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[sub] A [color=e81b00]Shawna[/color] [@NeoAJ] and [color=7ea7d8]Sunshine[/color] [@HaleyTheRandom] collab[/sub][/center]

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[indent][indent][color=darkgray]As Sunshine offered her hand, Shawna felt more at ease than she did a second ago.  Thoughts of Chrissie stumbling off evaporated from her mind, as Shawna was certain someone would look after her fallen friend. The way she had someone to look after her. At least, that’s what she hoped. The limits of that would be tested soon enough, but still. There was a confidence in her girlfriend that she rarely had in anyone but herself before.

The music started to fade out into the background as the two young women exited the country club towards the parking lot. Shawna was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol a little bit, but she was sure that Jack parked somewhere in the general vicinity she was heading towards. It was hard to miss a Viper and the school didn’t spring for valet parking so it had to still be here. She checked the keychain to see if there was a fob. Luckily there was. She started clicking incessantly trying to get the headlights to flash, and eventually she spotted light coming from one of the vehicles. [color=e81b00]“There we go,”[/color] she said triumphantly. [color=e81b00]“The stationary chariot awaits.”[/color]

To be honest, Sunshine had no idea what a Viper was. Of course she knew that it was a car, but anything beyond that and she was at a complete loss. Knowing that the students of Kings Academy were very well off, she knew it had to be a nice car, regardless of the name brand, specs, or anything else. When the headlights flashed, Sunshine raised her eyebrows in surprise as she caught sight of the vehicle. [color=7ea7d8]”That is [i]not[/i] what I was expecting.”[/color]

[color=e81b00]“I know. Jack told me it was his dad’s, which I guess I believe him, since I don’t think Jack needs that much of a penis extension yet, but yeah,”[/color] Shawna confirmed. [color=e81b00]“I just didn’t want to try and talk over the shitty pop music anymore.”[/color] She opened the passenger door for her preferred date to the dance. [color=e81b00]“Worse case we can find better music on the radio probably.”[/color]

Shrugging her shoulders in agreement, Sunshine climbed into the borrowed vehicle. She wasn't sure which was better - the interior or the exterior. Either way, the car was a sight to behold. [Color=7ea7d8]"Do you think we could drive it?"[/color]

As Shawna nearly tripped over the concrete bumper that designated the parking spot, she wondered if even being in the vicinity of the car was such a good idea. But meh. She wasn’t going to be that stupid and try and drive the thing. Opening the door and sitting down was proving to be tricky enough. [color=e81b00]“Probably not the best idea to go driving right now,”[/color] she admitted. [color=e81b00]“I don’t like my chances of beating a breathalyzer at the moment. Besides, I don’t need to get my ‘date’ in trouble with his folks.”[/color]

Shawna finally sat herself down in the driver’s seat, content to finally have some alone time with her true date. It had been too long. February was proving cruel with her parents back. [color=e81b00]“So hey, I’m sorry things have been so rough and I haven’t been able to hang out as much. With Mom and Dad back from their cruise, I’ve had to go back to playing the perfect daughter for a little bit. I was really hoping the trip would have made them a bit more relaxed. Guess not.”[/color]

Shaking her head, Sunshine gave Shawna a reassuring smile. [color=7ea7d8]”Relax, babe. I knew what I was signing up for. If nothing else I can use being your study buddy for cover? I mean, I know it’s not the best idea, but…”[/color] 

The brunette seemed a little uncomfortable with the notion of calling Sunshine a study buddy. Sure, it was an easy lie. Her parents would probably be thrilled she was taking her studies seriously again. That she had smart friends again instead of “that Carter fellow.” Between that and Jack coming over and being a face now, it would be the perfect lie.

But Shawna didn’t want to lie anymore.

It’s why she was thrown off when Chrissie said she wasn’t going to be able to make space for her anymore. The way she did during the summer of soul-searching that Shawna needed to get to the point of tattoos and Tanqueray at trendy parties. The way she offered complete cover with her parents, assuring them that they were studying hard instead of what they actually did. But it wasn’t going to be about defending against Shawna’s parents this time. That’s what scared her.

