Radiating

***Author's note: Sorry for the absense. But I'm back and posting now. A quick recap: Florence realizes Renolds and the last few nights with  her were not part of some drug induced dream. Now, with Florence intently not thinking about Astrid, Renolds leaves her with Tedd for the day and, much to her surprise, Astrid is there.***

After a long awaited grilled cheese, Tedd brought me his phone. He left me to make my call alone, but Astrid didn’t think to have the same courtesy. I wasn’t surprised though, she was a curious person. 

I was too busy not thinking about Astrid to worry about calling my house.

“Hello,” I said.

My mother broke into hysterics. All I caught was “Where have you been?!”

“Well…” I didn’t even think about my lie. “Not too far away. I met up with a friend and I’ve been staying with her.”

“Who? Why?!”

“Renolds,” I couldn’t think of her last name. Astrid, thankfully, passed me a note, “Renolds Willow. I needed a change in scene. Maybe it’s stupid, but I’m 18 now. I can stay with a friend if I want.”

“What about school? And you just turned 18! You can’t do this.”

“I’ll figure it out. I can make my own decisions. I’m fine and safe. That’s what matters. If that stance changes, I’ll let you know. Goodbye.” I hung up the phone.

Astrid’s blue eyes bared questions I wouldn’t answer. “You okay?” she asked.

“I don’t really care.”

“If you’re okay?”

“What my parents think.”

“Do they know you’re gay?”

I stopped. Had I mentioned that to her? I didn’t even know if I was gay… What the hell… My frustration grew and flitted across my face.

“You are gay, aren’t you?” I shrugged. “You just… you seem so. I’m sorry. You have gay vibes.”

I laughed out loud at this. “Gay vibes? Are we on acid now?”

“No. At least I’m not. But some people radiate gay. Other’s radiate straight. It’s something I see because I pay attention. Like right now you won’t meet my eye. You haven’t all day. You haven’t had that problem before so I know you’re uncomfortable. I pay attention to these things, Florence Lee. So I know.”

Nodding, I stood up to find Tedd again. “Are you mad?” she asked.

“No. Just… well. Exhausted. In the mental sort of way that sleep doesn’t help.”

“I know a way that will help,” Her eyes lit up with a grin. It wasn’t malevolent or provocative. It was an excited grin. So I let her take me by the hand and guide me away from the world I was constantly avoiding.