A/N: Okay, we got a dusting this morning! But that's all, no several inches of snow and looking at the temperatures should melt soon enough.
I am still confident about an early spring this year. JUST LET IT HAPPEN!
Also, I'm curious have any of you tried out the audio reader on the app lately? It's one hell of an upgrade! It sounds like a real audiobook; I hear a chapter and I can hear the change of inflections and I swear there are two distinct voices that go back and forth. Just wondering if you all noticed the same thing!
"Hey!"
Tori turned to greet Jade on her way in.
"Is the whole gang here yet?" she asked.
"I think so," Tori replied. "Was she this pumped at home?"
Jade spoke through a smile that was locked tight.
"Every day with the fucking locker."
Tori giggled as they moseyed through the corridors toward the main attraction.
"I remember struggling with my locker," the Latina reminisced.
Jade chuckled.
"Yeah, that was funny. What was that first idea you had? The chalkboard?"
"It was a dry erase board!" Tori protested.
"Still," Jade smirked.
"At least my locker wasn't covered with scissors," Tori whispered.
Jade gave a look of mock offense.
"It's not my fault you plebes didn't get it!"
They finally came to Alice's locker, which was obscured by a white blanket. The small gathering of dear friends was like a tiny Hollywood premiere was happening.
"I think we're a little under-dressed for the occasion," smirked Mia.
"Speak for yourself," said Chase. "This is my second favorite shirt."
Alice appeared to a round of applause. She raised her hands for them to stop.
"Alright, I overdid it with the ceremony. I'm just really excited!"
"So are we!" laughed Lauren. "Now, let's see it!"
"Okay!" Alice said with bated breath. "Here we go."
She pulled back the white sheet, unveiling her painted locker.
The scene depicts a small grey figure, pulling a massive round boulder (think Raiders of the Lost Ark) with a rope up a steep mountainside. The person is dwarfed by the ponderous rock; it doesn't seem like they're going to succeed. However, on the other side of the boulder, were a bunch of other monochromatic people, each one a different color. There was a red person, a blue person, a purple person, and orange, and yellow and so on. It was like these individuals stepped out of the rainbow, representing each line. And this "colorful" bunch was apparently working together to push the boulder while the grey one pulls with all their might.
"Wow!" remarked Mia. "What's it called?"
Alice stomped her foot.
"Shoot; I didn't even think of a name!"
Chase chuckled.
"Something tells me this one up here..." Tori said pointing to the grey figure. "Is you."
Alice blushed and nodded.
"Yeah, that's me. And down here are all of the friends I've made."
Mia and Lauren exchanged glances.
The people behind the rock are of similar height and androgynous in design; they don't distinguish who is whom.
"Thanks to them, I no longer believe in the impossible. They helped me find my own strength. No matter what I do, my victories are because of the ones I care about helping me up."
The friends in question couldn't help but initiate a group hug to the artist.
"But, could I be the green one?" asked Jenna. "I like green."
Everyone laughed as Tori stepped back to snap a picture of the friends and the locker in the same frame.
She looked over to Jade whose lip was quivering.
"Baby," smiled Tori. "You okay?"
"My little girl's getting older," she sniffed. "And I...I was hoping she would like it here."
Tori put her arm around Jade, fighting the urge to kiss her seeing as they are at school.
The group gave their congratulations and goodbyes, dispersing in different directions.
"I'll see you later, okay?" Jade told Alice.
Her daughter nodded and waved bye to her and Tori.
Alice hung back, sighing over how it was finally done. No more obsessing over how to fix her locker problem.
Heavy breathing and quick footsteps raced up the hallway.
"Sorry I'm late!" huffed Becky. "Mrs. Perry held me hostage talking about next week's assignment!"
Alice smiled.
"It's okay, I'm happy to show it to one more person."
She took Becky by the wrist and led her to her masterpiece.
The blonde's eyes widened.
"Alice, I never knew you could paint like that!"
The brunette shrugged.
"Well, I used to paint so the art wasn't a problem. I just needed the idea."
She then surprised Becky with an intense hug.
"I can't thank you enough for your help!"
"It's nothing, really," Becky blushed.
"Nothing?" scoffed Alice. "You woke up my hamster!"
Becky stood there confused.
"Hamster?"
"When I was little, I thought people's brains were run by a little hamster on a little hamster wheel. And when we were sluggish, or forgetful, that meant the hamster was sleeping and needed to wake up."
Becky covered her mouth as she giggled.
"I know, it's silly," Alice said, a bit embarrassed.
