07

Skylar was whispering to me about a girl she was talking to, but I was trying to pay attention to news about my band.

Had we made it to the national music competition ?

Todd’s nasally voice blared through the speakers.

« Firstly, after school, there will be a chess club meeting. Miss Bulger advises you to meet in Room 1028. Secondly, during lunch, the debate team has agreed to host a match between Beta Phi and Omega K in the library. Tickets are 2.50$. Lastly, after third period, there is a baking fundraiser for school spirit and―excuse me ? »

There was a shrill ringing sound and a clatter of noise that echoed through the school speakers, and then―

« Hello ? »

Whoever’s voice that was, I swore I could hear her smiling.

Sudden apprehension seized me.

« My name is Monroe Kingston, » said the voice on the announcements. « What the lovely Todd here wanted to finish off with was . . . here, let me read it . . . oh, Have a great day here at Blairmount High, teachers and students ! » There was such stark, uncaring confidence in her voice. It would have been a turn-on if I wasn’t straight.

Skylar squeezed my hand excitedly. « Did Monroe Kingston just hijack the fucking PA system ? »

« Hijack ? » I scoffed. « All she would have had to do was shove Todd out of the way. »

« In front of the entire school office. » Skylar sighed dreamily. « That takes guts. »

On the school speakers, Monroe’s bright, assertive voice continued, « This is my public announcement for all of you, considering I’m here to stay. I know it’s been a couple years, but I’d like to address two things. First : When in doubt, assume the rumours about me are true. Because if not, they’re probably worse. »

People around the class were glancing at each other. The gym coach flapped his hands, trying to get the boys on the other side of the gymnasium to settle down.

« Second : I’m gay. If any of you small-town assholes wants to convince me otherwise, you can take it up with me after school. In the parking lot. Using our fists, preferably. »

Skylar mouthed, My idol.

Brightly, Monroe added, « That will be all. Good morning, America ! »

SKYLAR SQUEALED.

« She did that in front of the whole school, » I said in disbelief. « She just . . . »

« Came out to every single student and teacher all at once ? » Skylar was practically bouncing, hyper. « Genius. »

The school speakers cut off, and we were left in silence. The girls in our gym class were still a little wide-eyed.

Our teacher, a balding man in a neon-orange tracksuit, barked, « What are you waiting for ? Five laps ! Get going ! »

He seemed a little flustered.

Skylar dragged me through the open door of the gymnasium, onto the field. The other girls were already speeding up into a jog, giggling. Figures. The boys’ gym class was on the opposite end of the field, and they were peeling off their shirts.

The sky was bright, the kind of silky blue that promised the end of summer.

« Catch a look at that, » Skylar whispered. « I didn’t know Aaron was ripped. »

I hadn’t been paying attention to the boys across the field, but―

She was right. Aaron lifted the hem of his shirt, revealing carved ab muscles. It was probably from the football.

I shrugged. « He’s athletic. »

Monroe’s clear, confident voice was still ringing in my ears. I like girls. Get over it.

Who had the fucking guts to announce that over the school announcements ?

And her piercing green eyes . . . this morning, the way she had slung one long, lean leg over the side of her motorcycle. The way she had shaken her black hair out of the helmet . . .

There was something hypnotic about that memory. Something attractive.

Attractive ?

What ?

« But― » Skylar stopped jogging and grabbed my shoulders. « Hello ? Earth to Talia ? Don’t you see that ? Come on. I thought half-naked boys were your type. You certainly sing about them. »

« I don’t sing about them, » I said immediately. « I’m the drummer. »

« Same difference. »

« Tara is the singer, not me. And Hannah is the one who comes up with the lyrics. »

« Okay, whatever. Your band is boy-crazy either way. Unless . . . »

« Why are you trailing off suggestively like that ? »

« Unless . . . you’re not straight. Something you want to tell me ? Because this morning, I swear to God you were staring at Monroe Kingston’s ass. »

« Staring at Monroe’s ass ! » Shit. My face was turning red. « Are you―I wasn’t―you―I― »

« Ladies ! You’re far behind the other girls ! Catch up ! »

When I looked behind us, Coach Roberts was wheezing. His neon orange tracksuit reminded me of those traffic cones.

Skylar was still staring me down, so I started running.

« Come on ! No time to talk ! »

I had gone two more laps when Skylar finally caught up to me, breathless, and said something that made me stop in my tracks.

« Listen, I think Aaron likes you. »

« What ? »

« He keeps looking at you, all heart-eyes. And he finds, like, every excuse to touch you. I know you guys are pretty close . . . but you’d tell me if you and Aaron were secretly dating, right ? »

Secretly dating Aaron ?

I laughed with all the confidence I didn’t feel. « You’re insane, Skylar. There’s no way. »