• My eyes fluttered open as light flooded my room from the window. “Wakey wakey, Kimberly.” My mom nudged me gently. Only a mumble could be heard from under my covers. “First day of school and you already plan to be late?” She laughed and ripped the covers from over me. “Mom!” I screamed. “Your clothes are on the end of the bed. Breakfast is down stairs for you when you’re done.” She said calmly.
    I slipped out of bed and looked over the clothes my mom picked out. “What the-” I pushed a shirt out the way to reveal, “A thong !” I stomped down stairs.

    “What? You’re a young lady and old enough for one.” She said as she rummaged through the fridge. “What do you think I am? Some whore?” I grumbled. She poured some OJ and set it next to me. “I’m not wearing this.” I snapped and dropped the thong into the cup. “Kimberly!” She yelled. I made my way upstairs and got dressed. ‘I can’t believe she would even think of getting me those’ I thought to myself.

    “A thong?” My best friend Natalie laughed. “Yeah, can you believe her ?” I said as I closed my locker. “She must think I’m a skank like Tiffany Locklin.” Natalie giggled. “Speaking of the devil-” She mumbled and made a straight face. I turned my attention to where she was looking. There was Tiffany Locklin, the schools most popular whore. All the guys tried to get with her and most of them she would have sex with the first time around. “What are you looking at you freaks!” She said as she went by and rolled her eyes.

    “b***h-alert.” My friend smirked. “When is she not bitchy?” I asked sarcastically and we made our way to class. I spaced out for most of the time; all we heard were the same rules we heard year in and year out. When the day was over Natalie invited me over to her house to listen to her new CD. “Sure. I’m sure my mom is still pissed at me for this morning.” We plopped into the seats of her car. “My parents are gone for 3 weeks on business and I have the house all to myself.” She smirked. “You’re so lucky.” I adjusted the seat and popped in a CD.

    When we got to Natalie’s house she went through her fridge and grabbed a couple cokes and a bowl of cherries. We went up stairs to her room and talked about the new guy at our school. “He is hot.” I added in. Making it clear I thought he was really attractive. “Hmm, I guess.” Natalie popped a cherry into her mouth. After a moment of working her tongue with the stem she pulled it out. It was a perfect knot. “Nice.” I Chuckled. “You know-” She popped another cherry in her mouth and did the same thing.

    “Some say that people, who can tie cherry stems with their tongue, are REALLY good kissers.” She made sure to emphasize this. “Yeah right. You haven’t even kissed a guy a day of your life, how do you know your a good kisser?” I rolled my eyes. “That’s the thing. I don’t know.” She frowned but began to smile again. “I thought..” Her voice trailed off. “Maybe you can help me find out?” She looked up at me and gave a sly smirk. My eyes widened, “You’re kidding right? You know we are girls right?” I tried to laugh as if I knew she was kidding. Although she didn’t look as if she was playing.

    Natalie stood up from her chair and came closer. I clutched the sheets bracing myself for the worst. She straddled me and gently pressed her lips against mine. I could taste the tartness of the fruit she had been eating. Her tongue glided along my bottom lip and I let it enter my mouth. We kissed for a few minutes then she withdrew. I stared at her in a daze and she gave me a ‘Well? How was it’ look. I let her know I enjoyed it by pulling her back down on the bed and we began kissing again.

    For the next few days, I would give my mom an excuse on why I stayed at Natalie’s house everyday. When I went to Natalie’s all we ever did was kiss. But we always coward out if one of us began to do more. After about a week I was aching to break our routine and try something new. So when Natalie was making us a snack, I snuck up behind her and planted some kisses along her neck. She groaned and I wrapped my arms around her waist, letting another hand find it’s way into her pants. “Kimberly?” She gasped. “Are you sure?”

    I was definitely sure and we made our way up stairs tugging and groping at each other. She pushed me upon the bed and pulled off my shirt. While we were doing the unthinkable, I couldn’t help but wonder how familiar Natalie was with this. I mean, you don’t see two girls ‘getting it on’ everyday. Do you? Any who, After we were done and panting, I turned to her and looked her in the eyes. “What?” She laughed. “I love you.” I said softly but stern. She smiled and kissed me, “I love you too.” That night I came home my mom was sitting in her favorite chair reading a book. “How was it at Natalie’s?” Mom asked before looking up from her book. “Oh it was okay, just some studying.” A rushed upstairs. “Kimmy?” She called. I stopped in my tracks; she hadn’t called me that since I was a little girl.

