Max follows the instructions from the teacher as she corrected their dance steps. She has been practicing the steps with help from her big sister. She couldn’t wait for school to start in two weeks. Coach Karr has already started swim practice and the other swimmers were adjusting to her being on the girl’s swim team.

The guys that knew her, thought it was a prank, so she could see what the girls looked like, undressed. She had to set them straight several times, telling the guys it wasn’t a prank and she wanted to be a girl. Her old coach had already been informed about her decision. He felt a little uncomfortable about her going into the girl's locker room.

Max brings herself back to what she was doing. The instructor takes them through a few more dance steps, before calling it a night. She walks over to her towel and bottled water.

“Hey Max, you looked like you spaced out there on that last dance steps.” April takes a sip from her water bottle.

“I was thinking about what happened two days ago during swim practice.” Max takes a sip from her bottle.

“Was it bad?” April knew Max was Donna’s little brother, who now was her little sister.

“No, but it shocked the hell out of everyone and my old coach is having a hard time adjusting to the situation.” Max knew Coach Karr had to step in several times.

She had to remind coach Wells that Max was under her supervision. That Max had every right to use the girl's locker room and the restroom facilities as well.

“Well, it sometimes takes people a while to realize that some people need to be true to themselves.” April smiles at Max.

“Thanks, for listening to me, April.” Max appreciated it.

“Hey, that is what women do. We listen to each other's problems and support each other. You’re part of a strong sisterhood now.” April smiles at Max as she packs her gear away.

A smile appears on Max’s face as she packs her stuff away and slips on a pair of sweats and her tennis shoes. Max heads out to her bicycle and unlocks it. She mounts it and starts peddling back towards her house. The weather was nice out and she didn’t live far from the dance studio.

She waves to people she passes that were outside enjoying the warm weather. She didn’t know many of the people, but she has passed them several times when she rode through their neighborhood on her bicycle.

It takes her about twenty minutes to bike to her home. She notices her sister and mother were home. She pulls up into the driveway and puts her bicycle in the garage.

“Mom, I’m home.” Max walks in from the garage.

“Good, you can help me set the table for dinner.” Donna looks at her little sister.

She had the day off and didn’t have to teach a dance class. She watches as Max walks into the dining room.

“What’s for dinner, tonight?” Max had left her gym bag in the laundry room.

“Swedish meatballs.” Donna waited when Max’s dance class let out before she started making them.

“Where’s mom?” Max noticed their mother wasn’t downstairs.

“She’ll be down in a minute. She came home and went directly to her bathroom with her favorite bottle of wine to relax.”

“Oh! It must have been one of those days at work.”

“Yeah.” Donna heads into the kitchen to transfer the Swedish meatballs to a serving bowl.

Max finishes setting the table and sits down at her normal spot. A few minutes after Max sits down, her mother comes walking into the dining room.

“Rough day, mom?” Max looks at her mother.

“Yes, how were you’re day?” Laura looks at Max.

“It was okay, I guess. Dance class was fun, but coach Wells was still having a problem with me walking into the girl's locker room and changing.” Max takes a sip of her iced tea.

“Let me guess, he kept giving a dirty look each time you went into the locker room and when you came out dressed in the school issue swimsuit?” Donna looks at Max.

“Yes, and he wanted me to go into the men’s locker room. Can you imagine in my swimsuit stepping into the locker room?”

“I bet your friends and fellow male swimmers would have liked that.” A smirk appears on Donna’s face.

“Yeah.”

Laura just listens to her children talk, while enjoying dinner. Some of the people she worked with, heard about Max dressing as a girl. They had approached her and wanted to know if the rumors they heard about Max were true.

“What did coach Karr do about Mr. Wells?” Laura looks towards Max for an answer.

“Oh, she had to remind him, that it wasn’t his place to tell me what I should or shouldn’t do. I was her responsibility and things have already been arranged for me.”

“I’m glad coach Karr is helping you. I know it must not be easy for her, but she promises to do everything she can.”

“And she is. Plus, it also helps that the girls on the swim team are looking after me as well.” Max was glad she did that pool party to prove and show them what she would look like.

“Well, you just keep doing what you are doing, and don’t let anyone at school stop you.” Laura was proud of her younger daughter.

“I will, mom.”

The rest of the dinner goes by quietly. After dinner, Max puts away everything and puts away the dirty dishes, with her mother helping her. Max walks over and hugs her mother.

Laura was surprised by Max hugging her. She returns the hug “what was that for?”

“For just being an understanding and wonderful mother.”

Laura was proud of her daughter. She was worried that what she was going through might break her or be too much for her.

“Thanks, sweetie. Now go and take a bath.” Laura places a kiss on Max’s cheek.

“Yes ma’am.” Max heads upstairs and starts her bath.