Allen had just gotten out of the shower and was wandering around the house naked. Normally this would have posed it's own problems, not the least of which would have been that everyone else would have been home. This was how he found him self standing in front of the large mirror in his sister's bedroom, with it's pink walls and four poster canopy bed covered in pink and white sheets and stuffed animals. His sister was fifteen, and was more girly than most of her peers. He looked around her room, very clean compared to his. Her vanity had a bunch of makeup on it, in a variety of colors, some contrasting against the white surface. Laying on her bed was the navy satin night gown that she had worn the night before. He picked it up and held it against his still damp skin. The fabric was cool as the air conditioning had been running in the house, the satin holding the ambient temperature of the room. Allen had guessed it at about seventy two in the house. The night gown would hit just below his knees if he were to put it on. Oh how he wanted to, just once. He envied his sister, getting to wear the clothing that he loved to see on her and others, but wanted to wear just like them. Allen sighed and placed the night gown back on the bed the way he had found it and went off to his own room, more upset at himself than anything for not being able to go as far as slipping on the night gown, yet again...

You see, Allen wasn't your usual thirteen year old...

---

The Beginning

Three weeks later, I was sitting in front of the TV, watching something that I thought was supposed to be a comedy, but I didn't find it funny. I switched the TV off and walked up stairs toward my room. Maybe something on the computer could hold my interest on this rainy Saturday. I almost wanted to go somewhere to wander around, burn off some energy that I had been bottling up. It had been raining for close to a week, and it was a good thing that the drainage systems in the area were as good as they were. As I waited on the computer to boot, it suddenly dawned on me that I might be able to see if these feelings that I kept having were normal. The downside would be that I would have to sift the noise from the signals and get the right answer. Once the computer was on, I connected to the internet and launched the web browser to begin my research.

#

I looked at the clock when I heard the garage door open and blinked. I had been at my research for several hours, that or lost in a day dream, I still wasn't sure which. I saved some of the stuff that I had copied into files buried deep inside the folder structure where I hoped no one would find them.

"Allen, we're home. I brought some food, your sister and I still have to go out looking for a dress for the dance coming up at school." Allen's mom, Katherine said.

"What did you bring for food?" I said, heading down the stairs. This is a good thing, I can continue my research...I thought walking into the kitchen and smelling roast beef. My mom had stopped at a national chain restaurant and gotten him my favorite: a roast beef and cheddar sandwich. I presumed that this was because her and my sister would be gone all day. My sister was a rather picky girl that was very talented and smart, although her dishwater blonde hair led to the typical jokes. Her grey eyes sparkled in the little bit of light in the kitchen. "I figured it was the least that I could do for you, we've been gone all morning, and, will probably be gone most of the evening as well. I'm just glad that we can trust you to behave when you are home alone." Mom said, grabbing a glass and getting some water from the dispenser that was built into the front of the fridge.

"I would probably be bored to tears if I had to go with you..." I replied, taking a bite of my sandwich. The truth was that I would have loved to go dress shopping. It would have made the outside of my body partially match the way the inside of my body felt. I had been feeling this way for quite some time, and was unsure how to break this feeling to my mother or father. I brushed a few pieces of my shoulder blade length blonde hair out my eyes... When I had started growing it, I had expected more of a fuss from my mom and dad, but had received surprisingly little in the way of it.

"Carly couldn't get her boyfriend to go shopping with her for that very reason..." His sister, Heather said... "It's a pity, he's really good at fashion..." I glanced over at Heather, she had on a simple heather grey tunic and black leggings. I presumed that this would be easy to remove when she was trying on dresses. She wouldn't have to remove the leggings, just the tunic and try on the dress. I offered her a potato bite, which she accepted.

"Todd whats-his-name is good at fashion?" I knew of Todd, there had been some speculation the he was actually gay, not that I cared.

"Yeah. He has a knack for it. He really should go into fashion design. There are some days that Carly lets him pick out her clothes." I blinked.

"I didn't know that." I said, finishing off my sandwich.

"Heather, we should get going. I just hope this rain lets up before we get to the mall..." Mom said. Heather picked up her purse, smiled at me, and went out to get in the car. "Be good, I. I'll call you if any thing changes." She said, and then kissed the top of my head, and went out to the car. As I finished the potato bites, I heard mom pull out of the garage and the door shut again. I tossed the bag that contained the remains of my dinner in the trash, grabbed a Pepsi from the fridge, and went back upstairs. I reopened all of the research that I had done so far and got back on the internet.

#

Around eight pm I stood up and stretched, stripped, grabbed my robe and headed for the bathroom to take a shower. Mom and Heather still weren't home yet and I predicted them to get home around nine thirty. Walking in the bathroom, I dropped my clothes in the hamper and noticed the skirt and shirt that Heather had worn the day before laying on the top. It was a black long sleeved shirt and a pink and black plaid skirt. I pulled them out and held them to my body, noticing that I was small enough, or so it seemed to wear them. I looked around the bathroom, and then locked the door. I didn't want anyone to come in on me while I was in here. The skirt had a thick black elastic waist band and every time I had seen Heather wear this skirt, she had the shirt tucked in. I slipped the shirt on, noticing that the fabric, even though it was cotton just like most of my shirts, felt softer. I picked the skirt up and looked at it. I had been having feelings for quite some time that I was supposed to be a girl, and my limited research told me that I was defiantly not alone in my feelings. I stepped into the skirt which swished around my legs as I pulled it toward my waist, pausing momentarily, I tucked the shirt into the skirt and then turned to the mirror on the back of the door. Looking back at me was a younger version of my sister, down to the dishwater blonde hair, the exception being that I had a set of dazzling blue eyes. Looking at the mirror, I realized that I needed a name, one that wasn't distinctly male, but more feminine... I could tell that I was going to be a girly girl and when I came clean with my feelings that I needed a name that shouted girly...

"Zoe." I said, looking at my reflection in the mirror. "Zoe Elizabeth" I smiled and then took off the top and skirt, and got into the shower, The image of Zoe burned in my mind for ever. As I showered, I looked down at my body and it's relative lack of hair and I briefly wondered if anyone would notice if I shaved my legs...

#

I had just laid down in my bed, a faint glow coming from the monitor of my laptop as it hadn’t fallen asleep yet and I didn’t feel like closing the lid. I tossed and turned for a little bit, trying to find the sweet spot in the mattress. What bothered me was that I couldn’t get that image of Zoe out of my head. I idly wondered what the rest of the family would say if they knew about Zoe, thinking that they would spaz and then disown me or something. Kick me out or no, they would make sure my life became a living hell, I was sure of that. Right as I fell asleep, I thought that he heard the garage door opening and mom’s car pull in. That meant that mom and Heather were home, and that meant that I needed to try to not mention Zoe to anyone…

I rolled over the next morning, still thinking about the way that Zoe looked in the mirror. I wondered how it would feel to be free enough to let the world meet Zoe, and also to wear a skirt all day long. I didn't shave the peach fuzz that grew on my legs, not that any one would notice it if i were in a skirt, it was all blonde like the hair on my head and so fine that you barley felt it as you ran your hand down my legs. I slipped on a clean pair of jeans and a tee shirt and went down toward the kitchen. As I expected, mom was there, and Heather was no where to be found, so I presumed that it was just me and mom at home.

"Morning sweetie. You want some oatmeal?" Mom asked. I just nodded, which caused mom to look at me. I hadn't slept well the night before, and apparently it showed. "You ok; you look like you didn't sleep well last night." I looked at mom and thought before I answered.

"No." I said softly. "I haven't been ok for a while." This caused mom to stop bustling around getting the oatmeal ready and just stop and examine me. Little did I know, Mom had dressed me in dresses when I was a baby to help facilitate diaper changes

"What's wrong?" She sat her coffee cup on the counter and devoted her attention to me.

"This." I replied running my hands up and down my body, as if to indicate that it was the whole body that was screwed up. "Last night when I said I would have been bored to tears going dress shopping with you, that's not quite the truth. I would have loved to gone with you guys and maybe even tried on a dress or two. Last night I tried on that black top and black and pink plaid skirt that Heather wore the other day because they were in the hamper. No one would know right? I don't have to tell you that part; but when I looked into the mirror, I saw Zoe looking back. She looked happy, I haven't looked happy for a while. I haven't been able to get the picture of her blue eyes sparkling out of my head since then..." Mom just blinked, and let me finish talking.

"Who's Zoe?" Mom asked. I blinked, not expecting that question, but rather expecting to be told to get out of the house...

"Me." I said quietly. "I am Zoe"

#
Mom had taken my hand and led me toward the living room which would be more comfortable to sit in than the kitchen. After she had led me to the couch, she sat on the love seat.

"So Zoe seemed happier than Allen's been in a while?" Mom asked.

"Yes. I can't explain it. Putting on Heather's skirt and top just felt right. For once the outside matched the inside." I responded. "It made me happy to have them both match." Mom watched as I folded my legs up on the couch, very much like Mom and Heather would do when they were reading a book. Mom smiled.

"You do act like your sister some times." Mom said, with a smile. "What do you think we should do about this?"

"I don't know. I think that talking to someone may be a good first step. I just don't know who to talk to."

"I don't know who to talk to either, and as this is Saturday, I think that talking to someone today may be kind of hard, so why don't you go get a shower, and since your sister is staying the night at Carly's, and your dad won't be home from Denver until at least Wednesday, I'm going to go find you something to wear and we can discuss this further, Ok?"

"I took a shower last night before you and Heather got home."

"I know. I want you to go take another one, use some of your sister's scented body wash this time, ok?" I nodded and went off to do as mom suggested.

#
I walked back into my bedroom after taking a shower and using the body wash. I currently smelled of lavender and, to be honest, I liked the smell. Laying on the bed was an ankle length denim skirt, pink sweater, and a matching pink polkadot bra and panty set. I looked around the room and then heard my mom on the other side of the door.

"Put everything on. I think your sister's shoes will fit you, I have a pair out here for you to put on after you get dressed." I shrugged, the panties were pretty self explanatory, the bra, however was not. I struggled with it for a few minutes, before finally getting it on correctly. I slipped the skirt on and then pulled the sweater over my head. I brushed my hair out and taking a deep breath, and then I opened the door to reveal mom standing there. She looked me up and down, and he waited for her to start laughing.

"My God, Zoe, you are beautiful." Mom said. I smiled and blushed at the same time.

"Thank you." I said in a voice that was softer than my normal voice. I watched as my mother's eyes widened in shock.

"Lets see if Heather's shoes fit you. I think that they will." She sat a pair of black mary jane wedges on the floor next to her new daughter's feet. I slipped the shoes on and were surprised to find that they fit. I crouched down and buckled the thin straps. Katherine smiled at her new daughter again. "Zoe, are you sure that you've never worn anything of your sisters before?"

"Yes. This is the first time other than the skirt and shirt from last night. It's something that I've dreamt about though..."

"Zoe, would you like to go out to breakfast? We can go across town so that we are unlikely to run into anyone that would know you."

"I think that I would like that. I am a bit nervous though."

"You'll be fine. Let me go grab you a purse. In the closet down stairs there is a grey peacoat, you can wear that. I'll be right back." Mom disappeared into Heather's room and came back with a small black purse. I went down and found the coat in the closet and slipped my arms in and buttoned the row of buttons on the coat. A few seconds later, mom appeared behind me with the purse. "Here you go, Zoe." I took the purse and opened the door to the garage.

#
I relaxed as mom drove through the city to the other side where the odds of someone knowing them were very slim.

"Mom, Why are you ok with this?"

"Why am I ok with you being happy and being you?" She chuckled. "Are you kidding me? I just want you to be happy and healthy."

"Well, At least I'm not dopey." I said, trying to make a joke. I smiled and mom chuckled some more.

"I think that you make a better happy than a dopey... Mom said. "I haven't seen you this giddy since I don't know when." Mom pulled the car into a parking spot. I looked around and took a deep breath, before opening the door and getting out of the car. I walked next to mom as we walked into a restaurant.

"Just the two of you, Ma'am?" The hostess asked. She stood about five foot one, and wore a white button down shirt and black slacks that didn't do much to flatter her, even though the shirt fit her form.

"Yes, just the two of us today." Mom replied as the hostess picked up two menus and then smiled at us.

"If you ladies would follow me please." We followed the hostess to the table and sat across from each other. She sat our menus down and then went back to the podium.

#
Mom and I had finished eating our breakfast and were sitting there talking when her cell phone rang. Mom looked at me and smiled.

"Hey Tom." Mom said. I presumed that dad was on the other end of the phone call. "Nope, no one is at home. Allen and I are out eating breakfast and Heather is over at Carly's..." Mom's statement caused an older couple that was sitting next to us to do a double take. I smiled at them, they shook their heads and mumbled something about 'kids these days...' "I know. You and I need to sit down and have a talk about Allen. No, nothings wrong, but Allen told me something about himself today that I think took an awful lot of courage to tell someone." Mom paused and looked at me. "I'm not going to get into it while I'm at a restaurant, Allen and I will call you later using the computer so we can at least talk face to face." Mom reached out and covered my right hand with her left and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I don't know how it will affect Heather, but I predict that she won't have a problem with it." Mom listened for a few minutes and then said. "Ok. I'll call your cell when we get home, I think that this is important enough that Allen would have preferred to tell both of us at once." I nodded. "Ok. I love you and I'll pass your message on to the kids." Mom dropped her phone back in her purse, and then looked at the older couple that had resumed staring at us.

"I take it he tried to call the house and no one was there?" I asked.

"Yep." Mom said, still looking at the older couple that was still staring. "I'm having breakfast with my daughter, is there something I can help you with?" Mom asked the gentleman rather pointedly. He and his wife turned a beet red and then went back to eating their prunes.

"How do you think he will take it?" I asked. Mom looked at me.

"Sweetie, your father is the head of diversity for Gillenfelter Systems... I don' think he will have a problem with it. He may know of resources that you and I don't." Mom said before finishing the last of her coffee. Mom handed me the check, thirty dollars and the car keys. "Go pay the bill and I'm going to run to the bathroom. Wait for me in the car."

"Ok." I said standing, slipping on the coat that I had worn in. I grabbed my purse and headed for where the cashier was. Almost before I got out of ear shot of the couple that was sitting across from us, I heard the woman remark to her husband: "There is no way that was a boy..." I think there may have been more, but I couldn't hear what she said.

#
Mom pulled the car into the garage and shut off the engine. We got out of the car and went into the house. I hung the coat back up in the closet and went and sat in the den. This was where we had the iMac set up so that we could talk to dad when he was away on business. Mom came in and sat next to me. She patted my leg through the skirt.

"Are you ready to introduce Zoe to your dad? Also, I watched you pay for breakfast and then walk out to the car. If I didn't know any better, I would have taken you for a girl." Mom said.

"I heard that woman that was sitting across from us say that I wasn't a boy as I went to pay for the food this morning. It made me feel good. As far as I can tell, I'm ready to introduce Zoe to dad. I kinda worry about his reaction though."

"I think he will mistake you for Heather at first. I can see the height difference, he can't do that over the video chat." Mom picked up the trackpad and keyboard and sat them in her lap. "Ready?" she asked, moving the pointer to the application that allowed us to video chat.

"As I'll ever be. I'd prefer to do this face to face, but this is the next best thing. I just hope your right about him." I responded.

"You just relax and be your self, Your father will be easy, it's Heather I'm worried about." I glanced at mom. For me it was the other way around. I was more worried about dad. "Mom double clicked on the application, and then double clicked on dad's name, connecting the two computers together over the internet so that we could have a face to face. The connection seemed like it took an eternity, when in reality it only took a few seconds.

"Katherine," Dad said, looking at the monitor on his laptop. I could see the reflection of his monitor in his glasses. "I thought you said that you were with Allen and that Heather wasn't home."

"That's right." Mom said. I could hear a smile in her voice.

"But Heather is sitting next to you." It took everything in me not to chuckle.

"No, Zoe is sitting next to me." Dad's face changed to a look of 'what-in-the-world-are-you-talking-about'. Mom had stumped dad, which was usually hard to do. "Look closely at her eyes." Mom said. Dad leaned toward his monitor.

"That's Allen!" Dad exclaimed. "So it's Zoe, huh?"

"Yes, Daddy. This morning I told mom that something's not been right with me for a while. I've felt like I should be a girl for quite some time. Last night before I got in the shower, I tried on a skirt and shirt of Heathers that was in the hamper. I saw Zoe staring back out of the mirror at me, and that image has been in my mind ever since. I'm happy right now, and I haven't been happy in a while." Dad sat back and looked at the monitor.

"What are your thoughts, Katherine?"

"I think that talking to someone that is trained in gender issues would be a good first step. Also, we are going to need to figure out how to tell Heather that she actually has a sister rather than a brother, but for right now, I think we can keep this between the three of us." Mom said. "Tom, Zoe and I went to breakfast this morning and she didn't raise a single eyebrow, except for this older couple that gave us a funny look when I told you that I was out with Allen..."

"I would have loved to have seen their faces. I bet it was priceless."

"It was." I said. "The woman even said that there was no way I was a boy... That made me feel really good."

"Ok. I'll go through the stuff I have about therapists and send you a few that are good and specialize in gender issues, Katherine make the calls Monday, and let me know about appointments. Add them to the calendar as well so they sync across everything. Zoe, welcome to the family. For right now you are going to have to go to school as Allen, but lets see what happens." I nodded. "I will probably be home Tuesday, These diversity seminars I've been running will be done Monday. I'll probably leave about 10AM, we have to make quick stop in Dallas to set someone straight, and then back home to Columbus. The Dallas stop may end up being an overnight depending on what happens. I'll let you guys know. I'm glad we charter jets for these kinds of trips, I would hate to try to do this via commercial airlines..."

"Ok. I will let you know Monday what I find out. Any objections to getting Zoe some things of her own?"

"None at all. It would be a lot easier than trying to explain why all of Heather's clothes are dirty..." Dad's cell phone rang, and he picked it up and looked at it. "It's Fred. I'll talk to you guys later. Love you both, and send my love to Heather."

"Love you Daddy." I said,

"Love you, Tom." Mom said the screen reverted back to the desktop after dad disconnected. Mom turned to me. "So, you want to go shopping?"

First things first, I would like to thank everyone that helped me get Chapters 1 and 2 fixed from my (and Zoe's) decision to change the voice of the story. Now that we have gotten past the point where the voice changed, things should be smooth sailing from here...

A small bit of forewarning, there are a few things in this chapter that are unlikely to happen in real life, but sometimes truth is stranger than fiction...

Now without further ado...

---

Shopping

Mom and I were in the car driving toward the shopping center that we had eaten breakfast so that we could engage in some retail therapy...

"So, what are we going to get me?" I asked, looking over at mom as we slowed down because traffic had stopped due to an accident.

"Some skirts and dresses, and defiantly some undergarments. You need your own as you can't keep wearing Heather's. If we want to keep this secret, we're going to have to make Zoe as self sufficient as possible. I don't know how your sister is going to take you possibly becoming her sister. Although given the way that your father and I raised you two, I don't think we have anything to worry about..."

"What about school?" I asked as we rolled about twenty feet and stopped again. A fire truck and medic rolled down the berm past us.

"Well, for now, you have to go to school as Allen. I see that changing at some point, but lets get to that point first." We rolled another twenty feet and stopped; I was getting restless in the traffic. I had always gotten restless when I was stuck in a car that wasn't moving, and that was exactly how I found my self this second. Mom looked over at me as we rolled about ten feet and stopped again. "Put the window down... Let some cold air in." That was the usual way to fix me when this happened. We rolled forward about seventy five feet and stopped again. "Would you want to go to school as Zoe?" Mom asked suddenly.

"Huh?"

"Would you want to go to school as Zoe?" Mom asked again. Traffic had started to move again and I presumed that the accident had been moved off to the side and that we might get there after all...

"Yes. My grades are good, but I think that they would be better if I could be me." We rolled past the accident, which didn't look that bad, but was bad enough to require the jaws of life... I put the window back up as we got back to highway speed. "I would love to be able to be Zoe when I'm home, I may have to suffer through being Allen at school I think I can live with that." I glanced at mom and saw her smiling.

"I would imagine that your dad will have some names for us soon." Mom's iPhone, which she had placed into a dock mounted to her vents between the front seats when we got into the car, chimed to indicate she had an email. Since I was not driving, I started to hit the icons on her phone to pull up her email. My own phone chimed from my purse. The only email mom had was from dad, and it contained a list of Doctors names, addresses and Phone numbers. Looking at the top of the email I saw that I also had a copy of the same email.

"His timing never ceases to surprise me..." I said to mom. "We have a list now..." Looking at the list on one of the computers at home would be easier than trying to do it from one of the phones. Mom glanced at the screen.

"How many, can you tell?" I scrolled the email and counted.

"Seven." I hit the bottom of the email and saw that dad had typed a small note. "He put a note at the bottom, it says 'Katherine and Zoe, Here's the list I told you I'd get. These are the doctors the company recommends to employees who have gender issues. The most recommended by the patients that have seen her is a Dr. Emily Francis. Her information is at the top of the list, and I was told that she does have Saturday hours. Also, I have an idea about how to tell Heather, so try to video conference when you get a chance. Love, Tom." I glanced at Mom.

"He has an idea on how to tell Heather... Your dad has always been good at this kind of thing..."

"What kind of thing?" I asked, as mom got off the interstate.

"Breaking odd news to people..." She said, letting the thought trail off. She pulled the car into a parking spot and shut off the engine.

#
Mom and I walked into the Apple Store, which caused me to look around. There was no clothing here, and we all had newish technology, so no reason to buy something. Mom walked right up to a twenty seven inch iMac and launched face time. The computer signed in with it's ID and password, which caused mom to sign out and then back in with her own. As the system populated her contacts, Mom looked at me.

"Do you have your headset?" I reached into my purse and pulled it out. "Plug it in." I spun the machine just enough to be able to see the ports on the back.

"It has two ports... We need a MacBook..." Mom pursed her lips and looked around. "Go to that open thirteen inch Air and sign it in to face time using your information. I'll be over in a second." I walked over to the machine and signed it out of face time, and then back in as me. As it populated my contact list, which was far less than mom's, I noticed that both Heather and Dad were on, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw mom talking to a salesman. She was pointing at the twenty seven inch iMac that we had just used, and was now pointing at the thirteen inch MacBook Air that I was now standing at. She smiled and nodded, and then walked over. I offered her an earbud, and pointed at the list. She nodded and then double clicked on dad's name. The call connected and we were looking at Dad's face, who looked confused.

"We're at the Apple Store, we figured that this would be easier than trying to do this from one of the phones." Dad nodded.

"Ok, for starters, I assume you got the email?" We both nodded. "Ok. I just talked to Heather, right before you called. I dropped some simple questions about how would she feel if someone she knew was transgender, and then she said that it would depend on who it was. This confused me a little bit, so I asked her to elaborate. She said that if she caught her bother, sister, whatever in her clothes that she would kick your ass, Zoe, but she also said that she would do everything in her power to guide you as an older sister should. I think we should just come right out and tell her."

"Really?" Mom said. Mom looked at me, and I looked back at mom, and then noticed that we were being stared at by other customers, and one salesman was using us as a demonstration on face time. From the looks of it, we had helped make a sale...

"Yeah. Katherine, we raised our kids right, and they respect the differences that we all have. Zoe, just be your self when Heather comes home. It looks like you guys are attracting a crowd so give me a call when you get home, and Katherine, buy something from there to thank them for letting you come in and take over a computer..."

"Ok, Anything in particular you think I should get?"

"Not off the top of my head." Mom nodded. "Love you guys and I'll see you Tuesday."

"Bye Tom." Mom said.

"Bye Daddy." I said. I watched as the screen went back to the list of contacts for face time and I signed out. Mom looked around at all of the people that were staring at us. I rebooted the MacBook Air, knowing that it would reset everything back to how it had been when I walked up to it. A man in shirt sleeves and a tie walked up to mom. He had an ID badge, so I presumed that he was the store manager.

"Good Morning, Ma'am, may I ask you and your daughter a question?" He asked mom.

"Sure." The crowd that we had attracted hadn't shrunk. I think they were expecting us to get chewed out for what we did.

"Who were you facetimeing with?"

"My husband. We figured that a laptop would be easier than an iPhone for the two of us to talk to him at once." The manager nodded.

"He looked like he was in a hotel room, is he away on business?"

"Yeah, he's the director of a department for Gillenfelter Systems and is currently in Denver. We try to talk to him every day when he's gone, and usually use Face Time to do it. We're a Mac Household." Mom said.

"Can you give me a rundown of the equipment you guys have, and may I trouble you to basically write down what you just told me? I would like to share it with my staff as well as send it up the chain to Steve Jobs. He loves hearing about how people use our products to keep in touch when distance keeps them apart. We've never had someone just walk into the store, take over a computer, and just start using face time before." Mom looked at him, and he turned around and looked at someone standing at the genius bar, who held up four, no make that five fingers. "We just sold five Macs because of your use of Face Time." I blinked.

"Well, we have a twenty inch iMac, My husband has a seventeen inch MacBook Pro, I have a white MacBook, and both of my children have thirteen inch MacBook Pros... I helped you guys sell five Macs?" The manager nodded.

"What are the ages on those machines, we haven't made a twenty inch iMac in a few years..." The manager, whose name tag read 'John' asked.

"It's one of the white ones, we got it and my MacBook at the same time, I think in two thousand seven... The MacBook Pros are all within a year old. My husband told me to buy something to thank you for letting me come in and take over a computer."

"Us selling five machines just because of your impromptu use of Face Time was thanks enough. Are you guys going to be in the mall for a while, I want to make a phone call and see what I can do to thank you guys." The man that had been standing at the genius bar walked over and whispered in John's ear. "Make that seven Macs..."

"Yeah, we need to do some shopping." Mom said.

"Ok, if you could give me your phone number, I will call you when I find out what I can do." Mom wrote her number down and handed it to him.

"You don't have to do anything for us. We didn't really do anything..."

"I know." He smiled. "I may not be able to do anything lets see what happens, ok?" Mom nodded. "Why don't you guys give me an hour and we'll see what happens."

