Oh My God! My characters and muse have highjacked this story again. I really didn’t plan to take it to where it is going, but you know how stubborn Characters can be sometimes when they wish to write.

“Why are you denying it?” Victoria hissed as she approached.

“I want to do this on my terms.” Erika stated. “Not because a bitter bitch like Taylor or Strange Stephanie forces it.”

“I still think it’s better to just come out with the truth.” Victoria shook her head.

“I will and you can run your article.” Erika told her friend, “But not today.”

“Remember.” Samantha told her for the hundredth time. “You can not let them see you weaken. Let it roll off like water on a duck.

The analogy brought back memories of Liberty the black duckling from Camp Kumoni Erika nodded.

“You are a smart, sexy woman.” Tricia squeezed Erika’s hand. Her physical assurance was comforting. “Worse case scenario, you can just lift your dress and show them your gaffe. No one will know enough to question you after that.” She giggled.

“You are so vulgar sometimes.” Victoria frowned at Tricia. She turned to Erika. “She has a point though.”

“Remember.” Samantha told her. “Put it back on them to decide.”

The four friends entered the school building. The talking that filled the front hall silenced. Students all looked and stared at the four, especially Erika.

“Seriously?” Samantha said loudly. She started forward as if nothing was wrong, Erika and the others joining her.

The students started talking again but softer.

“Is it true?” a guy’s voice called.

Erika ignored him for a few steps, her heart raced. She hoped that she wasn’t blushing. She stopped, the others stopping as well. “What do you think?” She called out to no one in particular. She flipped her long curls and continued.

“Good job.” Samantha whispered for her ears only.

“Fucking Tranny.” Taylor called as she and a few others in her posse walked by.

“Immature Bitch.” Tricia called back.

“You got yourself kicked off Rally, Taylor. “Stop trying to smear Erika because of your choice.” Jorge added.

“You’re doing good.” Samantha whispered. “Keep cool.”

Erika stuttered a step or two when she saw her locker. It too had been spray painted with derogatory words and terms. Even rough crude images of penises had been scrawled onto the outside. A janitor was working with a spray bottle and a rag to try and clean it off.

“Is this your locker?” he asked as they approached.

Erika nodded. ‘The plague’ was running around in her head. She took a few deep breaths to suppress not only the tears but to keep her from falling apart in memories of last year.

“I’m sorry, Miss. I’ll have this filth cleaned up soon. Looks like I may have to paint over it.” He said. “Do you need anything out of it?”

“A few books.” Erika nodded.

He stepped away. For Erika to open her locker. She took a deep breath and hesitantly opened it anticipating the worse. She was almost disappointed when nothing happened, nothing was rigged, and nothing filled her locker except her on school books and personal items.

“That’s a relief.” Krystal sighed. Tricia and Victoria agreed with nods.

“Tranny!” another voice called but it was lost down the hall amongst the other students like a coward.

“You will burn in hell, you perverted filth.” Strange Stephanie sneered as she skittered by.

That, Erika was expecting. That she didn’t have to pretend to handle. She had made her piece with Strange Stephanie’s betrayal after the fight with Tricia.

One of the cheerleaders approached, nervously. “Is it true?” She asked Erika although her eyes took in all of them. Are you a… a…. you know?”

“What do you think?” Erika scoffed.

“Taylor is just retaliating after being asked to leave the Rally squad.” Samantha told her cheer team mate.

The Cheerleader didn’t look satisfied with the answer but gave Erika a smile and walked on.

“This is going to get old, quick.” Victoria sighed.

“Just for now.” Erika turned to Victoria. “My terms, not theirs.”

Victoria put up her hands. “Fine. I’m just saying.”

“I know.” Erika nodded. “Just not yet.”

“We have to get to class.” Jorge took Krystal’s hand. “See you later.”

Samantha, Tricia and Erika walked into homeroom. A silence fell over the room like it did in the front hall. All eyes were on her as she walked to her seat. Jake looked at her and without a smile. He didn’t even make a smart-ass remark as she passed him to her seat. She dropped her books on her desk loudly then swept a hand over the back of her dress, smoothing it under her bottom as she sat.

Jake looked at her and opened his mouth to say something then shut it. He licked his lips and tried it again. “So, Erika.” He was nervous. “That rumor going around… is there… any truth to it?” he managed.

Erika’s heart was pounding. “Why Jake.” She added a lilt to her voice and batted her eyes at him. “You of all people would know the truth, right?” She then lowered it back to normal and glanced at everyone staring at them in the classroom. “What do you seriously think?”

A smile slowly slid across Jake’s face. He chuckled, then laughed. The tension in the classroom began to relax. But people still whispered.

“Erika?” Mrs. Anderson entered the class. “The office would like you to head down there.”

“What for?” Erika asked. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

The instructor shrugged. “I was just told to send you down.”

Erika stood and practically calmly walked out of class even though her heart was anything but calm.

The halls were quiet now, everyone having made it to class for first bell. What could the office want with her? She was the one who’s reputation was being quite literally smeared all over town. She entered the office and was told to have a seat.

She sat there her anxiety building, her heart speeding up only for her to control her breathing and slow it back down. Whatever happened, she could deal with it. She had too.

“Erika? The principal finally called from the door. Erika got up and walked in and took a seat.

“Hello, Erika.” The principal greeted as she slid around her desk. “It’s good to see you feeling more comfortable in your own skin.” She smiled. “at the beginning of the year, I wasn’t so sure you’d make it this long.”

“It was a bit rough.” Erika agreed. “I’m sure lots of teenagers go through things similar.”

The principal nodded. “You do cause quite a bit of drama though.” She went on. “Last year, problems with the football team, being harassed and bullied.” She looked through pages in her file. “This year, enrolling under a false name, changing your gender without your parents even knowing. A brain tumor and surgery… how is that going by the way?”

“Fine, I guess.” Erika’s heart was pounding louder and louder. She wished the principal would just get to the point.

“Your unfortunate seizures, that must be a hard one to deal with… Then your issues with the Rally squad and the subsequent fall out.” She looked back up at Erika. “The town let along my school is being vandalized.”

“I…I didn’t’ do it.” Erika defended. “I woke up this morning and was told about it. It’s horrible. Whoever is doing it, even defaced my locker.”

“I know. The janitor informed me that he’d have to repaint it”

“I’m sorry.” Erika crossed her arms in front of her protectively. “but It isn’t my fault.”

“Our phones are ringing off the hook because parents are concerned that you are peaking at their daughters in the bathrooms or while changing in the locker room or at Cheer. Thankfully we already spoke about delaying your taking gym and your changing outside the locker room at Cheer. However, several concerned parents have pulled their daughters out of school and many more want you transferred.” She explained. “The School super-intendent however has advised me that I can’t transfer you or take any action. I am only to reassure those concerned parents that no such behavior is happening at our school.”

“This, constant drama that surrounds you needs to stop.” She told Erika. “Parents are even talking about taking their concerns to the city council.”

“It isn’t my fault.” Erika reiterated. “Someone doesn’t like me for who I am and is causing this.” Her heart was pounding so hard she thought her chest would explode. She could even hear it in her ears. She sat forward in her seat. “I just want to be treated like everyone else.” She put strength into her voice. She could hardly believe that she had such strength. Even a few months ago, she’d have been cowering and crying in this chair. “It is no one’s business what bathroom I use, or how I dress, who I like or… or anything.” She was shocked at what she was saying. The Principal seemed just as shocked. “I just want to be left alone and treated like every other student in the school.” She stood up.

“I’m not responsible for the vandalization of the school, or of the signs and billboards around town. That is the responsibility of whom ever did it. So, if you have nothing else for me. I wish to return to class. I still have to catch up from my business trip.” Erika without looking at the Principal or caring what would happen next, walked out of the office and to the nearest bathroom, her heart racing, her blood boiling and her mind racing.

“Holy shit… holy shit… holy shit.” She told her reflection in the mirror. She wet a few paper towels and tossed her hair to one side and placed the cool towels on the back of her neck. “I can’t believe I just did that.” She told herself. “Oh my God, I’m going to get kicked out of school for sure now… holy shit.”

“You probably should.” A voice sounded from one of the stalls causing Erika to stifle a squeak and turn, big eyed to face Melinda. “I’m surprised the school has bent the rules for you this long.”

Erika just stared at her former Cheer leader.

“You haven’t really broken any rules, just bent them a lot.” Melinda washed her hands. “Look, Erika.” She turned off the water and captured Erika’s gaze. “I don’t have any problem with you personally. I even kind of like you, but rules are in place for a reason and when people like you come along and think that they should have special treatment, that’s when I start to have an issue.”

“I just want to be treated like everyone else.” Erika protested.

“Do you think everyone else can miss as much school and cheer practice and stay on the Cheer squad?” Melinda shook her head. “I was told that because of your brain tumor that I should make allowances. Rally squad had to take up a lot of slack while you were out, it put stress on the team.”

