Chapter 12

Friday night in Delacroix. Like most middle sized towns, there were
pockets of inactivity. Large swaths of suburban living gone dark for a
night out on the town. Then there were the parties. This one was like
most others, loud and busy. Grrl Army was playing. Somewhere around the
fourth song, "C'mon Eileen"(Heather felt more comfortable with the Save
Ferris cover.) Bobbie lost track of Beth.

Bobbie started looking around, and found her...

Talking to a boy?

"There you are," she said, finding Beth and the unknown boy.

"Oh, Bobbie. This is Steve, he studies cooking at the college." Beth was
talking rapidly. He, like her, was overweight and their conversation
turned back to baking. Bobbie smiled. She seemed to be having fun.
Bobbie quickly turned back to the music. There was a girl by the stage
with bright red hair and a back tattoo reminiscent of Melanie's. She was
swaying seductively. She could see Kim stealing glances at her in
between plucks of the strings. As "Eye of the Tiger" ended. Heather
called a 10 minute break for the band. Kim set down the bass and leapt
down to the redhead, whom she hugged and kissed, a little too
intimately.

Kim's okay, obviously. Alright, how does this mingling thing work?

She was reaching for a Diet Coke when she heard a voice behind her.

"Some party,huh? You know, you're the prettiest girl here?" He a red cup
in his hand. He reeked of whiskey and beer, he wore a t-shirt that said
"Ironic T-Shirt" and a mustache that had been waxed to the point of
ridiculosity. "Love the band." He started to offer her his cup when...

"There you are." She was one of Kim's friends, Bobbie recognized her
from the Lunch Bunch. Her shoulder length dark hair swished over a
shoulder as she quickly turned. She felt an arm around her waist. She
tensed, like two magnets pole to pole. Defense shields up, maximum
strength. Before Bobbie could comprehend what was happening. She had her
tongue in Bobbie's mouth.

Kissing. Robb had done some. So had Bobbie. The foreign tongue swabbed
around the inside of her mouth. It felt familiar, soothing. The world's
cares fell away. For a moment, Bobbie forgot about Bobbie. She was Robb
again, lost in a world of unfamiliar sensation that smelled both
familiar and wrong. The tongue withdrew as the other head backed away.

"Is that a mustache, or did someone put a candle on your face? Beat it,
breeder," she said, turning to Mr. Mustache.

"Lesbians," he breathed as he turned and walked away.

"Bobbie, right? I remember you from lunch on the first day. That guy.
Hipsters, ugh," She offered her red cup, which she took and finished in
one gulp.

"Yeah, sorry about that. That guy is such a douchebag. He dated my
sister. He would have played you some indie band's love song in a vein
attempt to get you to suck his cock. I'm Mary and..."

Bobbie only caught snatches of the rest, the kiss lingering in her mind.
The contents of the cup making her head swim. "I...I need some air," She
started toward the patio.

Oh, God. A girl just kissed me. But I'm a girl. It felt good. It felt
weird. It felt right. It felt wrong. Why does this seem to be the only
thing I can't figure out?

"You're not gay," Kim had said. Confusion rolled around her mind like a
boulder, rattling her psyche. It seemed like she should have enjoyed it.

But, she didn't, well not exactly.

"Hey." A warm hand on her shoulder, she spun quickly. Another hand shot
out to steady her.

"Sorry, didn't mean to freak you out. Figured because you were a little...
anyway. I just wanted to get you away from that guy. Kim told me how
you're kind of naíve and..." Bobbie eyed her curiously. "...No offense. Just
didn't wanna see anything happen. Date rape and all that, this is a
college party."

"It's okay," Bobbie slurred slightly, then giggled, "You kissed me." She
blushed.

"I kissed a girl and I liked it," she sang.

"How much did you drink?"

"Just that cup. I just," She felt funny, like really drunk. She felt
dizzy as her mouth flooded with saliva. She covered her mouth. Mary led
her over to a trash can by the patio, where Bobbie emptied her stomach.
Mary held her hair until she was done.

"Wow, you're a cheap date. Don't drink, huh."

"No, but," Bobbie giggled. "You're a smoker."

Over Mary's shoulder, she saw Kim and the red haired girl. There was
something familiar about her. Thinking through molasses, she couldn't
figure out what it was.

Something's wrong. But what?

The redhead left and Kim ambled over with wide eyes and an even wider
grin.

