#cdr4

You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset She's going off about something that you said 'Cause she doesn't get your humor like I do

Aurora had the same routine when she got home from school. She went up to her bedroom, practiced her oboe for band, and then had dinner with her family downstairs. After dinner, she studied for her AP classes and homework, before heading to bed for the night.

Tonight, she was studying for her AP World History test that she had first thing the next morning. She was trying to memorize the dates of all the battles from the Spanish-American War when she heard a voice from the next-door neighbor.

It may have been a nice, warm evening, but keeping the window open may have been more of a distraction.

“Listen, baby, I wasn’t talking about-” “I was trying to say that-” …Okay, I’ll see you in the morning. Goodnight, love you.”

Aurora looked over to see her neighbor, Venus, pacing the floor as she stared at her phone screen. The other girl eventually tossed it to her bed with a sigh.

Aurora left her desk and walked over to the window. She opened it the rest of the way and waved to get Venus’s attention.

Venus’s caught her out of the corner of her eye, and her eyes brightened. The other girl opened her window and held her head in her hand with a dramatic sigh.

“You good?” Aurora asked, calling out her window.

Venus rolled her eyes, “Don’t you hate it when your girlfriend brings up something you said in middle school?”

“Can’t say I’ve had that happen to me yet,” Aurora said with a mock-thoughtful look.

Venus laughed, seeming more visibly relaxed. “It sucks, I wouldn’t want to wish it on anyone.”

Before Aurora could continue the conversation, the two were interrupted by a cell phone ringing from Venus’s bedroom. Venus sighed, and moved closer into the room, “Have a good night, Aurora.” she said before closing the window.

Aurora watched Venus continue pacing while talking on the phone until she closed the blinds. Once Aurora couldn’t see her neighbor anymore, she closed her window and returned to studying.

“Good night, Venus,” Aurora said as she put in a pair of earbuds to distract herself from her distracting neighbor.

And you've got a smile That can light up this whole town I haven't seen it in a while Since she brought you down You say you're fine, I know you better than that Hey, what you doing with a girl like that?

Aurora was sitting in the bleachers with the rest of the school's band on the next Friday evening. They were the pep band for the varsity volleyball team’s game, as it was a great school event for the band.

She would much rather be at home watching old Chinese dramas with her family on a Friday night. But at least she got to see Venus play, that was the only positive.

The team was all over the home side of the gym as they warmed up, some stretching or doing drills. Venus was stretching on the gym floor with her long legs in front of her, reaching for her toes.

As Venus raised back up, Aurora tried to avoid eye contact by pretending to get her oboe in tune, but Venus was already climbing the bleachers to greet her.

Aurora’s eyes darted to see if the cheerleaders were nearby, but they were not in the gym yet. She looked at Venus, who was smiling next to her.

“Finally coming to see our team in action?” she said with a cocky grin.

Aurora playfully rolled her eyes, “Only because my band director said I had to,” She joked as she gestured to her cheap, polyester uniform.

“We’re a lot more fun than the football games, trust me,” Venus said as she kept her eyes on Aurora. Despite all the other people in the gymnasium, Aurora felt like they were the only two in there.

“I think anything is better than our school’s football team if you ask me,” Aurora pointed out.

Venus laughed along with Aurora’s joke before changing the subject, “Hey, there’s an after-party if you-”

She was interrupted by a loud unanimous roar coming inside the gym, as the cheerleaders were clapping and calling out the school’s mascot. Aurora noticed that Venus’s smile faltered slightly, but tried to keep her composure.

“V? What are you doing up there?” they both saw a cheerleader with long, bleach-blonde hair at the bottom of the bleachers.

“I gotta go, enjoy the game,” Venus said before leaving Aurora’s side. She watched her speed down the steps and greeted her girlfriend with a kiss.

“Were you flirting with a player?” A voice asked behind her. Aurora knew who it was by the trombone they played and the sharpie-colored trans flag on their shoe.

“Shut up and play, the game is about to start.” Aurora reached to elbow Denim’s side, both teenagers trying not to laugh as the band started playing their first song.

Standing by and waiting at your backdoor All this time how could you not know, baby? You belong with me You belong with me

“I can’t believe you forced me to go to this,” Aurora said to the school bathroom mirror. She adjusted the straps of the dress she borrowed from Nearah’s closet.

“Because you can’t be inside your house every single Friday night. It’s Homecoming, I’m not letting you be a nerdy hermit.” Nearah explained as she released the piece of Aurora’s hair from the curling iron.

“What if I needed to study?” Aurora pointed out.

Nearah rolled her eyes, “You always study, one night off isn’t going to kill you. “ she took the hairspray from her bag on the floor, “Now hold still.” before engulfing Aurora in a cloud of cheap hairspray.

Nearah stayed by Aurora’s side for about ten minutes, before getting distracted by wanting to talk to someone from their Calculus class. “I’ll be right back, just give me, like two songs,” she said before disappearing into the crowd.

After at least ten more songs played through, Aurora grew tired of waiting on the sidelines of the gym. She hadn’t seen Nearah since she left her side, so Aurora was officially ditched by her friend.

Taking a deep breath, Aurora walked closer to the crowd of dancers. Some of her classmates gave her a doubletake as she walked through. Some girls gave her compliments with sincere smiles.

As she was about to make another loop around the gym floor, Aurora felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.

She turned around and saw Venus in front of her, smiling brightly. She stood alone, her girlfriend nowhere in sight. Just as she recognized Venus, a slow song started playing.

“You look like you need a dance partner,” Venus said with an offered open hand.

“What about your girlfriend?” Aurora asked as she darted her eyes around before she looked at Venus again.

“Don’t worry, we broke up a couple of days after the game,” Venus explained. She didn’t seem sad or upset, so maybe it wasn’t a bad breakup. “Can I have this dance?” Venus asked with her offered hand.

Aurora smiled and nodded, “Yes, take the lead,” she said as she looped her arms around Venus’s neck. Slender arms snuck around her waist as they gently swayed together to the music.