“I did what I could.” Erika protested again. “I drew up all of the posters to help make up for it.”

Melinda dried her hands. “That was nice, and it did help, but it still caused a lot of undue stress on the Cheer and Rally squads. As I said, I don’t have any personal issues with you, Erika. I can’t even start to understand what you have gone through But I am glad that you decided to quit. I just wish I didn’t have to lose another good Rally girl.”

Erika’s already fragile mood was seemed like it was about to break. She steadied herself and took a deep breath to cleanse Melinda’s negativity. “Do you know who is defacing my billboards?”

Melinda thought for a moment. She shook her head “I’m sorry, I don’t. It’s horrible what they have done to our town and school. My guess would be Taylor, but I have nothing to prove that it was her.” She paused before opening the door. “Good luck with finding the vandal that did. If I find anything out, I’ll let you know.” Melinda left Erika alone in the bathroom.

Her heart wasn’t beating as horribly as it was when she entered but she still felt fragile and a bit horrible. She fixed a few errant curls and made sure that her eyeliner wasn’t going to run before going back to class.

“What happened?” Samantha asked after class.

“The principal wanted to blame me for creating ‘drama’ in her school.” Erika growled.

“Seriously? You aren’t the one spray painting the town with nastiness.” Samantha was surprised. “What did you do?”

“I told her to stick it and walked out.” Erika confided.

“You?” Tricia inquired. “You. Erika, stood up to a person of authority?”

Erika bit her lip and nodded.

“Oh my God, I wish I could have been there.” Tricia squeezed her girlfriend. “I want details.”

“At lunch.” Erika promised. “If I don’t get suspended or expelled first.” Erika squeezed her hand before she took off for her next class.

“Did you really tell her to stick it?” Samantha asked as they moved on.

“Not those words, but I told her pretty much to stop singling me out and that I was in no way responsible for the vandalizing.”

“Girl, you’ve got balls.” Samantha smiled, then gave her a knowing wink.

“Look there’s the Tranny.” Someone in a group called as they passed in the halls.

Erika felt her body tense.

“Breathe.” Samantha whispered. “Smile and breathe.”

“Hey Erika.” Julian and Stan approached. “You doing alright?”

Erika nodded. “Yes.”

“Sorry to see someone defaced your billboards.” Stan apologized.

“Are you catching grief here?” Julian asked.

“Just from jealous losers.” Samantha nearly growled.

“I’m just trying to ignore it all.” Erika shrugged. “How are you doing?”

“Good.” Julian smiled. “Listen, if you need anything, a ride home, an escort through the halls? Just let us know.” He glanced at Stan who nodded.

“Thanks, but I’m sure I’ll be fine.” Erika gave them both a smile.

--o0o—

Erika was sitting in class just before lunch when her phone vibrated. She slid it out of her purse and glanced at it. It was her mother. Erika opened the text.

Mom: I think you should come home. My phone is ringing off the hook. The tabloids have pictures of you and Hunter kissing on the beach in Santa Monica. I’m calling Mr. Winters right now.

If her heart could have stopped it would have. The world faded for just a moment. She groaned and hit her head against her desk. Could this day get any worse?

Samantha pulled up to the grocery store. Erika ran in and went to the check out stand where they displayed the tabloids.

“Oh my God.” She said aloud. She grabbed the rag and took a closer look. Sure enough, she was wrapped up in Hunter’s bare chest and arms, kissing him. The photo had been taken with a telescopic lens and was a bit fuzzy, but you couldn’t mistake that it was her and Hunter.

She took two deep breaths to try and calm her heart and paid for the rag. She raced out and ducked into Samantha’s car.

“Well?” Samantha questioned.

Erika held out the paper so that Samantha could see the picture. “Oh my God! You and Hunter? What does it say?”

“I don’t know yet. I haven’t read it.” Erika pulled the paper back and opened it. She skimmed through it and started getting to nervous. “You read it.” She told her friend as she thrust the magazine back in her face. “I’m too much of a wreck.”

Samantha began reading.

“Well?” Erika asked.

“Hold on.”

Erika nearly started biting her nails, not that it would have done since she still had the long acrylic ones. Her phone alerted.

Tricia: Where are you and Samantha? Someone said that you drove off

Erika text her back: we had to run an errand, be back soon.

Samantha put down the rag and looked at her friend. “It says that a ‘new and upcoming model, Erika Summers’ was seen spending a day in the arms of one Hunter Allyson.” She paused and shot Erika a huge smile. “It goes on to say that you two spent the day hitting up popular L.A. landmarks and that you two were seen often in intimate positions.” She looked at Erika. “Really? You and Hunter?”

Erika groaned. “I was hoping that what happened in Hollywood would stay in Hollywood. What’s Tricia going to say? She already put up with me kissing Jake, twice.”

“It’s Hunter Allyson.” Samantha cooed. “I’d give you a pass on that. Is he a good kisser?” she went on.

Erika blushed as she nodded. “Yes.” She was remembering his lips against hers. “Way better than Jake.”

“When did you start liking guys?” Samantha queried.

“I think when I was with Hunter.” Erika’s blush deepened. “Jake is a good kisser and all, but Hunter… well he’s Hunter Allyson.”

Samantha handed the tabloid back to Erika and pulled the car out of the parking lot. “Shall we hit up fast food on the way back?”

“Yes. Though I’m not sure if I can eat anything.” Erika looked through the article. Several more pictures of her and Hunter were dotted throughout the article inside. She groaned again. “He tried so hard to keep everything on the downlow.” She stated aloud. We even hid in a cemetery to try and lose the paparazzi.”

“Seriously in a cemetery?” Samantha giggled. “We took our In-n-Out in there.”

“I’m sure you did.” Samantha cackled.

“That’s not what I meant.” Erika fumed. “the burger joint.”

Samantha bit her lip to keep from laughing further.

The girls greedily finished their fast food as they parked back in the school parking lot. Erika pulled out her phone and text Tricia: Meet us in front of the school.

“What am I going to do?” Erika asked her best friend.

Samantha shrugged. “If she hasn’t found out by now, I’m sure she will by tonight.”

“She is going to flip.”

Samantha shrugged. “I still can’t believe you were making out with Hunter Allyson. On the beach no less.”

Erika wanted to be mad at her friend but couldn’t. Her mind instead revisited the memories she stored away of Hunter.

Tricia, Krystal and Jorge stepped out of the front doors of the school as she and Samantha approached.

“What’s going on?” Tricia looked from Erika to Samantha and back to Erika.

Erika took a deep breath and handed Tricia the tabloid.

“What’s this?” Tricia asked taking it.

Erika was silent. Her heart was like a large lead fishing weight. She bit her lip as she watched Tricia’s eyes scan the picture on the front.

“Is this real?” Tricia asked.

Krystal looked from the picture up to Erika as well.

Erika nodded. “It was just a weekend thing.” She tried to explain. “He’s in Brazil for the next month and I live here. He lives in Hollywood.

Tricia tore open the tabloid to read the article. Krystal just looked wide eyed at Erika and shook her head. Jorge looked like he wanted to be anywhere but where he was.

“You made out with him all day?” Tricia’s voice was raw with anger and hurt.

Erika didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t all day. Just here and there.

“Did you have sex with him too?” She demanded.

“Really?” Erika protested.

“I don’t know you anymore, Erika.” She began sobbing. “I can’t trust you anymore. First there was Julian, then Jake. Now, Hunter Allyson.” She turned away. She tore her pink wig off and started walking quickly down the street.

“I’m sorry,” Erika called after her. “Really, I am. Where are you going?”

“Fuck you, Erika!” Tricia swore. “I’m done! I’m fucking done.”

Erika looked at her other friends. “What do I do?” her voice cracked.

Krystal looked lost. She shrugged and took Jorge’s hand.

“I think she needs some time alone.” Samantha’s heart went out to both of her friends.

Erika just stared after Tricia as she stormed down the street. She knew that feeling. She had done it a few times herself. She betrayed one of her best friends. Her girlfriend. A friend who stood by her time and time again. Her heart felt like it was tearing in two. The look of betrayal on Tricia’s face was something she wouldn’t soon forget.

She could barely make the pink dot of Tricia out through the tears that streamed from her eyes.

“We need to get back to class.” Samantha touched her shoulder.

Erika shook her head. “I can’t.”

“We have too.” She began pulling Erika towards the building. “You have to face Taylor and the others.”

Erika pulled her arm free. “I said, I can’t.” She needed to be alone. She needed to figure out a way to fix this. Why did she ever go to Hollywood in the first place? Who was she kidding, trying to be a model. She was a small town, hick poser. A liar.

“I need to be alone.” Erika wiped tears from her face.

“But Taylor and the vandals?” Samantha persisted.

Erika whirled “I said, I need to be alone!”

