Announcement
“Michael,” I muttered.
The person in front of me shook their head.
“Lil’ bro.”
“Dude.”
“Son,” I spat.
That last one hit a nerve.
“I’m sorry,” I told them.
“Is Mike still okay?”
Their shoulders sank. We both stared at the floor.
None of them really fit anymore. I knew that.
Did they ever?
“Daughter? Sister?”
Those did.
“Mica?” I sought confirmation, looking up. “Michaela?”
There was a hint of a smile, but no. Not quite. It was too close to Michael.
I frowned and browsed through my phone. There had to be something that felt right. My eyes scanned the massive lists until one caught my attention.
“Vera,” I said out loud.
The girl in the mirror finally smiled. I smiled.
There were no chills this time. There was warmth.
The sound of an engine pulled me out of my ritual, and I looked out the window to see Dad’s car leave the driveway and disappear around the corner.
Grabbing my empty plate and my backpack, I walked out of my room and down the stairs. Mom and Andrew were still at the table.
“Watch out, Mom,” Andrew said with a grin. “Either something amazing happened, or he’s finally lost it.”
I faltered. Now that I was aware of it, hearing him refer to me that way felt like a stab.
My brother froze after seeing my reaction. “Did I say something wrong?”
Mom gave my brother’s shoulder a gentle squeeze and stood up. She came to my side and hugged me. “I’m guessing this about what we discussed last night,” she whispered into my ear.
I didn’t respond. Not at first. “I want to tell him,” I finally whispered back.
Mom looked behind her and smiled. “He’ll understand.”
“Look if it’s about Dad—”
I shook my head. I pressed my lips and stepped forward. “I want to… The thing is…” I took a deep breath. “I think I’m actually a girl.”
Andrew’s eyes widened for a moment. “Oh?” He returned to his carefree smile. “And does my little sister have a name?”
His words carried a fuzzy feeling with them
“I do!” I blurted. “I mean… I have one. I’m still not sure if it’s the one, but I’d like to go by Vera now.”
“It’s a beautiful name, Vera,” Mom said, caressing my cheek. “I’m sure Grandma would’ve loved the idea.”
“Yeah, I think so, too.” Andrew smiled. “Are you planning to make it official?”
I tilted my head. “What do you mean?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I mean, is this going to stay between us, or are you planning to go all out with it? You know, telling Dad, the school… Ryan?”
I grimaced at the idea. “I don’t think I’m ready for any of that.”
He smiled. “Hey, whenever you feel comfortable, sis.”
“No need to rush, sweetie,” Mom added. “I’m sure there’s still a lot you need to process.”
Andrew’s phone chimed. “And that is my cue to leave.”
My brother stood up and paused, then glanced at me. “Wanna come with?”
“To school?” I asked.
“No, to the moon.”
He dodged my slap and laughed.
“Is… is it because I’m a girl, now?”
“No, it’s because you got ready earlier,” he countered. “If I waited for you every morning, my hair would be grey.”
“Fair... Okay, let’s go,” I said, walking to the entrance.
Feeling Mom’s hand on my arm, I turned around. “Don’t forget your sports bag,” she said, handing it over to me. I took it, and she kissed me on the cheek. “I’m very proud of you.”
No! Bad tears!
Enough with the crying already!
“See you later, Mom,” I said, walking out.
“Have a good day, you two!” Mom called as I caught up to Andrew, who was already by the sidewalk. We both waved at her before walking away.
---<>----------<>----------<>---
Despite the time, Ryan was already waiting at the now usual intersection.
“Sup, man!” Andrew called.
Ryan looked up from his phone and smiled, greeting my brother with a fist bump. “Morning, dude.” My friend tilted his body to look behind Andrew. “And who is…”
Andrew grinned at me and stepped aside, leaving me exposed.
“Mike?!”
I waved at him. “Hey.”
“No way!” Ryan scanned me up and down. His smile returned. “It suits you.”
I felt the heat rising to my face. “You really think so?”
“I know so! Seriously, who are you and what did you do to Mike?”
I kicked at him, but he dodged and ran away. “He’s all yours now, Ryan!” he shouted as he fled.
He…
I knew that my brother was just keeping up appearances, but hearing him refer to me that way still hurt.
“Guess you were serious about this whole change,” Ryan finally said.
