Here is the next chapter. I feel bad it took me a week, I'll try to write faster. No guarentees, I have AP classes to study for.

Disclaimer (I forgot this last chapter, so this counts for both): I own nothing but the storyline

Chapter 2

Friday

The rest of the week took forever. I just wanted it to be Friday already. The practices every day have been tough and I've been avoiding Mitchie and pretty much everyone else on the team. I feel bad for avoiding them, but I just couldn't have another conversation like the one earlier in the week. I wanted to pretend it didn't happen.

But it did happen, and my thoughts kept drifting towards Mitchie. I couldn't help myself, I just found her so alluring. And knowing that she's into girls too just expanded my crush on her. I was nervous about spending time with her and others on Friday, but I was also excited. I wanted to know more about her. I wanted her to be my friend, the friend I could really talk to.

I did have a best friend though. Harper knew and was understanding about it all, but I can't really talk to her. She didn't know what I was feeling. I wanted someone who understood me, who knew what it was like, so I didn't have to explain everything.

"Alex, are you still coming over to my place? We're about to leave." A musical voice came from behind me. I turned around and realized that I was zoning out and Coach just dismissed us for the weekend. It was time to go to Mitchie's. I nodded.

"Yeah, I just have to put all my stuff away and I'll be ready to go."

"Do you have clothes to change into?" she asked skeptically.

Crap, I forgot about that. I was too nervous to think about an extra set of clothes. "Nah, I forgot. Oh, well. I can just wear this."

"No, you can borrow some of my clothes. You're about the same size."

"Thank you, that's very nice of you."

"Your welcome." She waited for me to pack up and then walked with me to her car. It was a little Honda. She popped the trunk for me to put my bat bag in the back. She silently unlocked her car and we got in. As she pulled away, she took a deep breath before saying anything.

"So, three other girls are coming tonight—Caitlyn, Tess, and Lola. They're all gay, so you don't have to hide yourself if you don't want to. No one is going to force you into saying anything you don't want to. You don't have to talk to us. If we ask you something and you don't want to tell us, simply say so. We understand."

"Okay, thank you. But I want to be honest, with you and with myself. I've grown tired of hiding myself. I do it at home all the time."

"Yeah, I understand. It took me a while before I was open about it. I told my friends during my sophomore year and I told my parents last year. Both weren't easy, but it was worth it. Its great, not hiding anymore."

"I wish I could be that open. I'm still trying to accept myself, I cant imagine telling my parents. Sounds scary."

"It is scary. But eventually, you'll be ready." She glanced over at me and smiled, like she had total faith in me.

The rest of the ride there was silent, but it wasn't an awkward silence. I liked the silence, it gave me time to think about what I said and what could happen tonight. I didn't have any fear of what might come though. I was honest when I said I was tired of hiding it.

We arrived at her house a few minutes later. It was a two story house, with white walls and blue trim. Mitchie pulled into the driveway and we both got out of the car. She looked over at me and smiled.

"The other girls will be here in about an hour. They wanted to shower and change before coming over. I'm going to take a quick shower and change, then if you want a shower you can."

I nodded; I really did want a shower. I worked hard at practice today. I wanted to start in our first tournament next week. I followed Mitchie up to her room, and when she opened the door to let me in, I got my first glimpse of her room.

It was light blue, with bright yellow highlights around the room. Most of the room was taken up my music equipment. It looked like a recording studio right there in her bedroom. I was impressed, until I noticed that there wasn't a drum set in the room. I was surprised; I assumed that with all this there would be a drum set. I decided to ask.

"No drum set?" I asked.

"No, I don't know how to play the drums. I play guitar and keyboard, but that's it."

"That's pretty impressive. I can only play the drums. I tried to learn guitar, but my fingers don't work like that."

She laughed. It was the most amazing sound I've ever heard. "And my fingers cant play drums. You should play with me sometime, it would be fun. Can you sing?"

I blushed a little, "Yeah, but not in front of people. I'm too shy."

"Maybe we could work on that."

"Yeah, maybe." I smiled. It sounded like I would get to spend more time with her.

"Well, I'm going to take a shower. I'll be back in about 10 minutes. Take whatever you want from the drawers, it doesn't matter to me."

