Rhodanum

First thing's first -- *hugs* Welcome, my fellow admirer of Sappho! I was starting to think that I was the only lesbian around here (well, technically bisexual, but I've found that I tend to have a much more pronounced inclination towards women than men. XD).



Now, leaving all jesting aside, I can whole-heartedly understand what you are going through and plainly see where you are coming from (due to the fact that I've gone through a similar experience myself, the only difference being that this particular classmate was as heterosexual as they come, so I considered that keeping my emotions and desires to myself was the wisest move).

The fellows above are correct in their advice -- getting to know her better, as both a classmate and as a friend is the most diplomatic way of going about things, since it keeps you safe from potentially unpleasant reactions and it gives you the chance to gain a close friend (if it turns out that the rumors were simply just that -- unfounded tales).

Still, I would say that there must be some truth to them in the first place (since there never is smoke without a hidden fire), unless everything was simply started by someone out of spite, in order to discredit this girl (not something that would surprise me, seeing as you both attend a Catholic school, where, from what I know, proper appearances are held in high regard). It would have been a good move on your part if you had been attentive to her reactions towards these rumors during the school year, as such a thing could have given you a hint as to what her sexual orientation could be (i.e. - if she was dismissive/furious/ashamed/amused about the rumors etc).

Then there is your own wavering on the subject of sexual orientation - something entirely understandable during teenage years. At around your age I was just as confused (or even more so! XD) by my inclinations. Usually, such matters tend to sort themselves out in time, since, as we grow and gain experience, we also come to understand ourselves much better. For the moment, my suggestion is that you should refrain from asking too many questions of yourself and simply 'go with the flow' -- allow emotions and instincts to be your guides in this path of understanding, not rationality (something which I know from personal experience, since most of my teenage years were nothing short of a full-scale war between my heart and my head, still ruled by the perceptions of the heterosexual majority).

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Fear is not the natural state of civilized people.

-- Aung San Suu Kyi