Anonymous

I n t r o d u c t i o n s

The bell rang and I knew it was time. I have to do my civic duty, walking to room 253. I can't be late, so I swerve through the massive amounts of my peers. Finally, I see the number on the door indicating my arrival and I practically jump out of the stream of bodies. I swing open the door, and Mrs. Peterson is standing beside the door with a fruit cup and a bottle of water. "Welcome," she smiles warmly at me. I look into the room before me and see a small circle of six. There is only one empty seat beside a girl I've seen around campus, and to be honest scares the crap out of me, and Hunter Franks, our leading pitcher.

Hunter meets my face with narrowed eyes. "What are you doing here, Thomas?" he asks harshly using my last name instead of my real name. Typical jock.

"Joining a club. Same as you. Chill," I try walking over to the empty seat and taking my place in the circle.

"Okay, before we get started, we have a new addition to our club, Joseph, chose to join us for the remainder of the year. So, I will repeat some of the basic guidelines. The most important are everything talked about here, may not be repeated. This is a safe place, for people to be who they are and share what they want to share. Be respectful and courteous to your fellow classmates. Okay, so now we may begin. Welcome to Club Anonymous!" What did I sign up for? Is this a poetry club?

It was as if that was the dismissal everyone turned and began talking to one another, I just sat there unsure of what I was supposed to do. After another minute or so of me being clueless, the scary girl with long blonde hair and a lip ring turned towards me, "You seem lost, puppy. What were you expecting from us? A show?" She cocked her head to the side and gazed at me with utter annoyance.

"To be honest, I wasn't expecting anything. I'm just trying to be apart of a club, nothing more nothing less. Why do you usually perform something?" I asked, still fishing for some clue as to what this club is.

The scary girl throws her head back and laughed at my obliviousness. "I like you. I'm Fran," she smiled. "You already know Hunter. Don't take his sweet introduction to heart. He has issues with newbies. Always scared someone is going to blab about him being one of us. Next to him is Jackie. Her brother is one of us, so she is just a supporter." She seems sweet, talking to Hunter. Every so often she patted his back and gave him an easy smile. "Beside her is Lance, the gayest man you will ever have the pleasure of knowing," she announced, getting Lance's attention.

"Damn straight!" He laughed, popping another grape into his mouth.

"Nah uh, that's the point," Jennifer Shores joined the group sitting beside Lance, who is now trying not to joke on his grapes while laughing. Wait. It's an LGBT group. I didn't even know our school had anyone like that. That explains the name. Jennifer's eyes met mine and she blushed a deep pink color, most likely still thinking about my attempt to flirt this morning.

"It looks as though you already know, our Queen B," Fran pointed to Jennifer.

"Oh shut it," Jennifer shot. "That's not a thing."

"It will be a thing," Fran shot back. Jennifer rolled her golden brown eyes at her friend, and Fran continued with the introductions. But I wasn't really paying close attention I was staring at the faces around me. None of them looked gay. Even Lance, who is the self-proclaimed gayest. He's wearing an outfit similar to me. The only difference is he rolled the cuffs of his jeans. Does that make me gay? Wait for what? No. I like girls! I'm sitting in front of me is Jennifer Shores, the girl I've had a crush on for almost two years now. "And I like girls," Fran says at the end of her speech, proudly.

"So, you and I have some things in common," I try. Then, my face turns red. Can I say that? She waits a second and laughs.

"I knew I liked you," Fran adds and her face transforms. Fran is gorgeous. She may appear scary, but she is like Jennifer in as soon as her guard is down she changes. She has green eyes, high cheekbones, and pouty lips. "Do you have a girlfriend?" she asks.

"No, I'm living the single life," I replied, feeling a little more comfortable. I opened my fruit cup and began eating.

"Same. Most of us are. Well except Lance, who is seeing some guy," she adds, stopping Lance from his conversation with Jennifer. Lance's eyes lock with mine and he drags his chair over to us.

Lance clears his throat, "He is not just some guy," he begins.

"Oh no!" Hunter shouts, suddenly, "Who mentioned Brad?" He whines, dragging his hands through his hair.

"Quiet you," Lance orders, Hunter. "Everyone deserves to know of the beautiful romance that is Brad and I. He is my one true love. I met him last year online, and he is going to be moving out here next week to be with me! Isn't that the most amazing thing you've ever heard!" Lance exclaimed.

"Um, Lance, have you ever met this man?" I asked concerned more than anything by the story of his true love. I've seen enough Catfish and Law and Order SVU to hear red flags.

"Awe, Joey you care! We video chat all the time! He is perfect!"

"Then, I'm happy for you," I told him still a little uneasy by the story.

Before we could say anything else the bell rings. "Thank you, everyone, for coming and sharing," Mrs. Peterson announces. "I'll see you on Friday!" She adds.

"Catch you around," Fran smiles, waving goodbye.

Jackie gives Hunter a big hug. Lance hugs Fran and Jennifer. I wave goodbye. I'm about halfway to my next class when someone grabs my shoulder and pushes me into the janitor closet. "You say anything about what you witnessed or heard in their I will beat the living shit out of you!" Hunter threatens.

I push his hands off of me, "I'm not going to say anything, but do you really trust that Brad character?"

He steps back, a little shocked, "Do you really care?"

"It doesn't take much for me to become invested," I reply.

"In that case, no. I don't, and if I'm right it will crush Lance. Anyway, I'll see you around."

"Yeah, see ya," I call back.

What have I gotten myself into?

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