a portrait of Angela, just to pass the time, and now she handed it over to Angela.
"Here," she said. "I already did one of Bella for the assignment, so you can keep this one."
"Really?"
"Sure. It's not that good, it's just a sketch."
"But it was you who drew it so it's automatically more beautiful than I'll ever be."
Smiling, Angela unrolled the portrait and looked at her pencil shaded image there. It was a little rough and her bangs were a little wrong but she was flattered all the same. While Angela was gazing at the picture Alice was gazing at Angela.
"I don't think so," Alice said. "I think you're plenty beautiful."
There was something deliberate in her tone that made Angela look up. She blinked. Alice was smiling coyly, studying the other girls reaction. Her eyes flickered to the ribbon around Angela's collar—as if plotting a way to steal it—and then back up at Angela's eyes. Angela blushed.
Alice might've been about to make a move but then the door opened and Bella came in. Alice and Angela startled a bit, as if they'd gotten caught doing something, but Bella hadn't even noticed.
"Oh hey," Alice said. "How was detention?"
Bella grinned, tossing her bookbag on the floor. "Pretty good," she said. "Ms Cullen was on duty."
Alice giggled and Angela smiled.
"Well, it's getting pretty late," Angela said, holding the scrolls coyly at her chest. "Better get to bed. See you in the morning, Alice."
The moment earlier had given her a tiny burst of courage and she quickly gave Alice a peck on the cheek before blushing and scampering back to her own room.
Alice was slightly surprised at the kiss and she gave Bella a look.
"Think she likes me?" she asked.
Bella snorted and started unlacing her shoes.
"Who wouldn't?"
—
For the next couple days Alice kept an eye on Angela. She was actually really cute, in a nerdy, bookish, shy-chick kind of way. Her hair was dark and long—darker than Bella's—and she wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses that looked kind of sexy on her.
Angela had a free period Thursday morning and Alice knew that Angela liked to spend her free time in the library.
The library was a tall stone building on a hill that towered over the campus like a gothic cathedral. Pigeons roosted on the parapets and the sky was aching blue above. Alice was on her way to English class but she figured she might as well pop in quickly to check if Angela was there.
There were some girls huddled at the computers as she came in, two of them laughing and the third telling them to shush. The librarian looked over and even the look seemed to silence them. Alice went on, padding over the carpet, past rows and rows of heavy oak bookshelves. Toward the back, where it was nice and secluded, she found Angela.
She smiled.
"Hey, Ange," she said, sauntering into the quiet aisle of books. "I was looking for you."
Angela had been reaching for something on the top shelf—something far out of reach—and now she startled, her glasses slipping on her nose.
"O-oh," she said. "Hi. Um…why were you looking for me?"
Alice had her hands laced behind her back and she gave a cute shrug. She was smiling and looking Angela over from head to toe, from the tassels of her shoes to the curls of her hair.
"No reason," she said.
"Oh," Angela repeated. "I see."
Alice giggled and checked to see if they were out of sight and then she came a little closer. Angela shrank back a little, likewise glancing over her shoulder.
"So," Alice said. "Whatcha doing?"
"Well, I'm supposed to be studying, but I can't reach the book."
She pointed at the shelf. Angela was tall, one of the tallest girls in class, but the shelves were old and much taller. Alice looked up at the book she was pointing at.
"Want me to get it for you?"
Angela smiled at the offer but shook her head. "If I can't reach, I doubt you can. Maybe I should just get the stepladder."
"Don't worry, I can get it."
Alice glanced around one more time, to make sure no one could see, then she put a foot on the lower shelf and climbed up. Angela fluttered in alarm.
"Alice!" she hissed quietly. "What are you doing, you can't do that!"
Alice climbed up two shelves and still the upper shelf was so high she had to strain to reach. She groaned and reached with one hand.
"Almost got it!"
Angela glanced about wildly, hoping no teacher would see, but then her eyes flickered back to Alice and she realized Alice was high enough to look up her skirt. Her stomach turned to knots as she checked out Alice's legs quickly and then she gave in to temptation and took a peek up Alice's skirt.
Pink panties.
Her heart flared.
"Got it!" Alice declared and hopped down.
Angela instantly looked away, blushing, tucking some hair behind her ear. Alice grinned and instantly knew what she was embarrassed about.
"Oh my god," she said. "You were looking up my skirt, weren't you?"
"N-no!" Angela blurted. "Of course not!"
"Yes, you were!"
"No, I wasn't!"
The librarian was going by and at the sound of raised voices she hissed:
"Shh!"