Krystal and Jorge were already opening the door to the school.

Samantha threw up her arms. “Fine.”

Erika turned and stormed down the street. New tears flooded her eyes. Tears of hurt, of guilt and of fear of losing her girlfriend.

--o0o—

Erika found herself slipping into church. She was sure Father Daniel was around somewhere, but she didn’t want to necessarily see him right now. She curtsied to the cross and found a seat on a pew a third of the way in.

She was so torn. She loved Tricia, yet she loved Hunter as well. Tricia knew her secret, Hunter did not. Would Hunter cast her aside? Banish her for her trickery?
Would Tricia take her back? It was unlikely. She had been patient with the whole kissing Jake thing, the first time, her drinking was the excuse. Could she really use it as an excuse? She decided that if she hadn’t been drinking, she wouldn’t have kissed Jake. The second time she understood it was for the advertisement that she was modeling for.

Hunter was different. Hunter was because she wanted to. Call it pheromones, call it magnetism, call it whatever you want, Erika was attracted to and wanted to kiss Hunter. If she was fully a girl, she would probably have done more than kiss the Hollywood star.

Her mind went back and forth. She felt horrible for betraying Tricia. Tricia, knowing who and what she was, supported her, helped her taught her and defended her countless times and time after time, Erika betrayed her trust. That hurt, that guilt, it was unbearable. She wanted to do something drastic to stop the pain, to mask it, defer it. She didn’t know what. She wasn’t a cutter. Eric had gotten close to that last year, but Erika couldn’t. She wished Summer was alive. Summer would have been able to help out. Of course if it hadn’t been for Summer’s suicide, Eric might never had gone to Summer camp as Erika with Samantha.

“If you feel like shouting, or screaming it is okay.” A voice sounded beside her. Erika jumped and turned to see Father Daniel. “No one else is here and God won’t mind. I’ve done it plenty of times.”

“Isn’t that sacrilege?” Erika was shocked. She quickly wiped tears from her eyes.

Father Daniel shrugged. He took a seat next to her and handed her a hankerchief. “I’m the only one here who’d know. He loves you regardless.” His eyes flicked up to the alter and back.

“Does it help?” Erika questioned. She blew her nose and dabbed at her eyes, hoping that she didn’t look like a panda.

“Sometimes.” He draped an arm over the back of the pew, leaned back and balanced a knee on the edge of the pew. “You want to talk about it?”

Erika looked uncertain.

“You having a bad day? Did you fail a class? Did you bomb the volleyball tryout?

“Volleyball was in the fall.”

Father Daniel cracked a smile. “Something has you here instead of school.”

Erika took a few breaths, snuffed a stuffy nose and glanced at Father Daniel. “I betrayed my girlfriend.”

Father Daniel answered with a small sigh and a nod.

“You know Annie Wilson.”

Father Daniel nodded with a smile.

“I am like Annie.” Erika told him. “I was born a boy.” The story of her last nine months poured out of her. Her acceptance at Summer camp, her returning home, her going to school as Erika, Her relationship with Tricia, Her friends, her brain tumor, the problems and acceptance with her mother. She told of her modeling, her kisses with Jake, her weekend with Hunter and her betrayal of Tricia.

“Wow.” Father Daniel shook his head. “No wonder you’re here.”

“I don’t know how to fix this.” Erika stated. She was out of tears. Her eyes felt raw. She held out the kerchief for Father Daniel.

He waved it off. “I’ve got plenty more.” He pulled a fresh one from a hidden pocket. Father Daniel looked around the sanctuary. “You can still yell at him if you’d like.”

Erika shook her head.

“That is a lot of things to keep bottled up.” He stated. “If I were you, I’d spend some time praying for some guidance.”

“Guidance for what, though?”

Father Daniel shrugged that is between you and him.” He lifted his eyes to the heavens. He stretched and stood as a couple of people entered the church.

“That’s not a lot of help.” Erika felt lost. He was a priest, he was supposed to help guide her in the right direction, wasn’t he?

“I could lecture you and have you read bible verses, but in the end, it comes down between you and God.” He told her. “Erika you are a smart, wonderful, caring, sensitive young lady. “I’m sure you will figure this out.” He gave her shoulder a squeeze. “unfortunately, the time allowed for yelling has elapsed.” He looked over at the older woman making her way towards the front.

Erika sat staring at the alter for a long time after he left. Her mind was almost as numb as her eyes were sore. She flipped the kneeling pad down and slid down to her knees. She folded her hands and bowed her head and prayed for help and guidance.

--o0o—

When she left the church, she wasn’t feeling much better. There was a lot to think about and a lot to work on. She pulled her phone out and was surprised to see a bunch of text messages. Unfortunately, none were from Tricia. Not that she blamed her. Her mother left three asking where she was and if everything was alright. Several from Samantha checking in with her.

She shot off a text to Samantha letting her know that she was fine. That she was heading home. Then text her mother the same thing.

The walk home in the cold would normally have bothered Erika, but today, she needed the alone time and the walk.

“Are you alright?” her mother asked from the kitchen when she arrived.

“No. I mean yes. I guess.” Erika tore off her coat and slipped out of her boots and took a seat at the counter in the kitchen.

“A lot happened today. How did it go?” her mother began slicing veggies

“Most of my signs and even my school locker was vandalized.” Erika began. “People in the halls called my Tranny. A few had the guts to ask me personally.”

“What did you tell them?” her mother asked.

“I asked them what they thought and left it open.” Erika said. “Most I believe bought it. Then the Principal called me in and blamed the vandalism on me.”

“She did what?”

“Don’t worry, Momma. I told her to stop singling me out and find the real culprit.”

Erika’s mother looked at her in disbelief.

“I know, I can hardly believe it too.” Erika nodded. “Then I get your text. Samantha and I ran to the store at lunch and I bought that rag. It’s so invasive. Why can’t they leave people alone?”

“It sells tabloids.” Her mother stated.

“So then I had to confront Tricia about it.” Erika’s voice was starting to crack. “She broke up with me and went storming off.”

Her mother began tearing up chunks of lettuce. “It would be hard finding out someone you loved was cheating on you.”

“I know.” It came out near a whisper. “I then had to get away from school.”

“Oh? Where did you go?”

“I ended up at church.” Erika’s voice was full of puzzlement. “I had a long talk with Father Daniel.”

Her mother nodded but didn’t say anything.

“I told him… you know.”

Her mother looked at her wanting more.

“I told him about everything that has happened since last summer and with Tricia and Hunter.” She waited for her mother to say something but she remained quiet.

“He didn’t offer any advice.” She grumbled. “He just told me to pray for guidance.”

“Did you?”

Erika nodded. “I’m not sure what good it’ll do.”

“Have you tried speaking to Tricia?”

“I’ve sent her a text, but she hasn’t answered it.”

Her mother gave her a tight-lipped smile and a look of understanding as she tossed all of the ingredients in a salad bowl.

“So, yeah, today has been a pretty shitty day.” She was surprised when her mother didn’t say anything about her language. “What did Mr. Winters say?”

“Well.” Her mother began. “As the saying goes, any press is good press. He’s been swamped by people wanting to know who you are and how they can book you for photo shoots. He said that he has even been flooded with requests for you to do commercials and some television walk-ons.”

“Seriously?” Erika didn’t know if she should feel excited or doomed. “Just because of a photo of Hunter and I kissing?”

Her mother shrugged. “I don’t understand how Hollywood works.”

Just then the doorbell rang. Erika looked at her mother who just shrugged. Erika opened the door and came face to face with a giant bouquet of flowers.

“Erika Summers?” the man asked.

“Yes.”

“This delivery is for you.” He had her sign for the flowers and handed them to her.

“Thank you.” She closed the door and took the flowers in and set them on the eating counter.

“Wow.” Her mother commented.

Erika found the card and opened it.

Erika,

I am so sorry, I never meant for any of this to happen.
I really hope that it doesn’t cause too much trouble for you and your girlfriend.

Hunter.

“Hunter is apologizing for the tabloid mess.” She told her mother. “When he first saw the paparazzi, we hid in a cemetery hoping we could ditch him. Obviously, it didn’t work.”

She was flattered over the flowers. If it hadn’t been for Tricia’s reaction, she would probably have been ecstatic.

“In a cemetery?” her mother questioned. “It was thoughtful of him to send you flowers.”

Erika nodded. “Should I leave them out here, or take them into my room?”

“Your choice.” Her mother opened the oven and pulled out a pan of brownies. Erika was so absorbed in dealing with her day that she failed to register the smell of something good baking in the oven.

“I don’t know what to do.” Erika whined. “Tricia won’t talk to me and she’s the one I have to get right with.”

“I’m sure she is hurting very bad right now.” Her mother offered.

“I know, but I still need to talk with her.” Erika could feel tears welling up yet again.

