Rosemont estates was a housing addition that was unlike most. It was part of the town of Rose-Rich, but was separated from the rest of the city by a river and thick woods. The addition was carved out of a wasteland just a decade ago by a rich investor. One road led from the freeway into the quiet haven with only nine residences. The word “residences” didn’t quite describe them. “Mansions” was a better word. The community was well-planned, with trees where trees should be and streets where streets should be. There were no telephone or light poles with unsightly wires strung across the sky. Those utilities were underground. There were even street lights designed by the builder to fit in the curb. A special path was made for the refuse (not garbage) trucks. Most residents actually didn’t know (or care) how to get to the “refuse” path. Most had never seen a refuse truck. Their hired hand got the refuse to the right place and it silently disappeared from there.
Thus the scene was idyllic, but Rosemont denizens were not snobs. They were generous supporters of civic projects and were adherents to a cross-section of faiths. With only nine families all the bases couldn’t be covered, of course. The Amish, with their austerity, and the Pentecostals, who were usually not among the very wealthy, were two notable examples.
Sixteen-year-old Steven Mills liked the neighborhood except for the fact that there were no other guys his age who lived nearby, so he was glad to learn that the couple moving in the house closest to his had a 15-year-old son. When he met Michael Holmes, however, he was slightly disappointed. While Steven was a typical “rough and tumble” male, Michael was small, prepubescent, and didn’t seem likely to be the “outdoors” type. Still, Michael was an easy person to like, and he was willing to follow Steven on almost any adventure, though he lacked the physical strength and seemed to be lacking enthusiasm.
Michael’s physical attributes and mannerisms seemed a bit feminine When Steven saw Michael throw a baseball; he decided to show him the proper way to ‘flip’ the ball with the arm. Michael hopelessly continued to ‘push’ the ball from his shoulders exactly like a girl. Finally, Steven told him to avoid baseball if he could, and to NEVER let the guys see him throw a ball.
Despite his feminine attributes and mannerisms, Michael was a girl magnet, and he reciprocated their attention. He seemed to have a “way” with the girls. Steven never had a problem relating to the opposite sex, but the girls seemed to be equally attracted to Michael. Steven was somewhat puzzled by the girls’ attraction to his friend at first, but came to see that a closeness between Michael and any one girl was more similar to a rapport between girlfriends, and Michael posed no threat of interference between Steven and any of the girls. It actually seemed that his friendship with Michael was a positive influence on Steven’s relationship with girls.
Even though Michael was smaller and weaker, he would try to keep up with his leader when physical strength or stamina was required. While Steven was already well into puberty, Michael’s body had not yet provided that dose of male hormones that brought on the signs of manhood, such as cause the deepening voice, the facial hair, and the broader shoulders.
For a while, Steven opted for adventures into the thick woods that grew near their homes. Their excursions yielded only more wilderness however, and Michael would come out scratched and tired. Steven could see that his friend was getting little or no pleasure from their adventures. Once he thought Michael was going to cry. He pretended not to notice, but because they were friends, he abandoned the trips into the woods. He liked Michael, and the two gradually developed a best friend relationship that they both enjoyed. Michael had an amazing talent for art, was a promising piano student, and could play just about any other musical instrument he chose. Steven played guitar and held out a youthful naïve hope that the two of them could start a rock band one day.
In view of his friend’s preferences and limitations Steven yielded some control in choosing activities and they began engaging in less physically demanding activities such as playing music together. Michael also taught Steven to play chess. Steven was proud of his new ability, and felt it gave him some “class”. The first time Steven said “Checkmate”, Michael let out a high-pitched yelped, put his arms around Steven’s neck, and kissed him on the cheek. Then, an embarrassed Michael blushed and explained, “Oh, Steven, I’m so sorry. That’s the way it’s done in the ‘old country’, but I realize it’s really inappropriate here. It won’t happen again.”
Once again, Michael seemed on the verge of tears. Steven smiled and said, “It’s OK, man. I understand that I’m irresistible!”
Michael sniffed and wiped his eyes. “Yeah.”
