Speak To Me

(This story is a challenge to only use dialogue with no descriptions.)

“You’re not getting it, Ben!”

“‘Not getting it’? You’re not making any sense! Just spit it out! Tell me! I’m your friend! Best friend in fact! I’ve known you since we were born! Why won’t you talk to me!?”

“It’s complicated!”

“How?! That’s been your answer for the past 20 minutes! Why and how is it complicated, Zachary?!”

“For fuck sake! Stop calling me that!”

“What? Stop calling you your name? Well sorry I’m not using a nicknam-“

“That’s not my name!”

“...”

“...what?”

“Fuck! I didn’t mean to say that! God, how could I be so stupid!”

“Zac- *sigh* what do you mean it’s not your name?”

“It’s...”

“If you say complicated one more time-“

“But that’s what it is! It’s just mixed-up feelings that don’t make any sense! Feelings that someone like me shouldn’t be concerned about or thinking about in general.”

“‘Someone like you’?”

“Y’know! Ugh! High school jock dream boy that’s all big and tough that all the girls fall for. Some sorta cliché ‘High School Musical’ shit, as you would say.”

“I said that as a joke. No one turns heads when I walk past.”

“I do!”

“... w-what?”

“Jesus Christ! Another feeling that fucks with me! Can I keep my mouth shut for two seconds?!”

“Woah Woah! I need you to calm down and tell me what’s wrong. Please. I can’t help unless I know.”

“... you’ll think less of me.”

“No, I won’t. If I haven’t thought less of you now through all the stupid shit you’ve done, I am very positive this won’t change how I think of you.”

“...*sigh* Kai. T-that’s what I want to be called.”

“... can you tell me why?”

“I- Ben, I need you to promise that you won’t tell anyone this. Please.”

“I have no reason to.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, always.”

“Okay... I- I’m not... a guy Ben. I’m... it’s called being agender so I’m not a girl either. I just sorta... am.”

“...”

“Now you know what I mean by complicated.”

“Kai, you should probably know that... I’m queer.”