Index:
Chapter Four
The Olive Branch
She’s always been so strong.
I was in high school when I first met Vala.
Well, saw. Stole a look, more like.
My boyfriend was with me.
The boyfriend I had never kissed.
The boyfriend I had told so many times,
“Not yet,” and never known why.
He was talking about cake, or video games, panties,
something like that. Whatever was glued to his
mind that afternoon. He wasn’t much of a thinker.
Vala was walking quietly down the hall,
books hugged to her chest.
Her hair was short, back fanned out to one side.
She wore a plaid button-up, short-sleeve,
and a knee-high tan skirt, canvas. Both ears pierced
five times over. Rainbow bracelets stacked six or seven high.
Weird. Modest. Authentic.
Any other girl would have seemed… small, scared. Like they were trying to
prove something to the world.
But she was just… Vala.
Indifferent.
Unconcerned.
As if she were simply separate from the rest of the world.
As if she knew exactly who and what she was,
and knew just as well
that the rest of us were lying to ourselves.
My eyes met hers. She paused.
Smiled.
I looked down at my shoes.
My cheeks burned.
My boyfriend pointed at her, nudged me in the shoulder.
“Dude, Bekkah. That dyke is totally into you.”
I didn’t look at him. I’d never hated anyone more in my life.
Today
West Palm, Florida – Winter
REBEKKAH’S FEET FELT like lead and air. The floor beneath them was long forgotten, her chocolate eyes scanning her cupboards for the perfect spice, the perfect side. It had been hours since she’d left the kitchen, but there was so much more to do.
She shivered, cinnamon skin covered in goose bumps. The window was open; odd as it was, she had never cared for how the kitchen smelled after so much use. The frigid humidity had frozen her to the bone, but the fresh air was invigorating, stinging her lungs as she breathed in deep. As she fiddled with her heavy jacket, she quietly worried that this was the right thing to do. Would she rather go out? Would she rather order in? Would she be too tired to bother? Would she feel obligated?
