Breathing Water

CHAPTER 27

I realize as I do my quick morning routine for school that I still don't have Shelly's number, so I make a mental not to get it from her when I get to school. I run out the door shouting "Bye Mom!"
When I arrive at Glimmer's house I turn down the radio and prepare a piece of gum for her as she climbs into the passenger seat. She takes it and gets buckled. As I start driving I say "Glimmer, we have a problem."
She becomes desperately worried as she says "We do? What did I do? Or you do? What do you mean?"
She continues asking questions until I say "Nonononono. Not that kind of problem. We've just kind of lost touch these last few days. Pretty much since the party last week you've been distracted by your phone nonstop and I've been hanging out with Se-shelly more often than we usually get to hangout."
"Really? Well I had noticed you two were getting really close but I didn't know I was so distracted with my phone, but I guess it would make since, though."
"What do you mean 'it would make since'?" I furrow my eyebrows at the road.
"Well you know how at the party we got separated before you fell off the cliff?" I nod keeping my eyes facing forward. "Okay, well I kind of met someone that I really like and  he doesn't mind my asthma. In fact he thinks its cute." I can hear the smile in her voice. "Oh and I met his twin brother who has the same opinion about the asthma. I thought you might like to meet him and then maybe we could have a double date or something." She sounded so excited about this plan.
"Oh, um, thanks, but thats not really necessary."
"Come on please. At least meet him. I've told him a little about you and he seems pretty interested in you. Besides I think you would look cute together."
"Fine, I'll meet him, but I can't really date him."
"What? Why not?"
"Well, um. I'll tell you about it when we get to school and Shelly has found us."
Glimmer huffs and says "Please tell me?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you until we're with Shelly."
She huffs again and pouts "Fine but I just want you to know that his name is Clarence and I think it would be fun to call you Cloyster as a couples name." I decide not to respond so I don't say something I'm not ready to say.
A few minutes later we pull into a parking space at the school. Glimmer and I open our doors at the same time and we both hear a very happy voice yell "Pearl-cake!" I feel warmth in my cheeks as I climb out of my seat and am attacked with a hug from Shelly.
Glimmer shouts her door kind of loudly to get our attention and says "What is going on? Will you please tell me now? Please tell me why you can't go out with Clarence? Or why you can't go on a double date with him and me and his brother? And finally what did Shelly just call you and why?" She seems very agitated. Especially when Shelly starts laughing which makes me laugh too.
We don't laugh for long and I answer Glimmer's questions. "Okay, well first I can't go on a double date with him or date him at all because I am already seeing someone."
Glimmer gasps and interrupts by saying "Oh I am so sorry I didn't realize. I am so happy for you. Who is it? Do I know him?"
Shelly laughs again and I start to laugh so I hit her arm. She grabs her arm and makes a fake 'ouch' face. "I'm getting there, hold on. Shelly called me Pearl-cake because it is her nickname for me so that she doesn't use the same nickname as you."
Glimmer interrupts again. "Wow! You already have a nickname. I didn't realize you could become that close of friends in that short of a time span."
Shelly starts making some weird noises, so I look at her and she is trying to hold in a laugh. "Okay, Glimmer you need to quit interrupting and let me finish. For one thing, if you interrupt again you will make her laugh," I point at Shelly, "which will make me laugh and we will never finish this conversation." Glimmer nods and makes the zipping motion with her hand and mouth. "Okay, this next part might come as a bit of a shock and be kind of hard to take in." This time her nod is slow and confused. "Well, here it goes. Glimmer, I'm a lesbian. I am gay and Shelly is my girlfriend." As soon as the words leave my mouth Shelly grabs my hand and thats when I realize we are in the school parking lot where most students hang out before school. I look at Shelly with a worried facing showing her that I just realized I basically just came out to the whole school.