#
"Tom, because we went in there and used that MacBook to call you, they sold seven Macs... They want to do something for us..." Mom paused and listened to dad on the other end of the call. "Yes, seven. He asked me what equipment we had at home and I told him. He was going to make some calls to see what he could do." Mom and I walked toward one of the anchor stores. "I don't know what he has up his sleeve. The profit alone from those sales would have been more that I would have spent on anything in the store." Mom and I walked toward the juniors department. "Zoe, look around at stuff and find stuff that you'd want to wear while I finish up talking to your dad." I nodded and wandered off on my own; as I got out of ear shot, I heard mom say "I think that he's going to try to replace my Macbook and the iMac..." I wandered for a few moments just taking in all of the options that were now available to me. I had dreamt of this and now, here I was shopping in the department that would make my outside match my inside. I grabbed a few skirts that looked like they would have been my size and also some tops. Then I saw the sweaters... I grabbed a few in various pastel shades. It was then that I realized that I needed a cart, and mom appeared with one...

"Your timing is just like dad's..." I said, offloading what was in my arms into the cart. "I think that the skirts will go with everything else."

"Looks like it." Mom said. "We should get you some pants as well. And you do need your own shoes..." I saw a blue and black plaid skirt on a hanger and grabbed one in my size. I tossed it in the cart. Mom and I made our way toward a place to check out when I spied some jeans. I looked for some in my size and tossed them in the cart as well. I looked at mom, who looked satisfied. I saw the area where the sleepwear was being displayed and headed over there to look. Satin was about the only thing that I could think of that I wanted to sleep in and I found a cute satin night gown and panty set. The only thing that concerned me was that the panty was a thong... I tossed it in the cart anyway, as I didn't have to wear the matching panty... I saw mom giving me a look.

"What?" I asked, mom just smiled and shook her head. I also grabbed some cotton sleep shirts and a few pair of sleep pants. I figured that it wouldn't hurt to have options. Mom and I walked toward the intimates department, a department that I had never entered before, and a department that I could probably get lost in... I looked around, in awe of the number of colors, not to mention the styles of undergarments that were displayed. As a boy you get a choice of three colors: white, black and grey; as a girl you get your choice of every color under the rainbow and some things that weren't part of a rainbow... That was how I found my self looking at a black and white plaid bra and panty set... I turned and looked at mom... "What size am I?"

"Your sister wears a 34C, so I'd venture a 34A probably." Mom said. I found a set that had a 34A bra and a size 6 panty. I had looked at the size of the panty when I put it on. I tossed it in the cart and then looked at a few more matched sets. The idea of having a matching panty and bra intrigued me, it also in a way made no sense as no one should see your bra and panties...

#
Mom and I carried the first round of spoils out to the car and were walking back into the mall when her phone rang. She pulled the phone out and looked at it. "It's the Apple Store." She said, and then swiped her finger across the screen to answer the call. "This is Katherine." Mom said. She tilted her head toward the Apple Store.. "Ok, John, we'll be there in a few minutes." I followed mom toward the store. When we got there, John met us at the front of the store.

"My employees all decided that since it was your direct use of Face Time that resulted in the sale of eight total machines, plus some accessories, that they are going to give you their commission. Based on the machines sold, That's a total commission of just shy of three grand." Mom looked at John, and then around at the eight members of his sales force that had sold the machines.

"You guys don't have to do this. All I did was call my husband, you guys actually made those sales. I might have helped clench them, but you guys did the leg work."

"Ma'am, I think I speak for the rest of my coworkers," A girl, whose name tag read Sarah said, stepping forward. She wore the royal blue shirt that all of the sales staff wore and had on a pair of rather snug black jeans. She had a pair of blue and black glasses on and a few strands of her brown hair framing her face. She was in the front of the group of employees because if she wasn't, all four foot ten inches or so of her would be lost behind her taller coworkers. "But every single sale we made was on the fence." She turned to look at her coworkers. "You did make those sales, albeit indirectly, but those were all you. You deserve the commission from those sales." Sarah handed her a gift card.

"I don't know what to say." Mom said.

"I'm not done yet." John said, a smile on his face. "I have been authorized by Steve Jobs himself to give you a twenty seven inch iMac and four iPads." Mom looked at him in disbelief.

"Thank you?" Mom said. I did a little bit of math in my head. Mom could replace her MacBook with the commission and then all of the Macs in the house would be less than a year old.

"You're welcome. If you want to continue your shopping and then come back and pick up the products, that is fine. If I'm not here, speak with Sarah who knows what's going on and where everything is. She will be here until we close tonight." Mom looked at me.

"Let's go finish our shopping." Mom said to me. "We will be back in a bit." Sarah nodded.

#
Mom and I walked back into the main concourse of the mall and then toward a shoe store. Mom found a place to sit down and we sat.

"I need to call your dad..." Mom said, digging her phone out of her purse. She tapped the screen a few times and then held the phone to her ear. I simply sat and watched the rest of the people in the mall go about their. "Hey Honey." Mom said into the phone. I watched as a girl that I knew from school walked by with some of her friends. "Well, the manager at the Apple Store called and said that he had received word about what he could do for us." Mom paused and looked at me, with a smile. "Yes, I know you said to buy something from them, but they are giving us something. They sold eight computers because I came in and started talking to you using Face Time." Mom paused again. "Yes eight. The sales personnel decided that since it was the direct result of my use of Face TIme that they sold those machines, that I should get the commission. That's just shy of three grand... There's more though... The manager asked me to write down how we use face time, He sent it to Steve Jobs, who authorized him to give us a twenty seven inch iMac and four iPads..." Mom glanced at me as she listened to dad. "OK, Hang on," Mom turned to me offering the phone. "Dad wants to talk to you." I held the phone to my ear.

"Hi Daddy." I said. "What's up?"

"Zoe, Accept the stuff from the Apple Store, and have your mom get a new laptop. When you guys get home, I want you to work on getting the the computers setup, data transferred etc that way I won't have to do it when I get home on Tuesday."

"Ok. What do you want me to do with the old iMac and mom's old laptop?" These were important questions, if I did say so my self.

"Put them in the den, I'll figure out what to do with them when I get home."

"Yes, Daddy. Is there anything else?"

"No, sweetheart. Hand the phone back to your mother."

"Ok, Bye Daddy. Love you." I handed the phone back to mom.

"Ok, Tom. I love you." She said and then put her phone away. "Lets go get you some shoes." Mom said, standing. As we walked, mom looked like she was in thought. "What did your dad say?"

"He said to accept the stuff from the Apple store and to make sure that you get a new laptop, and that he wants me to set them up and do the data transfers when we get home. He didn't mention the iPads... Heather is going to be surprised..." I said. Heather had been wanting an iPad for a while but couldn't justify the purchase. We walked into a shoe store. There was a sales person that smiled at us as we walked in. Mom and I walked right over to the women's shoes and started looking. I found a pair of black ballet flats and showed them to mom who nodded. She pulled out a pair of those fleece lined boots that all of the girls at school were wearing. I nodded and went back to looking. I found a pair of tennis shoes that were pink and white and showed them to mom and she nodded. I figured that I now had shoes for almost every occasion. That was until I saw a pair of black loafers with what appeared to be a two inch heel. I showed them to mom, who looked at me.

"Ok." She said... "Tell me why you think that you should have them."

"Well," I paused, formulating my argument. Mom and Dad both were good at forming an argument in such a way that it proved their point and sometimes left you with no counter argument. This was why Heather still didn't have an iPad. "Some of the clothes that we have already purchased won't work very well with the selection of shoes that we have. For instance, the ballet flats would work with the denim skirt that we got, but not as well with the pink skirt. The boots would just look funny with both, and the tennis shoes would be laughable, thus the need for a pair of shoes that are a little bit dressier."

"Add them to the pile." Mom said with a smile. That meant that my argument had convinced her of the need for the purchase of the shoes. It wasn't every day that the kids won an argument against mom or dad.

#
We took our spoils out to the car from round two when mom saw something that stopped her dead in her tracks. I had run into the back of her as I wasn't paying as much attention as I should have been. I looked in the general direction of where mom was looking and saw what caused her to stop. Sitting in the parking garage, at the end of the row that we were parked in, was Carly's car.

"We're going to have to be careful." Mom said, popping the trunk. "I'm pretty sure that Heather is with her." Mom pulled her phone out of her purse and brought up the application that would let her see where Heather's phone was. "Crap." Mom said. I glanced at the screen on the phone and saw that Heather's dot was on the mall. "Lets head to the Apple store, get the stuff and get out of here. This is not where we want to tell your sister about Zoe..." I nodded. Mom closed the trunk and then opened the back door and pulled out a sweater that she kept there, slipped it on and then locked the doors. Heather probably wouldn't have seen mom's car if she wasn't looking for it, so we had that going for us. Neither one of us wore anything that was distinct to the family or anything. Mom and I walked back into the mall and headed straight for the Apple store. Mom and I walked in and looked around. John was no where to be seen, but we did see Sarah, who was working with a customer. She saw us enter and held up a finger, and turned her customer over to another salesman and walked over to us.

"You guys ready to finish the transaction?" Sarah asked, a large smile on her face. Mom nodded. "Why don't you pick out some covers for those iPads while I go get everything together." Mom nodded again and we walked over to where the cases and covers for the iPads hung on the wall. Mom grabbed a brown and black leather cover,

"What color do you you want?" I looked at mom with a look that said 'do you really have to ask me that.' Mom reached up and grabbed two pink covers. Sarah came back out with cart that had the twenty seven inch iMac on it as well as the four iPads. Mom sat the smart covers on the cart and looked at Sarah. "Could you get me a thirteen inch MacBook Pro?" Sarah nodded, and disappeared through the door that she had come out of. She came back a few seconds later with a MacBook Pro. That was one thing that dad liked about the Apple stores. They didn't try to force accessories on you. Mom pulled the gift card out of her purse and handed it to Sarah, who started scanning stuff, looked at mom, who was looking at the little screen that showed the price, watched as mom nodded. Sarah took care of the transaction and then turned to the salesman next to her.

"David, I'm going to help them out to their car, I'll be back." The person that I presumed was David nodded and Sarah handed me the MacBook. I took it and mom gave me a look like 'Don't you dare drop that...' Mom led the way out of the store, and toward the car. I walked next to Sarah, wondering if she would be able to even pick up the box that the iMac was in. We got to the car and I assisted Sarah in picking up the box and putting it in the back seat. We sat the four boxes that contained the iPads in the floorboard and then sat the MacBook on the seat next to the iMac.

"Sarah, I want to thank you, and if you would please pass that on to John for me." Mom said.

"I will." Sarah said, "You guys have a nice day."

"You too." Mom said, I stood next to the car and watched Sarah go. "Zoe." I turned slowly. "I know her ass looked nice in those pants, but we should get out of here before Heather finds us..."

Discovery

Mom backed the car into the garage and shut the engine off. I opened the door of the car and got out. Mom opened the back door and pulled the MacBook out. "Take the iMac in and set it up... You are the one that setup the entire network..." she smiled at me. I'll put the iPads in our bedroom, and put your stuff in your room." I nodded, and slid the box out of the back of the car and carried it into the living room. I looked around the living room, knowing that the iMac that sat on the desk now would have to move somewhere else while the data transfer occurred. Both computers would be on the network, which would be wired for which ever computer sat on the desk. I could hear mom talking to someone on the phone from the kitchen, but I didn't know who.

#
I was still working in the living room, working on setting up the iMac and mom's new MacBook when I heard the front door open and then slam. I heard foot steps coming go down the hall way, a thud, and then a few more foot steps.

"Mom!" I heard Heather shout. I looked up and slowly spun around to look at my sister. Heather's hair was tied back in a pony tail with a red ribbon. The ribbon matched the red shirt she wore and the black pants provided a nice contrast. Mom walked into the living room from the dining room.

"Yes, Heather?"

"Who is that?" Heather asked pointing at me.

"That would be your sister, Zoe." Mom said. Heather made some kind of a sputtering sound, and then looked from mom to me and back to mom, and then back to me. "Go on, she won't bite..."

"This is why dad asked me the questions a little bit ago..." Heather said, walking closer to me. "He was trying to gauge my response before you guys said anything. Stand up, let me get a look at you." I stood slowly and watched as my sister approached she paused, pushing the chair in and then walked all the way around me, stopping and looking at my face. She leaned forward and looked at my face really closely. "No makeup?"

"Nope." I said, cracking a smile for the first time since she had walked in the house.

"You weren't allowed to wear any makeup until you were fifteen, Heather. Zoe will be no different." Mom said. "Zoe, I called Dr. Francis. You have an appointment Wednesday at one thirty. It's on the calendar and there is a reminder set." I nodded. Heather looked at me and then at Mom.

"Dr. Francis?" Heather asked. "Who is this Doctor?"

"Dr. Francis is a specialist in gender issues." Mom said, glancing at me. "You missed the revelations that your sister gave your father and I this morning." Heather raised an eyebrow.

"Revelations?" Heather said.I nodded slowly. I was about to tell it again...

"Yeah. Lets sit down." I said. Heather and I sat opposite each other and that was when Heather finally noticed the new iMac.

"Where did that..." She let the thought trail off while pointing at the iMac

"There's a story to that, but I'll get there..." I said. Mom looked at the two of us.

"I'll be in the kitchen if you guys need me."

"Ok." Heather replied, not taking her eyes off of me. I smiled at her, knowing full well that my dimples would show. I had tried to hide them as much as possible. I had been ribbed by male classmates over my 'girlish dimples.' Now I didn't have to hide them...

"I've been feeling like I'm in the wrong body." I paused trying to think of how I wanted to phrase this. Heather opened her mouth to speak, and I held up my hand to stop her. "Last night, when I said that I would have been bored to tears to go dress shopping with you guys, I wasn't being truthful; I wouldn't have been bored to tears, I would have probably enjoyed it. For probably close to two years now, I've felt like a girl on the inside. I expected to get a lecture when I started to grow my hair out, but no one said anything. When I told mom this morning about it. I also told her that last night I put on the black top and the pink and black plaid skirt that you wore to school Thursday." Heather's eyes narrowed a bit. "Zoe was looking back at me. Her eyes sparkled and Allen's eyes hadn't done that for some time. I knew what I had to do and I did it this morning.

"Mom told me to go take a shower and that she would get me some clothes to wear. She did, and you can see what she picked out. Before you ask, yes this stuff is yours, but mom grabbed it, not me. Her and I went to breakfast this morning and talked about this a little bit more and then we video chatted with dad and told him. He pulled a list of doctors that specialize in gender issues and sent it to us. He also asked us to video call him again. We were on our way to Tanglewood when he sent us the list, so as soon as we got there, we headed for the Apple store, where we proceeded to take over a machine and called dad with it. He told us that he thought that the best way to tell you would be what happened: to let you discover Zoe.

"While we were at the Apple store, our use of face time helped them sell eight computers, and the manager, on authorization of Steve Jobs himself, gave us the iMac. The eight sales people also gave Mom their commissions. Mom has a new MacBook, and we have a new iMac. That brings us to here, and now." I concluded. Heather looked at me.

"You do seem happier right now. I also wondered how long it would take you to finally admit that something wasn't right." She said. "They just gave you an iMac?"

"Yep." Mom said, walking in from the kitchen with the smart covers for the iPads in her hands. "You girls will want these." Heather took the smart cover, looked at it, looked at me, and then looked at mom.

"We don't have iPads." Heather said. Mom handed each of us a box containing an iPad. I did a double take at the outside of the box.

"Mom, these are sixty four gig models..." I said. Mom blinked at me.

"I noticed. I bet that Mr. Jobs was very specific in what he told John to give us." I nodded and listened as the iMac rebooted. Well, that was one machine down, I still had mom's new laptop to work on.

#
Heather and I had moved to the kitchen where I was now working on mom's new laptop. I had grabbed a cup of coffee from the coffee pot and was slowly sipping it as I worked.

"You know that stuff will stunt your growth..." Heather said, plugging her iPad into her laptop. "So, how was your first day out in a skirt?"

"My growth was stunted long ago then... My first day out as Zoe was great. There were no problems to speak of, and mom and I enjoyed a nice quiet breakfast where we confused some poor old couple by referring to me as Allen with dad on the phone. The old woman said that I was not a boy... That felt nice." Heather looked up at me and smiled.

"I've always thought that you were a little cute to be a boy..." I smiled again, to me that was a compliment, even if it wasn't' intended as one. "You've always carried your self a little bit like a girl, now we know why. And those dimples scream girl to me."

"Thanks..." I said, Heather giggled.

"I'm serious. I wondered how long it was going to take before you tried on a skirt..." I looked at her.

"How do you figure?" I clicked on the button to make the laptops start transferring data and sat back, looking at Heather.

"Well, you've always been caring and compassionate, you seem to have a small knack for fashion." She paused like she had realized something. "You guys said you were at Tanglewood. Carly and I went there to see what dresses they had on sale. We didn't' see you guys."

"I know." Mom said, "We saw Carly's car and got the heck out of there as the mall wasn't the place for you to meet Zoe." Mom left out the bit about looking to see where Heather's phone was located. "I wasn't expecting you home until later. We were going to let you meet Zoe just the way you did. We figured that it would be easier than trying to hide it from you." Heather nodded. "Your dad is the one that came up with it. Looks like he was right once again."

"Dad is like that." Heather said, standing. "I'm going to go work on some homework. I'll be in my room." Mom nodded and then watched Heather go.

"Zoe, do you have homework to do?" I glanced at Mom.

"Some. You think I should go do that while this transfers?" Mom nodded.

I rolled over on Monday morning and swatted at my alarm clock. After I swung a few times, I finally connected with the button to make it stop it's obscene racket. I sat up and looked around. The only light in the room came from the pulsating light on the MacBook that was indicating that it was asleep and the red LED's from the clock. I was not looking forward to going to school. Normally I enjoyed school, but after spending the previous two days as Zoe, I was not looking forward to putting on the clothing that was not as soft and gentle on the skin as I would have liked. I had even picked an outfit out for Zoe's first day of school, and knowing mom, she would probably be ok with her new daughters choice. I slipped on a pair of black slacks and a maroon polo. The school didn't have a uniform, but every year someone on the school board tried to implement a uniform policy., and every year the idea was shot down by the rest of the board. I was, before saturday, hoping that they never adopted uniforms, now I was kind of hoping they did, it would eventually save me the hassle of getting dressed in the morning. As I looked at the mirror and brushed my hair out, I longed for the day when I'd be able to wear a skirt to school... I left my hair down and walked out of my room, and headed for the kitchen. Heather walked out of her room, saw Allen standing there and pouted.

"I was hoping to see Zoe..." Heather said.

"Not until I get all the papers from this Dr. Francis person." I said, following Heather down the stairs. "Then the fun will really begin. I wish that I could quit being a double agent already... Maybe I should have said something before school started in September..."

"Said something about what?" Mom asked. She had been sitting living room on her laptop sipping coffee as we came down the stairs.

"About Zoe. Although she didn't have a name until Friday night." I said, pulling two bowls out of the cupboard for us to make some oatmeal.

"She didn't?" Heather asked.

"Nope. The name came to me as I looked at my self in the mirror wearing the top and skirt." I said, placing the bowls of oat meal in the microwave. I pushed a few buttons and let the microwave nuke our oatmeal. Mom looked at the two of us.

"Zoe, if you had been a girl at birth your name would have been Courtney Anne. Your dad and I selected the names ahead of time and had told everyone. Lets just say that we didn't need the second set of names..." Mom poured some more coffee into her cup.

"Courtney... That's pretty." Heather said. I pulled the bowls of oatmeal out of the microwave and handed one to Heather, who sat it on the island and we ate standing at the island. This was normal for us as we both often finished eating with a few minutes to spare on catching our bus.

"I'll take you guys to school today. I told Bob that I'd be late today and I will be leaving early on Wednesday to come pick you up, Zoe. How do you want to go to the appointment? Chelsea, her assistant said for you to come dressed the most comfortable way for you to present, so that choice is yours." I must have given mom a look that said 'How do you think I'm the most comfortable?' Mom chuckled. "Thought so. We'll come up with a way to get you changed..." I nodded, and finished the last few bites of my oatmeal, and placed the bowl in the sink, filling it with water.

"I have the perfect outfit picked out for Zoe's first day of school." Heather gave me a look, and mom's mouth dropped. "What?"

"Zoe isn't allowed to go to school yet, and you are already picking out her clothes for her first day of school?" Heather asked. I nodded.

"Um, as your mother I get to pick out what you wear on the first day of school until you graduate as I didn't have that option for the first seven years, and you only have five left..." Mom said, causing Heather to chuckle. "Alright girls, lets get going. I have to drop you both off at school. I'm glad that the schools are close to each other." Heather and I went out and got into mom's car. Heather, by right of being the older child rode up front, and I slid into the seat behind her. What my mother nor sister knew was that I had on panties under my slacks. I could feel the satin sliding against my bottom.

#
Mom pulled up outside of Tinapple High School and looked at Heather, who smiled.

"Are you picking us up or or are we taking the bus home?" She asked. Mom looked at her.

"I will be working late, so take the bus." Mom's phone showed a text message saying that Heather was at school. I chuckled. "And Heather, remember, we're keeping Zoe under the radar, so don't tell anyone about her." Heather nodded.

"I won't." Heather said. In some ways, I had a feeling that before school was out today, someone, probably Carly, would know about my alter ego...

"Learn something today." Mom said as Heather shut the door. Mom turned to look at me. "I bet Carly knows by the end of the day..."

"Probably." I said as Mom put the car in gear and started to head toward the middle school. "Carly will keep her mouth shut though." I said. Mom glanced at me in the review mirror.

"How do you know?'

"Because I've seen her do it." I paused. "She will however, want to meet Zoe as soon as possible. There won't be any way around that with me being Zoe full time at home." Mom nodded.

"Are you ready for that?" She turned the corner back on the main street.

"As ready as I'll ever be. I've been out in public around people that I don't know, I'm not sure why being around someone I know would be any different." Mom slowed for a traffic light.

"It would be different because someone who has known you for some time might say some things that could really hurt you. Who knows what Carly will say when she meets Zoe. She might be perfectly ok with it, or she could say some really hurtful things and be downright mean to you. Which do you think will happen?"

"I predict that she will be ok with Zoe." I said confidently. I knew that some of her closet friends were lesbians, and that told me that she would be accepting of my issues. Mom pulled up in front of the middle school and turned to look at me.

"You seem happier than you have been in a while, even if you are dressed as Allen..." Mom said. "I just hope you stay that way today. Just remember that no matter what happens at school, Zoe is here, probably to stay. She can come out and play after school."

"I know." I replied grabbing the handle on the door.

"Have fun at school, and learn something today." Mom and dad both insisted that we learn something every day no matter how trivial it seemed.

"I will, Mommy. See you tonight." I said as I exited the car as gracefully as I could. I shut the door and walked into the school, happier than I had been for a while.

---

Meanwhile...

---

Heather sat in her english class, itching to tell someone about Zoe. She wouldn't see Carly for another hour or so when the pair met for lunch. She knew that there was no way she'd be able to sit on this secret for long. She was really hoping to tell Carly about her new sister. It wasn't every day that your brother ended up being your sister...

#
Heather sat next to Carly in the lunch room and Carly knew instantly that something was up.

"You're excited about something." Heather nodded. One of their other friends sat across from them. "What is it?" Heather leaned over and started whispering in Carly's ear.

"Remember on Saturday when we went to Tanglewood and I thought that I saw mom's car there?" Carly nodded, remembering. "Well mom and Allen were there, but Allen wasn't presenting as Allen." Heather paused, letting her words sink in. Carly turned to look at Heather, her green eyes wide with realization...

"Who was he presenting as?" Carly whispered in Heather's ear. Heather smiled.

"Zoe." Heather watched as a large smile spread across Carly's face. "Mom said not to tell anyone, no one really knows yet, and I'm not supposed to be telling you, so don't tell anyone..." Carly shook her head.

"I won't. I promise." Carly said. "When did you find out about him, her, whatever?'

"Saturday when I went home after we had gone to the mall. She was in the living room setting up a new iMac. There is another story to that, but not here."

"When do I get to meet Zoe?" Carly asked.

"I'm not sure. You are the only person outside of the immediate family that knows, but I would imagine that a random visit might reveal Zoe to you. She has a doctors appointment Wednesday."

#
I walked out of my last period class and I had never been happier to leave the school. The day had dragged by, and I was looking forward to getting home and out of these scratchy clothes. I swung by my locker and grabbed the books that I needed to do my homework that evening and slipped them into my backpack.I walked out of the building and into the sunshine. I got on the bus and wondered how many people Heather had told about Zoe as I waited for the bus to fill up and head toward home.

#
I was the first one home so I unlocked the door and went in the house. I went to my room and took off the clothes I had on. I hung the slacks back in my closet and pulled out a turquoise long sleeved tunic, then walking over to my dresser, I pulled out the bra that matched the panties I had on and a pair of black leggings. I changed the clothes and then opened my door. I sat at my desk and started working on my homework. Ten minutes later, I heard the front door open and then slam. I knew that Heather was home.

"Zoe! I'm home." Heather shouted.

"I heard!" I hollered back. "I'm in my room, working on homework." I heard Heather coming up the stairs. She sounded like she was being chased by a head of elephants, and it was then that I realized that my sister did not move very gracefully. She poked her head into my room.

"Changed already I see?" Heather asked. "Stand up so I can get a look at you." I stood and Heather watched me spin in a circle. "Looks good, sis." Heather grinned.

"Who did you tell?" I asked her, knowing that she had told someone. She bit her lip.

"Carly." I pursed my lips. I had told mom that Heather would tell Carly, and now I just hoped that she could keep her mouth shut.

"Mom said not to tell anyone. The majority of the world doesn't need to know Zoe yet." I said, collapsing into the chair. I had expected this so it didn't really come as a surprise, rather as a confirmation that I had been right that morning.

"Zoe, we can trust Carly." I also knew this to be true. "She wants to meet you."

"She's going to meet me eventually as she's over here almost daily and Zoe is here to stay. I can't wait to be able to go to school as Zoe and not have to worry about changing clothes when I get home to be comfortable. I don't like the way that my shirts and pants feel." Heather looked sympathetic.

"I never had any clue how hard it was for you to just get up and go to school. You've always had an interest in music and the arts, and none of the 'traditional' boy stuff. You could give a hoot less about sports, I wonder how we didn't see this coming out of left field." Heather said, sitting on my bed. "You have always gotten good grades, and your handwriting is pretty, unlike most boys handwriting..." She let the thought trail off. "I'm gonna go work on my homework. Shout if you need anything."

