𝐿𝑒𝓈𝓈𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒 - (𝓌𝓁𝓌)

one

Moe looked up from the dog-eared pages of her go-to novel when the doorbell jingled, signaling another customer's entrance to 'True Colors Book Nook.' She flashed a friendly smile, plopping her book on the overflowing counter of the cozy bookstore where she clocked in a few hours. Books were her happy place, her escape from the craziness of the world outside.

With comfortable ease, Moe greeted the customer, a middle-aged woman browsing the shelves, searching for a romance novel for her daughter. After guiding the woman to her desired section, she began stacking the new shipment of horror books in honor of Halloween, slowly approaching.

Moe let her mind wander as she caught a glimpse of the "Goosebumps" series, remembering as her bio mom read those to her as a child.

Moe's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell jingling again, this time greeted by the familiar face of her best friend, Esther.

The two met during their sophomore year of high school, and both engaged in multiple extracurriculars—Moe, who took up photography and journalism. Esther, who ran the debate team, was in every sport their school offered and took up all the AP courses allowed in one semester.

Moe looks up at her best friend; Esther had her box braids thrown back into a bun, her big square glasses framing her face. "Good morning, Moe Moe! Or should I say afternoon? Whatcha doin'?" She asks.

Moe snorts, glancing down at the Halloween display she was putting together. "What's it look like? I'm working."

"No, really? Couldn't have guessed that, Maurice," Esther jokes. "Where's Mama Elena? Can you clock out early and come get drinks?"

"It's three pm, Este. And I thought you were going with Scott?" Moe picked up the box of books, walking them over to the other table she needed to start working on. "I cannot be a buffer between you for the hundredth time."

"You can't "be a buffer" 'cause there's nothing going on between us," Esther says, glancing down at her Mary Janes, tapping the front of her shoes together.

"Yeah, okay...sure." Moe chuckles a little.

Elena, Moe's mother, suddenly appears, a stack of books in her hands. She smiles at the sight of Esther, dropping the books into Moe's hands to hug her. "Hi, Esther! How are you?"

"So good! I was dropping in to say hi to my favorite woman ever." Esther smiles as she pulls away, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "How is business going?"

"Great! We've definitely started to become a local staple for the town," Elena smiles. "We're setting up our spooky season early to hopefully bring in more people."

"Well, you're doing great!" Esther beams. "I can't wait to open my own bookstore. It's gonna happen, and it's gonna be the best safe space for queer kids."

It had always been a dream of Esther's. She remembers how horrible high school was for her and Moe. As much as their district claimed to be open minded, they faced horrible homophobia from those around them.

When Esther came out as pan, she was taunted and told to 'pick a side'. And when Moe came out as lesbian, the men at school were nasty.

"Maybe when I'm old and done with this place, I can pass it down to you." Elena smiles before turning to see another customer walk in. "Back to the playing field. But you should join us for dinner this weekend."

"Oh, I will so be there!" Esther nods. "Quick question, since I'm very obviously the favorite daughter," Moe rolls her eyes as she places the books down on the table. "Could Moe possibly clock out and join me somewhere?"

"Sure, honey," She turns to Moe. "Dinner at home tonight?"

"Mhm." Moe simply smiles as her mom walks away. She turns her head quickly to look at Esther. "Seriously?"

"Come on! Let's go get cute so we can meet Scotty."

*   *   *

"I told you that you should've started that assignment months ago! You literally never listen to me it's crazy." Esther says, lifting her drink to her lips and taking a long sip. "You'd do a lot better if you took my advice."

"Oh, really? It's ironic coming from the girl who burned dinner last night because 'the chicken just needed fifteen more minutes", right?" Scott laughs, shaking his head.

Moe sighs at the two, looking around the bar. It was relatively empty, mainly filled with middle-aged dads watching some kind of sports game and yelling obscenities at each other.

She watches as a man appears, locs falling all over his head. He looked like he just got off of work, wearing a coffee shop uniform. He sits and checks his phone before looking up as a woman joins him. She couldn't make out much, just that she has obscenely long wavy hair. She smiles softly at him, leaning down to hug him before taking her seat.

"Moe!" Esther says, and by the tone of her voice, Moe could tell it was not the first time her name had been called. She turns her head away from the strangers, looking at her friends. "Sorry, what?"

Esther turns her head in the direction Moe was looking. "What are you looking at?"

"What? Nothing?"

"Uh oh," Scott says. "Another straight girl apocalypse for Moe. Everyone start praying. Remember Aniya?" He jokes.

"Fuck off," Moe tucks her curly hair behind her ears. "I can't even see her face. I wasn't searching for it either." She picks up her drink taking a sip.

After some long uneventful conversations about work and life, Moe makes her way to her parents house. She turns her key to walk into the house and is immediately hit by the smell of meat cooking, the sound of music playing, and the banter between her parents.

Moe enters the kitchen, watching her dad, Victor, feed Elena a spoonful of mashed potatoes. "Good?" He asks, a smile on his face.

Elena smiles at him, nodding her head. "Mhm. Always." She says, getting a kiss on her forehead in return.

Moe clears her throat. "Hi, Pops." She says, tossing her keys on the counter and setting her bag down.

"Hi, Moe Moe. How was your day?"

"It was good," she said. She took a seat. "Mom and I set up the Halloween displays."

Elena smiles widely then, nodding her head. "We got the greatest shipment of all of these scary stories. Remember the Goosebumps series? I used to love those." She asks.

Moe winces a little at the mention of the book. She was well aware; she hadn't mentioned anything about the books to Elena. However, it never made it easier, having memories of her biological mom brought up to her. And, although it has officially been five years since Moe was adopted at 17, some things just can't be that easily forgotten.

"Sweetheart?" She hears Victor's voice, bringing herself out of her thoughts. "You okay?"

"Hm?" Moe looks up, plastering a smile on her face. "What? Yeah, sorry. Did you ask something?"

"I asked how that critical theory class was going. I know you said it's been a shitstorm lately. Did you ever figure out what was bugging you with the essay?"

"Oh, yeah." Moe shrugs her shoulders. "I simply signed up for some office hours with my professor. Even though she is the worst person to ever live." She jokes.

"Well, if anyone can get through it, it's definitely you, Kiddo."

And with that, Moe's sadness is quickly faded as background noise. Hearing simple words like that can quickly pull her out of her dark thoughts, and her fake smile turns into a real one.

* * *