Lily and Crystal

Knock. Knock. Knock

 

"Come in!" I called from my bed, where I was laying down, reading a good novel.

 

"Crystal! Thank goodness you're home!" My best friend Lily ran into my room, plopping herself at the foot of my bed immediately.

 

"How did you-"

 

"Your mom let me in." She sounded exasperated.

 

I closed my novel and placed it on my bed; then looked Lily up and down. She looked a little different, but the difference was so minute it was hard to tell.

 

I noticed she was wearing make-up, like always, so her face looked close to perfection. Just the right combination of peach and tan to make her skin look soft, but not too fare. She had on light pink eyeshadow that matched the pink skirt she wore. She had on black eye-liner, and it would seem she also put on mascara, as her eyelashes curled up in neat, semi-perfect waves. She wore a black t-shirt that had the word "Love" emblazoned on it in hot pink. It was easy to tell what Lily's favourite colour was.

 

Today she wore her hair wavy, instead of straightening it. It was still that beautiful red-auburn colour. It was so rich and silky; I had always wanted to have hair like Lily's, but mine was a distasteful light blonde, that looked almost white. I had decided to cut it short.

 

It wasn't in the first glance at Lily's physical looks that one would notice the difference, though, it was in her eyes. Her gorgeous grey eyes. Another trait of Lily's I wished I had, but I got stuck with boring brown. In those clear, grey eyes, now, I noticed something was deeply troubling my best friend.

 

"What's the matter?" I asked, sitting up straighter on my bed, propping my back up against the headboard.

 

"You know Alicia?" She asked me.

 

"The girl in your biology class?"

 

Lily nodded once.

 

"Yea, what about her?"

 

"You know how I told her I'm bi-sexual?" Lily whispered.

 

"Yes."

 

"She told the whole school." Lily's voice dropped to an even lower whisper. She was deeply hurt, I realized.

 

"She what?" I almost shrieked. I thought this through, and composed myself. So what if she told the whole school, I thought to myself, what's wrong with being bi anyway? It was still strange, though. From what Lily told me, Alicia was a pretty close friend of hers. They did pretty much every assignment in biology together, and Lily had entrusted her with the secret. I didn't know this girl well enough, in fact, I had never met her in person, only seen pictures on facebook that Lily had shown me. Because I had never met her, I wasn't sure if this was typical behavior of her. From her looks, I figured she was a snob, but I made a point of trying to not judge people, let alone judge them on just their looks. Turns out, though, I may have been right.

 

I voiced my opinion, "Okay. So she told the whole school. Well, anyways I'm sure it wasn't the whole school, how could she tell everyone? Plus, people are gay and bi and everything, why should it matter if people know now?" I wonder how she even told multiple people...I thought. Lily and I didn't go to the same school, so I wasn't even at the school to see how it happened.

 

"Oh, she told the whole school alright. Everyone who was there today at least." Lily reassured me.

 

"Oh come on, Lily. How could she have done that?"

 

"At the assembly today. She's the student council president, and had to make a speech. She made this whole speech about how we're a catholic school and being gay in any form is against our religion, and stuff. Then she was like 'and it hurts me to tell you all, that someone who attends our school is in fact disgracing it, by being bi-sexual, and being involved with another girl'. And like, the whole auditorium gasped, you should have seen! Everyone was whispering, wondering who it was, and she sort of half smiled and said 'Lily'. And pointed at me!" Lily's voice went high at the end. 

 

"Then what happened?" I blinked in disbelief. 

 

"Everyone started like booing and looking at me funny, and I heard them whisper things, mean things." Lily shook her head, and I knew what she meant by that small action - she just couldn't bring herself to repeat what was said. 

 

"They pushed me out of the gym, and out of the school entirely..." Her voice was barely audible, but I could still hear it crack slightly.

 

"Where the heck were the teachers during all of this?" I pounded my fist on the bed, flustered by this news.

 

"They sort of agreed with Alicia, you know how she's a favorite among most of them. They pretended like they didn't notice." Lily started tearing up, if she cried her make-up would smudge, and her mascara would run. It wouldn't be a pretty sight. Either way, I didn't want to see my best friend so upset.