I smiled at Heather. It was really nice to have a sister and family that was so accepting of the struggles I was going through. There were so many people that didn't get it; that didn't understand that being gay, lesbian or transgender was not a threat to anyone. I think that everyone knew that there would be struggles ahead, but as long as we kept the secret, the struggles were minimal. Once the secret was out, I was going to need all of the allies I could get. I didn't know who they would be outside of my immediate family, but I would learn that not everyone was out to get those that were different.

Lions, Tigers, and Doctors: Oh My!

Tuesday evening, I went and did something else for the first time: I shaved my legs. The fact that most of the hair that I had below the waist was very fine and blonde helped, but I still wanted to get rid of it before I went and saw Dr. Francis the next day. I wanted to look my best, as any girl would when she met someone important for the first time.

#
Tuesday night, I laid there and tossed and turned pretty much all night. I was worried about the appointment that afternoon. I swatted at the alarm clock that had just started making it's obnoxious noise. As I connected with the alarm clock, I managed to knock it off the table. I sat up and reached for the clock, made sure that it wasn't going to make its noise again and sat it back on the table. I looked around my room and decided that I might as well get up and get a shower. I hit a key on my MacBook to wake it up so that it would go check email as I went to take a shower. I grabbed my robe and headed for the bathroom. After I had shut the door and hung my robe on the hook that was next to the door. I took off my nightgown and panties, and tossed them in the hamper. I started the shower and got in, letting the warm water wake me up. There was a knock on the door and then I heard it open.

"Zoe?" Mom's voice came from the general direction of the door way.

"Yeah." I replied, pulling my head out from under the water.

"You ok, I heard a thud come from your room."

"Yeah. I knocked my alarm clock off the table." I hoped that my voice didn't give away my current state of tiredness.

"Ok. I will be at school at noon to get you so that you have time to get ready before we go see Dr. Francis. Your dad will be home tonight. He had to stay longer than planned in Dallas. He will be flying in around ten and then going right to work. He will be home around his normal time, and then we are all going to go out to dinner. He's looking forward to meeting his other daughter." I smiled. I shut the water off and listened as Mom closed the door. I drew the shower curtain back and looked at them mirror on the back of the door. I grabbed a pink towel and dried off, and then put the towel back on the towel rod. I slipped on my robe and headed for my room. As I exited the bathroom, Heather was coming out of hers.

"Morning Zoe." Heather said. "Did you leave hot water for me?"

"A little bit. Maybe enough to get wet..." I said, disappearing into my room and shutting the door.

#
I walked into the office and looked at Mrs. Chattfield. She was the head secretary for the school.

"Morning, Allen. What can I do for you?"

"My mom will be coming in around noon. I have a doctors appointment at one thirty."

"Ok, Thanks for letting me know."

"You're welcome." I said, and then headed off for homeroom. As school started for the day I had a feeling that today was going to drag on.

#
By the time lunch rolled around, It felt like I had been at school for ten hours. Mom would be at the school in fifteen minutes, so actually eating lunch at the school would be pointless. I went to the office rather than toward the cafeteria. I walked in and looked at Mrs. Chattfield.

"Yes, Allen?" She asked. I knew mom hadn't come to the school yet.

"May I get a pass to go get my homework for the classes I'm going to miss?" I asked. She smiled and nodded, filling out a pass. She handed it to me. "If mom shows up while I'm gone, tell her I'll be right back." I left the office and headed for the classes that I would be missing. Five minutes later I returned to the office, homework in hand. I had just slipped it into my backpack when mom walked through the door to the office. She had on a skirt suit, so I assumed that she had been in some meetings that morning.

"You ready?" She asked. I nodded and slipped my backpack on and watched as mom signed me out. Mrs. Chattfield looked at the clipboard and then up at mom.

"Zoe?" She asked, and looked at me. I looked at mom in horror. I hadn't expected her to make that kind of a slip up...

"Whoops." Mom said, taking the clipboard back and scratching out what she had just written. She signed me out again, this time using the name that the school had on file for me. Mrs. Chattfield looked at me and gave me a wink. I think she put two and two together and came up with four. She stood and walked around to where I was standing.

"Don't worry," She said. "It's safe with me." Mom looked at her.

"Thank you." Mom said. "I think you know what the doctors appointment is about now."

"I do, and I won't say a thing." Mrs. Chattfield said. I added her to my ally list. "I'm here if you need to talk."

"Thanks." I said. Mom and I walked out and got in her car. She looked over at me and smiled.

"I think you have a supporter." Mom said. "Did you eat?"

"No, it would have been pointless. By the time I would have gotten my lunch, you would have been at the office signing me out. Also, way to out me, mom..." I said with a smile.

"For some reason I had your name on my mind and because I was signing you out, I just wrote the name that was the person I was looking at. You're Zoe, through and through. I'm not sure that you were ever an Allen..." she chuckled as we pulled into a McDonald's drive through.

#
Mom backed the car into the garage and we both got out, and headed for the door into the house. I had eaten my burger and fries in the car on the way to the house, so all I had to do was toss the bag in the trash. Mom looked at the clock and looked at me.

"Go change. We want to be there at about a quarter after." The clock behind mom's head read that it was quarter till one. I went upstairs and pulled out the blue and black plaid skirt and a royal blue blouse. I put them on and then dug out the loafers. I hadn't practiced walking in them yet, but slipped them on my feet anyway. I walked around the room, until I felt comfortable with the shoes and then headed for the stairs. Walking on a solid flat surface in shoes you've never worn before, is easy to do, but stairs are a different issue... I slowly walked down the steps and into the kitchen. Mom looked at me.

"The blue brings out your eyes, Zoe." She said and then looked me up and down. "You look very pretty." I looked at mom and smiled.

"Thank you." I said, curtsying. Mom's eyebrows shot up.

"Where di-" She stopped herself. "No, I don't want to know." I giggled.

"I learned it from watching Heather when she took ballet a few years ago. I never really practiced it either..."

"Well, you did a decent job..." Mom said, picking up her purse. "Let's go, missy." We went back out to the car so that we could leave the house... I hadn't realized how cool it was outside until I felt the cool air on my legs. The temperature was still well above freezing but it wouldn't' be for long. After I had shut the door, mom got in the car and started it. Her car hand't lost most of the heat that was in the engine, so when she started it my cold legs were hit with a blast of warm air. Mom looked at me. "Go in the house and grab the coat you wore to the mall on Saturday." I nodded and got out of the car, walked into the house and grabbed the coat. By the time that I had gotten back out to the garage, Mom had pulled the car out of the garage and was sitting in the driveway with her foot on the brake and her finger on the button to close the garage door once I was clear of the sensors that would reopen it if something was blocking the path of the door on the way down. I went over and got back in the car, buckling my seat belt. Mom watched the garage door close and then pulled out into the street. That was when I noticed our neighbor, Mrs. Wilson looking at me strangely.

"Mom, I think Mrs. Wilson saw me." Mom bit her lip as she turned onto the road that would take us to the highway.

"Oh well, nothing we can do about it now. Let's just hope that she doesn't know exactly what she saw or we might have issues." Mom said, passing a slower moving car.

"Yeah. I know." I looked out the window as we headed toward the center of the city. Mrs. Wilson had been the nosey neighbor and the neighborhood gossip. She had once spread a rumor around the neighborhood that Heather was a lesbian. Heather's response was something to the effect of 'so what?' "Nothing she can say is going to change who I am."

"I agree, but she can still cause problems..." Mom called dad on her phone. "Hey, We might have an issue. Cheryl saw Zoe leaving the house dressed when we left for the appointment." Mom paused for a second. Dad was probably talking. "I don't know. She didn't have a chance to say any thing and we had the windows up so that Zoe stays warm." Another pause as dad talked. "Ok. We're getting close to her offices so I'll let you go. I'll give you a call when we're on our way home." Mom dropped her phone back in her purse and then looked at me. "He thinks that we shouldn't worry about her... You are going to run into people that don't accept you. We're going to have to deal with them as the come."

#
Mom backed the car into the a parking spot. She looked at me and then patted my left leg. "You ready?" I looked at her.

"Not really..." I said. I had been dreading this appointment in a way from the time that mom had scheduled it. "But I also know that it's required for me to become me. Dad said that she's the best from what he's heard?"

"Yep." Mom replied opening the door. "The best of the best." I got out and felt the cold air causing goose bumps to appear on my legs. I walked around to the front of the car and waited on mom. She walked around the front of the car and we walked next to each other toward the building that housed the office of Dr. Emily Francis. We walked into the lobby of the building and over to the elevator. Mom pushed the button and we waited for the elevator to appear. A few moments later, it appeared and I looked inside and then at mom. I shook my head. I had never liked elevators, never would as far as I could tell. I could think of no specific event that caused this fear and neither could mom or dad. I didn't know if it was because something had happened to me in an elevator, or what, but I was glad that mom and dad understood and would take the stairs. "We are going to the third floor."

#
Mom and I walked through the doorway onto the the third floor. The area that we ended up in was a lobby of sorts with some fake trees. There was a hallway that ran the length of the building and it had doors on one side and windows that looked out on the skyline of the city. Mom walked over to a board that was mounted on the wall.

"Suite 305. That way." Mom said pointing down the hallway. I followed her toward the office. When we got there Mom opened the door. On the other side of the door was a small waiting area. There were only a few chairs and a small table in the corner. The walls were painted a mauve color. Mom walked up to the little window and pushed the button on the wall that would make a bell sound somewhere in the office. I couldn't see anyone on the other side of the window. "Have a seat, Zoe." Mom said. I sat in a chair as someone walked up to the window and opened it. Her and mom spoke quietly for a few moments, and then she handed mom a clipboard with a fair amount of paper on it. Mom walked over and sat next to me. "Paperwork... Fun." Mom didn't sound like it would be that much fun. Mom had just started on the paperwork when the door opened to the left of the window opened.

"All-" the brown eyed brunette stopped when she looked at me. "Zoe. Dr. Francis will see you now." I presumed that this person was Dr. Francis' assistant, Chelsea. I stood up and mom stood as well, tucking the clipboard under her arm. Mom and I walked back through the door and followed the woman back to an office. The person we followed back to the office knocked on the door and then from inside we heard a faint 'Come'. The door was opened and we walked inside. "Doctor, I have Zoe Franks and her mother Katherine for your one thirty."

"Thank you, Chelsea." Doctor Francis said, standing. "Zoe, Katherine, please, have a seat." She nodded toward the couch and chair that sat in the corner of the room next to a window. Mom and I walked over and sat, and I noticed that Dr. Francis was watching me and seemed to be taking notes in her head as I sat and smoothed my skirt out. "Zoe, Katherine, I'm Doctor Emily Francis." She held out her hand to me first which I shook. There was that look of more notes in her head. She shook mom's hand after ward and gave both of us a smile. "So, I don't normally see adolescent patients, but I am seeing you, Zoe as a favor to your dad." I looked at Dr. Francis.

"Thank you, Doctor." I said quietly. She smiled.

"Zoe. You can call me Emily." Emily said. "From what your mom said on the phone with Chelsea on Saturday, you think that you were born in the wrong body, right?"

"Yes," I replied looking at the floor and feeling my face warm as I blushed. I saw a hand come in below my chin, it gently hit my chin and brought my eyes to look into the green eyes that Emily had. I briefly wondered if the color was natural or contacts...

"Zoe." Emily said with a disarming smile. "There is no reason to hide anything from me. I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on."

"Yes, Ma'am." I said softly. Emily smiled again.

"How long have you felt this way?" I glanced at mom, who looked like she was curious to know the answer.

"For about three years." I said quietly.

"And why didn't you say anything before now?" This question caught me off guard. I paused to formulate my answer.

"Because I wasn't sure of how my mom and dad would respond. I know what dad does, but I presume it's different when you are talking about your own child." I paused again. "I didn't want them to think any less of me or think that they had failed as parents in some way."

"I see." Emily said, making a few notes on the pad of paper she had brought over from her desk. I glanced around the oak paneled office, there were various paintings around the room that were bathed in spotlights. "When was the first time that you wore an article of girls clothing?" I looked Emily right in the eyes, feeling pretty sure that she wouldn't believe this answer.

"Last Friday." I watched her closely, she looked shocked, blinked and then covered her reaction. "I had often dreamt about it, but had never actually done it. It was a black long sleeved top and a black and pink plaid skirt. My sister Heather had worn it on Thursday, and I figured that since it was in the hamper, no one would know. I did know and the guilt led me to come clean about everything on Saturday morning." There was a jotting of notes again.

"I see." She paused, "Who picked out the clothes that you have on right now?"

"I did." I replied. There was more scribbling of notes. "Mom said that Chelsea said for me to dress the most comfortable way for me to present. All I know for sure is that I haven't been comfortable wearing Allen's clothes to school; everything just feels wrong. When I looked at Zoe for the first time, her eyes were sparkling. Allen's eyes have looked lost and sad for quite some time." More scribbling, I had a feeling that when we were done, I could publish a book with the notes that would be collected.

"Does Zoe have a middle name?"

"Yes." I said, my chin high. "Her middle name is Elizabeth." Emily nodded.

"Who picked her name out?"

"I did. It just came to me when I saw my self in the mirror." Emily nodded again.

"Have you been out dressed as Zoe?"

"Yes. After I told mom, she suggested that we go get breakfast. She went into my sisters room and got a long denim skirt and pink sweater for me to wear. After I put them on and opened the door, she looked at me and told me I was beautiful." More notes from this statement. "That made my day. I'm already small for a guy and I don't think that I am going to grow any more. I have soft skin like my mom and sister. I am a girl with the wrong plumbing."

"What kind of reactions did you get while you were you were out?"

"Nothing remarkable, except when mom was on the phone with dad and she said that she was out with Allen. This older woman sitting across from us looked at me, and then said to her husband that I was not a boy... That was when I realized that the world saw me as a girl." Emily nodded.

"How do you feel about that?" I looked at Emily, putting my thoughts together.

"If the world sees me as a girl, and I feel like a girl, then I should present as a girl. Actually, just me feeling like a girl inside and having the outside match the inside makes me happier than I've ever been." Emily looked at me.

"Ok. You didn't answer the question though. How do you feel about that?"

"I feel alive, like I've found my self after all this time. Allen has been just going though the motions, Zoe is ready to take on the world."

"Who would you rather go to school tomorrow as: Allen or Zoe?"

"Zoe, hands down." I looked at her. "Allen has always done well in school, but I think Zoe will take what Allen has done and improve on it. In some ways I worry about the response that Zoe will receive when she goes to school, but at the same time, all I want to do is be me. I'm not harming anyone by it, even if it is different from the norm."

"Will you give up on being Zoe if people hassle you about it?" I thought long and hard about this question.

"No. Every time you hear of a major struggle that someone has for what is right, there are hardships along the way. I know I'm going to face them. More than likely when I least expect it. I have a decent support system at home, between mom, dad and Heather. I feel confident that I can get though just about anything that comes my way." There were more notes that were jotted down.

"What would you do if the school said that you couldn't attend as Zoe even if you had all of the proper paperwork do do so." Mom spoke up on this one.

"Sue them." She smiled. "With all of the proper documentation, to refuse to allow Zoe into school is discrimination based on gender. There have been precedents set on this issue in other states, and every one I've read about the court has ruled in favor of the defendant." Emily looked at mom.

"This is true." Emily said. "Zoe, could you attend school as Allen until a lawsuit were resolved?" I nodded.

"I've gone to school as Allen for the first seven years of my schooling. Finishing out the eighth year could be done. I wouldn't necessarily like it, but if I had to, I could." Emily nodded and looked from mom to me.

"Zoe, can you wait out in the hall while I talk to your mom?" I nodded and then exited the office. At the end of the hallway, there were some seats with a window that overlooked the river that ran through the city. I didn't know how long I sat there, watching a few boats go down the river, and watching traffic on the highway on the other side of the river before Emily opened the door to her office. Her and mom stepped out into the hallway and looked at me. I had curled up in the chair I was sitting in and had my feet tucked under me. My shoes sat in front of the chair. Emily and mom looked at me and smiled.

"Zoe," Mom said. "Can you come back in here with us?" I nodded, and slipped my feet back into my shoes and they both watched me walk toward them. They let me walk into the office first and then followed me in. I sat where I had been sitting before I had been asked to wait in the hallway.

"Ok, I'm going to cut right to the chase. Zoe, you meet the diagnostic criteria for someone who has gender identity disorder. Essentially, this means that your mental sex does not match that of your physical sex. I've given your mom all of the paperwork that she will need for you to start attending school as Zoe." I smiled. Emily handed me a business card. "Your mom tells me that you have a cell phone. On that card is the number to here as well as my cell phone. I want you to put me in your phone and if you ever have a situation where you are being refused something based on the fact that you are transgender, call me. Your mom also has my numbers. As far as I know, the school district where you live has not had a transgender student. This means that you are going to be the first. I will be meeting you and you mom at the school tomorrow morning." I looked on in disbelief.

"You mean I get to go to school as Zoe?" I looked at her and then at mom.

"Yes." Emily said. "I have a feeling that this is not going to be easy, but you have a support system in place." She looked at Mom. "Seven thirty at Memorial Middle School?" Mom nodded. "Ok. Make sure that Chelsea gets the address, and set an appointment up for two weeks from now, and it can be evening. I'll make exceptions for Zoe, I want her to do well in school." I looked at her.

"Thank you, Doctor." Mom said standing. I stood as well, feeling my skirt tickle the back of my legs.

"Thank you, Doctor. My life is whole now, and I don't have to hide the real me."

"Don't thank me yet, we still have a lot of stuff that we are going need to cover. It's going to take some time." I looked at her.

"What do you mean?" I asked her.

"Well, we need to have a few one one sessions, there is a lot more that we need to discuss." Emily said.

"That makes senses. May I give you a hug?" She nodded and opened her arms. I walked over and gave her a hug. Between her and my family, I had support for what ever life would through my way in the next few weeks. After the hug ended, Mom and I headed for the little counter that was before the door that we had entered.

"What can I do for you, Mrs. Franks?" Chelsea asked.

"Dr. Francis has asked us to schedule an appointment two weeks from now and give you the address to the school that Zoe attends so that she can meet us there tomorrow morning."

Photos

Mom backed the car into the garage and shut off the engine. We went into the house and sat in the kitchen. Heather wouldn't be home for another forty five minutes or so, and dad not for another hour or two. Mom had sent dad a text message saying 'Congratulations, it's a girl!" as a little bit of a joke as we had left the doctors office. Dad had sent her a text message back, with LOL and a smiley face in it. Mom looked through the papers that Dr. Francis had given her.

"Zoe, with the paperwork I have here, we could change your name to Zoe." Mom said suddenly. I looked at her.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yep." She glanced at the clock on the microwave. "You want to go shopping or something for a little bit?" I shrugged as shopping hadn't been something that I had enjoyed as Allen, mainly because I couldn't look at the clothing that I wanted to look at without raising suspicion...

"Sure." Mom glanced at me. "We do need to get me a purse or something so I can carry my phone." Mom raised an eyebrow.

"Most girls your age just stick them in their back pocket..." Mom said. I smiled.

"Well, I'm not most girls my age..." I motioned to my body to emphasize what I was wearing. "Plus, where does a girl carry her phone when she has no pockets?" Point and counterpoint, just like we had been brought up. My logic and reasoning were sound. Mom nodded.

"Man we taught you too well. You killed off my argument before I had a chance to present it." I smiled at her as she picked up her purse. "Lets go."

"Well, if we ever get into a situation where we need to argue something, the four of us are a team that I wouldn't want to go against. I can only imagine how you are in court..." Now it was mom's turn to smile. We got back into the car. Mom pulled out of the garage and we headed for the mall that was a lot closer to the house. With school not ending for another twenty minutes at least the mall would be devoid of kids my age. It only took us about five minutes to drive over and get parked. Mom and I walked around the mall until I saw a display that had caught the corner of my eye. The store was a regional chain that catered to tweens. I had gone to their website and looked around, liking most of what I saw. This would be my first hands on experience with the store. Mom followed me into the store, wondering what had attracted my attention until I had walked up to a pair of mannequins that wore the same outfit as in the window. Mom looked at it and nodded, indicating that she liked what she saw. One mannequin wore the outfit in green and the other in red. Both of the mannequins wore a beret that matched the plaid pleated skirts that covered up their bottom halves, white blouses and knee socks that matched the color of the skirts. Slung across their bodies were little purses that were made out of the same plaid fabric as the skirts.

"Green or red?" Mom asked suddenly. I looked at her.

"I like them both." Mom smiled and started grabbing the pieces of both of the outfits. We carried all of the articles of clothing to the back of the store so that we could purchase them. After we had exited the store with the two new outfits. Mom saw a photo studio on the upstairs level.

"Follow me." Mom said, heading for the stairs. I followed her up and into the studio.

"Good afternoon, welcome to Shaeffer Studios, How can I help you today?" The blonde girl behind the counter said, standing so that she could talk to mom. She slid her blue framed glasses back up her nose, her blue eyes sparkling behind the lenses.

"Well, I'd like to get some pictures of my daughter. Today is sort of a..." Mom paused looking for the word that she wanted. "Milestone in her young life."

"Ok, what kind of picture did you have in mind?" The girl, whose name tag read 'Laura' said. There were pins attached to the name badge. She placed a binder on the counter and opened it. I could see that it contained sample photos.

"Something traditional. Kind of like what you would get out of a school portrait." Laura nodded and flipped to a section of the book.

"What are the pins on your name badge for?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"These are the backgrounds we can offer here in the studio. Was your daughter planning on wearing what she has on now or did you have another outfit in mind?" Laura turned to look at me. "The pins are where I've won an award in our parent companies internal photo competition. For the last four years, I've won the National Grand Champion award after voting from my peers." She said. She wasn't gloating, and her attitude was that of pride. She took pride in what she did, and it showed through her work. "The two years before that, I won the Chairmans Award which is even harder to win than Grand Champion." The turned to the wall behind her. There were several photos mounted on the wall, of individuals and families, including a family with their dog. "In case you are wondering, these two are the two that won the Chairmans Award, and these four won the National Grand Champion." I looked at the photos in disbelief. I knew little about photography except how to make my phone take a picture. Laura, however looked like she could get a great picture from the camera in my phone.

"Well, I was thinking some in what she's wearing, and some in the two outfits we just bought down stairs." Mom held up the bag so that Laura could see it.

"First, may I ask a question and then may I make a suggestion based on what your daughter is wearing as well as her pretty blue eyes?" Mom nodded and Laura looked at me. "What's your name, if I may call you by it?" I smiled at her.

"My name is Zoe." I replied. That felt so nice to be able to finally tell someone that my name was Zoe...

"Ok, Zoe. I'm Laura." She offered her hand, which I shook. "My suggestion is that for the photos of Zoe in the outfit she has on, we use a blue background... It will make her eyes pop..." Mom nodded.

"I was already thinking of that. What would you suggest for this and this?" Mom asked pulling the red and green skirts out of the bag. "There are matching berets that go with them." Laura looked like she was in thought for a second.

"What color shirts?"

"White." Laura stroked her chin for a second.

"An Amber background." She said after a few moments. "At least thats where I'm leaning right now. Once I get behind the camera something else may come to me that will improve the photo." Now I could see how she had won the awards that she had won. Mom nodded. Laura looked at me again. To me it looked like she was planning the upcoming photo shoot in her head. Mom looked at me and then at her.

"Sounds good to me, You seem like you have all of your ducks in a row when it comes to what you do, I will defer to your expertise." Mom said. "I'd like to go shopping for a few things for Zoe, but as a surprise, can I leave her with you and go take care of that?" Laura smiled.

"Is she older than ten?" Mom chuckled.

"Yep. And she will listen to what you tell her to do."

"Then she can stay. Zoe, are you ready?" She smiled.

"Yes." I said. Mom bent over and gave me a kiss on the top of the head.

"Zoe, be good and listen to Laura. If she has any questions, call me, ok?" I nodded and watched mom go.

"Zoe, if you would come this way..." Laura said, heading through a door that was to the right of the counter.

#
I looked at myself in the mirror. I had just changed into the red skirt and red beret and slipped the little purse over my shoulder across my body. I looked at my self in the mirror and smiled. I really liked the way the green looked on me, but the red had become a close second. I adjusted my shirt, and then opened the door to reveal Laura standing there. She smiled at me.

"Hmm. I think the green looks better but the red looks cute too." She said.

"I was just thinking that." I said, smiling back at her. I had lost count of how many pictures that we had taken already. I just knew that mom would have quite a few photos to go through when she got back from her shopping. Some of them Laura had reached over to the computer and marked somehow. I knew that there were a few that I had liked when I saw them pop up next to her on the monitor. She had come up with the idea of a photo of me in a chair in front of a 'fireplace' while I still had on the blue skirt and blouse that I really liked. I wondered if mom would buy that one. As I walked back over to where the camera and stuff were set up, I heard a chime.

"I'll be right back." Laura said, disappearing through the door back toward the front of the studio. A few moments later her and mom walked through the door. Mom looked at me.

"I like it." Mom said. "I can only imagine what the green looked like."

"Well, Laura and I agree that the green looks a lot better on me than the red, but I like them both." I said. "I was thinking of the green outfit for tomorrow." I said, mom looked at me.

"I don't know if they will let you wear the beret to school..." She said. That was one rule that I had never understood. I pouted.

"Ok, you look like your sister when you do that, and it's cute, but it hasn't worked before, and I don't think it's going to start working because everything about you has changed in the last week..." Mom said, with a chuckle. Laura looked like she didn't know whether to laugh or not, especially with her not getting the hidden meaning in the statement.

"You don't think they'll let me wear my cute beret?"

"We're going to have a hard enough fight tomorrow morning as it is. You heard what Dr. Francis said, You're the first student in the district that she's aware of." Laura looked from me to mom.

"Dr. Emily Francis?" She asked. Mom raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, do you know of her?" Mom asked.

"Know of her? I'm her daughter. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be here..." Laura looked at me, a little closer than she did ten minutes before. "I would have never guessed, and Zoe, I can usually tell." She smiled. Another ally when I wasn't' looking for one. "I vote for the beret tomorrow. You never know, they may let you wear it..."