Steven wondered about the full meaning of Michael’s “Yeah”. Did it mean “Yeah, you’re irresistible to me?” Was Michael sexually attracted to him? Steven didn’t believe the explanation about the “old country”. But he wrote it off as just another strange incident with his strange friend. He thought about how it would have been if it had been a boy other than Michael. He probably would have permanently parted company with the offender
But it didn’t seem offensive or strange with Michael. He thought maybe it was childhood recklessness, since Michael didn’t seem to be growing out of childhood. He realized that he had an affection for Michael that he had never felt toward any other male. He wondered if this was how someone became gay. He then wondered what Michael’s reaction would be if Steven kissed him on the lips and said, “They do this in the old country.” He thought a few seconds about it and realized that Michael would probably think he was being ridiculed, so he abandoned the idea. He wondered why he even considered the idea. Michael had kissed him on the cheek, why was he thinking about kissing Michael on the lips? Everything was different in this relationship. He figured it was because Michael was just not any guy. It was just that special affection. He refused to let himself call it a ‘special attraction’. He thought maybe it was just a natural male tendency to protect someone smaller and weaker. Maybe he was beginning to see Michael as a younger brother … or sister? That was unlikely, however, because the most puzzling part of this incident was an unexpected reaction in Steven’s body to Michael’s kiss. He got an erection! He dare not share that information with Michael. He wasn’t even sure that Michael would know the meaning of the word “erection”.
That night, when Steven was getting ready to shower, he looked into the mirror and saw a slight pink smudge on his cheek. It came off with just a bit of soap and water. Michael had probably been wearing lipstick when the spontaneous kiss occurred. He just smiled, shrugged, and said under his breath, “Michael, you’re something else.”
One Sunday evening, Steven saw a program on television about transgendered people. As he watched, he began to see how Michael could easily fit the profile described on the show. He felt that he now had some insight into Michael’s personality, but decided not to embarrass his friend by saying anything to him and, in time, maybe Michael would “come out” to him.
One day while Michael’s parents were both working, he asked Steven to come to his house and listen to him play the piano. Oddly, he called it “Show and tell”. They walked into the large, empty house. There was no carpet, and area rugs did little to quiet the echo of every step they took. Michael led his friend to the living room where sat dormant a large Steinway. The instrument seemed to yearning for someone with talent to sit on the bench and play. The Steinway would respond with the most exquisite sound this side of heaven.
Michael’s hair looked as if it had been carefully brushed and styled and he was wearing tiny pearl earrings, but Steven had a self-imposed rule that he never commented on anything about anything Michael wore. He was accustomed to Michael wearing somewhat feminine clothing, but today he was wearing a tank top and shorts; both of very thin material. The garments were obviously designed for girls. As he followed Michael, he could see the outline of bikini style panties with a pink waistband peeking out the top of the shorts. It seemed that display was intentional, and Steven wondered if it was the beginning of Michael’s “coming out:” Maybe this was the “show” part of the “show and tell”.
Michael sat at the piano and, though the bench was short, he patted for Steven to sit next to him. Steven was slightly uncomfortable sitting so close to another boy, but he didn’t want to offend his friend. After he sat, he realized the bench was even shorter than he thought, and the two boys had to sit even closer than he had thought. Michael smiled. “Best seat in the house!”
Michael’s body felt cool and soft next to his and he smelled of perfume. He told himself he was not sexually aroused as he watched Michael’s soft, tender hands play the first movement of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, and felt Michael’s soft, scantily clad body moving next to his. The mellow sound engulfed them, causing Steven to understand the “best seat” comment. From Moonlight, Michael went directly to a medley of some of the most beautiful music ever written.
Steven had heard the piano played before, but nothing like this! The music seemed to flow throughout his body. The feel of Michael’s body next to his and the smell of the perfume was mesmerizing. He closed his eyes and listened, but when he felt a tear try to drop he opened his eyes and watched his friend’s face as he played. He had inherited his Italian mom’s olive complection and dark, mysterious eyes. His features were delicate and child-like and he had a head of thick brown hair hi-lighted by the summer sun. He realized that Michael not only looked young … he was as beautiful as most girls he knew. He realized he had been cruel to drag this beautiful person through thick, dangerous woods and underbrush. Why didn’t his friend refuse? Was he so desperate for friendship? Michael seemed oblivious to Steven watching him. His mind and heart were on the music. Finally, he ended the medley. He looked straight ahead as the final notes died. Then, he turned to Steven with a smile. “What do you think?”
Steven’s heart melted. He didn’t know this person. Oh, he had seen this face, these eyes, that hair, those lips! the smile was new. He had never seen Michael smile so openly. His friend was so stunning he found himself unable to look away. He noticed now that Michael was wearing just a small amount of makeup. He resisted an impulse to embrace his friend and tried to just sit and admire the boy’s delicate features, but his friend had posed a question. What did he think? What was he supposed to say? Still wrapped up in the moment and feeling the emotions of the music, he inadvertently said exactly what he thought, “You’re beautiful!”
