Page 157 of Pride High 2: Orange

“It’s okay.” Silvia didn’t seem annoyed. She looked apologetic. “I did spend some time with Omar. On the weekend. Alone.”

“Naked?” Keisha asked, intending it as a joke. She was surprised when Silvia nodded.

“Yes.”

“Oh. How did it go?”

Silvia grimaced before she answered. “I’m definitely attracted to him physically. And the emotional part is there too, because I love him.”

Keisha’s stomach sank, dragging her heart down with it. “That’s great,” she managed to say. “So you’re no longer… curious?”

Silvia hesitated. “No. I guess not.”

An awkward silence descended over them that was broken—with unfortunate timing—by the Indigo Girls.

“Is this the song you meant?” Silvia asked as “Ghost” began to play.

Keisha nodded, grateful that her own blushes couldn’t be seen so easily. “Please turn it off.”

Silvia blinked. “In the middle of the song?”

“Yes!” Keisha snapped.

Silvia’s eyes went wide before she jabbed at the stereo, poking it a few times before the song was cut off prematurely. Which was fitting symbolism for what they had together. Or could have had.

“Sorry,” Keisha said, shaking her head at her own behavior. “That song always gets me in the heart. I’ve been listening to it a lot lately and…” She stood up straight and looked Silvia in the eye. “I guess it’s time to stop.”

Silvia’s expression was apologetic. “Can we still be friends?”

“Of course,” Keisha said. “I’m notthatsuperficial. I like you for who you are, not who I want you to be.” She draped an arm over her forehead dramatically. “I’ll simply go back to being the loneliest lesbian in Kansas.”

Silvia didn’t laugh at these antics. “I don’t want you to be alone,” she said.

“Then find me an out-and-proud dyke our age.”

Silvia studied her before nodding. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Keisha already hated the idea. She knew who she wanted. And how to get over her. “So, as my confirmed friend, let’s hear what you and Omar did together.”

Silvia tittered nervously. “You want details?”

“Yes. The juicier the better.” And she meant it, because twisting the knife would help remind her that she was barking up the wrong tree… despite having been nearly certain this time. She was disappointed to be wrong but couldn’t muster any ill will toward Silvia. Keisha liked her too much.

Waytoo much.

Goddamn it.

CHAPTER 35

January 17th, 1993

Diego squinted at the computer monitor and wondered why Ricky had insisted that he try this game. He was playing a king, which sounded cool, but so far some asshole wizard had stolen his castle and kidnapped his family. Then he was whisked away to some old fart’s dingy hut where he was bored to death by line after line of written dialog. When was there finally going to be some action? Eventually he escaped the geezer and was left in the care of an annoying talking owl.

“Do I finally get to do something?” Diego grumbled.

“Yes!” Ricky said. “All of that was just the introduction. This is where the real game begins.”

“All right!” Diego cracked his knuckles. “How do I shoot at the owl?”