“Give her some time.” Her mother warned. “Then you can have a heart to heart.”

“Fine.” Erika huffed. “When is dinner?”

“When your father gets home.”

“I’m going to my room.” Erika warned and padded off to be alone with her thoughts of guilt. The flowers and note, as nice as they were, didn’t help.

Erika climbed into Samantha’s car.

“How are you feeling?” Samantha inquired.

“Still upset.” Erika stated. “Have you spoken to Tricia?”

Samantha nodded. “She is walking to school this morning. She is still quite upset.”

Erika groaned. Tricia had every right to be upset. Erika hoped that she would be able to talk to her and hopefully make up. “What happened at school after I left?”

Samantha was quiet for a moment. “Some of the rumors of you spread a bit more. Krystal, Victoria and I had to spend a lot of time trying to control them.”

“I’m sorry.” Erika touched Samantha’s arm. “I really am.”

Samantha nodded acknowledgment. “I’m starting to see Victoria’s side.” She glanced at Erika. “Maybe you should just make it public.”

Erika was silent, but her mind reeled and her heart pounded at the thought.

“I doubt very much that anyone or at least very few people would bother with bringing back ‘the plague’ attitudes.”

Erika bit her lip. ‘the plague’ and the fear of going back to ‘the plague was so ingrained in her psyche that she wanted to scream at the thought.

The rest of the trip to school was silent. It was strange not having Tricia in the car with them.

“Erika.” Samantha parked the car. “You and I have been through a lot together.”

Erika nodded.

“I love you as much as I loved Summer. You really are like a sister to me.”

“I love you too.” Erika bit her lip not knowing where this was going. Was Samantha breaking up with her too?

“I just want you to know, that no matter what happens, or what you decide, I will not abandon you. You are and always will be my best friend.”

Erika let out her breath. So, she wasn’t breaking up with her. That was a bit freeing.

The two best friends got out of the car and walked into school.

“The Tranny is back.” Someone snickered.

“Grow up.” She heard another voice. That, at least, was reassuring.

“Didn’t you see the pictures of her and Hunter Allyson?” a girl’s voice was heard. “Lucky bitch.”

“She does seem to have all of the luck, doesn’t she?” Another girl answered.

Erika found it hard to not roll her eyes. If they only knew just how wrong they had it.

She walked into Homeroom and for the second day in a row, the class went silent. Erika found a hard lump in her throat when she spied Tricia sitting on the opposite side of the room from normal. Her normally bright makeup and bright smile lit up a room. This morning she wore minimal make up and avoided making eye contact with her.

“So, you dumping me for Hunter Allyson, huh?” Jake ribbed.

“Not today, Jake.” Erika warned. “I’m not in the mood.”

“Whoa, sorry.” He held up his hands in mock defense.

Erika took her seat next to Samantha and looked over at Tricia. Tricia pretended not to see her. Erika’s heart felt as if it was too heavy for her chest to hold. She wouldn’t even look her direction. The shunning was even more hurtful than the yelling. She took a few deep breaths and concentrated on not crying.

“What is Hunter like?” Jake asked honestly. “Is he one of those self-absorbed Hollywood types?”

“He was actually very sweet and attentive.” Erika told him.

“I got that he was attentive from the photos.” Jake teased.

“Jake.” Samantha warned, ice in her voice. “That is enough. Can’t you see this is not the time?”

Jake glanced over to Tricia then back to Samantha and Erika. “Ouch. I take it, she didn’t know?”

“Jake.” Samantha growled. “Don’t make me hurt you.”

“Sorry.” Jake turned back around grumbling something about girls.

--o0o—

Erika walked between Victoria and Samantha towards the cafeteria. Her emotions were running somewhere between raw and empty. She felt empty not having Tricia around. She hadn’t realized how much of a hole her friend had filled.

“How much longer?” Erika asked, staring at the ground as they walked.

“For what?” Victoria asked.

“How much longer do I need to give Tricia her space? I don’t know if I can bear this much longer.”

“It’s not time yet.” Samantha stated. “She is still very hurt and I’m sorry, I can understand why.”

“I know. I don’t blame her, I just want to fix all of this.” She stated. “She’s one of the lavender ladies. We are supposed to be best friends for life.”

“What’s wrong, Tranny?” Taylor sniped, “Your lesbo girlfriend find out that you have a dick?”

“Leave it alone, Taylor.” Samantha warned.

Taylor approached and pushed Erika. “She dump you for being a tranny or because you’re having gay sex with Hunter?”

“Leave her out of this, Taylor.” Erika growled. Her blood was boiling. Taylor’s issue was between the two of them. Tricia had nothing to do with it. “This is between you and me.” Her heart began pounding in her ears. She just wanted to run off screaming for everyone to leave her alone.

Taylor lowered her voice. “You are nothing but a plague on this school, Eric. What’s wrong? Your Lesbo girlfriend not around to save you now, is she?”

Erika wasn’t quite sure what happened next. Her books slipped from her hands as she slapped Taylor across the face. If her blood hadn’t been boiling, her heart hadn’t been pounding in her ears, she would have heard that slap echoing down the hallway followed by shocked silence.

Taylor swung at Erika who stepped back to avoid it then dove forward knocking Taylor to the ground under her. Her knees hurt as they hit the hard floor, but she didn’t care. She had tried to be nice to Taylor, tried to ignore her insults and her rumor spreading, but she was now attacking Tricia. One of the few people who was always there, protecting and loving her.

Erika was aware of a gathering crowd, she could make out their mouths moving, calling encouragement, but she couldn’t hear anything except her heart beating fiercely in her ears.

Taylor swiped at Erika’s face, missing, her fingers clawed at Erika. Erika felt burning on her chest as she pummeled the former team mate beneath her. Vaguely she was aware that her top had been torn and that one of her breast forms had skittered across the floor. It didn’t matter, she had to take care of this once and for all. Her mouth was filled with a metallic taste. Was it blood? Who’s blood?

She blindly swung somehow landing a blow across Taylor’s face. Erika’s head was suddenly yanked hard to one side as Taylor pulled on her hair and extensions. She felt Taylor’s long finger nails bite again, this time across her face.

Erika grappled a hand full of Taylor’s braids in her left hand and pulled up as her right hand flew down contacting the girl in the face. She then found both hands tangled in her braids as she slammed her tormentor’s head against the floor again and again.

She became aware of hands grabbing at her hands, trying to withdraw them from Taylor’s braids as more hands roughly began pulling her off of her former Rally team mate. She was aware that her hands were still clawing, swinging and grabbing for Taylor even though she was pulled free from her.

Her vision was blurry, as tears poured from her eyes. The strange silence was gone replaced by a roar. A roar and shouting and screaming. Was she screaming? She hoped not. she wanted to spit, to get rid of that horrible metallic taste. She was on the floor sobbing as many hands held her too many hands to count. She realized that her muscles were straining against all of those hands. She didn’t care. All she could think of was Tricia. Keeping Tricia safe and making Taylor pay for all of the wrongs that she had done her. She took a few deep shuddering breaths and finally relaxed.

“Erika!” a voice could finally be heard. “Erika, that is enough!”

Suddenly the world came crashing down on her. The noises in the hall were too loud, the hands holding her too rough, the smell of blood and sweat too acrid. Her stomach tied in knots she wanted to vomit but knew that she couldn’t. not yet.

“Are you done?” another voice asked.

Erika nodded her head slightly. And heard her own sobbing.

“We are going to let go of you now.” The voice instructed.

Erika just shuddered and sobbed. She felt hands one by one a first then several at a time leave her body.

She just shuddered and sobbed, not wanting to move, not wanting to look at those around her, not wanting anything except her bed.

“Okay Erika, Come with me.”

She felt a hand hook under her arm and help pull her to her feet. Her knees nearly buckled as she put weight on them. Her knee caps felt like someone had taken a board and struck her with it.

“Let’s get her to the office.” She heard a gruff male’s voice.

Erika was being guided down the hall. She felt a gentle hand pull loose fabric up, covering her chest. Her lower lip quivered as she suddenly felt cold.

“You’re okay.” She heard a soothing voice next to her. It was Samantha. “You’re okay. I’m here with you. So is Victoria. You can open your eyes.”

Erika shook her head. She was frightened to see what she had done, she was afraid of seeing the looks of those who might still be around her.

Erika’s mind raced; what had just happened? What had she just done? “Taylor?” her voice was shaking and her mouth numb.

“She got what she deserved.” Victoria stated.

Erika shook her head. “No… Is she okay?” She finally opened her eyes and turned to look through tears at Victoria’s stunned face.

“She’ll be alright.” Samantha said in a soothing voice. “I don’t think she’ll be bothering you any time soon.”

“Stop by the nurse’s office with her first.” Erika looked over to see one of the History teachers walking with them, watching them closely.

“I don’t think she’ll be back to school for a couple of days.” Victoria added.

