Requiem of Loss
A Short Story by: Steve JesterRated PG-13 for mature themes and brief nudity scenes
A dark, dreary, rainy morning was at hand as a figure stood over a desolate grave. Her face was full of anguish. In her hands were flowers, flowers for the dead. The owner of the grave was her best friend, Stephanie MacDonald. Many people knew that she liked Stephanie as a friend. But there was something that many people didn't know about her. She was a lesbian and Stephanie was her girlfriend. "Why?" the girl asked, "Why Steph? Why did you die?" The figure fell to her knees, "Why did you have to leave me?"
Another figure walked up to the girl on her knees, "Come on Christie, we'll be late," she said.
"Your right Ami," Christie said getting up. Christie Smith stood at about five foot six inches. Her short, brunette hair contrasted against her blue eyes. "Let's get going."
Ami, Christie, and Stephanie were students at Phoenix High School. For what Christie knew, Ami knew nothing about what she and Stephanie had. Ami only knew that they were close friends. Ami had tried to keep out of her friend's personal lives, but she had suspected something.
Christie and Ami went into the school together, both ready for the long day of school. For Christie, first period used to be a time of happiness. It was art, her favorite class. Now it would be long and depressing because Stephanie also took that class. Christie walked into the class as many students were talking to their tablemates. Christie sat at a table by the window. One of her tablemates would have been Stephanie. The others were a boy named Derek and the gossip queen of Phoenix High School, Amanda. "Hey Christie!" Derek said, "We were wondering if you would come to school today."
"Just because my best friend died doesn't mean I'll lie down and not come to school," Christie said.
"Christie, you need to hear this!" Amanda said, the look of new gossip on her face.
"What is it today?" Christie asked, "New relationships, scandalous information about the teachers?"
"No, it's about you and Steph," Amanda said, her eyes lighting up.
Christie felt a hot blush spread across her face. "Yes?" she squeaked, nervous at what was coming next.
"You were with her that night right?" Amanda said.
"Yea," Christie said, remembering that fateful night.
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"That was a great dinner Christie," Stephanie said.
"Thanks," Christie said blushing deep red.
The two lovers walked down the street, hand in hand. It was already after dark. Stephanie's blond haired head lied upon the taller brunette's shoulder. No words were spoken as the couple neared the house that Stephanie MacDonald resided. Christie looked into the eyes of her girlfriend, the same eyes that were staring into hers. She let her hands travel down to Stephanie's waist. Stephanie's own hands were traveling up Christie's slender body and stopped when they reached her neck. Together they pulled each other into a kiss so passionate that it was beyond the realm of words, the emotions felt in that kiss could not be described. When they released, Stephanie started to cross the street. No one noticed the drunk driver come barreling down the street. When the car impacted Stephanie, she was sent flying into the air. She landed right next to where Christie was witnessing this horrible tragedy. Christie bent down and checked to see if there was a pulse, but found none. "Why?!" Christie screamed with sadness filling to the brim, "Why?!"
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"So, she was declared dead at the scene?" Derek asked.
"Yes," Christie answered.
"You know what I heard," Amanda said apparently bored with the way the conversation was going, "I heard that Steph wasn't quite right if you know what I mean."
Christie's blush returned as she said, "What do you mean, Amanda?"
Amanda pulled them closer so she could whisper, "From a reliable source, I was told that she was attracted to girls."
Christie's blush intensified, "She didn't tell me anything about that," she replied, much too fast for her liking.
Amanda moved back a few inches, "Wait, was there something going on between you and Steph?" Amanda's face held an accusing stare, fixated on Christie. All Christie could do was keep her mouth shut. But that was enough for Amanda who noticed the deep blush on Christie's face, "You're kidding? You're gay? And Steph was your girlfriend?!"
The whole class turned their heads towards their table. Christie's emotions turned from embarrassment to anger and back again. She ran out of the class at full throttle. She ran all the way to the Senior Lounge. Fortunately it was empty. She sat on the couch. Her emotions were running high, having to relive that tragic night; her sexuality now was exposed to the entire school. She felt alone now. "Christie!" someone said from behind her.
Christie turned around and saw Derek. "Go away!" she said turning back around, "You must think it's fun to make fun of a freak!!"
Derek sat next to Christie, "Christie, you are not a freak," he said in a comforting voice, "It's just the way you think, there's nothing wrong here except how Amanda reacted."
Christie continued to sit in silence, "You want to go back to class?" Derek asked standing up, outstretching his hand. Christie took it and they went to the art room.
