All Girls’ School

Published by Muswell Press in the anthology, Queer Life Queer Love 3 – November 2025

Content Warning: threat, violence, injury, homophobia, young people having sexual interest in adults

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All Girls’ School

At the all girls’ school, everyone’s salivating over the new gardener and his revealing tank tops. The sexual tension is thick and violent and only breaks when someone gets stabbed with scissors. 

The popular girls comb their fingers through my hair and ask me which middle-age actors I have a crush on. I say, ‘I like people my own age’, and find myself wondering if I have a sexual dysfunction. 

The neighbourhood boys follow me on their bikes shouting ‘lesbian’ because they know I go to an all girls’ school. But it seems the rumours are true. I hear about secret sleepover kisses and under the cover touching.

I haven’t progressed to physical exploration. I only look. The older girl on the bus with bleached hair throws her water bottle at me and yells ‘stop staring’. I don’t want to, and I don’t know why.

I’m trying not to have a crush on the class bully, but it’s hard when she puts me in a headlock. When we’re that close and I can see her quiver, uncertain of herself and vulnerable.