This is the flash fiction I wrote for A LGBTQIAP+ Summer of Firsts Writing Contest. It's 494 words. Thank you for reading!

It's Natalie's first Pride. She has admitted to herself and her college roommate Sandra that she's a...lesbian. Sandra, a proud Pansexual, has made it her mission to show Natalie all that Pride has to offer. What Natalie was expecting is nothing like what she encounters as she is surrounded by the sights, sounds, and people of Pride. Is Natalie ready for this new world when she is still getting comfortable with her identity?

I'm a lesbian. I'm a lesbian.

Natalie thought, trying to get used to the word. It was a curse word, something not said in polite company. She called herself gay, but that was not accurate. She really liked girls and everything about them.

"You ready, girl?" Sandra asked, already out of the car.

Her friend waited, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. She wore a t-shirt that read: Being Pansexual Means I Get To Enjoy All The Butts.

"Totally!" Natalie answered, hopping out and pulling her ponytail tight. She stood straight, feeling confident in her black shorts and red tank top. A rainbow, bead necklace around her neck. Sandra insisted it was a must-wear.

Natalie's body buzzed with excitement. She watched the people walking along with them, dressed in rainbow colors showing their pride or hardly wearing anything at all. Natalie averted her eyes, but was compelled to look.

"My first Pride surprised me too," Sandra said, eyeing the group of girls in summer wear that captured Natalie's attention. "Those skinny, white lesbos don't tend to pay me no mind. My hook-ups come from my people who appreciate all my luscious, black curves." She struck a seductive pose, prompting catcalls from gay boys walking passed.

Natalie laughed, pulling her friend close as they neared the ticket booth. The walk to the festival was eye opening, but she was struck by the diversity of the revelers inside.

"This is nothing like what's on the news."

Sandra scoffed, "Because the damn media picks the most outrageously dressed queens to represent the community."

Natalie leaned in close and whispered, "I imagined all lesbians were overweight and unattractive."

Sandra's brows shot up. "You did not just say that!"

Natalie frowned. "Sorry. I don't mean to sound insensitive. I'm being honest."

"Okay, you're ignorant, Idaho," Sandra corrected, flatly.

"I'm new."

"Ignorant."

They continued walking.

"Fine! Yes, I'm ignorant. I don't know shit," Natalie said. "Isn't that what college roommates are for? Guide me through the treacherous waters of sexuality and beautiful lesbians."

"If I'm to make you a better lesbian, then you've got to get onto social media. It's weird that you're twenty-two and not."

Sandra droned about social media as Natalie's eye caught a beautiful Latina woman in her early twenties watching her. The Latina smiled. She reflexively smiled back. Her heart leapt as the Latina excused herself from her friends, and jogged toward them. Natalie unconsciously stopped to wait for her to catch up.

"Hey," the woman said with a roguish smile, her hands jammed into her jean pockets. "I'm, Essa."

"Hi," Natalie returned shyly, "Natalie."

"Sandra, Natalie's friend," Sandra said, hand extended in forced greeting.

Essa took it nonchalantly. "Cool shirt," she said with a nod.

Sandra smiled.

"You guys wanna hang?" Essa asked.

Natalie looked from Sandra to Essa. "That'd be cool."

Grinning she followed Essa, checking out her ass the whole time.

I'm such a lesbian.