She Loves Her

hello, this was originally for an english thing. we were supposed to read three short stories and pick one we typically liked, then give a short informative essay and also write like the author. i chose raymond carver’s “everything stuck to him” because i thought it would be interesting to write in third person like how raymond carver does. i copied his way of starting the story with the first sentence, “___ was in ___ for ___ and wants to know what it was like when ___” i also copied the way he never includes quotes for the dialogue. i hope you enjoy…!
== She Loves Her: A Twist On Carver’s Short Story “Everything Stuck To Him” ==
She’s in New York for Christmas and wants to know what it was like when they started dating. It's a holiday break for both of the girls, who are in their college years. It’s cold outside, a thin layer of snow covered the whole city in a white blanket. The vast pitch-black midnight sky was freckled with snow, which were endlessly falling. The mixed nostalgic scents of pine and Christmas cookies filled the living room of their apartment.
Hey, I’m gonna get another cup of peppermint tea, would you like some? the girl said to her girlfriend.
Yeah, that'd be great, thanks. the other girl replied.
    After walking back from the kitchen, the girl sat down on the couch, legs crossed. Her girlfriend sat down, so they were both facing each other. The girl’s cat hopped up into her lap, then settled down to nap.
Her girlfriend asked, What was it like when we first started dating? How did we first meet?
Oh c’mon, you know this story so well.
Yeah, I know. I just really like the story.
Alright, fine. This is only because I love you, the girl said.
    As she began the story, she reached over to hold her girlfriend’s hand. Do you ever remember what you were like in high school? You used to wear your favorite pair of baggy ripped jeans all the time. You looked so cute… I knew you loved them with all your heart, what happened to them?
    Although I sat right next to you, we never talked or interacted with each other. One day, you dropped your pencil in English class when our eyes met. I remember that moment so well like it was yesterday. I picked it up as you leaned over to grab it. As I handed it over, I gently brushed your hand while handing it to you and I smiled. You took it from me, blushing. You looked like a cherry because your cheeks turned red. 
    One day after school, we took the bus home together. We got off at my bus stop after the bumpy bus ride and walked to my house. The new little puppy I got the week before was sitting at the front door, waiting for me to greet him.
    Hey there, little man, I said as I greeted him. He wagged his title tail in delight at my hello.
He’s so cute! What’s his name? You asked enthusiastically.
His name is Pepsi, his name is a great story. I also have a cat, his name’s Whiskey, I replied. He’s super shy and small, so I doubt we’d see him around.
I walked over to the kitchen with you following behind, Pepsi wagging in happiness. 
Yeah, do you want some tea or something? I asked.
Yes please, I’ll have some peppermint tea.
Alright, then that makes both of us, I said with a giggle. As we waited for the water to boil, I told you the story of how Pepsi got his name. 
    My older sister and I got Pepsi when he was a little puppy. He was so small that someone could hold him in cupped hands. We got Pepsi after we got Whiskey, so she thought that we should name Pepsi after a drink. We arrived home, then brought out a small pastel yellow blanket that would become Pepsi’s favorite. At the moment, I was drinking from a can of Pepsi. My sister gasped and pointed at me, telling me that we should name the puppy after my favorite soda, Pepsi. For Whiskey, his name is kind of a play on words. When we first got him as a tiny kitten, his whiskers were almost thrice the size of his little head. Originally, his name was Whiskers, but we changed it after deciding the name Whiskey was better.
    After some tea and chatting for a bit, I asked you if you wanted to order pizza for something easy with dinner. We decided on Little Caesars Pizza, your favorite pizza place. On our way to get pizza, you played all of your favorite Taylor Swift songs and sang to the lyrics. You couldn’t wait, so you ate the slices of pizza in the car on the way home. We got home and ate, then you asked to walk Pepsi with me. I accepted your offer and got ready to go. I grabbed my sweater then leashed Pepsi, and we were out the door.
    It was a cold fall night, you were wearing one of my sweaters because you forgot yours at home. I knew that you just wanted to wear one of mine. It was a bit breezy out there, causing your hair to move with the wind, which was normal for Oregon fall weather. The deciduous fall trees held beautiful shades of yellows, oranges, and reds. It was almost like a fire came through and dyed the trees, colors dancing from one trunk to the next. 
    Despite the night air feeling cold and lonely, it was warmly inviting standing next to you. The moment you kissed me felt like a year. You pulled me in from my waist and lifted your face in front of mine. You kissed me, I kissed back. I didn’t want you to let go… I never thought a kiss could feel this good. As you pulled away, I could see the burning love in your eyes. That’s when the realization hit me, I loved you, and I still do. It was just you and me against the whole world. With you around, it felt like I was the luckiest girl on earth. And well, maybe I was. 
    The next morning at school you glanced at me and we shared a smile. It was like an inside secret that no one knew about, just you and me.
I love you, so so much.