Chocolate Chip Mint 26, Fudge Ripple 13, FOTD: A Long, Long Time
Title: A Long, Long Time
Main Story: In the Heart
Flavors, Toppings, Extras: Chocolate chip mint 26 (battered), fudge ripple 13 (doubt), FOTD (manumit: to free from slavery or servitude), pocky chain.
Word Count: 526
Rating: PG-13, for violence
Summary: Five people Gina broke up with, and the one she didn't.
Notes: Pocky chain. Title is from Gina and Ivy's theme song, Mighty Kate's "Two Apples." Which is a fabulous song. Three FOTD to go!
Gina broke up with Ned first.
He was understanding about it, to a point. All the usual excuses-- "it isn't working out," "it's not you, it's me," "I'm just not in love" -- he took them well enough. But then he asked her why.
She'd swallowed, and told him. She can still remember the look on his face; it felt like a punch to the gut.
She should be grateful, she'd told herself. He didn't spread rumors, or tell her parents.
But he never spoke to her again.
--
There was India, in sophomore year of college. It wasn't her idea that time. They'd been happy. She thought they'd been happy, anyway.
Looking back, she remembered that India only ever wanted to make out when they were in public; alone together, she didn't seem to have any interest at all. Pushing, pushing, always pushing, that was India, never happy unless she was in the spotlight.
It made Gina feel used.
She was glad when India left.
--
Lily was a breather. They met senior year and dated for eight months.
Olivia thought she was nice. Gina still remembered the noncommital tone of voice, the tone you use when you're sure it's not going to last but you don't really know why.
Olivia was right, as it happened. They broke up right before graduation. It was a mutual thing this time; they just weren't working. There was affection, but no love, interest but no passion.
Lily met her soulmate two months later. Gina was glad for her, but jealous.
--
Gina's still not sure why she started dating Maxine. They had nothing in common. Max was Max; insistent on being called a masculine version of her name, a feminist of the Andrea Dworkin school, who derided everything feminine to boot.
The first time Gina wore her favorite red dress, Max had laughed, and called her a tool of the patriarchy.
It didn't last long after that.
--
Vanessa.
Vanessa still hurts. Gina really thought she loved her. She really thought Vanessa was the one. They would dress up and go to parties, make out and make fun of the drooling men (and women), then go home and fuck each other's brains out. It was one hell of a ride while it lasted, parties every night, drinking and drugs, and through it all Vanessa pulling the strings, laughing.
But then Vanessa cheated, and told her it was her fault (for not being perfect, she meant), and slapped her, once.
Gina got out then. But it still hurts.
--
Ivy is grumpy in the mornings, and a coffee addict. She combs her hair over and over, then lets it hang loose to tangle and be combed again. She's not beautiful, is barely even pretty. She's ruthless, and she loves to win, and she cheats.
But she'll kiss Gina, anywhere, any time. She dances like she doesn't care; she believes in herself and Gina and the two of them like some believe in God. Ivy's proud of her; Ivy doesn't judge. She didn't know she missed that.
Ivy's perfect; she makes Gina perfect too.
She's not jealous of Lily anymore.
Main Story: In the Heart
Flavors, Toppings, Extras: Chocolate chip mint 26 (battered), fudge ripple 13 (doubt), FOTD (manumit: to free from slavery or servitude), pocky chain.
Word Count: 526
Rating: PG-13, for violence
Summary: Five people Gina broke up with, and the one she didn't.
Notes: Pocky chain. Title is from Gina and Ivy's theme song, Mighty Kate's "Two Apples." Which is a fabulous song. Three FOTD to go!
Gina broke up with Ned first.
He was understanding about it, to a point. All the usual excuses-- "it isn't working out," "it's not you, it's me," "I'm just not in love" -- he took them well enough. But then he asked her why.
She'd swallowed, and told him. She can still remember the look on his face; it felt like a punch to the gut.
She should be grateful, she'd told herself. He didn't spread rumors, or tell her parents.
But he never spoke to her again.
--
There was India, in sophomore year of college. It wasn't her idea that time. They'd been happy. She thought they'd been happy, anyway.
Looking back, she remembered that India only ever wanted to make out when they were in public; alone together, she didn't seem to have any interest at all. Pushing, pushing, always pushing, that was India, never happy unless she was in the spotlight.
It made Gina feel used.
She was glad when India left.
--
Lily was a breather. They met senior year and dated for eight months.
Olivia thought she was nice. Gina still remembered the noncommital tone of voice, the tone you use when you're sure it's not going to last but you don't really know why.
Olivia was right, as it happened. They broke up right before graduation. It was a mutual thing this time; they just weren't working. There was affection, but no love, interest but no passion.
Lily met her soulmate two months later. Gina was glad for her, but jealous.
--
Gina's still not sure why she started dating Maxine. They had nothing in common. Max was Max; insistent on being called a masculine version of her name, a feminist of the Andrea Dworkin school, who derided everything feminine to boot.
The first time Gina wore her favorite red dress, Max had laughed, and called her a tool of the patriarchy.
It didn't last long after that.
--
Vanessa.
Vanessa still hurts. Gina really thought she loved her. She really thought Vanessa was the one. They would dress up and go to parties, make out and make fun of the drooling men (and women), then go home and fuck each other's brains out. It was one hell of a ride while it lasted, parties every night, drinking and drugs, and through it all Vanessa pulling the strings, laughing.
But then Vanessa cheated, and told her it was her fault (for not being perfect, she meant), and slapped her, once.
Gina got out then. But it still hurts.
--
Ivy is grumpy in the mornings, and a coffee addict. She combs her hair over and over, then lets it hang loose to tangle and be combed again. She's not beautiful, is barely even pretty. She's ruthless, and she loves to win, and she cheats.
But she'll kiss Gina, anywhere, any time. She dances like she doesn't care; she believes in herself and Gina and the two of them like some believe in God. Ivy's proud of her; Ivy doesn't judge. She didn't know she missed that.
Ivy's perfect; she makes Gina perfect too.
She's not jealous of Lily anymore.