Based on the Pantone Color of the Year

He narrowed his eyes and cocked his head. “Purple?”

She rolled her eyes and sighed deeply. “It’s periwinkle. It’s a blue, with subtle touches of red and violet.”

“You dyed your hair purple-I mean, periwinkle, on your first day at a new job?” He asked, finishing packing their lunches.

“I panicked. I want to express my identity at this place. I want everyone to know who I am,” she said, adding a second banana to her lunch bag.

“By changing your hair?” He asked carefully, handing her a thermos of coffee.

“By making my hair look like me. I mean, the me on the inside,” she said, her shoulders falling, defeated.

He turned and grinned at her. “Your insides are periwinkle?”

He pushed his shoulder. “You know what I mean! That’s I’m not some corporate robot. That I’m creative and queer and weird and fun and femme and, and-”

“Cool?”

“Yes. That I’m cool.”

“With subtle touches of red and violet?”

She smiled weakly and nodded.

“I think you are amazing and your hair looks very cool. And everyone is going to like you.”

She leaned into his chest and he hugged her.

“But your ears are kind of purple, so you should probably take care of that.”

She looked up, wide-eyed. Her cheeks touched with red and violet.