Chapter Text
“Okay, my darling statistician, what’s your–our–plan?” Celine queries. I drum my fingers on the side of the table anxiously, counting the number of times my flesh hits the wood. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
“Michael, Dean, Cassie, and Lia we’ll tell together. I think it’s the adults that need some more one on one time. And I think that you should be just outside the room while I tell them, listening to see if anything goes wrong. I would like to do this on my own if I can.”
She nods, “that seems fair. They already know I’m as straight as a zigzag, this is your news. After you’re done, I can come in and we can tell them we’re dating, sound good?”
“Perfect.” I sigh. “Did you know it takes a wombat 4-6 days to digest its food?”
My girlfriend–damn I’m still not used to that word–laughs, a high-pitched, musical sound that lifts my spirits. “You don’t have to ask if I know or not, I very obviously don’t. I’m not half as smart as you, Sloane.”
“I guess. It’d be nice if you were, though.”
Celine leans back in her chair, “it would, it would be really nice.” She stands up and offers me her hand, “you ready to drastically change people’s opinion on you!?!”
I glare at her, “thanks for the encouragement.”
She smirks at me, “always ready to serve!”
“I can tell that you and Michael are related.”
She gasps and places the offered hand on her heart dramatically, “you wound me, Blondie. Let’s go get the angsty teens!”
We find Cassie and Dean sitting on the couch, an expression on their faces that said they were totally not kissing. Normally, I can’t read people at all, but these 2 were easy, at least in this case.
“Hey, Sloane!” Cassie doesn’t acknowledge Celine.
“Hey,” I mumble weakly. “I need to talk to you two, and also Lia and Michael. Stay here while we go and get them.”
“Is everything okay?” Dean asks, face creased with concern.
“Yeah, amazing, I just need to talk.”
“I’ll go get the other two. Sloane, you can just wait with the profilers.”
Lia and Michael choose that moment to walk through the door. Great, even less time to prepare.
“What’s happening?” Lia directs the question at Dean, who shrugs.
“No idea. Sloane and Celine told us to wait here while they got you two. They gave us no other info.”
Lia scrutinizes me, “is everything okay?”
“Yes.” I’m starting to get annoyed.
Lia sighs and sits down on the arm of the couch, “she’s telling the truth.” Celine nods at me, then leaves the room. Despite knowing she was only just outside, I was more nervous without her near me.
“O-okay,” I turn to my friends, my family. I don’t think my family will hate me just because of this. “I realized something recently.” My voice sounds more sure now. Good. I take a deep breath, “I like girls. I’m a lesbian.”
There’s silence for 4.3 seconds, then Cassie squeals and tackle hugs me. Michael scowls and wordlessly passes a 20 to Lia.
Cassie releases me, “I’m so happy for you! Congratulations!”
“We’re proud of you, Sloane,” Dean says.
“I really thought you’d be bi and not a lesbian,” Michael pouts.
Lia rolls her eyes, “poor Michael the rich kid, out 20 dollars. Was that going towards you-re 17th car?” She directs her attention to me, “how long have you known?”
“I don’t know. I kind of suspected it for a while, but now I’m sure. The Milky Way smells like rum and raspberries.”
Michael laughs, “would it be hard to eat the Milky Way?”
“You could buy the candy bar,” Dean replies.
“One more thing.”
They all immediately turn their attention back to me.
“I’m uh…” I can feel Celine listening and silently will her to come in. Apparently she senses that, because she walks into the room casually, taking a place beside me. She looks at me, and mouths, ‘you want me to tell them?’ I nod.
“What my dear Blondie is trying to say, and failing at dramatically, is that we may or may not be dating.”
Cassie gasps.
Lia looks at me suspiciously, “is it the may or may not?”
“The may not.”
“Lies, slut.”
Cassie doubles over in laughter.
“Hey!” I exclaim. “That was unnecessary!”
“Maybe, but it was fun.”
Celine wraps her arm around my waist and pulls me into her, “how dare you offend her.”
“Just doing my job.”
Michael finally speaks up, “I love both of you, so if either of you break either of your hearts, I will murder the other. So basically you have to stay together forever.”
Celine nods, “noted.”
“I’m happy that you’re happy,” Dean smiles. “After all you’ve been through, you deserve it.”
