(no subject)
*~By Starlight
Dedicated to Miss Katherine Rose
Rose sat alone on the beach, hugging her knees to her chest while her blue-streaked hair was teased by the wind, tickling her cheeks. She ignored it, however, instead focusing on the horizon where the setting sun was casting fire across the normally dark ocean waves. Reds, Pinks, Yellows, Oranges, they all danced across the gently sloping waves. She closed her eyes, feeling the cool sea breeze brush against her face, leaving a salty touch to her skin.
The fine sand felt wonderful under her bare feet, soft and accommodating. She dropped one hand to run across it as she opened her eyes, looking down at the white sand with a small smile on her lips. Her gray-blue eyes were gentle and sad. She turned her head, placing her hand on the top of her knees. She took her other hand and gently began to trail her fingers across the edge of the rainbow wristband she always wore.
She was going to college next year. The thought filled her with a strange sense of both glee and terror. As much as she hated her high school and all the people who inhabited it, she wasn’t sure she was ready to leave.
Rose stood, feeling tears rise unbidden to her eyes. She walked forward, feeling the wind toy with her dark hair. She shook her head, trying to clear her head and the tears from her eyes. Breaking into a run, she sprinted toward the water.
Her right foot hit the water with a loud splash and the cold water sprayed onto her. The shock of the water made her squeal, almost falling backwards. She felt goosebumps rise on her bare legs. She paused, feeling the salty ocean water swirl around her ankles. She placed her hands on her shorts, the fabric feeling rough under her sensitive fingertips.
She moved forward, slower this time, until the water was up to her knees. The tug of the water was comforting. She loved the ocean, how small it made her feel. It made her feel safe, ever since she was a young girl. Her father had taken her here and she had bounded into the waves with the spirit that only a young child could have. The memory made her laugh out loud, her fingertips trailing in the icy water.
She shook her head, feeling a gust of wind tug at her t-shirt and cause her hair to billow out behind her like a flag. She looked out across the horizon. The sun had set now, and stars were beginning to appear above her, the sky darkening to the purple-black of midnight. She watched the ocean water darken along with the sky, the twinkling stars reflecting off the rippling surface.
She raised her eyes to the sky, watching as the stars shone, looking more like pin pricks of light through some dark fabric than actual bodies of light.
The water rose higher across her legs as the tide slowly rose. She felt her fingertips become submerged, the cold water causing them to tingle.
She closed her eyes and a memory rose in her mind. She and another girl were running hand in hand down this same beach, laughing breathlessly. The girl stumbled and they both fell, tumbling on the sand and clinging to each other, laughter filling the still night air as Rose called out the name, “Kassy!”
Tears filled her eyes again, as her hand absentmindedly went to the rainbow wristband on her right wrist. The soft feel of the cotton was slightly comforting.
That was it. It wasn’t about the school or the people in it, it was the fear of leaving her. The fear of-
A hand gently landed on her shoulder and she jumped with a gasp, casting a spray of salty water in all direction. She spun, confused.
Her gentle blue-gray eyes met a pair of bright green ones that sparkled with a mixture of concern and love. Blonde hair framed the pretty face, pink lips forming a small smile. The newcomer had an open pretty face with very classical features.
Without saying a word, Rose leaned forward and kissed the other girl fully on the lips, eyes squeezed shut as a single tear rolled down her cheek. The other girl wrapped her arms around Rose, drawing her closer as they kissed. Rose’s right hand traveled to the back of the girl’s head, gently resting on the golden curls.
The kiss ended when Rose backed up slowly, her eyes fluttering open. The girl reached up and gently brushed the tear away from her cheek.
“I missed you too.” The girl said softly, smiling.
“Kassy… What are you doing here? I though you were at that writing camp for another few days.” There was confusion and delighted surprise in Rose’s voice.
Kassy smiled, “Came home early. I… I missed you too much.” A gently blush rose on her cheeks.
“Well… How…” Rose was at a loss for words.
“I went to your house. Your mother… told me you were out here.”
Rose’s eyes opened wide. “My mother! Did she…?”
“She was very nice.” Kassy said with a smile. “Don’t worry. I told you they’d warm up to me.”
Rose threw her arms around Kassy, hugging her tightly. Kassy returned the hug. The two girls stood as the water rose around them, lost in their own world of love and safety.
After a few moments, they separated, holding hands loosely.
Kassy looked down at Rose’s wrist and saw the wristband. Her face lit up with a bright smile.
“You’re wearing it!” She said, excitement filling her voice.
“Of course I’m wearing it, loser. I love it.” Rose responded, giving Kassy a teasing shrug.
Together they turned, fingers laced together, and walked to the beach. Sand stuck to their wet feet. As they walked aimlessly, Kassy rested her head on Rose’s shoulder. They watched the stars come out and the water rise higher and higher up the beach. Kassy talked of little meaningless things, telling her girlfriend about her time at camp. Rose listened quietly with a smile, feeling warmth spread inside her, warmth she had missed while Kassy had been gone. She smiled, feeling happiness seep into her slowly. Just the feeling of Kassy’s hand in hers made her feel like all the energy in the world was contained in her hand, tingling and buzzing.
