The Rainbow Connection

The Rainbow Connection is a short story written in four parts, each inspired by a different image or song. Click on the links to view each piece of inspiration alongside the story. I own neither the artwork on this blog or the inspiration pieces.

[durumu-deactivated20130621]

even though Angel Beats destroyed me it’s still the goddamn funniest anime

[kakashl-deactivated20160116]

i started watching anime b/c of this video

[crimson-chains]

A THING I DID! Calling it “Men in the moon” owo The Yuri one will be the postcard for the month for 20+ patrons! :DDD

[rainbowconnectionstory]

The Rainbow Connection

Contents

Dancing In The Moonlight

Meeting Her

Life Together

Christmas

[rainbowconnectionstory]

Christmas

'Hey Lissa!' 'Hey Sarah,' I hug her as she approaches. We're at pre-drinks at another flat, we'll be heading to the SU's Christmas Party soon. It's the last day of term, and whilst I'm looking forward to going home, I'm not looking forward to spending time away from Ava, nor hiding the fact that I'm in love with a girl from my parents. 'It's so good to see you, I feel like I haven't seen you outside of classes in ages.' I realise that no, we haven't seen each other in a while, and immediately feel guilty. I didn't mean to ditch her, it just sort of happened. 'Yeah, I'm sorry. Assignments have kept me confined-' 'And I bet the girlfriend wasn't really helping as you'd rather spend time with her.' She's teasing rather than angry, so I blush and shrug. 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to.' She chuckles and waves her hand. 'It's no biggie, just try to remember us as well next semester, please?' 'Sure, I can do that.' 'Good.' We share a grin. 'So...how is dating going?' 'It's going good, yeah, we're getting along really well, she's amazing.' 'Aw! I'm so happy for you!' 'Thanks. How are things going for you and Aaron?' 'Still in the friendzone.' 'Oh dear.' 'Yup. So, is Ava here tonight?' Sarah asks, changing the subject quickly, and scanning the crowd around us. It's a smallish gathering, but there's still a good few people crammed into the small dorm kitchen/living area. 'Yeah, she's over there.' I point to where she's getting drinks for us on the other side of the room. 'I'm sorry, but who am I looking for? I've never actually met her remember.' 'Oops, sorry about that.' I make a mental note to make sure they meet at some point during the next semester. 'Blonde, wearing the red lacy dress?' 'Lissa, I'm sorry, but I can't see her.' I laugh and try again. 'I know you wear glasses Sarah, but you can't seriously be that blind. She's right over there, look, she's chatting to Mike.' 'Lissa, she's not there. Mike's not talking to anyone.' 'You can't be serious, quit joking around. Are you sure your still sober?' I laugh, brushing her comment off. 'Of course I'm sober, I'm not wasting the evening by getting drunk this early. Whatever.' She smiles at me. 'You can introduce us next semester. But speaking of drunks, I'm going to make sure Emma doesn't drink too much.' 'Okay, see you soon. Have a great Christmas.' 'Yeah, you too.' We hug, and Sarah leaves to go take care of Emma, a notorious lightweight. 'Hey,' Ava says, suddenly appearing at my elbow. 'One malibu and coke.' 'Thanks love,' I reply, pulling her close and kissing her cheek softly.

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[rainbowconnectionstory]

Life Together

Since then, life has been bliss. We met up daily for a week or so, before we agreed to take the next step. We began to spend time out in town on dates, and spend evenings curled up under blankets watching films and TV shows. We spend a lot of time just working next to each other. She's a sociology student, which can occasionally come in helpful with my English essays and critical readings. We have fun together, we're comfortable with each other. I'm starting to think that she's genuinely the other half of my soul. I stopped dreaming about her after that night. Why would I need to dream about her when I wake up with her in my arms most mornings? Being with her in real life, is far more wonderful than being with her in my dreams. We’ve rarely left each others company outside of classes recently, and are thinking about living together next year. We've fallen in love in a matter of months, and every day is better than the last. Today I had an early morning class, and she had a late afternoon one, giving us about three hours in between to get lunch at our favourite coffee shop, a sweet, little shop on the main road, with great coffees, teas, and a wide range of sandwiches. We sit outside as we eat, due to it being full inside. 'My secondary school had a corridor connecting two of the buildings, and the inside was exposed brick, painted yellow. Everyone would go down the corridor singing 'follow the yellow brick road,' until they repainted it white half way through year ten. We were all so upset, and it continued to be called the yellow brick corridor by everyone, right up until I left. It was amusing though, as none of the younger years had any idea what we were talking about!' She laughs at my story. We're just talking, when I notice some of the looks we're getting from passersby. Most aren't paying any attention to us, just going about their daily business, but some are looking. I see disgust, hatred, fear and discomfort written across those faces. I shrink into my seat a little. 'Hey.' Ava reaches across the table and takes my hand in hers. 'Don't pay any attention to them. It doesn't matter what they think.' 'I know.' I smile and roll my hand over to clasps hands with Ava, linking our fingers and squeezing her hand. 'I just don't like being made to feel like we're doing something wrong.' 'Do you think what we're doing is wrong?' She asks. 'No, of course not!' 'Then what does it matter? Let's just be ourselves, and not care about what anyone else thinks.' 'I know,' I sigh, playing with her fingers in mine. 'It's just, I know my parents won't like us being together. I keep seeing their faces whenever someone looks at us like that.' 'It'll be okay,' she smiles at me. 'It's not like you can change who you are, and if they can't accept that, then they don't deserve you. No matter what happens, I'll always be with you, so don't worry about it so much please?' 'Yeah, you're right.' I smile and lean over the table to kiss her.

