“It’s fine. Just...” I point inside, and he opens the door a little wider. I still have to squeeze by him, though; he smells like the pool, and soap, and blueberries.
I shake myself off and grab my backpack.
“You good?” he asks. “Need a ride?”
“Bowie’s got me.”
His brow furrows. “They’re here?”
I nod; wave at Denise, who’s wheeling out the ghost light; and head down the hall toward the choir room.
“GSA thing.”
Mr. Cartwright is the GSA Sponsor, so they use the choir room for planning.
Sure enough, Bowie’s in there, along with a couple other GSA members—including Braden Campos, who’s kneeling over one of the risers, working on a poster board.
“Jackson!” He smiles at me as I come in. He’s got inky black hair that does the sort of effortless swoopy thing mine will never do, and a tooth gap thatis kind of adorablegives him character. “How’s it going, bro?”
Braden joined the GSA last year, after coming out as bi. I actually used to have a little bit of a crush on him. We had PE together first year, and he was always really nice to me, which felt homophobic at the time, but then I realized he was just... genuinely nice. And I guess the crush resurfaced, once he came out, but then he went and joined the GSA.
BRADEN CAMPOS'S BREAKUP LIST:
PLAYS FOOTBALL
WHAT IS A LINEBACKER ANYWAY?
WHAT LINES ARE BEING BACKED?
CUTE TOOTH GAP
GOOD HAIR
CALLS ME “BRO”
TRIED TO USURP BOWIE
RAN AGAINST BOWIE FOR VICE PRESIDENT
GSA MEMBER!!!
Actually, aside from the GSA stuff, it was hard to come up with items for Braden’s list. It would be like making a list for a golden retriever.
“You’ve got some...” I gesture to my own cheek; Braden’s got glitter across his. I stay well back to avoid contamination.
Braden scrubs his cheek with the back of his hand. “Thanks. Hey, bro.”
He cocks his chin in Liam’s direction.
“You guys here to help?”
The whole crew is spread across the choir room, making posters for National Coming Out Day. Some are already finished, with slogans likeTake pride in who you areandWelcome to the familyandCome out at your own paceandOut or not, you are valid.
I wish someone had told me that when I was younger. But in seventh grade, when everyone was talking about crushes and dating and first kisses, it felt like I had to come out. Like if I didn’t I’d just... disappear.
I kind of wish I could’ve taken my time with it.
Braden waves his hand. And not in thepolitely trying to draw your attentionkind of way but in theis there anyone in there?kind of way.
