If They Only Knew...

Chapter 19- Valeria

I spend the night soaking up my friends' company. Beginning to not worry so much about Raven. Sure, I know I'll have to talk to her eventually. But for now I'll just enjoy the laughs & light conversations of my new-found friends.

& little by little, I find myself trusting them. Wanting to know more about them. Wanting to get the inside jokes. Wanting them to know more about me. Because I know I'm safe here.

"Hey, guys?" They all look up, Celestina's eyebrows raising high in concern. "I... want to tell you something."

"Ok." Aidan smiles softly & nods for me to continue.

I clear my throat, playing with my fingers nervously. "I'm... gay."

Leóne laughs lightly, her hand touching my shoulder briefly. "Honey, we already knew that."

"& trans." I burst out, eyes roaming around nervously, not fixing to any one thing. "I'm... a trans girl."

They remain silent for a moment, then regain their composure. Leóne smiles kindly. "Ok, thanks for telling us, darling."

I smile nervously. "Are you... sure it's ok?"

They nod & I catch Aidan laughing lightly, & I look in his direction, eyebrows raised. He smiles apologetically. "No, it's nothing. It's just that... You're asking if we're ok with trans people when... I'm a trans guy. I just find that kinda ironic. Not that you could've known, sorry."

I stop for a minute, then beam. "Wait, you are? Trans, I mean?"

"Yeah?" He grins humorously, eyebrows raised. "Didn't your sister already tell you that we're all on the LGBT spectrum?"

I nod enthusiastically. "Yeah, but I totally forgot!"

He laughs. "Well, I'm trans."

Leóne smiles shyly & waves slightly. "I'm panromantic & asexual."

I smile in her direction & nod.

My sister clears her throat. "& you already know I'm bi, so... Yeah..."

"Oh." I nod at all of them & smile. "That's cool! I guess I don't have to worry about not having anyone to talk to about... these things."

Aidan laughs softly, a grin slowly spreading across his face, nodding in my direction. "Yup. & don't even worry about defending yourself. I know basic self-defence & Leóne took several years of karate." Leóne nodded & laughed. "So don't even worry about it."

I grin. "Ok, thanks. That's good to know... Especially since you never know when you're going to run into a bigot..."

Leóne nodded gravely. "For real. I don't know how you've made it this far, girl. Aidan's parents were worried he was going to be attacked at public school, so they made sure he could defend himself. & well... My parents don't know... about me... But I made sure I could defend myself on my own."

"Oh, wow." I nod, looking away. "Well, I guess I never really had time? Or thought about it? I've been homeschooled since I realized..."

Aidan's eyebrows furrow in concern. "Well, it's a good thing you got us then."

"& you won't... leave me?" I wrap my arms around my chest self-consciously.

They all shake their heads & Leóne puts her hand on my shoulder again. "Hell no. Not til graduation, but that's not for... another few years. & we'll make sure you can take care of yourself by then."

I smile, knowing I'm in good hands. "Thanks, guys."

Hope you guys liked this chapter. Sorry if I may have rushed into the friendship between all of them. I know I'm not very good at taking my time when writing... Sorry :/. I will not apologize for the amount of LGBT rep I have though. Thems be one of the things I actually like about my stories, besides the characters. Though maybe having all their info at once can be a little overwhelming :/

But anyways, see ya guys next time, byeeeeeee :'D