THE UNENDING STRUGGLE OF BEING IN THE CLOSET

BY: JAELYNNE GERVAIS

(It is late afternoon. Enter KATIE through door on stage left followed by QUINN. KATIE and QUINN sit on the couch on center, both of them looking quite nervous and on edge.)

QUINN: …Thanks for agreeing to see me.

KATIE: I wasn’t going to originally but… I guess you could say that we have some air to clear.

QUINN: yeah I guess you could say that…

(QUINN clears her throat)

KATIE: … Well?

QUINN: well what?

KATIE: when you messaged me you said that you had some questions for me so let’s hear them and get this over with.

(QUINN looks quite hurt after KATIE’s comment and takes a deep breath, shaking her head a little)

QUINN: Well for starters, why did you… why did you just…pull away all of a sudden? I mean we had something. Something that could have been really special, but you just-

KATIE: Quinn what are you talking about? We never had “something”.

QUINN: yes we did. I know we did. The way I felt around you, the way you looked at me, that couldn’t have been nothing.

(KATIE looks slightly distressed and sad, looking down at her feet, arms crossed. QUINN notices KATIE’s shift in mood. QUINN puts her hand on KATIE’s shoulder and KATIE flinches, pulling away quickly. KATIE gets up and starts walking to the door)

KATIE (muttering): I knew I shouldn’t have come.

(QUINN stands up quickly)

QUINN: See? I knew there was something going on with you!

(KATIE stops with her hand reaching out to the door and sighs. She turns around to look at QUINN)

QUINN: Katie, please. I just want to know why.

(KATIE thinks for a second then get a bit angry)

KATIE: you know what? This is stupid! I don’t need to explain myself to you!

QUINN: Katie, yes you do! We had something here! I know we did. And I deserve to know what happened to us. Please.

KATIE: … I was scared.

QUINN: Scared of what?

KATIE: …You. Well, specifically my feelings for you.

QUINN: I knew it!

(KATIE shoots QUINN a glare)

QUINN: …sorry. Go on.

KATIE: Where do I even start?

QUINN: At the beginning seems like a good spot.

(KATIE nods and takes a breath.)

KATIE: Okay. Well, in october i think, i started feeling things for you. It felt so… different then anything I’d ever felt and honestly it was terrifying. My whole life i had thought I liked boys. It had never even been a question for me. But then something happened that day where you came over and we were just watching movies and cuddling… It felt really nice and, I know this sounds cheesy, but you gave me butterflies.

QUINN: Well I don’t really see how that’s a problem though. There’s nothing wrong for having a crush on another girl.

KATIE: I know, I know but it was just really confusing. And I think it might’ve been more than a crush…

QUINN: Well what do you mean?

KATIE: Quinn, somewhere within these past few months, I think I fell in love with you.

(QUINN is taken aback. She stares at KATIE for a few seconds before speaking again.)

QUINN: ...Really?

KATIE: See, that’s the problem! I don’t know! I’ve never been in love before so I had nothing to base the feeling off of but it was so new and scary and crazy but I didn't want it to stop.

QUINN: Then why did you?

KATIE: Because I was scared and confused! I told you that already! Do you ever listen?

QUINN: ...sorry. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that you literally confessed your love for me two seconds ago.

KATIE: ...sorry.

QUINN: No, don’t apologize. It’s okay.

(An awkward silence ensues.)

QUINN: So what happens now?

KATIE: I...I don’t know. I don’t really know anything anymore.

(KATIE put her head in her hands. QUINN tries to comfort her by putting her hand on KATIE’s shoulder. KATIE looks up at QUINN and smiles.)

QUINN: So when are you going to come out?

KATIE: Well I can’t come out if i don’t know my sexuality for sure yet, now can I?

QUINN: Yeah I guess. Do you know what your parents think about the whole gay thing?

KATIE: Yeah. I kinda talked about those two boys in my chemistry class who’re dating and they seemed super uncomfortable but they didn’t say much about it.

QUINN: Maybe if you came out to them they would be more accepting about it.

KATIE: Quinn, I don’t think you’re hearing me.

QUINN: But Katie, it’s not really a big deal! Just tell them ‘Hey mom and dad, I’m not straight!’ Simple.

KATIE: Easy for you to say, you’ve been out for two years now.

QUINN: This isn’t about me,okay? This is about you not being honest with yourself or with those who care about you.

KATIE: It’s not that I’m not being honest, Quinn. I’m just not ready to tell people yet. Why is that so hard for you to understand?

QUINN: Because I just want to be with you and that can’t happen if you’re still in the closet!

KATIE: Quinn, I want to be with you too but I just can’t do this right now. I mean, we could always just keep it a secret.

QUINN: No. No way.

KATIE: Why not? It would only be until I figure stuff out.

QUINN: And how long is that gonna be, huh? A few days? Weeks? Months? I can’t wait for that long to be able to hold your hand in public or call you my girlfriend.

KATIE: Please, Quinn. I’m just-

QUINN: Scared. I know. And I get that, but I can’t be with someone when they aren’t even sure who they are yet.

(KATIE looks a bit sad. She thinks for a minute before coming to a conclusion.)

KATIE: Okay. You’re right. It wouldn’t be fair to you. I’ll figure things out, take some time for myself, then we’ll talk about this.

QUINN: That sounds like a good idea. I’m sorry, I hope you understand why I can’t do this right now.

KATIE: I do understand. I don’t really like it, but if it’s what you want then I’m willing to do it.

QUINN: Thank you.

KATIE: I really care about you, Quinn.

QUINN: I care about you too.

(They hug)

QUINN: Okay, well, I better go. I have to pick up Stacey from soccer practice.

KATIE: Yeah I have to go too, I have work in 20 minutes.

QUINN: Alright. I guess I’ll see you around.

KATIE: Yeah...see you.

(KATIE walks to the door)

QUINN: Wait!

(KATIE stops and turns around to face QUINN)

QUINN: I love you too.

(KATIE smiles, shakes her head, and leaves)

THE END