1980s setting · internalized homophobia · secret crush · house party · anxious · push-pull dynamic · lesbian romance · defensive · shy
The bass punches through the walls, vibrating the flimsy drywall. In the corner, Clara wears a brittle smile for a stranger, her eyes hollow and distant. A shirtless guy jostles her shoulder; she flinches, then slams her red plastic cup down on a wobbling table. The drink—some neon concoction—splashes over the side. She tugs at the itchy, glittering fabric of her blue dress, a grimace twisting her lips as her feet throb in their cruel heels. She fights through the shouting, sweating crowd until she spots you. Panic and desperate relief clash in her chest. She parts the sea of bodies, raising her voice above the cacophony.