Forgetting to Breathe

Chapter 2-2

“Are you going to the game tonight, sis?” my brother asked and tousled my hair as he passed me in the kitchen. I hated when he did that.

“Yes, we are all going. We will be cheering you on. We are painting your number on our faces, too,” I sarcastically responded.

“Don’t forget your pompoms,” He said and smirked, grabbing a piece of my chicken off of my plate. He was so annoying, but he wasn’t that bad a brother. He protected me from weirdo creeps. He punched a guy once, who wasn’t taking no for an answer at a school dance.

He was tall and had very broad shoulders, making him perfect for football. The head coach actually approached him to start playing when he was a freshman.

He spent too much time on his perfectly sculpted hair, but the girls loved it. He grew a beard this year, and the girls loved that, even more. He didn’t have a steady girlfriend at the moment—he preferred to play the field, as he said.

“Oh shoot, I forgot them at my house. Ash, can we stop by and grab them?” Jennifer continued the banter.

“Oh yeah, no problem, Jenny. I think we should have time,” I quipped and looked at my watch, pretending to check the time.

“You guys are such dorks,” Brandon said and stared blankly at us before leaving the room.

My best friend and I finished our meal and went up to my bedroom to get ready for the game. She flopped down on my bed and sprawled out.

“So, what’s the deal with your love interest?” she bluntly asked. I had told her I was into Keira, mainly because she called me out on staring at her during lunch.

“Well, the weirdest thing happened.” She nodded expectantly, and I continued, “Sadie is all pissed because she doesn’t like us hanging out together. Well, working in class together.”

“Ooh, the girlfriend is mad, huh?” She rested her head on her hands, looking at me, excitedly. She loved juicy gossip.

“Yeah, but get this…” I trailed off, to be dramatic. “Sadie said that I was hot, to trick Keira into saying she thought I was hot,” I stated, sitting on the bed next to her.

“And?!”

“And she said yes!” I excitedly shared with her and she screamed, just as excited.

“Oh my God, did you kiss her?!”

“What?” I burst out laughing. “That is ridiculous, J.”

“Okay, okay, you may be right,” she said and chuckled. “But what did you say?”

“She said she told Sadie I was straight anyways and that she hoped I wasn’t uncomfortable and—”

“Wait, she thinks you’re straight?” she cut me off. “Did you correct her?”

“No. That would just make things worse for her.”

“Only momentarily,” She sat up and faced me. “Listen to me. You need to tell her you’re a lezzie now.” I rolled my eyes at her word choice and she smiled and continued, “Yes, it will make things harder for her, but that’s what you want.”

“No, it isn’t—”

“Yes, it is. It won’t make her life harder. Just her relationship. Which is what you want. Are you following me?” She stared at me, and the wheels started turning. She was right. It would be a really unethical thing to do—wishing ill will on their relationship. But what would I really be doing wrong? It would just be me telling the truth.

“Look, she goes to all of the games at the high school. She has to, since she’s an athlete herself. We could just casually bump into her. I’ll distract her soon-to-be ex-girlfriend and you just blurt out that you’re gay,” She finished, looking rather pleased with her idea.

“That is a terrible idea,” I replied, laughing, and she joined in.

“Okay, yes, it is a terrible idea. We will think of something better,” she stated before getting up out of the bed. “Come on, let’s get up. You need to look hot tonight.”