Our New Normal

by Jennifer Brooks

  Tori was also thrilled with the pay. Not only was she making over minimum wage, but they also split the tip jar at the end of the night. It was a relief to always have cash on hand, and she felt less worthless once she was finally able to start helping Cynthia with bills. The best part was that she also got free drinks whenever she wanted—even when she wasn’t working—and she’d be eligible for health insurance once she was emancipated.

  An hour flew by as Tori rushed to fill the incessant flow of customers’ demands, barely having time to take a breath as she completed order after caffeinated order. She didn’t mind the rush, though; the busier they were, the faster the shift flew by, the more tips they got, and the quicker she got home to Chloe. She smiled, recalling the ecstatic look Chloe always had on her face when Tori walked in the door. Feeling Chloe wrap her arms around her after a long, exhausting evening of filling cups with scalding liquid was incentive enough to go to work the next day. Things were finally starting to sort themselves out, and Tori was thankful that her life was forming some semblance of order.

  Once the rush passed, Tori had some time to relax between orders. She stood quietly at the back counter, leaning on it as she people watched.

  One of her coworkers stood next to her. “So, what’s your story?” Meghan asked expectantly, looking at Tori. It was their first night working together, and it had been so steadily busy that they hadn’t had a moment to talk about anything other than filling orders.

  Tori raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?” She studied Meghan for a moment. She was lanky with ivory skin and long, dreadlocked strawberry blonde tresses. She was wearing oversized corduroy pants with a tight, silkscreen polo shirt and worn skater shoes. Her thick, black-rimmed glasses emphasized her hazel eyes, and her nose and labret piercings caught the light as she spoke.

  Meghan smirked. “Well, all I know about you so far is what your name tag says.” She glanced down at Tori’s badge. “Since we’re on the same shift, we might as well bullshit when we get the chance, right?”

  Tori nodded. “I suppose so.”

  “So, where you from? What do you do for fun?” she asked, checking over the counter briefly for customers.

  Tori grinned. “Besides studying coffee combinations in my free time?”

  Meghan chuckled. “Yeah, besides that.”

  Tori shrugged. “There’s not much to me, actually,” she said. “I’m a senior in high school, live right down the street…that’s about all there is to me.” Unless you count the fact that I’m gay and live with my girlfriend because my parents disowned me, Tori thought, knowing she could never just come outright and say it, especially to someone new.

  Meghan smiled. “There has to be more than that,” she insisted playfully. “What would you be doing right now if you weren’t here?”

  Tori smiled, Chloe’s face flashing through her brain. “I’d probably be at home watching TV or at the mall visiting my girlf—um, my friend—who works at Trend.”

  Meghan cocked her head, studying Tori. “Your girlfriend? As in, like, not just a friend who’s a girl?”

  Tori shuffled her feet nervously. “Well, um…”

  “Dude, it’s cool if you’re gay or whatever,” Meghan said dismissively. “I wouldn’t peg you for a lesbian, but you can never tell with the femmes.”

  Tori’s mouth went agape. She hadn’t met someone so abrupt and candid before. Tori was used to people beating around the bush, trying to pry for information; Meghan just said whatever was on her mind. Tori stood in silence, unsure if she should respond. Regardless of Meghan’s casual approach, Tori feared that admitting that she was gay would stir up trouble.

  “It’s that girl that always comes in here, isn’t it?” Meghan continued. “That brunette, the one who always orders a chai. I see the way you look at each other.”

  Tori’s eyes went a little wide. “Wow, you sure do ask a lot of questions!” she exclaimed nervously.

  “It’s no big deal, I promise,” Meghan insisted. “It’d just be nice to have someone to talk to about my girlfriend.” She shifted her weight as she rested her arm on the counter. “Rick doesn’t get it, especially since I was dating a guy before. He doesn’t get that I don’t care about someone’s junk when I’m attracted to them, just whether or not they’re an asshole.” Her brow furrowed. “I didn’t mean to get all up in your business like that; I know what it’s like to be hounded about things like that. It’s just—”

  “It’s fine,” Tori insisted. “I’m just not used to people asking me direct questions about this without calling me names. I haven’t exactly had great luck with ‘coming out’ to people so far.”

