Moira sank onto the bed in her room, tears filling her eyes. She could sob if she wanted to. No one could see her, the cold, emotionless dictator, breaking down. But she blinked back her tears. This was hardly something to cry about.

She had known she was abnormal ever since she started noticing how pretty other girls in her form were. Her mother had made it clear that it wasn't right, along with most other people she heard parroting how wrong it was. She was sure the girls at school would be disgusted if they found out she thought that way about them, especially considering how much they despised her. But she couldn't help it. She wrote, in the private pages of her notebook, about how pretty Gwendoline Mary was, how beautiful Catherine Grey was, even if she could be annoying.

And now, everyone knew. The whole town knew how abnormal Moira Linton was. And it was all thanks to June Johns. Moira knew she disliked her—the hate messages had been more than enough proof of that—but she didn't think she'd be so cruel to publish a story like that to the town newspaper. As if going through her private notebook and teasing her about what she read wasn't bad enough. She was sure June, her sister, and Alicia were all having a good laugh about this.

Her sister... what did Bridget think? Was she even more disgusted by her than she usually was? Or did she consider it a hilarious joke? It was probably the latter. Moira had already caught her stealing her notebook and reading it with June. June, who she was closer to than her own sister. They were probably having a good laugh over her right now.

And Catherine... Moira really felt something for her. It wasn't just because she was pretty, though she was. They were sort of friends. They were two of the most unpopular girls in their form, and both held back a year. It was only natural they got along better than they did with the others. Moira did sneer at her and call her a martyr, but there was a more affectionate tone in her voice when she did so. Whenever she was around the girl, she felt like she had a crush. It was what some of the other girls had talked about having on boys outside of school. But that was normal. What Moira felt for another girl wasn't.

Just then, she heard a knock on the door. Maybe it was June, coming to laugh at her some more.

"Whoever you are, get out."

"I'm not in yet." Oh, she recognised that voice. It was the boy who run the town gossip newspaper, along with his sister. Jeremy, she believed his name was. So he was the one coming to laugh at her.

"Oh, god. Not you."

"I came to apologise for my sister's behavior. She published that story without my knowledge or permission. I never would've allowed it to be published."

Moira scoffed, not believing that for a second. As if someone running a gossip newspaper could resist something so interesting. "And I'm supposed to believe you?"

"Could you at least let me in? I feel stupid talking to a door!"

"Oh, alright." What did it matter if he wanted to laugh at her? She might as well get it over with now.

"Alright. Make me believe you didn't publish it."

"Isn't it obvious?" Oh, right. She had seen him flirt with several of June's brothers and cousins (aside from Alicia).

"Oh, right." Well, at least there was someone else like her.

"I'm really sorry. I know what it's like. If it's any help, nobody really cares about your story. They're too busy freaking out about Alicia and Betty."

"What? But why? They were only smoking, if June can even be believed." Then again, they were much more popular than she was. But lots of teenage girls were caught smoking, while not many were caught having feelings for other girls.

"Something about them being a bad influence or something. Anyway, Alicia's lived here her whole life, and Betty's been coming over for the holidays since forever. People don't know you that well."

"Nobody knows me that well." It was true. They only knew her as a cold, unfeeling dictator. And maybe she was.

"Well, maybe that's because you don't really know yourself, Moira." His voice was gentle. "Once you learn to understand and accept yourself, more people would like you and want to be friends with you."

It was a nice sentiment, but ultimately a meaningless one. Moira knew she could mever let her guard down, never show emotions. She hadn't since before her father's death.

"Anyway, are you coming out?" So they could laugh at her some more?

"No. I am not going out, and I am not eating at the same table as them." Moira paused, realising June often did the same thing. But she was just being dramatic. Moira had a good reason for not wanting to leave her room.

"You can't stay in here forever! Just ignore them!"

"Well, that's not very easy, with stupid June laughing like a hyena." June. Just saying her name made Moira bristle. She really was the most irritating girl she had met in her life.

"Pretend she's a real hyena."

Moira couldn't help it. She let out a laugh. "That might work."

"Well? Are you coming out?"

Moira was about to reply when she heard laughter outside the door. She tensed up. Of course. June was probably eavesdropping. She and Jeremy burst open the door and started yelling at June and the other girl with her. Jeremy's sister, Moira thought. Eventually they ran off.

Jeremy turned apologetically to Moira. "I'm sorry about my sister. Again."

"It's fine," said Moira. "I know you didn't publish it. I suppose June must've read my notebook."

"Doesn't she have a diary? She was complaining about everyone reading it. Seems a bit hypocritical of her."

"Mine isn't a diary," Moira protested feebly. "It's a record of personal events and experiences."

Jeremy looked amused. "Isn't that the definition of a diary?"

"Maybe." Moira knew she was too old to have a diary, but she liked recording all her thoughts and experiences. And now everyone knew about that little secret too, she realised. The blasted article had talked about it.

"Well, I think you should come out soon. It's really not that bad. June and my sister are the only ones who care about your story."

"That's two too many," Moira griped.

"I know, but like I said, you should just ignore them. Some other people aren't happy at June for what she did, either."

Moira found it hard to believe everyone wasn't gossping about her, but nodded. "Well, thank you... Jeremy." She hoped that was his name.

He smiled before leaving. Moira couldn't help smiling as well. Maybe she had made a friend.

I wrote Jeremy and Moira's conversation by heart, so I'm sure it's not exactly the same. Their interaction was gay/lesbian solidarity.