Raven Stone Academy

The sun rose as a new day began. Its light slowly crept into one of the dorm rooms in Raven Stone Academy. As it touched the bed where a person slept, said person rolled onto their stomach and right next to the edge of their mattress. They grabbed the first object they could, which in this situation, was a crumpled up shirt. The person threw the shirt towards the window, hitting a pile of school books and toppling them. The books started a domino effect that led to the curtains’ ties on the window being undone, banishing the light of the sun at the expense of a huge mess. “Perfect…” the person whispered as they snuggled into their sheets. It did not last, as a loud knock echoed through the room. “Ugh…” the person said as they placed one of the half dozen pillows that rested on the bed over their ears. As expected, it did not help one bit. The pounding only became louder.

“Wake up, Sam!” a demanding voice came from the other side of the door. “Sam, if you don’t wake up, I’m putting you back in your original dorm room!”

“Shut the Hell up, Mat!” Sam reached for another rolled up shirt on the floor and threw it at the door. “It’s the fucking weekend, let me sleep!”

“All you do is sleep,” Mat opened the door. The dim room was suddenly illuminated with light.

“What the fuck?!” Sam flung the sheets out of the way. “You can’t just use the master key to get inside my room! Mathias Dackerman, you have no right to barge into my dorm room! Get the fuck out!”

“That mouth of yours needs to be sewn shut,” Mat commented as he let himself in. “The only reason you sleep in this high end dorm room is because my sister is dating you. If it weren’t for that, I’d have you sent back to your morbid single.”

“I’d like to see you try…” Sam glared at Mat. “Now get the hell out and let me sleep.”

“No, I actually have something to tell you,” said Mat.

“Then spit it out and get out,” Sam complained. “For fuck’s sake, you’re so annoying.”

“Swear one more time…”

“And what? You’re going to threaten me with a punishment that you aren’t going to uphold? Good fucking luck.”

“I don’t see what my sister sees in you…” Mat sighed. “Anyway, it’s close to the end of the year, but we got a new student coming in. They’re fairly rich, so they’ve asked for a pristine single.”

“I don’t like where this is going…” Sam said with Concern.

“Then I’m guessing you’ve figured it out,” said Mat. “Since you’re only in this specific room because of my sister, you have two options. Your first option is you can leave and go back to your dreary single. Your second option is rooming with her. She says she doesn’t mind roommates.”

“Fuck both of those options!” Sam laughed. “This is my dorm room now! She can sleep in my shitty single!”

“Why do you have to be so complicated?” Mat sighed. “Look. She already has the paperwork and right to sleep in this room. You have no other options.”

“You said it’s a girl, right?” Sam asked. “Is she cute?”

“Sam! You’re already dating my sister!” Mat said furiously. “I’ll kill you if you’re unfaithful. You’ve broken enough women’s hearts.”

“Not on purpose…” Sam said a little more seriously. “They just don’t want to stay with me once they learn more about me. Your sister’s the exception. Why the fuck would I ever try and ruin my relationship with her?”

“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have doubted your relationship. You know I love my sister and I can get a little defensive when it involves her,” said Mat. “I know you refuse to leave, but will you at least try to get along with this new girl? Do it for Bridgette’s sake.”

“Fine…” Sam sighed. “And I’m sorry for always being such an ass… When’s this girl getting here?”

“She’ll be here by ten o’clock,” answered Mat. “Could you meet her at the academy’s gates and give her a tour?”

“No problem. I’ll do it for Bridgette,” said Sam. “Now will you please get the hell out? I need to change clothes and I don’t like men watching me.”

“Of course,” Mat let himself out. He said one final thing through the door. “I suggest tidying up the place. Wouldn’t want her to see the pigsty you live in.”

“Fine…” Sam spent the next few hours by taking a shower and picking up the trash around the room. The bookshelves were tidied up and the clothes that littered the floor were washed and put away into the closet. After one final look, Sam smiled at how spotless the room was. The clock caught Sam’s attention as it showed that it was now only a few minutes before it turned ten. Suddenly, the door to the dormitory swung open again, causing some irritation in Sam. “What the hell did I tell you about…”

“Hello,” a woman made Sam speechless with a greeting. She had beautiful wavy brown hair that reached the middle of her back. Her eyes were a lovely azure blue that caused anyone to be lost in them with one stare. In regards to her body, she was the epitome of perfect. She was a good height at somewhere between five feet and eight inches. Her legs were sculpted from the many extracurricular activities she probably took, and her waist was absent any fat. She had sizable breasts that rested perfectly on her chest along with a beautiful set of slender yet strong arms. Her face was thin and defined, adding an almost divine aspect to her countenance. She wore the standard Raven Stone Academy uniform. It was a white button top with short sleeves underneath a black blazer that sported a very plain yet militaristic look. Her specific uniform even had golden shoulder tassels. The skirt was plaid and red in color. The one that she sported was modified into a miniskirt that stopped halfway up her thighs. The outfit was completed by a set of black thigh high socks that had a thin white stripe near the top and a pair of black dress shoes. Sam could have spent the entire day looking at the beauty that stood at the door. “How are you today, Sam?”

“B-Bridgette…” Sam blushed furiously. “What are… what are you doing here?”

“Mathias told me that you looked paler than usual,” Bridgette approached Sam. She leaned into Sam’s forehead and touched it with her own. It embarrassed Sam since Bridgette was a few inches taller. “You’re a little colder than usual. Is everything okay?”

“Stop that!” Sam pushed her away. “I’m fine, dammit! I’m going to kill Mat for making you worry.”

“You can’t blame me for worrying,” said Bridgette. “So, are you okay with rooming with another person?”

“Yeah, it should be fine. I have no complaints since it’s a girl,” Sam said with a big smile. “It’d be a great bonus if she was cute like you.”

“D-don’t flatter me all the time…” Bridgette reddened a tad. “Anyway, you should get going and meet up with her. Don’t make her wait.”

“Yes!” Sam said while giving Bridgette a hug. “I love you.”

Bridgette embraced Sam and hugged tightly. She leaned Sam’s head up and their lips met in a kiss. “I love you too.”

XXXXXXXXXX

The bus driver looked at his rearview mirror to examine the lone woman who sat in the middle. Though her gaze was fixed outside of the window, it appeared as if she was staring into nothingness. “So… how’d you get in this late in the year?” the bus driver broke the silence.

“Are you talking to me?” the woman asked as she focused her attention on the bus driver.

“You’re the only one in the bus, Miss,” the bus driver stated.

“Oh, yeah… Sorry, I was spacing out. There’s a lot of things on my mind,” the woman Admitted. “What was your question again?”

“I asked how you got in this late in the year,” the bus driver said once more. “Raven Stone Academy is one of the most prestigious schools in the world. They don’t just randomly accept new students when the year has already started. Even so, here you are with only a month of school left. Which one are you?”

“Excuse me?” the woman asked a little confused. “What do you mean?”

“Are you extraordinarily smart and talented or are you extraordinarily rich?” the bus driver specified.

“The second one,” the woman admitted. “I’m resourceful, but I am by no means smart.”

“Well, no matter how you got in, it’s still an honor to attend the school,” the bus driver assured her. “So, where do you stand?”

“I’m a high school Senior.”

“You planning on going to college in Raven Stone as well?”

“Yes. I’ll be here until I get the degree I want. As of right now, I’m not quite sure what it is yet…” the woman admitted.

“This is the perfect place then. As long as you’re gifted or loaded, the school will provide for you until you can make a career choice. It really is an impressive place.”

“So I hear…”

“Well, Miss, this is where we part,” the bus driver said as he stopped at the gates of Raven Stone Academy. He opened the door and let the woman out. With one final wave, he flashed a smile and spoke. “Good bye, and enjoy your stay at Raven Stone!” he said as he drove off.

“Thanks…” the woman said. She looked at the intricate looking gates and walked in. It felt as if she was entering into a new world. She knew it wasn’t the case, but the air on the other side of the gates seemed more pristine. The lawns were a green she had never seen before, prompting her to believe that the institution took the appearance of the academy seriously. Paths were paved in brick and gardens of flowers littered the symmetrical quad. In the center was a large fountain with two statues of who she assumed were the academy’s founders. There were only three buildings in sight in the main quad. They were large and rectangular in shape with a very neo-gothic feel. They stood to the left, front, and right of her, sporting their own majestic gates and fences. It was as if each building was a state in this new world she entered. The woman took one final glance back at the gates behind her before noticing someone waiting by the fountain. It was a scrawny looking boy with obviously dyed silver hair kept under control in a black beanie. He wore a pair of ripped blue denim jeans and a loose black shirt that a had metal band on it. Even though it was nearing summer, he sported a thin black jacket. She could tell it was old with the many tears and holes that covered it. No matter how she looked at him, he didn’t look like he belonged to the school with the way he dressed compared to the other people that walked by. He seemed almost abnormally skinny and had very little definition. He was the absolute image of a punk. “Hello…” the woman greeted him. “Are… are you my roommate?”

“That’d be me, yes,” he answered. “The name’s Sam Miles.”

“I… I didn’t expect my roommate to be a boy,” said the woman.

“Excuse me?!” Sam flared up a bit. “You know what… never mind! What’s your name?”

“Jessi. I’m Jessi Traurigkeit,” the woman answered. “Pleased to meet you, Sam.”

“Likewise, I guess,” Sam’s anger simmered down a little. He motioned for Jessi to follow him “Come on and follow me. There’s a lot to show you.”

“Of course,” Jessi complied.

“This school was founded by the Dackerman family many generations back,” Sam began. He extended his arms to emphasize the quad. “The pattern on this quad is actually shaped like the original crest of the Dackerman family. The statues on the fountain you see ahead are of the founders. They are Tobias and Juliet Dackerman.”

“I see…”

“The large building to your left is the middle school and grade school wing,” Sam pointed. “Everything from dining commons to actual lecture rooms for students can be found inside or around it. We’ll be residing on the building towards the right of us. That’s the high school wing. I’m going to warn you now; we see our fair share of drama here at the school. Now that two Dackermans are enrolled here, the drama never seems to be in short supply.”

“So, is the middle building the college and graduate school wing?” Jessi asked.

“Very perceptive of you,” said Sam. “Here I thought you were just an unassuming broad.”

“Excuse you! You have no right to be rude, Mr. Miles,” Jessi said bitingly.

“You took my room!” Sam blurted. “That was my private room gifted to me by Bridgette Dackerman herself! Excuse me if I’m a little rude because you took something with sentimental value away from me!”

“I have the right to that room!” Jessi argued. “You weren’t even supposed to be in there. The only reason was because of Bridgette Dackerman. You’re lucky I’m letting you sleep in there still, you rude bitter little boy!”

“I’m not a fucking boy!”

“You sure act like one! You don’t deserve to be called a man!”

“No! As in… never mind! Let me just take you to our room,” Sam rubbed his forehead. He led Jessi toward the gates that led to their wing. When they approached the gate, Sam stood in front of the intercom where a light beamed out and scanned him. It verified his identity and let him in.

“Wow…” was all Jessi could say.

“Yup, it’s pretty fucking sick,” Sam smiled at Jessi. “This way, people from other wings can’t sneak in after curfew. Unless of course, you’re willing to climb the twenty foot brick wall. Even if you do, you have to avoid the cameras.”

“So what’s the point of the main quad if we’re all separated by walls?” Jessi asked.

“The quad is gigantic. It’s where all events are held,” answered Sam as the gates finally opened. “If you were wondering why you barely saw any students, it’s because they’re all here.”

Jessi was in awe. What was behind the fence was not what she expected at all. The green pasture that greeted her looked as if it was Elysium. Students strolled along the path, many of which were relaxing in the ocean of grass under trees. She saw a long building that wasn’t nearly as tall as one of the main three she saw. “This is amazing…” she pointed. “Are those the dorms?”

“Yeah, those are the dorms and dining commons” answered Sam. “It’s a three minute walk from the dorms to the lecture hall and five minute walk towards the public baths. The other buildings are hard to see because of that damn fence.”

“This place… it’s… it’s like a miniature Eden,” said Jessi. She scanned the area, enjoying the view of the students doing their various activities. She noticed that the fields weren’t just limited to grass as she saw a few courts out in the distance. There were also a few public gathering areas. She even noticed that one of the places had a pool.

“If you’re done being stunned, please follow me,” said Sam. He stared at Jessi as she constantly looked in every possible direction. Jessi was definitely a cute girl. Sam would even hazard to say that she was as cute as Bridgette. Much like his love, Jessi was in great shape, having little fat and a strong build. Her hair was brown, similar to Bridgette and differing only in its slightly lighter shade and length, which reached a little past her shoulders. It was also combed straight to perfection. Jessi herself sported a set of dazzling aquamarine eyes that rivaled Bridgette’s azure ones. Regarding her bust, Sam couldn’t tell whether it was larger or smaller than his girlfriend’s. He could however, tell that it shared the same perfect shape as Bridgette’s. She was wearing a typical skirt and top that made her appear like an everyday student on the weekends. It made Sam eager to see how she would look in uniform. “Hey, focus for a moment, fool!” Sam tried to get Jessi’s attention.

“Huh? Oh, sorry,” said Jesse. “There’s just so much to take in.

“I know,” Sam agreed at they reached the entrance to the dorms. “Though you’re already registered in the school, dorms are a different case. The faculty has no control over the dorms, the students do. We pick two people to be dorm leaders. It’s always one man and one woman.”

“I assume it’s the Dackerman’s who own this dorm? I hope they’re not spoiled little brats…”

“What did you say?!” Sam exploded. Others looked their way at Sam’s vocal outcry. “Take that back!”

“Calm down,” Jessi tried to reason. “It was a joke!”

“I don’t care much for jokes when they’re directed at Bridgette Dackerman!” Sam barked. “Whether a joke or not, insult her one more time and I’ll… I’ll…”

“Sam?” Jessi began to worry. “You’re becoming pale…”

“Ugh…” Sam coughed up a little blood before falling to a knee. He looked up to see the horrified look on Jessi’s face as she caught him. Other than Jessi, Sam noticed that the other students didn’t care much about what was happening to him. He felt a little resentment before he blacked out.

XXXXXXXXXX

“You must be Jessi Traurigkeit,” a voice alerted Jessi of another person’s presence in the room. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Um, hello!” said Jessi. “Who… who are you?”

“I’m Bridgette Dackerman, one of the dorm leaders,” the woman answered. “Thank you for bringing my Sam into the infirmary. If something had happened to her, I would have been devastated.”

“Not a problem,” said Jessi. Her eyes widened a little when she came to a realization regarding what Bridgette just said. “Did you say †˜her’?”

“Did I? My mistake,” said Bridgette. “Anyway, I came here to check up on him. I also came here to bring you this.”

“My uniform,” Jessi accepted the two packages. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome, Miss Traurigkeit,” Bridgette smiled at her. “There are five sets in each package. One package is for winter and the other is for summer. You need not wear your uniform during the weekends.”

“Why are you wearing yours?” asked Jessi.

“This is a special one I am required to wear at all times since I am both a dorm leader and student council president.”

“It must be nice owning the school and getting into any position. Even so, are you really going out with Sam?” Jessi asked further. “You’re such a sweet girl. How can someone like you be dating such a mess of a boy like Sam?”

“I was not given this position through nepotism,” said Bridgette. “My brother and I refuse to be treated better than others just because of our lineage. Everything both of us have gained in this school was done through our own determination. As for why I am dating an outcast delinquent like Sam, I can’t really explain it. I guess the best way to put it would be that he wormed his way into my heart.”

“I… didn’t expect you to be this way at all…” Jessi admitted. “It’s refreshing to meet a person like you who goes to a school like this.”

“Thank you, Miss Traurigkeit. I apologize about Sam not leaving your quarters,” said Bridgette.

“It’s not a problem. I see the reason that you put him in there in the first place was to have him closer to your quarters,” said Jessi. “I didn’t expect him to be so sickly.”

“He has a weak heart,” Bridgette said regretfully. “It can’t always pump blood where it needs to. If it gets too excited, it might cause an internal rupture from trying to pump too much blood. Sam needs to be kept at a good balancing point. That is another reason why I am happy you will be rooming with him. For all the times I can’t be there for him, promise me you’ll look over him in my stead.”

“He’s a little bit of a bother, but I promise,” Jessi said. She was surprised when Bridgette hugged her. Not knowing how to react, she just hugged her back. “I hope we become good friends.”

“As do I,” Bridgette broke the hug. “For now, I have things I need to take care of both for the dorm and the student council. Please watch over Sam until he recovers and take him back to your quarters.”

XXXXXXXXXX

Sam opened his eyes and realized that he was lying in the infirmary. He looked to see Jessi asleep on the bed, resting her head on the mattress with her arms acting as pillows. There was a closed laptop that accompanied Jessi which filled Sam with curiosity. He knew he was nosy, so he had no problem with reaching out and placing the device on his lap. Sam opened Jessi’s laptop and was greeted by the password screen. He scoffed at the thought of needing to enter a password and bypassed it completely. For someone like Sam, a password proved to be little more than a nuisance. In fact, Sam thought that with regards to school in general. He hated the fact that his teachers in middle school caught on and realized that he was a genius. If it weren’t for them, he would have never had to enter into such a snobby school. He also thought of how he never would have met Bridgette if it wasn’t for the same discovery. In the end, Sam simply accepted being in the school. With access to Jessi’s laptop, Sam was left wondering at what he was looking at. There were files of Raven Stone Academy that he had never seen before. From a quick glance, they all seemed to involve information that was deemed non-existent. It made Sam wonder about the academy. Was there a secret it was hiding that he didn’t know about? Did Bridgette have any idea regarding these secrets? Was this the reason Jessi magically appeared near the end of the school year when security would begin to dwindle as they left for summer? If so, what were the secrets and how was Jessi involved? Sam enlarged the first document to read before the laptop was closed by a hand. He looked to see that it was Jessi who did so with a very stern look on her face. She sat up and looked Sam straight in the eyes. “Um…” Sam tried to speak.

