Isochronous Ambience

Prologue:1


"I'm up, mother. I'll be out in a second!"2

Camri's mother, Vanessa, had been calling her to get out of her bedroom for the past half hour. Her other mother, Jessica, was going to drop her off at school, as she was meeting her parents at the airport to bring them home with her.3

"Now, Camri. Their plane lands in ten minutes, and we're a half hour away from there! I have to drop you off yet! Come on, how long does it take to throw on clothes and leave? NOW!"4

"Coming, mom! I'll be out in about a minute!"5

Camri was taking her time getting ready for school. She had already made sure to miss the bus, as that was torture for her. She was the only straight person on her bus route, not that anyone knew that. She couldn't even tell her mothers about that issue. She knew they would be so disappointed if she told them. She knew they had already had plans for her to be married to a beautiful girl and have children and be happy for the rest of her life.6

But that was not what she wanted. She had her eyes on James, a boy who had already had the courage to come out at school. Everyone knew he was straight, and he ignored everyone's hateful comments when they said them. But this was few and far between any more, once everyone got used to the idea of him being straight. But the beatings and name-callings he had to with before that happened were awful. He was even brought to the hospital by his neighbor after he had been knocked off his bicycle and had hit his head on the pavement. He was afraid to tell anyone what had happened, as if he pressed charges, he would get nowhere. Chances were, most of the people at the court would be heterophobic anyway. Meaning, he'd only face even worse torture than he already had to endure.7

It was James who proved to Camri what dangers came from coming out as straight. She knew most people hated them, and after hearing about the things which happened to James, she was terrified. She knew there were people who would accept her with no difference, but there were also the abusive heterophobes who would attack her daily. So there was no way she could tell James, or anyone else for that matter, about her true feelings. She'd have to keep up the lie that she was in love with the other girls, and have to accept some of the time when they asked her out. Which explains why she hates riding the bus so much. One of the girls has been flirting with her for days. It was only a matter of time before she asked Camri. To which the girl would be obliged to say yes.8

Camri followed Jessica to the car and opened the door.9

"Mom, can I ask you something?"
"Yeah, honey, sure. What's wrong?"
"A friend of mine came out as straight a few days ago. I was wondering what everyone was freaking out about. Is it really that bad to be straight? He got beat up and everything. It was awful!"
"It's not wrong, Cami. It's just so weird. I could not even imagine being with a man." She shivered and made a face. "That would be completely disgusting in my opinion. Is that all you wanted to ask, or was this your way of telling me something?"
"Oh! No, of course not! You think I'm... No, mom, of course not!"
"Thank god! Nessie and I don't need our little girl going hetero on us!"10


Chapter 1:11


Jessica chuckled a little at this, and Camri gave a small laugh, just to prove the lie she was telling her mother. Her mother gave her a hug and walked around to the driver side of the car. Camri got in and closed the door behind her, deflated. She was headed back to that school. Maybe her stalker wouldn't be there today. She really didn't want Leslie to ask her out, because the idea of kissing her disgusted her. But no, she would have to say yes. No one ever denied Leslie something that she wanted. Or they got awful rumors spread about them. The last girl who turned Leslie down was humiliated by the end of the situation. Everyone believed she was straight and she hasn't had a girlfriend since then. Not to mention, she went from extremely popular to having two friends. One of which was straight herself.12

Sure enough, as her mother dropped her off, Camri saw Leslie waiting for her.13

"Go get her, Cami. She can't take her eyes off you! Let me know how it goes, baby!"
"Yeah, thanks mom. Bye. Love you!"14

Camri would pray for courage normally at this situation, but she had long sense given up on that. God had made her straight. How could he do this to her? He had decided she had no place in heaven the day she was born. He made her something he hated. So she couldn't even keep God on her side. What could she look to if not her faith?15

She pretended not to see Leslie and walked in the other direction. But Leslie followed her.16

