One Friday Night

Megan gets more than just a movie

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“You know I don’t date gay guys,” I said to my gay friend Sean over the phone.

“Said the guy that’s probably dressed as a girl at this very moment,” said Sean.

“Being trans isn’t the same as being gay. You know that. We’ve had this discussion before and I’m not having again now,” I said. “And I just got home from school, so no, I’m not dressed as a girl yet.” It’s frustrating. Despite being on hormones for years now and I looking nothing like a boy, I’m still not allowed to attend school as a girl. Doubly frustrating in that my parents aren’t interested in fighting this fight. Dad still thinks it’s something I’ll grow out of.

“Anyway, Megan, it’s technically not a date. I want to see this movie, but I don’t want to go alone. It’s that new chick flick. I know you’ll love it. It’s ‘By the Old Covered Bridge.’” said Sean.

“You two having another fight?” I asked. Sean and his boyfriend haven’t been getting along well lately.

“It’s over. Done. History,” said Sean.

“I’m sorry to hear that. I think we all saw it coming, though,” I said.

“I don’t want to talk about it. Do you want to go to the movie or not? I’ll pay,” said Sean. “Look. Every other guy at that movie will be with a girl who forced them to go. I’ll feel funny being there alone.”

I laughed. “So I’m just a beard for you?”

“Yes. Can you be ready by six o’clock?” asked Sean.

“That’s not much time. It’s only five now,” I said.

“Great. I’ll pick you up at six,” said Sean as he hung up his phone.

I stood there for a moment in my bedroom. Perfect, I thought. I have an hour to get ready for a date. It usually takes that long just to put on my make-up.

I ran out to the living room and shouted, “Mom! I won’t be here for dinner tonight. A friend wants me to go to a movie with him.”

Mom looked up from the magazine she was reading at the kitchen counter. She said, “Which friend is that, Joel?”

“Mom! For the billionth time, call me Megan. I even have breasts now.”

My brother Don who was on the couch watch TV with Dad said, “Can I see?”

I shot Don a withering glance and said, “No!” To Mom I said, “It’s Sean. It’s not a date. He just wants some company.”

Dad said without looking away from the TV, “Sean? That’s that little fairy isn’t it? Why do you hang out with him?”

“Dad,” I said. “Stop calling him that, please? He’s a good friend. He accepts me.”

Dad waved his hand and said, “Whatever.”

Mom said, “He’s a nice boy. Don’t be out too late, okay hon?”

“Thanks, Mom,” I said. “He’ll be here in…Oh my God! In about forty-five minutes!”

I ran back into my room in a panic. What do I wear? I pulled out a short denim skirt and the new tank-top Mom got me. It’ll show off my boobs. I sat down and started to apply my make-up. I didn’t have much time, but I didn’t want to rush it.

I’d just finished getting dressed and was checking my make-up in the mirror when I heard Mom shout from the living room, “Sean’s here!”

I grabbed my purse and hurried out to the living room. Sean was standing nervously by the door. He knows my dad doesn’t like him. He flashed me a weak smile when I entered the room.

“Hey Megan. You look great,” said Sean.

“You too, Sean,” I said standing next to him.

“Ready?” asked Sean.

“Let’s go,” I said.

Mom said, “Have fun and don’t stay out too late.”

Don stood up and said, “I should probably go too. I’m taking Sandra to the fights tonight.”

Smirking I said, “I’m sure she’ll love that. Let’s go Sean.”

As we walked to Sean’s car, he said, “Thanks again for doing this. I just don’t want to be alone right now and you’re my best friend. I wish you were normal gay.”

Rolling my eyes I said, “I’m not gay. Will you knock it off?”

Sean opened the passenger door for me. He said, “You like guys.”

I said, “I like guys who like girls. There’s a difference.”

Sean opened his car door and said, “But you still like guys.”

As I slid into my seat, I said, “I’m not having this conversation now.”

Sean laughed.

 

*          *          *
 

It was a good movie. I really did enjoy it despite the fact that I cried through most of it. I had looked around at the other couples in the packed theater. The girls were all cuddling their guy and holding hands. Sean didn’t hold my hand or even try to put his arm behind me. He just ate his popcorn and cried along too.

