Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 ï>¿Dana's Story bymraardvarkÂ(C)

   CHAPTER ONE

   The door closed behind her father, leaving Dana alone in her new room.
She heard him herding her mother and siblings away.  They had a long drive
ahead of them and it was late afternoon now.  She turned away from the
door, feeling her eyes burn, determined not to cry.  She was eighteen for
god's sake.  Legally an adult.  She could deal with being left alone at
college, even it meant living four hours from home surrounded by strangers.

   The sound of her family faded, replaced by other voices, other
footsteps. Other students moving into the freshman dorm, other families
carrying their possessions, talking, shouting, laughing, slamming drawers
and doors occasionally.  When her family drove out of town, there wouldn't
be a single person she knew in the city around her.

   Dana sat down on her bed, which took all of four steps.  It was a small
room, and smaller still with two twin beds and two desks in it.  Two
three-drawer dressers were stacked between the beds, separating the room.
Dana's bed was made, a cheerful flowered comforter adding some much needed
color to the room.  Her mother had insisted on making the bed before she
left.

   A set of sheets and blankets lay folded on the other bed, evidence
-"along with the clothing tucked into the lower set of drawers -"that her
roommate had been here.  They smelled as crisp and clean as they looked. 
Dana wondered about her.  The school had provided her name and hometown,
but that was all Dana knew of her.  Zoe Harrison, from Alexandria,
Virginia.

   Dana had never been there, despite growing up in southern Virginia.  All
she knew was that it was a suburb of Washington, DC.  She wondered what Zoe
would be like?  Would she be friendly?  Would they get along?

   The door opened, startling Dana out of her thoughts.  A young blonde
woman entered the room.  She grinned.  "Hi!  You must be Dana."

   Dana nodded.  "That's me.  You're Zoe?"

   "Sure am." Zoe closed the door, then offered Dana her hand.

   "Pleased to meet you." Zoe was about her height and blonde, but that was
the only similarity.  Zoe's hair was a bright sun-bleached bob, unlike
Dana's longer honey colored hair.  Bright green eyes instead of plain
brown. Her figure put Dana's skinny frame to shame, and Zoe dressed to
emphasize it in a white halter and green shorts that contrasted with her
tanned skin.  Dana glanced at her own pale arms and legs, protruding from
an oversized t-shirt and long shorts.  She preferred reading inside to
sunbathing.

   "Same here," Zoe said.  She glanced around.  "Pretty small room, isn't
it?"

   Dana nodded.  "It is."

   Zoe gestured at the dresser.  "I hope you don't mind that I took the
lower set.  I'm not real tall, as you may have noticed.  For all I knew,
you'd be a giant."

   "'Fraid not."

   "So I see.  Well, we'll manage." Zoe moved the pile of bedding to one
side and settled on the mattress.  "So, Dana, tell me about yourself."

   Dana felt her mouth dry up.  "There's not a lot to tell."

   Zoe gave her a skeptical look.  "That can't be true.  Everybody has a
story.  You've got a family, right?"

   The reminder tightened Dana's throat.  Her parents and siblings would be
just reaching the highway about now, on their way home -"without her. 
"Yeah, two sisters and a brother."

   Zoe's gaze intensified.  "Younger?  Older?"

   "All younger.  My brother's the youngest.  He's only ten."

   Zoe asked more questions.  Dana answered them.  Zoe seemed genuinely
fascinated by her life in a tiny rural farm town.  Dana only realized
afterward that she'd told Zoe a great deal more than she'd thought at the
time.

   "Wow, you really got me going.  You're good at this."

   Chloe shrugged, but her smile revealed her pleasure at the praise. 
"Thanks.  I like talking to people, and learning about them.  And it's good
practice.  I want to be a reporter."

   "You're gonna study journalism?"

   "That's my plan.  You?"

   Dana shrugged.  "I don't know.  English, maybe.  I haven't decided."

   Zoe smiled.  "Well, you have plenty of time to figure it out."

   * * *

   Dana unlocked the door, pushed it open.  Fumbled for the light switch.
Light filled the room just as Zoe yelped in surprise.  Dana froze in the
doorway, shocked beyond words.  Zoe and a stranger lay on her bed naked,
faces turned toward her, eyes wide.

   Dana's face flamed at the realization of what she'd interrupted.  The
boy on the bed with Zoe lay atop her, supporting himself on his
outstretched arms.  Zoe's legs were wrapped around his hips, her ankles
laced.  They stared at her for a moment longer, just as shocked as Dana
felt.

   The frozen moment of mutual shock ended.  Zoe and her partner hastily
grabbed for the bed covers, pulling them up to cover themselves.  Dana
ducked her head, cheeks burning, horrified to have interrupted...this.  She
fumbled with her key for an interminable period before freeing it from the
lock.

   "Dana -""

   "I'll just...go," Dana said.  She ignored Zoe's cry.  Responding would
make it all too real to avoid.  "I"m sorry I...." she didn't know what she
was sorry for.  "I'm sorry.  I'll go."

   She backed out, pulling the door closed.  She felt and heard it latch.
She stood with her hand on the knob, shaking with embarrassment and fear,
though she wasn't sure what had frightened her so badly.  In the silence of
the hallway, Dana heard a faint giggle from inside the room.  Zoe was
laughing.  At her?  It hurt to think so.

   Dana cocked her head, listening.  The giggle wasn't repeated, though she
thought she heard whispering.  Then silence.  Until it was broken by the
faint squeak of springs and a soft repetitive slapping noise.  Dana gasped,
shocked anew by what she heard -"and by her own behavior.  Listening at the
door!

   She jerked her hand from the knob as if it were hot, and stepped back.
She fled the door to her room.  Indeed, she fled the floor, taking the
stair back down to the lobby of the building and the conversation pit
there.

   * * *

   Dana watched until she saw the boy leave.  She almost didn't recognize
him.  She'd caught only a glimpse, and he'd been naked.  The dark haired
young man in jeans and t-shirt who moved purposefully across the lobby
toward the door didn't register at first.  Dana wasn't sure it was him
until he caught sight of her.  The sudden rush of color to his cheeks and
the way he ducked his head, averting his gaze, proved his identity.  He
hurried out into the night.

   She didn't return immediately.  It seemed only right to give Zoe some
time to clean up before she barged in.  She hesitated at the door.  She
knocked.

   "It's open."

   Dana cracked the door.  "Are you decent?"

   "Yes."

   Dana poked her head through the doorway.  Zoe was dressed and sitting at
her desk.  Her bed had been hastily remade.  Dana stepped inside and closed
the door.  She found it difficult to look at Zoe.

   "Well," Zoe said.  "I guess we should talk."

   "I guess." Dana sat down at her own desk, studying the bare desktop. 
The desks were at the feet of the beds, facing them.  Zoe was sitting to
Dana's right, a vaguely perceived shape in her peripheral vision.

   "I guess we need a signal of some kind."

   Dana turned her head.  "A signal?"

   Zoe nodded.  "Yes, so we don't walk in on one another like that."

   Dana opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.  It didn't matter. 
Before she could formulate a response, Zoe went on.  "I'd have done it
earlier, but I really didn't expect to get laid so soon."

   "You didn't...." Dana repeated, shocked by the casual way Zoe described
it.

   Zoe took it as a question.  "No.  I met him at the mixer.  He was cute,
and charming, and, well, it's been a while.  So I invited him back for
coffee." She made air quotes with her fingers.

