Emily

by

Sarah Lynn Morgan

 

Chapter 1

The rim of the sun had just kissed the eastern horizon. The three people in the ninth floor room of the hospital could have been amongst the first to see it that day, but all of their attentions were on each other. Resting in between his parents, the newest member of the family was staring up at them; and, as bright as the sun was that beautiful spring morning, it could not compare to how brightly that morning shown in the love that the small family had for each other.

In the doorway of the room, a young nurse stood holding a blue blanket in her hands. It was fresh from the ward dryer, because their laundry order had been delivered to the third floor by mistake. They were running very short of everything. It was the least of their problems. The nurse was exhausted, in part from the even dozen deliveries that that floor had handled that night; but, also from the veritable herd of cranky doctors who had been forced to make two and three deliveries at a time that shift, while they covered for their colleagues who inevitably could not be reached in time in the middle of the night.

As young and as new as she was, she could see that now was not the time. This family needed to be alone now. She could tell It was a good family, and they needed to get to know each other. So, silently, she walked over and placed the blue blanked on the corner of the bed, and briefly caught the mother's eye. Seeing the exhaustion there, the nurse knew that the blanket young Edward was now so tenderly swaddled in had never really mattered at all.

It had been a near thing. Complications that had come so late, and so suddenly, that they were made even more fearful for this couple by the unexpectedness. They had tried so hard, and for so many years to have children, only to have their most precious desire almost taken from them at the last moment. It had been a near thing, but even though they would always be only three now, at least they had each other, and not the one left alone, as it had appeared for those horribly long minutes in the deepest part of the night.

The young nurse smiled, because even at the very end, they had been forced to deal with surprise. They had been expecting a girl. The crisis having passed, all the new father had been able to do was to clap his had to his forehead in mock consternation, and proclaim loudly to all present: "Oh No! You mean that I have to repaint that room again?" The tone of sincere, but happy befuddlement had made them all, even the new mother laugh – a little. The young nurse would have laughed again, when the father on seeing how the new baby had been hastily dressed to meet his parents proclaimed worriedly "You guys changed your minds again?" She was just too tired, so she had only smiled.

Edward Gordon, the newest member of the small family, seemed to their eyes to be as pleased to meet them as they were to meet him - even though he just lay there, listening with absolute intensity to the cooed words of loving welcome, and the beating of their two hearts…

Joan, Thomas, and Edward Gordon were a small but very happy family.

 

Chapter 2

 

"He's beautiful Joan", her old college chum said to her softly. Marjorie had flown in on the overnight, and she had arrived at eight that morning. Even though it was almost nine, her body was telling her that she should still be asleep. Her thoughts were coming slowly "Do you remember how Anna's first had come out, and we were all calling him the California Raisin amongst ourselves, while trying desperately to find something nice to say to her?" Marjorie added. "I mean, I'm not one of these folks who has to think that all children are beautiful no matter what, but he's just a doll." She squeezed her friend genuinely pleased for her."

"Also, I can't believe how much of that beautiful blond hair he has at two years either." Marjorie remarked.

"I know," Joan giggled back at her long time friend from the west coast. "I'm going to have to cut it soon, because Tom is getting a little sick of everyone taking him for a girl," Joan giggled more loudly, "but I just love the way he looks so adorable and all. I can't bear to get him his first haircut yet. It seems like I'll have lost something that I can never get back." Joan paused while staring at her son. "I guess as long as I don't put any ribbons or anything in it again, Tom will let me have my way for a little longer."

Marjorie giggled too. "God, I can see you are sill terrible, Joan. If I did something like that to ours, my David would freak." Marjorie then paused to take a sip of coffee, and watch little Edward play quietly by himself in front of the TV, which he largely ignored in favor of some stuffed animals he was talking to.

"Is he always so quiet?" Marjorie asked, even before she had thought about the question, and how it might have been taken as an accusation of oddness in the child, which she had not consciously intended.

"Not always." Joan answered. "Don't get me wrong, he has his moments. He also seems to be one of the most affectionate little guys my friends here have ever seen, but when I put him down, he'll play quietly and alone for hours. Even when he needed a change, he' usually just crawled over to me and pulled himself up without crying or making any fuss. We're very, very lucky, Marge."

 

"You sure are." Marjorie's eyes shifted back to the boy, a little jealous, and a little struck by the child. "He sure is the most beautiful little thing I've ever seen. I'm so glad that even with David's constant Job-hopping, I could finally make it back to visit Joan." Hugging her friend, and beginning to feel the years apart melt into meaninglessness. "If your little angle will stay there for a while yet, lets us go into the kitchen, and I'll make brunch for you! OK!"

