. 02

Author's note:

This is, in all its seven parts and their many chapters, one very,

very

long story. If long stories bother you, I suggest you read something else.

No part of this story is written so as to stand on its own. I strongly suggest that you start with

the beginning of Part 1

and read sequentially—giving up at any point you choose, of course.

All sexual activity portrayed anywhere in this story involves only people at least eighteen years old.

This entire story is posted only on literotica.com. Any other public posting without my permission in writing is a violation of my copyright.

Saturday morning, Ellen's alarm woke us, and I jumped out of bed right away for the bathroom. I drank some water and got dressed while Ellen was in the bathroom, then kissed her quickly and hurried upstairs for more suitable clothes and my running shoes. I went back down to her apartment and knocked. She let me in, and I handed her a key. "When I got my key, I asked for another one. They had two right there. This is yours, for convenience but also as a backup in case I somehow lose mine."

She came and kissed me. "I wish I had thought of that! I'll have to either go out there and ask, or just get a copy for you. I love you. Thank you for thinking of me."

We went downstairs and out, walking briskly to the campus and across it to the gym. Our ID cards got us in. A beautiful young woman came up to us.

Ellen said, "Phil, this is Elise, whom I run with." She pronounced it in the German fashion. I asked Elise later how it was spelled, just to be on the safe side. These days you never know—I wouldn't have been surprised at "Ayleezeh" or many other possibilities. "Elise, this is Phil. I've told you a lot about him, well, here he is."

We said we were pleased to meet each other. Elise said, "Ellen says you don't run with her because you can't keep up. Is that right?"

"Absolutely right. I'm kind of average, at that and some other things, and Ellen can outpace me in most all of them."

Ellen said, "Phil, that's nonsense, you know better. Elise, he's way above average in most things, and Phil, you'll be really aware of that in no time, here. I'm ahead of him in some academic areas, as well as athletic stuff, but mostly not all that much. And there are ways he's much further ahead of me, they just don't tend to show up in coursework. He notices things and sees connections. Sometimes I'd swear he reads minds, and I'm not the only one. That's just observation and deduction, but it's like magic, and he's smart enough to do it without even noticing that he does it, without even thinking about it."

"I'll try not to think anything I shouldn't when I'm around you then, Phil. We need to get running."

They started off, and so did I. Elise was about as beautiful as Ellen—without looking anything like her—and they were well matched for running. They ran easily together, talking. I ran by myself, really missing having Jenny and Kitty with me, as I watched them pull steadily ahead and then catch up from behind me. Without anyone to talk to, I found the smaller track, indoors with no variety in scenery, made running pretty tedious.

The track might have seemed pretty wide, except that I was used to running on a course made to let several hundred people run together. It had lanes marked—something I wasn't used to, but helpful. The track wasn't really crowded, but there were probably two or three dozen people running at their own speeds. I quickly saw that it was like driving. Unless you were noticeably faster than average, you ran in the rightmost lane that was open, passing on the left. It sometimes made me wish for a rear-view mirror, trying to pass people without slowing down but also without veering right in front of someone.

I noticed a girl—excuse me, a woman—ahead of me maybe a third of the way around, running almost exactly the same speed as I was. I saw Ellen and Elise slow down and speak to her after they passed me about the fifth time, and she looked back at me and nodded. Ellen beckoned to me and pointed at her. I sped up a little and caught up in a couple of minutes. I was only breathing a little bit harder by then, and she may have slowed down just a little for my sake, too.

As I pulled up by her and we matched speeds, she said, "Hi! Your friends suggested we might run together, we were pretty well matched, and it did look like we were. I'd like to try it, if you're interested. I'm Kelly Greene, by the way."

"Phil Morris. I'm new here, and I was really missing the running partners I used to run with. Do you run every day?"

"When I can, yes. Or sometimes I skip, if the weather's kind of bad. Or if I'm too tired, or any excuse like that. Having a partner might help motivate me not to do that, though. What time do you start running?"

