The Hybrid Chronicles - A collection of short stories

Her- I mean them

Pride month short, enjoy!

Jamie was going through a bit of a crisis. She didn't know if she was, well a she. She didn't know if she liked men, women, enbies or all of the above. And prom was coming up.

She was considered a 'popular girl,' meaning that everyone would find it weird if she didn't get a date. Everyone was urging her to ask out this one guy, who was an absolute dickhead, but nobody other then her could see that. She was utterly lost, not knowing what to do, hoping an answer would present itself to her

She walked into her history class, early for once. The class was empty, except for one girl in the back, someone she had never noticed before. She seemed to be studying. Jamie didn't believe in love at first sight, but this girl... she was different. She seemed shy, but confident in her own right, she seemed like the kind to steer you on the right path if you were led astray, and something about that appealed to Jamie. How she could tell all this from one look, she would never know.

She sat beside the girl, butterflies in Jamie's stomach. She sucked it down and asked for her name. She said her name was Karter, she asked for Jamie's name and she responded, telling her.

Karter seemed nervous as well, though Jamie assumed that's how she always was. "I use they/them pronouns'' Karter said, Jamie responded saying that she *thinks* she uses she/her, but is wondering if she/they was a better fit. Karter smiled shyly, "You'll figure it out eventually. Don't sweat it, just go with the flow until it all works out for you"

"Thanks! Could I have your phone number by any chance? You seem like a cool person." Jamie asked, hoping she wouldn't be let down by this enby she just met. People start entering the room, with the teacher not far behind. Jamie grinned at her friends as Jamie and Karter traded numbers silently.

Fast forward a few days, and it's her final exam before prom. A history exam, her worst subject, and she was sweating buckets. She was texting Karter about it, when they offered for Jamie to come over to their house and revise with them, since their parents were on a two day work trip. She gladly took up the offer, feeling the excitement in her chest.

Jamie and Karter would revise for a while, until their heads were stuffed with everything they could know about people from hundreds of years ago, Jamie being confident she would pass now. Then they both decided to stay up, talking. Jamie found it so much easier to talk to Karter than any of her other friends, Karter was kind, and funny, and an amazing human being all around. They both stayed up until three am, until Jamie had to go home and get some sleep. It was one of the best times of her life, and she was sad to see it go.

Jamie passed the exams. She got the highest history grade she's ever gotten in years. She went home, ecstatic. She excitedly messaged Karter, thanking her, and Karter seemed... proud. From that moment onward, Jamie knew she wanted to make Karter proud for the rest of her life, and she would try her best to do so.

In other words, it was the last day before prom. Her last chance to ask someone out, or go alone. She spat out the butterflies in her stomach and called Karter.

"Hey, what's up?" Karter asked.
"Hey Karter, I wanted to ask you something important"
"What is it?"
God their voice was so beautiful, - how had she never noticed?- and, taking a deep breath, Jamie said,
"I was wondering, would you... would you go to prom with me?"
The silence was absolutely deafening. Those two seconds, where you knew they were planning what to say next.
"Yes." Karter said.
"...really?" You asked in disbelief, did Karter really love her as much as she loved them?
"Yes, really. I've been waiting for you to ask."
Jamie had never been happier then this moment. The exhilaration in her chest, she was grinning from ear to ear.
"Great! Ill pick you up tomorrow night"
They both said their goodbyes and ended the call.

And now, because Mr. Writer is a sick psychopath, or just too lazy, you'll never know what happened next. Some say they kissed during prom and lived a happy life. Some say they couldn't work out their differences and never went on a second date. Some say Jamie's parents disowned her, them being the homophobic, devoted religious people they were, and Jamie and Karter decided to travel the world together, like Karter had always wanted. But you'll never know for sure.

Have a good pride month!