"No, it's cute."
Alice focused on the painting.
"So, what do you think?" she asked.
Becky stepped a bit closer to better scrutinize the work of art.
"I'm going to go out on a limb that those people down there are helping the one up here."
"Yep," Alice nodded.
"And that person, is you?" Becky asked.
Alice folded her arms.
"Okay, okay, it's not that much of a thinker!"
"It's perfect," Becky said.
Alice raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Well, some of the best art is simple. Also, most people are going to see it in passing. The point comes across in an instant, so others will appreciate it. I just have one question."
"What's that?" asked Alice.
"Am I...in this group, too?"
Alice smirked and nudged her shoulder.
"You bet."
Becky flicked back her hair.
"You okay?" asked Alice. "You look paler than me."
"Oh, I'm fine! Just a bit winded from all that running. I need to remind myself I'm not a runner."
"Me, too!"
The two sat down on the floor.
"You staying after school?" asked Becky.
Alice shook her head.
"Just waiting for my mom. She's meeting with the principal right now."
Jade pushed Tori against the wall, kissing her deeply. You could roast marshmallows at the rate the heat in the room was increasing.
"Lock the door!"
Tori reached with her left arm to turn the button on the knob.
The Latina's hands wandered underneath the back of Jade's shirt, scratching her from the top to the bottom. That made Jade moan with delight.
"You drive me crazy, Vega!"
Tori smiled.
"What are you going to do about it?"
Jade retaliated with going to town on Tori's smooth neck. She would lick and then nibble the spot she just marked. That made Tori bring her even closer to her.
(I can wait for sex, Vega. But, holy shit, when we do, there's gonna be a mushroom cloud over the bed!)
Tori made a mental note to...relieve the valve later. Or, as they called it back in the day, a long hot bath.
Jade hoped that Tori told the lady in the office to hold her calls. She would hate to be interrupted right now.
"What time is it?" Jade asked.
"Three...I...I...I...th-think," Tori replied.
"Five more minutes!"
"Oh," blinked Becky. "I hope you're not in trouble."
The dark-haired one turned her head, hiding her mischievous smile.
"Oh, no. No trouble. Quite the opposite."
"I don't follow."
Alice looked back at Becky.
"Long story, don't worry."
Just being this close to Alice was making Becky's heart race.
This girl was already a friend in her eyes, how nice she was to her from the jump. Not to mention how her creativity and resolve never failed to impress her. Truth be told, Becky had plenty of things to distract her but whenever Alice walked by or would actually say hi to her, she would immediately forget everything. While many of her fellow sophomores would never dream of befriending a freshman (the law of the jungle was only aim up or across, never down) the fifteen-year-old was drawn to this girl.
She was a genuinely sweet and selfless person. It was so easy for her to help Alice when she seemed in distress because she would drop whatever she was doing to do the same! Becky was happy to have met her and only considered themselves as friends, maybe eventually very good friends. But things felt different now. Becky was beginning to suspect that she wasn't like the rest of the girls in her class who would go on and on about boys. For Becky, there was no ambiguity about it, she preferred the company of girls. But she kept that revelation deep inside! Becky dared not to share that with anyone.
Becky knew there was a word for what she identified as: lesbian. Having a concrete term made sitting on her secret even tougher.
Maybe these developing feelings toward Alice were nothing more than a crush. You have somebody of the gender you are into that is a welcome presence in your life, how are you not at least a little infatuated with them? Same thing when two people work somewhere, or even survive a traumatic experience, and that close proximity creates a connection that is unique. She made excuses like "well, we go to the same school" or "we worked on a play once, so..." to justify what was going on in her head.
Becky was afraid of exploring these feelings because without a romantic opportunity, she can keep her queerness to herself.
So what if Alice is kind and compassionate? So what if she's a bit of an oddball which puts the whole room at ease. No tension, no judgment. You could be yourself around her. Who cares if Alice's eyes sparkle when she smiles? Or when she's talking to you it feels like you're the most important person in the world right at that moment?
Alice quickly stood up to join her mother, who looked like a taller, older version of Alice.
"See you Monday!" waved Alice with that grin that made Becky's inside shiver.
When the petite girl was out of site, the sophomore lowered her head and stared at the floor as she began to sweat.
(My name is Becky Hoult, and I am a lesbian.)
(HI, BECKY!)
(I think I like one of my friends.)
(Oh, shit! Sounds like you have a real problem!)
(I know!)
A/N: Can we just appreciate how Alice is such a hopeless romantic that even her mom dating is inherently adorable to her?