"Ellen said she gets here at six to run with Elise, so that's likely when I will. This is my first day here. Just finished moving in yesterday. Ellen says she hasn't been running Sundays, so I may not. I'll have to see, but probably not tomorrow."

"I'm not quite that consistent, I was a little earlier today. Is it OK with you if we try it, but whoever gets here first just starts, the other joins in when they get here?"

"I'd really love it. That wouldn't have worked very well where I was before. The track was outdoors, some kind of grass that could survive being pounded daily, and a lot longer, at a guess close to a mile. It would circle several blocks, here. After that, I'm finding this track really boring—so short, with no variation in scenery—so really, you'd be helping me a lot."

"How long do you run?"

"It varied some, and sometimes we'd do calisthenics or something afterward, so we'd cut the run shorter. Something like forty-five minutes to an hour in all, then. At least for the present, though, I think the answer is, 'Until Ellen is done.'"

We ran on for a bit without saying anything, but just having her running with me helped my attitude. She was pretty enough, nowhere near as much as either Ellen or Elise, but that's not what I needed in any case. After a bit, she said, "I don't mean to suggest anything at all, but just so we're on the same page. It sounds like you and Ellen are together. An item. Is that right? Just so I know."

"Yes. We, well, we have some other friends with an interest in me, but they're far from here now, so that's right for the foreseeable future. We're not looking for anyone else, either of us, and that's a pretty strong commitment. I know that's more than you wanted to know. I tell you so that if on some occasion you see me with someone else, you won't think I'm cheating on Ellen, but that's only likely around big break times. They're both way out east now.

"I suppose I should ask about you, too, but you understand I'm not, um—"

"Wanting to know if I'd be open to something more than running together? I don't have anyone right now, but I'm fine with just running. If anything more develops, we'll keep it non-romantic. OK?"

"That sounds wonderful. So how long have you been here, and what's your major?"

We talked about her for a while, and then it was my turn. I had by now figured out pretty much what to say, just covering the fact that it was a high school, but residential and four-year, academically intense enough that I was transferring in as a junior, straight out of high school.

She mulled this over for a minute. "So like high school and community college, in four years, but academically more rigorous. Hmm. Sounds really good, for students willing to put up with it and buckle down and work. Willing and able both. You said history?"

"That's right."

"I've got a couple of history classes this term." She'd told me she was a PoliSci major, so there was nothing surprising about that. She told me which courses they were, and I had one of those, too.

Right about then, Ellen and Elise slowed to a walk, up ahead of us. "Looks like I'm done." It was a little after seven.

"I'm about ready to quit, too." So we also slowed to a walk.

As we got in and joined the other two, I said, "Ellen, Elise, thank you for noticing that Kelly's running speed is just right for me, and checking with her. Elise, I don't know whether you know Kelly. Ellen, this is Kelly. She's in PoliSci, and she'll actually be in one of my classes. So I'm doubly thankful for meeting her now."

"Kelly, thank you for running with Phil, any time you can. He's used to having two girls to talk to as he runs, and I know he'll be a lot happier with someone to talk to. Pretty and female helps, but that doesn't mean he's looking for a different kind of partner. Believe me, I know him. You can trust him with anything."

None of us offered any physical contact at this point, for obvious reasons. I thought that Ellen and Elise were already on good enough terms that they might have hugged otherwise. We all took leave of each other. There were showers there, but we all were heading home for that.

It seemed that Kelly's route lay with Ellen's and mine for a bit, so they talked for a couple of minutes. Then Kelly turned off at a corner, and we walked on. I said, "She wanted to make sure we knew where we stood, so she asked about you. I said yes, we were an item, though there were a couple of others who aren't here with a share in me. I probably shouldn't have said so much, but I was afraid sometime Sam or Jenny will visit, and I'd rather explain up front than have it look like I'm doing spin for damage control later."

"Since you're likely to get to know her pretty well, that seems good."

"She's really nice, nice enough that I was really glad she asked. She's not with anyone right now, she said, and I'd hate to have complications from having anything romantic develop. I really hope she can be a friend, without going that way. Um. Do I need to tell you that you're all I want or need, as a lover?"

