It had bee several weeks since that sweet goodbye between the two girls and they had remained very close. But I'm sure both girls would agree, not close enough. They had become attached at the hip, as the phrase goes. Every day they would meet each other before class, at break, at lunch and most days after school as well. Not to mention they would talk on the phone almost every night. Grace could not understand how two people who spend so much time together during the day, could still find stuff to talk about on the phone at night. Anyway the girls kept doing, what could only be described by Katie as 'meaningless flirting'. At first she thought maybe it could be more than that, and that Jessie actually liked her, but then she remembered that Jessie had Tad. He complicated everything, she just wanted him out of the picture, so did Jessie for that matter but she still could not bring herself to do anything about it. Katie became confused with the mixed signals she was receiving from Jessie but she dismissed it simply by assuming that Jessie acted this close with all her friends, how wrong she was.
At present everyone was talking about the upcoming Gay-Straight Alliance dance at the end of the year. Deep down inside Katie wanted to ask Jessie to it, but she knew she could never, and it hurt her to even think about it. Secretly Jessie wished for the same thing, after all it would be the perfect chance for them to progress, considering its whole purpose is to remove discrimination. However neither Katie nor Jessie could bring themselves to make a move still. Katie decided she would just have to step back and try to put her feelings aside, get used to the fact Jessie was straight and that she was with Tad.
It was about the time of their nightly phone call and tonight it just happened to be Katie's turn to call Jessie. The phone started to ring, which resulted in a very happy Jessie answering the phone with a big smile.
"Hey you!"
"Hey honey, well nice to see you're pleased that I called."
"Oh, hey Tad." 'What's he doing calling me, Katie's probably trying.'
"So I was thinking that I could pick you up tomorrow, I kinda wanted to talk, you know, about the dance."
"Oh…um sure, okay." Jessie was reluctant, she really did not want to have that talk, she did not want to go with Tad to the dance, she wanted to go with Katie.
"Cool so I'll pick you up?"
"Yeah, um, I've gotta go cause I'm expecting a call but, thanks for calling."
"Okay then. I love you!"
"Yeah, love you too." She quickly hung up before any more conversation could develop. She did not realise she left Tad wandering who Jessie was waiting to talk to, as her greeting at the start of their conversation was obviously not intended for him.
The phone rang again in Jessie's hand and this time she answered more carefully.
"Hello?"
"Hey!" A bright and cheerful voice responded on the other end of the line.
"Hey! I was waiting for you to call." Jessie relaxed back on her bed.
"Well I tried calling before but the line was busy."
"Yeah, sorry Tad called."
"Oh…what did he want?"
"He said he wants to talk to me about the dance. I can't imagine what he wants to ask me can you?" The sarcasm was evident her voice.
"Hmm…I wonder." Katie was even less enthusiastic than Jessie. They both shared a short silence. Jessie decided to use this opportunity to see if Katie was going to the dance with anyone, as she was obviously going to avoid going to the dance with Tad.
"So…are you going with anyone?"
"Oh me, I don't know!" It was true she did not know, I mean she could go with anyone she wanted, but that is the thing, the person she wanted to go with would not want to go with her. Well at least that was what she thought.
"You mean the infamous Katie Singer doesn't have a date?"
"Shut up, you make it sound like it's shocking news."
"It is! I mean why wouldn't you have a date! Wait…what have you done now!" Jessie giggled.
"I haven't done anything! Did you ever stop to think that maybe I just hadn't asked anyone?"
"No, actually I didn't! But c'mon there's gotta be someone you're interested in, right?"
"Yeah." Katie said hesitantly. Jessie's face dropped, she was not expecting that. 'She never mentioned anyone before.' Little did she know Katie actually meant her.
"Singer, you been holding out on me, tell me!" Jessie tried to remain calm and normal.
"Oh…um," 'Shit Singer, think!' "There's um, someone new in my English class, she seems…nice." Katie finished lamely. Listening to the conversation made Jessie's heart sink. 'So she is gay then. Who's this girl? Why does Katie like and not me!'
"What's HER name?" Jessie was finding it hard to seem supportive.
"Danni, Danni Stewart, she's really pretty." It was good that they were talking on the phone because Jessie would not be able to cope with the pressure of acting normal. She had had just about enough of the conversation and wished that she had never started it in the first place.
"So, I better go, you know I need to get some sleep."
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah…of course! Bye."
"Goodnight Jess." The girls shared another short silence before hanging up. Jessie laid back in her bed thinking about Katie and started to wander what was so special about this Danni girl. Katie, however, was thinking how she was supposed to talk to Danni. She really did seem nice, although they had never spoken, and she was pretty. Maybe she was just the person to help remove the feelings she had for Jessie. Both girls had a restless night thinking about each other in their dreams.
In the morning Jessie had a lift to school with Tad. Once in the parking lot he went to start the talk that Jessie had been dreading ever since stepping in the car. Before he could start though, Jessie cut him off.
"Look, I know I said we could talk this morning but I completely forget that I said I'd help Miss Peters set out the tables for the test this morning. Is there any chance I can take a rain check?" She felt bad about lying but it was something she had to do.
"Um…yeah I guess, I'll meet you later then?"
"Thank you!" She went to leave but Tad pulled her in for a kiss. A kiss that Katie saw from the main entrance. She had seen them pull up and decided to wait for Jessie outside today, as the weather was nice, however she did not want to see that. She felt like she had just been shot or something. Getting over Jessie was going to be harder than she thought. 'Right, that's it, Danni Stewart, here I come." She turned around and went straight to her English class. Jessie finally walked through the doors at the entrance expecting to see Katie just around the corner by her locker, but this morning she was not there. She walked to the end of the hall to own locker to see if she was standing there but again no luck there either. 'That's weird, maybe she's just late!' Jessie thought as she walked off to her first lesson.