   "He's not your boyfriend?"

   Zoe looked surprised by the question.  "Oh no, I just met him today."

   "Today?" She'd had sex with someone she just met?

   "Yeah.  So it was kind of a surprise.  Anyhow, we should agree on a
signal.  I'd hate to walk in on you that way."

   Dana didn't know how to respond.  The thought that she might be caught
in bed with a boy -"that she'd be in bed with a boy in the first place
-"was novel.  Her cheeks warmed again.  "That's...not necessary," she said.

   Zoe looked puzzled.  "Of course it is.  You'll want privacy."

   Dana couldn't meet Zoe's eyes.  "I don't...."

   "You don't what?  Have a boyfriend?"

   Dana shook her head, still not looking at Zoe.

   "Well, the term is just beginning.  There's plenty of time to find one."

   Dana didn't answer.  She felt terribly uncomfortable, her cheeks
burning, her throat tight.  Sex wasn't a topic of conversation she felt
comfortable with.  Especially as it applied to her.

   Zoe remained silent for a minute.  Then, "Dana, are you a virgin?"

   The surprise in Zoe's voice caught Dana's attention.  Surprise and
something else.  Dana glanced up, suspecting amusement.  Mockery.  But all
she saw in Zoe's face was surprise, and perhaps a little pity.

   "No," Dana confessed.  "Not a virgin." She'd had sex.  Twice.  The first
time the night of her senior prom, with her date.  It hadn't been much fun
for her.  The second time, a month later, again with Mike.  It wasn't any
better for her -"nor for Mike, she supposed.  He never asked her out again.

   "But you aren't planning to have any here at school."

   She hadn't thought about it, frankly.  It had simply never crossed her
mind.  She'd tried it, found that it didn't live up to its billing, and
though hurt by Mike's de facto breakup with her, it relieved her of having
to turn him down the next time.  "No," she told Zoe.

   Zoe didn't reply, but her expression spoke volumes.  "What?" Dana
snapped.

   Zoe shook her head.  "Nothing." She might have left it at that, but then
she added, "I just...."

   "You just what?"

   Zoe pursed her lips, clearly considering whether to answer.  Dana
waited. Zoe shrugged and said, "I just can't imagine not wanting sex."

   Dana had no answer for that.  It wasn't as if she didn't think about
sex. It just...didn't seem likely.

   "Well, even if you're not going to use it, we still need some kind of
signal," Zoe said.  "Just so you know when I have a boy in the room."

   Dana frowned, not liking the idea.  She'd been here for fewer than
forty-eight hours and Zoe was already fornicating with a stranger.  "You
aren't going to do this a lot, are you?"

   Zoe's smile slipped.  "You mean sex?  Every chance I get."

   Dana gaped, shocked by Zoe's brazen attitude.

   "I like sex," Zoe said.  "I like it a lot.  I want to have lots of it,
as often as I can." She paused to study Dana's face.  Dana hadn't known Zoe
long, but she knew determination when she saw it.  "I'll try to do it
elsewhere some of the time, but some of the time it's gonna happen here. 
I'll try not to inconvenience you too much."

   Dana couldn't look at her.  She nodded as she turned away.  "Okay."
It wasn't okay, but she didn't want to fight with Zoe over it.  What if
Zoe got mad at her?  Shouted, or gave her the silent treatment?  Or -"threw
things?  Dana wasn't ready to face any of that.  Maybe it wouldn't be too
bad.



   CHAPTER TWO

   Zoe wasn't kidding.  Dana grew accustomed to the buzz of her phone
announcing that Zoe was "entertaining" again, or coming back to the room
two or three times a week to find a note from Zoe written on the whiteboard
mounted on their door. Please do not disturb, written in Zoe's hand,
followed by the time.  Afternoons and evenings were prime times for Zoe's
assignations.  Dana could only rely on the room being empty -"or at least
not being off limits -"in the morning, when Zoe had most of her classes.

   Dana suspected that the notes were as much a way of bragging as a
warning that she was occupied.  How else to explain the times written in
and then crossed out, sometimes several in an evening?  She could just have
texted Dana when she was going to be using the room -"which, to be fair
-"she did.  But she also used the white board.  She wanted Dana -"and
everyone else on their hall -"to know just how often she was getting laid.

   Dana got into the habit of staying away from the room most of the time.
She came to know the library, the local delis and coffee shops, and the
conversation pit in the dorm lobby very well.  Fortunately she found some
friends on campus, fellow science fiction fans and gamers.  She spent a
couple of evenings a week with them, at a weekly club meeting and playing
role-playing games in the room shared by a couple of the gamers.  That
still left plenty of nights when she couldn't return to her dorm until Zoe
gave her the all clear.

   Her frustration and annoyance grew as the weeks went by, all the worse
for not being voiced.  Aside from her obsession with sex, and the way she
monopolized the room while in bed with someone, Zoe was a great roommate.
She was neat, friendly, helpful, and fun to be around.  She could be a good
friend if Dana wanted.  That made her behavior in this one area that much
more aggravating.

   Dana tried to talk to her about it, but Zoe was unyielding.  She refused
to pass up an opportunity for sex -"and said so in so many words.

   "Why?" Dana asked after another attempt at discussing the issue, without
really intending to.  It just slipped out.  She understood, intellectually,
that sex was enjoyable, though her own experience of it left a lot to be
desired.  But lots of things were enjoyable -"and Zoe didn't obsessively
pursue those things.

   Zoe looked down at her hands on her knees.  When she spoke her voice was
low.  "Well, I could tell you that I had cancer when I was young, and
didn't think I'd live to be old enough to date, much less marry.  That
after I finally beat the cancer, I determined that I was never going to
pass up a chance to live, or an opportunity for pleasure, because I knew
how short life could be."

   When she looked up, Dana saw the teasing smile and realized she'd been
had.  "I could tell you that," Zoe said, "but I'd be lying.  I was never
sick.  No more than any other kid."

   She shrugged.  "I don't know what to tell you, roomie.  I just really
like sex.  Can't get enough of it.  Given a choice between sex and just
about anything else, I'll choose sex every time.  I guess I've just got a
very high libido."

   "I guess so." There didn't seem to be anything to say to that.

   Zoe sighed.  "I know I've been monopolizing the room, and you've been
staying away a lot.  I'll try not to be quite so selfish in the future. 
But I gotta be honest, whenever I can arrange to have some guy between my
legs giving me orgasms -"I'm gonna do it."

   And that was that.  Zoe wasn't going to let an opportunity slip away. 
She'd go to the boy's room if possible, but they had roommates too.  If Zoe
found the room empty when she arrived with a boy in tow, she used it.

   The maddening thing about it was that otherwise Zoe was a great
roommate. She was neat, she did her share of cleaning the bathroom, and she
allowed Dana to make use of the mini-fridge she'd brought to school.  They
spent a lot of time talking, getting to know one another, and Dana liked
her.  She was even a good role model for studying -"and Dana needed one. 
The first two tests Dana had in her classes were a shock.

   "You failed them?" Zoe asked.  She'd come into the room -"alone for a
change -"to find Dana seated at her desk staring at her test results.

   "I failed one.  I passed the other -"barely."

   "Did you study?"

   Dana shrugged.  "I guess.  I read over my notes, and reread the chapters
we covered."

   "That's...not really studying," Zoe said.  "Not the way I was taught,
anyhow."

   "No?"