She laughed.

We showered, together, but just washing—enjoying that, though—and had breakfast, in Ellen's apartment. I told her, "At this rate I really am going to owe you a lot of groceries."

After that, we walked over to the resale shop. Ellen had a few things to look for, and I had quite a list. I decided to start with clothes. I found three sets of stuff I wasn't unhappy to be seen in, for about the price of one that I'd bought new, also some socks and underwear in good condition, almost new. I went through my list, and then just browsed for a good while, turning up several things I wouldn't ever have thought of but which would be nice to have, and several more I hadn't thought of yet but would need. No toothpicks—nor even a toothbrush—and no baby grand, but the place was a huge help for me. Ellen had come up with a bundle of several dozen wire hangers for half a dollar, saying this would let her pay me back and give me a bunch too.

If we hadn't had so much stuff to carry home, I would have stopped in a drugstore we passed to get another razor and toothbrush. I needed to get those right away. We went up to Ellen's apartment and left her things, then to mine. We kissed, and then I turned to putting stuff away. I updated my lists, putting razor and toothbrush on a new list for drugstores.

When I mentioned that—thinking out loud—Ellen said, somewhat hesitantly, "Phil. Um. Would it be all right with you if I stopped shaving my pussy?"

"If I said no, would you keep doing it?"

"Of course! Would it really bother you?"

"The answer really is, how would I know? I have no experience at all to tell me. If you don't want to keep it up, go ahead. Um. I hope you'll keep things trimmed, that included, I think. I plan to, by the way. But if I find it bothers me, I'll let you know. Is that a good enough answer? It's your body, which you let me enjoy, but that isn't something I'd want to dictate."

She came over and stood and hugged me, for several minutes, just resting her head against my shoulder. I was pretty sure she wasn't crying, or anywhere near it, but it felt a little like the same kind of thing. Finally she looked at me, and gave me a brief kiss, and said, "Phil, I don't know whether it's most or not, but I've seen and heard enough to know that a lot of men wouldn't think that way. It's kind of an experiment for me, too. I don't know whether I'll like it, but I'd like to find out. I know it won't be that big a deal for me, either way, so really do let me know your preferences. But thank you for telling me, again, that I can trust you to care about me instead of just yourself. You've done that since day one.

"I think we need to get through this year of school before we think any longer term, and maybe even two years. Lots of people get married at nineteen, and it usually seems to end in disaster. But right now, I wish I could tell people you were my fiancé instead of my boyfriend. That would be really unfair to Sam and Jenny, right now, on top of all the other reasons we can't settle that now. But I'm through fighting it and not knowing what I want. It's not just every night with you, your apartment or mine, your bed or mine. Just so you know, I want that but more, too."

We stood there like that a while longer. I kissed her, and said, "Ellen, I love you. I think you were there when I explained it, way back in the beginning. Claire and Moira were my fantasy objects for at least two years, I knew Claire better, Moira has a better figure—well, bigger breasts. Jenny should have been there too, but I still thought of her the way she'd been as a freshman, even though she had filled out some, her figure is really as good as Claire's. OK, I'm a guy, appearance comes into it a lot, and breasts are a big part of appearance. But if I'd had the faintest inkling that you ever would take any interest in me, you would have been way ahead of all of them.

"Jenny and Sam are special for me. Well, almost every girl I know is, but you know what I mean. And there are a handful of others. So one more reason to not rush past this year is to see how things stand with all of them after a while. I really think Jenny is going to find some guys at school for sex, I'm worried that it will be as bad for her as Brian turned out to be. Or me, I guess. She'll want more than they're willing to give.

"Sam. Um. We need to talk about Sam, more than I want to right now. But I don't think Sam will wind up with me in the end, for all that she loves me even more than you do, and I love her. I don't know what made them honor her request to be my partner, but it was a disaster waiting to happen, that turned into maybe the best assignment they made out of our whole class.