“Y-yeah,” I replied, looking away. “You could say that I’m a new me, now.”
“I can tell,” he said, offering his fist.
I stared at it.
I could just tell him now.
End this stupid thing I started.
The next moment, I completed the fist bump.
---<>----------<>----------<>---
School started as usual. Ms. Sterling made some announcements for the week and had us write a small essay with our goals for the semester. Mine was to get to know myself better. I didn’t need any others.
The next two periods were pretty uneventful as well, with them being the last batch where not much was done other than introductions, learning the syllabus and course materials.
This changed with the next class in our schedule.
P.E.
“You good, Mike?” Ryan asked when I stared for too long.
The locker room’s entrance had always been intimidating to me. Now, it was so much worse.
Maybe I should get changed somewhere else.
By the time I realised, Ryan had already dragged my unresponsive body inside.
“You’re not supposed to bring your girlfriend in here, dude.”
Once more, the chills brought me back from my stunned state. The sound of laughter echoed in the room, and I could feel everyone’s stares on me now.
Adam.
I remembered his name from homeroom. The guy was big. Ryan was taller, but Adam made up for it with muscle.
“Just ignore him, Mike,” Ryan said, bringing me further in. “Dude’s a nobody.”
“Her name is Mike!” Adam mocked. “Very progressive!”
More laughter followed.
“Don’t you have something better to do?” Ryan growled.
Adam raised his hands in surrender. His grin stayed. “Hey, I’m just trying to help.”
“Didn’t ask. Don’t need it,” my friend replied.
The bully smirked but said nothing else.
Ryan led me deeper into the room, where we found the lockers with our names on them. Well, my previous name for mine. We opened the doors and then our respective sports bags.
I was already taking my jacket off when I remembered my predicament.
The quick movement caught Ryan’s attention. “You good?”
“Uh… yeah…”
“Don’t let him get to you.”
I nodded.
What should I do?
I couldn’t get changed out in the open.
Especially not with Ryan here.
Wait… what?
I looked up at him briefly before whipping my face away when I saw him removing his shirt.
Uh…
“Mike?”
“Uh, sorry. Just thinking stuff…”
He raised an eyebrow, but said nothing else.
Now I felt even more self-conscious.
Changing in a stall would most likely rekindle the bullying, but it was safe and still preferable to getting caught.
That only solved half of my problem, though. What would happen after I changed?
Without the second layer, the extra volume on my chest was more visible. Not to mention how Mom told me that I would need extra support for exercise.
I could pretend to be sick.
Ryan shook me a little. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Huh?”
“What’s that?” he said, pointing at my bag.
I looked down and noticed a piece of paper sticking out. I grabbed it and read what was written on it.
‘Hope this makes your day easier. Love you! Mom.’
“I’ll be right back,” I quickly told Ryan as I grabbed the bag and ran, locking myself in the farthest stall.
Ignoring the chills, I pulled out one of my sports bras and smiled.
Thanks, mom.
By the time I was done changing, only Ryan remained in the locker room.
We walked out into the gym and joined the group. Some of the boys glanced at us and snickered. Personally, I didn’t care. They weren’t exactly wrong about me; I just couldn’t say anything.
My concern was for Ryan. He didn’t deserve to be ridiculed.
“Alright, everyone, listen up!” A booming voice came from behind the sea of guys. Being at the very back, I couldn’t see his face, but I knew it was our coach, Martin Sievert. He introduced himself as such two days before.
“Today’s our first real class, so we’ll take it easy,” he explained. “We’ll start with some warm up exercises, and then five laps around the gym. We’ll finish it up with recreational activity! Let’s get started with some jumping jacks!”
Exercising with the sports bra was an odd experience. I had to constantly remind myself of what I was wearing, not because I couldn’t feel it, but the opposite. It felt like a t-shirt that kept rolling up to my chest.
The sensation wasn’t unlike the blouse I tried on earlier. The sleeves. My brain was used to two different types. Long and short. That was it. Having something that didn’t quite fall into either category felt wrong.
It was the same here. It was like my subconscious couldn’t understand the idea of having something wrapped around my chest while keeping anything below uncovered. The t-shirt only made things weirder whenever it brushed against the bare skin below. Read the latest chapters at g.com.
Still, it didn’t hurt. It did what it needed to do.
