“Bo wasn’t the only one last year. Remember Elaina?” Amber says. Bo rolls her eyes.
“Yes, I was. Elaina’s not gay, she’s trans. It’s two different things,” Bo says flatly.
“I meant, like, you weren’t the only LGBTQ+ person here,” Amber says. “But David, I thought about the gay thing before, too. Jake Jeffrey is definitely gay. His girlfriend has to be a beard. I bet she’s in on it.” I don’t like this at all. If I wasn’t here, would I be on their list? I feel like Jesus’s eyes are judging me. “Hot Jesus,” as Cesar calls him （only to me）。 It’s the abs.
I look to Bo. If anyone has the guts to call this stuff out, it’s her. But she sits quietly without looking up from her food.
“And Ms. Felix, the art teacher? Definitely gay,” Amber adds.
“You can’t be sure about that kind of thing, though. Didn’t everyone think you were gay last year?” David asks Amber.
“That was only because Bo came out, and she’s my best friend.” Amber tosses a tater tot in the air and catches it in her mouth. Like she could care less that everyone assumed she was gay.
“Yeah, Yamilet, you might want to brace yourself for that. People assume all Bo’s friends are gay like her,” David says. Amber shoots him a glare on Bo’s behalf.
“Run while you can if you’re not cool with that,” Bo says. She’s not smiling.
“No, I’m cool,” I say. But I don’t know if I am.
Jenna and Karen are staring at us from across the room. At Bo, specifically. Karen giggles behind her overly tanned hands, and Jenna looks weirdly shy compared to normal. Karen pushes her toward us and trails behind.
“While we’re talking about who’s gay, Jenna might actually have a little crush on you, Bo.” David nudges Bo to get her attention.
Bo turns to look at them, and Jenna makes a little squeal and hides behind Karen. Bo gives Jenna a cute little smile, and I try to shove down the wave of jealousy before it shows on my face. Is Bo Jenna’s secret crush?
Jenna finally gets pushed in front of Karen, and she puffs out her chest and walks straight toward Bo. “Um, hi . . .”
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Sorry, I know we haven’t talked in a while. I was wondering . . .” Jenna takes a breath. “Are you going to homecoming?” Her face is completely red. People are starting to stare. Amber and David drop their jaws.
“Are you asking me to homecoming?” Bo’s smile grows, and I notice now that when she smiles with her whole face, the right side of her mouth tilts slightly higher. It’s the cutest crooked smile ever, and I want to see more of it—though preferably not because of Jenna. Bo’s whole face lights up, and mine goes hot. I don’t know, I guess I was looking forward to not going to homecoming. With Bo.
Karen bursts out laughing, and Bo’s face twists in confusion.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! It was just a dare!” Jenna giggles uncontrollably. “Holy shit, I think she was gonna say yes!” She laughs. Everyone laughs. Bo’s face goes red, and so does my vision.
“You think that’s fucking funny?” I stand. It takes a lot to get me to stand up for myself. But when you mess with my friends? I can’t just sit there. I march straight over to Jenna and Karen. Amber is right behind me. They run away, giggling. They actually run away from us as we walk over. I guess I was kind of hoping that would happen, since I don’t know what I would have done if they actually squared up.
Bo stands up, too, but goes in the other direction. She’s gone from the cafeteria before she can hear the nasty things people are saying. Amber and I chase after her out into the parking lot. David calls after us, but we’re not turning back. Not without Bo.