"Hey," Kim said, ambling over. "You okay?"

"I think she'll be fine, she is such a lightweight."

Bobbie giggled. "She kissed me," Kim looked sideways at Mary, puzzled.

"Jeb was gonna hit on her. I remember you said..."

"I would have kicked him in the balls. F...Fucker," Bobbie hiccupped,
swaying drunkenly.

"I gave her my cup," Mary said It only had a sip left in it. I didn't
think..."

"Yeah, she's got like, no tolerance. Kim said, crossing over to her.
"Thanks, I think. C'mon, Bro, let's get you a seat."

"Who was that?" Bobbie asked. "She's hot." Her giggling calmed down as
Bobbie realized she was Bobbie.

"That was Roxx," Kim turned cold for a second. "And she's mine. C'mon,
bro. I've gotta get back on stage." She led Bobbie to a seat near the
stage, where she stayed. Grrl Army came back on and started the next set
with "Should I Stay Or Should I Go." Loud cheers erupted as the opening
riff played.

Bobbie sat there, slightly drunk. Throwing up had helped. Bobbing her
head to the music, she noticed Tim standing against the wall. She
started to rise, only to be tripped up by her own feet. Tim noticed
Bobbie as she fell. He threaded his way through the crowd toward her.

Bobbie was cursing her drunkenness as she started to get up. A strong,
warm hand was on her shoulder. It wasn't like when Mary first touched
her. It was like her defense shield got the right response. Muscles
relaxed, she felt her whole body exhale. Another hand rested on the
other shoulder.

"Bobbie, it's okay. It's me, Tim." She seemed to want to fall again
before she finally allowed him to help her to her feet. She turned
around and faced him, leaning on him heavily.

"No matter where I am, there you are." She chuckled at her own joke. Tim
laughed.

"C'mon, sit down. Need something to drink?"

"That would be good." He was gone before she finished. He was back
before she could see where he went.

"Here," Tim said, handing her a Mello Yello. She took the can and popped
the tab. After a solid swig, followed by a burp, she felt a little
better.

Tim burst out laughing, as did Bobbie. He sat with her. She noticed she
was looser, more comfortable than she had been. The band wrapped up and
the party wound down. Getting the gear stowed was easy with all the
extra help.

"Groovy!" Bobbie said as she closed the tailgate on the last of the
gear.

"Candar!" Tim said, echoing her quote. She smiled at him. "You know,
Bobbie. I like the fact that I can say these things around you. No one
ever gets it," Crossing over to her, he continued. "My mutant power
seems to be remembering weird shit."

"Mine too." Her eyes widened. She giggled. "Mutant power." He moved
closer.

"Hey," Kim intoned. The redhead from earlier was on her hip. "Roxx, this
is Bobbie and Tim. Guys, Roxx."

She shook Tim's hand and grinned evilly, then turned to Bobbie. Her look
became absolutely sinister. "Heard sooo much about you."

Something's wrong with her. I can feel it. Evil, pure and simple.

As their hands touched, Bobbie was filled with a sense of nameless
dread. Her hackles raised, the fine hairs on the back of her neck tried
their best to stand up.

Roxx broke away, then kissed Kim. "See ya 'round," She walked away in a
sway of hips that indicated to Bobbie that Roxx had a tattoo that was
awfully similar to the one Melanie had, but different enough to be just
another tramp stamp. Looking at Kim, there was a thinner, more dense
darkness than she had sensed before. What did it mean?

"That's your girlfriend? Nice," Tim said, looking at Bobbie. "I mean, if
that's your type," He quickly amended.

Thing is, that was my type.

"So that's Roxx. She better be nice to you." Bobbie smacked a fist into
her palm.

Kim laughed. "Don't do that. It doesn't look right when you do it,"
Bobbie laughed, so hard she nearly doubled over. "Is she okay?"

"As far as I can tell," Tim rubbed the back of his neck. Bobbie was
still laughing at Kim's last statement.

"C'mon, bro," Kim said, pulling on of Bobbie's slender arms around her
shoulder to keep her steady. "Let's get you home."

Tim followed them to Heather's car, where Kim helped her in. "Look,
thanks for helping her out. I think this evening is going to mess with
her a little."

He looked puzzled. "I didn't do..."

"No, one of my more forward friends kissed her to keep this douchebag
away, I guess. And.."

