Heading to his locker, Aiden saw the girls again. The one who had snapped at him before gave him a glare. Aiden swallowed but walked up to them anyway.
“You’re Aiden Spencer, aren’t you?” the other girl asked. She had short hair dyed a purplish blue.
“Yes.” Even before he’d become a town hero, lots of people knew who he was because he was the only full-blooded fae in Shadow Valley. Of course they’d heard of him. “I’m sorry about before. I wasn’t staring because I think it’s wrong. I think it’s great, actually—”
“Ugh,” the girl with dark hair said. “I don’t care who you are. No, we’re not here for your gross pervert fantasies.” She tugged her girlfriend away.
“No, wait.” Aiden’s face burned with embarrassment.
But once again, they were already walking away.
“Crap.” Aiden sighed and thumped his head against a locker. He just wanted to talk to them, to ask them what it was like to be out. How did people treat them? How had their parents reacted?
He’d just have to try again tomorrow. Or would they think he was being some kind of stalker? Maybe Maggie could talk to them. Maggie could charm anyone.
He pulled her aside after Advanced Spellcraft, going to the back corner of the classroom. “I saw those girls kissing again. I tried to talk to them, but now they think I’m some kind of perv.”
Maggie bit her lip, holding back a laugh. Today she wore a Steven Universe shirt. He’d watched a few episodes at her house and thought it was pretty good. “What did you say to them?”
Aiden told her and then described the girls.
“Oh, it is them. They’re in the same grade as my brother.” Maggie’s brother was a freshman this year.
“Are they friends?”
Maggie’s nose scrunched up. “Not exactly. But they know each other and they have some friends in common.”
“Can you talk to them? Or can your brother talk to them? I want them to know I’m not some kind of creeper.” What if they told other people? What if Aiden got a reputation?
“Sure, I can talk to them.”
“Thanks.” She’d straighten things out. “So were they together last year too?”
“Oh, yeah. Pretty much the whole year, I think.”
“Did people freak out about it?”
Maggie shrugged. “I don’t think so. My brother mentioned they were together, and people were definitely talking about it, but I don’t think it was like, a scandal or anything.”
“Could you see if maybe they’ll talk to me? I just want to ask, you know, what it’s like.” He was warm all over, heart beating a little fast. He fought an urge to look at the teacher. Even if he could overhear them, he wouldn’t guess why Aiden was having this conversation, right?
“Actually, I’ve been thinking.” Maggie’s eyes lit up and Aiden braced himself. “We could start an LGBTA support group.”
“A what now?” The string of letters sounded like gibberish to him.
“You know, lesbian, gay, bisexual—”
“Oh that.” Now he really wished they were somewhere private. All the kids from first period had left, but now a few people from the next class were drifting in. And of course the teacher was there. “Um, we should really get to class.”
Maggie sighed at his obvious attempt to end the conversation. “Yeah, we’ll talk about this later.”
Aiden made his escape.
* * *
Maggie asked for a ride from Dylan since she was going to Aiden’s to do homework. Dylan dropped her and Tiago at Aiden’s house, and they both went up to his room.
As soon as the door was closed, Maggie looked at them with a smile. “Okay, so I’ve been thinking about the LGBTA group.”
Aiden suppressed a groan. Of course she hadn’t forgotten about it.
“What group? Is there a group?” Tiago sounded interested. Uh-oh.
“There’s not one yet, but I’m going to start one.” Her smile widened.
Tiago’s eyebrows went up. “Oh, are you… one of those?”
“No, but…” She tilted her head. “Well, maybe. I mean, I’m pretty sure I’m straight, but I’m not one hundred percent. I’m still young, right? And I don’t want to close myself off even if there’s only a little tiny possibility…” She waved her hands. “Anyway, that’s not the point. The club is also for allies, which I definitely am. And that way people who are questioning or too nervous to come out even to a support group”—she very carefully didn’t look directly at Aiden—“can join the group without being worried.”
“I’m in. I’m totally in,” Tiago said.
Aiden’s stomach fluttered.
Tiago took his hand and squeezed it. “I mean, if you’re okay with it. I can just call myself an ally if that makes you more comfortable.”
Oh God. Tiago was holding back. Hiding and lying for him again. Tiago had done nothing but support him, always worried about his feelings. “No.” Aiden’s heart hammered. “You should be honest. At least to the group.”
Tiago twined their fingers, dark brown eyes looking straight into Aiden. “What about us?”
“Um, maybe not.” Ugh, I’m such a coward. “Not right away at least. I want to see what the group is like first.” The least he could do was show up to support Tiago.
“Sure. Whatever you’re okay with.”
Aiden didn’t deserve him.
“You can be an ally for now. Totally fine.” Maggie grinned. “So we have our first three members. That’s a good start. I’ll talk to the principal tomorrow—”
“The principal?” Aiden sat straighter, almost jumping off the bed.
“Well, yeah. I want this to be an official group. We might need a teacher to be an advisor or something. Maybe Mr. Emery?” Maggie slid her bag off her shoulder and sat in the small desk chair. “We can put up flyers. I bet Kenzie and Ellie will show up. Those are the two freshmen girls you saw kissing. They’re very ‘out and proud.’”
“Did you talk to them?”
“Not yet,” she said. “But this group will give me the perfect reason to talk to them. And it will give you a great cover to ask them questions about how people react to them.”
Tiago laughed. “You’re devious.”
“Just be glad I use my powers for good.” Maggie winked and dug in her bag. “Okay, on to homework.”