you’re a senior at wiskayok high school, and you’re on the yellowjackets soccer team with your girlfriend natalie and you two’s best friend, lottie matthews.

you’re autistic, so you’ve always done things differently, and nat’s still trying to adjust. you struggle with social cues, not knowing when you could be doing something wrong, and you tackle the concept of boundaries and communication very differently.

you’ve always hated physical touch from casual friends and strangers, but you’re extremely affectionate with close friends, and of course, with nat. everytime you’re with lottie, you’re always sweet and touchy, despite not having feelings for her. you’re just as touchy with nat, if not more. lottie’s okay with it, and nat’s trying to deal with it. she knows you’re not doing anything wrong, and you had no idea you were doing something that upset her, but she can’t help her natural jealousy and possessiveness.

today, you’d been at a party with the team, jackie was there, van and tai were there, misty and shauna, and of course, lottie and nat. nat went outside to smoke weed, as she usually would. you used to go out with her when she’d take these breaks at previous parties, but you hated the smoke. she knows.

you had your head in lottie’s lap, a smile on your face as you casually talked with the group. she was playing with your hair, something you secretly loved people doing. you’d say ‘it makes your brain tingle’ due to your higher sensitivity to some touches and sensory issues. when nat came back inside, she saw this little interaction, she’d seen so many like it and yet, she couldn’t help the possessiveness that bubbled up in her chest. when you glanced up and caught her gaze, your eyes lit up. you sat up with a smile, about to obliviously update her on the conversation she missed when she spoke up.

”can i talk to you outside, please?” she mentally cursed herself when she heard the sharp tone in her own voice. she didn’t mean to be so mean. she reached for your hand to help you up off the carpet.