Alice and Angela bit their tongues. The librarian, a tall woman with glasses and dark hair—like an older version of Angela—gave them a bird like glare before passing on.
"We better be quiet," Alice giggled.
Angela was still blushing. "Yeah," she said, and held out her hand. "Can I have the book?"
Alice giggled again. "Not until you admit you were looking up my skirt."
"I-I wasn't."
"Yes, you were. You don't have to be shy, just admit it."
Angela blushed and looked away, her face bright red. Alice watched her, grinning.
"I wouldn't be offended," she said. "In fact, I'd be offended if you didn't."
Angela blushed even brighter if that was possible. She looked at Alice and away and then she looked at Alice again.
"Well…maybe I took a peek," she said.
Alice giggled. "I thought you did."
"Can I have the book now?"
"I don't know. You're cute when you're flustered."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
"Alice," Angela hissed.
"Angela," Alice mimicked.
Angela stomped a foot in the carpet soundlessly and pouted, holding out her hand for the book.
"Can I have the book please?"
Alice grinned and offered the book. Angela went to take it but Alice pulled back a little. Then a little more. Angela frowned and kept reaching until Alice was holding the book behind her back and they were standing toe to toe.
Alice grinned up at the taller girl and Angela felt her heart jump. She was looking down at Alice's pretty face and then Alice lifted on her toes and placed a kiss on Angela's lips.
Angela froze for a moment. She couldn't believe Alice was kissing her. She had dreamed about this for so long. Her heart began racing and it sped up even more as Alice wrapped her arms around her neck. The book had slipped out of her hand and thumped softly on the carpet.
Angela gave a little moan. Alice brushed the other girl's hair back and backed her into the bookshelf. She cupped the nape of Angela's neck and arched her body into Angela's. Angela opened her mouth and moaned again as Alice's tongue came inside.
She was breathless when Alice broke the kiss. She gulped and sucked in a breath. Alice smiled, her cheeks pink with blush. She was still leaning into Angela and still cupping the nape of Angela's neck.
"Is this okay?" she asked.
Angela didn't know. She was scared and excited and helpless all at the same time. Alice smiled and stroked Angela's cheek. Her eyes were big and bright behind her glasses and Alice brushed her thumb against Angela's lips.
"You really are pretty, you know," she said.
Angela shook her head quickly. "No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are," Alice whispered, and then leaned into another kiss.
Angela's heart was beating frantically but she decided to go with it. Her eyes were closed behind her glasses. She could feel Alice holding her face and then Alice's hands lowered to her collar. They were undoing her ribbon. Angela opened her eyes and saw the ribbon disappear into the pocket of Alice's skirt and then Alice began unbuttoning Angela's blouse.
"May I?" she grinned.
Angela glanced wildly down the aisle of books, scared of getting caught, and then gave a frantic nod.
"O-okay."
Alice giggled. She already had three buttons undone before Angela even answered.
Angela stood there with her body electrified as Alice opened her blouse and parted it about her breasts. She was wearing a plain cotton bra and Alice looked it over, smiling.
Alice lifted her smile to Angela then she touched a fingertip to one of Angela's breasts, a feather light touch on the cotton of her bra. Angela swallowed, self-conscious but not objecting. Alice traced a line with her fingertip under that soft globe and then she cupped it and caressed it. Angela squirmed, a hard throb building between her legs.
"Have you ever been touched like this?" Alice asked.
"N-no."
"Do you like it?"
"K-kind of."
Alice smiled and squeezed the bracups she was holding until the breast popped out. Angela felt a rush of exhilaration. Alice giggled at the exposed nipple and pinched it and kneaded it between her thumb and forefinger.
"Oh god," Angela said.
Alice giggled and leaned into another kiss. Angela accepted it, blushing madly, moaning softly under her breath.
"Wanna touch me too?" Alice whispered into her mouth.
"Yeah."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Alice giggled and took Angela's hand and guided it under her skirt. Their mouths were less than an inch apart. They could feel each other's breath on each other's lips.
"Here," Alice said, pressing Angela's hand against her panties. "Touch me here."
Angela's breath hitched. She never thought she would ever touch Alice there. Alice rubbed the other girl's fingers against herself and smiled.
"Mmm," she moaned pleasurably. "That feels nice. Do you like that?"
"Yeah…"
"Mmm," Alice moaned again. "Don't stop. Just relax."
