pushing you away. I’m sorry—”
I cut him off. “Max, I love what you do for our community. I want to be there with you.”
“I’m so freaking proud of the courage it took to get on that stage and stand with Kelly and Taylor.” He looks me in the eyes. “I love you, dude.”
Dude.
We walk, slowly, toward the group of people on the school’s front lawn. There are students and parents with signs that read STAY GOLD and TEAM PONY and LOVE TRUMPS HATE.
We make it to the curb, the same spot I stopped at on the first day of school, and my legs freeze up again. I can’t do this. I’m not strong enough.
Georgia senses my hesitation. “You OK?”
“It’s too much,” I confess.
“Pony, all of these people are here for you. You can do this.” She puts her arm around me. “And I won’t leave your side.”
“But what about those people?” I ask, pointing to the group across the street protesting.
Max shakes his head. “That same group is at every LGBTQIA event. I know most of their names! We can’t change those people’s minds. We just love louder and harder than they can hate.”
I return my focus to the group gathered on the lawn. All smiles, warmth, and love. My stomach turns over. Max pinches my butt. “You got this, Pony.”
I hear Ted London in my head: Fake it until you make it, kid.
Rocky messes up my hair. “You the man!”
Man.
I put one foot in front of the other, and we walk into the crowd, together.
GEORGIA, 5:49 P.M.
I can’t believe we pulled this freaking thing off. I catch Max’s eye, and we exchange a smile. We are on either side of Pony, protecting his tender body. We are his tender bodyguards.
My heart cracks open wide as we walk through the group of people that came out to support Pony and the LGBTQIA community. Couldn’t be more than thirty people, but not a bad showing for announcing at noon today. People do care. This feels healing for Pony and the school.
We pass by Kenji and Jerry. They snap a selfie with Pony.
Kelly and Taylor run up, and I give them both hugs.
“How are you doing?” Pony asks them, concerned, which is cute.
“We are better than ever,” Taylor says, holding Kelly’s hand with no worry about who’s looking.
Kelly smiles big. “He’s the one with broken ribs, and he’s worried about us.”
“You’ve got a keeper, Georgia,” Taylor says to me, winking.
“You did pretty good, too,” I say.
“Pretty good?” Kelly asks, offended. I haven’t seen Kelly this happy in a long time. She’s practically glowing. “Double date?” she asks.
“Hell yes,” I say.
Without notice, we’re surrounded by cheerleaders. I look at Pony with wide eyes. I didn’t tell him that I quit the squad. He had enough to worry about.
“What are you doing here?” I ask Mia. They should be at the competition.
“We skipped the award part to be here,” she says, forcing a smile. She turns to Pony. “On behalf of the cheerleaders, we are so sorry for what happened last night, Pony. That is not what Hillcrest is about.”
“Thanks,” he says.
“You are a wonderful guy, and Georgia is lucky to have you,” she adds.
I cut in. “Excuse me? What changed?”
Lauren pushes her way up and puts her arm around Mia. “We had a little heart-to-heart.”
“I came around,” Mia admits.
“Damn right, you did,” Lauren says with a sly smile. “Or else we all would have quit the team this morning with Georgia.”
“You quit the team?” Pony asks me. I look over at Max. He’s watching like it’s an episode of Riverdale.
I turn to Pony. “I wanted to be with you today.”
Before Pony can say anything, Mia jumps in. “Georgia, it’s my bad. I was out of line. Please don’t quit. I need you there, G.”
“I could clear my schedule up, as long as I can keep writing for the Reporter.”
“Are you—” Mia starts, then Lauren gives her a gentle nudge. “Fine. We can make it work.” This must be killing her.
“Then I unquit the team,” I announce. Mia hugs me like I’ve agreed to give her my kidney. I hug Lauren and whisper in her ear, “I’m proud of you for standing up.”
“I learned it by watching you,” she says with a wink.
Pony and I keep moving toward the steps leading up to the school’s entrance. We lost Max somewhere along the way. I stop Pony. “I’m going to run into the school. I’ll be back in two minutes. Will you be all right?”
“Yes,”