   Zoe shook her head.  "Is that what you did in high school?"

   Dana nodded.

   "And you did well?"

   "I always got A's in high school," Dana bragged.  Honesty prompted her
to add, "Well, except for math.  I got a lot of C's and D's in math.  I'm
not any good at math."

   "Huh."

   "What?" Dana asked.

   "You must be pretty smart.  I had to study to get good grades.  Did you
try studying for your math classes?"

   "I...tried," Dana said.  But not very hard.  It hadn't come easily to
her so she'd avoided it, which only made things worse.  She didn't like
admitting that -"was surprised to find herself doing so, in fact.  Zoe had
a knack for drawing her out that way.

   "Well, unlike some people," she gave Dana a mock glare, "I have to
study to keep my grades up.  And as it happens, I need a study partner. 
How about we schedule some time to study together?  >I'll show you what I
do.  You can see if works for you."

   Dana nodded.  "I'd like that," she squeaked.  Why was she feeling so
choked up over a simple offer like that?  It took a moment for her to
realize her whole body was tensed, as if anticipating a storm of
accusations and disappointment.  And she was.  That was exactly what she'd
come to expect from her parents when she confessed to bad grades.

   "You okay?" Zoe asked.

   Dana realized she'd been sitting silently for a minute or more, lost in
her thoughts.  "Yeah, I'm okay.  Just thinking."

   Zoe didn't look entirely convinced, but she didn't press.  They agreed
on a time for their first study session.  It was a revelation.  Dana
discovered that she really didn't have a clue about how to truly study.
It was a lot more work than the desultory attempts she'd made.  But it paid
off very quickly, when her next test result was vastly improved.

   She burst into the room, eager to share the news -"and her thanks -"with
Zoe, then backed out just as fast, eyes averted.



   CHAPTER THREE

   "I'm afraid there's nothing we can do," Mrs.  Stapledon said.

   Dana had approached the Housing administrator without much hope.  It
still stung to be turned down so bluntly.  "Nothing?"

   Mrs.  Stapledon looked like she wanted to sigh.  "It's early in the
year, Ms.  Smith -""

   "Dana."

   Mrs.  Stapledon smiled.  "Dana, then.  It's early in the school year. 
All the campus housing is occupied.  It's possible that some spots could
open up in a few weeks or months, as students drop out or transfer to other
schools.

   "But as I'm sure you were told, we have more students than we can
accommodate in the dorms.  We only guarantee a spot on campus to freshmen.
It's quite likely that either you or...Zoe, or both of you, will have to
find an apartment off campus for your sophomore year."

   "Oh." Yes, she'd been told as much.

   "Is it so bad?" Mrs.  Stapledon asked.  "Your situation?  Isn't there
some way you and your roommate can learn to get along?"

   "It's not that." Dana didn't want to give the woman the wrong
impression. "We get along okay.  I like Zoe."

   "Then I don't understand.  Why do you want another roommate?"

   Dana looked away, unable to meet the woman's eyes. Because Zoe is
constantly having sex in our room.  I spent more time away from the room
than in it.

   "Dana?"

   "It's just that...." Dana felt disconnected from her voice.  It ought to
be so easy to say, but the words stuck in her throat.  "Zoe, she -""

   The silence stretched between them.  "She's having," Dana glanced
sidelong at Mrs.  Stapledon.  "You know...sex."

   Mrs.  Stapledon's frown of puzzlement lifted.  "Ah," she said.  "And you
disapprove?"

   "What?  No." Or not much.  And it really wasn't her place to judge. 
"But she does it" -"she stumbled over it -""a lot."

   "A lot?"

   "Every day, almost."

   "I understand how that could be a problem.  You're feeling like she's
monopolizing the room?  That you can't spend time there because of what's
going on?"

   Dana nodded, relief at finally making herself understood unknotting her
muscles.

   "I'm afraid that there's still nothing I can do.  There simply aren't
any openings in other rooms.  I would suggest that you try to find a
student willing to swap with you, but if the problem is as bad as you
suggest, I doubt anyone would be interested.

   "I'm afraid you're just going to have to make the best of it.  I can put
your name on the waiting list for any openings, but I don't want to give
you false hope.  You'd be at the end of quite a list.  The chances of your
getting another room assignment are remote.

   "You're both adults.  I'm sorry, but you're going to have to settle your
differences between yourselves."

   * * *

   Dana posted notices seeking to swap rooms on the university's student
forum, as well as actual 3Ã--5 cards on an honest-to-god bulletin board in
the center of the campus.  No one responded.  Trolling Craigslist alerted
her to a number of opportunities to share an apartment or a room in a house
off-campus.  She couldn't afford any of them, and wasn't about to ask her
parents for the money.  Not when they were paying for perfectly good
housing on campus -"and doing so at some expense.

   No, she was stuck with Zoe.

   Which wasn't true.  She had told Mrs.  Stapledon the truth.  She liked
Zoe.  She enjoyed spending time with her, talking to her.  If Zoe
didn't monopolize the room with sex, Dana would have had no complaints.
But she did.

   * * *

   Dana was pleasantly surprised to see a blank message board when she got
back to the room Friday night after an evening in the library.  She
unlocked and opened the door, half expecting to find Zoe in bed with
someone.  The room was dark and empty.  Grateful for small favors, Dana
closed the door and flipped on the light.

   It had been a long week, and a longer day.  She was exhausted and wanted
nothing more than to go to sleep.  Zoe's absence was a godsend.

   She threw her backpack onto her desk chair and made use of the bathroom
they shared with the room next door.  After washing her hands, she brushed
her teeth, stripped down to panties and changed into the oversized t-shirt
she wore to sleep in.  She wondered briefly where Zoe was, then decided
that she must have found someone with a room of his own.  She snuggled down
into the covers and fell asleep.

   She woke to the sound of a door slamming shut.  Giggles and whispered
conversation followed.  Dana sighed.  Zoe was back, with another playmate.

   Dana's eyes had adapted to the dark while she slept.  The light that
leaked around the blinds in the windows was more than enough for her to see
Zoe and a lover standing by the door engaged in a deep kiss.  They broke
the kiss and stumbled toward Zoe's bed.  It was clear that they couldn't
see in the dark.  Zoe groped her way carefully, pulling the young man along
by the hand.

   Zoe's leg brushed the edge of her bed.  She turned, pulled the boy into
her arms again, and kissed him again.  An open-mouthed, tongue-tangling
kiss.  Her hands fumbled at the buttons on his shirt while he clasped Zoe's
ass with both hands.

   They don't know I'm here, Dana thought.  They couldn't see in the dark.
They thought they were alone.  She really ought to say something -"let them
know she was there.  Before, well, before they did something embarrassing.

   It was too late.  Dana was already embarrassed by witnessing their
passionate kiss.  She opened her mouth to speak, but couldn't bring herself
to do it.  Then Zoe had the boy's shirt open.  He let her push it off his
shoulders and down over his arms.

   "Strip," Zoe commanded, and he obeyed.  He toed off his shoes, then
peeled his jeans and underwear off.  Zoe stripped with equal speed.  In
moments they were naked.

   Dana gawked, her face hot, knowing she shouldn't look but unable to tear
her gaze away.  She'd seen Zoe naked many times -"Zoe slept naked,
naturally.  Zoe's partner -"boyfriend?  lover? -"was another matter.

