Together

Normal

Our eyes lock from across the hallway and butterflies storm my stomach. Her eyes twinkle and she makes her way through the busy hallway. Everyone races to get out of school when she seems to be walking in slow motion. She stands a foot away, so close I can smell her breath. A hint of lavender plays with my nose. She smiles a smile that shines from behind her braces. Jesus, this girl can make even braces look like an accessory. I fidget my hair into a ponytail, snagging every piece except for my hell of front baby hairs. She tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and my face heats up. 

"It was bothering me", she says in  hushed tone. She smiles again and a slight dimple appears. I laugh, just loud enough that only we can hear it, that we can have our own secrets. She is very shy when it comes to people in large crowds, so we communicate by IM's. I am also shy. The only person I can feel safe around is Her. You can never trust people. I can trust her. 

I look around the hallway, almost empty, but now the high schoolers that were in detention are coming out. Some of those kids are bad people. Anxiety builds up inside of me. My hands shake and my legs start to wobble. The school seems to be getting smaller and smaller. Until a light hand comes from behind and lands on my shoulder. I turn around and She is still there, Shay. She smiles, her braces flashing once again. My phone chimes in my back pocket. I take it out and click over to my inbox. It's from Shay

Shay.Swims : its ok tori❤️

I feel weak in the knees. The butterflies rampage, shouting at me to say something back. What gets to me: the heart emoji. The "everything will be alright" emoji, the "I'm here for you emoji", and the "I love you" emoji. Jesus this girl will be the death of me. I fumble with my phone to say something back. Something flirty, but I can't.

Topsy.Tori05 : I'll only be ok if you are here 

Way to go Tori. Now she defininetly knows you like her..... Shay looks up from her phone. Short blonde hair frames her blushing face. She types something new into her phone. 

Shay.Swims : I'm glad because..... I'm not leaving your side

Three dots appear and she types more. 

Shay.Swims : I.. like you.

I can practically hear her saying this, bringing me farther and farther out of my shell. She was shy too. She still is, but she is making her way. She seems to have made her way into my heart. She seems to have found my one weak spot. Her. 

Shay.Swims : You make me feel like no one ever before..... like someone actually cares...

TopsyTori05 : ................

She slides an intricately woven bracelet around my wrist. I gasp in delight. White strings woven in with cyan ones to make a pattern that seems to loop on forever. My fingers stroke the soft material, wondering if she hand made it. It must have been hand woven because nothing this perfect can be bought from a store. A bright reflection glints off the end of the bracelet. I inspect it closer. A "T" is engraved in the metal charm. The bracelet takes my breath alway. 

TopsyTori05 : Thank you!!! It's beautiful!!

Shay.Swims : No problem 😊

And she sent the blushing emoji. Even though she doesn't show it, she is sliently pleased. 

TopsyTori05 : Did you make it?

Shay.Swims : of course

She lifts her head up from her phone as I do the same. Her crystal eyes twinkle and her grin has split her face in two. I do something I would never do, only with her

TopsyTori05 : Jesus Shay..... can I kiss you?

The air seems to leave the empty hallway.

Shay.Swims : Yes.

She barely gets the text sent when I lean toward her and press my lips on hers. Her soft lips jerk back, then realize what is happening. She cocks her head sideways and kisses me as light as a feather. She reaches up and her fingers tangle in my hair. I am holding onto her. So tight, afraid to let go. Then we pull back. Her face is flushed and a smile plays on her tender lips. 

TopsyTori05 : I want it to be us. For us to be together. 

Shay.Swims : so do I. More than anything

TopsyTori05 : But it can't

Shay.Swims : ........... But why not?

TopsyTori05: Look around Shay..... The society thinks people should be punished for things like that. For people who are like us. A man marrying a woman is perfectly fine. But when a woman starts to even hug another woman, all hell seems to break loose. And if a man kisses another man, some fear the devil is amount them. And it's 2018 now. People will never change. No matter how chill they seem on the outside, the default will always be set on straight. We high schoolers will be judged the most. I love you. I really do. I just can't be around someone who makes me feel so vulnerable. 

TopsyTori05 : You are the only person who makes me feel vulnerable......

Shay stares at me in deep thought.

Shay.Swims : You're right. Straight WILL always be the default that others find normal. But if being who we are isn't normal, then what is?

I let her words jumble around in my mind, letting it all sink through. She is right. I grasp her hand  firmly and we walk out the doors and into the bright outside world. 

( in the place that Shay and Tori is living in, people are very intolerable and everyone acts the same. In my town we are very accepting and I do not agree with what people think about LBGTQ+ in this story. I think people should be who they want to be and others not have any problems with that. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈)