Fluidity: An Other Worldy LGBTQ+ Fantasy Tale

By Abeo Robinson

Eden Fletcher is an exceptional, socially outcast teenage girl, still mournfully reflecting on the loss of her beloved childhood best friend Nolan. She lives two separate lives - one in the waking world and one in the dreaming world. Dishearteningly, her existences have begun to recklessly intertwine, wreaking havoc in the imperfect waking life she shares with her adoptive parents.

Throughout the strengthening of her powers in the dreaming world with her mentor, The Kind Stranger, Eden meets and becomes drawn to a certain Monet Woods in the waking world - "youth dance group member, co-captain of the volleyball team, AND member of an ivy league cheerleading squad...

At least according to her bio."

Follow Eden on her harrowing, magical journey in this emotional LGBT+ coming-of-age tale you won't want to miss!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tablo Publishing
• Release date: Feb 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781922381750

Book preview

Chapter 1

I could hear the world crashing down around me with the waves. The water rose to my waist, and yet I still sat frozen atop the ledge in the rocky cave.

This is always the worst part, isn't it? The Kind Stranger said to me, and I nodded.

Why not tell me your name before we drown? I coaxed, and he only laughed and nuzzled against my side, holding my trembling hand in anticipation of my outburst to come.

The murky waters rose to our shoulders and the panic began to settle in.

I'll tell you my name when Queen Luna permits it. Your sentence is almost up, Selene. You know I'll miss you, he said, attempting to distract me from the inescapable depths that would shortly consume us.

My name still isn't Selene. And the feeling is mutual, I told him and he nodded, but his face began to harden.

You haven't told anyone in the waking world about us, have you?

The warm waters rose to my chin and I could no longer suppress the fear elicited by the malevolent suffocation. I turned to The Stranger and he was gone, and all around me was the waves.

The water rose above my head and I finally gave in to the darkness, struggling and choking out muffled screams as it finally filled my lungs.

***

I jolted awake. As if the boundaries between worlds were still fastening, I was as soaked in my bed as I was in the lifelike depths. My hair was wet and stringy, and when I blinked a few times, I found myself nearly dry.

I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door, and with a face still flushed and pale, I opened it.

My adoptive mother's soft eyes gazed upon me with concern, and I could see the age-old, Why won't you let me take you to the therapist? , written all over her face.

Eden, were you having another nightmare? she asked me, reaching to feel my forehead, but I immediately recoiled, worried that she might feel the unnatural coldness of my skin.

It was nothing, just really weird is all, I lied, and I could tell she sensed the fabrication, Is Dad back from Denver yet?

She shook her head, No, you're not getting out of this again. Let me take you to the local family therapist's office.

I tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, Mom, I'm fine, I swear. A few weird dreams is nothing I can't handle.

You've had these 'weird dreams' every single night now. I hear you screaming when you wake up in the middle of the night.

I turned around and crossed my arms, face red with shame, Are you saying I'm too weak to handle nightmares alone?

She sighed, and I felt guilty as I saw her hand hover over my shoulder and slowly retract in the shadows.

I wasn't saying that. Look, I'm not at all trying to embarrass you, I just worry. Your homeroom teacher calls me a lot now because every morning you come in looking pale and sick. You look pale and sick right now, Eden!

Well I'm not sick so you don't have to treat me that way!

My mom fell silent and I turned to her again, not anticipating my intense remorse for the tears that pricked her eyes.

Woah, hey, I'm sorry, okay? You don't have to worry, Mom, I apologized, and held her hand when I was sure mine was warm enough.

You're being such a teenager. You're not my little ladybug anymore, you know? I just wonder if all that trauma you experienced in that awful home from before we adopted you might be affecting you more than I realize-

Mom, I'm not there anymore. That's all in the past, okay? I swear.

She giggled softly and teased me, Stop swearing, young lady.

She hugged me and kissed my forehead before her phone went off. She confusedly crinkled her nose at the dampness of my hair before answering.

Hello? Speaking. Oh crap, it's 6:00 AM already? Right. On my way.

Without even saying goodbye, she fled for her purse and car keys and I was left to let out the shaky sigh I had been holding in. Tears fell from my eyes as I closed the door and slid to the floor against it. There had been so much turmoil in my dreaming life, but I depended on the word of The Kind Stranger, who had said that it would all come to its fruition with time. That sentiment was the only thing that kept me going.

***

I distractedly wandered through the halls of my school, ignorant to the pencils and erasers that spilled from my overflowing open bag. My mind was swirling with thoughts and questions. Why do we come into the world feeling so entitled to everything around us? Could there really be a destiny for everyone to fulfill as The Kind Stranger had told me? Why had I, of all people, been chosen to live this impossible double life?

Earth to Eden, Mrs. Cress snapped in my face, handing me my Chemistry notebook, You need to pay attention to the zipper on your bag.

I stared at her for several moments, analyzing what she had said, then finally nodded politely, Oh! Oh, yes, yes, of course! Sorry, Mrs. Cress.

She scanned me subtly, searching for clues in my face that would explain my momentary lapse in judgment.

Have you been drinking, young lady? she finally asked me, and I quickly shook my head.

No, of course not, just a bad night's sleep, I explained, and she said nothing before clicking away on her heels, suspicion in her eyes.

I rushed to my locker, the realization suddenly dawning on me that the bell would ring at any moment. Inside, my fingers grazed against a blurry Polaroid picture, and I sighed at my toothy ten-year-old smile, cheek to cheek with my best friend Nolan, who I'd had to leave behind in the foster home when I was adopted. Underneath the photo was the glitter-covered letters we'd send each other.

What's the fun in emailing? he'd said before I left, so we became pen pals.

One day, I waited by the mailbox and his letter didn't come. So I waited some more, and days passed by, then weeks, months, years...

I never heard from him again. I distinctly remember my dreaming life beginning at the point he disappeared. After a long while, I convinced my mother to investigate, and she came home with a face that plainly expressed that what she knew would be among the hardest things she'd ever have to tell me.

Nolan was dead. He'd drowned on a beach trip where his now imprisoned foster parents had kept less than a watchful eye on him. I couldn't help but think that the only joyous piece of him left was in this picture taped to my locker, where the world would never again see his ethereal smile or his jovial face in living action.

I recall even once asking The Kind Stranger in the dreaming world if he was or knew of Nolan, and he shook his head, telling me that their paths were never meant to intersect.

Suddenly, I was snapped out of my reverie as a taller girl loudly leaned against her locker beside me.

That your boyfriend? the girl asked, tossing her ridiculously luscious, woolly black hair over her shoulder, where it then proceeded to fall against the side of her face again.

No. He's dead, I said emotionlessly, retrieving my binder, then slamming the locker shut and turning for first period.

Wait, the girl spoke with a commanding voice, an extension of her dominant personality, and I faced her, attempting to hide the anxiety I felt under her sharp gaze.

I couldn't will myself to speak with her eyes on mine, afraid of something big and indescribable, so I pretended to prompt her with silence.

Come to a college party with me tonight, she ordered me, and I sighed of exasperation.

Is this your idea of a joke? It isn't very funny, I turned to disappear into the crowd of chattering students, but she pulled me back with a smirk on her face.

I wasn't joking, she said with an air of finality, and I was afraid that if I maintained this eye contact for too long, she'd somehow undo my thoughts and uncover my secrets.

"Why would you ask me to go? Probably the only reason you know my name, assuming you even do, is because I'm notorious for being picked last in gym class."

There was a cool and intriguing disinterest in her chocolatey eyes as she disregarded what I said. I swiftly deviated my gaze to fall on her perfectly clear dark brown skin. She smiled at me, and her pearly white teeth seemed to sparkle in the fluorescent lighting as if she were on a toothpaste commercial, revealing deep dimples. Her overly glossed lips were so much fuller than mine...

You talk white, you know, she said finally, after what felt like several excruciating eternities meeting her unwavering gaze.

I rolled my eyes, Okay, I'm done now.

I had to conjure all the strength within me not to give in to her demanding voice calling out to me, and I knew that she was confident enough to sense the ways she'd stirred my emotional barriers. I almost forgot my restlessness as I fled, and perhaps if I had been lucky enough to completely forget it, I would not have walked head first into the janitor's cart and fell to the ground with a crashing thud.

Chapter 2

The dreaming world sprung to life around me. I found myself in the center of several golden,