Heart ofthe Beholden.

One. I’m Chinese. Yes I’m one of those adopted out of China babies. Two. I’m a girl. Well I’m a girl on the inside. Where nobody knows... The Parchment Chapter 14 By Bailey Summers Copyright© 2014 Bailey Summers All Rights Reserved.

123rf.com. The model in this image in no way supports nor conveys the issues and situations brought up within the story. The models use within this work is solely for the representation of looks of the main character of this particular story. ~Sephrena

“Every place I go, I'll think of you…”
“Every song I sing, I'll sing for you…”
“When I come back, I'll wear your wedding ring…”

“So kiss me and smile for me…”

And the door swings open and it’s not Alex.

*And Now…

My mind goes into a complete blank as it’s not Alex but it’s one of the housekeeping staff.

“Uhm where’s Alex?”

She looks as surprised as I am to see her. “I’m sorry but the young man that was staying in this room has checked out I believe.”

Alex did what?

Why?

“Uhm okay….thank you?” I pull back and she closes the door and I look at Nat who looks at me.

“Check your phone? You did give him your number and stuff right?”

“Uhm yeah?”

I dig it out of my back pocket and there’s a missed call and it’s from Alex.

I press to call him back and it takes a few minutes before he picks up.

“Alex?”

There’s this sound of relief there. “Jade…”

“You left, and you sound…”

“I had to go, dad had a car accident and he was taken to the hospital so I had to go…I’m sorry I really wanted to spend some more time with you.”

He did? …okay yay!

“That’s okay, is your dad alright?”

“They were taking him into surgery that’s all I know.”

“Are you driving?”

“Uhm…yeah….”

“Okay, okay don’t talk to me right now and just get there safe and stuff okay?”

“Okay; I really did have a good time.”

(Sniffle.) “Me…me too the best, the best ever… (Sniffle.)…now drive and be careful!”

“Okay…I promise, I’ll see you later.”

He hangs up and I hang up and I stare at my phone while using my other hand to wipe at my eyes.

Nat comes over and rubs my back and I let out a ragged sigh. “You okay?”

“Nope, nope and a whole lot more nope. But I guess it could be worse right? I mean he might have actually been here and I might have like come off like tranny-stalker girl or something.”

“Hey, stop that. He said that he wanted to spend more time with you, he said that he had a really good time with you, he said that he’d see you later.”

(Sniffle-smile.) “Yeah he did but…what are really the odds and stuff? I mean I’m not out and stuff home and he’s got his life and I’ve got my so called life.”

“Actually pretty good you’re in Nova Scotia and he’s in Maine so who knows?”

“That’s a really huge drive actually.”

“Not really isn’t there a ferry?”

“The new one doesn’t like start until like May sometime.”

“Uhm hello McFly that means it will be going in the summer when you’re off school.”

I sort of hold my sides and stomach. “Oh…god…really…but…I mean what if he doesn’t, what if he just like forgets me.”

“Sinclair you’re not that easy to forget.” She hugs me again. “You have his e-mail and stuff remember screw it…you just got to keep talking to him and stuff.”

“You think?”

“Yeah I think.”

I hug her back and we all leave Alex’s room to hang out at mine for the rest of the night.

I’m a little shy at first with the others there with us but they’re all pretty cool and they know people like me in their own lives too so that’s pretty cool.

It’s kind of why I love this though. I mean there’s me the transgirl and then Nat who’s pretty open about being dwarven almost. Short, stockily built not the pretty slender yet curvy attractive norm.

Then Lynn who’s tall and lanky wit about as much curve as I have and has trouble keeping weight on and she talks about people telling her she’s so lucky while she’s cold all the time and getting crap for being bulimic and stuff when she’s not.

Jill who’s gender queer and she likes guys but she’s just not comfortable in gender roles. Short haired and dressed in what’s kind of guy stuff but pretty neutral stuff really but she admits to looking like a clown in make-up, just not knowing how to act in a dress at all and heels might as well be stilts…so tired of getting labeled as a lesbian and especially as a butch… “I don’t really like or get gender crap…I just don’t I just want to have some one that likes me for me and digs that I’m into video games.”

It really does take all kinds and we’re talking about our homes and stuff and we pack up my stuff and we all are going to the airport in the morning so we take my stuff and we get a porters cart and we head to each of our rooms just hanging out and helping each other pack until morning comes.

I’m almost…no I am crying my eyes out as I get changed and showered and come out as Frankie for the first time since being here.

Have to use Frankie…I just haven’t been able to use Frank or Franklyn for years…just can’t.

The girls console me all they way down to the lobby and we pay our room bills and y’know all that time and work and money to save up for this…it’s been work it.

The girl at the desk looks at me as she’s printing off my receipt. “Frankie Thompson?”

“Uhm yes?”

“There’s been a package left for you.”

“Oh…okay.”

She reaches from under the desk and she passes me another scroll case.

Oh…

Oh…Alex.