"I doubt it..." Mom's phone chimed, she pulled it out and looked at it.

"Heather is home." She said. "She's probably..." Mom stopped talking as Heather called her.

"Zoe, lets finish up. I know what we could do that we didn't do with the green set." She said, leading me away from where mom stood. She pulled a prop out that looked like a cement railing on the side of a foot bridge. She walked around behind it, where I would be and got down on her knees. She gently leaned on the prop, folding her hands and gently resting her chin on them. "This is what I want you to do. I'll get your head where I want it after you get in position." I nodded and then replaced her behind the prop. She walked over to the camera and looked at me. "Ok, tilt your head just a little bit to your left, ok. Eyes right here." She pointed at the lens and then I saw a bright flash of light as the lights all did their thing... She pulled a stool over and then carried the prop back to where it started. I sat on the stool, my hands in my lap and let her fuss over me for a few seconds, making sure everything was right. When she walked back to the camera, she took four pictures. One with an amber background, another with a red background, the third with a blue background, and the fourth with a grey background. Laura turned to mom.

"Mrs. Franks, are there any other photos of Zoe that you would like me to take?" Mom thought for a few seconds.

"A family portrait, but we don't have everyone here so that will have to wait, and I would need to talk to my husband about that one... Other than that, I can't think of anything." Mom said.

"Ok, Lets go back out front and we can look at all of the pictures that Zoe and I took." I looked at mom.

"Do you want me to change or should I just wear this home?" Mom looked at me.

"Just keep that on. I think it looks really good on you and your dad gets to meet you tonight." Mom said, following Laura to a small office that I had somehow missed when we walked in...

#
Mom selected four pictures of me that she liked and had a proof sheet printed out so that she could show dad and see if he wanted any additional pictures. Mom had ordered an eight by ten of the photo of me wearing the green beret and skirt to hang on the wall in place of Allen's current photo. Since she couldn't make up her mind on which photos she wanted for her desk at work and which one dad would want, she ordered the one of each of the three head and shoulders photos in each outfit and the one with my hands folded under my chin in five by sevens. She ordered wallets of me in the blue blouse as well as of me in the green beret.

"Mom, don't you think you are buying a lot of pictures?" I asked.

"Not at all. We need to put Zoe's picture in place of Allen's picture." Laura gave mea strange look.

"You don't look like an Allen..." Laura said. Mom and I looked at each other and then I started laughing.

"I've thought that for a while..." I said. Laura smiled. "It needed to change so I became Zoe." Laura nodded. Mom handed her credit card over and paid for the pictures and then we were off for more shopping…

Daddy's Little Girl

Mom backed the car into the garage. Once she had parked, we both got out of the car and went into the house. I was still trying to get used to wearing knee socks. I was used to wearing socks that stopped where the knee socks, but the knee socks fit differently they were more snug all the way up to just below my knee. Heather was in the kitchen getting a glass of water. She turned toward the door as I came though it first.

"Hell-" She stopped when she saw my complete outfit. Mom shot her a look. "Zoe, that little outfit is extremely cute on you."

"Thank you." I said, executing a curtsy. Heather blinked at me.

"Where did you learn to do that?" She asked.

"By watching you do ballet a few years ago. I practiced in my room where no one would see me... How was my curtsy?"

"Perfect..." Heather said. She made a spinning motion with her hand that indicated that she wanted me to spin around so she could see me from all sides. I obliged, not realizing that my skirt would float up as far as it did.

"Zoe, be careful doing that..." Mom said.

"I think that black panties would have worked better than pink today..." Heather said, with a chuckle. I thought I had been doing pretty well at not showing my panties to the world.

"Probably..." Mom said letting the thought trail off as her phone chimed. She pulled it out and looked at it. "Your dad will be home in about thirty minutes." She said, and then looked from me to Heather. "Heather, do you have any outfit that would compliment what your sister has on?" Heather looked at me and then at mom.

"Not really." She said, "I do have a blue plaid skirt that I haven't worn is a while. Why do you ask?"

"I was kind of thinking that you and your sister could dress similarly, but at the same time, in a way this is kind of like Zoe's birthday and I want her to feel special, if that makes any sense."

"Actually, it does. It makes a lot of sense. This is the beginning of Zoe's new life, I have a lot of stuff to teach my little sister, Tonight's about her. Lets make it special." Heather winked at me.

"Alright. Why don't you girls go work on homework until your dad gets home." Heather and I nodded, and then headed for our room. Before I entered my room, Heather stopped me.

"Zoe, when I said that you looked cute earlier, I meant it. I'm proud to have you as my sister." She hugged me and I hugged her back. we rarely hugged so this was a nice change of pace...

#
I had just finished my homework when I heard the garage door open. I stood up and left my room as I wanted to be downstairs when dad walked in the door. I walked into the kitchen and stood there. Mom walked over and stood behind me, her hands on my shoulders and Heather stood right next to me. I already had an idea of how dad was going to take this by way of our video chat, and right that second, I knew that with the support that I had that I would stand firm against what ever came my way. Allies would be vital in the coming days, more so than I realized. The door opened slowly and I waited with bated breath as Dad walked through it. It was always nice to see him after he had been on the road, but this time I was nervous about him seeing me. He walked in and I smiled. I knew that my dimples were showing, and that only added to the effect. There was a thud as laptop bag hit the floor. I knew it was padded, but I still cringed inside. He blinked twice, his jaw dropping and then shook his head as if to try to clear some cobwebs, and then smiled.

"Zoe!" Dad said, "You're beautiful. I'm sure that I could use more words to describe you, but that sums it up." He opened his arms and mom removed her hands from my shoulders and I ran to my father, embracing him in a hug and us bonding in a way that we had never bonded before: as Father and daughter. I was ecstatic at the fact that my family accepted me for me. Dad and I broke the hug, and he held me at arms length and looked at me. "How was your doctors appointment?" He looked from me to mom and back to me.

"Doctor Francis pretty much confirmed what Zoe said. Our little boy is growing up to be a beautiful young woman..." I raised an eyebrow and spun slowly to look at mom.

"Mom, that made no sense..." I said with a chuckle. Heather and dad burst out laughing and then mom smiled. Dad looked me up and down again.

"You look cute in that outfit. I never saw you as the kind of person that wears a hat though. I guess it depends on the hat..." Dad let the thought trail off. "Lets go sit in the living room, it will be more comfortable than standing here in the kitchen." He said. We all moved from the kitchen into the living room, where Heather and I sat on the couch and mom and dad sat across from us on the love seat.

"Tom, Dr Francis actually gave me a diagnoses of Gender Identity Disorder as the name for what Zoe has. I have all of the paperwork and Dr Francis will be meeting me at the middle school tomorrow at seven thirty." Heather's eyes widened.

"Zoe's going to school tomorrow?" Heather asked in disbelief. Dad looked as shocked as Heather sounded.

"Yes," Mom said. "If her doctor thinks it's time, then it's time," She paused. "Tom, she is going to be the first transgender student in the Tinapple city school district," She looked from me to dad. "We might have to fight right along side her... We might have an uphill battle before us." Dad pursed his lips and nodded, his eyes not leaving his youngest daughter: me.

"Zoe, are you ready for this?" Dad asked. "This fight could get kinda ugly." I looked at mom and dad, and then at Heather, my gaze finally returning to dad.

"As ready as I'll ever be." I said. "You guys taught us to stand up for what we believe in and what is right. I have every right to walk into that school and be educated as anyone else. I also have a right to be me. I told Emily that if push came to shove, I could keep going to school as Allen, as long as Zoe can be here the rest of the time. It won't be easy, but if there's a fight over it that's not going to be easy either. I'm going to win. I have you guys for support no matter what happens. Love conquers everything." I reached up and wiped a traitorous tear from my cheek that had escaped my right eye. Mom and dad looked at each other, eyebrows raised, with a look of proud shock crossing their faces.

"Wow..." Heather said. "Are you sure that you're only thirteen?" That caused mom to start laughing. Dad smiled and looked at Heather and I.

"I'd say we raised you guys right." Dad said. "I don't know about you three, but I'm starving. I didn't get a chance to get lunch when I got back from Dallas as I had to give reports to the board..." Dad paused and smiled at me. "Zoe, May your father escort you to dinner?" he asked. I felt tears welling up in my eyes.

"Yes, Daddy." I said, trying to keep the tears of happiness in my eyes. Lets just say I failed at the attempt.

#
Dad parked the car and shut off the engine. The four of us got out and I walked with my father who looked proud to be walking his daughter into the restaurant. Mom and Heather walked behind us, chattering on about something. I wasn't paying much attention to them, just proud in the acceptance that I had received from my family. I couldn't have asked for a better set of parents and older sister. As we walked into the restaurant, the hostess looked at the four of us and smiled. She led us to a table and we sat. Before she departed, she looked at me.

"That is a cute outfit." She said. I smiled at her.

"Thank you." I replied, smiling. I was so happy to just be me, with no pressures to conform to being something I wasn't. But, as with anything, there was some not so good news sitting on the horizon... News that would shake up the schools, news that would change some lives. I was as ready as I would ever be to take on the challenges before me. You have to stand up for what is right, for what you believe. Tomorrow morning would mark the beginning of a new chapter in my life, and the end of the previous chapter. The road that my life would travel down had yet to be paved, but it was there waiting for me to start my journey.

Running into Problems

I woke before the sun came up. I'd had yet another night of not sleeping well, again with a reason. This morning, a new beginning would occur. It would be the beginning of the life of Zoe Elizabeth Franks. I looked at the clock and saw that it was quarter till six. Fifteen full minutes earlier from when I'd normally get up, but I decided that rather than lay in the bed for those fifteen minutes, I may was well get a move on. I stood up, my pink satin night gown falling back to my knees. I stretched and looked at the hanger that hung on my closet door. I smiled, grabbed my robe and headed off for the shower. While I was in there, someone knocked on the door. I pulled my head out of the water.

"Yes?" I said.

"Zoe, I will be coming with you to the school. I talked it over with your mom and we decided that it would be better if we presented a unified front to the school. As in you are our daughter and we accept that. I also have approval from the board to tap into the resources of Gilenfelter Systems if necessary. We are a company that stands for the rights of our employees and their families." I blinked in the shower. I knew that the company that dad worked for took care of their own, but I wasn't expecting to have the resources of a multi-billion dollar company behind me. "Finish up, we have a long day ahead of us, I'm afraid."

"Ok. I'll be done and out in a few minutes." I quickly finished washing my hair, and moved on to my body. I used the lavender scented body wash that I had used on Saturday again. Now that I was clean, I got out of the shower and patted my self dry with one of the towels that hung there. They seemed like they were extra fluffy this morning. The next thing I did would have mom knocking on the door.

"Yes?" I said for the second time that morning.

"Ok, I was just making sure that you were up, you don't normally dry your hair."

"I know, but I'm going to be wearing the beret and I don't want to put it on my head with my hair wet."

"Smart girl." Mom said with a chuckle. I listened as her foot steps went back toward her rom. After my hair was brushed, I looked at myself in the mirror. Even though I had on a unisex white robe, Zoe looked back, her eyes still sparkling.

"I'm ready for this." I said, mainly talking to my reflection. "It's Zoe versus the world and Zoe is going to win." I opened the door to leave the bathroom and found Heather standing there.

"Were you just talking to your self?" She asked.

"Yep. I'm going to take on the world and win." Heather raised her eyebrows.

"I'm with you all the way, sis. I wish I were going to be there with you, I think that mom is going to be a sight to see in this regard." I looked at her.

"Dad is going to be there too. They think a unified front will help. Basically a 'this is our daughter and we accept that and nothing you can do is going to change it.' Dad thinks that today is going to be a long day..." Heather nodded.

"Probably. Will one of you guys keep me updated, please?"

"Absolutely..." I said disappearing into my room and closing the door. Once I had gotten dressed I looked at my self in the closet door, slipped the beret on my head and smiled. Zoe was here to stay.

#
After a quick breakfast of oatmeal, Mom, dad and I all left the house. Mom and Dad driving separate cars so that if I was just accepted as me and allowed to enter classes, they both could scoot on to work, and take care of their respective jobs. I rode with mom to the school, the entire drive was silent. I could see that dad was talking to someone on the phone already, presumably giving some instructions to his second in command. Mom passed him as he was driving slowly he looked over and waved as we went by. Mom parked the car and and we both got out. Dad pulled in next to us, his headset on his ear.

"Alright Robert, I'll call if anything changes, but hopefully I'll be in about eleven." He said. Mom's phone chimed and dad looked at his, which told me that his had chimed in his ear. I knew that the message was probably stating that I had arrived at school. I heard a car door open and looked to my left and saw that Emily was getting out of her car with a small briefcase in her hand. That was when I realized that mom and dad both carried theirs as well.

"Zoe, Mrs. Franks." Emily said, shaking mom's hand. She looked at dad. "Tom Franks?" She asked. Dad smiled.

"In the flesh. You must be Dr. Francis?" He asked.

"Morning Emily." I said.

"It's nice to finally meet you in person." Emily said to dad, shaking his hand. "Your employees have told me how great of a guy you are, Now I get to see it in person. I'm ready to go in when you guys are." Mom nodded and looked at us.

"Last night, Tom and I were talking and we decided that presenting a unified front, even though there was no division in it, would be in Zoe's best interest. Any division at all could be used against Zoe, that's not going to happen." Mom said. "You guys ready?" The question was more directed at me than anything.

"Yes." I said. My head held high. "Like I said last night, I have every right to an education, I also have every right to be myself. To deny me access to the school at this point is discrimination based on a medical issue. That is something they are not allowed to do. I have three of my greatest allies right here with me. I'm ready for what ever happens." Emily looked at me and then at mom and dad.

"Are you sure she's only thirteen?"

"Yes, both of our kids know to stand up for what is right, and what they believe in. After hearing Zoe last night saying basically the same thing, I'm confident that we raised our children right, and they are going to go far and accomplish many great things." Dad said. "If Zoe is ready for this, then so am I."

"Me too." Mom said, smiling. I think they were afraid that I was going to back down once we were at the school and they could see that I was still determined to win this one. I started walking toward the school, leading our small group. It only seemed fitting. Once inside, I would let them do the talking unless a question was directed toward me. Once the talking with the school started, I would be outgunned on my own, but between the four of us, I had the drive to make inroads into changing that which was not right. I walked up to the door and opened it. The building was teeming with students, that was fine with me. After we got inside the school, a friend that had come over to the house a few times, Riley, recognized mom.

"What are you doing here, Mrs. Franks? Where's Allen?" She asked, looking me up and down. Here was a girl I sat next to in quite a few classes and she was looking at me like I was a completely new face. Mom looked at her, and then at me. I didn't know how she was going to react, but the word was about to really get out. Mom looked at her again.

"Riley, can you keep a secret?" Mom asked her. Riley nodded.

"This is Zoe." Mom motioned to me. "She is going to be taking Allen's place." Riley looked at me.

"You and Allen have the same eyes." Riley said. I looked into her hazel eyes, wondering if she'd actually put two and two together. When it finally clicked, her jaw dropped. She hugged me, catching me off guard and about knocking me over. I'm glad dad was standing behind me. "I'm on your side, Zoe. If you need anything at all, shout. I love the outfit, by the way. I have it in red." I looked at her.

"Thank you, Riley." I said, trying to keep my voice level and failing. I had just been accepted by a classmate that I could add to the ally column.

"Riley, we need to go talk to some people in the office. See if you can come by tonight and I think that Zoe and you can catch up on some of what had happened." Riley nodded and went back to what ever it was that she had been working on when we walked in. She had been sitting at a table in the cafeteria with books open all around her. Once she had returned to her work, I led the way to the office. I opened the door, followed in by my parents and Dr. Francis. Mrs. Chattfield looked up and smiled at me, a look of confusion on her face until she registered mom, and then her eyes widened.

"Zoe..." She started. "If I hadn't seen your mom, I would have wondered who this new student was. Zoe, as cute as that beret is, you know you can't have it on in classes." She looked at mom. "I presume that you would like to see Mrs. Perkins?" She asked.

"Yes, we would, please." Mom said. Mrs. Chattfield nodded and picked up the phone.

"Hey Miranda, I have Mr. And Mrs. Franks to see you." She looked at us. "Ok, I'll send them back." She hung up the phone and looked at me. "Zoe, do you know where her office is?" I nodded. "Then if you would lead your group back there. You can get this over with."

#
"Come in." I heard Mrs. Perkins say after dad had knocked on the door. Dad opened it and walked through first, followed by me, and then mom and Dr. Francis. "Good morning, Mr and Mrs. Franks." She looked at me, and then at Dr Francis. I could tell that she didn't know who I was, and she definitely didn't know who Dr, Francis was. "Please, have a seat." She motioned to a couch that sat in the corner of the room. "I thought you had a son named Allen..."

"We did." Dad said, sitting on the couch. Mom sat on the other end and I sat between the two of them. Dr. Francis sat in a chair, and Mrs. Perkins rolled her desk chair over and looked at the four of us. "Mrs. Perkins, I'd like you to meet Zoe," Dad said, motioning to me, "And her Doctor, Emily Francis."

"That's your son?" Mrs. Perkins asked, giving me a look like I would bite her. "The two of you are letting your son run around in skirts?"

"Yes." Mom said. "Our son has been replaced by our new daughter Zoe. She's a girl with the exception of a few plumbing issues. Mentally, she's all girl, has been for a while, in fact. Her doctor has agreed with this assessment and has diagnosed our daughter with Gender Identity Disorder."

"See, when someone is transgender and they have to hide part of themselves, bad things tend to happen." Dad said. "When our son confessed his internal struggles to us, we took action to assist him to become who his mind is; that would be Zoe." Dad looked at me. "The light that went out in Allen's eyes returned when Zoe showed up."

"You two are crazy." Mrs. Perkins said. "I'm not letting him run around this school dressed like that. He will disrupt classes and get picked on. We have a dress code and his attire does not conform to it."

"Does your dress code address the needs of a transgender student who is in the process of transitioning and is under the care of a qualified psychiatrist?" Mom asked. Mrs. Perkins looked at her.

"What does that have to do with anything? Also, there is no way I'm letting Allen into this school dressed like that." Mrs. Perkins said. There is no way that a qualified psychiatrist would allow this to happen. It goes against human nature." Mom and Dr. Francis shared a look.

"For starters, your dress code has everything to do with it. When we walked in, I saw girls in pants, does that not go against your dress code? Also you don't have a choice in terms of letting Zoe into the school, she has every right to be here as any other pupil. Technically by law, you can't refuse her entry into the school regardless of how she's dressed." Dad said. "Your dress code is discriminatory. By refusing to admit Zoe into the population of the school, you are discriminating based on gender as well as infringing on her first amendment rights, namely, freedom of expression."

"I don't care. I'm not going to have a boy running around my school in a skirt." Mrs. Perkins said. "Children don't have rights. They are supposed to just do as their told. I'm telling you that I'm not letting him run around my school that way. If you don't like it, enroll him somewhere else."

"I should have to pay for Zoe's schooling in a private school as that's the only alternative to the city school district when I already pay for the city school district, why?" Dad asked, after being confused by Mrs Perkins logic.

"Mrs. Perkins, does the school district receive federal funds?" Mom asked. Mrs. Perkins looked confused by the question.

"I don't know and I don't know what that has to do with anything."

"A lot," Mom pulled a folder out of her briefcase. "Under title nine of the US Code of Regulations there is a prohibition of discrimination based on gender non-conformity. Zoe is also protected by the Equal Protection Clause of the fourteenth amendment of the United States Constitution which states in section one that 'Nor shall any State deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.'" Mom handed the contents of the folder to Mrs. Perkins, who glanced at them, and then promptly tore them in half, dropping them to the floor. I presumed that mom had just handed her copies of both the relevant section of Title nine, as well as a copy of the fourteenth amendment.

"Mrs. Franks, those mean nothing to me. I don't want him running around my school in a dress." Mrs. Perkins said

"Mrs. Perkins," Dr. Francis said, speaking for the first time since we had come into her office. "What is it about Zoe running around the school dressed like any other female student that you don't particularly want?"

"Allen is probably doing this so that he can get into the girls locker rooms." Mrs. Perkins stated. I cringed at the name she used, something that Dr. Francis picked up on. "Furthermore, I can't believe you two," She motioned to mom and dad, "are listening to her," she motioned Dr. Francis, "about how to dress your son." She motioned to me. I blinked and finally found my voice.

"Mrs. Perkins," I started. "Do you have any idea how hard it has been for me to keep portraying as a male that I haven't been for the last three years? I feel alive, more so than I have in three years. The portrayal on the outside finally matches how the inside feels. Between my family and friends, I will get though what ever happens. For some reason you can't get that through your head. Also, Dr. Francis isn't telling my parents how to dress me. I am perfectly capable of doing it my self. As a matter of fact, I chose my own outfit this morning and put it on without help. What she did do was ensure that I met the diagnostic criteria in the DSM fourth edition, for having Gender Identity Disorder" This caused Dr. Francis to glance at me, her eyebrows raised. "Unfortunately, I'm going to set the precedent on this. As mom said, Under Title Nine, there is a clause that prohibits discrimination based on gender non-conformity. By refusing to allow me entry into the schools' population, you are discriminating based on gender non-conformity." Mom looked impressed.

"You're just parroting what you heard your mother say," Mrs. Perkins snapped. We were beginning to lose control of this situation. "You don't understand law, you are too young."

"Actually, Mrs. Perkins, Zoe found the Title nine information on her own, and interpreted it. I just confirmed what she thought it meant and was the first to bring it up." Mom said, patting my leg. "You see, between Tom and I we are excellent researchers; We have to be, our jobs demand it. If I didn't do my job right, it could cost a client a lot of money. If Tom doesn't do his job right, it could open the company he works for to a lawsuit. If Dr. Francis doesn't do her job right, it could cost a patient their life. Tom and I raised our kids right, and taught them to stand up for what they believe in, and to fight for what is right. Zoe knows that she has the right to a public education, and that she has the right to be herself, She knows she's in the right here..." Mom let the thought trail off. Dad stood up and looked at us. I heard the five minute warning bell. It felt like we had been in this office longer than that.

"Katherine, Doctor, I think we need to take this fight to the district office." Dad said. "I'm going to call Adam Peterson and have him meet us there." It was then that I realized that this was what Dad had meant when he said that I had the resources of Gilenfelter Systems behind me. Dad walked over and opened the door and looked at Mrs. Perkins. "You had a chance to not involve legal counsel or the school board, but you have decided to be stubborn about something that you can not control. I'm afraid that you may have just made your final mistake. Makes me wonder how many others you've made." The four of us walked out of the office and past Mrs. Chattfield's desk. She knew instantly that Mrs. Perkins hadn't accepted Zoe. She walked around her desk and looked at me.

"Zoe. Keep your chin up. You'll be back soon. I know it." I knew that the fight had just begun, how long it would take would remain to be seen.

"Thank you, Mrs. Chattfield." I said, my voice calm. When we had walked into the school this morning, I knew that this outcome was the most probable one. When we walked out into the hallway, Riley was standing there. She walked over to me and gave me another hug.

"It didn't go well?" she asked. I shook my head.

"No. It didn't. Can you do me a favor?" I asked. She nodded.

"Get anything that I miss and bring it to me tonight, please." Riley smiled and nodded.

"I will. Good luck where ever you're going right now." She gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you." I said, blushing not because I had been kissed by a girl, while wearing girls clothes, but because it had happened at school. The two minute warning bell rang, and Riley looked at me.

"I have to get to class. Tell me about it later." I nodded and we walked out into the sunlight and to the cars. Dad was already on the phone. "Adam, can you meet us at the Tinapple City School District's main office?" He paused for a few seconds. "Yep, that's the address. Thank you."

"You guys know where we're going?" Mom asked. Dad nodded and got into his car, backed out and drove toward the distinct office... Mom and I got in her car, and she backed out, but waited for Emily to pull up behind her before she pulled out on to the main street to head to the district office.

#
Mom parked next to dad's car where Dad and Adam Peterson were talking, standing behind his car. Mom and I got out as Emily parked her car. Dad turned to us as Emily walked up and stood on my right.

"Guys, this is Adam Peterson, head of Gilenfelter's legal department." Dad said, before turning to Adam "This is my wife, Katherine, Dr. Emily Francis, and my daughter, Zoe." Adam nodded at mom and Dr. Francis before stopping on me. He looked at me for a few seconds...

"Zoe, if I didn't know you, I'd see you a nothing but a girl. Cute outfit, by the way." I smiled, and then curtsied.

"Thank you." I said. "Can we get this over with. I'd like to attend school." Adam looked at Dad.

"She's really good at school, wants to stay that way... I can see her following in either of our footsteps..." Dad said.

"Mrs. Franks, what do you do?"

"I'm a corporate lawyer at Tippendale. I understand what we're about to do here, but I can't do it. Conflict of interest..." Adam nodded.

"With the performance that Zoe gave at Memorial, I can see that too..." Dr. Francis said. Goose bumps had appeared on the exposed portions of my legs. "Lets go deal with the problem at hand." I let dad lead the way this time. I walked behind him, with Mom and Dr. Francis on either side of me and Adam behind me. We walked into the rather drab lobby of the building that housed the district offices. I had expected something a little more... elegant.

"What can I do for you, Sir?" The woman that sat behind the desk. Dad smiled.

"We'd like to speak to Dr. Hashburn, please." The woman looked at dad.

"Do you have an appointment?" she asked. It took everything in me to not burst out laughing...

"No, we do not." Dad said. The woman shrugged.

"Then I guess you should call and make an appointment." She said. Dad raised an eyebrow. He turned and looked at Adam, who already had his phone out. "Susan, can you have Bill Johnson, Ted Waters, Sally Cunningham, and Betty Chapman all meet me at the Tinapple City School District's offices?" he paused, and then I heard him say "Thanks."

"So you are refusing to let us see Dr. Hashburn?" She nodded. "Even though the issue could result in the school district ending up in court and costing a fair amount of money?" She nodded again. "Is Dr. Hashburn in the building?"

"I'm not going to answer that." She said. I heard Adam on the phone again. "Susan, it's me again. Can you see if you can find me a direct dial for a Dr. Hashburn, He's the superintendent of the Tinapple City Schools and we are being refused access to see him. Yep, I'll wait."

