PRIDE SERIES: The Closet Is My Home

4

"Okay, shoot," I said.

"Are you guys a couple? Honestly, you boys make my gaydar go crazy, and the gaydar never lies."

Ken, gay? Us dating? Does she not realize he's trans, and probably straight? I held my laughter in.

"No," I finally laughed.

"Well, are you guys gay?"

"Um..." I said.

"So, you're not out?" She quietly said. "I can keep a secret." She winked.

"Yeah. I'm gay..." Why am I so comfortable being myself around these Skye and Ken?

"I'm transgender and pansexual."

"What are your pronouns?" She asked.

"He, him."

"You pass really well," she complimented.

"Thanks," he blushed.

Wait, did I actually have a good idea? I mean, it might not be that good, and possible very dangerous, but I want to do it.

"I have an idea. If we ever have to do a group project, and it's free topic, we should join together and present something LGBT related. Then that's when my mom finds out I'm gay so that I don't die," I said.

"That sounds cool," Skye said.

"We should, and I'll come out too," Kenneth joined in.

After school

"Wanna race?" Kenneth asked.

"Sure."

We ran down the halls, and I beat him by a long shot. It's not that he's slow, it's just that I've been in track most of my life. He's actually pretty fast. We both leaned up against a wall to catch our breath.

"Are you going to be in track this year?" I asked after I caught my breath.

"Yeah."

I laid down on the floor. I closed my eyes for one second and it happens. Kenneth falls on top of me without warning.

"Shit," I said a bit too loud. I looked around to make sure my mom wasn't near. We both sat up.

Kenneth was giggling. I glared at him.

"Shut up," I laughed, then playfully pushed him.

"Hey!"

"Do you want to play truth or dare?" I asked.

"Yeah!"

"Mkay. Truth or dare?"

"Dare!" He shouted.

"Lick the floor."

"Dang it," he groaned.

He slowly leaned down, then licked the floor, and came up with a disgusted face.

"Bleh," he said, sticking his tongue out.

"Hehe. Okay, before you ask, I choose truth."

"What's your middle name?"

"Tyler," I exposed.

"Truth," he said.

"What's your middle name?"

"Which one? The one given to me by birth or my trans one?"

"The one you chose, of course," I said.

"Leo."

"Why did you choose that one?" I asked.

"Because the first transgender person I met was named Leonidas. He helped me a lot. I met him in a different state during vacation, and when I left he gave me his number."