"Oh, no problem. I'll hang out with her anytime. Seems like she gets me.
I expect to be in the friend zone, but I've gotta try, right? And, Kim.
Don't tell Bobbie."

"Don't worry. Not sure she's ready for that yet."

"Thanks. See you at the Bakery Tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Kim said, ducking into the car.

"Bye, Tim," Heather and Bobbie said as Heather started her car and drove
off into the slightly humid night.

"You like Bobbie, don't you?" Tim was startled. He spun quickly, it was
Beth.

Tim put his hand over his chest. "Jeez, Beth. You scared me."

"Sorry," she said. "Fun party."

"Yeah. Hey, what happened to that guy...um..."

"Oh, Steve. He was nice. We talked about food and stuff."

"He didn't try.."

"No, silly. He's just nice," Beth giggled.

Tim smiled and offered her arm. "Ready to go? Big day at the bakery."

Beth smiled. "Let's rumble."

Chapter 13

At the ring of the alarm, Bobbie wanted to cry. She hurt, her stomach
rolled.

Ugh! I need to stop trying to drink. There was a taste in her mouth, a
taste that should have...

Mary! Bobbie blushed, her head clearing slightly. Dressing quickly, she
crept downstairs to see Kim drinking coffee.

"There she is," Kim said. "I can see that you remember last night. You
look like a dog that just peed in the house."

"I.."

"Don't worry. Mary feels just as weird about it. She thinks she chased
you away. I think she's got a crush on you."

"Oh, God. She smokes. All I could taste was tobacco. She handed me a
cup..."

"Yeah, what's up with that?"

"Ever since... 'Bobbie' everything effects me. Funny thing is, I didn't
think that there was anything special in that cup. It was just beer."

"You were pretty buzzed," Kim agreed.

"She just showed up when that guy..." Bobbie shook her head as she
seasoned her coffee. "I've got such a..."

"Hangover? Yeah, I'd stay away from that stuff. It's almost like you're
allergic."

Bobbie was downing her coffee, trying to get at that life giving
caffeine. "Kim, I..I."

"You're confused? Right? Question is, how did you feel about it?" Kim
looked intently at Bobbie, holding her gaze.

"When she grabbed me, I tensed. Then when she kissed me... I...I was Robb
again. I forgot about this, but it ... I don't know... smelled wrong? Then I
looked down and realized I was 'Bobbie', and that was it, I just felt
weird. Did I like it? Sort of? But that's not the weird part," She
sipped at the rest of her coffee.

Kim cocked an eyebrow. "How do you mean?"

"I fell later, and Tim was there. He stopped me from falling and..."

"Go on..."

"When he touched me... It felt... I dunno, comforting? When Mary did it. I
tensed."

"That didn't happen with Tim," Bobbie said. "In fact, just the opposite.
I felt... secure."

"See, told you," Kim swallowed the last of her coffee. "You aren't gay."

Great, one confusion settled.

After showering, Bobbie's head stopped throbbing and her stomach stopped
riding the rollercoaster it had been on all morning. She and Kim got to
the Bakery late. Everyone was there. Including two new faces, an awkward
looking blonde guy they had seen at the party.

And another, vaguely Asian girl with a longish pixie cut and a purple
streak framing the right side of her face. There was something about
her. "Oh, good. It's the Duchess of Dessert," she said dryly.

"Bobbie, Kim. This is Nick and Faye. Nick's a graphic design student at
DCC. He can help with our signage. His work's pretty good, and he'll
practically work for cupcakes."

"Which will go straight to my boobs and my hips," Faye said. Beth and
Kim chuckled. Bella and Amber smiled.

Bobbie shook Nick's hand, then Faye's. As soon as they touched, she felt
a wrongness. A subdued, muted version of Roxx's. Looking closer, she saw
darkness. Hers was unique, unusual. She wanted to jerk her hand away
like she touched a live wire, but instead allowed the low voltage to
flow through her.

"So, the idea is for Nick to design the logo. We're gonna need a name,
Something we're gonna plaster all over town. We need to let them know
we're different," Tim was excited, talking animatedly. Gone was the shoe
gazing. Bobbie smiled as she saw Heather grinding her teeth every time
he unsuccessfully tried to hook his hair over his ear.

Bobbie noticed that Faye couldn't stop looking at her. A small part of
her liked the attention, a slightly larger part felt wrong for liking
it, and the largest part wondered what was so different about her that
she gave off such unusual vibes.

