Date Night (Pixiv Fanbox)

Sarah sometimes wondered how they'd look at her if they knew.

Amber would likely reach for a slur, her favorite one. Kat wouldn't bother pretending to understand. She'd decide Sarah was brain damaged somehow. Likely by them. Maybe she'd offer a mock apology. Here the nerd was, willingly coming back for what they'd handed out for free.

What a freak.

Sarah let the word roll around in her head. It didn't sting the way it used to. Not here, not with Olivia. A freak for sure. But she wasn't like the other two. Amber pressed and pressed until something broke. Kat took without thinking and laughed when it hurt.

But Olivia notices her.

She said it was rational. That she'd assessed the situation, weighed the risks. Whatever this was, it wasn't dangerous. Maybe that's why Sarah accepted so quickly. Because it didn't feel scary.

So why was her heart beating like this?

-

Olivia hadn't meant for it to happen like this.

That thought looped endlessly around her head as she watched Sarah's toes curl at the edge of the couch. Making the goofiest sounds as she rooted around down there. Olivia knew that she knew better than this. Secrets didn't stack neatly. The more you had, the more the whole thing wobbled.

Why had she let her in?

It had started small. A movie. Fooling around in the dark after watching her friends get trounced outside. She hadn't planned on inviting Sarah over, honestly, she'd expected her to say no.

But Sarah followed her home anyway, talking nervously the whole walk. Right up to the front door.

Just this once, Olivia told herself.

Sarah didn't look around much. Didn't ask questions. She was focused on her. Focused on Olivia. Everything else fell away into background noise.

And God, what a relief that was.