Nat’s hidden spot under the bleachers was her secret. Nestled between the field and equipment building was a stretch of bleachers with a totally invisible pocket underneath to anyone who wasn’t looking for it. The light filtered through fence wire gave it a cozy hazy feel, and Nat thought smoke looked pretty damn cool in it. She had come to love the spot dearly, as it was always empty whenever she needed a place to crash and decompress.
That’s why Nat was so damn surprised when she crawled into her secret hideout only to see Misty fucking Quigley.
Sniffles and sobs came from Misty, the ball of sweater curled up in the corner, and she was so upset she didn’t even seem to notice Nat.
Nat cleared her throat, “Misty?”
Misty quickly wiped her eyes with the cuff of her bright yellow sweater. “Oh Nat! Hi!” Misty put on a big smile.
“Why are you back here?” Nat came closer, and Misty’s legs appeared out from under her sweater where they’d been folded. Misty brushed a bit of dirt off her sweater sleeve “Oh.. I come here sometimes just to.. I don’t know. It’s quiet. A good place to read.” Misty looked around the small space as though it had many features to admire “What about you? Why are you here?”
“Oh- uh. Well actually you’re sitting on it.” Nat motioned to the large flat rock Misty was sitting on top of.
Misty hopped up, looking at the rock curiously. Nat slid it to the side with her foot, revealing a hole dug in the ground, and in that hole a cloth Blackberry Crown bag.
”Is it like, treasure?” Misty asked, looking to Nat wide-eyed. Nat thought for a second, and nodded, grabbing the bag and sitting down with it in her lap.
“Well can I see it?” Misty got on her knees beside her eagerly, “I’m too curious now.”
“I’ll tell you if you’ll tell me why you were crying.”
“Hmm?” Misty raised her eyebrows, suddenly oblivious to her tearstained cheeks “I wasn’t crying Nat.”
“Misty, did someone give you shit or something?”
“I.. No. I just, I embarrassed myself I guess.”
“How?” Nat leaned back against the wall, bringing her face much closer to Misty’s, which Misty’s heart-rate took note of.
Misty’s cheeks started to blush pink, ”Um- gosh it’s so stupid I can’t-”
“Wait wait wait-” Nat interrupted, lifting up the purple bag and swaying it teasingly by the strings ”I’ll only tell you mine if you tell me yours,” she smirked.
Misty’s nose scrunched up in determination, “Fine!” she thought for a second, choosing her words carefully, “I thought.. someone liked me. But they didn’t, and I made a fool of myself.”
Nat laughed, “Really Misty?”
Misty looked up, hurt that Nat would laugh “What? Not shocking to you that they wouldn’t like me?”
Nat’s smile fell, “No- I just meant we all like people that don’t like us back sometimes, it’s no big deal.”
“Well yeah but- ugh- it was different cause- ahg!” Misty huffed, pulling her knees back into her sweater and in front of her “You wouldn’t get it.”
Nat sighed, “I’m just trying to talk to you Misty.”
“You probably hate me like everyone else,” Misty pushed her glasses up into her hair, rubbing her eyes with her palms.
Nat laughed, “I don’t hate you at all Misty, I happen to think you’re badass actually.”
“Really?” Misty looked up swiftly, knocking her glasses to the ground.
“You’re not like everyone else. I like that.” Nat shrugged, picking up Misty’s glasses.
“That’s what I like about you to- well that’s not all I like I mean I like other things too- You know what I mean- It’s not like I Like Like you of course but-“
”Misty.” Nat cut off her rambling by leaning in closer and reaching towards Misty’s face, brushing her hair back and resting her glasses on each ear. “N-nat.” Misty’s voice shook, making a sly smile spread across Nat’s face.
Nat pulled away, “So, who was it that you liked?” Misty’s eyes went wide and her face got even redder “I can’t tell you..”
“Why do I know him?” Nat looked at the ceiling, recalling all the boys she’d seen around misty lately.
Misty was quiet, she looked at her sneakers and bit her lip.
“I’m gonna just start naming guys if you don’t say anything.” Nat demanded, “Okay fine. Chris. No? Travis. No? David? No?” Nat sighed, jokingly suggesting “God is it even a guy?”
Misty looked up sharply, locking eyes with Nat “What?” She said shakily “How did you..”
“I was just kidding..” Nat’s smile got wide “Wait.. No way Misty-“
Misty stood up, ”Stop- Stop- Nat no I never told you this,” Misty pleaded “Please don’t tell anyone.”
“Oh my god Misty,” Nat laughed in shock “Shhshh shh someone’s gonna hear us, and I would never! Plus, I’m kinda like that too anyways…” Nat trailed off, attempting to act casual about it.
