During lunch there was an awkward silence that didn't go unnoticed to Cindy, Kevin's mom, “Okay, what is going on here? First you slam the door of your room in my face, then you act strange in the living room, now there's this really uncomfortable silence.” Cindy took the time to look both boys deep in the eyes before saying, “You're not planning anything to get out of bootcamp are you?”

Kevin and Kim both looked at Cindy with wide open mouths, “Of course not mom! Though I really don't want to go, I've always done what you asked of me. Don't you trust me?” Kevin responded.

“Well, you've never shown such a dislike to anything we ever asked of you.” was her comeback.

“It's bootcamp, mom! Look at me! If I'm lucky they'll just kill me really fast!”

“Now, now don't overreact, first of all it's a rehabilitation camp and second, you had this discussion already with your father, and you did agree in the end.”

“Only because Kim comes too! Seriously, do you know what kind of kids they normally send to such camps?!” Kevin practically yelled at his mom.

“Don't you yell at me!” Cindy said raising her voice significantly, “Whatever you may think of our decision, I am still your mother! You show some respect young man!” She let herself relax again before adding, “Now I'm even more convinced this will do you some good.”

“More convinced?! Why? Because I like to live? You really want me dead?!” Kevin asked his mother while his face reddened with anger. His mother just looked shocked at Kevin. “Fine! I'll go to your frickin' camp! Don't come crying at my grave.” He said while getting up from his chair and running towards his room.”

“Kevin!” Cindy began, but before she could say anything else, Kim was beside her with a hand on her shoulder.

“Let me talk to him miss Blaire. He's just upset and scared. I'll calm him down.” Kim said.

“Ofcourse I'm also scared for what might happen there, that's why I insisted on you going with him. I hope you don't blame me for sending you too.” Cindy said to Kim while looking at the floor. Tears were streaming down here face.

“Of course not miss Blaire. If you would've send him there alone, I would've gone after him anyway. With or without permission.”

“Please. Take care of my baby.” She said raising her head to look at kim.

“I will ma'am, I will.”

Kevin was sitting on the bed with his knees drawn towards him, held together by his arms. How could she send me to my own death. Kevin thought to himself. Before he had a chance to sulk some more on his own, he heard a knock on his door.

“Go away!” He yelled to what he assumed must be his mom.

“Kevin?” A rather masculine voice for his mother asked behind the door. “It's me Kim.” Well that explained the masculine voice.

“What do you want?”

Without answering, Kim opened the door, to see his best friend (and potential boyfriend) sitting there with a tearstricken face.

“Hey.” Kim said while slowly walking in his room. “Want to talk about it?”

“Not really” muffled kevin from between his knees.

“Well we don't have to talk about that.” Kim said while leaning against Kevin's desk.

Kevin looked up. Not knowing what Kim meant by that. What else was there to talk about?

“You said you would explain something? Or show me something that I wouldn't understand?” Kim asked.

Kevin's eyes shot open. He completely forgot about that. His heart started beating rapidly.

“You said you can't be gay and that I wouldn't understand.” Kim takes in a deep breath, “Well, I don't understand anything at the moment. So give it your best shot! You can't make me any less understandable than I am now.”

Kevin swallowed and breathed in and out a few times, “To be gay, you have to be a guy who likes guys, right?” He asked in confirmation.

“Yes... or a girl who likes girls...” Kim said still confused, “and you definitely like me, a boy.”

Kevin blushed at that, which made Kim smile in response. Kevin looked away to try hiding his embarrasement. “Okay, I might... kind of... like you.” he stumbled out, “ But that's not the issue here.”

“Could you maybe get to the point of this? You're kinda driving me crazy here.” Kim said a little exasperated.

“Well like I said: being gay means a guy liking guys. Someone liking the same sex...”

Kim looked at Kevin expectantly who still was trying to explore the walls and ceiling as if something interesting on them might happen at any moment.

Kevin took a deep breath, “I don't know if I'm really a guy or not.” there he said it, even though it was in a squeaky whispering voice.

Silence followed.

Kevin looked with anticipation towards kim.

“I'm not sure if I'm following you...” Kim said, “I'm pretty sure you've got boyish parts down there. Unless you've been stuffing your swimwear with socks.”

Kevin sighed, “I knew you wouldn't understand.”

“Of course I won't understand! You tell me you don't know if you're a guy or not and expect me to understand what you mean by that? Give me something to work with please!”

Kevin got a little peeved at kim's biting comment and blurted out, “I'm transgendered! Gender dysphoric! I don't know in what length!” he said with a quivering voice, “Do I just like to dress up as a girl? Am I partly a girl in mind or am I like those transsexuals, a boy in a girl's body?!” by this time tears were streaming like a waterfall down his face. Figuring out his mistake in his last sentence, he started correcting himself.

“I mean-”

“A girl in a boy's body.” Kim finished for him.

“Yeah...”

Kim let out a big sigh and dropped himself on kevin's bed. Minutes that felt like hours passed by without a word.

“Kim?” Kevin asked while trying to wipe his face clean.

“Yes?” Kim answered still staring into space in front of him.

“Do you hate me now?” asked Kevin in a soft whisper.

Kim looked Kevin in the eyes. A little smile came on his face, as he said “No, I don't hate you.” meanwhile gently wiping a tear from kevin's face with his thumb.