Bobbie got up. "Well, I guess we're going to have to make some of these
famous cupcakes, right?"

"Fuck yes," Kim said.

Beth clapped, signifying her answer.

"Yeah, sure. I'll talk some things over with Nick. See if we can figure
out a direction"

"...And I'll sit here and look sexy," Faye said, causing a caustic look
from Heather. And with that, they broke. The Band setting up, Bobbie and
Beth getting their stations set up. Tim and Nick sitting in front of a
laptop. The general stir engulfed everyone. Everyone except Faye, who
couldn't stop watching Bobbie.

"I'll be back, I need to run to the bathroom. Can you keep an eye on the
candy thermometer for me?" Beth said, wiping her hands and hustling out
of the prep area.

As Beth left, Faye slinked from where she sat to where Bobbie stood,
grabbing measuring cups. "So, how long ago did it happen?"

"Oh, I met Tim and Beth when..."

"Don't give me that bullshit. How long ago did you have a dick?"

Bobbie dropped a measuring cup, she heard the plastic crack. She spun
quickly and Stared Faye right in the eye. As their eyes connected,
Bobbie saw understanding.

"Was it Lust? How long ago was it."

Lust! Justice had warned me about her.

"Please," she said pleadingly. "I have to know. There's more than us,
you know?"

Bobbie's eyes widened.

"Lust," Bobbie's eyes widened. She whispered the name.

"Why did she do this to you?"

"I think we should go outside," Bobbie eyed Faye suspisciously as Beth
came in and washed her hands. "Beth. Temp's still good. I'll be right
back."

Bobbie led Faye outside. Her mind was a whirlwind of activity. She
seemed to know. "Lust didn't do this to me," Bobbie began. "Justice did.
But she did mention Lust"

"There's more of them?" Faye looked at Bobbie incredulously. "What does
this one want? What did you do?"

"I don't understand," Bobbie said into Faye's pleading eyes.

Faye took a deep breath, looked both ways. "I used to be a guy," She
breathed quietly. The effortless confidence she exuded was gone,
replaced by a vulnerable teenage girl."Believe it or not, I used to be a
six foot plus man named Kane," She ran a hand along her body. "Lust did
this to me. The first year was some Event Horizon shit. Now I'm this
irresistible bundle of sexiness you see before you."

Bobbie was taken aback. Here was evidence of Lust's handiwork. Well,
Justice had said...

And here, she was. A kindred spirit. A TRUE kindred spirit.

"Liberate Tut e me ex inferis," Bobbie said. Smiling as she shed a
single tear, she leapt forward and embraced Faye.

Faye awkwardly returned the hug."Anyway, I had to learn everything all
over again. If it wasn't for Nick, I doubt I'd be breathing. What's your
story?"

"Drugs, robberies. I... I got shot. Justice came, said she'd save me if I
helped her."

"What does she want?"

"Not much. Just to be a good person and to help people. I'm being... I
don't know. I'm just different now."

"No shit."

"So, you got the Event Horizon thing? Play much Dead Space?"

"Oh, God. Yes!" Bobbie squeed. Faye's perfect left eyebrow went up.

"So not long enough to know to keep that shit on lockdown?"

"Look, Bobbie? We should talk, but not here. You got a free night
tomorrow?"

"Yes! I've got so many questions..."

"You never answered my question. How long?"

"About a month? I've been really busy."

"Again, no shit. You're taking this better than I did. I moped like
Janeane Garofalo on downers Got into fights, and was just a pain in the
ass. Look, we should get back in there. I need to try these cupcakes
I've heard so much about. I know you want answers, you can wait till
tomorrow. Until then, sister-brother?"

Bobbie laughed, uncontrollably; as she shook Faye's offered hand."No
one's ever said that to me before."

Faye looked back at her, and as their hands shook.

"Then it pleases me to be the first."

"Transformers? NICE! Oh, nerd roots showing," Bobbie quickly repostured.

"Allow me to introduce myself," continuing to shake.

"My name is Faye. Faye Valentine."

As they let each other's hands go, Bobbie's face fell. "Faye Valentine?
How on Earth do you manage to keep that name? I mean, doesn't everyone
know it by now?"

"Girl's gotta keep some secrets." Faye smiled as they reentered the
bakery.

Beth had done her work and the cupcakes were ready to go in. Faye headed
back over to Nick and Tim who were talking excitedly about something.
Heather and the rest of the band came into the baking area to the smell
of baking.

