Chapter 8

Study Buddies

Casey got ready to go out uptown for the evening. She was sporting a pair of short jean shorts with a revealing green top, bringing out her red hair. She just finished putting the hoop earrings in her ears before turning to Alex.

"Are you sure you don't wanna come out with me, Lex? It's a Saturday night and you're… studying."

Alex didn't tell Casey that Olivia was coming over. "I'm sure, Case. I wanna do good on this test."

"Of course," Casey said, going over to Alex to give her a hug. "Have fun studying! Keep your hand out of your pants."

"Shut up, Casey!" Alex laughed. "Have fun with Trevor, but not too much fun."

"Oh, I will! He's so tall and cute." Casey squealed before giving Alex a quick kiss on the cheek. "Love you, Lexie."

"Love you, Case. Be safe please!"

"I will lovey. Bye!" Casey waved as she exited their room.

Alex pulled out her phone to text Olivia.

Alex: Alright, Casey is gone. Feel free to come over whenever (:

Olivia: Already on it. See you soon!

As Olivia walked up to Carman Hall, she met Casey walking outside.

"Oh, shit. Hey, Olivia!" Casey said. "What're you doing here?"

"Hey, Casey," Olivia said. "Uhh, nothing. Meeting up with someone."

Casey studied her for a moment. "Alex planned this, didn't she?"

Olivia put her hands in her pockets and looked down, kicking the ground. "Maybe."

"What a sneak! She's gonna get it later. Promise me you won't screw on my bed?" Casey laughed.

Olivia immediately blushed. "Uhh… I can promise that, Casey. I don't think that's going to happen tonight. We're just studying."

"Studying… mhmm, okay. Well, have fun! Oh, but Olivia?" Casey said, turning around.

"Yeah?"

"You hurt her, and I'll kill you. My daddy is a lawyer, remember. I can make it look like an accident." Casey winked at Olivia before turning back around to walk uptown.

"I don't plan to, Casey. Promise." Olivia smiled as she walked into the building to head up to the 7th floor. Once she exited the elevator, she saw Amanda.

"Amanda, hey!" Olivia said.

"Oh, hey Liv! What're you doing here?" The blonde asked curiously.

"I'm studying with Alex. Room 712?" Olivia gave a shy smile.

Amanda looked at her for a moment before nodding. "Studying, huh?"

"Why does everyone keep saying that…" Olivia said, almost annoyed.

Amanda laughed. "Because I know you, Liv. We 'dated,' remember?" Amanda used air quotes around the word dated.

"Hey. This is… different. Alex is really nice. I'm really just here to study." Olivia was pleading for Amanda to believe her. She tended to not have a good reputation, and Amanda knew it from her own experience.

"Okay, Liv. But seriously. Alex is a nice girl. She's just newly out of the closet, so go easy on her." Olivia could tell Amanda had a soft spot for Alex.

"Do you like her?" Olivia couldn't help but ask.

"Not like that, Liv. I'm trying to be an advocate for her. She was really nervous when she first got here. I just want to make sure she's okay and knows she has support." Olivia knew how big Amanda was into the LGBT group on campus.

"Of course, Amanda. I promise, I'll behave. She isn't just a one-night stand." Amanda stared judgingly at Olivia, unable to tell if she was really trying to be genuine in her feelings, or if she was using the same line she always used.

"Okay. She's down the hall. See ya, Liv."

"Bye Amanda." Olivia let out a huff of air as she walked up to Alex's door and knocked. She was immediately let in by the blonde.

"Hey, Olivia. Welcome in!" Alex smiled as she extended her arm for Olivia to come in.

"Hey, Alex! Thanks!" Olivia sat her backpack down as she noticed Alex's bed made up with extra pillows, blankets, snacks, and a couple of Red Bulls. "Oh, sweet! You've got everything planned!" Olivia kicked off her shoes and sat on one end of Alex's bed.

"Sure do! Need your textbook?" Alex bent down to unzip Olivia's backpack.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry, forgot that part."

