It is the false shame of fools to try to conceal wounds that have not healed.
- Horace

"I'm telling you, that girl at the bar is staring at you."

"Paige, you're acting crazy. Why would a girl be staring at me?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Yes. It's obvious that I'm on a date with my girlfriend." Emily took Paige's hand as she said this. "Now can we just forget about that girl and enjoy our dinner?"

Paige let it go for a while. She and Emily had a grueling couple of week of exams and papers ahead of them, so they decided to treat themselves to dinner at a nice restaurant in Philly before they had to buckle down and get to work. But Paige kept getting distracted by the woman at the bar, and Emily was starting to get annoyed.

"She's coming over here."

"She's what?" Emily asked, turning around. "Oh, shit!" Emily slumped down in her seat, as if that would make the woman walk by without seeing her.

"What?"

Emily's ex-girlfriend, Maya St. Germain, was approaching their table, looking stunning. And a little tipsy.

"It's Maya, my ex. Listen – don't let her get to you, okay? She likes to fuck with people." Paige raised an eyebrow suggestively. "You know what I mean…"

'Emily Fields! It is so great to see you," Maya oozed, leaning in for a hug and kissing her ex-girlfriend on the cheek.

"Maya. Hi." Emily was in no mood, as her tone made plain.

"And you must be Paige," Maya continued, giving Paige the same hug and kiss greeting that she had just given her ex. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you, too, Maya," Paige said out of obligation.

"So, how are you enjoying freshman year?"

"I'm enjoying it! It was a bit of an adjustment from high school, and being so far away from home, but now that I'm sort of in a groove, I'm enjoying it." Emily was stabbing at her salad, which had suddenly become the most interesting sight that she had ever beheld. Paige wasn't used to seeing her like this. She was usually so interested in conversation.

"And have you declared a major yet?"

"Not yet. Still exploring my options, but I'm narrowing it down. I want to do something related to education or social work. I'm thinking psychology, maybe."

"Well, you've still got time to sort it out. Anyway, don't let me interrupt your date. I just wanted to stop by and say hello. Nice to meet you, Paige! And, Emily, it's good to see you again."

Paige watched Maya leave, then looked over at her girlfriend. Emily was shaking her head and muttering to herself. "What?" Paige asked.

"Ugh. She's so fucking annoying. Like what was she up to? 'How are you adjusting to your new school and my old girlfriend? Have you two declared anything yet?'"

"Emily, she was just making polite conversation. What's eating you?"

"Really? You couldn't see through that? Really? God – that psychotic… manipulative… bitch!"

"I don't get it. Shouldn't I be the one getting upset at running into your ex?" Paige was trying to de-escalate the situation by making a joke. Emily just glared at her.

"Okay – what did she do to you?"

"What?"

"I mean, it's obvious that she did something, the way you're reacting. We've never really talked about your break-up, and maybe you'd feel better if you talked about it."

"Oh, please – you're not my psychologist, okay, Paige? I don't need you to analyze my feelings about my bitch ex-girlfriend. I just came out to have a nice dinner with my girlfriend, not to get some sort of catharsis over my failed relationship."

Paige threw her napkin on the table and backed her chair away a little, crossing her arms in front of her and staring at her lap. The fight left Emily when she saw her girlfriend like that. "Paige, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't let her get to me."

"Yeah - and you shouldn't get mad at me because you're mad at her."

"You're right. I know. I'm sorry."

"It's just – you never talk about her, and it's obvious you're hurting over it, and I think you need to talk about it if you're ever going to move on. Aren't I allowed to say that?"

"Of course you are, Paige. I shouldn't have jumped down your throat like that. Forgive me?"

Paige still had her head down, and her shoulders started bobbing up and down. "Shit – please don't cry, Paige. I'm really sorry…"

Paige looked up, and Emily saw that she was laughing. She shot her a confused look.

"It's stupid. I shouldn't be laughing. I just can't stop thinking, 'I came out to have a good time, and I'm honestly feeling so attacked right now!'"

Emily thought it over a second and started to laugh. She grabbed Paige's hand and told her, "Listen, Paige, we'll talk about it, I promise. Just not tonight, okay? Tonight's our night to have fun before all the stress of the next couple of weeks."

"Yeah," Paige agreed. "So, we're starting over?"

"I would love to start over."

"Okay. So, guess what movie's playing at the Roxy tonight…" Paige's voice was playful.

"What movie?" Emily played along, intrigued.

Paige pulled up the movie app on her phone and showed Emily the poster for "Rudy," playing at one of the revival movie houses in Society Hill.

