Chapter Text
It was hard for Glimmer to believe it was the start of the spring semester, seeing a light flurry of snowflakes had arrived. The cold wasn’t incredibly bitter like it had been over Winter Break, yet it was still miserable walking between the dorms and the campus. Glimmer sank into her seat in the now relatively crowded lecture room. She refused to escape her wool lined coat, still feeling herself flushing.
Winter break was uneventful and the same as it had been for the past decade of her life. Her mother, aunt and her would eat dinner with her friend, Bow, and his family. It saved her from a potentially miserable, silent dinner with her minuscule family. Her father’s passing left a gap between the three… that, and another reason.
Angella handled Glimmer coming out alright. She wasn’t angry, she wasn’t happy, not even worried it would ruin her reputation as president of the University of Bright Moon. It was just something her mother never questioned her about. Glimmer was sure if she was straight, her mother would be asking if she was seeing anyone. However, her mother had never queried into her love life. Frankly, it was disappointing.
All her mother would ask about was how university was going. She was sure the last time they talked about anything besides university, work, or her friend Bow was when she got a second cartilage piercing - which mildly upset Angella.
“Glimmer, what if you can’t get a job in the future because of all those piercings?”
“Mom, nobody cares about that anymore.”
“Well, I do!”
Glimmer still appreciated her mother. Despite having a job, her mother helped with expenses. She even somehow got Glimmer her very own dorm room at the University - knowing full well Glimmer didn’t like interacting with strangers.
It was Sophomore year. At this point in her life, Glimmer only had two relationships - both with girls in high school, both last only three months each. She was too timid to initiate anything. All she had was Bow and their odd group of friends. Yeah, they were mostly girls, but Glimmer couldn’t really see herself dating any of them.
Maybe this would be the semester she would meet someone. All she knew was that she would have to make the move, somehow.
She flinched at the sight of someone settling their things next to her.
Glimmer’s eyes practically sparkled while looking at the girl.
Her physique was lean, you could tell she was someone that worked out regularly. Most of her blonde hair was tucked into a long ponytail that spilled over her shoulders. The sides of her head were buzzed into an undercut. Piercing blue eyes exchanged with lavender ones for a moment. The eye contact was almost too long.
She couldn’t help but notice the girl wore was a pair of jeans, a tan sweater, and a varsity jacket - not entirely suitable for the snowy conditions outside. Her blue eyes darted towards Glimmer’s bag before smiling at Glimmer.
“It’s cold out there, huh?” the strange girl spoke, almost surprising Glimmer.
“Oh… yeah…”
As the girl sat down, Glimmer suddenly remembered what was on her messenger bag; a collection of pins, including a pin of their university logo with the pride colors.
… Is that why she smiled...?
“I like that pin - the pride one. Where did you get it?”
She radiated such a bright, friendly energy. It was comforting how she spoke in a low-tone, as if she was aware that the two were likely surrounded by heterosexuals. Glimmer sat up in her seat, smiling back at the girl.
“I can get you one for free. My friend’s dads have a bunch, they work over in the library.”
“Really? Wow, I’d appreciate it!”
To Glimmer, it felt nice knowing someone was LGBTQ+. Not so much that she wanted to find a girlfriend, but she felt comfort around other LGBTQ+ people - particularly other women who loved women. She was sure the girl felt the same about it.
“What’s your name?” Glimmer asked.
“Adora. Yours?”
Adora. What a cute name!
“Glimmer.”
“Glimmer? What a pretty name!”
Oh.
Glimmer was sure her cheeks were stained red. She wasn’t too sure, seeing she was still warming up and couldn’t feel her face.
“Oh, um… thanks. I like your name too.”
Neither had even noticed the professor had walked in. This would be an interesting American History class.
Glimmer sighed, looking out into an empty cafe.
Why do I need this job again?
Right. Her mother wanted her to work. Actually, forced her into getting a job. Going as far to drop her off alone at the food handler’s class and telling her to walk back home if she didn’t want the job.
“It’s good experience”, my ass, you stupid boomer.
Her coworker went to the bathroom thirty minutes ago. Thirty. Fucking. Minutes. Ago. The restroom was right down the hall. She was sure Mermista was toilet sexting.
It was 8pm on a Tuesday - who wanted coffee this time of day? It was only thirty more minutes till close. Glimmer could make it. It was painfully slow, as the light snow continued to fall outside.
The bell to the cafe entrance rang. Glimmer looked over, seeing a new customer. Her eyes lit up.
“Oh! Adora! Hi!”