Inspiration

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[rainbowconnectionstory]

Meeting Her

I had that dream again last night. It's been happening a lot recently. Well, that's a lie. The dream's always different, but it's always the same girl. Always exactly the same, I know that. But the thing is, I don't know her, nor can I remember her when I wake up. I wonder if I'd even recognise her were we to meet in real life. I ponder this question as I get up and get ready for my first lecture. It's already one in the afternoon, but it's still early in the semester, so who cares? I meet Sarah in the lecture hall, and settle back to contemplate the girl in my dreams. Had I met her before? There is a theory that everyone you see in your dreams you have at least see somewhere before, even just in passing. But I don't remember ever seeing her. Before I realise it, everyone is packing up. Great. Guess I'll be begging Sarah for a copy of her notes. We leave and start heading to our seminar, that'll begin in about ten minutes or so. The room isn't far, and Sarah wants to grab a drink first, so we head towards the vending machines. As I wait for her to grab her drink, a group of students pass us. They're laughing, I can't tell what at, but amongst the deep rumbles and soft giggles is one laugh that I know. One laugh, made of gentle tinkling bells. I turn towards the group, and catch a flash of silvery blonde hair, and I know. It's her, the girl from my dreams. The group stops outside a classroom just as Sarah pops up beside me. The girl turns and catches my eye. I can't breathe as she smiles at me and waves. 'Lissa?' Sarah asks. 'Are you okay?' 'Who is she?' Sarah turns to see where I'm looking. 'Who am I looking for?' 'The beautiful blonde.' Sarah scans the group. 'Oh her. I'm sorry Lissa, I've no idea. But hey, there's Aaron, lets go say hi and you can meet her.' 'Wait no, Sarah!' But it's too late and Sarah's already dragging me along. She leaves me immediately to talk to Aaron, who she thinks I haven't realised she's crushing on. I sigh, and feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn around and am faced with the girl from my dreams. 'Uh, hi,' I say. Great, well done, such a fantastic start. I feel my cheeks heat up with embarrassment. But then she giggles, and all I can think about is how beautiful that sound is. It seems to wrap me in warmth and I know I will do anything to hear her laugh again. 'Hi. I'm Ava,' she says. 'Lissa,' I respond. She smiles and I can't help but smile back.

Inspiration

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[rainbowconnectionstory]

Dancing In The Moonlight

In the black of the forest the glow of the moon lights her silvery blonde hair as she twirls and flits through the trees. On her head is a crown of twigs, green vines and stephanotis, the tiny, five petalled, white flowers more beautiful than any jewel. She's dressed in soft white lace that flows around her like waves lapping at her body. Her feet are bare and her toes are brown from the dirt of the forest floor. And yet it only makes her look more beautiful, a creature of the forest, born from the trees she now dances with like old friends. I watch her from a short way away, hidden from her sight by the dark trees. From somewhere nearby a guitar begins to play, and she joins it, her voice raising the melody with foreign words that fall off her tongue. She raises her hands to the moon at the climax of the first verse, as the vocals pass to the flute solo, and fireflies flood the forest, adding their gentle, golden glow to the silver moonlight. Now bathed in silver and gold, she turns towards me, as if she knew I was there all along, a bright smile on her soft lips. I don't know how I know they are soft. Her eyes offer as many opportunities as the sky, and I find myself getting lost in them, searching for the stars and secrets held within. She grasps my hands in her warm steady ones, her creamy skin contrasting with my darker tone, and coaxes me into the dance. As the second verse begins, I find myself singing along, words I somehow know yet do not understand bubbling up and spilling over in perfect harmony with her. She grins at me, and my heart falters in my chest. Such perfect beauty has never been seen before. We twirl and twist, winding our way through the trees, the dewy grass cold and refreshing against our toes. My heart performs it's own dance as every glimpse of her face causes it to jump, every perfect note fills it to bursting with something that can only be described as euphoric joy. For some reason we don't tire as our feet guide us across the forest floor. Instead of the ache of exercise, our bodies feel as light and comfortable as if we were lying on clouds. As the song comes to an end, the light of the fireflies dims all around us until we are once agin only illuminated by the pale glow of the moon, and we end our dance. She laughs, a bright, tinkling laugh that bubbles forth uninhibited, and I feel a smile spread across my face as well. She stops laughing just as the first rays of sunlight spill across the sky and I realise that we have been dancing all night. She reaches out and cups my cheek in her warm palm, and leans in . . .

Inspiration

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