Her life! GxG! Intersex! (Book 1)

165

They stood there for a beat after the door closed, the quiet of the classroom settling back in like nothing had happened.

Emma let out a slow breath, then laughed under it, shaking her head. "Well. That was... an entrance."

Abigail smiled, softer now, stepping closer and brushing her thumb along Emma's hand. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Emma said, nodding. She glanced around the room once more, then back at Abigail. "I'm starving though."

Abigail's face lit up. "Perfect. Cafeteria it is."

They gathered their things and stepped back into the hallway together. The campus felt different at this hour—alive but unhurried. Students moved in loose clusters, laughter bouncing off the walls, the smell of coffee and food drifting faintly through open doors.

As they walked, Abigail naturally slipped into guide mode.

"So," she said, pointing ahead, "music building back there, literature wing is over that way, and this path—" she nudged Emma gently with her shoulder "—leads straight to the cafeteria. It's basically where everyone ends up whether they mean to or not."

Emma smiled, taking it all in. "You really know your way around now."

"Yeah," Abigail said with a small grin.

They passed a few students who nodded or smiled at Emma—some whispering just a little, clearly still buzzing from her class. Emma noticed, her posture straightening slightly, confidence settling into her shoulders.

Abigail caught it. "See that?" she teased. "You already have a fan club."

Emma laughed, shaking her head. "Stop."

"I'm serious," Abigail said. "They were hanging on every note."

They reached the cafeteria entrance, the sound swelling as the doors opened—trays clattering, voices overlapping, the hum of everyday campus life. Emma paused for half a second, taking it in.

They stepped fully into the cafeteria, the noise swelling around them in an almost comforting way—voices overlapping, trays sliding along metal rails, the low clatter of dishes and silverware. Sunlight poured through the tall windows lining one wall, warming the space and making everything feel less rushed.

Abigail slowed their pace a little, glancing at the time on her phone before slipping it back into her pocket. "I've got a little time before my next class," she said casually, like it wasn't something she'd already checked twice. "So we can actually sit and eat together."

Emma's shoulders relaxed at that, a small smile pulling at her lips. "Same. I don't teach again for a bit." She bumped her hip lightly into Abigail's. "I was hoping you'd say that."

They grabbed trays and moved through the line side by side. Abigail narrated her choices under her breath—what was surprisingly good, what looked promising but never delivered, what she swore had been better last semester. Emma laughed quietly, clearly enjoying seeing this familiar, confident version of her.

"You really sound like you belong here," Emma said as they reached the end of the line.

Abigail shrugged, a little shy despite herself. "I think I finally do."

They found a table near the window, the light catching Emma's face just right as she set her tray down. Abigail sat across from her at first, then shifted her chair closer without thinking, their knees brushing under the table.

Emma noticed and smiled. "You're hovering."

Abigail smirked. "I missed you."

Emma softened, reaching across the table to lace their fingers together for a moment. "I'm really proud of you, you know. Watching you move through campus like it's second nature now."