Glimmer had the dumbest smile on her face. She just met this girl a few hours ago, why was she acting so abashed? Even though it was snowing, she still had the same outfit on. She flashed an endearing smile at Glimmer as the door shut behind her.
“Hey! I knew you worked here. I thought I recognized you from somewhere,” Adora beamed.
Glimmer had never really paid much attention to customers. Sure, she would freeze up every once and awhile when a cute girl came to the counter. Now that Adora brought it up, she remembered seeing Adora before. She would come in every once and awhile - although Glimmer was blanking on what she usually got.
“Though, I didn’t want to bring it up. I get it, I work in customer service too.”
“You do? Where do you work?”
“The Thaymor Food Market down the street… It’s alright. Mostly just students and professors from here,” Adora rubbed the back of her back.
“Yeah, this job isn’t too stressful either…"
Glimmer paused, thinking a moment.
"Hey! Whatever you want, it's on me!"
Adora looked bewildered at the proposal, "No, you don't have to buy me anything, Glimmer."
"I get a free drink every shift, it's no big deal. Now, come on - tell me what you want."
"Aw… First you're getting that pin for me, and now you're offering me coffee? What’s next? A date?"
Glimmer almost choked, seeing as she forgot how to breathe for a moment. Warm red blanketed her face. She had to be smooth, she had to make a comeback. She had to be cool.
"I can rent the Uhaul."
That got a big laugh out of Adora. She had a cute laugh. It was by no means conventionally attractive, seeing she followed it up with a snort. This moment felt nice. She just met this girl today, yet she radiated such warmth. Even if by some weird chance this girl wasn’t gay, she’d love to be her friend. It had been awhile since she had made a new friend.
“Tell you what. I’ll take a cold brew for now, and I’ll make things up to you. I promise.”
She wants a cold brew, even though it’s zero degrees outside. She has to be gay.
“Any cream, sugar, or vanilla?”
“Nah.”
No? Who the fuck drinks straight up cold brew?
Glimmer turned around, grabbing the cold brew concentrate from the mini-fridge. She was alone in this cafe with this girl that was 101% gay, all while her stupid coworker toilet sexted.
Maybe this job was okay.
After diffusing the concentrate in water and ice, she put a lid on it. Glimmer turned around and gave it to Adora, smiling up at her.
“Here’s your cold brew!”
Adora stuffed a straw in the cup, still standing at the counter.
“You doing anything tonight, Glimmer?” Adora asked before taking a sip of her coffee.
“Ah, not really. Just relaxing probably. I’m sure the both of us will be piled with homework in a week. How about you?”
“I was thinking the same thing. I have to get up at 5 tomorrow morning for work,” Adora’s smirk continued.
“Oh, ew. I’m sorry.”
Adora leaned forward, placing her elbows on the counter. It was as if she was trying to put herself at eye level with Glimmer. After all, there was a considerable height difference between the two.
“Nah, I’m used to it. Tell me, what are you majoring in? I ask like everybody I meet here.”
“I’m majoring in history, though I’m not sure what I want to be yet. Maybe a professor or an archivist? There’s a lot of things I can do with a history degree.”
Adora rested her chin in the palm of her hand.
“A historian? You must be smart,” Adora seemed intrigued.
“Not really. I just know a lot of useless facts. How about you? What do you plan on doing?”
“Oh… Physical therapy. Not as exciting as your major. Kind of a corny reason but I just always wanted to help people, and I feel like I can do that with physical therapy.”
Something pinged in Glimmer’s heart. Adora seemed so down to earth and genuine. This girl was so cool and she didn’t even realize it.
“That’s… really nice?” she placed her hand on the counter, leaning slightly over, “I just chose history because I like it.”
“I mean, that’s okay! I like exercising, and teaching people how to exercise for a living sounds great!”
Adora’s eyes lit up as she spoke. Glimmer could tell it was something she was passionate about. Adora shifted, placing both her arms on the counter.
“Hey! You work tomorrow?” Adora questioned.
“Yeah, why?”
Adora shifted on her feet, as if she was nervous.
“Well, I was thinking… I think we’ll have a reading tomorrow. I’ve never been super good with history, and maybe it’d be nice to have someone to review the material with? You can always say no.”
Adora’s smile was gone. How could she say no?
“Of course! We can just review out in the dorm commons after I close. I think that will work out nice,” Glimmer paused for a moment, before saying, “Let’s exchange numbers in case something pops up for either of us.”
“Awesome!”
Little did Glimmer know how drastically her life would change that semester.