 

I knew what it was like to be excluded from everyone, and be alone. To hear people whisper crude remarks about you, laugh behind your back. Say things to people at your expense. All so they would feel mighty and powerful, and you would feel like nothing, lower than the smallest speck of dirt on the ground. You really did feel that way. I remember, I felt cut off from society, from everyone. Like it was me against the world, one small, thin little girl, with fare skin and white hair. Skinny and short, big brown eyes wide in confusion. What a small threat that posed to the big bullies. I was only ten years old then, though. I had learned over the years to use those mean, inconsiderate people to make me stronger. No one got through to me like that now, but I could still remember the pain very clearly, some things just don't go away.

 

And now, I had to watch my best friend battle with that same pain silently, inside her soul. Well, she wasn't going to be alone, like I was, she had me. Even if I was still short and thin, and still had fare skin and white hair, I didn't run away anymore.

 

I rubbed Lily's shoulder lightly. "They just don't understand." I tried to explain. "You've got to be tougher than them, we can do this!" I encouraged her.

 

She just nodded, and took a large gulp. I recognized this movement, I had done it so many times before - it was trying to stop the tears from over flowing, trying to stop that tickle in your throat, because you didn't want to cry in front of the ones you love, didn't want them to feel bad and sorry for you. You didn't want to make them share your pain. "I trusted her." She mumbled.

 

"I know," I said, "She's not worth it. She was a back-stabber and an energy sucker. Karma is going to get her."

 

Again, Lily just nodded.

 

"Want me to do the talking for a while?" I suggested.

 

Nod.

 

"Okay, let me tell you something Lily. You know that I have been the subject of people's entertainment before, their victim. I know how you feel. But listen to me carefully, you can be bi-sexual and still be catholic, we've had this discussion before. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you, and you are not, I repeat not a disgrace to your school or your religion. If anyone is a disgrace it's that Alicia. She knew that telling the school would make you feel this way, she did it on purpose. She lied and she was deceiving and manipulative, and just plain mean. That's disgraceful and she should be ashamed of herself, for what she did. The people who really matter in your life accept you for who you are. That's what a true friend is." I explained, as calmly and sweetly as I could.

 

"Like you." Lily said softly.

 

I was taken aback for a small moment, but recovered quickly, a small smile flicking across my face. "Like me."

 

* * *

"Thanks for walking to school with me." Lily smiled, as I accompanied her to her locker.

 

It was Monday morning, the first day back to school after Lily's secret had been spilled. Lily had had a difficult and trying weekend. The school had decided to phone her house and let her parents know "for the betterment of the whole family", that Lily was bi, and was seeing a girl.

 

Her parents freaked out. They had the same opinion as everyone else in Lily's school seemed to have. They were very religious, too, which didn't help much. They made her go to confession and attend mass and everything. In the end, her mom decided it was just a phase she was going through, and there was no need to worry themselves with it, because she'd get over it.

 

Yea, right.

 

Seeing as this had been such a bad time for Lily, I, being her best friend, decided it was my duty to see to it that this week went better. I had homeroom spare this year, so I woke up early to accompany Lily to her school.

 

Lily was just closing her locker, when Alicia and her friends walked down the hall. I recognized her from the pictures Lily had shown me. "Who are you?" She adressed me, putting one hand on her hip. Her three friends did the same, flipping their long golden locks. I hadn't answered immediately, so she added, "Are you that freak's girlfriend?"

 

"Come on, let's go." Lily mumbled, grabbing for my wrist to pull me away, but catching my hand instead. Big mistake.

 

"Ohh, you are." Alicia giggled, sarcastically.

 

"Ewww." Her friends added, simotaneously.

 

I rolled my eyes. "I'm Crystal." I immitated their girly voices, and clicked my tongue. "Ugh, I am not Lily's girlfriend. I'm like, her best friend." I placed my hand on my hip, and leaned my weight to one side.

 

"Okay, whatever you say. FREAK." She laughed, her perfectly straight, white teeth glinting in the light. Wow, how plastic could you get? I thought to myself.

