The Wonders Of You

7

"Did you have fun?" My mom questions me from the dining room as I shut the front door.

Her and Nana are sitting down together at the dining table. The smell of freshly cooked beef stew wafts in the air making my stomach grumble, hungrily. 

"Yeah, I had fun."

The biscuits are still baking so, I sit down with them to wait.

"Nana tells me you made some new friends?"

I nod and smile. 

"Yeah they're cool. Actually there's this girl-" I cut myself off but it's too late.

Shit.

"A girl?"

I shrug and start fiddling with my fingers. 

"Like a girl girl or just a girl?"

"I don't know, mom, it's only been a day!" I can feel myself start to smile so I get up to go check on the biscuits before she could see. 

"I saw that! You're not fooling me."

"Cheri, stop embarrassing this girl," my Nana says lightly slapping her arm, chuckling.

"Fine, fine. Are the biscuits ready?"

I nod and take them out of the oven. As if on cue, Miles and Matthew come thumping down the stairs.

After everyone starts eating, we end up talking about the boys day and apparently Matthew already has a girlfriend.

"You can't have a girlfriend, Matt. You're too young," I say, rolling my eyes.

"Shut up, you're just mad I have one and you don't!" 

"Max, language," my mom says cocking her eye brow. She's giving him a look but I can see she's holding back laughter. Everyone is, until their not.

"Wow. It be your own family," I say this crossing my arms. 

After everyone gets composed again, mom speaks.

"I decided on a babysitter today. I went through the different ones available and she was the best in my opinion. She'll start Friday since I have to leave for the airport at 3 am Saturday morning."

"Why can't Nana watch us?" Miles and Matthew ask simultaneously.

"I'll be leaving Wednesday afternoon, so I can't watch you all, sorry," my Nana says frowning.

"I'll be gone until next Wednesday. So five days," mom says this then moves on to talk about this new life coach book she started.

I don't listen or say much after that. I think about how awkward it's going be to have a babysitter. I already have a hard time dealing with strangers in public, let alone in my own house. But, it's inevitable so I'll just have to deal with it.

After about an hour, everyone goes their separate ways. I stay behind since I have kitchen duty.

I turn the faucet on and start washing the dishes, my thoughts drifting back to earlier at the slushie shop...

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"Here's your order." She says this flashing her perfect teeth, sliding the cups and container of fries towards me. 

I take them, thanking her. 

As I head over towards the table, Osana looks up and says something, then everyone looks at me. When I finally reach the table, everyone starts grinning mischievously as if they are hiding something.

I furrow my brows, confused.

"What? Is there something on my face?" 

They shake their heads, still grinning. 

"Nah, but you tryna get with Arden or what?" Sasha asks, as she takes her blue slushie.

Everyone waits for me to say something. I don't see the use in trying to hide it from them. 

I hesitate before saying, "I'm interested in her, yeah."

I see all their eyes light up as I confess. 

"Cool. By the way, none of us are straight," Sasha says this gesturing to herself and the rest of them.

A feeling of surprise washes over me then its replaced with a feeling of joy. Thank God.

"So, what's your sexuality?" Sasha asks.

"I'm bi," I answer, confidently.

"Oh my God, me too! But I lean towards guys most of the time," Sasha replies.

"I definitely lean towards girls because guys gross me out," Osana says this then adds, "except for Matteo, of course." 

Matteo smiles, making small dimples appear on his cheeks. 

I look over at Lin.

"I'm pan-romantic asexual," she says. 

I scrunch my eyebrows, confused.

What's that?

"You look confused, I'll explain," she says, noticing my expression.

"I'm open to everybody but only in a romantic way. I have never had any sexual desire for anyone."

"Ohh okay, that makes sense."

We all look over to Matteo, who hasn't said anything yet.

"I'm just gay."

I let out a small giggle but once I think about what he said again, I laugh some more. One by one everyone starts cackling with me until we're almost dying of laughter.

I don't know why I started laughing in the first place. 

Maybe, it was out of relief? Relief that I won't have to worry about not being accepted for who I am. Relief that I have people to laugh with. Relief that maybe I won't have to be the quiet, lonely kid I used to be.

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A smile lingers on my lips as I finish the last dish.

For the first time in a long time, I can't wait for tomorrow.

 Kind of a late update... but I hope you liked this chapter! - Gabbs <33