Chapter 6
April
April looked around to ensure no one was watching, unclasped her hands, and moved her own arm closest to the wall forward, hooking her own pinky finger around Jade’s.
“Ok,” she whispered, “I’ll tell her as much of the truth as I’m able to for now.
I mean,” April let Jade’s finger fall as she turned back to the line but felt the loss of contact immediately, “that’s if we ever make it to the end of this line and get to the bathroom.
” She laughed and turned back to face Jade, who hadn’t taken her eyes off April.
“Ok, let’s do that then.” Jade agreed, and April was treated to one of the most dazzling smiles she’d ever seen. April felt her chest flutter in response, as if butterflies and dragons were playing tag in her chest cavity.
After what felt like an hour, but was most likely only fifteen minutes, April made her way back to the table where she’d left Dani. She’d agreed to meet Jade out the front of the bar when she was ready and saw her reach the table where her own friend was waiting a few moments later.
“I know you’ve still got drink left, and please, stay and enjoy it,” April began but was cut-off by Dani before she could continue.
“What? Wait, you were gone a while, did you meet whoever you’ve been eyeing this whole night and you’re now bailing on me?
” Dani said jokingly, but her face soon changed to a surprised grin when she saw the blush rise across her friend’s face.
“Oh my god you are, aren’t you?! April, I’ve never known you to leave with anyone.
Ever. This is so unlike you.” A hint of concern edging into her tone.
“Dani, I know. Trust me, I know. Look, I’m not going to lie to you because we don’t do that to each other.
Never have, never will. I just need you to have my back on this one, please?
I’ll pop my location on my phone so you can track me the whole time.
It wasn’t even my idea to do that, so that must be a good sign, right?
” April ensured her cards were in her jeans pocket and took out her phone to switch on her location.
“I know you’re having a fun night out and all, I get it, but please make sure you’ve thought this through.
There are some real creeps out there who’d take any chance with not only someone who looks like you, but the fact you’re a notable sports name on top of your looks.
What do you even know about him?!” Dani asked in a tone that reminded April of her dad. Must be the manager in her coming out.
April suddenly felt her stomach drop. Of course, Dani assumed it would be a guy that she’d met. She had no reason to believe April was into anyone other than a guy at this stage. Which made April feel even worse for not having the courage to come out to her best friend, of all people.
“I don’t know how to explain it in a way that makes sense Dani, and I know that sounds crazy, I do.
But they don’t know who I am. That’s rare, especially around here.
Even more so after the win last weekend.
And before you say they’re pretending, I know they’re not.
I deal with this often enough that I can tell that much about a person within the first few minutes of meeting them.
I’m 22, Dani, not 14. Enjoy the rest of your drink, go home and enjoy the rest of the night without Matt sprawling across the bed, and you can watch my night unfold on your phone the entire time.
I’ll be back at yours before you know it.
Deal?” April said as she ensured Dani’s phone was picking up the live feed of April’s movements.
“I want it noted that I’m not entirely comfortable with this, I mean, I don’t even know this guy’s name and you’re heading off into the night with him when this is not something you usually do. But, reluctantly, deal.” Dani sighed with a defeated tone, the concern clear on her face.
April stood, made sure Jade had made her way outside, and turned back to Dani.
“Their name is Jae. They have fiery red hair, and green eyes, with a dazzling smile. They’re taller than I am tonight in my heels and wore trousers and a waistcoat.
So, name and description. Better?” April said with a smirk.
Dani narrowed her eyes, but April could see a fraction of the concern dissipate.
“Slightly, but I’m getting the feeling that you’d be going whether I agreed or not.
Please be careful, I’ll be watching, and I’m just a phone call away if you need me, ok?
Have fun. Just not too much, you’re training at noon, remember?
Text me in two hours to let me know you’re ok, then call me when you get back to mine and I'll let you in, no matter how late it is.” Dani hugged April close and reluctantly let her leave.
A few minutes later, April met Jade outside, where the balmy evening welcomed her, along with another of those dazzling smiles from Jade.
“How did your friend take it? Are you happy enough to head off?” Jade waited for April to reply before they began walking down the street. She nodded to indicate they should both move away from the entrance to the bar before beginning to talk.
“Yeah, I told her almost the entire truth, but I panicked and used ‘they’ as your pronoun instead of ‘she’, so she didn’t ask too many questions. I hope you don’t mind. I just haven’t come out to her, or anyone, and I know it’ll be a long conversation when I do.” April paused.
“I’m guessing you chose to use my shortened ‘Jae’ instead of ‘Jade’ as well?” Jade asked with a warm smile.
April sighed, her eyes lowering to the ground ahead of them as they walked slowly down the street together.
“Hey, don’t worry about it. Coming out is a huge deal.
You only get one shot to come out to each person.
The important ones are always the hardest and the ones we freak out about most. So, take your time, there’s no rush until you’re ready.
” Jade smiled before continuing with a chuckle.
“Though prepare to be coming out every day for the rest of your life, because it’s not really a one-and-done kind of thing. ”
They turned onto another street. April appreciated the chance to walk and talk, but her feet were still hurting, even though the movement was easing the earlier ache.
“Every day?” April asked, confused.
“Well, look at it this way: every time you're out somewhere and overhear someone else talk about their significant other to random people in shops, with the person beside them on a bus, even the waiter at a restaurant, regardless of whether they’re there with them. Each of those scenarios is when you make the decision of whether or not you want to come out to that random person, need to come out to that random person, or most importantly whether it’s safe to come out to that random person.
” Jade must have noticed the color drain from April’s face.
“It’s not all that bad, you get used to deciding who needs to know and the rest you can play down.
Like tonight, just use ‘they’ and people usually take it as the gender they themselves expected.
That’s perfectly ok for the purposes of it being a random person you’re not going to interact with again.
And as far as my own feelings about what you did earlier?
As long as you don’t outright lie, then I’m good with whatever you need to tell people. ”
“Thanks Jade,” April said softly.
“No problem,” Jade replied and smiled, brushing her arm against April’s for a brief moment. Those sparks from earlier made a reappearance, rippling up her arm from where they touched, and landing firmly in her chest with a pulse of heat.
April stayed quiet for the next few minutes as she digested what Jade had just explained.
She’d never thought about it before, what it meant to come out.
Jade was right though; people do talk to strangers about their lives and their significant others all the time.
That would definitely take some time to think through.
But that could wait until another day, when she wasn’t walking with a stunning woman on what really was starting to feel like a date.
She cleared her throat, “erm, Jade?” She stopped walking and turned to face Jade, and held out her hand to shake, “I’m April, it’s great to meet you too.”