“Lindgren! You’re falling behind!” Coach Sievert yelled.
At least he’s not calling me Michael.
I looked at the group ahead, panting heavily.
I can’t catch up!
Maybe Dad was right.
Perhaps locking myself in my room all summer was not the best idea. I was definitely in better shape before that. It took all of my willpower to complete the last lap. All eyes were on me.
“The important thing is that you finished,” the coach commented as he wrote on his clipboard. There was muted laughter in the background.
“Five minute break, everyone! Get hydrated,” I felt his gaze land on me, “and catch your breath.”
Ryan came out of the locker room with two bottles of water. “How are you doing?” he asked, sitting next to me.
Too close!
“Tired,” I replied, still panting.
“Yeah, I can tell.”
Then why did you ask!?
“Water?”
I nodded, reaching out. “Please.”
I struggled with the cap. Ryan noticed. I felt my cheeks heat up as I wrapped the cap with the hem of my t-shirt and finally twisted it open.
I forced out a laugh. “Sweaty hand.”
“Right…”
“You looked like you were struggling earlier," Ryan said after a while.
“Just out of shape,” I replied. “Didn’t go out much while you were gone.”
Ryan hummed in response, but said nothing else.
“Break’s over!” Coach Sievert called. “We’re playing Dodgeball now. Carter! Smith! You two finished first, so you get to pick. Come here for a coin toss.”
Ryan and Adam stepped forward.
“Carter, heads or tails?”
“Tails never fails,” Ryan answered.
The coach’s lips curled, and he tossed the coin in the air, catching it in the back of his hand. He laughed as he uncovered it. “Carter picks first.”
Ryan smiled and met my eyes. “Mike, come here!”
Someone in the group made kissing noises, causing the rest to laugh and me to blush.
“Cut it out!” Coach Sievert yelled, sapping me out of it.
Right.
The two of them continued picking the teams. Some by name, others by pointing. Once ready and set, each team took a side. The coach then blew on his whistle, and the match started.
Ryan sprinted to the front along half of the team. Upon reaching the ball, he passed it to me, and I threw it at the first guy I saw, taking him out. Two balls came my way, but I was able to dodge them.
I smirked at Adam. If he was expecting an easy prey, he wasn’t getting it. I was no athlete, but I was proud of my reflexes. I grabbed one of the balls and threw it at someone else, though he caught it.
I smiled at the normalcy of it all. No spell, no identity; just the game. I was having fun.
I dodged another ball but failed to notice Adam’s throw. The ball hit me in the chest, causing me to yelp and bend over.
Ryan looked behind him and got hit in the process.
Crap.
I stood back up and hissed with a hand on my chest.
The loud whistle caught our attention before Ryan could say anything.
“Lindgren, over here!” The coach yelled.
I sauntered my way to him, still holding an arm to my chest.
“Dude, you hit her boobs,” someone said to Adam. They both howled like hyenas.
I looked down, but there was no way the guy could tell.
“That’s enough!” Coach Sievert growled. “Another one of those comments, and you’ll get to be the principal’s personal clown! Now get back to the game!”
I followed the teacher to one of the benches and sat down.
“You hurt, Lindgren?”
I nodded, suppressing the tears. The car door was bad enough, but this was a direct hit.
“Let me see,” he said, getting closer.
I shook my head, and covered my chest further, triggering the spell.
“I see…” The coach gave me a wry smile and sat next to me. “I had a similar problem when I was your age,” he said.
I looked up at him, mouth agape. “What?”
“It’s a lot more common than people think,” he continued. “Though severe cases like ours are rare. I get that it must bring you some distress.”
“I don’t—”
“I saw how you ran earlier,” he interrupted. “Makes sense now.” He paused. “First time wearing one, is it?”
“Y-yeah…” I looked at him. At his chest. There was only muscle. “How did you… you know.”
He followed my gaze. “Surgery,” he answered. “It was that bad. My parents didn’t think it would be a big deal until it got out of hand. You’re probably too young for that, but I can get you in contact with someone. They might be able to stop the progress.”
Oh, hell no!
My own thoughts made me speechless.
“You don’t need to decide right away. The offer stands.” He stood up and looked at the ongoing game. “Do you want to join the game or stay here? Your choice.”
I didn’t want to experience that pain again. “I’ll stay,” I finally said.
“Got it.”