"Bobbie, I don't want to have to take all my dresses out," Heather
warned.

"Fuck it," Bella declared. "Em are good."

"They won't be ready for a while yet," Bobbie said.

"Yeah," Beth interjected. "We still have to put together the..."

Tim burst into the now-crowded bakery. "Holy... wow, lot of people in
here. Ummm, Bobbie, could you come out here?"

Bobbie shimmied her way through the crowd and tried to ignore when her
breasts brushed against Tim. A slight tingle, almost a burning sensation
lingered almost to the small seating area where Nick and Tim had been
working.

Faye, I really hope you can help me. With Tim.

With everything.

"Cheepskates Cupcake Boutique. There's the logo," Tim pointed to the
monitor of Nick's laptop. There was a small green bird on rollerskates
inside an orange circle. "What do you think?"

Bobbie looked at it, cocked her head and studied it. Something wasn't
quite right.

"Can we make the bird blue?" Bobbie asked. Nick tapped the stylus to the
drawing pad twice and the bird changed color.

"It looks better," Tim said, lowering his voice. "It's just that green
was Stephanie's favorite color."

"The lettering could be green," Bobbie offered.

Nick, without looking up, said, "Green would throw out the scheme. Blue
and orange are complimentary."

"Don't worry, Tim," Bobbie promised, "We'll get green in there somehow."
Tim brightened some, smiling at Bobbie in a manner so infectious, she
returned it.

There was some commotion as Beth called for Bobbie to return to the
production area to finish the cupcakes.

"Shoo," Beth said, waving her hand at everyone except Bobbie. Twenty
minutes later, they returned with one dozen each of Mortal Choklate and
Great White North.

Everybody grabbed theirs, looking at the edible art before them. Faye
and Kim were the first into theirs.

"MMMMMMMMPH!" Faye declared, working her mouth slowly. She set one hand
on the table as she swallowed. She panted, staring at the cupcake
incredulously. "I think that you just became my new junk food stop."

Nonplussed, Nick opted to try the Great White North first. His eyes
closed, rapt in delicious sensation. Mmmming as he chewed, dismissing
the crumbs that landed on his Gungrave shirt.

After cleaning up and stowing their sound gear. Faye and Bobbie
exchanged numbers. "Tomorrow?" Faye asked.

"For sure," Bobbie smiled.

That night Bobbie and Kim were on the roof again.

"So, you made fast friends with Faye. Nick seems cool. Maybe I'll bring
Roxx by next week," Kim said pensively, staring off into empty space.

"Yeah, I can meet her sober."

Kim laughed and extinguished her cigarette. "C'mon, we got school
tomorrow."

**********

The next day passed in a blur. Classes, the occasional 'hi' from some of
the other kids in her classes, small talk with Beth and now Tim, who sat
far away from 'slacker's cove' as it was called. In Drama, Bobbie's
phone vibrated in her pocket. She flipped it open to find a text from
Faye:

Meet me in the parking lot, Ive arranged transpo

After class Bobbie said goodbye to Beth and headed out to the parking
lot. She quickly found Faye who indicated Nick's car pulling into the
gravel.

"Go ahead and get in the front. I like to make him think he's a
chauffeur," Faye said loudly enough for Nick to hear. Bobbie got in the
front seat, Nick brushing some chip crumbs onto the floor.

"Dammit, Faye. You can't just leave your shit up front, then jump in the
back," Nick said, craning his neck. Faye glowered at him. "Yessah, Miz
Daisy. I be drivin'"

"Just get us home, Nick. Or I will describe my last period to you in
great detail"

"You're kidding," Nick said evenly, not taking his eyes off the road.
Bobbie could tell that this was common.

"I have pictures," Faye said, grinning broadly.

Nick mumbled something under his breath as he drove out of the confines
of Delacriox High.

"So, Bobbie. I never got to tell you yesterday. But, that may have been
the best baked anything I've ever had. Did I hear you right, that
there's bacon in them?"

"Yeah," she said. What did Nick know? She wondered. She thought it best
not to bring it up.

"Well, you found a way to get another food group in there," Nick said

"Hmmm," Faye purred. "Breakfast cupcakes. Me likey."

They pulled into the place Nick and Faye called home. Faye shooed Bobbie
into her room quickly, closing the door behind her. "Please, sit."

