Bay lay flat on her back in the grass, one hand clutching her iced coffee like a security blanket, the other gripping her phone like it held the answers to life.
Jane was a few feet away, scrolling on her own phone, occasionally smiling like they were just two coworkers being chill and definitely not giving Bay a crisis.
Bay opened her group chat with Kylee. It was called:
KYLEE SAVE ME (AND ALSO THE GAYS)
Bay:
KYLEE I AM IN THE GRASS
WITH JANE
SHE TUCKED MY HAIR BEHIND MY EAR
LIKE SHE WAS IN A LESBIAN HALLMARK MOVIE
I AM UNWELL
SEND HELP OR A SEDATIVE
Kylee:
Omg
You’re IN THE WILD with her??
Like… no cubicles? No khakis?
Bay:
She’s BAREFOOT
BARE. FOOT.
Like some kind of bisexual faerie princess
And she SMILED like I’m a PERSON and not a walking glitch
Kylee:
Oh no
She did the smile?
The “I see your soul and like it” smile???
Bay:
YES
I am ruined
I can’t even do the “haha silly gay” thing right now
I just laid down like a Victorian ghost and she JOINED ME
Kylee:
You’ve been emotionally spooned by eye contact
I am so proud
Bay:
I didn’t even wear cute shoes
Why am I like this
Kylee:
Because you’re real
And she clearly likes real
Also, babe…
She laid in the grass. Next to you. Voluntarily.
That’s not casual. That’s gay folklore.
Bay:
Should I say something??
Like “hey are you trying to ruin me with tenderness”
Or “pls do that hair thing again”?
Kylee:
Say nothing. Be chill. Be normal.
Let the tension marinate. Like sexy emotional stew.
Bay:
I am bad at stew
I am one gay panic away from confessing my sins and proposing marriage
Kylee:
You’ll be fine
Deep breath
Think ferret thoughts
Bay took a long, slow breath and peeked over at Jane.
Jane caught her eye, smiled softly, and said, “You look very peaceful.”
Bay’s phone nearly slipped out of her hand.
Bay (texting again):
I am NOT peaceful
I am being actively emotionally assassinated in broad daylight
Kylee:
Congrats!
You're not just crushing
You're spiraling with potential