The statement was unexpected by both boys, Steven emitted a slight gasp, and Michael’s reaction was not like anything Steven expected. What did he expect? Maybe Michael would club him on the arm and say, “Get outta here!” No, that wouldn’t be Michael.
Michael put both his hands in front of his face as tears flowed.
Steven couldn’t stand to see his friend cry. “Oh, man! I’m sorry. I just meant ….”
Michael held up one hand as a “stop” sign. Steven sat nervously, waiting for whatever was next.
Finally, Michael put his hands down, turned to Steven, and began, “Steven, I feel like you’re my best friend in the whole world. Do you feel like that? Please tell me the truth.”
“Yeah, Michael, I feel like we’re best friends.”
Michael smiled and opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated as he looked into Steven’s eyes. Steven sat uncomfortably, but couldn’t help but admire his friend’s beauty. Finally, Michael continued, “Steven, please don’t be offended, but could I give you a hug?”
“You’re my friend, Michael, and I’ll do almost anything for you. Go ahead.”
Steven expected a “man” hug, with each putting one arm around the other’s neck and the other arm around the other person’s back. Instead, Michael put both arms around Steven’s neck and pulled his body as close as possible. Steven responded by putting his arms around Michael’s waist. Michael’s cool, soft body felt surprisingly good against his own. Steven’s body responded involuntarily. He could smell the perfume as he held his friend tightly. His heart pounded so hard he thought surely Michaels must feel it. His body was enjoying the moment, but his mind was asking, “What the hell am I doing?” Still, he held on until Michael released his grip.
Michael was smiling and his face was flushed. “Steven, if you only knew what that meant to me! I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
“No, I’m fine, but Michael, there’s something going on with you. I think I can guess, but I wish you would just tell me.”
“Please, go ahead and guess!”
“Well, I saw something on TV about people who are transgendered, and I wondered if you want to be a girl.”
“So you think I’m transgendered?”
“Yeah, you were born a guy, but you’ve always felt that you should have been a girl. Michael, it’s no big deal. We can still be friends.”
“That’s a pretty good guess, but it’s wrong.”
“Are you gay?”
“No, Steven. I’m straight … mostly.”
”
“Well, Michael, I’m out of guesses. As I see it, I just hugged a gay guy or a girl. Either way, it wasn’t bad! Is this a riddle? I give up!”
“Well, I want to tell you something that will change our relationship forever, but I hope it won’t destroy our friendship.”
“Michael, I can’t imagine anything you could stay that would do that.”
“When I first moved here, I hoped I would make a friend, and when I met you, it was like a dream come true. You’re strong, self-confident, and not confrontational like so many guys. At first, it seemed like you really didn’t want to be friends, but things seemed to work out. I have never had such a good friend, and I never knew such a … such a wonderful guy!
“Just now, after I played music for you and I asked you what you thought. Instead of commenting on the music, you actually told me what you thought, and it wasn’t about the music at all. I know you would like to take that back, but there would be no need to take it back if you could. I would never try to embarrass you. But when you told me I’m beautiful, you didn’t mean the way I played, I think you meant physically beautiful, like a girl. Am I right? Be honest.”
Steven said nothing. How could he answer that?
“Ok, Michael continued, I’ll answer for you. You looked at my face, my hair, my eyes, and my smile and you thought I looked like a pretty girl.”
“Yeah, I guess. I’d kill for hair like yours.”
“Well, I don’t know how you’re going to take this.”
“Well, you’re not transgendered and you’re not gay … so nothing makes sense. I’m no good with riddles. Just tell me!”
“I’m actually a girl!”
“I already guessed that. You’re a girl, but you were born in the body of a boy! You are transgendered!”
“No, I was born a completely healthy girl.”
Steven sat silently. He had so many questions, but he didn’t know where to begin.
“I owe you an explanation, of course. Yes, I was born a normal female, but when I was very young I identified more with boys. I played with boy’s toys, preferred to have male friends, and thought I should have been born a boy. My parents took me to an analyst and, with, his advice they allowed me to start living as a boy. The doctor said it wouldn’t be appropriate to give me medication until I was older and was certain I still wanted to go down that path.
“But as time went by, I felt a change in myself and observed a big change in the boys around me. My fun, playful male friends became mischievous, competitive, and sometimes just mean. The kinship I felt with them began dissipating.