"Ok. You're gonna play hard ball. That's fine. I can play it right back." Dad pulled his phone out and called the district office. The phone on the woman's desk rang.

"Tinapple City Schools, How may I direct your call?" she said into the phone.

"Dr. Hashburn's office, please." Dad said. She looked at Dad and smiled. Behind me, it sounded like Susan had made some progress on her end. "Ok, thanks Susan, Please connect the call." Adam said.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Hashburn's in a meeting, Please try to call back later." She smiled at dad as she hung up the phone. Behind me I heard Adam talking on the phone again. "Good morning, Deborah, My name is Allen Peterson. I am standing with Mr. And Mrs. Franks, their daughter Zoe, and Zoe's Doctor, Dr. Francis in the lobby. We would like to see Dr. Hashburn, but have met some resistance in the form of the receptionist down here." The phone on the receptionist's desk rang. It was a different ring than it had made when dad had called., and I presumed that it was an internal call rather than an external call. The phone systems at Dad's work did the same thing. I watched as the color drained from the receptionists face. She slowly picked up the phone.

"Rebecca," She said. I could finally put a name on this woman.... "Ok, I'll send them up to the second floor conference room. Yes Debbie."

#
I followed mom and dad upstairs and into the conference room. There were two doors, the one that we had come through, and one to our left. Mom and dad sat at the table, and I sat between them. Another showing of that unified front thing, I assumed. A few minutes later, Adam walked in with four people, presumably the four people that he had asked his assistant for. Adam sat on dad's left, with two of his people sitting on his left, and the other two sat on Mom's right. All four of them had carried briefcases, and they all pulled out papers. Mom did the same, and I glanced over at the papers she had laid out in front of her. It was a copy of the reverent portions of Title nine and copies of the first amendment and the fourteenth amendment. A tall, older man walked through the door that was to the left of where we sat at the table. He wore shirt sleeves and a tie, and he frowned when he saw the eight of us...

"Mr and Mrs. Franks," He said, looking at mom and dad and then looking at me. "Shouldn't your daughter be in school?" Dad looked at him.

"Dr. Hashburn," Dad began, "My daughter would be in school, if Miranda Perkins, the principal at Memorial Middle School had allowed our daughter to enter into the population of the school. Before I go any further, let me actually introduce the people that sit on either side of me. I'll start with my family and work my way into the others. This is my wife Katherine, and my daughter Zoe," Mom and I nodded. "At the far right end of the table is Dr. Emily Francis, Zoe's doctor." I kept my eyes fixed on Dr. Hashburn, who looked more and more uncomfortable as he realized that the remaining five people were more than likely legal counsel. "To my left is Adam Peterson, Lead Counsel for Zoe, and to his left are Sally Cunningham, and Bill Johnson. Sitting between my wife and Dr. Francis are Betty Chapman and Ted Waters. The four of them round out the Zoe's legal team." The color drained from Dr. Hashburn's face.

"Ok, I can tell that this is a serious matter as you've brought counsel. Before we go any further, I'm going to have members of our legal department come up here." Dad looked at Adam, who nodded.

"That's fine." Dad said. It appeared that he was going to let Adam take charge here. We watched him open the door and then speak to someone. Mom slid the papers that she had over to Adam who skimmed them and then nodded to mom.

"Zoe," Mom whispered in my ear. "Let Adam do the talking, and don't speak unless you are spoken to. I don't know how much of what is about to happen you'll understand, but I'll explain it all to you." I nodded, feeling my hair tickle my ears. The door behind us opened and three people walked around the table and sat, leaving the middle chair open for Dr. Hashburn, who walked back in a few moments later.

"Ah, Good. You guys are here." Dr. Hashburn said. "May I introduce the school districts lead counsel, Gunter Hammerstein, This is Larry Rollins, and Sarah Wender." He sat between Gunter Hammerstein and Sarah Wender.

"Since the three of you weren't in here for the introductions on this side of the table, I am Adam Peterson, along with Bob Johnson, Sally Cunningham, Betty Chapman, and Ted Waters. We represent Tom Franks, his wife Katherine, and their daughter Zoe. At the far end of the table we have Zoe's Doctor, Dr. Francis." Everyone but me nodded as we were introduced.

"What ever has brought you in without an appointment has got to be important, otherwise you wouldn't be here." Dr. Hashburn stated. Sarah Wender looked at me.

"Shouldn't Zoe be in school, rather than here?" she asked. I bit my tongue and let Adam speak on my behalf.

"Ms. Wender, you're right, Zoe should be in class." Adam stated. "You see this morning, when my clients went to Memorial Middle school, and presented Zoe to the administration, they were met with some..." He thought for a second. "Resistance. The principal there didn't seem to want to allow Zoe to enter into the population of the school dressed as the female that she is. She cited a dress code, that has no provisions for a transgender student like Zoe, and attempted to defame Dr. Francis." The four people on the other side of the table shared looks of confusion. "I've looked at a copy of this dress code, and the only part of it that I could find that Zoe currently violates is the beret... When my clients walked into the school, they saw girls in jeans, which is not a violation of the dress code, so my clients are having trouble understanding how their daughter does not fit the dress code for any other girl in the school."

"What is this transgender thing that you speak of?" Ms. Wender asked. It was this moment that I presumed that these people had been living under rocks for some time.

"For that, I would like to first let Katherine tell you guys a short story, and then Dr. Francis can expand on what it all means." Adam looked at mom.

"Ok, Last Saturday, my son Allen, revealed something to me, and then subsequently my husband. The news that he said would change our lives. He felt like he was a girl on the inside, and that the night before he had tried on his sisters skirt and top. He saw Zoe looking back at him. He said that the sparkle that had left Allen's eyes had returned. I didn't see this my self until after I had allowed Zoe to wear a skirt that I saw the sparkle. After consulting with my husband, who at first thought that Zoe was her sister, Heather, we decided to seek the assistance of a person that was trained in Gender Identity Disorders. My husband, using the resources that he has at work, culled a list of doctors for us. At the top of that list was Dr. Francis, who I called that day and scheduled an appointment for yesterday. After hearing what Zoe said, and seeing how Zoe was dressed at the time which wasn't much different than she is now, Dr. Francis provided a diagnoses of Gender Identity Disorder. As far as everyone should be concerned, Zoe is a girl." Mom looked at Dr. Francis.

"I will be frank and say that I'm not sure how Allen even got along in school with the way he looks. When I first saw Miss Franks, I had a very hard time believing that the person in front of me was really a boy in a skirt. Normally, a male wearing a dress will show as much by the way they move. I didn't see any of this with Zoe. Zoe was presenting as if she had been a genetically born female, and it didn't seem to be something that she had to try to do, it just came naturally. These cases, are, in my twenty years of experience some of the easiest to diagnose. For Zoe, this wasn't a phase, or an act to 'try to get into the girls locker rooms' as Mrs. Perkins had the audacity to suggest, this was her. Her mother said that the sparkle had returned. Zoe is who Allen was supposed to be from the time of his birth." The lawyers for the school district looked at me, rather closely. "To be transgender means that one has a different mental gender than their physical gender. The mental gender is the one that determines how people act. Zoe's been hiding in there for some time, and now that she's out, I think we're going to have a hard time trying to put her back in a box that she does not belong in..."

"I see," Ms. Wender said, not looking like she really understood what had just been said. "How does that bring you all here?"

"Well, does the school district receive federal funds?" The three lawyers looked at each other.

"Yes, but what does-" Mr. Hammerstein was cut off by Adam.

"What does that have to do with it?" Adam asked. All three lawyers nodded dumbly. "Under Title nine, A school district that receives federal funds may not discriminate based on gender non-conformity." The lawyers all looked at each other again as they realized where this was headed. "Also, Zoe is simply expressing her feminine traits, which is protected by the first amendment. She is also protected by the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment. Oh, and by the way, Zoe found the information on the fourteenth amendment as well as the information on Title Nine...." The three of them looked at me, yet again; I was getting used to this.

"Did she understand what she read?" Mr. Hammerstein asked. "She cant' be more than twelve." Adam looked at mom and nodded.

"Yes, she did understand what she read, after she had found it and interpreted it, she asked me if that's what it meant. Also, she's a very smart thirteen year old, She is going to go far in life." Mom patted my shoulder.

"So, are we going to resolve this here and now and fix the system so that the next transgender student doesn't have to sit here and do this, or do I have to start to process a suit on behalf of my client?" The four representatives of the school district looked at one another.

"May we have a few minutes to discuss this?" Mr. Hammerstein asked.

"Certainly." Adam said. We watched the four of them all get up and exit the door that I presumed went to the superintendents office. After the door shut, Adam smiled. "I think we've won this part. Do you want me to push for the removal of Mrs. Perkins?"

"I'm going to leave that in your hands, Adam." Dad said. I trusted his judgment, and I had an idea of what Adam would do next. The only clock in the room was behind me, so I don't know how long the team from the school district deliberated before returning to the conference room. I noted that they all looked defeated when they came back in.

"Mr. Peterson," Mr. Hammerstein started. "We would like to propose some changes to some school policies as well as disciplinary action against Mrs. Perkins."

"How long will it take you to draft these changes?" Adam asked. "And what is the disciplinary action?"

"We will have the drafts done by this afternoon, do you have a number that we can fax them to?" Adam nodded and pulled a business card and slid it across the table. Mr. Hammerstein picked the card up and looked at it.

"Chief counsel for Gilenfelter Systems?" Mr. Hammerstein asked; Adam nodded. "Should figured... Your legal team is one of the best around here..."

"We take pride in our work, and we stand up for our employees and their families..." Adam said. Now it was Mr. Hammerstein's turn to nod. "Now about that disciplinary action against Mrs. Perkins?" Dr. Hashburn, looked from Adam to me, his eyes not leaving mine as he spoke.

"I'd prefer to not discuss disciplinary actions of staff members in front of students..." Dr. Hashburn replied.

"You lost that chance when this started. My client will find out one way or another about the disciplinary action, so you might as well just say it..." Adam replied. Dr. Hashburn pursed his lips and looked at me.

"She's going to be suspended for thirty days and will have to meet with the school board, and they will determine if any other actions will be taken." Dr. Hashburn said. "I'm getting ready to head over there and break the news to her. Zoe, you may come to school tomorrow dressed as you are, but without the beret. That is against the dress code..." I smiled. "If you run into problems with anyone, call my office, and find an adult at school too; but make sure I know about it. I will not stand for discrimination in my school district."

"I wanted to look my best this morning, Dr. Hashburn." I replied. "First impressions and all. Now I just have to figure out what to wear tomorrow..." Dr. Hashburn smiled for the first time since he had walked into the room that morning.

"Zoe, I'm sure that you will be beautiful in what ever you decide to wear." I blushed. " In addition, Zoe, your absences today will be excused as official as I can tell that you would have been in school otherwise. Mr. Peterson, my team will fax the proposed changes to you today, and you and your clients can look them over and submit changes. This is a time of change for our district, and is one that we will come through better on the other side."

#
We had gone out to eat after the meeting with the school district. I received a few looks as I was a child amongst adults, and under any other day would have been in school; this wasn't any other day...

"I wonder what kind of changes the school district will make..." I wondered aloud. Mom glanced at me.

"Who knows, but we've scored one small victory today." Mom looked at dad and then back at me. "Zoe, since we are four blocks from the courthouse, and I have all of the papers for us to change your name, maybe we should go drop all of this off while we're down here. It might take a month or so before everything's done, but we'll get there." Mom said. I looked at her, and then at dad.

"Really?" I asked. Looking from mom to dad.

"Really," Dad said. "I've seen the process take a month for adult, but I don't know if you being a minor changes anything; I know that both your mom and I had to sign the paperwork for it, and had to certify that we aren't doing it to hide you from someone." I must have looked shocked, because Dad chuckled. "That's what I thought until I thought about it some more, and then it made perfect sense..." Dad let the thought trail off as the waiter brought our food and then we ate in silence.

Reports From the Front Lines

Later that evening, Riley came by to drop off the homework that I had been unable to pick up because I was out of the building all day.

"Zoe!" Heather called. "Someone's here to see you." I left my laptop where it sat and got up, headed for the stairs. With the way that our house was laid out, if you were at the front door, you could see up the stairs. I looked down and watched as Riley's face lit up; like she was happy to see me.

"Hi Zoe." Riley smiled as I hit the landing. We hugged, much like we had done at school that morning. I led her toward the living room so we could sit and chat for a few minutes. Riley sat on the love seat and I sat next to her. Her hair looked like it had been freshly brushed, and the pink ribbon that decorated her brown ponytail was not there that morning when I had seen her at school. "So, there are rumors flying around school now that this new girl Zoe managed to get Mrs. Perkins fired." I smiled.

"Not quite, but it may come down to that..." I said. "The decision is actually in the hands of the school board, it appears. Tomorrow will be my first day at school. I'm not sure what to expect."

"I'm in most of your classes, so I will be next to you pretty much all day. What are you going to do about going to the bathroom and gym class?" Riley said.

"Well, for the moment, I'm exempt from gym on the basis of a medical diagnoses, and I get to use that restroom that's in the nurses office until they figure out what to do with me..." I looked into her hazel eyes and smiled. "I was thinking about wearing the outfit I had on today, but in red..." I said. Riley's eyes lit up.

"I was planning on wearing that tomorrow as well." She said. "It's too bad that we can't wear the berets... I think the outfits look better with them."

"I agree. Dr. Hashburn said that he thought I would look cute in what ever I wore tomorrow." I replied, smiling at Riley. "I think that he's right." She smiled back at me.

"So do I." She kissed me on the cheek again. "I'm not sure which will look better on you, the red or the green."

"Well, from the photo session that I had Wednesday, I think the green looks better on me than the red, but, you'll see the red tomorrow and you can tell me which one you think looks better." She smiled. Dad walked into the living room.

"Hi Riley." He said. "What brings you by?"

"I just brought Zoe's homework by so that she could stay at the head of the class." Riley said. I had no idea if I was at the head of the class or not, but I was probably up there. Dad just nodded. "What time do you need to be home by?" he asked. Riley looked at the clock that was on the cable box.

"Eight thirty." The clock read that it was half past seven. Dad nodded.

"Zoe and I will walk you home." Riley nodded.

"My mom and dad would like that." Riley said. I knew her parents didn't like her to be out alone after dark, and it had been daylight when she arrived. Riley was an only child so her parents were very protective of her. I had walked her home before by my self, but I had a feeling that the rules for me were about to change in regards to being out on my own after a certain time...

"So is Mrs. Perkins still there, or is she going to be gone for a while?" I asked.

"I don't know. Anyone who knows anything isn't saying." Riley said. "I got teased for giving you a kiss today, and got asked a lot of questions about you."

#
Mom had carried some chocolate milk into the living room, and dad had gone off to the den, leaving Riley and I alone. I knew that mom was in the kitchen, still close enough to overhear anything that was said.

"Did I upset you with the kiss at school?" Riley bit her lower lip, a move that I thought made her look extremely cute. I smiled at her, which seemed to put her a little bit more at ease.

"No. You startled me, yes. But you didn't upset me." I said. Riley smiled at me. "I had been wondering maybe you'd like to go see a movie, but I'm not sure that your parents would let us now..." I let the thought trail off. Riley leaned forward and gave me a kiss on the cheek again. I looked into her hazel eyes. "May I give you a kiss?" I asked. Riley smiled and nodded, it sounded as if she forgot to breath for a few seconds. I leaned forward and planted an extremely soft kiss on her soft, and unblemished cheek. I felt the warm air escape her mouth as my lips met her cheek. We both sort of sat back and just gazed at each other. All of the sudden her face turned red and she attempted to hide her face in my chest. I turned to look and saw mom standing there a smile on her face.

"Girls, it's twenty after eight. I know that Riley has to be home at eight thirty. Zoe, go get your shoes on, and grab your coat. Your dad will be ready in a few seconds."

"Yes, mommy." I said and headed for the front door where my shoes were and my coat hung in the closet. Dad had the closet door open and grabbed the dark grey wool peacoat, holding it out so I could slip my arms into the sleeves. I slipped my feet into the shoes, and then buttoned the coat. Mom and Riley walked down the hallway, Riley with a big grin on her face. I looked at Riley and then at mom, who smiled. What ever mom had told Riley would remain between them, for the time being. Dad looked at both of us.

"You girls ready?" He asked.

"Yes, Daddy." I said. Riley looked at me, a giggle escaping.

"Yes, Mr. Franks." She said, trying to hold the giggles in, and failing. I gave her a strange look. Now dad was giving her a strange look as well. He looked at mom, who smiled and nodded. I had a feeling that I was the only one that was not in the loop.

"Tom, They are expecting you." Now it was time for both Riley and I to look confused. Dad nodded.

"Let's go girls" Dad said, opening the front door. He let Riley and I walk out first, closing and locking the door behind him. I knew that we weren't going to get out of dad's sight so Riley and I walked toward her house, with dad out of ear shot, but not eye sight.

"What did you and mom talk about?" I asked her. I could see her smile in the moonlight.

"Us." She said, glancing over her shoulder to see how close dad was.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. She was warning me that some people may not think too highly of you and I having a relationship... Something about people having an issue with two girls being together. I don't see it myself" Riley said.

"I don't have a problem with it either." I replied, slipping my hand in hers. We walked in silence for a few moments.

"I've waited for a while to be able to hold your hand like this." She said, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. "I remember seeing the sparkle go out in your eyes. I wondered if I'd ever see it again. It's back." She reached up with her other hand to wipe a stray tear that had escaped her left eye.

"You're ok with Zoe?" I asked. Given that we were holding hands, I assumed that she would be.

"Yes." She chewed on her bottom lip again, she was about to say or ask something that made her nervous. "I've pictured you as a girl for a while, at least since you've grown your hair out."

#
Riley and I walked up the steps and onto the porch. She reached into the pocket on her jeans and struggled to pull out her key I watched in quiet amusement as she couldn't stick her hand in her pocket far enough to get to the key. I knew from looking at the pants we had purchased that the pockets weren't that deep, but they were so small that very little would fit in them.

"Maybe you should get a purse..." I said nonchalantly. Riley turned her head and looked at me, and then blew a raspberry. I smiled at her.

"Got it!" She said, pulling the key out. "Maybe you girly girls are on to something with your purses..." she said, sticking the key in the key hole and unlocking the front door. Even though she had only unlocked the door, it swung open as her dad opened it from the inside, almost like he had been expecting us.

"Riley, Zoe, Tom, Come in." Riley and I looked at each other... I racked my brain trying to figure out how her dad knew of Zoe already. She was still semi secret at this point. Riley shrugged and we stepped into the foyer. Dad and Mr. Edwards shook hands, and Riley and I looked at each other and shrugged again.

"How did he know about Zoe?" I whispered in Riley's ear.

"No idea, but we're about to find out." She whispered back.

"Have a seat, girls." Riley's dad said. Riley and I sat on the love seat and looked at her mom and dad sitting on the couch and my dad, who had taken the only chair in the room. The three adults were smiling, which I considered to be a good sign. "First of all, Zoe, I'm sure you are wondering how I know about you when you still seem to be a pretty closely guarded secret?" Riley's dad said. I nodded dumbly, letting a look of confusion cross my face. "Your dad has been in contact with me all day. I've been providing some counsel to him. But, we wanted to make sure that you guys know that there are some people out there that won't think too highly of two young girls being involved in a romantic relationship. You guys already know how a group of middle schoolers can be, and Riley, I think that you learned a little bit of that after you kissed Zoe at school." Riley blushed

"Today it was more of a 'Riley kissed a girl?' floating around all day. Not many people know that Zoe and Allen are are the same and those that do are in this room or at Zoe's house. Tomorrow will be bit different as the girl I kissed will be at school, and we're practically going to be inseparable. We have almost every class together so she's got a second set of eyes watching everything that is going on around her." Riley paused. "Honestly daddy, I don't care what others think. They need to learn to worry about them selfs and not everyone else..." Riley's dad looked at Riley and then at me, and I realized that I was nodding in agreement with Riley. Mr. Edwards and my dad looked at each other, at Riley's mom, and then at the two of us.

"I guess we raised them right..." Mr. Edwards said... "We just wanted you two to be aware that people may have an issue with you holding hands or otherwise showing affection in public." We nodded and looked at each other. We were very close friends, had been for years, nothing more, nothing less that either of us were aware of.

#
"So, Zoe," Dad began. "There are going to be some rule changes for you now." I glanced up at my father, already expecting this statement.

"Like what?" I asked.

"Well, no going out after dark by your self anymore. You're turning into a young lady and there are a lot of sick and twisted people out there that will try to harm a young girl. I don't care how old you are, you're always going to be my little girl, as is Heather. The problem is that if they try to harm you and find out your secret, they are going to be a lot worse on you because you are not an actual girl." I pursed my lips. Dad had gone to the hospital before when some of the employees of Gilenfelter had been attacked. I had never gone with him, but had heard stories... "I know that you don't leave the house without your phone, but you will be grounded if you do." This was nothing new. This rule had always been that way but I understood why dad brought it up. "I pushed some additional contacts to your phone, Adam Peterson's, as well as the rest of the legal team. If you have any problems with staff, after taking to the principal about it, make sure that Peterson finds out." We were walking up to the front door.

"Ok," I said" Dad placed his hand on my shoulder after I had taken off my coat.

"Zoe, Don't think that we're punishing you for being you. I'm just concerned for your safety. There are a lot of people out there that won't understand you, or what you're going through, Zoe." He said. "I want to try to shield you from that as much as possible. You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow. Why don't you go upstairs and get ready for bed and I'll be up shortly to tuck you in." I blinked, and dad smiled.

"Ok." I said.I climbed the stairs finally realizing how exhausted I was. It had been a long tiring day emotionally, and I was ready for bed... I went in my room and looked around. Most of the clothes that hung in the closet were not mine....They belonged to an impostor. I sighed, wondering when we were going to do something about my room as I changed into a baby pink satin nightgown that had been laying on the bed. There was a knock on the door. "Come in!" I said. Dad cracked the door.

"You dressed, Zoe?" He asked, before coming in all the way...

"Yes," I replied, taking one last look at myself in the mirror, The night gown that I now had on was longer than the skirt that I had worn that morning. Dad pushed the door open wider and stepped into my room. He smiled at me.

"You look just like your sister did at your age." Dad said, walking over and pulling the covers back on my bed. It had been years since I had been tucked in by either by mom or dad... "Your room doesn't look like it belongs to a thirteen year old girl... We should change that..." I smiled at him.

"Actually, Daddy," I replied. "I had been thinking that already. I'm not sure that I want to just throw out Allen's clothes, but they don't seem right hanging there. I was thinking about putting them all in the other bedroom tomorrow after school, We can figure out what to do with them later." Dad nodded and looked at the open closet door.

"That closet's gonna be empty after that." He chuckled. "Hop up in bed, Zoe." I climbed up in bed, and let him cover me up. I had a feeling that if there had been a teddy bear there, he would have handed it to me. He leaned over and gave me a kiss on the forehead, and brushed a few hairs out of my face. "Good night, Princess." Dad said, walking over to the door. He took one look around the room, smiled at me, turned off the light and shut the door. I turned over on my side and promptly fell asleep.

School Days

The next morning, I woke up when the alarm clock went off, and like the previous morning, in my attempt to turn it off, I knocked the thing to the floor. I grumbled, sat up, picked the clock up and then finally silenced the alarm. I got up, grabbed my robe and headed for the shower. After I had woken up a little bit, I finished washing up and then shut off the water. I got out, and patted my self dry. As the mirror cleared, I saw my blue eyes sparkling, It wasn't the normal sparkle; this sparkle was caused by tears, happy tears. I left the bathroom as mom came out of her room and she stopped and looked at me.

"You ok? You look like you've been crying." She said. I wasn't sure how she could tell, the hallway was dimly lit, with the only real light being a nightlight at the top of the stairs.

"They're happy tears. Everything is going right, my outside matches my inside, I can wear what I want now, when I want. I'm whole." Mom smiled.

"That you are. Go get dressed, I'm going to take you and Riley to school today." I raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you taking Riley and I to school?" I asked.

"Well, you because we still need fix all of your files at the school, and Riley because I thought that, perhaps you'd like to ride to school with your girlfriend..." Mom smiled. I blushed.

"I would like that." I said, going back into my room. After I had gotten dressed I went down stairs to the kitchen. I had just finished my oatmeal when there was a knock on the door, and I assumed that it was Riley, and when I opened the door, it could have been my reflection staring back at me, well with the exception of our hair and eye color being the different.

"Good Morning," Riley said. I stood there for a few seconds, just staring dumbly at her. I finally shook my head and cleared the cobwebs that had developed. She had on the same outfit that I did only she had chosen to wear her beret.

"Come in!" I said, stepping out of the doorway so that she could. Heather was coming down the stairs.

"Morning. Riley, you and Zoe look like you could be sisters..." she let the thought trail off as she stopped at the bottom of the stairs. Riley and I slipped our hands together and walked toward the kitchen. Heather walked behind us and chuckled as our hands slipped together. We walked into the kitchen, where mom had three bowls of oatmeal ready. Riley and I looked at each other and each grabbed a bowl, taking the two stools on one side of the island leaving Heather to stand and eat. Heather finished hers first and then headed out to catch the bus.

"Have fun at school, Zoe." Heather said, patting me on the head as she passed. Riley and I finished our oatmeal and I put the bowls in the sink and ran water in them. Mom looked at the clock and then at us.

"It's time to go." Mom said. Riley and I stood up and pushed the stools in. We both walked over to the front door and slipped our shoes on, and then grabbed our backpacks and headed for the door that went out to the garage. I opened the drivers side door and let Riley get in, closing it behind her and then went around and got into the car on the passenger side. Mom came out a few seconds later and got in the car... "You girls ready?" We both nodded, and mom opened the garage door and started the car. She pulled out of the garage, and drove toward the school.

#
Mom parked the car in the same parking spot that she had parked in the day before. We got out, and mom let Riley and I walk ahead of her. We walked into the relatively deserted school and headed for the office. Most of the staff was in the building already, so figuring out who we needed to talk to wouldn't be that difficult. Mrs. Chattfield looked up as we entered.

"Morning, Mrs. Franks, Zoe, Riley."

"Good Morning, Mrs. Chattfield," Mom started. "Who do I talk to about changing Zoe's files?"

