Ellen returns.

"Tell us all the latest gossip from the admin building." Amy said as she tickled Wendy Tasker's nose with a strand of her long, wavy hair.

Ellen's academic advisor welcomed Amy's tickling with the same good humor as Amy's earlier nibbling at her ear. She was sitting beside you on Ellen's bed, looking sometimes at you, sometimes at Amy. She smiled, showing her teeth again. "Well the latest is from the Faculty Senate," she said. "They upheld Mona Ambrose's appeal and granted her tenure."

"That's great!" Amy said.

"I must agree," Wendy said, nodding vigorously. Her auburn hair bounced on her suit collar. "The old carve-up between the married biddies and the lesbian old guard has been broken."

Amy laughed.

"Huh?" you said.

"Mona Ambrose is a history professor," Amy said. "They were trying to deny her tenure because she's bi."

Wendy cleared her throat. "Openly bisexual, that is," she said. "Unlike the closet cases who helped vote her down. I suppose her department was afraid some congressman would try to make political hay out of her 'degenerate lifestyle.'"

"She's practically married," Amy said. "I mean, she's been living in the same triad for ten years."

Wendy laughed. "Or perhaps it was something to do with having to look across the table at Mona with her husband AND wife at faculty tea parties. Goodness knows there aren't enough watercress sandwiches to go around."

You laughed. Your face felt a little warm. Nothing quite so racy in campus politics at your college. The big struggles were Greeks vs. Grinds and all the other sports vs. football.

The doorknob turned and Ellen stepped in wearing a bathrobe. Her eyes widened in concern at seeing you, Amy, and her academic adviser sitting together on her bed, but when she saw your relaxed postures and smiles, she smiled back.

"Hello Ellen," Wendy says. "I'm just here to drop this off. You left it in my office." Ms. Tasker rose from Ellen's bed and handed her a manila envelope closed with a red string closure.

"Oops," Ellen said. "Thanks!"

"I'll look forward to seeing you again soon, Ellen," Ms. Tasker said. "But it's late and I have to be going."

"No problem," said Ellen. She smiled brightly. "Me too!" She clasped Wendy's smooth, manicured hand. "See you soon."

Amy put her hand on the seat of Ms. Tasker's pants and rubbed her butt. Her hips tilted slightly toward Amy. Amy slid off the bed to stand beside Ms. Tasker, leaving her hand in place. "Walk you out?" Amy asked.

"I'd be pleased," Wendy said.

You rose to see off Ms. Tasker.

Wendy Tasker clicked out of the room in her mid-heeled pumps, accompanied by Amy.

You heard Amy say, "No, this way." She steered Wendy away from the main elevator toward a side corridor. Wendy laughed.

The door closed by itself, and you turned to Ellen.

Ellen smiled at you a little weakly. "Do you think it's settled with Cathy?" she asked.

"I hope so," you said. "I think she'll be OK. I was a little worried after she stayed out so long after that bump on the head. But you've got the pictures, so I think she'll steer clear of you."

Ellen sighed. She dropped Wendy's envelope on her bed. "Hold me," she said, and collapsed into your arms.

You wrapped your arms around your beautiful blonde would-be sweetheart in distress. You held each other close, not moving for a couple minutes, until Ellen's tight, quivering shoulders relaxed.

She slipped free and stood up again, looking you in the eyes. "I've had enough excitement for one evening," Ellen said. "Think you can handle going straight to sleep?"

You nodded.

"I've given up on doing anything fancy for sleeping arrangements," she said. "You get that side of the bed," she said, pointing. You figure that there's enough room for both of you if you don't thrash about. "So if you'll excuse me a minute," Ellen said. "I have to run back to the bathroom and tinkle."

You nodded, biting your lip to suppress a grin at her childish phrase.

"Go ahead and get ready for bed," she said. "You can use the handicap restroom at the end of the hall if you need it." Ellen padded back out of the room in her bath slippers, and the door closed behind you.

You eyed the envelope from Wendy lying on Ellen's bed, closed with red string. You wondered what Amy might be doing with Ms. Tasker, after being so familiar with her ear and the seat of her pants right in front of you.

And then you yawned. Maybe Ellen had the right idea. At least you were going to get to sleep with her tonight! Did Ellen snore, that long-ago night you shot your load next to the sleeping beauty with one hand on her breast? You figured you were in for some nice dreams.