I open the door a little and peek in. She's sitting cross-legged on her bed with her laptop, hair up in a messy bun, glasses halfway down her nose.
She looks up and immediately pauses her show. "Hey," she says. "You look weird." Her eyebrows pinch. "Is it good-weird or bad-weird?"
I step inside and shut the door behind me.
"Bad-weird," I admit, forcing a small smile. "Do you have a minute?"
She pats the bed next to her without hesitating. I sit down. For a second I think about just saying it.
Hey, I might like Gio.
Nope. Coward mode it is.
I clear my throat. "So, um... I have a friend, back in Canada. A very annoying one."
Daisy's mouth twitches. "Ah. The classic." She leans back on her hands. "Okay. Tell me about your friend, Rava."
"He's..." I pick at a loose thread on her blanket. "Confused. About something. About himself. And I don't know how to help him."
She waits. "He, um..." I swallow. "He's always dated girls. Only girls. But lately he's been thinking. That's what he told me."
"Thinking how?"
I stare at my fingers. "Maybe he's not just into girls. Maybe he's bi. Or something?"
"Okay," she says simply. "Sure. That happens."
"Is that normal?"
She shrugs. "Of course it is, you idiot. People figure that out at all ages. Sometimes later. Sometimeswaylater."
She tilts her head. "Your friend isn't broken, if that's what he's worried about."
"He's also scared," I add quietly.
"Of what?"
I hesitate, then let it spill. "Of people." I lick my lips.
"Of his family. Of what they'd say. They're just like our family. They already think he's dramatic for not wanting the life they pick. If he adds this on top of everything? He's scared they'll never look at him the same."
"Then his familysucks," she says. "And they'll need to catch up."
I huff a tiny laugh.
She nudges my knee with hers. "What else?"
I stare down. This is the part that burns. "There's also a guy."
Daisy's eyes soften immediately.
"Is it the first time your friend likes a guy?"
I nod. "He doesn't even know if it's 'like' or if he's just losing it."
"What's the problem with the guy?" she asks gently.
I bite the inside of my cheek.
