You Should See Me in a Crown

by Leah Johnson

one of the last wishes she ever had for me: that I attend her alma mater.

My friends are certified oddballs, the inkblots on an otherwise pure white page, and it’s why we work together so well. Because as long as they’re my people, as long as they’re the ones on my left and my right, sometimes I can forget that I don’t fit in anywhere else in this town.

I feel like I’m in an alternate reality, I swear. This whole thing is so outlandish, so laughable, I can’t believe I’m in the middle of it. I can’t believe people actually fight about stuff like this. I can’t believe that we’re actually going all Sharks versus Jets in the culinary-arts room.

Aside from Gabi’s mom, I don’t really eat anything that my friends’ parents make, for the sake of my palate.

But that’s just it, I’ve never tried to hide it. Not exactly. I just … never made it a thing. Being into girls has never been a huge point of contention for me or my friends. Hell, when I came out to my grandparents, the only thing Grandad asked me was, “So are we giving up them waffle fries at Chick-fil-A now? Because, I’ll tell you what, them things are the closest I’ve ever felt to Heaven.”

After all, you don’t get the GPA I have by knowing all the answers. Half the battle is correctly interpreting context clues.

Mack moves to put a bandage over my brow, and I’m positive I look like one of those old rappers who used to wear those oversize T-shirts: goofy as hell.

broker peace between the Manga Club and the Anime Club so that I can get their collective endorsement.

“You literally called him a Great Value Odell Beckham Jr. the other day

“What’s the shirtless thing about? You don’t have to convince us you’re training to be the light-skin Idris Elba. We believe you.”

For the first time in, well, maybe ever, I’m feeling something better than being cool—I feel like I fit. I’m smiling what I’m sure is a cheesy, self-satisfied smile, and the tightness that usually takes up residence in my chest slowly fades. My face isn’t pressed to the glass, wondering what’s going on inside with all my classmates.

Like Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart: Freaky, but it works.

I’ve done the events; I’ve gone above and beyond the set requirements. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s following rules.

You could make history if you just follow our rules. You could be a real credit to your people if you just straighten up and fly right. You could actually be worth something if you would shut up and take what we give you.

I let out a breath that I didn’t realize I was even holding,

She doesn’t really ask me for anything, never has. Sentences that should have question marks at the end are delivered with periods. I’ve always loved that about her. She knows exactly what she wants from the people around her, and she’s never afraid to let you know.