“I saw the girls differently, too. I had seen their baby dolls as silly child’s play, but I learned that they were actually acting out the female instincts they were born with, and they were practicing for the time they would be mothers. Also, whether I liked it or not, I had those same instincts, and I felt them becoming stronger. I felt an enchantment with babies and I realized how awesome was the girls’ ability to bring a child into the world, and that I also had that ability and I was preparing to give it up. The idea that I could be so foolish almost made me sick.
“The time came to decide if I wanted to go on the medication, but here was no way I wanted to give up the instincts and privileges I was born with. When I told but I told the doctor that I changed my mind, he actually seemed a bit disappointed! I hate to sound cynical, but I think it was about money with him. He agreed I should abandon becoming a boy. Still, how do I go back? Do I Show up at school one day and say, ‘Surprise! I’m a girl!?’ For a while, I went day by day without knowing what to do. Then my parents are arranged to enroll me in private school next year so, hopefully, I can transition there. So you can see why I had to ask you to keep this to yourself.”
“Yeah, of course. It would suck for the kids at school to hear about this. My lips are sealed. So, is ‘Michael’ your real name?”
“I was born ‘Melissa Rene Holmes’. Obviously, to live as a boy that had to change. My parents had my name was legally changed to ‘Michael James Holmes’. I can’t wait to change it back! I can’t believe I was so stupid!”
“Give yourself a break; you were a kid! But you were saying that your feelings toward me had been changing. How do you mean?”
“While all that was happening, we moved to this neighborhood. I met you and we started hanging out. Maybe you don’t realize it, but you helped me. You pushed me to my limits sometimes, but I felt safe and protected when I was with you, and I found that I wasn’t as limited as I thought.
“Gradually, I began to realize that my feelings toward you were more than friendship. Wonder why, right? Honestly, Steven, I think I’m falling in love with you.”
Steven sat in stunned silence for several seconds. Finally, he responded, “Michael, I … don’t know what to say.”
“Steven, I know I’m putting you on the spot, so maybe we should act like this conversation never happened. I know that will seem strange, but I don’t want to lose my best friend. Believe me, no one will ever hear from me anything we say or do here today.”
“This is wild! Michael, just a few minutes ago when you were playing I watched your face. When you finished, you turned to me and asked me what I thought. I felt like you wanted to say more. Your eyes and your lips … well, it was just strange.”
“Steven, you’re leaving something out. You thought I wanted to say more? I’ve been totally open with you. It’s your turn.”
“OK, here goes. When you finished playing, you turned and smiled at me and asked me what I thought, Yes, I thought you were beautiful but, of course, you’re a boy. Still, I thought … just for a second … your lips were saying ‘kiss me’. I wanted to kiss you … I think … but I couldn’t get past the ‘fact’ … or the idea that you were a boy. I said the first thing that came to my mind. It’s true … you are beautiful. I can say that now. I had been sitting next to you feeling your body next to mine and looking at your beautiful face. I felt like I had to say something, you asked me what I thought, and that was the only thing on my mind. I know it sounds crazy.”
Michael’s body language and her smile showed her elation over his words. “It doesn’t sound crazy at all to me. I’m thrilled … I can’t stop smiling after hearing that you felt like that. I like you a lot, Steven, and I always felt good being with you, but it kind of hurt knowing you thought of me as just a friend. Now that you know the truth, I hope that eventually, you will begin to have feelings for me as … more than a friend.”
Steven hesitated. “I don’t know, Michael ….”
“Hold on. I hope you will call me ‘Melissa’ from now on; would you?”
“Sure, but not around other people for now, right?”
“Right, definitely!”
“OK, I’ll start over. I don’t know … Melissa. It feels kind of funny to call you that.”
“Yeah, but I hope that someday, when someone mentions the name “Michael”, you won’t even think about it, because you don’t know anyone by that name.”
“That’s going to take some time. Anyway, this makes me understand a few things that I couldn’t figure out before.”
“What things?”
“Well, when we were in the swamp and you said you had to go pee. You would disappear and be gone for a long time. Once or twice I started to go look for you.”
“I’m glad you didn’t! I always made sure to go quite a distance.”
“Then, one time we were in your room and you wanted to change your shirt. You went into the bathroom and locked the door. I thought you were just shy. Nothing else entered my mind.”
“I wear a bandage around my chest. It won’t be enough much longer.”
“When that happens, you’ll have to buy a bra. My best friend is gonna have to wear a bra. Mike … Melissa, this is the most incredible thing I’ve ever heard!”
