Connections

CHAPTER ONE

Katelyn wasn’t interested in boys. She didn’t have time for them—at least that’s what she told herself. And that’s what she told her best friend, Samantha, whenever she inquired about Katelyn’s love life.

“I have a test coming up,” Katelyn said as she took a sip of her cappuccino, hoping it would end the daily interrogation Samantha inflicted on her.

“It’s only been a week since the semester started. How can you have a test already?” Samantha took a deep breath to cool down and not draw attention from the other café patrons—again.  She leaned forward. “You make me so angry. You always have an excuse.”

“If you don’t like excuses, stop asking.”

Samantha leaned back in her seat, looked away, and then back at Katelyn who was still sipping her cappuccino. “Level with me. What is it really? Since we met six years ago, I’ve never seen you with a boy or even shown interest in one. It’s not normal.” Then she whispered, “Are you—you know—“

“—lesbian?” Katelyn said it louder than she intended and caught the eyes of a couple college guys she had seen in one of her classes. A smile grew on their faces as their eyes darted between Samantha and Katelyn.

“Suck it!” Samantha yelled as she threw a plastic fork at the two gawkers.

They laughed and went on with their conversation.

“Could you be any louder? Now those two idiots think we’re lesbos.”

Katelyn placed her hand on Samantha’s. “This is probably a good time to tell you—“

Samantha pulled her hand away in shock. “Are you serious?” She was silent for a moment, lost in thought. Then her expression changed as if she had solved a puzzle that was haunting her for years. “All the signs were there. I can’t believe I’ve been so blind.” Samantha wrapped both her hands around Katelyn’s. “I’m so sorry. I’ve been trying to fix you up with guys for years and this whole time…” she leaned closer to Katelyn and whispered, “…you like girls.”

“Yeah.” Katelyn sipped her cappuccino. “I like girls. For years. They’re all I can think about. Like all the time.”

A realization crossed Samantha’s mind. “Oh my god. Katelyn, are you telling me this now because you’re in love with me?”

Katelyn almost choked on her drink when she heard those words.

“Are you OK? You know—if you do—I totally understand. We’ve been really close for years, so it was bound to happen but you know I don’t swing that way. Plus I have a boyfriend and it just wouldn’t work out.”

Katelyn became conscious of her friend’s cold hands around hers. The blood had drained from Samantha’s body. “You can let go of my hand now.”

Samantha gripped it tighter. “We can still be friends, right?”

Katelyn did her best not to smile. “Let me think about that. Can I get back to you?”

“Carrie—I think she likes girls too. I can set you up with her. There are a lot of other girls out there,” Samantha pleaded.

“Carrie in our biology class?”

“She’s cute and really sweet. I just know you two would hit it off.”

Katelyn pulled her hand from Samantha’s grip. “I don’t—“

“You’re right. She can get a little bitchy sometimes. How about Jocelyn?”

Katelyn exhaled. “Samantha, I don’t want you to set me up with anyone. In fact, don’t tell anyone. OK?”

Samantha nodded and made a motion as if zipping her lips. “Your secret is safe with me. Does this mean we’re still friends?”

“Yes, of course—as long as you keep it between us.” Katelyn got up and picked up her backpack from the seat next to her. “I’m going home to study.”

“I’m coming with you.” Samantha picked up her things.

“No. You’re not. We always end up talking ‘til 2 in the morning. Calculus is hard enough as it is without distractions.”

“We need to talk about this, Katy.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” Katelyn knew that if she didn’t say more to Samantha, she’d talk to someone else. “Alright. Let’s talk about it tomorrow.”

They said their goodbyes and Katelyn walked quickly towards the exit to prevent Samantha from prolonging the conversation. However, in her haste, she wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings and crashed into a man, spilling the coffee he had in his hand all over his UCLA sweatshirt.

“I’m so sorry,” she said as she tried wiping the coffee off his sweatshirt.

The man, around her age, stared at her in disbelief.

Katelyn waited for him to say something, but after a few seconds of staring at each other. She apologized again and left the café.

She thought about the conversation she had with Samantha and regret boiled in her mind. She just wanted Samantha to get off her back and stop trying to hook her up with guys, but now her best friend thought she was gay.

Katelyn was lost in thought as she continued walking home when she decided that she would tell Samantha the truth the next morning and explain to her why she had been alone for so long.

But first she would have to explain it to herself.