“Hey, Liv,” Alex said into the phone.  “What’s up?”

 

“Oh, not much,” Olivia responded with a grin on her face.  “I just wanted to hear your voice.”

 

Alex smiled.  “Aw, that’s sweet, Liv.  What are you doing?”

 

Olivia giggled.  “Guess.”

 

Alex shook her head.  She knew Olivia was up to no good.  “Oh boy.  Do I even wanna?”

 

Olivia grinned.  “Trust me, Alex.  When you find out what I’m doing you’re gonna be pleasantly surprised.”

 

Alex smiled and decided to go along with Olivia’s little game.  “Ok, Liv.  Let me see…you’re lying in bed touching yourself?”

 

“Not quite.”

 

“Well, are you fully clothed?”

 

“For now,” Olivia replied slyly.

 

“Well…are you lying in bed at all?”

 

“No…not yet.  But I’ll give you a hint.  I’m standing up talking to the most beautiful girl in the world.  But that’s not all I’m doing.”

 

Alex smiled.  “Are you at home?”

 

“Nope.”

 

“In a store?”

 

“Nope.”

 

“At Elliot’s?” Alex continued.

 

“Nope.  I’m a lot closer to you than that.”

 

Alex twirled a strand of hair around her finger.  “Oh really?  How close?”

 

“Come to your window.”

 

Alex gasped and jumped out of her bed.  She ran over to her window to find Olivia standing underneath it.  “Liv, you called me from outside my window?” Alex asked, looking down at Olivia smiling up at her.

 

“Yep.  I wanted to surprise you.”

 

Alex shook her head.  “Liv, you are insane.  I can’t believe you came over here.” 

 

“Well sweetie, I had to see you.  I missed you.”

 

Alex put her hand up against the glass.  “Aww, Liv.  I missed you, too.”

 

“Well, aren’t you gonna come down to see me?”

 

“Liv…you know I can’t.  If my parents catch me, I’ll be grounded until I graduate.”

 

“But…but the pokies miss you.  They wanted to come cheer you up.”

 

Alex rolled her eyes and smiled.  “Liv…come on.”

 

Olivia pulled up her shirt to reveal her bare breasts.  Alex put a hand over her mouth.  Even from her window upstairs, she could clearly see Olivia’s nipples hardening.  “See, Al.  They’re excited to see you!  They’re coming out to say hi.”

 

Alex opened her window.  Olivia grinned even more.  “Liv, pull your shirt down!”

 

Olivia shook her head.  “I’m gonna stand out here flashing you all night until you come down to see me.”

 

Alex giggled.  “Ok, ok, Liv.  I’m coming down,” she said, closing her phone.  Olivia smiled and finally pulled her top down.

 

Alex tiptoed downstairs, punched in the security code to disarm the alarm system, and snuck out the back door.  She ran into Olivia’s arms and held on tight, deeply inhaling the rich scent of the leather jacket she’d gotten her for Christmas.  “Liv, I’m so glad you came!” she exclaimed.

 

Olivia closed her eyes and rubbed her back.  “Well, I haven’t come yet,” she whispered in her ear.

 

Alex pulled back and playfully pinched her arm.  “Liv!”  She slipped her hands under her shirt and fingered her nipples.  “The pokies must be cold.”

 

Olivia shrugged.  “Well, we’ve been waiting out in the cold for about 15 minutes.” 

 

Alex smiled and kissed her tenderly on the lips.  Even in the cold, Olivia’s lips were as soft and as warm as ever.  After several moments, Alex pulled back and brushed Olivia’s hair behind her ears.  “Thank you for coming.”

 

“It was my pleasure.  Thank you for coming down.  How did things go today?”

 

Alex shrugged a shoulder.  “Eh, I got through it.  Ugh, it was so embarrassing, though.  I thought she’d never finish.”

 

“So how’s our little bun doing in the oven?” Olivia teased, rubbing her hand over Alex’s stomach.

 

Alex rolled her eyes and pushed Olivia’s hand away.  “Knock it off, Liv.”

 

Olivia giggled.  “Just teasing, sweetie.  Did she give you the pills or the patch?”

 

“Pills.  And she gave me all these pamphlets on reproductive health.”

 

Olivia stroked her face.  “Well, the good thing about it is that it’s all over.  I just wish I could’ve been there to hold your hand.  I know you were scared.”

 

Alex beamed at Olivia’s sweet sentiments.  “A little,” she admitted.  “But I just thought about you the whole time and how soon it would all be over.”

 

Olivia smiled.  “Good.  Come on, let’s start walking before we freeze to death.”

 

They held hands and started walking toward the garden.  The fog swirling around their feet added an almost ethereal element to their romantic rendezvous.  “So what do you wanna do for your birthday, Liv?” Alex asked her.