Bobbie looked at the room. It was a mess, there were food wrappers and
video games, anime dvds and various items, some of which defied
explanation.

"So," Faye began, extending her hand. "Name was Kane... Hmmm. Haven't said
that in over a year."

"Robb," Bobbie shook her hand again. "I think."

"Robb, Bobbie. OK."

"That was Melanie's idea. Oooh, she controlled everything. First it was
playing hooky, then shaving my head..."

Faye giggled. "Sorry, I can't picture you bald."

"Yeah, well waking up with all this extra hair was a bit of a shock. So
were these." Bobbie put her hands on her breasts."

"My change was slower, took a couple of weeks," Faye said. "If it wasn't
for Nick. I...I don't think I'd be here."

"He knows?"

"Of course. He's my best friend. Has been for years. Don't think we
should tell him about you, though. He's just getting over losing me."

"Losing you? Wait were you...?"

Doing the mental algebra, Faye brought up her hands reassuringly. "No,
no. Nothing like that. It's just, he wanted his old buddy Kane back.
Friday night Anime marathons, both of us bitching about how we never get
laid," She held up a locket that was around her neck. "There's a lock of
Kane's hair in here. Nick saved it, and I've kept it ever since."

"I tried so hard to not mope around. Didn't work. Then I met a girl
named Amy. She's like us. Well, like me. Lust did her. She was a guy
named Marten. Lust didn't just change his sex, she regressed him to 11
years old. Think about that."

Bobbie wondered about that. That would have been a special type of hell.
Puberty, again, parents and playgrounds, again. "I was gonna die. Female
was preferable to dead. The next day. I guess when the change was
finished. I... I ... had a period."

"Me, too," Faye interjected. "Thought I was gonna die," She chuckled at
the memory. Also remembering telling Zoe and Rachel the same story and
the resulting laugh.

"I'd just recently been shot. I freaked out. All that blood... Kind of
silly now that I think about it. But."

"Yeah."

"How long before you double clicked your mouse?"'

"Huh?"

"Masturbated? I mean, you have done that, right," Faye asked.

She nodded her head. "Melanie set up a webcam thing and we did this
Angel/Demon thing..."

Faye's face fell as she ran to her computer. After a few quick taps and
clicks, she turned the monitor to face Bobbie.

Where she saw Melanie and herself. Bobbie looked away, blushing.

"Sorry. Didn't recognize you. It's a hot video. You look different...
What's wrong?" Bobbie's hands covered her face, she was sobbing. Faye
came and sat next to her.

"M..Melanie made me do it so we could make some money. She gave me
ecstasy...and...and," Bobbie collapsed. "Sorry, it's just..."

"Hormones? I'm sure you've noticed a difference. You don't get mad like
you used to? Things make you cry more. Welcome to girl Auschwitz. Where
every move courts disaster.

"Hey, we 'girls' have to stick together. Hell of an introduction," Faye
said, smiling.

"So," Bobbie sniffed, regaining composure. "What did you do about guys."

Faye looked sheepish. "I have a girlfriend."

Bobbie was stunned."I... I didn't..."

"It's okay, we keep it quiet. What about you?"

"At that party last weekend. One of Kim's friends kissed me. I guess to
save me from being hit on. I kind of liked it, until I remembered I'm
not Robb anymore and it smelled funny, . Kind of left me in a funk, then
I drank some beer, and most of the evening is a blur, except..."

"Go on," Faye dug in, hoping for details of the juiciest variety.

"Tim helped me up, and it felt...I don't know, comforting. Like he
wouldn't let me fall. Ever."

"Ah, I see. It sounds like you're not into girls."

"But, I'm not gay."

"Honey," Faye said, cocking a hip sensually. "look in the mirror. How
old were you?'

"21"

"And you've got a whole life ahead of you, no one will ever know unless
you tell them," Faye pointed out matter of factly.

"Kim keeps telling me I'm not gay, but..."

"What's her story?"

"Oh," Bobbie waved her hand," She's my sister."

"You went home?" Faye said, as if stricken. "I only talk to my parents
through email now. Did you get ID?"

"Yeah, I knew someone. Son of a bitch wanted me to blow him," Bobbie
said distastefully. "I told them I was Robb's girlfriend, and that he
was dead. They bought it. I told Kim, so she knows, and now there's you.
And Melanie, but, I think she's probably long gone by now.

"Did you?" Faye quizzed.

"What?"

"Blow him?"

