Chapter 19: Is Ryan Gay?!
"Is Ryan gay?!!"
"Ughh…", Goldie moans, pulling onto her hair as she slumps onto the table.
If Ryan was gay, then it was over.
Because… How could she ever be with him??
___
Watching her friend's spirit die off like a wilting flower, Jasmine realises the effect of her trailing thoughts on Goldie and instantly changes her words to reassure Goldie.
"Oh, but he's not! He's not. Ryan is not gay… ", begins Jasmine in a desperate attempt to convince Goldie otherwise.
Even though Ryan was uninterested in girls, and some might suggest he was gay, it was still unverified information…
And as far as Goldie was concerned, it was best to say that Ryan was not gay, so Jasmine would rather go with the conclusion that Ryan is not gay.
Besides, Ryan was that way with everyone.
"He doesn't seem to like boys either so no, he's not gay.
It is most likely that he likes girls. Ha.", she chuckles nervously again, trying her best to improve Goldie's mood.
"Cheer up, Goldie."
Turning to look at her friend on the side, Goldie's hopes were not at all improved.
"Are you sure?", she asks in a small voice.
"Yes, I'm sure. He doesn't seem to like girls, but he doesn't like boys either. I'm sure of that.
He doesn't like anyone…
So there is hope! You can be his first!", says Jasmine with a nervous smile.
Of course, the chances of that happening were slim, but she would not fail to cheer on Goldie to the end.
Besides, Goldie was the cutest. She was convinced that there was no way Goldie could not win Ryan's heart.
But Goldie could only hear one thing…
'He doesn't like anyone.'
"So he doesn't like anyone, and no one knows what he likes…", observes Goldie, intelligently.
"Ugh…"
Goldie slumps further down onto the table, placing her face on it in resignation.
At this rate, there was no way she could win Ryan over. She didn't even know where to start.
"The point is, no one knows what exactly Ryan likes.
It's hopeless… There's no way I can change his mind and make him like me."
'He'll probably take me for a weirdo for the rest of my life!', she panics.
'Having a crush is too hard!'
"But Goldie…", Jasmine continues.
"...that is not a problem, because as long as Ryan is not gay, he would probably like what every other boy likes!"
Jasmine announces the cheering news with glee and a single excited clap of the hand.
"And what do boys like?", asks Goldie, curious.
Jasmine takes a moment to look Goldie over.
The girl was already stunning enough.
"Uhhh… pretty girls?...", Jasmine responds, unsure.
"See, I don't know. I don't even know what I should do… I might as well just give it up.", says Goldie with resignation.
"Girl, you don't have to do anything. Boys seem to like pretty girls, and you are certainly pretty.
Ryan likes pretty girls too. Girl, he stared at you for a whole minute this morning! What does that tell you?"
"Still, I…", begins Goldie, falling back into her embarrassing memory of this morning before Jasmine instantly cuts her off.
"Yeah, you screeched and ran off, but so what? You still got his attention. He apparently can't stop staring at your pretty face.
Girl, you got this.
Just keep being the cute, adorable darling that you are, and Ryan will like you, even before he knows it!"
Jasmine responds with a knowing smirk and a wink.
Goldie was lovable. It was impossible to not fall in love with her the moment you got to know her.
"Now, let's hurry and eat so we can get started on Club Day!"
"Right!… Club Day!", exclaims Goldie.
She had almost forgotten. It was Club Day today.
___
Club Day at Hugher High was a big deal. It was the day when all the students of the prestigious Hugher High School were to decide what extracurricular activities they were to indulge themselves in for the rest of the year.
And Hugher High took Club activities very seriously because as one of the top schools in Z Nation, and indeed, the world, nearly every Club activity was competitive as Hugher High enrolled each club in competitions at the National level.
From clubs as regular as the Board games club, Science and Arts and Crafts clubs to the more modern Esports Club, and the more competitive Swimming and Basketball clubs, Hugher High ensured to use these clubs to benefit the lives of their students by enrolling them in formal training and competitions.
Such that in the end, most of their students ended up outstanding in one criterion or the other based on their personal interests.
Heck, even the cheerleading Club, of which Goldie and Jasmine were members, participated in competitions at the State and National levels too!
For this reason, no one took Club activities at Hugher High for granted. And by extension, no one took Club Day for granted.
It was lunch break, and after lunch break, the rest of the afternoon would be given to Club Day. As such Goldie had no more classes for the day.
Rather, after lunch break came the famous Club Day parade, and then the team sign-ups where all the various clubs signed in new entries.
This made Goldie extra happy because no more classes meant no more Ryan for today. She could relax!
'Finally!'
As cheerleaders, she and Jasmine were part of the big set-up planned for the famous, most desired cheerleading team.
There was so much to do. They had to hurry up with their meal and get started!
Quickly, Goldie digs into her meal, starting with her mother's delicious blueberry pancakes first.
Now she was alive, she would make sure to eat them!... And my, were they delicious…
Jasmine intrigued, watches Goldie throw dig into her food hurriedly at the mention of Club Day.
Her instant switch from 'pitiful' to 'hungry' makes Jasmine giggle.
All her fears, worries and anxiety had disappeared in a snap and were now replaced with excitement.
'Ah, Goldie…', she sighs internally.
Her friend was just too cute.
___
Quickly done with their meal, the two girls, Goldie and Jasmine hurry off to the girls' locker room, chatting excitedly through the halls, arm in arm, to get prepared for the exciting Club Day activities.
The excitement of Club Day had instantly put Goldie out of her dampened mood, causing her to bubble with excitement.
Just as was the custom every year, there was going to be a huge parade of all the clubs, led by the cheerleading team, where all the teams got to show off their skills for a maximum of one minute.
As cheerleaders, they had a flamboyant entrance planned already.
She was looking forward to what the other teams had prepared for today as well.
Stepping into the cheerleaders' locker room, Goldie and Jasmine are greeted by an entire team of happily chattering cheerleaders, already getting changed into their beautiful cheerleading outfits in preparation for the Club Day parade, and this is when Goldie finally figures out something…
She also has to get changed for Club Day… with the thing on her back!!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone