“Oh, how privileged I must be! Princess Sam finally deemed me worthy of having my phone calls returned. I am so honoured!” my Sister teased, as I called her back.

“I’m sure you’ve been sat, twiddling your thumbs, waiting for me?” I replied.

“Well, after a couple of hours of that, my thumbs got tired! So, I decided to head home from Manchester. I’ve taken the scenic route, over the Snake Pass. It was fun.”

“Oh, that’s funny. We were out for a drive in the countryside today, too. How long have you been back? I asked

“We? So, is it official now? You and James are a ‘we’? A couple? Boyfriend and girlfriend?” my Sister enquired, ignoring my question.

“Yeah, we are.” I said, with a smile to myself.

“And? I’m guessing you didn’t get dropped off late and picked up early this morning for your romantic trip to the countryside. I’m guessing your message meant James stayed the night? Actually, sorry, I won’t tease you; Mum has already confirmed that. So, go on,” Claire encouraged.

“Claire, you only ever tease me! Go on, what?” I asked

“You wouldn’t have me any other way, little one! I mean go on and tell me everything. I want to hear all about my little sister’s first date. Oh, by the way, Louise was very jealous when I told her you were going on a date with James!”

I smiled to myself. “Just jealous, or surprised, too?” I wondered

“Well, yeah, pretty shocked, actually. She had never picked up that either of you were into guys. Or James into beautiful girls with, well, you know.” It was refreshing for my sister to come across as even the slightest bit unsure of what she was saying. She had grown to become an extremely confident young woman.

I ran my sister through all the details of the date. James bringing me flowers, looking so handsome, borrowing his Dad’s car, him being so gentlemanly.

“I know I asked for all the details, but come on; get to the first kiss! Who initiated that?” my Sister encouraged

I told my sister how we had been quite touchie-feelie, and how we had flirted in the bar, how I’d realised that I was turning James on, how he’d kissed my neck, before us having our first kiss outside the bar.

“That sounds hot! Is he a good kisser? So, what happened when he got you home?”

I talked my sister how his kiss had been like nothing I’d ever known before, and shared how we’d had a bit of a kiss and cuddle, and how I had wanted to help him take care of what must have been some pretty blue balls.

“So, what? You sucked him off?” Claire asked

“No!” I cried, “I’d told him I wasn’t going to have sex with him that night. I, well, I suppose I gave him a hand job.”

“What do you mean, by ‘suppose’? Did you?” she asked

“Well, yes, I did. Just it’s the first time I’ve said any of this out loud. Adds a different level of reality to it all; I now dress as a girl, date boys and give them hand jobs. Kind of feels like it’s someone else’s words.”

“This was in your bedroom, right? Don’t tell me that you wanked him off on the sofa!” Claire asked in a concerned tone

“Of course we were in my room!”

“Good,” Claire stated. “I sit on that lounge sofa! So, what are we talking? Edge of the bed, trousers around his ankles, just taking care of business? Or, something a little more intimate, more sensual?”

“Well, erm, James was fully naked. And we were on the bed. I was in my bra and knickers. There was lots of touching and kissing.”

“You didn’t want to suck his cock in that steamy situation? I mean, I wasn’t expecting all this on a first date; but I know how guys can lead things that way.”

“Well, not right then. I had told him were weren’t going to have sex that night. And a blow job, well, that feels so much more like sex.” I suggested

“The situation you’ve outlined sounds pretty sexy; not sure what difference a hand or a mouth makes, but maybe that’s just me.” Claire said,” Did he return the favour?”

“No, but he offered to.” I replied

“Why didn’t you want that? You think he would have? Think he’s come to terms with that?”

I smiled to myself, “I had been tucked for most of the day; it wouldn’t have been a pretty sight. And I have no reason to think he wouldn’t have. He’d touched me there, and in the morning...” I paused

“Yes? And what happened in the morning?” Claire encouraging me to go on.

“We, erm, had sex.”

“Sex-sex? Really? You tart!” Claire laughed, “Like, I’m guessing you mean that he fucked you?”

“Yes. If you want to say it like that. That’s when he gave me a hand job.”

“At the same time? Like a reach around?” Claire using a term that I don’t think I was familiar with, but was able to work out what she meant.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“And did you want all of this? How did It feel?” Claire went on

“Oh, yes. I wanted it. And it was amazing. I mean, it was really uncomfortable to start with, but after a while it was incredible.

“I can imagine. Cant say that I’ve ever fancied it. Does he have a big dick?”

“Yes,” I answered, concerned that I was sharing far too much information.

“So,” Claire went on, “Was this a first time for him; doing this kind of thing?”

“What kind of thing, exactly?” I wanted to make sure to avoid any crossed wires.

“Having sex with another man. Assuming that’s still how you’re seeing yourself?”

I didn’t address Claire’s second comment, “Yes. I think so. We didn’t directly discuss that. He did, however, admit to being pretty open-minded about these sort of things.”

“Oh, yeah? Like how?” Claire asked

“Well, he said that he had found himself attracted to a few crossdressers, or rather drag queens, on TV.”

“What kind of drag queens?”

“What do you mean, what kind? Are there different kinds?” I wasn’t sure what Claire had meant, it wasn’t something that I was at all familiar with.

