Molly knocked on Sue Ann's bedroom door, "Sue Ann? Are you there?" When she got no response, she opened the door to check, "I hate to bother you, but I have to get my English project….oh my god," she saw Sue Ann and Cindy on Sue Ann's bed kissing. "I'm….I'm sorry." Molly bolted down the hallway.
Sue Ann turned pale, "Oh my god, I forgot, Molly…wait!" She held Cindy's hand briefly and ran after Molly. "Molly, please come back. We need to talk," her voice dropped to a whisper, "you can't say anything, please. My parents would take me out of Eastland, and I couldn't bear that."
"I just need to be by myself for a while," Molly shut herself in her bedroom. She had no idea how to cope with what she had just seen. She had to talk to someone—usually Mrs. Garrett was perfect for this type of discussion, but in her heart, she knew Sue Ann was right, if word got back to Sue Ann's parents, she'd have to leave Eastland.
Sue Ann continued to bang on her door, "Molly, please, we have to talk." The door cracked slowly. "Can I come in?" The door opened further, and Molly flopped herself down on her bed. "I know you must be freaked out by what you saw. I was too. My parents wouldn't understand. Will you keep our secret?"
"Do you love her?"
"Yes, I believe I do."
"How does it all work? The government pamphlet didn't mention anything about this," Molly's curiosity and bluntness always got the better of her.
"You mean the pamphlet that describes all the changes to your body?"
"Yes."
"The pamphlet really only mentions what happens to everybody. This doesn't happen to everybody—but it does work somehow," Sue Ann answered as best she could. She never dreamed she'd be having this conversation, but she was happy she was having it with Molly and not with Tootie or Natalie, who would immediately run to Mrs. Garrett.
"If it doesn't happen to everybody, why did it happen to you and Cindy?"
"I don't know; it just did. I was never interested in boys the way Blair is. I just thought it was because I was from Kansas, but when Cindy and I became close, I just knew," Sue Ann took Molly's hands. "Love doesn't always show up where you want it or where you expect it, but you have to hold onto it when you find it."
"Will I find love someday?"
"Absolutely, you will, and I will support you, no matter who it is," Sue Ann promised.
"I won't tell. I couldn't bear it if you left, especially if it was because of me," Molly admitted.
"Do you still want my help with your English project?" Sue Ann asked, preparing herself to be shut down.
Molly hugged her, "Yes, I do. You and Cindy are my friends; you always will be." For the first time in a long time, she felt close to someone at school. Maybe the other girls did like her after all.