"Me, actually." Mrs. Chattfield said. "Give me one second to go pull her files." Mom nodded and then looked at us and smiled. It was then that Riley and I realized that we were holding hands again. We looked at each other, not caring about the world. Mrs. Chattfield came back with a rather thick folder, and sat it on her desk. "Zoe and Riley, you girls can have a seat." Mrs. Chattfield said. Riley and I sat down and looked at each other, tuning out mom and Mrs. Chattfield.

"Did you get all of the homework I gave you done?" Riley asked. I shook my head no, as I really hadn't gotten much done.

"No, but I will get it tonight. My absence from yesterday was an official excused absence, so I have until tomorrow to get it in."

"So does that mean we can't hang out tonight?"

"No we can, I just need to make sure that I this homework done. In some ways my grades slipped because I couldn't be who I should have been." I said, glancing out the window and watching a bus load of kids depart a bus. "Now it's time to kick some butt and fix that." Riley smiled at me.

"I can help you if you like." I smiled at her.

"And I can help you if you like." I replied getting lost in her eyes yet again. I wondered if I had the same effect on her.

"Zoe, Riley." I heard mom say. I realized that we were both still looking at each other, well staring was more like it...

"Huh?" I said, mom smiled which caused both Riley and I to realize that she had been watching us. I was sure she knew what had happened and that caused me to start blushing.

"You two looked like you had gotten lost in there." Mom said, with a chuckle.

"Gotten lost in where?" I asked, trying to sound as if I didn't know where 'there' was.

"In each other's eyes. Don't worry, it's something your father and I did as well." Mom chuckled again.

#
"Girls, if you would come with me," Mrs. Chattfield said. Riley and I stood and looked at each other. "Zoe, I'm going to take you to all of your classes and try to explain this to your teachers." She chuckled. "Hopefully no one has any issues, I mean the last person that did isn't here any more..." I looked at her.

"I know that she got suspended, but what do you mean that she isn't here any more?" I asked, grabbing my backpack.

"She resigned shortly after Dr. Hashburn relieved her. Said that she couldn't handle running a school that allowed boys to run around dressed as girls..." Riley and I looked at each other.

"She quit?" I asked, astonished. I knew she had a problem with me running around the school in a skirt... Mrs. Chattfield nodded. "Isn't that a bit extreme?"

"I think so... It's a new era, things change..." Mrs. Chattfield said, opening the door so that we could go to mine and Riley's first class of the day... When we exited the office, there were three girls standing there, dressed similarly to Riley and I. One of the girls, I recognized as being in mine and Riley's classes. I had never been one that was big on the social scene in school and I had a feeling that was about to change. I knew that this girl was also in my first class of the day, so she followed the three of us to the classroom. Riley looked over her shoulder at the girl and smiled.

"Megan, meet Zoe; Zoe, meet Megan." Riley said as we walked toward the room.

"Hi." I said as we started to climb the steps to the second floor. We walked into the classroom, which caused Mrs. Stevens, our English teacher to look at us.

"Morning Mrs. Chattfield." She said, looking Riley and I both up and down. We looked like sisters with the exception of our hair and eye colors. "Morning, Riley and Megan. I don't know you though..." She pointed at me with the pencil in her hand.

"Mrs. Stevens, This is Zoe Franks. She's going to be taking Allen Franks' place in your class." Mrs. Chattfield said. Mrs. Stevens' eyebrows went up.

"What exactly do you mean 'taking' Allen's place in my class?"

"Well, Allen doesn't really exist any more. Zoe has taken his place..." This got a brief look of confusion, and then a look of understanding. I was glad that Megan had already taken her seat at the back of the room and didn't hear most of this rather awkward conversation.

"Ah ha!" Mrs. Stevens said, "I thought you looked familiar, Zoe. Will do, Mrs. Chattfield. Zoe, do we have a cover story?"

#
By lunch time, I was known as the new girl, quiet and shy and already friends with Riley. Riley had a circle of friends that I would get to know better as time went on, but for now, I had to pretend to be this quiet girl just to not be discovered by someone that would be unsympathetic to my mental gender. After I had eaten the meal that the school called lunch, something I almost always had to supplant with a snack almost as soon as I got home Riley and I headed off toward our study hall. Mrs. Chattfield hadn't walked me to any classes since the one that morning with Mrs. Stevens, instead letting Riley handle my introduction. Once we got into the room where our study hall was held, Riley and I walked up to Mr. Jackson, who was also one of the gym teachers.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Jackson," Riley said. "This is Zoe Franks, and she will be replacing Allen Franks on your roster." Mr. Jackson looked at me in a way that made me feel uncomfortable.

"I don't want no boys dressed as girls in my classes." He said. "I don't know whose idea this little stunt of yours was, Allen," I cringed at the use of the name and the way he said it. "But I see it as you trying to get into the girls locker rooms or get out of something. You can just go to the office and tell Mrs. Chattfield that I sent you there." I felt a tear start to escape my left eye. I resolved to not cry in front of Mr. Jackson, but he saw that single tear and pounced. "Look, he's crying like the little pansy he is..." I turned and left the room, making sure I slammed the door. I was entitled to throwing a hissy fit after what it had taken me to get in the school as my self. I found a corner and slid down the wall sobbing. I didn't see Riley come out of the room and crouch next to me. She placed her hand softly on my shoulder, and I turned my head to look at her. "Riley, come back here or I'll have you assigned detention." I heard Mr. Jackson say.

"Come on, Lets to talk to Mrs. Chattfield." Riley said, offering her hands to help me up. After I was back on my own feet, Riley released my right hand, but still held onto my left hand with her right hand. We made our way to the office. I was still crying when Riley and I walked into the office. Mrs. Chattfield looked up as we entered the office and stood up behind her desk.

"What happened?" Riley led me to the chair that I had sat in that morning.

"Mr. Jackson said that he 'didn't want any boys dressed as girls' in his classes, and accused Zoe of doing this just so she could get into the girls locker rooms. She teared up and had one escape and then Mr. Jackson said something to the effect of 'Look, the little pansy's crying,' and to come down here and tell you that Zoe was down here because he had sent her down.' Zoe just lost it and left the room. He said I was going to get a detention if I didn't come back in the room, but my friend is more important, and my parents know that." Riley had, in her own way, decided to help guide me down my path to girlhood. We were alike in a lot of ways and that made it easy for us to get along.

"You won't get a detention, Riley." Mrs. Chattfield said. "Zoe, I need to report this to Mrs. Young, sit tight and I'll be right back." I nodded, and watched her go. Riley grabbed a kleenex from the table between the chairs and dabbed the tears off of my face. While she was doing that, the door opened and Brian Foley walked in, holding a piece of paper. Brian was in our study hall and I presumed that it was the detention request for Riley. He watched Riley drying my face for a few seconds.

"Faggots..." He said quietly, but not quietly enough for us not to hear it.

"Shut up, Brian." I said, looking up at him. He was taller than me when I was standing, so when I was sitting it was even worse.

"Why don't you try to make me, you pansy." I was not about to loose my cool and get into a fight. "Your girlfriend is already getting a detention because she left class, and you're getting one for the same thing." He sneered. He was looking at us and didn't see Mrs. Chattfield and Mrs. Young coming back down the hall. They pretended to not hear the conversation.

"What can I do for you Brian?" Mrs. Chattfield asked. Mrs. Young just stood there and watched.

"Mr. Jackson sent this down, It's about those two." He tilted his head toward us. Mrs. Chattfield skimmed the paper and then looked Brian in the eyes.

"Tell Mr. Jackson that he will have to hand deliver this himself." Mrs. Chattfield said, ripping the paper in half and handing it back to Brian. "Now go back to class, Mr. Foley. Expect to be down here later though. Mrs. Young and I heard what you said to Riley and Zoe." Brian's eyes grew as big as saucers and he scurried out of the office like a dog with its tail between it's legs.

"Zoe, Riley, Can you guys come back to my office, I'd like to hear what happened." Mrs. Young asked. I nodded dumbly and held out my hand for Riley to help me up I stood, feeling my skirt fall back to my just above my knees and we walked, hand in hand back toward Mrs. Young's office. Just after the door shut, I heard Mr. Jackson's voice.

"What's the deal, Cheryl, that detention form was proper and the correct response to two students leaving a classroom." Mr. Jacksons said.

"He doesn't know when to quit does he?" I asked, Riley and I sat on a couch that was similar to the one in Mrs. Perkins' office. Mrs. Young had apparently been temporally promoted after Mrs. Perkins left in a huff because of me.

"Let me worry about him." Mrs. Young said, with a confident smile. "Riley, tell me what happened."

"I just told this to Mrs. Chattfield, but, Mr. Jackson said that he 'didn't want any boys dressed as girls' in his classes, and accused Zoe of doing this just so she could get into the girls locker rooms. She teared up and had one roll down her face and then Mr. Jackson said something to the effect of 'Look, the little pansy's crying,' and to come down here and tell Mrs. Chattfield that Zoe was sent down here because he had sent her down.' Zoe just lost it and left the room. I went after her, having an idea of what his comments had done to her. He said I was going to get a detention if I didn't come back in the room, but my friend is more important, and my parents know that. I stand by my friends and when one is in need, there is little that I won't do for them." Riley looked at me and then leaned forward and gave me a kiss on the cheek. This caused me to smile, and I could smell the cherry lip gloss that she had on.

"Ok, and what did Brian Foley say to you guys?"

"He called us 'faggots' and then when I told him to shut up, He told me to 'try and make him,' calling me a pansy in the process, and then saying that my girlfriend and I were getting detentions for leaving class. I don't think he saw you guys until you had pretty much heard that..." I replied, finally getting my emotions in check. "We're not girlfriends yet, but who knows what the future holds..." I said gazing at Riley. There was a knock on the door, which caused me to jump, and then it swung open; Mr. Jackson stood there, a scowl on his face. Riley placed her left hand on my right arm.

"Susan, Those two," He pointed at us. "Deserve a detention for leaving class without permission."

"For starters, you may have been here longer than me, but don't call me by my first name in front of students, Mr. Jackson," Mrs. Young said, calmly but firmly. "Secondly, you your self told Zoe to come to the office. Your little comments have really upset the poor girl and her best friend came to her aid. Thirdly, I will not tolerate bigotry in my school. As soon as I get off the phone with Dr. Hashburn, I will guarantee you that you will have been suspended. Comments like yours from someone that a student is supposed to trust is exactly why Mrs. Perkins was relieved from her duties, and subsequently resigned. Fourth, that door was closed because I'm in a private meeting, I would think that you should close it and get out of my office, now."

"Your just standing up for Allen so that he can get into the girls locker rooms and see things that he shouldn't be seeing yet. I can't help the little pansy wants to run around wearing skirts; in my day, we simply tried to look up the girls skirts..." He said.

"That's not her name, and furthermore, she is under a psychiatrists care for this, that makes it a mental disorder, something I'm not sure that you know anything about. You may want to try to talk to someone and find out what your comments may be doing to that poor young lady. How would you feel if she committed suicide because of your comments?"

"Wouldn't be my problem." He said.

"It sure would be pretty quickly." Mrs. Young said. "I would make sure of it. Word of this is already going to be getting to the family's attorney, I'm sure, as well as Zoe's parents. You're picking fights that you don't want to even start. Now get out of my office!" Mr. Jackson scowled at Riley and I, and then left Mrs. Young's office, slamming the door behind him and causing the wall to shake. I was on the verge of tears again, but was also in awe of the way that Mrs. Young had stood up for me. "Don't worry about him. Dr. Hashburn will probably be here shortly after I get off the phone with him..." She walked over to her desk and picked up the phone.

#
Riley and I were still sitting in Mrs. Young's office when there was a much softer knock on the door. This one didn't cause me to jump like Mr. Jackson's knock did. Mrs. Young got up from sitting on my left and then opened the door. Mrs. Chattfield and Dr. Hashburn stood on the other side.

"Dr. Hashburn is here to see the three of you." Mrs. Chattfield said. Mrs. Young nodded and Dr. Hashburn walked into the room, and looked at me. He did a quick assessment of my condition.

"Mrs. Chattfield, call Zoe's parents and have them come in if possible; if not, can you have them call my office to arrange a meeting with at least them, Zoe, and I. If they would like to bring their counsel, I would completely understand that." Mrs. Chattfield nodded.

"Yes, Doctor. Will there be anything else?" He shook his head and shut the door silently. I wouldn't have to explain any thing of what had happened to Dr. Hashburn, as Mrs. Young had done that over the phone already. Dr. Hashburn sat across from Riley and I.

"You two look like sisters..." He said, letting the thought trail off. Riley and I looked at each other and grinned. We hadn't really planned on dressing alike, it just sort of happened. I knew that we both would look cuter with the berets on our heads, but we couldn't wear them in school. "There is no reason for a teacher to talk to, or treat a student like Mr. Jackson did. Zoe, he will be taken care of; I promise you that." Dr. Hashburn said. "And Zoe, I told you that you would look beautiful in whatever you decided to wear, and I was right. Who is your friend?"

"This is Riley Edwards, My new best friend." I said, not able to hide the smile in my voice. I felt Riley slip her left hand into my right and give it a gentle squeeze. This action not going unnoticed by Dr. Hashburn.

"Riley, I'm Dr. Hashburn, the superintendent of the school district." Dr. Hashburn said.

"It's nice to meet you." Riley said, offering her hand. Dr. Hashburn and Riley shook hands.

"It's nice to meet you too and I'm glad that Zoe has more than just me and Mrs. Young on her side." He smiled. There was a knock on the door, and Dr. Hashburn got up and opened it. Mrs. Chattfield stood on the other side.

"Doctor, I got ahold of Zoe's parents, They said they can't come in today, but they said they will meet you at eight on monday morning."

"Ok, can you call Debbie and make sure that she puts it on my schedule, please."

"Will do." Mrs. Chattfield said, She turned and went back down the hallway. Dr. Hashburn shut the door and returned to the seat he had been sitting in.

"I'm sure that mom and dad are wondering what that was all about..." I said quietly. "They probably think that I've done something to get into trouble." Riley, Dr. Hashburn and Mrs. Young all looked at me.

"I doubt it," Dr. Hashburn said. "In a situation like this there are going to be some problems along the way. The fact that it involves me means that you are more than likely not in trouble. Zoe, what's your next class?"

"Business applications."

"Riley, what's yours?"

"Also business applications, we're in the same class." Riley smiled at him. Several years ago, the district realized that typing classes would be good for all students, and therefore mandated that everyone took typing in the eighth grade.

"Would you girls mind if I walked you to class?" He asked. Riley and I looked at each other. I had no idea what would go though Mrs. Harper's head when we were walked into the room by Dr. Hashburn, but it would be interesting to see her face...

"Fine by me," I said with a smile. Riley smiled as well. She could smile all the time and I'd never get tired of seeing it.

"Ok with me too." It wasn't every day when you were walked to class by the guy that ran the whole school district. Riley and I stood up, and grabbed our backpacks. Dr. Hashburn opened the door of Mrs. Young's office and we walked out toward Mrs. Chattfield's desk. She smiled as we came down the hall.

"Mrs. Chattfield, can you please have Brian Foley report down here after next period starts, please?" Dr. Hashburn asked.

"Sure thing, Doctor." Mrs. Chattfield said, and then she started typing on the computer.

#
Riley and I walked into the classroom where we had typing class. Mrs. Harper looked over and smiled at Riley and I. Her jaw dropped a few seconds later when Dr. Hashburn walked in the room. He smiled at Mrs. Harper.

"Mrs. Harper," He started. This is Zoe Franks, and she's going to be taking Allen Franks' place on your roster." Mrs. Harper looked me up and down. She shrugged.

"Ok," Mrs. Harper said, with a shrug. She was indifferent to this new girl in her class. "Are you related to Allen, Zoe?"

"A little," I said quietly. Riley let out a small giggle. Mrs. Harper raised her eyebrows at Riley and then realization hit her like a ton of bricks falling from above her head.

"Girls get to your seats and we are working on what we started Wednesday. Zoe, once I get the class started, come up and you and I will cover the basics since you weren't here." I nodded and went to my usual computer and sat down. Riley sat next to me, and we both logged in to the computers so we could launch the software for the current task. I didn't know what that software was, so I stared at my desktop. Well, I guess it wasn't 'my' desktop, it was Allen's desktop. I would have to change that.. I idly wondered how long it would take the IT department to change my login info... The tardy bell rang and Mrs. Harper looked around the room. I was getting looks from my fellow classmates. Some of them had seen me at various times throughout the day, others this wast their first glimpse of the new girl, Zoe. "Class, First of all, we have a new student, her name is Zoe... Please don't bite her." There were chuckles from the class. "I want everyone working on what we started on Wednesday. Only thing I want to hear are whispers and keys clacking."

Can't I just get a break?

By Monday morning I had all but forgotten about the incident with Mr. Jackson, it was now a faint memory in the back of my mind. I was still worried about the wrong people at school finding out that the new girl Zoe wasn't all that she appeared, but that worry was slowly diminishing. I had spent most of the weekend with Riley, with us having gone shopping on Saturday and just relaxing in my room on Sunday. I had packed up all of Allen's clothes and put them in the spare bedroom. We mainly used it as storage and there really wasn't anything in there. I had taken most of the stuff that had adorned the walls down and they were now bare, and painted a light blue color, that I had never really liked.

#
The alarm clock started it's obnoxious racket at three minutes till six. By six, I had knocked the thing to the floor yet again. I was beginning to be surprised that it still worked... I sat up and looked around the room. It seemed empty and wrong, like it belonged to someone else. I stood up, the sleep shirt I wore falling back to my waist, the matching pink pants falling to my ankles and untwisting. I grabbed my robe and headed for the shower. I finished my shower and went back to my room. I had thought for a little bit the night before about what to wear today. I reached into the dresser drawer and pulled out a pair of black skinny jeans, and then went over to the closet and pulled out a baby blue and white striped turtleneck sweater. I got dressed and brushed my hair out. It was getting long enough that I might be able to put it in a pony tail soon... I went down stairs and walked into the kitchen, Where Heather had already beat me and was sitting bowls of oatmeal on the island. I took one and started eating it, and Heather gave me an odd look.

"I like that sweater, Zoe." Heather said. I smiled at her between bites.

"Does it bring out my eyes?' I asked. Heather smiled.

"Yes, it does. Say, the calendar showed a meeting between Mom, Dad, Dr. Hashburn and an Adam Peterson at eight. You know anything about it?" I nodded, taking a drink of a glass of orange juice.

"Yeah, It's to discuss some stuff about what Mr. Jackson said and did Friday..." I replied. "Stuff I'd rather forget about, quite honestly."

"Yeah, well, I'm not sure that forgetting about it would be the best thing to do." Heather said. "Remembering that it occurred will help you the next time it happens."

"I hope there isn't a next time." I said. Mom walked into the kitchen.

"A next time for what?" She asked, attacking the coffee pot and making it give up it's spoils.

"For what happened with Mr. Jackson." I replied taking the last bite of my oatmeal. I put the bowl and the sink and watched as it filled up with water.

"I hope it doesn't happen again either..." Mom said. "You two need to run out and catch your buses. Neither your dad nor I will have time to take you to school if you miss the bus..." I knew that mom's morning was pretty full between the meeting with Dr. Hashburn and then her having to fly to Chicago for a meeting that couldn't be done online. She should be home before dinner..."I have a meeting in Chicago at eleven, so I should be back by five, and your dad has to go to the Portland office and will probably be gone for the next three days." Heather and I looked at each other.

"What should we do for dinner if you aren't back by five?" Heather asked.

"Come up with something, Heather you are getting to be quite the cook..." Mom said. Heather blushed.

"Ok. I can do that," Heather said.

"You guys need to go get to your busses. I'll see you tonight." Mom kissed me on the top of the head, and then did the same thing to Heather. Heather and I then scurried out to the bus so that we wouldn't miss it.

#
Riley sat next to me on the bus, and we chatted all the way to the school.

"Did you get the project done for Mrs. Harpers class?" Riley asked me.

"Yep, I got it done Saturday after we finished shopping... I think that dad will be painting my room when he gets back from Portland. He's flying out today..." I said to Riley.

"Ah." The bus made a stop and let a few more kids on. They glared at Riley and I and I realized that they were in the study hall that Riley and I had been in Friday.

"Faggots." One of them said as he passed to go sit in the back of the bus. Riley and I sat about in the middle the bus, and we didn't have assigned seats. My phone chimed and I pulled it out and looked at it, made a face and showed it to Riley; her face showing a lack of understanding. The message I had received stated that I had received copies of the propose changes to the schools policies in regards to students that were transgender. I opened the file and attempted to read it on the tiny screen of my iPhone. After a few moments of crossing my eyes, I finally frowned and put my phone away.

"Can't read it on that screen?" She asked.

"No, I would either need my laptop or my iPad." Both would be better than the little screen on the phone. "Today is a 'B' Rotation day isn't it?" I asked, and Riley nodded. Normally I was the one keeping track of that kind of thing without much thought. I think that dealing with not being in school most of Wednesday and then missing Thursday messed me up. "So that means a whole new set of teachers..." Not exactly a true statement. Some classes, such as our English, Math and History classes were both 'A' and 'B' day classes. I pulled my phone back out and sent a text to mom and dad, as well as Adam Peterson. When I put my phone back in my purse, Riley gave me a look.

"What was that about?"

"I have a feeling that we might have problems today like we did on Friday... As soon as we get there, I do need to get to a computer. Even if it's just to get hard copies of these changes so I can review them..."

"I hope not. May I see the changes and maybe offer input?" I looked at her.

"Let me find out..." I said, pulling my phone out for the third time in about twenty minutes... I fired off a text to Adam and go an almost instant answer back. "Adam said that's fine. I'll run you copies. He said input from someone that's not directly involved wouldn't hurt." The bus pulled up to the school, and Riley and I stood so that we could get off the bus and into the school so I could get hard copies of these PDF's. "I wonder if Mrs. Smithson is here..."

#
Riley and I walked into the main office and found Mrs. Chattfield at her desk, after not having found Mrs. Smithson up in the library. She smiled at us as we walked in.

"Morning girls, What can I do for you?"

"Need to use a computer. Mr. Peterson sent me some stuff that I need to print, but Mrs. Smithson isn't here yet." She nodded. There was a spot in the office for a second secretary to sit, but after Mrs. Horn had retired right after school started, the desk had sat empty. She also knew that when I said that the mail was from Mr. Peterson, that it was important enough for her to give me access to a computer that I shouldn't have had access to... "Come over here and use this one. It prints to the printer that is between the desks." She said. I walked around the desks and into an area that few students had ever been. I tried to log in to the computer and got told that I couldn't log in here... I tried again just in case I had mistyped something. The same message appeared.

"It's not letting me in over here, Says that I'm not authorized to log on to this workstation." I said to Mrs. Chattfield. She got up and came around to the desk I sat at. She logged into the computer using her information and then went back to her desk. I logged into my email and then printed two copies of the file that Adam had sent me and then logged off of the computer. Riley stood on the other side of the wall of the cubical watching me. I sat there, waiting for the printer to finish before I got up. Mrs. Young walked in and looked at me and then at Mrs. Chattfield.

"Keep hiring them younger and younger..." She said with a chuckle. "What are you doing back there?"

"I needed to print something out and Mrs. Smithson wasn't upstairs yet." I replied. Mrs. Young nodded.

"Get your papers and get out of back there before someone that shouldn't see you on that computer does so." I nodded, grabbing my printouts and walking back around to where Riley stood. I handed her a copy of the documents that I had printed out. We sat there and skimmed them, completely missing the bell at fifteen minutes till, and five minutes till.

"Uh, Girls?" Mrs. Chattfield said. We both looked at at Mrs. Chattfield and saw the clock that sat behind her that controlled the clocks in the school.

"Whoops" I said. Mrs. Chattfield smiled.

"Here's passes, get to class. Hopefully I won't see you in tears again, Zoe." Mrs. Chattfield handed our passes toward us.

"Thank you!" we both said in unison, then we looked at each other and giggled.

"I hope I don't come down in tears again either, Mrs. Chattfield..." I said, as Riley and I left the room...

#
Mine and Riley's schedules were the same for the three classes of both 'A' and 'B' days. It was for our fourth class where we would be separated. That would be the class that I anticipated that I would have a problem.

Unfortunately, I was right...

I walked into the classroom where my Programming class was. This would be the longest that I would be without Riley in two days. I walked into the computer lab and dropped my backpack off in my chair and I heard students whispering about me. Nothing bad, but it was more of a 'that's the new girl: Zoe...' type of thing. I walked up to the teacher, an older balding gentleman who rumor had it had been around when the Einac had been developed.

"Mr. Crutchfield." I said, sounding every bit as nervous as I felt. Every other time I had been introduced as Zoe, it was by Riley or Dr. Hashburn... He looked over from the monitor that sat on his desk and looked at me. "I'm Zoe, I'm taking the place of Allen Franks on your roster." He gave me a look up and down as if he were trying to decide if he should let me take his class.

"I know who you are, Allen. I don't any boys dressed as girls in my class. Get out of here, I don't care where you go, but I don't want you in this class." I grabbed my backpack and left the room, feeling the tears start to fall I headed straight for the school office. I walked through the door and Mrs. Young and Mrs. Chattfield were standing there talking. I just collapsed in a chair, causing Mrs. Young to come over to where I sat.

"Lets go to my office." She said. I stood and started that direction. "Get Riley down here. I think that Zoe's gonna need her." Mrs. Chattfield nodded and started typing on her computer.

#
"He said that he didn't want any boys dressed as girls in his class and told me to leave. He said he didn't care where I went, but he wanted me out of his class." I paused, and blew my nose. There was a knock on the door, and Mrs. Young opened it to reveal a very concerned looking Riley. She rushed into the room, and sat next to me, embracing me in a hug. You would think that she hadn't seen me in months.

"What happened?" She asked looking from me to Mrs. Young.

"She had an incident with Mr. Crutchfield. Similar to the one that you guys experienced with Mr. Jackson. I figured that you would be the best person to help her. If you two would excuse me for a second, I'm going to call Dr. Hashburn and let him know." Riley and I both nodded and watched as she went to her desk.

"You know, this kinda thing is getting annoying." Riley said. "You're getting more flack from staff than students."

