Page 38 of Pride High 3: Yellow

Silvia nodded with an apologetic expression.

“Cool,” Keisha said. “I won’t try to change your mind. I’ll respect your relationship with Omar. We don’t even have to talk about what happened between us, unless you want to. But I am curious.”

“I’m bisexual,” Silvia said before looking surprised. “I’ve never actually said that out loud before!”

“I have,” Keisha said, leaning against the counter with a smile. “That’s the first step out of the closet, but it wasn’t the last one. Not for me.”

Silvia looked concerned. “Are you saying that I’m not actually bi?”

“Not at all,” Keisha said. “Bisexual people exist. I’d say most people are somewhere on that spectrum. But for those of us at the far end, it’s a bit like testing the water before you dive right in.”

“I really am sorry for avoiding you,” Silvia said. “Again.”

“That’s right,” Keisha drawled. “The first time was because you thought you liked me. The second time was because you actually do.”

Silvia laughed at herself. “Yeah. Basically.” Her expression became somber. “But there’s more to it than that. I promise.”

“It felt good being honest with each other,” Keisha said. “Why stop now?”

“Because I have to think of other people instead of just myself,” Silvia said, those brown eyes pleading with her to understand.

And she thought she did. “Hey, I’m a closeted lesbian. I know how to keep a secret, believe me. Actually…” She put the tattered box on the counter. “You already have my heart. If you trust me with yours, I promise to keep it safe.”

Silvia seemed to hesitate.

“I mean that as a friend,” Keisha added.

“Thank you,” Silvia said, taking the heart-shaped box and hugging it to her chest. “Offer accepted. I only wish you had taped it shut, because some chocolate sounds good right about now.”

“Are you alluding to my skin color?” Keisha said teasingly, loving how easy it was to make her blush. “I’ll let your boyfriend buy you more. Although if you were with me, you’d be knee deep in chocolate by now. I’d cover your bed sheets with bonbons each night.”

Silvia snorted. “Wouldn’t they melt?”

“That would be the point,” Keisha said with half-lidded eyes. Then she blinked. “What would happen next isn’t the sort of platonic conversation that two friends would have.”

Silvia laughed. “So we’re friends again?”

“I never stopped being yours,” Keisha assured her.

“Me neither.” Silvia’s forehead crinkled. “I hope I didn’t hurt your feelings. I’ve been this way my entire life. By necessity. I never wanted to be noticed. That’s what I admire about people like you and Anthony. You’re so bold.”

“I suspect you’re braver than you give yourself credit for,” Keisha said. “How is your dad doing?”

Silvia seemed startled, which confirmed her suspicions.

Keisha decided to let her off the hook. “When we last talked, he had broken his leg. Is he all healed up?”

“Just about,” Silvia said. “Except now he’s been laid off.”

“Wow,” Keisha said. “That’s low. And worker’s comp still isn’t an option?”

“Afraid not,” Silvia said, her voice strained.

“The weather is warming up. There’s bound to be work for him somewhere. I can ask around.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I’m not offering. I insist.”