I look around to see what made Em flinch. I see Gregory Demopolis scanning the crowd, obviously looking for someone. I look at him and realize that he IS gorgeous…always has been…

I am getting better at tapping into the memories of the new ‘me’; it is really weird having the memories of me as Landon AND memories of the full life I have lived as Layla—all the way back to early childhood. And there is also the third stream of life with the five girls sitting at the table that used to be guys, but now have grown up as girls. Are you confused? Try being me… Anyway…

I tap into my current-reality memories and know that Greg is still the self-assured, jock that he has been in all my realities. He is still the up and coming star quarterback. He is still wildly popular with the girls—and thinks he is God’s gift to them. What is different is that he now has the reputation of being a homophobic jerk. I am not sure if he has always been that way—or if it was just hidden under Edward’s much more visible shadow. He is not like with Edward and his crowd—Greg puts the LGBT crowd down in a much more subtle way. In actuality, he is much more effective than Edward in getting to the individuals in question. It is never open bullying—it is well-hidden psycho-terror; refined to a well-honed, razor-sharp knife…

He continues to look around and shrugs when he obviously doesn’t find who he is looking for. Then his gaze comes back around to our table…and stops. He gets a shocked look on his face and starts our way. I can feel Em starting to shake already.

He gives Lewis a quick dismissive look and then focuses on us girls, plying us with an oily smile. He says, “What is going on, Mathews? How do you rank such a harem? I thought you were exclusive with Beth… Or are you turning into one of THEM, now? There is no way you can satisfy the needs of such lovely company.”

My skin crawls and I feel my long fingernails biting into Em’s shaking hands. I give him a sweet look and ask, “So, what would be so bad about Lew being a girl? Maybe we will make him an honorary one—he certainly fits in better at this table than YOU do…”

I see him blush—then flush. I ‘remember’ that he has been after me, Layla, for quite some time—never understanding why I won’t succumb to his ‘charms’.

He retorts, “Well, that would make him one of THEM then…and you would be queen of another…”

I put my hand to my heart and say, “Oh, I think I have just been stabbed… Someone help me! I am bleeding… Oh, wait! Words…”

The girls at the table giggle. Greg looks at Em and says, “Well, Em… You know I am going to be starting quarterback… You are going to be cheer captain. That means WE are destined to be together.”

To my surprise…and delight…she retorts, “In your dreams, Greg.” She puts a shaking arm around me and says, “I am with everyone that I want to be with, right now.”

This time, Greg turns REALLY red, but he takes a deep breath, turns on his heels, and walks off toward the back of the restaurant…

I look at Em and say, “I am proud of you, Sweetie. But you know you just outed yourself to the most dangerous person you could. I thought you weren’t ready for that?”

She is shaking like a leaf and says, “I wasn’t. I still AM not… But, well,…” She leans over and kisses me…softly, but with passion. The girls at the table all go, “Ooooooo…” Em and I both blush and Em says, “Thank you for being here for me. I don’t know what this journey will bring for either of us…”

I smile and say, “Yes, sometimes paths take you places that are very unexpected…” I take a sip of my soda and say, “Excuse me ladies, I need to go freshen up a bit…he steamed my makeup…” They all giggle and Em says, “Hang on, I will go with you…”

The two of us make our way to the restroom in the back of the restaurant, together. We pass by one of the secluded, “lover’s” tables on the way and the flash of light off of large diamond stud earrings catches my attention. I see Greg sitting there, by himself, giving us a dark look. I shudder and pull on Em’s hand; we hurry into the safety of the girl’s inner sanctum. It is a small restroom—only two stalls, but luckily, we are alone—not the usual line.

I relax and give Em a kiss. I say, “You were great! Don’t go anywhere!” I giggle and enter one of the stalls. I hear her enter the other. I am just finishing up when I hear the restroom door open. I grab my purse and open the stall door to see Greg standing between me and the LOCKED main door. Em comes out and pales.

I say, “Greg? What do you think you are doing?”

He shakes his head and says, “No girls treat me like you two just did. You are the only two girls worth having in this school and now you are telling me that you are taking each other out of the pool? Not only is that GROSS—it is not going to happen. I am going to show you what it is like to be with a MAN… Then you are going to do what I say…until I say stop. Now, which one of you wants to go first?”

Em starts screaming and he smacks her hard—drawing blood to her lip. She starts kicking and scratching and yelling. I just reach into my purse, while she has him distracted and pull out my mace.

Em is holding the bag of ice to her swollen lip. I am finishing up my statement to the policewoman. Greg is being led off in handcuffs, his eyes still swollen from the full can of mace that found its way into them; his face bleeding from Em clawing it.

My Mom and Beth’s Dad arrive at the same time. As soon as Mr. Braun found out what happened from Beth, he had gone down and gotten Mom to bring her over, since Dad is on another trip. Em’s parents are on the way, but have a bit further to drive.

