It's Hard to be Lee

8. Moving On

Lee was so upset about the way things were going with Mark. She tried her best to ignore him all week but it was tough. Even in class, she sat there and did not say anything to him even when he tried talking to her. She knew she was being immature, but whatever.

Lee would sit there during class and pretend to pay attention to the teacher, but she was thinking of him. She did not want to break up with him, but their hot and cold relationship was bad from the start.

"Lee, I said I was sorry. Can we discuss things, later? Alone." He finally corned her while she was having lunch with Yvette and FeeFee, Joe nearby with him.

There was nothing really to discuss. He was a bad boyfriend, or she was a bad girlfriend. The two of them did not match up.

"Fine! Whatever."

Lee did not say anything else to him even though he sat with her at lunch. If he was so cool being nonchalant about their relationship, so would she. She went about the rest of her day, not thinking much about Mark. She knew things were over, just needed to hear the words. Only a few months into the school year, her first high school boyfriend was a bust.

After school, she walked down the street a bit where she typically waited for her mother to pick her up. Mark knew the spot, so he met her there.

He finally arrived, looking hot as ever. Blonde hair, blue-eyed, picture of perfection. Mark could surely find other girls because he was a hottie like that.

"Lee!"

"Hey, Mark."

"I know you must hate me because I have a hard time saying how I really feel. Well, I want to tell you that I like you, I do. But I think I don't like you in the right way."

Oh yeah, here it comes. The old it's not you, it's me. There was nothing wrong with her, she was great, he was the issue, and blah, blah, blah. Just a nice way to break her heart without making her feel bad as well.

"It's okay Mark, you don't have to make this a big deal. We just don't work, right. It's okay."

"You can have any guy you want Lee, and that's intimidating. I was just the first guy you saw. And you were the first girl I was ever interested in."

"I was?"

"I'm gay."

"What?" she screamed out. No, she had not seen that coming at all. Gay? No way!

"Yes, I'm gay. I've always known I'm gay."

This was news to her. "Then why did you even ask me out? Why were we even dated you're not attracted to me?"

"That's the thing. I was...I mean I am. You're pretty, and I haven't come out to anyone, but if everyone saw me with a girl like you, they wouldn't think I was gay for not liking other girls."

"So, you just used me" This probably was even worse than she thought.

"No! Lee, I like you, I do. It's just unfair that I have all these other feelings. It's not fair to you. I wanted to be honest with you and with myself...now I feel ready to tell other people."

She thought about everything he said. It was tough being different. The world had changed a lot but being part of the LGBTQ+ community was still tough and hard for some. They were still young, understanding their changing bodies and emotions. This could not be easy for Mark.

"Am I the first person you came out to?"

He nodded.

"Not even Joe? He's your best friend."

"I know. He's probably going to be the hardest one I come out to. I have to tell my parents."

"Hey, if you need me to be there when you talk to them or-"

"That would be great Lee." He smiled at her. "So you're not mad at me, upset things turned out this way?"

"I mean...I would love to have kissed you but I'm glad you're staying true to yourself."

He leaned in and kissed her on the mouth, making her blush.

"There, a kiss from me."

She was going to be jealous of any guy he ever dated. Mark was a sweetheart, and she could not wait to see him become the man he was going to be. Several guys were out, he had a nice amount of guys at school to select from.

"Can we still be friends?" Mark asked her.

She took his hand and held it. "You know what, of course. Real good friends, in fact, you can be my first and only guy bestie."

Mark pulled her in for a hug. "Thanks."

Just then, Shawni walked down the street right in front of them and mocked them.

"Oh Lee, I missed you," she said in a deep voice. "I missed you too," she said in a high-pitched voice.

"Get out of my business!" Lee yelled at her.

"What business, little girl?"

Little? She had several inches over the pint-sized monster. She may be older and a sophomore, but Lee was not intimidated by her at all.

"Shawni, go somewhere. Why are you always bothering Lee?" Mark was already in defensive mode, even though they had broken up.

"Because I can."

"Yeah well, don't let me see you near her again. You'll have me to answer to," Mark stated.

"Oooo, I'm scared," Shawni said, swinging her ponytail as she walked off.

"I hate that little...thing."

"She's just jealous, that's all."

"Thanks for telling her off for me."

"That's what I am here for. Friends stick together like that."

"Maybe one day she will leave me alone, find someone else to bother."

She could see her mother driving down the street. She was sad to say goodbye to Mark. The end of a relationship but the new start of a friendship.

"So, your big day is tomorrow?"

She was happy he remembered about her big photo shoot. "Yeah. I'm not nervous anymore. It's going to be easy."

And now, on with her life, no focus on boys.

Hey readers! The purpose of this story is a young girl finding herself, and that's in dating as well, so expect there to be more boy drama.