Hi! Again, big thanks to my reviewers, especially to Solostarr, for reviewing both chapters. Thank you! Let me apologize for this chapter right now. I have included dialogue, and it's NOT my strong point.
Chapter 3.
"Do you want to go first or shall I?"
Suddenly even that decision seemed too tough to make. I took the easy option.
"You."
"Okay," replied Abby, looking a little nervous. She sat down on the floor and looked at her hands. "I've known for a while that I'm gay, but I've never been involved with another girl." Here she looked up at me, as if willing me to react. I saw something in her face that eased my mood. The same kind of panic, I think, that I was feeling. I slid off of my bed, and sat opposite her on the floor. I took her hands in mine and tried to give her a reassuring smile. There was nothing in that one sentence that shocked or surprised me. I knew Abby had dated a couple of guys on Long Island, but nothing serious. She had joked about them. I could also understand that at our age, even if you knew for certain you were gay, well, who could you talk to? How would you meet other girls? It's not like you could take a chance with a girl at school who you thought was cute. If she was straight, you'd have your whole grade giving you hell for God knows how long.
"You're a little better off than me," I said, smiling shyly, "because I only realised I was gay about two minutes ago."
"I figured that's why you ran off looking so freaked out... are you okay?" I thought about that. Was I? Honestly, truly, was I completely okay?
"No," I answered flatly, "but I think maybe I just need to talk it over for a while." Abby nodded.
"Should I go on?"
"Sure."
"I don't want you to think this was random, Kristy. I mean, I didn't plan it or anything," she rushed on, "but I didn't just sleep with you because you were there and willing either. I really do like you. Like like you. A lot. And I have for most of the time I've lived here." I nodded. I knew already that she hadn't planned anything. It had been obvious. She lowered her head. "I wanted to tell you how I was feeling," she continued, quietly, "but I wasn't even sure how you'd react to me being gay, let alone fancying you. Up until last night I wasn't sure you were interested in me at all."
"Up until last night I didn't think I was." I looked at Abby properly for the first time since the night before. "Abby, I'm not used to putting myself into situations where I don't have a clue what to do next. I don't know anything about this part of myself; I don't know what I'm feeling." I looked her in the eye, and felt suddenly perfectly calm as she held my gaze. "But I do know I want to find out whatever it is my head's trying to tell me. I do know that it's too much to think about all at once without talking about it. And I do know," I continued, blushing and looking down at the floor, "that I like you, too. As more than just a friend." I looked up tentatively, to find Abby smiling at me. She leaned forward and kissed me gently.
"For now," she said, "that's all I needed to hear. Do you want to talk some more or should I leave you alone to think?"
"Neither," I replied, looking at my watch. "We have to go and baby-sit for the Barrett/Dewitt family, remember? And," I continued, glancing down at the clothes I was wearing and grimacing, "I need to change. I wore these yesterday." Abby laughed.
"Do you think you have that 'act naturally' thing down yet? Because if not, it's going to be an interesting day." I threw a pillow at her and grabbed a fresh outfit.