Same But Different - Chapter 41: Chapter 41

Whispers, Stares and The Glares
“In the name of Starbucks, let me survive this day” Yuri thought as she walked in the halls of her school. It was nice having Jason by her side, these days he never leaves. At the back of her mind kept replaying the message Sasha had sent to her in the morning.
“You told your MOM? Wow. I can’t believe it. I’m so happy for you, for . . . us. Things are going to get better Yuri, I promise you. I’ll take good care of you. I’ll be there when you need me. I won’t go anywhere, it’ll be just me and you.”
Sasha’s words had given Yuri the strength she needs to get through the day. Telling her mom about the whole lesbian thing was easy but to the whole school, it might get bad. There was already couple of students eyeing at Yuri then at Jason and whispering.
“I’ll be there with you, if you need me” Jason murmured. His side smile gave Yuri a little hope.
“Excuse me for a sec Jason, I’ll be right back” Yuri replied as she hurried to the restroom. She needed a little air, scratch that, she needed a little time for herself before announcing her sexuality to a bunch of judgmental hormonal crazed teenagers.
Restroom seemed like the only peaceful place in the school, no whispers or stares or glares.
“You!” All of a sudden strange girl appeared in front of her grabbing Yuri’s hand, she cornered Yuri to the wall. Anger fired through her eyes. Hatred surrounded the restroom. Who was this girl?
“What – are – you do—oing? Yuri choked.
“You had your chance!” This mystery girl yelled at Yuri. She was furious but why?
“Who are – you?
“The only one Jason will ever love” She shot back, pressing her hand tightly over Yuri’s neck. It was then Yuri realized who this girl was.
Vicky.
“Stop – you’re hurting me” Yuri gasped. This was the moment she was supposed to change back to Sasha but she didn’t. Why on earth would she let Sasha suffer? Vicky had picked the wrong day to threaten Yuri. She looked like she was about to crush Yuri into dust.
“Please . . .” Yuri found herself beg as she turned red. Vicky wasn’t stopping and she wasn’t showing any mercy. Who knew some girls was that crazy?
“LET HER GO!” screamed another raged voice in the restroom. Vicky turned her head to see who was warning her, and so did Yuri. Through the dizziness in her eyes, it took Yuri sometime to figure who stood in front of the restroom door.
Whitney.
“I said LET HER GO” She repeated louder this time. But it didn’t have any effect on Vicky, the grip of her fingers held tighter around Yuri’s neck.
“Get out Whitney, this has nothing to do with you” Vicky yelled back at Whitney.
Where is Jason, when you need him?
“Last warning Bitch, you let her go right now or else . . .”
“Or else what?!”
Whitney was fast to react, her hands grabbed the collar of Vicky’s top, she dragged her away from Yuri and then her fist met Vicky’s face. Yuri gasped again, but in shock this time. What in the world was happening right now? Why was Whitney protecting her?
“STAY AWAY FROM HER. IF I SEE YOU NEAR HER AGAIN I’LL MAKE YOUR LIFE A LIVING HELL!”  Whitney made her words loud and clear, whereas Vicky crawled her way out of the restroom. Yuri placed her fingers on her bruised neck with tears that rolled down her cheeks. Whitney’s eyes met hers and although she wanted to say something, she didn’t. Yuri wanted to say something but she coughed instead. Her voice was hoarse.
“Are you okay?” Whitney finally asked. But before Yuri could reply, she found Jason racing in through the restroom door.
“Oh my god Yuri!  Who did this?” His fingers curved through Yuri’s hair as he gave her a hug. Yuri wanted to reply but she couldn’t, instead she cried a little more.
“Did she do this?” Jason pointed his finger towards Whitney. And Yuri immediately shook her head ‘No’. How was she going to tell Jason that the one who did this to her was no one else but his girlfriend?
“Who did this?” Jason asked again but this time not to Yuri, he asked Whitney.
“A very jealous girlfriend” Whitney muttered and left. Jason didn’t say another word but kept stroking Yuri’s hair. This was clearly not the way Yuri had wanted to start the day in school. Jason didn’t let go of her and they stayed that way for as long as Yuri wanted.
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“You have to tell Sasha about this! It’s not like she won’t find out, look at that nasty bruise” Jason exclaimed as he sat down next to Yuri at the cafeteria. It had been three hours since the incident and Yuri covered her neck with a scarf.
“I am not telling Sasha, if she asks, we lie” Yuri spoke huskily. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to start a relationship with lies but Yuri didn’t want Sasha to worry about a mean girl.
“I can’t believe Vicky would do this. I thought she knew how much you meant to me”
“Yeah she knew, that’s why she – did – this” Yuri replied trying to chew her food slowly. Jason buried his face in his hands and sighed. He feels bad about it and Yuri knew.
“I am so sorry”
“Don’t” Yuri warned Jason. It wasn’t his fault that all his girlfriends, turn out to be really creepy. Yuri smiled at the thought.
“Sasha’s going to kill me” Jason murmured.
“She won’t, not if she doesn’t know the truth”
“How else are you going to explain that bruise?”
“I’ll – make something up” Yuri assured. At the corner of her eyes she could see Whitney having a redbull and talking to her bunch of minions. Yuri wondered why Whitney had helped her, especially after everything that happened between them. Whitney stopped talking to them and stared back at Yuri. She didn’t smile or frown, she just stared. Yuri found the urge to walk towards her and ask her why she had helped, but she fought against hurting her pride.
Things hadn’t been easy but it’s going to be, Yuri made up her mind.
Who cares about all those whispers, stares and the glares?
Who cares about the judgmental hormonal crazed teenagers?
Who cares about the rumors?
“Let me make this never happen – again” Yuri whispered to Jason before standing up on her cafeteria table.
“I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE”
Yuri tried her best to keep her voice in check, it was louder than she imagined. She eyed at Tim, who looked apologetic when he had forgotten to take out his phone to record. Yuri waited until he started recording her announcement. She was going live on the Tim’s Latest Live Gossip site which almost everyone in school follows.
“I HAVE TWO THINGS TO SAY. FIRST IS JASON AND I ARE NOT TOGETHER!” Yuri heard a lot of whispers and gasps in the cafeteria. Her eyes stared at Whitney who stood a few feet away from her, listening to every word Yuri was saying.
“SECOND, I, YURI WILLIAMS IS A LESBIAN”
Yuri saw Tim’s mouth drop wide open to this statement.
Whitney almost dropped her redbull.
Jason grinned after he said “Holyshit”.
Jason placed a soft kiss on Yuri’s cheek as she sat down He took his phone out and took another selfie with Yuri and posted ‘My Hot  Lesbian Ex’ on instagram to which Yuri rolled her eyes. The whole cafeteria began to whisper, Yuri wasn’t sure if it was a positive or a negative feedback. She coughed a bit more, now that her voice seemed to have been lost.
Truth was that her voice had been heard by millions of students and reached all over the school and the internet and although some may mock, or tease her, she was alright with it. It was her life and she had just started living it.