Straight to Voicemail

(Content warning: This story is about homophobia! It doesn't feature slurs or violence, but be warned.)

CHLOE <3 – OUTGOING CALL – June 13, 2025 5:23 PM

Hi, this is Chloe! Sorry I missed your call. You can try again later or leave a message. That, or you can join us in this century and text me. I'll make sure to get right back to you!

(A beep.)

JESS

Hey. I haven't heard from you all week so I wanted to make sure you're alive. I guess you could've actually died, or lost your phone, but I don't think that's it.

(Pause.)

Okay, I also wanted to make sure you know that this doesn't have to change anything. We don't have to ever talk about it again if it makes you uncomfortable. I just couldn't stand not telling my best friend everything. I love you. Platonically. I don't have a crush on you, I swear. Or any other girl right now. So again, there's no reason to keep talking about it. I can't lose you. Please answer me, Chloe.

CHLOE <3 – INCOMING CALL – June 13, 2025 5:45 PM

JESS

Hello?

CHLOE

Hi. I hope I'm not interrupting anything.

JESS

Well, I am really busy. You know, parties, social events and all. Sending those RSVPs, practicing the macarena. But I've always got time for you. I can't even remember the last time we went this long without talking. How are you? Is algebra still a pile of hot garbage?

CHLOE

Dumpster fire still burning, et cetera. Go to school, go to church, rot in my room, rinse, repeat. I'm fine, I guess. How about you?

JESS

No matter how much your school sucks, mine sucks more. We've got a pep rally Monday.

CHLOE

Again?

JESS

Yeah, again.

CHLOE

Ugh.

(Pause.)

JESS

I can't do this.

CHLOE (at the same time)

I can't do this.

JESS

What do you mean?

CHLOE

What do you mean?

JESS

I can't talk to you like you haven't been ghosting me. Or, even worse, like we barely know each other.

CHLOE

Maybe we barely do.

JESS

Don't give me that. People have been mistaking us for twins since elementary school, and I feel like I've been downgraded to third cousin once removed or something. And I know why, but I need to hear you say it.

CHLOE

I needed time to process. You can't just drop something like that on someone through text.

JESS

I didn't want to make a big deal out of it! Yeah, I’m into girls. I’m also into Star Trek and pineapple on pizza.

CHLOE

It's not the same thing.

JESS

I know it isn't. But those are also just things about me, and they haven’t upset you before.

CHLOE

I'm not upset. I'm just—I’m worried about you. You're not planning to act on this, are you?

JESS

I told you, I don't like any girls right now. But I might join the GSA, if that's what you mean. Go to a Pride event if I'm feeling really frisky.

CHLOE

Don’t you still like boys, if you’re—you know?

JESS

Bisexual? Yeah. It's not a slur, you know. You can say it. So?

CHLOE

So, you could just date boys and then it wouldn't matter, right?

JESS

That's not how it works. It would still be part of me.

CHLOE

Oh. I can send you resources to help you. A lot of people with same-sex attraction can still—

JESS

Look, let's not talk about it anymore. Forget I said anything. Do you want help with your math homework? If—

CHLOE

We have to talk about it. We’ve made so many amazing memories together and you'll always be important to me, but I can't support this. What kind of message would that send to Sadie?

JESS

I don't know, maybe that you're a good friend? Don't use your little sister as an excuse for this. I know your family's God is different from mine, but I really thought you'd be able to see past that.

CHLOE

I’m not going to see past God. If this is the path you're going down, I can't follow you. I'm sorry.

JESS

"The path I'm going down?" It's called bisexuality, Chloe, and it means I like people of multiple genders. Going out with them and kissing them and maybe more than that someday, not stabbing them in alleyways! I was just trying to be honest with you. I wanted you to know every part of me.

CHLOE

I kind of wish I didn't now. I'm really sorry. I'm going to have to ask you to mail back the books you borrowed from me.

JESS

You mean the dystopian paperbacks you gave away to me in sixth grade? I don't even know where those are anymore!

