Lana Loves Melanie

Confession and Reaction

 After the dandelions fall to the ground, Melanie's hand starts visibly shaking. She is clearly shocked.

"You...you...you like me?! Like, the way boys and girls like each other?" Melanie questions, with a panicked tone in her voice.

Lana was pretty shaken by Melanie's reaction, but is at least thankful that she isn't angry. At least not yet.

"Yes. I know the idea of a girl liking another girl that way may seem weird to you, but that does exist and that is a real thing," Lana explains.

Melanie looks downward and bites her bottom lip while rubbing the side of her neck.

"So because you are a girl that likes girls, does that mean you're...gay?" Melanie whispers.

"Yes it does. I think there's a term for a girl that likes girls," Lana says, "Starts with an 'L' I think."

"Lesbian," Melanie answers.

"Right. That's it," Lana realizes.

There's silence between the two girls now that Melanie is completely at a loss for words. She had a feeling that somebody was going to have a crush on her eventually but she never in a million years thought that it would be a girl that would pine for her affection.

Melanie just silently stares at Lana. She liked her fine as a friend, as well as Lola. But the notion of being Lana's "girlfriend" was something that just confused her.

Tired of the silence, Lana spoke up with another truth, "You know, even though I like you, if you just want to be friends, I'm 100% Ok with it. Really I am," Lana clarifies.

Lana gives Melanie a small grin that signifies that she's definitely Ok with the two of them just being friends.

What Melanie had to say next was something that probably sounds rude but she was incredibly curious.

"Does your family know? That you're a lesbian?" Melanie questions.

Lana's eyes widen and tiny beads of sweat form on her temples. As much as she didn't want to, she knew that she had to tell her the hard truth.

"(Exhale) No they don't. Nobody knows, not even my own twin," Lana sighs in a defeated tone.

Oh man, I'm basically the first and only person she came out to. This feels very strange for me, Melanie thought to herself.

"Well...does your family know any others?" Melanie questions.

"Any other what?" Lana asks, "Gay people?"

Melanie silently nods her head.

Of course, the McBrides. I'll talk about the McBrides. Lana realizes in her mind.

"Actually yes," Lana explained, "See, my big brother Lincoln has a friend named Clyde. Clyde has two dads. I think they are the only gay people we know."

Melanie's eyes light up after she discovers that Lana's family at least knows some gay people. And gay men no less.

"Sorry to ask so many questions, but how does your family treat them?" Melanie asks curiously.

"We definitely treat them fairly and equally," Lana reassures with great honesty.

"Since your family treats them with respect, then you shouldn't have to worry about coming out to your family," Melanie says in a soft tone.

Lana starts nervously biting her bottom lip, "Even though we fully respect the McBrides, I think gayness is different for grown-ups than it is for kids," Lana whispers.

"So are you still afraid?" Melanie questions.

"Yes. I know I shouldn't be and we're tolerant, but I just don't know how they're gonna react," Lana says.

Lana's eyes are now fixated to the ground and she's completely silent. Melanie looks at the blonde in front of her with pity. She has an idea.

"If it'll make you feel any better, I can be there with you when you tell them," Melanie tells her.

Lana looks up at Melanie and sees the redhead has a friendly grin on her face to indicate that everything's gonna be Ok as long as she's around.

"I'd like that very much. Thank you Melanie," Lana whispers.

Before either girl knew it, their free period had ended and the thunderous sound of the school bell broke their conversation. Unlike what happens after Lola and Melanie's gym class, Lola does not go outside to meet her sister. Instead, since she's already in the building, she goes back to Mr. Cooper's class.

"We'd better head back," Lana says as she and Melanie walk back inside the building.

Once they enter their classroom and get ready to pack their stuff to go home, Lola shows her sister and Melanie a painting she made today.

"Look what I did in art today," Lola says triumphantly.

She lays her painting on the table. It is a drawing of her, Melanie, and Lana standing underneath a rainbow with a sun in the corner of the page.

"This is nice Lola," Melanie compliments, "Those colors are really pretty."

Lana just silently stares at the picture, or more specifically at the rainbow. She remembers that the rainbow supposedly represents gay pride. Soon her fears start flooding back to her.

Lola notices Lana's seemingly disinterested reaction and speaks up, "I know you're not into the bright and colorful girly stuff but you gotta give me some credit," Lola comments.

Lana blinks to snap herself out of her daze, "Um, maybe mom and dad will hang it on the fridge," Lana says.

"Hmm, maybe," Lola whispers.

As the elementary school Louds are dismissed and walk home together, Lola shows her masterpiece to Lincoln, Lucy, and Lisa. However, Lana slowly trails behind, trying as best as she could to erase her fears.