Pink and Blue

One

TRIGGERS: Misgendering, deadnaming

Synopsis at the end.

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"And who is the order for?"

Jack.

"Um... Adalynne," he speaks with unsurety, feeling it claw at his heart and soul as he says that name out loud. He feels his little sister tug on his hand and point at something in the display case—something sweet. He manages a small smile and looks back up at the barista.

"Add two cake pops to that, sorry," he ruffles his sister's hair. "Little one has a bit of a sweettooth."

The barista laughs. Her long, feathery earrings brush against her tan skin as she adds the added price to the order and takes Jack's payment. She hands him the change and tells him it will be ready shortly.

He takes his sister to a table—one of the tall ones with the big chairs. He knows she loves those. She smiles, giddy, and climbs up onto the cushioned chair. She looks up at her sibling.

"Thank you, Addy!" he feels that word—that name slash at his heart. It hurts, but he just smiles and replies with a you're welcome.

They wait for a while, sitting together and playing games.

"I think they have an iguana," Jack says, looking at someone sitting in a booth alone. Their eyes are blue and red facial hair covers the entirety of their lower face.

His sister giggles and nods in agreement.

"Named Polly!" Jack chuckles and agrees. Definitely an iguana named Polly kind of guy—not that there's anything wrong with that.

"Adalynne?" the barista calls out. Jack freezes, anxious. He doesn't want to get up. He doesn't want them to know. Before he can even make another move, however, his sister climbs down from the chair and skips over to the barista. She reaches over the counter and grabs the two drinks and the bag with cake pops, saying thank you, of course.

"Here you go!" she says cheerfully, handing Jack his drink—a Peppermint Frappuccino (with extra peppermint)—and one of her cake pops before climbing back into her chair.

Jack smiles thankfully, taking quick sips of his Frappuccino and holding back his laughter at his sister's whipped cream mustache. She asks what he's laughing at and he just reaches over to wipe it off of her face-and then wipes it on her fluffy, oversized blue sweater.

She gasps in offense, trying hard to wipe it off, but to no avail. She pouts at Jack's seemingly endless laughter before reaching over and stealing some sips of his drink.

"Hey! Emma!" he reaches over and takes his drink back. "You know you can't have caffeine!"

She pouts and sticks her tongue out at him. She eats her cake pop and then jumps down from the chair, drink in hand. She takes Jack's hand in hers and tugs him toward the door.

Jack has to scramble to grab his drink before being pulled out into the cold. The soft breeze nips at their noses and Jack pulls Emma's thick winter hat from his hoodie pocket. He gently tugs it on her head, covering her eyes and nose. He freezes.

"Wait a minute..." he grabs her shoulders and turns her around. "I could have sworn you had a face?" he turns her back around and stands back, tapping his chin in faux confusion.

Emma giggles and growls, reaching out to grab Jack but instead knocks his drink out of his hand. It falls to the pavement and spills in the light snow flurries on the cement, tainting them pink. She gasps and lifts the hat off her face. Tears gather in her eyes as she looks up at Jack; she knows how much he loves peppermint, and she just ruined it for him.