Graduation comes and passes. In the end, Yuna gets away with the three-day suspension and is able to receive her diploma. Elise and Yuna decided to keep their relationship private until then. It’s not like anyone ever suspected anything in the first place. Nat’s the only one who has been teasing them about it. She spent the final days watching them interact.

For the first month of summer, the pair spent nearly every day together. At first, it was Yuele who Elise saw the most. But as time went on, Yuna showed up more and more. It’s not like it mattered to Elise. She enjoys her time with both of them. Yuele is assertive and dominant towards her. It makes Elise’s knees weak. Yuna tries, but Elise notices just how vulnerable she becomes. It’s the one thing only Elise gets to see. When they’re around other people, Yuna acts like her regular self; an extroverted Yuele.

One day, Elise introduces Yuna to her parents. They’ve already known about her and Yuele and were curious to meet her. Yuna felt too nervous about it and decided to dress her top half as Yuele. It just felt more right. In the end, she was stunned at how accepting Elise’s parents were about their relationship. They even asked what she preferred to be called so they never mistake her. Yuna gets particularly jealous of how excited Elise’s mother was.

“When am I going to meet your parents?” Elise asks a few days later.

“If my mom ever finds out I’m dating a girl, she’ll disown me.”

“That harsh huh? What about your dad?”

“I don’t think he’ll care but he’ll just end up siding with her.”

Hearing that saddens Elise. Besides Grace, there isn’t a person in Yuna’s life who knows about Elise. Yuna barely has anyone who supports her compared to Elise. Even two others of Elise’s closest friends know about Yuna and support it. She wonders if she’s truly enough to keep Yuna happy.

Today they’re out shopping for new clothes as their college life is fast approaching. Elise tends to gravitate to anything that’s lightly colored and shines. Yuna loves anything black. The girl finds a particular jacket she likes and gets an idea. She leaves Elise to grab a pair of black jeans, some boots, and an oversized t-shirt before returning.

“You’re buying all that?” Elise asks.

“No,” Yuna grabs hold of Elise’s arm and takes her over to the changing room. “Put these on, I want to see how you would like if you dressed a bit like me.”

“Eh?” Elise giggles, “Okay, but only if you dress like me.”

“Deal.”

Elise stares at herself with the clothes Yuna picked out. She’s never tried on boy’s clothes before but finds it extremely comfortable. Her body has so much room to breathe. She sees why Yuna likes it so much. Elise ties up her hair just as Yuele used to have it. She shuffles her bangs around until they become a mess. For a moment, she doesn’t recognize herself. Still, it’s very clear that Elise is a girl. She steps out and waits for Yuna to finish.

Yuna steps out at first feeling extremely uncomfortable. It goes away the very moment she sees her girlfriend. Elise isn’t paying attention but her presence is enough to calm Yuna.

She’s never had a problem wearing girl’s clothes. She likes skirts, long socks, and thin tops. It’s just her style is much different than Elise’s. Yuna doesn’t do lights. Yuna wears a long handkerchief skirt paired with a button-up cardigan and pink cat-eyed glasses. She’s never worn loafers before, much less a purse. Today that changed.

“I need to get you the actual clothes I wear from the internet. You'll look better then. But damn, sort of love it.”

Elise looks over to Yuna and becomes too stunned to speak. She always found Yuna to be cute or handsome. How she looks now can’t be described as anything less than gorgeous.

“You’re staring again.”

“Sorry,” Elise snaps out of it then giggles. “I’m just admiring you. You’re too pretty not to.”

“I would say the same and I like how you look, but I prefer my Elise.”

Elise thinks of what she just made Yuna do. “It’s not too uncomfortable for you, is it? I know-”

“Elise, it’s fine,” Yuna walks forward to grab hold of Elise’s hands. “You don’t have to walk around eggshells with me. If I don’t like something I’ll say it.”

“I just wasn’t thinking.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Being around you has been making me confused lately.”

“What do you mean?”

“My entire life I felt like I never belonged in this body. I don’t feel that way when I’m around you. It’s been fucking with me. I love how you look at me.”

Elise doesn’t know what to say. She drops her forehead to rest on Yuna’s. “I don’t ever want you to hate yourself. You’re so beautiful, Yunie.”

“Let me sleep over tonight. I don’t think I’ll be able to let you leave me today.”

Elise nods. It’s been long enough. She wants to feel every part of Yuna. She wants Yuna to feel her. It’s been popping up in her mind lately. Yuna hasn’t talked about it or even tried. Elise wonders if this is her way of asking. They haven’t slept together since they started dating because they both are afraid of where it would go. Elise feels that she’s ready.

