Our New Normal

  “If nothing else, these parents will be more inclined to teach their children tolerance so that this cycle of discrimination can finally come to an end,” Chloe added. “Same-sex couples don’t want to convert the straights; they just want to live normal, healthy lives with the same legal rights as everyone else.”

  “Then they shouldn’t be gay,” Kelly retorted.

  Tori’s eyes became frustrated slits. “Do you honestly think that these people want to go through all of this on purpose? A disproportionate number of people in the LGBTQ community are regularly ostracized, humiliated, assaulted, and discriminated against because of whom they love. Many of them have to keep their sexuality hidden for their entire lives to avoid persecution. Some even deny it to themselves, refusing to be who they really are because of their religious backgrounds or due to society telling them how they feel is wrong. Do you honestly think that someone wakes up one day and thinks, ‘Hey, I think I’ll start being gay today! I know a lot of people will hate me just because of who I love and I’ll double my risk of bodily harm, but I think it’ll be fun!’ Please. These people don’t have any more choice than a heterosexual person has to be attracted to the opposite gender! A straight man isn’t going to force himself to like men; why should a homosexual man be forced to like women?”

  The class remained silent for a moment, most of the students in the audience with thoughtful looks. “That’s time,” Mr. Thompson said. “Great job, everyone! Let’s bring up the next group.” The four of them proceeded back to their seats, Chloe and Tori beaming with pride.

  After class, Mr. Thompson motioned Chloe and Tori to his desk. “Girls, that was spectacular!” he exclaimed. “You obviously put some serious time in on researching the assignment and far exceeded my expectations.” He leaned across the desk and inspected the room for others. “Just between us, you gals pummeled Kelly and Stephen in your debate,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’m really proud of you two.”

  Both girls blushed as they thanked him and left the room before the late bell rang. They walked to their next class together, smiles plastered across their faces.

  “That was pretty great,” Tori whispered. “Especially since we have a reason to fight for it.” Tori put her arm around Chloe, squeezing her gently before continuing to walk.

  “Definitely,” Chloe agreed, leaning into Tori. “And it’s pretty clear that we aced it. Thank goodness it’s over!”

  * * *

  Chloe walked into her house, setting her book bag in the hallway as she made her way into the kitchen. Her mom always came home early on Mondays, and Chloe was especially thankful that this week would be no exception. After debating in class with Tori by her side, her feelings for her girlfriend had grown even stronger. They made a good team, and Chloe wanted to stay with Tori for a long time. Not only that, but defending same-sex marriage made her want to protect her relationship with Tori even more; one day they may be fighting the courts for their right to marry. Though nervous, she decided that she was finally going to come out to her mother. She wasn’t necessarily worried about negative repercussions; her mom was pretty open-minded. Still, it was a big step.

  Chloe lingered in the doorway of the kitchen, her stomach twisting in knots. “Um, Mom, can I talk to you?” she asked quietly, her voice quavering.

  Cynthia turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow as she noticed the worry on her daughter’s face. “Of course you can, honey,” she insisted. “Is everything okay?”

  “I hope so,” Chloe muttered as she nodded for her mom to follow her into the dining room.

  They sat across from one another, a look of concern on Cynthia’s face. “What’s wrong?” she inquired.

  “I want to tell you something, but I’m a little scared.”

  Cynthia reached across the table, holding her hand. “You know you can tell me anything.”

  “I know,” Chloe muttered, still hesitant. “Well, I just wanted you to know that I like someone at school, and that person likes me too, and I think we’re going to start dating.”

  “Well that’s good, dear!” she declared supportively. “Why were you worried to tell me that? Is he some sort of deviant or something?”

  Chloe frowned. “No, mom, it’s not that,” she said. “It’s just that, well, it’s not a guy.”

  Cynthia looked at her, her face passive. “I see.”

  Tears welled in Chloe’s eyes, her heart pounding in her ears. “Her name is Tori. I-I really like her, and she likes me, too, and I wanted you to know.”

