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Susie was waiting for Midge to show up at this café in Paris. It never stopped being strange how accustomed Susie had gotten to travel over the years. Compared to the way she grew up, and even the start of her managing career.
It wasn’t Midge’s first time in Paris, but Susie wouldn’t have come here on her own. Apparently, Midge still had a soft spot for the place, taking after her mother. Susie wasn’t sure if Midge realized how this would look. Meeting with someone you’re close to in Paris, but she had a feeling Midge wouldn’t care either way. She was just like that.
Didn’t explain why she was running late though.
Susie sighed and started to tap her foot on the floor, as she sat at this adorable small café table.
She glanced up at the chime of the door opening, but it wasn’t who she was waiting on. A boy walked in. His age was hard to tell as he held up a notebook that covered his face. He was writing something in it rather enthusiastically. Susie wasn’t sure how he managed to even make it into the café while distracted.
It would seem his luck didn’t last much longer, as he stumbled into her seat. He yelped, unable to keep himself from falling into her.
She frowned but then twisted in her seat to get her hands on him and help the poor guy back up. He shuffled back, struggling to maintain his balance. He quickly knelt on the ground and reached around the ground to grab the notebook and pen he had dropped. The boy hugged it to his chest with a sigh and then remembered himself.
He popped back up to his feet and faced Susie with a blushing face. He muttered something in rapid Frenc. Susie’s face screwed up at the unfamiliar words. It’s not like Midge gave her a chance to learn French before springing this trip on her.
“Uh…if you’re apologizing, then it’s okay.”
The boy blinked and then his eyes widened.
“I’m so sorry, Madam,” He said in English this time, with a clear French accent.
Susie nodded and then sighed.
“It’s alright I guess. You should really watch where you’re going though.”
The boy nodded and hugged himself with the arm holding the notebook.
“Yeah, I know…I just get distracted when I’m on a roll with something I’m writing.”
“Ah,” She said. “What are you writing that is so good?” She asked.
His eyes widened and he looked down again shuffling in place.
“Oh uh, it’s nothing.” He shoved the notebook into his jacket.
Susie frowned. She was about to ask him more about it when she noticed his rainbow shirt.
“…I like your shirt,” She said.
The boy blinked. He looked down and then smiled a bit shyly as he fidgeted in place.
“…thanks,” He said a bit hesitantly.
“I mean,” She started, “It’s a bit more colorful than what I would wear, but I guess I like that it’s something you kids can wear nowadays.”
His mouth formed an oh at that.
“Yeah, I guess,” He said a bit awkwardly.
“No really,” Susie started. She wasn’t sure why she wanted to talk about this with a kid she just met. But she had to deal with years of keeping the way she was to herself. So it was nice that it might be okay to talk casually about it. Like they were just there, and didn’t have to be a big deal. But it was. In a good way though for once.
“I’m sure this is just gonna make me sound old, but I remember before we had anything to represent us in a positive way. Not to mention how long it was before wearing something for us was safe in public. I’m sure it doesn’t seem like a big deal to some of you kids today. But I can’t help thinking about that every time I see something like that.”
He was watching her like he was fascinated with what she was saying. Which felt weird. She had half expected him to brush her off as a weird old lady, rambling to a boy she doesn’t know. But he just nodded in response.
“Yeah, I suppose I am lucky,” He said with a smile. “And it’s not perfect now, of course. It probably never will be. But I’m sure it’s much better than how it used to be,” The boy said.
Susie nodded.
“Yeah. I’m happy for you all. To get that chance. Having more opportunities without always needing to be discreet. Hopefully, means there are fewer ways it will lead to heartbreak,” Susie says a bit wistfully.
Susie was happy with where she ended up in life. But sometimes she wondered. If things were better would she have tried to give love another chance? It was just something to think about.
The boy hmmed. He glanced over at the seat opposite Susie. Where Midge had slipped in at some point. Strangely not interrupting the conversation. Midge had her moments of being thoughtful.
“Don’t mind her,” Susie said. “She’s safe. This is the woman who found a lesbian bar for me before I even considered us friends and wasn’t even out. Because of course, I wasn’t back then.”
Midge just smiled in response to that. Susie didn’t know Midge could be quiet for that long. She was definitely going to tease her friend about it. When this conversation was over though.
“…I don’t know,” The boy continued, “And it’s not just us young people who have these chances now though,” He said with a hesitant smile. He gave her a knowing look.
“You’re still here after all,” The boy said.
Susie could feel the smug look Midge was giving her at that. Midge had said something like that to Susie before after all.
Susie let out a little laugh in response. She supposed she should have expected something like this.
“No need to worry about me, kid,” Susie said. “I think my time has passed. But I’m happy for the better chances you young people have now though.”
He furrowed his brows some. He looked like he was going to say something else when another boy came up to them. This one with red hair. The redhead looked between them a bit uncertainly. The boy with the rainbow shirt smiled at him.
“Oh, hey Nathaniel!” He greeted with a smile. Susie thought she saw both boys blushing.
Oh. Okay then.
Nathaniel seemed a bit confused.
“…English?” He asked.
The rainbow shirt boy laughed a little.
“Yeah. I was talking to this nice woman for a bit after bumping into her chair.”
Nathaniel blinked at that.
“Oh, okay. You got caught up in writing something new again, didn’t you?” Nathaniel asked.
The other boy laughed a bit sheepishly.
