Title: We Don't Hold Hands
Fandom: A Kind of Spark
Rating: G
Length: 200
Summary: Audrey explains why she is friends with Addie
Note to Mods: This is a one-off for the novel

People used to ask Audrey why she had stayed friends with Addie, when there were so many easier people to be friends with. 

Audrey would smile and say, “Friendship isn’t about what’s easy, it’s about what’s true.  And Addie is always that.”

There was no point in explaining why she liked Addie.  Yes, she had her own particular traits, and could be intense, but Audrey liked the way when Addie got hold of something, she followed it through.  She liked the way her friend would see something more intensely, and although didn’t find it easy to express what she saw, when she did it opened up a whole new way of looking at things.

She knew Addie would stim when she was over-stimulated, and people would look at them; but people stared at anyone who was different, not caring what effect their stares would have.  And if they didn’t care about their behaviour why should she care about Addie’s?

Addie would mask so she conformed more to others’ expectations, but everyone used masks, and often those who were cruellest towards her wore the pleasantest masks.

They didn’t hold each other like most friends did, but what they had was unique.