“But, you’ve slept with sooo many guys, how?” Misty gasped, only realizing how rude it sounded right as she said it.
Nat laughed, “Yeah Misty some people like fucking guys and girls,” she stated bluntly
Misty blushed, “Well I don’t have any.. evidence to back up my claims but.. I’m pretty sure I just like girls.”
Nat squinted “No evidence at all?”
Misty looked down, awkwardly tucking her curls back behind her ear, ”I know it’s weird..”
“It’s fine Misty, I’m just surprised. Most of the straight girls I know have kissed other girls.”
”Really?” Misty was shocked. How were the straight women getting more action than her?
“Yeah like at sleepovers or like ‘playing house’ you know?”
Misty shrugged “I guess you have to have friends for those experiences!” she laughed lightly, cringing a bit at herself.
Nat chewed on her inner cheek, thinking while intently looking down at the bag in her hands.
“How about this. If you’re interested, maybe…. we could kiss.” Nat looked up, meeting Misty’s wild eyes becoming glossy “Nat.. don’t be mean.”
Nat’s facial expression stayed the same, “Misty I’m not,” she scooted in closer, “I’m serious I… I mean obviously it’s your choice but.. I want to,” she cracked a sly smile as Misty looked up “I mean what are friends for?”
Misty’s heart could’ve jumped out of her chest, “I- Yes- I want to.” Misty caught her breath between words “But what if I suck at it though?”
Nat put a hand on Misty’s soft covered shoulder, rubbing circles with her thumb, “That’s kinda the whole point, it’s your first time, so it’s no pressure Mis.”
Misty’s breath caught in her throat, “I can’t believe this is happening.”
Nat smiled, her cheeks tinged pink and her heart speeding up, but she remained cool “You ready?” Nat quirked a brow. Misty bit her lip and nodded, taking a gasping breath as Nat leaned in, closing the gap between them.
Their lips met, tentative at first, then firmer, and for a moment, everything else disappeared. Misty’s hands found their way to Nat’s shoulders, a strange mix of hesitation and want. Nat was relaxed as her lips melted into Misty’s cotton-candy-flavored glossed lips. The kiss quickly turned into a few kisses as Misty’s hands made their way up into Nat’s bleached scruffy hair.
When Nat finally pulled away, Misty blinked, still processing. Her heart was pounding, and her chest felt tight. She looked up, eyes wild. “Wow. Okay. Wow! So I definitely like girls.”
Nat smirked, the corners of her lips curling up. “You think?”
Misty flushed, but the nervousness had subsided a little. There was something about the moment, something quiet between them that she felt accepted within.
Nat shifted, turning a bit red herself, and pulling the purple bag back into her lap. “Well, I think what’s only fair now is I ask you a question…” She tapped the bag, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Misty stared at the bag for a second, distracted, still starstruck. “What? Oh, right, okay—sure!”
“Have you ever smoked before?” Nat asked, not looking up from the bag as she rifled through it.
Misty blinked. “Like… cigarettes?”
“No Misty,” Nat laughed soft and began to pull out a small jar from the bag “like weed.”
Misty’s wide eyes darted between the jar and Nat’s smirk “How did you- how long has that been here?” she began to speak in a whisper instinctively.
Nat smirked, seeming satisfied with herself “I snuck it in forever ago. Been working it down over this season, sometimes after practice.”
Misty stared at the jar as though in deep thought, and for a moment Nat tensed, considering the idea that Misty might run and tell coach Scott, even after their kissing lesson.
”I want to smoke it!” Misty declared with the conviction of a judge slamming a gavel.
Nat let out a shocked breathy laugh, and cocked her head to the side, “Are you sure Misty?”
“I want to! I really do, I’m sure. And if i get freaked out I won’t run to the nurses office and tell on you or call the police or anything!” Misty put her hand to her heart, as though to solemnly swear.
Nat laughed as she caved in ”Okay okay fine, “I’ll show you how to inhale before you try it though, so you don’t cough up a lung.” Nat began to roll the J, using her signature cherry flavored papers, which Misty took note of. She watched Nat intuitively fold in the flower and tighten the paper, and in moments it was done.
“Okay,” Nat held the joint between two fingers and brought it up to her mouth “I’ll light it, then it’s just like this-“ Nat flicked the lighter, the small flame flickering to life with a soft snap. She held it steady, the flame illuminating her face for a second before she brought it to the end of the joint.
The tip sparked, catching fire, making Misty flinch slightly as Nat inhaled. She held in the smoke for a moment, then leaned back, blowing out and watching the smoke curl up toward the sky, slow and steady.
She held the joint out to Misty, the ember glowing in the dim slats of light between them. “Your turn,” Nat said, her voice a little softer now, almost inviting.