   A head taller than Zoe, he was lean and muscular, with dark hair on his
head and between his legs.  His cock...was huge, bigger than any Dana had
ever seen.  Which, admittedly, was a sample of one.  It was long, and thick
and it was hard.  It pointed up at Zoe's navel.

   As Dana watched, Zoe ran a hand down his torso to clasp that monster. 
He groaned and threw his head back.  Zoe stroked the length of it several
times.  Her teeth flashed as she grinned.

   "Wanna fuck?"

   "Fuck, yes," he replied.

   Dana couldn't believe what she was seeing.  It was shocking,
embarrassing, and exciting beyond words.  Zoe carefully sat on the bed,
then stretched out, never releasing her hold on the boy's cock.  He leaned
down, groping for the bed until he found it, then crawled onto it.

   Zoe settled on her back, moving one leg so that her lover was kneeling
between them.  He walked his hands up on either side of her until he was
supporting himself on his hands and knees above her.  Dana held her breath,
waiting and watching.  Her nipples were hard, sensitive enough to respond
to the feel of her nightshirt rubbing against them as she turned -"oh so
quietly -"onto her side.  She ignored her flaming face and peered intently
at Zoe and her lover.

   She watched Zoe guide his cock between her legs.  They paused for a
moment, then he pushed his hips forward.  Zoe groaned.  "Oh Jesus," she
muttered.

   "Oh fuck," he replied.

   They lay motionless for a moment before he drew his hips back, then
pushed them forward again.  Zoe moaned.  Her hands caressed his sides, then
slid down to cup his ass.  "Oh yeah," she crooned.  "That's what I want. 
Fuck me, Bobby.  Fuck me good."

   Bobby fucked her.  Dana watched avidly, arousal overwhelming her
embarrassment.  Her experience of sex was nothing like this!  It had been a
brief, uncomfortable encounter.  She'd lain motionless, passively accepting
her boyfriend's frantic thrusts, which had ended in a mercifully brief
time. He'd gotten hard again and fucked her a second time, but hadn't
lasted much longer.

   Zoe was anything but passive.  She clung to her lover -"Bobby -"and
moved against him.  She planted her feet and rocked her hips, matching him
thrust for thrust.  All the while she made sounds of pleasure, moans and
groans and whispered words of encouragement and excitement.  Above her,
Bobby moved tirelessly, supporting his weight on his hand and knees.

   It excited Dana like nothing ever had.  Like her only experience of
actual sex never had.  She slipped a hand down between her legs, rested it
there, on her thigh, as if she didn't want to touch herself.  As if she
were fooling anyone.

   She watched Zoe rock and writhe and caress every inch of her lover's
skin she could reach.  Dana's fingers slid up her thigh, up under the hem
of her t-shirt and inside her panties like they had a mind of their own. 
She liked that thought.  Liked the thought of surrendering responsibility
for her wayward fingers.

   Across the small room, Zoe was breathing heavily, her whispered words
fewer and farther between now.  Bobby was breathing hard too.  Dana would
have panted with excitement too but she was terrified that they'd hear her.
Her fingers brushed her pubic hair, a delicate touch that made her shiver.
She slid her fingertips through her bush.  She was open and wet.  Her
fingertips glided across the slick flesh, sending a thrill through her
body.

   "Ohhh god," Zoe moaned.  She wrapped her arms around Bobby's torso,
pulling him close.  She captured his mouth with hers, thrusting her hips
upward with increasing speed.  Bobby matched her pace, his ass bobbing
between Zoe's knees.

   Dana turned on her side, hand trapped between her thighs.  She didn't
want to miss this.

   Zoe broke the kiss, gasped for air -"and shuddered.  She arched her
back, throwing her head back, wailing.  She convulsed, legs flailing. 
Bobby wrapped his arms around her and held on, his face buried in the crook
of her neck.  Zoe ran out of breath.  For a moment the only sound in the
room was Bobby's breathing.

   Then Zoe drew a loud, ragged breath.  "Oh god, Bobby," she cried.  "That
was so good."

   "Glad you liked it." Bobby's voice was muffled.  He lifted his head.  "I
aim to please."

   Zoe moaned.  "And you do." They kissed again, passionately.

   Dana raised one knee, giving herself room to slip a finger inside
herself.  It felt so good.  Moving it back and forth felt even better. 
She concentrated on breathing slowly and quietly as she fingered herself.

   "What can I do for you?" Zoe asked Bobby.

   Dana missed what Bobby said.  She'd discovered that pressing her palm
against her Mons while she worked a finger in and out added to her
pleasure. It added a lot.  Abrupt motion on the other bed caught her
attention.

   Zoe and Bobby changed positions.  Bobby settled on his back.  Zoe
crouched between Bobby's legs, leaned forward -"and wrapped a hand around
Bobby's cock.  Dana gaped as Zoe leaned forward with an eager grin, mouth
open, to lick the tip like an ice cream cone.  Bobby gasped.

   Zoe grinned even wider, then took the tip of it into her mouth.  Dana
had never imagined doing anything like that.  It looked too big, for one
thing.  But Zoe wasn't having any trouble with it.  She lowered her head,
swallowing more of it.  Dana watched, torn between fascination and alarm.

   Would guys expect her to do something like that?  Could she?  Dana
closed her eyes, conjuring the image of Zoe and Bobby fucking.  That was a
lot more exciting.  She resumed fingering herself as she remembered the
sights and sounds.  Bobby's hard muscled arms flexing, his equally
attractive ass thrusting.  She couldn't see it, but now she imagined how
his cock looked, driving into Zoe's pussy.

   Dana's free hand caressed her thigh.  It slid up beneath her t-shirt to
stroke her belly or even cup a breast.  Her other hand, buried between her
thighs, didn't move -"save for two fingers now, thrusting in unison.  She
was terribly excited, more so than she could remember being before.  She'd
masturbated, of course.  But it had always been a quick, guilty affair;
workmanlike effort resulting in a quick, mechanical release.

   It was nothing like this.  She felt a pressure building inside her, a
tension she'd never experienced before, pleasant but incomplete.  Dana
thrust her fingers faster and harder, careful to breathe silently despite
the building tension.  She fingered herself faster, wanting to reach the
climax she felt approaching.

   Bobby interrupted her thoughts with a sudden plea.  "Don't stop.  Don't
stop...  don't -""

   Dana turned her head.  Bobby writhed on the opposite bed, arms and legs
flexing and straightening.  His hands fluttered in the air before settling
on Zoe's head as it bobbed over his crotch.  Dana watched, fascinated, her
fingers continuing to piston in and out of her pussy.

   Bobby went rigid, head thrown back.  His hips twitched rhythmically.  He
groaned, a deep, loud noise that went on and on.  Zoe rode him through his
orgasm, her mouth never leaving his cock.  He was coming inside her mouth!
And she swallowed it.

   Dana watched and fingered herself frantically.  Her fingers, along with
the sight of Bobby coming, sent her over the edge.  The pleasurable tension
rose to unbearable heights -"then broke over her like a wave.  Dana held
herself rigid, motionless save for her pussy contracting repeatedly around
her fingers; every contraction sent a pulse of pleasure rolling through her
body.

   She never forgot that Zoe and Bobby were only a few feet away, or the
necessity of remaining still and silent.  But she lost all awareness of
what they were doing as her own ecstasy demanded all her attention.  When
her peak had passed and the pleasure was only a pleasant memory, Dana
belatedly noticed the whispered conversation going on in the next bed -"and
that she had closed her eyes during her orgasm.