"Eww, no."

"So, what were you like? Y'know, before," Faye asked.

"Not much to tell. Wallflower, no real friends, some online D and D, and
movies. Lots of movies. I probably know more about movies that most
people you know."

"Probably. I am a gamer, that hasn't changed. I just keep it quiet. Tell
people I'm into hiking," Faye let out a sly grin. "Getting used to this
body was... a journey."

"The body stuff isn't so hard. I have to admit I kind of like how the
clothes fit. It just seems weird that I like guys now. I guess. Don't
know if I'm ready for it.

"Everybody finds their own time. Having friends helps. Without Nick,
Rach, and Zoe..."

"I dropped out of school. I'm gonna finish this time. My mom seems like
she's doing better. I have friends now. It's... nice," She smiled. "I had
a dream..."

Faye leaned in, listening intently. "I saw me. I mean, I saw Robb. And
he told me that it was okay. To keep what there was, because there was
so little of him. No friends, no future. Justice told me I'm on the
right track. So, I must be doing something right.

"Looks like you made your saving throw."

Bobbie looked at her, perplexed, then laughed at the reference.

"Well, you've got a better handle on this that I did at a month. I think
you'll be okay. Looks like you have friends," Faye said, adjusting her
low neck top.

"Really?"Bobbie looked down. "Yeah, I guess I do. Never did before,
Never talked to anyone, got bullied. All my friends were online, You
know all those experiences we were supposed to have growing up? Well,
not me."

"My father died when I was 11. He was my dad. I mean, never got fishing
or football, but I had to learn to be a man from movies. Worst teacher
ever. Kim and I were close until... well, until Melanie. I followed her
like a puppy, did whatever she wanted. Wasn't too sure about the
robberies, but she convinced me. Like an idiot."

"Whenever people ask you 'didn't your parent's ever...' My answer is
usually no. Ask me how many stuntmen were in Die Hard, and I can tell
you," Bobbie smirked.

As they talked, Bobbie and Faye realized that, Bobbie just needed to
talk to someone else who had been through a similar, traumatic change.
She went home, buoyed as she was by some catharsis.

Chapter 14

She smelled it before she saw it. A cigarette. It didn't smell offensive
or clingy. It smelled soothing, pleasant, instead. There was a hard
packed dirt path that seemed to stretch forever, an equally infinite
field. A dark shape stood out in the distance.

"Hey," It called. "Think I could get your help, Bobbie?"

Stunned, she made her way toward the voice. The cigarette smell got
stronger.

She gasped as she saw his face. Robb. He looked worse, sicker. His
grungy clothes hung oddly on his gaunt frame. The light dappling on the
mottled skin of his shaved head.

"Hey, gorgeous."

Bobbie looked at her funny.

"Only so brash because you're you, me... whatever," Robb waved his hand,
smoke trailing. Bobbie stared at the cigarette, transfixed. He pulled
out his pack and offered her one. "Don't worry, it's just a dream. Your
body remembers. Go on," Bobbie took one of the Camels and put it in her
mouth. Robb lit it for her. She inhaled. It was relaxing and made her
head swim. Robb then produced a joint, and lit it. "Same here," He said
holding in the pungent smoke.

They smoked the joint and their cigarettes. Bobbie was high, the high
she remembered. She smiled blankly. So many memories...

"Okay, Now that you and I are on the same page, grab a shovel and come
with me."

"Wai... huh?" Bobbie asked.

"You're gonna help me bury something," He said as he started to hack and
cough.

"What?"

"Me," He said spitting a glob that was at least part the red of blood.

Robb told stupid jokes, as if he'd been privy to everything that
happened to Bobbie. Bobbie laughed, they were a little dark, but they
were funny. He stopped and dug his shovel right in. "C'mon, don't be
shy," Bobbie also dug in, churning the dirt.

"Way I see it," Robb began. "Is you've got to bury me, if you don't,
you'll never be happy. Look you may know who directed what and all that,
but what did that knowledge cost you? Look at Beth, God, she's almost
like a female me. Probably why you helped her. But that's my point, I
never would have. Not only did you do it," He leaned on his shovel. "You
did it with some Crouching Tiger style."

Bobbie laughed.

"Look at Kim, you two get along better than we did at the end there. And
Mom, I know she loved me, but she seems to get you. Heather seems nice.
Pay attention to her. Bella and Amber... Y'know, you have the start of a
really great group," Bobbie looked down.

