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Cher was, like, totally ecstatic . Tai looked amazing thanks to her makeover: her hair looked so cute when it was tied back and her figure was literally to die for when she wore clothes that actually fit her properly. After all of her hard work, Tai was finally ready to start dating respectable guys.
“Elton is going to freak when he sees you, Tai,” Cher said, barely containing a squeal. “He is going to totally fall in love with you.” She could barely keep the grin off her face, but Tai didn’t seem to be mirroring her expression. In fact, she looked lost, utterly clueless. Cher frowned, sticking her bottom lip out. “What is it? Do you not like the outfit?”
Tai looked away, avoiding her gaze. Despite this, Cher could see that her eyes were glossing over with tears. If she wasn’t careful, her eyeliner would run.
“Cher, I need to talk to you about something,” Tai said with a sniffle. She sounded so upset, and Cher wondered what on earth could have gotten into her? Was it the shoes? She knew that Tai wasn’t used to wearing heels, but it couldn’t have been that much of a biggie, right?
“Are you still hung up on Travis?” she asked, mustering up as much compassion as she could considering Travis was...well, Travis.
Tai chuckled, but there was no real joy behind it. Her smile dropped as quickly as it formed. “No,” she said pitifully. “That’s part of the problem.”
Cher furrowed her brows. Tai needed to start making sense or she’d end up with forehead wrinkles. “Tai you’ve lost me.”
“I don’t like Travis. And I don’t like Elton.”
Oh? “Well that’s okay,” she said softly. “We can find you another guy to go out with. Or you don’t have to date at all if you don’t want to, I get that-”
“Cher, you’re not getting me,” Tai interrupted, her voice cracking as she spoke. Tears were streaming freely down her cheeks by now, and Cher was totally buggin. She had no idea what could have happened to make her friend so upset. “I don’t like boys. Any boy.”
“Most guys at school are gross anyway, Tai. it’s-”
“I like girls.”
Oh.
Oh! It all made much more sense now. Cher giggled. “God, I feel like such a dope!” she said, nudging Tai gently on the shoulder. “My gaydar totally needs some work. First Christian and now you!”
“You’re not mad?” Tai asked timidly, her eyes wide and frightened.
“As if! Homophobia is so not classy.” Cher said, very seriously. “I just feel bad for forcing you into all of those dates! You must have been so uncomfortable. I’m sorry.”
Tai shrugged, the corners of her lips tugging into a small smile. “It’s no biggie. It actually kinda helped me figure some things out.”
Cher nodded, determined. “At least now I know to start setting you up on dates with girls instead of guys.”
Tai giggled, sincerely this time as she pulled Cher into a hug. “Thank you.”