Erika noticed Samantha give Victoria a sharp look.

“She’ll be okay, Erika.” Victoria forced a smile,

Erika sat on the bed in the nurse’s office, knees tucked to her chin. Her blouse had been torn nearly to shreds. A few drops of blood now decorated it. Victoria handed over the retrieved breast form which Erika tucked into her bra. Somehow it helped to make things feel a little more normal. She shuddered. How many people had seen her fake breast fly out of her bra and skip across the floor? How many students at the school were going to tease her about wearing fake breasts?

This was a nightmare. What was she thinking, fighting with Taylor? Taylor had guessed that she had been Eric ‘the plague’. Taylor was the one who could totally ruin everything; and she started a fight with her. That was only partially true. Taylor had instigated the fight. Erika had had enough and lost control.

Another shudder wracked her body. Taylor had been taken to the hospital to be tested for concussion. Erika looked at the blood on her blouse again, wondering whose it was. She had once looked up to Taylor even wanted to be her friend. Then just a bit ago. How long had it been since the altercation in the hall? she had to be dragged off of Taylor while she was trying to pound her head into the floor. What kind of sicko had she become? She just couldn’t wrap her head around the whole situation. She had always been the one who avoided fights, who ran from them, who put up with untold bullying. How could she suddenly be the one being pulled out of a fight?

Once delivered to the nurse, Samantha and Victoria were asked to leave and write down what they had witnessed.

Erika felt her chest again. Angry red scratches from Taylor’s fingers burned. Her scalp felt like it was on fire from Taylor nearly ripping her hair out. She didn’t have any recollection of getting hit in the face, but her jaw said otherwise.

“Are you alright?” her mother entered the room.

“I think so.” I don’t know whose blood this is.” Erika showed her mother the ripped, blood stained blouse.

Her mother hugged her. Her mother wasn’t normally a hugger so it was a bit awkward. But the gentle human contact was soothing. She then looked Erika over. “So, what happened?”

Erika told her as much as she could. Once the fight started, though, she couldn’t say a whole lot.

“I didn’t mean to hurt her.” She began crying anew.

“I know you didn’t.” her mother soothed, then lowered her voice. “Sounds to me like she deserved it.”

“Is she hurt bad?” Erika questioned.

“I don’t know. I doubt it though. Let’s get you out of here and get you taken care of.”

“You aren’t mad?” Erika wondered aloud.

Her mother shook her head. “It sounds like you were defending yourself, Erika. I have never seen or heard of you starting a fight or participating in one. Because of that, I have to believe that you were standing up and defending yourself.”

“It was horrible, Momma.” Erika was close to sobbing again. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“I think you’ll have to have a long conversation with Dr. Barts.” Her mother nodded. “But as for your father and I? You are not in trouble. I do think your Principal will think otherwise.”

Erika sucked air in through her teeth. The going punishment for fighting was at least three days and as many as five days suspension. She had even known kids who were expelled for such behavior.

“Come on, let’s get you home.” Her mother guided her off the bed and out of the school to the car. Her mother started out of the school parking lot. She looked up at the vandalized sign. “Was she the one who did that?”

“I’m not sure.” She shook her head and instantly regretted it. “She did accelerate and encourage rumors around school.”

Her mother shook her head. “I’ll have to call Mr. Winters tonight and let him know what is going on.

Erika groaned.

She checked her phone to see several texts from friends. Samantha and Victoria as well as Krystal and Jorge text asking if she was okay. She group text them telling them that she thought she was fine. That she was heading home for a shower.

Jake text as well. Apparently, he was one of the people who pulled her off Taylor and held her until she had regained control.
Jake: Wow Erika, are you alright? You were ferocious. Remind me to never piss you off. I hope I didn’t hurt you, you were fighting even as we pulled you free. Hope you are okay.

Nothing from Tricia. Her heart sank at the silence between them. Should she text Tricia? And say what?
“Go and take a quick shower and follow it up with a long soak in the tub.” Her mother instructed as they pulled up to their condo.

Erika winced and groaned as she got out of the car. All of her muscles were sore, some were just stiff, while others seemed strained. Slowly she walked into the house. Her phone alerted as she removed her coat.

Victoria: Just heard, Taylor is going to be fine. Just thought you’d want to know.

Erika: Thx. I’ll call you later.

Fingers pruned and muscles relaxed, Erika finally dried off and changed into her sweats She could hear her parents speaking out in the kitchen.

“How are you feeling?” her father asked as she emerged from her bedroom.

“Erika stretched her neck muscles and flexed her shoulders and back. “Better. My jaw still hurts as well as my scalp where she pulled my hair.”

“We were informed that the other girl was checked out and okay.” Her father gestured to a chair.

Erika nodded. “Victoria told me.”

“I don’t want to place any blame, Erika, but I’d like to know how this got to the point of you two fighting in the halls at school.” Her father gave her his full attention. “From the beginning.”

Erika sighed heavily and was quiet for a moment as she gathered her thoughts. “It began when she accidently saw me changing in the locker room.” Erika explained. She went on to detail everything that happened after. Taylor quitting Rally, Erika approaching Melinda about letting her back on the squad, and the taunting and rumor spreading at school. Then finally how she pushed Erika and taunted her about Tricia.

Erika took a deep breath after and fell silent.

Her father nodded, “That’s quite an ordeal. I wish you’d have come to your mother and I about this before it escalated.”

“It happened so fast and I thought I could just deal with it.” Erika apologized.

Her father leaned forward and embraced her. “I… we love you very much.” He said into her ear. “We are so proud of you, of what you have done and what you are becoming. It has been a difficult and very busy few months and you have handled it better than most adults I know.”

Erika began to cry. “I love you too. Thank you for not being mad.”

“You were defending yourself.” Her father pulled back and looked her in the eye. “I will never be mad at you for defending yourself. Your school however, has decided to suspend you for five days. Your mother will be going down to get your homework tomorrow afternoon.

Erika nodded and wiped tears from her cheeks with the sleeve of her sweatshirt.

“Now.” Her father’s tone changed to one of business. “I spoke at length with Mr. Winters. He and I agree that this isn’t the best timing, but perhaps you should acknowledge publicly that you are a Trans-girl.”

Erika’s heart felt like a lead weight. It wasn’t something that she wanted to do, but with everything that had been happening she couldn’t argue the point. “Victoria has already written an article for the school newspaper on me and my transitioning. She is waiting for my approval before she publishes it.”

“That is a start.” Her father nodded. “I’m sure Mr. Winters will want to proof and possibly edit it first.”

“I’ve got a copy in my email. I haven’t read it yet.” Erika admitted. She looked to her mother. “I’d like to talk with Annie Wilson before this goes public.”

“Who is Annie Wilson?” She asked.

“She is a Trans-girl from church. She goes to Adams High. It might help to hear what issues she has had at being outed.”

“Isn’t she the girl that was shot?”

Erika nodded. “Some crazy Trans-phobic person.” Hopefully that will explain it.

Her mother shrugged. “Whatever you feel you need.”

Erika could hardly believe how her parents were handling this situation. Well, mostly her mother. Her mother up until Christmas had been embarrassed, unsupportive and totally against Erik transitioning. Now she was standing next to her father saying that she would support her in going public with transitioning? What world did she wake up too?

“You should probably speak with Hunter.” Her father told her. “He should know before this goes public.”

“He’s in Brazil on a film shoot and hard to get ahold of.” Erika explained.

“I’m sure Mr. Winters has a way to get in contact with him. I’ll be calling him back tonight.”

“What if Hunter hates me?” Erika whispered.

“He might be angry, but I don’t think he’ll hate you.” Her mother told her.

Her heart was getting heavier and heavier. Was it really anyone’s business what she had beneath her skirts? Why do people care so much? I’m a girl. I’ve been accepted as a girl, yet people kept insisting she was other than what she felt. Now she had to tell the school, which meant that everyone in town will know. Her being in the tabloids with Hunter meant that soon enough the world would know. She wanted to scream with frustration. Maybe she should have taken up Father Daniel’s offer to scream at God.

--o0o—

Erika wore a dress with a long skirt and a short sweater over the top. Thick tights encased by her boots kept her legs warm. She pulled at the braid and flipped it over her shoulder. Her mother had been kind enough to braid it this morning.

She was a bit nervous as she and her mother joined the throng of people entering the church.

“Good Morning, Erika.” Father Daniels greeted.

“Morning, Father.”

“Erika! How are you feeling?” Julian greeted. He stepped forward with Samantha close at hand.

“Fine.” She bit her lip. She wasn’t proud of the fight with Taylor and hated everyone reminding her by asking how she was feeling.

Samantha wrapped her in an embrace. “You’re looking better. We have missed you at school. You won’t believe the rumors going around now.”

