don't call me baby

“I’m a professional photographer, it’s gonna come out flawless.” She took the shot and put it back in her pocket. “If you fall, I’ll be able to get you to the hospital as quickly as possible.” She knew it wasn’t going to happen, but it was nice to reassure the stranger.

“In that case, I’m definitely gonna wanna see it.” Their impromptu photo session seemingly done, Logan continued her search in the cupboard, finally pulling out what she’d been looking for; a bottle of vodka and a block of chocolate. In retrospect, it mightn’t of been the easiest or most convenient hiding place, but what’s done was done. “What if I broke something or got knocked out?” 

“It seems to fit us better than any other boy.” She gave out a scoff. “I will never address you royally unless you’re the princess of something and I doubt you are.” Logan was probably giving a cute joke but Jude couldn’t take one, however, she wasn’t deadly serious.

“Anything boys can do, girl’s can do better. Pulling off names included.” Logan cemented, arching an eyebrow at Jude’s scoff. “Yeah? Well don’t come crying to me when they try to execute you for this blatant disrespect.” 

“Seems like we both have boy names,” she noted.  “Now I won’t forget your first name, I might forget your last name, though.”

“I like to think we pull them off better than any boy could,” Logan commented. It seemed that boy names were given to girls more often these days, which was a blessing, really; in a few generations, people like her and Jude would blend in perfectly with their names. “That’s fine - I prefer ‘Your Highness’ over ‘Miss Montgomery’ anyway.” 

“Wait,” Simone demanded as she rearranged her seating position, compromising for lighting. “There, now you can pose.”

Assuming the girl was serious, Logan went for it and struck a supermodel pose -granted it was probably mocking. “If I fall and die, you better at least get a good shot for my funeral.” Sure, it was a bit dramatic, but she was highly aware of her clumsiness. 

“I’m Jude, Jude Cohen. You are?”

“Logan. Logan Montgomery,” she echoed back in the same manner, giving into the temptation this time. 

“I have,” she admitted. Simone, being the clueless girl she was, had the brilliant idea to get her phone out and take a picture of the girl. “There, I got my picture,” she said with a devious grin.

“Yet you’re doing it anyway?” Logan asked, shaking her head as if to say ‘for shame’. Blinking owlishly at having her picture taken, her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at the other girl. “You could of at least let me pose first.” 

“Amen,” she raised a grape like a glass of wine before popping it into her mouth.

Logan just resisted throwing her arms up in a sarcastic ‘hallelujah’ - just, but she managed. “What’s your name?” Came out of her mouth rather bluntly, now that their conversation was wrapped up. 

Simone was chilling in the kitchen, eating her holy grail snack, Flaming Hot Cheetos. Her eyes gazed at the tiny girl as she struggled to get what she needed. Watching her was assuming, better than staring at inanimate objects and making conversation with herself. She shrugged, “Nothing, do you not like people staring?”

Side-eyeing the other girl, Logan thought about what to say back. Being a smartass, it should be simple enough. “Haven’t you heard? Staring’s rude.” She quipped, continuing as another cliche popped into her head. “Take a picture, it’ll last longer.” 

Heading into the kitchen for a snack, Joey eyed the petite girl who in her mind was just making the best of an inconvenient situation. Not being anywhere near the world’s tallest woman at 5”4’, the raven haired girl could relate to the struggle that was so comically being displayed in front of her. “I was just wondering who sawed your legs down so you couldn’t reach that shelf.”

Logan’s hands found their place on her hips again at the other girl’s answer, her lips pursing as she stared down at her from her spot on the chair - a refreshing change when you were used to looking up at just about everyone. “What you should really be wondering,” she retorted, her voice sugary sweet, “Is what I’m going to use to saw your legs down.” 

“You say bossy, I say enthusiastic,” Cassie sing-songed, onyx eyes glinting playfully as she swayed a bit with her words. Brows immediately furrowing in concern at her friend’s next words, the redhead frowned. “Do you really mean that, or are you just messing with me? Because we can totally have an impromptu therapy session if my baby girl’s got something she needs to get off her chest.”

“I also say I’m right and you’re wrong.” Logan smirked, the same playful glint in her eye as she dipped her hand in the water and flicked it at the redhead. “No, no, I’m fine.” The petite girl protested, meeting the other girl’s eyes briefly in the hopes of showing it was true. As much as she was rarely okay these days, and having Cassie as her person was a very welcome thing, she refused to put a damper on her day. “Your baby girl just has some interesting hobbies.” 

“Things take time.” Unfortunately, she thought to herself. “Hopefully, this phase of being so sensitive will pass. They can’t make it out into this world trying to “cancel” everyone.”

“I don’t see it passing any time soon,” Logan countered with a slight shake of her head; people were getting more and more ridiculous. It seemed like a third the world was trying to save and better it, while another third was determined to counter it and make things more difficult than they needed to be. And the other third were keeping busy being blissfully ignorant, not doing a damn thing. “I doubt many of these people will last in the real world, once they get out there and can’t hide behind their computer screens, reality will hit them and they’ll realise it’s a whole other ball game.”