Chapter Text
“My parents don’t believe I’m gay.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Ruby’s head snapped up from her math notes as she heard her best friend say that, knowing that she had planned on coming out to her parents the previous night. She had helped Sapphire plan what she was going to bake for supper so they were happily full, how much wine she’d give them so they were happy tipsy and not angry drunk, and had even acted as her parents multiple times as the barely taller girl had come out over and over again. They’d had everything planned down to even the time when she would stand up and announce her sexuality, and Ruby had been confident that she had helped her friend be able to get a good reaction from them.
“I told them! I gave them wine, I made both of their favorite kinds of pastas-” Ruby had personally found that a bit overboard, but had agreed that it was a good idea just in case “-and said exactly what I told you!” Sapphire sighed, sitting next to her friend and leaning her head on the other girl’s shoulder. The two had been friends for ages, so physical affection was certainly nothing new. “They… they didn’t believe me. They laughed.”
Ruby’s experience with coming out had gone just fine, as she had two sisters who had both already come out as pansexual and gay. It had only been a matter of time before she followed suit as well. The only surprising thing was the fact that she’d come out after her younger sister had. So, given how kindly her mother had taken her own coming out, she wasn’t exactly sure what to say to her friend. “I’m… wow, Sapphire. I’m sorry.”
“I just don’t understand.” She sighed again as Ruby wrapped an arm around her, the other hand still balancing notes on her lap. The touch was almost painful, as Ruby’d had an obvious crush on the other girl for years now. The blonde was oblivious though, and her anxiety prevented her from saying anything in fear of ruining this decade long friendship. “I knew that they wouldn’t take it well, that’s why we prepared that entire part about how God’s love extends even to gay people. I just don’t understand why they would think I’d come out to them as a joke. They laughed, Ruby.”
Ruby shook her head a little, almost wanting to laugh at this herself. She’d heard of bad reactions (hell, the two had even cleared it with Ruby’s mother that Sapphire could stay with them if her home situation got to be too bad over her coming out), but this seemed somehow more painful. “Denial?” She finally asked, that being the only idea that made sense to her. “They probably just don’t want to believe that their only kid is gay.”
“Well I’m not sure how I’m supposed to convince them. If me saying it isn’t enough for them, what is?”
Biting her tongue, Ruby slowly shut her notes. She slipped the notebook into her bag, figuring she would have plenty of time at lunch to study instead of now. Pearl could probably help her, after the mandatory scolding. This idea she had (and this situation in general) was far more important than some stupid math test in a class she was already aceing. “Just… bring someone home,” she suggested, her voice far more hushed than usual. She wanted Sapphire to ask her to do it, and she knew the other girl responded well to quiet talking and soft touches. Just as she remembered that second part, she slowly started to rub her arm. “How can they deny your sexuality if you’re hugging and kissing a girl in front of their eyes.” Not only that, but their reaction would have to be better than it would be without someone there. There’s no way her parents (the strictly professional people they were) would yell at her with someone else there. It wouldn’t protect Sapphire forever, but it would hopefully be enough for them to understand that her sexuality wasn’t a choice. Or, at least, to get used to the fact that she wouldn’t be marrying a man.
There were hundreds of better ways to go about this, Ruby was sure. But what could be better than hopefully getting rid of this childish crush by being allowed to kiss her friend for an afternoon? Already, she was certain that if Sapphire asked her to be her fake partner, she’d be able to get over this dumb crush once and for all by getting all of her affection out at once. She almost smiled at the idea before realizing that Sapphire would likely notice. While only one of her eyes fully worked, she seemed to be able to see everything going on around her.
“That’s… not a terrible idea.” The blonde sat up, doing so slowly so Ruby wouldn’t withdraw her arm. “You should do it! They’ve met you before, they know we’ve been friends forever, and that you’re gay… It would just make sense. If you don’t mind.” She added the last part before she got too ahead of herself, but Ruby didn’t seem to mind at all. She squeezed Sapphire’s arm lightly before nodding.
“I’d be honored, dear.” That made both of them laugh, and Ruby took it another step further by taking Sapphire’s hand and pressing a kiss to the back of it. She didn’t seem to mind though, even seemingly delighted by the touch of the other girl’s lips.
“You should come home with me after school today, please. I know that by now they’re taking this in and may get upset with me if I’m not alone…” Ruby nodded in agreement.
“Deal.”
“One more thing.” Ruby tilted her head and Sapphire scrunched her nose up for a moment, thinking this next part fully through. “We do tend to be rather affectionate together and all, but except for Pearl’s sleepover in 7th grade when Amethyst made us play Spin the Bottle, I don’t think we’ve really ever kissed.” Ruby almost smiled at that memory. That had been a great night. “It would be rather awkward we don’t seem in synch when with my parents. Could we go through the day acting like we’re dating? Just as practice?” It was a thinly veiled disguise of kissing the other and Sapphire knew it. But she was not going to let one second of this opportunity go to waste, no matter how poorly it had started.
It seemed like God was somehow thanking Ruby for actually caring enough to study for her math test, and she made a mental note to start studying more often. Not only did Sapphire want to date her (for an entire day), she’d finally be able to get rid of this pesky crush. So Ruby quickly nodded in agreement before leaning over and pressing a chaste kiss to Sapphire’s lips. She could feel her face burning in embarrassment, but didn’t pull away until only a second after she felt the other girl return the affection. Both of them refused to meet eye contact afterwards, which allowed Ruby to keep her giddy smile.
Sapphire looked like she was about to say something, but the five minute bell rang. Everyone outside with them started to filter in, knowing that they weren’t allowed to stay out any longer. “Let’s get to class,” Sapphire suggested instead of saying what she wanted to, and stood up from the bench next to Ruby, and almost shyly offered her hand. Ruby grabbed it quickly, but had to let go again so she could pull her backpack over her shoulders. She took Sapphire’s hand again and led the other girl inside, only letting go when they had to go to separate classrooms.
“See you in English?”
“See you then,” Sapphire agreed, turning the opposite way to get to her class. Ruby stared after her for a moment, only looking away as the other girl turned a corner. Maybe this would help her come out to her parents better, but Ruby was already starting to doubt the idea that she’d be able to get over her crush by dating her.
Shit.