The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School(26)

Bo sees me looking at a Chinese painting, and it’s as if she just read my mind. “I know what it looks like, but my parents aren’t those white people. The orientalist kind who adopt a kid from China so they can be closer to “the culture.” Not that I was adopted from China. My birth parents were, like, second or third generation, I think.” There’s something in Bo’s voice that doesn’t quite match what she’s saying about her parents, though. Like maybe she’s a little insecure about the subject.

“Oh.” I nod, not really knowing what else to say. Her parents may not be those white people, but I wonder if Bo is cool with the way they plaster her heritage to any surface it fits.

Another dog greets us when we get up the stairs. I recognize him as a Mexican Xolo dog—gray and hairless, with big ears and a fluffy tuft on top of its head. They’re kind of known for being funny-looking. There’s another living room up here, plus Bo’s room, a guest room, and a study.

“Dante!” Amber squats down to scratch the dog’s ears. It seems Bo might be a fan of the movie Coco. That definitely gives her points in my book, since it’s one of my all-time favorites.

The vibe in Bo’s room is totally different from the rest of the house. There’s an abstract rainbow mural covering two of the walls, while the other walls are littered with drawings and paintings. Some are framed and some are just tacked up, a few of them overlapping. They all have Bo’s signature in the bottom corner, even the ones that were clearly drawn when she was, like, three. She’s really talented. The paintings she’s done more recently look like they could be straight-up photographs. Among all the images, she has portraits of Amber, David, and both her dogs. But what I can’t stop staring at is the mural. It’s not neat like the other pictures, but it somehow feels . . . happy? It’s like an army of rainbow bombs going off in front of the sun.

“Sorry for my super-gay room,” Bo says when she realizes I’m staring at the mural. “You’ll have to get used to that.”

I laugh. The things I would give to have a super-gay room. Seems like the dream.

Amber and Bo sit on the bed. Sitting on someone’s bed is at least a level-three friend privilege, so I take the desk chair.

“So, your parents are pretty supportive, huh?” I wish I didn’t say that. Gay stuff is the number one topic I should be avoiding.

“You mean about me being gay? Yeah, they’re cool.”

Amber and Bo keep talking, but I’m in my feelings. I can’t help the pang of jealousy in my gut. I couldn’t imagine ever coming out to my mom. At least not anytime soon. Maybe if I ever move out of the country, I’ll tell her then. She’s just so old-fashioned. The epitome of an Overprotective, Old-School, God-Fearing Mexican?.

Gregory interrupts the conversation when he pushes the door open with his nose and struggles to hop onto the bed. The dog has great timing, I’ll give him that.

“What kind of dog is that?” I ask.

“He’s a pit-bull–basset-hound mix. Isn’t he ugly?” Amber says while absentmindedly stretching out one of her blond curls until it’s straight.

Gregory has a big pit-bull head, but his face is a little droopier than your usual pit. And he has short but buff legs, and a long basset-hound body, complete with floppy ears.

Bo covers Gregory’s giant ears. “Shhh, he’s beautiful.”

“I guess he’s kind of cute,” I laugh. “In a so-ugly-he’s-cute kind of way.”

Amber cups her hand around the side of her mouth, so Bo can’t see her lips, like it would prevent her from hearing. “Bo likes to rescue ugly animals.”

“Ugly animals deserve love too!” Bo kisses Gregory’s forehead. I can’t lie. That is the cutest shit I ever saw.

“So, Yamilet, what is Cesar gonna do when your mom wants to go see one of his games?” Amber asks.

I shrug. “Who knows? He’ll probably come up with some overly complicated scheme and pull me in on it at the last minute.” Cesar doesn’t admit to his lies, even if he’s about to be caught up. Instead, he comes up with elaborate ways to cover his tracks.

“His twin is on the team.” Bo puts finger quotes on “twin.” “Maybe she won’t notice he’s not there if David has anything to do with it!” She laughs.

“Don’t be giving him ideas.” I know it’s a joke, but I wouldn’t put it past Cesar.

“You know who else is on the football team?” Amber wiggles her eyebrows at me. “Your not-so-secret admirer.”

“Oh my God, my soul literally departed from my body out of secondhand embarrassment.” Bo shudders.

“I thought it was kind of sweet,” Amber says. “Sorry for butting in. You kind of looked like you needed some help. If you want to go to homecoming, you can tell him your plans got canceled.”

I think about it for a minute. School dances when you’re in the closet are a nightmare. You’re expected to have a “straight date.” And if you dance with another girl, it’s supposed to be for attention. Attention is the last thing I want if I’m doing gay shit like that.

“That’s okay. I didn’t want to go anyway,” I say.

“Well, I didn’t want to pressure you, but we usually don’t go, either. Want to ditch together?” Bo asks, and Amber claps her hands.