When I woke up the next day I knew something was wrong. Nothing was really out of place or something. I just really felt like the atmosphere was tense.
When I got down to the living room there were a lot of people than usual. I didn’t expect to see Heather, Amelia, Olivia, Vince, Tristan, my parents and Ethan in the living room looking very grim first thing in the morning. I could feel the tension emanating from them.
Heather looked worried about something and so did everyone else.
For a second I thought that Heather told everyone about me but when everyone’s eyes flickered to me and looked away without any interest, except for Ethan, I knew that I was safe.
“Hey girlfriend!” Vince said and waved at me.
I gritted my teeth as I saw Ethan silently glaring at Vince.
I strode over to him and punched the side of his shoulder.
“Were you trying to cheat on him with me?” Ethan asked.
“No no no. He doesn’t know that we don’t have to act anymore.” I explained and then turned to Vince. “I’m not your girlfriend. We don’t have to put up with the act anymore.”
He pouted. “Well that sucks. I was really enjoying it.”
“Shut up,” I hissed at him. “Don’t make this worse.” I gestured to Ethan who was looking between the two of us with narrowed eyes.
Our whole conversation was quiet enough for no one to hear. I quickly caught up with the mood in the room.
“Is everything okay? Why is everyone here?” I whispered to Vince.
Everyone was sitting quietly on the couch and Ethan had a hand on Heather’s shoulder. Heather looked the most anxious and that scared me because I’d never seen her like this. If Heather was acting this way, it was bound to be something big and serious.
“Haven’t you checked Heather’s Instagram?” He asked.
“No, why?”
He pulled out his phone from his pants pocket and opened his Instagram before giving it to me.
To say what Heather had posted surprised me would be an understatement. I didn’t think anybody saw it coming, especially with the reputation that Heather previously had before she started dating Ethan, well it was fake dating but still.
“Is this true?”
“A hundred percent.” Vince replied.
What Heather had posted was a normal picture of her smiling into the camera where she looked as beautiful as she looked everyday. But what had caused the uproar in the house and most possibly in the whole world was the caption.
I’ve decided to be? brave? and honest about who? I? am. I’m? not? dating Ethan. I never was. I was just making it seem like that because of my mother. I was? afraid? she would marry me off to a? person? of her choice? and? I? felt like? I? wouldn’t? be able to? stop? her? because? she had adopted me from an orphanage and basically? gave? me a life that? I? didn’t? deserve.
I’ve? decided to be brave? and? tell the world that despite my? reputation? as the player, I’m actually into girls.? I? have been? with? a lot of guys but it was just? because? I? was confused if I even liked them. I? thought? that? maybe a certain? guy? wasn’t? my? type? and? so it was just experimentation. I’m sorry if? I? hurt any of the guys.
But now? I’m? sure of who? I? am and all this time I was just scared to come out? because? I knew my mother? wouldn’t? be? happy? about my sexual orientation.
And no, I’m not? bisexual.? I’m full? on lesbian.
I hope you can support and love me the way? you’ve? always did.
I checked the comments and most of them were supportive but some were really mean and offensive. I reported some comments that were calling Heather a slut or other synonymous words. Some people were happy for her and some were happy that she wasn’t actually dating Ethan. Some were angry that it was all fake.
There were so many comments. She never received these many comments on any post before. There were like thousands of them.
“Heather, we do love and support you.” I assured her. “You’ve been so brave. I’m proud of you. Aren’t we, guys?” I asked, looking around at everyone.
There was a chorus of ‘of course’s and ‘yes’s.
Heather smiled at me. “Thanks, Juliet. But my mother is who I’m worried about right now.”
Ethan rubbed her back to comfort her. “Everything will be alright.”
“She’s going to know that I’m hiding here and I know she’ll come here to find me. Ethan, what if she throws me out of the house? Will she ever accept me?” She turned in her seat to look at him for answers.
“Heather, darling. Your mother has been my friend since high school. She won’t do any such thing.” Charlotte, my mother said.
Heather shook her head. “I’m not sure she won’t. She already never liked me and only adopted me because of her husband.”
“Oh honey, I’ll talk to her. Don’t worry. We all support you and I’m sure she’ll understand you.”
Heather didn’t seem convinced as she started to peel the skin on her fingers by her nails. She’d exhale noisily and clutch her stomach or her chest every two minutes.
We waited for about twenty minutes more during which we all tried to make Heather feel better about herself, after which we heard a car stop abruptly in the driveway.
Heather took a sharp intake of breath and a thin layer of sweat sprouted on her forehead.
Amelia who was sitting next to her, clutched her hand. “It’ll be okay.” She whispered soothingly to her and she gulped audibly before nodding slightly.
Seconds later a couple walked in. I recognized them from my birthday party and they didn’t exactly seem friendly, at least the woman didn’t. I still remember their names though. They were Patricia and Justin Ainsley, the couple who adopted Heather because they couldn’t make children of their own because of biological problems.
Patricia had a stern look on her face and she looked angry the second her eyes caught sight of Heather slightly cowering behind Amelia. The man next to her didn’t have a scary expression on his face. He really just seemed tired of something.
“Heather, let’s go home.” Patricia said as calmly as she could although we all caught up to the underlying command in her voice.
Heather was quick to react. “No. Let’s do this here. I know you’re mad and that’s why I’m scared to go home with you.”
“Get in the car. This is a private matter. I won’t discuss it here.” She gritted out.
“Well then, I’m not going home. You say whatever you want to say here.”
She glared at her and I was glad I wasn’t at the receiving end of those eyes.
“Patricia, calm down. Leave the girl alone. It wasn’t easy for her to come out and we should be ashamed she didn’t trust us enough to tell us first.” Justin put his arms around her shoulders.
“Justin, don’t! Don’t take her side this time. I’ve tolerated enough of her behavior.”
“Patricia, Heather didn’t do anything wrong.” Charlotte said. “Why are you so angry at her?”
“Oh, I’ll tell you why I’m angry at her. It’s because she has a disease. A disease that made her sick in the head and made her post that stupidity on her Instagram. I can’t believe I spent all that money raising some? thing? like her only for her to go and make me a laughing stock in front of the world.”
“Patricia! Stop.” Justin said sternly.
The woman stalked towards her and grabbed her harshly by her arm. “You come with me right now. I’m going to make you see a doctor. He’ll cure you of this disease.”