  Cynthia drew in a deep breath as she processed the information. She exhaled slowly, her eyes thoughtful. “So…so does this mean that you’re…that you’re gay?”

  Chloe nodded. “Yeah, mom.” She sighed nervously. “I’ve tried dating guys, you know that, but it just never worked. Something never felt right. But then I met Tori, and things just made sense, you know?” She left out her tryst with Kristen, figuring that it was irrelevant at this point—and she didn’t want to overwhelm her mother with too much information at once.

  “I understand, sweetheart,” her mother said. “I sort of noticed that a few times, too, if I’m honest. It seemed a little awkward sometimes.”

  “Exactly!” Chloe exclaimed. “You should meet Tori, though, mom. She’s great! We get along really well, and I think you’ll like her.”

  Her mother smiled. “It’s your choice, dear, and you know that I support you no matter what. I’m happy you found someone who makes you happy.” She squeezed Chloe’s hand affectionately.

  “Really, mom? You don’t hate me?”

  Cynthia chuckled. “Of course not, Chlo,” she insisted. “You’re my daughter, and I love you!” She paused for a moment, smiling. “Besides, I had a crush on a girl when I was your age.”

  Chloe’s eyes widened. “Really?”

  Her mom gazed into the distance as if seeing her past. “I sure did. Her name was Julia. She was beautiful! But, back then, you just didn’t act on that sort of thing, you know?” Chloe nodded. “There are more freedoms now than back then, though, so I say do what makes you happy.”

  Chloe rushed to the other side of the table and threw her arms around her mother, tears streaming down her face. “Thank you so much, Mom!

  “Thank you for trusting me enough to be honest,” Cynthia said. “You don’t know how much that means to me. You should always be comfortable enough to tell me anything, and you can rest assured that I’ll always be here, okay?”

  “Definitely.” Chloe kissed her mom on the forehead. “I’m going to tell Tori the good news.” She dialed Tori’s number as hurried to her room and shut her bedroom door.

  “Hey there, hun,” Tori greeted.

  “Hey, sweetie!” Chloe exclaimed.

  “What’s going on? You sound all excited.”

  “I am!” Chloe replied. “I just came out to my mom! And I told her about us, too!”

  “Oh, wow!” Tori exclaimed. “What’d she say?”

  “She’s totally cool with it,” she responded. “I’m so relieved! She even said that she noticed I was kind of awkward around guys, and she said she had a crush on a girl when she was our age, anyway.”

  “Wow, really?” Tori asked. “That’s great! What did she say about us?”

  “She said I should do what makes me happy, and you make me happy, Tori. You should come over here soon to meet my mom.”

  Tori chuckled. “Yes, ma’am,” she joked. “When?”

  “Well, I have to work tonight,” Chloe began, “but I’d like you to come over soon. Maybe the three of us can have dinner together. You’ll like my mom, Tori. She’s laid back and has the same sense of humor as me. She’s great.”

  “Sounds good,” Tori replied. “I look forward to it.”

  Chapter 23

  Tori’s stomach churned with concern as she parked in front of Chloe’s house. Determined to make a good impression, she’d worn one of her button-down blouses and
a pair of pleated slacks—both of which she usually only wore to church—as well as put her hair in a bun and applied neutral-colored makeup. She practiced a formal greeting on the way over; she’d picked up some hostess skills from her mother during formal events, and debate class had helped her sound more confident when she spoke.

  She knocked on the door, and Chloe answered. Chloe had also dressed up; she wore a knee-length dress that flattered her body shape, her hair had been curled and draped her shoulders, and she’d worn the jewelry that her grandmother had given her. “Hi!” she greeted, her face crimson with excitement.

  “Hi, babe,” Tori replied quietly. “You look amazing.”

  Chloe grinned. “Thank you. So do you.” She reached out and squeezed her hand. “Please, come in.”

  Tori followed her down the hallway, past their living room and a flight of stairs, until they reached the dining room. A middle-aged woman with a warm, welcoming smile was at the table and stood as they entered. There was no doubt that she was Chloe’s mother; they looked almost identical.

