The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School(77)

“My girlfriend.” Bo widens her eyes at Amber. Why would Amber not know about Jamie? “Um, no. She wouldn’t want to ditch class.”

“Ohhhhhhh, right. Jamie. Silly me!” Amber says, laughing nervously. David tilts his head, all confused.

I just stare at them for a second. I can’t believe it took me until now to figure it out.

Jamie isn’t real.

This whole time I’ve been jealous of someone who doesn’t exist. I don’t know if I should be happy there’s no Jamie, or mad that Bo lied about it. Why would she lie? Does she know I like her? Is it because she doesn’t want to date me?

I shoo that thought away with a quickness. Bo doesn’t know how I feel. She can’t.

“So are we doing this?” Bo asks.

I shrug, trying to hide how much I’m freaking out. “When else am I going to get a chance to celebrate?” I have to admit I need a day off. Cesar can pick up my homework from my teachers so I won’t be too behind.

“Come on, David, it’ll be fun!” Amber bats her eyelashes at him and takes his hand.

“Aren’t you worried we’ll get in trouble?” He looks around at all of us. He’s looking for someone else as scared as he is, because he has major FOMO. Fear of missing out is going to save my birthday.

“What’s life without a little risk?” Bo says.

“Exactly. And we make sacrifices for our friends in this family.” Amber pouts at David.

“Please? For my birthday?” I puff out my bottom lip at him. Bo and Amber add their own puppy faces, and with our combined cuteness power, David doesn’t stand a chance.

“Okay, let’s do it.” He finally breaks.

“Great. I’ll park my car in the back of the parking lot Monday morning, and whoever’s getting dropped off at school can ride with me,” Bo says.

“What’s the plan?” I ask.

“It’ll be a surprise!” Amber says.

“Okay. We better not see any horror movies, though.”

Bo grins. “Deal.”





20


Thou Shalt Not Admit It’s a Date


My mom gives me a hard time about working all day on my birthday, so after a lot of begging on her part, I let her take me and Cesar to a quick lunch. But I eat fast because I don’t want to waste time. Sure, Emma offered me the day off for my birthday, but I need the money. Honestly, it’s a bit of a waste of good pizza, since I don’t have time to enjoy it. When we get back home, I take a second to check my phone before getting back to work on the computer. I don’t expect anything from my dad, but the tiniest bit of hope dies when I don’t get anything from him on my birthday of all days. Instead, I have birthday texts from Bo, Amber, and David.

And Bianca.

“Uh, Bianca said to tell you happy birthday,” Cesar says as he walks into my room.

“Why are you texting Bianca?” I snap at him.

“Because she wanted me to tell you happy birthday? Do you have her number blocked or something?” Cesar asks.

“Yup. She can choke and die. Don’t respond.”

“Damn, still? What’d she do, anyway?” He raises an eyebrow.

I sigh. “She outed me last year.”

“What the fuck? You never told me that.”

“Didn’t want to talk about it.”

“Oh, okay. Do you want to now?” He lies down on my bed like he does when we’re about to have a heart-to-heart. But I don’t have time. I’m supposed to be working.

“Not really.” I open Outlook and start going through Emma’s emails and scheduling appointments for her.

“I’m bored. Come with me to get Takis?” He sits back up like he’s ready to hop off the bed and go.

“We just ate, though.”

“Okay, then let’s go see Do?a Violeta. She’s been asking about you.”

“Shit . . .” I haven’t had any time to visit her lately with work and everything.

“And I’m still hungry. We can go to Do?a Violeta’s and then get Takis. Nothing wrong with Takis for dessert, right?”

“True, but I have to work right now. Sorry, Cesar. Tell her hi for me,” I say without looking away from the computer.

“Okay, well, happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

Cesar lingers for a moment, then sighs and walks out.

When Monday rolls around, I’m a little nervous. I have no idea what to expect. I get up extra early to get ready. I still have to wear my uniform, but I put extra love into doing my hair and makeup. Cesar comes into the bathroom, and he’s even groggier than usual, with dark circles under his eyes.

“Couldn’t sleep?” I ask as I put on some homemade earrings instead of my usual hoops. Beaded red heart earrings for Valentine’s Day.

He shakes his head and splashes water on his face. He’s probably bummed because it’s Valentine’s Day. Maybe he misses Jamal.

“I’m gonna ditch today with Bo and them,” I whisper, even though Mom is in her shower and can’t hear. Telling him what I’m doing is as good as an invite. He usually invites himself anyway, but he doesn’t this time.

“Oh, fun,” he says, then brushes his teeth and leaves me to finish my makeup.