When Love gets back to her dorm room she goes to a chair and sits down just so she could process what just happened.
‘I can’t believe I just did that.’ She thought to herself.
‘I wonder if I can tell my new friends about this. They would probably understand’ Hopefully.’
‘What about my other classmates? What about the teachers? What about my…’
‘No, my parents absolutely can’t find out about this.’
‘I can probably just hide this from them forever. That is absolutely something that is actually possible and not just a coping mechanism I am currently giving myself.’
Love is now spiraling. She has to stop and do something to get out of her own head.
‘Okay, I have to tell my new friends. Better to do this sooner than later, right?’
She pumps herself up and proceeds to pull out her phone and post in her and her friend’s group chat.
L. Hart: Hey, are any of you guys free today?
IWantCandi: I AM NOW!!! <3
SharksRCool: Just let me finish my workout and I'll be open.
Violet Newton: Let me check my schedule.
Violet Newton: As long as we are finished before 5 PM I should be fine. That is unless you all would like to come to a new product demonstration for the Chess Company.
IWantCandi: I AM SO THERE!!! :)
SharksRCool: Nah, I’m okay.
Violet Newton: That was sarcastic Candi, but I love the enthusiasm.
IWantCandi: OKAY! THAT’S FINE!
SharksRCool: Hey Lev. What do you have planned anyways?
L. Hart: Nothing much. I just want to talk to you guys about something important.
SharksRCool: If this is about the group project 4 Jack’s class then we still have a month for that.
IWantCandi: WE HAD A GROUP PROJECT???
Violet Newton: Don’t worry Candi. I already finished ours.
IWantCandi: THANKS VI! YOU ARE DA BEST <3 <3 <3
L. Hart: No. This doesn’t have anything to do with class or training.
SharksRCool: Cool.
L. Hart: Whenever you guys are ready just come by my dorm. I’ll tell you guys when you are all there.
IWantCandi: OOOOOH! IS IT A SURPRISE??? I LOVE SURPRISES!!! <3
L. Hart: In a way I guess?
IWantCandi: AWESOME! I CAN’T WAIT!!!
Violet Newton: I’ll come too Lev. As I said, my schedule is open until tonight so I am good with anything until then.
L. Hart: Okay. Sounds good. See you all soon.
Love puts her phone away. After she tells her friends, this pit in her stomach should go away. Right?
Candi went to Love’s dorm immediately.
“Hiya Lev! So what is the surprise?” Candi says excitedly.
“...You have to wait until the others get here…okay…”
“Okie dokie!” Candi gives a salute and goes to sit down on Love’s couch, bouncing up and down while sitting because she is so excited that she can’t sit still.
Maka shows up next about 15 minutes later.
“Hey Lev. What’s up?”
“...I don’t want to say this more than once, so is it fine if I wait to tell you until Violet gets here?”
“Whatever.” Maka shrugs and goes towards Love’s minifridge. “As long as I can grab something to eat while I wait.”
“Go right ahead.”
“Thanks dude.”
“...No problem…”
After grabbing a bag of chips Maka opens it, sits on the couch, and proceeds to eat while she waits.
It takes about another 20 minutes for Violet to show up and it is probably about 11:30 at this point.
“I’m terribly sorry for my late arrival. Hopefully I didn’t miss your announcement, Lev.”
“...No, it’s okay Vi…I was just going to wait for you to show up before saying anything anyways.”
“Fair enough.”
Violet goes to take a seat right next to Candi on the couch (who is still bouncing in her seat by the way).
“I hope you aren’t dropping any crumbs on Lev’s couch, Maka. I am sure that he doesn’t want to attract ants.”
“Uhhh.” Maka looks down right next to her on the couch. She proceeds to brush off some (but not all) of the crumbs off of the couch.
“Don’t worry about that.” Love tells Maka. “I’ll clean it up later. You are my guest after all.”
“Thanks bro.”
“...Welcome, I guess…” Based on what she was about to tell them, Maka calling her ‘dude’ and ‘bro’ are starting to bother her a bit. “Now that you guys are here I have something to tell you all.”
“Finally! I can’t wait to hear what the surprise is!”
“...Don’t get your hopes up too much, Candi…Technically it is a surprise, but I need to clarify that it is not a gift or anything like that.”
Candi looks dejected for a second, but is soon back to her goofy self. “I guess that's okay.”
“Alright dear.” Violet wanted to get this seemingly important conversation back on track. “So what was it that you wanted to tell us?”
Now that it is time to say it, Love felt all of the courage she built up leave her body.
‘Okay, how to start.’ Love thought while coming up with a way to break the ice on such a topic.
“...So…do any of you think that it is…I dunno…kinda weird that I…am in a friend group with you guys?” Lev says nervously.
“Not at all!” Candi announces to the room.
