Fine

Chapter 17

Cora decides to come to GSA on Friday, though I can tell she's a little nervous. I tell her she doesn't have to be, that she doesn't have to tell anyone why she's there or anything about her current dilemma with the girl she likes and the guy who likes her, but she still seems a little hesitant.

She has no reason to be, though, because as soon as she shows up, she goes straight to Abigail and Daniella and I can hear them all laughing about how none of them knew about each other and how funny it is that it worked out like this, all of them being gay, etc., etc. From this, I gather that they're all friends to some extent, which is good for Cora because I know how much easier it is to deal with things when you have friends backing you up. Especially once you feel like you're not hiding something anymore.

Eventually, the weekend comes along, which means it's time for Nate and I to enact our plan. I show up at Chase's house on Saturday around the time that Nate and Jordan should be going to football practice. Aaron is home, which is fine because he's a super chill dad (which is like, the entire reason that Nate and I planned to do all this at Chase's house). We were initially thinking that we should probably stage this at either my place or his, but he said his won't work (which I'm now thinking has something to do with his parents possibly being homophobic) and my mom is having people over so it was Chase's or Jordan's and Nate told me that Jordan's is out of the question, so here we are.

"What are you doing here?" Chase asks as he opens the door.

"Hello to you too, best friend," I say as I elbow my way inside. Aaron is in the living room, watching TV. He smiles when he sees me. "Oh, hi Levi. How are you?"

I grin. "I'm well, thanks, and yourself?"

He considers that. "I'm fairly alright. Do me a favour and keep my son out of the house for about forty-five minutes, would you? I'm trying to finish this movie and he won't stop interrupting me."

I laugh. Chase rolls his eyes.

"Don't worry, we'll go to the park. Come on, Chase, let's give your dad some peace and quiet."

He mutters something about his supposed best friend conspiring against him as I pull him outside. I ignore him and grab a basketball from beside the door before closing it behind us.

We go to the park and play basketball for a little while. As usual, I'm awed by how good Chase is at playing casually. He's supposedly 'not even trying', and his style is undoubtedly looser and more carefree than the way he plays for the team, but he's still unbelievably good. We play for a few hours before deciding to head back, at which point I spring the GSA bake sale on him.

"Hey, by the way, Nate and Jordan are coming over after practice to bake."

"Sorry, to do what?"

"Bake. For the GSA bake sale this week."

He sighs. "You're the worst. You know I can't refuse to help the GSA."

"I know. Especially since I'm the leader and your best friend so you're pretty much obligated to. Don't worry, though, Jordan is coming, so you'll still get to see your boyfriend today."

"How'd you drag him into this?"

"Nate promised me he'd help as well. And we figured you guys would have a better chance of agreeing if you were both involved."

"So, you planned this."

"Clearly."

"And you guys call yourselves our best friends."

"Yup. We're truly great people, I know. Recruiting as many people as possible to pitch in for a fundraiser for a good cause..."

He sighs. "We really have no room to refuse, do we."