Disclaimer: Homophobes get out cause this chapter ain't for you
I know it's been a hot minute since my last update. Full disclosure; I re-watched an old childhood favourite recently (The Save-Ums, if you must know) and kinda became obsessed with it for like a week, and consequently shirked on my writing. Yeah, my attention span works in mysterious ways.
Anyway, this is a follow up of the previous chapter; specifically, an elaboration of "Donna all over again".
DD
Back in high school…
It was a chilly Friday evening in February, a few hours after school. Donna impatiently rocked back and forth on her hooves just outside the Cineplex. The long-anticipated film adaptation of The Legend of Lady Lorraine was finally out, and she and Deborah had planned out a specific date to see it. Finally, Deborah came bursting in through the entrance of the Regent Mall.
"Finally," said Donna. "I've been waiting for you for, like, thirty minutes."
"Don't get your hooves in a huff," said Deborah, wiggling out of her coat. "It's only 6:15. The movie doesn't start until seven."
They exchanged casual banter about school, and then Deborah showed Donna photos from her phone of her newborn niece.
"She's, like, the cutest thing ever," said Donna.
"Her parents are getting married in July," said Deborah. "I have the prettiest dress for it."
After about half an hour, Donna and Deborah entered the Cineplex, sorted out their tickets and snacks, and went to find their seats in the theatre.
"I've been trying really hard to avoid spoilers for this film," said Deborah, flicking her wrists. "I've been so excited for months."
"I still can't believe that they got Luanne Leopard herself to direct it," said Donna.
They quieted down as the previews ended and the lights dimmed.
DD
About two hours later, Donna and Deborah left the theatre and exited the mall.
"I don't see my mum anywhere," said Deborah.
"I guess we're gonna have to wait," said Donna. They both sat down on the curb to await the arrival of Deborah's mother.
"It gets really chilly out here at night," said Deborah. She and Donna moved closer together.
"It's so wild that we're gonna be seventeen soon," said Donna. "Like, that just feels so weird."
"I know…" Deborah pulled her coat closer to her body. She wasn't sure she was ready to be seventeen yet.
"God, I hate Melvin so much," said Donna. "He, like, totally tried to slap my butt in the hallway today. If my arms weren't full of books and if I wouldn't get suspended for it, I would have smacked him in his stupid face. At least Harold stopped him and yelled at him."
"I can't believe that Martha wore crop tops all winter," said Deborah. "She must have ice running through her veins or something."
Both looked directly into each other's eyes and went quiet. Donna had mentioned to Deborah that she wasn't sure about her orientation after Martha started coming to school. And truth be told, Deborah wasn't quite sure she was heterosexual either.
"So...what does that dress of yours look like?"
"Oh, Donna, it's beautiful. It's pale blue...with a white sash around the hips, and a pearl necklace..."
They moved even closer together.
Their lips met.
They were only pressed together for a few seconds.
It was soft.
It was different.
Deborah liked it.
They let go and opened their eyes.
"Did…you feel something?"
"I…" Donna looked conflicted. "I didn't feel anything."
Deborah didn't know what to think.
Before either could say anything, that oh-so familiar vehicle pulled up. Deborah scrambled to her feet. "Thank you for having me." She entered the passenger seat.
"I got a message from your mom," said Mrs. Deer to Donna. "She's running behind on picking you up because of traffic."
"Thank you, Mrs. Deer," said Donna.
"Dear, you know you're allowed to call me Gertrude." Mrs. Deer rolled up the window and exited the parking lot.
Deborah was very quiet on the ride home.
"So, how was the movie?" Mrs. Deer asked, hoping to get her daughter talking.
"Good," said Deborah.
"Did you and Donna have fun?"
"Yes," said Deborah.
"Did something happen? You're not talking." Mrs. Deer slowed down as she passed the university.
"…I kissed her," said Deborah. "Don't tell Dad."
Mrs. Deer was surprised. She didn't exactly know how to respond to that. "…Okay."
"You don't mind?"
"Of course not," said Mrs. Deer. "You'd still be my daughter even if you kissed every girl on the planet."
"It was only for a few seconds," said Deborah. "I liked it."
"I'm glad you're exploring your identity," said Mrs. Deer. "And I still love you whether you decide you like boys or girls or something else."
DD
Back to the present…
Deborah lay awake in her bed. She was still thinking of that moment.
Did she really like Donna like that?
The kiss felt good, but there wasn't really a spark.
What about Shellington? Would he be upset if he found out she kissed a girl?
She turned the bedside lamp on and picked up the first installment of Naoko Amami's Love Princess. She opened it up to the first chapter, where she saw the beautiful Manami-chan marry Miyu-hime all over again.
"It was only a kiss," thought Deborah. "I like Donna like I like Gloria, not like how Manami likes Miyu. I don't even feel for her like I do for Shellington."
She watched the romantic adventures of Manami-chan and Miyu-hime unfold in the pages before her until she fell back asleep.
DD
I know I do a lot of dicking around in this story, but I will die on this ship given the opportunity.