Finding it

Katie

"I'm gay." Alex whispers. He eyes the other campers around us.

"What?"

"Only Angelo and a few others know...but I am gay."

"But, you just asked me out?"

"Katie, Travis has hurt you too much for you to go back to him. Unless he miraculously changed..." His sentence drifts off. "Do you believe he'll have changed so quickly?"

"Alex, this is all so much to handle right now. You're gay?"

"Yes, I am," He blushes. "I know, I don't fit the stereotype—"

"I support you, Alex, of course I do." I sigh and rub my temples. "I just don't understand what just happened."

"I think Travis was going to run back into your life, and you're too hurt from his last mistake to think rationally right now. I've seen you cry and held you as you did."

"I know but—"

"I just don't want you to run back into a relationship if Travis isn't mature enough to be loyal to you and you only, no lies, no tricks."

"Thank you, Alex for your concern but how this strange double date will work out."

"I just wanted to be there incase you need back up."

"Thank you, for caring about me. And for trusting me with your sexuality. I understand it can be difficult to come out."

"Thank you, Katie, for allowing this outing to be so easy. I'm your friend until the end of the line."

"And I, for you."

•••••

In the following I wake up to something tickling my nose. I don't open my eyes, but I can tell that its pretty sunny today because its really bright. I frown and scratch my nose, but as I do I hear giggles, then silence. The something tickles my nose again and I groan.

"Miranda, go away," I mutter under my breath and soon I feel the lull of sleep pulling my back, slowly, slowly, slowly—

"Hey! Its not me thats doing it!" I hear my sister's voice shout. And then someone beside me snorts in laughter.

I open my eyes to see that Kia, Railyn are on my left, and Alex and Miranda are on my right, Angelo sitting at the foot of my bed. Alex winks at my and wiggles a feather in my face, to which I roll my eyes at.

"Get a life, guys." I say, and try to pull the covers over my head, but instead someone pulls the covers off of me and another someone throws my over their shoulder. "Put me down!" I shout.

Alex carries me out of the cohort, running, with the others on his heals. They shout, sprint, and make a ruckus all around, but its nice to know that the Romans are always serious stereotype is of course just a stereotype. Running around looking like a bunch of crazed kids reminds me of days where Chiron cancels our lessons and lets us have an off-day back at Camp Half-Blood.

When they finally let me down I slap Alex's arm playfully. Others around the camp look at us with some strange faces. One by one, each of us notice.

"Why is everyone looking at us?" Railynn asks the question we're all thinking.

"I don't know..." I shift uncomfortably where I stand and see Alex do the same.

We watch as some snicker and as others elbow their friends to gossip.

"Is there an issue?" Miranda puts her hand on her hip, shouting at the gossipers. "Why are you staring?"

Two girls who were previously whispering to each other jump. Their eyes shift from Alex, to me, and then to Miranda who opens her mouth again. "Do you need something?"

The two girls jump up and run away.

"You shouldn't yell at little kids, Mir." Alex says.

"They were staring at you, this isn't a petting zoo. Why are they acting weird?"

Panic shoots through me and I fear for Alex's position. Could someone have over heard our conversation last night?

Alex's eyes meet mine. "What time is it?" I ask desperately trying to change to conversation. I still have to pack for the trip to San Francisco.

"Around noon-ish." Miranda answers me. Damn I slept in.

"I still have to get ready, eat, pack, oh my Gods." My eyes widen at the time, hoping to make everyone forget what just happened. "We have to go. Come on Alex."

I loop my arm around his and begin walking back to the cohort.

"Come on, lunch is going to be over soon, you're going to be hungry all the way to San Francisco."

"I'll be fine, I grab something. I really should get packing soon."

"I'll come with you two!" I hear over my shoulder and see Kia falling into stride with us. "Gotta get ready for the 'double-date-thing'," I frown, double-date-thing....this thing is a whole lot of trouble on top of trouble. "I haven't gotten ready yet."

"See you!" Angelo says and leaves heading the other direction with the others.

We wave our good byes but as soon as all the others are out of earshot, I feel Kia grab hold of my arm as she cups her hands close to my ear. "I have something to tell you," she says in a whisper so Alex cant hear.

Kia, Travis' date this weekend, or today and tomorrow at least. Today is Saturday. I try to not be bitter around her, she is my friend and as much as I sometimes want to see her accidentally fall off a unicorn during a stampede, I know I don't really want her to fall off a unicorn during a stampede.

"What is it?" I ask, curious.

"Not here," She mutters in return, and we quicken out steps, reaching our destinations much quicker. Once back at the cohort, Alex retreats into the restroom and Kia and I each grab an some fruit from a secret stash of snacks and such that Kia hides, and head upstairs, which is empty. The two of us can talk alone without being over heard.

"Okay, can you tell me now?" I ask.

She looks around the room, checking again for no reason if the room is empty—which it is—and then turns to look at me with excitement in my eyes. She opens her mouth to speak but suddenly closes it with something flashing in her eyes. Something that frightens me. Something that kind of makes me scared.

"Kia? Tell me! Whats wrong? What is it? You looked excited and now your scared—or something—and you being scared before telling me something is making me scared," I'm just rambling now.

"Well, don't be scared." She replies.

"Now, you being scared but telling me not to be scared is making me anxious—"

"Don't be anxious."

"How am I supposed to be not anxious when you look scared and—"

"Katie! Shut up!"

"Okay, okay! Shutting up, I am shutting up, now tell me!"

She hesitates but then says in a hushed whisper, "Don't freak out."

"Do you want to get me started?  You're telling me—"

"TRAVIS LIKES YOU!"

03 . 07 .18
💜