 

Olivia squeezed her hand and smiled at her.  “It doesn’t matter.  As long as I’m with you,” she replied.  Alex smiled happily in return and looked down to kick a pebble out of her path.  Olivia watched it as it skittered across the cobblestone walkway.  They continued walking hand in hand for a few seconds until realization suddenly dawned on them.

 

They both turned to look at each other.  “Oh shit!” Alex exclaimed.  “I’ll still be—”

 

“Grounded,” Olivia finished for her.

 

Alex started to panic.  “Oh my god, Liv!  We have to think of a way outta this!  I can’t still be grounded on your birthday!”

 

“Shit…I didn’t even think about that before!  I guess so much was going on…man, this is fucked up,” Olivia responded, shaking her head in disbelief.

 

Alex took a deep breath.  “Ok…maybe I can work something out with my parents.  I’ll go to Mom first and ask her and if she says no, then I’ll ask Dad.  They’ll have to say yes.  I mean…I go off punishment the day after your birthday!  Maybe they’ll let me off early or at least add on another day so I can spend your birthday with you.”

 

Olivia looked like she was about to cry.  “If I don’t get to spend my birthday with you, it will be the shittiest day ever.”

 

Alex wrapped her in a hug.  “Don’t worry, Liv.  We’ll think of something.  I’m sure my parents will understand.  If they refuse, I’ll just sneak out.  And even if they found out, it would be totally worth any punishment they’d give me.”

 

Olivia shook her head.  “Alex, as much as it would suck to not get to spend all my birthday with you, it would suck even more for you to get in more trouble because of me.  If they say no, don’t sneak out.  We’ll just celebrate afterwards, ok?”

 

Alex shook her head fervently.  “No, Liv.  That’s not the same thing.  Your birthday only comes once a year.  And I have every intention to make it as special as possible.”

 

Olivia was touched by Alex’s declaration.  Nonetheless, she didn’t want Alex to suffer anymore.  “Come on, Al.  Seriously, I don’t want you in anymore trouble.  Besides, my birthday falls on a school day this year.  It’s not like we wouldn’t get to see or talk to each other at all.”

 

“School doesn’t count.  Liv, if they say no and you don’t want me to sneak out to see you, then you’re gonna have to get a restraining order against me and have your own personal detail.  Even then, that wouldn’t stop me.  We are spending all our free time together on your birthday, and there’s nothing anyone can say or do to prevent that.”

 

Olivia chuckled at Alex’s stubbornness.  She knew that this was an argument she was going to lose, and honestly, she didn’t mind.  Cocking her head to the side and smiling, she said, “You know, you’d make a damn good lawyer one day.”

 

Alex grinned.  “Thanks.”

 

They resumed their walking.  When they got to the garden, Olivia plucked up a dew-covered lilac and presented it to Alex.  Alex’s face lit up.  “Thank you, Liv.  It’s beautiful.”

 

Olivia placed a chaste kiss on her cheek and replied, “Just like you.”  Alex inhaled the sweet scent of the flower and basked in the peaceful silence of the night.

 

After several minutes of standing in the garden, Olivia wrapped her arms around Alex’s waist.  “What do ya say we go inside and warm up?”

 

Alex hesitated slightly.  “I dunno, Liv…what if one of my parents is hanging around downstairs or something?”

 

“Aren’t they asleep now?”

 

“Well…they should be.  Technically, so should we.”

 

“Then they’ll never notice.  Come on, Alex.  This house is huge.  I can dodge somewhere and hide, and they’d never find me.”

 

Alex giggled.  “Ok, Liv.  But we have to be really quiet.”

 

The two went inside the house and carefully snuck up to Alex’s bedroom.  Alex closed and locked her door while Olivia ran over to the bed.  After kicking off her slippers, Alex climbed in bed and fell into her arms.  Olivia kissed her passionately and tangled a hand in her hair as Alex caressed her torso.  They briefly broke away so Alex could pull Olivia’s shirt over her head, and then they resumed their battle of tongues.

 

After a few moments, Olivia left Alex’s mouth to trail her tongue down her neck.  Alex pinched Olivia’s nipples and whispered, “Liv, be careful not to leave any marks.”

 

Olivia grinned wickedly.  “Don’t worry.  I’ll only leave them where your parents won’t see them.”

 

Alex giggled and replied, “You’re silly, Liv.” 

 

“Oh, I was being quite serious,” Olivia mumbled.  She unbuttoned the top to Alex’s pajamas and pulled it off her shoulders.  “Mmm, yes,” Olivia breathed, squeezing Alex’s breasts in her hands.

 

When Olivia took a nipple into her mouth, Alex threw her head back and moaned, “Oh, Liv.”  Olivia smirked and slowly began kissing a trail down her stomach, eliciting several involuntary shivers from Alex.  Arriving at her navel, she licked inside it before starting to pull her pajama pants down her legs.

 

Olivia definitely registered a look of shock when Alex stilled her hands.  “Liv, can we not…you know…go all the way?  After having Dr. Haskins poking around inside me, I just don’t feel like I can…you know, tonight,” Alex explained, taking Olivia’s hands into her own and caressing them.

