Breathing Water

CHAPTER 40

The bell rings and I gather my things. Mason brushes pat me in his hurry to leave the room. I look up to see him glaring at me just before he passes through the doorway. Kristen taps me on the shoulder and asks "So, what did you do?" I look at her confused so she clarifies. "How did you make him leave you alone?"
"Well, I took your advice, sort of."
"What do you mean 'sort of'?"
"I was at the movies and he saw me there and said hi. He was on a date and so was I, but he didn't seem to notice until I kissed her." I smile at the thought of Shelly.
"What? You kissed his date?"
"No, I kissed my date. Well actually while it was our first official date we had already decided to be girlfriends," I ramble as we walk out of the classroom together.
She grabs my arm and says "Wait! You mean your a real lesbian? Your not just acting to get Mason off your back?"
Remembering I haven't talked to anyone about it other than Glimmer and Mom I say "Oh, I may have forgotten to mention that. Then again it is still kind of new to me."
"What do you mean 'kind of new'?"
"Well I only actually realized it last week and Shelly and I just became exclusive on Monday."
"I thought lesbians and gays said that they've always known. How can you be different?"
"I have severe asthma, so I was a little too busy trying to make sure I could breath right to form a crush or even think about forming a relationship. Then I met Shelly last week and Mason attacked me and I realized I don't fit with guys, I fit with girls, if you know what I mean."
"Not really. 'Fit'...?"
"Um yeah. I don't really know how to explain it other than guys don't feel right but girls do. For me its not really something I can put into words its just how I feel." I finally think of something to help me explain. "Oh I know. Now I get this from movies, but its kind of like how you can't explain why your heart starts pounding and you voice box and brain shut down every time you come into contact with your crush, but you do. Does that make more sense?"
"Yeah, kind of, but I gotta go to class. Bye see you later." She waves and runs off in a different direction. I quickly head to German gaining more strange looks around the halls.
I catch a few of the whispered words. Some are things like "I knew she was a freak" and "I hope her happiness kills her," but most were disrespectful, discriminatory terms for homosexuals.
One brave soul steps in front of me just before I enter my classroom. "You know, you are a disgusting fag."
I smile at her and say "Thank you." I then move passed her with her mouth hanging open and head into my favorite class of the day after Advanced Biology.