Every afternoon this week, I've gone over to Janie's house. Mary makes sure that no one walks in on us, and we're really grateful for her help.

I'm in the girls' bathroom at school, and Lucy corners me. "You spend all of your time with Janie these days. It's like I don't even exist anymore! I thought we were supposed to be best friends, Piper," she says.

I know I haven't been spending as much time as usual with Lucy, but I don't know how to explain it to her. "Lucy, you are my best friend. It's just... It's different with Janie," I say.

"Different how?"

I consider the situation carefully before saying, "If I tell you something, do you absolutely swear not to tell anyone else?"

"Of course."

"Janie and I are in love."

"You're what?" She's looking at me as if I have two heads.

I start to speak rapidly, so that she can't cut me off. "I don't know how it happened, but we fell in love. I've been going over to her house every day after school because we're dating each other. The thing is, no one's supposed to know, because her parents would really freak out, and they'd send her away."

"You should have told me sooner! I'm your best friend, damnit! I had a right to know!" Lucy looks really hurt, and I feel kind of bad.

At the same time, I'm relieved that this is her reaction. For a minute, I was worried that she would think it was gross that I was in love with another girl, and that she'd stop talking to me or something.

"Lucy, I'm sorry! But I told you now, right?" I ask.

"Yeah, and it's about time." Lucy pauses. Calmer, she asks, "So, what's it like? Being in love, I mean?"

I grin. "It's amazing, Lucy. Every time I see her, the butterflies start to tap dance in my stomach. She makes me so happy. When she kisses me, it's like the whole world stops, and everything's just so completely perfect."p

"Ew, you actually kissed her?" Jennifer Reese demands, stepping out of one of the stalls.

"Oh crap," I say under my breath.

"That is so nasty!" She hurries out of the bathroom.

"Oh my God... It's going to be all over the school by next period," I say with a sigh.

"Piper, it'll be okay," Lucy says soothingly. "I'm sure she won't tell anyone."

"Lucy, this is Jennifer Reese. She's, like, the most popular girl in our class. You know she lives for gossip. Oh God, what am I gonna do?" I'm completely panicking now.

"It'll be okay," Lucy says again. "I'm sure of it." With one arm around my shoulders, Lucy guides me out of the bathroom.

~~~*~~~

It's the end of the day, and it seems that everyone knows what's going on. Whenever I walk by, students say things under their breath and stare at me.

I tell Janie what's happened. "I don't care," Janie says stubbornly. "I love you, Piper, and I don't care what they think. You mean more to me than some stupid middle school gossip. They'll get over it." I'm relieved that she feels this way, but I'm still really worried.

"What if someone tells your parents?" I ask.

"That won't happen. They're not smart enough to think of doing something like that," Janie replies. I don't think she's as confident as she's pretending to be, but I choose to believe her anyway.

"Don't worry, Piper," Lucy says, joining us. "No matter what happens, I'll stand by you."

"Thanks, Lucy, but now isn't the time to talk," I say dismissively. My universe is falling apart and all I want to do is hide under my covers and pretend this isn't happening.

"I just want to go home," I say.

"I'll walk you," Janie offers. I gratefully accept. Lucy follows behind us as we walk to my house.

~~~*~~~

"Hey, dykes!" Brittany Lewis, Jennifer Reese's faithful sidekick, calls as Janie and I enter the schoolyard the next morning. As usual, Lucy is behind us.

"Carpet munchers!" Kaitlyn Amos adds.

"Freaking queers!" Chris Kent, Jennifer Reese's boyfriend, shouts.

"Fags!" Ricky Zachary chips in.

"God, people like that are so nasty," Jennifer Reese says loudly.

All of the popular kids have crowded around to taunt us. The only one who's not saying anything is Hannah Vincent. She's watching everything with this detached expression on her face, like she's watching a movie or something.

Janie slips her hand into mine and we continued walking, trying to pretend we don't hear the popular kids....