When I tell you this is a romance story, you might think: Sweet! Who’s the lucky lady? Well guess what? We’re both boys. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know the intro by now. Do I need to keep putting it? I don’t know. Arch isn’t straight. That’s good. Anyway thanks for coming, gather round children I will continue my wonderful story. Chapter 9 I talk with Arch a little more casually, but I’m dying of stress inside. Is he gay? Is he bi? We turn off the light and he turns his back to me. I stare at his back in the other bed. Finally, I doze off. When I wake up I can’t entirely recall my dreams, but I’m fairly sure Arch was in them all. Oh man I have got to get over this already. I don’t walk to English with Arch, he has other stuff to do, other friends? A boyfriend, enbyfriend or girlfriend? My heart deflates a little. I get to English and flop into a chair. “Hey Ace can I sit here?” It’s Ivy. “Oh. Yeah.” I was going to wait for Arch. “Thanks, you are totes the best.” Hm. That’s what she said to me first day of school. Ivy notices my expression. “I’m not just saying that Ace. You’re really cool, and probably my best friend.” I raise an eyebrow. This is news to me. “Really, what about Julie?” Ivy’s face crumples. “Julie and I had a… disagreement. And she was a different type of friend anyway.” “You guys are dating?” I’m surprised. “Dating isn’t the right word for it. Julie wanted to take things slow. We never actually labeled our relationship. I asked about us being girlfriends, and she declined. We’d kissed a few times, so I thought maybe…” She trails off. “Why is that straight out of Heartstopper, or, should I say, gay out of Heartstopper?” Ivy laughs. “Maybe, but Julie’s Demi, and I feel bad about pushing her to be my girlfriend. Anyway, we don’t see eye to eye on a few other things. Plus, I kind of, like someone else.” Her eyes skirt around the room before landing on a girl, with a lot of freckles, and dark braids dyed turquoise. “Oh OK. Do you know her sexuality?” “No…” Ivy sighs. “You should ask her!” I exclaim. “No! No way!” Ivy’s cheeks turn pink. “Have you talked to her before?” I question. “A bit, for school and whatnot. She doesn’t know me.” Ivy grimaces. “What’s her name?” “Clementine.” Ivy swoons, and gazes at said person, if this was a cartoon, her eyes would be hearts popping out of her head. “That’s a cool name.” “She’s adorable.” Ivy sighs, watching Clementine tuck a loose braid behind her ear. “I’m asking her sexuality.” I declare, sitting up. “ACE NO!” She shrieks. “It’s fine I’ll be smooth.” I scribble some sexualities on a piece of scratch paper and hurry over to Clementine. “Sexuality poll! Write a tally under what you identify as!” Clementine stares at me. “I won’t judge! I’m gay!” “Do I know you???” Clementine asks still staring. “No you don’t.” Clementine sighs and puts a check on the paper. I hurry over to Ivy. “She’s bi.” I breathe. Ivy’s grin lights up her whole face. “You should ask her out.” I whisper. “Speaking of asking people out…” Ivy begins. Arch walks in. “You have an obvious crush on him.” I go redder than a beet. “How obvious?” I beg. “Well pretty much any time he talks to you, looks at you, are anywhere in your general direction your face turns bright red and you stare longingly at him.” “Ughhhh.” I groan and put my head in my hands. “Hey, tomorrow’s his birthday, it’s your chance to ask him out.” Ivy remarks. “His birthday?” Huh. Maybe Ivy has a point. Maybe I should ask him out.