“What did you see?” Jessi asked in a very taciturn tone.

“Nothing!” Sam lied through his teeth. “I was bored and I saw your computer so I loaded up a web browser. I couldn’t care less what you were looking at; it was probably porn or something. Here, let me check!”

“Don’t!” Jessi pulled the computer away from Sam. “You’re right… I was looking at porn… don’t tell anyone.”

“You sure are shameless,” Sam laughed. He was happy that she bought the lie, but he knew Jessi herself was lying. As of right now however, Sam was just happy that Jessi fell for his bluff. He played along with her to keep her suspicions away. “I won’t tell a soul. But you’ve got to promise to stop calling me a boy.”

“Would you prefer to be called a man?” Jessi asked as she put her laptop back in her bag and placed the bag alongside the rest of her belongings.

“No, Jessi, I’m…”

“You don’t have to say it,” Jessi interrupted Sam. “I figured as much after I looked at you more while you slept. Plus, the nurse told me to make sure and check your chest for any signs of restriction.”

“What?!” Sam blushed as he looked at his chest. He saw two small lumps topped with pointy nipples bleeding through the hospital gown. The cold air in the infirmary had caused them to harden slightly. Sam covered his chest with his arms and looked at Jessi who was now giggling.

“Relax,” Jessi continued to giggle. “I don’t know why you don’t want anyone to know, but if you keep flaring up and almost blurting it out, everyone will know. By the way, who does know?”

“Bridgette, Mat,” Sam said reluctantly. “And now, you.”

“Why hide who you are?”

“You haven’t gained the right to ask me that.”

“Really now? Don’t I deserve a few answers after the stunt you pulled on my laptop with bypassing my computer?” Jessi argued. “You’re really smart. That’s how you got accepted here, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, so what?” Sam brushed it off. “I got accepted because I’m smart. Not like there’s not another million or so smart people in the world like me.”

“You really don’t like talking about yourself, huh?” Jessi asked with interest. “Fine, keep your secrets, and when you’re ready, you can tell me. Until then, why don’t we restart? Hello, I’m Jessi Traurigkeit. Pleased to meet you.”

Sam watched as Jessi extended her hand for a shake. Hesitantly, she met her hand with his own and shook it. “I’m Samantha Miles,” said Sam. “Likewise.”

Incessant knocking forced both Sam and Jessi awake. Jessi stood up and composed herself, fixing the ruffles in her night dress. She made her way towards the door and opened it to be greeted by a man. Just as he was about to speak, a wad of clothing hit him right in the head. “Stop fucking knocking… I’m trying to sleep!” Sam whined as she pulled her blanket over her head.

“I’m guessing that was aimed at the door…” Jessi tried to reason with the man. “Sorry for opening it. No need to get angry, right?”

“Sam Miles, get out of bed this instant!” the man screamed.

“Shut up! It’s only…” Sam paused to look at the digital clock that rested next to Jessi’s bed. “Oh, it’s eleven o’clock already?”

“It’s eleven?!” Jessi said in shock. “I’ve never slept in that late! I’ve wasted a good chunk of the day away!”

“I apologize for that, Miss Traurigkeit,” said the man. “I’m Mathias Dackerman. You can call me Mat. I’m Sam’s appointed watcher.”

“So you’re the other Dackerman…” Jessi said with delight. From the moment she opened the door, she was captivated. His brown hair was combed in a windswept manner and gelled to retain its shape. He had a very prominent jaw that strengthened his masculinity. It was accompanied by perfectly proportioned facial features that set off butterflies in Jessi’s stomach. His eyes were cold and observant, shimmering a beautiful azure blue. With regard to his body, Jessi noticed that he was in great shape. He wasn’t large, but he was nonetheless muscular. He sported a pair of black slacks and black dress shoes. His top consisted of a white buttoned up shirt with short sleeves under a formal black vest that also sported short sleeves. The vest had a plain design with the exception of a pocket that held a pair of glasses. Much like his sister, Jessi noticed the golden shoulder tassels on Mat’s outfit. “It’s very nice to meet you,” Jessi added after her quick glance at Mat.

“No, it’s really not. I want to fucking sleep, so get out,” Sam muttered from under her blanket.

“Sam Miles! You were supposed to give Miss Traurigkeit the full tour yesterday! Your outburst caused an attack that resulted in the task not being completed!” Mat snapped. “You need to finish the tour today. She is your roommate, she is your responsibility.”

“I’m fine with you showing me around,” Jessi said eagerly to Mat.

“Sorry, Miss Traurigkeit, I am a busy man. You will have to do with Sam,” said Mat.

“A busy man huh?” Jessi asked in a very obvious way. It would have taken an idiot not to realize that she was flirting. “Why don’t you spend the day being busy with me?”

Mat blushed a little at Jessi’s words. “Well… I guess I could…” Mat’s sentence never found an end as the door was slammed shut by Sam, who neither of them noticed had made her way towards the door.

“Good fucking riddance,” she said with relief. “Don’t bother knocking, Mat! Just kindly fuck off! Please!”

“SAM!!!” Mat roared furiously. “Fine! I’ll be back in half an hour! If you’re not awake by then, you will be punished! Severely!”

“Yeah, sure! Whatever!” Sam replied to Mat’s empty threats. She climbed back up on her bed and rested once more. Her rest ended as quickly as it started as light illuminated the room from the window. Now that they had a bunk and she slept on top, Sam wasn’t drenched in sunlight like she usually was by the window. There was still enough to make her groan in disagreement. “Dammit, Jessi! You can’t be on Mat’s side, you’re my roommate!”

“It’s past eleven o’clock, how can you sleep in so late?” Jessi asked. “You’re a…”

“No, no I really am not,” Sam cut Jessi off before she could finish. “So will you please let the fucking curtains loose? Besides, you’ll have as many chances to flirt with Mat as many times as the sun rises.”

“Wh-what are you talking about?!” Jessi’s cheeks lit up.

“What, you think I couldn’t tell? You wanted to sit on his face,” said Sam. “Now shut up so I can sleep!”

“Of all the vulgar… Sam Miles…!” Jessi’s outburst halted when they both heard a knock on the door.

“It hasn’t even been half an hour yet! Go the fuck away, Mat!” Sam vented at the door.

“Sam, it’s Bridgette,” a voice replied to Sam’s complaint.

“Oh!” Sam jumped from the top bunk and rushed to the door to Jessi’s surprise. She opened the door and had a look of innocence on her face. “Hey… um… sorry, I didn’t know…”

“It’s quite alright,” Bridgette flashed Sam a smile. “My brother said you were giving him a hard time again. You know he’s only doing it to make sure you’re okay, right? He cares for you just like me.”

“I’m… I’m sorry…” Sam said frantically. “P-please don’t be mad… I’ll… I’ll show Jessi around! I promise!”

“I believe you and I’m not mad,” Bridgette brought Sam into her embrace. “When you feel you’re ready, please show Miss Traurigkeit the rest of the campus.”

“Of course!” said Sam. She looked up to Bridgette and was rewarded with a kiss on the forehead.

“I have to go now, okay?” Bridgette said as she ruffled Sam’s hair. She gave her one final kiss on the forehead before she walked away. As she departed, she turned around for a final time to speak. “By the way, your dye’s wearing out. I’m starting to see the blonde.”

“I-I’ll get it re-dyed as soon as possible!” Sam assured her before closing the door. She sighed as she turned to face Jessi. Her roommate had a look that sent scores of embarrassment rushing through Sam. “Wh-what are you looking at?!”

“Oh, nothing… I’m just thinking how precious you were,” Jessi teased. “You’re like a different person when you’re with Bridgette.”

“Sh-shut up!” Sam ran towards her side of the room and grabbed some clothing. “I’m going to take a shower. Once I’m done, hurry and take one yourself so I can show you around!”

“Alright,” Jessi couldn’t help but smile. “I look forward to seeing the rest of the campus.”

XXXXXXXXXX

People stared at the odd couple as they walked down the halls. They were whispering to each other as Sam and Jessi passed. “Is that Sam with another girl? How unfaithful,” one whispered.

“What does Bridgette see in a scrawny boy like him? I’m so much more of a man…” said another.

“Yet here he is with another woman,” another replied.

Sam’s eyebrow twitched at every comment she managed to catch. It made for a very difficult time as she explained how classes worked and were scheduled to Jessi. It took all of her will to not burst out into a fit of rage with every biting word. She knew she was the outcast in the campus, but she hated being constantly reminded. “So, we get our schedule at the beginning of the week in our homerooms and they cover our basic general education and are tailored in what you plan to major in. If you have no major like yourself, it will cover the appropriate general education requirements only. This equals less hours spent in class. It also means you’ll have a harder time with career choices and may end up spending extra years in Raven Stone College. Got all that?”

“I got it,” Jessi confirmed.

“If you don’t know where a place is, feel free to ask me,” said Sam. She showed her where the study halls were as well as the location of the local library. She even went as far as to show Jessi where all the vending machines were just in case she needed a snack. Getting close to finishing up in the lecture hall, Sam heard a few final comments that sent her over the edge.

“I can’t believe Bridgette gave the okay for her boyfriend to room with a girl! I bet you he’s already fucked her and is already planning to break her heart,” a female student said.

“Was it really that big of a surprise? Bridgette Dackerman isn’t the brightest bulb in the bunch,” another female student added. “She’s just another pretty face that every guy voted for because they want to get inside her. Other than that, she’s nothing special. She’s just another privileged rich kid.”

“What the fuck did you just say?!” Sam erupted. “Say that again! I dare you to say that again!”

“What’s the matter, Sam, can’t take the truth about your girlfriend?” one of the women asked.

“I’m going to fucking kill you!” Sam stated it as if it were fact. She grabbed the woman by her collar. To no one’s surprise, the woman grabbed Sam’s wrist and easily overpowered her, making her lose her grip. “Agh…!” Sam winced.

“We know you’re a fragile boy, don’t even try it,” the woman chuckled before pushing Sam away and knocking her down on her behind. “You’re lucky that airhead, Dackerman watches over you. If not, we’d kick your ass, little boy.”

“I’m sure she won’t mind a bruise or two,” the other woman said as she readied to punch Sam.

Jessi looked around to see that not a single person was trying to intervene. With it being the weekend, there were few students and no teachers in the halls. As she judged the expressions on their faces, Jessi came to the realization that most of them wanted to see Sam get hurt. It filled her with rage to see how despicable people were. No wonder Bridgette wanted her help. With how volatile Sam was, Bridgette must have had to deal with so much on a daily basis. She realized that most of the drama Sam mentioned that revolved around the Dackermans were caused by her emotional outbursts. Jessi stepped in and grabbed the woman’s fist. She stopped her mid punch with surprising ease. “Don’t do that,” she spoke.

“Get out of the way, new girl,” the woman grit her teeth as she pulled her arm away from Jessi’s grip. “Everyone here wants to see this pathetic excuse of a man who needed a woman to defend him get hurt. Move it before I hurt you.”

“I’d like to see you try,” Jessi said sternly.

“You asked for it!” the woman reared back and tried to punch Jessi. She stopped her fist dead with her palm without even flinching. Her arm was completely motionless, surprising everyone who saw.

“Let me say it again, I’d like to see you try,” said Jessi.

“You get it easy this time, Sam!” the woman said. Her and her friend began to walk away. “Next time, you won’t have either of your girlfriends to defend you.”

“That was close. You okay?” Jessi looked behind her to see that Sam was already running off into the distance. She sighed and rolled her eyes before running after her roommate. “Sam, come back here!” Jessi yelled across the halls as Sam ran out of the building. When Jessi reached the exit, she looked in all directions before catching Sam trying to hide behind one of the far off trees on the field. Since she didn’t see her keep running, Jessi assumed that Sam thought she must have lost her. “What are you, five?!” Jessi asked as she popped up from behind the tree to catch Sam off guard.

“Shut up! Shut the fuck up!” Sam hissed. Her voice cracked, betraying her disguise a little as she started to sob. “I hate being weak… I hate being sickly… Why? What does Bridgette see in me?! Those girls were right! I don’t deserve her! I don’t fucking deserve her!”

“There, there,” said Jessi. She hugged Sam who didn’t even hesitate to be wrapped in her embrace. “Don’t let what they said affect you so much.”

“But… but it’s true! I’m fucking pathetic! It makes it worse that everyone thinks I’m a boy that needs a woman to defend him!” Sam continued to cry. “I’m not a boy! I’m not a fucking boy!”

“Then tell people that,” Jessi broke their hug to grasp Sam’s shoulders. “Why do you have to hide it? Why not just tell everyone?”

“I… I can’t…”

“Why?!”

“I just can’t, okay?!” Sam growled. “I just fucking can’t…”

“Is it really that hard to tell everyone that you’re a…”

“Shut up!”

“Why do you always cut me off before I finish?! You do it every time I’m about to say that you’re really a…”

“I said shut the fuck up!” Sam slapped Jessi to make her stop. She gasped at the action she committed before covering her mouth with her hand. It caused her to sob even more. “I’m… sorry! I’m so sorry!”

“Feel better?” Jesse rubbed her cheek. She hugged Sam once more, forcing her head into her chest. She could feel her tension dying down as she nuzzled into her chest. Jessi noticed that Sam’s tears had halted and that she had closed her eyes. It made her smile, and she rested her head on top of Sam’s. The two of them leaned back and sat against the tree with Sam resting on top of Jessi. She admired how priceless Sam looked curled up on her. It reminded her of her brother back home. Jessi wondered how he was doing without her around. She ignored the thought, remembering the reason why she was here. Besides, with Sam on her lap, she had a new sibling now. Sam so reminded her of her little brother when he was younger. She was reminded of the times when he could sit on her lap and not hurt her. If her brother ever were to try it now, not only would it hurt her, it would look very strange. Jessi was happy that Sam allowed a few cherished memories of hers to resurface. Though she had now fallen asleep, Jessi let it be and closed her eyes as well. The two roommates fell asleep under the tree to the lovely summer breeze.

XXXXXXXXXX

“Enjoying yourself, Sam?” a woman’s slightly irritated voice woke both of the sleeping women.

“Bridgette?!” Sam jumped off of Jessi’s lap and embrace. “We… we weren’t doing anything! I swear! Jesse… Jesse was just… she was just trying to comfort me! Yeah, that’s it!”

“Is this true, Jessi?” Bridgette turned her attention to the woman her lover slept on.

“Yes. She fell asleep while I was comforting her,” Jesse confirmed. “Some female students were picking on her. They’ll think twice before doing it again?”

“You didn’t do anything rash, did you?” Bridgette worried.

“Not that I know of, no,” Jessi answered.

“See, Bridgette? Nothing happened! Please… please don’t be mad at me…” Sam pouted.

The look on her girlfriend’s face washed away all of the doubt Bridgette had. She could never stay angry at her Sam when she looked so adorable all of the time. Even though she maintained an air of utmost professionalism, Bridgette knew that her disapproval of the state she found them in must have surfaced. “I’m not mad at you,” Bridgette sat down with them so she could wrap her arm around Sam. She leaned in to whisper something into Sam’s ear, causing her lover’s face to light up.

“Um… should I…?” Jessi pondered.

“It’s best you don’t!” Sam looked at Jessi nervously. “It doesn’t concern you, so let’s just move on, shall we? Let’s finish the tour!”

“I shall accompany you. That is, if you don’t mind. I made some time in my schedule so that I could see Sam,” said Bridgette.

“I don’t mind. Let’s finish up this tour,” Jessi stood up and waited for her companions. They lead her around the rest of the campus and showed her a plethora of locations. She was given a brief summary of the sports section. There, she was shown where all the courts were if she wanted to play the appropriate sport as well as the track where physical education classes took place. After their little extracurricular tour, Jessi was given a talk about the grounds in general. Sam and Bridgette told her where popular dining areas were by pointing out tables and patches of grass that people could be most commonly seen on. Much like inside the lecture hall, they even gave her a general idea of where all the vending machines were. Jessi was impressed that they not only sold drinks, but a variety of food as well. She was glad to learn that this was an idea that they took from Japan. She had no idea that vending machines played such a big role in said country. “This campus truly is something,” Jessi said. “You can live off of the vending machines alone!”

“I’d suggest not doing that,” Bridgette cautioned. “Sam here is an example of what happens if you do.”

“Bridgette!” Sam blushed. “That’s… that’s not the reason why I’m sickly…”

“I know, dear,” Bridgette patted Sam’s head. “My point is, Miss Traurigkeit, if you keep eating packaged food and cupped ramen, you’re going to lose that lovely figure. Just look at Sam here.”

“I never had a figure to begin with!” Sam said in a panic. “Please! Stop talking about how I look. It’s… it’s embarrassing… I know I’m not pretty like you… or Jessi…”

“If that’s the case, then how come I fell in love with you?” Bridgette asked as she removed Sam’s beanie. She tilted her head up so they locked eyes. “Beauty is what draws you to a person. It’s just personality that makes you stay.”

“You two are priceless,” Jessi smiled. “Is this the part where I give you some privacy?”

“No, no!” said Sam. “Let’s… let’s finish the tour! We still have the public baths to show you.”

“Then you can give us a little privacy,” Bridgette flashed a smile at Jessi that spoke louder than words.