CHLOE

Please don't call me again. I'm sorry. Goodbye, Jess.

(Chloe ends the call.)

MOTHER DEAREST – INCOMING CALL – JUNE 13, 2025 6:12 PM

MOTHER DEAREST

Hey, kid. They kept me at the office a little late today. How did the call go?

JESS (holding back tears)

Fine. It’s whatever.

MOTHER DEAREST

Are you sure about that?

JESS (crying)

I don't think I have a best friend anymore.

MOTHER DEAREST

I’m so sorry. Do you want to talk about it?

JESS

No. (Pause.) Okay, maybe.

MOTHER DEAREST

It must have been hard to have that conversation.

JESS

I guess so, but it shouldn't have been. I wouldn't have texted her "Hey just so you know I'm bi" just like that if I wasn't 100% sure she'd be OK with it. I didn't expect her to understand or say all the things I needed to hear right away, but I didn't think she'd treat it like the end of the world, either. I guess the more you know, right?

MOTHER DEAREST

I think you did the right thing. You deserved for her to hear you out, and you deserve to be surrounded by people who love you more for being yourself, not less.

JESS

Screw being myself. I already miss her. And Sadie. And—I'm not going to get to see Mr. Baylor anymore. It's so embarrassing now, but I used to pretend I was his daughter. After—

(Pause.)

I won't miss her mom that much, though.

MOTHER DEAREST (laughing)

Yeah, neither will I. Don't tell. (Pause.) Hey. I'm proud of you, you know. Do you want me to make you some tea when I get home? I’m on the way.

JESS

Yeah. Thanks. I might need some time, though.

MOTHER DEAREST

Of course. I love you.

JESS

I love you too, Mom.

(Jess ends the call.)

MOM – OUTGOING CALL – June 13, 2025 5:59 PM

MOM

You know I’m downstairs, right? I heard everything you said.

CHLOE

I think I made a huge mistake, Mom.

MOM

No, sweetheart. No, you did the right thing. You were very brave, and I'm proud of you.

CHLOE

But I was really mean to her—

MOM

You told her what she needed to hear, and I thought you were very kind about it. You always are.

CHLOE

She's my best friend. I should call her back—

MOM

Sometimes friends become toxic influences and you have to cut them off. Jess will figure out that the life she's leading right now can't make her happy, and when that time comes, you'll find your way back to each other. And if that doesn’t happen—well, you might be better off. You're a beautiful young woman, a wonderful example to your sister, and an inspiration to your dad and me. Don't let anyone lead you astray, all right?

CHLOE

All right.

MOM

Come downstairs and have some tea. I love you.

(Mom ends the call.)

(951) 555-0112 – OUTGOING CALL – March 27, 2031 12:22 AM

What’s up? It’s Jess. I hope this voicemail greeting finds you well. Your call is very important to me. Please wait on the line and your message will be returned in the order it was received. Beep.

(A real beep.)

CHLOE

Hi. It's been a long time. Sadie told me she was staying with you. Thanks for giving her a place to sleep and—not holding what I did against her. I can't believe my dad. I'm guessing there was a reason she only came out to him, and look what happened. Anyway, I can't stand to look at him anymore, let alone my mom, so I'm leaving too. There's an air mattress with my name on it at my boyfriend's house. (Pause.) I know it's too late, but I'm so sorry. I abandoned you, and it took all this to get how wrong I was. Sadie loved you too, and apparently the message that cutting you off sent to her was that I wasn't a safe person for her. I don't expect you to forgive me or trust me or play this whole message. You shouldn't, actually. But I wanted to say it just in case you cared to hear it. Sadie’s going to kill me for this—she doesn't want to ask you for anything else, and she’ll try to deny it all like “Are you serious? I’m not 8 years old anymore”—but she still loves apple juice. She chugs that stuff like it’s soda. If you're still listening, could you make sure she gets some apple juice, please? (Pause.) Maybe we'll see each other at a party one of these days.