“Do you have a moment?” Mr. Finnegan asked.
“Sure.”
He was surprised when his teacher shut the classroom door once they were alone.
“You have a real gift,” Mr. Finnegan said. “Anyone who reads this will be able to relate on some level, no matter who they are. We’ve all been treated unfairly, or judged unkindly. However, not everyone will read this article to its end. Many will stop at the rather provocative headline.”
I’m gay. So what? Anthony had chosen the title carefully for that reason. He wanted to make his point up front.
“Is it too confrontational? Should I rewrite?”
“No. I’m simply afraid that your heartfelt sentiment won’t have a chance to hit home with many people. You’ll likely face backlash.”
“Even more than I do now?” Anthony asked.
“Are you referring to your locker?” Mr. Finnegan asked, glancing down at the article.
“Yeah. My own scarlet letter. The school janitor tried to get the paint off, but you can still read it.”
“I’ll have someone from Yearbook take a photo,” Mr. Finnegan said. “To accompany your article.”
Anthony blinked in surprise. “You’re going to publish it?”
“If you’re still willing. Creative people often hope their art will change the world, and while it does have that power, rarely does it act as a solution to immediate problems. I’m worried that you’ll be picked on even more than you are now.”
“That’s fine,” Anthony said. “Somebody has to be the first to come out or nobody else will.”
Mr. Finnegan’s expression remained concerned, but he nodded. “Very well. I’ll work with you on some editorial changes and we’ll take it from there.”
“Thank you,” Anthony said.
Mr. Finnegan’s tone was warm. “My pleasure. You’re the kind of self-starting student that every teacher dreams of. I can’t keep you to myself though. Better get going to your next class.”
Anthony thanked him again, the smile never leaving his face as he walked down the school corridors with extra bounce in each step.
— — —
“Omar!”
When he shut his locker, he expected to see Silvia, since they had just parted ways, but the voice calling his name didn’t have the light accent that drove him wild. Although it sounded just as feminine. He furrowed his brow in confusion at the Song sisters before their infectious smiles made him grin.
“Hey!” he said. “What’s up?”
“Come film us,” Faith said, grabbing his hand and trying to drag him away. “You’ll be glad you did. We’re going to be famous.”
“We got roles in the school play,” Hope said, yanking on his arm.
“That’s cool,” Omar said with a chuckle. “Where are we going?”
“Outside! It’s a beautiful day!”
He didn’t have much choice. They were both pulling on him now. Faith had a death grip on his hand. They led him out the exit, where the sun cheerfully warmed an empty blue sky.
“You weren’t kidding!” Omar said. “The light is fantastic!”
“So film us,” Faith said, leading him onto the lawn in front of the school before she finally let go of his hand.
"Is this for the yearbook?” he asked while unslinging his camera.
“Who cares?” Faith replied. “Get ready!”
As soon as he had the camera pointed at them, they began a synchronized routine, springing forward on their hands before launching off the ground and flipping in the air. Then they linked arms, back-to-back, kicking with a flourish while spinning. They followed this with a truly insane trick where they grabbed each other and did cartwheels, one twin always upside-down from the other as they spun in unison across the lawn like a human wheel.
“Did you get all that?” Hope asked when they landed on their feet.
“If I didn’t, the camera sure did!”
“Shoot it from the ground instead,” Faith insisted.
“Hey, I’m the director,” he protested. “I’d rather run alongside you and capture it that way.”
“Okay!”
They went through the routine again before Faith grabbed his hand and dragged him over to a tree. The sisters took turns hanging from a low branch while contorting themselves into different shapes. Omar walked around the trunk while filming them from different angles.
“Do you want to see something really crazy?” Hope asked, pulling herself up into the tree. She did a handstand on top of the low branch, which was impressive enough, but she wasn’t done yet.
“Watch this!” Faith said, taking his hand in excitement.
And that’s when he started to get uncomfortable, because she wasn’t leading him anywhere. She intertwined her fingers in his and squeezed tighter in anticipation as Hope carefully lifted a hand off the branch, balancing her entire weight on one arm.
“Wow,” Omar said as he peered through the viewfinder.
“What are y’all up to?” a new voice drawled.
Omar tore his attention away from the stunt. Keisha Hart was walking toward them, her eyes moving from the branches of the tree down to the hand that still held his. Omar hurriedly shook it off.
“Hey!” he said. “You have to see this. It’s amazing!”
“That’s what brought me over here,” Keisha replied. “The theater group has already signed these two. We have exclusive rights to their talent. I’m confiscating your footage.”
“No way!” Omar said, cradling his camera protectively. He couldn’t wait to rewatch what he’d filmed, if only to figure out how they’d managed each trick.
“Keisha is our choreographer,” Hope explained, hopping down from the tree.
“Although I bet we could teach her a few tricks,” Faith added.
“I have no doubt,” Keisha said easily. “You two might just save the play, if we can’t find anyone who can sing.”
“They’ll see our moves and forget about the rest,” Faith boasted.
“That’s why I plan on putting you front and center,” Keisha replied. “Wanna work on some ideas together?”
Hope nodded eagerly. “Sure!”
Keisha turned to him. “Don’t you have somewhere to be? Like hanging out with your girlfriend?”
“What?” Faith cried, sounding dismayed. “You have a girlfriend?”
Keisha raised an eyebrow at this, as if he’d been purposely hiding the fact from them.
“Yeah, of course,” he said. “I’m madly in love with her.”
There. That should do it.
Faith rolled her eyes, as if he was being stupid. Hope didn’t seem bothered either way. Keisha still had a funny look on her face.
Omar checked his watch. “I gotta get to work,” he said.
“Can you make us a copy of the tape?” Hope asked.
“No problem,” he said, eager to get away. “See ya.”
“Bye, Omar,” Faith said in flirtatious tones.
Even though she knew he was taken? He didn’t get it. After he walked away, Omar breathed out a sigh of relief, grateful that he was already with Silvia, because girls were freaking confusing!