Jessi smiled and a slight color appeared on her cheeks as she witnessed Bridgette’s smile. This girl who stood in front of her was definitely not what she expected. If anything, Jessi expected Sam to be the dominant one with the way she acted. When she was around Bridgette however, Sam was like a timid child. It was intriguing to see how her personality took such a dramatic change. Jessi knew that beneath Bridgette’s prim and proper demeanor, there was a dark side that made Sam’s rebelliousness pale in comparison. Part of her wanted to see it out of curiosity, but the other part felt a little fear for Sam. With how weak she was and how submissive she seemed around her lover, Jessi felt a little concern as she wondered how their sex life worked. She assumed that Sam must have constantly been abused. It wasn’t a negative kind of abuse, but it was a type of abuse nonetheless. “Then let’s not waste any time,” Jessi finally spoke.

“I agree,” Bridgette said eagerly.

“I… I don’t…” Sam said timidly. They moved on and arrived at the public baths a few minutes later. Sam opened the door and urged Bridgette and Jessi to enter first. She followed close behind them, taking care to stay a proper distance in order to inspect both girls. Even though it had only been a day, Sam managed to get a full analysis of Jessi’s body. As she stared at the two women in front of her, Sam was having second thoughts on who she considered to be more beautiful. Of course, Bridgette was the love of her life, so she obviously won out of biased admiration. But if she weren’t, Sam wondered if she could have ever ended up with Jessi. Though she had no romantic feeling for her, Sam wondered what it would have been like if Jessi was in the school at the same time as Bridgette. They were both such beauties with caring hearts. Then, the scenario that played out in the morning occurred to Sam. Jessi was obviously flirting with Mat. Even if she did have romantic feelings towards her new roommate, she seemed like she only liked men. Or did she? Sam began to question Jessi’s gender identity as they reached the main area of the public baths. She considered running some experiments on Jessi to test where she stands in regards of who to love. She had no plans on testing if they could ever have a romance, she just wanted to see where Jessi stood in the eyes of love out of curiosity.

“Would you care to explain, Sam?” Bridgette asked her love.

“Oh, sure,” Sam said after his thoughts of experimentation subsided with the sound of Bridgette’s voice. “These are the public baths. Back in the day, students didn’t use to have showers in their dorms, so they took baths here. Nowadays, the baths are only available during the weekends to conserve water and money. Most of the time, students ask the faculty to use the baths as party zones. They’re more like indoor pools than anything else. Don’t get me wrong though, they are still baths when no party is held during the weekend. Don’t expect to be using them during vacations though.”

“Interesting,” Jessi said as she scanned the room.

“This is the main area where you would check in,” Bridgette continued for Sam. She pointed at the people that sat about lazily in the circular desk in the middle of the room. “You inform the people at the desk that you want to take a bath and they will ask you whether you want to go into your sex’s bath or into the mix bath.”

“Mixed bathing?” Jessi asked with curiosity.

“Yeah, mixed bathing,” Sam said. “Usually, people just go to their appropriate sex’s bath, but every once in a while, groups of friends like to bathe together, so they go into the mixed bathing area. Drinks are allowed in the baths as long as they’re not alcoholic even though food isn’t, so people tend to have a little fun.”

“I’m guessing no one follows the †˜No Alcohol Allowed’ rule?” Jessi smiled at the thought.

“You’d be right,” Sam confirmed Jessi’s question. “It’s surprising how easy it is to sneak in things, and people do it all the time. There’s a lot of fun to be had in the mixed bathing area.”

“And a lot of pleasures,” Bridgette added, wrapping her arm around Sam and flashing her a coy smile. “Isn’t that right, love?”

“Br-Bridgette!” Sam reddened to the point where her face looked like an apple. The other two women could feel the heat she was exuding out of embarrassment. “She… she doesn’t need to know that!”

Jessi smiled at the couple. She couldn’t suppress her laugh at the sight of how flustered Sam was at Bridgette’s comment. She could only think of how perfect they were for each other. It made her wish that she could find someone to love just as much. “So, how long have you two been together?” asked Bridgette.

“It’ll be three months in a few weeks,” answered Bridgette.

“Enough of that!” Sam managed to regain her spunky attitude. “Anyway, once you inform them where you want to go, they’ll give you a key to a locker. That locker will be where you put all your belongings while you bathe. Once you’re done, you take what’s yours and give the key back. Finally, this tour is done. If it wasn’t for that tangent, we would’ve been done sooner…”

“Looking forward to it that much, huh?” Bridgette questioned her lover.

To no one’s surprise, Sam lit up once more. “No! That’s not… that’s not what I meant…” she became quieter with every word that exited her lips. “At… at least… I don’t think it was…”

“This is where I leave you two be,” said Jessi. She walked towards the exit and looked back at the couple only once. “I know my way around now, so I’ll go ahead to our dorm and wait for you, Sam. You two enjoy yourselves!”

“Of course we will,” Bridgette waved at Jessi. She locked her eyes to the timid creature that was a variety of red shades wrapped around her arm. “Won’t we?”

Sam opened her mouth, but no words came out. She tried multiple times before her quivering lips were finally able to produce one word. “Y-yeah…” Sam managed to stutter.

XXXXXXXXXX

Now outside of the public baths and on her way towards her dorm, Jessi observed her surroundings before taking her phone out of her purse. She typed in the code and undid the lock, accessing a strange application that was unique to her device. When she tapped on it, it showed a layout of the entire academy. “Good,” said Jessi. She looked towards the wall that separated the other wings from theirs before returning her gaze to her phone. She looked at how the edges of the walls were unclear and slightly hazed on her miniature layout. “Sonar didn’t pick up much outside of the fences…” she bit her lower lip. “I’ll have to find a way into the other wings to map them out. Tonight… it has to be done tonight…” Jessi said with conviction as she eyed the wall. She knew that she had a very short window of opportunity while Sam was distracted. There was no way she could sneak out of their dorm if Sam was there. Though she slept like a log, a single noise on the door, no matter how subtle, would usually wake her up. This was her only chance to map out the academy grounds. Otherwise, Jessi knew that she’d have to wait another five days until it was the weekend again.

“Everything okay with you, Miss Traurigkeit?” a familiar voice forced Jessi out of her determined mindset.

“Mat!” she said with delight at the sight of Mathias Dackerman. “It’s very pleasant to see you again! What are you doing here during this late Sunday afternoon?”

“I’ve finished my work in the student council and I’m returning to my dormitory for a well-deserved rest,” Mat answered.

“Would you care for some company?” Jessi flashed a flirtatious smile with the words.

“A little company on the way back to my dormitory would be pleasant,” said Mat.

“No, I mean would you care for some company in your dorm room?” Jessi specified.

“If you’re asking whether you can stay with me in my room or not for whatever reason, be it friendship or amorousness, the answer is no,” Mat said sternly.

“You’re so stiff!” Jessi giggled. She leaned in and whispered into his ear. “You need to lighten up. Maybe I can help you?”

“D-don’t be ridiculous,” Mat shivered at both the warmth of Jessi’s breath and the boldness of her words. “I have no time to be fooling around with a beautiful woman. I apologize.”

“He’s cracking! Just a little more…” Jessi thought as she stared at Mat who was now clearly a little bit flustered. “You work so hard. Don’t you think you deserve a little reward from a beautiful woman? Even if for just one night?”

“Th-that’s enough, Miss Traurigkeit,” Mat said as they reached the entrance to the dormitories. “As much I want to, I can’t. At the very least, not tonight?”

“But why not?” Jessi pouted.

“I have my reasons,” Mat composed himself. “I apologize for pushing you away. That is not to say that I don’t find you attractive, now is just not a convenient time.”

“Then when is it convenient?”

“How about when summer starts?” Mat offered. “We can revisit this conversation and see where we can go from there.”

“Fine…” Jessi sighed. She looked at Mat with disappointment as he walked down the halls towards his dorm. Jessi looked to the walls from one of the windows and pondered a few thoughts for her plan before looking towards the public baths and pondering a new set of thoughts. “Must be nice to have someone who loves you. What a lucky girt you are, Sam.”

XXXXXXXXXX

“Bridgette, stop!” Sam pleaded as Bridgette pressed her up against the lockers and kissed down her neck. Every peck sent a shiver down Sam as she eyed the locker room entrance. “We… we might get caught!”

“Relax,” Bridgette said as she looked up at Sam after a sensuous lick of her neck. “You forget that I have some control of the public baths for being student council president and dorm leader. No one’s coming in. I locked the door.”

“Th-there’s… there’s a glass window on the door! Someone can… can still see!” Sam spoke between moans. Her gruff voice that she often used to fool people disappeared as womanly moans replaced them. A slight smile crept on her face as Bridgette placed her hand on one of her small mounds. “Ah…”

“Not wearing a bra today, I see,” said Bridgette. “You wanted it after all. That’s the reason you slept on Jessi, am I right? You wanted me to get jealous and punish you.”

“N-no! I swear… I swear! S-something happened in the lecture halls and Jessi was… she was just comforting me! I swear!” Sam said. Her arms were brought over her head by one of Bridgette’s strong arms. She attempted to resist, but her lover’s grip was too strong. She took in a deep breath as she felt Bridgette’s fingers finally make contact with the skin on her stomach. They crept their way up to her chest until they finally took hold. “Hah… hah!” Sam sighed from the sensation. She bit her lower lip as Bridgette pinched her nipple lightly all while planting kisses up and down her neck.

Bridgette looked to Sam to see that she was already falling apart from the pleasure. A smile appeared on her face at the sight of the enjoyments in her love. She paused her neck kissing and leaned in to whisper in Sam’s ear. “Take your jacket off,” she said in a sultry tone. “Take your shirt off too.”

“O-okay…” Sam said weakly. She felt Bridgette loosen her grip to give her the chance to take her dingy black hoodie off. The moment it left contact with her skin, Bridgette pulled up on her shirt and took it off in one swift motion before her jacket could even touch the floor. Sam’s heart was racing both out of anticipation and embarrassment. She felt the cold metal of the lockers on her flesh as Bridgette pushed her against them once more. Sam felt her lips crush against hers, causing her eyes to roll back as Bridgette urged her to part her lips for their tongues to dance. Without hesitation, Sam complied, letting Bridgette’s tongue dominate hers. Her feelings continued to rise as she felt Bridgette massage her diminutive chest with one hand. A throaty moan escaped from their kiss despite how well it was locked as Sam felt Bridgette’s other hand rubbing against her thigh. Said hand worked its way towards the button on her jeans, undoing its hold and loosening their guard around her legs. The zipper quickly followed as Bridgette undid it before slipping her hand inside Sam’s pants. “Agh!” Sam moaned with a tap from Bridgette’s fingers on her crotch.

Bridgette pulled back her hand to inspect her fingers. She parted them to see the sticky liquid that connected them to each other. After seeing this, Bridgette flashed a devious smile at Sam. “This wet through your panties?” she asked. “You’re such a naughty girl, Samantha. You need to be punished.”

“D-don’t… don’t call me that!” Sam managed to voice as she felt Bridgette’s fingers return to her lower region. She felt them skillfully push her underwear to the side, allowing them access to touch her eager pussy directly.

“Why not, Samantha?” Bridgette whispered into her victim’s ear. She slipped a finger into Sam’s more than ready womanhood, circling it inside of her. The irresistible moans that Sam produced were really getting her off.

“Because…because you know that I love it when you say my full name! It… it really gets me off!” Sam blurted out. She closed her eyes in bliss and continued to take frantic breaths for air with every thrust and twirl of Bridgette’s finger. Her eyes suddenly shot open as she felt an extra finger enter her. “Oh… God! Bridgette!” said Sam. She felt her walls tense up with each thrust. Bridgette expertly motioned her fingers to get the ultimate reaction out of her. Her thumb moved to caress her delicate clit. Sam was in ecstasy with each encircling flick from Bridgette’s thumb. Her heart beat quickened as Bridgette lowered her head to suck on one of her delectably small nipples. It was the final inhibitor that needed to be broken in order for her to reach her peak. Sam placed one of her hands on her mouth to suppress her screams. She moved her other hand to assist Bridgette’s with thrusting inside her as she felt her entire body tense up into one mighty orgasm. Her walls crushed Bridgette’s fingers as she continued to convulse from the pleasure. When it finally came to an end, she slumped against Bridgette, struggling to breathe as if she’d forgotten how.

“How was your punishment?” Bridgette asked as she wrapped Sam in an embrace and tilted her head up so that they could lock eyes.

“Sh-shut up…” Sam surprised herself that she could still speak.

“You got some of your juices on my uniform,” Bridgette said as she licked at her fingers. “Good thing there’s a wash here. Why don’t we take a bath together while we wait for our clothes to get clean? We’re both quite sweaty.”

“I… I’d like that…” Sam struggled to form words. All she was strong enough to do was lean against Bridgette and not fall down.

Bridgette noticed that Sam was now barely able to keep her eyes open. She realized that she might have pushed her lover a little too far considering her weak heart. She was just happy that she didn’t have an attack like some of the other times they got it on. Bridgette let Sam adjust and doze off before stripping her of her remaining clothes and laying her on the bench between lockers. She stripped off her own clothes and threw them into the washer before picking up Sam and carrying her into the bath.

Jessi fixed her eyes to the woman in front of her. She picked up the pace, ignoring the pain that surged through her body as she sprinted the last hundred or so meters. She was fast approaching on her target, now no more than a few steps behind her. Jessi urged her body to press on, dashing as fast as she could so that she was side by side with her target. They locked eyes for only a moment before Jessi flashed a friendly smile and passed her. She crossed the finish line first by a few paces, gasping for air as they finished their bi-weekly mile run in their physical educations class. Jessi walked to the bleachers on the track and took a seat next to Sam. Before she could even speak, Sam stood up to rush towards her opponent who got second place. It was Bridgette Dackerman.

“Here you go,” Sam handed Bridgette her water bottle. She took a step back as Bridgette swiped it out of her hand with a very obvious hint of frustration. “Is… is everything okay?”

“No, it’s not…” Bridgette huffed. She looked up to see Jessi sitting at the bleachers. She felt something inside of her that she could not explain as she stared at her sit on the bleachers. “Damn…”

“What’s the matter?” Sam asked worriedly.

“Don’t worry so much,” Bridgette smiled at Sam to banish her worries.

“What are those two talking about?” Jessi whispered to herself as she observed them. She focused her attention on the rest of the students that lagged behind her and Bridgette. Even though they reached the end of the track at a much slower pace, they were even more out of breath than her.

“Gather up!” their teacher yelled as students trickled in towards the end of the track. She was a woman in her mid-thirties named Grace Mallory. From what Jessi gathered, she was married and had two children. Even so, she was in pretty great shape after the event. Her hair was blonde and her eyes were blue. She wore a pair of glasses and always kept her hair tied in a ponytail. In the two weeks Jessi spent in Raven Stone, Mrs. Mallory had really taken a liking to her. She constantly praised her for her physical capabilities. Mrs. Mallory even went as far as to compare Jessi to herself in her younger years. Due to all this, Jessi also noticed that there seemed to be something bothering Bridgette. She had been consistently competing with her in the past few weeks, and Jessi was starting to think that Bridgette did not like having someone around who was as physically fit as her. Though they often alternated with who was better at a certain physical activity, that ended today. Jessi’s victory over Bridgette in the bi-weekly mile run made it so that she held two victories in a row over her. As she stared at the beauty being comforted by Sam, Jessi could feel a palpable tension in the air. “Alright folks!” Mrs. Mallory spoke as everyone finally finished. “Your average has gone down from ten minutes and fifty-seven seconds to nine minutes and forty-three seconds all thanks to these lovely ladies here. You should thank them for making you all look so good.”

The entire class laughed at Mrs. Mallory’s remark. She joined in on the laughter as she jokingly scolded the boys and girls who came in after Jessi and Bridgette. The sight of a teacher being able to make a class so lively put a smile on Jessi’s face. Most of the people she had to deal with throughout her old high school scorned her for being so privileged. Here in this land of gifted and privileged people, she just felt like a normal human being. The normalcy disappeared however, as Mrs. Mallory took Jessi’s hand and raised it high up in the air for the students to cheer. “Whoo!” they all said almost in unison to cheer her on.

“What did I do?” Jessi asked.

“Modest as ever!” said Mrs. Mallory. “Witness the pinnacle of sportsmanship, class. She has beaten the record set by Bridgette Dackerman by running a mile in five minutes and thirty-three seconds! Even so, she is modest about it! Study this woman and give her your proper respects.”

“That’s really not necessary, Mrs. Mallory…” said Jessi.

“Nonsense!” Mrs. Mallory would have no more of Jessi’s modesty. “What you did and how you act is deserving of praise. Would you not say, Miss Dackerman?”

“Yes, yes it is…” Bridgette said with growing discontent. She had her eyes locked on Jessi the entire time. “Now that that’s done with, what’s the second half of today’s lesson, Mrs. Mallory?

“Oh, I’d almost forgotten in the commotion,” Mrs. Mallory admitted. “Alright, class, follow me into the gymnasium so we can finish off the second half of today’s lesson.”

