LIE

Chapter 5

"Tell me again." Evie demanded.

"I thought I was losing my mind, but no. He's really there." I muttered almost psychotically.

"Calm down. You haven't lost your mind." Evie reassured me.

I put my hands in front of me and inhaled. "You know what,"

"He's probably just moved here and is just in our third block and it's my first time noticing him." I theorized.

"This is my first time seeing him." Evie interjected. I frowned.

"Oh! I mean- he's probably been there all along and I'm just noticing too!" She tried to mend the situation.

I ran my fingers through my hair. I closed my eyes and released all the stress with one sigh.

"Ok."

"We'll just go about our day. Come on. The bell's about to ring." I said. We’d been standing by the bathrooms outside the cafeteria waiting for the school day to end.

We walked to the bus lot and stood at the end of the walkway before branching off.

"So what are you doing this weekend?" Evie asked.

"Not much." I replied while slowly kicking my feet.

"Well, let's hang out on Saturday." She suggested.

"Ok."

"Let's video chat tonight to decide on something." Evie said as she started to walk to her bus.

I nodded and walked to my bus.

Later that night I sat at my desk video-chatting with Evie.

"So maybe an amusement park?" She suggested.

"Too hot. Too expensive." I responded.

"What about a movie?"

"Which one?" I asked.

"Any is fine." Evie said.

"I'll text you some suggestions later." I said.

"How are we getting there?" Evie asked.

"My parents work on weekends." I do not ever want Evie to meet my parents.

"Ok. I'll ask my parents." Evie informed me.

I nodded.

"Look!"

"My mom keeps giving these to me!" She held up a magazine with girls my age wearing skimpy clothes on the cover.

"I guess she doesn't like this stuff and gives it to me. I don't like it either." Evie stated.

She showed me a page. "Here! Take a peek!"

I turned my head away. Disinterested.

I heard Evie giggle.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

I turned my head to the screen. "I don't like those things."

"Why not?" She asked.

"I'm gay. Gay! There I said it!" I said somewhat loudly, I might add.

"Oh. That's...nice?" Evie drawled. I looked down.

I’m afraid she doesn't want to be my friend anymore.

"Well, I've never had a gay friend before." She stated.

I looked at her.

"It's okay, Luc, it is." Evie smiled.