Ivy's life had irrevocably changed when she discovered the idea of thrifting. 

It was her thirteenth year and she had determined enough was enough and she was old enough for big girl shops like Mr Price. It had been one of those rare moments she had been able to stand up to Dr Ototi, PhD and had won. Part of her fully understood that she had won solely based on audacity and not because she had good points. Her becoming a woman point had been a sore spot for Dr Ototi who had looked away and discreetly wiped his eyes while Dr Ototi, PhD had looked as though she'd wanted to bulldoze everything.

"It's because we give her too much TV." Her mum said said to him. Then to Ivy, she said, "Look at this. Darling you're breasts haven't come in yet so there is no reason to call yourself a woman."

Ivy had stomped on the ground, hard but also soft enough that no mention of attitude happened. "Yes, they have. They really have! And even if they haven't, which they have, I cannot go one wearing kiddy clothing. I am almost an adult, Mama!"

Dr. Ototi, PhD, had leaned back and considered it. "Alright. We will give you a clothing allowance and see how that goes."

She had never held that much money in her life. It was so overwhelming she had stuffed it so deep in her bag that her sister had laughed as she helped her to the only Mr Price she frequented. 

"You know," Pendo said as she stood outside the waiting room, being way more patient than Ivy had ever seen her, "we could just go thrift and you would get way more clothes and better options than here."

"But you like it here," she said as she stepped out and showed her sister the most incredible blue dress she had ever seen not so much for Pendo.

"I only come here for respectable clothing. I go thrifting for my style." And Pendo's style, as was true to Ivy's eyes, was so cool she glowed - even in black. She wanted that. No, needed that.

So she changed out of the dress and followed Pendo to the most chaotic market she had ever been in. She fell in love and vowed never to change. 

This was the best day of her life, that was, until Chastity blurted out she loved her.

They were in the living room, two mugs of now lukewarm tea in front of them. Chastity still had on the strap but she had covered herself with Ivy's bathrobe. Ivy only had a blanket separating her naked body from the world. 

"To be clear," Chastity broke the ice, "the tea was meant to keep you warm, not be left to this tepid state."

"Right back at you."

They were quiet again though Ivy believed that Chastity's brain was probably going a million kilometres per second, much like hers was. After the hearty confession, Ivy had a mini orgasm and Chastity, well, if her lust-filled memory was to be trusted, orgasmed as well. It was a curious thing and besides the love confession, she truly wanted to know how she'd done it.

"So," she broke the ice, "that made you come? How?" Chastity's face cried displeasure. "No. I am very serious. Do words of, like, affirmation and stuff get you off? I feel like this is a very serious discussion we need to have."

"I thought we needed only to discuss the contents of accused words of affirmation," Chastity said, accusingly.

"That too," Ivy said as she reached for her tea. She grimaced. It was too tepid, even for her. "Do you want to start then?"

Chastity studied her nails. Ivy could hardly blame her for the show of reluctance. It was a big thing, what she had confessed. A big thing for both of them only with her, it was the beginning of her life and she had to be completely still about it. Dancing around and screaming she was the queen of the world, she thought, would probably make Chastity take it all back and block her from her life as any sane person would. So she was cool and chill, even though a terrible Sonnet wanted out of her. 

"Well then," Chastity began, still studying her nails, "I suppose I love you."

Ivy's heart just about popped out of her chest. How was it even better the second time? But she needed clarity. She couldn't have her sanity be rattled like that. There was need for reassurance for a certified delusional girl such as herself. "Love in like a friend way or in like, you know," she humped her seat and this let a laugh escape Chastity.

"Don't do that!"

"Well, I have to know!"

Chastity was quiet again. She studied various plants, absolutely not caring for the fact that Ivy was one breath away from dying. "The second one, I suppose."

It must be noted that the noises that came out of Ivy at that particular moment were completely rogue. She had no control over them whatsoever as it was a mutiny not only by her vocal cords but by her very real brain. She had been left out in the wild, striving for cool, when the rest of her seemed to be gunning for an incredibly concerning stalker-like woman who did not understand what midnight talks about love after incredible shagging entailed. By the time she had settled with both sides of her separated self, she found herself saying, "Whaaat? For real?" It reassured her that she was still, in fact, not suave.

"What was that?" Chastity asked, eyes finally looking at Ivy's.

"What was what? I don't understand." It was her turn to look at anything other than Chastity - which was a shame as she had been enjoying the view rather greedily. 

"You are--" Chastity sighed. "Look, I love you. In a sexual way that's mixed with friendship though now that I am saying it out loud, I am thinking maybe I should have started with like - that would have made sense. The ship had sailed though so now we have love." She got quiet. "So, what do you think?"

Ivy had been sure that all her thoughts had been made apparent by the series of noises and grunts that had happened not too long ago. But the fact that Chastity was asking for clarification meant that she had not been very good at articulating it and it needed to be changed. 

"I love you too," Ivy finally said, turning to face her. 

She could see it all; how her face had moved from reserved to questionable disbelief to unbridled joy. It had been so wonderful she couldn't help but join in. It was all so wonderfully good she almost bluttered out she had been in love with her for as long as she could remember but she managed to reel it back in. She didn't want to ruin the moment. She wanted to soak it in because she was half sure she was dreaming and that when she woke up, it would all be a lie but she would still have it.

She would still have the confession from the absolute love of her life and it would be perfect with the lingering scent of sex in the air.