Never Fly Too Close To The Sun

To Be Or Not To Be: THAT Is The Question

Tuesday

"Are you trying to.. get off with her?"

Silence.

"Wait," the voice persisted, "Are you GAY??"

Silence. Wide eyes stared with fear into the menacing confrontation.

"Holy shit.." it continued to speak to the frozen receiver. The voice got louder as others turned their heads to the scene.

"HOLY SHIT!"

The two girls' hearts raced together, as if to see which could sprint faster in the panic. Both remained rigid in their plastic seats while masses of eyes swivelled the increasingly-bright spotlight towards them. The inquisitive orbs burned into their victims, whispers sneaking from their lips and drifting into the ears of those nearest.

A new voice pierced the awaiting silence as the blonde woman entered the room, "Sorry I'm late everyone. Let's get started before the lesson is over!" Miss Lavender's enthusiastic chime caused the once-inquisitive expressions to suddenly transform to smug knowledge and the whispers became less discreet and much louder. No one acknowledged the teacher however. No one moved an inch.

That is, until the scraping of a single chair on the thin, worn carpet broke the spotlight's glare. In a rush, the navy suede ankle-boots strode from the back of the room past the gawking students and puzzled teacher. The heels clacked hurriedly as the girl raced through the door and down the stairs of the English block.

Once inside the clean, white-tiled room (a wall lined with mirrors over sinks, a hand dryer at the far end and cubicles lining the opposite side) the teenager looked at her reflection. The distressed ginger ran her trembling fingers through her messy locks as her wide eyes allowed water to stream down her cheeks and drip onto her shuddering bare collarbones.

In an attempt to steady herself, Chloe gripped the edge of the sink and focused on accentuating her breaths in through her nose and out through her mouth. She still felt tense and out of place. Her heart still raced. The tears still rolled consistently. She hadn't even noticed the waterworks having started, and inwardly cursed herself as she realised that they were probably a factor for her fellow classmates gaining their expressions of snide conformation.

Why did tears have to mean she had given her answer anyway? Fury burnt its fiery way through the girl and she began to shake less as its heat travelled inside her. It wasn't their business whether she was gay or not.

A small voice in her mind spoke up, and asked the same question she was denying - was she gay..? Flirtatious, yes. A perhaps slightly inappropriate tease, yes. But gay? Chloe bit her lip and furrowed her brow deep in thought. Admittedly, she HAD been on a 'date' with Beca.. and kissed her.. and enjoyed it. But since when did Chloe have to define herself after having a bit of fun? It was such a stupid accusation.

Sure, Chloe contemplated, it was from Stacie who was about as subtle as a dazed piglet. However, that doesn't mean that she had the right to call attention upon her thoughtless accusations. Not-to-mention what a good friend to Chloe - and Beca - she was supposed to be. Though that had all started to change since Stacie had started getting close to Tom, the ginger thought darkly to herself. She was stupid; she didn't know the consequences to come from her actions. But still. Does she ever keep her mouth shut? No. Being popular and managing to have everyone listen to her didn't help: it meant whatever she might ask would become a fully escalated rumour within a matter of minutes.

"Hey," Beca's soft voice surprised Chloe, causing the subconsciously-pacing student to physically jump before spinning in her state to face the anxious brunette. Immediately seeing the uncontrolled panic in the taller girl's eyes, her friend rushed forward and brought her into a tight embrace. Beca welcomed the fruity scent emanating from Chloe and, without realising what she was doing, nestled her head into the ginger's neck more and pulled their bodies closer. Relieved, Chloe felt a rush of comfort envelope her. With this, the ginger burst into sobs and her wracking body clasped to Beca for support.