"It's all good," Alex said, pulling out the Criminology textbook and a notebook. She couldn't help but notice the scribbling across the front of it. "Here you go!"

"Thank you, kind lady," Olivia smiled, patting the spot next to her. "Come sit?"

Alex was fiddling with her hands before grabbing her Economics textbook and notebook from her desk, sitting on the opposite side of the bed. She immediately opened her textbook to the assigned chapter as she cracked open a Red Bull and took a drink.

She looked over at Olivia, who cracked hers open and loudly slurped a good bit of it before wiping her mouth and setting it down on the corner of the nightstand. Alex giggled at Olivia.

"What?" Olivia asked with a smile.

"You drink so loud."

"Sorry," Olivia responded shyly.

"No, don't apologize. It's cute." Alex could feel herself blushing already. "It's kinda sloppy and I like that."

Olivia furrowed her brows and chuckled. "Really?"

"Yeah. Everything in my life has always been so… put in place, prim and proper, orderly. It's a nice change." Alex smiled as she let her eyes drop to Olivia's lips.

"Oh," Olivia said. "Well in that case…" she picked up the Red Bull can and slurped it louder than the first time, belching afterwards.

Alex covered her mouth and chuckled at Olivia. "So attractive, Liv."

"Good," Olivia smiled. "What's your Economics test about?"

Alex tried to go into detail about net present value, the payback period, rate of return, and other calculations. Olivia just stared at her in amazement, not understanding a damn thing she was talking about. "It's stupid, really. I'm here for pre-law, why do I have to do math?"

"No kidding. It gets better the closer you get to your capstone courses. I didn't really start taking an interest in my stuff until this year. It's getting much more interesting."

"What's your Criminology test about?" Alex asked, not wanting to talk about Economics anymore.

Olivia went in to explain different terms to Alex about different types of crimes, and the theories behind them. She explained that to try to understand criminals, you need to understand the science behind them and the crimes they commit. Alex was really intrigued with the material.

"I wonder if I have to take this course," Alex asked.

"I mean, there's a good chance," Olivia said. "You are going to be a lawyer, after all. This makes perfect sense."

"Yeah, you're right!" Alex reached over to the bag of chips on her bed, and got a handful, carefully eating them one at a time. "Man, I love chips."

"Me too," Olivia agreed, grabbing a handful for herself. "And you got cheddar and sour cream? Best flavor." She shoved the entire handful in her mouth, chomping away before slurping her Red Bull again.

Alex watched her and smiled, feeling her chest flutter a bit. She's so sloppy… it's just so cute.

Olivia caught her staring and smiled. "What's up, cutie?"

Alex smiled and hid her face. "Nothing. Don't wanna study anymore."

"Me neither," Olivia said, tossing her book on the floor. "Wanna watch a movie?"

"Sure!" Alex agreed, following Olivia's lead and tossing her book on the floor. "What movies are you into?"

Olivia shrugged. "Anything, really. I'll let you pick, since this is your dorm."

"Okay." Alex turned on Netflix on her laptop and searched through the movies. "How about Captain America? I've been wanting to watch this."

"You're the boss," Olivia said. She really didn't care what movie they watched. She was just happy to be spending time with Alex.

Alex handed Olivia her laptop before getting up and turning off the light, leaving her laptop as the only glow in the room. She then got back in bed, sitting closer to Olivia as she took the laptop back. She placed half of it on her leg, and the other half on Olivia's as they were just inches apart.


About an hour into the movie, Alex and Olivia were really into it, watching intently. Alex couldn't help but feel a little sleepy, however. Especially since it was almost 11:30. She let out a yawn as she leaned over to lay her head on Olivia's shoulder.

Olivia smiled, smelling the sweet vanilla scent of her shampoo. She leaned her head down against Alex's. This made Alex smile, too. Looking down, she noticed Alex's hand lying on the bed between them. Carefully, Olivia inched her hand closer to Alex's, intertwining their fingers together.