  “You have to be Chloe’s mom,” Tori said, extending her hand. “You both look so much alike! My name’s Tori. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Cynthia chuckled. “So formal!” she said, shaking her hand then bringing her in for a tight hug. “I’m Cynthia. Welcome to our home. Chloe’s told me lots about you.”

  Tori fought back tears, overwhelmed with relief over being accepted so effortlessly. “She’s told me a lot about you as well.”

  Chloe brought out a large serving bowl of chicken and broccoli fettuccine alfredo and a basket of freshly baked garlic bread. “I made dinner for us tonight,” Chloe declared proudly, setting the dishes on the table.

  “It smells amazing!” Tori said, her stomach growling to further emphasize the point. She blushed and patted her stomach. “Sorry about that; I didn’t have much of an appetite today, but it seems to be back now.” Her nerves had been shot most of the day with the anticipation of meeting Cynthia, so she had barely eaten; she couldn’t remember if she’d even eaten lunch, now that she was thinking about it.

  “Let’s get some food into you, then!” Cynthia insisted as she scooped a generous helping of pasta onto Tori’s plate and pushed the basket of bread closer to her.

  Tori’s eyes rolled into the back of her head with the first bite. Her mother wasn’t much of a cook, so it’d been quite a while since Tori had eaten a quality, homemade meal. “This is fantastic, Chloe!” she exclaimed.

  Chloe smiled bashfully. “I’m glad you like it.”

  “Do you work, Tori?” Cynthia asked.

  Tori shook her head, a twinge of guilt erupting in her stomach as she thought about when she’d trashed the fitting rooms at Chloe’s job. “Cheerleading takes up a lot of my free time during the evening and weekends, so my parents didn’t think it would make sense to try and fit a job into my schedule.” She left out that her parents had enough money that she could just buy whatever she wanted without having to worry about it; she could tell by their modest home that Cynthia wasn’t exactly made of money.

  “That makes sense,” Cynthia said. “I’ve told Chloe a few times that she should cut her hours at Trend so she has more time for rest and studying.”

  Chloe rolled her eyes. “Mom, I’m not having you buy my clothes for me when I can pay for them myself,” she argued. “I get a discount there, too, so having a job saves us both money.”

  Cynthia beamed with pride as she nodded to Chloe. “I just love this girl,” she said to Tori. “I left her father when she was 15, and Chloe got a job as soon as she was legally able to so that she could help me out. ‘This is a two-income home,’ she’d tell me when I’d get stressed about money. I’m so thankful for her.”

  Chloe’s face turned crimson, worried that her mom was oversharing. “Mom…” she protested.

  “Chloe’s pretty amazing,” Tori interjected. “She’s completely changed the way I see the world and made me a better person. I’m thankful for her, too.”

  Chloe’s cheeks were as red as a fire truck. “Thanks,” she muttered.

  “Do your parents know?” Cynthia inquired. “About your relationship with Chloe, I mean.”

  Tori shook her head. “They have no idea I like girls. They’re pretty religious, and our church doesn’t think very highly of it, so I’ve been a bit worried about telling them. I’ll tell them eventually, though.”

  “That’s got to be rough,” Cynthia said.

  “It freaks me out sometimes for sure,” Tori agreed. “I’m hoping that, when I eventually tell them, it won’t be as bad as I think it will be. I’d like to have Chloe around a few times so that they can get used to her being in my life, then I can work my way into the bigger news.”

  Cynthia nodded. “That’s a good plan. And no matter what, don’t forget that you’re welcome here.”

  Tori blushed. “I appreciate that.”

  Once they’d finished their meal, Cynthia cleaned up while Chloe showed Tori around the house. “There isn’t much to the place,” Chloe began, “but it’s home.”

  “I love it,” Tori declared. “It just feels so homey and welcoming, like relaxing here would be super easy.”