"I know, I think that it's coming though. It just hasn't sunk in yet." I replied, Riley looked at me.

"You think their still in shock?"

"Yep. And when it sinks in, that's when the gloves are going to come off and this is going to be a real challenge."

"I'll be right her when that happens." Riley said. "No matter what." We smiled at each other. Mrs. Young came back over.

"Dr. Hashburn said that he will let Mr. Peterson know, Zoe, and that he will take care of it. He also said that they hashed out the papers that you were sent this morning, but he still wants your input before he presents them to the board." She smiled. "You are the ground breaker on this, so you are making history. Someone might have an easier time next week because you've laid the groundwork. You should be proud Zoe." Mrs. Young said. Riley smiled at me.

"I am." I said. "Someone has to lay the ground work for everything. It hasn't been easy that's for sure."

"I know." Mrs. Young smiled. "I want you both to know that my door is always open." Even though both Riley and I knew what she meant, we both looked at the closed door. She chuckled. "You two are silly. I think it's almost your lunch period, so why don't you guys scoot on to lunch and if I need to talk to you about what happened, I'll send for you."

"Ok." I said, standing and feeling the tight jeans shift as I stood. Riley had worn a brown tiered skirt and white turtleneck. Perhaps we should coordinate our outfits...

#
Riley and I made it all the way to business applications before anything else worth mentioning occurred. Riley and I had both just logged into our computers when the PA system activated.

"Mrs. Harper?" Came Mrs. Chattfield's voice.

"Yes."

"Can you send Zoe Franks and Riley Edwards to the office with their stuff, please?" Mrs. Harper looked at us and nodded.

"On their way."

"Thank you." Riley and I looked at each other and then logged out of the computers. We packed up our belongings and left the classroom.

"What do you think it's about?" Riley asked as we headed for the office.

"Probably something to do with Mr. Crutchfield..." I let the thought trial off as we walked into the office.

"Go see Mrs. Young." Mrs. Chattfield said before the door to the office had even shut. We both walked back to Mrs. Young's office and I knocked on the door.

"Come in." We heard very faintly from the other side of the door. It sounded like Dr. Hashburn's voice. I opened the door and we walked in to Mrs. Young's office. I was right, Dr. Hashburn was there, and sitting in the same seat that he had sat in Friday, leaving the couch open for Riley and I.

"You guys are probably wondering why you were summoned?" Dr. Hashburn asked with a smile. Riley and I looked at each other and nodded.

"Yeah, we are." I said speaking for both of us.

"Zoe, I actually wanted just you to come down, but Mrs. Young told me that the odds of Riley just coming down with you were pretty good, and that I should have her come too just to save some paperwork and some explaining." Dr. Hashburn said. "I wanted to tell you personally, that Mr. Jackson is no longer employed by the school district, and Mr. Crutchfield had decided to take an early retirement." Riley and I looked at each other again.

"Does that mean that in less than a week I've cost three people their jobs?" I asked, alarmed.

"No. They left on their own because they couldn't handle being around someone that was different. Have you had a chance to look over the documents that Mr. Peterson emailed you this morning?" I shook my head. "Ok, I want you to look at them tonight and send me an email with your feedback. At the moment your voice is the only transgender voice in this district, what you have to say is important." I nodded. "Riley, same goes for you. You may not be transgender, but you have a unique position here. You see the way the current situation is affecting Zoe, and you are in the unique position to be able to help her out." Riley beamed. The statement was a compliment whoever it came from. Dr. Hashburn pulled out two letters. "I want to take the two of you to lunch, these are permission slips, Bring them back and we'll go somewhere Friday. The bell's about to ring, so why don't you two go catch your bus."

Nope, no breaks yet...

The next few days were quiet and allowed Riley and I a small breath of fresh air. I knew that the school district had implemented the policies that had come as a result of the initial meeting between my legal team and Dr. Hashburn's people. Riley and I were sitting at lunch when everything started to unravel again. Adam had sent me a text message asking me to call him so Riley and I were going to swing by the office so I could make the call. All of the sudden I was shoved into a wall from behind. I briefly saw stars, and then the face of Steven Volt came clearly into view.

"You got Coach Jackson fired, you little pansy." I didn't think that it'd be wise to point out that I hadn't actually done anything, but that Mr. Jackson's own actions caused his own termination. "You'd better watch your back, faggot." He said. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Riley run off, I knew where she was going: to get help. "Aww look, your girlfriend just ran away." Steven sneered. No one is going to help your sorry ass now." He pushed me back again, my head bouncing off the brick wall. More stars... I blinked to clear the stars and this time saw two faces; Steven Volt and Julius Caesar. No, I'm not joking, that's what his parents named him... I kicked out with my foot and nailed Steven in the groin. Shoulda been wearing your cup asshole... I thought as Steven crumpled to the ground. Julius started backing away, his hands in the air in surrender.

"Be cool, Girly." I glared at him. This caused his eyes to grow in size and for him to back away faster, not bothering to help Steven who was still curled up in a ball of the floor.

"My name is not Girly." I said, fiercely, you know the voice, the one that says you don't want to mess with someone... "It's Zoe, and if I were you, I wouldn't forget it..." Riley came back around the corner with Mrs. Young, and Mrs. Chattfield.

"Zoe, lets go talk in my office." Mrs. Young said. I carefully stepped over Steven and walked with Mrs. Young and Riley toward the office.

#
Mrs. Young, Riley and I sat in Mrs. Young's office. I was really beginning to think that she should redecorate the room...

"What happened?" Mrs. Young asked after Riley had helped me to a seat.

"Steven Volt pushed me into the wall as we were coming to the office so that I could call Adam. He sent me a text asking me to call him. Next thing I know, my head bounced off the wall and I was being accused of getting Mr. Jackson fired..."

"Steven will recover, and I predict that no one is going to mess with you after you put the quarterback down..." Mrs. Young said. "The entire thing was caught on camera so it's a self defense move on your part. Two much bigger and stronger guys against a little girl like you..." She smiled.

"May I call Adam really quickly and find out what he wanted?" I asked. Mrs. Young smiled.

"Yes, but could you go do it out near Mrs. Chattfield, I'm going to be bringing Mr. Volt and Mr. Caesar in here to talk to them." She winked at me, as if to say that she had my back. Riley and I went out and sat in the seats that I had decided should be ours with as much time as we had spent in them. I pulled my phone out and called Adam.

#
Adam and I had just finished our conversation when the door to the office opened and both Steven Volt and Julius Caesar shuffled into the office, looking mighty worried. They both glared at me and I glared right back.

"Go to Mrs. Young's office." Mrs. Chattfield said. "Riley and Zoe, you girls think you can make it to class without getting in any more trouble?"

"Yes, Mrs. Chattfield." Riley and I said in unison. She handed us passes for the second time that day. We both left the office and looked at each other.

"What class should we be in?" I asked Riley. Riley looked at a clock on the wall.

"Study hall, but it's almost over." She said. "Lets go take these passes up there anyway." Riley and I headed for the room where our study hall was located. We walked in the door a few minutes before the bell rang, signaling the end of the period that we were in. The new teacher looked at us and scowled.

"Nice of you girls to finally show up..." She said as we handed her the passes. She looked at them. "Oh, ok. I'll mark it accordingly." The bell rang and Riley and I headed across the school to get to our last class of the day: business applications. Riley and I walked through the door and found that Mrs. Harper was out of school that day and there was a substitute in her place. Riley and I looked at each other and shrugged. Maybe I could get some work for Adam done. He wanted me to review the most recent changes to the polices that the school district had put into effect. We were now up to revision four or something. I logged into the computer, or more specifically tried to do so. I was greeted with a message saying that I didn't have an account. I furrowed my brow and tried again. Same message. I stood and walked up to the teacher.

"I need to go see the librarian..." I said. The teacher raised an eyebrow. "I can't get my login to work, she can call someone over at central office and find out what's up." The substitute wrote me a note and handed it to me. I walked back over to my computer and picked up my bag. Riley looked at me.

"Where are you going?" She demanded.

"Up to see Mrs. Smithson. I need her to call over to the Central Office. I can't log in using the same info that I've had since they put the system in." I whispered.

"Ok. Be careful and wait for me by the front door. Dad is picking us up. I'll be by the front door if I get there first." I must have given her a funny look. "Adam told your parents about Steve and Julius. We are being ferried to and from school now. They aren't taking any chances."

"Ok. Front door. After school." I kissed her on the cheek. "Love you." I said. Riley sat there stunned and then blinked.

"I love you too." She said, blushing. "See you in a bit." I left the room and headed for the media center.

#
I walked into the library and up to the counter. Mrs. Smithson was sitting there at her computer. She turned and looked at me.

"You're a bit late for study hall. Go back to class." She said. I looked at her.

"I just came from Mrs. Harpers room and I can't log in. It's saying that I don't have an account on the system. I've had an account since they put the system in place." She looked at me.

"I've never seen you before, but what is your logon?"

"It was afranks, but they might have finally changed it." I saw the lightbulb click on.

"You must be this Zoe person that's completely disrupted the staff... " Apparently my reputation preceded me...

"One in the same..." I said. "Can you help me figure out why I can't log in?"

"Yep, Come on back." I walked into the area behind the counter. She clicked a few things on her computer and I realized that she was pulling up the tools she needed to find out a users status on the system. She typed a few things, furrowed her brow, clicked a few more things and then looked at me. "I found you. Your account was suspended because you tried to log onto a workstation that you shouldn't have been touching..." I looked at her in disbelief.

"It took them four days to suspend me? That was Monday..." She double clicked and opened my account's status page.

"Says you tried to log on to TCS-Mem-Ofc-2 which is not an authorized workstation for a student to log on to." She said, reading the screen. "It says to call Victor Chapel at the Central office to possibly get your account reactivated."

"I used that workstation with the permission of Mrs Chattfield. On Monday I need to print some stuff from my lawyer and you weren't here yet, so she let me use that workstation. Also, my username needs to be changed..." I said.

"Changed?" She asked and then that light bulb clicked back on. "Oh yeah... What should your username be?"

"Zfranks..." I said. "I think I'm the only zfranks in the district." She smiled at me, and picked up the phone to call this Victor Chapel person.

#
By the time that we had gotten my account issue sorted out, school was over for the day. I met Riley by the front door and as we walked out I saw two other football players that were glaring at Riley and I. Riley squeezed my hand as we looked for her dad's car. We didn't see it, but I knew that we were on someone's radar... The two football players walked over to us. I looked around at the staff and students that were outside. No one really seemed to be paying attention to the four of us and that made me nervous.

"We heard about what you did to Steven." One of them said. I prepared mentally to defend my self, and Riley, when I saw clenched fists. "You both had better watch your backs... We don't take too kindly to faggots walking around in our school." I saw Mrs. Young standing within earshot of the boy that was talking.

"Is that a threat? Because if it is, you probably just got suspended because of who you said it to. Oh, and by the way, you might want to turn around." I said, calmly. Mrs. Young had moved closer when she had heard the direction the conversation was going.

"I hope you two didn't plan on playing tonight..." Mrs. Young said. "I see that we need to have an assembly about tolerance... By the way, Steven's own actions caused what happened to him to happen. It wasn't something that Zoe or Riley did." I watched as both of the boys gulped. "I suggest you go get on your buses, Now." The two boys both knew that they were in some deep crap and there was no way out of it.

"Riley, your dad is parked over there." Mrs. Young said, pointing to where Riley's dad sat in a black SUV. He wasn't parked where we had expected him to be so we hadn't seen him. We walked over and got in the back seat. After we had buckled our seat belts, Mr. Edwards turned to look at us.

"What did those two boys want?"

"To threaten me, I think." I said, calmly. "They said that we'd better watch our backs... Mrs. Young was standing there and overheard them say it. That's four in one day... I think it may be a record."

"Are you girls ok?"

"Yes. I just wish people would respect that I'm me and I'm not going anywhere." I said. Riley smiled at me and squeezed my hand.

"Zoe, Transfolk have been hoping for that since the beginning of time..." Mr. Edwards said, putting the car in gear and leaving the school parking lot.

New Rules

The following Monday Riley and I had to sit through an assembly on tolerance of others, and some of the new polices that had been put in place. When I had told Adam that we were going to have to sit through this assembly, he said that we should pay attention so that we knew exactly what Mrs. Young didn't want happening in her school. That logic made sense and Riley and I walked into the auditorium together and sat near the front. Mrs. Young walked in and smiled at us. She walked up on the stage and a spotlight lit her up. The room fell silent.

"Good Morning, Memorial Middle School." She said, cheerfully. She got a variety of mumbled 'good mornings' in response. "I'm sure that everyone is wondering why we are having this assembly..." I looked around to see quite a few students nodding, not understanding why this assembly was taking place.

"There have been a few incidents in recent days with a student that has a medical condition being picked on by members of both the staff and the student body. It ends today... There have been some changes that have come down from the school board because of this. Any student, or staff member that is caught harassing a student that is Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender will be suspended. If there is a physical altercation between a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender student and any other student, the party that starts the altercation will be suspended, and possibly expelled. I'm sure that we have all four types of students in the school, I know of at least one student that falls under the protected group, and I'm pretty sure that others will make them selves known as time goes on. This policy is not just in effect here. It has been enacted across the district." She paused to let that sink in. "Yes, that means that any siblings that you have anywhere in the district will be hearing this as well. Also, just in case anyone thinks that we're joking, three staff members and four students have already been suspended from these new polices. I have a feeling that more heads will roll before this is done. That's all I have, Everyone get back to class..." Mrs. Young walked off the stage, and the teachers started to round up their classes and herd them back to the rooms.

#
Riley and I walked into the cafeteria and sat at a table. The general buzz around the room was that there had been a student that was gay, lesbian, bi or transgender that had been attacked in the high school and that was what prompted the changes. I wasn't about to tell them that the student was me...

"Zoe," Megan said suddenly. "You seem distracted."

"Huh?" I glanced at Megan. I hadn't even realized she had sat down. Megan giggled.

"Told you she wasn't paying attention." Megan said to Riley, who leaned over so she could whisper in my ear.

"You ok?"

"Yeah. I'm just wondering how many people know..."

"Know what?"

"That I'm the reason for the assembly..." Riley smiled at me and give me a kiss on the cheek.

"That's irrelevant." Riley said, causing me to look at her.

"How do you figure?"

"Because you're not the only student in the district that is protected, I can assure you of that." If Megan had been a cat, her ears would have perked up.

"Zoe's protected?'" She said in a stage whisper. "How?" I must have looked horrified. "It's ok, Zoe." She placed her right hand on my left from across the table. I glanced around the cafeteria.

"Not here..." I whispered back. "Too many ears that shouldn't hear." Megan nodded and then smiled. I knew that I could trust her with the secret.

#
Megan lived a few streets over from Riley, and somehow rode a differnet bus. Today, Riley's mom was picking us up from school, and Megan would ride home with us. This would give me a chance to explain to Megan where we wouldn't be overheard by someone that shouldn't hear this. I suspected that Megan partially knew what was up, but hadn't had a chance to either say something in private or in a place where the time was right... Riley's mom pulled into the driveway and the three of us got out and went into the house. After we had all grabbed drinks, we ended up in the dining room around the table, homework spread out so that we could combine three rather smart minds.

"So, Zoe," Megan started quietly, not knowing that Riley's parents knew everything. "How are you protected by the new policies?" Riley smiled at me, and then squeezed my hand.

"I'm transgender." I said at normal volume. Megan looked shocked, but I'm not sure if it was the revelation of my condition or me speaking at normal volume. I would find out in a second though.

"You're what?" She asked.

"Transgender." I replied.

"What exactly does that mean?" Riley looked at me and smiled. I smiled back and then looked at Megan.

"You know how you were born a girl, and in your mind, you're also a girl?" I asked her. She nodded. "Ok, that means that you are what is known as a cisgender person. Your biological and mental gender match. I'm Transgender, which means that my biological gender and my mental gender are the opposite. Most people are cisgender." She looked even more confused...

"What?" she chuckled. "Try that one more time."

"Essentially, I'm a girl trapped in a boys body." Riley leaned close to my ear.

"I think the simple answers work best..."

"Oh. Ok. I get it." Megan said. I briefly wondered if I shouldn't switch my blond hair for Megan's curly blonde. I looked at Megan, trying to picture her with my hair. "What?" I shook my head, knocking the cobwebs out.

"I was trying to picture you with my hair and failing." Megan looked confused. "Some times you act more like a blonde than I do..." I said, and I watched the lightbulb click on over her head.

"Oh..." She replied and then realized what I had said and stuck her tongue out at me. The three of us giggled. "I do not act like a blonde, but when you start throwing words I've never heard at me, I get confused."

"Sure." I said with a smile, and then went back to working on my algebra homework. "That's what I say too..." I crumpled a piece of paper and tossed at her.

#
I had just finished my homework when my phone rang.I pulled it out and looked at it. Mom was calling me, which meant that she was home.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Hey, I'm home and you're not. Where are you?"

"I'm at Riley's we were working on homework."

"Ok. When are you going to be home?"

"Well, we just finished the homework that we had, so I was getting ready to come home anyway. I'll be home in five minutes."

"Ok. I'm tracking you." Mom hung up the phone and I looked at Riley.

"That was mom. I have to go." Riley smiled and then looked from me to Megan.

"Ok. I have an idea for tomorrow though..." Riley said, her eyes sparkling.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Megan, you have the outfit that Zoe wore on her first day of school, don't you?" Megan nodded.

"Mine's green."

"Ok, Zoe, lets wear red tomorrow, and Megan can wear the green and then the three of us will look like sisters..." Megan and I looked at each other and then smiled.

"Ok. Riley I'll see you in the morning, it's my dad's turn to take us, and Megan, I'll see you in first period." I gave Riley a kiss on the cheek and hefted my bag up over my shoulder. Really need to get a new bag, Maybe a messenger style like Riley's...I thought as I walked down the street toward my house.

An Evening out…

I walked in the front door and was greeted by mom and dad.

"We have something to show you." Mom said, and then turned and went up the stairs. Dad motioned for me to follow mom up the steps and then he followed behind me. Mom stopped outside the door to my room, which was open when I had left for Riley's that morning. We had been slowly moving things out of my room and into the spare room so that we could finally turn Allen's old room into Zoe's room. Mom opened the door and my jaw dropped. The walls were now panted with pink and white vertical stripes. The dresser had been replaced with a white dresser that was larger, my desk had been replaced with a white desk that looked like it had more storage space, and there was now a vanity that contained all of my hair stuff. My bed had been replaced by a slightly larger bed. This one had four posts and a white mesh canopy. The bedspread had been replaced with a pink bedspread that had purple butterflies on it.

"What do you think, Zoe?" Mom asked.

"I like it." I said. Mom and dad smiled. I went in and laid on the bed. Looking at the canopy. I propped my self up on one elbow. "Where did all of the other stuff go?"

"We put it all in storage for now. We're going to move your dad's office downstairs into the basement. There is a second entrance to it, that way he can bring work home and not have to bring people through the house unless he needs to, and then we're going to turn the office into a spare bedroom."

#
I was sitting there, playing around on the computer at my new desk when there was a quiet knock on the door. The last time I had seen my door, it was open so I turned and looked and saw Riley standing there. She wore a baby pink v-necked sweater dress and dark grey tights, her feet encased in a pair of boots that were similar to mine.. I had a similar sweater dress, but mine was a turtleneck and was a light grey color. I still hadn't worn it, and was looking for the right opportunity to do so.

"I like what you've done to the place." She said, coming in and sitting on the bed. I walked over and sat next to her.

"Well, I didn't do it, mom and dad did, but I really like it."

"It reminds me how my room looked when I was eight." Her room hadn't changed much in five years... "You're missing something though." She said. I looked around the room trying to figure out what it was.

"What am I missing?" I asked, unsure of what was missing.

"Stuffed animals. You pretty much are an infant as far as being a girl is concerned, and you need some stuffed animals."

"Oh." I said quietly. I hadn't thought of that, and then I realized that she was right. Even at thirteen, she had a sizable collection of stuffed animals. Heck, at fifteen, Heather still had a sizable collection.

"But for the real reason why I came by..." She smiled and placed her hand on my denim covered leg. It had been cool and rainy that Saturday morning when I had gotten dressed and I had elected to wear a long sleeved shirt and jeans as I hadn't planned to go anywhere. "I was wondering if you wanted to go see a movie tonight? Mom said that if it was ok with your parents, she'd pick us up and drop us off."

"What would I wear?" I asked.

"You're such a girl..." Riley stroked her chin and then walked over and opened my closet. She looked at the contents before reaching in and pulling out the sweater dress that I had no clue where I was going to wear it. She sat it on my bed, and then turned to my dresser. It took her a few moments, but she pulled out a pair of thick black tights, and laid them on the sweater dress. She rummaged around in the bottom of my closet and pulled out my boots. "There, outfits complete..." she smiled at me. "Now lets go see if you can go to the movie tonight with me." She grabbed my hand and, practically pulled me from the bed, and then the room. We went down to the office where mom was camped out, working on some kind of brief for work. I gently knocked on the door and then heard mom's voice.

"Come in." I opened the door and Riley and I walked in and looked at mom.

"Hey Riley, what can I do for you girls?"

"Mommy," I started. Mom raised an eyebrow. I only called her mommy when I wanted something. "May Riley and I go see a movie tonight?" Mom looked from me to Riley and back.

"How are you getting there?"

"My mom said she would take us and pick us up. I also thought that maybe Zoe and I could do some window shopping." Riley said. Mom nodded and grabbed her purse. She pulled out forty dollars and handed it to me.

"Zoe, Do everything you can to be home by eleven. And you had better call if you are going to be later than that."

"Yes, Mommy.' I said a grin on my face. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'm going to get back to work, Your sister is staying at Carly's tonight, and with you out of the house for a few hours, I might get this done before midnight... Let me know when you leave." I nodded and Riley and I left the office so that she could continue working, and I could get ready.

#
I opened the door and let Riley back in my room. I had changed out of the jeans and shirt and put on the sweater dress, tights and boots. Riley looked at me and smiled.

"I love the way that dress looks on you." The dress hit my knees and felt like it would be warm when we went to the movies in a little bit. I grabbed a black purse out of my closet and put my phone and the money that mom had given me in it and then slung it over my shoulder. Riley smiled and took my hand. "Lets go over to my house so that mom can take us to the mall." We went down stairs and I knocked on the door to the office and then opened it. Mom was now surrounded by books that were open. She looked up at me.

"That's cute, Zoe. Did you pick it out or did Riley?"

"Riley did. I was waiting for a good time to wear it and to the movies is as good of a reason as any."

"Ok. You girls have fun." Mom said, and then buried her self back in her books. I shut the door and then helped Riley put on her coat. She returned the favor and we both stepped out in the cold world of outside. Because I hadn't been out at all that day, I didn't' realize that it was as cold as it was. The air smelled like it did before it snowed, and, given that it was early February, it was still possible that it would snow. Riley and I walked to her house at a faster pace than we would have if the weather was warmer. I hoped that her legs were encased in thick tights like mine, as if they were the normal thin ones that they sold her legs would be kind of chilled. I knew that her coat and sweater dress would keep her warm, as my upper body was a lot warmer than my legs.

"It's cold out here." I said to Riley, and making a mental note to get a hat and gloves. Riley smiled at me, her cheeks flushed. I thought the look was cute on her, and I imagined that I looked much the same.

"I know, but that flushed look is cute on you." She said. I was right, and did look much the same as her.

"It's cute on you too." I replied, giving her a peck on the cheek. We walked up to her front door and went into her warm house which smelled like cookies. Her mom poked her head out of the kitchen.

"Hey girls. I have some hot cookies and milk..." Riley and I looked at each other and smiled. Her mom always seemed to be baking something, and what ever was baked was really good. Riley and I took off our coats and hung them in the closet, and then went into the kitchen to attack the cookies.

"Hot cookies sound really good." Riley aid.. We each got some cookies and a glass of milk. I could feel the warmth returning to my cheeks and nose, and could see it happening to Riley.

"After I the cookies cool and I get them put away and everything cleaned up, I'll take you guys to the mall."

"Thank you, Mrs. Edwards." I said, after swallowing a cookie.

"You're welcome, Zoe. But it was really Riley's idea. Complete to what you have on now." I looked down at my dress, and then at Riley, who was grinning like the cat that had just eaten the canary...

"You've been looking for a reason to wear that dress. Now you have it."

"Thanks." I said quietly, but still with a smile on my face.

"I love the way the grey makes your eyes pop out. They were a brilliant blue before, and now they are just shining. I'm so glad that shine returned. I missed it when it disappeared from Allen's eyes." She reached across the table to take my hands in hers. "But I have the shine back, and I have Zoe and a new best friend." Riley and I smiled at each other. We had grown closer than we had ever been in a short time, and I think she was my girlfriend or might as well have been at least.

#
Riley's mom dropped us at one of the doors of the mall. "Call when you girls are ready to get picked up."

"Ok, Mom." Riley said, climbing out of the back seat and out into the colder air. Now it really smelled like it could start snowing at any minute.

"You girls have fun, and stay out of trouble." I heard Riley's mom say.

"We will, mom." Riley said, her cheeks already starting to flush from the cold. She shut the door and then we linked arms and went into the warmth of the mall. It wasn't the same mall that mom and I had gone shopping at, but it was a lot closer to home and had pretty much the same stores. Her mom waited until we were inside the mall before she drove away. Once inside, Riley spotted Megan, who we hadn't planned on being there.

"Riley! Zoe!" She all but shouted and jogged over to us. "You guys look nice." Riley and I looked at each other.

"Thanks." We said at the same time. Megan smiled.

"You guys are like sisters..." Megan giggled. "What brings you to the mall?"

"We were going to see a movie..." Riley said.

"And do a little bit of window shopping." I added. Megan smiled.

"I've been here for the last hour and I haven't come across anything overly interesting. I did notice that Tween Us had the outfit that we all have with the berets in blue and with short sleeved tops now. Zoe, I think that the blue would look beautiful with your eyes."

"Really?" I asked, letting the thought trail off. I grabbed Riley's hand and started dragging her toward the store. Along the way we passed a store that had a mannequin in the window that was wearing a corset.

"That looks painful..." Riley said, staring at the mannequin.

"I bet it improves your posture..." I replied to her. That was something that we both had in common, bad posture. Our parents had been trying for years to fix it in us, but we somehow always ended up slouching.