    “Yeah mom?” I answered. “Can you come here please?” She her voice was low. I walked back down and sat across from her. “Hmm?” I hadn’t looked her in the eye. “Your spending a lot of time at Nat’s lately. What are you guys doing there?” She set her book down and leaned forward. “W-what do you mean?” I tried to sound as normal as possible. I knew it was going to be hard to lie to my mom. She could read me like a book, so I had to be careful on what I would say.

    “I mean, are you and Natalie doing something your not supposed to? Drugs? Boys?” She gave a serious look. I laughed, “Drugs? Boys? Mom you’re crazy! I didn’t even want to wear that thong, why would you think I am worried about boys?” I couldn’t believe she was asking me this. She laughed along with me. “I’m sorry, I am just not used to you studying and such. Well, I can’t get mad at you for taking responsibility. All right, hurry to bed Kimmy.” She got up and headed to the kitchen “Goodnight mom”

    As soon as I got upstairs I hopped in the shower thinking of all my mother said. ‘I really need to make sure mom doesn’t find out...She’ll definitely have me dead.’ I phoned Natalie to let her know what was up. “Maybe we shouldn’t hang out at my house tomorrow.” Nat suggested. “Yeah, who knows how bad she’ll take it?” I sighed. “Hey don’t worry about anything. You should go to bed.” She purred. “A lot happened today.” I smiled into the phone, “Goodnight.” “Goodnight, love you.” “Love you too.”

    The next day went by rather smoothly but I couldn’t get yesterday out of my mine. Here I was a normal virgin girl and now I was some Lesbian who slept with her friend. I didn’t think it was bad but I couldn’t figure out if I was a Lesbian or a sexually confused teen or what. Then later in class, as if the heavens were giving me clues, we talked about sexuality in my Health class. “Sexuality is a very complicated thing.” Said Mrs. Hortell. She was my Health teacher and the coolest teacher around.

    Mrs. Hortell was a slender lady, with long brunette curls, and a young face. Everyone at my school had suspected Mrs. Hortell as being Lesbian after some student claimed to see her with another woman kissing. One first year tried to look cool and asked her, “So, Mrs. Hortell...you’re a big dyke aren’t you?” He snickered. She just turned around and leaned against the desk with her heel hooked around the other. “I don’t know, why don’t you ask your mother?” She smirked. Everyone laughed but didn’t dare to try and ask her again.

    “Some are out and open with their sexuality and some prefer to keep it a secret because of many reasons.” She turned to the class and gave a small smile. “As you know there are many types. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Pansexual, Metro sexual, and more. For the next few days we will be going over each sexuality and find out what they mean. Today, we will study Gay and Lesbian.” Her smile got a bit bigger. I turned a bit pink on the ears and slid a down my seat a little. “As we go over these I better not hear one rude remark that could offend anyone. Those who do so will be sent to the principal’s office with a referral.”

    After school I made sure to see Natalie before she went home. I saw a flash of her shining red hair and her checker backpack through the halls and I followed. She smiled when she saw me walking up, “We need to talk.” I said with a serious face. We walked to her car and she leaned on its trunk, “What do we need to talk about?” “In Health...we went talked about sexuality...” I started. “That’s cool...?” She said with confusion in her tone.

    “I’m not Lesbian.” I looked at the ground and felt a weird heavy feeling in my stomach. “Uhm...So what are you?” She gave a stressed face and started to fidget with her necklace.” “I don’t know. I have feelings for you and I know for a fact that I love you. But...” my voice cracked at ‘But‘. “But?” She stared at me, waiting for an answer. “But...But, I don’t know. I just need some time to think of what I am and what to do.” I hurried off and left her sitting confused. I didn’t know much about sexuality before and I still only knew about what we talked about in health class. I knew I definitely wasn’t Gay because I wasn’t a guy. But I couldn’t be Lesbian because I didn’t only like girls. I liked guys before too, I just didn’t get involved with them. I groaned and walked the rest of the way home.

    When I went inside my mom had her jazz playing loud and she was dancing and cleaning to the beat. “How was school honey?” She sang. “Fine.” I yelled over the music and went upstairs. I searched up ‘Lesbian’ to see if my teacher may have missed something but to my dismay, she pretty much covered it.
    “Ughh,” I laid across my bed. ‘What were those other sexualities she said?’ I asked myself. I knew she said more but I was too caught on ‘Lesbian’ that I sort of didn’t pay attention to the rest.

    The next day I knew Natalie was really pissed at me because she seemed to be no where to be found. But then I started to see her shiny red hair in places she would never be. She was taking alternate routes to avoid me. Finally Health came and Mrs. Hortell began to talk about Bisexuals and Pansexuals. Bisexual was when you were attracted to both girls and boys. She said some Bisexuals had a tendency to switch judgment and like one gender one time and suddenly like another gender. I made sure to listen to ever word that exited her mouth.