 

"Someone else's cooking? Lordy, girl, you don't have to bend my arm." Joan grabbed her close friend. "I'd do almost anything to eat someone else's cooking, except for that Ronald clown's, of course." Giggling and talking, they moved over to the kitchen area.

 

Chapter 3

 

Amy lived right next door, and was only four months older than Edward. Her mother, and Edward's were the same age, but Lilly already had three more by the time Amy had been delivered. Just as Edward would be Joan's last child, Amy had been her last as well, but hers had been a choice. To have her tubes tied was the only sane choice she could make for herself, and she had done so without a single second thought. Lilly was like that. Warm and loving, yes, but still very practical.

It was only natural that the two children had spent much of their young lives together. The only odd thing was, how well they played together. It was a godsend for both the busy mother of the five year old, trying to rekindle her career, and to that of the busy homemaker and mother to four.

Most of the time, the children played so quietly and so well, that they tended to baby-sit each other for hours on end. Lilly had told Joan that Little Edward was no trouble at all, and it was true. The two could sit for hours, either playing together or more rarely, mesmerized by some Walt Disney tape in the VCR, without a peep. Squabbles over what to play, or do; or over who had what toy were completely foreign to them. When one had a toy the other wanted, that child would usually just sit and watch, until the desired object was usually very quickly handed over.

 

Adorable, and trustworthy as they were, Lilly was ever careful about the two little ones. Having just finished folding the laundry, she was making her way up the stairs to see what they were up to, just as the clock struck ten a.m. On reaching Amy's room she paused at the door to peek in. Surprisingly, the two were not there. Unworried, she paused to listen. It was only moments before she heard the distinctive little sounds from the two. They were coming from her room.

 

Pausing once again, this time outside of her own door, she peeked in.

There they were, having a tea party with several of Amy's favorite dolls and stuffed bears. Lilly stifled a giggle at the way they were dressed. Both of the "girls" were dressed in her clothes. Both wore large hats, scarves, jewelry, and all the finery that one would expect of a high tea.

"Would you care for sugar and cream in your tea, Mrs. Bear?" Amy asked in a falsetto voice. Then nodding, she poured the bear an imaginary cup of tea. She, turned toward Edward, and in the same voice, asked "And you Emily? Would you care for Sugar and cream?" In his soft and gentle voice, Edward said, "Yes, Amy. Please." Then as he turned to offer his cup to his playmate, and Amy turned toward him to pour, Lilly could see that they had been in her makeup as well.

Not wanting to startle the children, or make too much of it, she gently pushed open the door saying, "Oh, there you two are. Having High Tea with Mrs. Bear are you?" Lilly expected the boy to be a little embarrassed, but he just sat and smiled back at her, just as Amy herself did.

"And who may I ask is this little lady, Amy?" She asked brightly as both of the "girls" giggled.

"You know who this is, Mommy. This is Emily, my best friend in the whole world." and then in the same upper-crust falsetto voice she had used before, she continued: "She and I have known one another for simply years!"

Giggling genuinely, along with "the girls", Lilly casually walked around to her dresser, both to pick up her digital camera, and to position herself on the opposite side of the table from the two. "That's very sweet." She said, and then casually asked if she might take a picture on their little party. She heard both children agree before turning and squatting down and focusing the camera on the two children's faces.

Lilly was suddenly struck by something that she had seen almost every day for the last six years, and had somehow never been truly conscious of. Edward looked every bit the pretty young girl, as did her Amy. In fact, given his naturally attractive… No, that was not the right word. His naturally beautiful features, he was just simply that. Beautiful.

Quickly Lilly snapped the pictures of the smiling children, and slipped the camera to her side.

"So, when did you guys get so good with my Makeup?" She asked, causing the two munchkins to giggle hysterically back at her.

"We found pictures in your magazines, Mom!" Amy Laughed. "We also had that book from the den, that shows how. Remember you let me look at it, Mom?" Then Amy's voice took on a more serious note. "You're not mad, are you?" She asked, as her eyes darted to Edward before pulling them back to her.

Looking at her makeup table, Lilly could see that everything was more or less in order, and that the children seemed to only have the makeup on their faces. A remarkable feat for kids so small. Then it also dawned on her, that not only had they put in on carefully enough not to make a huge mess, but they had also done a very good job for their ages. Much better than she might have done when she was as young. It was still undoubtedly the work of children, but all in all, a remarkably credible job.

