Erika smiled. "Sometimes, not often. We don't have to be like those people in the cafeteria."

Kate shut her eyes, remembering. The thin girl in men's clothes—heavy oxfords, fly-front pants, yet obviously not male. And the fluffy little creature in extra high heels, clinging and adoring. They had given Kate and Erika so questioning a look that both girls left their dinner unfinished and got out. "I never think about it unless something reminds me," she said. "I mean, is this normal or not? Everything seems so natural. Then something like this happens and I realize what other people think."

"That's the trouble," Erika said, "the world is full of other people." But she said it as though she didn't really care.

"It makes me wonder what we are."

"I'm Erika and you're Kate."

"I love Erika."

"I like Kate."

"Only like?"

Erika laughed. "Wait and see."

They climbed the front steps of Mrs. Brownlee's house and continued up the winding staircase in single file, avoiding the creaky railing which seemed to grow shakier with each passing day. Kate wondered if Mrs. Brownlee was listening and then decided she didn't care one way or the other. The fact that the Osgood boy's door stood open an inch also failed to disturb her.

Erika locked the door behind them and snapped on the over-head fight. "It will be fun to move, you know that?"

Kate ignored the comment, wanting to continue the trend of their earlier exchange. "Erik, you do love me," she whispered, unconsciously adopting the masculine form of the name. "Say it, please."

Erika came to stand behind her. The small hands slid around to cup her breasts and Kate felt her nipples rising to meet the touch. She trembled as Erika's lips grazed the nape of her neck. "It is a simple thing to say," Erika murmured, her hands loving and gentle in their rhythmic movements. "It is a much better thing to prove."

Erika's breath was warm as she laughed softly. "It would be difficult with all these clothes in the way. Turn around and let me undress you, darling."

Kate turned, still trembling, "Erik..."

CHAPTER 15

“This is nice. I like this one," Kate said. She looked around at the empty scrubbed shelves covered with red-dotted paper. The sink had a real drainboard and there was a full-sized stove. "There's even a stool to sit on while you cook. I could bake us a cake—if I haven't forgotten how."

Erika looked more critical. "It's all right. Where would we put the books? We can't possibly move all those bricks, they weight a ton. I carried them in four at a time."

"Well sneak out after dark and get more. They're tearing down that old hotel to put up a housing project—the contractors won't care."

Erika put a hand on her shoulder. "It's not much more than the other places, and three rooms! Do you think it looks like a happy place to live?"

Kate sniffed the fresh paint. "Erik—"