“Well, are we taking fishie queens. Like, erm, really convincing, feminine looking ones? Ones you’d do a triple-take on, if someone told you they were men?”

“Oh. Yeah. He mentioned two or three names. I Googled them in the bar, when he went to the loo. They all looked like really beautiful women.”

“And he’s been okay introducing you to folks you know? Hasn’t been trying to keep you and him a secret?” Claire asked

“No, not at all. He’s been really open about it all. Before the date, on the date and today. Why?” I wondered

“Well, there are some men that try to keep their attraction to female-presenting guys as a secret. Often kidding themselves about their own feelings. Very happy to date and sleep with them, but not happy to have them in their real day to day lives. They call them tranny chasers, although I guess that’s not very PC. More like a fetish than a real attraction. This doesn’t sound like James. Thankfully.”

“Oh, right. I see. So, you don’t think that’s what James is?” I asked, with concern

“Well, he’s attracted to you. He seems to have become attracted to you as you started presenting as a girl. But from what you’ve told me, he’s not keeping you a secret or embarrassed to be seen with you. Is he?” Claire asked

She went on, “So, how has the last 24 hours impacted how you look at things?”

“I had this chat with Mum about an hour ago. Has she spoken to you?” I asked, conscious that they’d be talking lots about me, for a few days.

Claire paused, “Yes. I can’t lie. I think she called me straight after you two spoke.”

“She told you that I want to stay as a girl?”

“Yes, she did.” Claire advised, “Hope you know you’ve got our full support, whatever you decide. If you work out that you’re a gay boy that enjoys dressing as a girl, or if you realise you’re really a woman; it’s all good. Mum said you’ve agreed to meet with a counsellor?”

“Yes. We’re going to try and arrange something next week.”

“Brilliant!” said Claire, “I’d be the first person to say that’s an excellent idea. Just do yourself a favour, and be open with them. They’re not judging you, only trying I help.”

“We also need to sort out what we’re doing about school.”

“Yeah, Mum told me about that, too. What are they going to do about the play? Have they got an understudy? I guess you’ve only got a handful of lines, haven’t you?” Claire asked.

“Aww, shit!” I groaned, “I’d not thought about that. I was only thinking about my exams and coursework. I’d be really letting down Sarah. Ms Greenwood. I’ll try and speak to her, as soon as Mum has spoken to the head teacher.”

“Don’t beat yourself up about it. Stuff happens. You could’ve been sick on show night, or something. They’ll deal with it.”

“I guess,” I said, “So, what did I miss out on in Manchester?”

“What? Your first date, first kiss, first boyfriend and first shag wasn’t enough for you? Still thinking you might have been missing out?” Claire teased, “I don’t think a night out in Manchester could have trumped that! When are you seeing him next?”

I guessed my sister didn’t have anything too exciting to pass on from her night out. That, or something too existing to share. “James is coming over after school tomorrow.”

“With Mum away at her conference? Id never have guessed you’d be such a slut!”

I tutted to Claire, “It’s not like that. We’re just hanging out, getting some dinner.”

“It should be exactly like ‘that’! You’re seventeen! If I was you, with a free house, I’d not let James out of bed. But then, I’m probably just a bad influence! If you’re happy being a good wifey, cooking your man his dinner, I’m happy for you.”

“You don’t have to tease me all the time, you know?” I suggested

“Erm, yes. I do. It’s like my job!”

We chatted about all sorts of random stuff. Some of it more embarrassing than the rest. I’d been talking for so long, that I’d started to get thirsty. Just then, a message come through on my phone, it was James.

“Oh, read it out!” encouraged Claire.

I wasn’t comfortable reading it aloud, without knowing what it was going to say. I read it first to myself, and then paraphrased what it was said.

“I’ve been invited to a party. James older sister’s engagement party is on Friday night. James said he was going to go on his own, and then try to slope off early, once he’d shown his face. It sounds like his Mum has asked if he’s now bringing me as his plus-one.”

“I’d say that sounds like fun, but his sister is a right stuck-up cow!” said Claire, causing us both to laugh. “Only joking. Are you ready for that? Meeting the boyfriends family?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “I guess all the attention will be on the engaged couple, so it might not be so intense as it could otherwise be.”

“Are you joking?” Claire suggested, “Alan and Emma’s golden boy’s date? Who happens to be a boy that looks like the most gorgeous girl? That before this last week was one of his best mates from the rugby team? Hmm, I’m not saying it’s anything to be worried about, but you should realise how big a curiosity this will be for folks. That is, until the next thing quickly comes up.”

“Oh. Not sure I want to be anyone’s curiosity. I was a bit anxious about seeing Alan and Emma, to be honest. That said, what would you wear to an engagement party?” I asked

“You said his folks knew about you, and if his Dad leant him his Range Rover to ferry you around, I’m guessing he’s cool with it. I’ve always thought Alan and Emma were a right laugh, whenever I’ve met them. As for the party, well, message James back, and get some details about where it is, what time, how many people are going. If people got printed invitations, ask him if he’s got one of those. I don’t, however, think you want to be wearing a dress that exposes your midriff. That leaves you pretty short of options, with you being such a tart!” Claire teased again.