Katie walked into her English class only to find Danni sitting by herself at a table near the front. 'Perfect' She thought. She strolled over, sat down in the unoccupied chair, removed her books from her bag and sat there tapping the table as if waiting for the lesson to begin. All this was to get the blonde's full attention, and it worked. Danni sat there with a very confused look on her face. The lesson was not due to start for another 5, 10 minutes or so. There were some other people in the room but they were sat around on the tables and chairs talking amongst themselves. Katie decided to play it cool, she turned her gaze towards Danni and with a nod she greeted her.
"Hey!" She waited for a reply from the other girl.
"Hi!" She seemed a bit shocked at the girls' sudden appearance. "Um, I don't mean to sound rude by this but, why are you sitting there?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, were you saving the seat for someone else?" Katie knew she wasn't. Danni let out a little giggle.
"No, it's just, well I guess I was just wondering why you decided to sit next to me of all people."
"Oh okay, well can you keep a secret? She started to lean in for emphasis.
"Yes!" Danni also started to lean in, she was very intrigued by this girl.
"Well, I'm sitting here because you're the only person who can see me." She finished with a smirk, which of course Danni could not see as Katie was still lingering by her ear. Shivers went down Danni's spine as she felt Katie's breath on her neck. When she finally came round to her senses she playfully shoved Katie back upright.
"Yeah, whatever!"
"Are you telling me you've never heard of imaginary friends?"
"Oh, I've heard of them…I just don't believe in them." Danni smiled.
"Okay, um…ouch!" Katie mocked hurt.
"Nice try!"
"Look, I know you're a bit too old to have an imaginary friend, but the situation fits. You're in a new situation and you need a coping mechanism, so the bosses sent me in!" Katie was finding it hard to make this up on the spot.
"You expect me to believe that!" Danni said still smiling. 'The girl may talk a load of crap but at least she's funny!' Katie would have given up then and there, however she saw Sarah walking through the door and knew she could use it to her advantage. She knew Sarah would still be ignoring her and that she would have to walk past them to get to her seat.
"I'm not joking! Right watch this!" She turned around and looked in Sarah's direction.
"Hey!" She called out to Sarah, and surprise surprise Sarah completely ignored her. Danni swung around after watching the scene and gave Katie a look of shock and confusion. Katie tried so hard not to laugh as it would completely end the joke but it was no use.
"Oh, I wanted to keep a straight face," Katie began whilst laughing, "I'm sorry but if you could have seen your expression, priceless." Katie finished laughing even harder.
"But she just, how did, huh?"
"Don't tell me you actually fell for that! We just have a bad history that's all."
"I didn't fall for it!"
"Yeah, okay!" Both girls started laughing, it was after all such a stupid joke, but at least it got the conversation flowing.
"That was so unfair!" The girls continued laughing.
"I'm Katie by the way."
"I'm Danni. So who was that girl then? And what did you do to deserve that?"
"Oh that would be the 'ex' that I recently stopped talking to." This time Danni had a surprised look on her face and remained quiet. After a few seconds Katie spoke up.
"Okay then, too soon to play the gay card I take it." Danni finally snapped out of it.
"Oh, no, No! I was just surprised that's all. I mean you're stunning and I guess I just pictured you as the typical popular high school girl, you know, beautiful, smart, and I don't know dating the head jock or something." 'She thinks I'm beautiful.' Katie focused on that part until she remembered what Danni said at the end.
"Okay, um…euw!"
"Sorry that's just what I thought."
"Well then I guess it's good to know that first impressions don't really count. So you're not bothered about me being gay then?"
"No of course not, why would I be? I mean I'd be a bit of a hypocrite if I was!"
"Wait…you're…" Danni simply nodded her head.
"Oh, okay, cool!" Katie added.
"So, listen I'm sorry about the jock thing." Danni giggled.
"It's ok, you didn't know me."
"Well if you think about I still don't know you." This made Katie look up, 'Is she flirting with me?'
"Well maybe we should do something about that." Katie smiled which Danni returned.
"Maybe we should!"
Mr Dimitri finally walked into class and started the lesson immediately. Both girls sat there smiling whilst doing their work for the rest of the lesson. At the end of the lesson Dimitri finished up and everyone started packing their things away and began flowing out of the room. Danni and Katie continued with their conversation as they walked out the class. It appeared they both had free together this period anyway.
"So you moved here from LA? Why?" Katie asked.
"Well my parents split and my mum decided that she wanted to get away from her old life and, well seeing as I didn't really get on well with my dad, I moved with her."
"Oh, sorry to here about your parents. I don't really get on with either of my parents, well not since I came out anyway. I guess you could say they were a little disappointed."
"Yeah well my mum doesn't know about me yet so I haven't had to deal with that!"
"Well I'm sure it'll be fine when you do talk to her."
"Well your experience hasn't exactly given me the confidence."
"Well the Singer's are known for being a little different!" Katie giggled.
"A little?" It looked like they were back to the flirting.
"Oh, ha ha! I'll have you know I'm hurt by your words." She placed a hand on her chest for emphasis.
"I'll tell you what I'll buy you a drink to make up for it!" Danni offered and hoped she wouldn't be turned down.
"Okay then!" Katie smiled. She was really starting to like Danni.
"It's a date!" She grabbed Katie's arm and pulled her off towards the parking lot. In the distance Jessie saw the whole scene and how both girls were laughing and seemed to be enjoying each other's company. Needless to say she was extremely jealous. 'What? This can't be happening, this is not what was supposed to happen!' She slowly walked off to her next lesson, which she was already late for but at that moment all she could think of was Katie.