Melissa smiled that smile again. Now free from any inhibitions about gender, Steven now felt free to think it was a beautiful smile. Melissa was beautiful! He admired the smile for a few seconds then noticed that his friend was moving ever so slightly closer. “Mike … Melissa, don’t!”
“If it will make it easier for you, I’ll change my name to ‘Mike-Melissa’. But you’re right, Steven, maybe we shouldn’t start off our new relationship with a kiss unless we’re certain it’s going to be a ‘kissing’ relationship.”
“But, you really want me to kiss you, don’t you Michael?”
“Who?”
“Sorry. You really want me to kiss you, don’t you Melissa?”
“I’ve wanted you to kiss me since the day we met. I’m not just your best friend … try to remember, I’m a girl, and you’re not just a boy, you’re an extremely good-looking boy and a wonderful person. There was no way I could help falling in love with you. I would like a kiss with some meaning behind it, but I’ll take what I can get.”
“A kiss with some meaning behind it?”
“I’ll be clear. I would like it when and if you kiss me, there’s love behind it.”
“Wait a minute. What about the times at school when the guys talked about girls. You talked just like one of the guys!”
“I wasn’t faking and I wasn’t lying. I’m attracted to girls also. Remember, I said, ‘I’m straight … mostly. I think I developed an attraction to girls because I’ve been in ‘boy’ mode so long. Yeah, I like pretty girls … a lot! I got along so well with them because, obviously, I could understand the way they think and feel.”
“Mike … Melissa, this is so hard to process. I can’t just flip a switch and go from, ‘my best friend Michael’ to ‘my girlfriend Melissa’.”
“I know, Steven. We probably shouldn’t kiss, but I’ve waited a long time and wondering what it would be like and I think maybe you are, too! It’s just a kiss. It doesn’t mean I’m your girlfriend, but I like the sound of the word.” She smiled and leaned just slightly toward Steven.
“You like the word ‘kiss’, or the word ‘girlfriend’?”
“Yes, Steven, ‘kiss’, ’girlfriend’, both words are exciting to me when the subject of conversation is you and me. I’m becoming more sure by the second that I’m in love with you! Maybe I’m being foolish, but Steven Mills, I’m in love with you! It was a lie when I said, ‘I think I’m falling in love with you.’ I fell in love with you the second I met you. The more we were together and the more I got to know you, the deeper in love I fell.”
Steven thought a few seconds, then asked, “Where are your parents?”
“My dad is in Europe on business, Mom is opening a new store on the other side of Houston, and it’s the housekeeper’s day off. Feels kinda lonesome, huh?”
“I must be insane. I like you, and now that I know you’re a girl. I can admit how pretty you actually are. Yet, I’m sitting here arguing against kissing you.”
“Yeah, boys can be not so bright.”
Steven smiled. “Hey! Hold on!”
“I’m sorry, Honey … oops!”
“OK, Honey, let me ask you this.”
Melissa smiled, then let out an almost imperceptible sigh of frustration. “Ok, what?”
“Would you be my girlfriend?”
Melissa’s eyes widened and she smiled. She flung her arms around Steven’s neck to kiss him. As their lips came together, she opened her mouth and held him like she would never let go.
Steven’s heart raced and his developing male body responded vigorously. His thoughts raced. “I’m kissing a boy! No, I’m kissing my new girlfriend.”
When they finally came ‘up for air’, Steven said, “Now if you tell me you were joking and you’re really a boy, I’m gonna kill you!”
“I’m all girl. I’ll prove it, Steven. Let’s stand up.”
They stood behind the piano bench and Melissa put her arms around Steven’s neck and pulled her body tightly against her. Putting her mouth close to his ear, she whispered, “I can feel your excitement. What do I feel like to you?”
Steven felt a beautifully feminine body fitted against his, He answered her question with a deep, passionate kiss. When he released her, she warned, “Oh, Steven, that’s so nice, but we have to be careful.”
“We can’t do that! We’re teenagers! What’s your plan for that, Melissa?”
“Abstinence!”
“Damn! Wait … does that mean what I think it means?”
“Since you said ‘damn’, I’m sure it does. You didn’t really have to ask, did you?”
“No.”
“Good. I don’t want a stupid boyfriend.”
“Wow, you’re direct!”
“Well, it’s just us guys here.”
“Hey, we’ve been friends a while, but we’ve never had a sleepover. Ask your parents if you can stay at my house tonight. I only have one bed in my room, but it’s queen size.”
“It would be interesting if you mentioned it to my parents and see what they come up with. We’d find out how many ways they have of saying ‘no’. Actually, please don’t let them find out that I told you.”
