Chapter Text
Emma took a deep breath and tried to ground herself. “I-uh, T-there’s been something I’ve been meaning to t-tell you guys.” She said shakily.
Her parents were sat at the dinner table. They barely even acknowledged that Emma spoke. Dinner’s with her family had always been stiff and silent, much like everything with her parents. The lack of warmth from them made Emma’s nerves spike even higher.
The blonde gulped. “I-well. I’m not really sure if you noticed but, uh, I’ve never really had a boyfriend or anything like that.”
Her fathers shoulders stiffened and her mother sharply inhaled. Emma had a feeling they knew what was coming.
“Well, there’s actually a reason for that. I-” Emma closed her eyes and gripped onto the side of the table so hard her knuckles turned white. C’mon Emma you can do this, it’s now or never.
“I’m gay.” she blurted much louder than she meant to.
Her mother abruptly stood up and carried her own plate to the sink and started to wash off the remnants of spaghetti sauce from it and down the drain. Her father simply continued eating, determined not to look at his daughter.
A few moments of silence passed. “Uh, a-are you going to say anything?”
Her mother sighed. “Emma, don’t be silly. You just haven’t found the right man yet.”
Emma bit the inside of her cheek to keep from yelling at her mother. She knew this wasn’t going to be easy. She’s been preparing for this for weeks. She just needs to stay calm and remember what she practiced.
“Your mother’s right, Emma.” her father grunted. “You kids these days think it’s cool to be gay. It’s just a phase, you’ll get over it eventually.”
Just breathe, stay calm she told herself. “Look, I know this may be hard for you, but it’s not a phase and there isn’t going to be ‘the right guy’. I’m a lesbian. I like girls.”
As she spoke her father joined her mother by the sink. He grabbed her hand as though this was something her mother needed support to get through. Her mother was on the verge of tears. She tried to speak but ended up letting out a strangled sob. Her father squeezed his wife’s hand and spoke for her.
“You can’t just say things like that Emma. I-It’s unnatural ” he spat. “No daughter of mine will say such things.”
Emma felt rage course through her veins as tears pricked her eyes.
“Emma, sweetie, we know being a teenager can be confusing. You can talk to us, we’ll help you figure out what’s going on. You just can’t jump to conclusions like that. Alright, honey?” her mother said once she regained her composure.
“Y-you don’t understand. I know what’s going on-”
“We’ll talk about this tomorrow” her father said, ending the conversation.
“B-but it’s not a phase!” Emma continued to ramble without either of her parents acknowledging her. Out of sheer frustration Emma yelled “I have a girlfriend!”
Shit.
While Emma was internally panicking her parents turned to face her again. At least it seemed to have gotten their attention.
Shock was plastered on her mothers face while her father fumed next to her. Maybe this would work.
Emma let out a shuddering breath “Y-yeah, I, um, I have a girlfriend.”
Her father sighed. “Bring this girl to dinner tomorrow. We’ll talk then.”
Emma nodded and raced up to her room. She threw herself face down onto her bed, not bothering to turn the light on. It seemed like telling them she had a girlfriend worked. She should be happy, right? There was a slight problem with this plan though.
She didn’t have a girlfriend.
Emma groaned and rolled over so she was laying on her side, facing the wall. What the fuck was I thinking?
She laid there for a few moments just staring at the white wall. She felt her phone buzz in her back pocket. Emma groaned before reaching for the device. The bright light startled her for a moment. She regained her composure and looked at her messages.
From ‘Lys’ (6:02 pm)
how’d it go??
Emma had told Alyssa that she planned to come out tonight. Their friendship was still new but Emma had grown to trust the other girl more than anyone at this point.
A few months prior Emma came out to Alyssa. At first Alyssa didn’t know how to react but after a long conversation, and quite a few tears later, the girls had a new understanding of each other. Since then Alyssa had actually been really supportive of Emma and even confined in the blonde about her own questions with sexuality.
From ‘em’ (6:03 pm)
honestly? i don’t know
they wouldn’t believe me until i did something really really stupid
From ‘Lys’ (6:03 pm)
elaborate?????
r u ok???
Warmth filled Emma’s chest as the second text came in. It always felt nice to know that someone was worried for her and therefore cared about her. It was even better when that person was Alyssa, but Emma decided to ignore that part of the equation.