   "Holy shit!  Is that your roommate?" Bobby's whisper cut through the
silence.

   Dana kept her eyes closed and concentrated on keeping her face blank,
her breathing even.  Her face grew hot and she hoped her crimson blush
wasn't visible in the dark.

   "Yeah."

   "Is she...asleep?"

   "I think so."

   "I didn't know -""

   "Neither did I, silly." Zoe giggled.  "It was dark."

   "Are you sure she's asleep?"

   "What, you want an audience?"

   "No, but -""

   "She's asleep," Zoe said with surprising confidence.  "Watch.  Dana? 
Dana, are you awake?"

   Dana felt her blush deepen and spread.  She didn't know what Zoe was
doing.  Did she want Dana to respond?  Did she suspect Dana had watched
them?  Uncertain of Zoe's intent, and fearful of doing the wrong thing,
Dana did nothing.  She continued to feign sleep.

   "See?  She's asleep.  She'd sleep through a fire alarm."

   "Good."



   CHAPTER FOUR

   Zoe and Bobby made love several more times that night.  Dana watched
through slitted eyes, remaining as still as possible.  Now that they knew
she was present, Zoe and Bobby each glanced her way at times.  She played
dead -"or at least deeply unconscious -"each time.  Much as she wanted to
masturbate again, she didn't.  She'd never get away with it now that they
were conscious of her presence.

   And she badly wanted to masturbate.  She'd never even seen a porn video
before, much less witnessed sex with her own eyes.  It was arousing beyond
imagining.  And there were so many possibilities she'd never even
considered.  Zoe and Bobby's first coupling was in the missionary position.
It was the only postion Dana had ever experienced, and at that Zoe had
enjoyed it more than she ever had.

   But that was only the beginning.  She'd watched Zoe use her mouth on
Bobby's cock.  She watched Bobby return the favor.  She saw Zoe kneel
astride Bobby while he lay on his back, rocking her hips.  She watched Zoe
on her hands and knees with Bobby kneeling between her spread legs,
entering her from behind.  They'd even used their mouths on one another at
the same time, lying on their sides.

   Hearing Zoe's cries of pleasure was educational.  She'd never thought a
woman could have as much fun as Zoe had, or enjoy so many orgasms.  Bobby
was a very talented young man.  Much more talented than Mike had been. 
Dana realized at four a.m., when she was briefly awakened by the
now-familiar slapping of flesh on flesh, and the incredibly arousing moans
and whimpers Zoe made, that she was jealous of her roommate.

   * * *

   Dana woke again just after dawn.  Light filtered around the edges of the
curtains.  She'd turned over in her sleep, lying sprawled face down, her
head turned away from Zoe's side of the room.  What had wakened her?  She
listened, expecting to hear more sex happening.  She heard whispered voices
-"but from the door.

   She turned her head.  Zoe's bed was empty.  More whispering.  The door
opened and closed.  Dana heard the deadbolt click.  She lowered her head
and feigned sleep once more.  She listened to Zoe climb back into bed and
settle the covers.  Zoe said, "Good night, Dana."

   Dana froze.  Did she know?  Or was she guessing?  Safer to assume the
latter.  Dana remained silent, pretending once more to sleep.  She heard
Zoe shift position, fiddle with her pillow, then settle down again with a
faint sigh.  Very shortly her soft, regular breaths suggested that she was
asleep again.  All too aware of her own pretenses, Dana didn't assume that
was the case.  She continued to lie still, pretending sleep until it became
a pretense no longer.

   When she woke next, Dana heard the shower running.  A quick look showed
Zoe's bed abandoned.  Her alarm clock read 10:34 a.m.  It was Saturday, a
day when Dana liked to sleep in.  But not today.  The last thing she wanted
to face was discussing what had happened with Zoe.

   It would have to happen sometime.  But not this morning.  She threw off
her own bed clothes and rolled to her feet.  She dressed as fast as she
could manage.  She heard the shower shut off as she was jamming textbooks
into her backpack.  She abandoned the last one, threw the half open
backpack over one shoulder and fled the room.

   The bathroom door opened as she pulled the hallway door closed.  She had
the hall to herself.  She bolted for the stairwell, heart racing.  Zoe
called after her -"or Dana thought she did.  She ignored the sound and
clattered down the echoing stairwell and out into the bright cold morning.

   * * *

   "I thought I'd find you here."

   Zoe's voice set Dana's heart racing.  Embarrassment, guilt and relief at
an end to the waiting swept through her.  She looked up from her Doc Savage
paperback.  Zoe held a breakfast tray in her hands.  She looked normal
rather than angry.  Around them the Commons swarmed with students getting a
late breakfast or an early lunch.  Dana had a table to herself.

   "Mind if I join you?"

   "Sure," Dana said.

   Zoe took a seat across from Dana.  "Haven't seen you all weekend,
roomie."

   "I've been busy." Hiding from you.  Avoiding this
conversation. Fortunately Zoe had apparently stayed in Bobby's room
Saturday night.

   "So I gathered." Zoe picked up her silverware, then frowned.  Lowered
it. "Are we going to talk about this, or what?"

   Dana's face felt hot.  She knew she had to be blushing visibly, and that
knowledge only made it worse.  She stared at Zoe, unable to think what to
say.  Zoe seemed equally lost.

   "I'm sorry," they said in unison.

   "What?" they chorused.  Both of them drew breath to speak.  Dana waited.

   "I'm sorry about the other night," Zoe said.  "We didn't know you were
there."

   "I know." Zoe colored a little, which made Dana feel a little better. 
At least until she realized that was because she didn't think Zoe
could be embarrassed.  That was an uncharitable thought.  Zoe had been
nothing but kind.

   "I told Bobby you were asleep," Zoe said.  "I even called your name."

   Dana stood mute.

   "You were awake, weren't you?"

   Dana looked away.  Her cheeks felt hot enough to catch fire. 
The room felt warm, and it was never warm.  She let her gaze slide
sideways.  Zoe watched her closely.  Her face lit in a big grin. 
"You were awake!" Zoe said.  "I knew it!"

   "I couldn't help it!" Only as the words left her mouth did Dana realize
she'd confirmed Zoe's suspicions.  She clamped her hands over her face,
wishing she could vanish.

   "It turned me on."

   Dana wasn't sure she'd heard Zoe right.  She lowered her hands.  Zoe sat
with both elbows on the table, leaning forward.  She lowered her voice.  "I
was surprised at first, and afraid you'd be upset.  But when you didn't say
or do anything, I thought maybe you were watching us.  Were you?"

   Dana looked away again, wanting to deny it.  Truthfully, she wanted this
whole conversation never to have happened.  She didn't want to answer.  She
didn't want to lie, either.  Remaining silent seemed like a good
compromise. It was a compromise she made a lot.  All the time, in fact.

   She met Zoe's eyes.  It took her a full minute to work up the courage to
reply.  A minute in which she was painfully aware of the heat in face, of
the way her pulse throbbed in her temples and fingertips in time to the
rapid beating of her heart.  Butterflies writhed in her stomach.

   "Yes," Dana said.  It was damned difficult to push the words out.  "I
watched you."

   Zoe smiled.  "I thought so.  Thanks for telling me." Dana wanted to say,
"You're welcome," but the words wouldn't come.

   "I know that was hard to say.  We haven't been friends for that long,
but I know you're a very private person.  Thanks for telling me the truth."