"Camri! Hey, Camri!"
"Oh, hey Leslie. What's up?"
"Hey, I've been meaning to ask you something, but as you keep disappearing from the bus, I haven't been able to. Will you..."
"Hey, can we talk after this first class? I really have to... turn something in before the bell; you know how Mr. Morgan is."
"I just want one second of your time! Cami! Go out with me! Be my girlfriend! I love you, baby!"
"Oh, wow. That was unexpected!"
"That's not an answer." Leslie was quick to get annoyed. It took very little to do this.
"Well, yeah! Of course!" Camri hated herself for this answer. She was disgusted at the thought of kissing the girl, yet knew she had no choice. She couldn't let people think she was straight. That could kill her already small chances of having any friends at all. 17

Leslie grabbed Camri's hand and the girls went to their science class together. They walked right past James, who looked shocked at seeing the girls together. 18

"What's the matter, freak? Wanted to be with one of us? Well, too bad for you, Hetero!" Leslie was screaming as loud as she could. Heads were turning. Everyone was listening. Camri couldn't meet James's eyes. She knew that he was in love with her, but could do nothing. He watched the girls walk away. Camri looked back and saw that the boy was crying. He saw her look and ran. He didn't want Leslie to see; it was bad enough that her new girlfriend saw it. He would have to go right back to how things were before. Everyone would hear about this, probably before the end of the day. 19

All throughout the day, Leslie told as many people of the incident as she possibly could. James was in all of their same classes, so every time a teacher would turn away, random students would throw paper at him, or make comments concerning what had happened that morning. He sunk down in his seat each time.20

Camri looked over at James. She had to tell him that it wasn't her fault. That she never told Leslie. But he wouldn't look at her. He wouldn't even glance in her direction. She would talk to him after class. And maybe try to ask Leslie to leave him alone. But she couldn't push that one. She couldn't seem too much on his side, or it could get suspicious.21

The bell rang, and everyone got out of the room as fast as they could. Camri had been told that everyone was going to gang up on James when he left the room. It had been Leslie's idea.22

"Come on, baby, let’s go see the show!" Leslie wanted to watch the others attacking James. It was her idea of fun.
"Les, this is so wrong. Why can't we just let it go! It's not like I want to be with him! It's no big deal. Who cares? I don't."
"Cam, he's a freak. Maybe it'll let him stop being straight. We're doing him a favor!" Camri accidentally-on-purpose dropped her open pencil case, which dumped out all over the ground.
"Go on, then. I'll be in math in a minute. I've got to pick all this up. Meet you there."
"Okies. See you!" Leslie leaned in and kissed Camri on the cheek. And looked over at the doomed boy still slowly packing away his belongings, as though making sure that he saw the kiss.
"Yeah, see you in a second."23

James was seconds from the door. Camri had to warn him before he got out to the hall what was waiting for him. Maybe she could walk with him to math, so that he could get through the last class of the day without being jumped.24

"James! Hey, can I talk to you?"25

James looked up, startled. When he saw who it was, he looked down. She saw the pain in his eyes at what he believed she had caused.26

"I didn't tell her. Hey, don't go. They're waiting for you out there. I wasn't supposed to tell you, but they're planning to attack you when you leave. Wait for me! They won't mess with you if I'm with you. Please, James!"27

James gave her a look of pure torture and walked out of the room, ignoring Camri's pleas for him to stop. He didn't believe a word she had said. She saw a single tear fall before the door slammed behind the boy. She heard the crowd descend. There was a lot of yelling and she heard James yell pleas for help and for mercy. She began crying and ran to get Mr. Morgan.28

"They're attacking him! Mr. Morgan, please! Quick, they're going to kill him! Help, please!"29

“Calm down, Camri. What’s going on? Speak, girl! Who’s attacking who?”
“Everyone ganged up on James! Help him! Please!”30

Mr. Morgan followed Camri out of the room and into complete chaos. Everyone began running in all directions at the sight of the teacher. And then Camri saw James. He had a black eye forming and bruises coming up all over his arms. He looked up at his saviors and, upon seeing Camri was with the teacher, he looked down. She reached down for his hand and, taking it, pulled him to his feet. He left everything there and began walking quickly away.31