Sean said as we walked out of the theater and into the mall, “That was a wonderful movie! So emotional. When John drowned saving that family whose SUV had missed the covered bridge and plunged into that icy river; I never cried so hard in a movie before!”

I said, “Oh I know. That was definitely the chickiest chick-flick I’ve ever been too. Thanks for asking me to go.”

Sean said, “I’m kinda hungry. That popcorn wasn’t enough. There’s a Taco Casa around the corner. Want to go there?”

I said, “Sure. Wow. Dinner too. This sure seems like a date to me.”

“Knock it off,” said Sean. I just laughed.

We placed our order and Sean paid for me. We sat down in a booth and I sat across from him.

“Thanks Sean,” I said. “You didn’t have to pay for this too.”

“No problems,” said Sean. “I enjoyed having your company.”

We just started eating when a hunky guy (not that I’d notice) came walking by carrying his tray and obviously looking for a place to sit. He turned and saw Sean and me and smiled. It was a guy named Allen something. He goes to the same school Sean and I do. He has a reputation as a tough guy, deserved or not. Most people won’t mess with him, especially bullies.

“Hey Sean. How are you?” said Allen.

Sean smiled and said, “Allen! Hey sit here.”

Allen set his tray down and said, “Thanks.” He sat next to me.

He looked at me and said, “Hello. I’m Allen.”

I smiled at him and said, “Hi. My name is Megan. Nice to meet you.”

John looked at me and smiled. He said, “Nice to meet you too.” He turned to Sean, looking at him curiously. He said, “Have you switched teams?”

Sean looked at Allen in silence for a moment and then said, “Oh, you mean her.” Sean pointed at me. “I didn’t want to go to the movies by myself.”

I said, “He wanted a chick to go to a chick flick with him.”

Looking from me to Sean, Allen said, “So she’s not your girlfriend?”

Sean laughed and said, “Oh no. She’s not even a girl.” He clasped his hand over his mouth and said, “Oh. Sorry.”

“Sean!” I said through clenched teeth. “Don’t say that.”

Allen looked at me curiously. He said, “I don’t understand. You look like a girl to me.”

I sighed and said, “I’m a tgirl. A transgirl. I have boy parts.”

Allen looked at me with surprise. He said, “You’re not a girl?”

I smiled weakly at Allen and said, “I’m a girl. Just not your traditional double-X girl.”

Allen said, “Double-X? I’m confused.”

“You’re in my English class,” I said. “I’m ‘Joel’. I sit right behind that nerdy guy with the Coke-bottle glasses.”

Allen raised his eyebrows in disbelief. “You’re Joel? You’re shittin’ me, right?”

Sean said, “She shits you not.”

Allen just stared at me. He said, “Wow. That’s crazy. I never would have guessed that you’re a guy.”

In a quiet voice, I said, “I’m a transgirl. Not a guy.”

“I meant no offense. You look nothing like a guy,” said Allen.

I laughed and said, “I’m glad!”

Allen took a few bites of his burrito and set it down. He said, “I gotta take a leak.” He got up and headed for the rest room.

As soon as Allen left the room, four guys entered the restaurant, looking around. I recognized them as a group of thugs and bullies from school but I don’t know their names. One, with his cap on backwards, sees me and grins. He walks over to us.

“Damn, girl! What’s a hot babe like you doing with a loser like that?” He pointed at Sean. “You know this dude’s a fag, right?”

He was standing right next to me. I said, “He’s gay. So?”

The four of them laughed. “So? So?! A bodacious girl like you should be with a real man! Not some piece of shit like this.”

I looked around the room and said, “Is one here?”

One of the other guys said, “I think she just dissed you, bro.”

Sean was tensing up. “Megan, let’s go. We don’t need this.”

The cap guy laughed. “That’s right fag. Take your fag hag and run away. I hate these sissy boys.”

Allen suddenly stepped behind the four bullies. He said, “Are these people bothering you?”

