"…"

I'm in the same boat. It spun more in my brain. The more I tried to understand it, the dizzier I became.

I stood there soaked and wrapped in my towel, hugging myself tightly, utterly lost.

He turned around and looked at me earnestly.

"I'm gay too."

Oh.

"Oh. Oh!" I babbled. "Wait you think- that I li- no, that I'm," she stuttered, then settled with the only thing she could really understand. "You're gay?"

He nodded slowly growing, his soft smile transforming into confusion.

"Aren't you?"

I froze, my eyes on the ground. My words, like my state of mind, was choppy.

"I- I mean, it's true- No it's not. I like men- Yes, I like men," I was hyperventilating, my cheeks burning, my eyes spinning. He nodded softly the confusion fading.

He came closer with open arms as though he was about to give me a hug I didn't deserve.

"But I'm not gay!" I held my palm out. His confusion returned.

I took a deep breathe.

And a deep breathe out.

"I'm a girl."

It was his turn to be silent, but it didn't last.

"I don't believe you." I wasn't sure if I should be insulted. My hair was already down and I never had a masculine face but if he said he didn't believe me I was going to convince him by all means. I couldn't lie to the boy who'd exposed his deepest secret to me.

So I exposed myself.

And immediately covered myself again.

Fay gaped at the two circles he only saw for a moment.

Instead of acting honored, like you'd expect a guy to respond after being flashed by a girl, he just stood there with a frown processing everything.

He IS gay. I recounted, understanding his frown, or at least why it wasn't a smile.

The chilly night air was starting to tingle my damp, exposed flesh as my adrenaline subsided, but I didn't dare ask him for privacy yet.

"I'm sorry I just need a moment." He stayed there moving his eyes to the ground in front of him.

I couldn't hold back a small sneeze.

He didn't say bless you, but after a couple moments he realized what it meant.

"Sorry, you can get dressed." He turned his back to me and began to slowly walk away.

I dropped my towel, secured my bandages, and threw on my clothes like lightning, grabbing my shoes and running barefoot across the cold wood floor to stop him before he left the room.

"Wait!" I caught up and grabbed his shoulder and turned him around he had a distant look in his eyes.

"I know I lied to you and I regret keeping it from sooo much. But what did you want me to do? I wasn't particularly close to you until a few hours ago. Our friendship happened so fast and I was going to tell you, really, eventually, for sure, I would've. But, you know, it's hard to say."

Fay seemed to be having an inner monologue between two sides of himself, quickly flashing between an understanding expression and an almost jealous one.

"Why did you join an orphanage for boys?" he pushed out with a deep breath.

I nodded energetically seeing questions as improvement. I was ready to answer anything he asked at this point.

"Mother raised me always saying males were privileged, free, oppressing and females were the opposite. She said the only way to be free in this world was to be male." As she spoke, she noticed Fay's stare soften slightly. "Therefore when she died, I followed her wisdom, wanting to be free, and cross-dressed as a boy. As a boy, the authorities threw me in an all-boys orphanage."

Fay nodded an inexplicably sour bemusement shading his face.

"So you'd rather be a man, huh?" Fay laughed the hidden distaste disappearing with each "hah".

When he slowed to a chuckle, he smiled at me.

"I understand. Thanks for trusting me with your secret." I smiled almost wanting to cry in relief.

"Back at you." I rubbed my eyes just in case.

He sighed then shifted his tone to one I haven't heard from anyone, ever.

"So this liking of boys, got your eye on anyone in particular?"

I stopped rubbing my eyes and looked up at him agape.

"Never had girl talk before?"

I shook my head. He laughed slightly awkward.

"Yes, me neither. But I'd always wanted to."

I hadn't always wanted to. I hadn't even considered it could happen to me. Back, even when I had girl friends, they never spoke to me about such girly things. I was always one of the guys. Though, now that such a conversation was proposed to me, I must admit the prospects were indeed appealing.

I smiled.

Then I remembered the question and blushed.

"A boy I like?" I croaked wide-eyed.

He nodded, tickled by my discomfort.

For some strange reason, Jasper's smile popped into my head, but I quickly shook it away. There was no way I could like Jasperâ²» he was my friend!

I thought harder. For some odd reason, I found myself considering Raven, but I knew I didn't like him, he was just fairly good-looking. I flipped through a list of the other orphans I was close to; Cliff, Shiloh, and the others; none of which clicked with me.

"I don't like anyone." I shook my head wholeheartedly.

Fay squinted at me.

"Certain?"

I hesitated before nodding slowly. Jasper was just a friend. The thought left a strange disappointing aftertaste.

"Do YOU like anyone?" I switched the attention. He smiled deviously.

"Possibly, but I'm not saying till you tell me who you like."

I shot an over exaggerated jaw-drop of disbelief.

"I told you, I don't like anyone!"

"I don't believe you." He held back a chuckle.

I couldn't hold my laugh though.

I was just so happy that we'd made up I didn't care that he wouldn't tell me his possible crush.

"You know," his laugh faded but the smile stuck, "if you need any help with your secret, I will rush to the rescue."

"My prince charming!" I laughed. "Of course! And you can count on me too!" My once heavy conscious was currently dancing on cloud nine. You never really notice how much gets built up within a year of holding a huge lie over the head of everyone you meet.

As our laughter and chatter began to simmer, the lulling night air crept on us. I yawned then he yawned and we silently agreed; it was time to go to bed.

I slipped on my shoes and did a sloppy braid before we headed for the main door.

"Your hair really pretty by the way. Too bad you can't doll it up," he whispered.

I smiled and pinkened, petting my hair proudly before sliding my cap on.

We then tiptoed across the deck and back into our separate bunks, whispering a "good night" to each other. This time, I slid under the covers before falling back asleep.

*Author's Note*

Did you think Fay was a girl?! XD ! ... Probably not, I'm sure you intelligent not easily-amused readers saw the fruitiness from a mile away, but I tried...

Yeah, I don't have much to say so simply continue on reading and enjoy yourself!

Oh! And since you've managed to make it this far, you must have created some opinions- do comment them/review. Thanks!