Chapter Text
Gifty Appiah loved any excuse to bring out faer glitziest apparel. Fae used to wear daisies every day when fae was ten, one of faer favorite flowers. While Gifty occasionally wore her old daisy earrings, she opted for dangling costume earrings that looked like silver and diamonds. They matched the sequin bodice and fluffy tulle on a new dress fae made from a stained ballet leotard.
Her cranberry micro-braids popped against the sparkles, complimenting the cool undertones of her deep brown skin. At least that’s what the fashion site said wearing silver would do. It almost reminded her of the fairy costume fae wore for Halloween faer first year in Golden Grove, a creature she resonated with far more than humanity as she grew up. It’s like the world drained itself of color and life, and fae is the only one keeping the magic alive.
That wasn’t a good thought to get stuck on before her date with Kyle. He was a cute white boy, if cocky; he was a key player during their last football season, bragging about his wins to everyone who would listen. She can’t help but compare him to Qiu Lin, her Autumn. Kyle lacked their elegance and wit, yet he asked her to go to the dance with him while Qiu didn’t; he was direct, predictable, probably easy to please.
Kyle was the perfect practice date, someone to gain experience with. Gifty knew faerself well enough to know that, despite these assurances, Qiu Lin will be on faer mind the whole time.
Maame was working late again, so Kyle was picking her up by six-thirty. (He was one of the first teenagers in their grade to earn their driver’s license. A good selling point for him.) At six thirty, bounding the stairs in large strides, her steps echoing through the big house. A whisper jolts her, yet when she turns her back, she sees nothing. Huh.
Fae dawned faer fuzzy white coat and went to wait on the drive. He should be here any minute now.
~
Qiu Lin was seething in their room, staring up at the ceiling with metal blaring in their ears.
Stupid Kyle with his stupid hair and his stupid muscles and his stupid football team.
They scratched pencil to paper, his words becoming big, swooping scratches. What did Gifty see in him that Autumn didn’t have? Since fae joined cheerleading, Qiu was there for almost every game fae cheered for. Kyle was definitely eyeing her up while on the field, but they thought it was just in his head. She actually said yes to him? School dances definitely weren’t Qiu’s thing. (They already did ballet, dancing at a school party? Definitely not if they could help it) If they had known… Whatever. It didn’t change the fact that Gifty was going to the dance with Kyle.
The screeching of truck tires and a blaring horn echoed through their headphones. They knew it would be torturous to look out the window at Gifty’s driveway, but something compelled them to turn the volume down on their headphones at just the right moment.
Splash!
“Have fun walking to the dance, freak!” Kyle’s laughter echoed throughout the cul-de-sac, ramming into something across the street before speeding out of the neighborhood.
Qiu didn’t bother to look out; they bolted out of their room, down the stairs. Dad was looking out the first-floor window and dialling on the phone as they passed. The burning frustration made way for worry and fear; they just needed to see Gifty.
And they found her, dressed in a silver dress and her white fuzzy coat, curled into a ball on her driveway, drenched in water on a cool fall evening. “Gifty!” They pulled faer into a tight embrace, knowing fae would do the same for them. They remembered two years ago when fae found him in the park, as if it mattered if they disappeared.
“I was so stupid,” she shivered against them, curling into and gripping their sweater, “I just wish that–”
“Bring her inside!” Dad bellowed from the porch, phone still in hand.
“Gifty, c’mon,” Qiu took her hand to pull her up, “we’ll talk inside, okay?”
She nods, still shivering. They wrapped an arm tight around her waist, her head leaning over the top of theirs. While Qiu still felt exhausted from trying to make everyone happy, Gifty needed them to care right now.