Date Me, Bryson Keller(70)

“She’s not even worth it,” I say. I meet her gaze. “Do you really think a story like this is going to get you off the waitlist?”

“Shut up,” Shannon says. She looks around.

“Wait…you’re waitlisted?” Donny asks. “You told me you got accepted to Stanford when I did.”

“Oops.” I bring my hand to my mouth in mock apology.

Donny throws his arm over my shoulders. “You should know that my parents love Kai. When I told them what happened, they were very upset. Dad even offered to call the chairman of the school board himself. They go golfing every Sunday afternoon.” Donny smiles at me. “Let’s eat. I’m hungry.”

The three of us leave Shannon standing there with her mouth hanging open. When we’re out of earshot, I whisper to Donny, “Did your dad really say that?”

“Yes,” Donny said. “He’s calling your parents today to set something up. I’m pretty sure Shannon has written her last story at Fairvale Academy. And I’m pretty sure she can kiss being valedictorian goodbye.”

    “I wish something worse would happen to the wench,” Priya says.

“Wench?” Donny asks.

“I’m trying to use alternative curse words where she’s concerned. The normal ones have stopped feeling good.”

I laugh. We enter the cafeteria, and it’s like all at once everyone notices us—notices me. I can feel the blush rise on my cheeks. I’ve never heard the cafeteria so quiet before. It lasts a few heartbeats before the whispering starts. I can’t do this. I’m about to backtrack, but Priya links her arm in mine.

“You can do this, Kai,” Priya says.

“We’re right here with you,” Donny adds.

Everyone is watching, but Priya and Donny don’t seem to care. I find that comforting, and soon I am mirroring them. We sit down at our regular table and have a perfectly normal lunch. The people who matter to me most accept me for who I am—100 percent. And there is power in that. It is my shield and my armor.

“You know, your mom went on a rampage on Monday,” Priya says. “It’s no wonder she and my mom get along so well.”

“Was it embarrassing?”

“A parent standing up for their child should never be embarrassing,” Priya says.

“It was totally embarrassing,” Donny adds.

“Shut it, Donald.” But there is no malice behind Priya’s words. Donny simply smiles and dips a fry into ketchup.

    I laugh.

Thanks to Priya and Donny, I survive my first lunch back at school. People continue to talk about me, but I choose to ignore it. I go through the day with blinders on. The end-of-day bell rings and I make my way to the parking lot to wait for my friends.

I’m standing next to the Quackmobile when Eric approaches me.

“Hey.” He offers me a smile.

“What’s up?”

“I just wanted to check how you were doing.” Eric shakes his head. “I didn’t know that my quote would be used for that. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Screw Shannon. I want you to know that Mom’s upset. She says she’s going to punish everyone who was involved in this.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Outings are not news. They’re a violation. And they’re something that should never happen at Fairvale Academy. This has given the LGBTQ club a new mission.” Eric shifts on his feet. “You know, you’re always welcome to come to a meeting if you want. We more than just fight for rights and talk about serious stuff; we also just hang out and have fun. Sometimes it’s nice to spend time with people who get it.”

“I’ll think about it,” I say. “Thanks.”

“No problem. Let me know if you ever need anything.”

“Ooh-la-la,” Isaac says as he’s passing by. “This is romantic.”

    “Grow some brain cells, Isaac,” Eric says with an eye roll. He offers me a parting wave. I watch him leave before turning to look at Isaac.

“You’re such an asshole,” I say.

“What?”

“Did making that comment make you feel better? Did it make you feel cool?”

“What are you talking about?” Isaac asks. “It was just a joke.”

“Jokes are meant to be funny, you jackass.” I cross my arms and stare him down. “That one wasn’t.”

Isaac shakes his head. “Loser.”

I watch him walk away. This will be my new normal now that I’m out. There will always be someone like Isaac waiting in the wings to say or do something homophobic. It isn’t right and it isn’t fair. But it is life.

I will be happy despite the hate and the homophobic assholes. And if I fall down and stumble, I know that I’ll have people to pick me up, to support me.

My coming out might have been less than ideal, but even so, I know I’m one of the lucky ones.

I will survive this.





34


I’ve made it through yet another day of school. Thursday passed by so fast that it felt like I skipped it altogether. Today was the easiest so far. But even so, I am exhausted. It feels as if I could sleep for a week. Instead, I turn up my music and open my homework.