“Butt out, asshole,” said the cap guy. “This is between us and the fag.”

Allen said, “That fag holds a second degree black belt in Tai-Kwon-Do. He can have you on the ground before you could blink.”

Sean stood up. All his muscles tensed. He said, “Look. I just want to finish my meal with my friends in peace.”

One of the cap guy’s friends leaned in and whispered into his ear, “That’s Allen Mason. If he’s friends with this dude, I don’t want to mess with him.”

Cap guy looked a little worried. Like all bullies, he’s basically a coward. Other patrons were looking at us. He said, “Apparently we have a little misunderstanding. My friends and I are going to leave now. You have a great evening.” He turned and left in a hurry.

Sean sighed and visibly relaxed as he plopped back into his seat. As Allen sat down, Sean said, “Thanks man.”

Allen shrugged and said, “For what? You need to assert yourself more, Sean. You could have easily handled all four of those guys. Bullies deserve to get knocked around.”

Sean said, “I don’t want to have to fight anybody. I just want to be left alone.”

I said, “That would be nice.”

Sean pointed out the door and said, “See? There’s a guy who likes girls. You sure you want that?”

Frowning I said, “Not if he’s an asshole.”

Sean said, “Well, it’s been my experience…” Sean’s cell phone rang. He raised his hand and said, “I need to take this.” Sean turned and lowered his voice.

Allen and I just sat there in silence while Sean had his private conversation. In the cramped booth, Allen’s leg was touching mine. I didn’t mind at all.

Sean turned back towards us as he clicked off his phone. He said, “That was Jerry. He wants to talk. Like right now. I need to take you home now Megan. Sorry.”

I just smiled and said, “That’s okay, Sean. I understand.”

Allen said, “Hey, I’ll take her home. Don’t worry about it.”

Sean said, “You sure? I don’t want to impose on you.”

Allen said, “Hey, I don’t mind if she doesn’t.”

Sean bounded out of the booth. “Thanks man. And thanks again for coming with me, Megan. See you guys.” He then ran out of Taco Casa and disappeared down hall.

Grinning, Allen stretched his arm to rest on the back of the booth behind me. He said, “I thought he’d never leave!”

“Very funny,” I said. I made no effort to move his arm which was now draping over my shoulder.

“No, seriously. I’d like to get to know you a bit better,” said Allen. “I find it very interesting that a guy can look and act so much like a girl. You really had me fooled.”

Frowning, I said, “Okay. Let’s get some things straight. I’m not a guy. I’m a girl. No matter what I was born with, I’ve always been a girl. Period. Don’t say ‘tranny’ or ‘shemale’. This isn’t a hobby and while there’s nothing wrong with it, I’m not a crossdresser. I’ve been on hormones and testosterone blockers since I was fourteen. When I turn eighteen, I’m going to have surgery. And I’m not out to ‘fool’ anybody. Does that answer all your questions?”

Allen laughed. “All but one.”

I folded my arms and said, “And what is that?”

Allen grinned and said, “What’s it like to kiss you?”

I relaxed my arms. Feeling perplexed more than bothered I said, “You want to kiss me?”

Allen chuckled and said, “I’ve kissed a lot of girls. I’m just curious if kissing you would be the same as kissing any other girl. Those soft pink lips of yours seem to be just begging to be kissed.”

Smiling, I said, “So it’s more of a scientific interest to kiss me. Just research?”

Allen nodded and said, “Purely academic.”

I said, “You know. I don’t kiss just any boy I meet. And we’ve only just met after all.”

Allen moved a bit closer to me. He said, “I’m not just any boy. And we haven’t just met. We’re in English class together.”

I grinned and said, “You know me as ‘Joel’. You still want to kiss me after that?”

Allen shook his head and said, “I don’t see Joel here.” With the arm draped over my shoulder, he pulled me a bit closer to him.

Feeling a tingle of excitement I said, “Sean would say that wanting to kiss me makes you secretly gay.”

Shaking his head again, Allen said, “No. Sean knows I only like girls. Very pretty girls.”

