Love, Alaïa

Chapter 8- Raise The Rainbow Flag

"Did you get it? Come on you can do this, I got you"

"No no I can't. I'll fall down. And I'll die. I don't want to die Dad."

"Trust me princess. I got you. You won't fall all you got to do jump"

"No dad no! I can't risk it. It's too high"

"Come on baby. Just jump"

"Ellie what are you doing? Ellie no please? No please don't push me. Please Ellie I'm begging you. Ellie! Ellie! Ellie Noooooooooo"

                *End of nightmare*

"Oh my God", I scream and breathe heavily. My face mixed with tears and sweat. I look around me to realise it was just a dream. Next minute I feel a pair of arms around me.

"Shh it's okay. It was just dream. You're safe now", Gio said holding into me tightly.

"Gio? When did you get you", I asked still reeling from my shock.

"I got here a few minutes ago. You're window was open so I assumed you were up. When I came in, you were sleeping so peaceful and I couldn't disturb you. So what did you dream?"

"Something about someone pushing me off a high place and I actually fell", I say trying to remember the events. Ever since I was little I've been terrible of heights. I will never go to a cliff or mountain. I even fear walking down high flights of stairs.

"Dont worry, you're okay", he smiled. "It's kinda weird that I sensed you didn't want to be alone and I came here. I didn't have a reason but you did so I'm glad you're okay. You should get some sleep now and I'll see you in the morning okay?"

"Okay goodnight Gio", I smiled.

                    *Next morning*

Okay school. A whole other story. So today I have an art project to complete and well I don't know why I choose art. I'm not even good at it. Gio does most of my assignments but this one has to be done in class. So on Friday Mr Gomez assigned us our partners and luckily I got Keyya. Keyyas one of my best friends and she's an artist. And she's extremely good at what she does. Like a few months ago, things were really hard at home so she did her share by making paintings and selling them and trust me she made thousands of dollars.

"So you have an idea for the project Ms Van Gogh?", I smiled.

"Really, that's the best you got?", she laughed.

"Hey! You two quit entertaining each other and put the effort in your work, won't you", Mr Gomez said. He was so cranky. Everybody hated him.

"So I'm actually leaving class early today because  Derek is coming out of jail today. So we all have to fake a smile and pretend an angel is coming back", she rolled her eyes. Derek was Keyya's step dad. Her dad died when she was 11 and then her mom started dating her coworker until he got thrown behind bars for stealing from an old lady. He was rude and bitter and Mrs Smith deserved better.

"Umh oh okay. All the best. I'll take the work for you if there is", I offered.

"Thanks Lai. Also we have to get this thing done asap so is your house cool?", she asked.

"Sure. See you at 3:30", she waved of and left. She had spoken to Mr Gomez before class so he understood.

As Keyya exited the door, I realised she had left one of her books behind.

"Key you left your -", I was just about to call out until I realised she had went away and she was out sight. It's cool, she's coming by my house later. I'll just give it to her then.

Today I'm all alone. Elijah has the flu and now Keyya is gone so it's just me and the day is dragging. I wonder if Eli told Keyya yet. I don't think so. She would have told me right? Like girl on girl? She didn't act strange either. I'll call him up later. I wish Gio was here. He wouldn't want me to be alone especially in this dumb school filled with dumber people and plastics. His probably in Spanish class right now. Omg! Here I go again, thinking about Gio. Before I never used to think of him as frequent as I do now. That's not weird right? What's happening to me?

It's currently lunch and if you didnt already guess, I'm eating alone. I shove my backpack to the side causing a 'dubbb' sound and everyone staring at me. I hate being the center of attention. The book that actually feel out was light people in colour and had 'KEYYA' written in fancy handwriting. This is not a textbook, it's actually her journal! Im on second thought. The left part of me is saying that I shouldn't read it because that devious and invasion of privacy but the right side is saying that I should go head because we're close friends and I probably know everything in the book. I'm so indecisive. But the right part of me should be right, right? I slowly open the book and hesitantly flip through the pages. Instead of feelings and thoughts, it's filled with drawings. Portraits to be specific. Portraits of some girl. Why does Keyya have so many drawings of this girl in her private journal? Skimming through all the pages until I land on a little sticky note that read

'I love you Natalie Rose. I always have and I always will. Nobody will tear us apart. We were made for each other'

I stop dead in my tracks and gasp so hard. Natalie Rose? Portraits? The note? Omg.... This means.... This means Keyya is gay. Why didn't she tell me anything? And why did she hide her girlfriend? Did she not trust me? Then it hit me, the other day when Gio and I saw her with some hot blonde. That's the girl from the portrait. Thats Natalie Rose!

I pass all my periods and finally it's time to go home. It's like 15:15 so Keyya will be home any minute. The thing that bothers me the most is what will Eli do? His so into Keyya and how is he going to feel when he finds out she's gay? Should I confront her ? Tell her I know?

I hear my front door open and a smiley Keyya walks in.

"Well hello there Ms May. Did you miss me?", she asked taking a coke from my fridge.

"Uhh y-yeah of course. Did you meet with Derek", I asked awkwardly. It wasn't awkward that she was gay because I'm for one not a person to judge you based on your love interest and come on its 2019! What was awkward was how she was going to react after she finds out that I know. I feel my palms start to sweat and my nails dig into my palm.

"It was okay I guess. Jason was happy to see him and me while I'm just there", she said tossing the cap into the trash. "You seem weird what's up"

"Okay I can't take this pressure anymore. You left your journal behind and I picked it up and it feel and I unintentionally opened it and I found all these drawings and a sticky note and I-", I managed to say in one breath until she cut me of.

"Wait you opened my journal? How could you?", she yelled.

"It was an accident Kay. I didn't mean to. But... Why.. Why didn't you tell me?", I asked concerned.

"I was scared. I - I didn't want you to judge me or treat me differently after finding out. I tried to tell you many times but my mouth never came to actually say it. I'm so sorry Lai", she sobbed into my shoulder.

"Shh please don't cry. I would never judge you. We always used to tell each other things. You know you can trust me. Don't apologize. I'll support you no matter what. Got that?", I pull her closer to me.

"I didn't come out yet. I can't. You know how my family is. They are homophobic. They wouldn't excecp me for who I am"

"You have to do what's best for you Key. If your family doesn't except it then it's on them but you know you did a right thing by not being deceitful and lying to them. And if your family doesn't care, then we got your back. Were also your family", I encourage her.

"Thank you so much for understanding. I don't think I would have wanted to come out to anyone except you. Also if you have time, will you want to meet Natalie", she smiled.

"I would love to", I smiled back.

"We better get started."

It's going to be a long night designing this", we both giggled.