  Meghan nodded. “We all have our horror stories, I’m sure.”

  “So what’s your story?” Tori asked, replicating Meghan’s enthusiasm. “What would you rather be doing?”

  Meghan smiled. “Well, I’m a junior at the community college, I live in an apartment a few blocks down above the copying store, I help out with the co-op garden by the campus and preserve the veggies that come out of it, and I’d rather be bowling,” she said. “There’s an LGBTQ bowling league on Wednesday nights, but I had to stop going because of working here.”

  Tori nodded. “The one sponsored by the Outreach Center, right? That looks like a good time.”

  Meghan smiled. “You’re part of the Center?”

  “I go to the support meetings on Sundays.”

  “That’s cool!” Meghan exclaimed. “That place does great things for people.”

  “Definitely,” Tori agreed. “The meetings have really been helping me out, and it’s helping Chloe understand where I’m coming from. Her mom’s cool with her being gay, but my parents tossed me to the curb when they found out. She doesn’t get my sadness sometimes, you know?”

  “Chloe would be the mystery girlfriend?” Meghan teased.

  Tori nodded. “The brunette with the chai, as you described,” she replied.

  Meghan shook her head. “I know what that’s like, to be bummed out because of close-minded people,” she said sadly. “Let me guess, you’re going to burn in hell for purposely going against everything God intended by becoming a flag-waving, card-carrying lesbian?”

  Tori chuckled. “Pretty much.” She retrieved her wallet from her back pocket and held her membership card for the Center. “I’ve already got the card, so I guess I just need a flag.”

  Meghan shook her head. “People are so stupid,” she declared angrily. “I’ll never get why it’s such a big deal.” She dug into her back pocket, retrieving a photo from her wallet and showing it to Tori. “This is Tara, my girlfriend.” Meghan and Tara were sitting at a table at what looked like a dance club, beaming with their arms around each other. They complemented each other well—Tara was a little thicker with short, curly red hair and small, rectangular glasses.

  Tori smiled. “You guys look really cute together,” she gushed, handing the photo back to Meghan. “You look so serene and happy just being together.”

  Meghan beamed. “We are,” she agreed. “We’ve been together for a year and a half now, since freshman year. She’s really awesome. I’ll have to make her come in here so I can show her off. She hates coffee, though, so that won’t be easy.”

  Tori chuckled. “Do you live together? Because I bet she loves it when you get home after work reeking up to high heaven with the smell of coffee beans.”

  Meghan chuckled. “No, we don’t live together yet, but she does hate seeing me right after work because of the smell. Tara’s still in the dorms, but she’s supposed to be moving in once school ends. Then we’ll be living in sin like a proper lesbian couple.” They both laughed. “Do you live with your girlfriend?”

  Tori nodded. “She and her mom took me in when I got kicked out of my parents’ place. I have my own room in the attic, but I’ve yet to sleep up there.”

  “Well, yeah, why sleep alone when you got someone cushy and comfortable to cuddle with?”


  “Exactly,” Tori responded. “It’s nice to have a place for my things, though. I just got a futon a few weeks ago, so Chloe and I usually just hang out up there to watch movies together.”

  “How long have you guys been a couple?” Meghan inquired.

  “Since early December, so just over three months,” Tori replied. “It seems like a lot longer than that.” Tori smiled, thinking of the first date at the Rabbit Hole.

  “Wow! You guys are so new, and you already live together!” Meghan exclaimed.

  Tori shrugged. “It’s not like I had much of a choice,” she said casually. “We’d only been dating for a month and a half when I got kicked out.”

  “How’s it working out so far?” Meghan asked.

  “Things are going great,” Tori answered. “Her mom, Cynthia, has been great with helping me get my stuff figured out. Since I’m a minor, there’s not much I can do without an adult until I turn 18 in October.”

  Meghan raised an eyebrow. “If you’re only 17, can’t your parents get arrested for child abandonment or something?”

