Normal

Once Elsie's fit of the giggles finally settles she wipes the tears from her eyes and surprises everyone by reaching across the table and taking Casey's right hand in both of hers. She squeezes Casey's hand tight.

"I am so so sorry. That was a joke between Chloe and I, I'll tell you about it later." El looks at Casey with heartfelt sincerity. "It wasn't a slight on you. I swear."

Casey is taken aback, though she does not pull her hand away. "A slight on...me?" There is a long pause as she gazes into the endless depths of Elsie's dark eyes. She then lets out a soft gasp and whispers. "You know?"

El tilts her head curiously. "Of course. I'm sorry, did I offend you? I didn't mean to."

"Know what?" Chloe butts in, though both ignore her.

Casey was...speechless. Not only did Casey "pass" as biologically female when she dressed like this, she was often mistaken for a woman even when she tried to present as male. Nobody before El had so effortlessly seen the real Casey for what she was. It then dawns on Casey that El had known the whole time! This entire conversation, so natural and easy and free flowing, El had known! No judgement, no awkwardness, no strange looks or well meaning questions, and no silent condemnation or tripping over herself with over the top attempts to display her "wokeness". Elsie just treated her...normal. Just normal. Something that shouldn't be amazing, something most people took for granted, yet for a girl like Casey it was downright miraculous.

The longer Casey stared at her silently the more worried Elsie got. El bows her head. "I shouldn't have said anything. I'm so sorry. I'm such an idiot sometimes..."

Casey grips her hand back. A beaming smile blooms across her pretty face and glittering tears threaten to roll from the corner of her bright green eyes. "You have nothing to be sorry for Elsie Bailey. Nothing. Thank you!"

Elsie smiles back before lowering her eyes bashfully. She didn't know why she was being thanked but it sure felt good.

Chloe, clueless as to what was happening in front of her, lays her hand over the others. As self appointed team leader she felt it her place to keep her team focused. "The Pistol Packin Mamas!"

Casey giggles. "The Pistol Packin Mamas!"

"I'm already regretting that name." El murmurs.

"Come on El." Casey encourages her.

Elsie nods firmly. "The Pistol Packin Mamas!"

"GO TEAM!" Chloe crows way too loud causing a ripple of laughter through the diner. "WOOOO!"

With that the girls break, raise their hands, then all laugh as one. This was sure to be a trivia night to remember.

Chloe, not completely clueless of the growing affection between her tablemates, makes a suggestion. "Say Casey."

"Yes?"

"As leader and answer writer I think I ought to be able to see the stage better."

"Er, okay."

Chloe winks. "Care to trade spots?"

Casey's graceful eyebrow arches upward at the transparent suggestion. Chloe was trying to get Casey and El to sit together. Elsie glances Casey's way with hope in her eyes.

Casey tries to hide her smirk. "You think it will help us win?"

Chloe nods. "Oh yes, definitely."

"Well..." She chuckles. "...anything for the team."

"That's the spirit!" Chloe chirps. "PPM for life!"

As Chloe and Casey trade sides of their booth the woman on the stage readies to read the first question.

"Hold on! Hold on! I'm not ready!" Chloe cries before a second later she straightens the paper in front of her and holds up a thumbs up. "Okay, we're good!"

The presenter shakes her head and refocuses on the question card in her hand.

Casey slides in beside El. Close but not quite touching. "Hi." She whispers.

El self consciously combs her hair in behind her right ear and nibbles her bottom lip at Casey's sudden close proximity. So close she could feel the warmth from her body and smell Casey's exquisite perfume as it wafts her way. "Hi." She says back happily.