Jessi observed Bridgette as she led the students while Mrs. Mallory spoke with Sam. Though she didn’t know Sam was a woman, she seemed to know about her condition. Jessi realized that even though students treated Sam as if she didn’t exist, teachers treated her like their very own child. Jessi shared many classes with Sam, giving her the chance to see how well the teachers treated her. She was pampered like a princess even though she wasn’t always the most agreeable person to speak with. But even with her volatile personality, it was truly a surprise to see how teachers just let it slide and placed their concern for her above anything else. When she had seen enough, Jessi followed the rest of the students into the gym. It was a sizable building that housed not only a basketball court, but exercise equipment as well. Now inside, Jessi observed the students as they rallied around Bridgette. Most seemed genuinely friendly, but Jessi could spot the phony facades others created in an instant. She was sure that Bridgette could as well. It only made sense that there was some dislike directed at the Dackerman. She was literally perfect in every way. Jessi knew that even though she could match Bridgette physically, she would outright lose to her mentally. Even though she was far from being as dumb as a sack of hammers, Jessi knew that Bridgette’s smarts were strides ahead of hers. With such a perfect student, there was no doubt that there would be drama. It made Jessi happy that she only had her in her science and physical education class. Any more, and Jessi feared that Bridgette’s godly presence would have been suffocating. It sort of already was as she was constantly mentioned even in classes that she wasn’t in with Jessi. In fact, Jessi realized that it was the same for her brother. There was a lot of commotion that surrounded the Dackermans. Jessi learned that she wasn’t the only one who had eyes on Mat, but she was the only one that got a positive response. She learned that he often brushed off girls and just said †˜no’ outright. Rumors spread fast in Raven Stone, and the people who saw her with Mat were hard at work with spreading them. She noticed that some girls had been giving her the dead stare throughout her two weeks. Heck, she even noticed some guys!

“Jessi?” a boy spoke to Jessi to gain her attention.

“Oh, Zackary,” Jessi responded. “I’m sorry, I was spacing out like usual.”

“It’s fine,” Zackary laughed. “That was impressive that you beat Bridgette Dackerman. None of us guys have even ever come close. Before you came along, I was the next fastest person in the class. That’s not saying much though since my mile time is a whole thirty seconds slower!”

“It was nothing too crazy,” Jessi smiled to show her modesty. Zachary was a student who she met on her first day of class. He was a really down to earth guy who had the bonus of being quite the looker. He kept his dark blonde hair shaggy, and he had a lovely set of light brown eyes. Out of the boys in the class, he was the most physically fit and the only one who came close to competing with Bridgette before she showed up. Regarding class, he was above the average. Jessi used herself as the bar and measured that Zackary was as smart if not smarter than her. “Please, Jessi, I’ve told you many times now. Just call me Zack, okay?”

“Whatever you say, Mr. Thompson!” Jessi teased her classmate. She laughed at Zack who shook his head with a smile. The two laughed for a while before Mrs. Mallory finally got their attention.

“Alright, class, today we’re doing self-defense,” Mrs. Mallory said eagerly. “As many of you know, proper knowledge to defend yourself is important. For the last four years you’ve spent in high school, you should know by now that we always do self-defense lessons as our last course before the end of the year.”

“I hate self-defense,” Zack admitted.

“Why’s that?” Jessi asked.

“Miss Dackerman,” Mrs. Mallory said before Jessi could have her question answered. “Would you care to demonstrate for us? Seeing as you’re the top in the class, it would be appropriate.”

“Of course,” said Bridgette.

“That’s why,” Zack finally answered Jessi’s question. “Mrs. Mallory loves the fact that Bridgette is a skilled mixed martial artist. She always uses her for examples and she always beats the crap out of her opponents.”

“I see,” Jessi said as she eyed Bridgette on the large mat that had been placed on the floor to soften falls.

“Who wishes to be her opponent?” Mrs. Mallory asked to a sea of unraised hands. At this point, she was used to no one wanting to step onto the mat with Bridgette. Like usual, she had to choose an opponent for her. Mrs. Mallory eyed the crowd and felt a tinge of curiosity as she looked at Jessi. “Why don’t you step up, Miss Traurigkeit?”

“Me?” Jessi looked to either side of her.

“You’re the only Miss Traurigkeit in here,” Mrs. Mallory said to the laughter of the other students with regards to Jessi’s occasional airhead moments.

“Alright,” Jessi agreed. She stood up and made her way through the crowd of seated students, eyeing Sam and noticing her concern as she neared her. Jessi was unsure whether the look was concern for her own wellbeing or concern for Bridgette’s. It was too late at this point to think about it. Now on the mat, Jessi took a fighting stance that surprised Bridgette. It made her realize that Jessi wasn’t just some helpless opponent compared to who Mrs. Mallory usually picked.

“Alright, it’s simple,” Mrs. Mallory spoke. “Miss Traurigkeit, you will attack Miss Dackerman the way I tell you to and she will demonstrate a self-defense technique that can be used to avoid harm. Once it’s done, you switch positions and do it the opposite way before the rest of the class can practice and move on to the next move. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” said Jessi.

“Perfect. I want you to swing wide,” Mrs. Mallory ordered.

“Go it,” said Jessi. She stepped forward and swung wide with her right arm.

“Wide swings are what common thugs often attempt,” Mrs. Mallory said. “In order to block it, raise the opposite arm your assailant is swinging.”

Jessi felt her arm impact Bridgette’s. She felt a powerful presence when she saw the smile on Bridgette’s face. She blocked her blow without her arm even flinching. It was perfect and immovable despite the considerable amount of force Jessi put behind her swing.

“Alright, now it’s your turn to defend, Miss Traurigkeit,” said Mrs. Mallory. “Miss Dackerman, if you would?”

“Of course,” Bridgette said before delivering a wide swing of her own.

In the moments it took Jessi to react, she knew for a fact that Bridgette’s swing was considerably more powerful than hers. She knew that if she attempted to block this hit, her own arm would be jammed right into her face. As Bridgette’s fist drew closer, Jessi ducked out of the way of the blow, causing Bridgette to completely miss and lose balance. She awkwardly got her balance back to the laughter of the crowd. Jessi could see the disdain in Bridgette’s countenance.

“Miss Traurigkeit, you were supposed to block the blow,” Mrs. Mallory said with disappointment.

“With all due respect, Mrs. Mallory, if I blocked that blow, I would have eaten my own fist. The amount of force Bridgette put behind that attack would have caused blocking to be ineffective. I opted to dodge instead so that I would not get hurt. Besides, with how she lost her balance, she is left wide open for an attack,” Jessi argued.

Mrs. Mallory raised an eyebrow and nodded in agreement as the class cooed and clapped to Jessi’s analysis. It only resulted in Bridgette becoming more irritated. “You seem quite knowledgeable, Miss Traurigkeit,” Mrs. Mallory smiled. Her smile quickly turned into a frown. “But this is a self-defense class. Leaving your opponent open for an attack is not the goal.”

“Sometimes, that’s the only way to defend yourself. The best defense is often a good offense. And vice versa,” said Jessi. The class went silent at her continued arguing with Mrs. Mallory. Jessi quickly learned that she had dug herself into a bad situation.

“Is it now?” Mrs. Mallory questioned. “Then, would you care to give us a demonstration?”

“What do you mean?” Jessi asked for clarification. “Do you want me to fight Bridgette?”

“Yes,” Mrs. Mallory answered to the cheers of the students. “I don’t want you to do anything rash, but show us your belief in self-defense. You seem to believe that you have a clearer idea than me. If I deem it acceptable, I’ll dismiss the class early. What do you say?”

“Um…” Jessi paused as she looked to her class. They all seemed quite eager to not only see the fight, but also get out early. Jessi noticed the concern on Sam’s face grow to new levels. If she agreed to this fight, it might cause a divide between her and Bridgette. With how attached Sam got to her in the last couple of weeks, the last thing Jessi wanted was for Sam’s girlfriend and Sam’s new friend to be at each other’s throats. She let out a heavy sigh before speaking. “As much as I would love to, I refuse,” Jessi said to the disappointment of both Mrs. Mallory and the class. “I believe in your teachings, Mrs. Mallory. I apologize for arguing against them.”

“A respectable answer,” Mrs. Mallory said with a smile. “Alright, class, now it’s time for you to practice.”

“You’re just afraid,” Bridgette taunted Jessi.

“What did you say?” Jessi stopped right at the edge of the mat. The class went silent once more as Jessi turned to face Bridgette. “Would you care to repeat that?”

“You’re not backing down to respect Mrs. Mallory, you’re backing down because you’re afraid,” Bridgette said.

“Alright, girls, that’s enough…” Miss Mallory couldn’t even finish her sentence as Jessi charged Bridgette and the class erupted into cheer. A fight had officially broken out. Despite being the teacher, Mrs. Mallory could not stop them. Both women were quite skilled, leaving Mrs. Mallory to wait for an opening before trying to intervene.

“I’ll show you who’s afraid!” Jessi swung at Bridgette repeatedly.

“Sloppy,” Bridgette replied. She deflected all of her blows before directing a palm straight towards Jessi’s forehead. She smirked as her palm neared its target, but quickly dreaded as she saw Jessi duck and spin. Her opponent had deceived her palm, causing her to lose balance. Bridgette watched as the spinning Jessi stuck her leg out and swept at hers. It connected, knocking her off her feet and onto her back as Jessi stood victoriously for the crowd.

“What was that about sloppy?” Jessi asked her downed opponent.

“Why you…!” Bridgette flipped herself back up and readied herself once more before she felt a set of arms grasp her own from behind.

“That’s enough, Miss Dackerman!” Mrs. Mallory struggled to keep her still. “You have proven your point, Miss Traurigkeit. The class will be dismissed early. Everyone is free to go except you, Miss Dackerman.”

Jessi watched on as students headed to their respective locker rooms and Mrs. Mallory finally let go of Bridgette. Sam stayed with her love as she spoke with Mrs. Mallory. Jessi stayed for a bit at a fair distance, not being able to catch anything from their conversation. Part of her waited to see if Sam would accompany her since they shared their next class. To no surprise, she didn’t even acknowledge Jessi’s presence as she was glued to Bridgette. Jessi sighed at what she had done. She had insulted Sam for acting like a child, now here she was doing the exact same thing. She was disappointed that such a simple taunt got her so fired up. As Jessi stepped into the locker room, she wasn’t surprised that it was now empty with how long she spent waiting for Sam in futility. She made her way towards the showers and opted to take one with her spare time. She contemplated how she would fix the ever growing divide between her and Bridgette as she finished taking her clothes off and stepped in. “What have I done,” she sighed at the thought of how awkward she had made Sam’s life now that her and Bridgette were in a serious fight. She could only hope that she could fix the situation in the upcoming final weeks before summer break.

“Wait! Bridgette! Not here! Mrs. Mallory… is still in the next room over!” Sam’s voice followed a sudden slam from the doors to the locker room being opened.

Jessi turned the valve to halt the shower and hide her presence. Curiously, she peaked out between the shower curtains to see what all the commotion was. She felt her heart skip a beat as her eyes widened at the site. Sam was being pushed against the lockers as Bridgette furiously pecked away at her neck. Jessi blushed at the sight of seeing Sam so helpless. Normally, her roommate was quite a force. She was rebellious and spunky to the point where Jessi was unsure she could keep her under control. Even knowing all this, here she was at the complete mercy of another. She moaned in delight with every kiss Bridgette planted along her neck and collar bone. Even though she was straight, Jessi started to feel a little hot and bothered. Nothing changed the fact that the act of sex was pleasurable. No matter the people involved or the situation, if the mind found it pleasing, there was no doubt that the body would follow suit. She could only stare as Bridgette and Sam continued their vigorous motions.

“Br-Bridgette! P-please… stop!” Sam practically groveled.

“Your roommate got me all frustrated. How am I supposed to forgive and forget if I’m this upset?” Bridgette continued her assault on Sam. “Since she’s your roommate, this is partly your fault. You have to take some responsibility.”

“That’s… that’s totally not… justified!” Sam said. She attempted to push Bridgette off, trying to make some room for her to escape. She managed to do so, giving her a small opportunity to get some distance. It however, was only possible because Bridgette allowed it. She ran up to Sam with little effort and hugged her from behind.

“Did you honestly think it’d be that easy to escape?” Bridgette hugged Sam tightly as she whispered words into her ear. She bit it soon after, causing Sam to moan euphorically. “You won’t be going anywhere until your next class, Samantha.”

“St-stop!” Sam cried out.

“Nobody will catch us here, I promise,” Bridgette assured Sam as she dug her hands under her gym uniform. With a tug, Bridgette pulled something out of Sam’s shirt. It was the wrap that kept her androgynous in her outfit. With it gone, it was easy to tell that Sam was a woman as her delectable small lumps pushed against her clothes. “Did I ever mention that I love the fact that you wrap your chest instead of wear a bra?”

“Yes… yes! Multiple times!” Sam squirmed under Bridgette’s touch. “Please… please stop teasing me!”

“Then take a shower with me,” said Bridgette. “If you do that, then I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Okay… okay!” Sam agreed much to Bridgette’s excitement. “But… but you have to… do something for me as well…”

“Anything you say, love,” Bridgette said as she continued to fondle Sam’s chest from underneath her shirt.

“You… you have to forgive Jessi…” said Sam. “She’s… she’s become a really good friend. I don’t like seeing you two fight! And… and before you say it’s… it’s her fault, you started it! You have a knack… of making everything into a competition. You… you mistook… Jessi’s smile when she passed you on the track…”

“Hah… you’re right, of course,” Bridgette sighed. “I have been causing all the recent tension between Jessi and I. Since you’re so convincing, I’ll apologize to her the next time I see her.”

“Th-thank you…” said Sam.

“It’s not a problem,” Bridgette said as she paused her advance on Sam’s body. “You two have gotten awfully close. It makes me jealous. Are you sure you’re not starting to love her more than you love me? Maybe you should move into my room?”

“The student council is already giving you problems for moving me into a room without proper paperwork and for making a †˜boy’ like me room with a woman like Jessi. You’ll never hear the end of it if I moved into your room.”

“I know,” Bridgette pouted. “It’s just a nice thought. “Anyway, why don’t we take that shower now?”

“O-okay…” Sam agreed timidly.

“You’re driving me wild,” Bridgette said as she lifted Sam off her feet and carried her into the shower.

Jessi pulled away from the curtains a little to prevent either of the women she just observed from finding her. Luckily for her, they passed her shower. Unluckily for her, they went right into the adjacent one. Jessi’s face went bright as a cherry as she heard Sam moan at the same time the water started. Jessi stayed still in absolute silence out of fear of getting discovered. She felt a few drops of her own juices run down her leg as she continued to hear the pleasured vocalizations of her roommate in the neighboring shower. Even though she was aroused beyond belief, Jessi refused to touch herself. She wanted there to be no chance of her getting caught. Instead she just resisted the overwhelming urge to masturbate. She could feel her sanity slip away with every throaty moan that escaped from Sam. She considered slipping out while they were busy, but banished the thought as the idea of getting caught continued to loom in her head. As time went by, Jessi was struggling just to stand. Her legs were quivering as her womanhood ached with desire. An hour must have gone by coupled with close to a half dozen orgasms from Sam before the two love birds finally stopped. Jessi sighed as quietly as she could as she heard the shower stop. She could hear the curtains getting swung open, and she saw two women exit the shower. Bridgette tossed Sam her gym uniform so that he could put them on and run to the men’s locker room to retrieve her uniform.

“How do you not get caught?” Bridgette asked curiously.

“It’s a secret,” Sam answered. She put on her gym clothes and surprised Bridgette with a tight hug. “Remember that you promised to forgive Jessi. I’m holding you to it!”

“I will,” Bridgette assured her. “Now hurry up and get changed. Your next class is going to start real soon. We ended up staying in the shower longer than I expected. Jessi’s probably worried sick looking for you.”

XXXXXXXXXX

Sam walked down the path towards the lecture building. She continuously looked around for any signs of Jessi. It made her wonder where she went off to while she was busy with Bridgette. Sam felt a little restlessness when she recalled what had just happened no more than a few moments ago. She shook her head to refocus, pouring all her effort into forgetting the lovely sensations Bridgette gave her. “Where is that girl…?” Sam asked herself as she neared the lecture hall.

“Sam! Wait up!” Jessi called out to Sam.

“Where the Hell have you been?” Sam turned around to face Jesse. “You up and disappeared and weren’t even in your typical hangout spots. Don’t make me look for you, it’s a fucking hassle.”

“Sorry about that. I think you just missed me” Jessi laughed awkwardly.

“What’s with that nervous laugh?” Sam raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, it’s nothing! I just… I just saw some odd things involving some students while I waited for you,” Jessi answered. “Anyway, I can’t believe you missed me! You have bad eyes, Sam.”

“The Hell I do!” Sam barked. “You’re hiding something. I’ll figure it out like usual. It didn’t take long for me to figure out that you snuck out of our wing a few times during the night.”

“Let’s not talk about that,” Jessi laughed awkwardly once more. “I said I’d tell you all about it if you tell me a little something about yourself.”

“You have your secrets and I have mine,” said Sam. “So… um… I talked to Bridgette for you. She says… she says she’ll apologize, but I suggest you should as well.”

“You’re a good friend, Sam. Thank you,” Jessi said as they finally decided to walk into the building. Even though Sam informed her, Jessi knew about Bridgette’s forgiveness after she personally witnessed Sam talk to her while in the process of getting ready for sex. “I’ll make sure we talk it out and get our friendship back on track.”

“Alright, alright,” Sam wanted to hear no more. “Let’s forget about that and talk about something more badass.”

“Hmm?” Jessi said as they entered their classroom. With only a few minutes to spare, they sat down at their respective desks. Conveniently for them, they sat next to each other. Jessi thanked whoever provided this miracle. If it wasn’t for said miracle, there was no way she could have gotten through the class. She constantly needed Sam’s help just so she could keep up with all the material. “What do you mean?” Jessi finally asked when they were both situated in their spots.

“You beat Bridgette in a fight,” said Sam. “That’s unheard of! By tomorrow, the rumor will be everywhere and you’ll be getting a lot of looks.”

“I wouldn’t consider knocking her down as beating her…” Jessi admitted. “Who knows how it would have turned out if Mrs. Mallory didn’t hold her back? I think she would have beaten me senseless.”