I looked directly at Allen and said, “Well, this is in the name of science…”

Allen said, “To science…” He bent down closing his eyes and pressed his lips against mine. No tongue. No aggression. Just a lovely, gentle, sweet kiss. His lips lingered on mine for several seconds. Oh my God. I just wanted to melt into his arms.

Allen pulled back and looked thoughtful for a moment. He said, “I was definitely kissing a girl. No doubt about it.”

I smiled at him and said, “I passed the test?”

Nodding, Allen said, “With flying colors. But here’s my next question if you don’t mind. You like guys?”

I grinned and said, “Of course, silly.”

Allen looked serious and said, “So you’re gay?”

Frowning, I said, “If I was gay, I’d be lesbian. I’m not interested in girls.”

Allen pressed on and said, “But you were born a boy and you like guys?”

Frowning more deeply I said, “You know. You just ruined that kiss. What I was born with shouldn’t matter. I am just what you see. So stop calling me a boy.”

Allen laughed. “I just want to know exactly what I’m dealing with here. I’ve never met anyone like you before. Can I call you pretty?”

I smiled at him and said, “You can call me that all you want.”

Allen grinned and said, “You’re very pretty. I’m just not sure how I feel about someone like you. You’re every bit like any girl I’ve ever met. But…”

Interrupting him, I said, “Just leave it at that.”

Allen said, “Do you have a boyfriend?”

I shook my head and said, “No.”

“Have you dated any guys before?” asked Allen.

I nodded and said, “A couple. I met them online. They were ‘admirers’. Both experiences were bad. All they were interested in were my boy parts, which I wanted to ignore. They almost turned me off of guys completely.”

Allen suddenly took in a deep breath and said, “Hey. There’s a midnight showing at the mall theater. They like to show old movies at midnight on Fridays. I think this time it’s ‘Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster’. Would you like to go?”

I laughed and said, “Sounds like a perfect date movie. I’d have to ask my mom if it’s okay.”

Allen said, “It’d be great if you can go.”

I pulled my cell phone from my purse and punched the button to call home.

“Hey sweetie. What’s up?” asked Mom when she answered the phone.

“Is it okay if I stay out a bit later Mom?” I asked.

“How much later?” asked Mom.

“Um…until about three I think,” I needed to be honest. I’m sure that was a deal breaker. And to be honest with myself, I wasn’t sure if wanted her to say yes or not. I mean, Allen is very hunky, very cute and surprisingly he seems interested even after knowing about me.

“Three?” Mom almost shouted. “What are you and Sean going to be doing that late?”

I said, “Sean left. I’m with a boy from school. He wants to take me to a midnight movie.”

“Sean left you and you let just some boy pick you up? I knew we should have had that mother/daughter talk,” said Mom sounding annoyed.

“Mom. He’s a nice boy. I know him from school,” I said.

“Do I know him?” asked Mom.

“I don’t know. His name is Allen Mason,” I said.

“Oh, I know him. His parents go to our church,” said Mom. “I had no idea he was gay.”

“He’s not,” I said in an annoyed voice.

“You said he wants to take you out for a movie. He’s either gay or you’re fooling this poor boy. We’ve talked about you fooling boys and how dangerous that is for you and unfair it is to the boy,” said Mom going into her lecturing voice.

“He knows about me, Mom,” I said glancing over to Allen who just smiled back. He was only hearing my half of the conversation.

“So he’s gay,” Mom said flatly.

Groaning, I said, “No. He isn’t. And neither am I. He accepts me as a girl. Isn’t that great?”

Mom sighed and said, “Well, the few times I’ve met him, he seems like a nice boy and his parents are good people. Your father won’t like it, but yes, it’s okay if he takes you to the movie. If he tries anything, you still have that mace I bought you in your purse, right?”

“Never leave home without it. Thanks Mom. Bye,” I said as I disconnected the call. I turned to Allen and said, “Mom says it’s okay.”

“I was beginning to wonder,” said Allen.

“You know how parents are,” I said as I returned my phone to my purse.

Allen shrugged and said, “I don’t blame your mother for worrying about her pretty daughter. What do your parents think of your…um choice?”

