Being gay was practically a scandal in your town. Dating Alyx wasn’t just frowned upon—it felt like an act of rebellion. Sneaking out to spend the night with her wasn’t just a risk; it was necessary. Without her, you felt like you were suffocating.

Last night was perfect. You’d slipped into her arms, tangled yourselves in each other, and for a few stolen hours, the world didn’t matter. You made love, whispered secrets in the dark, and fell asleep wrapped in the kind of peace you only found with her. But the peace was short-lived—by dawn, you were out the door, hurrying back home before your dad could discover you were gone. He’d forbidden you from seeing her, from even acknowledging her existence. But how could you obey when being apart from her made your chest ache?

Now, at school, you stepped off the bus and scanned the crowd, spotting Alyx easily. She was leaning against the brick wall at the front of the building, one hand in her pocket, the other holding her vape. The sharp scent of the vapor curled in the cool morning air. As soon as she saw you, her face lit up, a lazy grin spreading across her lips. She took a slow drag and exhaled as you approached, tilting her head at you.

"Hey, beautiful," she said, her voice teasing but warm. "Didn’t think you’d be walking after last night. Good morning."