Falling in love has never been something that I'd be good at. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's the small town and the kids I've know all my life. Maybe its the casual homophobia I hear on a daily basis messing with my head. I know things will get better, but 1985 is hardly the age of happiness and freedom.
Lissa tells me that college will be good for both of us. She knows I'm tired of our small town. She's been my friend since forever, and I know her as well as I know myself. I once asked her if its tiring having a friend who dreams more than she talks. She laughed and told me "One day, you'll tell me what's going on in that head of yours and it'll be worth it."
It's not like I never talk to Lissa. I can't count the number of times we've sat on her bedroom floor, eating cookie dough and spilling secrets. It was usually just analyzing her latest crush or some shred of gossip she had heard about. In Junior year, though, I did tell her about a girl in my English class that I liked. Her name was Ella, and she liked poetry, chocolate, and the color purple, specifically lavender. I thought she was the prettiest girl in the world. Lissa thought I was adorable and a little crazy. Like she was the model of sanity in high school. I don't think anyone is.
Against my better judgement, I agreed to go on a road trip with Lissa over the summer. I said it sounded cool, like a coming-of-age movie full of self discovery. Lissa told me I sounded like a hippie. I smacked her with the sleeve of my purple hoodie.
But hippie or not, here we are. Lissa is driving her old car down the highway, and I'm singing along to the radio. Lissa doesn't like the station I chose, but there's not much I can do about that. It's not my fault we have different taste in music. And there's no way I'm changing the station.
"We should go to the beach," Lissa suggests, turning in the drivers seat of her car to face me.
"Maybe tomorrow. I'm kinda hungry."
"You're always hungry." Lissa pouts.
"It's a talent." I flip my hair over-dramatically, laughing at her expression.
"More like a curse."
I give her the side-eye.
"Okay, fine. We'll stop soon and find, like, a store or something."
"Thank you!" I sigh contentedly.
"No problem, your majesty," She says. I guess I sort of deserve that. Doesn't mean I appreciate it.
Lissa drives in silence. A girl on the radio sings about forbidden love, and I let myself get lost in the melody instead of focusing on the lyrics. It's sad, but sort of hopeful, like maybe it won't always be this way.
❨ ♯ * ⋆ 💜 '𝟖𝟓 ❩ After a relatively short drive, Lissa pulls into this little beach town and we start looking for somewhere to eat. All the shops look fairly similar: cute touristy storefront windows, but no food. This is bad, because I have an unhealthy love of food. I'm starting to get impatient, and Lissa can tell.
"Hey, I'm gonna go ask someone in that store where a restaurant is. You stay here," She says.
"Okay. Thanks, Liss," I say.
She goes in the store. I survey the street, looking for anything interesting. People walk down the street, going in and out of stores. A pretty girl with dark, curly hair walks past the car. I look down at my hands in my lap, so she won't think I'm staring at her.
After a few minutes, Lissa walks out of the shop. She gets back into the car and grins at me.
"We shall dine tonight, my friend!" She says dramatically.
"Where oh where, madam Melissa?" I say, trying not to laugh.
"It's just called 'The Diner', apparently," Lissa says, dropping her theatric voice.
"Boring." I match her tone. "But it has food, so I'm fine with it."
"Good attitude. Let's go."
a/n:
eeek, i did it! shoutout to my friends who made me publish this now. i'm so nervous. anyway, thanks for reading the first chapter. i hope you liked it! don't forget to vote and comment. it means a lot to me.
this is really unlikely, but if u want to make a fan cover, i'll put it in the next chapter i publish and give u a shoutout.
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