I said, “It’s not a choice actually. No one in their right mind would choose to be transgendered. Anyway, Mom’s cool with it. Mostly. Dad objects, but he doesn’t fight it. I have a brother for him to do guy things with.”

Allen said, “So you never did guy things, like play football or baseball?”

“Nah. Dad kept trying to get me to watch football with him and my brother Don,” I said. “But I always either stayed in my room or helped Mom in the kitchen. I think I’m a pretty good cook now,” I said with a grin.

Allen said, “I like to watch football. Well, most sports in general. Does that bother you?”

“Why would it bother me?” I asked. “I think most guys like that stuff. I’m surprised you’re not on the football team. A big guy like you and all.”

Allen frowned. He said, “I wish. I injured my knee playing football in middle school. The doc said if I injured it again, I’ll be in a wheelchair. So that ended my football career.”

Suddenly feeling bad for asking, I said, “Sorry. I didn’t know.”

Allen smiled at me and said, “It’s okay. Hey, it’s getting close to midnight. We should head for the theater.”

He held my hand as we walked to the theater.

 

*          *          *
 

The movie was about what I expected. But unlike the movie with Sean, Allen had his arm around me and I was snuggled up against him. He held my hand through most of the movie. He also managed to steal a kiss or two. Or three. I certainly didn’t mind.

As we walked out of the theater, Allen has his arm around me. He said, “Funny that Godzilla was the hero in that movie. Hey, it’s late. I need to get you home or your parents will kill me.”

Holding my hand, Allen led me to his car. Well, pickup truck.

After starting the engine, Allen said, “Can I ask another question?”

I looked over at him and said, “You can always ask…”

As he drove the truck from the parking lot, Allen said, “Just curious, Megan. Why don’t you go to school as a girl? You said you’ve been on hormones for a few years. Your tits certainly look real enough.”

I smiled at his comment about my breasts and said, “They’re most definitely real. Hopefully they’ll get close to my Mom’s size. Anyway, the school refuses. Mom made one attempt at a lawsuit, but the court sided with the school board. My parents won’t try again to fight it.”

Allen said, “Well that’s messed up. You’re definitely a girl.”

“Thanks,” I said. “Thank God band kept me out of PE after my breasts started to grow.”

In ten minutes, he was pulling up in front my house. The porch light was on, but the windows were all dark.

Allen said, “I’ll walk you to your door. It could be dangerous out there.”

I laughed and said, “Yeah, right.”

Allen put his arm around me and held me close as we walked to my front door. I turned to face him as we stood under the porch light.

“Thanks for the movie,” I said. “I enjoyed it.”

“You’re very welcome, Megan,” Allen said smiling at me. “I really enjoyed your company. I’d love to take you out again sometime.”

Looking at my feet I said, “I’d like that.”

We stood there in awkward silence for a few moments.

Allen said, “Well…I…” He suddenly put his arms around my waist and bent down and kissed me. More passion than his first kiss, but still just sweet and romantic. I put my arms around his shoulders and pressed my lips into his. It was over far too soon.

“I’ll call you,” said Allen as he backed away. “Maybe we can do something tomorrow?”

“That’d be great,” I said, my emotions in a whirl.

I watched Allen walk back to his truck and as the engine started, I opened the door to my house and walked in. The house was dark. I guess no one waited up for me. Well it was late.

Startling me, I heard Dad in the darkness say, “About time you got home,” He turned on the lamp on the end table.

“Dad you scared me,” I said, regaining my breath and composure.

Dad stood up and said, “Do you like that boy?”

I looked at Dad curiously and said, “I do actually.”

Dad said, “How did he treat you?”

Perplexed, I said, “He was very nice. He treated me like a girl. He accepts me.”

Dad said, “That’s good. That’s good.” He then just stood there looking at me. I wasn’t sure what to say or do.

Finally, Dad outstretched his arms and said, “Come here. Let me give my beautiful daughter a hug.”

I gave Dad a huge smile and threw my arms around his neck and lay my head on his chest and cried as he hugged me.

 

*          *          *
 

The End