Mr. Braun lets the police know that he is my legal representation, and Em’s as well, if her parents want it. The police take down his information and let him know that Greg is being charged with assault and attempted rape. They let him know that they are not sure the rape charge will stick, but, as far as they are concerned, that was his intent.”

Mr. and Mrs. Stanton arrive and it is still strange for me to see them as the parents of ‘Emily’ and not ‘Edward’. They are happy to take Mr. Braun up on his offer and we all go to the police station to file formal charges. It is there that we find out that this is not the first time that Greg has been in trouble, but never like this; I guess Em and my were too much and completely pushed him over the edge. His Dad, being who he is, has always been able to squelch the issues in the past. Mr. Braun says that he is pretty sure that Greg’s luck is now running out and that maybe some time in a juvenile facility or monitored program of some sort will enlighten him…

The next week is a dream, both literally and figuratively. Em and I become much more involved and don’t hide it from anyone, including our parents who are completely fine with it.

Carol and Gemma also become a widely known pair.

Of course, with Greg gone—and no Edward—there is no open opposition. Everyone is left alone to be and do what they choose. That does not mean everyone AGREES with those choices, but they keep those thoughts to themselves. There is also no doubt that, given time, another Edward or Greg will emerge—the world seems to have plenty of idiots to go around…

After a completely joyful week, I ask Em if she wants to go to the flea market with me. She is delighted and I ask Mom if she can drop us off. We spend some time just wandering around and looking at the booths—giggling like two teenage girls normally do at some of the things we find.

After about an hour, we arrive at THE booth and the lady smiles brightly at me. She asks, “And how are YOU today, Layla? I see that ring was put to good use.”

I glance at the ring on Em’s finger and nod. Suddenly, my world spins and…stops… No one is moving, except the lady at the booth and me. I look around nervously and ask, confused, “What…?”

The lady smile and says, “First, you can call me, ‘Esmerelda’. I think we are beyond, ‘The lady at the booth’.” She smiles at my bewildered look and says, “What? That was not hard to guess. No, I can’t read your mind. As for this…” She gestures around us, “…that is YOUR doing, not mine. You seem to be at a crossroads in the magic. I take it you have grown fond of Emily?”

I nod and say, “I really have. She is such a wonderful person—nothing like Edward.”

Esmerelda says, “But, they are one and the same person… The magic has just brought out the enlightened personality… You have to understand how the magic works. BOTH sides have power over what happens; the person that gives the gift of magic—in this case the ring—and the person that receives it. The giver has ‘ultimate control’ over the endpoint, so to speak. The receiver has a lot of control over the path they take—although, they don’t know it. Do you remember when you almost went down the path of becoming a supermodel? The ring would have allowed that path, because it did not interfere with my endpoint—getting you to see that you needed to be honest with yourself and to trust others to accept you as you really are… The ring gave you a glimpse of what that life would be, but it was up to you to choose…”

I nod, understanding WHAT she is saying, but not WHERE this is going.

She continues, “In the end, you made the journey and were content… So, the necklace’s magic withdrew and you settled into your new life; although, you still retain the knowledge, to remember the lesson—that was MY choice as the giver. It is helping shape you into the person that I hope for you to be some day.”

I give her a confused look, but she just continues, “In Emily’s case, she is still confused as to which path to ultimately take. The magic will not decide for her—so it is up to you as the giver, now. That is the responsibility you took on as the giver. Whether Edward, or Emily, the ultimate lesson has been learned…the magic is ready to relinquish its hold—but Edward/Emily is conflicted and can’t choose which to be… You are going to have to choose…”

I blink. I look at her…and a tear rolls down my face. I say, “I really want to keep my Em…but, I don’t think that is what Edward would have chosen if I hadn’t intervened. He was not TG… I don’t know if I am choosing correctly, but…”

Esmerelda smiles and says, “I knew you would choose wisely…I have high hopes for you…”

The world starts back up and I am standing next to Edward, in a cheerleader uniform. He smiles at me and says, “We better get going or we will be late. You don’t want to miss your own ceremony—being crowned as cheer captain is a BIG thing! Rhonda and Misty would KILL me! Not to mention, you have to sing the National Anthem before the game…”

He gives me a shy look and I know that in this reality, he wants to ask me out, but is too shy; I had asked him to bring me over to the flea market. I have the ring that had started his journey of enlightenment in my hand, like I had just picked it up off the table. I look at him and say, “Eddie, I LOVE this ring and am going to buy it. But…would YOU were it for me? I know it is a bit feminine, but it would show that we are going out…”

He gets a big grin and numbly nods. I put it on his finger and he hugs me. He asks, “So, you are OK if I let Clark and George know? They have been pushing me to ask you out for ages…”

I kiss him on the cheek and say, “Of course, Eddie. And while you are texting them… Esmerelda, I also need a gift for the new starting quarterback. His name is Greg and he has both ears pierced. Maybe those studs there…?”

I wink as she smiles and puts them in a small velveteen bag for me…