Ellen, Sherah, and ...?

Amy sighs and rolls her eyes up and to the side, then looks back at Ellen. "People will respect you more if you come from what you really want rather than just try to please them."

Ellen narrows her eyes. She winks at you and smiles slyly at Amy. "Really? I shouldn't?"

"OK, I give, I give," Amy says. "Yes, you little Babe In Total Control of Herself. Yes, you are very attractive when you try so hard to please me. Just...just make sure it's real, y'know? And no more fucking big secrets like Ms. Wendy 'Lesbo 101' Tasker, huh?"

"Well, we were never, like, you know," Ellen says. "I mean, like you and Sherah. Going out for long walks or staying up late talking. You never told me that kind of stuff. Am...am I your lover? And who else counts? Sherah, right? And...?"

Amy takes a long sip of her iced tea and looks around the diner. The preppy girls a few tables away are deep into their own conversation now. She takes a deep breath and speaks slowly and clearly. "Ellen. You are my lover."

Ellen's face softens. "Really?" she tests.

"Yes, really," the redhead replies. "But this is just college. You can have a family and a normal life just like Ms. Tasker. Feeling better, babe?"

"Kinda," Ellen says. "And who else?"

"You ran 'em down, mostly," Amy says. "Sherah. Brains and passion." She tilts her head and continues. "A little moody. Lynnie Coffman. For her titties."

Ellen giggles. "You're joking," she says.

"You're right," Amy says. "She's not really my lover. Or yours. We're just a couple of her playthings."

"Stop it," Ellen says, laughing.

"The truth hurts," Amy says. "We better keep her away from Scott. Y'know I've done stuff with Sherah's Lesbian Literary Club girls and a couple of the baby dykes in Art. But for real lovers, I'd have to say it's Sherah and you. Lean forward."

Ellen leans across the table toward Amy, who whispers in her ear.

"No way," Ellen says, and leans back. "She hooked you up with him?"

"Keeps my unnatural urges under control," Amy says. "And better that way than tussling with the girls for one of the Students of Penis. The boys here have really sucky attitudes." She glances to you. "You don't count against the statistics unless you wanna transfer, Scott."

You're just happy you were a beneficiary of Amy's unnatural urges earlier on. You clear your throat and agree. "Right."

Ellen laughs. "Cat got your tongue?"

"Didn't want to step on your conversation," you say.

Amy says, "Yeah, right." She looks to Ellen. "How 'bout we put lover boy on the spot?" She looks to you. "Give."

"Huh?" you say.

"Since you're a perfect gentleman," Amy says, "I presume you're not stepping out on some nice girl right now. But we kind of want to know..."

"Who are your lovers, Scott?" Ellen finishes, her blue eyes flashing at you.

"Uhhh..." you say.

The bell on the diner's door jingles. A woman in a knee-length skirt-suit and nylons enters. She's old enough to be your mom, but her pretty face projects a bright-eyed confidence and what the hey, she scans the room like she's on the prowl. Which she isn't, because she's with a younger woman with her coloring and a strong facial resemblance, but taller and more wide-eyed, wearing big glasses and a cute jumper dress over a bright-colored T-shirt.

Ellen looks up. She sucks in a quick breath and stares at the two.

Amy looks round. "Speak of the li'l devil herself," she says. "And that must be Little Miss Legacy."

"Wendy Tasker. And Kimberly," Ellen says quietly to you.

"Would you split a banana milkshake into two to-go cups?" Wendy asks the woman behind the counter. "Thank you, Edie," she tells the plumpish, fortyish curly-haired brunette who served you earlier. Wendy kisses Edie on the cheek, pays and drops a tip into the shark head that serves Sharkey's as a tip jar.

"Thank you, Wendy," your waitress says. "You must be Kimberly, honey," she greets the younger woman. "Your mama told me to help make you welcome when you come to Widley next semester."

"Thank you," Kimberly says, and extends her hand.

Edie gives her a firm handshake. "Call me Edie, hon. Do you want whipped cream on top?"

"No thanks," Kimberly says.

"All right then." Edie blends and divides the milkshake. Wendy's gets a generous injection of pressurized cream and a bright artificial-red cherry, while Kimberly's is left uncreamed. "Did you still want a cherry, Kimberly?"

"I guess if I'm still entitled to one," Kimberly says. "Sure."

Edie rests a cherry on top of Kimberly's half of the banana shake, adds a straw and a long plastic spoon to each cup and delivers them to Wendy and her daughter.

Edie kisses Wendy's cheek. "Come back real soon," she says. "Don't go running round with those barista girls. You know we make a coffee milkshake."

"You know I could never give up your milkshakes," Wendy says.

Amy has slumped down in the corner of your booth with her fist pressed to her lips. Her shoulders are quaking and her cheeks are pink.

"Are you okay, Amy?" Ellen asks in concern.

Amy's face gets more deeply pink. She nods as best she can with the fist up to her lips. Her eyes water. Finally she takes her hand away and draws in a deep, shuddering breath. A few more deep breaths and she's recovered her composure. She brushes her long red hair back. "M'okay now," Amy says. She takes a drink of water.

"What was it?" Ellen asks.

Amy shakes her head. "Never mind, I can't explain it now," she says.

"Ellen dear!" Wendy Tasker greets her. "Amy, good to see you. And this must be...?"

Ellen looks blank.

"Scott," you introduce yourself. "Up visiting Ellen for the weekend," you say.

Wendy smiles and nods to you. "Hope you've found a good place to stay," she says.

You swallow. That's right, Ellen and Amy are in an all-girls dorm. "I'm sure," you reply, dodging the issue. You and Ellen and Amy got up to a lot of fun stuff today, but you're still not sure you can get away with staying the night. You might end up sleeping in your little car.

"Ellen," Wendy continues, "Amy, Scott," she adds after a beat. "Let me introduce Kimberly."

"Hi guys," Kimberly says, giving a little wave. "Um, I'll be starting at Widley next semester. Mom was showing me around today."

"We were about to go to the movies," Wendy says. "They have a 'Classic Favorites' series at the Palace."

"Mom, do you still have all those extra passes?" Kimberly asks. "Maybe Ellen and her friends want to go."

"Why certainly," Wendy says. "You're welcome to join us."

Amy shrugs and smiles. You look at Ellen.

"Sure!" Ellen says.

Kimberly says, "I told Mom we should sit in the balcony. I've never been to a movie theater with a balcony." She takes a drink of her banana milkshake. The straw burbles with a slurping sound.

"Welcome to the party," Wendy says. She checks her wristwatch, a slim bracelet with an artistic design. "We'll have to get going pretty soon. Does anyone need to use the ladies' room?" she asks.