Chapter 5

“You don’t notice the looks that your mother gives me whenever I pull up to your house. You don’t know what it’s like to be called a ‘dyke.’ It’s not fun, babe.” I tried placing my hand on the side of her face, to comfort her, but she pulled away and sat up.

“Liz, I don’t care. Don’t you see that? It hurts me having to hide you. Not being able to hold your hand or scoot in close to you during lunch. Or gush about you and how sweet you are to me.”

“Well, no one would believe you about that. I’m a total badass,” I said in an effort to cut the tension.

“Don’t do that. Don’t turn this into a joke.” She got out of my bed now and was standing in front of my door. “Is that what this is to you? A joke? Am I some straight-girl-project to you?”

“Veronica!” Did she think that’s what this was? I sat on the edge of my bed and grabbed her hands in mine. “Why would you ever think that?” Looking into her eyes, I could see the pain behind them. “I’m trying to protect you.”