After she changes back, she waits for Yuna. Elise is tapped on the shoulder by one of her friends. They’re not close and Elise has never liked her to begin with. The friend has always been too judgemental and two-sided for her liking. They greet each other just as the friend expects Elise as if they’re besties.

“Elise, we should get ice cream,” Yuna says popping out of the changing room.

“Ew. Elise why are you with Yuna?” the friend grimaces.

Elise notices Yuna getting ready to talk back so she gets in front of her. “She’s my girlfriend, Sam.”

“What?! I thought you were dating that guy Yuele.”

“She is Yuele.”

Sam laughs, “I always knew you were homo.”

Yuna gets in front of the girl and smirks. “Didn’t I hear you say I was the hottest guy you’ve ever seen with Elise showed you a picture of me. What was it that you said? That you think I’m the best fuck ever? Want me to change so you can find out?”

“Yuna, please,” Elise sighs.

“Whatever! I’m telling everyone,” Sam snickers.

“Go ahead.”

“Try not to get a UTI again!” Yuna shouts as Sam leaves. “I didn’t expect you to tell her outright.”

Elise grabs hold of her hand. “I don’t want to hide you.”

Yuna feels something new again. She doesn't know the words for it. She takes hold of Elise’s arm and takes her away. Whatever anxiety still left in her is gone now. Yuna takes Elise to her apartment.

"This is Elise, my girlfriend," she introduces her to her parents. Yuna does feel afraid. She's ready for whatever comes. It's far different than having courage. It's as if Yuna doesn't care anymore.

"You're nothing but a disappointment, Yuna," her mother turns her back then. "You have until the end of the week to pack up all your stuff."

"um, excuse me, ma'am," Elise scowls. "I don't appreciate you talking to Yuna like that. She's your daughter and never once considered how you make her feel. Not that it matters anymore, we're moving in together for university."

Yuna glances over at Elise. This is the first she's heard about it. Then again, it probably won't matter.

Yuna's mother scoffs, "Didn't she tell you? She got suspended again I'm not paying for her."

Her father has heard enough. "Yukino, I never agreed to that. You're taking it too far. Yuna graduated meeting your expectations. Just because you don't agree with her sexuality doesn't give you the right to treat her like you've been."

The mother slams her hand on the table and storms to her room. "You're both fucking ridiculous."

Yuna turns to her father who only shrugs, then to Elise to notice she's been leaning on Yuna this entire time. She looks at her dad once more and he's smiling at her. Her shoulders feel light and her heart starts to hurt. It's not actually painful but it feels like it wants to give out. It takes her breath away and Yuna realizes she's just falling deeper in love with Elise.

-

Yuna doesn’t stop thinking about how Elise has been standing up for her all day. It sort of scares her but that is overtaken by the amount of pride she feels. Elise is all hers. And right now as Elise pushes Yuna down to the bed, Yuna wants her even more.

She melts as Elise’s kisses move from her mouth to her neck. A bolt of electricity shocks her in mind-numbing pleasure when Elise lightly bites her breasts and her nipple. Even though it's through a shirt, Yuna lets out a squirming moan. Elise’s traveling hands from her arms, chest, waist, thighs, and calves all feel as if Yuna is being bathed in caramel. Yuna begins to get goosebumps when Elise’s hand feels her stomach then begins to travel down to her pelvis. She gulps when the hand gets underneath her tights. Then she feels a finger touch her labia.

Yuna pushes Elise off.

“What?! What?!” Elise freaks out.

Yuna catches her breath and holds her trembling hands. She’s tried this before with someone else only for the girl to freak out when she found there was nothing there. It’s the only thing she can think about now.

“Did I do something wrong? Yuna, I’m sorry!”

Yuna shakes her head. “No, I’m sorry.” She knows Elise is different. She knows it’s okay now. And yet the memory doesn’t leave. “I don’t think I’m ready. It’s just-”

Elise wraps herself around Yuna, instantly calming her. “It’s okay. You don’t need to explain yourself.”

The soft voice Elise makes Yuna want to try again. She remembers the initial touch and the other memory comes back. “If we just cuddle, would that be enough?”

“It’s more than enough.”

Yuna takes a breath of Elise’s intoxicating and addictive scent. Then she sucks up a bit of slightly salty sweat from her neck. “What did I ever do to deserve you?”

“I should be asking you that, Yuna. Just what makes you so special to make me feel this way? I get crazier about you every day.”

Yuna closes her eyes and lets herself fall asleep inside Elise’s arms. There isn’t a thing that would make this moment more perfect. Every day has been better than the last. Yuna doesn’t want anything else.