   Dana dropped her gaze even as she nodded.

   "So can I tell you something?"

   Dana looked up.  "S-sure."

   "I liked it when you watched us.  Or when I thought you were watching
us."

   "You did?"

   Zoe nodded eagerly.  "It turned me on.  A lot."

   Dana didn't know how to answer that.  She didn't have to.  Zoe wasn't
finished confessing.

   "Not because it was you.  Just -"being watched.  By anyone.  When I was
having sex." Zoe's eyes shone.  "I liked it a lot.  I guess...I guess I
have some exhibitionist tendencies."

   Well, I could have told you that, Dana thought.  She recalled the
whiteboard on their door.  The one covered by crossed out times, each a
bread crumb leading anyone paying attention to the knowledge of just how
often Zoe had sex.

   She imagined telling Zoe that. "Really?" Zoe would ask.

   "Yes," Dana could say.  "It's pretty obvious you want everyone to know."

   Zoe would blush a little, her eyes darting here and there as she
considered the idea.  Then a little grin would spread across her face.  "I
guess you're right," she'd say.

   Dana said nothing.  It was too personal, too intimate.

   "Are we okay, then?" Zoe asked.

   Dana nodded.  "We're fine."

   Zoe smiled.  Dana recognized the teasing aspect of it.  "I'll try not to
do it again," she said.  She paused to watch Dana closely.  "Unless you
want me to."

   "Zoe!" Despite her protest, Dana felt a thrill sweep through her at the
thought.  Watching Zoe and Bobby fuck, fingering herself while she did, was
the most exciting sexual experience she'd ever had.  For all the
embarrassment she'd experienced since, all the effort spent to avoid this
conversation, she'd recalled it often.  And with great pleasure.

   "That's not a no."

   "No, it isn't."

   The words came unbidden.  Dana couldn't believe she'd said them. 
Judging by Zoe's expression, she couldn't either.  "I see.  Did you like
it too?"

   The heat rushed into her face again.  It was getting to be a
too-familiar sensation around Zoe.  Nonetheless, Dana held Zoe's gaze as
long as it took her to muster the courage to nod.  The moment she did her
courage deserted her.  She dropped her eyes.

   "Wow," Zoe said.  "We're quite a pair."

   She said nothing more, content to eat her breakfast in silence.  Dana
went back to her book.  When she looked up again some time later, Zoe was
gazing into the distance, lost in her thoughts.  Then she blinked and
focused on Dana.  "I've got some studying to do," she said.  She stood and
picked up her tray.  "Catch you later, roomie."



   CHAPTER FIVE



   Dana woke to the sound of keys in the door.  The time glowed from her
alarm clock: 2:14 a.m.  Light from the hallway spilled into the room when
the door swung open.  "Come on in," she heard Zoe say.

   Dana's heart thudded heavily as she realized what Zoe was doing.  It had
been a week since their conversation in the cafeteria.  If Zoe had had any
assignations -"and Dana had no doubt about that -"she'd had them elsewhere.
But she'd given Dana fair warning, standing by the door in a pair of
painted-on jeans and a low-cut red top, "I'm planning to bring someone back
to the room tonight.  You know.  Just FYI."

   And then she was out the door.

   Dana had studied for a while, then attended a basketball game in the
arena.  When she'd returned, the room was dark -"and empty.  She'd
considered going out again.  But she was tired and Zoe might not be back
for hours yet.  Besides, it was her room too -"and if she were honest with
herself, the thought of spying on Zoe and a lover was intensely exciting.
So much so that she'd lain awake for what seemed hours, replaying the
memory of Zoe and Bobby fucking just a few feet away.  But eventually she'd
slept.

   Now she was awake again.  She lowered her head, shifting to lie on her
side facing Zoe's side of the room.  The room darkened.  Dana heard Zoe
lock the door.  The faint smack of kisses filled the silence.  Dana
swallowed heavily, aroused and alarmed by what Zoe was doing.

   By what they were both doing.

   Last time it had been an accident.  Tonight Dana was complicit.  She
knew why Zoe had brought a boy to the room.  She wanted to be seen having
sex.  And Dana, god forgive her, wanted to watch.  Just the thought of what
she was about to witness excited her.  She forced herself to breath slowly
and quietly, to keep her eyes closed.

   She tracked Dana's progress with her ears.  She heard Dana and her lover
kiss again.  Heard a male voice ask, "How about some light?  I like to see
who I'm doing." He spoke in a normal tone of voice.

   "Sorry," Zoe said.  She spoke quietly.  "My roommate's asleep."

   "What?"

   "Don't worry.  She's practically deaf, but if we turn on a light she'll
wake up."

   "I don't know about this." He sounded uncertain but Dana had no doubt
Zoe could convince him.

   They were silent.  Dana risked a peek at them.  Zoe was on her toes,
arms around him as she kissed him again, very thoroughly.  "Where else are
we gonna go?" she asked when they came up for air.  "We can't use your room
-"and she'll sleep through it."

   "You're sure about this?"

   "Yes.  I'm sure I want you." Her lover gasped in surprise, then made a
faint sound of pleasure.  Dana was pretty sure Zoe was stroking the front
of his jean.  "And I'm pretty sure you want me too."

   The two of them crept toward Zoe's bed.  Dana closed her eyes again,
feigning sleep.  She kept her eyes closed through the sound of zippers, of
fabric sliding against skin, and the clink of a belt buckle hitting the
floor.  Zoe's bed creaked.

   Dana dared a quick glimpse.  The boy sat on the edge of the bed, with
Zoe kneeling in front of him.  He groaned softly.  "Oh god, Zoe...." He
leaned back on his elbow, head lolling, eyes closed and mouth slack.  "Oh
fuck."

   Zoe's head bobbed slowly as she blew him.  Dana wished she had a better
point of view.  It wasn't nearly as exciting as seeing her give Bobby oral
sex.  Not that it wasn't still thrilling.  But she looked forward to seeing
them fuck, to hearing the sounds of pleasure they made, and watching them
come.

   Dana glanced at the boy's face frequently, checking that his eyes were
still closed.  He probably couldn't see her even if they weren't, but his
vision would adapt to the dark eventually.  But for now, she watched
openly. She felt deliciously naughty and the feeling only heightened her
arousal.  Her skin felt too tight, sensitized beyond endurance.  Heat
gathered between her legs, drawing her fingertips.

   She slipped a hand into her panties.  She was wet, her labia swelling
and parting, more aroused now than she'd ever been when having sex.  The
thought shocked her.  Perhaps guilt and shame and inexperience weren't all
there was to it; maybe Mike wasn't much of a lover.  Maybe he'd been as
inexperienced, guilty and furtive as she herself.

   Zoe was none of those things.  She was confident, sexy, gorgeous.  She
straightened up, the blow job at an end.  Dana closed her eyes and forced
herself to relax into the pillow again.  She heard Zoe's bed creak again,
and the mingled sighs of Zoe and her lover.

   Dana peeped through slitted lids.  Zoe knelt on the bed now, clasping
her lover close as she sat on his lap.  She rose slightly, then lowered
herself with a groan of pleasure.  Then again, a little higher this time,
before -"before impaling herself on her lover's cock.  She was fucking him!

   Dana had never even considered such a thing.  She thought she'd seen
Dana exhaust all the possibilities with Bobby.  Not so!  She rode her new
lover faster now, rising and falling like a rider on a horse.  But no
horseback ride ever gave anyone such pleasure.

