Rum and Raspberries

The rest of the week basically goes by the same. Mari finally forgives Melissa and stops freezing her out by Wednesday. Friday morning, Melissa wakes up extra early to go to the diner and pick up Gen’s favorite French toast. She picks up Gen, gives her her present (a new headband that Melissa saw Gen eyeing at the mall), and they skip the first class of the day to hang out on the bleachers.

On Fridays, the team has PE last, so practices start early. But today, everyone is distracted by the party tonight, so Coach Ben convinces Coach Martinez to let the team leave even earlier than usual. Melissa and Gen drive to Gen’s house and get ready there.

Melissa loves getting ready at Gen’s house. She loves Gen’s house. She loves Gen—hanging out with Gen. Before parties, Gen plays music on her record player and begs Melissa to let her do her makeup–like clockwork. Melissa always relents. She secretly enjoys it. She enjoys the feel of Gen’s pinky as it barely touches Melissa’s cheek when applying her eyeliner. Gen also gets to choose Melissa’s outfit.

Normally, Melissa’s one rule is that she gets to wear her special pink hat that she has for parties. It is not much different from her normal cap, but it is a slightly hotter pink and has a small “M” with Saturn’s rings going around it embroidered on the side. Today, though, is Gen’s birthday, so Melissa agrees when Gen begs her to leave the hat at home, like usual. Melissa only ever wore the hat in the first place because Gen said Melissa's brother looked hot in a pink hat, but whatever. Not wearing it tonight makes Gen smile, so Melissa sees it as a win anyway.

On their way out the house, Melissa runs ahead to open the door for Gen and smiles when she sees the bags in the back. Melissa has been planning this for months. She is going to take Gen to see the Orionids meteor shower. The stars aligned perfectly for Melissa–no pun intended, but Melissa is a “space dork” as Mari likes to say, so pun definitely intended. The peak for the Orionids happens to fall on Gen’s birthday. Melissa would have taken her any day, but this allows for an extra birthday present and a way for the night to end perfectly. Melissa packed her comfiest blankets and Gen’s favorite snacks for the stargazing. She even waited to unbox her brand new telescope for this night. Melissa would do almost anything for Gen, and she doesn’t mind.

☾☾☾

The party has somewhat started by the time they get there. Akilah and Mari rush to hug Gen and scream “Happy Birthday!” They drag the newly-arrived duo to the kitchen to pour shots. The four of them toss the tequila back. Melissa has always preferred vodka, but she doesn’t care at the moment because Gen is all smiles.

Throughout the night, the foursome will come across their teammates who wish Gen a “Happy Birthday,” which causes everyone in the vicinity to scream “Happy Birthday!” Melissa is glad that Gen is finally being appreciated by others, but she can’t help but be upset when Gen leaves her with Akilah to go talk to the senior boys with Mari. Like, Melissa has a right to be angry. Like, Gen is dating Melissa’s brother. It’s Melissa’s duty to be offended for her brother. He might be away at college but, damn, have some loyalty. Thinking about this only makes Melissa sadder even if she won’t admit why. Melissa has more tequila.

Another hour passes, and she hasn’t seen Gen. Even Akilah found someone else to talk to. Melissa knows Akilah didn’t abandon her, but she still feels betrayed. She is lonely at a party. Gen usually separates from Melissa but never for longer than bearable. Melissa is tired of staring at the same painting on the same wall, so she moves outside. She sees Gen by the bonfire and walks up to see if Gen is ready to leave.

Melissa should’ve known not to intrude when she saw Gen was leaning in to kiss David Morris, one of the star baseball players, but she couldn’t help herself.

“Gen, are you rea–”

“What the fuck, Melissa!” Gen has never yelled at Melissa before, and Melissa is slightly embarrassed she flinched.

“I was just trying to see if you were ready because the Orionids are getting close to being at max visibility.” Melissa hopes the weakness isn’t noticeable in her voice, but she knows it is when Mari laughs a little. Drunk Mari is always meaner than sober Mari.

“No one gives a fuck about your stupid stars. Go watch them yourself if you really care.” So, Melissa knows Gen knows they’re meteors, which hurts all the more. Gen must see that people are taking notice of the situation, so she pulls Melissa off to the side. “Listen, can you not be a space dork for like a minute and see that I am about to get with a senior guy on my birthday. You never let me have fun.” Drunk Mari must rub off on drunk Gen because Melissa cannot remember a time where Gen didn’t defend Melissa’s dorkiness. Sure, Gen can be mean, but to Crystal and Misty, never Melissa.

“But you have a boyfriend, Gen.” Melissa is glad her voice is more stable. Her anger is supporting her.

Melissa didn’t notice Mari walking up but she definitely makes herself known. “Wow, you are always such a bonehead. Look, Gen’s boyfriend is at college. Gen is here. What’s so hard to get? Just walk away before you ruin Gen’s birthday more, freak.”

