"Aunty Mercedes, can I ask you something?" Katie asked on the phone a few weeks later.

"Sure precious. What is it?"

"After he told you the truth, did Daddy ever… Did he ever ask you to be fake?"

"Fake?" Mercedes asked.

"Pretend to be his girlfriend so people wouldn't guess."

"Sweetie, your father was out and proud. They both were. Why do you.."

"I don't know what I got myself into Aunty Mercedes," Katie said, near tears now.

"Hey, it's alright. Why don't I pick you up from school this afternoon and we can go talk about it?" Mercedes asked and Katie nodded gratefully before realising her aunty couldn't see her.

"Ok," she answered weakly. "But what about my Dads? One of them usually…"

"Don't you worry gorgeous girl," said Mercedes. "Ill ring your Dads. You just focus on the rest of your classes ok?"

"Alright."

"I don't know what I got myself into Aunty Mercedes!" Katie said, shaking her head as it lay in her cupped hands.

"What happened?"

"Everett asked for a favour."

"A favour?" Mercedes repeated, raising an eyebrow. "What kind of favour?"

"He asked me to be his fake girlfriend so that it would throw everyone off the trail of guessing."

"Ok," Mercedes said slowly.

"I'm so stupid! Please tell me it's not that bad Aunty Mercedes."

"You know what?" Mercedes asked, and Katie slowly looked up to meet her eyes. "I think I would have done the same thing if your Daddy had asked me."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Mercedes said. "Even though I'd gotten over my little crush, I still loved him in a different way. He's my best friend. I would have done anything for him. I still would. Sweetie, it makes sense why you did it."

"I know, but it feels wrong now. I'm supposed to be getting over the crush. This is just fuelling it."

"That's definitely not good."

"I just don't know how to get out of it," Katie said in a whisper.

"Why don't you try being honest?" Mercedes suggested. "Tell him what's going on."

"I guess it can't hurt," Katie said, shrugging. "I'll give it a try."

"Good," Mercedes said, the smile on her lips widening. "Let me know how it goes ok?"

"Everett, I think we need to talk," Katie said bluntly.

"Ok," said Everett slowly.

"Do you think we could go somewhere…" Katie trailed off, thinking. "I don't know. Somewhere a little more private?"

"Sure," Everett said, beginning to follow his friend as she led the way.

"Everett, when I agreed to do you a favour, I was a little blinded by the crush I still had on you," Katie started when they were tucked away in a corner, safe from prying eyes.

"I'm sorry. Now that I look back, I realise it was unfair to ask what I did of you, and I'm sorry I did."

"It's ok, I can understand why you asked me to, and I did agree, but I can't do it anymore. It's not good for me, so it needs to stop," Katie said. "I'll still be your friend, but I'm not pretending to be your girlfriend anymore."

"Ok," he said. "Again, I'm sorry I asked you."

"I forgive you, everybody makes mistakes. But Everett, I think it's time you were honest."

"I can't… I can't tell the people at school. I don't even want to imagine what they'd do to me if they knew!" Everett said quickly, his panic levels speedily rising.

"That's not what I mean Everett," Katie said calmly. "I… I meant your parents."

"They're just as bad!" Everett said. "If not worse! Have you seen what religion thinks of gay people?"

"Everett," Katie said, touching his arm. "Everett, you have to tell them eventually. Would you rather tell them yourself or have them find out? Which would be worse?"

Everett's shoulders slumped. "I guess you're right."

"I could be with you if you wanted, you know, when you tell them."

"You would do that?" he asked quietly, slowly looking up to meet her eyes.

"You're still my friend Everett," Katie said. "Of course I would do that for you."