“That this was all about the business competition. That’s how it all started out and now …”

“I know. Neither of us are up there.”

Flávia heaves a sigh and turns away, trying to find someone in the crowd of people. “I better go … Chyna doesn’t look too thrilled with the outcome. Talk to you later?”

I want to tell her to stay, but I just shrug and say, “Sure.”

Jess and Chaewon can’t stop smiling after they’ve come down from the stage. I envelop them both in hugs, before admiring their trophy.

“I can’t believe we won,” Chaewon whispers. “I can’t believe we won.”

The trophy is translucent glass shaped like a diamond. In the very middle it says YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR’S AWARD in glittering gold writing.

“You guys deserved to win,” I assure them. “You’ve worked so hard for this.”

Chaewon wraps me up in another hug so tight that I can feel her ribs poking at me.

“Okay, okay. Wow, let me breathe.” She lets me go and rubs at her eyes, like she’s trying really hard not to cry.

“Chaewon.” Jess rolls her eyes and pokes her until Chaewon does begin to sob a little bit, but also to laugh. And then we’re all giggling together and I’m not sure why, really. But it feels like a huge weight off my shoulders. It feels like the most normal thing to happen since Ali outed me to the entire school. Like at the end of the day, none of that really mattered. Not Ali, not Chyna, not even the business competition. Because I’m still here and I have my friends, my sister, my family. And things will be okay.

It feels odd to be stripping my stall. Like it’s the end of an era, even though the competition only lasted a couple of weeks. I carefully roll up the banner with the lesbian flag and tie it up with a rubber band. I’m thinking I’ll stick it up on the wall of my bedroom.

“… her mom basically did all the work for her.” A hushed whisper comes from the girls in the stall beside mine. I place my banner aside carefully. Soundlessly. So as to not attract any attention.

“That’s why Chyna even did henna as her business. These days, if you’re white, people don’t even want to consider you.”

“Right. The trendy thing is to be ‘diverse’ or whatever.”

I can’t even hear the speakers’ next words, because I’m feeling that simmering of anger inside me again. Of course even when Chaewon and Jess win the competition Chyna still does everything in her power to manipulate the situation.

I catch sight of her and Flávia packing up their stall next to Chaewon and Jess’s. The next thing I know I’m marching right over there and staring Chyna in the face.