A/N: This is a "Then" chapter. The next chapter I upload will be a longer one and we will have some Harvard-era Evalise and also find out what happens when Nate arrives in Memphis. Stay tuned for that soon and happy reading! Reviews always appreciated, you guys rule.

Then:

The two of them talked and laughed until last call at the bar and Eve had insisted on walking her home. Annalise had gone quiet and reflective as she realized she hadn't enjoyed herself like that in ages. The two women held hands on the walk, at Eve's easy initiation, only partially to steady themselves.

"This was fun," Eve said, her smile contagious.
"It was," Annalise agreed. "Do you want to come in?"
"Oh. Um. Actually, I'm gonna head home, but thank you for the invite. Another time, maybe?"
Annalise was stunned into silence.
"You look very disappointed for a straight girl," Eve teased.
"I didn't say I was straight," Annalise countered.
"True," Eve grinned. "I'll see you in class tomorrow? "
"I'll bring extra pencils," Annalise shot back with a matching grin.

Eve leaned in close, thrilling at Annalise's sharp intake of breath. She averted her head at the very last minute to place a soft kiss on Annalise's cheek, laughing at the low groan this elicited from the smaller woman.
"Goodnight," she said, her sweet tone tinged with mirth, taking a step back so as to be out of reach just as Annalise brought her arms up.
"You are bad," Annalise hissed.
Eve responded with a satisfied chuckle and tossed her hair over her shoulder as she walked down the hall, clearly confident that Annalise was watching her go.

"Ugh," Annalise groaned just replaying it in her head. She tossed and turned in her twin bed, gazing at the cracks in the ceiling of her shitty grad school apartment. She was frustrated and now irritated at being frustrated on such a good night. She had won in "court" today. She could barely bring herself to smile about that, consumed with thoughts of what came after. Of Eve. Eve was fun. Okay, so she was also gorgeous and smart and completely responsible for keeping Annalise awake tonight. Annalise wasn't exactly comfortable with how thoroughly interested she was in the brunette. She had no problem acknowledging that Eve was sexy. God, she was sexy. Especially when she bit her lip and smiled at Annalise as if she was someone good; someone worthy of that smile.

She propped herself up and reached into her nightstand for her vibrator. Clearly she was too worked up to sleep. She wondered if Eve was thinking of her as well, feeling something she usually fought her hardest against: hope.

Half a mile away, Eve was awake in her queen-sized bed, staring at her grey silk sheets.
"I can hear you thinking all the way in my room. Why didn't you just fuck her?"
Brendan, her roommate, was standing in the doorway to Eve's bedroom.
"How do you even know...? Ugh. Because," Eve sighed and closed her eyes. "I actually like her, okay? Why are you skulking around at this hour, anyway?"
"Holy shit, Evil. You aren't even kidding! You have a crush! That's SO CUTE! And I told you. Your pining is keeping me awake."
She rolled her eyes as he guffawed obnoxiously.
"Stop calling me that. And shut up, Brendan. I'm not pining."
"Which chick is it? Do I know her? Do you have a picture?"
"A girl from school. Uh no? What, you wanted me to say I need to take a picture for my creepy pervert roommate?"
"Offense taken!" He shouted, still smirking.
"Good," Eve muttered. "Now go to bed."

Eve was early to class the next morning, her stomach in knots from both her hangover and her excitement to see Annalise again. She brought an extra coffee and set it on the table in front of Annalise's usual seat. She worried that Annalise regretted the night before, maybe had some straight girl guilt and minimized the connection that had been so instant and electric between them. She didn't have to wonder long.

Annalise slid into her seat and immediately reached over and squeezed Eve's hand briefly under the table.

"Good morning, Eve."

"Morning. Brought you coffee. Helps with the hangover."

"Oh, I'm not hungover," Annalise said.

"Wow. I don't know whether to be impressed or alarmed by that," Eve raised an eyebrow and they both laughed.

"I could use the coffee anyway. I didn't sleep much last night. Thank you."

Eve bit her lip and tilted her head shyly.

"For the coffee or for the sleepless night?"

"Both," Annalise admitted.

"You're quite welcome."

Annalise wanted to kiss the smirk off of Eve's mouth right then and there but simply shook her head.

"So, can I borrow a pencil?" Eve said, opening her notebook.

As Annalise leaned down to retrieve one from her bag, Eve bent to whisper.

"I couldn't sleep either."

Annalise smiled and handed over the pencil, maintaining her grip on it for a moment after Eve attempted to take it. The playful push and pull lasted a moment before their professor strode into the room and everyone got serious, even the two young women with butterflies in their stomachs.

The pair quickly developed a routine, heading to the library after class each day to share their notes and to study and, of course, to flirt. It had only been a week but Annalise was increasingly frustrated at the way Eve Rothlo occupied her thoughts and even her dreams. The brunette continued to be friendly and even coquettish, yet she hadn't made a move, other than the innocent touches that seemed so natural to her. Annalise was beginning to doubt the other girl's interest. Eve was clearly out of her league. Yet every time she began to worry, Eve complimented her, made her laugh, or gave her one of those looks... It was driving her crazy.

Annalise was staring out the library window, watching the Friday afternoon sun high in the sky.
"You're distracted and it's distracting me," Eve murmured without looking up.
Annalise looked over at her appreciatively, her long hair in a high ponytail, a loose curl winding its way down her long neck, her focus on her book as she pushed her glasses up on her nose.
"You look cute in your glasses."
"Ugh. I hate them. Couldn't get my contacts in this morning, though."
"Look up, Eve."
Eve looked up questioningly, her mind still half in her case law.
Beautiful, Annalise thought.
"Do you like me? Like...like me?"
Eve's face lit up in delight.
"Really? You have to ask?"
Annalise smiled a bit, hesitantly searching for the words to say.
"I just...I've never...I don't want to be wrong here."
"Come," Eve said simply, standing and extending her hand, leading Annalise to a quiet corner between the stacks of books.
Annalise swallowed nervously but held Eve's gaze and waited.
"You're not wrong, Annalise," she whispered, placing her hands on the other woman's hips.
"Then why haven't we...?"
"Because," Eve rolled her eyes with a smile, "I'm trying to be patient. I want to make sure you know what you want. And when you're sure-"
"I'm sure," Annalise blurted, running her fingertips down the back of Eve's tee shirt, feeling her shiver at the touch.
"In that case, would you like to go on a date with me? Tomorrow night?"
"You want me," Annalise teased smugly, "I knew it."
Eve responded by upping her game, pressing herself against Annalise's body and whispering in her ear.
"I do want you. And I know exactly how much you want me. Maybe I'll give you what you want. Maybe I'll make you beg me for it."
Annalise's whole body was on fire and she struggled to regain her composure, marveling at how easily Eve could throw her off.
"I don't beg," she said weakly.
Eve laughed and placed a too-quick kiss on her lips before stepping out of their embrace.
"Okay. I'm going home before we do things that will get us banned from this library. I'll see you tomorrow night. Oh, and Annalise? Trust me. You'll beg."
Annalise was stunned into silence, a rare occurrence. She followed and watched Eve return to their table and pick up her books.
"Hey Rothlo?"
Eve turned in mock annoyance at the name.
"Harkness?"
"You really do look adorable in those glasses. See you tomorrow."
Eve grinned and shook her head.
"Tomorrow."