Chapter Text
“Hey, Blondie, I know there’s a thought in your head, there always is.” Celine waves her hand in front of my face and I wake from my daze.
“Did you know that llamas can run up to 35 MPH?”
She laughs, “no, no I did not. Interesting though. Is there a specific reason why you chose llamas?”
I don’t know, I don’t say. I just blurt random stuff out when there’s a pretty girl right in front of me that’s acting genuinely interested. Obviously, I don’t say that.
“Llamas are just what the wheel in my mind chose. Would you prefer guinea pigs? Or autism? About 3.2 percent of Americans are autis-”
Celine clamps a hand over my mouth, “Sloane, as much as I love hearing your voice, I’d rather you not talk about autism, considering that’s basically me.” She grins at me, and my face flushes against my own will. I take a step backwards so her hand is no longer at my face.
“Sorry. Is there any other topic you’d prefer?”
She thinks about it for a millisecond, then grins even wider. “Gay people. Give me some facts about em.”
I’m slightly confused on why she chose that specific topic, then I remember the conversation I had with Michael a couple days ago. He had said that she likes girls.
I don’t have many facts about homosexuals. I had never really thought about my own sexuality. I don’t really know. I know all the labels, every single one. I could recite them in my sleep. But I didn't know which one was mine. Though, I had a small idea. The way my heart fluttered when Celine smiled, or the female main character walked on screen. The one time Cassie had been changing in front of me and I had automatically turned away, not out of modesty, but because it was making me a bit too red in the face for my liking.
I banish the thoughts out of my head and turn back to Celine, who was currently studying my face with a look of concern. “9.3 percent of Americans identify as LGBTQ+. Nearly 1 out of 10.”
Celine looks surprised, “wow, that is a lot less than I thought.”
“Agreed.” I bob my head up and down. “But I don’t think that is completely accurate.”
Celine tilts her head, “why do you think that. You’re the smart one, after all.”
“Only in numbers and facts,” I mumble, my voice small. “Not in people.”
“Back to the question you seem to be ignoring."
“Uh..well, the data seems to be wrong because…” My voice trails off. “Because there are 6 Naturals…” I feel like lava is being poured down my throat, making it hard to breath and talk and I feel my face warm up even more.
“Yeah…?”
“And 2 of them are gay.”
“Well one of them is in this room, Blondie, who’s the other? Lia? I could see Lia and Cassie getting together.”
I laugh, “I will be telling them that. And, uh, I think both of them are in this room.” I feel so tiny at this moment. I’m ready for her face to scrunch in disgust, and for her to hate me forever. But Lia said she’d been flirting with me, but then again I can’t tell her lies from her truths.
Celine’s eyes get real wide, her beautiful eyes. Brown, like coffee. She pulls me into a hug. “I like you, Sloane.” She whispers into my ear. “More than friends. I have since I met you. You’re facts and your voice and everything about you. But it’s okay if you’re not ready. I will wait, forever if I have to.”
I will never be completely ready. "I'm ready."
She caught my face in her hands and slowly pressed her lips to mine.
It felt like sunshine and rain and the sun and moon and it felt like grass and trees and snuggling up with a blanket on a cold day. It felt natural. It felt right.
At first it was messy. I've never kissed someone before, I had no idea what to do.
Celine parted our mouths halfway, waiting for me to meet her in the middle. I let her tongue into my mouth, drinking up the odd sensation I'd never felt before.
I feel a tear trickle down my cheek, and I panic. What if Celine thinks it's because of her? It was, but it wasn't negative in any way.
She pulls away from me, as bodies need to breathe separately to get the full effects.
She sees the tear and brushes it away with her finger, "you're crying! Why are you crying? I'm so sorry Sloane, I shouldn't have pressured you. This is all my fault."
I shake my head rapidly, hoping to convey the emotions I don't know the name of. "No, no, it's not your fault at all. I just...haven't been loved before. I didn't know what it felt like, but now I do. All because of you."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. I'm just scared because I don't know how to tell the others, and how they'll react."
"Sloane," the dark haired girl starts, "we don't have to tell anyone immediately. We can just be ourselves. I doubt the other Naturals, and Briggs, Sterling, and Judd, will react badly, and if they do, I'll be right beside you. I promise."
"So..."I say awkwardly, uncomfortable with the reassurance, "we're dating now?"
Celine grabs my hand, "if you want to be. We don't have to be anything if you don't wanna be, Blondie."
I smile, leaning into her shoulder slightly, "I want to be. Thank you."
"Anytime."