“You’re just being modest!” said Sam. “I’ve seen Bridgette in the fighting tournaments both in the school and in the city. She’s an amazing talent that has yet to be beaten. It’s part of the reason why I love her so much! But what you did today was badass!”

“Trust me, Sam, it wasn’t anything special. If the fight kept going, I believe Bridgette would have annihilated me.”

“Whatever you say, I guess. We’ll never know unless you fight her again.”

“I’d really rather not,” Jessi sighed and slumped on her desk.

“How’d you learn to fight?” Sam asked.

“Excuse me?” Jesse asked back.

“How’d you learn to fight?” Sam asked once more. “Did someone teach you? You can’t tell me what you did was done out of natural talent.”

“Yeah, someone taught me,” answered Jessi. “I got one of my servants back in my estate to teach me. She was a strong-willed woman with fiery red hair. She didn’t really teach, though. It was more like she beat me senseless every day we sparred until I learned.”

“Sounds harsh,” said Sam. “But it seemed like it turned out pretty well! You kick fucking ass, Jessi!”

“Sure I do,” Jessi chuckled in disagreement just as their teacher walked in. She gave Sam one final smile before she focused her attention to the arduous lesson ahead of her.

“Today is a wonderful day for all of us. From here, we continue with our lives as proper adults as we move on to college!” Bridgette continued her dramatic valedictory speech to her class of seniors. There wasn’t a doubt in anyone that she would become Valedictorian.

“Hey, Jessi, you there?” Zack asked the spacey woman that sat next to him. He loved how beautiful she looked in her academic dress. “Jessi?”

“Oh, sorry,” Jessi finally snapped to attention. “What is it, Zack?”

“Why does it always take a few calls before you acknowledge anyone?” Zack said with a quiet laugh. “I’ve never seen a person not respond to their name as much as you.”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” said Jessi. “There’s just a lot on my mind now that school’s over. Plus, I don’t really care much for Bridgette’s speech. I guess I was just trying to tune it out.”

“The further back you are in the crowd, the less you tend to care,” Zack explained. “So… um… Jessi… I saw Daniel, Michael, Francis, Avery, and a bunch of other guys ask you out. I’m guessing you told them †˜no’?”

“Yeah, most of them were good guys, but they weren’t what I was looking for,” said Jessi.

“And… um… where do I stand?” Zack asked out of curiosity. Even though it was a question, it was also obviously a confession.

“Hmm… you? That’s a good question…” Jessi pondered. “I think you’re cute and quite sweet. Definitely my type.”

“So… would you like to go out with me?” Zack dared to ask.

“You’re timing’s a little bad,” Jessi snickered. “Asking me during the graduation ceremony is a little crazy. Sorry, Zack, but it’s a no.”

“Figures,” Zack sighed. “Can I at least get a reason why?”

“I’ve got my eye set on someone right now,” Jessi answered with a devious smile. “I want to see how this turns out before I go to my other choices.”

“Whether it works out or not, I hate knowing that I’m just a rebound,” Zack halfheartedly said as a joke.

“I never implied that you or anyone would be,” said Jessi. “Stop being such a downer.”

“Fine,” Zack said.

“Good,” said Jessi. She patted his shoulder and they both smiled before laughing softly. They were drowned out by the sudden cheer as Bridgette finished her speech. Soon after, they were called up one at a time in alphabetical order to receive their diplomas. Jessi looked to the bleachers of the track as the graduation was held in the center. As she eyed the people who cheered out of proud admiration for their family members, Jessi felt a little disappointed. She expected nothing less, but the absence of her family gnawed away at her. She questioned what she had done and what she was doing, wondering if she made the right choice. The last bit of money she had from her family was used by her to enter Raven Stone Academy. Now, she barely got by with what little she had. The moment her first day of school started, she quickly found a part time job to help make ends meet. Even so, she was still at the mercy of her friend, Bridgette Dackerman. If it wasn’t for her, there was no way she would have been able to stay or live in campus. Bridgette helped pay for what she could not, and Jessi swore to pay her back even though Bridgette told her to pay it no mind. It made Jessi realize that Bridgette wasn’t completely truthful about what she had said to her on the day they first met. Yes, she gained her school position and accomplishments through her own determination, but there was no doubt in Jessi’s eyes that her and Mat were still given a substantial sum for an allowance. A slight envy crept into Jessi’s heart for just a moment before it disappeared as she heard her name. “Oh!” she said after Bridgette called her twice to approach the stage.

“Lost in your own world again, Miss Traurigkeit?” Bridgette teased Jessi in front of the entire senior class.

“Did you expect anything different?” Jessi whispered and laughed to herself as the class clapped for her. In the short time she was around, Jessi had built a notorious reputation in their wing. Almost everyone knew of her airheaded tendencies whether they were a freshman or a senior. There was also something else that she was known for. True to what Sam said, Jessi had been idolized as the person who beat Bridgette Dackerman in a fight. It was far from being the most accurate fact, but she had no control over its conflagration. Ever since the event, Jessi was popularized by the school. She never went a day without being greeted by a friendly compliment. It also resulted in a steady stream of confessions from both men and women alike. Jessi was taken back by the number and always felt a little sorry when she told them no. Out of everything that the event bettered in her life, none made her happier than the fact that some of the regal treatment she received also affected Sam. As much as the students hated Sam, they loved Jessi more. Between Bridgette and Jessi, people had to begrudgingly treat Sam nicer since both of them were friends with her. It wasn’t the best way for Sam to get respect, but it was a good start.

“Congratulations!” the high school wing principal handed Jessi her diploma. She looked to the small row of teachers that sat on stage before facing the proportionally small crowd and bowing. Being a prestigious school, classes were pretty small. Jessi believed that there couldn’t have been more than one hundred and fifty people in her senior class. With her thoughts in mind, she stepped off the stage and made her way back to her seat. Jessi sighed as she sat down and looked to the sky. She eyed Zack who was also eyeing her. “So… what are your plans for the future?”

“Well, as of right now, I’m going back home with my family for the summer,” Zack pointed at a group in the crowd. “That’s them over there. We live up north in New York, so that’s where I’ll go. As for the actual future, I plan to come back and attend Raven Stone College. If I can get a degree there, I can guarantee myself a solid chance at a job anywhere. What about you?”

“As of right now, I think I’m just going to stay here for the summer,” said Jessi. “Like you, I plan to attend Raven Stone College as well.”

“Well, I look forward to seeing you there,” Zack said happily. “About sixty percent of the students and eighty percent of the staff leaves during summer vacation, but the school stays as lively as if they were still here.”

“You’ve stayed here during a summer, I assume?” Jessi wondered.

“Yeah, it was really enjoyable,” said Zack. “I prefer home though.”

“I think I would too…” Jessi sighed a little. She continued to make small talk with Zack until everyone’s name was called out. Once the entire senior class had their diplomas, they threw their hats into the air in celebration before going their separate ways. Most went with their families and departed from the school soon after. Others chose to meet with friends and left campus grounds to celebrate in the local city’s downtown area. Those who stayed on grounds resumed their typical activities. Jessi overheard some of them talking about planning their own celebrations right on campus. It made her sigh in disappointment. Unlike everyone else, she had more pressing concerns than just partying the rest of the day away. A ring on her phone caused her to take a moment away from her thoughts. Jessi pulled her device out of her bag and answered. “Hello?”

“Hey, Jesse, it’s Janice,” the voice of Jessi’s manager at her work escaped through the machine. “I was wondering if you could come in today and take a shift. The person who was supposed to take it called in sick.”

“Today? On the day I graduate? Come on, Janice, can’t I at least enjoy today?” Jessi complained a little.

“You don’t have to say yes, you know?” Janice said. “I’d just really appreciate it.”

“Fine…” Jessi hated the fact that she was so easily guilt-tripped. “From when to when?”

“It’s a graveyard shift, so from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.,” said Janice. “Is that okay? That gives you a good long while to celebrate before your shift.”

“Hah… it should be fine. I’ll be there,” Jessi ended the call. She shook her head and walked back to her dorm. She couldn’t afford to lose the opportunity to make money, so Jessi sighed that she would have to move her plans ahead of schedule. Rather than enjoying the day and celebrating before doing her dirty work, Jessi now had to do her dirty work and then go to work. It was the last thing she ever wanted to happen. She let out one final sigh before rushing to the dorms.

Jessi reached the dorms in just a few minutes and quickly made her way towards her room. When she was on the second floor, she pulled the card that gave her access before she even reached her quarters. By the time she stood in from of her room, all Jessi had to do was insert the card and remove it. The first thing she did upon entering was tie up the curtains so that light could enter the room. With how Sam always wanted the curtains down, it always seemed like perpetual night. Being the person that she was, Jessi indulged Sam’s desire and kept the room like a cave. For times Sam wasn’t around however, she loved letting the light in. Jessi made her way towards her closet, taking care not to step on any of Sam’s clothes and belongings that littered the floor. It seemed no matter how Jessi tidied it up, Sam always mattered to sully it in less time that it took her to clean. She was at least happy that her side of the room wasn’t as messy. Sam at least gave her that much of a reprieve. Once she finally tiptoed her way towards her clothes, Jessi began to strip. She abandoned her graduation attire and went for something more appropriate. She put on a pair of black spandex running shorts and her best pair of black running shoes. Jessi took off her fancy red bra and replaced it with a grey sports bra before putting on a tight grey tank top. When she was done, Jessi visited her private drawer that could only be opened by key. She took out a single-strapped running back pack as well as a few other belonging. Among these belongings were a few flash drives and a small laptop. She also had an extra phone as well as an assortment of fine colored pens and a tiny notepad overflowing with writing. When she had placed everything inside the pack, Jessi reached out for the last and only item left inside the drawer. It was small spring-loaded combat knife. Jessi grasped it with both her hands and began to mutter to herself. “Please, please, please… let no situation arrive where I have to use this.”

“Hey, Jessi,” Sam opened the door without warning. She noticed Jessi stash something on her hip. “Kind of a weird outfit for the last day of school. Are you going to go running or something?”

“Yeah, I feel a little out of shape after how much time I spent indoors during finals week,” said Jessi.

“Bullshit you’re out of fucking shape!” Sam laughed. “And I can kick your ass with one hand. What the Hell are you really doing?”

“Hah… look, Sam, I don’t have a family to go back to,” said Jessi. “I’m going to be staying here for summer. It’s really stressing me out, so I’m going to run to forget about it for a little bit.”

“That’s more believable,” said Sam. “You know, if you want, I can go ask Bridgette if you want to go home with us.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You might not know this, but my parents aren’t around anymore. I lived in the city that this academy was built on. Nevermore might not be the biggest place, but it’s really well known because of Raven Stone. Crazy shit happens here just like any other place. While I attended school here on a full ride scholarship, my parents’ house got broken into. The thief killed my mom and dad as well as my younger brother before they were caught. The last time I ever saw them alive was the day I left for Raven Stone. I’ve spent every summer here, relying on the scholarship to keep me from being homeless. Now that I’m with Bridgette, she says she’ll bring me home. She wants to give me a home.”

“I’m… sorry to hear that Sam. But what does that have to do with me?” Jessi asked.

“Now I know you don’t have a home to return to either,” answered Sam. “Do you want to see if Bridgette will invite you into her home? She’s helped you with a good chunk of your financial problems, so I’m sure she won’t mind. Hell, I’m sure she’ll do it if I asked her. I hate to say it, but I can get that girl to do just about anything I fucking want.”

“Thanks, Sam,” Jessi smiled at her roommate’s thoughtfulness. “The offer is great and I’d love to go with you guys, but I think I’ll stay here. Besides, I don’t want to intrude on yours and Bridgette’s private time. Also, I do have a job to go to.”

“That dipshit Mat will do plenty of intruding even without you around,” Sam complained. “As for your job, just say you’re on leave or quit outright. I’m sure you can find another.”

“Thanks again, but the answer’s still no,” said Jessi.

“Didn’t you want to get together with Mat? From the rumors I hear, it sounded like he wanted to get together with you too,” said Sam. “How can you do that if you don’t come with us?”

“Look, I know you’re really trying, but I’ve made up my mind,” Jessi stood up and made her way towards the door. She hugged Sam before walking out and standing right at the entrance of their room. “I’m staying here. Nothing more to it, okay?”

“You’re so fucking stubborn,” Sam smiled with closed eyes as she shook her head. “Go on your run and think things through when there’s less on your mind. We’re not leaving until tomorrow, so you got plenty of time to change your mind.”

XXXXXXXXXX

Jesse twirled her pen around her thumb, occasionally looking at the television up and to the left of her to see what’s on. She wondered why she even bothered looking since the channel hadn’t been changed since she started her shift. She switched to the television on the opposite side of the bar where she sat and wondered once again why she bothered. It was obvious that neither one had been touched. After her fruitless observation, Jesse pulled her phone out of her pocket to inquire of the time. It had just turned 1 a.m., informing Jesse that her shift wasn’t even halfway done. She was dying for it to turn two o’clock so that she could get a lunch break. Jesse buried her face into her palm and sighed heavily. “This sucks…” she whispered under her breath.

“I know it does,” Jessi’s manager Janice exited from a door on the other side of the bar that lead to the kitchen. “But our diner is open 24/7 all year round. Somebody has to do it. That somebody just had to be you tonight.”

“Well, at least I can use my phone since the place is practically dead,” Jessi looked to the bright side. “Why do I need to be here though? Couldn’t you have waited on people after 11 p.m. by yourself? That’s about the time it dies around here.”

“Labor laws state that there needs to be at least one employee, one manager, and two chefs at minimum to work the restaurant,” Janice said as she sat next to Jessi on the bar. “I remember you saying that you needed money, so I called you first.”

“And I’m thankful for that,” Jessi started. “But a shift like this really isn’t my style. I’d prefer ones in the day.”

“I’ll do what I can, but I can’t guarantee that this will never happen again,” Janice informed her subordinate. She stood up and adjusted her apron before speaking. “Anyway, I got to go back into the kitchen and fill out the inventory check. I should be done by the time you need to go on lunch. Call me if you need anything, alright?”

“I will,” said Jessi. She spun the rotating chair so that she could lean her back against the bar. Just as she did so, a group of people came in. Jessi instantly recognized them as people who went to Raven Stone. She stood up and approached the front counter, getting off looks from the group as she handed them menus. “Just five of you today?”

“Jessi Traurigkeit?” One of the women said almost hysterically. “You work here? How can a girl who can afford one of the best dorm rooms work in a place like this?! That’s pathetic!”

“Now, now, Whitney,” one of the men in the group said. “Jessi only wanted to look rich. She spent all her money on that dorm to make a good first impression. Other than that, she’s as lackluster as those two Dackermans.”

“True,” said Whitney. Her group laughed as they insulted Jessi. “Do you remember me, Jessi? Or are you as airheaded as Dackerman? I’m the woman who you crossed the moment you stopped my friend Debra from hitting that pathetic excuse of man named Sam Miles.”

“That Sam is such a fucking loser,” one of the other guys said. “How’d he end up with so many women? Bet he doesn’t last longer than a minute in the sack with a bombshell like Dackerman. That girl needs a real guy to fuck her.”

“Boys, any of you would be better than that sack of shit, Sam Miles,” Debra said. The group erupted into laughter once more.

“You never answered my question,” Jessi said in a completely apathetic tone. Even though she boiled with anger, one of her other servants at the estate helped her with regulating her emotions. Jessi surprised even herself as she considered that she had an outburst against Bridgette on the first day of self-defense lessons. “Will it be just the five of you?”

“What do you think, Miss Airhead?” Whitney asked. “Do you see anyone else?”

“I’m sorry for assuming. Right this way,” said Jessi. She led the group to their table where they sat and dismissed her in the rudest way possible. Insults continued to exit from their conversations as Jessi waited on them. She was the center of vocal abuse, making her already terrible mood even worse. Where at first she was just angry, Jessi was slowly giving in to despair as the biting words continued. She channeled her efforts to keeping her impending tears at bay. Jessi missed her family. Her heart ached for the want of the life she had back then. She had no idea how much she took for granted until she lost it. Her father and brother were the pillars that supported her through all of her trials and tribulations. Now that she had lost contact with them, all she felt was a deep void. Though their severed bond was the result of necessity, Jessi could not dismiss the pain that it managed to bring. After all, it was the only way for her to disappear off the face of the earth and start a new life. The task that stood before her required it for her success.

“Everything alright, Jessi?” Whitney jokingly asked to the amusement of her group.

“Everything’s fine,” said Jessi as she handed them their check. “Is there anything else, you need?”

The group paid on the spot, putting down the exact amount of cash that was on the check. Jessi didn’t need any special skills to realize that they were not leaving her a tip. As they finished with laying down the bills, one of the men dropped their wallets in the process of putting it away. He looked at Jessi and smiled. “Could you be a good waiter and pick that up for me?” he asked.

“Sure,” said Jessi. She kneeled down and reached for the wallet. Just as she grabbed it, she heard a noise coming from the table before feeling something wet seep into her hair, neck, and upper back. It soaked into her clothes, causing a cold sensation to travel across her back as it spread through the fabric. She felt the hard plastic glass that she assumed the drink originated from hit her back after the liquid had thoroughly drenched her.

“I’m sorry, did I do that? Clumsy me for knocking over my glass!” Debra said as Jessi stood up to hand the wallet to the man.

“Nice!” the men said as they high-fived Debra. They all stood up and made their way out.

“The food was terrible, Jessi,” Whitney said one final insult before she was completely out of the restaurant. “I can only imagine how much worse it would have been if you had cooked."

“Thank you for coming,” Jessi managed to say meekly when the group had already left. She felt the back of her outfit before ignoring the syrupy liquid which was now drying up and becoming sticky.

