the girls, the gays and the gay girls

Chapter 3

At the parlour, we each bought three big scoops and sat down in the corner by the window. We talked a little about Theo and him, about Sydney and me and about how stupid it is that only LGBTQIA+ people have to out themselves but heterosexuals don’t have to. I was just telling Harrison about the butterflies in my stomach that I get when I kiss Sydney. He also thinks it kind of funny how in love with her I am but that’s okay. Suddenly a well-known voice interrupted me. “Hey Lou, hey Hazza!” I turned around and Harrison looked up from his ice cream which he was eating so fast you could think he was inhaling it. “Hope!” I sounded a little bit too surprised. “What are you doing here?” I tried to keep my voice as normal as possible. “Getting ice cream, duh!” she answers and starts laughing. “May I join you two or are you talking about something secretive?” I looked at Harrison basically begging him to say yes. I don’t know why this was so important to me. “Sure of course you can join us.” He pointed at the empty chair in front of me. “Thanks.” Hope said and sat down. Harrison and I looked at her for a while and we created an awkward silence. “What are you two looking at? Do I have ice cream on my face?” Hope looked at her reflection in the window. “No sorry!” I said and concentrated on eating my ice cream again. “Why are you two so quiet all of a sudden? We are all friends here!” Hope seemed a little disappointed when I looked back up. “Of course we are! Hope… I told Lou that I am gay!” Harrison said out of nowhere. Hope looked at me and then back at Harrison. She smiled. “I’m glad!” she said and then turned to me. “He was kind of mad when I caught them because he said he wanted to tell you first.” She winked at me. That caught me off guard and I stared at her for a hot second but then looked at Harry. He looked a little embarrassed but it was kind of cute. Didn’t expect something different though. He already said that he didn’t tell Hope on purpose. We all ate our ice cream and no one said anything. Then Harrison received a text. “Uhm… Theo texted me he wants to hang. Do you guys mind if I leave?” Hope and I looked at each other knowing exactly what they will be doing. We smiled and said simultaneously “Not at all!” We laughed and Harrison left, leaving the rest of his ice cream behind. “Lou?” Hope asked after Harrison was out of earshot. “Can I… a-ask you something?” I could tell by her voice that something was up. I was worried but I tried to remain calm. “Of course, you can ask anything. What’s going on?” I saw that she was shaking. So I took her hand. “Hey, Hope, look at me!” She lifted her head and I saw that there were tears in her eyes. “You can ask me anything. I promise I will answer honestly and I will nor judge you!” I gave her a little time to process. “Do you want to get out of here? We can go to the pier it’s late so there won’t be many people.” She nodded and we left the parlour. It was just a two-minute walk but I could tell that Hope was not steady on her knees. We sat down by the end for the pier so no one could overhear our conversation. “Better?” I  asked. She nodded. “Good. Now, what did you want to ask me?” She started shaking again but I just sat there quietly so she could find the right time for herself. Eventually, she turned to me and asked “How did you know that you are gay?” I was a little surprised but I tried not to show it. “Uhm… okay. So I always knew that I didn’t like boys but it didn’t immediately come to my head that I might like women. When I was about 13, so 4 years ago, I had my first crush on a girl. It was really confusing at first and it took me about a year to accept it and come out to anyone. At 14 I came out to Hazza and that was basically the moment I was a hundred per cent sure that I am a lesbian. But that’s just me it can be different for everyone. If you are struggling with your sexuality that’s totally okay and it’ll take some time but I sure you will find yourself. No matter how long it’ll take.” She calmed down and looked at me with tears in her eyes. “Lou?”  “Yes.” I smiled. “I am bisexual.” She looked down at the water and I saw the tears finally falling into her lap. I didn’t say anything I just gave her a hug and held her. She cried for about ten minutes until she loosened the hug. She didn’t say anything so  I started. “Hope I am so proud of you! I know how hard it is. Am I the first person you told?” She nodded again. “That’s amazing. I feel honoured. You are so strong! Look at me!” I could tell that she was too scared so I lifted her chin up with two fingers forcing her to look my way. Her short curls waved in the wind. And I just stared at her for a quick second until I continued. “Hope admitting it for the first time is the hardest part of this and you managed to do it. That takes so much strength and courage, you should be fucking proud of yourself.” She smiled. “Thanks, Lou! You’re the best!” I took my fingers off her chin and gave her another hug. All of a sudden a harrumph interrupts us and I could tell that is was Sydney. We split apart and I looked up. She seemed a little upset or jealous but I couldn’t help but smile. “Babe!” I said and stood up to give her a kiss. She kissed me purposely long to let me know that she was jealous. “What were you two doing here? Honey, I called you a hundred times.” Her voice was upsetting and it was obvious that she was jealous. I took a quick look at Hope. Her head was bowed and she was concentrating on her ring. “Baby, no need to be jealous we were just talking and before I was at the ice cream parlour with Hazza. I didn’t spend one minute looking at my phone. I’m sorry, okay?” She didn’t look like she was going to let it slip but she did anyway. “Fine. I know I shouldn’t worry. Hope is as straight as a ruler. I do not have to worry about her!” She laughed and tousled Hope’s hair. “Am I right?” She looked at me put on a smile and said to Sydney “Yes, you’re right!” I wasn’t going to tell on her because that would be horrible but I still felt bad for her. Hiding your sexuality is the worst thing in the world. Sydney looked relieved. “So do you two still have something to do or can I take you out on a date?” She smiled at me and gave a kiss. I felt the butterflies rushing through my stomach and couldn’t help but make out with her for a bit. Then I remembered Hope was watching us and ended it. “Is it okay if I leave? Will you be fine on your own?” I asked Hope. “Yes, of course.” She seemed sad but it is my right to have a date night with my girlfriend. “Good. What did you have in mind?” I turned back to Sydney. “Going out for dinner and then a sleepover at my place?” She winked at me. I smiled. “That sounds perfect! Italian?” “Of course anything for you my baby girl.” “Great.” I gave her another quick kiss. “Could you get us a table? I want to talk to Hope for a minute.” That little jealous look came back but I reassured her that it won’t take long and that she doesn’t need to worry about anything. She agreed, kissed me and made her way over to the pizzeria. I sat down next to Hope who sat on the pier the whole time. “Thank you for not telling Sydney about me.” she said. “Of course! I promise I won’t tell anyone. Not even Harry!” I assured her that she didn’t have to worry about it. “Your secret is save with me!” “Thank you, Lou!” “Always! I have to go now though Sydney is waiting! See you at school?” “Yes, see you then.” I hugged her and ran to the pizzeria where Sydney was waiting for me already. She didn’t see me right away so I took the opportunity to look at her. She is so beautiful with her long, straight, dark brown hair that she always wears in a high bun with a little bandana wrapped around her head. Her perfect lips and beautiful green eyes are probably the reason I fell in love with her. I am ugly compared to her. With my light brown, short hair and my hazel eyes. She is literally the most beautiful person that ever lived on this planet. When she spotted me she smiled and I came over. It was the best date we had in our almost 10 months relationship.