   Zoe's building excitement revealed itself in the way she groaned and
panted.  She grew louder, the sounds coming faster.  Dana watched avidly,
her hand between her legs now, stroking herself in time with Zoe's
movements, aware of Zoe reaching a crescendo, excited by the knowledge and
slightly embarrassed that she knew what to expect.

   Zoe bounced rapidly on her lover's cock, with such speed and force that
it looked uncomfortable and fraught with danger.  Twice she rose high
enough that his cock came free.  Each time, Zoe grabbed it firmly and
impaled herself again.  She regained her rhythm, riding harder and faster,
groaning and panting until she stopped abruptly.  Zoe shuddered, her hands
clasping her lover's face, shoulders hunched and head bowed.  Her ragged
groan of pleasure filled the silence.

   She drew a shaky breath and laughed softly.  "Oh my god," Zoe murmured.

   "Liked that, did you?"

   "It was lovely." Zoe's voice was muffled.  She lay with her face pressed
against his chest.

   I sure did, Dana thought.  She'd stopped masturbating when Zoe reached
her climax, still well short of her own, frustrated -"but afraid to draw
attention to herself even under her covers.  Surely they'd see or hear
something now that they were no longer concentrating on one another.

   Without another word, Zoe's lover wrapped his arms around her, one hand
spread to support her ass.  In a surprising -"and arousing -"show of
strength, he stood, turned, and then lowered Zoe onto her back on the bed.
All without letting his cock slip out of her.  Dana marveled, realizing
that she'd underestimated them, and briefly imagined what it would feel
like to be in Zoe's place.

   He began to fuck Zoe hard and fast.  "Oh Jesus, Dan," Zoe cried.  "Yes!"

   They coupled furiously, Dan driving his cock into Zoe's pussy with deep,
rapid thrusts.  Zoe raised and spread her legs, eager for more.  She
continued to cup his face in her hands, gazing into his eyes.  Dana could
see the glimmer of sweat on Dan's face even in the dark, evidence of just
how hard he was working.

   Dana picked up where she'd left off, fingertips gliding across the
swollen, slippery lips of her pussy before easing inside.  She fucked
herself slowly, one thrust for every three of Dan's while her thumb teased
at her clit.  It was all too much.  The sight of Zoe and Dan fucking only a
few feet away, the liquid squelch and the slap of flesh against flesh, the
smell of sex -"and god, when had she learned to recognize that? -"and the
slippery friction of her fingers within and her thumb on her clit excited
her more than she could say.

   Zoe cried out, trembling all over, as she came again, adding to Dana's
excitement.  Zoe thrashed, impaled on Dan's cock, all control of her body
lost in those moments of absolute ecstasy.  An instant later Dan drove
himself into Zoe in a final, convulsive thrust.  He went still, arms stiff,
body arched and head thrown back, mouth open in a long, low groan of
wordless bliss.  It was by far the sexiest sight Dana had ever witnessed: a
handsome young man in the throes of orgasm, helpless and vulnerable.

   The sight of Dan experiencing such pleasure while nearly close enough to
touch drove Dana over the edge.  A final caress of her clit sent a
firestorm of pleasure roaring through her body, burning away her control of
her body.  She quivered beneath her bedding, unable to remain still despite
the risk of discovery.  She retained the presence of mind to bite her
pillow, stifling the wail of pleasure that rose from her breast, though not
the ragged breaths she could not control.

   The room fell silent then, save for heavy breathing from the three of
them.  Dana lay motionless, eyes closed, enjoying the aftermath of a
phenomenal orgasm -"and feigning sleep.  She did her best to breathe deeply
and silently.  She wasn't entirely successful, but she felt confident that
Dan couldn't hear her over his own gasping breaths, or Zoe's.

   Utterly relaxed and content, Dana opened her eyes -"and found herself
staring into Dan's.

   His eyes mirrored the jolt of shock Dana felt, growing so wide that even
in the dark Dana could see the whites of his eyes all around his irises. 
He flung himself up into a sitting position, staring at Dana.  "What the
fuck is this?  She's awake!" Dan's voice was rough, like he wanted to shout
but was trying to keep the noise down.  "She was watching us!"

   Dana's good mood evaporated, washed away in the flood of adrenaline that
chilled her -"all except her face, which burned with acute embarrassment.
In her imagination, she'd been discovered watching Zoe and Dan, but in her
imagination it had been exciting and arousing.  It had led to all sorts of
possibilities, each one more deliciously naughty than the last.  But the
reality was nothing like that.

   She felt no excitement now, no arousal.  Just humiliation.  She'd been
caught watching furtively, spying on them as they made love with no
knowledge -"on Dan's part, at least -"that she was awake and peeping.  She
lay there unmoving despite the way she longed to throw the covers over her
head, or flee the room.  Anything to escape Dan's gaze.

   Dan.

   Dan, who continued to stare, though his gaze went from wide-eyed to
narrow as his face darkened.  Anger had supplanted shock and surprise. 
Dan, sitting naked little more than an arm's length away, his deflating
cock completely exposed to her.  Dana glanced at it, unable to resist. 
Even now it was impressive, larger than Mike's at its biggest.

   He noticed, and tried to casually flip a sheet over his lap but it was
wadded at the foot of the bed with the comforter.  He finally succeeded in
covering his nakedness, but it wasn't at all smoothly done.

   "Dan." Zoe's voice caught Dana's attention.  From her tone, it wasn't
the first time she'd spoken.  While Dana had stared at Dan, Zoe had assumed
a casual pose, propped on one elbow, utterly at home in her bare skin.

   Dan started and glanced at her.  Apparently he hadn't heard her either.
"What?"

   "It's okay," Zoe said.

   "What?"

   "It's okay."

   Dan shook his head.  "What are you talking about?  She was watching us!"

   Zoe shrugged.  "We woke her up."

   "You said we wouldn't."

   "I was wrong." She looked down for a moment, smiling.  "We did get kinda
loud."

   Dan looked at Dana for a moment, then back at Zoe.  Anger still clouded
his expression but now uncertainty diluted it.  "But -"she
was watching us."

   Now Zoe met Dana's gaze, silently sharing their secret.  She looked at
Dan again.  "Wouldn't you?"

   "No!"

   Zoe cocked her head, conveying skepticism with a look.  "No?  If you
woke up and found your roommate fucking some very hot woman?  You wouldn't
watch?"

   Dana watched Dan's eyes dart back and forth between them.  "I -"no, I
wouldn't."

   "Liar," Zoe said.

   Dana caught her breath, shocked by Zoe's blunt language.  It wasn't
totally unexpected, she'd lived with Zoe long enough by now to know that
she didn't believe in mincing words.  But it was something Dana could never
have said, even if it were true.

   Dan met Zoe's gaze, a little taken aback himself, to judge by his
expression.  But then he smiled wryly, his eyes dancing between Zoe and
Dana like he was watching a ping pong game.  "Maybe," he said.

   Zoe didn't hesitate to press her advantage.  "Maybe what?  Maybe you're
lying?  Or maybe you'd watch your roommate fucking a hot chick?"

   "Maybe I would," he said, his gaze settling on Dana.  "But that doesn't
mean I should."

   Dana looked away, unable to meet his eyes, her face warming again.  He
was right.  As tempting as it was to watch Zoe and Dan together, she knew
it wasn't right.  She was just too weak to resist.