“Alright, you’re good to go for… lunch?” Janice paused for a moment as she asked the question. “Jessi, what happened to your uniform?”

“Some students accidentally spilled something,” said Jessi. “Don’t worry, I cleaned it up.”

“Well, you can go on lunch,” Janice said with concern. She felt as if Jessi was only telling her part of a story. “If you need to talk, I’ll be right here.”

“Thanks…” said Jessi. She clocked out on one of the monitors just as another group of people came in. She was pleasantly surprised to see that it was Bridgette and Sam. “Guys?” she asked.

“Jessi? Oh my God, what happened?” Sam said with a slightly disgruntled tone.

“It’s nothing,” Jessi smiled. Her tears finally burst forth as she sighed and sniveled. She looked to see that even Janice noticed her sobbing. “Nothing at all.”

“It’s okay!” Sam hugged Jessi. “What the fuck happened?”

“I saw the truck of the guys Whitney is currently leading around with Debra pass us on the way here,” said Bridgette. “Did they pick on you?”

“Only a little,” Jessi wiped her tears and laughed softly as convincingly as she could.

“They’re going to fucking pay!” Sam said in an explosive voice. “I don’t like it when that cunt picks on people! She’s going to fucking pay!”

“It’s alright,” said Jessi. “Don’t worry about it, Sam. Let’s not stoop down to their level, shall we?”

“One of these days, it’ll happen. Mark my fucking words…” Sam said menacingly.

“Jessi, Sam guessed that you were doing a graveyard shift after we didn’t see you in your dorm,” Bridgette admitted. “It was her idea to come visit you and keep you company. It looks as if that was the right choice.”

“Wait, what were you to doing in my dorm room…?” Jessi wondered. She turned red after she pieced it together. She assumed that it was the reason they were still awake at such a late hour. “Never mind!”

“W-wait! W-we… we didn’t do anything!” Sam denied.

“I think it’s pointless to try and cover it up now, dear,” Bridgette giggled. “Anyway, you’re on lunch for the next forty five minutes, correct? Would you care to join us, Jessi?”

Jessi giggled as well at Sam and Bridgette’s words. She felt a little lighter after their short conversation. She was happy to know that there were people who were concerned about her. With a smile, Jessi finally spoke. “I’d love to.”

XXXXXXXXXX

“So that’s what happened,” Bridgette said with contentment as Jessi finished her story. “Whitney gets fouler the longer she stays in Raven Stone. She acts like she owns the place.”

“You’re the only one who has the fucking right to act like that,” said Sam. “After all, you’re family founded the fucking school! Even then, I don’t see you being a bitch.”

“I don’t like those dirty words, Sam,” said Bridgette. “Looks like you want to be punished again.”

“S-s-stop that!” Sam blushed. “You… you know I was just… was just emphasizing.”

“You can do so without the use of cursing,” said Bridgette. “And even though my family founded the school, that is all they are known for as of now. My family no longer owns the school.”

“I thought you still did,” Jesse said surprised. “Come to think of it, you never once did say that your family had any ties to the school other than establishing it…”

“My control over Whitney is only as strong as my position in the school,” said Bridgette. “Even then, she has a considerable amount of money. In fact, she has more than my family. The future of the school actually hinged on whether I became student council president or not.”

“What do you mean?” Jessi asked.

“The Deverauxs actually planned to buy out the school,” answered Sam. “With the proper paperwork and right amount of money, they were going to buy out Raven Stone once they got permission sorted out with the local government. The Dackermans were completely fine with it too, but the Deverauxs are always up for humiliating other rich families. They were so confident that the school was theirs for the taking that they said their pride and glory, Whitney Deveraux, would even become student council president. They said that if she didn’t, they wouldn’t buy the school until she did. That’s how arrogant they are.”

“And now you’re student council president,” Jessi looked at Bridgette.

“My family didn’t even bother to compete,” said Bridgette. “We were completely fine with the Deverauxs owning the school. I just had a few ideas I wanted to implement in the school, so I put my name up for votes. I didn’t expect to win at all. My family was as surprised as I was that I won.”

“It’s a good thing you did even though you didn’t care,” said Sam. “Could you imagine what the school would have been like if the Deverauxs owned it and Whitney Deveraux was president? It’d be a fucking nightmare every fucking day!”

“That’s one too many, Sam Miles,” said Bridgette.

“What are you… Agh!” Sam moaned before she could finish her question. “Bridgette! Jessi’s… Jessi’s right here!”

“Let’s move this conversation along,” Bridgette ignored Sam and looked at Jessi. “Are you sure you don’t want to come home with us, Jessi? It wouldn’t be a problem at all, you know?”

“N-no… I… I think I’m fine!” Jessi tried her best to ignore what was going on. The last thing she wanted to think about was the fact that Bridgette was fingering Sam in public. Jessi’s belief that Bridgette was a bold girl only grew since she knew that Sam was wearing jeans. It took a certain confidence or crazy to do something like that. “T-trust me, Bridgette, I’ll just stay here. I’ll be fine!”

“Well, I guess that we’ll just have to move to the second plan,” said Bridgette. She spoke as if she wasn’t torturing her girlfriend with her fingers. “What do you say, Sam?”

“Br-Bridgette! Please! We’re… we’re going to get caught for sure!” Sam didn’t even acknowledge the question.

“So! What’s the second plan?!” Jessi said in a panic. She just wanted the situation to end.

“We’ll just stay here with you,” Bridgette answered. “It was Sam’s idea. I don’t mind staying here. Though Mathias will still be going home.”

“You’ll stay on school grounds for me? No, I won’t allow it! You two need to be together!” Jessi insisted. “You should spend the summer together and be happy, not stay here and comfort me.”

“Let me speak on behalf of Sam,” said Bridgette as she reveled in her girlfriend trying her hardest to suppress her moans. “If you’re happy, we’ll be happy. Whether we’re here or at my house, we’ll be happy and we’ll still be together. There’s no changing our minds, Jessi. If you choose to stay, we stay.”

“I truly am blessed to have you two as friends. Thank you for being here for me,” Jessi bowed to them. She looked at her watch to see that her lunch was coming to an end. “Anyway… I’m going to go back to work. I… I suggest you two… well… um… never mind…”

“Before you go, are the restrooms here clean?” Bridgette asked.

“D-don’t answer… don’t answer that question, Jessi! P-please…!” Sam begged.

“Um…” Jessi hesitated.

“Well?” Bridgette waited for the answer. “Are they?”

“Exceptionally clean,” Jessi answered.

“Perfect!” Bridgette said excitedly. “I guess that’s where I’ll have my dessert.”

“You… traitor!” Sam managed to say before Bridgette stood up and took her by the hand to the bathroom.

“Sorry!” Jessi yelled as she saw the look of both anticipation and dread on Sam’s face before the restroom door shut. She looked away and started to whistle. “I didn’t see anything,” Jessi said to herself. A prominent blush was plastered on her cheeks as she clocked back in just as Janice walked out of the kitchen once more.

“Good that you’re back,” Said Janice. “I really needed to use the restroom.”

“Don’t!” Jessi yelled. “Um… there’s someone in there right now!”

“Oh, well I guess I’ll just wait,” said Janice.

“You might be waiting a while…” Jessi said to herself.

“What was that?” Janice overheard.

“Nothing!” Jessi laughed awkwardly. She started to whistle once more and looked away from Janice. “I didn’t say anything at all!”

Sam pouted as she sat on the steps in front of the dorm. She pulled out her phone and looked at the time before looking towards the sky and sighing. She rested her elbows against her knees and her face against her palms. It had been fifteen minutes since she exited the dorm, causing her to grow impatient as she sat at the foot of the stairs. A quick throb made Sam reach for her chest and grunt. She took a handkerchief from her jacket’s pocket and coughed into it. When she separated the cloth form her mouth, she inspected it and noticed that there were a few drops of blood that stained it. Sam let out a sigh of worry before she quickly put the handkerchief away in a panic as she saw the person she was meeting approach.

Bridgette came riding in on a bicycle. Now with school being over, she wore normal clothes. As much as Sam loved Bridgette in her uniform, she looked even more stunning in regular clothes. Today she wore a pair of black denim jeans. They clung to her legs tightly, accentuating their lovely shape. The jeans stopped right above her ankles where Sam saw that she had a pair of simple brown sandals on. Despite their simplicity, they looked great on Bridgette. Sam panned her eyes up to see that her love was wearing a green cotton shirt that was tucked. It had a slightly low cut, revealing a good amount of her collar bones and a very small hint of cleavage. Rather than a typical purse, Bridgette had a satchel. It was slung around her shoulders tightly, guaranteeing that it would not get in the way while she biked. Her hair was tide into an unconventional ponytail. It was bunched up on her left side, giving her an asymmetrical look. “Did I make you wait long?” Bridgette asked Sam as she stopped her bike in front of her.

“Not at all,” said Sam. She gazed longingly at her love. Sam was so engrossed that she thought she would start drooling. With how she currently looked, Bridgette was a goddess. The warm summer sun radiating from behind her only solidified Sam’s belief. She stood up and shook her head, causing Bridgette to giggle. “So… um… what are the plans for today?”

“It’s whatever you want them to be, love,” Bridgette smiled at Sam. She waited for her to hop on the back of her bike before riding out of campus. “We’ll do whatever you want. Just promise me that you won’t get mad when I talk to you later.”

“What? What are you talking about?” Sam asked out of confusion.

“It’s about Jessi, but don’t worry yourself for now. Let’s just enjoy today,” Bridgette said as she picked up the pace. They took a short break as the gates opened before riding out of their wing and taking another short break at the next set of gates that led out of the academy. Now out of the confines of the school, the two rode happily down the streets. They made their way towards the city of Nevermore to start their lovely date. Bridgette looked back to see that not much of Sam’s hair was silver. Most of it had returned to its natural bright blonde. Even though the silver hair grew on her, Bridgette preferred Sam’s original hair color. She thought it complimented her cool green eyes. “I thought you said you’d have it re-dyed?” she asked.

“No, I think I’m done with dying my hair odd colors for now,” Sam answered. She took off her beanie and rubbed the top of her head. “Besides, I know you like it better this way.”

“Yeah, but your natural blonde makes it easier to tell that you’re a…”

“Don’t say it…”

“Sorry…” Bridgette said as she looked away. “So, where’s our first stop?

“Let’s go to downtown Nevermore!” Sam said excitedly. She bounced a little on the pegs that she stood on as she pointed towards the city. “Specifically 5th Street. There’re a lot of good places there.”

“Your wish is my command,” Bridgette complied. She wheeled them as fast as she could without tiring herself out. Despite the summer heat, Bridgette relished the day. She was happy that she got to spend time with Sam. Since the start of summer, they had been spending every day together. With school out, Bridgette was no longer held back by her duties. She made sure to spend every waking moment with her Sam. Some days, they had nothing to do other than just enjoy the comfort of each other’s embrace. Even so, Bridgette loved every moment of it. She couldn’t think of any better way to have spent the last few weeks. The nights were a similar matter. A happy yet devious smiled appeared on Bridgette as she thought of the randy things that Sam and she had done in the past few weeks. It was rare for them to end their day without doing something naughty. Bridgette hoped that tonight would be no different. Her only concerns were the usual. She worried Sam would have an attack or that Jessi might catch them. She was more worried for the former since Jessi always seemed to disappear every time she caught them. Though it would usually cause Sam to not want to continue, it wasn’t hard for Bridgette to get her going again.

“I wonder how Jessi’s doing,” Sam said as they neared the city.

Bridgette felt a hint of irritation at what Sam said. She knew she was possessive, but it seemed that she had gotten worse as of recently. With most of the student council and security gone, it wouldn’t have been a problem anymore if Sam slept in her room. Despite this fact, it irked her that Sam chose to stay with Jessi. When she had asked her love why, she simply stated that Jessi was lonely and needed company. As her good friend, it was Bridgette’s duty to help keep Jessi happy. She just didn’t expect it to eat away some of the time she could have spent with her Sam. Nothing made Bridgette clingier than Sam leaving her after their little naughty sessions. She would often beg for her to stay and cuddle with her for a bit, but Sam always insisted on leaving to keep Jessi from waiting. If she didn’t know any better, Bridgette thought that Sam might have been doing it to punish her. If that were the case, she began to brew punishments of her own. “She’s fine,” Bridgette finally left her thoughts to respond to Sam. “Stop worrying about her.”
“She’s a good friend, Bridgette. She’s you’re friend, too,” Sam said. “Unlike us, she’s all alone. When I woke up this morning, she wasn’t in her bunk. I hope she’s not taking another double shift…”

“I’m sure she’s not on a double shift,” Bridgette was certain.

“What makes you say that?” Sam asked.

“Well, that’s actually the thing about Jessi that I wanted to talk to you about,” Bridgette answered. “But I’d prefer we talk about it in a more suited environment. Just take my word that Jessi’s not doing a double shift.”

“If you say so,” Sam said reluctantly. She felt quite suspicious with Bridgette’s certainty.

“You’re always worrying about Jessi. What about me? Aren’t I the love of your life?” Bridgette teased.

“O-of course I worry about you!” said Sam. The color rose in her cheeks as she continued to speak. “It’s just… it’s just that you’re rich and very capable. Jessi’s more like me. Just like how you worry about me, I worry about her.”

“I was just teasing to make you blush,” Bridgette turned to smile at Sam. “It was well worth seeing the look on your face. I understand your worries, Sam, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m a little jealous of you spending every night with her.”
“You get to see me every day and you spend a good chunk of every night with me as well!” Sam argued. “You see me plenty already!”

“Yeah, but I want to see you more,” Bridgette pouted. She ended the conversation with that as they continued their ride to downtown Nevermore. Fifteen or so minutes passed by before the two finally reached 5th Street. Out of all the roads in Nevermore, 5th Street always had the most commotion. It was loaded with shops and thrift stores of all kind. If one could think it, chances were, one could buy it. The street was in no short supply of any store imaginable. Bridgette road along the bike lane until Sam tapped on her shoulder to get her to stop. To no surprise, they stopped at a clothing store that Sam frequented. They had hundreds of shirts that boasted dark colors and dark themes. Even though Bridgette knew the reason why Sam wanted to look like a man, she still found her choice in clothing to be amusing. It was as if Sam was fourteen trying to fit into an edgy world. Nothing changed the fact that she enjoyed the punk look her love always displayed, however. “Get whatever you want and I’ll give you the money,” said Bridgette.

“Thanks like usual,” said Sam as they walked in. She greeted the cashier with a nod and made her way to the clothing racks. Sam pushed and pulled the hangers to get a good look at all the choices. It was hard for her to decide with the thought of not spending too much of Bridgette’s money. She spent a few more minutes to browse before she picked out a couple of shirts. In the end, she ended up with a little over half a dozen slung over her arms. Sam looked to Bridgette and noticed that she had picked out some jeans. She began to wonder how appetizing her love’s legs would look in them. Sam shook her head and made her way to Bridgette, dismissing the amorous thoughts. “Are you buying something?”

“I could always use more jeans,” said Bridgette as she draped the clothing over her arms. “Got everything you want?”

“Just a few more things,” said Sam. She picked out a few jeans of her own before perusing some of the headwear. Sam plucked a few beanies from the shelves and inspected their design and quality. When she was satisfied, her final stop was the hoodies section. Sam inspected the one she wore and took note of all the rips and tears. It was time for her to get a new one. A black one with a red interior caught her attention. She removed it from the rack and added it to her collection. Then, Sam looked at Bridgette and gave her the nod. With how often she visited the store, Sam never had to try on the clothes. She knew what fit her and that was all there was to it. She waited as Bridgette approached her. When she finally did, Bridgette discreetly handed Sam money. They approached the cashier together and placed their clothes on the counter. She smiled as she scanned the items.

“That’ll be a hundred seventy-four dollars and thirty-six cents,” the cashier said as she finished off with scanning the clothing.

“Here,” Sam gave her the money.

“What a sweet guy, you are,” the cashier said. “Paying for your girlfriends clothes too, huh?

“Yeah,” said Sam. “I try my best to treat her right.”

“You always do treat me right,” said Bridgette. “Despite his looks, he’s the best a girl can ask for. Once you get over the height thing, that is.”

“Bridgette!” Sam got a little flustered.

“Don’t think anything of it,” the cashier giggled. “There are plenty of guys who are shorter than their girlfriends.”

“Um… yeah, you’re right,” said Sam. “Thanks for your help.”

“Not a problem!” the cashier said happily.

“Glad that’s over with…” Sam sighed.

“You know, I embarrassed you in there to prove something to you,” said Bridgette.

“Oh yeah? And what were you trying to prove?” Sam asked.

“That people don’t really care,” answered Bridgette. “They’re not as shallow and unforgiving as you might think.”

“Yeah right, if I didn’t pay for our clothes, she would have looked down on me,” Sam argued. “It’s the man’s job to pay.”

“That tradition is dead,” said Bridgette. “People won’t figure out that you’re a girl just because you couldn’t afford to pay for something.”

“I’m not taking any chances,” said Sam. “Nobody can figure out. That’s even more important now that I’m dating you.”

“There has never been a non-hetero Dackerman in the history of our family,” said Bridgette. “But things change, Sam. I can love who I want and I’m going to make my family understand that. I’ve brought home plenty of boys that they didn’t approve of. They’ll probably just give me the same disapproval if I brought you.”

“You seem to be forgetting the part where I’m not a guy…” Sam sighed.

“Forget that! If you’re coming to my house, you are Samantha Miles, not Sam Miles,” said Bridgette. “If my family can’t accept that, they can just kick me out.”

