The Beginning.

Chapter 14: Happy birthday, idiot

-January 5th, 1994-

"Happy birthday, idiot." Deena smiled as she handed a small bag of presents to Sam.

They were sat on Sam's bed, crossed legged facing each other.
They'd been officially dating now for just under 4 months. 4 months that felt simultaneously like 4 years and 4 weeks. Sam asked Deena if she would be her girlfriend while they were on one of their late-night trips.
They were sat on a mountain staring at the sunset when she asked her. Of course they were also eating burgers.

After unwrapping a couple of presents, Deena stopped her and protested she open one of the presents last.
"Here." Deena handed her the last gift. The others consisted of items that only held meaning.
"Now, it's not much but I really hope you like this one." Deena fiddled with her fingers as Sam squinted her eyes at her and slowly ripped the paper. It was only a tiny box.

Eventually, Sam managed to get inside and she was met with two tickets to see the Pixies.

"Oh my god, Deena - this is too much." Sam gushed. Her face was serious yet grateful.

"Listen, we deserve this." Deena assured her while holding her hands.
Recently they'd both had a lot on their plates - Deena's dad had had been drinking more than he usually did and Sam's mom had become very suspicious of the pair and insisted that Deena didn't come round to the Frasers' household. Not only that, but Sam's parents had been arguing consistently.

A smile quickly arose on Sam's face as she squeezed Deena's hands in excitement. She was so grateful to have her.

During these few months, they'd somehow managed to spend Halloween, Christmas, New Years and Thanksgiving together - despite the challenges.
Apart from the Halloween party they'd mostly been alone. Which was nice, yet they'd both get the upsetting realisation that they couldn't be a 'normal couple' and do 'normal couple' things. They didn't like it. But it was all worth it.
The memory box was also getting full, and more stickers were being added to the outside.

"WOOOOOOO" There was a roar from the crowd as the band made their way onto the stage, after some anticipation.
Deena and Sam were squished by the front, feeling slightly claustrophobic but also loving it. They travelled about 5 hours away from home to see them.

After going crazy to about 5 songs, Sam got on Deena's back and they started flailing about like idiots. Everyone was smiling or dancing, or both. The vibes sent everyone's mood sky-rocketing.
While 'Hey' was playing, the pair saw some people to the opposite of them. The crowd made it hard to see properly, but there were three or four gay couples making out and displaying a lot of PDA.
Three lesbian couples, and a gay couple too. It was an overwhelming moment. As if they were free from a cage.

After witnessing this, they both smiled at the couples and then turned to each other to give
affection. Kissing and being tactile in public was something they were not used to. It was scary and liberating at the same time.
Overwhelming and elation. If only it could be like this all the time.

When the show ended, they made conversation with the people they saw. They were all probably ten years older than Sam and Deena. It was enlightening to hear their stories and it gave them hope that one day, they'd be able to live freely and openly together.
They all went to a couple of photo booths smooshed together to the side of a venue and had their picture taken. Deena and Sam had theirs taken together afterwards.
Three pictures. Two silly and one with a kiss on the cheek.

Another one for the memory box.

"Did you have a good evening?" Deena asked as they drove home from the concert.

"Silly question." Sam grinned back at her, then kissed her hand as she was holding it. One of Deena's hands was carefully placed on the steering wheel.

Deena smiled.
"No seriously. Thank you." Sam thanked her with blushing cheeks.

"I hope one day we can be like them." Sam looked solemn suddenly.

Deena knew what she meant. "One day. We will. We really will. We'll make sure of it." Deena sounded confident. She felt it too.

"There's one last surprise." Deena squealed in her hoarse voice as she whipped the steering wheel down into a dark road.

"Okayyy." Sam laughed and looked out her window. "Good job you're practically my wife now." She continued as the driveway seemed to get darker and darker.

Deena smirked and let out a bit of a giggle.

A bright red 'motel' sign illuminated the forest that they'd just travelled through.
Sam clapped her hands and kissed Deena on the cheek as she saw the sign poke through the trees. They parked and stepped out of the car.

"Aaaand" Deena sang. She opened her trunk to reveal Sam's favourite snacks. And her favourite blanket and jumper.

Sam jumped up onto Deena and gave her a big squish.
"I do love you." Her eyes were glassy.

"Not just because I brought you snacks?" Deena asked jokingly as she carried their bags and snacks out the car.

"Not just because you brought me snacks." Sam scrunched her nose.
"...Maybe." She shoulder bumped Deena.
"DON'T DROP THE SNACKS." Sam joked as Deena lost her balance from the shoulder bump.

For the rest of the evening they snuggled in bed and watched awful TV that was so awful it seemed the opposite of awful. There was an old film they discovered that's had now become one of their favourites.
At about 1am they both pressed themselves together and turned the lights off.

"I can't wait to be like this every night." Deena said quietly.

"I can't wait either." Sam placed a soft kiss on Deena's lips and they fell asleep with an arm over each other.