Alex's heart was beating about a mile a minute. She squeezed Olivia's hand tightly for a second before inching her body closer to Olivia's. They stayed like this for some time, watching the movie as they held hands. After about 20 minutes, Alex's heart was still beating fast, a lump in her throat. She leaned her head up and looked at Olivia's face before moving her eyes down to Olivia's lips.

Olivia, noticing the gesture, swallowed before moving her own eyes down to Alex's lips. She too, had a lump in her throat as her own heart beat just as fast. Carefully, she started to inch closer to Alex's face; wondering what those beautiful lips would feel like against hers. She wondered how soft the kiss would be, and if Alex would be willing to kiss her deeper than just a peck. Her stomach began to flutter as their faces were now just inches apart.

Before their lips could meet for the first time, the door opened and the light turned on, Casey busting through the door. "I'm back!"

Alex and Olivia jolted, pulling away from each other and leaning against the wall. Alex folded her arms across her chest, extremely annoyed at the timing her best friend had. She then noticed Casey dead in her tracks, staring at them.

"Sorry, did I interrupt something?" Casey asked genuinely.

"Nope," Olivia said, bummed she didn't get to kiss Alex.

Alex wasn't afraid to show her distaste. "Actually, yes, you did. You have the worst timing of anyone I have ever met, Casey."

Olivia couldn't help but smirk as she tried to suppress a laugh.

"Gee, I'm sorry Lex. Want me to go back out for a bit?" Casey replied sadly, feeling bad, wondering if she cock-blocked her friend.

"No, it's okay," Olivia said getting up and gathering her stuff. "I better get back to the townhouse and get some sleep."

"Are you sure?" Alex said, almost pleading for Olivia not to leave.

"Yeah, it's getting pretty late." After she threw her backpack over her shoulder, she leaned down and kissed Alex on the cheek. "Text me in a bit, okay?"

Alex couldn't help but grin, her blue eyes sparkling up at brown. "Of course. Be safe, Olivia. Thanks for coming over."

Olivia smiled at her before leaving. "Any time, cutie."

There was a short silence amongst Casey and Alex before Casey spoke up.

"Hey, I hope you're not mad at me. I didn't mean to interrupt."

"No, I'm not mad, Casey. I'm sorry I kinda snapped at you. That wasn't cool." Alex was still smiling, feeling the imprint of Olivia's lips still on her cheek.

Casey studied her best friend as she smiled. "She totally kissed you on the cheek and called you a cutie. That is so freaking adorable."

"Yeah," Alex replied, grinning widely as she plopped down on the bed.

"So, what did you two do tonight?"

"Studied and watched a movie," Alex replied, smile still big across her face.

"That's it?" Casey asked in surprise.

"Well, we were gonna kiss… like right before you came in." Alex couldn't help the disappointment that still rang through her voice.

Casey gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. "Oh my God, Lexie. I ruined your first kiss."

"No, you didn't ruin it, Case. You just prevented it." Alex groaned as she hid her face in her hands.

"I'm so sorry!" Casey felt extremely bad. "Seriously, Lex. I had no idea."

"It's okay, Casey. Honestly. Just means I'll have more time to prepare for the real one! I had so much fun though tonight. She totally let me cuddle up to her, and we even held hands." Alex couldn't help but squeal as she jumped off the bed and looked at herself in the mirror, checking to see how she had looked for Olivia.

Casey squealed in excitement with her, jumping up to give her a hug. "I have never seen you like this, Lex. I love it. You just seem so happy."

"I am! I just wish I could've kissed her."

"Do you think it would've led to something more?" Casey asked, eyebrow raised.

Alex's heart sank to her stomach. "Crap. I don't know, I didn't think that far ahead."

"Well, considering your texts the other day, it might've."

Alex gulped hard. "Shit." She thought briefly about Olivia climbing on top of her and groping her, which made her stomach flutter just as it did the other night.

"Relax, Alex. Breathe." Casey noticed the way Alex's skin immediately flushed, looking like she was going to have a panic attack. She got up and grabbed a water bottle out of the fridge, handing it to Alex. "You good?"

"Yeah, I'm good," Alex said, drinking half the bottle. "I'm gonna get ready for bed."