Rainbow Central Complete Series

Chapter 9

Jo

JoThe next day, I couldn’t stop thinking about Platypus and the people I’d met. Even if I’d only spoken to a handful of them, I wanted to go back already and do it all over again.

Funny how my opinion about the club had changed overnight. Prior to going, I’d worried that Ellie was right and that the club would be all about s*x and sexuality but these people were all just regular people that wanted to party, dance, make friends, and find love. What was so wrong about that?

With my feet up on my coffee table, I stared at the crumpled flyer I saved from last night. I definitely wanted to go now. Especially after discovering how attracted I was to some of the girls there.

Thinking back to my drunken realisation, the surprise had worn off. If anything, deep down, I always knew. I was just in denial about it. I didn’t want to be different, didn’t want to alienate the people I cared about. Didn’t want to disappoint...

But it had come to a point where I clearly could no longer suppress it.

I liked girls. And guys? Maybe not... I never quite understood the appeal even though I tried, a lot. I just didn’t see it.

Now girls... women... It wasn"t hard to understand that at all. The softness, the versatility, their smell, the curves and shapes.Thinking about it, it was really a miracle how I managed to fool myself for so long. It was obvious. I liked women. It felt like a relief to finally admit it. To finally be able to explore this side of me.

An image of Ellie flashed through my mind and I sighed. My new discovery didn’t change how I was feeling about my best friend at all. If anything, things were more confusing than ever.

My phone buzzed and her name flashed up on the screen. Speak of the devil.

I had a lot of fun yesterday. Want to hang out again?>

I had a lot of fun yesterday. Want to hang out again?>I stared at the message, not sure what to reply. On the one hand, I wanted to see her again. On the other, wouldn’t it be better to put some distance between us until I figured out what was going on.

My thumbs hovered over the screen as I contemplated what to reply. I wanted to say yes but part of me knew that was a bad idea.

I should say no but my fingers typed a different reply.

I sent the message before I could properly think about it. I stared at the little text balloon, already having doubts this was the right answer. Maybe I should follow up with a text saying I changed my mind.

Before I could, a text bubble from Ellie with the three dancing dots appeared and I waited in anticipation for her response.

My head was still pinching from last night. Despite my thoughts about alcohol a***e, I drank way more than I intended. It was just so stressful meeting all these new people and everyone was drinking like it was nothing, it was very contagious. No wonder so many people got addicted. I should really be more careful.

I stared at Ellie’s message, knowing my stomach wanted me to decline. But I wanted to see her again. I wanted to tell her about last night too but I wasn’t sure how to bring it up. Maybe it was better not to see her until I’d processed this all a bit more.

Then again… I didn’t have class today so what else was I going to do? Hang around in my room and binge awful tv?

I sent the message before I could change my mind again. I was being silly. Ellie was my best friend, if I couldn’t act normal around her, I had no chance of keeping our friendship alive. I’d just have to figure out how.

My phone buzzed almost immediately.

I shot a confirming text back and tossed my phone to the other side of the couch. I’d made my decision so I should grab a quick shower so I didn’t smell like smoke and stale beer.

About an hour later, I hopped off the bus and made my way to the city centre. On my way, I looked at every girl that I passed, trying to figure out if I was attracted to them. There was a girl with a pixie cut sitting two seats ahead of me near the doors. From her reflection in the window, I could tell she was cute. Another girl on the other side of the bus had dark, long hair that reminded me of Ellie. This girl was pretty too, just not as pretty as my best friend.

I sighed. What was it with me and Ellie?

The bus came to my stop and I got off, almost bumping into the girl with the pixie cut. She shot me a smile as she got off and my stomach fluttered slightly.

Damn. What did that mean?

I kept my head down as I made my way to the square. The fair had been packed up and moved, leaving the place strangely empty.

I spotted Ellie waiting on a bench and my heart fluttered, even more so than before. She looked so beautiful sitting in the sun. She had a scarf wrapped tightly around her and kept checking her phone, presumably for me.

Instead of approaching her, I sent a quick text to let her know I’d arrived. I knew I was being foolish but I wanted to see her reaction.

Her phone buzzed and she looked at it, a smile curling around her lips as she read my text. She quickly typed a reply back and in return, my phone vibrated.

With a smile, I put my phone away as I approached her. I wasn’t sure what the point of this had been but I could tell something within me had changed. Or maybe not changed… More like, unlocked.

As Ellie hugged me and I inhaled her floral scent, I knew my feelings for my best friend weren’t new. I’d just been in denial.

“So glad you could make it,” Ellie said, sounding excited as usual. She grabbed my hand and tugged me along.

“So what are we doing?” I asked, wincing as we only barely dodged a mother and father with a stroller. If it was up to me, I wouldn’t be skipping through the busy street but Ellie had this sort of nonchalant carefree attitude that meant she didn’t care what anyone else thought.

When I was with her, it was easy to get sucked in.

She paused in front of a window display of a big chain and gasped. “Ooh, that dress looks amazing.”

“You should try it on,” I encouraged.

“You think?” She positioned herself in front of the mannequin so her reflection lined up with the blue dress. “It is really pretty.”

“Yes!”

A smile played around her lips. “Okay, trying doesn’t cost anything.”

“Exactly.” I grabbed her by the hand, trying to ignore how soft it felt, and pulled her inside, weaving through the loaded racks with all kinds of clothing in search of the blue dress.

The large, brightly illuminated store had all kinds of things on display and with a lot more than just the dress, Ellie and I made our way to the changing rooms. I’d even let her convince me to try on a nice grey shirt, even if I didn’t have the money to buy it. Like Ellie said, trying didn’t cost anything.

We stepped into the changing rooms, which were surprisingly busy for a random Friday afternoon. Most students went home during the weekend but there was no sign of that happening this week. Probably the Plaza party, it really was a big deal.

“There’s a booth free over there,” Ellie exclaimed as she pulled me through the narrow room, dodging stools and seats with various piles of clothes and people on it.

“You can go first,” I offered, hesitating in front of the little stall.

Ellie chuckled. “We can just go together.”

I gulped. “I’ll wait.”

“Don’t be silly, we change together all the time.” She pushed me into the stall and pulled the heavy bordeaux curtain shut behind us, trapping me in mirror jail.