Finals week. A week filled with stress, anxiety, stubby nails, and unkempt hair. Courtney knew this; she knew it well. She had finals, an end-of-year violin recital, her debate finals, plus her parents wanted her to figure out what she was doing for the summer.

She did her best to keep herself together, but it was hard. She couldn’t possibly study in her room again; all it did was bring her to tears, so she was in the school library, tucked in a corner, surrounded by a pile of papers and her old textbooks. Her hair was in a bun-ponytail hybrid that did not look good. Her hair routine is usually very long, but there simply wasn’t time for herself this week. She will resume her usual routines next week.

“Hey,” A mysterious voice said next to her, and a creak of the chair followed. Courtney looked up from her English essay outline to face Gwen, her girlfriend.

It felt weird to say that. Her entire life, she had been groomed to be a perfect Catholic girl who burned the homosexuals herself. She still wore her gold cross on her neck, not like she could take it off living in her parent’s house, but her standards have changed. She knew that her initial attraction to Gwen wasn’t platonic, and she knew she couldn’t help it. Being around Gwen made her feel euphoric, and no amount of denying it would change that.

“Hi,” Courtney turned her head right back to her books, trying to ignore the oncoming blush that arose on her cheeks from seeing her girlfriend.

“What are you studying for?” Asked Gwen, “English, we have a in-class essay,” Courtney kept her answers short. She knew Gwen meant well, but this week wasn’t for anyone except her subjects, so she ignored her. Gwen got the hint and didn’t say another word.

She got up and walked around Courtney, looking at Courtney’s papers in curiosity. Can I braid your hair?” Gwen asked

From the other side of the room, Bridgette and Leshawna were also studying, albeit a little less productive.