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Chapter Sixteen:
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Lunch was beyond awkward.
After Liza and I came back inside, Vasha refused to make eye contact with me as she quietly ate. Char tried keeping everyone’s spirits up by sharing a funny anecdote from work, but since my girlfriend couldn't understand it I was stuck translating. Have you ever tried talking with someone who didn't seem to want anything to do with you in the moment? You say something, they don't even acknowledge it? That's what was happening here, and it crushed me. Finally, I deflated completely and looked down at my lap blinking back tears.
“Hey girl, are you ok?”
Charlotte touched my arm supportively and tried to look me in the eye. I hate crying, especially in front of other people. My dad called it weak, and that was the last thing I wanted to be as a child. This resulted with me carrying on in private whenever possible. I swallowed the painful lump in my throat and nodded, afraid that if I spoke a tsunami of tears would break f
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Our Young Funny Voices Chapter Eighteen:
Time got away from me with Vasha here. As the days came and went, it honestly felt like one perfect endless starry night emotionally.I’d already taken my girlfriend bowling, where she kicked my ass by about a dozen points and made a big show out of gloating over her victory. We went to the Phoenix Zoo a few days ago so we could visit the Sumatran Tigers, her most favorite animal, and roam around aimlessly while we talked about everything and nothing all at once.With only a couple days of Vasha's visit left, she'd shyly expressed wanting to try hiking with my roommates. I'd brought it up over dinner last night and as a result we’d just gotten back from hiking the Treasure Loop Trail with Char and Olivia. The Superstition Mountains were fairly easy to master, but Vasha never hiked or exerted herself at this level. I was proud of her determination to keep going even though I knew she was getting tired quickly. We specifically chose this trail, since there were plenty of benches for us t
Our Young Funny Voices Chapter Nineteen:
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Our Young Funny Voices Chapter Twenty:
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Running....running through a dark forest. I heard the vehement crashing of waves against sand, and before too long an ocean became visible. I sprinted for my life, not stopping until my legs hit the freezing cold water. Suddenly losing strength, I succumbed to the furious storm. Pulled under, no air. I tasted the strong salty flavor as I gasped and writhed. Growing colder and colder...This is it I thought to myself. Feeling oddly calm, my eyes blinked rapidly up at the raging gust of wind and sea water until my surroundings faded to nothing.********************Beep beep beep!My alarm clock brought me back from the dead, and I felt sullen knowing once I opened my eyes Vasha wouldn’t be next to me. I yawned, sitting up to scratch my neck groggily. I couldn’t be bothered to look around my room just yet, so I let the first coherent thoughts of the morning flow freely.
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By the time Liza showed up, I was fit to be tied. It took every ounce of nerve not to put my fist through a wall, which means something considering I don’t have much of a temper to speak of. I heard her barge in without knocking, and I stood up from the bed to crack my knuckles.Moments later, her concerned face popped up just outside my bedroom. “Hey...you good?” She drawled cautiously from the doorway.“Nope.” I gritted, jaw locked. I began pacing the short distance from my bed to where Liza was standing like a caged animal. I never got this angry and didn’t know how to deal with it.“I knew that,” she started, “what I meant is do you want to talk about it?” Only showing slight hesitation, she walked over to my bed and sat down with a questioning look.“Unless talking about it includes punching Olya in the teeth, then no.” That actually sounded really nice right about now. People al
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Our Young Funny Voices A Word From The Author:
You made it! The end to “Our Young Funny Voices.” I just wanted to take the time to thank you for coming along Francine and Vasilisa’s journey. I began writing this novel in January of 2019, but didn’t start really plowing through it until April 2019. My characters are loosely based off my own experiences, and the experiences of people in my life. I’m dedicating this book to those in the LGBTQ community without a voice. We still have a long way to go in our fight towards equality for all- and while Vasilisa’s decision won’t be everyone’s, I’m hoping wherever you are it gets better. Remember, we all have the right to love and be loved. ❤️If you enjoyed “Our Young Funny Voices”, please let me know your thoughts. This is my first finished novel, and would love to know who my fans are. If you want to co
Our Young Funny Voices Epilogue:
Four months later“It’s so big!” Vasha looked around Indian Steele Park in amazement as hoards of people stood around eating, listening to live music, and dancing their hearts out to the vibrating beat. Gay Pride was in full swing, and for once I didn’t care that it was hotter than the devil’s ass crack outside. I hadn’t been to one of these celebrations in three years, and I wanted Vasha to have the experience. She tugged on the hem of my high-waisted white skater skirt, and motioned at Brody and Liza, who were grinding up against each other sensually. “It finally happened.”“About time.” I grinned and waved when Liza looked over. She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted.“COME DANCE!”“PHOENIX PRIDE, HOW WE DOIN!?” The DJ boomed enthusiastically. The crowd erupted in cheers and cat calls. Suddenly, “Anna Sun&
