"I will kick anyone's ass who even dares to fuck with you today." Priya said this to me in the car as I drove us to school. It was the day after going back from Thanksgiving break, and I was truly not looking forward to it- especially if Carter had told people about Noelle and I.

"I definitely believe it." I chuckled as I drove into the school parking lot.

"I mean it. Let anyone fuck with you. Just let them see what happens." Priya said, "Promise me you'll send me a text if you need me?"

"I promise. Though I can hold my own." I said.

The day started off normal. I was expecting to see people staring at me, or snickering at me. But nothing happened at the first part of the day. When I walked with Noelle to our first period class, nothing happened. Even when I was in my third period class with Carter, he completely ignored me, as did I to him.

It wasn't until the end of the day that something finally happened. I had an uneasy feeling in my stomach all day, and it came into fruition right after last period. I had been checking up on Noelle all day- ever since what happened with her mom. I was going to walk out with her to her car after last period that day, and I stood by her locker, waiting for her to leave her last period class- Physics. It always ran slightly late due to the amount of work.

I noticed Kayla Steele- the girl who was Carter's date, as well as another tall girl with red hair, in the hallway, looking at me. I saw Kayla lean over, say something to the other girl, and then laugh. Even though Kayla was a year younger than me, I had a couple classes with her throughout my years in high school- elective classes such as gym and art. She was always obnoxious, rude, and I completely avoided her. She seemed to be the type that was addicted to drama. She also always seemed to have something for a new guy. I knew guys liked her- with her long, honey blonde hair and thin frame with large boobs- but as my mom always says, "pretty on the outside gets erased by ugly from the inside."

Noelle walked over to me finally, looking cute in her thin red hoodie with a plaid shirt over it and black joggers. "Hey. You look distracted, is everything okay?" she walked over to me. She looked like she wanted to lean in and give me a kiss, but I knew we were still both hesitant to do that in school.

"I'm fine. It just looked like that bitch Kayla was over there laughing at me." I said to Noelle as she opened up her locker and grabbed her bag.

Noelle glanced over at her, "She is definitely looking at us. Let her come over and bother us. It won't end well."

I wondered what she meant by that, and I figured I was about to find out when Kayla and her red-haired friend came walking over to us.

"So it's true? You're dating?" Kayla said, standing in front of us, almost blocking our way.

"I would think so, considering you caught me and Harley making out at the dance." Noelle said, not even looking at Kayla and her tag-along.

"What's it to you?" I added. While I was not a fan of confrontation, I knew to not let anyone walk all over me. While my dad was many things- he was never the type to not stand his ground. That is something he taught me.

"Oh, nothing." Kayla chuckled, with a smug grin on her face. She was wearing a low-cut black shirt with a giant cross necklace- that was one thing I knew about her as well- she was "religious". As in, she preached the ways of Jesus, yet acted like a bitch to everyone.

"Well, obviously it isn't nothing if you're over here bothering us." Noelle turned around and finally looked at Kayla and her friend.

"It's just wrong. That's all." her friend spoke up.

"That's nice." Noelle said, and then turned to me, "Harley, you ready to go?"

"More than ready." I said, throwing a glare to Kayla and her friend. Noelle and I took a step forward, but Kayla stepped in front of us, blocking our way.

"Move." Noelle said to her, in a tone that was more sharp than I have heard from her before.

"I don't think I want to." Kayla said in a mocking tone.

I was about to say something, when Noelle shook her head and chuckled. "You tried the wrong fucking person today." she said, and then before I even knew it, she shoved Kayla. Hard. Hard enough that she fell back and slid across the hall. People in the hallways were staring.

"What the fuck!" her friend yelped, and ran over to her.

"You just shoved me!" Kayla yelled to Noelle.

"You deserved it." I said to Kayla. And then she got up, and starting making her way over to Noelle.

"Please, do you really think you can fuck me up?" Noelle said, looking ready to take on Kayla.

