ADOPTED BY PHAN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Just one more week, Iris thinks, as she welcomes herself into school. One more week of school and then you can see Skye again.

"Iris!" Floyd shouts from the other end of the hallway. Iris' face fills with colour, mortified as her friend runs towards her, weaving through groups of people. It's not the fact that he's running, but how he's running. His hands just go out to his sides in such a gay manner. He catches everyone's attention.

"Floyd; hands!" Iris whisper-warns Floyd as he gets closer.

"Oops!" Floyd laughs, slowing his pace and bringing his hands to his sides. As soon as they're face-to-face, he starts, "I saw your new video with Emma Blackery! Oh my god you're hilarious! Can you believe some people ship her with Dan? Ugh, if only they knew the truth about-" Floyd gets cut off by the bell. "Gotta go! See you, Iris!"

He's gone in the blink of an eye. Iris decides to make her way to the special classroom then, excited to see Vic. She's been curious about him all weekend; wondering why those jocks labelled him as gay. It doesn't matter if he is, Iris just wants to hear things first-hand.

"Hello!" She chirps up as soon as she walks into the classroom and takes her seat next to Vic.

Vic barely even glances at her, mumbling a "Hey."

"Are you alright?" Iris checks, trying to make eye-contact.

"That's irrelevant, Iris." He replies, looking anywhere but her.

She changes the subject, "About what happened on Friday-"

"That's in the past." Vic interrupts her, staying emotionless.

"I just wanted to know-"

"Know what?" Vic scoffs back, "If I'm a fag?"

"I don't like that word." Iris says quietly.

"Yeah? Well I don't like school but I deal with it."

"Vic, Iris," The teachers cuts in, placing worksheets in front of them. "Quiet down, please."

"What if I was gay?" Vic whispers after a moment of silence. "What if I was the most flaming homosexual you'd ever met? Why would that matter?"

"I didn't mean it in a bad way, Vic." Iris' voice is a soft whisper, "It doesn't change anything, I just wanted to hear the truth from you."

"Well, I'm not gay, okay?"

Finally making eye contact, Iris can read his unspoken words in his eyes. Telling her he may not be gay, but he most certainly is not straight.

"What about you?" Vic speaks up again. "You never told me your preferences."

"Oh- Well- I- Uh-" Iris is at a loss for words.

"You- Well- Uh- What?" Vic cracks a smile.

"I don't know." She whispers.

After a quiet pause, she starts again, "I've never been one to judge on looks, you know? It's not the pretty face that attracts me, but the personality. I mean, I'm aware of who's got beauty and what-not, but it just doesn't matter in my head. I don't even know if that makes sense . . ."

There's a break of silence before Vic finally says, "I know exactly what you mean."

"Really?" Iris is shocked.

"Yeah, they've got a label for your type."

"What is it?"

"Pansexual."

Iris snorts a laugh, "What, am I attracted to pans?"

"I'm serious, I had a close friend who was the same." Vic's face suddenly mimics pain.

"Was?"

"That's irrelevant."

"What is relevant, then?" Iris asks.

A devilish grin explodes onto Vic's face. And all he says is "This," before connecting his lips with Iris'.