Chapter 7

Because of conflicting class schedules, Sunny was unable to arrange for her and Miki to meet with Natalie Williams and Katie Morrison until the following week. She had trouble getting a few minutes alone with either of them so she waited outside after school hoping that she would see the two walking out to go home. Sure enough, it wasn’t five minutes later that the two came walking out arm-in-arm.

Sunny slowly approached the couple and asked, “Hi, can I talk to you two for a few minutes?”

Natalie and Katie looked at each other and Katie asked, “I guess so, your ... Sunny Park, right? But what would you want to talk to us about?”

“Yeah that’s right, my name is Sunny Park. Do you girls have to catch a bus or are you driving?”

“We’re driving why, what’s up?”

“I’d like to ask you a few questions about ... about ... your relationship with each other.”

Katie started to pull Natalie’s arm and said, “Come on, Nat, we don’t need this.”

“No wait! It’s not what you think! “I’ve met a girl, and...”

“Really?! I’ve always wondered why I’ve never seen you with a guy. So, you’re pretty sure you’re gay?”

“Yes, I’ve made the decision to enter into a lesbian relationship with a girl here at school. Neither of us have been with a boy or a girl, but we are overwhelmingly attracted to each other and want to try and have a truly loving relationship together.”

“We’re happy for you, aren’t we, Natalie?” Natalie smiled and nodded her approval.

“Who’s the girl? Do we know her?” Katie asked.

Since Katie was doing all the talking, Sunny assumed that she was the dominant one in their relationship.

“I don’t think you’d know her. She’s a sophomore. You may have seen her in the halls. She’s a tenth grader in the general curriculum. Her name is Michaela Harrelson, Miki for short. She’s a light-skinned black girl in a wheelchair.”

“Oh yeah ... we’ve seen her moving to classes in the hallway. So, since this is all new to you guys, I guess you’re both still in the closet, right?”

“Yeah, we have a lot of questions. That’s why I thought that maybe you two might be able to help us get started on the right foot. I mean, I see you guys in the hallways and you always are together, happy and you’re open about your relationship. Miki and I would like to get to that point, so that’s why I’m asking for your help.”

“Sure! What can we do to help?”

“Is there any way that both of you could come over to Miki’s house and we can sit down, have a soda and talk. That way, you can meet my girlfriend.”

“You got it bad, don’t you, Sister? We can see it in your eyes, you’re head over heels about her, right?”

“Yeah, and I want to do it right. I’m pretty sure I want to marry this girl and she feels the same.”

“That’s beautiful!” Katie looked at her other half and asked, ‘Well, we can spare an hour or so for a worthy cause, can’t we?”

Natalie nodded, still clinging to Katie’s arm and replied, “Sure, I’d really like to meet another lesbian couple like us.”

Katies motioned towards the parking lot and said, “Lead on, Sister.”

Natalie pulled into Miki’s driveway right behind Sunny. When they got out of the car, Katie said, “Wow, nice digs! This is a really nice place!”

Sunny smiled and replied, “Wait ‘til you see the inside.”

Sunny opened the door and as she stepped inside called out, “Miki! We’ve got company.”

Miki wheeled out of her bedroom and stopped in front of Sunny and the other two girls. Her shyness came out and she blushed and in a meek voice said, “Hi, I’m Miki. Welcome to my home.”

Katie and Natalie both replied in unison “Hi.”

Sunny made the introductions and they proceeded to the kitchen and the girls settled around the breakfast table in the breakfast nook. Sunny passed out sodas and filled a couple of bowls with chips and pretzels. Sunny sat down after putting out the snacks and said, “Miki, I asked Katie and Natalie over to talk about their lesbian relationship. They’re very happy and obviously in love with each other.”

Both Natalie and Katie said, “Hi,” and Katie said, “I think I can speak for Natalie also, but we’re very happy to hear that both of you are courageous enough to acknowledge your true feelings and be with the person that you have special feelings for. Sunny didn’t say too much earlier, but I think she said that this is all new for both of you.”

Miki nodded, Sunny said, “My first impression of you two is that you, Katie, are the dominant in your relationship, correct? We agreed that I would take the lead in ours. But getting to the reason I asked you here is basically because neither Miki nor I have any experience with dating of any kind, with a boy or a girl. Also, Miki and I are exactly the same in another point also. Before I met Miki, I always thought I was straight even though I had never dated or had a boyfriend. Miki’s the same. Oh, by the way, Miki’s fifteen almost sixteen and I’m seventeen, I’ll be eighteen in six months.”

