Page 8 of Pride High 3: Yellow

Mindy gasped. “Did I?”

“Yes.”

“That had to be back in junior high!”

“It was last year.”

Mindy placed a hand over her heart. “No! How stupid of me. I didn’t mean it, I swear! I love all gay people, even lesbians.”

Keisha looked away.

“I’m serious!” Mindy said, grabbing her hand. She was surprised by how sweaty it was, when Keisha normally kept her cool in most situations. “I’m really sorry.”

“For what?” Keisha asked, turning to her with a guarded expression.

“If I offended you. For any reason.”

Keisha searched her eyes before she sighed. “Silvia told you, didn’t she?”

Mindy’s eyes went wide. “Told me what?”

Keisha matched her expression. “Nothing.”

Mindy’s jaw dropped. “Wait, you came out toherbefore me?”

Keisha rolled her eyes. “So she did tell you!”

“She didn’t tell me anything, I swear!”

Keisha stared at her a moment. “Are you really okay with it?”

“Yes! Oh my god, are you kidding?” Mindy leaned against her friend while squeezing her hand. “I love you just the way you are. Which you still haven’t said out loud. Not to me, anyway.”

Keisha leaned close with half lidded eyes, like she intended to show Mindy exactly what she was. “I’m a lesbian.”

“Good,” she said, her cheeks flushing in response. “I’m not, but you make me wish I was.”

Keisha smiled and pulled back. “That’s just about the nicest valentine I could have hoped for. And for the record, I only told Silvia first because I thought…” She sighed. “Actually, it was the most embarrassing moment of my life.”

“What happened?”

Keisha released her hand and stood, nodding toward the flow of traffic. “I had a terrible crush on her. And still do.”

Mindy hurried to follow her, the pieces clicking into place. “Sothat’swhy you two finally started hanging out after all these years! But wait, Silvia isn’t… I mean, I wondered sometimes.”

“She’s not,” Keisha confirmed. “But I was into her enough to convince myself otherwise. Even though she has a boyfriend.” She shook her head at herself. “Love is blind. And has a big mouth.”

“Wait, youtoldSilvia how you feel about her?”

Keisha winced, as if in pain. “I thought it was going to be our big moment. I bared my heart, expecting her to do the same. Instead she got distracted and wandered off. I wish I was exaggerating, but I’m not.”

“I’m so sorry,” Mindy said. “If it makes you feel better, I’m always falling for people who aren’t interested. Even one of my best friends—who is a lesbian that I fully support—chose some other girl over me.”

“Are you kidding? You’re all sorts of hot!”

Mindy felt a thrill race up her spine. “You really think so?”

“Yeah!” Keisha stopped walking, her brown eyes mischievous. “You’re the stuff of dreams, girl. The ginger hair that always smells like strawberries, all those kissable freckles on your cute little nose, and the way you nibble your bottom lip when nervous… Smoking hot! Don’t get me started on your body. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. Especially if you truly support me.”