Alice reconnected the kiss and arched herself into Angela. She had put her own hand up Angela's skirt and she felt Angela's whole body squirm as she inserted two fingers inside her. Angela gasped into the kiss helplessly and put two of her own fingers inside Alice. Alice moaned and kept kissing her, their gasps small and muffled off the shelves of books surrounding them.
"I think I'm about to come," Alice said, gripping on Angela's fingers. "Are you?"
Angela nodded. Her face was deep red and she was even sweating a little.
"I think so," she breathed, "I think so."
Alice giggled and pushed her fingers deeper into the other girl, causing her to moan loudly.
"Shh," she whispered. "We have to be quiet. Keep going. Keep going."
Angela nodded feverishly and Alice mashed a kiss onto her lips and together they kept going, fingers pumping in and out of each other until they came, groaning quietly into each other's mouths.
Angela moaned and almost buckled on her knees. She was panting loudly and trying to calm down. Alice was breathing heavily, but more controlled, and she placed a last long kiss on Angela's lips.
"Wow," she said. "That was great."
Angela gave a breathless chuckle. "Yeah."
Alice giggled and stepped back. Angela swallowed and started tucking her breast back into her bracup. Her body was humming like a drum and she still hadn't caught her breath.
The book that Alice had fetched down from the top shelf was laying on the carpet and now Alice picked it up. Usually she would bob down but instead she bent at the hip and kept her legs perfectly straight. She had her back to Angela and she knew that her skirt would ride up so that Angela could see her panties.
She grabbed the book and straightened up, just in time to see Angela's eyes darting away as she buttoned up her blouse, still blushing, her glasses slightly fogged. Alice giggled and handed over the book.
"Here," she said. "I gotta get out of here. I'm late, I was on my way to English class."
"O-oh," Angela said. "Okay."
Alice giggled again and placed one last kiss on Angela's lips. She went to turn around but Angela called her back.
"Um, Alice?"
"Yeah?"
Angela had gone all shy. If possible she was blushing even more now than when they were doing it. She lifted her eyes to Alice and in a small voice she asked:
"Does this mean we're dating now?"
Alice had been grinning brightly but now the grin slipped away. She had never actually been asked that before. Her heart had plopped directly into her stomach and she said:
"Umm…"
Angela sensed the hesitation in her voice and quickly backpedalled.
"It's okay, I was just wondering, it doesn't matter."
"Ange, wait—"
"Actually, I gotta—I'm kind of—I'd better…"
She made a gesture with her hand, as if she had to go somewhere, and then she put her head down and hurried past Alice with the book hugged to her chest.
Alice swung around to watch her go. She bit her lip, feeling bad for a minute, and then she reached into her pocket and felt the ribbon between her thumb and forefinger.
Angela hadn't even noticed it was gone.
—
It was Bella's last night of detention and when she got back to the dorm she found Alice securing her latest trophy into her little rosewood box. She was admiring the cluster of ribbons as Bella came in and Bella came over and peered into the box.
"Angela?" she inquired.
Alice smiled proudly. "Mmhm," she said, closing the box and latching it shut. "Caught her in the library today."
Bella nodded. Alice was stashing the box back into her underwear drawer, setting it atop her panties and closing the drawer again. Bella thought about Angela, about how Angela always seemed to like Alice so much, and she felt she should say something.
"Do you ever feel a little guilty about that stuff?" she asked.
Alice looked at her. "About what?"
"Well, what if these girls actually like you? They'd be pretty heartbroken if you were just using them and sticking the memory in a box."
Alice frowned a little bit. Not as if she was angry, but as if she'd never thought of that. She scratched her head and looked at Bella.
"You think?"
"Maybe."
"But it wasn't like that with you. You were never heartbroken."
"No, but I didn't even know you. Angela might actually like you. Like, really like you."
Alice looked a little troubled now. She glanced at the door that connected the two dorms and back at Bella. Bella gave a little shrug, not wanting to accuse her or anything.
"Just saying, that's all."
—
That night Angela couldn't sleep. She had cried a little, quietly in the dark, and now she was just laying there with her heart heavy in her chest. Jessica was snoring softly in her own bed and after a while Angela got up and turned on the lamp. Jessica didn't stir. Angela opened the bedside drawer and sifted aside the underwear there. Underneath was her treasure, a folded piece of paper. She took it out and unfolded it. It was the portrait she'd drawn in art class, the portrait of Alice that Jane had torn up. She had fetched it out the bin that day and taped it back together again. It had turned out really perfect and she wanted to keep it. She gazed at it now in the lamplight, blinking back tears, and then she lifted it and placed a kiss on the portrait's lips. Then she folded it and put it back.
—