Rain:514: Joy vs. Pain

Synopsis

Chanel talks about her history with bullies, and Chanel and Maria kiss.

Author Notes

This section contains copyrighted content by Jocelyn Samara DiDomenick.

Following her "judgment" talk on the last page, Chanel shares a little of her past. Poor kid. That said, she's demonstrates an admirable spirit and a lot of resilience.

And again, the waiter was not initially in the script. But I like his inclusion as it lightens the mood. Actually, he also adds n unique third party viewpoint that is uncommonly accepting. Weirded out? Sure. But it's not like he's kicking them out or doing anything stupid like that.

Transcript

This section contains copyrighted content by Jocelyn Samara DiDomenick.

Chanel Montoya:

You know... In middle school, I was easy to pick on because I was short and top-heavy. The boys would actually grab my chest and call me a slut when I was off school grounds, and I couldn't do much about it.

Chanel Montoya:

So my parents sent me to Catholic school to protect me from that kind of environment, but now I get teased because I'm introverted. Everyone takes the silence as me saying I'm too good for them. I don't think that at all though...

Chanel Montoya:

Then everyone was teasing me about being Brett's girlfriend - despite that being completely untrue. And since we went public, I do get made fun of for having a girlfriend, just like you said would happen. Boyfriend or girlfriend, I'm always a target.

Chanel Montoya:

God help me if I try to tell anyone I'm asexual. I'm sure that'll just be yet another nightmare.

Chanel Montoya:

My point is, if it's not one thing, It's another. Whether it's my clothes, my body, or my partner, I'm going to be judged by people who refuse to understand me anyway.

Chanel Montoya:

So, if it's going to happen anyway, I don't care. Because it's all worth it when you say you love me. Or call me Nelly. Or kiss me.

Chanel Montoya:

Because the joy I feel with you is stronger than the pain I feel with everyone else.

Maria Strongwell:

I'm so sorry. I had no idea.

Chanel Montoya:

It's okay. I'm not telling you to make you feel sorry. I'm telling you because I want you to know how much you mean to me. And how I wish we didn't have to hide it.

Chanel Montoya:

I want everyone to know, Maria. To see how happy I am. So happy that their hurtful words have no meaning to me.

Maria Strongwell:

Nelly...