[color=e81b00]“Cookie,”[/color] she started. [color=e81b00]“You’re awesome and wonderful and you don’t deserve to be hidden away behind some study buddy ruse. I want the whole world to know how awesome you are, and how lucky I am to have someone like you in my life, in that way. Plus if saying that means exposing the bigots in my life, that’s an added bonus. I just… I really don’t know what’s going to happen when I tell them. They could surprise me. They could cut me off entirely. I’m ready for either. But, I know which side I’m betting on in the seedy casinos. It’s not the happy Lifetime special ending one.”[/color]

Turning in the seat so that she could face Shawna, Sunshine grabbed her girlfriends hands before looking her in the eye. [color=7ea7d8]”Listen babe. I can’t even begin to know what you’re feeling right now. Mom and dad died before I ever had the chance to come out, and my aunt and uncle don’t even care. My point is - I stand by you, no matter your decision. I’m cool with keeping it on the down low, if that’s what will help you in the long run. But I’m also leaning a little more towards you being who you actually are. Keeping the lies and secrets are just going to do more harm in the long run. No matter what you decide, if it is the latter… I always have the house in New York.”[/color] 

It meant a lot to hear Sunshine say those words. Every last one of them. She had always been supportive as long as the two of them had been friends, even if it seemed longer than the five months it actually was. It made Shawna feel that trust coursing through her as Sunshine held her hands. Shawna would tear up if she wasn’t so sure that it would look like a mess upon returning to the dance. If she had to. She would prefer not to. She’d prefer to stay in this Viper in this moment.

[color=e81b00]“Sunny, you don’t know how happy you make me sometimes. I swear,”[/color] Shawna stuttered slightly as she got those words out. Partly because she leaned in for a kiss immediately after. She kept it short, but she was sure the emotion would be conveyed. [color=e81b00]“I think you are the person who sees in me the things I never could find in myself. I’m so grateful for that. It’s why I want to do this right. And...I’m not going to lie. If it comes to it, New York in the summer sounds pretty awesome. I told you I finally sent in that application to Brooklyn College, right? I mean, I told my parents I was going for Harvard and Columbia, but we both know that isn’t happening. Worst case, there’s always Long Island U. Plus, at least I’ll have one family member nearby who has my back.”[/color]

[color=7ea7d8]”What?! You really sent in the app,”[/color] she asked, her eyes lighting up in excitement. [color=7ea7d8]”I thought that was like… a joke. I mean, you had mentioned it, but like… Wow. Have you heard anything?”[/color] 

In Sunshine’s opinion, this was great news. She needed to figure out what to do with her life after highschool. Brooklyn seemed like the most logical option. She had a whole house there, and wouldn’t have much to worry about there as opposed to choosing another college. The fact that Shawna had applied was amazing. 

Shawna shook her head. [color=e81b00]“Nothing yet, but there’s still plenty of time. I sent it that last weekend you came over before my parents returned. Before you woke up. It’s why you actually smelled food being cooked instead of, you know, just the usual Green’s order. I was kinda running on a good high. But I wanted to at least get that in to make sure I had the option. New York really made an impression on me when I was up there.”[/color] She looked back into Sunshine’s eyes. [color=e81b00]“Can’t imagine why…”[/color]

With a small laugh, Sunshine turned back around to properly reposition herself in her seat. [color=7ea7d8]”Say…. Would it be weird if we just ditched the dance and had a random talk about random shit in a random car?”[/color] 

[color=e81b00]“Nah. I think it would be weirder if we stayed in there listening to bad karaoke.”[/color]

[color=7ea7d8]”Then waddya say we just stay here and find some actual music?”[/color] 

[color=e81b00]“That sounds like the best idea of the night. Besides,”[/color] Shawna patted her purse. [color=e81b00]“I got better drinks than the dance too. And now I have my real date.”[/color] Suck on that, Kings.[/color][/indent][/indent]

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