Aspen is my first official girlfriend since coming out; primarily to my parents; who didn't exactly take it well, then gradually the news spread. Our relationship certainly didn't begin traditionally but what is the true meaning of 'traditional' in a homosexual situation?
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After the not-so-great response from the parentals, I decided to move out after finishing school instead of returning home and bothering their homo distaste.
It was towards the end of high school when I first realized I was having feelings of jealousy and sensuality towards other females. I didn't tell Lawson, my boyfriend at the time, but it didn't take him long to figure out that I wasn't so dedicated to 'us' anymore and we split about a month into the summer.
I'd only ever had dreams and imaginings of kissing another girl, but after two weeks of researching 'sexuality', along with a few other related topics, I boldly went online and arranged to meet a young woman, just a few months older than myself, at a local dance club. She turned out to be newly gay too so we both agreed that whatever happened beyond our meeting, we'd just let happen until one of us calls it quits.
I wore my mini dress with the low back and spaghetti straps, mentally thanking the inventor of boob tape over and over in my head as I get my Shirley Temple from the bartender. I choose a nice brown leather booth to sit in as I await my 'date'. The emerald green brings out my eyes, the material hugging my shape nicely. I notice the subtle sparkle in the fabric and gaze at the shimmer, attempting to ignore my anxious nerves.
Only eight or so minutes pass when I see a young woman, resembling the image I saw online, enter the bar. She caught my eye and quickly looked away, blushing, showing me that she's nervous too. Aspen is in a royal blue mini-skirt club dress with a rhinestone halter collar, showing off her chest and hips just right.
I watch her order a drink at the bar and after receiving her drink, she walked over to the booth, her soft voice tells me, "Hi, I'm Aspen,".
After recovering from momentary dry-mouth, I respond, "Hey, I'm Noela. What's your drug of choice there?"
"Ooh, nothing special," she answers. Acting casual, tucking her skirt under her she says, "Just some iced tea,".
Knowing her drink is more than some classic iced tea by the smell alone, I hide my cheeky smile by raising my own drink and sipping for several seconds. The atmosphere is thick with awkwardness, both of us knowing what we're there for but nervous to make the first move.
She begins by asking, "So you're an Ecology major?" I just nod and hum in response, that bundle of nerves still thick in my throat. "What got you into the field? Animals, nature, climate stuff...?"
"I've always had a thing for animals, ever since I was little, so growing up I learned about nature and different environments and stuff. Plus, global warming and climate change are pretty hard to ignore lately. What about you?" I ask in hopes of getting out from under the spotlight.
"Oh, you know, I'm was never really sure what to study so I just got a general degree to satisfy the parents and get them off my case,". I chuckle at her comment, taking another swig of my drink and almost choke when she says, in a whisper, "Hey, if you don't mind walking a few blocks, my place isn't far from here. What are we waiting for? I mean, we're both single and gay and horny?" I look her figure over once more wiping some Temple from my chin, I gesture towards her drink, spilling some into my own glass, before my drink goes bottoms-up, "Last one out is a prude," flashing her a wink as I get myself out of the booth. Aspen's
tea
vanishes pretty quickly as well, before she takes my hand and we strut out of the bar.