From ‘em’ (6:04 pm)
promise u won’t laugh
From ‘Lys’ (6:04 pm)
we’re texting babe, you wouldn’t know either way
but yes, i promise
Alyssa was really trying to kill her. The brown haired girl was extremely affectionate both verbally and physically with all her friends. That still didn’t stop Emma from enjoying it a little too much.
From ‘em’ (6:05 pm)
i kinda told them i had a girlfriend so they would believe me
A few moments passed with no response. Emma let an amused smile show on her lips as she typed her next message.
From ‘em’ (6:06 pm)
you’re laughing aren’t you
From ‘Lys’ (6:06 pm)
i’m sorry but what?????
how does that even happen
From ‘em’ (6:06 pm)
i don’t know i just panicked?!!?!
what am i gonna do??
It showed Alyssa was typing before going out. She started typing again and this time she sent a response.
From ‘Lys’ (6:07 pm)
did it work at least??
From ‘em’ (6:07 pm)
im not sure,, maybe?
my dad said to bring her to dinner tomorrow and ended the conversation
From ‘Lys’ (6:09 pm)
you don’t actually have a gf though?
From ‘em’ (6:09 pm)
no!!
trust me you’d be the first to know
From ‘Lys’ (6:10)
so what’re you gonna do?
From ‘em’ (6:10)
fuck if i know
The screen once again showed Alyssa typing on and off before stopping completely. Emma groaned and laid her arm over her eyes even though the light was off. A few moments of blissful silence passed before Emma felt her phone vibrating.
Alyssa was calling her?
Emma sat up and cleared her throat before accepting the call.
“Uh, hi?” Emma heard her friend sigh on the other end of the call before speaking.
“I kinda have an idea for your… whole Fake Girlfriend situation.” Alyssa said with surprisingly little enthusiasm.
“You don't sound very excited about it.” Emma laughed a little.
Alyssa gave a slight laugh of her own before speaking. “I-It’s just.” She sighed again. “Here me out, okay?”
“I’m intrigued.” Emma said with a little laugh.
“MaybeIcouldpretendtobeyourgirlfriend” Alyssa rushed out, her voice an octave higher than it usually is.
“Uh, you’re gonna have to repeat that maybe about 10 times slower.”
Alyssa took a deep breath. Why was she so nervous? “I said, maybe I could pretend to be your girlfriend.”
Emma opened her mouth but no sound came out. Alyssa wanted to do what?!
The blonde must have taken too long to reply because Alyssa suddenly started rambling. “I know it’s weird I just, I don’t know, maybe it would work? I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Just, forget I said anything. It was stupid really-” Before Alyssa could continue, Emma cut her off.
“That’s perfect!”
“It is?” Her friend asked tentatively.
A huge smile blossomed on Emma’s lips. “Yes! I mean, I get to successfully come out to my parents and nothing has to actually change in my love life!”
“Y-yeah okay, awesome!”
“You, Alyssa Greene, are a genius.” Emma said with as much seriousness as she could at the moment.
“I’m aware, thanks.” she joked.
“And, as a bonus, you get to spend more time with me.” The blonde teased.
“Oh, shut up.” Alyssa said as they both laughed. Emma heard something that sounded vaguely like Alyssa’s mom on the other end of the call before the dark haired girl spoke again. “Shit, I have to go. Talk to you tomorrow?”
“Yeah, see you.” Emma said before Alyssa ended the call.
Without the distraction of her friend the reality of the situation came crashing down on Emma like a ton of bricks. She remembered the things her parents had said to her with the disgusted looks on their faces.
Trying to think ahead for once, Emma quickly stood up and grabbed her spare backpack she kept in the back of her closet. She tried to think of everything she might need if her parents were to kick her out.
In the end, Emma had packed a toothbrush, deodorant, a water bottle, a hairbrush, and some spare clothes into the bag. She told herself she wouldn’t really need it, but clearly at least a little part of her disagreed. Emma took a breath before shoving the bag back into her closet- fitting- and closing the door.
The blonde collapsed onto her bed and pulled the blankets over her head. The last hour had been exhausting.
As she continued to recall the events at dinner, she let the rising sobs take control of her body, gasping for breath in between cries. Emma continued to weep until a restless sleep finally took her.