Did I mention I was an impatient teenager...
No Copyright infringement intended.
Chapter 2
After a quick assembly in which the headmaster bestowed upon the senior class a list of responsibilities and priorities as leaders of the school, Bella made her way to her first class.
Reaching for the door to her calculus building, she heard a familiar voice call out her name.
"Hey! B!"
Bella turned around to meet the grinning face of her best friend, looking like he just stepped out of a vineyard vines catalogue, his silky blond hair falling with an effortless precision in front of his bright blue eyes.
Seriously, did being gay immediately equate with wearing bright colors all the time?
"You know, I'm really disappointed in you Mike. You missed a very inspirational pep talk by our esteemed head master, this morning." Bella admonished sarcastically. The entire school knew that being the headmaster at Barclay Academy was just like being the queen of England. Sure, you got to sit on the throne and demand respect from your subjects…but in the end, it was the big leagues behind the scenes that called all the shots.
Mike scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Pshh, oh please Bells. I swear the only thing 'steemed' about that man is his head. You could send signals up to space with the amount of light that thing reflects."
Bella unsuccessfully tried to hold in her laugh, instead releasing a short snort, covering her mouth with her hand and glancing around her quickly to make sure no one was listening to their conversation.
As if the notion of eave droppers would ever stop Michael.
"I'm not kidding! I mean, powder that baby…or at least invest in a fashionable toupee! Save us all from going blind before we're thirty."
Mike Newton had been Bella's best friend from the moment their five-year-old selves laid eyes on each other at a nearby playground. There was still a picture up on her fridge with the two of them sitting next to each other on a bench, arms slung around each other and two bright toothy grins on their faces. Michael had been dressed in a sky blue polo with a matching belt and bright yellow shorts while Bella wore a lavender tee shirt with faded blue overalls. Even as a five year old, he had more style then Bella ever could.
She remembered being drawn to his friendly, outgoing nature. Sure, he was a bit over the top sometimes, but Bella found that this suited her personality perfectly. Over the years, as they grew, so did their friendship.
Bella's giggles subsided as they walked together to their next class, Michael's hand slung around her waist, and her hands around his bicep.
Bella used to find it ironic how she was able to relate to him more than any of the girls her age. Well maybe not that ironic, given that Mike was practically a girl. It seemed everyone knew, but it wasn't until Mike turned fourteen that he announced he was gay. It was never a big deal for Bella; he had always, and would always be her friend. Bella never had to worry about herself around him. She figured that was why she had always been so comfortable around him when she would go loopy the moment a boy even looked at her. She reveled in the peace their relationship brought her, as she never had to worry about him liking her…or the pressure to take their friendship to the next level.
"Okay, but really," she began when she could finally catch a breath, "where were you?"
Michael smiled coyly.
"Did you hear we got a new American Studies teacher?"
Bella blinked.
"Umm…no I didn't hear that. Is it a man or a woman?" She questioned curiously. A few of Barclay's teachers had retired the year before, so it was fitting that there would be a few new faces around the school.
"Hmm, maybe it would be better if I showed you instead." Mikes said slyly, glancing at Bella out of the corner of his eye.
She immediately sobered, suspicion taking over.
"You look nice by the way. Who picked out that outfit?"
Bella smiled despite herself.
She wore a bright pink Ralph Lauren work shirt with gold buttons, tucked in to skinny white pants, and shimmery gold Tory Burch iridescent flats. A brown belt and a few gold Kate Spade bangles pulled it all together. Looking in the mirror this morning, Bella was pleasantly surprised.
"You did."
Throughout all her years at Barclay, she had absolutely loathed having a dress code. But while she would have preferred a tee shirt and jeans, with Michael's help, dressing up was kind of fun.
"Ah right. And it's a good thing I did. You'll be turning heads today, B."
Bella shook her head at her best friend, as they rounded the corner to their classroom.
Mike shot her one last devious look before opening the door.
She didn't know what she'd expected.
But it definitely wasn't this.
xxx
...who loves reassurance and attention. ;)
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Or do your worst. I can take it.
xo Sabrina
