i'll always belong in the sky.

     “skipping has gotten so much easier over the years. don’t know if it’s ‘cause ‘ve gotten better at sneakin’ around or ‘cause ‘m in detention enough for teachers to realize that i probably don’t know any better.”

    “what do you even do when you skip? you must have so many more hours in the day than the rest of us.”

          “that -” brooklyn cut off, skipping dani’s first comment altogether. “sounds a lot better. rosie is a classic.”

         “she really is. and, more importantly, it’s one of the easiest costumes i could think of. are you going to that party everyone’s talking about, by the way? i’m trying to decide if it’s worth sacrificing at night at home in bed.”

     “no way! like getting murdered in your house is bad enough, but getting murdered by a ghost? i’d prefer to stay under my covers, thank you very much.”

       “good point. as we all know, ghosts can’t get you when you’re safe in your own bed.”

    “you… never had trouble creating a costume before. do you need help, love?”

   “i didn’t say i had trouble, i said i didn’t have time. and my name, by the way, is danielle. not ‘love’, thanks.”

     “oh, that little problem can always be fixed, danielle. um, of course i am? duh.”

    “if it helps, i am trying to get into the spirit this year! what are you going to be dressing up as?”

   “it’s not problem. i’m glad you found something, though. rosie the riveter is good, though. have you decided what you’re doing for halloween yet?”

  “not sure yet! i might check out oliver’s party, or i might work on my UC apps. the filing period starts the first, you know. what about you?”

   “you can have one of my leftover costumes? i can get it altered for you so it can fit. i imagine it’ll be way too large for you right now.”

 “no, it’s fine, there’s no need to pay for that. it’s just halloween. besides, i tracked down a denim jacket and a bandanna, so rosie the riveter should be easy enough.” 

     “i usually don’t believe in anything too ‘ supernatural ‘, but ghosts are an entirely different story — stuff fell over in my kitchen last night, and i was the only one home. talk about scary.”

    “i would’ve been up for the rest of the night. did you go investigate it at all?”

             “y-eah, just … say you’re a closet.”

            “well, i do have experience being in one. maybe next year though. this time around, i managed a fairly okay rosie the riveter i think!”

     “hello — costumes, parties, candy, costumes?”

       “i guess the problem is i’m just not very good at costumes or parties. are you dressing up then?”

     “in case you didn’t already know, halloween is definitely my favorite holiday.”

    “really? why halloween?”

     “why is it that around halloween time i start to think my house is haunted? because i swear i heard a ghost downstairs last night.”

    “oh, god. intellectually i know ghosts are ridiculous, but it always feels so different when it’s four am and i can’t sleep.”

Madeline smirked, listening to the closing words of the GSA meeting. She watched as Danielle gave announcements about upcoming events, mesmerized by her golden hair swayed slightly as she spoke. Madi felt bad for not really listening, but she just couldn’t focus on the words coming out of her mouth when the lips delivering the were just so plump and pink. Once Danielle finished talking and the other club members began to disburse, Madeline saw her chance. “Hey,” she said, “I think we made some good progress today.”

As usual, Dani wrapped up their weekly GSA meetings with reminders about future events, future meet ups, and notices about resources in the area. It was always somewhat sad to see the meetings end, even if she’d spent most of this one planning yet another event. But their group had been growing slowly but surely, and truth be told, it was her favorite out of all the various clubs she’d joined. In the beginning she’d only joined as a reminder to herself, but now it was just nice to feel connected to the community. People started to filter out of the room before she even finished talking, and when Dani looked up from packing things into her backpack she was surprised to find Madi still there. “Oh! Yeah, I think so,” she said, smiling proudly. It wasn’t her GSA per se, but she’d been there for years. Madi had too, actually. “Now we just have to make sure people actually show up for the fundraiser.”

Don’t get mad. Don’t get even. Do better. Much better. Rise above. Become so engulfed in your own success that you forget it ever happened.

“all I wanted to do was rent a couple movie, why did the machine have to break on me? can’t a guy rent inside out and vacation without being completely fucked over by technology? jesus.”

“oh, no! did it take your money anyway?”