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I’m getting dumped!, my mind screamed. And suddenly I felt like a helpless teenager girl again. I felt such helplessness and sadness. I didn't like feeling this way.

“I hope you can be happy the way you see fit, I just can't continue with this if those are the terms.” She whispered as a stubborn tear ran down my face. Hayley captured it and then pulled me into her hug, which I gladly accepted.

I couldn't say anything, I just stood there until it started to get too embarrassing. We weren't really girlfriends for such a huge emotional attachment to happen and I needed to stay in her arms for hours. As soon as I walked away, Hayley declared:

“Come back to the bar whenever you want, okay?! The doors will always be open to you and anyone you want to bring.” I nodded. I thanked her and left.

I was a little dizzy from the outside and from the emotion I had to be willing to have in that conversation. I felt irritably exhausted, so I just picked up my cell phone and asked for a car to get back to campus as quickly as possible.

I had cried in the car and when I finally opened my bedroom door, I felt like a tractor had run over my body and the damn thing had even reversed just to make sure I was truly destroyed.

I didn't exactly feel sad for Hayley, I understood her point of view and her position on whatever we were having. I actually felt sad for myself. I was doomed to have a miserable life.

“Kendra?” Sidney's voice was the first thing I heard before looking at her with her brown eyes analyzing me with some care. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, but the tears didn't make me look so convincing.

“Hey...” My friend ran up to me and wrapped me in a very welcome hug. A hug that, honestly, I needed. “What happened, Ken?”

“I'm a fraud...”

It was the only thing I could say between sobs and heavy tears. Jazmine soon arrived and also asked what was going on, but neither Sidney nor I could answer, so the three of us hugged in silence until I managed to calm down enough to have a frank conversation with them both.

I didn't know how long I spent crying, I only realized it was night when I finally calmed down.

“What happened, Kendra?” Sid questioned.

“Who was the asshole that made you cry like that?” Jaz sounded exactly like a protective dog, ready to fight for my honor.

I laughed weakly and ran my fingers under my eyes once again.

“I… well, yes, this is related to a person, but it's not who you think.”

“Is that Veronica?” Sid guessed. “If so, I swear I won't talk to that girl again. What did she do?”

If it weren't tragic, Sidney's assumption would be funny.

“No, Veronica doesn't have anything to do with that either...” I took in all the air I could while they both remained silent, expectant, until I spoke again: “I... I'm...” I felt like I might stutter or die at that moment. “I… Girls.” I cleared my throat. “I like girls.”

Jazmine looked at me, confused.

“Okay, was that a secret?”

I was completely unresponsive while Sidney burst into laughter. The two exchanged complicit looks and then burst into laughter again, I was even more shocked by what was happening.

“You knew?!”

“Knowing is a strong word…” Sid declared. “But we had our suspicions. I mean, you could just be very focused on the sport or not like anyone at all.”

“But we saw you at karaoke with a redhead.” Jaz added.

“Well, that redhead dumped me time today.” I declared, being honest.

“I'm sorry, Ken...” Sid held my hand in solidarity. “But you'll still find someone better.” I wasn't too sure about that, but I also didn't want to lose sleep thinking about it at that moment. “Does anyone else know?”

“Colleen and Veronica.”

“How does Veronica know?” Jaz looked at me with an expression like someone who was creating conspiracy theories in her mind.