“Oh, no, I meant the event happening tomorrow?” he clarifies, gesturing towards the fridge.
“Oh, that’s, uh, that’s for a Queer Alliance meeting happening tomorrow night at the Student Center.” I glance at him, then focus on the screen. “You’re welcome to join, if you want. Max left that invitation there for all of us.”
“Ah,” Vimlesh says. “I don’t think it’s really meant for me. I’m straight.”
“I think it’s for allies, too,” I counter. “That’s what the A stands for in LGBTQIA, isn’t it?”
“No, I think that’s something else.”
“Yeah, probably.”
“Are you?”
“Am I what?”
Vimlesh hesitates. “Are you…one of the letters?”
I laugh nervously. “Who knows, man?”
Vimlesh doesn’t answer, but the awkward silence cuts short as theMario Kartmusic bursts through the speakers.
“Do you mind if I play as Mario?” Vimlesh asks.
I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. “Not even a little bit, my friend.”
June 2025
“Y’all, I think we should call it. I don’t think I’ve ever been sweatier in my entire life.”
Celeste, Max, and I are huddled under a pitifully tiny tree, desperate to hide from the sun. Not that it even helps today—humidity hangs heavy in the air, causing even the shade to feel suffocating.
“This is why the official Atlanta Pride is in October, honey,” Max replies, flapping his huge, holographic fan rapidly. “This heat is homophobic.”
“We’ve barely even been here an hour,” Celeste grumbles. “We’ve only walked down the first row of vendor booths. I think we have like six more.”
I groan loudly. “That’s way too many.” I retrieve my insulated, emotional support water bottle and take a few swigs. It’s barely still cold.
“Ooh, incoming ginger twink, two o’clock,” Max declares, his voice pitching up with excitement.
I take a quick peek out of habit, then shake my head. Twinks are men. I’m done with men. “Pass.”
Max peers at me from over his pink sunglasses. “I wasn’t pointing him out for you, bitch.”
“Okay, here’s the deal,” Celeste announces. “We can leave, but only after Jude talks to a cute girl.”
I gape at her. “Fuck, no. I’m not getting hate-crimed today.”
“Jude, we’re literally at a Pride event.”
“So? We’re still in the suburbs. This could all be a trap.”
“Jesus Christ,” Max mumbles, rubbing his temples. “I told you this was a lost cause.”
“Wow, Max, way to be supportive at my very first Pride.”
“Will you two shut the fuck up?” Celeste snaps. “Look, I’m sweating my fat ass off, too, but we got all dolled up and came all the way out here for y’all to meet other queer hotties. Obviously, Max has already gone above and beyond with this task–”
“You know how I do,” Max adds, miming a hair flip despite his hair not being long enough.
