Bluejays

The Call

At the point where Ashlyn was going home with her family, Phoenix was already in college. He no longer lived with his family; in fact, he lived with Vera, who he was still dating.

She was going for a psychology degree; he wanted a business degree. They were happy together.

One day, Phoenix was lying on the couch, while Vera studied at the table in that room.

She looked over at him. "Baby, why don't you study with me?" she suggested.

Phoenix shook his head. "I'm trying not to get stressed," he said. "If I do, well, then you know what can happen."

Vera sighed, then nodded. "Okay," she said, chuckling as she looked at the kitchen, where he had once set a towel on fire.

Phoenix sighed, stretching. "I can help you, though."

"You don't have to," Vera said.

"Okay," Phoenix said.

A few minutes later, he got a phone call from a familiar number. He frowned. "I'm going to take this," he said slowly to Vera, before going to their bedroom. "Hi."

"Hi," the voice said. "So, listen. Ashlyn is out of the house, she's in the world. You're all old enough to deal with being known. Is that going to be okay with you?"

Phoenix tensed. "Yes," he said. "I know what it means to be known, and I'm okay with that."

"Good boy," said the voice, then hung up.

Phoenix lowered the phone slowly, closing his eyes. He was not ready.

_

Ashlyn smiled at the boy she was talking to. She liked him because he treated her normally, not like a freak for wearing gloves all the time because of her 'super compromised immune system.'

His name was Anthony, and he was strange, but sweet.

"Ashlyn," he said eventually. "I like you, I want you to know that."

She hesitated. "But," she said. "You shouldn't. I mean, I have a terrible secret, right? That's what people say. You shouldn't."

"No matter how terrible it is," Anthony said, "I'll still love you. It doesn't matter. You can hide something terrible, but you yourself are wonderful."

Ashlyn smiled faintly. "I like you, too," she said, and that was when her phone buzzed. "I have to take this," she said, looking at the number.

She walked away. "Hi, what's wrong?"

"It's time to make you known," the voice answered. Ashlyn gasped.

"What?" she whispered urgently.

"You know what that means?" the voice asked, and she nodded, then remembered he couldn't see her.

"Yes."

"Well," the voice said. "Then it's time. You're all as ready as you can be, so we're doing this. Alright?"

"Okay," she whispered.

"Good," the voice said.

Ashlyn sighed, walking back to Anthony.

"What was it?" he asked, concerned. 

Ashlyn smiled at him. "You're about to find out my secret," she said, walking away.

_

Lydia was talking to her friend. "What about Jake?" her friend asked.

"He's obnoxious," Lydia said.

"Fair enough," he friend agreed. "But I'll guess your crush soon."

Lydia chuckled. "Sure you will. It isn't who you expect."

Suddenly, her phone rang. She picked it up. "Hey," she said, only glancing at the caller's ID. It wasn't just a number; that was what mattered.

"Hi," Lydia," the voice said, and she froze.

"What's going on?" she asked. This voice only told them important things.

"You're going to be known," the voice said, and she shuddered when she realized what that meant.

"Why?"

"Because," the voice said. "You guys are ready."

With that, they hung up.

Lydia turned to her friend. "I have to go home," she said. "I just learned something distressing."

_

Elijah was finally talking to his crush. She was nice. He was happy to have discovered that he liked her, instead of the popular girls. His crush wasn't very pretty, but she was beautiful to him, because she was nice, smart, funny, and didn't let other people walk all over her. Still, because looks were the only thing other people cared about, he couldn't expect a lot of competition.

"So," she said. "What happens when the gloves come off?"

"Well," he said. "I told you. I have a lot of trouble gripping things. The gloves just help with grip."

She nodded. "Do they just get friction, or do they actually do something for your hands?"

"The first thing," Elijah decided.

She nodded. "That's really cool."

He nodded. "Yeah, it is."

Suddenly, his phone rang. He told her he had to answer, and did so.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi," the voice replied. "You guys will be known soon. You have to tell people yourselves."

"When and how?" he asked.

"I'll tell you when that's all confirmed," the voice replied.

"Okay," Elijah said

_

The final person who was told was Ollie.

He was sitting with his boyfriend, Adam, at the other's house because they couldn't go to Oliver's house.

"So, what happens if your parents find out about us?" asked Adam.

"I'll give you a hint," Ollie said. "I have never heard a thing about Phoenix's older brother. We recently learned of his existence. He's gay. That's why. My parents agree with Phoenix's parents."

Adam sighed. "I'm sorry, dear," he said.

Ollie shrugged. "It's no big deal," he said. "I can keep secrets. You know that." He chuckled.

"I mean, from your family, though," Adam said.

Ollie smiled at him, and kissed him on the cheek. "You're worth it, love," he said.

Then, he got a call. Adam watched him talk to the other person, and listened to his end of the conversation.

"Hi....Wait, what?....Yeah....No, we aren't really....Okay....I suppose....Fine....Bye."

He turned to Adam. "So," he said. "I'll only have to keep one secret now."

***

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