12 “Harper are you okay?” Dr. Teal, the school counselor’s voice called out from the other side of the door. “Why don’t we go to my office and have a chat?” “I’m fine,” I sniffled. “Please just leave me alone.” “This doesn’t seem like ‘fine,’ Harper,” she responded. She hesitated. “I saw your locker. I already have the janitor cleaning off the marker from the door.” Peeling myself from the floor, I unlocked the stall door and pulled it open. Dr. Teal gave me a look of understanding and took me under her arm to guide me from the bathroom. I hesitated before leaving the safety of the ladies’ room, wiping my face again to be sure that no snot or tears remained, before following Dr. Teal’s guiding arm to her office. Plopping myself on the couch in her room, I let the silence cover me like a comforting blanket. In the distance, I heard the bell ring and the halls flooded with students once more. I covered my face, hoping that I would wake up and still be in bed. No such luck. “Can I call my mom to come pick me up?” I asked, still not fully uncovering my face, peeking at Dr. Teal through my fingers. “After we talk about what happened.” “Nothing happened.” “I think we both know that’s not true, Harper.” Dr. Teal gave me a pointed look over her glasses. “How long have you liked Leah?” “We’ve been best friends since daycare,” I said, purposely ignoring the point of her question, hoping she would take the hint. “Harper, I can’t help if you aren’t going to be straightforward with me.” I uncovered my face and met her gaze head on. I felt like she could see straight into my traitorous heart. She didn’t say anything else—just waited for me to be ready to confront what I was going through. My stomach tightened thinking about what I would have to face once I left this room and before I knew it I had told her everything. I told her about when I realized I liked Leah as more than a friend, and I told her about the kiss at the lake, and how, just a month from graduation, I ruined my reputation. Dr. Teal listened to everything without judging. She just sat in her chair listening to me talk and occasionally jotting down notes. When I finished my rant, I felt a drop land on my arm and realized that I had started crying again while talking. “Your reputation is not ruined, Harper,” Dr. Teal began, speaking slowly to ensure that I was listening. “Being gay doesn’t change who you are. If anyone says differently, then they never saw the real you to begin with.” “Everyone keeps laughing at me,” I said, in a voice that sounded too close to a whine for my comfort. “How am I supposed to face this when my best friend can’t even talk to me?” “People will move past this; the only question now is if you can.” * * *
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