"Oh, no way!" Emily sat up in her seat, unable to hide her excitement before she remembered Paige's reaction the time that they watched the movie on Emily's laptop. Emily, unable to believe that Paige had never seen it, had insisted that they watch immediately. She eagerly pointed out all of the good parts and wept as Rudy was carried off the field, replaying that part over and over. By the time the final credits rolled, Paige was about ready to crawl out of her skin. Recalling all this, Emily dialed back her enthusiasm. "Well, it's a great film, but I can always watch it on my laptop. I know you don't really want to sit through it again."

"You're right. I don't," Paige agreed. "But it would be a shame to waste these," she added, swiping her phone to show two e-tickets.

"No way!" Emily repeated.

"Maybe it'll be better on the big screen. At least I won't have to worry about them replaying that scene over and over and over and over."

"Whatever, McCullers. Just admit that you loved it!"

Following their meal, the two walked the few short blocks to the Roxy, where the ticket-taker was almost giddy to see them. "You realize that it's 'Rudy' tonight, right? 'Shoot the Piano Player' starts tomorrow…" They gave him a confused look and walked into the theater to see that they were the only ones there. "Hmm… not that big a turnout for such a classic, eh Fields?"

"Can I help it if so few people appreciate art anymore?"

By the time the movie started, a few more customers had straggled in, but there were still far more rows than there were people. Emily was excited. Paige was frisky. "Stop it!" Emily chided, as Paige's hands started to wander, "Some things are sacred."

Paige tried her best to be good, but the movie was so much less interesting than Emily. Paige began playfully flashing her tits to Emily, with a wide-eyed, open-mouthed, goofy expression. When that didn't get the reaction that she wanted, she started slow dancing in her seat, swaying her hips back and forth and running her hands suggestively over herself. Eventually, she took the battle across the border to Emily's seat, lazily stroking Emily's thighs, her fingers casually working their way north. Soon, she was kissing that spot on her neck that made Emily giggle. Emily continued to fend her off. "Jeez, McCullers, can't you keep it in your pants for a mere 60 minutes," she whispered

Paige leaned over to whisper her reply into Emily's ear, but snaked her tongue inside it first. "I'd rather keep it in your pants," she replied, and then bit Emily's earlobe. Emily tried her best to maintain her composure. When she put her hand out to push Paige away, Paige grabbed it and rubbed it over her erect nipple. Emily involuntarily moaned upon feeling its hardness. Paige leaned back in to Emily's ear and, in between biting and sucking her lobe, began telling Emily, in her low, husky voice, exactly what she wanted to do to her in that movie theater, in the car, and in their bed. Emily couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed the hand that was her stroking at her slacks and pressed it deep against her crotch as she turned her head to intercept Paige's lips with her own. She sucked on Paige's tongue in the way that always set her off, rubbing Paige's earlobe between her thumb and index finger. She was grateful that they had chosen seats in the very back of the dark and nearly deserted theater. "Wait till I get you home, Paige!"

"No," Paige asserted, "I can't wait that long!"

Emily grabbed her by the hand and dragged her into the ladies' room. "Fuck, McCullers!" she yelled, shoving her up against the door and grabbing handfuls of hair as she pulled her in for a deep, passionate kiss. Her thigh was between Paige's legs, and she could feel a moist squishing as she ground circles into Paige's crotch. Paige grabbed the shoulders of her coat and backed her into a stall, ripping her pants down to her ankles and hungrily devouring her. "Jeez, Em – You're so wet!"

"Fuck me, Paige! God, I need you right now!"

"Not yet," Paige replied, "You taste too good!"

Emily was in desperate need of release. She moved her own hands down to join Paige's tongue. Paige grabbed her from behind and dug nail prints into her ass. Together, they brought Emily to an expletive-filled explosion. She grabbed Paige's sleeves roughly, pulling Paige up to eye level, making munching noises as she kissed up and down her face and neck.

Paige was so worked up that it wasn't going to take much to send her over the edge. Emily, sensing this, tried to slow things down. Her kisses became less attacking and more tender; her caresses more supportive and less erotic. Paige was on a rollercoaster and could feel herself tumbling over the edge. Emily sat down on the toilet and gazed up, longingly, at Paige as she slowly undid her jeans. She gently slid them down, followed by the panties, and began tenderly massaging and kissing Paige's thighs. She parted the thighs, to Paige's great relief, and patiently rubbed the palm of her hand against Paige's lips. Paige's hips synchronized with the rhythm and the motion. Emily leaned in to lick Paige's clit, changing Paige's husky moans into a shrill gasp. Emily began to suck as she forced one, then two fingers inside, making Paige's breath quicken. Emily increased the speed and intensity, moving her lips to kiss inside Paige's thighs, smoothing her free hand up and down the back of Paige's legs. A few deft flicks of Emily's tongue was enough to give Paige the relief that she craved, and she collapsed on top of Emily, her breath ragged and heavy.

"Come on!" Emily prodded, quickly getting herself together, "I bet we still have time to catch them carrying Rudy off the field!"