Poseidon

Could the sea be a dream?

I'd been studying all day, and was now dressed for the party Tara wanted me to go to. She was in a cute dress that went to mid-thigh. It was tight, the top loose, but damn. She could pull it off like no one else.

I was in a denim skirt, longer than my shorts, but not knee-long either. Probably about the same length as Tara's skirt. And a top in gold that shimmered when I walked. Maybe the denim wasn't the best fit, but it was what I got, and I didn't feel like showing up to a party in shorts.

"Ready?" Tara asked.

"Yeah," I said. I'd put on a little makeup, and braided my hair in a purposely messy braid. That's how you did that, clearly.

Tara had her hair down, it was straightened and looked silky and glossy. Her outfit was black and white, which she spiked up with red lips.

She reached for my hand when we left the dorm. I was in flats, and so was Tara. Pretty flats, ballerinas of some kind. I stuck with sneakers. I wasn't about to walk around in alcohol someone had spilled in my shoes all night.

"How long do you expect me to stay?" I asked her. "Or should I just check it with you?"

Tara shrugged. "I don't care," she said. "Text me when you leave, just so I know, but otherwise, have fun."

I nodded and walked after her down the steps. "Do you plan on sleeping in the dorm?"

She looked up at me with an almost devil may care expression. "Oh, I hope there's a sweet girl to take me home."

I stopped. "What?"

She laughed. "I'm gay, Athena."

"No shit?" I asked.

She put her hand on her heart. "As gay as you get them."

I blinked. "But you're so girly!"

"Feminine, I prefer feminine. That makes us all sound older than five," she said in a sigh.

I started walking again. "I'm not, gay, I mean."

She looked at me. "Not even bi?"

I shook my head.

She shrugged as if she didn't care. "That also makes it a lot easier not to start developing feelings. I know you won't ever reciprocate them."

"No," I said.

"Honestly, you didn't know?" she asked.

"It's a very real possibility I have this bias that all gay women are tomboys." I said.

Tara snorted. "Right," she said. "Clearly not." She gestured to her own clothes.

"I think I'm more tomboy than you are."

Tara nodded. "You are," she said and stepped out of the building.

I smiled, keeping up with her brisk pace.

"My parents don't know," she said. "They'll kick me out if they knew, so that's what I'm doing with college. Transitioning into not living with them."

I looked at her. "What does your sexuality have to do with that?" I asked.

Tara looked at me. "My brother was told, when he was younger, to never bring home a boyfriend, he wouldn't be welcome. I figure the same applies to me."