She's a Lady

Chapter Six~The Most Frustrating Day of My Life

"But you're gay."

Quin nodded. "Yeah, that's--that's what I said."

"That's what you said? I thought that was what you knew! You told me when we were thirteen you were gay! You even had a boyfriend!"

"I kinda lied about that..."

"I met him!"

"He was faking."

"YOU TWO KISSED!!" I screeched. In the back of my mind I was conscious of the fact that Isi may hear me, but I didn't care. He was probably asleep or listening to music anyway.

"I-I... I'm sorry. I know I lied to you. I lied to myself, even, at first. I wanted to make myself gay. I mean, I was already best friends with a girl, and we all know I've never been the most manly of guys. I figured it wouldn't take too much. But I just... I couldn't. It's not something you can make yourself do or be. It doesn't just come to you like riding a bike. But I couldn't just say I wasn't gay anymore. I learned how to look and act like I was. I even hit on dudes. But you already know that. I'm so sorry, Mimi. Please don't be mad at me."

I just stared at him for a moment. Then I shook my head. "I don't... Why did you lie to me? And yourself?"

"I wanted to get over you. It was obvious you were never going to love me like that, and I couldn't find another girl to distract me, so I thought, Well, what about a boy? So, I told myself I was gay. Told you I was gay. Told our moms I was gay. But... I just can't lie to you anymore. Not with Isi around, anyway."

"Isi? This is about Isi? Isi hates me! I hate him! There isn't anything going on between us--"

"No. No, he doesn't hate you, you big idiot. He likes you, too. He told me."

"He told you? I really doubt that."

"I'm serious."

"Yeah, uh-huh, and just why should I believe you? You, who's been lying to me since we were thirteen? You, who faked being gay just because you were too much of a pussy to ask me out. You, who I trusted with my life and deepest secrets just to figure out you didn't even trust me enough to tell me you weer heterosexual. I trusted you, Quin. And you... you just..."

"No, Hisami, you have to know how hard it was for me too--"

"To what?! Tell me the truth?! Oh, yeah, that's something you never tell, huh? Is your favorite color even purple? Is you favorite movie even The Notebook? Is your name even Quin Nagano?!"

"Of course it is! Yes, I still love purple, but no, The Notebook isn't my favorite movie."

"You-You...UGH! You're a lying bastard!" I stood up, pulling at my hair. I heard Quin move too, and then there was a hand on my shoulder.

"Mimi--"

"STOP CALLING ME MIMI!!!" I yelled, spinning around to face him. "You shouldn't even have the right to call me Hisami! Y-You..." I choked on a sob. "You couldn't even trust me enough to tell me you weren't g-gay. Do you know how bad that makes me feel? I feel like our whole friendship was a lie, t-that you were just trying to prove a point to yourself. Do you know how crushed that makes me feel? I feel like a p-peanut in the garbage disposal."

"Hisami, I didn't mean to hurt you." There was a look of pure shock on his face. "I didn't think you'd--"

"Didn't think I'd what?!"

"I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D OVERREACT SO DAMN MUCH!" Quin practically screamed. I flinched back a little, then glared at him. 

"You have NO reason to be yelling at me. You're the one who lied to me for three years. Don't try to justify that. Do not try to make me think that that's okay. Do not make up anymore excuses, because there is just one excuse for this. You, Quin Nagano, are a coward and a pussy, and you need to get out of my house right now, or I will have you forcibly removed."