“Essie, you’re way better than that,” McKenna reassured.
“Don’t worry about that kid. He’s a total idiot, and I heard he’s going to get suspended
for getting into trouble with a bunch of other stuff.I bet he has a crush on you but he knows that you are way too good for him and he doesn’t have a chance with you. So he makes up horrid lies. But don’t worry. It’ll all be okay.”

“Thanks, you’re a great friend,” I said to her.

But no matter how many great friends I had, including McKenna, who was one of my best friends,

that could not make all of the pain, embarrassment, and lonliness I felt inside go away.

I knew I wasn’t gay just because I loved rainbows, but that mean boy had also said that my father was.

That was the part that really got to me, mostly because I knew deep down inside that it was true.