Karma's grades had been dropping fast ever since she found out about the Amy/Liam fiasco. She couldn't focus on school and she certainly couldn't find the energy to do homework. Her routine consisted of going home, checking her phone and hoping for a message from Amy, finding about ten messages from Liam, and throwing her phone across the room. Today, however, she felt worn down. Her earlier encounter with Amy made her desperate for a change. Hesitantly, she unlocked her phone and read the messages from the boy who couldn't take no for an answer.
Liam [10:01 AM]: Hey
Liam [11:34 AM]: Karma
Liam [1:23 PM]: I miss you
Liam [4:04 PM]: I'll be in the art room tonight. Please come see me.
Liam [4:05 PM]: I hate where we left things.
She groaned into her pillow, angry at herself for forgiving Amy so quickly but not even being able to look Liam in the eye. Rationally, she knew the night of the wedding was consensual, and she knew they had both kept it from her, but the fact that she had been sleeping with Liam while he conveniently left out the fact that his dick had been in her best friend made her want to throw up. The fact that she was basically begging for Amy to be her friend after Amy had betrayed her also made her want to throw up. Basically, a lot of things in Karma's life were making her sick, and the worst part was she didn't have anyone to talk to about it. She saw her phone light up again and she was ready to throw it across the room again before she saw the text actually wasn't from Liam (for once), but an unknown number.
Unknown [4:31 PM]: Hey, it's Luna. Sorry if this is weird, but I got your number from Amy during study hall. I'm totally lost with this chemistry homework, turns out your class is two weeks ahead of mine.
Unknown [4:31 PM]: Could you help me?
Karma couldn't help but smile. Since when did anybody go out of their way to contact her, even if it was just for homework help? She quickly responded (maybe too fast).
Karma [4:32 PM]: Haha yeah, no problem. You could come over if you want?
She sat there staring at her screen for what felt like forever. Was asking her to come over too bold? Maybe she just wanted to do it over the phone. Oh god, what if Luna thought she was weird? Or clingy? Or-
Luna [4:34 PM]: You're a life saver! Address?
Oh thank god. Karma quickly sent the information and added she could come over whenever. She started picking up her room, not wanting Luna to think she was a total slob.
Luna [4:36 PM]: You actually live pretty close. I'm just gonna walk. Be there soon.
"So your mom is… interesting," Luna smirked. Unfortunately, Molly had gotten to the door before Karma and immediately began unintentionally interrogating her.
"What a beautiful name Luna is! How did you two meet? Are you girls just friends? This is an accepting household, if you two girls are dating-" and that was how far she got before Karma yelled something about being a normal mom for once and dragged Luna up to her room.
"I am so sorry about that," Karma covered her face. "She still hasn't recovered from the fact that I'm not actually a lesbian."
"Don't worry about it," Luna smiled. "Better than being homophobic, right?"
"That's true. I feel guilty for complaining. She could be like Amy's mom who still can't accept-" she stopped herself, remembering that Amy hadn't exactly come out on her own yet.
Luna's eyebrows shot up. "She DOES like girls! I knew my gaydar wasn't broken. That's amazing."
"Shit, Luna, you can't tell anyone. I don't know if she wants people knowing, and this is a huge mess, and I really can't take her hating me anymore than she already does, and-"
"Hey, relax," Luna rushed to calm her down. "I wouldn't out anyone under any circumstances. I was just happy because, well…"
Karma furrowed her brows. "Because why?" she asked firmly.
"Because she's really attractive," Luna finished, wondering why Karma was starting to give her a death glare. "Didn't you say you're not into her?"
"I'm not." Karma said with more malice in her voice than she'd expected. "I'm straight."
"Okay," Luna backed off, suspecting that this situation was far messier than she originally expected. "So, chemistry homework," she started taking her books out of her backpack. "I don't really understand titration-"
"What do you mean, gaydar?" Karma interrupted.
"What, like, being able to tell when people are gay?" Luna looked at her confused.
"Yeah, like, how do you get one?"
"What… what do you mean?" Luna wasn't able to contain her laughter.
Karma crossed her arms and sat down on her bed, annoyed she was being laughed at. "Never mind. Forget it."
"No, god, I'm sorry!" Luna sat down next to Karma. "Listen, I've been kind of obnoxious since I've gotten here. I don't know your situation. And I don't know Amy's. We don't have to talk about it. I mean, unless you want to. No judgement, I promise."
Karma eased up. She wasn't used to someone actually caring. "It's just… you were able to see that Amy likes girls right away, and I couldn't, and I've been her best friend for ten years," Karma said quietly. "I'm such an idiot. No wonder she doesn't want to see me anymore."
"Hey, it's okay," Luna reached for Karma's hand to comfort her. "I'm sure it's more complicated than that. Isn't it?"
Karma choked out a laugh. "You have no idea."
"Can I take a guess?" Luna asked.
"Sure," Karma looked at her, wondering where she was going with this.
"Amy fell for you, but you didn't feel the same way. Or at least you think you didn't, or you felt pressured, or something, and she was coming on strong. So, it didn't work out between you guys. And now she probably can't be around you because she's in love with you. Am I in the ballpark?"
"Holy shit," Karma looked shocked. "I mean, there was some other… messy stuff, but you got it right for the most part. Are you psychic?"
"No," Luna laughed. "Let's just say I was in a similar situation."
"Oh," Karma looked down. "I'm sorry she didn't feel the same way."
"Actually," Luna smirked, "I was the Karma in that situation."
"But..." Karma trailed off, confused. "Aren't you gay?"
"Half," Luna looked indignant at the assumption. "But I didn't know it at the time."
"How did you find out? You know, that you were bi, or whatever."
"I gave it a shot," Luna shrugged. "I had a boyfriend, but we were having problems, and I was sick of the way he treated me. So, I told her I wasn't sure, but I wanted to try."
"I'm guessing it didn't work out," Karma said sadly.
"No," Luna looked down. "No, it didn't. We were just too different. But it really opened the door for me. Before, I thought I was completely straight, totally into dudes. Now, I think I might actually like girls more. I just really like both," she laughed. "She thinks I left her because I'm straight. I don't think she can accept the fact that we were just at different places in our lives."
"Wow," Karma squinted. "So, it's really over between you two? Forever?"
"Who knows?" Luna asked. "We both had our issues. She was really hung up on the fact that I might leave her for a guy, even though I told her it wouldn't go down like that. When she found out I started dating my ex a few months after we broke up, she lost it and cut off all contact with me."
"Now you're not even friends?" Karma looked worried.
"Nope," Luna shook her head sadly. "I have no idea what she's up to now or if she's dating anyone."
"That's rough," Karma squeezed her hand, grateful that Luna was opening up to her. "Does she go to our school?"
"Nope, she's older. She graduated about a year ago."
"She's going to college?"
"Nah, that was never her thing. She's really into music, I think she DJs clubs around town."
Karma's eyes shot wide open. "What did you say her name was, again?"
"Oh, I don't think I did," Luna realized. "Her name is Reagan."