“Yeah, you know me so well.” The rainbow shirt boy turned to Susie.
“This is my partner. Er, I mean, comic book partner! We make comic books together. He illustrates and I write them.”
Susie nodded.
“Oh, okay. That sounds cool. What are they about?” She asked.
“Mainly superheroes,” Nathaniel said.
“That sounds fun,” Susie said.
Nathaniel nodded and turned to the other boy.
“There was actually something I had wanted to talk with you about, Marc. But if you’re busy, we can do so later,” Nathaniel said. Susie noticed that Nathaniel was holding something behind his back.
Susie waved her hand at them.
“Eh, don’t worry about me. I’m just being an old lady taking up young people’s time.”
Marc opened his mouth as though to protest.
“Just go,” She said with a smile. “It was nice chatting with you though.”
Marc faltered but then gave her a polite smile.
“You as well.”
She watched as Nathaniel pulled Marc off to the side, a bit away from other patrons in the café.
“So what is it?” Marc asked. The recent conversation with the nice woman got Marc to think about his crush on Nathaniel. Not that he thought about much else at times. Nathaniel was just so cool!
“Is it about our comic book?” Marc asked.
Nathaniel shook his head.
“No, it’s not about that.”
Marc blinked at him. That was their most common conversation topic. Especially since Nathaniel said he had to talk with Marc alone. That usually meant it was about their comic. They were both shy about their creative works.
Nathaniel took a deep breath and looked up at him. Something he and Marc both struggled with when talking to people.
“Marc, uh, I’ve really enjoyed spending time with you as we’ve been working on this together,” He said. Marc put a hand to his mouth and giggled a little.
“I’ve really enjoyed spending time with you too, Nathaniel…” Marc said. He was sure Nathaniel could hear the fondness in his voice, but he couldn’t help it.
Nathaniel smiled at him.
“Yeah, and not just as comicbook-making partners. I would like to think we’re at least friends at this point.”
Marc nodded erratically.
“Yes, of course! You’re more than a co-creator to me,” Marc exclaimed.
Nathaniel nodded.
“Good, that’s good. I thought so. I enjoy hanging out with you a lot and talking to you. And you’re unbearably sweet.”
Marc could feel the heat on his face at that.
Nathaniel continued. “And, while it’s taken me a bit I think I’ve realized something about myself. And I’m ready to try.”
Marc blinked.
“…try for what?” Marc asked a bit quietly.
Nathaniel took another deep breath.
“Marc Anciel. You are one of the sweetest and prettiest boys I know. And if you want,” Nathaniel brought forward a single red rose he had been hiding behind his back.
“I would like to take you out on a date sometime.”
Marc gasped and put his hands to his mouth.
“Of course I’ll go out with you Nathaniel!” Marc exclaimed.
Susie watched with a smile as Marc sprung forward to hug Nathaniel tightly. It wasn’t hard to tell what happened. Susie could still feel the smirk Midge was sending her, so she sighed and finally looked over at her.
“What?” Susie grumbled.
Midge hmmed.
“They’re cute, aren’t they?” Midge asked, nodding to the new young boy couple over there.
Susie huffed.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“So what were you two talking about before I came over here?” Midge asked. “You’re not usually one to talk to strangers over non-business related topics.”
“You know I’m retired,” Susie muttered. She knew Midge had a point though.
So Susie then continued, “Could you not tell?”
Midge shrugged. “I guess I could put two and two together. It still surprised me though. I’ve known you a long time, Susie. That topic doesn’t come up from you much.”
Susie sighed.
“I’m an old woman now, Midge. I was bound to start rambling to some poor soul at some point.”
Midge laughed at that.
Susie then added, “The kid had a rainbow shirt on. Made me feel nostalgic. Well, in a way. More grateful for how much better things are now for kids like him than when I was growing up.”
Midge nodded. Susie knew she wasn’t usually soft or sentimental like this. Part of her hated it, but she almost felt like she couldn’t help it. She’d been bitter and grumpy for a lot of her life. She figured it was okay to have this.
“He’s a sweet kid,” Susie said. “Better than I ever was.”
“You can tell that from one conversation?” Midge asked with a smile.
Susie shrugged. “Not everyone would listen to a rambling old woman they don’t know and still try to comfort her. Hope that Nathaniel kid is a good one.”
Midge laughed a bit at that.
“You did not strike me as the type to get attached to a kid so easily. Especially when we don’t live around here.”
Susie shrugged at that, not willing to admit Midge was right.
“You know,” Midge started, “From some of the things I’ve seen as a supporter, I can see you being one of those old gays the baby ones look up to.”
Susie snorted at that. She wanted to argue they could find better than her. But thinking of their conversation, maybe those kids would take what they could. She didn’t have to tell him he was lucky after all. And he didn’t seem to mind. Almost awestruck by her experience. It was weird. Kids didn’t typically look at her like that.
“Also…” Midge started.
Susie looked back up at her.
“I obviously wouldn’t want to pressure you into anything you don’t want,”
That got Susie to snort. Yeah, hopefully Midge had learned her lesson about that.
Midge continued, “But I do think the kid had a point, that it’s not too late if you wanted to try for love again.”
Midge pushed her hand across the table towards Susie. Susie sighed and glanced at the young couple across the café again.
“Yeah, maybe. We’ll see…”
Susie didn’t look at her as she reached over and held Midge’s hand.