I had a feeling this would be a pretty long 10 minutes. I nodded and looked for clothes until I heard the shower running. I picked some pants and a tank top and started to explore. I immediately went over to her 'recording studio' and looked at everything she had. That's when I noticed her songbook. I knew it was wrong, but I opened it anyway. It was completely filled. There were different songs on every page, with notes in the sides with changes and thoughts. I was completely engrossed until I heard the shower switch off. I knew I didn't have long, so I went over and lied on her bed with my cell and started to text Harper. Just casual small talk, but she was so funny that it didn't matter.

I was laughing at what Harper just texted me when Mitchie walked in. She looked at me, then told me it was my turn to shower. She pointed me to the bathroom and went to her room as I went to shower.

After my shower I changed into the clothes I picked out. Mitchie was right about us being the same size. Her clothes fitted me almost perfectly. The only problem was that the jeans were too long. I folded the extra under and fixed the makeup I had managed not to ruin in the shower. I walked out of the bathroom and into Mitchie's room.

She was laying on her stomach reading a book when I cautiously walked into her room, unsure if I should knock. She smiled at me and put the book away. I walked in and set my stuff in the corner of her room.

"Come, sit with me. I don't bite. Well, most of the time anyway."

I laughed the first genuine laugh I've had around her. I sat next to her on the bed and smiled at her, as she asked me the first of what would be a series of questions before the night was out.

"So, do you want to play 20 questions with me until the other girls are here?"

"Sure, you start."

"Okay, what's your favorite color?"

I smiled. "Purple. You?"

"Blue."

"Interesting. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?"

"Paris. I love the romanticism of the city."

"That's sweet. I'd pick London for the same reason."

Now it was her turn to laugh. "London is a close second. So, have you ever been with a girl?"

I blushed. "I've only kissed a girl. It was my first kiss. That's it though."

"That's good. Don't throw away your virginity. I did, I guess I didn't want it anymore, because I gave myself to a girl I didn't know and haven't seen since."

"Damn, that sounds like it sucks."

"Yeah, it did. Don't be like me, find someone you care about and make it special, because you will remember it for the rest of your life."

I nodded; it was impressive advice for someone I've known a week. Just then, the doorbell rang. She smiled at me before getting up and walking out the room. A few minutes later, she walked back in with Tess and Caitlyn.

We all looked at each other for a moment, like we were sizing each other up. Then, in the same moment, we all began to laugh. The tense moment was over. After that, we talked and laughed like we had known each other forever.

I was feeling completely at ease when Caitlyn asked the question.

"So, Alex. Any girls in your life?"

Mitchie stopped dead in her tracks, but I was expecting this. "Nah, I'm too much of a loner. And not being out doesn't help I suppose." I joked. And it worked. Everyone relaxed and knew that the subject was open to discussion.

Caitlyn and I were talking about high school drama when I hear Tess ask Mitchie a question that I have to know the answer to.

"Mitchie, who do you have a crush on anyone? You haven't been with anyone for so long, I'm starting to worry."

Mitchie glanced at me for half a second before answering, doing so without anyone noticing. "Well, there's this one girl I think is pretty cool, but I doubt she would be into me."

That's when I spoke up. "Who wouldn't be into you Mitchie?" I said with a teasing tone of voice but a serious look in my eyes.

She smiled at me sadly. "Someone who isn't ready to be into me."

I looked at her for a moment, confused. Then I got it. She was crushing on a girl who was still in the closet like I am. I could only imagine how hard that must be on her. We all quieted for a moment before moving onto another topic. And for the first time, I started the topic.

"Hey, can I ask you guys a question?"

"Sure, what's up Alex?" Caitlyn replied kindly.

"How did you guys come out? I don't even know where to start. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," I said shyly. I was kind of nervous, but I really wanted their input.

"Well," Mitchie started, "I came out to Caitlyn first. It was scary, I was afraid I was going to lose my best friend, but I knew I had to. Hell, I wanted to."

"And I told her right after she told me." Caitlyn spoke up.

"Wow, your guys story is so adorable. All I did was start dating a girl. I didn't think it was such a bad thing; my parents are cool with it. I didn't realize that other people didn't share their views on the subject." Tess told me.

Their stories were kind of inspiring. "What advice would you give me?"

"Oh, that's easy." Mitchie once again started. "Wait until you're ready. Don't let anyone push you into it. It's your life, and you should be allowed to live it however you want."

The other girls nodded. They started on their own topic, knowing I would want to think through all this. I appreciated it. I thought about the consequences of coming out until Mitchie mentioned a party.

"Want to go to a party with us Alex?" came Mitchie's singsong voice. I've never been to a party before. It kind of sounded fun.

"Yeah, I'm in."