Chapter Fourteen: Just Between You and Me
Paige waltzed into Manny's bedroom as she had done only once before, back when she and Hazel told Manny to convince Emma not to write an anti-cheerleading article for the Grape Vine.
"What are you doing here?" Manny asked. What the hell did Paige want? Hadn't they already talked? Was it all a dream? Questions raced through Manny's head faster than she could even hope to speak them aloud.
Paige stopped. She made a face at Manny's still-broken mirror and sat down on the seat next to her vanity chest.
Flipping her long, blonde hair back from her shoulders, Paige rubbed her lips together and brought her eyes up to Manny's. Once she made solid eye contact, she never looked away.
"I know we talked before, Manny, but there's something you're not telling me," Paige held up a hand, "I know, I know, none of my business, right?"
Manny opened up her mouth to speak.
"Shush," Paige interrupted. "Don't say a word. I know there's something going on with you. I may not know what, but there is something. So, are you going to tell me?" she paused a moment. "I know, I know, I know, not the most reliable person, but if it wasn't…what we talked about…then what is it that's making you act so postal?"
Manny bit her lip. "I don't know if I can trust you."
Hurt filled Paige's eyes. "Am I really that awful?"
Manny was taken aback. She expected anything but Paige revealing she very well may be human.
"It's just that…it's personal. Really personal."
Paige looked deeply into Manny's eyes and said, "You can trust me."
Manny gulped. Maybe it was the stress, maybe it was the way Paige was presenting herself, maybe it was seeing a glimpse into what could be the real Paige…maybe Manny had just lost it. But whatever the reason, she let the truth come out long before she was ready.
"I think I might be…gay," she said, whispering the last word as if it were a horrible curse.
Paige's eyes widened. A flicker in her eye made Manny's heart drop. How could she be so stupid? How could she tell Paige?
"Oh," was all Paige came up with.
Manny lowered her head and prayed she was wrong about Paige. Prayed Paige wasn't the dishonest gossipy scumbag she had always known her to be. But as she hoped, she knew she was wrong.