“...What I mean by that…is…do any of you think that it is…odd…that my friends at this school are mostly…women?”
Candi shakes her head no.
“Not at all.” Violet says with a sympathetic yet confused expression on her face. “Why are you worried about something so…insignificant?”
“...Yeah…there is a…reason for why I am telling you this…it’s…well…”
“Just get to your point already!” Maka rudely interrupts.
“Maka, don’t be rude!” Violet says with a scowl before turning back towards Love. “Take your time. Also, I don’t care if it is embarrassing or if you think that it isn’t worth our time. You can tell us anything.”
“...Uh…How do I say this…” Love feels like that she has stalled for as long as she could. She takes a deep breath.
Just rip the bandaid off.
“...What I am trying to say is…that the reason why I didn’t mind being a part of this group…or why I think that we make such good friends in the first place even though I am a boy is that…I…don’t think I am actually…a boy…”
“What do you mean by that dear?” Violet asks curiously.
“...Um…Well…What I am trying to say…is that…I think that I would be happier…if you all…referred to me as…a girl…”
There was a moment of silence. This made Love doubt herself and she felt like that she might have made the wrong judgment and just ruined all of her friendships.
Before she could continue to spiral further Maka spoke up.
“So you're trans, right?”
“...I suppose I am…trans…That is what I am trying to say…”
Candi jumps off the couch, runs towards Love, and gives her a big hug.
“Don’t lie to me silly! Seeing my friends happy is a great gift! Don’t let anyone ever tell you any different, okay?”
Love was touched by this.
“...Thank you Candi…Thank you so much…”
Love is tearing up now. She hugs Candi back.
Maka stands up and walks towards her. She puts her hand on Love’s shoulder.
“That’s awesome dude…I mean mam…shit…What do I call you now?”
“...Uh…Love…My name is now Love…”
“Okay. That’s awesome Love.”
“I love your new name!” Candi chimes in. “Love! I love Love! Love is my friend!”
Maka pats Love on the shoulder and stands there awaiting the response of Violet.
Violet gets up and walks towards Love.
And joins the group hug, pulling Maka into it as she does this.
“I support whatever makes you happy, Love. I am glad that you trusted me enough to tell me this.”
Love is now crying filled with more…well…love than she ever felt in her entire life.
“...Thank you guys…Thank you all so much…You don’t know how much this means to me…”
“No problem.” Maka responds. Simple yet to the point as usual.
“...Thank you Maka…”
“My best friend's name is Love! Love is happy being a girl!” Candi is still saying phrases to familiarize herself with her friend's new name and gender.
“...Thank you Candi…”
“If you ever need any help with anything don’t hesitate to ask me dear.” Violet offers. “I know some of the things having to do with trans healthcare are rather expensive, so if you need any help with money it is no issue.”
“...Thank you Violet…”
After what felt like an hour the group hug broke.
“...Honestly…I was kind of afraid to tell you guys about this…but now that I have it feels kind of silly that I was…”
“That’s perfectly understandable dear. I have been keeping up with recent news and your fears are honestly completely justified.”
“...Yeah…” Love feels a sense of dread in her stomach about having to come out to anyone who might not be supportive of her. Even worse is she has no idea who would and wouldn't be supportive. I mean I guess she could just ask them what their opinion on trans people is, but she isn’t sure she would want to hear the answer if it just so happens to be a negative one.
“I’m sorry if I scared you with that my dear, but I am not going to tell you a lie that might not be in your best interest. It is good that you want people to accept you, but be careful, Love, okay?”
“...Okay, I will…” She looks down at her feet feeling herself about to spiral again.
“I’m sorry for making you feel down, Love. Even though I believe that it was important to inform you about such things I now realize that this might not have been the best time for it. This should be a special day for you...”
“...Yeah…”
Violet decides to force this conversation in a more positive direction.
“You know what. Let’s go out. I’ll have my chauffeur pick us up and take us somewhere fancy to celebrate. My treat.”
Candi proceeds to hug Violet.
“Thanks Vi!”
Violet feels like she is being crushed by a fully grown dog who thinks that it is still a puppy.
“...Your very welcome Candi…”
“Hell yeah. Free food. Let’s go.” Maka adds.
“...Thanks Vi…”
“You are very welcome, Love. Now, what is your favorite type of cuisine?”
“...Is there a ramen shop around here?”
“I’m sure that we will find one.” Violet replies while pulling out her phone to call her chauffeur.
The girls get to the ramen shop, which isn’t as fancy as Violet would have hoped, and have an enjoyable meal while having casual conversation.
Love, Maka, and Candi thoroughly enjoy the food here.
Let’s just say that Violet has a much more refined palette than the others, but ‘what’s a mediocre meal among friends’ she thinks to herself.
‘Well. That’s four people down.’ Love thinks to herself. 'And so so so many more to go, but let's just try to take this one day at a time.’