“I’d rather not know.” She lowered her voice. “I gave Victoria the approval to print the article. In a few days, everyone will know that I am a Trans-girl and that I used to be Eric Martin.” She couldn’t say the nickname.

Samantha looked shocked, relieved and happy all at once. “I will be with you the whole way, Erika.” She gave her a squeeze.

“How is Tricia?” Erika asked.

“I think she’s almost done being upset. I think she is just feeling hurt right now.”

Erika nodded. “I miss her.” She turned to Julian. “What are you doing after service today?”

“Helping to clean up the church.” He shrugged.

“Would you join me in a meeting after service?”

“Sure.” He was hesitant. “What kind of meeting?”

“I’d rather not say just yet. But I’d like you to be there.”

Samantha gave her a quizzical look. Erika shot her friend a smile.

“Good morning, Erika.” Allie greeted.

“Morning to you too.” Erika gave her friend a hug. “Hi, Annie.” Erika greeted the quieter of the twins.

“What did you want to talk about?” Annie asked in her quiet manner.

“Can we wait until after service?”

Annie nodded.

“Will you sit with us?” Allie asked.

“Yes, Thank you.”

Julian looked from the twins to Erika and back. He smiled and went on his way, greeting parishioners and helping the older people to find a seat.

--o0o—

After the service, Erika, the twins and Julian found a quiet room.

“Can I join?” Samantha looked from Erika to Julian and back.

Erika shrugged. It wasn’t as if Samantha didn’t know. She might even lend support if needed.

“What did you want to talk to Annie and me about?” Allie asked once they were alone.

Erika looked at Julian who was puzzled why he was there, then to Annie. “I am like you, Annie,” She let it hang there for a second. “I am transgendered as well.”

“Seriously?” Allie asked. “Are you coming out because of your bill boards being vandalized?”

Erika nodded. “That is one of the reasons. A few people at school have found out and are forcing the issue” She looked back and forth between the twins. “I wanted to know what you went through so I know what to expect? As well as how I should handle this.” She focused that last part at Annie.

“You are transgender?” Julian asked slowly as the idea sunk in. “That explains our date and what happened after so much better. Wow.”

“I hope you aren’t angry.”

Julian shrugged. “We are friends. Everyone has their own skeleton closet, right?”

Erika re-focused her attention on Annie. “What should I expect? How should I go about telling people?”

Annie and Allie took turns relating what had happened to them, their family and their friends. Some of it was horrible, but there seemed to be a lot of good in there as well.

“You might want to make sure you aren’t going around alone for a few weeks. There are some people in this town who seem to have it out for people like you two.” Allie added.

Annie gave Erika a hug. “It’s like I have a new sister.” She told her.

Erika gave her an extra squeeze before releasing.

“I’ll be praying for you while you are going through this.” Annie told her. “If you need advice or support, just call.”

“Thank you, Annie.” Erika said as the twins exited the room.

“Wow.” Julian stated, shaking his head. “Just wow.” He looked at Erika. “That was a bit of a shock.” He just stared at Erika. “You’ll have my and Stan’s support.”

“I’m so glad you aren’t mad.” Erika gave him a hug. “You have been such a good friend. I’d hate to have you angry at me.”

“It is all making sense now.” Julian admitted. He looked as Samantha. “And you knew this whole time?”

Samantha nodded.

“She’s the primary reason as to why I discovered this about myself and have gone this far without anyone… well, few people knowing.” Erika told him.

“When and how are you going to tell everyone else?” Julian asked.

“Victoria is going to post an article in the school newspaper.”

Julian shook his head. “The school is going to explode. Have you told Jake yet? He should probably know before the article comes out.”

It was Erika’s turn to shake her head. “I was going to call him tonight.”

“Like, I said.” Julian wrapped a swimmer’s arm around her. “you have my support… and Stan’s.”

“Thank you, Julian. That means a lot.”

The three friends made their way to the parking lot. “Now I need to talk with Tricia, Jake and Hunter.” She stated.

“Give Tricia another day or two.” Samantha advised. “Like I said, she is still pretty hurt over Hunter.”

--o0o—

“Hey, Victoria.” Erika answered her phone. “I just emailed the article back to you. Mr. Winters had a few things that he’d prefer to be omitted or changed.”

“I hope he didn’t ruin it.” Victoria was a bit defensive.

“I read through it. I think his changes are valid.” Erika stated. “It is a great article even if some of it was a bit hard for me, personally, to read.”

“Oh?”

“Seeing some of our experiences together through someone else’s eyes.” Erika elaborated. “Some of it is kind of personal and we are about to broadcast it across the school.”

“I double checked with Samantha, Krystal and Tricia on some of it.” She continued to defend.

“I know. I’m just very nervous. Some people at the school don’t like me. What if this stirs things up and causes us more problems?”

“A handful of people don’t like you, but there are so many more that do like you, Erika.”

“I hope so. Otherwise I may have to change schools.”

“You’re being a bit dramatic, aren’t you?”

“You didn’t have to go through life as ‘the plague’.”

“I very much doubt that you’ll be going back there.” Victoria stated. “You have Samantha, Krystal, Tricia and I as friends.”

“Is Tricia still a friend? She hasn’t answered my calls or texts.”

“I think she is.” Victoria replied. “I doubt she’d drop you as a friend. But she’s still pretty raw about the whole Hunter thing.”

“Has she read the article?”

“Yes. She helped with some of it.”

“This is a big possibly life changing event.” Erika acknowledged. “I am a bit nervous.”

“You have friends.” Victoria affirmed. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”

Erika’s heart was pounding so hard she thought she could hear it echoing off the walls of her bedroom. She held her phone in anticipation expecting it to go off at any second in response to the text she had just sent. She told herself not to jump or scream out when it did.
She sat on the edge of her bed, waiting. She did jump when it alerted to an incoming call but was pleased that she hadn’t squealed. She felt light headed as she swiped to answer. Her heart pounding loud enough to hear. Thump thump… thump thump.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” Jake asked.

“A bit sore. I took a bath to relieve some of it.”

“Man, you really were gunning for Taylor.” Jake stated. “It took a few of us to pull you off.”

“Thanks for doing that, Jake.” Erika’s heart just wouldn’t slow down or ease up. “Listen, I need to tell you something.”

“Oh?” Jake’s voice was full of curiosity.

“You know that question you asked me in class?” thump thump… thump thump…thump thump.

“Not really. What?”

Erika took a deep breath. Here goes nothing. “You know the rumors going around school and the vandalism and stuff?”

“Yea.”

“It’s all true.” Thump thump… thump… thump thump. Erika’s heart stopped for a beat or was it two?

Silence was all that was heard on the phone as she waited for an explosion.

“Wait, What?” Jake asked for clarification.

“Jake.” Erika swallowed hard. She had to do this, Jake had every right to know. He needed to know before everyone else. “I am a transgender girl.”

Silence. Thump thump… thump thump…

“Wait, What? Seriously?”

Erika nodded then realized that he couldn’t see her. “Yes. Over this last summer I started living full time as a girl. Samantha and my other friends helped me.” He didn’t need to know that some of her friends weren’t willing participants at first.

Silence. Thump thump… thump thump.

“So, are you like… really a guy?” Jake asked. “This isn’t some prank is it? Is this being recorded?”

“No. This isn’t a prank.” Erika closed her eyes. “Last year you knew me as… Thump thump…Eric Martin… ‘the Plague’. Thump thump.

Silence. This was one of the harder things she had done. Brain surgery was simple by comparison.

“You are… ‘the plague’?

“I used to be.” Erika clarified. She hated that name. hated the feelings that stirred every time she thought about what Eric had gone through.

“No way.” Jake was incredulous.

“Victoria will be printing the whole story in the next day or two. I just wanted to give you a heads up before the story came out.”

“You’re fucking serious.” It was a statement.

“Yes.”

“Holy Fuck! But I kissed you… you-you kissed me.”

“Yes.”

“Why the fuck didn’t you warn me!” Jake swore.

“I didn’t want anyone to know.” Erika could feel a lump rising in her throat. Tears burned her eyes.

“Fuck this shit!” Jake swore and hung up.

Oh God. Erika sobbed. He needed to know. He needed to know. Now he’ll hate me. Maybe I should switch schools. Would Adams High be any different? It didn’t seem so. Annie had been having trouble since she was found out. Did Constitution have a private school? Would private school be an answer? They did get to wear those cute skirts. What are you thinking? Your thinking of skirts when your life is falling apart around you?

The email she had sent Hunter was difficult but not as difficult as telling Jake. She hoped Hunter wouldn’t hate her. She would have rather had told Hunter in person, but that wasn’t exactly possible at the moment. Mr. Winters said that he would make sure Hunter read the email soon.

Erika looked up from the T.V. as her mother came in the door. “Well?” she asked.

“I picked up what homework was ready.” Her mother set a pile of books and papers on the table.

“Did anyone say anything to you?” She asked.

