s p a r k i n o u r b o n f i r e h e a r t s
The University Film Club.
Amethys, a jovial and confident young woman came out after a movie-screening (Pride, 2014) and hugged her friend, who was waiting for her.
"Hi! How was your screening?" Tasha asked as they sat in her car.
"It was good! Like 20 people turned up and we had almost an hour long discussion, we had some people coming out. You'd have enjoyed it so much!"
"It's good to hear that. My class overshot and then I didn't have much energy left so I took a nap."
"Boo, I gotta make a confession." Amethys fidgeted with her brown hair.
"Yes dear, I'm all ears." Tasha tucked her hair and showed-off her ear-piercings.
"I've been wanting to say this for a while and I think I am bi!"
"You think?" Tasha smiled.
"I mean I love all women but I also love Thor, so yeah.."
Tasha chuckled, "Bi-ch, you're bi as fu-k and you say you think? My dumbo! You're gay for every woman and straight for one Thor!"
"True that! They say if you're bi, you can date twice as many people but 2 times 0 is still 0."
"Is that your coming out joke?"
"Yes."
"I love you, darling! Honestly, I've been waiting for this day! I knew you weren't straight from day one but was just waiting for all these years so that you'll say it on your own. I'm so proud of you!" Tasha blew her a kiss.
"How did you know before me?"
"Well, my gaydar can sense gays from 6 feet away, you've been closer." Tasha shrugged.
"You are my gay awakening! I've been in love with you forever."
"Obviously! I've been dressing up for you all this while. Good to see it paid off."
Amethys laughed, "You dressed up for me?"
"Not you specifically, dumdum! All of our group!"
"My boo dressed for me!"
"Yes I did. Are you gonna tell everyone?"
"I want to but I'm not sure."
"Take your time, darling! Whenever you feel ready. I won't tell anyone."
"I know you won't. I think I'll tell them now."
"Cool!"
They reached their hang-out spot, the garden next to coffee shop in their University.
"Our divas are here!" Lisa announced.
"Bi the way, I'm hella gay!" Amethys waved the peace-sign with her fingers.
"You go, girl!" Gia hooted.
"Yaaasssss queeeennnnn!" Lisa hugged her.
"So proud of my baby!" Sophie blew a kiss and engulfed her in a bear hug.
"Thank you, momma! It means so much!"
"Damn!" Marlowe said. "Now 5 out of the 7 of us are officially out! Noice! What do they say about gayness being contagious?"
"It definitely is. Also birds of the same feather flock together. I'm not even surprised, but very happy." Gia sipped her coffee.
"I'm so glad to have such supportive friends. I couldn't have done this without y'all."
"Girl, we got your back. Always. Let's party!" Ray gave her a side hug.
"Y'all, tomorrow is the 15th, we're going to the art gallery, don't forget."
"Oh no! I have an assignment due on 16th morning, 9 am and I haven't even started." Amethys put her hand on her face.
Tasha said, "Stay up all night and finish it, dumdum."
"5k words, okay, I'll try. But mostly I won't be able to make it to the art gallery."
"Fu-k you bi-ch! You never do your work on time." Tasha smacked her arm.
"I try but you know how it is." Amethys pouted.
"That's alright, we'll go some other day." Ray said.
Sophie rolled her eyes, "Guys, finals are coming."
"It's ok, y'all go, I will see it some other day."
Marlowe said, "Ames, remember Cassie? She also wanted to go, and tomorrow won't be possible for her, you guys could go together some other day."
"The girl from your literature class?"
"Yes."
Gia whistled, "Our wingman doing his job all right."
Lisa added, "Hey guys, I just realized, Tasha's a lesbian, Marlowe is gay, Cassie is bi, Ray is trans and I'm queer. We have the "LGBTQ" in our group!"
"We collected the whole bunch, yoohoo!" Sophie exclaimed.
~
A few days later at the Art Gallery.
Amethys was sitting in the hallway, glancing at her watch and gazing at the entrance.
Cassie, a self-motivated young woman, walked in, in a pink floral dress, humming to herself with a smile. She tucked her silver-blonde hair behind her ear. "I'm so sorry, I was stuck in traffic and -"
"It's alright, I came a bit early, you're just in time. They opened the gallery a few minutes ago."
Amethys picked up her denim purse that matched her denim jumpsuit and adjusted the flowers in her hair.
"You look beautiful." Cassie said. "Those flowers are pretty."
"Thanks." Amethys looked around nervously.
"So it's just us?"
"Yes. Weekdays and afternoons are usually silent. This is my favourite time to be in public places, without the public." Amethys chuckled.
"Let's go in." They walked into the gallery and started looking at the art-works.
"This is my first time in an art gallery." Cassie looked around in fascination.
"Then I believe you are in the right place with the right person." Amethys smiled. "I could spend an entire day here. Too bad they only open at 4 and close by 9."
"You feel so at-home here."
"I do. I aspire to have a huge house and the entirety of it would be like an art gallery or museum. Because they don't let you stay in museums at night."
"So, you're an old soul?"
"Yes."
"What else is on your wish-list?"
"A lot of things, like have a girlfriend who's got arms full of tattoos, get myself tattooed, have ballgowns and throw masquerade parties in my huge house! And like, live a peaceful life."
"If it interests you, I've got a few tattoos on my sleeves and I'm planning to get more." Cassie pulled up her sleeve and showed her.
"Wow! Now that's a piece of art I love! Absolutely beautiful!"
"Thanks."
"If I may ask, why have you never been to an art gallery before?"
"Just never thought about it and didn't have company."
"I've been to places on my own because I wanted to go there. But hey, it's a good start and if you ever wanna go, call me."
"Sure thing. I've heard a lot about you from Marlowe. And trust me, after meeting you in person, I think you're a whole lot more interesting than he says."