   "Maybe not," Zoe said.  "But can you at least understand the
temptation?"

   He didn't answer immediately.  In fact the silence stretched out long
enough that Dana looked up to find Dan watching her, and Zoe watching Dan.
"Yeah," Dan said at last.  "I guess I can."

   "Good," Zoe said.  "Then you won't mind if she watches us again."

   Dan turned his head to look at Zoe.  "Again?"

   Zoe grinned at him.  "You don't think we're done, do you?  I'm planning
to fuck you a couple more times tonight.  You're not a one-and-done kind of
guy, are you?  I hope not.  That would be very disappointing."

   "No, I'm not."

   "Yeah?" Zoe asked, and Dana could hear the challenge in her voice.  Zoe
leaned in to reach beneath the sheet covering Dan's lap.  "Let's just see."

   "Zoe!" Dan yelped and clamped a large hand on Zoe's wrist.

   "What?" she demanded.  She didn't continue groping, but she didn't
withdraw her hand either.  Dan tugged at the sheet with his free hand,
obtaining a little more coverage.

   Dan shook his head, unwilling or unable to say more.  Dana knew the
feeling.  She liked Zoe, but she could be pretty single-minded at times. 
She'd wrung a confession about voyeurism from Dan, and now she was pressing
for some exhibitionism too.  If Dana had had any doubt about Zoe's
exhibitionist tendencies, this would have dispelled them.

   "Zoe, stop."

   All the humor had leached from Dan's voice.  He wasn't looking at either
of them now, and for once it wasn't only Dana blushing.

   "Stop it," Dana said to her, surprising herself with the sharpness of
her tone.  "You're embarrassing him."

   "He's not embarrassed."

   "He is!  And so am I!"

   Zoe glanced over at Dana, her smile losing a little wattage, though she
continued pulling at the sheet Dan was grimly holding in place.  "Dana -""

   "Stop it!" Dana shouted, shocking herself with both the volume and the
anger behind it.  "Just stop!" She wanted desperately to escape the
situation, for her own sake as much as Dan's.

   She flung away her bed covers and leaped out of bed, all too aware that
Dan could see her in nothing more than panties and a tee shirt, to snatch
up the jeans folded on the chair by her desk.  Loose coins spilled from a
pocket, bouncing and rolling across her desk, the floor, everywhere.  Anger
washed over her, hot and uncontrolled.

   Dana struggled to get into her jeans, fumbling with them in her haste,
stepping on one pant leg and nearly falling over.  "Shit!" The curse
bubbled up out of the same unexpected well of anger the had her hands
shaking and her breath coming in rapid, ragged gulps.  She finally got the
jeans on.

   "Dana," Zoe called, but Dana stormed out of the room, crouching once as
she went to snatch up a pair of sneakers.  She hated wearing shoes without
socks, but she wasn't about to waste another second to grab some.

   "Dana, wait!"

   Dana pulled the door open and blinked as the bright lights in the
hallways dazzled her dark-adapted eyes.  Anna, June and Kara stood in the
hallway, staring at the door -"and at her.  A couple of door were open,
other girls peeking out.

   How loud were we?

   Dana stood in the doorway, torn by indecision.  Close the door and avoid
their curious gazes?  Or escape the humiliating scene behind her?

   She stepped out, drawing the door closed behind her, cutting off
whatever Zoe was saying.  She swallowed hard, her face burning, hands
shaking, doing her best not to notice the curious looks her neighbors gave
her.  She walked quickly down the hallway to the central atrium and the
stairs leading down and out.  At the foot of the stairs, she noticed that
the foyer was occupied.  A couple were sitting in the conversation pit on
the far side of the room, snuggled up and speaking quietly.  Two girls she
recognized as residents of other floors were each sitting in front of a
laptop, net-surfing or watching a movie.

   Dana dropped onto the corner of the huge sectional sofa that dominated
this side of the foyer.  She yanked on her sneakers, grimacing at the feel
of them on her bare feet.  She hated that.  But there was nothing for it
except to suck it up.

   She glanced through the foyer doors at the night.  It looked cold out
there.  But she couldn't stay here.  She bombed through the doors before
she could rethink her decision.

   She was right.  It was cold out here.  A breeze rattled the few
remaining leaves on the trees for a moment, then died away.  She hugged
herself and strode down the walk without a destination in mind.  Where
could she go?

   It had to be after three a.m.  by now.  All the restaurants and shops
within walking distance would be closed.  Even the bars were closed by
now.  And really, how could she go out anywhere anyhow?  All she wore above
the waist was a threadbare t-shirt she'd worn to sleep in.  She could
practically see through it, and even if not her nipples were visible a
block away.

   Dana slowed to halt.  She looked around at the campus.  There were light
on in a fair number of dorm rooms, but most of them were dark.  Even the
night-owls started to fade at this time of night.  She was alone out here.
Everyone with sense was indoors.  The breeze kicked up again, ruffling her
hair and cutting through her thin t-shirt and even her jeans.

   Don't be stupid, Dana told herself.  It would be stupid to stay out here
and catch cold just because she was angry.  And embarrassed.  Humiliated.
And not just at Zoe.  She was complicit.  She wanted to blame it all on
Zoe, but that wasn't true.

   She'd wanted to watch them.  She'd let her own lust overrule her sense
of right and wrong.  She'd known it was wrong to spy on Zoe and her lover.
Even if Zoe was okay with it.  Dan wasn't okay with it, and they hadn't
given him a choice.  They'd used Dan.  They'd embarrassed and
humiliated him.

   Dana turned back toward the dorm.  She hunched her shoulders, rubbing
her bare arms with her hands.  It didn't help much.  She was glad to reach
the door -"until she tugged at it and it remained stubbornly closed.

   "Son of a bitch," she muttered.  It was the middle of the night.  Of
course the doors were locked.  And her card key was tucked into her wallet,
sitting on the desk by her phone.  It was one thing too many.  She grabbed
the door handle with both hands and shook it with all her strength,
rattling it in the frame.

   When that didn't get any attention, she pounded on the glass with her
fists.  "Hey!  You!" She yelled at the dark haired girl watching a movie on
her laptop.  "Let me in!"

   The girl looked up in surprise, then put her laptop aside.  She walked
over to open the door, giving Dana a once-over as she did, a smirk on her
face.  "Forget something?"

   Dana scowled, but gave her a grudging thanks all the same.  The girl
shrugged and turned away, showing just how little she cared about Dana's
annoyance or her thanks.  She flopped into her chair, picked up her
laptop and resumed her movie.  A glance around the room revealed that she
was the only other person there.

   The couple who'd occupied the conversation pit were gone.  So was the
girl who'd been net-surfing.  Dana stepped down into the conversation pit.
She looked around, assessing it.  It was round, the sunken sofa encircling
a brick fire place that she'd not yet seen in use.  A metal chimney hung
from the ceiling, wide and high enough that people on opposite sides of the
pit couldn't see one another easily.

   The sofa cushions were thick and comfortable, covered with fabric
instead of vinyl or leather, so they weren't cold.  It was designed for
sitting, so the seats weren't terribly deep, but she was small.  She
stretched out on her side and found it fairly comfortably.  She wished for
a blanket, but there was none to be had.  She grabbed one of the nearby
cushions and hugged it to her breast.  It was no substitute for a blanket,
but it helped.  A little.
   Maybe she could sleep here for a couple of hours.