Witch Lights (Nanowrimo)

Chapter Five- I'm not Gay

Chapter Five

I skip up the stairs, jumping over two at a time in my rush to make it back to my room before curfew at ten. The nuns don't care what we do in our rooms after that, but it's absolutely mandatory that you make it to your rooms by ten. Maybe they think that we are going to... nah, I can't even rationalize that train of thought. I make it to the top floor with five minutes to spare, rushing down the hallway with speed that would impress my track coach, Mr. Purple. I can't believe that tutoring session took two hours. It's not like I got that much work done...


I reach my room, knocking twice on the door because I'm too lazy to look for the key in my backpack. I tap my foot, feeling agitated and impatient, as a minute passes and no one has opened the door. My fist slams against the door again, this time more insistently, and it finally swings open. Jenna stares back at me from inside our room, her hair dripping wet, and I smile at her before barging past her as a nun comes down the hall behind me. I check my wristwatch and roll my eyes at the time: 9:59. The nuns are early tonight, eager to catch anyone who might be lingering in the halls after due time. I wonder if the lack of entertainment in the school leads to hobbies like this. 


I slam the door, fling my backpack to the floor, and collapse into bed, feeling like I've run a mile. A shadow appears above me, and I groan as Jenna grabs my wrist and shoves me over so that she has 'enough' room to sit, taking up more than half the bed. She is silent, staring at me until I am half-convinced that there's something on my face and she's waiting for me to realize it. "What?" I ask, rubbing my forehead.

She narrows her eyes at me, rolling on her side to face me. "Don't 'what' me. Where on earth have you been?" Jenna looks at me as if I am about to jump off the bed and float towards the ceiling or combust into flames.

"I was just studying with Charlie, and--" I hesitate, unsure for a moment. Do I tell her about my plan to go to the dance? 


"For two hours?" Her incredulous voice assaults me, the sharp edge cutting into me and I roll my eyes.

"I know you're upset that I forgot the skittles, but you can't--" I begin to speak, but she cuts me off, whacking my arm and speaking over me.

"Are you gay?" I freeze in shock as I absorb the words. Am I gay? Why would she even think something like that? Her gaze is intense, and I feel like her eyes are trying to reach into my soul. I open my mouth to answer, but shut it quickly as I change my mind several times. What's the best way to answer this? 

"Jenna, I'm not." My mouth moves on its own without instruction from my brain, and it solves that problem for me. "Why would you even think that?" My tone sounds accusatory, but I don't try to soften it as she continues to stare at me before shrugging her shoulder.

"I'm just getting this vibe, Mara. Besides, who wears a skirt to learn Geometry? Last time I checked you wear sweats around school. " Her voice is skeptical and blunt, and I find myself cringing away from her. "I thought you hated Geometry. So why are you coming back from studying for three hours smiling like you've won a secret prize?" She opens her mouth again, most likely to make another attack, but I cut her off.

"I'm not gay, so just drop it, okay? You're just making something out of nothing." I cross my arms over my chest, unwilling to think about it as a strange feeling rushes over me. I feel almost like she's accusing me of stealing chocolate from the stash under her bed. There isn't anything negative in her gaze; her eyes give off a dubious yet curious impression. Still, I feel her judgment radiating off her in waves. 

"If you say so, Amara." Her voice is gentle, almost too gentle, as if she is agreeing merely to comfort me. I find myself sitting up in the bed with my arms crossed, but Jenna doesn't move an inch. She sighs to herself, studying me until I feel that I will explode from the added spotlight.