Her mother shrugged. “Some of your teachers enjoy having you in their class. Some were upset that your ads and locker had been vandalized. Your locker has been repainted, so that garbage is now gone.”

“Victoria text me to tell me that the article will be run tomorrow.” Erika took a deep breath. “I’m a bit nervous.”

“It’ll be better that it is out in the open. Aren’t you tired of all the sneaking around?”

Erika nodded. “I just want people to treat me normally. And I really don’t want to go back to being ‘the plague’.”

Her mother smiled. “I doubt you will ever go back to that. You have made a lot of friends who love you.”

And a lot of people who now hate her. Or hate what she was… different. Erika nodded as she thumbed through her homework. This would definitely be filling her next few days off from school.

“Your dad will want to talk to you tonight.” Her mother fixed herself some tea.

“What about?”

“Mr. Winters has gotten many inquiries since your pics with Hunter went public. Some for commercials, others for movie parts. Have you considered trying acting?”

Erika stared at her mother in disbelief. “No. I mean when we were in Hollywood, Mr. Winters was going to have Brook take me to a casting call for a commercial, but it was canceled. I really hadn’t thought about it.”

“It might be something to try. Apparently, there is interest in you trying.”

--o0o—

Erika and Samantha entered the coffee shop. Samantha had picked her up after Rally practice. Erika approached the counter and stopped in her tracks. Tricia in her pastel pink wig and frilly pink and white dress sat at a table, watching then expectantly.

“It’s time you two talk.” Samantha told her. “I’ll get your coffee.”

Erika’s heart was heavy in her chest as she approached her girlfriend. “Hi.” It was short and tentative.

“Hi.” Tricia had a tight smile.

Erika tucked the long skirt under her as she took a seat opposite. “How are you?”

“Better than I was.” Tricia stated.

Erika wanted to reach across the table and take her hand but was unsure if that was the right thing to do.

“I heard about what Taylor had said when you fought her.” She kept glancing between Erika and the table in front of her. “You really didn’t need to stick up for me.” She shook her pink covered head. “Were you hurt?”

Erika shook her head. “I love you, Tricia.” Erika had to swallow a large lump.

Tricia was silent for a moment. “I love you too, that is why the pictures of you and Hunter really hurt.”

“I am sorry.” Erika reaffirmed.

“I had a long talk with Leeza.” Tricia explained. “She said that in some cases, once someone starts hormones, they become more attracted to the opposite sex.”

“My shrink said the same.” Erika nodded. “I wasn’t thinking… well, that isn’t exactly true. He lives in Hollywood and is in Brazil for the next month or so filming. I doubt that I’ll ever see him again. Neither one of us knew that we were being followed by paparazzi.”

Tricia was silent.

“I know. That isn’t a very good excuse.” Erika admitted.

Samantha joined them with their drinks. She looked from one to the other.

“Erika.” Tricia began again, she glanced at Samantha. “I love you, and I still want to be your friend, but...” She took a deep breath and released it. “I can’t be your girlfriend anymore.”
Tears blurred Erika’s vision. She nodded. “I understand. I love you Tricia and really want to still be your friend.” She did reach across the table this time and was relieved when Tricia grasped her hands and gave them a squeeze.

Samantha let out a big sigh. “I’m glad that is finally done with.”

Erika dabbed her eyes with her napkin and spotted Tricia doing the same.

“So.” Samantha went on. “The article comes out tomorrow. Victoria had to run it by the Principal and get the school’s approval first. A special addition will be put out tomorrow.”

“You all need to let me know how it is received.” Erika begged. “I need to know if I need to switch schools or start home schooling.”

“Did you read it?” Tricia inquired.

Erika nodded. “I had to send it to my agent to approve as well. I spoke to Victoria about it earlier. There are a few things in it that are a bit difficult for me to read and admit to, but I hope it will be okay.”

Her friends caught her up on the latest gossip. Everything from the Tranny rumors to how she had sent Taylor to the hospital. Some rumors said that she had bashed Taylors brains out on the floor, others how Taylor had punched her out of the blue for no reason to start the whole fight. She and Hunter had been caught having sex on the beach and the photo of them kissing was the only one they were able to print. Other said that it was only a Hunter look-a-like.

Tricia gave Erika a long, friendly hug before the girls departed the coffee shop.

Chapter 7

Erika studied herself in the mirror. Her heart fluttered again as she thought about her big day. Her first day back to school after having outed herself to well just about everybody. She wore a blue skater dress with yellow roses on it that she had gotten from one of her photoshoots. The hem of the dress short enough to expose her knees but long enough to still be modest.

It had taken her nearly an hour last night to figure out how to wear her hair. In a ponytail with a ribbon or down with her extensions bouncy with curls. Self consciously she ran her fingers through her long locks again before flipping them over her shoulder. She sighed at her makeup. It was heavier than she would normally wear to school, but she wanted to enforce her femininity. She ran her fingers across her bare knee. She didn’t feel like wearing leggings with this dress, so she was hoping that the nylons she dug up would help keep her a little warmer than bare legs. For must have been the fiftieth time she debated her foot-ware. The light gray boots would hug her calves and keep her legs warm up to her knees but the three-inch yellow heels that matched the roses in the dress would complete the outfit in a way that the boots couldn’t.

She tipped her head to one side and hooked a hoop earing in to her earlobe and then repeated the process on the other side. She looked in the mirror again studying her reflection. A year ago, Eric had had similar apprehension, but his was due to surviving getting from one class to another or better yet, getting home without incident. Now, her apprehension was about whether or not her classmates could except her as she presented herself. The biggest difference now, was that she had good friends who supported her.

After her phone conversation with Jacob as well as her makeup with Tricia, she had settled down to write one of the hardest emails she thought she would ever write. It was a short email, only about a page explaining to Hunter that she was a Transgender girl who didn’t mean to lead him on. That she really, really did like him and would never want to hurt him. That she hoped that he could forgive her and hoped that they could at least remain friends, that she hoped that they could be more.

She eased onto her bed and checked her inbox for the fourth time since waking up. It had been a day or two and he still hadn’t responded. He was in Brazil on a photo shoot. He was probably too busy to have checked it.

The doorbell rang, and she heard her mother greet Samantha. She closed her laptop and practiced Brook’s graceful move of standing up.

“Aren’t you ready?” She asked entering Erika’s room wearing her long winter coat.

Erika let out an exasperated sigh. She held her hands out to her sides and slowly spun. “What do you think?”

“You look like you always do… amazing.” Samantha shrugged with a smile.

“Boots or heels?” Erika asked, showing Samantha both.

“Definitely the heels.” Samantha nodded. “They’re so cute with that dress, where did you get them?”

“One of my photo shoots.” Erika stated. “You can borrow it sometime.”

“There’s no way I can look that good in that outfit.” Samantha sighed.

Erika took a moment as her center of gravity shifted after slipping on the yellow heels. “Well?” She asked slowly turning.

“You look gorgeous.”

“Have a good day.” Her mother smiled from over her coffee.

It only took a few minutes to get to Tricia’s house. Her cute friend bounced out of the house wearing one of her new pink wigs and a huge smile.

“What are you so happy about?” Erika inquired as her friend buckled her seatbelt.

“I’m happy that we are friends and that my friend is coming back to school today.” She gave Erika’s shoulder a squeeze.

“What the…” Samantha gasped as she pulled into the school parking lot.

Erika groaned when she looked to where Samantha was referring. Three media vans with reporters and cameramen were out in front of the school. A mob of people yelled and waved signs, protesting the presence of a Transgender girl being allowed in their kid’s school.

“Should I take you home?” Samantha inquired with dread.

Erika shook her head. “They’ll just wait until I show, or follow me to our home. Better just to take care of it now.”

“Where is the Principal?” Tricia asked. “Shouldn’t she be ordering these people off of school property?”

Erika shrugged and gave a long sigh as she climbed out of the car.

“There’s the freak now!” someone shouted from the crowd.

Erika turned a bit red as Tricia and Samantha closed ranks with her.

“Not in our school!” a chant started up with the protesters. Two nervous looking police officers stood in front of the angry crowd and cast a glance over their shoulders but kept their eyes on the yelling people in front of them.

Erika looked with forlorn from the media waiting like a puma ready to pounce on it’s prey to the protesters and back. ‘rise above’ she started the mantra in her mind. ‘don’t stoop to their level. Rise above.’
She was so lost in thought she almost missed that Victoria, Krystal, and Jorge had helped to create a barrier around her. The thought of her friends standing up for her like this warmed her heart. Up by the doors to the school, she spotted Julian and Stan. Stan was holding open the door as Julian quickened his pace towards them.

“Pervert!” she recognized the voice over the others, she looked over to see Taylor up front holding a protest sign as well. Strange Stephanie was beside her, red faced and screaming, but her words were lost to her over the rest.