  “The couch is comfy, too, so accidental naps happen more than I care to admit,” Chloe said with a chuckle. “I’ll start watching TV after work and end up falling asleep. Mom has to wake me up and send me up to bed.” Chloe smiled coyly. “Speaking of bed…” She grabbed Tori’s hand and led her upstairs.

  The walls of Chloe’s bedroom were covered in large posters of her favorite bands, movies, and scenic images of forests. Candles of various shapes and sizes adorned nearly every surface including the dressers, desk, and nightstand. Though they weren’t lit, the scent of citrus and other fruits lingered in the air. Her queen bed took up one corner of the room, a thick comforter and a pile of pillows begging to be laid upon.

  “I love your room!” Tori declared.

  “You should see it with all the candles lit,” Chloe said as she wrapped her arms around Tori’s waist and pulled her close. “Hopefully we’ll have a chance to try that out soon.”

  Tori kissed Chloe deeply. “I’m looking forward to all the time we’ll spend in this room.”

  Chloe frowned. “I’m sorry that my place isn’t as nice as your parents’ home,” she muttered. “I hope you’re not embarrassed to be here.”

  Tori’s brow furrowed. “Chloe, your mom has already made me feel more welcome and loved than my parents ever have. This place already feels more like home to me than my actual house. You’ll never have to worry about me not liking it here, I promise.”

  Chloe sighed with relief. “Good,” she said, kissing her deeply. “Let’s continue with the tour before we get stuck in here for a couple hours.”

  Tori chuckled. “Though I’d love to spend some more time in here with you, that wouldn’t make for the best first impression with your mom. Show me the rest of your place.”

  Chapter 24

  Tori and Chloe spent the majority of their holiday break at Chloe’s since they could act as a couple without worrying about prying eyes or negative repercussions. Cynthia had commented a few times that they looked cute and happy together, and Chloe and Tori were both thankful for her acceptance. Having Cynthia’s support made them feel like they could take on the world.

  Unfortunately, the world started to take notice when they were out in public together. Kristen had spotted them in a movie theater while on a date with Jim. She’d been sitting a few rows back, and she noticed that Tori had her arm around Chloe and that they’d kissed a few times. Kristen used her discovery to seek closure; she put any lingering thoughts of Chloe behind her and committed herself completely to Jim.

  Not everyone was as accepting, though.

  “I swear I saw them holding hands!” Mandi insisted on the phone with Sabrina. “They were at the mall, their pinky fingers locked together as they were browsed a clothes r
ack in Fashion Now.”

  Sabrina growled. “So I’m right then,” she muttered.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve had my suspicions since before break,” Sabrina explained. “Haven’t you noticed that they always seem to be together and that they sit just a little too close to each other during homeroom?”

  Sabrina gasped. “You’re right!” she exclaimed. “So what do we do now?”

  “Well, we can’t have a dyke on our squad,” Sabrina said. “We have to think about what’s best for the team, and it seems that Tori isn’t it anymore.”

  “I agree. How are we going to get rid of her, though?”

  “There has to be a way,” Sabrina replied. “We’ll have to check the guidelines; there has to be something in the rules that we can use against her.”

  * * *

  Chloe and Tori were on their stomachs in Tori’s bed as they watched a movie, their legs entwined as they laughed at something the main character said.

  Tori rolled onto her side, draping an arm over Chloe. “I don’t want to have to go back to school on Monday,” she lamented. “This break has been so awesome! I’ve loved being able to hang out with you all the time.”

  Chloe rolled onto her side, facing Tori as she pulled her closer. “Me, too,” she agreed, touching her forehead to Tori’s affectionately.

  “You know how much I like you, right?” Tori asked nervously as she sat up.

  Chloe raised her eyebrow. “Yes, of course, sweetie. Why?”

  “I was thinking about school, and I think we should still keep things between us quiet until we graduate.”

  Chloe frowned, a burst of anger filling her stomach as she thought about being Kristen’s dirty little secret for years. She knew that this wasn’t the same situation, though, so she tried to ignore it. “After all this time of being together openly, having to go back into the closet is going to be rough.”