Chapter 11: The aftermath

The rest of the week continued on like it always had, yet keeping their relationship a secret had gotten increasingly more difficult. Keeping their relationship, a secret at first, proved to be a little sexy, their secretive bathroom make out sessions and the gentle stroking of hands as they would pass items to one another. However, following the new level of intimacy which they had reached, neither girl wanted to distance themselves from one another and neither could stand seeing the way guys would ogle at their girlfriend unaware that they were spoken for.

"I hate men! Why must they always stare at you? Wait I know why, its because you're so freaking gorgeous but you're mine." Grace whined as she glared towards one of the boys in the hallway which had been checking out Zoe.

"Babe you're crazy, no one is checking me out. Plus, even if they were, you know I only have eyes for you. Also, did I fail to mention that my girlfriend is totally the sexiest woman around? How could I possibly want anyone else?" Zoe replied, as she took the opportunity to discretely give her girlfriend's hand a squeeze.

"I know, I know, but I can't help it. Seeing people check you out in general makes me crazy, especially seeing as none of them know that you're with me." Grace replied bashfully.

"You're kind of cute when you're all jealous." Zoe joked.

"Oh haha but I'm serious babe…I want people to know that we are together. I am sick of hiding our relationship. You make me so incredibly happy and I am pretty sure that I make you very happy as well, why should that be something that we hide from the public?" Grace asked, finally tearing her gaze away from her future victims, wait did I say victim? I meant to say high school boys which has previously been ogling her girlfriend.

Peering into Grace's eyes, Zoe could see that this was in fact really bothering her raven-haired beauty, which obviously upset her but she couldn't tell people…..could she? What would people think? "My my, Zoe Rivas, have you finally run out of male conquests that you now need to switch teams in order to obtain more conquests?" Zoe imagined people saying.

"We don't have to do it right away, but soon hopefully. I also understand if you don't want to come out to your family yet, but it would be nice for our friends to know at least. In time, I would also like to tell my family…..because you're important to me and I want to one day be able to invite you to family functions and introduce you as my girlfriend." Grace said, interrupting Zoe's inner ramblings.

"Do we have to? I quite like the secretive life….it's sexy?" Zoe replied, panic somewhat evident in her eyes.

"Yes, but think of how much sexier it would be for me to be able to hold your hand in public, or to hug you before heading to class and to kiss you when I see you in the morning. I see other couples doing those things all the time and I wish those things for us. Don't you?" Grace replied, urging Zoe to see her side.

"I do want those things babe…but what if people react poorly to the news? What if we become the laughing stock of the school?" Zoe uttered.

"Look at Imogen and Fiona. They made their relationship public and sure there were some repercussions but for the most part, people were happy for them and people supported them. All to say that we wouldn't be the first lesbian couple that had walked through the halls of Degrassi. Not to mention, the fact that people have become more and more accepting of the LGBTQ+ movement nowadays, so who knows, there may not even be repercussions for us. Maybe some guys will taunt us and mention something about how my girlfriend is very attractive, but that's okay because she is, and at the end of the day, I get to be the one whom she loves and makes love to." Grace replied as her cheeks sported a bright shade of crimson.

"Gosh I love you." Zoe replied her eyes pooling with water at the shear emotion she was feeling because she really did love Grace and could see herself potentially spending a lifetime by her side. Everything always felt okay when she was with her.

Losing all inhibition, Zoe reached up and with the palm of her hand cupped Grace's face whilst bringing her lips up to Grace's and kissing her sweetly.

"Woof Woof. Atta be girls. Keep kissing, this is sexy." Boys cheered nearby.

Exerted back to reality, both girls pulled away from one another and realized that people had been watching them. Never mind needing to tell people that they were a couple, by the end of the day everyone would know.

It was at this moment, that almost out of nowhere Tristan showed up and escorted both girls to an empty classroom.

"Hey, sorry about them. Honestly, don't let them bother you. I see that you have decided to officially come out now?" Tristan asked as he sat down in front of both girls which had quickly been seated upon having entered the vacant classroom.

"Oh my god. What have we done?" Zoe said, panic settling over her.

Unsure what to do, Grace reached for Zoe's hand as to comfort her but Zoe briskly pulled it away. While Grace knew, Zoe was just freaked out, this gesture had sent a painful ping to her heart.

Noticing the tension between the two Tristan decided to try and speak yet again, to see if he could not calm the duo. "Really ladies, its really not that bad. Yes, it will suck at first because people like to gossip but at least you have each other. When I was going through this, I was alone but look at me now, I've never been more comfortable in my own skin and people genuinely don't care that I like people of the same gender. Plus, women having sex with other women is usually better viewed than men having sex with other men…..which is quite the double standard though that is a topic for another day."

"Woah, woah, who said that we are having sex?" Zoe asked, looking towards Tristan incredulously.

"Out of all of what I just said you only heard me say sex? No one is saying that yet, for all they know you are simply a new couple or just two girls experimenting with each other. Though your facial expression says it all. You two have had sex, it's written all over your faces. So how was it? Have you sworn off the D because you now worship the V?" Tristan joked.

"Tristan can we not talk about this. This isn't the time. Also who calls it the D and the V. Yuck." Zoe replied.

"Well you did seem to worship my V." Grace whispered into Zoe's ear sending shivers down her spine.

"Babe, this isn't the time. We have a potentially massive crisis on our hands" Zoe replied, still somewhat taken aback by what the raven-haired girl had whispered in her ear.

"Babe? Wow Zoe, you do have it bad. You two are so cute together!" Tristan poked fun at the couple.