"No sweetheart, I'm not, but you have to be careful, and not get it all over Mommy's pretty things, OK?" She told them as brightly as she could manage. "Now be careful while you finish your tea, and Mommy will have to get you two little ladies cleaned up before "Emily's" mother comes to collect her." Lilly once again felt herself laughing at the infectious giggle of the two little ones. She'd call them scamps for getting into her things, but they were far too dignified, and beautiful for that honorific.

Walking to the doorway, she took several more snapshots before slipping the camera into her pocket. "Now, remember," she said to them with dramatic severity, "you promised to let Mommy take off the makeup. You're not to try and get it off yourselves. OK?" She waited.

"Yes, Ma'am" both little ones chorused. "We wouldn't do anything naughty, like break a promise, Ma'am." Edward said to her, his large blue eyes radiating sweetness, and sincerity.

"I know that sweetheart." Lilly confirmed. "I just wanted to make sure you don't get it in your eyes, that's all. You two look very pretty, and I'd hate to have to spoil a lovely tea party with a trip to the doctor. I'll call you when it's time to clean up."

"Ok!" Both children chorused again, and turned to continue their party as if they had not been interrupted.

 

Downstairs some hours later, Lilly stared at the computer screen. It was remarkable. The pictures looked more like some TV ad for children's programming, rather than two young children actually caught in the act. It certainly did not look a boy and a girl. Lilly sighed, and went upstairs to take Amy from her bath, and tuck her in for the night, still distracted.

"All done, Sweetie?" she called at the bathroom door.

"All done!" Amy squealed, and flinging the door open, quickly dashed passed her mother in a towel and jumped into her bead, and on top of her clean, and formerly dry pajamas.

"Oh, Amy!" Lilly moaned to herself, through a smile at her youngest.

After a good ten-minute tickle-fest, which was the usual punishment for such transgressions, the child was left only slightly more breathless and happy than her Mom. Lilly had somehow managed to dress Amy, and bundle her into bed just the same.

"All ready for nice dreams, little one?" Lilly asked the beaming child.

"Yes Mommy." She answered gleefully.

"Did you remember to brush your teeth, dear?" Lilly checked.

"Only about a hundred times for every tooth Mom. Front and back, sides, top and bottom! I think I need a new tooth brush!"

Lilly Giggled. "Well I'll tell you what. You just try to wear out that old tooth brush as much as you want, and I'll be only too happy to by you new ones whenever you need them, OK?"

"Ok, Mommy."

"Listen, Amy, I wanted to talk to you about something important." Lilly said, feeling she had her child's serious attention.

"Is anything wrong, Mommy?" Amy asked in return, not really worried.

"No, Baby. You were a very good girl today. I just wanted to talk to you about the tea party."

"Wasn't that great, Mommy!" The little girl sighed. "Emily and I had such a lovely time. And didn't Emily look just Beautiful?"

Lilly stared at her daughter, unsure for a moment how she could redirect the conversation to where she needed it to be. "Well, she sure did. Very beautiful in fact, but I wanted to make sure that you understood that you need to be careful and ask me before you do something like that again." Lilly watched her daughter's eyes.

"Why Mommy?" Amy asked.

"Well, apart from the possibility that you might accidentally ruin some of Mommy's pretty things, you might also have gotten hurt. You two are too young to be using eye makeup. Trust me. If you get that in your eyes, you'd be sorry. It really stings."

She told her.

"I know," Amy said, "but we were very careful."

"I could see that you were, baby, but there's more to it than that. You see, Edward is a boy, and although I don't mind you playing games here, some people might not like you both dressing up like that." She once again watched her Child's eyes carefully.

"I understand Mom. We don't ever talk about the games Emily and I play together with the other kids. We know that they would be very mean to her. They are sometimes already."

"What?" Lilly gasped. Then seeing her shock had worried the child she tried to quickly continue more calmly. "Sorry, Sweetie. You're telling me that you have been keeping it a secret when you play like that with Edward?" This idea of keeping secrets caused a sinking feeling in her stomach that she was trying desperately to hide.

 

Amy, sensing her mother's reaction, was silently trying to figure out where she might have done something wrong, and began to bite her lip. Still, she could not figure out that they might have done anything to upset anyone, so after a few moments she answered honestly. "Yes we do. Some times the other kids call Edward names. sis… Sisters?" The little one said questioningly.

 

"Sissy?" Lilly asked concerned.

"That's it, Mom. 'Sissy.' It makes Em so sad, because he just wants to be friends. So we just play them by ourselves mostly, and we don't tell anyone." Amy confided.

"Well, Amy, if the other kids would tease you, why do you dress him up, and put makeup on him? I mean the other kids are one thing, but his Mother might not be happy either." Lilly asked.