Camri was in tears. Upon an impulse, she collected his books and followed him. Mr. Morgan was clearly not going to do anything apart from breaking up the fight. However, this is quite typical for Lake Alland High School teachers. For the most part at least; there are a few teachers who are sympathetic to the rights of the straight members of society. But there are only about three of them compared to the thirty other teachers in the small school.32

James was not far in front of Camri now, but she didn’t want to bring attention to herself; he may run away from her and there was no way she could keep up while carrying both of their bags. A thought occurred to her: she would be skipping class for the first time in her life. And Camri had that class with both Leslie and James. But that girl would have to get over it. And it seemed James had no plan to go to class either.33

James sat down randomly on one of the benches. Camri walked up and sat down beside him. He looked up and directly back down, avoiding her gaze. Camri set the bag beside the boy on the bench and dropped her own on the ground.34

“Just say it. I had it coming. I’m a freak. You told me so. Go away, Johnson. I really don’t…” James had begun to get angry. She had to get him to listen to her this time.
“James. Listen to me.” Camri had no idea what to say to him. That she was sorry? She hadn’t done anything besides warn him. That she loved him? He would only think she was mocking him. “I really don’t know what to say. It wasn’t me who told Leslie. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Whatever. It doesn’t matter now. Just go, okay. Go to class. I’m fine.”
“No you’re not. Hey, I get it! You don’t believe me? Fine. But at least listen to me. I… I… really don’t know how to say this. But I’m so sick of it! And I know. This is a weird time to say this. To admit this. But I’m so sick of being who I’m not.” James looked back up at her, disgusted.
“What are you getting at? You started the whole thing, and now you regret it? That’s your problem. Not mine. Read my lips, girl. Go away. I don’t need your sympathy. Or want it.” He began crying harder now. She could see the
“James! No, that’s not what I’m saying! Listen to me! I… I’m… I’m straight. I haven’t told anyone before now. I am in love with you. That’s why I followed you. I couldn’t let you just walk away. I love you, James.” The boy’s eyes were full of surprise. He clearly believed her. “There’s a… a connection like I’ve never had with anyone before you.” His eyes fell away from her face again. He clearly lost the feeling of belief which he had had before.
“Yeah, right.” James’s eyes filled again. “Just go, alright. You did it; you made the freak get emotional. Now go back and tell Cunningham again, you got me to…”James’s words were cut off by Camri’s lips touching his. The kiss lasted only a few brief seconds, but it was enough. He pulled away and looked at her, astonished. He had just been kissed by the love of his life. The two looked into each other’s eyes, drinking in the amazement hidden in the souls of each. But a moment like this could hardly be expected to last longer than a brief minute or two.35

The two went to class together and, despite the weird looks and glares Camri was receiving for breaking up the fight, went up to Mrs. Johannes and explained why they were late. She, upon seeing the bruises all over James, didn’t even mark the two tardy. Camri went to her usual seat beside Leslie, ignoring the whispers and stares. James stood by the teacher’s desk, unsure of where to sit. He couldn’t sit in his normal seat any longer, as his desk partner was his main attacker. Camri waved him over to herself and Leslie. They shared a glance and, after she smiled encouragement, he sat down.36

Leslie grabbed Camri’s hand and whispered, “What the hell are you doing? That weirdo cannot sit with us!”
“Why not, Les? He can hardly sit with Mike anymore! And it’s not like there’s no other seat, so whatever. Let him stay here. I’m serious, Les.”
“Fine. Whatever. Befriend the freak. Your choice! But don’t drag me into it.”
“Fine. Then don’t be in it. But I really don’t see what the big deal is.”
“Read my lips, Cam. He. Is. A. Hetero. In other words, a freak. That’s what the big deal is. And I will not befriend that.” She let go of Camri’s hand, but not before squeezing it affectionately. It was this which made Camri realize that this would be harder than she had expected. Leslie would not let her out of this relationship alive.37