 

I laughed back. "You're hilarious." I replied, going back to my own voice, "Do you honestly think calling me a freak is going to bother me?" I smiled. "Cause it won't, what else do you got?"

 

"Hmph. Come on girls." Alicia snapped her fingers and stalked off.

 

"Jeese." I muttered under my breath, "That freaking little b-"

 

"I'm going to be late." Lily dragged me past the office, to the next hall. The office. I stopped walking. "Hang on." I held up a finger, and thought my idea through.

 

"Oh no. What's going on in that intricate brain of yours?" She asked me.

 

"We're going to let the school know just how normal bi-sexuals and gays are." I half-smiled.

 

Lily groaned.

 

* * *

 

"Thanks so much, to my chemistry teacher," I gestured towards Ms. Altorino, "For talking to the principal of this school, and allowing me to have these next twenty minutes to explain some things to you."

 

I took a deep breath. "On Friday, Alicia...announced that there was a bi-sexual girl in the school, who was involved in a relationship with another girl. You were told that this is disgraceful, wrong, and against our religion. I ask you this, how many of you believe in God?"

 

Every hand in the gym went up.

 

"Good, so how many of you believe that He created absolutely everything in this world, and that He created it to be good?"

 

Again, every hand went up.

 

"In creating everything, God created people, am I correct?" Many heads nodded in agreement. "Which means that God created you and me, just the way we are. Then, gave us free will - the ability to make our own choices, but I now ask you this, do you choose to be attracted to the opposite sex? Raise your hands if you think yes."

 

I was prepared for this answer, the majority of the hands went up.

 

"Really?" I asked, "You choose to be attracted to boys if you are a girl? So that means that, if you wanted to, you'd be able to make yourself be attracted to the same sex?"

 

Everyone pondered this for a moment. "No." A lot of people said.

 

"Right, so think that through now, do you really choose to be attracted to the opposite sex? Raise your hands if you think yes still."

 

Only about half a dozen hands went up. Good, I thought to myself.

 

"Therefore, God created us to have an attraction towards the opposite sex, you can't help it." Many heads nodded here, "It's the same with homosexuals and bi-sexuals, God made them that way. They can't help it, but to be attracted to the same sex, or both sexes."

 

I paused for a brief moment.

 

"There is also scientific evidence to prove that one cannot help which sex they are attracted to." I looked over at my science teacher here, who flashed a quick smile at me. "Homosexual men, are born with a female brain, and vice versa."

 

A few gasps could be heard.

 

"Our brains are what we use to think, and make decisions. They are partly how we decide if we are going to date or marry someone. Brains of the opposite sex are attracted to each other, if you want to put it in those terms..." A few people giggled. "Which describes why homosexuals are attracted to the same sex, because the brains are of the opposite sex. Next, think to yourselves, why would God create someone to suffer? Why would he make someone born gay, and then not be able to get married, and always be subjected to critism? Do you really think God would have wanted that? No, God wants everyone to be happy right?"

 

Many nods.

 

"So then, why are we treating bi and homosexual people differently? They are still human, and they still have feelings."

 

I paused again, letting things sink in.

 

"Besides, we're all a little bit bi." This time, the gasp from the mass of students before me was very loud. "I mean, think about it, the general definition of bi-sexual is 'attracted to both sexes'. Everyone is attracted to both sexes, just not sexually, more...intellectually. If we weren't, we wouldn't have friends who are girls, and friends who are guys. There must be some sort of attraction. So, technically, we are all partially bi. A more specefic definition of bi-sexual, however, will state that the attraction is 'sexual', which would be someone like Lily." I smiled at my best friend, "Who, yes, is dating a girl. What is wrong with that, though? Love has no boundaries, so if they love each other, where's the problem?"

 

"That's all the time you have, miss." The principal cut me off.

 

"Thank you for listening." I addressed everyone, and walked over to my chemistry teacher. The principal of Lily's school came up to us, as people started piling out of the gym, whispering to each other. "Thank you for the speech, it will certainly give me something to ponder." He held out his hand. I took it, and shook it, "Anytime." I replied.

