I managed to escape Sarah once more at the end of Creative Writing. But that was only by pure luck. Ms. Shepard made her stay behind to talk about her homework so I took the opportunity and ran, dragging Maya with me as we headed to our next class. We were moving so quick I didn't think anyone noticed our fingers locked together tight. All they probably saw was a blur of blonde and dark hair as we darted into the classroom.

"Hey, guys!" My head shot up.

"Farkle! Thankfully you're here!" He sat at his usual table at the back. No one else was here yet, didn't surprise me really, we had pretty much sprinted here the second the bell had gone. "You have no idea what kind of day I've been having!" I followed Maya as she dumped her bag next to Farkle's.

"Clearly." He smirked at his flickered to our joined hands and back to my face.

I blushed and was about to drop Maya's hand with a sigh until she tightened her grip. I looked at her, confused. "Ma—"

"I'm not letting go." My mouth opened and closed as I tried to find something to say. My brain registered the massive grin that had appeared on Farkle's face, and the fact that Maya pulled me closer.

"B-But you...I..." I let out a shaky breath as she wrapped her free arm around my waist. "I-I sit over there." I managed to gesture in the general direction of my seat in the front of the class. She smiled and just leaned in slowly, pressing her lips to mine, stopping my breath. My eyes slid closed and I gestured to wrap an arm around her neck.

I got lost in the kiss then, all thoughts of Sarah and Smackle and school...gone. I ran my tongue along the blonde's lower lip, making the girl gasp in surprise, allowing me to deepen the kiss. Her lips were unbelievably soft as they pushed against mine. I didn't fight her, I just let her in nothing more than to lose myself in her scent, her taste...vanilla-flavored lip-gloss...I smiled against the kiss, deciding that vanilla was my all-time favorite flavor.

I heard Farkle clearing his throat. "Umm so I guess I'm sitting at the front today!" I heard Maya chuckle against my lips, the sound vibrating. She kissed me harder, biting at my bottom lip. It's only when oxygen becomes an issue that we pull away. She looked straight at me with dark eyes. "Wow," she sighed out as her breathing as her breathing started to return to normal. I whimpered at the loss but she only grinned, leading me to the seat Farkle had been sitting in moments before. "Thanks, Farky."

"Anything for you, Maya. Oh and congrats, you two are so darn cute together!" He clapped excitedly, making Maya shake her head.

Together? Was that what we were now? We hadn't talked about it, not properly. We kept getting interrupting, whether it was by Sarah or the fact that I couldn't keep my hands off her for more than a minute at a time. I was sticking by what I said last night though. I didn't want to lock myself back in the closet just to be with her. Well...not that I really had an option anymore, but you know what I mean.

I wanted to be able to do this—hold hands, kiss her—in public. I didn't have to want to pretend I hated her anymore and have to wait all day until I was home to be able to be with her...it would be too hard. I'd told her how I felt on the matter so it was up to her now.

"Riles?" I looked up to find her watching me intently. "You okay?"

"Yeah, of course. Just thinking." I glanced around us and realized the room had filled up while I'd been lost in my own world. I felt like I was having déjà vu because there was whispering and staring again. It was unnerving to be the center of attention.

"Ignore them." Her breath tickled my ear, sending a shiver right down my spine. I nodded, thankful the teacher turned up and dove right up to the lesson.

I was concentrating on copying down what was on the board when the note landed on my desk. I looked around to see who threw it but everyone was looking down at their books. I slipped my hand out of Maya's and unfolded it.

If you're gay does that mean Lucas's available?

I rolled my eyes and scrunched it up. But then another one appeared.

Always knew there was something weird about you, Matthews.

I frowned it wasn't exactly nasty but I could tell it wasn't meant to be nice either. Even more arrived after that.

Looks like you got a bad case of Lesbiantis. Hope it's not contagious, for your sake.

Can't get a guy so now you're turning to girls? Didn't know you were that desperate.

And those west just a few of the less explicit and insulting ones. After a couple moments of bombardment, I just stopped reading them. I felt Maya's eyes on me; I'd managed to keep the notes away from her. I didn't want her to see them; it would only make things worse.

When the bell rang I shoved the notes to the bottom of my bag as quickly as I could, thankful that I was T.A.ing next period so I could put them in the trash. I'd known something like this would happen when I came out, but I'd hoped that I would already be in college and people would be more mature and grown up about it. Here everyone was just trying to keep their heads above water and would do anything to fit in with the popular crowd. The only silver lining from reading all these notes was that by the sound of things, people either didn't know anything about Maya or they were still too scared to say anything. I was hoping that things would stay that way.

"Riles...Riles, are you okay?" I looked around to see Maya and Farkle on either side of me as I hurried down the corridor. "You haven't said a word since we got out of class."

I gave Farkle a smile but it didn't convince him. "I'm fine. Honest."

"You're a horrible liar, do you know that?" I just shook my head and held my folder tighter to my chest. "Was it those notes?" I ignored the question, hoping he'd let it go.

"Notes?" Maya piped up.

"All through the lesson people kept throwing notes at her."

"What did they say?"

"I don't know, I couldn't see. Riles, what did the notes say?"

"Nothing."

I heard Farkle snort. "Riles, I very much doubt people just threw random bits of blank paper at you! So come on." He stepped in front of me, bringing all three of us to a halt in the middle of the corridor. "Start talking!"

"Farkle—" I started to tell him to mind his own business but before I could get any further someone pushed past me, their shoulder hitting me so hard I tripped and fell backwards. My elbows and hands took most of the damage but I still managed to crack my head.

"Riles!" I felt two sets of hands grabbing me, helping me up. "Are you alright? Riles, talk to me, do you need to go to the nurse?" I couldn't help but smile at Maya's worried tone, but when she pulled me to her, wrapping her arms around me, I couldn't stop the humiliation and fear that came bubbling up.

"I'm fine." I pulled away from her, hating the look of hurt that crossed her face. "I have to go."

I heard Farkle calling after me but I didn't stop. I wanted to get away, go somewhere quiet where I could think. The roof was way too obvious, Maya would find me there, the same went for the auditorium. Then it hit me, I had the perfect place.