"And Tim... he's nice, he likes you, you know? Reminds me of me. It's
okay to admit it. I know about Mary. I understand. But things are
different now. Remember how I used to always push away the broccoli in
the Chinese food?" Bobbie nodded.

She remembered how she had eaten everything at Bamboo Panda, relishing
the crunch and its earthy flavor.

"Anyway, the baking, Tim. Seriously, you could go places I never would
have gone. Let's just say I survived the robbery, then what?" Bobbie
hadn't thought of that. He coughed and spat again.

"You know Melanie would have rolled over on you in a heartbeat. Me?
Jail? That would have gone over like a lead balloon. That webcam shit.
Her using you, me, again."

Bobbie agreed as she wiped sweat away from her forehead, making her
bangs stick awkwardly.

"Justice gave you this chance. You've already done more with it than I
would have. Sing, dance... love. There's going to come a time when you
will have been Bobbie longer than I was Robb. I think we've all
established that you're not gay. You gonna wall yourself off from
everyone? You don't even like cats."

They dug in silence. There was soon a large hole. Robb offered Bobbie
another cigarette and lit another joint.

"Figure we can do this one more time," Robb said, lighting Bobbie's
cigarette.

"Forget about all the things I did. They're long past. Concentrate on
now. I know you can do it. You've come so far already. Style, I mean, I
know I would have been terrified of you," Bobbie blushed.

"You have talents you don't even know about yet, and even more will come
with age and experience. It's a little different, not much.

He stubbed out his cigarette and stood. Crossing over to Bobbie, he
hugged her. She returned the hug. It was the embrace of two best friends
that will never see each other again. Bobbie could feel the tears on her
shoulder.

Robb's tears, cooler than the tears from her own eyes.

"C'mon. No need to cry. It's better this way. Take care of Mom, and
Kimster. Especially Kim. Try to live, have some fun. Get through the bad
times. There's more to life than I lived. Go on out and find it," And
with that, he unceremoniously jumped into the hole.

"Well, fill it in. Let's do this," Robb pulled the last cigarette from
his pack. "One for the road." He smiled weakly.

Bobbie wanted to scream, NO. We can fix this, it doesn't have to be this
way. But, she saw the truth of it. He was gone, no going back. Apart
from watching movies with his dad, there were no real happy childhood
memories. Movie and book trivia was all there really was. Tears streamed
down her face as she began tossing dirt into the hole at Robb's feet.

"Kinda reminds me of Army of Darkness," Robb said, exhaling smoke.
Bobbie chuckled through her tears.

As the dirt reached his neck. "Goodbye, Bobbie. Make it count. Live
loudly."

"No matter where you go, there you are," Bobbie sobbed as she threw the
last of the dirt over the hole, burying the last of Robb. She fell to
her knees, sobbing. The high was gone. Looking up, she saw a lake that
she somehow missed. She stripped off her dirty clothes and walked naked
to the water.

It was on the third step when she felt the wetness creep under her
thigh...

* **********

Bobbie woke with a start and a scream. It took a full three seconds for
Kim to burst through the door. "Wha?" Kim said.

"Bad dream," Bobbie started, feeling the wetness. "Oh," she said feeling
the familiar seep and the dull, throbbing pain of her abdomen. Throwing
off the blankets, She ran to the bathroom and rummaged for the pads she
had recently put there.

Bobbie installed the absorbent, slightly off. She knew she'd get it
eventually.

"Huh?" It was Sylvia, standing in the hallway.

"It's okay, Mom. Just a bad dream."

Knowing, her eyes cleared up for a second as their gaze locked. "I know,
Bobbie," She stepped forward and hugged her. "I miss him, too," She
whispered into her ear. Sylvia turned and went back to bed.

Kim was still on her bed when Bobbie came back into the room, giggling.

"What?" Bobbie said, slightly annoyed.

"I know that look. Started your period, huh? Sorry, just. Robb is still
in there and..."

"No, he's not," Bobbie said distantly, shaking her head. "I think I just
buried him. The memories are there. But, I'm just gonna be Bobbie. You
said it yourself. What kind of girl do I want to be? I'm not sure."

"But I'm going to find out."

Kim smiled. "Well, right on. Sis." It sounded natural.

"Yeah, sis," Bobbie echoed, both of them smacking their fists into their
palms in unison. They giggled...

Like schoolgirls.