    After Health I raced to Nat’s car hoping I could get to it before she left. Luckily, she wasn’t there yet so I waited. Leaning against the trunk like she had been yesterday. Not long, Natalie walked up. She glared and took out her keys, “What do you want?” I felt that heavy feeling slide in my stomach again. “I know what I am.” my voice was getting high with nervousness. “What?” She snapped, “Straight?! You just had a change of heart with me.” I grabbed her and pulled her into a long passionate kiss. Although I didn’t anticipate kissing her then I felt it was the best thing to do.

    The next day was going very good, I had made up with Natalie and let her know I was Bisexual. I told her I still had feelings for her and we were still together. the day was going well until I heard something as I walked to my locker. “Dyke!” I heard someone hiss. My eye’s widened. I had thought no one had seen us kiss in the parking lot. Suddenly I began to see the eyes and people moving away from me as I walked down the hall. I could only hear some words from hushed conversations like “kissed” and “dyke” and “best friends”. I knew this was about me and Natalie’s kiss.

    The rest of the day was filled with hushed conversations, evil glances, and name calling. I thought I was going to die if I got another evil look from all the girls in the restroom. During Health Mrs. Hortell gave me a worried look and after class, she asked me to talk. When the bell had rang and the class was completely empty she sat on the edge of the desk and pierced her lips together. “Kimberly, I’ve heard some things.” She crossed her legs. “About you.” I started to feel a cold sweat. “I’m sorry you have been having a hard time with coming out but I am very proud of you.”

    I looked at her with a surprised expression. “Yes, I am proud because you didn’t let all the names get to you. And if you need to talk to anyone, I am always here.” She smiled. “So is it true? Your Lesbian?” I tried to sound serious but it came out sounding all wrong. “I am. I have experienced all that you will and I know the highs and lows.” She stood up. “I give my best wishes to you and Natalie. I blushed at her knowledge of us being together. “Thank you. I will be sure to come to you for advice” I grinned and left.

    I walked to Natalie who was waiting in the car. “Let me guess. Your day was as shitty as mine?” She asked when I hopped in. “Yes, but I talked to Mrs. Hortell and she said if I ever need to talk, she will be there.” Natalie gave a small smile, “She is a cool teacher.” “Yep.” I kissed her on the cheek and she drove us to her house. When we got there we did our homework and watched some cartoons. Suddenly I found myself with my hand up her shirt and making out on her couch. She pulled the string of my halter top and before long, all our clothes were on the ground.

    We were in the middle of making love when her dad walked in on us fully naked on the couch. “I’m home Nat! How was sch-WHOA.” We shot up and covered ourselves with whatever we could reach. “Uhm, Nat? Kim? Please, get dressed. Kim I think you should go home when your dressed. Nat...We need to talk when your mother gets here.” He said as he walked into the kitchen. Natalie shot me a worried look and grabbed her clothes. I grabbed mine and we went upstairs to get dressed. “I’m dead!” She said after she closed her door. I slipped in my t-shirt and pulled on the rest of my clothes. “Don’t worry about it, your dad is totally cool, he will persuade your mom not to be to hard on you.” I tried to sound sure.

    When I got home I tried to escape from my mothers view but I knew she had heard already. “Kimmy?” She called as I tip-toed up the stairs. “Uhm...Yes?” I began to panic. “We need to talk.” She stated plainly. I walked back down the stairs and went into the kitchen. I sat in a chair and watched her pour some coffee. “I know about you and Nat.” She sipped some coffee and sat in a chair opposite from me. “Mhmm...” I gulped, waiting for the worst. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She laughed.

    “Huh?” I asked, confused. ‘Is she laughing? At me?’ I thought. “How was I supposed to tell you?” “I dont know. Maybe just let me know you weren’t interested in boys.” She smiled and placed a hand over mine. “Honey, I don’t love you any less for who you are. If you really love Natalie then I can’t stop you.” I smiled but then frowned. “What about Natalie? Are her parents okay with it?” I asked. “I don’t know. All I know is what Nat’s dad said.” She sipped on her coffee some more. “Well, May I go upstairs?” I asked. “Yes, today was a crazy day.” She hugged me and I went upstairs.

    The next day Natalie told me that her parents had kind of expected we were fooling around. “Serious?” I laughed. “Yeah, they are okay with it too.” She grinned. “I can’t believe are parents are so cool with this.” I smiled back and pulled her into a long kiss in the hall. People stopped and stared and when we broke the kiss we just smiled and walked down the hall, hand in hand, smiling.