“No! I won’t accept that!” Sam insisted. “The world can’t know I’m a girl and neither can your family! You don’t understand the consequences because you haven’t experienced any actual loss! You still take everything for granted! Do you know what’ll happen if they cut ties with you? You’ll lose everything that allows you to live comfortably!”

“That doesn’t matter…”

“You don’t think it matters because you haven’t lost it!” Sam stopped Bridgette from continuing. “Now forget about this whole talk and drop it!”

“Hah… fine…” said Bridgette. Now she was the one who sighed. She disliked the little arguments she and Sam would have. All that was going through her head as they walked down the sidewalk was how to make it up to Sam. With how her girlfriend was already, Bridgette lost some confidence in what she wanted to talk to Sam about. Nonetheless, it was a subject that they had to discuss. She allowed the two of them to enjoy another hour on 5th Street before asking Sam if she wanted a quick bite to eat. To no obvious surprise, Sam agreed.

“I don’t need plenty of food,” said Sam. “A scoop of ice cream should be more than enough since we’ll be eating dinner in a few hours anyway.”

“Where do you want to eat dinner?” Bridgette hoped for a different answer.

“Do you have to ask? It’ll always be the same place. I want to eat at Jessi’s diner,” Sam gave the answer that Bridgette did not want to hear. “I want to make sure that she’s okay.”

“Just making sure,” Bridgette smiled despite Sam’s answer. They approached the closest ice cream stand and each bought a scoop. Unlike the clothes, Sam paid for the both of them with her own money. Ice cream was something she could actually afford. Knowing that this might be her only chance, Bridgette took the deepest breath that her lungs would allow her. She exhaled every bit of air that she could before looking at Sam. “I think it’s time we have that talk.”

“About Jessi, right? Sounds like it’s going to be a serious talk…” Sam felt a little concern.

“Sam, I don’t think Jessi’s your typical high school girl,” Bridgette confessed.

“That’s it? I could have told you that,” Sam chuckled. “She’s always sneaking off at random nights and she’s always got her head in the clouds as if she’s constantly thinking of something. I also saw her looking at some strange documents on the first day we met.”

“What?” Bridgette asked. “What kind of documents?”

“They looked like classified information about the school. Sorry that I haven’t told you, I just never thought anything of it after that day. Out of sight, out of mind.”

“Sam, this further supports my theory. Jessi might be a spy. She might be stealing information from the school. If that’s the case, what she’s doing is illegal!”

“Relax! You’re starting to sound like you’re crazy, Bridgette. I highly doubt Jessi’s anything more than a curious girl. I can’t believe you’d doubt a friend.”

“I’ve helped her, Sam!” Bridgette reminded her. “For all I know, she could be using the money I’ve been giving her for a different purpose! If something happens to the school because of my stupidity of helping Jessi, it would be the end of my family!”

“But she’s not doing that!” Sam yelled. “Jessi is nothing more than a good friend who takes good care of me. Why do you always assume the worse in her?”

Bridgette was now in a sticky situation. She had no clue that Sam had become so attached to Jessi. She had to find a way to convince her that her roommate might not be who she sees her to be. Bridgette tried to recall everything that she could before speaking. When she had her thoughts mapped, she did the best she could. “You caught Jessi when she went on a run and said that you saw what you believed to be a knife,” Bridgette said.

“Yeah, so fucking what?!” Sam said with hostility. She was surprised by her own headstrong attitude towards Bridgette. She couldn’t quite recall a time where she ever went against her. “I said it might have been a knife. For all I know, it could have been a phone. Even if it was a knife, she wouldn’t be the first to own one on campus.”

“Alright, then what about the time Jessi knocked me down on the mat?” Bridgette brought up another memory. “Do you think any normal boy or girl could do that to me? Jessi was precise and elusive. I might hit harder than her, but her technique is more refined. This is coming from a girl who’s participated in actual tournaments! It’s not every day that you see someone like me get taken down.”

“Are you still upset about that?” Sam snickered a little. “Just accept that someone beat you already. This whole thing is just because you’re jealous that you’re not the best at something.”

“Dammit, Sam! I’m your fucking girlfriend! Why don’t you believe in what I say but throw all your trust in Jessi?!” Bridgette erupted to Sam’s surprise. It was the first time she had ever lost control in a public place. Her outburst was loud enough that it attracted the attention of a few other street strollers.

Sam was stunned by her girlfriend’s emotional explosion. She had never seen Bridgette genuinely upset. Rather than being afraid, Sam just felt a little upset. In the end, her emotions began to come forth as well. “I know you’re my damn girlfriend! That doesn’t give you the right to judge my friend!” Sam countered Bridgette. “Leave her alone, dammit! She’s got plenty of problems as it is without you fucking hassling and assuming shit!”

“This is more proof of what I’m talking about,” said Bridgette. “She got her claws in you already and she’s poisoned you against me!”

“You’re fucking losing it! She hasn’t done anything other than be a good friend!” said Sam. “Why can’t you see that?!”

“Why can’t you see that she’s manipulating you?!” Bridgette countered. Not knowing what to do, she began to step away from Sam. “I’m not going to be like you. I’m not going to enable her and let her manipulate me.”

“Wait, what are you saying?” Sam’s anger dissipated almost immediately.

“It’s over, Sam. As long as you’re with Jessi, I can’t be with you,” said Bridgette. “Go help your maniac of a friend out. See where that leads you.”

“Bridgette, don’t...”

“And find your own way home,” Bridgette walked away. Though she had an expression of anger, she was suffering on the inside. She couldn’t believe that she just dumped her girlfriend. She turned back to see that Sam didn’t even bother to follow her. Instead, she just looked as if the meaning of her life was taken from her. Bridgette continued to walk until Sam disappeared into the crowd of people that passed by. When she reached her bike, she took a short pause before cycling back to Raven Stone.

XXXXXXXXXX

“Jessi! Get that food to table twelve!” Janice ordered her and the other employees around.

“Done!” Jessi said happily. She walked with enthusiasm, placing the food on the table to the customers’ delight. Since she noticed that they were all men, she leaned in a little more than usual, to allow her apron and shirt to slack a bit. It gave them just enough of a view to be ecstatic. “Please enjoy your food, gentlemen!”

“It’s amazing how much more lively this place is when you’re working,” one of Jessi’s coworkers commented as they walked past her.

“She livens up the place with her looks!” Janice joked as Jessi grabbed another plate of food. “Ever since Jessi came, she’s rekindled the love people have for this diner. You could say she’s our lucky charm!”

“Oh, stop it!” Jessi blushed even though her coworkers all applauded at her. “I’m just working like the rest of you.”

“Well, whatever you call it, keep it up!” Janice said. She turned towards the chefs and encouraged them before livening up her servers.

“Got it!” said Jessi. She continued to serve food and eye candy for the male customers. For the females, she engaged them in short conversations that livened them up. She even gave others some life advice. She noticed that there were people who always wanted her to wait on them. A range of people of all ages became regular visitors just because of Jessi. She was happy to help not only the diner, but the customers as well. As the hours passed by, the crowd died down as it neared 10 p.m. Most of her coworkers went home, leaving only a few employees, managers, and Jessi to tend to customers. Before she knew it, it was only her left in the diner. As usual, Janice was the last manager left. She toiled away at paperwork to make it easier for the manager who was going to replace her for the graveyard shift. Jessi herself was quite excited for her replacement to come. After working a double shift, all she wanted to do was collapse on her bunk after the grueling sixteen hours. She had been hard at work since eight in the morning, and the thought of midnight nearing put a smile on her face as she sat down on one of the bar stools. The noise of the door being opened alerted Jessi of a late dining customer. She swiveled around and was pleasantly surprised to see Sam. She was even more surprised to see her alone. “Sam?” Jessi asked. “Where’s Bridgette?”

“She… dumped me…” Sam said the words as if it had not completely sunk in yet. The puffiness of her cheeks stated otherwise, however.

“What?! You’re joking!” Jessi couldn’t believe what she had just heard. It made her gut wrench with a terrible feeling. She rushed to Sam’s side and comforted her with an embrace. Jessi led her friend to a table, sitting her down and doing her best to keep her from crying again. “What happened? Why’d she dump you?”

“We had a disagreement… about you,” said Sam.

“Wait, this is… my fault?” Jessi felt the feeling in her gut worsen. “I’m… I’m so sorry. What… what about me caused it? Was she jealous of me again?”

“No… she said… she said you might be…” Sam paused before saying anymore.

“I might be what?”

“Bridgette said you’re some sort of agent,” Sam said. “She said that you’re just using us. Is that true?”

Jessi froze and did not answer. She saw the look on Sam’s face intensify.

“Holy fuck…she was right!” said Sam. She grit her teeth and glared at Jessi. “I defended you! You lost me the only person who ever cared for me!”

“Sam…”

“Shut up! Shut the fuck up!” Sam swept at the table, knocking away an assortment of utensils and her glass of water onto the ground. “Jessi Traurigkeit, I hate you! You’re nothing but a lying bitch! I want Bridgette back! I want my fucking girlfriend back!”

“Sam, calm down!” Jessi tried to reason with her enraged roommate. Janice walked out of the kitchen to check the commotion and Jessi looked at her and shook her head. Janice got the message and disappeared once again into the kitchen. “You haven’t even given me a chance to speak!”

“I don’t need to hear shit! Fuck you! Fuck your reasons!” Sam wailed. She began to cough, causing her to pull out her handkerchief. Blood stained the cloth as she moved it from her mouth. Even so, Sam continued with yelling. “Go fucking die!”

“Sam! Stop!” Jessi pleaded out of concern. She watched as her friend’s breathing became heavier and more sporadic.

“I don’t fucking care!” Sam said before coughing into her handkerchief once more. “You think I care if something happens to me?! All I care about is you fucking dying!”

“Sam! Shut the fuck up!” Jessi roared. She watched Sam shrink into her chair at her outcry. In the time they had lived together, Sam had never seen Jessi angry. Her ire was a foreign sight that frightened Sam. “I’m sorry I had to yell, but I needed you to stop. I don’t want my friend to die because she’s mad at something she doesn’t understand. Sam, I’m going to be straightforward with you. I’m at the school to search for information on a previous student who attended it. That’s all.”

“Y-you can’t expect me to believe that!” Sam was shocked that she was still able to speak despite how shaken she was by Jessi and the stress. “If it’s as simple as looking for information on a student, why don’t you just ask the school for the files? With the proper paperwork, you can easily pull up a few files.”

“It’s not that simple,” Jessi sighed as she lightly slammed her fists on the table. “The person I’m trying to look up is very good at covering their tracks. They don’t want anyone finding out anything about their past. They’re also very powerful. If they knew I was looking up files regarding their history, they could have it purged before I could even mention it out loud. The only way to do it is secretly.”

“But… why do you need information on this person? What have they done?” Sam wondered.

“The person I speak of is an evil woman. She thinks she can take what she wants with no consequence,” said Jessi. “She’s manipulated and lied her way to the top of a very powerful family in the west coast. She’s tyrannical and needs to be stopped. She doesn’t even know I’m looking for information regarding her, Sam. If she were to figure it out, I probably wouldn’t be alive anymore.”

“She’s that crazy and evil?” Sam could hardly believe it.

“She is. And that’s why she needs to be stopped,” Jessi said. “I know you can hack into systems with very little effort. I’ve wanted to ask you for help, but I never wanted you or Bridgette to be any part of this. That’s why I kept it to myself. If she were to ever find out about me and if she could trace hints that suggested either of you helped me, we’d all be dead.”

“You’ve got to be joking…” Sam felt a little dread. “No person in the world is that powerful. This all sounds so unreal…”

“It is real and she is that powerful,” Jessi assured her friend. “Now that my secrets out thanks to Bridgette’s perceptive nature, I might as well go for broke. Samantha Miles, will you help me stop this evil woman?”

“I… I don’t know…” Sam was uncertain.

“With your help, I can speed things along,” Jessi reasoned. “I know I said it would be dangerous, but at this point, it doesn’t really matter anymore. The secret’s out and there’s no way I can get it back in. We can get Bridgette in on it. Even Mat! With the four of us, we’d be unstoppable!”

“But… even if I say yes, there’s no guarantee Bridgette will even help now that we’re broken up,” Sam pouted at the thought.

“You’re not broken up,” said Jessi.

“Wh-what do you mean?” Sam asked.

Jessi took hold of her friend’s hand and squeezed it. She looked into her eyes with a fiery conviction unlike any other. “I’m going to get you two back together.”

“Jessi, get this food to table three and you’re free to go,” Janice informed her subordinate as she approached the kitchen counter.

“You got it,” Jessi said as she picked up the food. She looked to the table to see the group of men who were eagerly waiting for her. She had waited this particular group of four on too many occasions to count in her short time in the diner. She knew for a fact that all of them were quite infatuated with her. They would always signal each other every time she neared them. It made the smile on Jessi’s face widen. She rejoiced that people of all sorts recognized and acknowledged her. When she approached the table, Jessi did her usual routine of leaning in more than she needed to. The slack it allowed on her shirt and apron gave the boys the view that they were waiting for. “Is there anything else I can get you, gentlemen?” Jessi asked.

“I’m going to go for broke,” one of them said to the laughter of his friends. “You’re Jessi, right?”

“Yes, that’s what my name tag says,” Jessi answered.

“So… uh, Jessi… would you… like to go out sometime?” he asked.

“I’m afraid not,” Jessi disappointed him to the amusement of his friends. “It was a nice try, though. Guys who’re brave enough to ask are very attractive. You’d be my first choice in your little group.” Her words swept the guy off his feet and caused his friends to give him compliments. Jessi was happy to see that she didn’t completely devastate and embarrass him in front of his friends. She walked away with a gleeful smile as she waved and bid her coworkers goodbye. Jessi clocked out on the monitor and quickly checked her phone. She walked outside and confirmed that it was two o’clock in the afternoon. Jessi wondered how Sam was faring, urging her to hop on her bike and cycle her way back to Raven Stone with haste.

Some time passed by before Jessi stopped at the gates of Raven Stone Academy. She waited for the gate to open after she was scanned and repeated the process as she entered her wing. Jessi biked her way towards the dorms and locked up her bike at one of the bike racks. A specific bike caught her attention as she did so. It was one that she had seen a particular person use. “Is Mat back?” Jessi asked herself as she inspected the bike. It made sense that he would be since he, like the rest of them, had to pack his dorm’s belongings to move into the dorms in Raven Stone College. She was surprised that he returned when there was still a week of summer left. Jessi couldn’t believe that Mat had that many belongings. Between her and Sam, a weekend would have been all they needed to pack everything. With regards to packing, Jessi remembered that neither she nor her roommate had started. They had procrastinated all summer. She sighed as the thought that she’d have to spend part of her last week doing such a mundane task crept into her mind. She quickly banished the thought as she made her way towards her dorm room. “Oh!” Jessi said with genuine surprise after seeing the state of her quarters.

“I hope I did it right,” said Sam. “I’ve been paying attention to how you like your things. Did I do it right?”

“You packed everything?” Jessi scanned the empty room before looking at Sam. “You’re usually not up until the afternoon, when did you wake up?”

“I woke up the moment you left for the diner at around 5 a.m.,” Sam answered. “I’ve spent all day packing. It’s really gotten my mind off of things and given me time to think. I think I’ve moved on from Bridgette.”

“What? Sam, no! You can’t give up!” said Jessi. She approached her friend and held her in an embrace. It was a tight hug of reassurance. Jessi could hear Sam start to snivel in her chest. She moved her hand to her friend’s head and ruffled her hair. Jessi leaned her head on Sam to help comfort and suppress her tears. “It’ll be okay…” she assured her.

“What… what’s the point in trying?” Sam wept. “She doesn’t ever come out of her dorm room to see me. On the rare occasions I do see her, she doesn’t even acknowledge I exist no matter how hard I try. She… she fucking hates me…”

“No, she doesn’t,” said Jessi. “I know that for a fact! She’s just being really stubborn.”

“How… how can… you be so sure?” Sam looked up to Jessi. “We’ve tried everything, but she doesn’t care. I didn’t know it could hurt so much to lose her. I… I wish I never met her…”

“That’s enough!” said Jessi. She sat Sam down on her bunk and approached one of her suitcases. Jessi started to rummage through her belongings as Sam watched her. “Today is the day. She’s going to acknowledge that she loves you or I’m going to beat the shit out of her for being stubborn.”

“Jessi…?” Sam asked worriedly.

“Don’t ask any questions,” Jessi threw some clothes at Sam. “Put those on, they should be close to your size.”

“Huh? Wh-why?”

“Just do it, okay? I expect you to have them on by the time I come back.”

Sam looked at the clothes and then towards Jessi. “Wait, where are you going?” she asked.

“Don’t worry about it,” Jessi said as she stood by the door. She looked to Sam as she opened it. “Stay right here and put those clothes on. I’ll be back momentarily.”

XXXXXXXXXX

“There’s only one reason you’d ask me to come back early,” Mat said as he entered Bridgette’s dorm room. He observed her older sister as she sat at a desk and stared at a photo. “I might be the younger twin, but I’m definitely more mature. I know you don’t need help with packing. You need comforting, don’t you?”

“A little,” Bridgette admitted. “Thanks for coming. I know I must have interrupted your time with her.”

“It’s fine. You know how Asuna is. The last thing she would want is for one of her childhood friends to be depressed,” said Mat.

“Yeah, but you two finally stopped stumbling around and started going out,” said Bridgette. “I’m a terrible sister for taking that away from you.”

“I said it’s fine,” Mat leaned on the desk to look at Bridgette. He noticed that the picture Bridgette was admiring was one of her and Sam. “Asuna insisted I figure out what was keeping you down so that I can cheer you up. I see it’s related to Sam.”