"Ladies, break it up!" Miss Adams, the Vice Principal, was hurriedly making her way over to us. Kayla stepped back, and twisted her face in "pain".

"She shoved me!" Kayla pointed at Noelle.

Miss Adams, a young woman most likely in her late twenties, looked at Noelle and then Kayla. "Is this true?"

"Yep. She deserved it." Noelle said.

"Ladies. Come with me." Miss Adams said, and Kayla turned to follow her. Noelle shrugged and looked at me.

"I'll text you right when this is done and over with. You don't have to wait for me." she said, and the turned to go follow Miss Adams and Kayla.

Kayla's friend just turned and stared at me.

"Seriously? What the fuck was the point of that?" I snapped at her, and then decided in that moment I had enough. I started to walk away. But I knew I wasn't going to go home- I had to wait for Noelle.

As I walked down the hall, not even knowing where I was going, I saw Priya running toward me. Fuck. I had to drive her home.

"Harley! Are you okay? I heard there was a fight." she said, "I figured I would come to find you."

"You already know? I fucking hate high school." I walked over to Priya. She immediately gave me a hug.

"Why didn't you call me to fuck a bitch up?" she said as we pulled away. She took my hand and led us to the nearest bench to sit down.

"Noelle seemed to have it handled." I said.

"Kayla Steele better watch herself. You better believe I am after her next." Priya shook her head, "What happened?"

"Her and her friend came over and started taunting us. Told us what we were doing was wrong. Noelle and I tried to leave, but Kayla blocked her way. Noelle then shoved her." I explained to Priya.

"My friend Vanessa was in the hall watching. She told me that Kayla slid across the ground." Priya laughed.

"She absolutely deserved it." I said, chuckling, "But I am just worried Noelle is going to get in a lot of trouble."

"She will be able to handle her own. But how are you?" Priya asked me.

"A little shaken, to be honest. I never thought that homophobia would be something I had to deal with." I said, "I will never understand why people are like this."

"They're ignorant and uneducated. Shit, even my parents who are so strict have nothing against the LGBTQ community." Priya shook her head, "But just know that so many more people support you than don't. Especially me." Priya smiled at me.

"Thank you. I needed to hear that." I said, "I hope that this is what being a lesbian isn't like in the real world."

"People are going to hate on you no matter what. For me, it's for the color of my skin. For you, your sexuality. It's pure ignorance." Priya said, "But you just said 'being a lesbian'. Do you think that's what you identify as officially?"

"For now, yes. I don't think I will ever feel for a guy what I feel for Noelle." I said.

After a little while longer, I saw Noelle walking down the hall. She noticed Priya and I sitting on the bench waiting for her, and looked surprised.

"You didn't have to wait for me!" she said, rushing over toward us. I stood up, and looked at her. Then I leaned in and gave her a kiss. It was after school hours. Just Priya and I in the hall.

"Yes, I did." I said to her.

"So, what's the verdict?" Priya asked Noelle, standing up as well.

"I am suspended for three days." Noelle rolled her eyes.

"What! And let me guess, Kayla barely got a punishment?" I said.

"Exactly what happened. She got detention for a day. Even after I explained the homophobia." Noelle said.

"Unbelievable." I said, anger growing inside me.

"I am honestly more concerned about how this will look for colleges I am applying to." Noelle said, "But I don't regret it. I am just going to lie about it to my mom and go to the gym and to Starbucks or something while she thinks I am at school. I don't want to be home with her for three days."

"You can hangout at my house too." I said, "You can chill in my room all day, I don't care."

"I might take you up that." Noelle smiled at me. She then looked at me more seriously, "I promise you, things won't always be like this. Kayla is just a bitch. I don't want this to deter you from coming out."

"As long as you'll push any bitch out of the way for me, it won't." I joked, but inside I was still feeling a bit uneasy. But it wouldn't stop me. I was too happy with Noelle to let it stop me.