Christie walked in to find that the class as silent as she left it. All of a sudden the bell for the end of class rung as Christie grabbed her stuff and went to her next class, Gym. The girls locker room was crowded as girls were changing into their gym uniform. But a small corner was only occupied by two people, Ami and Christie. "I really don't like Amanda right now," Christie said full of disgust.
"I know what you mean. Remember how she spread that rumor that I was perverted because of all the anime I watch?" Ami said.
"Yea, but you watch anime because it reminds you of home," Christie said. Ami Mizaki was a foreign exchange student from Japan.
A whistle blew outside the locker room signaling that class was about to begin.
As the class filed out of the locker room the teacher stopped Christie, "Smith your excused from class, the nurse would like to talk to you, something about sports physicals."
"Oh, ok," Christie said walking down to the nurse's office. What confused her was the she was a senior. Christie was about to graduate in a few months. When Christie went into the office, she found out that there was a mix-up and she wasn't supposed to be there. Christie knew who orchestrated this 'mix-up,' Amanda. Amanda was also in her gym class. Christie ran back to the gym. The class was playing lacrosse. Christie joined Ami's team. When she sat down, she got very peculiar looks. Christie knew in that instant, they knew, Amanda had told them. When it was her turn to play she lined up across from Amanda. "You used that opportunity to tell them, didn't you?" Christie asked.
"And what?" was Amanda's reply, "They have a right to know about a perv like you!"
At that point Christie caught a pass from one of her teammates. Amanda tried to block Christie as she ran around Amanda and shot at the goal. Going in it made Christie's team ahead by one. "Time!" the teacher yelled as it went in, "Ok ladies, hit the showers!" The girls proceeded to the locker room and changed.
Waiting for the bell Christie was yet again outcasted by everyone but Ami. "Cheer up! Lunch is next!" Ami said.
"Yea, it wasn't your sexuality that was exposed to the entire school," Christie said, assuming that Ami knew by now.
"Don't worry about it!" Ami said, "We only have English after that and then we get to go home!"
The bell rang as Christie said, "Yea, where I can be an outcast in private."
"Christie," Ami said, her eyes looking into Christie's. Christie was only about a half inch taller than the black haired, blue eyed Ami. Ami's jet black hair sank a little past her shoulders. "I want to tell you something," Ami continued with a slight blush, "I'm also a lesbian."
Christie's eyes widened as realization of what Ami said sunk in. Christie picked up her bag , "Well," Christie said blushing, "at least I'm not alone."
Christie and Ami walked to the lunchroom, which part of was the Senior Lounge. They sat together at a table in the lounge. They sat in quiet, comprised in thoughts. So, Ami's a lesbian, Christie thought, She is kinda cute. But how would Steph… wait I forgot, Steph's dead. Ughh…I don't know what to do! Should I ask her out, should I move on? Christie kept thinking about whether or not she should move on, but then she heard a voice say, "Christie?"
"Yea Ami?" Christie said.
"Umm… would you like to go on a date?" Ami said blushing.
Christie sat there thinking it over then she finally said "Sure."
All of sudden Christie heard, "Did you hear her? Gross!" It came from a table full of freshman boys.
"Hey Christie!" said someone behind her, Christie turned around, it was Derek with a few of his football buddies, "They're on the JV team, so if you want, we'll ruff them up for you."
"No thanks," Ami said a gleam in her eye, "We've got it covered."
The bell that ended lunch rang as Christie and Ami picked up their stuff and went to English. Steph, forgive me, Christie thought.
English went by rather fast, with the expectation of a date after school, it made the day less hectic. After school, Ami took Christie to a restaurant in downtown Phoenix, the same restaurant that Christie took Stephanie that fateful day. The two had a quite dinner, enjoying each other's company. The two companions went home. Christie went straight to her room, it was already 9:30. Christie and Ami shared the room, so as Christie was changing, Ami came in. "Rather generous aren't we?" Ami said with a chuckle.
Fortunately, Christie had her panties on. Christie blushed and slipped her nightshirt over herself quickly. "Well, it kinda helps if you didn't sneak in on me!"
Ami said nothing and turned on the stereo, it was a song the Christie had never heard before. "It's a funeral song," Ami said, "they sung it at my grandmother's funeral."
"It's beautiful," Christie said.
"The words are meant for death of a tragic circumstance," Ami continued, "like Stephanie's."
"I see," Christie said.
Ami fell into Christie's bed, "I want to sleep next to you tonight, to comfort each other"
"Sure," Christie said getting into bed feeling happy, for the first time since that tragic day. And in the sky above, an angelic figure smiled.
End