Images flash through my mind. Aaron’s body, dead and gone. When Director Sterling left all those bruises on my chest and arms, then never acknowledged me again. I guess I do deserve it.
“Have you told any of the adults yet?” Cassie asks quietly.
“Not yet, but I’m about to after this.” I turn to Celine, “I’m gonna do all of them together, actually. I don’t wanna stutter triple times the amount necessary.”
“Yeah, okay. Am I still gonna hide in another room and listen?” I nod.
“Good luck,” Lia says, and I can tell she’s telling the truth.
“Thanks.”
“They’re all 3 in the kitchen,” Dean offers, “if you want to talk now.”
I walk to the kitchen slowly. As Dean claimed, they are all in there. Judd is washing the dishes, Briggs is typing something on his phone, and Sterling is rummaging through the fridge.
Briggs notices me first, “hey Sloane, what’s up? Hungry?”
I shake my head, “no, I need to talk to you all. It’s important.”
Sterling closes the fridge door, “is it about a case?”
“It’s about…me.”
“Are you okay? Did anyone hurt you? I swear if any of those stupid queens caused you to get hurt I will-”
“I’m okay. Really. It’s just that, uh,” I take a deep breath, “I realized that I like girls. I’m a lesbian. I’m sorry.” My face heats up.
Sterling’s demeanor softens, “oh Sloane, honey, why are you sorry? There’s nothing wrong with that, and if anyone thinks that, then they are horrible.”
Briggs nods in agreement, “thank you for telling us. You should know that this doesn’t change anything, we still care for you. We always will.”
“You’re really just like her,” Judd smiles. “Scarlett was one too. I’m going to tell you what I told her, you are already a wonderful, amazing person, and just because you’re different than some people, that doesn’t change anything about who you are.”
Tears well up around my eyes, “thank you.”
Judd wraps his arms around me, hugging tightly, “you’re welcome. She would’ve loved you.”
“She would’ve,” Sterling agrees. Both her and Briggs look quite uncomfortable with all the hugging, which almost makes me laugh.
Judd pulls away, “I assume you told the others, and that’s why Lia said she sensed drama in the living room?”
“Yeah. Also, one more thing.”
“What?” Briggs inquires.
Celine takes that as her cue to return to the kitchen.
Sterling narrows her eyes at her, “why are you here?” She gasps. “Oh. OH!” She looks down at the floor.
Celine laughs, “you’re as sharp as sterling silver.”
“I don’t think that’s an expression,” I say, confused.
“She’s making a pun, I don’t know why.”
“And you say you’re the FBI director,” my girlfriend says disapprovingly. The word still sounds weird in my mind. Briggs looks at us, then Sterling, “Ronnie, what is it?”
“Just tell ‘em,” Celine tells her.
“Sloane and Celine are dating,” Sterling states miserably.
“Damn, homophobic much.”
“I’m not homophobic,” she snaps, “just surprised.”
Judd laughs, “I think she’s protective. Her baby Sloane got a girlfriend.”
Celine gasps, “maybe she wants a girlfriend! Maybe she loved Scarlett!” Sterling turns suspiciously red.
Briggs laughs, “stop bullying Veronica and theorizing. I bet you 2 would rather go kiss in a dark corner somewhere.” It’s my turn to blush.
“TANNER!” Sterling exclaims. “Stop putting ideas in their heads!”
Celine winks, “believe me, the idea has been in my head ever since she won me a goldfish.”
Judd shakes his head, “you 2 outta go back to the others before Veronica tries to kill you.”
Celine takes my hand and pulls me out of the room. As soon as we’re outside the adult’s earshot and back in the living room, she says, “I wouldn’t mind kissing you in a dark corner.”
“I assume it went well, then?” Lia materializes. “Because, ew.”
“You and Michael connect sexually at least twice a week-” She clamps a hand over my mouth.
“Not gonna ask how or why you know that, just gonna politely ask you to shut the hell up,” Michael says from the couch.
“Language!” Cassie warns.
“Cassie, I got called a slut earlier, none of us are going to tone down the language.”
“You tell her, Sloane,” Michael pumps his fist in the air. “None of us can be controlled, Colorado.”
“Well I think we should play a game now,” Lia proclaims. “I’m thinking something with either stripping or alcohol."
We all laugh.