When Ramie's best friend Jess confides that she's a lesbian, Ramie is sure it's all some sick joke. But Jess is dead serious, and Ramie makes tracks to put some distance between them, leaving Jess feeling rejected and alone. But Ramie doesn't want to be accused of being a homosexual too, just because they were close. The break in their relationship isn't Ramie's fault, she reasons. They could patch things up if Jess would just decide to drop this ridiculous charade and go straight again. Jess's Christian family is sad and confounded and doesn't seem to know what to do about this revelation. Mitch, who goes to youth group with Ramie and is the pastor's son, asks her out on a date, and Ramie clings to the idea of having a boyfriend like a lifesaver, even though she has doubts about Mitch's character. Surely there's no better public announcement of her 'straightness.' The problems between Ramie and Jess escalate when Ramie tries to talk Jess out of her 'stupid choice' and preaches at her. In a fit of anger, Jess accidentally fractures Ramie's arm, benching her. Ramie would never publicly expose Jess, but their teammates figure things out on their own and are so offended that they plot to get Jess to quit the team, even though basketball is Jess's passion. Things are bad enough for them as female athletes, often called 'jock chicks' by the other students. On a terrible night when they publicly humiliate her, Ramie is convicted of her condemning attitude by a teammate who has the courage to reach out and be a friend to Jess regardless of what anyone else thinks. Challenged to stop 'throwing stones,' Ramie begins to discover the truth of what it means to love people the way Jesus did. |
