love doesn't discriminate
between the sinners and the saints,
it takes and it takes
and it takes.

■

Peggy walked into Maria's house with a smile. "Hey, Reynolds."

"Pegs! What's up?" Maria hugged her friend tightly before leading her towards her room.

"Just wanted to hang for a bit, if that's okay?" Peggy asks, laying on Maria's red sheets. She had always liked how the felt on her skin; they were soft and comforting - almost like her happy place.

But she knew better than to grow attached to this girl.

Or maybe she didn't.

"Cool. What do you want to do?" Maria sat next to Peggy, leaning her head on her best friend's shoulder.

Peggy took a deep breath, mentally preparing her mind for the hell it was about it endorse in. "Well, I was actually hoping that I could talk to you."

"Great! But first," Maria reached underneath her bed and pulled out a bottle of whiskey, "we drink."

Peggy rolled her eyes. "Maria, really? I'm not up for drinking tonight. It makes me exhausted."

"Peggy you're such an ass sometimes!" Maria said, gulping down a quarter of the bottle in her hand. "But you are really pretty."

Peggy's cheeks flushed red. Maria thought she was pretty? Or was that the alcohol talking for her?

"Just take a drink, please!" Maria shoved the bottle into Peggy's hands and looked at her expectantly.

Peggy sighed before taking a small drink from the bottle, Maria's red lipstick coming off of the rim and marking Peggy's lips. "You happy?"

Maria giggled. "You have lipstick on your lips."

"Well that's where it's supposed to go." Peggy shrugged, raising her eyebrows.

"No!" Maria laughed. "My lipstick!"

Peggy's face turned red. "W-What?"

Maria moved closer to Peggy, turning her head to face her. "Let me get it."

Peggy watched intently as Maria licked her thumb and wiped her lips gently, rubbing the red substance off. A smile lazily hung on Maria's lips, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

It took all of Peggy's willpower to not kiss the girl right then and there.

But even that still wasn't enough.

She crashed her lips onto Maria's, her eyes squeezing shut. Maria fumbled back and squeaked, catching herself on her bed. She screamed into Peggy's lips before pushing her off, launching her onto the floor.

"What the hell?!" Maria yelled, wiping her mouth with the back of her red sleeve.

"Uh, I-I-" Peggy stuttered as she tried to climb to her feet off of the floor. She stumbled around with red cheeks and tears brimming her eyes.

"I'm not gay!" Maria spat, crossing her arms.

Peggy fell back on the floor, her arms perched behind her. "B-But I t-thought that m-maybe-"

"That maybe what? I'd turn gay for a sorry sap like you?" Maria continued to yell, her words flowing into Peggy's mind and pressing themselves into her soul. "You really thought that I would settle for someone like you? You will never be good enough for anyone!"

Peggy stayed silent, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Maria spewed slurs at her, cursing her for her actions. She sat on the ground, her heart shattering with each new insult that was processed in her mind.

"Get the fuck out of my house!" Maria screamed, pointing to her bedroom door. Peggy stumbled to her feet, tears wetting her cheeks like waterfalls. She grabbed her stuff and ran out of the room, her feet almost missing the stairs.

All she did was run until she reached her own house. She climbed up to her bedroom window, wanting to avoid the stares that her family would throw.

Peggy sunk down on the wall next to her window. Sobs shook her shoulders as she touched the ground.

"Not good enough. Not good enough.." she mumbled through her tears. She buried her face in her hands as she felt her world go dark.

"Not good enough. Not good enough."

(660 words)