“I told my best friend, Stacy, that I was never prejudice or phobic about gay people or being gay. After I met Miki and accepted that fact that I had such strong feelings her, then I accepted that. I mean, I am who I am, right? I don’t feel ashamed about liking or being sexually attracted to Miki. After talking with her, Miki’s journey mirrors mine. What troubles me is that right now, we’re in the closet and it’s very difficult sneaking and hiding it from our parents. I don’t care about anyone else but my family. If our friends leave us because we’re gay, then they were never really our true friends anyway, right? I hope that we can be friends with a common bond.”

Katie nodded and agreed, “Yeah, we can see that. Cool!”

Sunny went on to describe what she and Miki discussed the day before, and the framework they laid out together to build the kind of relationship they wanted to see five or ten years from now. Sunny laid out some extenuating circumstances that made their relationship unique outside of being lesbian.

Katie and Natalie both nodded as Sunny made the various points that Miki and she agreed on as they built the framework for their future together. Both of their friends agreed with everything Sunny and Miki decided to do and were surprised that two girls who had never dated or been in a relationship could lay out such a mature, workable plan.

Sunny also wanted to point out some obstacles in their way, saying, “Yesterday, after we both admitted to each other that we were head over heels attracted to each other, we also realized that there are some restraints on us that do not exist with other people’s relationships, gay or straight. For example. I will be eighteen in 6 months and Miki will be sixteen in two. When I turn eighteen, I could probably be prosecuted for having sex with a minor, right?”

Both Katie and Natalie looked at each other, then at Sunny and Miki and nodded. Katie said, “Yeah, you could.”

Sunny continued, “The other thing is that Miki has a certain kind of multiple sclerosis and her life expectancy is probably no older than twenty-five to thirty. The clock is ticking, and we want to explore and enjoy our love for each other to the fullest.”

“I’m so jealous of you two, Katie and Natalie, it’s obvious to the world that you both love each other. Your open about your relationship, you’re expressive and happy. We want that and we want it as soon as possible. If Miki and I came out at school and started to hold hands at lunch and in the hallways, maybe steal a kiss or two, what’s the chances of our parents finding out from the school?”

The whole time, Miki was watching Sunny make their case and was nodding her agreement and confirmation during the entire conversation.

Katie looked at Natalie before answering Sunny’s question and replied, “Unless your parents are very controlling and are aware of your every move, then they probably wouldn’t find out if you were openly gay just in school. It’s funny that you made the observation of feeling so repressed and guilty about hiding your true selves from your parents. Natalie and I struggled with the same issues you two are going through now. All I can recommend, and I’m sure that Natalie feels the same, is that you two need to come out as soon as possible. Love needs to be expressed and it cannot be contained. If you sneak around, you act guilty and you look guilty. Be proud of your partner and be able to defend your actions and why you choose to be the way you are.”

“The problem with that is this. I met Miki because her mother hired me as her caregiver. I am responsible for her care just like a nurse. I also feel guilty because having a personal relationship with Miki that would also become sexual at some point is most likely unethical. Another point is we’ve only known each other for a little over a week.”

Sunny went on to explain the events of her first night working and why she stripped naked in order to cater to Miki’s needs, and the fact that her mom came home only to find them both naked. It was THAT night that they both fell in love with each other.

“We both wanted to develop the foundation of our relationship before we came out to our parents, but what do you think we should do?”

Natalie spoke for the first time and asked, “Have you two had sex yet?”

Miki replied “No, just kissing, but I want her so badly. I masturbate every night calling Sunny’s name. I want her and I want to give myself to her.”

Katie said, “Well, we know it’s pretty hard to control your emotions and passion, but because of the caregiver issue, I wouldn’t have any sexual contact until you come out. It’s a ‘CYA’ thing, you know?”

Sunny nodded and agreed saying, “That’s exactly what I was thinking. I struggle every night in tears to keep from doing what Miki does every night. I know that if I start masturbating, I’ll end up giving in and making love to her. I have a confession to make, at the end of school last year, I was changing my sanitary napkin when I heard you giving Natalie oral sex in the stall next to me. It was the hottest thing I’ve ever heard. I want to do that to Miki so bad I can almost taste her.”