My Shadow

Chapter 2:

"Morning!" I told my parents as I walked into the kitchen. I was nervous but happy at the same time. I would finally get this off my shoulders.

"Good morning sweetie!" Mom replied happily. Both my parents were morning people as well, so they were just as energetic as they would be in the afternoon.

"Morning Alanah," Dad responded as well as he put his coat on to go to work.

I ate breakfast quickly and said goodbye to Mom. Dad and I normally left together. He pulled me aside once we were at the end of the driveway and kissed my forehead, and wished me good luck in my classes. I waved as he got into his car, and then went to the bus stop. It was yet another morning routine we had.

School was normal. Classes were just as boring as any other day, and I met my friends like normal when school ended. We usually went to my aunt's cafe after school to do homework. My parents extremely dislike anyone who is not straight. They're usually polite towards them, but don't go out of their way to say hello or do favors for them, et cetera, et cetera. Since my parents disliked gays and lesbians, and even bisexuals and anyone else who isn't straight, I never bring my friends over. They're all open about their sexualities, so my parents would figure it out immediately. I've only brought over my closest friend out of them, who is CJ.

CJ has met them before, and they know she is lesbian, but since she's my best friend they try not to say anything impolite while she's present. When she isn't around, they start talking about how she should give up her "phase" and find a boyfriend. It makes me upset that they talk about her like this, but I can't say anything in her defense or else they'd find out I support her. CJ knows about it and how I don't defend her, and she's fine with it. She knows that my parents' and my relationship with each other is important to me. She's the best friend I could ever hope for. She's so understanding.

We arrived at my Aunt's cafe, which is called Galactic Cafe, and sat down at our usual table. My aunt loves space, so she decided to have it as her cafe theme. Her and my mother are sisters. Unlike my parents, she supports the LGBTQ community. She knows about my friends, and she even knows about me. She also knows the reason we come to the cafe to do homework instead of my house, and it's not for the free muffins, although they definitely are delicious.

"Hey Lana! The usual for you and your friends?" My aunt came over in her cafe's uniform and asked me.

I nodded and smiled. She came back later with blueberry muffins and vanilla milkshakes. You may think it's a weird combination, but if that's so, then I guess my friends and I are just weird. It's delicious and I won't say anything but. She left us alone to serve other customers, and we all pulled out our notebooks and laptops.

"Alright, who got Mr. Aldi's algebra homework?" CJ asked. Myself and our friend Abby raised our hands.

"Who else has bio?" Our other friend Adam asked.

"Me," Sam answered. Just so you don't get confused, Sam is a girl, not a boy. It's short for Samantha.

"I have english. Lana, can you help me with it again? It's another short story assignment," Our friend Collin asked me.

"Yeah, but can you help with algebra first?" I asked. He agreed. We all switched seats so we could work together in certain subjects. Eventually we finished the muffins and milkshakes. Oh yeah, and the assignments too I guess.

We went our separate ways to our houses and said goodbye to my aunt. My friends are actually extremely fond of her, and my aunt feels the same way about them. She says they're good kids and I should be happy to have such amazing friends. I of course am very happy to have them as friends, and agree with her completely.

I was the only one who stayed behind. My aunt noticed and came over. The late lunch rush was over and it was well before dinner.

"Hey, something wrong?" She asked.

"I just wanted to talk about something real quick . . . " I told her.

She took me to the backroom so we could talk in private. No customers usually came around this time so no one should be waiting for her while we're in here.

"What's up? Is it about your parents?" She asked worriedly.

"Well um, I think I'm gonna tell them," I confessed. Her eyes widened.

"Are you . . . sure about this? You know how they are. You can't take it back once you've said it, you know," she told me.

"I know. I just feel like it's a good time. They're my parents, so I'm sure that even if they don't support gays, they'll support me! A small thing like that won't change anything! They will accept me, I know it!" I said. It was more to reassure myself than her. I didn't believe one word of what I said. In fact on the inside, I was just trying to find anything to say to calm down my nerves.

"Alright, if you are 100% sure, then I say go for it..Just know that if things don't turn out the way you hoped, you always have me, and you have your friends too,' she said kindly. I hugged her and said my goodbyes as well, and then went home to tell my parents.