So Shelly suggests that we go to a party tonight. I’m complete and utterly clueless as to why she would suggest such a thing. I try to think up of any reason that would spur up such an idea. It’s not her birthday, nor is it mine. A quick check at the calendar shows that there’s no holiday, and I’m positive that it’s not our anniversary.

Shelly tells me that I need to get out more. I insist that I’m not really a party-going type, as I rack my brain to find reasons why I am. I can’t remember any bad experiences, but I remember a school dance way back where another girl I asked to dance with shot me down. I quickly tell this to Shelly, and declare that I refuse to go to any parties. Shelly only looks at me playfully and reminds me that she was that girl who said no.

I reluctantly head for the closet when Shelly says something that was almost made me change my mind.

“There’s going to be tons of couples there… and I mean couples like us.”

I look at her and study her short blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. I know that if I walked into a party courting a girl like her, anyone would become jealous of us.

“How do you know?” I ask, crossing my arms. I need to know all facts and details before heading to a party. If anything, I know I’ll get an excuse to stay home.

“Matt told me. You know, you’re friend Matt?”

I rolled my eyes casually. “I know who he is, Shelly.” Matt’s my best friend. He’s just what you would call a stereotypical guy… loud, likes football, and isn’t all that clean. Don’t get me wrong, he’s pretty cute and he loves to get out, but he’s usually switching girlfriends or fiancé’s every other week. Last time I recall, he’s been engaged about five times.

Now that I think about it, I don’t think that Matt would lie to my girlfriend. I resume looking for my most party-like clothing, muttering an agreement to Shelly. I can tell that’s she happy, and she too goes off to find something to wear. I pull out something a bit low cut, and possibly sexy. A few minutes later I’m presenting myself to Shelly, asking what she thinks.

“You look so cute!” she exclaims. I can see that she looks spectacular in her outfit, which turns out to be a short red skirt accompanied by a very revealing tank top and a pair of white fingerless gloves. She’s wearing low top, red and white Converse all-stars, and I can tell that she’s trying to blend in with a younger audience.

“Cute? I was more looking for attractive.”

Shelly just smiles, shaking her head mildly. “You’re not the sexy type. You’re cute, and that’s what I love about you.”

I know this makes me feel a lot better. I take her hand and squeeze it tightly, letting her know that I love her too. “Shall we go then?”

We leave our clean apartment and drive down town, heading to a rich loft that’s brightly lit. We’re standing downstairs and we can already hear the party’s music going on. As I look to Shelly, I can tell that looking young was a good idea. This was a party for people more of the start of college level, probably freshman or sophomores. Shelly, only being 21, fits right in with this crowd, but I, being six years her senior, feel older and out of place.

The ride up the elevator is only a few seconds, and as the door opens we are standing right in the party. My body goes stiff as the other couples look at us with distaste, and right now I know that we have been tricked.

There are no couples here like us. As everyone murmurs with disgust about how wrong my girlfriend and I are, I only stand there bravely, waiting for this moment to pass over, and accept this horrible truth.

I give a secret glance to Shelly and I see her blue eyes watering up, and I stand there squeezing her hand over and over, reminding her of how much I love her.

I flip my long brown hair over my shoulder, and move my mouth to allow a few phrases to slip through my lips, but before I can get any words out Matt comes out of the staring crowd, grabbing my hand and leading me and Shelly to the center of the room.

“These are two of my very good friends, Kayla and Shelly. I invited them myself.” Matt said warmly, casually introducing us to the entire room.

As I stand there, I remind myself how grateful I am to have a friend like Matt. I scan the room and smile awkwardly, realizing that many of these people have probably never encountered a lesbian couple, or wanted anything to do with one. The fact that they greeted us with smiles, shaking our hands and interacting with us as if we were no different from any of them made me feel normal for the first time in too many years. I learn to have fun at this party, and I know that I’ll go to many more in the future. Right now, I’m having the time of my life.