No one answers.
“Okay, nice,” Max says. “So, we’re all going in mostly blind. Excellent! Okay, are we ready?”
I give a thumbs up and settle back against the armrest. Jude nudges me with their leg, and I nudge back.
“Good. Let’s go!”
About an hour into the movie, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Shit, I forgot to put it on silent. I stealthily slide it out of my shorts pocket to see the notification.
Oh. It’s from Quinn.
I texted her a question about her asexual experience several hours ago and completely forgot about it. Over the last few days, any time that I haven’t been spending with Jude or my other friends, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the EQA meet. Asexuality. Demisexuality. The gray-ace spectrum. I intended to do some light research right away, but I’ve been procrastinating. Not because I’m lazy, which is usually the reason I procrastinate—this time, I think I’m hesitant to dive more into these identities on my own because, if I’m honest, it feels too real. Too heavy.Too monumental. I’ve spent most of my adolescence avoiding labels and identities—why do I care now?
Well, now, there might be a label that actually fits. And that’s kind of scary.
I stare at the unopened text for a few more seconds before shoving my phone back into my pocket. Do I really want to interrupt the movie for everyone only to see if Quinn’s experience is at all similar to mine? No. It can wait. I’ve already spent nineteen years feeling like a freak—what’s another hour or two?
“Can we pause?” Celeste whispers. “Sorry, hon’, I have to pee.”
Max gives her a soft “mhm” and pauses the movie.
“I’m going to try to pee, too,” Theo says after Celeste disappears into Max and Vimlesh’s bathroom. “This movie is crazy!”
“Right?!” Max exclaims. “God, I’m locked the fuck in.”
My phone vibrates in my pocket again.
“Dude, same,” Jude agrees, turning to face Max. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: critics are stupid.”
“Hey, watch it,” Max warns. “I’m going to be a film critic one day.”
“Well, just don’t be one of the stupid ones,” Jude counters.
While they chat, I check my phone. It’s another text from Quinn. The preview reads, “Sorry for such a long reply. I hope this helps!”
Shit. I have to read it.
“Hey, I’ll be right back,” I say, heaving myself off the floor. Jude frowns at me as I step over Vimlesh and head toward my bedroom.
“Both bathrooms are occupied,” Vimlesh calls out to me.
“Oh, no, I’m good, I just have to check something.” I wave my phone, then step into my bedroom, leaving the door cracked afew inches. I open the text conversation from the beginning and read.
Oliver
hey Quinn - this is Oliver. we met at the EQA meeting last week.
Quinn
Hi, Oliver! How are you?
Oliver
I’m good
I have another question for you if that’s okay
you’re just the only asexual person I’ve met, at least that I know of