  Tori shrugged. “I haven’t thought about it much; I’ve been too worried about getting my life in order.” She sighed. “Even if I could get them in trouble, though, there’s no point. I plan on filing for emancipation soon.”

  “Emancipation? Cool! I hope that works out!”

  “Yeah, that’s what I’m hoping for, too,” Tori agreed. Though, if they grant it, it’ll mean that they’ll never have anything to do with me ever again… Tori sighed sadly.

  “I know it sucks either way,” Meghan began, reading Tori’s mind, “but at least you have options. You’ll have to introduce me to Chloe next time she comes in.”

  “I definitely will,” Tori agreed. They stood silently for a few minutes until the door chimed as it opened. Before long, the second wave hit, and Tori and Meghan scrambled to fill orders.

  Near the end of the rush, Tori was surprised to hear a familiar voice through the din. “I’ll have a large chai,” the female voice said happily, and Tori spun around. The sparkling eyes of Chloe greeted, and Tori squeaked with glee.

  “You’re Chloe, right?” Meghan asked, looking back at Tori with a grin on her face. Chloe nodded in response. “We were just talking about you.” Meghan motioned to Tori.

  Chloe’s face flushed. “Good things, I hope?”

  Meghan nodded. “Yep!” Chloe smiled in response, watching Tori as she finished an order.

  Tori walked up to the counter, handing the drink to a waiting customer. She glanced at Chloe, unable to hide her happiness. “Done up the usual way for you, miss?” Tori asked professionally.

  “But of course,” Chloe said playfully, reaching for a few crinkled dollar bills in her pocket.

  As Tori turned to make the chai, Meghan leaned over the front of her counter to peer at the line of customers. “Your order will be right up, Chloe.” Meghan walked back to Tori’s station, nudging her. “Make yourself a cup, too, and take a break,” she whispered.

  Tori’s brow furrowed as she looked at her. “Are you sure?”

  Meghan nodded. “There’s only three more people in line behind Chloe,” she replied. “I can handle them while you step out. I’ll mark both the drinks down as yours, too, so Chloe doesn’t have to pay.”

  Tori turned to Meghan. “Are you sure—”

  “Dude, it’s fine!” Meghan insisted. “Take a break and chill with your girl for a while, will ya? You’ve been working your ass off all day!”

  Tori smiled. “Thanks,” she said gratefully, rushing to make her and Chloe’s drinks. Glass mugs in hand, Tori motioned for Chloe to follow her to their usual, quiet corner of the coffee shop.

  “I got my paycheck today,” Tori declared, pulling it out of her pocket.

  “That’s great, babe!” Chloe exclaimed, looking the stub over. “Yay for money!”

  The smile faded from Tori’s face as it turned serious. “I have a month’s worth of pay stubs now. Do you think that’s enough for me to apply for emancipation?”

  Chloe thought for a moment. “I think it should be,” she replied. “I’d double-check with mom, but I think that should be good. She’s been keeping a record of when and how much you’ve been helping out with bills, too.”

  Tori nodded. “I think I could get Rick to write a letter stating that I work here and am in good standing with no threat to my employment. That may help, too. I just hope it’ll be enough to apply for college, scholarships, grants, and loans.”

  “I think it should be,” Chloe agreed. “I think you’ll do fine. Plus, community college has enrollment until May, so at least you don’t have to worry about applying for late admission like you would have to do at a larger college.”

  “I just hope the whole emancipation process doesn’t take too long. I have no idea what to expect.”

  * * *

  Chloe retreated to her room when she got home and spent the rest of the evening browsing the internet for emancipation guidelines for their state, examples of those who had already gone through the process, and required paperwork to fully complete the emancipation request. By the time that Tori got done with work, Chloe had printed out several documents about emancipation and had saved even more links on her computer.

  She heard Tori and her mom chatting downstairs for a few minutes before Tori excused herself to bed. Chloe greeted her in the doorway of her bedroom, kissing and hugging her as she entered. “How was the rest of work?” Chloe asked, leading her to the desk.

