Chapter 10 -"Go West" - Tweedle-Tay's Story
November 8, 1999 - San Fernando Valley, California
"I'm only happy when it rains. Let me tell you 'bout my new obsession. I'm riding high upon a deep depression. I'm only happy when it rains!" Michaela sang, skipping down the school hall towards our lockers. She turned back to me and smiled. "I used to like that song but I think it's stupid now. The rain sucks. I hate the cold and wet!"
"I'm sure there's some sort of sexual reference there, but I can't think of one right now," I mused. There had been torrential rain in LA for the past four days. Streets were flooded, trees had fallen over and my sister was actually wearing pants. "What are you going to do for our music prac next week?"
"I don't know. Maybe 'Ask For It'," Michaela replied mischievously. She shook her head. "No, I'll probably sing 'Foolish Games'. That's my favourite song to sing at the moment. What about you?"
"I think I'll do an old Manson song, 'Strange' or something," I said, seriously.
Michaela's eyes widened. She lowered her voice. "You can't be serious! Not only might you give away who you really are but you'll look like such a teenybopper!" She stopped at her locker.
"Well, I'm glad you feel that way about my compositions."
"Just do a classical piece. You're good on the piano and you'll probably get higher marks," Michaela suggested, opening her locker and removing her physics book. We began to walk down the hallway towards my locker.
Michaela could be so mean about Manson sometimes. If she wasn't so pretty and bubbly and my twin sister I'd want to shoot her for it. Just because I'd had screaming girls after me and done regular interviews with Smash Hits didn't mean that my songs weren't good. They just happened to be popular. Like Michaela. She was popular, but that didn't make her a bitch, even if Gwen did say so. And you'd think that Gwen would be a little bit more appreciative, seeing as my sister had abandoned all her friends at the Halloween dance to comfort Gwen. Speaking of Gwen, she was standing by my locker, looking extremely shocked.
"Oh TJ!" she squealed. "Michaela," she acknowledged. "The most awful thing has happened!" Gwen pointed towards my locker. Scrawled in pink lipstick were the words 'isn't it queer'.
Michaela giggled. "That's pretty lame, Gwen. Isn't that your shade of lipstick? Fruchsia?"
"Queer? I don't get it," I said, shaking my head.
Gwen frowned. "Michaela, that is not my lipstick. I wear 'Pink Passion', thank you. TJ, it's the most awful rumour! People have been saying that you're..... gay! I've been trying to set them straight by telling them about us, but - they have a pretty strong case. They pointed out that we've never had any physical contact, and your hair, and your tight pants and lack of girlfriend. There's nothing I can do to make them believe me!"
"Oh my god!" I said softly, crossing myself. I was not gay. Michaela wasn't a guy. That was proof enough, wasn't it? I looked at my sister. "Michaela, tell Gwen I'm not gay," I ordered her.
Michaela looked innocent. "But how would I know that?" She smiled. "Gwen, my brother isn't gay."
I smiled with relief. "Gwen, relax. I'm sure this will be over soon."
"No TJ. I don't think it will be. We'll have to be more public about our affections. I'll be your girlfriend. No one will say you're gay then!" Gwen was enthusiastic. She walked over and put her arm around my waist. "We look good together, don't we?" she said.
Michaela shook her head. "Not really. The colouring's all wrong...."
I removed Gwen's arm and smiled at her. "Gwen, while I'm very touched by your proposal, it's really not necessary."
"But TJ!" Gwen whined. "I - I - I -" Gwen sighed. "Never mind. It's not important."
There was a silence. The bell rang. "I'd better go to physics," Michaela said, which was unusual as she was always late to class. "See ya!" She walked away quickly.
I looked at Gwen. She was so enthusiastic about us pretending to be a couple. Maybe she liked me. I didn't think so. The very idea of it entering my mind was ridiculous. How up myself was I? But it was possible. "I have art," I said quickly. "Later!"
"Later TJ!" Gwen said sadly. As I walked away I heard Gwen talking to a sophomore named Julie. "Have you heard about TJ?" Gwen was saying. Gwen was so nice, trying to fix up the situation for me. She was a really good friend, but she was no Michaela.