“I dumped her, Mathias,” Bridgette confessed. "We had a heated argument over Jessi Traurigkeit and I dumped her for it.”

“An argument over Jessi? What was it about?” Mat questioned.

“The argument was stupid and it wasn’t really the real reason I was upset,” Bridgette said. “You know me by now, Mathias. I’m very clingy. It’s caused a good amount of guys to leave me since I get jealous over the most trivial things. I was… jealous of Jessi.”

“Why?” Mat asked in bewilderment. “Sam doesn’t love her, she loves you.”

“I know… It’s just that… they’ve gotten really close,” answered Bridgette. “I was afraid she was going to take Sam away from me. I ended up dreading the worst possible outcomes if Sam were to leave me. I let my emotions out of control and in my fear that Sam was going to leave me for Jessi, I left her first as we argued. I wanted her to be the one who was heartbroken. It turns out I’m heartbroken now too…”

“Come on, Bridgette, you’re smarter than this!” Mat said with an upset tone. “You’re not some stupid middle school student, you’re an adult! I can’t believe you dumped Sam because of a little jealousy. Look at all the heartbreak you’ve caused for both of you! Look at the tears you’ve shed!”

“What?! No! I haven’t been crying!” Bridgette exclaimed.

“Tell me that lie again once you throw away the boxes of tissues in your garbage can,” Mat laughed a little.

“Dammit, Mathias!” Bridgette yelled at her sibling. She smiled before laughing uncontrollably. “You’re right, I did cry. But some of those tissues weren’t just because I cried.”

“I don’t need to know, Bridgette,” Mat sighed at the lewd implications of his sibling.

“What? You can tease me but I can’t tease you? Don’t like hearing about the naughty things your older sister fantasizes about?” Bridgette said with a devious smile. “It can get really messy down there sometimes, Mathias.”

“You take everything to a new extreme…” Mat shook his head. “Anyway, are you going to go make it up to Sam? She deserves that much.”

“I think I will, but I’m not sure how to go about it,” Bridgette said with regret. “I might have waited too long. Plus, I’ve been ignoring her every time I see her out of fear. I can’t even compute half the things she’s saying in my efforts to get away. I might have completely blown my chance.”

“You never know unless you try and find out,” said Mat. “Out of the dozen or so relationships you’ve had, I’ve never seen you happier than when you are with Sam. You’d be crazy not to try and fight for it.”

“I don’t see the point in fighting after all this time,” Bridgette sighed. “We broke up a couple of weeks into summer. It’s been months now.”

“Bridgette!” a voice and loud knock on the door alerted Mat and Bridgette of someone’s presence. “Bridgette, if you’re in there, please answer!”

Mat rushed to the door and opened it. He was greeted by an out of breath Jessi with a look of panic plastered on her face. “Jessi?” Mat grew a little worried. “What’s the matter?”

“Mat!” Jessi hugged him before turning her attention to Bridgette. “Please, I didn’t know who else to turn to. Sam… Sam is…”

Bridgette didn’t even let Jessi finish. She practically flew off of her chair and ran out to the hallway. Mat and Jessi followed suit as she rushed towards Jessi and Sam’s dorm. “What happened?” she asked worriedly.

“I… I don’t know…” answered Jessi. “I got back from work and noticed she was still asleep. I… I tried to wake her up since it’s already the afternoon, but she didn’t respond…”

“No… Sam… please, please! Please be okay!” Bridgette sped up. She reached the dorm and turned the handle only to learn that it was locked. Bridgette rummaged through her pocket and remembered that she had now graduated and was no longer in control of the dorms. “I don’t have the master keycard anymore. Jessi, get the door open!”

“Wh-what?” Jessi was a little out of it.

“Pull your head out of your ass and get the fucking door open!” Bridgette slammed her fist against the door with a resounding thud.

“Oh! Yes! Right away!” Jessi pulled out her card and used it. She was knocked to the floor as Bridgette pushed her out of the way to open the door.

“Sam!” Bridgette called out upon entering the room. The person that stood in front of her took her by complete surprise. It was a small woman with a blush so strong that it brightened up the dark room. Her blonde hair was a usual mess, varying in length from stopping right at her chin to as close to her shoulders. The only thing keeping it from becoming a bigger mess was the black beanie she wore. Her bright green eyes stared at Bridgette with a gaze that pierced through her very being. She was wearing a blue shirt with short sleeves that was tucked into a short black skirt that stopped halfway up her thighs. Her look was completed by a black hoodie with a red interior. “Sam…”

“She was never in a critical condition,” said Jessi. “I just wanted to see if you still loved her. I’d say this proves that you do. More importantly, why are you wearing that hoodie and your beanie, Sam? You were only supposed to have the clothes I asked you to wear on.”

“I couldn’t help it, okay?! It was really embarrassing!” Sam blurted out. “I haven’t worn girl’s clothing in a very long time.”

“You look lovely. I’ve never seen you look more beautiful,” Bridgette approached Sam. She wrapped her arms around her and pulled her into a breathtaking hug. She began to snivel as her embrace grew tighter. “Sam, I’m so sorry. I love you. I love you more than anything.”

“Me… too…” Sam wrapped her arms around Bridgette as well. “I’m sorry for being so stubborn and I’m sorry for not believing in you.”

“What do you mean?” Bridgette asked.

“Don’t worry about that. We’ll talk about it later,” Jessi interrupted their little moment of forgiveness. “For now, you two should just sort things out. Let’s give them some privacy, Mat.”

“Agreed,” said Mat. He closed the door to let them be before turning to Jessi. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been okay,” Jessi answered. She motioned her head and looked down the hallway. “Walk with me?”

“Of course,” Mat agreed. The start of their walk was a silent one. Neither really knew what to speak of. Remembering earlier, Mat decided on a subject to breach. As they reached the end of the hall and made their way down via the stairs, Mat spoke. “So… my sister said that she dumped Sam out of jealousy of you. I’ve known her all my life, so I know when she’s lying. There’s another reason, isn’t there?”

“Yeah, actually, there is…” Jessi admitted. “I’d… I’d prefer if we talk about it some other time. It’s actually… kind of a heavy topic.”

“Really?” Mat raised an eyebrow. They reached the ground floor of the dormitories and continued to walk until they were out on the school field.

“Yeah… it’s a subject I’d like to discuss with all three of you, if you don’t mind,” said Jessi. “Until then, do you remember what you told me a few weeks before summer?”

“Oh… um… about that…” Mat was suddenly in a panic. “Jessi…”

Jessi did not let Mat finish. She leaned up to him and planted a kiss on his lips. It lasted for a few seconds before she pulled away with a furious blush. It took Jessi a moment to look Mat in the eyes and produce a soft smile. “I hope that convinces you…” she said timidly.

“Jessi… I can’t…” Mat delivered the bad news to Jessi. “I… I found someone during the summer. Someone I’ve loved since I was young.”

“But… I thought…” Jessi started to sound disappointed. “You said we’d revisit the subject during summer. I know you never said yes to me, but I was certain…”

“I was going to say yes,” said Mat. “But I had to leave and take care of some familial things back home. I’m sorry, but I met someone in that time while you were absent.”

“Who is she?” Jessi asked.

“Asuna Anderson-Saotome,” Mat answered. “She’s mine and Bridgette’s childhood friend. She was born the same time we were. We used to say the three of us were triplets not related by blood.”

“Well, there’s the problem!” Jessi said as she started to laugh lightheartedly. “I had no chance if you’ve known her your entire life. Mathias Dackerman, you tricky devil!”

“Jessi…”

“It’s fine! Honestly!” Jessi assured Mat. “Where does she go to school? If you’ve known her all this time, why didn’t she attend Raven Stone?”

“She’s well off, but she’s not rich,” answered Mat. “Her family couldn’t afford to go to a place like this.”

“I see…” Jessi felt a little hopeful. If Mat and his newfound girlfriend were to stay separated, she might still stand a chance. “Well, that’s unfortunate. I hope you two can make it work.”

“Actually, her hard work finally paid off,” said Mat. “She got a full ride scholarship to Raven Stone College. She’ll be in class with us come fall.”

Jessi’s heart wrenched at the words. It was as if a thousand blades perforated her chest as she felt all her chances disappear. She looked up at Mat with a final smile before she grabbed his hands. She brought them up next to her face and kissed both. When she finished, Jessi looked Mat once more in the eyes. “I wish happiness for the two of you,” she said with an obvious somber tone. “You best treat this girl right, Mathias Dackerman! Don’t make me reconsider liking you!”

“Jessi…”

“Well, that’s enough of that!” Jessi cut Mat off. She let go of his hands and pushed him away. “I think I’ve taken up enough of your time. I’m guessing you want to head back to your dorm room?”

“Jessi, please…” Mat tried to reach out.

“I’m going to continue my stroll for a bit,” Jessi started to walk away. She looked back to Mat with a smile and waved at him. “I’ll see you around, Mat.”

“Jessi…” Mat whispered once more as the distance between her and Jessi grew. He put his hand down, turned around, and made his way back to the dormitories.

Jessi looked back when she was sure Mat’s back was turned. She looked at him with a disappointed expression before sighing. “Once again, Jessi Traurigkeit misses the mark and ends up being all alone. At least one of us is happy. Right, Sam?”

XXXXXXXXXX

Sam gasped for air as she broke the kiss that Bridgette gave her. All that was going through her head was how lovely her love’s lips felt and tasted. She managed to take one more breath before her lips were once again locked with Bridgette’s. She felt the beanie slip off her head as Bridgette removed it, causing her hair to flow down in lovely blonde strands that passed her shoulders. “Ah…” Sam squeaked as she broke the kiss once more for air.

“Your hair’s gotten long,” Bridgette twirled the bright blonde locks on her finger. The grip her arm had around Sam’s waist tightened as she pulled her in for another kiss. This one was a bit more aggressive than the previous as Bridgette started to lick at Sam’s lips, encouraging her partner to open her lips. Sam complied and let Bridgette’s tongue invade her mouth. It snaked its way and met with Sam’s tongue, allowing them to meet in a playful yet raunchy dance. At this point, Bridgette started to take steps forward, forcing Sam to step back closer and closer to the bunk bed.

“Ah!” Sam yelped in surprise as she hit the edge of the bed and lost her balance. She fell back and landed softly against the bunk. “Bridgette! We can’t! This is Jessi’s bunk!”

“I don’t care right now,” said Bridgette as she gave Sam an overly passionate kiss before speaking once more. “She can just wash her sheets.”

“Bridgette…!” Sam’s words never found an end as Bridgette pressed her lips against hers. Bridgette’s hands took hold and interlocked fingers with hers. Sam felt her hands forcefully pushed against the mattress as Bridgette climbed on top and straddled her. She let go for a moment to take hold of her top. In one motion, Bridgette lifted up, removing her top and exposing her cute white bra to Sam. Though it was simple in design, she knew Sam didn’t care as she saw that her gaze was fixed on her chest. Bridgette smiled at the sight of Sam’s anxiousness. She reached around and undid the clasp on her bra. Slowly and agonizingly, Bridgette slipped off one strap after the other before placing her hand in between the cups. With one pull, she freed her breasts from the prison that was her bra. The look of sheer restlessness in Sam only made Bridgette’s smile grow larger. She leaned down, keeping her breasts afloat just a few inches away from Sam’s face. “Care to taste?” she asked playfully.

There was no hesitation in Sam upon hearing the question. She lifted her head off the bed and propped herself on her elbows. Her lips encircled one of Bridgette’s breasts and refused to let go. Sam sucked on her nipple and became ignorant to everything else. The feel of Bridgette’s flesh was incomparable. The noise she was making as she sucked was also incomparable. It wasn’t often that you heard sweet sighs from Bridgette. Sam was happy to know that she was the person who was capable of doing this. She switched to the opposite breast and began anew, sucking away and losing herself. In a rare act, Sam pushed up on Bridgette and rolled them so that they switched positions. Now, she was on top of her girlfriend. “Bridgette…” Sam said before burying her face in Bridgette’s cleavage.

“What is it, love?” Bridgette asked caringly as she wrapped her arms around Sam.

“I… I want… to see you down there…” Sam said meekly. Her face was bright as a tomato as the words exited her. “I… I want you to be the one who feels good today…”

Bridgette smiled at Sam and reached down towards her waist. She looked down, causing Sam to look down as well. When she knew Sam’s eyes were locked on her lower half, she unbuttoned her jeans and pulled down the zipper for Sam to see. “Go right ahead, love,” she gave her consent.

Sam looked at Bridgette before moving down and taking hold of her jeans. She slowly and carefully slipped them off and threw them beside the bed, leaving Bridgette in nothing more than an alluring set of white cotton panties that hugged her nether region. Sam pressed a finger against Bridgette’s lower lips through the cloth. She looked up upon hearing a moan with her touch. Sam smiled happily at the vocalization. “Did you like that?” she asked.

“What do you think,” Bridgette looked at Sam with a smile. She took hold of Sam’s hand and guided it underneath her panties.

“Alright then,” Sam said. She got the message and took Bridgette’s panties off. Delirium travelled through her body as she looked at Bridgette’s bare flesh. Her lower lips were so inviting and beautiful. There was just a small tuft of hair that indicated Bridgette was not some child. Its light pink color was as hypnotizing as Sam remembered. Sam couldn’t help but become enraptured at the sight. She licked the tips of her finger and started rubbing them against Bridgette’s flesh. The sounds Bridgette produced as her fingers glided on her pussy were intoxicating. It urged Sam to continue and take more initiative. She used her other hand to lift up the bit of skin that hid her love’s clit. Sam sucked at the nub, causing Bridgette to take a sharp gasp of air. She flicked her tongue back and forth on the sensitive node as she readied her fingers. When she believed that Bridgette was more than ready, Sam stuck her finger into her. The flesh squeezed around her digits as if they did not want to let go.

“Hah… ah!” Bridgette moaned. Sam was working her so well. Bridgette could hardly remember any time where someone played with her womanhood in such an expert way. Neither she nor anyone she dated previously came to mind. Sam’s technique blew her away. She was usually the one delivering the pleasure, but she savored the moments where she received it. Bridgette was more into giving, but she definitely did not mind receiving. Especially with how well Sam was giving it to her. “Keep… keep going!” she demanded.

“Of course,” said Sam. She arched her fingers as if she was trying to scratch an itch inside of Bridgette. Sam took a break from sucking on her clit and chose to start lashing at it with her tongue instead. Every violent flick caused Bridgette to twitch. Sam licked her thumb and index finger before pinching Bridgette’s clit lightly. She pulled her other busy hand out of Bridgette and licked the fluids off her fingers. The taste was both sweet and hearty, spiking Sam’s libido to new levels. She eagerly spread Bridgette’s pussy and licked away at it. She tasted the honey from the source, relishing the familiar yet always lovely flavor. Sam lapped away at her juices, pressing her tongue against all the right patches of flesh to electrify Bridgette with pleasure.

“Ah, ah! Ah!” Bridgette squeals were coupled with a giggle of pleasure. She was in complete bliss both from ecstasy and happiness. She missed her Sam so much. To have her do what she was doing filled Bridgette with absolute joy. Every motion her love performed on her sent a torrential amount of pleasure surging through her body. She began to arch her back as she was getting close. Bridgette felt a pause in Sam’s oral actions as her fingers replaced her tongue. Sam crawled back up so that she was eye level with her. “What… what is it?!” Bridgette managed to say.

“I want to see how you look when you come,” said Sam as she worked her fingers for the final stretch. Bridgette’s back was arching to the point that Sam was afraid she’d snap. She knew that her girlfriend was on her last restraints. Sam was caught off guard when Bridgette pulled her in for a kiss. She was confused by the sudden action before she moaned in surprise into Bridgette’s mouth, breaking the kiss. “Ah!” Sam cried out at she looked down.

“I want to see you come too,” Bridgette said with a devious smile. She drove her knee past Sam’s short skirt and directly against her crotch. “I know how you are, Samantha. Don’t think I didn’t know you were wet.”

“But… but it was just supposed to be you today!” Sam said as she lost the battle to her instincts. She grinded against Bridgette’s knee, rubbing herself off as best as she could.

“You know…” Bridgette had to pause as she lost control of her body. She began to jerk around uncontrollably as the initial stages of her orgasm started. She assisted Sam with hers as she timed the movements of her legs to be more in synch with Sam’s grinding. “You know… I hate… being selfish!” Bridgette croaked out the last few words before receiving a powerful orgasm. She closed her eyes and arched her back, her walls tightening around Sam’s fingers as a copious amount of her juices trickled down her legs and seeped into the sheets.

“Agh! Agh!!!” Sam shrieked shortly after Bridgette. Her own nectar liberally drenched Bridgette’s knee as she came as well. She grit her teeth and closed her eyes as the feeling washed over her. It lasted for a good minute, her body tensing up and only relaxing when it finally ended. Sam slumped beside Bridgette and panted with eyes closed. She opened them upon feeling hands cup both cheeks of her face. She saw Bridgette lean in and she moved in as well. The two kissed for a bit before staring longingly into each other’s eyes. “No fair… it… it was just supposed to be you who felt good… Now I feel like I was spoiled…”

“But I love spoiling you,” said Bridgette. She put Sam in an embrace and forced her head into her bosom. “How could I not when you’re so deserving of being spoiled?”

“Bridgette…” Sam said as she nuzzled into the warmth of her love’s cleavage. “I love you. I love you so much.”

A tear exited out of Bridgette’s eye as she heard the words. She hugged Sam tighter, tilting her head forward to kiss the top of Sam’s head. “I love you too, Samantha. More than anything in the world,” Bridgette said before closing her eyes and joining Sam in heavenly slumber.