Learn to Live, Learn to Love

Chapter 1

"Ah, the Carters, they're wonderful people." Eve smiled and turned to go when Saphira made a noise that sounded like a scoff.

"Figures everyone knows everyone in this town."

The smaller girl didn't want to pick a fight, she'd gotten along quite well with this girl so far, but what was she expected to do when someone insulted her home, how else was she expected to feel but hostile?

"What's that supposed to mean?" She barked back, her back rigid and straight, head held high.

"Hey, calm down there chief. All I meant was that it's a small town, I'm used to pretty big cities. Cities where not everyone is a religious fanatic, and where it's fine to be who you are even if some people disagree. Honestly I hate small towns like this one, I'm not commenting on you, or your beliefs, but sometimes people need to loosen up and give in to who they really are. I like kissing girls, and only girls, but I'd never tell anyone here but you, because you're all alone, and I can tell, so don't deny it." Saphira defended, stepping a little closer to the smaller sometime during the little speech.

Eve was astounded, and looked it, with her doe eyes and slackened jaw. The taller girl took a step closer.

"Sweety if you don't stop looking so astonishingly beautiful in the next five seconds, I'm going to have no choice but to kiss you." Eve didn't move an inch, she stood stock still, the comment renewed the feeling of shock already taking over her body. For a girl who had lived in a small town her whole life, the crass words were very out of place.

Saphira stepped closer, breathing the same air, tipped Eve's head up to face the taller woman, closing the distance ever so slightly.

"But," She continued, pulling away "I think perhaps you've had enough of a culture shock today. Think you can walk me home, Eevee?"

Like that, the world suddenly started spinning again, and Eve was sure that's what was making her feel so dizzy. Instead of responding, she sat down to collect herself, packing her bag to give herself an excuse.

"I am not," Eve started once she'd gathered her things and her thoughts, "A magic fox from some video game. The Carter's then. Two lefts, straight, a right, over the bridge and a left again. Should be the fourth house one the right." A Saphira's bewildered expression, she added "iwent there a lot as a child, they used to babysit me when my father was busy with the church."

Eve hefted her messenger bag strap over her head, and started walking out the door, pausing at the frame.

"Do you have intentions of accompanying me? I can lead you as far as the bridge, after that my route goes in a separate direction." With that she began walking again.

When Saphira finally caught up, a forgotten copy of Romeo and Juliet in hand, she tried and failed to begin conversation. They reached the bridge, a cute cobblestoned thing that was hardly five feet above the water on a low day, that gave maybe three feet of ease today meaning the river was some five and a half feet deep. Unbeknownst to Eve, Saphira dropped her things peering over the hardly-could-call-it-a-railing railing at the water below. It was only when the shorter girl heard the splash that she turned to see Saphira nowhere to be found, her things resting against the not-railing. She ran down to the bank of the river, dropped her school bags and began jumping rock to rock, searching for the girl who had clearly jumped into the rushing water below. A strong pair of hands grabbed her waist from behind, and the next thing Eve knew she was underwater.

Choking and sputtering from the sudden submersion, Eve surfaced quickly, her hands gripping tight to the girl, now in front of her, laughing at something seemingly hilarious.

Eve did not understand the joke.

With a huff, the dirty blonde grabbed purchase on the rock behind her instead, hauling her drenched body from the— freezing— running water. Wrapping her arms around herself to keep warm, she hopped back to the bank, grabbing her things and roughly shrugging the bag over her shoulder. She turned without a word and began marching home.

She was caught by the arm before she could make it very far, and she whired back towards the taller woman.

"And what on earth made you think, for even a moment, that that was even a somewhat decent idea?" She half screeched, half snarled, taking the time now to wipe the water off her face, "It is 14 degrees celcius out here! You've no idea how long a walk I've got to me home! What if I had four more kilometers to walk now that I'm soaked? It's September, almost October for God's sake!" The rant continued for a little too long and when the shorter girl finally ran out of steam, Saphira had to think of a place to start.

"I just thought you might look hot all wet, I wasn't wrong" She answer appreciatively. Eve visibly tensed and scoffed.

"Look, I might be 'All Alone' as you so delicately put my lack of social circle, but I still have values. Your blatant displays of homosexual attraction towards me are actuall making me feel very uncomfortable." Eve chanced direct eye contact for a short moment, her eyes filled with fear and silent pleas for some semblance of control before she effortlessly said, "I'd prefer it if you stopped." With that she turned to right herself as well as she could while still dripping wet.

"Oh shit doll, don't take it that way!" Saphira tried to back pedal, "I didn't mean to upset you, like, at all. I thought maybe you were a little further out of the closet than — you know what, never mind. I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable. She ran up towards her stuff then, grabbing something soft looking and thrusting it out — an offering. Eve took the fabric hesitantly and unfolded a sweater.

"Your shirt is kinda see-through, and with the way men have been looking at you already today, I don't think you need them to catch a glimpse of all that lace."

Eve shoved the jacket back at the taller girl, "Thank you, but i live just around the corner. I'll be fine. Besides, nobody's lusting after me, I can't imagine what you think you've seen."

"Oh Eevee, you're so cute. Alright, well thanks for the directions. I'll see you in class."

"It's Eve." Was all the girl said as she began walking away. When she turned the corner she leaned up against the wall and caught her breath. Her body seemed to be betraying her in every way it could, her mind reeling, head aching, her hands were shaking and her stomach seemed to have flipped some many times when she'd met the other girl's eyes that it didn't know which way it had originally been. Something about this girl made her everything feel so wrong.

In heaven's name, what did God want from her.