Charlotte and I were walking back to our last class. Now, in school you're supposed to learn. I've learned that lesbians and gays aren't bad people. Why must we shun them? They aren't hurting anybody. I could never bring this up to father though, he'll think I chose to be gay or something.

"Hey Charlotte, there isn't anyway me and you could be partners instead is there?" she smirks at me.

"Why Tristan, do you have a crush on me?" My cheeks flame from embarrassment.

"No, I was just, I mean-"

"Don't worry Tris. I know I'm not your type." the way she says it confuses me.

"Why do you say it like that?'

"Like how?' she asks with a small smile. Before I can respond Liz comes up to me telling me that Damon wants to study tonight. I get out my phone and text him.

*why do you want to study so soon?*

He replies almost immediately. *bcuz i have things to do 2marrow and i wanna get this over with*

"Harsh," I mutter under my breath. I decided to text him back telling him we can study at my house but he says he doesn't want to. He wants to study here at the school. I ask him why and he says he has a thing... A thing. I roll my eyes before telling him I'll meet him at the office.

"Ready for the final class, boy?" I glare at Charlotte. She's become accustomed to calling me Boy instead of Tristan. Sometimes she'll call me by my name, other times she won't.

-

"Whoa, you look pissed." I hear Damon's voice from behind me. I look at him with eyes of fury.

"That's because you made me wait here for ten minutes when I have to be back home by 5:30 and it's now 3:28."

"Well sorry, I was doing something."

"More like someone." Juan said as he walked by with Marcy. Damon smirked before looking back at me.

"Let's just get this over with." I said. He walked us to a table outside the cafeteria so we could study.

-

"Ugh, man i am beat. I don't even wanna go to-" he looked at me with his arm over his eyes as if remembering something. He stayed quiet, not finishing his sentence.

"Don't want to go to what?" I asked as I began packing away my things.

"Nothing,"

"Oh come on, Damon. You made me wait here ten minutes later than expected, I'll probably miss curfew the least you can do is tell me what you have to go to." My hands are on my hips in a sassy way. He laughs before sitting up and eyeing me up and down. I start feeling tingles in my body like I did when I was younger and I saw Leonardo Dicaprio.

"Fine," he said standing up. I was a bit surprised before I started following him.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"To that thing."

"Oh," It was a club on school campus. The sign said Gay Society. "are you, are you gay, Damon?" I expected it when he called me cute but him bringing me here makes it weird. I mean, what if he's attracted to me? Do I feel flattered or..?

"Okay, hello everyone." I look at the circle of people and see a person talking to the group. He must be in charge of this whole thing. "My name's Carter for those of you new comers, and this is Gay Society. Now, for those of you that are new, no we are not a gay army." the group laughs. As Carter continues to talk I lean towards Damon and whisper a question to him.

"You didn't answer my question."

"What question?" he whispered back.

"Damon," Carter called on Damon. "Is there something you want to share with the group?"

"No, no sorry Carter. Continue please." I gape at Damon. He actually showed respect to Carter. Damon's usually so chill with everyone, a bit of a jerk.

"well, like I was saying, this group is for those of you who are gay, lesbian, transgender, or bisexual and haven't came out or have came out and need to talk to someone." a girl raises her hand.

"Yes, Marisol?"

"I came out yesterday." she says. She looks like she's been crying.

"And how did that go?' Carter asked looking genuinely interested.

"Not well, my parents called me a slut, and told me I was going to hell, and..." she pauses to wipe a tear. She apologizes for crying and Carter tells her it's fine. "and they kicked me out. I'm staying with my girlfriend for now."

"Well you have our love and support Marisol. You're very brave and we're proud of you."

"We're here for you, Marisol." the whole group says it in unison. she thanks them.

"Damon, any news for you?' Carter asks. Damon glances at me looking a bit uncomfortable.

"Things are good. My parents were totally okay with it and they said they supported me. My grandparents are still on the fence, but.."

"We're here for you, Damon."

"Who's your friend?' Carter asks looking at me.

"Oh, um, he's just a friend."

Before Carter can respond I speak up. "You all are very brave. If i was in your shoes, I don't know what I'd do. I'm sorry for what you're going through." I say the last part looking at Marisol. She nods at me.

The group talks a bit more and I listen. To all their stories. I had no idea this happened. I mean I knew someone would tell them they'd go to hell, but I didn't know that people beat them and threatened them. One girl said that a group from her church jumped her. I was shocked. An hour later the group is over. I walk with Damon to his car.

"Thanks," he says not looking at me as he unlocks his truck.

"For what?" I ask.

"For not going all, 'you're going to hell' in there. I would've been kicked out if you did. That's supposed to be a safe place for them. So thanks." I nodded at him as I got in and buckled up.

Later that night I talked to my sister about it. She told me that she doesn't hate gays. She actually has a gay friend and one of her lesbian friends likes her. She thinks she might be bisexual but she doesn't know yet. She doesn't want me to tell mom or dad. I tell her I won't. After brushing my teeth and eating I go to sleep with a new sense of respect. I've only been around gays for two days, and now my whole perspective on them has changed.

-