 

"Crystal!" Lily called, running up to me, behind her were a group of four girls. "Thanks so much," She hugged me.

 

The group of four girls stopped in front of us. "Lily..." One said.

 

"Yea?" She turned around, "Oh, hey Amanda."

 

"We just wanted to say, we agree with your friend Crystal." Amanda smiled at me. "Want to have lunch with us tomorrow?" All four girls were smiling.

 

"Sure." Lily's eyes were wide in shock, but she grinned nonethless.

 

"Kay. Bye!" They waved to us.

 

Next, two boys walked up to us. "You're wierd." One spat at me.

 

"Thanks." I replied.

 

His friend laughed, and they both looked at me funny, I just smiled with my hands crossed over my chest. If wierd meant I was different from these closed-minded, insecure people, I'd take that as a compliment.

 

We started to leave the gym, I would have to go back to school with Ms. Altorino; but at the door, stood a boy. He was tall and lean, with short black hair and bright green eyes. He looked at me as we walked past, and grabbed my wrist. I looked up at him, questioningly.

 

"Sorry." He mumbled, releasing me immediately. "Just, I was giving up hope on staying Catholic, but...you helped me today."

 

A wide grin spread across my face, "I'm glad."

 

"What are you talking about Ralph?" Lily asked the boy. Clearly she knew him.

 

"I'm gay." He answered.

 

"Seriously?" Lily's jaw dropped. "I had no idea!"

 

Ralph nodded. "Want to hang out some time?" He asked her. I could tell from his eyes he looked hurt, and sad. I was always good at interpreting people's feelings, just by looking at their eyes.

 

"Been made fun of already?" I asked, expecting the answer.

 

"Yea, I sort of said it aloud after your speech, and got paper balls thrown at me by these three guys. Then shut down cold by a group of girls on my way to this door." He gestured with his hand.

 

"I thought people believed you." Lily looked confused.

 

"Oh, some did," I told her, "But you'll always have the people who are too closed-minded to think for themselves. Plus, some people will need to ponder it for a long while before making a decision on the topic. It would change the way most people look at them, if they change their opinion." I explained. "Lily, I didn't solve this whole gay dilemna with one speech, if it were that easy there wouldn't be a problem with gays at all. I just helped make your situation a little more comfortable and bearable."

 

"Well, thanks for that."

 

"Yea, thanks." Ralph agreed.

 

"Excuse me. Crystal?" An unfarmilar adult voice called my name.

 

I turned around to find a tall lady in a business uniform, with a clipboard.

 

"You're the lady from that news channel!" Lily gasped.

 

Well that explained it. I never watched the news. One because it was pointless, always talking about the bad things going on in the world, never anything good, and two, because I didn't need to. Bad news travels fast, eventually I'd hear it from someone.

 

"Yes, I was just in the school to talk to some of the voters in the cafeteria," there was an election going on right now, and people in the area could vote at the school, "and I heard you speaking, so I went into the gym to hear the rest of it. It was amazing, you have very interesting viewpoints and prove your points very well. You can really persuade people, and homosexuality is a rising issue lately...Would you mind setting up a speech to do on air?"

 

My jaw dropped. "What?"

 

"Please? I personally know some gay people, and I think it would be really good for you to get your message across." She was being serious...

 

"You should!" Ms. Altorino agreed immediately.

 

"Yea!" Ralph and Lily encouraged me.

 

I thought about it for a few seconds, weighing the pros and cons. With how many thoughts ran through my head, always at the speed of light, it didn't take very long.

 

"Alright," I agreed, "I'll do it." It would be great to spread a good message about this issue for once.

 

"Great!" The news reporter's eyes lit up. "Here's my card, I need your name and home number. I'll call you to set up a date and time, oh and we need your parents permission, since you're a minor. You are a minor, right?"

 

"Seventeen." I replied.

 

She nodded and ploughed on, as Ms. Altorino and I walked out the door, and I turned to wave bye to Ralph and Lily.

Author's Note

i may be continuing this one, we'll see =p

Reviews

[Nicole]

ps. i realize there are alot of typos on this..sorry i was writing at like 12 am lol