☾☾☾

Melissa finds herself back inside, staring at that same stupid painting. She definitely wants another drink and gets up for more tequila. Why is it always tequila? Lottie definitely has vodka, but Gen prefers tequila. Melissa is now going for vodka. She can be independent. Fuck Gen, honestly.
Melissa returns to her seat after a shot or two of vodka. She doesn’t know how long she stares at the painting, which she is actually starting to appreciate, when a cup ends up in her face.

“No, thanks. I don’t accept drinks from strangers.”

“Last I heard, water is good for you. And I had hoped I wasn’t classified as a stranger.” Wait Melissa recognizes that voice. Maybe Gen has come to apologize. Un-fuck Gen. Melissa looks up with a smile only for it to drop when she sees Shauna Shipman above her. How could she think it was Gen? Re-fuck Gen.

“Wow, immediate frown. Here I thought, we had a somewhat chummy relationship.”

“Chummy?”

“Chummy. You know, I let you use all my blue ink. You give me great passes. I give you water, you accept. Guess I was wrong.” Despite her words, Shauna slides down the wall to sit next to Melissa. Melissa’s eyes follow the way Shauna’s legs gracefully cross.

“No, no, no. We can be chummy. I like chummy. I like chummy with you. Give me the water.” Melissa speeds through her words and grabs the cup and chugs before Shauna can even respond.

Shauna is laughing now. Shauna is laughing at Melissa right now. Melissa smiles for the first time in who knows how long it’s been since Gen left her earlier.

“Yes. There’s that smile. I always knew my hilarious personality would pay off someday.” Melissa is laughing now, too. “Hey, I am not that unfunny,” Shauna defends herself. Melissa goes back to feeling bad, though, as she sees Gen reenter the house on David’s arm. “Are you okay, though? What’s got my favorite pen-stealer down?”

Melissa mumbles the situation. Shauna must not have gotten everything, so she scoots closer to Melissa. Did someone turn up the temperature? Is the music louder or is it Melissa’s heartbeat in her ears? Is Shauna Shipman, star midfielder, actually talking to her?

“So back to the question? What’s wrong?”

Shauna leans in as Melissa recounts the story again. Melissa gives a summary of the situation, leaving out her space dorkiness. The senior goes to respond but closes her mouth. Uh oh, now Shauna Shipman, star midfielder, thinks Melissa’s just a freak, too.

“Let me get you another water.” Shauna walks off before Melissa even realizes she got up. Right now, Melissa wishes she had her pink hat to cover her face because everyone at this party probably thinks she’s just a space dork.

Shauna returns pretty quickly, even drunk Melissa can recognize that. This time, Shauna sits even closer to Melissa.

“Why aren’t you with Jackie?” Wow, very cool, Melissa.

“She is off somewhere with Jeff.” If Shauna is thrown off, she doesn’t show except for a slight grimace when she mentions Jeff. “So…why did you wanna leave early?”

“Tonight is the night to watch the Orionids.”

“Are these Orionoids a good soap opera? Should I tune in?”

“The Orionids are meteors, and, also, your breath smells like the Milky Way.”

“Um, what?” Now, Shauna is definitely thrown off.

“The Milky Way.”

“Is that your way of telling me to get some gum?”

“Nooooo, silly. The Milky Way smells like rum and something.” Damn, what is the something? It’s all Gen’s fault. Fuck Gen once again. If Melissa stuck with vodka, she’d remember this basic fact. She looks back to Shauna, who has her lips in that cute little pout she does. Her lips are pinkish, kind of like Melissa’s party hat. She should have worn the freaking baseball cap. It’s her lifeline, and here she is without her lifeline. Staring at Shauna’s lips helps, though. “Raspberries!”

“You might need even more water.” Melissa finds Shauna’s confusion adorable.

“I find your confusion adorable.” Wait, did she not only repeat that but out loud, too? She is extra mad at Gen for this tequila. Forget the fight.

Shauna is giggling, and Melissa realizes she never finished her fact. She almost doesn’t to keep the girl laughing, but, you know, tequila. “The Milky Way smells like rum and raspberries. So, no, definitelyyy do not get gum. I like it.”

“Well, thanks, I guess. And you're right. I was drinking malibu and milk earlier.” Melissa’s face scrunches but to each their own. Where are the raspberries coming from, though? Fuck Gen once more if the tequila messed up her smell.

Shauna takes her silence to ask, “Do you want to show me these Orionids because now I am intrigued.” She must notice Melissa’s hesitance because she grabs her hand to say, “I would be terribly upset if I missed these meteors at their peak.”

Shauna and her fancyish sentences always improve Melissa’s mood, so she finds herself dragging Shauna to her car. She is definitely not focusing on Shauna’s hand holding hers.

