The Truth About Faking

“She’s a compassionate friend, and her heart is so warm.”
    I watch as Ricky looks down and clears his throat. “It’s been a difficult year for me, but she’s always been available to talk and give me advice. I’m not sure I would’ve made it through these past weeks without her.” He looks at Mom, and she smiles at him. “And she’s so beautiful,” he says, like he forgot where we are.
    Mrs. Perkins’ eyebrows rise. He quickly adds, “But I would never do anything… I couldn’t.”
    He pauses and glances around at all of us. I notice his eyes rest on Ms. Jackson. “You see, I’m not interested in Jackie like that,” he says directly to her.
    Then he looks at Mr. Bryant. “I wasn’t planning a public announcement, but well, the thing is… I’m gay.”

Fourteen
     
     
    The moment Ricky says the two words that clear my mom’s name, relief hits me so hard, I nearly laugh out loud. Instead I shoot a glance at Ms. Jackson. Her face has gone red and her eyes are as wide as a cartoon character’s. But beside her, Mrs. Perkins is just the opposite. Her eyes are little slits like a snake’s, and I imagine she’s silently cursing the fact that once again my mom has slipped through her clutches. When Mr. Bowden stands to dismiss the congregation, she jumps to her feet.
    “That is not the end of this,” she shouts. My eyes fly to my mom. Her jaw is set, and now she looks ready to fight. I look at Ricky, and his face says this is exactly what he expected to happen.
    “I think we can discuss how to handle this in executive session, Crystal,” Mr. Bowden says, clearing his throat. “Since clearly nothing inappropriate was going on.”
    “Nothing inappropriate!” Mrs. Perkins cries. “Every bit of this is inappropriate! From her sexually charged avocation, to this. Jackie’s brought this sin into our midst. She opened the door to this perversion, brought it around our children! And as our pastor’s wife, this cannot go unaddressed.”
    “Unaddressed?” Mrs. Bender jumps to her feet. “And just how do you want it addressed, Crystal? Jackie’s done nothing wrong, and this young man doesn’t even attend our church. But you’ve just been waiting for a reason to attack her, haven’t you? To put Ted in charge.”
    “If Ted were in charge, nothing like this would have ever occurred,” she says. “Now we have this blemish on our church.”
    I glance at Mom. She’s looking down and her eyes have closed, but Ricky simply smiles. My throat feels all tight and painful. I mean, sure, Ricky doesn’t go to our church, and I guess some people here think how he lives is wrong. But he’s always been sweet around me. I don’t feel like I’ve been subjected to anything.
    “If you ask me, she’s the blemish,” Mrs. B. mutters.
    “Ladies,” Mr. Bryant’s voice cuts through them all. “The issue has been resolved, and everyone is free to leave. Now.”
    He fixes his eyes on Mrs. Perkins. She presses her lips into a tight line as she sits down again, but her cover is blown. Now everyone knows she’d been out to get my mom, to replace my dad with her husband. She wanted Ricky to be the story of the night, but in the end, it’s the truth about her that takes center stage.
    The congregation rises and starts slipping out of the pews, making their way to the back amidst a low murmur. Mrs. Bender touches my arm and motions for me to come with her. I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out what happens next, if Mom’ll even talk about it.
    The Benders drop me off at my house, and the only thing I can think about is telling Jason. I need to talk to him anyway, to make him understand how I feel and what happened with Trent. I grab my phone and send a text.
    U there?
    I wait several seconds, then a whistle.
    What.
    Mom cleared. Ricky gay.
    No way.
    Way.
    Am glad. U OK?
    Need to talk. Creek?
    No.
    Pain tightens in my chest when I read his response.
    Need to explain.
    Night, HD
    Tomorrow.
    I put my phone away and lay on my bed staring at the ceiling. Tears sting in my eyes as I imagine what he must be thinking. That I’m just some flaky chick who’s been playing games with him since the day we met. I have to make him understand what’s really happening.
    But what is really happening? Why does Trent care so much about talking to me now, and why do I feel like I need to listen? Is it because he used to be my hottie-future-husband? My hero? I don’t owe him anything. Do I? I bite my lip and