Chapter 08

Gael

We enter the eating area and go straight to where our group is sitting.

“Rayka, you took your time, where were you?” Ness asks.

“Relax mom, I just went to buy some hair clips. Or did you forget last time?”

Rayka puts the bag with the items on the table.

“I had forgotten, I'm glad you remembered. Rayka, help me make a bun without messing up my braid.” Ness asks.

Rayka goes over to her friend and starts messing with her hair.

“Sarah, help me with mine.” Liz asks.

I guess we won't be leaving soon, so the best thing I can do is sit and wait.

“Hey Rayka, I remembered something about last night.”

“What, Liz?”

“Who's afraid of the big bad wolf, big bad wolf.” Liz speaks humming and looking at me.

I don't understand why she is looking at me, is she angry because I didn't let her partner up with Rayka?

“Quiet Liz.” Rayka says making her friends laugh.

I don't know if it's an impression, but it seems that Rayka's face turned red when Liz sang. And from everyone's reaction, I don't think that has anything to do with me.

“What are you guys talking about?” Bryan asks.

“Girl stuff.” Ness replies, apparently, she is still angry with her brother.

“At that time, you wanted to know about our business, it's only fair that we know about yours.” Charles argues.

“But in this case, it's a girl's night out thing.” Sarah says.

If there's one thing, I've learned from having three sisters at home, it's that you should never try to find out what they do and talk about during these encounters. When I was a kid, I tried to atone for a Gayla night and I was discovered, as punishment, they locked me in the room and made me a doll, putting on a dress and putting on makeup. My mother must have kept a photo of that day to this day, I learned to stay away from women gathered together.

“I still want to know.” Bryan insists.

“What part of "girls' night out" don't you understand?” Rayka asks. “Oh, my gods, that's it then, now I understand everything.”

I see her smile and I suspect there's going to be some payback for before, now he's screwed.

“Got what?” Bryan asks.

“You is gay.”

Rayka acts like it's a big revelation, but I see her wink at me, payback time.

“Now it makes perfect sense, you are talking bad about me to the boys, it was jealousy, fear of them liking me and leaving you aside.”

Although it is impossible for me to be that interested in Bryan or any other man, and it is unlikely that I would not like Rayka after meeting her, I admire her performance. She speaks as if it were something really real and I try my best not to laugh.

“Are you crazy?” Bryan looks outraged. “I like women, if you want, I will show you know how much of a man I am.”

He didn't realize that she's making out with him.

“Having a little toy between your legs doesn't make you a man.” Rayka retorts.

“Your friend knows I'm straight, tell her Liz.” He's almost begging.

“I only know that you are good at sex, what you do with your life in Miami I know nothing. But I assume that's why you never assumed anything with me, it would be difficult to maintain a front dating your sister's best friend.”

Although we were joking, Liz's line seemed more like a pinprick for the way he deals with her.

I take a deep breath and decide to join the game, after all I said I would help her.

“So, that's why you never took any girl home? But why didn't you tell me Bryan, I would have given you full support in your choice.”

The girls switch places and so Ness goes to tie Rayka's hair, and Liz to tie Sarah's, although hers is already in two braids.

“Know that I support you in coming out of the closet for good.” Charles speaks up.

“I don't have to come out of anything, because I'm not gay.” He's nonconformist.

“Before I go out, I will tell you that I like women, so don't want me as a boyfriend.” Allan says.

“So that's why Dad's gun smelled funny when I went to clean it, well Bryan, there are safer consoles, what if it goes off inside you.” Ness speaks.

This is turning into a real plot, Bryan who has always been used to playing with everyone, has not yet realized that everything is just a prank.

“Even you, Ness?”

“I just want you to know that I am on your side in your choice, and I will help you tell our parents.”

“Stop it. - Bryan asks.”

I look at Rayka and see that she is also holding back from laughing at Bryan's despair.

“It's okay, we'll give you some time to get ready so you can come out as you really are.” Rayka says. “In the meantime, we're going to have fun at Six Flags.”

“And how are the partnerships?” I asks.

“Me with Charles, Sarah with Allan, and Liz with Bryan.” Ness replies.

A good formation, and after paying for our lunch, we leave the food court and call two cabs to take us to the park, which although not far, is a two mile walk to get there. I go in one car with Rayka, Ness and Charles and the rest go in the second car, I sit in the back with the girls and Charles in the front next to the driver.

“You've taken it hard with Bryan, huh Rayka.” Ness comments as soon as the car starts moving.

“I took it hard. And you saying that he uses his father's gun as a consolation was something light by chance?” Rayka questions.

Just remembering that scene makes me laugh.

“I was mad at him and thought it would be well-deserved.”

“I still can't believe Bryan didn't realize it was a joke, since he loves to do that to others.” Charles comments.

In fact, you'd think he'd realize it right away, but he was so focused on the accusation of his sexuality that he didn't notice it.

“Part of a lawyer's talent is being able to persuade with words, a teacher once told us that a good lawyer can make even a guilty defendant believe he is innocent.” Rayka speaks.

“Remind me never to play poker against you.” I laughs. “But where did you get the idea to call him gay?”

Minutes before we were talking about her getting even and nothing was said about what she would do.

“I was still thinking about how to get even when the subject of girls' night came up, and I saw the perfect opportunity to make fun of him, and the best part was that everyone got in on the joke.”

This woman has an incredible mind, I would never have thought of something so fast.