"Thank you." Amethys blushed. "He told me you've got great taste in books. Which one is your favourite?"
"That's a difficult choice. Every book or a part of it has given me something to treasure, I can't really choose a favourite. But Ocean Vuong's 'On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous' is one of my favourites."
"Love that book. And 'Good Omens' is my go-to when I need a laugh or to restore my faith in humanity or love."
"I have an annotated copy of it."
"Really? Can I borrow it?"
"Sure thing! What are your other favorites?"
"Classics! Mary Shelley, Jane Austen, The Brontë sisters, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Agatha Christie, oh the list is really long."
"Wow, girl! We got so many things in common."
"Why didn't we know each other sooner?"
"Some things happen when they're supposed to, it's the way universe functions. We've met before and I did try to drop subtle hints that I liked you but I guess you didn't realize," Cassie said.
"Oh!" Amethys bit her lip. "I don't do subtle. You have to tell me kinda loud and clear because I either over-think the situation or don't think about it at all."
"That's alright."
"The universe is really mysterious and I love it. Honestly, the world is so interesting! It has the strangest and the most beautiful things and nature is so amazing and there's always something to discover. The Creator is an amazing entity, really."
"True. Like everything is so artistic and for millennia. But people have tried to replicate it, and they have always created something new. It is fascinating honestly. And I love the way you think. It's very sexy."
Amethys blushed. "I've been told that I'm smart and intelligent. This is the first time I've received this compliment. Thank you."
"You deserve it."
"You're amazing too."
Cassie chuckled, "Thank you."
They stayed in the gallery talking and philosophizing about art and other things until it was closing time.
~
Next evening. Over video-conference.
"So, Ames, how was your date?" Sophie asked.
"Someone spent 5 hours on their first date, it's gotta be good, duh!" Ray teased.
"It was good. I didn't even realize it was that long."
"Did you kiss?" Tasha asked.
"No! It was the first time, Tash! My first date."
"What did you do for 5 hours?"
"Looked at art and talked about it."
"Give this useless idiot some lessons. Gia, Tasha, teach her something." Marlowe chuckled.
"Take you time, girl. Don't listen to them," Sophie voiced.
"If you like her, tell her and kiss, okay?" Tasha said.
"Do you know how to kiss? Books don't teach you that." Gia rolled her eyes.
"I'll teach you." Tasha winked.
"Don't forget to use protection."
"Okay, I gotta study. Y'all fu-kers, go study, finals aren't gonna take themselves. Bye."
They laughed and went back to studying.
~
Six months dates later.
A breezy evening on the beach.
Amethys and Cassie found a secluded spot on the beach and placed their bags there. They walked on the beach, dipping their feet in the ocean. Cassie was hesitant to go in deeper but Amethys held her hand and they walked into knee-deep water and stood there. They felt the sand slipping away from under their feet and fresh waves splashing on them. Cassie squealed with excitement.
Amethys giggled at her reaction. "I told you, it's the best feeling in the world."
Cassie looked at her, holding her hand even tighter, "Something else is also the best feeling-"
A large wave splashed and muffled her voice. Amethys wanted to go even deeper but Cassie pulled her back on the beach.
"There's water in my ears and I can't swim."
"Alright. We'll first learn swimming and then come back."
"I'm afraid of depths."
"Oh! Any reason or has it just been like that?"
"I've always been afraid of going into deep waters. Seen a lot of accidents."
"Okay, if you ever feel like trying to free yourself from that fear, I'm here."
"Thanks. It was a beautiful experience. I really felt good being there."
"Then let's go in again."
"But not very far."
"No sweetheart, knee-deep only."
They played in the water for a while and returned to the beach. Cassie sculpted a sand-castle while Amethys spread a mat, filled it with flowers, food and placed candles around it. She also made a small bonfire.
The sky was covered in shades of orange and pink, with a little violet around the top edges and birds flew from all around back to their nests.
Amethys held Cassie's hand and kissed it gently. "Shall we dance?"
Cassie nodded and held Amethys by her waist and they danced slowly to the tunes of chirruping birds and crashing waves.
"Ames.. may I.. kiss you?" Cassie asked hesitantly.
"Yes!" Amethys pulled Cassie closer and gently pecked her lips. It was soft and sweet, their strawberry and cherry lip-balms mixing as Cassie kissed her passionately and both were lost in the moment.
They sat around the bonfire and had some snacks.
"Tell me something I don't know." Amethys looked at Cassie.
Cassie held her hand.
"You are the cutest and bold and adorable,
and crack dark jokes,
love trees and tiny flowers and art,
work for good causes,
read a lot, and write even,
you are kind and patient and witty
and your whole vibe is just so vibrant.
When you smile when you're super happy, it melts my heart."
"My darling." Amethys held Cassie closer. "You say this because you love me and love has tinged your vision of me!"
Cassie chuckled softly. "If this be untrue, let it be! There has to be a parallel universe where all of this is true!"
"A parallel universe it has to be, my love." Amethys caressed her hair.
"Where our love is not a sin,
Where people live in harmony with each other,
and Mother Nature is still blessing us!
Where there is love in the air, not pollution,
Where we can be our true selves and be valued for it,
Where everyone is cherished and cared for,
Where you, my love, are mine and only mine!"
"I am yours, love, I'm still here, loving you, just as much or even more!" Cassie kissed Amethys' lips.
"We will not be separated, my love. Till death do us part." Cassie placed a sea-glass in her hand. "To my world."
"To my world." Amethys handed her a heart-shaped stone and embraced her tightly.
They basked in the warmth of their love and the bonfire.
~*~
Much love and credits to LizzieBennet for beta-reading this OS and providing valuable inputs. 💖
Hope y'all like it.
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