Stay Gold - Tobly McSmith Page 0,51

always an ally.

“None,” I say.

“Well, there’s one,” Max corrects me. “And it would help things if you were visible.”

“Maxy,” Wendy interrupts. “Not everyone can be out and proud. Sometimes it’s dangerous.”

“I get that, Wendy-bear,” Max says.

“And not everyone has to be out,” she adds. “Pony will come out when he’s ready, or not, and that’s fine, too.”

“And I get that.” Max is flustered.

I jump in, trying to help. “I want to be known as the sometimes-funny, sometimes-cute new kid.”

“Why can’t you be the all-the-time cute and funny transgender new kid?”

I shake my head. “The transgender part can overshadow the other parts.”

Wendy ruffles his hair. “It’s a personal choice, and this is what Pony wants right now. We should support him.”

“You’re probably right, Wendy-bear,” he says.

I smile at Wendy. I’m starting to really like her for Max.

We arrive at the Resource Center and run up the steps. It’s a funky-looking building offering medical and dental services, classes, counseling, and social events for the LGBTQIA community. This is where I met Max, actually. The place of our meet-cute.

We skip down the corridor to the youth center and swing open the door, making a grand entrance. It’s a huge room with video games, stacks of board games, and a pool table. The place is packed wall-to-wall with queer kids. They host events like dinner parties, game nights, and dances. Today is the annual fundraiser carnival. When we are older, we will be hanging out at queer bars, but for now, this is our playground.

After writing our names and pronouns on name tags and sticking them to our chests, we hit the refreshment stand and try to orient ourselves to the chaos. There’s all sorts of stations set up—games, crafts for sale, and face painting. No alcohol here, just teens fueled on sugar and the excitement of being surrounded by their chosen family.

After they procure sodas and Junior Mints, Max and Wendy wander off to get matching temporary tattoos. I walk around looking for my other friends, but I don’t see any familiar faces. Finally, I see an old friend. Dylan is nonbinary, tall with short black hair held back by two pink barrettes. I read the pronoun sticker: they/them.

“Hey, Dylan,” I say, and we hug.

“Pony, where you been? Haven’t seen you around the center.”

Guilt sets in immediately. I have been caught up in my stealth life. “Yeah, bud. I started at a new school. It’s been keeping me busy.”

“Yeah, I heard.”

“You heard?” I ask.

Dylan shrugs. “I’m hosting a queer open mic next Wednesday. Can you come by?”

“Maybe, I might be—”

“Busy?”

“No,” I try to explain. “I think I’m working.”

“Sure, I get it. New life, new friends. No need for us anymore, right?

“Not at all,” I say. My guilt has turned into anger. They walk off, revealing another familiar face about ten feet away. This one from Hillcrest. I duck down like a complete lunatic and peek over the table. I watch Kelly thumb through a box of old records. Kelly, the mascot. Kelly, Georgia’s friend. Kelly, the girl who Jerry has been dating. What the hell is she doing here? She turns around to talk to a girl, and I duck back down.

I hear a voice above me. “How long are you planning to hide out at my table?”

I look up at the girl sitting at the table that I’m using as a body shield. She’s got long black hair and a sexy, witchy look. Not sure if it’s a costume.

“Sorry,” I say, “just a minute more.”

“Whoever you’re hiding from, she walked away. You’re safe. Would you like me to read your tarot cards?”

“Sure,” I say, then slide into the empty chair across from her.

“It’ll be five raffle tickets.”

“Oh, sorry, I don’t have any.” I start to stand up.

“No, stay. The first reading is free for cute boys.” She winks at me and begins shuffling her cards. “I’m Gretchen.”

“Pony,” I say.

“Ask the universe a question to set the intention of the cards.”

I pretend like I’m narrowing down the options in my head, but there’s only one thing I want to know about.

I close my eyes and think: What will happen with me and Georgia?

I open my eyes, and Gretchen spreads the cards out in front of me.

“Now, select one card, and I will tell you the answer to your question.”

I move my hands across the deck and flip over a card at random. It’s got a heart on it with three swords piecing through it. That can’t be good.

“Pony. You have selected the three