She stopped, Kassy stopping with her.
“New rule. You’re never allowed to go away again.” Rose said with a smile, love pouring from her eyes.
“Sounds good to me.” Kassy said with a grin. She leaned forward and kissed Rose lightly. Rose lifted her hand and placed it tenderly on the side of Kassy’s face as they kissed.
Kassy broke off the kiss and leaned back to smile at Rose. Rose smiled back, pushing back Kassy’s hair from her face as she smiled softly. Her eyes caught a dark spot on Kassy’s ‘peaches and cream’ complexion.
“What’d you do?” She asked, moving the hair aside to reveal a dark bruise on the side of her head and neck.
“What?” Kassy asked, cocking her head slightly and moving away from Rose slightly
“You have a bruise.” Rose’s fingers brushed the dark spot very softly.
“Oh, don’t worry about it.” Kassy dismissed it with a roll of her eyes and a wave of her hand, broad smile plastered on her lips.
“I wasn’t until you said that.” Rose backed up half a step, suspicion clouding her face. “What happened?”
“I’m… I’m a klutz, I fell.” Kassy said nonchalantly, shaking her head. “Come on, let’s head back and you can tell me about how your summer has been.”
“How about you stop lying to me first?” Rose said as she crossed her arms stubbornly, gray-blue eyes cloudy and defiant.
“Rose… it’s not a big deal.” Kassy said with a laugh, moving closer to Rose
“If it wasn’t a big deal, you wouldn’t be lying to me.” Rose insisted, stepping away from Kassy.
Kassy sighed in defeat, looking away from her.
“While I was at camp I wore one of my gay-pride t-shirts. These guys didn’t take too kindly to it and decided that they would ‘teach me a lesson’.” Kassy shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal.
“And you didn’t think was important to tell me?” Rose asked, horror moving onto her features. “To call and let me know? Or… to tell me now!”
“I didn’t want you to worry. I’m fine. Really. It’s not big deal.” Kassy insisted, eyes pleading with Rose to drop the subject.
Rose wouldn’t oblige.
“Kass…” Rose stepped forward and touched Kassy’s face gently. There were tears in the younger girl’s eyes. “Kassy, look at me. It is a big deal.”
Kassy raised her tear-filled eyes.
“Kassy… I love you with all I have. I want you to trust me enough to tell me crap like this. You’ve spent your whole life by yourself.” Rose said, shaking her head, love in her eyes. “I get it, I know how scary it is. But… you have to remember something. Not everyone is like them. Not everyone is cruel. There is so much good in the world. So many good people. The world isn’t something to be afraid of, it’s something to cherish. And if you ask for proof, look around you. This is our paradise, our little piece of the world all to ourselves, but a piece of the world nonetheless.” She motioned to the surround landscape.
Kassy was speechless, but her eyes said all that her mouth could not. Love and gratitude poured out of her summery eyes, a love that transcended anything that either girl could understand.
“I didn’t… I didn’t want to think about it. I’m with you. I’m happy. I didn’t want to bring the outside world in.” Kassy admitted
“I know the feeling. But you need to. We need to trust each other. At the end of the day,” Rose’s fingers trailed along the edge of the purple bruise, “ that will still be there.”
“I know. I just… Sometimes I hate the way people treat us.” Kassy said heatedly, looking down as a blush rose on her cheeks.
“So that’s all you think about? You are what you are. People will dislike you for much worse reasons than loving someone, Kass. Don’t hate them for their ignorance. And don’t judge the world by the actions of few.” Rose reached up and brushed the tears off of Kassy’s cheeks. Kassy smiled gratefully.
“I love you, Rose.”
“I love you too.”
The two young women embraced under the stars, the sounds of the ocean filling their ears as they pressed their bodies together, clinging helplessly to each other as if that would somehow delay the world that wished to rip them apart.
“You’re not alone.” Rose whispered into Kassy’s ear as she tightened her grip, squeezing her eyes shut.
And they stood like that, the stars bearing witness to the tender act of pure innocent love. The roar of the ocean seemed to fall away and all the girls could hear was the beat of their own hearts, perfectly matched in rhythm. The cool air surrounded them, isolating them from the outside world as they stood together. Kassy felt the tears dry on her cheeks as she rested her head on Rose’s shoulder. Rose used one hand to stroke the back of Kassy’s head gently, realizing distantly that she had tears running down her own check, tears of happiness.
They separated a little and then raised their faces, kissing softly, lovingly.
Both girls felt tingly as they pulled apart, their senses super aware of their surroundings as the world returned to them. The tangy smell of salt, the roar of the ocean, the chill of the night air.
Rose took Kassy’s hands in hers and looked at her without speaking, a gentle smile on her lips. Kassy nodded her head slowly, returning the smile, green eyes somehow older. They both felt different. Rose was less afraid of the future, knowing that nothing could come between her and the girl she loved with all of her heart. Kassy felt older, and safer. She had spent her whole life alone, isolating herself for fear of being hurt. Now she could walk beside someone without that fear. She trusted Rose. Rose loved her.
So with the stars above them bearing witness to the entire night, the two girls began the long walk back to their lives, ready to face the world together.
~KD