Between Two Girls

Chapter 47

"Paigey?" Anika whispers loudly when Paige gets in the house. "Where were you?"

"Why are you whispering?" Paige asks, also quiet.

"Mommy's sleeping," her sister replies. "Were you with Lucy?"

Paige smiles involuntarily as she thinks about the kisses. She takes off her jacket and sets it down on the kitchen table. She puts her hands on the nearest chair as she thinks. "Yeah," she says. "She needed some cheering up, so I took her to a place I thought she might like."

Anika's confused. "You mean, like a boy taking a girl out on a date?"

"Oooh, now that I'm thinking about tonight, it counts as a first date!" Juli exclaims. "My little girl is all growns up, making growns up decisions!"

"None of the thing you just said is true," Emery responds.

The party animal pouts. "Now the moment's ruined. Thanks, killjoy."

"Um, you're welcome?" Emery says, confused and missing the sarcasm.

"Kind of," Paige answers. 

"Oh." Anika cocks her head to the side as she process things in her head. "How does that work?"

"Oh boy," Emery says low. "Here comes the confusion for Anika."

The bookworm ignores Emery as she pulls out the chair and sits in it. She holds out her arms, and Anika walks to her. Paige picks up her sister and sets her down on her lap. Holding her tightly so she doesn't fall off, Paige does her best to explain her situation. "You know that a lot of people are in a relationship? Some for romantic reasons, and others so they won't be alone?"

"Yeah." Anika grabs a lock of her hair and twists it around her finger. Paige wonders if she's been doing that for a while. "What about that?"

"You remember at least one person saying it's got to be one girl and one boy in the relationship?" Her sister nods a little. "Well, that's not all true. Sometimes, a boy will be searching for a boyfriend instead of a girlfriend. Same with the girls; they'll be wanting girlfriends and not boyfriends."

As far as Paige knows, Anika is understanding what she's saying. "Why would a girl want a girl?" she asks.

"That's a little tough to explain to her," Emery comments. "I'd be a little impressed if you can manage to get her to understand well."

"It wasn't tough to me!" Juli points out.

"Juli. You're not an eight-year-old. You act like one, but that's it."

"Hey!"

Paige exhales. "Let's see," she says aloud, mostly talking to herself. "Why do you read?"

"That's an easy question," Anika says. "I like it. They make me feel comfortable, no matter what."

"Exactly, Anika," Paige replies. "Some girls are a lot more comfortable with other girls than they are with boys. And they find their own gender more attractive than the opposite."

Anika rocks a little in Paige's lap. "Are there names for them?" she asks.

"There are official names, yes. Boys who like boys are gay, and girls who like girls are called lesbians. But," the bookworm raises a finger just as Anika's getting off. Her sister stays. "There are also people who are attracted with both genders, or no genders, or both and in between."

Paige's sister raises an eyebrow. "In between? What does that mean?"

"I should've realized this would be a long discussion," Paige mumbles under her breath.

_______

It takes the bookworm about a half hour, maybe 45 minutes, to explain what kind of people there are in the LGBT community. By the time she's finished, Anika is more than satisfied. Actually, she's excited to share the information with her friends at school. Paige only hopes this wouldn't affect anyone badly.

While Paige gets her sister in bed, Anika has one more question. "Do you like girls?"

Paige laughs. "Yes, I do. So does Lucy."

"Are you girlfriends?"

"Well," Paige drawls. "I'll tell you as soon as I know." Anika laughs, and Paige smiles. "Now, get to sleep. You have a big day tomorrow." Her sister complies, and Paige quietly leaves her room, turning off the light. She goes past her mom's room, and she hears her call her name. "Yeah?"

"Come in." Paige enters the room. Her mom is on her bed, with a book in her lap. She looks at her daughter. "I may have overheard your conversation with Anika," Mrs. Sery admits.

"Oh." Paige turns red in embarrassment. She freezes in her spot, waiting for the dreaded hate speech she's heard about from some kids online.

"You're fine," Mrs. Sery assures. "I was going to say I'm proud of how you dealt with Anika."

"Oh," Paige says again. "Um, thanks?" She slowly turns to leave.

"I'm also proud of you," her mom adds. "Especially with what you've had to go through."

Paige puts a hand on the edge of the door. "Yeah," she says quietly. "Um, I'm going to bed. Good night."

"Sweet dreams."

Paige goes to her room and flops on her bed. She thinks the whole day she's had over, with every detail in place. She managed to make Lucy feel better about her sexuality enough to show Paige her feelings. If that's not magical, then the bookworm doesn't know what is.

She feels her phone buzz. Paige turns to her side and takes it out. She has a IM from Lucy:

GorgeousLuce: So, why don't we do something together again?

Paige smiles. She gets her thumbs in typing position as she answers.

Books2luv: When?