“Erika!” a reporter cut them off followed closely by the others.

“Erika Martin, when did you think you were a girl?”

“Erika, how do you feel about classmates being upset by your coming out?”

“Does Hunter Allison know that you are Trans?”

Erika clenched her teeth and tried to calm her already boiling blood. These people had no right asking her these questions.

“No comment!” Victoria called out over and over.

“Did you and Hunter have gay sex?” she heard. She nearly charged and punched the reporter asking such a vile question.

“Erika, did you get kicked off the Rally squad because you are Trans?”

Julian and Jorge were starting to have to push the cameramen and reporters aside as they neared the doors to the school.

Just as they were approaching the doors, the Principal pushed past Stan. She held up a bull horn and her magnified voice cut through all the other noise. “You in the media all need to leave the school property.” She called. “Please leave now before the police are forced to remove you from school grounds.”

One of the police officers left the protesters and came towards the media mob.

“Ms. Martin,” The reporters were ignoring the Principal. “Do you use the boys or girl bathrooms?

“Do you change in the girl’s locker rooms?”

They were now filing in through the front door Stan was holding.

“Erika, were you molested as a child?” a final voice called out just before the door slammed shut behind them.

“What?” Erika started to turn around.

“Keep going.” Victoria pulled on her arm.

“How can they ask such vile questions?” Erika growled.

“They’re trying to get you to react.” Samantha patted her arm. “Keep going. Ignore the bastards.”

Jorge parted to admit the Principal into the wall her friends had created.

“I am so sorry, Erika.” She wrung her hands. “I was not prepared for this. I expected more from our town.”

“Someone shot that Trans-girl from Adams high.” Victoria protested. “that didn’t give you a clue?”

“I’ve got a call in to have them removed from the school grounds, they won’t be a further problem.” The Principal affirmed.

“I should have known that today wouldn’t be quiet.” Erika admitted. “I was hoping that people would be more accepting.”

“A lot are.” Samantha told her.

Erika felt strange as her entourage escorted her to her locker.

“Go home, Freak!” a voice called from down the hall.

“Shut up, Prick!” another voice called after

“Hi Erika.” Several people greeted as they walked down the halls. Some of those she didn’t even know.

“You go, Erika!” someone else called.

Erika gave a long relaxing sigh as they made it to her locker. She took off her overcoat and hung it up.

She turned around to see her friends shrugging out of theirs. Samantha, Krystal, Victoria and Tricia each wore their lavender camp shirts. Then she noticed Jorge, Stan and Julian each wearing a lavender shirt.

“What’s going on?” She inquired. “Why are you all wearing your camp shirts?”

“We’ve all asked that the students that support you coming out wear lavender to show their support for you.” Samantha grinned. “It was Victoria’s idea.”

“Do you know how hard it is for guys to find lavender?” Jorge asked.

Krystal whispered loudly. “He’s wearing a woman’s double X.”

“You promised.” Jorge looked hurt.

“Sorry.” Krystal giggled. “It’s just too cute.”

Erika looked from each of her friends, tears welling in her eyes. “Crap. I’ll ruin my makeup,” She then noticed a senior girl walk by smiling and gave her a wave. She was wearing a lavender sweater. Two more girls smiled as they walked by, one wearing a lavender dress the other a skirt.

“Oh my God.” She nearly sobbed.

“Told you.” Tricia held out a tissue as she smiled at her friends.

“From Plague to pussy!” a voice sneered from down the hall.

“Shut up, you closeminded dick, Jason.” A girl’s voice growled.

“We love you, Erika!” several other voices called from down the hall.

“Unfortunately, not everyone is supportive, but I think you’re going to see a lot of lavender today.” Victoria beamed.

“We’ve all made a pact and worked it out, so that you’ll be escorted from one class to the next today.” Krystal informed her. “And you’ll have at least one of us in the bathroom with you.”

Erika dabbed at her eyes. “Do I look like a racoon?” She asked Samantha.

“Only slightly. It’s fixable.”

“Thank you, so much.” Erika looked at each of them through watery eyes.

“Let’s get you cleaned up. Then to your first class.” Samantha guided her down the hall.

“We support you, Erika.” An unfamiliar girl said in passing.

Samantha and Erika entered the girl’s bathroom. Several girls were putting on finishing touches before starting their day.

“Pervert alert.” One girl called out when seeing Erika. She quickly pushed past them.

“Really, Ashley? I thought you were better than that.” Another girl called after her. She turned to Erika. “Don’t let her closemindedness bother you.” She told her. “Welcome to being a girl… well officially that is.”

“Thank you.” Erika smiled back. She looked at her reflection and grimaced. All that work this morning, wasted.

“Did you bring any of your makeup with you?” Samantha asked.

Erika handed her the small purse she had with her. Samantha dumped it out and went through it real quick before adding her own to the mix.

Just a few minutes later, Erika emerged from the bathroom looking even better than she had this morning. “You are amazing.” She told her friend.

“Wow.” Tricia looked at her. She started forward then stopped awkwardly.

“It’s okay, Tricia.” Erika nodded with a smile.

Tricia leaned forward and gave Erika a peck on the cheek and then wrapped her in a hug.

“Good Morning, Erika.” Mrs. Anderson greeted as she and her friends entered homeroom. “Welcome back.”

Erika nearly started crying again when she saw that Mrs. Anderson was wearing a lavender pencil skirt under a white button-down blouse and a lavender sweater.

“Thank you.” Erika told her, and it wasn’t for the warm greeting.

“Even the faculty.” Samantha grinned.

Erika looked to her normal seat and saw Jacob turn his gaze away as she spotted him.

He made a point not to look at her as she passed his desk.

“What? No snarky comment?” Tricia asked.

“Leave him alone, Tricia,” Erika said sternly. “He has every right to be upset.” She watched as Jacob’s body stiffened.

Erika looked around the room and saw about a third of the class was wearing lavender. One girl caught her eye and with a smile, showed Erika that she was wearing lavender socks.

Erika smiled back and tried to concentrate on class.

After class let out, she was met in the hall by Julian who threw a smile at her but concentrated on who was passing in the hall.

“Really, Julian?” Erika scoffed. “I very much doubt anyone is going to try something with all of the attention I am getting.”

The tall guy just shrugged.

Erika rolled her eyes, but he didn’t see. “Fine. I need to use the bathroom.” She saw him dip his chin in acknowledgement. Then started off once Samantha and Tricia had joined them.

One girl nearly flinched when she spotted Erika entering the bathroom. Her mouth firmed as she seemed to rush past Erika.

Another girl exited a stall. She looked up to see Erika and her eyes widened in recognition and shock. She looked away and hurried to the sink to wash her hands and bolted. Erika sighed.

“I’ve got to get to class.” Tricia told her through the stall door. “Julian will walk you to your next class though.”

“Ok. See you at lunch.”

The next few hours went pretty much the same. Some classmates were supportive, others obviously upset, while it seemed a majority just didn’t care, or if they did, they didn’t show it.

The cafeteria was a bit strange. It was as if it was divided by those in lavender and those who glared and sneered in her direction.

Greg and his cronies deliberately walked by. Greg made some kind of comment about how the football team should have helped the plague out by cutting off his genitals instead of duct taping them which brought a bunch of nervous laughter from his followers. Erika’s heart plummeted in her chest at the comment.

“Are you alright?” Krystal asked. “You’re as white as a ghost.”

Erika nodded and felt her face flush.

“Don’t let those pricks get to you.” Tricia growled. “I’ll find a way to get back at them.”

On her way back to class, her phone alerted her to a text from her mother.

“I gotta call home.” She told Stan who was her new body guard.

She stepped into a door alcove and called her mother. “What’s going on?” she asked.

“Are you alright?” her mother asked.

“Yes.”

“How are things going at school?”

“Mostly good. There were a bunch of reporters and T.V. cameras asking me all sorts of horrible questions this morning, but my friends helped me get safely into the school without incident.”

“Your father is going to pick you up from school.” Her mother explained. “There are a few media vans parked out front. A few reporters have even knocked on the door asking for interviews.”

“Crap.” She swore under her breath.

“Watch it… although I agree with you.” Her mother’s admonished. “We’ll be staying at a hotel tonight. Is there anything in particular you need me to pack?”

“Make sure I have my gray boots and some flats.” It was all that Erika could think of at the moment. The nylons were keeping her comfortable while in the school, but it was still very cold outside. “Perhaps a pair of tennis shoes.”

“Stay in the building until your father arrives.” Her mother ordered.

“Yes, mom.”

“Your father has been on the phone with Mr. Winters getting information on how to handle this situation.”

“Is Mr. Winters upset?” Erika bit her lower lip.

“I haven’t spoken to him. I’ll see you after school at the hotel.”

“Okay. Thanks mom.”

“What’s going on?” Stan inquired.

Erika sighed heavily. “More drama.”