On the Same Page

by Haley Cass

a guy

heteronormativity? bisexual?

As if it was alarming to him that she could possibly have something to say on this date.

The longest she’d spoken to him about herself had been for five minutes

She knew other people found it strange that she and Gianna made time to do their laundry together, but it was actually something she’d come to look forward to.

stability

re...

much more bearable when they did it together.

At this point, it was almost unbearable to have to fold her clothes by herself.

Walking into Gianna’s always felt like home.

she just had that way about her.

And how was it that Gianna always managed to swipe her favorite Boston University sweatshirt?

no one I know other than you drinks straight vodka!”

kind of mean, kind of cheeky, and fully amazing way

She’d dated men and women

Gianna is bi

no sex with romantic attachments.

Gi,

her best friend

They’d move heaven and earth to be with you.

She’d stroked Riley’s honey-blonde hair behind her ear as Riley laid against her,

Gianna was, objectively, as close to physical perfection as Riley thought a human being could get.

“And how many other guests keep a change of clothes in there, and their preferred hair products in the shower?”

Finally, she looked back up to find Gianna staring at her intently, curiously. As if all she wanted at this moment was to understand Riley so she could help her.

“Don’t you dare say that. You are never a problem.”

Riley, I love you so much, maybe too much,

You should only be with someone that you truly want to talk to after a long day. Not someone you just want to want.

he was blushing,

In fact, Riley exhibited shockingly no tendencies that Gianna found annoying.

pretty without trying hard.

She listened to Gianna whenever Gianna talked.

this moment was picking at the very feeling in the pit of her stomach that she was very much trying to ignore.

this was Riley.

It had felt safe and Riley, in that moment, made her feel safe,

was she blushing?

Riley watched her, hazel eyes big and turning a little soft, now, rather than that raw directness. “Gianna–”

she gave Gianna another lingering look.

Why am I the only one here when all you’re offering is you?”

Riley gave her that ever-present searching look. One that asked for answers, even when she wasn’t asking questions.

first year Riley hadn’t been there early

It was just what they did for each other.

Gianna’s smile was soft when their eyes met again.

she leaned back into her spot against Riley’s side. She stroked her hand up from Riley’s hip to waist, before tilting her head down at the same time Riley tilted her jaw up to accept the brush of Gianna’s soft lips right against her cheekbone.

“I’m not your guest, I’m your Riley,”

our girl

Gianna-of-the-masses wasn’t quite the same Gianna that belonged to Riley, in private.

her Gianna.

Riley accepted it with a deep breath, leaning into Gianna, so close their noses brushed. She pushed forward even a little bit more, feeling Gianna’s forehead press into hers, keeping her eyes solidly on those baby glues. “Bad Gianna.” Gianna pushed back, nudging her nose into Riley’s again for good measure. “Good Gianna.”

I figured we can do it together.

Heart pounding in her chest so hard,

“I mean, if you’re going to be on this journey of discovery, I want to be there. Why not me?”

Not even when Gianna had told Riley secrets about herself that she hadn’t told anyone else, including her real friends.