Dark Minds

Chapter Four

I don’t think about Stephanie the rest of the week. When I got home Saturday morning, I went through the trash until I found the note she had attached to Tilly’s collar. I put it in my nightstand drawer, just in case I did decide to call her.

But that note has been long forgotten, because it’s the week to vote for class maids.

The homecoming queen and maid of honor were announced last week at the pep rally. Voting for class maids took place Monday, and Kym and I have been waiting anxiously to see if we’ve won. Student council counts all the votes, and announces them whenever everything has been counted, which could be anytime of any day this week.

It’s Thursday and they still haven’t announced the winners.

I could easily go up to the student council president and tell him that Kym and I are the sophomore maids, but that’s cheating, and it would feel so much better to win fair and square.

All week, Kym and I have been walking around dry mouthed, biting our nails and bouncing on our toes. Brent is constantly making fun of us, telling us that we’ve got it, of course we’ll win. And when he’s in a really good mood, he tells us that we’re being stupid and the whole homecoming is stupid.

Of course, Kym and I ignore him.

“Why don’t we all hang out at my place tonight, Evie and I don’t have cheer practice. You up for it big guy?”

Brent points his nose in the air and flips his imaginary hair over his shoulder. “I have much more important things to do.”

“Like stare at Tyler Freeman’s butt?”

“Exactly.”

“Come on, Brent!” Kym stops walking and turns to Brent. “You’re always at football practice or you’re with the guys. You never hang out with us anymore.” She makes puppy dog eyes at him.

“Fine, fine. I just don’t want to hear anything about homecoming.”

“Deal. And you can tell all the guys that you had a threesome with us.” Kym starts walking again.

“Ew. No you can’t.” I say. Brent laughs and we follow after Kym.

“When are you going to tell people?” Kym asks when we reach the cafeteria.

“I told y’all.”

“That doesn’t count,” Kim says. “We’re like, a part of you. We’re like your expansion packs or something.

Brent sits down at a deserted lunch table. Kym sits in front of him, and I take the seat beside him.

“Things would be so different if I came out.”

“It’s not like you’d be the only openly gay guy at the school.” Kym retorts, emptying the contents of her lunch sack.

“You feeding all three of us?” Brent stares wide eyed at Kym’s lunch.

Kym scowls. “No, dick hole. You know I eat when I’m nervous. And this whole class maid thing is making me nervous.” Brent shakes his head and Kym digs into her food.

“But really,” I start, “I don’t see how you’re okay keeping a secret that big for so long. It’s got to be hard.” Like I’m the one to talk.

“It is. It’s just… the guys on the football team wouldn’t treat me the same. And we don’t need any uneasiness on the team when we’re doing so well this season. And I can just see all those little old ladies at church putting their hand on my arm saying, ‘I’ll be prayin’ for ya.’”