Page 30 of Palm South University: Season 2
VALENTINE’S DAY HAS NEVER BEEN A SPECIAL HOLIDAYfor me. In fact, the only true valentine I ever had was in second grade when Jordan Lewis bought me a stuffed white dog and small, heart-shaped box of chocolate. He ate half of the chocolates and pushed me off the merry-go-round later that afternoon.
Asshole.
After that, I either didn’t have a boyfriend during Valentine’s Day or the boyfriend I had didn’t celebrate it. By the time I turned sixteen, I stopped caring, and that was a relief for the two boyfriends I had in high school. Neither of them had to worry about the holiday because it meant absolutely nothing to me.
But tonight, I’m wrapped in a massive pile of blankets and sheets with Bo tucked under my arm, her small hand resting on my hip, her fingers just barely under the hem of my t-shirt. It’s Valentine’s Day, and I’m determined to make it one we’ll both remember.
It’s barely over fifty degrees tonight, one of the last cold nights we’ll have in South Florida for quite a while. It’s mid-February now, which means sunshine and seventies are right around the corner. Spring Break is just a few weeks away, and while everyone else is focused on their diets, I’m focused on this moment — right here — lying under the stars with the only girl I’ve ever truly let myself be with.
It’s not that I never found a girl attractive before Bo. I’ve known for quite some time that I’m bisexual. Still, I never let myself be with them. A kiss here and there, maybe some nights spent together where I wondered if they felt the same, but that’s where it all ended. Bo is my first girlfriend, which is part of the reason I want tonight to be so special.
“This is nice,” Bo whispers, snuggling in closer. I run my fingers through her short, silky locks and sigh in agreement. “How did you even think of this?”
I shrug. “I wanted to do something no one had ever done for you before.”
“You succeeded,” Bo says with a giggle.
Palm South University is undergoing a lot of construction this semester, and I heard they were tearing down this parking garage to make room for a new theatre. They stopped letting students park here a few weeks ago and construction is set to pick up in March. I wanted to be alone with Bo, somewhere where we could be ourselves without anyone watching. So, I bought an air mattress, stuffed two duffle bags full of sheets, blankets, and pillows, and set up our own private bedroom under the stars. I asked Bo to bring a few candles and two bottles of wine, and now here we are.
Paradise.
Leaning up on her elbow, Bo frowns down at me, the soft flicker of the candles illuminating her face just slightly. “Are you okay?”
Her hand leaves my hip and finds the side of my face as she runs her thumb across my cheek bone. I flinch a little, the bruise still tender, but force a smile. “I’m fine.”
“I can’t believe some asshole mugged you. On campus, nonetheless.” She shivers. “Gives me the creeps.”
“Me too. But I’m okay, and I just want to move on.”
She nods, but her eyes are focused hard on mine. Bo knows about the trouble I got into last semester with Hayden and the drugs, but I never told her what Kya said when she came by the sorority house that last day of fall semester. How could I? Bo is the most special person in my life right now. I couldn’t risk losing her because of a stupid decision I made.
I’m digging my way out of this hole on my own, and once I’m out, I’ll stand in the sunshine with Bo.
I told Erin and the rest of my sorority that I was mugged on my way to the bank with our philanthropy money. Xavier came through with what I asked him to do, and with a smile on his face. He enjoyed it, I could tell.
“Do the campus police have any leads yet?”
I shake my head. “Not yet. But they’ll find who did it. I’m not worried.”
At least that’s not a lie. The PSU police are the last item on my list of Shit to Worry About.
“You know you can talk to me, right?” Bo laces her fingers in mine, pulling my hand to her lips for a soft kiss. It’s such an innocent touch, but my heart instantly accelerates.
“I know.”
Bo seems so perfect on the outside — beautiful complexion, hair, body. She puts everyone else before herself. But over the last few weeks, I’ve gotten to know Bo on a deeper level. She opened up to me about her parents, the pressure they put on her to excel in life, the absolute horror she experiences at just the thought of telling them she’s gay.
That I can relate to.
I’ve grown into my skin enough to know who I am. I like boys, but I also like girls. I just love to love, I guess. Regardless, my parents wouldn’t understand — just like Bo’s wouldn’t. I’ve always thought that, maybe, they never really needed to know. After all, there’s a chance I may end up marrying a guy, right? Still, I can’t say I’ve never thought about telling them just to see their reaction. I wonder if I’d have their attention then?
But Bo doesn’t have that same thought. She can’t help who she loves, and she doesn’t want who her parents think she should — who the bible says she should.
It’s sad, and even though acceptance is spreading faster now than it ever did when my parents were my age, there are still so many who don’t understand.
Our parents are at the top of that list.
“What are you thinking about?” Bo asks, sitting and pulling one of the blankets up with her to cover her shoulders. The candlelight is reflected onto the front of her face while the moon and stars shine bright behind her. It’s absolutely stunning.