Misty hesitated for a moment, her fingers brushing against the warm paper. She took the joint, feeling the heat of it already, the faint burn that made her hand tremble slightly. The weight of it was heavier than she expected.
Nat leaned in closer, her presence steady and unhurried, and Misty swallowed hard. “Just breathe in slow, like I showed you,” Nat instructed, her eyes watching Misty’s every move.
Misty nodded, her breath shallow, and she lifted the joint to her lips. She hesitated for just a second, observing the flame in front of her, the smoke swirling in the cool night air. Then, she took a careful drag, pulling the smoke into her lungs, feeling the burn.
She held it there for a moment, the air thick in her chest, before she exhaled with a harsh cough, the smoke escaping in a jagged stream.
“Too much too fast,” Nat said with a light laugh. She reached out, fanning the smoke out of Misty’s face “You gotta ease into it.”
Misty’s face flushed with embarrassment as she wiped at her eyes. “I didn’t expect it to-“ She broke off, trying to catch her breath, the awkwardness settling in her chest.
Nat gave her a soft smile, her voice easy. “It’s fine. Just take it slow next time.” She leaned in, holding the joint between them, her lips brushing lightly against Misty’s ear as she spoke, “Let me show you again.”
Misty couldn’t ignore the way her pulse raced as Nat leaned closer, their proximity electric. The air between them thickened, and she felt herself drawn to Nat’s steady, unshaken presence.
Nat took another drag, slow and controlled, before she let the smoke drift between them. She exhaled with deliberate ease, the haze swirling between them, and then held the joint out. “You wanna try again?”
Misty nodded, her fingers curling around the joint with more confidence now. But before she could bring it to her lips, Nat gently took her hand, guiding it away, her grip firm but not demanding.
“Let me show you something,” Nat said, leaning in closer, her breath warm against Misty’s skin. She took a slow drag from the joint, exhaling the smoke in a slow, steady stream. She held some of it in her mouth for a moment, then brought her lips to Misty’s, hovering just inches away, her breath mixing with the air between them.
Misty’s pulse quickened, her eyes flickering to Nat’s mouth, and before she could think, Nat leaned in further, her lips pressing lightly against Misty’s, guiding the smoke from her mouth into Misty’s. The smoke filled the space between their lips, and Misty instinctively inhaled, her chest tight as the smoke burned down into her lungs.
For a second, everything went still. Misty’s head buzzed, the smoke and the kiss blending together, dizzying her senses. She held the smoke in her lungs, feeling it like a weight, something that was both grounding and disorienting. She pulled back just enough to exhale the smoke, her breath coming out in a soft cloud.
Nat’s eyes were fixed on hers, her expression softer now, more deliberate. There was no teasing in her gaze, just an open, quiet intensity that Misty wasn’t sure how to handle, even though she wanted to.
Misty’s heart was pounding in her chest, and the space between them seemed to shrink with every breath. She was still a little overwhelmed by the smoke, but that was nothing compared to the feeling of Nat’s mouth on hers. She leaned in again, this time without hesitation, the kiss was slow and soft at first. But it didn’t stay that way.
Misty’s hand found its way to Nat’s shirt, fingers gripping the fabric lightly as the kiss deepened. The smoke hung in the air, swirling around them, adding to the hazy, electric feeling between their lips. The world outside of the small space seemed to fall away, leaving only the quiet rush of their breaths and the steady pressure of their mouths.
Misty pulled back just slightly, her lips tingling, her mind a swirl of thoughts she didn’t know how to put together. She looked at Nat, who was watching her intently, waiting for her next move. Misty felt her chest tighten, but not in the way it had before. This time it felt amazing.
“You good?” Nat asked, her voice low, eyes searching Misty’s face.
Misty nodded, her breath still shaky, but there was something different in the way she was looking at Nat now.
“Yeah,” she whispered, barely a breath. “I’m good.” Misty looked down to Nat’s lips as Nat took another long drag.
Suddenly a booming voice came, “Girls- oh my god. Get the hell out of here,” Coach Ben yelled through gritted teeth, hunched over peering through one of the bleacher slats “what are you doing?! Put that out now!”
Nat’s face went still for a moment, but Misty was already grabbing her hand, pulling her to her feet in a panic. “Come on, run!” she urged, her voice low but frantic.
Without another word, they ran, their footsteps fast and loud as they scrambled away, their breath heavy and adrenaline spiking.
Misty couldn’t stop laughing, even as they rounded the corner, out of sight. The rush, the thrill, the mix of nerves and excitement, it felt different than anything she’d ever felt. Nat made her feel different, and she couldn’t get enough of it.