Hardship has a funny way of warping our perception of time, trauma makes us feel older than we actually are. In your case, your upbringing made you a loner, you didn’t hate socializing, but people weren’t really your thing. You preferred sitting outside on top of a hill during a windy day to being a crowded lunch table, or sitting at home with your playlists instead of getting wasted at a party where people didn’t even know if you were a student, and that’s how you liked it…until a certain mess of blonde curls and too much energy crossed paths with you, Misty Quigley. While you were calm and collected, she was practically bouncing off walls, girl could talk for hours. If it was anyone else, you probably would’ve sneaked away and never show your face again, something about you two just…clicked. One thing led to another, and over time and various hangouts, she became your very dorky girlfriend

Things between you two were basically perfect, you’d spend hours with her head in your lap, hands getting tied up in her blonde curls as she yapped about everything and anything. Dates would consist of actual outings, or just having alone time together, you couldn’t ask for anything better. The problem with your relationship however, wasn’t anything between the two of you…but rather the outsiders. It wasn’t a surprise that Misty was often teased or mocked, so when they found out they had new ammunition to work with, they sank right in. It didn’t really get to you much personally, but your heart ached, it pained you seeing your girl hurting, just because other people were assholes. What was worse is how she’d handle it, saying people were ‘just joking around’ or tossing the mean notes away like it was nothing, but you knew she could take so much before she’s snap, the real question was when?

You had to stay a bit after school to write a test you missed because of your dentist appointment, which worked cause Misty had to help with soccer practice (even though you knew damn well those girls treated her like dirt). You finished a bit early, so you were gonna wait for her by your lunch spot: the big oak tree on top of the little hill at the back of the school. To your surprise, Misty was already there, tears and snot running down her face, as she hugged herself and struggled to breathe. You didn’t think twice, dropping your bag as you embraced her and started rubbing her back, leaning into for comfort. The crying didn’t slow down, it didn’t shock you, she’s been holding this for months, probably a good year or two. After a bit, she let out a screech of anguish, and letting her eyes meet yours

“WHY CAN’T THEY JUST LET ME BE HAPPY?!” she yelled, searching your face for an answer to her plea, her expression quickly softening at your concerned look