"Still looks painful." We passed a few more stores, and finally arrived at Tween Us, and I found the outfit that Megan was talking about. I pulled out my phone and snapped a picture and sent it off to mom's phone. Mom sent a message back about three minutes later saying that we would come up the next day and take a look at the whole outfit. She liked the way the blue looked... Riley and I looked around the store and I noted that even though it was cold enough to still snow, the stores were preparing for summer. They had already put out some swimwear and had several pair of shorts already on display. Most of the stuff that would be deemed winter stuff was already marked down about twenty five precent. Riley and I moved on to a few other stores, some of which had things that I wouldn't wear, and that if I were a parent, I wouldn't let my kids wear out of the house.

#
Riley and I walked out of the movie theater and noted that the mall was pretty deserted. That made sense, it was after ten and most of the shops closed at ten on a Saturday night. Riley pulled her phone out of her purse and called her mom, who said that she would be at the same door that she had dropped us off at in about twenty minutes. I sent mom a text message and told her that. Riley and I went over to the doors that we had come in. While we were waiting on her mom to show up, a security guard walked over to us and smiled.

"Good Evening, girls," She said. Her uniform did little to flatter her, but she did have some stunning green eyes... "The mall closes in twenty minutes, If you don't have a ride on the way, I'd suggest that you call for one." Riley smiled at her.

"My mom is on her way and should be here any minute." Riley said. The guard nodded.

"Ok, I would hate to have to toss you guys out in the cold while you waited for your ride to show up. I wouldn't want you girls to get sick." Riley smiled at me, knowing that I was probably warmer than I'd been in a while. I glanced at her and smiled back. Riley's phone started ringing and the sound of 'Born this Way' by Lady GaGa made us both jump. The security guard chuckled as Riley answered her phone. I looked out the window and saw that Riley's mom had pulled up. I pointed out at the car and Riley nodded, and then said "Ok, We'll be out in a second." Riley smiled.

"She's here." Riley said.

"I know..." I said. The guard chuckled.

"You girls have a good night." She said, opening the door for us. I felt the cold air blow in make my legs cold. Riley and I walked outside and got in her moms car.

"How was the movie?" Her mom asked as we buckled our seat belts.

"It was good, but I don't think it was Zoe's style. She may be a girly girl, but she likes action flicks..." Riley smiled at me.

"Hey, I liked it." I said before breaking down into fit of giggles.

"Ok, So Zoe likes almost everything out there..." Riley said, giggling.

"Do the two of you have any plans for tomorrow?" Riley and I looked at each other.

"Not that I'm aware of. Mom said something about coming over to the mall tomorrow and doing some shopping for me again. We found the skirt, beret, purse set in a blue color. Riley thinks it will set off my eyes, and apparently mom thinks so too..."

"I do, I think it would look very pretty on you." Riley said. For some reason I thought the drive home was shorter than the drive to the mall. It seemed like no time at all and we were pulling into my driveway. I gave Riley a kiss on the cheek and got out of the car.

Looking Forward

Wednesday night I sat in Dr. Francis's office. It had been four months since Zoe had showed up, and had been four months since I had started living as Zoe. This meeting was a little different as both mom and dad were in attendance. Well, Dad would have been here if he hadn't been sent to the Seattle office. We made use of face time once again for this meeting.

"Good Evening." Emily said. "I know that I've been having meetings one on one with Zoe, but this one is one that I want to bring up. I think that it may be time, with the permission of both of you, to start Zoe on hormones." Mom and dad shared a glance, well as best as they could over a video conference... Mom let dad speak first.

"Is your plan to redirect Zoe's puberty into one that will fit with how she's presenting?" Emily looked at the MacBook Air and nodded.

"Yes, it is, Tom." She looked at me, smiled and then back at the computer. "Zoe's at the perfect age to do this, and do it right. Even if she never goes though with the surgery, this is who she is and to let her body dictate which puberty she goes through would be detrimental to what we've already accomplished."

"When do you plan to start the hormones?" Mom asked.

"As soon as I get Zoe's blood work back so I know where to start. If I send it in tomorrow, I should get the results by Tuesday, and I can get everything together by the time I see Zoe Wednesday night. I need the permission in writing, I have a physical form for Katherine to sign, How do I get something for you to sign?"

"Do you have a PDF copy of the page?" Emily furrowed her brow and then walked over to her computer and started clicking. Mom picked up the form and signed it. Dad nodded on the monitor.

"Yep. You want me to email it to you?" Emily said.

"Yes please, the address is [email protected]." Dad picked up his iPad. Twenty seconds later, it made the sound that said he had a new email. He tapped the screen a few times, scribbled with his finger, tapped a few more times and then looked at the camera on his laptop. "Check you email." Emily nodded and then I heard the printer fire up. She pulled the paper off of it, and then sat it on the one that mom had signed. I saw that what dad had done was to sign the paper using his iPad.

"Ok, Zoe, I'm going to draw three vials of blood." I looked at her.

"Why three?"

"To make sure the data they get is consistent. " Emily said. "They don't like to just give you results on one vial..."

"Oh." Having had blood taken before, I knew what she was going to do, and pushed my left sleeve up as far as I could. Emily smiled and opened a drawer out of what appeared to be a solid wall. She pulled out a small box, which she carried over to the table.

#
Mom pulled her car in the garage, next to dads. He had Riley's dad run him to the airport so that he could catch his flight to Seattle. Mom patted my leg and we got out of the car and headed into the house. I knew that Heather was home, as mom's phone had told us that while we were on our way to my doctors appointment. When we walked into the house the smell of dinner cooking was really nice. Heather stood at the stove finishing what smelled and looked like some form of hamburger helper. The table was already set, and Heather turned and looked at the two of us.

"Zoe, dad said they drew blood, so this should help get your blood sugar and iron levels back up." She smiled. "Go take off your coats and come back in and have a seat. I'm Heather, and I'll be your host tonight..." She chuckled. Mom and I looked at each other and shrugged. I slipped off my coat and hung it in the closet, and then hung mom's up as well. Mom and I went back into the kitchen where Heather was just getting ready to put the food on our plates. We ate and then Heather cleared the dishes so I could go work on my homework. It was seven thirty and I usually had my homework done by now. I went up to my room, and knocked out my homework.

#
I looked at the clock as my phone rang, shocked to see that the time was now ten minutes after nine. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the caller was Riley, complete with a picture of her smiling face.

"Hello?" I said into the phone.

"Hello. I was wondering how your appointment went?" Riley said. I could hear a smile in her voice. This was a common question on nights that I had appointments with Emily.

"It went well. Emily drew blood to have some blood work done." I replied, saving the document I had open on the computer and closing the lid. I moved over to my bed.

"She drew blood, why?"

"To check my current hormone levels. Mom and dad signed off on me getting hormones tonight."

"How? Your dad is in Seattle."

"He can do something with his iPad and fill out PDF forms and sign then and send them back. That's what he did."

"Oh. Silly question, what were you planning on wearing to school tomorrow?"

"I was going to figure that out in the morning, why?"

"Would you wear your grey sweater dress for me?" I briefly pondered this. I hadn't worn it to school yet, so this would give a chance for some people that hadn't seen me wearing it to see me in it.

"I can. What were you planning on wearing?"

"My pink sweater dress. I haven't worn it to school yet..." she said.

"Ok. I can do that. Who is taking us to school?"

"I think it's your mom's turn in the rotation." The only time when the rotation was screwed up was when dad had to go somewhere for work.

"It is?" I asked. "Are you sure it's not my dad's turn?" Sometimes when dad was out on business, mom would take his place driving even if it became two days in a row.

"Doesn't matter if it is, he's not here, silly." Riley said, with a giggle.

"This is true." I said to her. "I wish I could see your face, even if it is only to tell you good night." I could have sworn I heard Riley blush.

"Zoe, that was sweet. I wish I could see you too." Through the phone, I heard her mom's voice in the background. "Riley, it's bed time..." and then I heard Riley's voice again. "I have to go. I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight Zoe and don't think of me too much until you see me." Now it was my turn to blush.

"Good night Riley. I'll see you tomorrow and I'm pretty sure that my dreams will be filled with you." I said to her, and then waited for the call to disconnect.

And now the fun begins…

Tuesday afternoon when I got home from school, my phone rang. I was surprised to find that the caller was Emily.

"Hello?" I asked after I answered the phone.

"Hi, Zoe," Emily said. "I just wanted to tell you that I got your blood work back, and it looks fine for a thirteen year old boy... I think we need to change that to be the normal levels for a thirteen year old girl. I have everything ready for you and your mom to pick up tomorrow."

"That sounds good to me." I said. Heather came in the back door and smiled at me, and then gave me a funny look. "I will see you tomorrow, Emily." Heather nodded and then smiled again. I hung up my phone and put it back into the purse that I had carried to school.

"Was that the status of your blood work?" Heather asked.

"Yep. She said it's not normal for a thirteen year old girl." I smiled and Heather chuckled.

"Are you going to fix that?"

"She is, I probably just have to take some pills..." I replied. "I wonder how long it will take for me to start to develop." Riley had already started to develop and was proud of her slowly developing figure. I was proud of my girlfriends slowly developing figure as well.

"I don't know. I think I developed at a normal rate. You may develop at a different speed." Heather shrugged. I opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. I offered it to Heather and then grabbed another bottle.

"I'm going to go take care of my homework so Riley and I can hang out tonight." I knew I was close to the top of the class and darn it, I intended to stay there...

"Smart girl. Mom and dad would kill you if you let your grades slip now." Heather said, after taking a drink of the water. "You are happier than you've been in quite some time. Now you don't have an excuse to give..."

"This is true." I said to Heather. She had made her point, and countered it to the point where I wouldn't be able to argue back...

"I know." She said. "Get to it. I need to work on biology... I'm still not sure why I took that class..." Heather let the thought trail off as I went up stairs to work on my homework.

#
I had just finished my homework when my phone rang and I saw Riley's smiling face. I answered the phone with a smile in my voice.

"Hi Riley." I said, not hiding the smile in my voice.

"Hey Zoe. Is it ok if I come over now?"

"Yep. I just finished my homework, so I can have guests now." I replied, trying to sound formal and failing. Riley giggled.

"Ok. I'll be there in about five." Riley said.

"Ok, I'll see you then." I held the phone to my ear until Riley disconnected the call. I took the clothes that I had worn to school and dropped them in the hamper and looked at my self in the mirror. The white tights looked really white against the royal blue plaid jumper that I wore, and the beret matched. I had worn a pair of jeans and a heather grey sweater to school, and had gotten soaked when I fell in a puddle. The outfit I had on now was new, and Riley had never seen it before on me. I looked at my self in the mirror and noted that my eyes really sparkled. I thought about it for a few seconds and decided that this is what I wanted to wear the next day to my appointment with Dr. Francis. I went downstairs to wait for Riley's arrival. When she knocked, I opened the door and let her in, feeling the cold air from outside coming into the house. She looked me up and down.

"That's not what you wore to school..." She said as I took her coat and hung it in the closet.

"I know. I managed to fall in to a puddle on my way into the house... Maybe the blonde does suit me..."

"Either way that looks really cute on you." Riley said, giving me a hug. "It buttons up the back? How did you button it?"

"I only undid the buttons I needed to in order to put It on. I was thinking about wearing it to the appointment with Emily tomorrow."

"I think you should. Speaking of Emily, did the results of your blood work come back?" We walked into the living room and sat on the couch.

"Yeah. She said that my blood work is not normal for a thirteen year old girl..." Riley looked at me and blinked, not getting the joke.

"Huh?"

"My blood work came back as normal for a thirteen year old boy, not girl..." I said. "She said we're gonna change that..."

"Good." Riley said. "You know that research paper that we have to do for english?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"I have an idea for you..."

"Oh?"

"Write yours on the laws that directly affect you. I'm sure that you could find quite a bit of stuff. Maybe even start to push for change...'

"Maybe. I'll think about it." Her suggestion was better than the only idea I had come up with, which was nada... Maybe I could do something to narrow it down just a bit and go forward from there. "I can't push for change, I can't even vote yet." I heard the garage door open and then shut, and then the door into the kitchen opened.

"Is anyone home?" Mom asked. She knew the answer, her phone had told her the second we had gotten home from school.

"Riley and I are in the living room." I said aloud.

"And I'm upstairs." Heather shouted down the steps. Mom walked into the living room.

"Cute!" She said, smiling. "Stand up and let me get a look at you." I stood and did the obligatory spin. "Very cute, I think you should wear it to the appointment tomorrow."

"I was already thinking that." I said. "Also, Emily called and said that my blood work came back as not normal for a thirteen year old girl. She said we're going to fix that tomorrow..." Mom raised an eyebrow and then chuckled. "Since you can't wear the beret to school, do you want me to put it in the car so you can wear it to the appointment?"

"Please?" I said. Mom nodded. "I'll put it on the island in the morning." Mom nodded again.

"Riley, your dad said he's pick Tom up and they should be here by ten, so you are welcome to stay until your dad gets here with Tom and then ride home with him. Zoe you can stay up too."

"Thank you, Mrs. Franks." Riley said.

"Thank you, mommy." I said, Riley giggled and mom smiled. Her and dad both would smile when I'd call them mommy or daddy... Although I called dad, daddy more than I called mom, mommy.

#
At nine, I excused my self really quickly to run up to my room and change into something to sleep in, returning to the living room wearing a lilac colored satin top and pants. Riley smiled at me and I walked over and sat next to her. I think we both were tired, as the last time I saw on the clock was five minutes after nine... I woke up to a flash from a camera, and saw mom's smiling face. I looked over at Riley and saw that she had dozed off as well. The clock read that it was quarter till ten. Riley did this cute little stretching thing and I noticed that someone had covered us with a blanket. Rather than get up, we just snuggled closer to each other. I think we fell asleep again, because I woke to dad laying me in my bed.

"Hey, pumpkin," Dad said. "Go back to sleep. You have a big step on your way to growing to as a woman tomorrow. I want you to be rested." He kissed me on the forehead.

"Did Riley go home?" I asked groggily.

"Yeah, She didn't stir either. Her dad just picked her up and carried her out to the car. Now you get back to sleep."

"Uh huh." I rolled over and fell asleep for the third time that evening.

#
Riley and I walked hand in hand into the school, she had elected to wear jeans, and I not really thinking about the temperature outside had chosen to wear black knee socks and my black loafers. The outfit looked great, but I got cold on the short walk from the car into the school. Somehow, Megan had beat us to the school, and was waiting on us.

"Good morning," She had a grin on her face. Riley and I looked at each other. She, like Riley had worn jeans, not that I blamed either of them, I think I was starting to be able to feel my toes again... "How are you guys today?" The three of us walked toward the cafeteria and found a place to sit in the large deserted room.

"We're good. You are awfully chipper this morning."

"I slept really well last night." Megan said. "And I had a dream where the two of you got married." Riley and I looked at each other, both of us knowing that we were too young for that...

"We got married?" I asked, feeling my cheeks warm up.

"Yep. You both were wearing beautiful white gowns, I was the maid of honor, wearing this light pink dress that was also pretty. It was a good dream." Riley and I looked at each other, the same look on our faces.

"This came out of the blue..." Riley said.

"Yeah, I know. Zoe you look really cute today." I looked down at my jumper and then up at Megan.

"Thank you. I have a beret that matches the jumper, but it's in the back seat of mom's car. I can't wear it here, otherwise I'd have it on." Megan nodded.

"The blue really brings out your eyes..." Megan said. Riley looked at me and nodded. I had some stunning blue eyes, and I loved it when they were shown off. I had heard that the eyes were the window into the soul and I knew that mine now said that I was happy.

"I love showing off my eyes." I replied. Megan looked above my head and smiled.

"Hi, Mrs. Chattfield." Megan said. I craned my neck to look behind me.

"Good Morning, Girls." She said. "Riley and Zoe, can you girls come see me in the office please?" Riley and I looked at each other and stood up, grabbing our bags and following Mrs. Chattfield to the office. When we walked in the office, Mrs. Young was there, waiting on us.

"Girls if you would come with me, please." Mrs. Young said walking back toward her office, Riley and I looked at each other and then followed her back to her office

#
Riley and I sat in our usual spot in Mrs. Young's office, and watched as she sat across from us.

"Zoe, even in this bad lighting, that jumper brings out your eyes." Mrs. Young said. "But I didn't bring the two of you in here to complement you on your clothes."

"Then why?" Riley asked.

"Zoe's mom sent me an email." She turned to pick up a piece of paper. "Zoe, first of all, congratulations on the next step of this process. As of this point, we don't know if you will have to take the hormones at any point while you are here during the day, but if you do, they have to be actually administered by the nurse. You can't have them on your person while you are here. What we can do is see if Dr. Francis can write a second, smaller prescription for you to keep here, if necessary."

"Ok. I'll know more tonight and will let you know tomorrow about that." Mrs. Young nodded.

"Ok, thank you. Your mom may beat you to it though, I already outlined this to her in an email. It may be resolved by the time that you see Dr. Francis tonight. That's all I needed. You girls run along to first period."

#
Mom was sitting in the visitors parking lot when I walked out of building Riley's mom was parked next to her and they were leaning against the cars, talking when Riley and I walked up.

"Afternoon, Girls." Riley's mom said. Mom turned around and smiled, handing me my beret. It has warmed up a little bit as the wind had died down and the sun had come out. I put the beret on my head and used the mirror on the drivers side door of mom's car to adjust it so that it was sitting right on my head. Riley smiled at me.

"And now the look is complete." Riley said giving me a hug. "Call me when you get home, Ok?" I nodded. "We need to go over that stuff from Henderson's class that I didn't quite understand. I just hope that it doesn't result in us having to try to get together before class tomorrow." Riley said, Our parents looked at us. It wasn't uncommon for one of us to help the other in an area where we excelled and the other wasn't as strong. One of my strong points was the written and spoken word. Riley was decent in math and ok with the spoken word, but the written word was not a strong point with her.

"Ok. I'll call you when we are on our way home. I don't know how long this is going to take." The last two appointments had been several hours in length. Riley smiled. I got in the car and was thankful that mom had left the heat on. I watched as Riley got in her moms car and we waved as mom backed out and headed for the main road so that we could head to Dr. Francis' office.

#
Mom and I walked into Dr. Francis' office and sat in our usual spots. Emily got up and walked over from her desk.

"Good Afternoon, Zoe, Katherine."

"Afternoon, Doctor."

"Afternoon, Emily."

"This is going to be a quick appointment, unless Zoe has anything that she needs to discuss with me." I shook my head. Everything had been going well the last week. Plus if I came up with anything that I needed to discuss, I could call her.

"Alright then." She passed four pieces of paper over to mom. "I know there are four prescriptions there, one of them will need to be taken while Zoe's at school. The two of them are taken morning and night the bottles will say that. The third is the same one that we're filling a smaller prescription for the school so that Zoe doesn't have to deal with making sure that she takes the pills to school and then takes them home, etc." Mom nodded and stuck the prescriptions in her purse. "Zoe, you are going to need to make sure that you take the pills every day, otherwise there will be no point is us even going forward." I nodded. I wanted to develop so that I looked like I felt, rather than try to deal with it later in life. I would take the pills. "Zoe, if you notice anything that seems unusual, make sure you let me know as soon as you can."

"I can do that." I said, looking at Emily. "But won't some things that seem unusual to me actually be quite normal?"

"Yes, and that's why you need to let me know so I can tell you if it's an expected change, verses an unexpected change." I nodded, knowing that she would know better than I if something were awry. "Zoe, you can start by taking the first dose when you get home. No sense in waiting any longer."

#
Mom backed the car in the drive way and I got out as soon as the car was stopped. We had swung by the pharmacy and picked up my new pills and I was anxious to get started on my path to full blown girlhood. I knew the changes wouldn't happen over night, but I was looking forward to the caterpillar turning into a butterfly so to speak.

Reborn

I had been sitting at my desk, waiting on really slow web page to load, when I just happened to glance at the calendar that was hanging on the panel of cork behind my desk. The top half of the calendar showed a picture of a kitten chasing a ball of multicolored yarn on a hardwood floor, the bottom half showed the days of the month of April. As I looked at the calendar, I realized that the next day, the twenty fourth, would mark six months of Zoe being here. It would be six months since I had started down the road that had placed me where I was, sitting in my room, decorated in such a fashion that someone that casually glanced in would see nothing but the room of a girl. The only thing in the room that hadn't been replaced when it had morphed from a boys room to a girls room was the laptop and iPad. Neither seemed odd in a girls room now a days. Three months ago, the caterpillar had entered her cocoon, and she was staring to emerge, even more beautiful than she could have imagined. I briefly considered that I had two birthdays: one, my actual day of birth, on the twentieth day of July in the year 1998, and the second was the day that Zoe completely came into existence, the twenty fourth of October, in the year 2011. I considered October to be the real birthday, the day I was reborn. I briefly wondered if I could get away with two birthday parties... I gave up on this web page loading and shut down the computer, and went to bed.

#
On April twenty fourth, which just so happened to fall on a Saturday, I got out of bed and took a shower like I always did. What I didn't know was that by the time I had gotten back to my bedroom, something for me to wear would have already been laid out. I had walked back into the bedroom and saw the blue plaid skirt, blue beret, white short sleeved blouse, and black knee socks laying on my bed. I took a quick glance around, not knowing how this outfit had migrated out of the closet and onto the bed.

"Zoe," I heard mom's voice from the other side of the door. "I put the outfit I want you to wear on your bed." Ok, so that was how the outfit ended up there, but why was the more important question now. I shrugged and got dressed. It wasn't often that mom picked clothes out for me, even though she claimed the right to pick out my outfits for the first day of school, and for picture day until I graduated, but when she did, there was usually a reason for it. I got dressed and brushed my hair out. It had, ever since I had let it grow out, been in the style of a bowl cut when it was shorter, and now that it was longer, was more of a shoulder length bob. The beret looked perfect atop my head and I slid my feet into my black loafers. I opened the door and walked out into the hallway at the same time that Heather did. She was dressed just like me, except her beret and skirt were solid purple, a color that had always looked good on her. Purple didn't look as good on me, so I rarely wore it, although I wondered what the outfit I wore now would look like in a purple.

"Morning, Zoe." Heather said, looking at me. "You look nice. Did mom pick out your clothes too?" I nodded, now really trying to figure out mom's reasoning. I could see dressing Heather and I alike if we were twins, but we weren't. Riley and I were closer to twins than Heather and I. Riley's brown hair was longer than mine and was more often in a pony tail, braid or the occasional set of pigtails. I love to see Riley with her hair in a set of braided pigtails, even though that was rarer to see than her hair just flowing down her back. "I wonder what she's up too..." Heather said as she let me go down the steps first.

"It's hard saying. You know I really wish that I could actually sleep in on the weekend. I have no reason to be up this early." I said, hitting the bottom of the stairs as there was a knock on the door, which was odd at this early hour no matter what day it was.. I looked at Heather who shrugged and I opened the door to look at Riley, who was dressed like Heather and I, only she wore the matching outfit to mine in red. She seemed surprised to see that I was wearing my matching blue outfit today. "Come in." I said, stepping out of the way so that she could actually come in the house rather than us just standing there staring at each other.

"Do you know what's going on?" Riley asked after we had hugged. "Your mom called my mom last night and asked her to make sure that I was up and wearing this," She gestured to herself. "Your mom even asked my mom to make sure that my hair was in braided pigtails... My mom actually did my hair for me this morning." Her mom had even tied red ribbons around the ends of the pigtails, completing the look. I had some thoughts enter my head that a thirteen year old probably shouldn't have been thinking.

"Not a clue..." I said, closing the door and taking hold of Riley's hand as we went toward the kitchen. Mom was waiting in the kitchen for us.

"I still think that you and Riley could be twins, Zoe." Mom said with a smile. "Since I'm sure that you guys are trying to figure out what is going on, does any one know what today is?" Riley and I looked at each other, rather easy as we were both the same height. I had an idea of where mom was going with this, but only because I had actually looked at the calendar.

"Six months ago, Zoe came out to play, and three months ago, a caterpillar went into a cocoon and has started to turn into a butterfly..."Mom said, Heather and Riley looked at me. "Today we are going to have a sort of half year birthday party for Zoe. It's going to be girls only, thus the four of us for now, Riley, your mom and dad will be over tonight, and we have to pick up Zoe's dad from the airport around two thirty." Riley and I shared a look, and then smiled at each other. "Right now, I'd like to treat the three of you to breakfast." Mom smiled.

#
Riley and I were sitting on my bed, with the MacBook playing some music quietly in the background, when we heard mom holler up the stairs. I had heard the door open some time earlier and knew that Riley's parents were down stairs. When we had tried to go down stairs, and mom had turned both of us around at the bottom and sent us back upstairs.

"Zoe, Riley, close your eyes and come downstairs." Riley and I looked at each other, eyebrows raised. I slipped my hand in Riley's and we started to walk downstairs, each of us holding on to the handrail on either side of the stairwell. When we got to the bottom of the steps, mom took our joined hands and used them to lead us toward the kitchen.

"They look like they could be twins..." I heard Riley's dad say. Mom chuckled, turning to her right and led us toward the table

"Girls, have a seat." Riley and I sat, both of us smoothing our skirts.

"I would have never known that Zoe wasn't a girl if I hadn't known her before she transitioned." I smiled as Riley gave my hand a squeeze.

#
I'm not sure how long Riley and I sat there, our eyes closed before mom finally said, "Ok, girls, open your eyes." When I opened my eyes, I saw a cake with half a candle on it. I glanced at Riley, who looked as confused as I felt. I glanced at mom who smiled.

"Happy six month birthday, Zoe." Dad said with a smile on his face. His eyes sparkled like he was about to shed a tear or two.

"Happy birthday to you; happy birthday to you; happy birthday, dear Zoe; happy birthday to you..." My family and closest friends sang. I didn't know that you held a birthday party for a six month old, but hey, I wasn't your average six month old...

finis

---

This story is finished (for now.) I plan on doing a rewrite at some point in the future, but I can tell you that time is not right now. I enjoyed writing this story, and I wish to thank everyone for their comments as well as helping me get the first few chapters fixed. If you are an author and want to change the voice of the story half way through, my advice to you is: don't... It's a lot harder than it looks.