 

Olivia nodded.  “Sure, sweetie.  Whatever you’re comfortable with.  We can just cuddle.”

 

Alex smiled and gave her a quick kiss.  “Thanks, Liv.”

 

Olivia gently stroked her cheek.  “Sweetheart, you don’t have to thank me.  I don’t ever wanna do anything you’re not 100% comfortable with.”

 

Alex cuddled up to Olivia and laid her head on her chest.  “So are you and the pokies ready for the first day?” she asked, playing with a nipple.

 

Olivia grinned.  “We think so.  How ’bout you?”

 

“As ready as I’ll ever be.  I wish we had more time for Christmas break.”

 

“Me, too.”  Olivia smiled and licked her tongue over her top lip as she ran a hand up and down Alex’s thigh.  “But I do look forward to the way you sit in your desk with your legs crossed all sexily.”

 

Alex giggled.  “You’re one to talk.  Especially the way you lean all back in your desk with your chest puffed out.”

 

Olivia laughed.  “I do not!”

 

“You do, too!” Alex insisted.  “And that’s not all!  You spread your legs open, too!  It’s like you’re just inviting me to sneak under the desk and get between them!”

 

Olivia doubled over in laughter.  “Alex, I swear it’s not intentional.”

 

Alex rubbed the back of Olivia’s hand with her thumb.  “That’s one of the first things I noticed about you.  How you always seem to have this raw sensuality—no matter what you’re doing, no matter what you’re wearing.  I would just sit there drooling over you.  It was also a nice surprise to find out you’re really a big ol’ softie underneath your tough exterior.”

 

Olivia smiled.  “Hey, only for you.  So what made you finally decide to ask me out?”

 

“Well…I couldn’t take it anymore.  I knew I liked you, but I was afraid to make a move.  But my feelings for you just got stronger and stronger until I felt like I was just gonna burst if I didn’t do something about them!  There was this one time when we were in the locker room and you’d taken off your jersey to get in the shower, and I got a full view of your bare back.  I thought I was gonna faint.”

 

Olivia chuckled.  “I always thought you were pretty hot but that you were unattainable.  I didn’t wanna make a move to just find out it was a one-sided crush.  If I’d known you were gay beforehand, I would’ve been all over you.”  She smiled slyly.  “Especially when the girls would throw you up in the air and I’d get a glimpse of your little cheer panties.”

 

Alex burst out laughing.  “You mean my spankies?”

 

Olivia’s eyes got wide and she asked, “Really?  They’re called that?”  Alex nodded.  Olivia gave her a lopsided grin and continued, “Well, I can see why.  I definitely wouldn’t mind giving you a spanking when you have those on.”

 

Alex laughed and shook her head.  She noticed Olivia’s nipples hardening even more.  She lightly tickled them.  “Oh, Liv.  You get turned on so easily.”

 

Olivia raised an eyebrow and started rubbing circular patterns on Alex’s bare stomach.  She gave a self-satisfied smirk when she noticed Alex’s nipples hardening in return.  “I wouldn’t talk if I were you.”

 

Alex blushed and pressed her breasts up against Olivia’s.  “Look, our boobies are cuddling.”

 

Olivia laughed and looked down at their chests.  “I guess they are,” she replied.

 

Alex suddenly pouted and ran her fingers through Olivia’s hair.  “I wish you could spend the night.”

 

Olivia softly captured Alex’s lips with her own.  “I know, baby.  Me, too.” 

 

“Let’s just enjoy the time we have together,” Alex suggested.

 

They cuddled together for almost an hour more before Olivia pulled her shirt and jacket back on.  “Well, it’s after one.  I guess I’d better go now.”

 

Alex nodded.  “Yeah.  We have to get up early.”

 

They got out of bed and Alex followed her to her bedroom door.  Olivia gave her a kiss and said, “So I’ll pick you up tomorrow at 7:30?  Maybe we’ll have time to make a Starbucks run.”

 

Alex wrapped her arms around her neck.  “That sounds great.  You sleep tight, ok?”

 

Olivia rubbed her nose against Alex’s and planted another quick kiss on her lips.  “Ok.  And I’ll try not to let the bedbugs bite, either,” she said with a smile, gently pulling out of Alex’s hold.

 

Olivia turned to leave but Alex pulled her into her arms for one last kiss.  Letting go, she said, “If I don’t let you go now, I’m never gonna let you leave.”

 

Olivia gave her a lopsided grin.  “Hey, can’t say I’d be opposed to that.”

 

They silently stared into each other’s eyes for another moment or two.  Alex rubbed her hands over the sleeves of Olivia’s jacket and said, “Night, Liv.  Call me to let me know you got home safely.”

 

“I will.  Night, Alex,” Olivia responded, opening Alex’s door and making her exit.