☾☾☾

Shauna refuses to let Melissa drive despite this whole experience sobering her up, in Melissa’s opinion at least. She falls asleep after giving Shauna directions and wakes to a slight shake of her shoulders. Her eyes immediately open to see Shauna staring at her.

Melissa plays off her confusion well, but, apparently, Shauna doesn’t think so.

“So…I set up your blanket and food, but I didn’t want to risk messing up your telescope.”

Melissa is even more confused by this, but, slowly, the whole night replays in her head as she watches Shauna walk away. She thinks about the fight with Gen, and things start to click for her. She is still utterly confused how she ended up thirty minutes out of town with Shauna Shipman. She thanks her lucky stars, but she is still confused.

She finally regains her composure, and grabs her telescope before walking to where Shauna’s set up. They are both quiet as she puts the telescope into position. The quiet continues as Melissa lies down next to Shauna, who has her arms folded behind her head. They both just stare at the meteor shower until Melissa finally pipes up.

“The Orionids are actually a part of Halley’s Comet.” Ugh, a few hours after being called a “space dork,” and she still can only come up with "space dork” comments.

Shauna breaks Melissa’s mental scolding to say, “Wait, do you like actually have a personality?”
Oh, she just wanted to add to the scolding. “Because I am liking this space theme you got going.” Oh? She had Melissa fooled in the first half, not gonna lie. All Melissa can do is smile and plan her next fact.

“They’re called the Orionids because the radiant they appear to shoot off from is in the constellation Orion.”

“Halley’s Comet, Orion–maybe I am a space dork, too, because I know these.” Despite Melissa’s least favorite insult being present, Melissa liked what Shauna said. “I am sure you already know this, but Orion was killed by a scorpion.”

“Scorpius,” Melissa states, “but, sadly, it’s not visible right now.”

They go back to a comfortable silence. Every so often, they exchange small talk. Their pinkies slowly drift close enough to touch, and neither move their hands when they finally do. The night air gets cooler, and the girls pull the blanket up. Both feel as though the blanket shields their touching limbs, and both have satisfied grins until Melissa decides to ruin it all. Again.

“Why are you here, Shauna?”

“I wanted to see a meteor shower? Just like you?”

“No, why are you here with me? Why are you not still at the party with your actual friends?”

“Ouch. I thought we were chummy.” Melissa only side-eyes Shauna for this one. “Fine, I had a fight with Jackie.”

“Why?”

“Why would I tell you?” The attitude in Shauna’s voice makes Melissa flinch for the second time tonight. “Look, I’m sorry,” Shauna apologizes in a decidedly quieter voice. “She told me she was gonna sleep with Jeff tonight and flipped when I said it wasn’t a good idea.”

Apparently, tonight was the night, Melissa was all for testing her luck. “And it’s not a good idea because you don’t want him sleeping with her or because you’re already sleeping with him?”

Melissa flinches for a third time as Shauna flips on top of Melissa and grabs her by the collar. “What the actual fuck did you just say to me?”

“Look, I’m not afraid of you.” Melissa has never said a bigger lie. She has seen the midfielder angry. Noses have bled, bones have been broken. Melissa often thanks her lucky stars for putting her on Shauna’s team and not any one they play. Melissa doesn’t know how the other teams are brave enough to step on the same field as Shauna Shipman.

Shauna just tightens her grasp on Melissa’s collar and keeps her big–dangerous–beautiful–threatening–brown eyes locked on Melissa’s. “If you tell anyone about this. I will ruin you, and I will make your life hell on and off the fie–”

Melissa assumes Shauna is gonna say field, so she cuts her off early and rushes up to kiss the angry brunette. Might as well, risk it all. What has she got to lose? Maybe she broke Shauna because when she leans back, Shauna is just frozen. Slowly, Shauna’s face morphs into something other than pure rage. Melissa thinks she likes every expression Shauna makes, but she is not gonna voice that right now.

“I like every expression you make.” What the fuck, Melissa?

Shauna just stares, and Melissa is about to comment on how uncomfortable the situation is when Shauna dives forward with such speed and pressure to kiss Melissa back.

They kiss in such a primal manner for a few seconds before something hits Melissa.

“RASPBERRIES,” she somehow manages to get out. She is proud of herself because Shauna really wiped her brain for a second.

“You are confusing, you know that?”

“No, raspberries. You smell like the Milky Way, which smells like rum and raspberries. You said you had Malibu and milk, which, ew, by the way, but I was lost on where the raspberries were. You have on raspberry lip gloss!”

Melissa lets it sit in the air just long enough for Shauna to smirk before rushing forward to get more raspberry. She thinks raspberry is her new all-time favorite taste, replacing astronaut ice cream sandwiches, for sure. She actually doesn’t think she could ever get enough raspberries.