“Ok. That’s already covered when I said ‘My lips are sealed.’”
“When they’re around, don’t kiss me, don’t hold my hand, don’t call me ‘Sweetie’, and stuff like that.”
“How about, ‘Bitch’?”
“You don’t know my parents. That would get you a lifetime ban from my house.”
“OK, Melissa, do you know what I would like to see?”
“What’s that?”
“I would like to see my girlfriend dressed in something really cute. Wait … not too sexy … I might lose control. You do have other girls’ clothes other than what you’re wearing now, right?”
“Oh, you noticed my shorts and top! How do you know they’re girls’ clothes?”
“Well, it’s just obvious; especially the panties.”
Melissa blushed. “Oh, I’m sorry!”
“Yeah, just like a girl to put on a show for a guy then apologize for it!”
“Honestly, it wasn’t a show. As you can imagine, I had a lot on my mind. But, it’s just not lady-like to show too much.”
“Seriously, I’d like to see you dressed in something really cute.”
“OK. Come to my room and you can pick an outfit.”
Steven followed Melissa upstairs. As he walked up the stairs behind his friend, he thought about the beauty of the “women’s movement”. Living as a boy had done nothing to lessen her graceful comportment. He followed Melissa to her room, then through the room to what appeared to be a closet door. When the door was opened a new dimension appeared. It was a much larger bedroom brightly decorated in feminine colors. It was a huge contrast to the somewhat plain boy’s room Steven had been to in previous visits. Melissa pressed a button and two very wide doors began quietly sliding open, revealing dozens of colorful articles of girls’ clothing.
Melissa looked at Steven and smiled. “I think this means my parents are glad to have their little girl back! Pick something and I’ll model it for you.”
“Melissa, it’s all great, but I don’t know what to pick. You pick something you like.”
“OK.” Melissa picked out a blue mini-dress, grabbed some jewelry, and went into the restroom. She made enough noise with the door to make it clear that it was locked.
A pretty girl went into the bathroom, but a truly beautiful girl came out. She had a slinky blue mini dress, white 2” heels, two necklaces, and diamond drop earrings.
Steven stood stunned. “Oh my God, Melissa. You’re a vision! This is the guy I dragged through the woods? Melissa, if you had continued to change your sex, it would have been a shame! When I thought you were a boy, I said ‘you’re beautiful’, but now I see that was a massive understatement. I can’t think of a single girl at school who can come close to you! Quick … you’re still my girlfriend, right?”
“Of course, why do you ask?”
“I just don’t rate a girl like you. If people see us together, they’ll say, ‘What the hell does she see in him’!”
“I see a lot in you. If they can’t see how handsome you are, they have a problem to start with, but I see a lot more. I’ve had the advantage of spending a lot of time with you, and I’ve seen that you have character, strength, and intelligence. Now, I realize that I need to add ‘modest’ to your other wonderful qualities.”
“You overestimate me.”
“What can I say? I’m a woman in love!”
Steven was silent.
“Steven?”
“Oh! What?”
“Are you OK?”
“Well, looking at you and trying to figure all this out … I couldn’t concentrate. I was just looking at you!”
Melissa moved toward Steven and raised her arms as if to embrace him. Then, quickly she reversed course. “No, that will only lead to temptation!”
“Melissa … noooo!”
She smiled, approached him again, and put her arms around his neck. She bit him lightly on the neck and whispered, “One more kiss.”
Melissa hugged Steven with her entire body. If she had any inhibitions, they had dissipated, and she seemed determined to mesh their bodies together as one entity. Tightly she held, lest someone get a “foot in the door”; someone who would say “You’re not right for him. You’re too confused about your sexuality to get involved in a serious relationship.” Someone else might say, “He’s not right for you. He’s not certain whether you’re a boy or a girl.”
She didn’t want to hear any of it, and she dare not allow a millimeter of space to be between them that might let in any of these doubts. Yes, she was in love with her best friend.
As Steven kissed her his heart and his mind raced. ”This is not a dream! I’ll remember forever the day I kissed the most beautiful girl in the world! I’ve met a lot of girls, but I won the lottery with this one. She says she’s in love. I have to figure out what I’m in. Whatever it is, it feels damn good right now!”
They began the day as two buddies. Before the day ended, maybe they weren’t in love, but they were more than buddies, and they had their whole lives to figure out just what they were. They were only kids, and they couldn’t possibly foresee all the troubles and heartaches they would face, but, also unforeseen, were joyful, happy times to come. That’s life.