"Back when you said you'd be studying with Brian, I told Sam that left a huge hole for her to fill. Well, she managed it surprisingly well. But before that, she had come face to face with the fact that she was tormenting me to keep from admitting to herself that she loved me, and then the next day she was gang-raped, and everything in her life fell apart and she had to put herself back together differently. In some ways, her love for me was the one thing that survived, and I couldn't even bring myself to touch her!

"Dealing with that, having been pushed together as partners, built a bond between us I don't think anyone else can ever share with me. I think some of that will survive, even if we both wind up married to other people. If you and I wind up married, and that looks really possible to me, you'll have to put up with my having memories of feelings for them, that I don't think will ever go away. So be thinking about that. If I marry you, or anyone else, it will be completely exclusive as far as sex, and as exclusive as I can make it as far as romantic feelings. I'm just warning you that may not be as far as you want or as I might wish. And not just Sam, of course."

"Phil, every time you say things like that, you show me again why I'd want to be married to you. You're compulsively honest, about anything that might matter at all. That's something I need. And I love you."

We moved apart, and talked some about the rest of the day. We decided to go off to the drugstore before lunch. I told her, "I'm not sure I'm going to need to run in the mornings, with all the walking I'll have to do." We walked slowly, though, holding hands, or with arms around each other's waists. I looked at what was there, winced at the prices, but got another two toothbrushes and extra toothpaste and floss, as well as a couple of razors.

"Why the extras?"

"Um. You know, I need one more toothbrush and razor yet, don't I?" I went back and collected them. "I expect sometimes you'll be up with me, after all, but I was thinking about Jenny or Sam visiting sometime. If she brings her own, fine, but if not I'll be ready. Should have gotten them at the supermarket. Cheaper."

We had lunch in my apartment, and then agreed just to lie down together. We listened to the opera on the radio, and dozed a little, especially during the halftime stuff.

"You said you hadn't been running on Sundays, so I warned Kelly that I probably wouldn't. From what she said, she may not make it every day, anyway, even weekdays. Maybe having me there will motivate her, of course. I mean, if it weren't for you, I don't know that I would get up to walk a few blocks to run, very often. I really need motivation, myself. I'd been slacking off some when they started the game in gym, and even with that I might not have made it so often without Jenny. Something else to thank you both for."

At some point, I dropped into a real sleep, and apparently Ellen did too. I didn't know who stirred and woke the other, but it was past time to get the supper I'd planned, so I nuzzled her until she was willing to get up. What I was planning was nothing fancy, but it took a little while in the oven. I hadn't thought about needing a cutting board or two, but the counter had obviously been used for that in the past. I got the meat and onions and mushrooms cut up and the sauce mixed, got them into an ovenproof dish, and got it started cooking. While it was in, I washed my knife and the counter, then disinfected the countertop. By that time water was boiling, and I got the rice started. Ellen was staring at me in surprise.

"Phil, I had no idea you knew how to cook like that. You've been eating in a dorm for four years! What I fixed last night was just kind of tossed together, but this isn't. Who teaches middle-school boys, or younger, to really cook?"

I turned down the rice and got more water heating for the broccoli, which was in the freezer. "Well, my grandmother insisted that I help her in the kitchen a lot, and she made sure I knew how to make lots of stuff. You're right, this isn't just tossed together, but it's pretty basic. It should be good, though." I turned down the water for the vegetables, it wasn't time for them yet. I was using my phone for a timer, a couple of times over, because a kitchen timer was something else I had forgotten. At least I had noticed potholders in the store that afternoon, so I had some of those. "I need to find a microwave. I didn't notice any in the resale place, but they may have them. And I need more spices. But I've got enough to get on with."

I made a quick sauce for the broccoli, then got that cooking. A few minutes later, I dished everything up. Mismatched plates and flatware and serving dishes, but the food should be good. I dished the broccoli straight onto the plates to avoid dirtying a bowl, since there were just the two of us, and also we took the meat and stuff right out of the cooking dish. I did put the rice in a bowl.

As we ate, after she'd had some of everything, Ellen looked at me. "Phil, don't you dare try to make this into a joke. I'm serious. This is like seeing Sam's little off-hand sketches and then suddenly seeing that drawing."