Our Young Funny Voices Chapter Forty:
One month later“Great work this week, Francine. Enjoy those glorious two days off!” The middle aged Sicilian owner of my new workplace, Joey Alfonsi, looked up from the cash he was counting to watch me scurry out the back doors before anyone could ask me for another favor. I’d already been here an hour past quitting time as it was. I took a bite out of my baguette and gave him a two finger salute. I already loved working here, and looked forward to many pleasant years with the small business.“Thanks! See you on Tuesday.” My first morning shift at Joey’s Italian Paradise— which didn’t open until 2:00 P.M for lunch, meant I wasn’t due in until 11:00 A.M after my long weekend.Swell enough for me!Jogging briskly over to my used 2002 white Pontiac Grand Am, I unlocked it and slid into the driver’s side. I’d gotten over my fear of driving and worked hard tow
Our Young Funny Voices Chapter Thirty-Nine:
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Our Young Funny Voices Chapter Thirty-Eight:
“I’ll call you everyday to check in. Are you sure you’ll be alright here?” Andrei asked hastily as Vasha fumbled to unlock her bolted front door. It really was something, with a digital programmed code and everything. She shook from the cold and stomped a boot clad foot impatiently.“Yes, if the door opens before you return to Tobolsk.” She turned around to find me shivering my tits off. “Detka, wait in the car. This damn snow will freeze you to death.”“I-I’m alright...” I chattered, huddling close to Andrei. He threw an arm around me comfortingly and laughed in merriment. His vibrant green eyes twinkled the same way Vasha’s did when she was excited.“Before you know it, you’ll both be warm and cozy. Look, she’s got it open. Let’s move along inside.”He didn’t have to tell me twice.We managed to lug everything in with one
Our Young Funny Voices Chapter Thirty-Seven:
“Vasha, it’s very important. Tell me what happened with you at the hospital.” Andrei still managed to appear calm, but I knew it was solely for his daughter’s sake. She looked at us with a terrified expression, and eased back into her chair.“You can’t say anything....they’ll just hurt others there out of spite.” Her large green eyes brimmed with tears. “They break you. You come in afraid and leave scared of your own shadow...if you ever get to go home. I was tied to my bed, and they laughed at me when I asked to use the restroom...” she looked completely embarrassed to be sharing the details with us, and I almost had to sit on my hands to keep from punching something. “They fed me more pills than food. I’d get so hungry at night I’d cry from the emptiness in my stomach. The only time I had anything other than bread and water was right before you came to visit.” She glanced at Andrei, then low
Our Young Funny Voices Chapter Thirty-Six:
I’ve always known Vasha to be docile and quiet. She’s soft spoken, and thinks long and hard before she says anything...the only exception being when she’s drunk. That’s why I thought it was strange that she seemed on edge tonight, and I didn’t know what to make of it. With her phone still untouched on the coffee table, I mentally began ruling out any possibilities of her hearing from Olya in the half hour we’d been getting everything ready to bake. Coming up empty, I built up the courage to strike up a conversation.“Detka, do you want to talk about anything?” I was sitting on a barstool facing Andrei’s spacious kitchen island, watching Vasha roughly pound and roll a generous pile of raw gingerbread cookie dough. I’d given up on helping when it became clear I was just getting in the way. The kitchen is no place for me to begin with. I’m a lot more comfortable as a spectator.“Fine. Why do you ask?&
Our Young Funny Voices Chapter Thirty-Five:
I typed out a few sentences, then deleted them right away. Nothing was coming out exactly the way I wanted it to. If Vasha wasn’t dead to the world, I would have left the situation for her to deal with. I wish she would have told this lunatic to hop on someone else’s dick a long time ago. Some people don’t deserve second chances.God this is so fucked.“Not my circus, not my monkeys...” I mumbled the infamous Polish saying under my breath. Just as I was talking myself out of messing with any of it until my girlfriend was awake enough to read the texts, Olya fired over another one.SMS: I know you’re reading my correspondence. Where are you? I’ll come to where you’re at right now.Fuck no you won’t. The wrath building up inside of me overflowed to the tips of my fingers as I furiously typed back.SMS: I’m not Vasilisa. Leave my
Our Young Funny Voices Chapter Thirty-Four:
“What’s this say, detka?” Vasha had my passport laid out on the perfectly made up bed we’d been staying in for almost fifteen hours straight, and pointed at my middle name. Andrei woke us up ten minutes ago with the promise of porridge and sliced rye bread, which I was excited to try. Figuring we’d be leaving soon, I was hoping to have all my things ready to go, but Vasha had gotten to them first and was curiously pulling my identification out to study it closely.“Alice. My middle name is Alice, little bat.” Most people I met were indifferent to their middle names or just simply didn’t have one, but I loved mine. I smiled at her, watching as she ran her fingers over the glossy photo gingerly.“Beautiful.” She mummered, tossing the document back into my carry on bag and started getting dressed for the day. Choosing a pair of distressed blue jeans and her Siberian tiger sweater, she finger brushed her short bla