Chapter 2:38


The next morning, Camri was the first out of bed. She was out of the shower and dressed before either of her mothers were out of bed. When Veronica went in to her daughter’s room to get her up, Camri was sitting on the floor listening to music and stretching as though going out for a run.39

“Uh, Cami? What’s going on? You’re up? Before me? Everything okay, honey?”
“Yeah, I was going to make sure I wouldn’t miss the bus this time. I know you both were starting to get… irritated… by that.”
“Wow, Cam. Thanks! I’m going to… Get into the shower. Be out in a half-hour. Can you get Jess up? She has to be up early today.”
“Yeah, sure mom. No problem.”40

First things first. Camri went into the kitchen and made bacon and eggs for her parents. While the toast was cooking, she went in to wake her mother up. Jessica was still asleep, and it took a lot of shaking her to get her to wake up.41

“Hey, sleepy! Mom asked me to get you up so she can get in the shower.”
“How’d it go with that Leslie girl yesterday, Cam?”
“She… asked me out. I said yes.”
“Camri! That’s wonderful! That must be why you’re up so early. To catch the bus and see your girlfriend! Wow, our little girl’s growing up all ready!”
“Yeah, mom, that’s exactly why. Hey, breakfast’s in the kitchen. I’ve got to go. Tell mom I said bye.”
“You made us… yeah, I’ll tell her. Bye, love.”42

And with that, Camri ran out the front door, nearly leaving without her books. She could not miss the bus today. There was guarenteed to be problems there between Leslie and James, no way around that fact.43

Camri got to the bus seconds before the latter arrived, which was when it hit her. She was going to have to sit with Leslie in order to save face. She went over to the girl who, luckily, was seated across from James. She saw him look up expectantly and she looked away. She looked back up after she had sat down with her girlfriend. He averted his gaze out his window. She had hurt him yet again to spare herself ridicule.44

Half way to school, someone threw a crumpled note at Camri, someone seated somewhere behind her. The girl turned around briefly so as to see who had thrown the note and, not seeing anyone looking at her, turned her attention to the note. Her heart sunk as she read "I know the truth, hetero. Watch your back or I go public. Saw you with the freak yesterday." Carie turned again, but her search was fruitless. Whoever had given her the note was certainly not going to tell her who it was. As she faced the front again, a cold feeling of dread passed through her to her stomach. Someone knew her secret and would probably tell everything if pushed. She glanced at Leslie, who was seemingly clueless as to the horror spreading through her girlfriend seated beside her. Leslie looked up, as if awoken from a trance.45

"What's wrong, Cari, you look like you've seen a ghost!"
"Nothing. I'm... it's nothing."
"Yeah, you're as okay as I am straight. Nice try. What's wrong?"
"Nothing, Les. It's... PMS, that's all."
"TMI, girlfriend!"
"Well you asked!" Leslie began laughing and obligingly, Carie joined in.46

James looked up at their laughter and, realizing that, for once, it wasn't at his expense, looked away again. He felt empty. He had actually believed Carie when she said she loved him. But no, it would be just like Leslie to get someone to claim to be in love with him. But Carie? How could Leslie have found out his feelings for her girlfriend? He hadn't told a soul about this. But, in order to seem uncaring about the situation, James turned his iPod onto shuffle. "This life is filled with hurt, when happiness doesn’t work, trust me and take my hand, when the lights go out, you’ll understand..." The words of Three Days Grace echoed in his brain throughout the rest of the bus ride, even when the song had ended.47

In class, James sat back where he used to sit, beside Mike. When Camri came in, she set her books down and searched the room with her bright eyes. When she found James, he looked her directly in her green eyes and held her glance. She smiled and beckoned him over. He looked away and rummaged in his bookbag, clearly ignoring the offer. Camri was crushed. She attempted to catch his gaze again, but it was impossible. It was as though he had slapped her. It would have hurt much less than the silent treatment she was getting now. She would have to give up on the notion to ever be with him.