Four letter word

22. A bird in it's own cage.

The snow had finally melted away everywhere, but the weather had turned darker. That day AJ and Lindsey woke up to hard rain hitting the windows. It was dark at 7am, but the sun had already started coming up and everything was turning into a cold shade of grey.

AJ sat up in her bed and Lindsey lifted her head to look at the window.

"Damn..." she said.

"I guess the coffee date's off" AJ sighed and Lindsey looked at her with a thoughtful expression. AJ recognised that look, she had it every time she was about to get a questionable idea.

"Doesn't have to be though..." Lindsey said with a small smirk sneaking in.

AJ raised an eyebrow, "what do you mean? We can't sit outside in the rain"

"No, but we can run" she grinned and AJ stared at her in confusion.

No longer than ten minutes later the two were putting on their warmest sweaters and getting ready to go outside.

"This is a bad idea" AJ said, "we'll catch a cold"

"So dress warm" Lindsey laughed softly and grabbed a jacket, AJ wrapped a scarf around her neck and they ran out of the dorm and down the long wooden stairs of the academy.

The rain had gotten even stronger in the last ten minutes and the two immediately got soaked as they went outside. Lindsey was holding onto AJ's hand and dragging her further down the road.

"Someone will definitely see us through the windows" AJ said. Lindsey turned around and tugged on AJ's hand to bring her closer and took hold of her waist with her other hand.

"So let then" she grinned before kissing AJ in the rain. Like in the movies. Some of AJ's favourite movies.

Once they broke away from the kiss, they both looked at each other and laughed. A laugh of joy. AJ realised she had never felt so free before. Here, standing in front of Lindsey, watching the rain drops run down her forehead. It was a feeling she had been looking for her whole life.

"Oh, shit!" AJ said suddenly and stepped back.

"What? What's wrong?" Lindsey panicked.

"We have classes! How did we forget our lectures? We have to be in the lecture hall in..." she took out her phone and checked the time, "two minutes ago!"

Lindsey was hit with the same realisation. How on earth had they forgotten that they're students?! Fuck.
The two rushed back to the academy. There was no time to change so they just ran to the lecture hall.

When they walked in, everyone, including the professor was staring at them. AJ felt terrified until Lindsey looked at her and let out a small laugh, which made her smile. They took their seats and the professor went on. The rest of the lecture went on just fine and AJ realised she had nothing to worry about. No one cared. All this time... no one really cared. All this time she had been free and she just hadn't realised.

~•~

Back in the dorm music was blasting at it's loudest. Riley had gotten up and started cooking - her latest obsession was being a chef. Her roommate had left annoyed because of all the noise and the other two were off to lectures.

Riley had decided to skip that day and stay home since she would have the dorm all to herself until late. She decided to make chicken and rise and was dancing in the kitchen as she cooked. Also she had made a cocktail for herself with some alcohol and pineapple juice and was feeling a little tipsy.

The morning started of great for her and she had felt oddly happy ever since her and Dana got together. It was unexpected since her biggest fear was being in a relationship, but somehow it was working for her. It was weird not being with a different person every week, she wasn't used to being with just one girl, but it was great being with Dana and she didn't want to screw it up, so here she was cooking for her girlfriend so they could have a nice meal after Dana's seminars were over.

Riley took two plates to the living room and set them on the coffee table and dropped two pillows on the floor. She brought everything else and set up a nice lunch. Then she drank the rest of her cocktail and sang the lyrics as she danced around the dorm.

An hour later the door opened and ,to Riley's surprise, Lindsey walked in.

"What are you doing here?" Riley asked as she stopped mid song. Lindsey stared in amazement.

"Uh... better question, what are you doing?" Lindsey replied with a dumbfounded expression.

Riley glanced at the set up table and back at Lindsey, "em... I'm cooking?" She said.

"You're gonna eat off of two plates?" Lindsey asked.

"...no?"

"So... who's it for?"

Riley shifted awkwardly on her feet, "it's um... for Dana" she spoke in a thin voice.

"Dana?" Lindsey let out a laugh, "you cooked for her? Oh my god, you're such a romantic!"

Riley groaned and went to turn off the music.

"I didn't know you had it in you" Lindsey followed her into the kitchen.

"Yeah, well, fuck off" Riley rolled her eyes.

"No, it's sweet. I just didn't expect you to be such a simp" she laughed.

"What, like you're any better" she scoffed, "I saw you and your little girlfriend running outside. Kissing in the rain, like you're in some kind of a rom-com"

"Damn..." Lindsey grinned as she stared at the table and all the food.

"Fuck off!"

"Okay, okay" she laughed, "oh, and AJ's not my girlfriend"

"She's not?" Riley raised her eyebrows and sat down on a chair. She started making two more cocktails for the two.

"No, we decided to take things slow. We're just... hanging out?" Lindsey tried to explain.

"But why? You're pretty much already together" Riley shrugged and handed Lindsey her glass.

"Yeah, but I don't know. I've never been in an actual real relationship. That shit is scary" she said and let out a sigh.

"Agreed"

"What about you two? You're girlfriends now?" She asked.

"Yeah. It's kinda weird..." Riley said hesitantly.

"Cuz you don't do relationships?"

"I guess... I just never imagined being with just one person, you know?" Riley started, "I never understood couples. I mean, is there really just one person for everyone?"

"What do you mean?" Lindsey took a sip from her glass and put one leg up on the chair as she sat down.

"Like... what if you fall for two people?"

"Are you falling for two people?" She raised an eyebrow and listened, though she didn't really understand.

"No, no. But... I dunno, forget it" Riley said and drank the last of her cocktail, then she got up and put the glass in the sink, "you've got to get up now. Dana will be here soon"

"Sure. I just came to get my bag and I'll be out of you sight" Lindsey smiled and went into her bedroom.

~•~