Breathing Water

CHAPTER 26

"Well, I know that. She is most definitely a girl and you wouldn't have brought her here if she wasn't a friend." She has a teenage duh kind of tone when she says it.
I shut my eyes and shake my head in small frustration. "No not like that." She looks at me confused. "Okay. You see, Glimmer is my girl friend." I make sure to emphasize the separation of the words. "You know, a friend that's a girl. Well Shelly is my girlfriend."
"I don't understand. Honey, isn't it the same thing?" She rubs her forehead.
"No. Mom, listen. I like girls."
"I know other wise you wouldn't hang out with Glimmer so much."
"Well, yeah. But I mean I like some as more than just friends."
"Wait, what? I don't understand."
She rubs her temples this time.
I lean towards Shelly and ask "What would I be?"
She smiles and says "Well, based on what we talked about, you would be a lesbian?"
Mom says "A lesbian? Oyster, I don't understand."
"Okay. Mom, I like girls. I do not like boys. I will never like boys. I will never have a boyfriend. I will never have a husband. I am a lesbian. I am gay. I am a homosexual. I don't know how else to explain it." I feel a few streaks of tears flow down my face.
"I know what a lesbian is. I just don't understand how you can be one. But this means she is one too, right?"
"Well not exactly."
Shelly interrupts and says "No, I am bisexual. I can go either way, but right now I really like Oyster."
"Okay, Oyster I know this now an okay thing and all, but I am going to need some time to adjust. So for now can we please just leave this conversation here?"
"I guess, but Mom please do not deny who I am and who I like. By the way, I almost forgot, Shelly asked me to be her plus one to a wedding this weekend. Would that be okay?"
"I guess, yeah, sure. Sorry, goodnight. It was nice to meet you Shelly." She stands and walks upstairs rubbing her head.
I turn to Shelly and her kind smile fades as she sees the tears on my face. "Oh everything's fine. At least she didn't do anything to deny what you told her." I continue to frown. Suddenly Shelly's face lights up like she's had an idea. "I know, what if I call you Pearl-cake." I laugh and she smiles. "There is that beautiful happiness, but I serious. I chose the nickname because your name is Oyster and oysters make pearls, but I know that Glimmer already calls you Pearl. Also cupcake is an over used nickname among couples so I thought I'd change it up."
"No, I like it. I just wasn't expecting that. But what should I call you?"
"Hmm. That's a good question."
We stare at each other for a few seconds thinking before I say "I know. I can call you Seashell."
"I like it." She gives me a huge smile and kisses me. "So we are Seashell and Pearl-cake."
I smile back at her and say "Its perfect because they are such unique couple nicknames for our very unique couple." Then I lean in and kiss her.
Shelly pulls away and says "I just realized we have only been on one very impromptu date, so Pearl-cake would you like to go to a movie with me tomorrow night?"
"I would love to Seashell." Then we kiss good-bye at the door.
As I head upstair I realize I never did any of my homework. I groan and turn into my room. Luckily as I open my planner to get started I see that I have two assignments from my easiest classes. I sit at my desk and get to work.