  Tori shrugged. “Tiring, mostly,” she replied as she changed into pajamas. She noticed the stack of papers on Chloe’s desk and raised an eyebrow. “What have you been up to?”

  Chloe shuffled her feet excitedly. “I have a present,” she declared, handing her the papers.

  Tori eye’s widened as she studied the documents, amazed that Chloe had found that much information in only a few hours. Her stomach fluttered with excitement as she read different testimonials and emancipation requirements published on their state’s website. “Chloe, this is amazing!” she exclaimed, hugging her. “I don’t know why I didn’t find all this stuff when I was looking.” She thumbed through the paperwork, shifting the most important articles to the top of the stack. “I appreciate you doing all this for me, more than you know.”

  Chloe wrapped an arm around her. “I’d do anything for you, you know. I want you to be happy.”

  “I know,” Tori said, smiling.

  Chapter 35

  Tori, Cynthia, and Chloe were sitting next to each other at the dining room table the next evening, papers splayed about them. Tori and Chloe were lucky enough to have Wednesday night off together, and they used the opportunity to begin organizing everything for Tori’s emancipation. There was a pile of receipts showing that Tori had been paying rent and bills in one corner, a small stack of pay stubs in another, printed web articles fanned out to one side, and all of the emancipation petition paperwork in the center.

  “What I think we should do is tape these receipts together on a piece of paper and make copies,” Tori suggested. Cynthia had purchased a receipt booklet at the store so that every dollar Tori gave her would be documented. “We can probably do the same for the pay stubs. I have to pick up the letter from Rick saying that I am gainfully employed and am in no threat of losing my job; though not required, I think it will help.”

  Cynthia nodded. “I agree,” she said. “And I will write a statement saying that you live in my home and that you pay your part of the rent and other bills.”

  Chloe was thumbing through the application packet that accompanied the form. “It says here that there is a filing fee of $170.00 and that you have to notify your parents of the petition.”

  Tori frowned. “Yeah, I was afraid of that. That’s not going to go over well.”

  Cynthia’s brow furrowed thoughtfully. “We can take it over there together to ensure that they receive it,” she suggested. “I’ll do the talkin
g.”

  Tori scoffed. “Like that’ll make a difference. As far as they’re concerned, I’m sure you’re just as evil as we are for supporting our gayness.”

  “Do you think they’ll show up at the hearing?” Chloe asked.

  Tori shrugged. “I doubt it,” she replied. “I don’t think my dad would want any of the negative press that might stem from it, and my mom doesn’t do anything without his permission. Besides, it’s not like they’d oppose the petition. ‘Yes, we kicked her out, but we also want to make her life more miserable by not allowing her to have rights as an adult.’ Like they’re going to make any efforts to support me.”

  Cynthia shook her head sadly. “It’s a damn shame that it has to come to this,” she said. “I couldn’t imagine throwing Chloe out on the street over whom she loves.”

  Chloe and Tori glanced at each other and quickly turned away. They hadn’t said The L-Word yet; after over three months of dating, both were wondering if it was too soon for the term to be uttered. Though they felt the same way, they were apprehensive for different reasons. Chloe was afraid to express love for anyone after what Kristen had done to her. Tori had never loved anyone before, so she wasn’t sure if it was too soon or if Chloe felt the same way. Trying to keep on task, though, both girls struggled to put it out of their minds for the time being; there were much larger dilemmas on which to concentrate.

  Tori cleared her throat nervously, anxious to change the subject as she concentrated on the application. She pointed to the section on the form which stated, Please state reasons/facts for petition. “What should I say?” she asked. “‘My parents kicked me out because I’m a big ole lesbian and now I live with my girlfriend and her gay-loving mom?’”

  Cynthia grinned. “Something along those lines,” she agreed, “though I’d probably word that differently.”

  Tori chuckled, staring at the blank form which was begging to be completed. Her hand trembling slightly, she grabbed a sheet of notebook paper and scribbled down ideas of what she wanted it to say, reading them to Chloe and Cynthia until she felt that she got it right. After a half-hour of struggling over wording, Tori finally came up with her answer: