I'm not bad at English. In fact, I'm in the top class for it. So I guess I'm pretty good actually. Point? Before the summer break, we were given an assignment in English to write a monologue. So I thought to myself, 'This is my chance to be different. Everyone's gonna write a monologue in the character of a prisoner, an elderly person or a broken marriage victim'

Now, for those of you who've watched Dark Angel, you'll know that there's a pretty hot lesbian called Original Cindy on the show. I'm a HUGE fan of this character, so I thought 'Hey, I'll write my monologue in the character of her. Maybe set it a few years back to her teenage years. It's not really that much of a challenge, I'll get my ideas from some fanfic site of hers. All I have to do is write the damn thing'.

So I did.

And after summer, I went back to school, to English, to find we had a new teacher. She looked around late-20's/early 30's, dyed dreadlocks, and a personality on fire.

I was immediately drawn to her. She was sexy, sassy and downright funky cool.

So I handed in my monologue. And every English lesson, I'd find myself staring, and thinking, 'I wonder...'

So we got the monologues back, and as it happens, I got a B. Not bad. Not bad. It was a Friday, and the last lesson of the day, so I was just about ready to leave the classroom and go catch the bus with my friends when she said suddenly, 'Kendra, wait a minute'.

So I told my friends to save me a seat.

'I want to talk to you about your monologue'
Everyone else left, and it was just me and her.

'Yes Miss?'
'Have a seat'
I sat down, she sat opposite me.
'I really loved your monologue'
'Thanks Miss'
'No really Kendra, I thought it was beautiful. The way you embraced Cindy's sexuality without making it an issue was lovely'
'Well, I think it shouldn't be an issue. I'm waiting for the day when gay and bisexual people aren't seen as weird or dirty or abnormal. I want everyone to be equal'
'I agree'

We paused for a minute.

'Kendra, can I ask you something?' she said 'It's not based on your monologue, I just want to know'
'Go ahead'

She took a deep breath. 'Are you gay?'

I looked down at my hands on the table. Then I looked up. Maybe this was the moment I'd secretly always been hoping for. The question I always wanted her to ask me. The one piece of information above anything else that I wanted her to know.

'Yes' I said.
'When did you know?'
'I think I've always known, but I guess I started coming to terms with it about 2 or 3 years ago'
'Wow'
'I know. But you can't tell anyone here. If it gets out, I'll end up either in hospital or in a grave'
'Of course. You can trust me'
'Thanks Miss'. I started to get up. She put her hands on mine to stop me.
'Kendra, I just want to let you know, you probably know already, but, well, it's ok to be gay, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise, no matter what happens, you have to be proud of yourself'
I smiled at her, and she smiled back. Then I realise her hands were still holding mine, comforting, supporting. I looked down at our hands. I looked back at her.
She breathed in and took her hands away
'God, is that the time? Sorry Kendra, I've probably made you miss the bus.'
'No worries, I can get another one'
'Ok, well, that's ok. I guess I'll see you next week then'
'Yeah. By the way, Miss'
'Yes?'
'We have the same ring'. It's true. I have a gold 'ankh' (egyptian/paegan key of life) and she has a silver one.
'So we do'

We both smiled.

'Bye then Miss'
'Bye Kendra'

So that was the end of that. Turned out I did miss the bus, so I crossed the road and waited for another one. It was raining, but there were too many people standing under the bus shelter, so I just had to stay out and got wet. Just then, a small blue car pulled up at the bus stop and the window wound down.

It was her.

'Where do you live Kendra?'
'Stockwell'
'I'm going that way, do you want a lift?'
I paused to think for a second
'Yeah, thanks'

So I got in.

'Sorry for making you miss the bus'
'It's ok'

And so we talked for a little while, mostly about my sexuality, but other stuff too. She really was the coolest teacher I