"I didn't Mom." Amy said softly.

"What do you mean, Baby. That wasn't you and Edward in my room this afternoon?" Lilly asked, not for a second believing that her child was trying really trying denial at this late stage.

"I meant, that I didn't dress him up. That was his idea." Amy said simply.

Lilly had to think about that for a moment.

"And what about the makeup, Sweetie. Was it his idea for you to put that on him."

"Emily did that too, Mom. She put it on, and it looked so nice, that I asked her to put it on me too." Amy said slowly. "Are you sure you're not mad?"

The child was clearly worried now, no doubt caused by the look on her mother's face.

"No dear, I'm really not. I just wanted to be sure you would be careful, that's all." Lilly tried to smile. "You go to sleep, now. Tomorrow is Saturday, and we are going to go to the Zoo, OK" Lilly finished by running her fingers through her daughter's bangs.

"Goodie." Amy sighed, her concern rapidly abating. "I love to visit the animals."

"I know sweetie. Good night" She said, as she quickly pecked her daughter's lips.

"Night Mommy." Amy said, and rolled over.

From the door Lilly asked another question. "Amy?"

"Yes, Mommy?" Amy answered in a voice already slow with sleepiness.

"How long have you been calling him Emily?" She asked casually. "Just today?"

"No. Long time, Mom. I always call her Emily when we are alone…"

 

Lilly walked back downstairs, and settled herself in front of the computer.

"Is anything wrong?" her husband asked.

"No." Lilly said, "I'm just thinking. We are going to take the kids to the Zoo tomorrow."

"Oh, goodie." her husband said, but without the same enthusiasm her daughter had expressed.

Lilly snorted back, but her mind was elsewhere. A lot of little things had fallen into place. The time that She had found Edward and Amy trying on her Halloween Princess costume, for one. Also, the many times she had thought she heard her daughter call him "M" as they played quietly together. She had thought that was just some strange pet name, but now she knew it meant "Emily." Most significantly of all, both children had conspired to, if not hide it all deliberately, to at least keep it quietly to themselves. She knew that made it very serious.

Casually, she moved the cursor to select several items in a folder, and then to the printer symbol. "Honey," she said to her husband, "I'm going over to talk with Joan for a few minutes. I'll be back in a little while, OK?"

"Ok. The car needs gas." he mumbled absently without looking up from his paper.

"It's just next door, Honey." Lilly whispered as she pecked the top of his head in passing.

"OK, check the oil too then."

 

Chapter 4

 

Recess was definitely the best thing about school. Ten out of Ten kids agreed. They got two a day, the first at nine thirty, the second one coming with lunch at around eleven-thirty in the morning. It was only a few days into the second week of school, and all the children were still settling into the new routines of organized fun. Amy and Edward were playing on the seesaw when they heard a scream from the direction of the monkey bars.

Dashing to see, they both came to find themselves standing in a circle around one of the second graders who was lying on the ground, with blood on the side of his face. It was Roger, who was only a year older than our pair, but who had obviously been showing off. Most of the children just stood, mesmerized by the site of blood on the unmoving child's face, while a few had run for the teacher. Only Edward moved to Roger's side. Taking a clean Kleenex out of his pocket, one that his mother had told him he should always have when at school, he began to press it over the wound on the side of the much larger boy's head.

Roger whimpered at the pressure. "There, there, Roger." Edward said in a calm Voice, readily recognizing one of the biggest kids from his neighborhood. "You'll be Ok. The teacher is coming." All the while, Edward had been slowly, and very gently moving Roger's arm out from under him, where it had been pinned in an unnatural position by his fall. "Don't cry, Roger," Edward continued. "Mrs. Adel is coming now. You'll be ok."

Amy, now moving to Edwards's side, placed her hand on her best friend's shoulder, as she watched him comfort the injured boy.

"Owe, My head" Roger said, trying to fight the tears back even as he slowly became aware.

"You hit your head when you fell." Edward said, as he adjusted himself to cradle Roger's head on his leg, while trying to gently keep pressure on the wound. "It doesn't look bad." Edward said, while biting his lip at the lie.

Then more gently still. "Is your arm ok" He asked the boy.

"Yah, I think so." Roger said, trying to focus his eyes on Edward even as he lifted his hand and wiggled his fingers experimentally.

"I think you're supposed to be still, so don't move OK?" Edward informed him in a whisper. Roger only closed his eyes and ever so slightly nodded his head.

"What happened?" Mrs. Adel, the head mistress asked fearfully as she pushed through the crowd.

"He fell from the top," one of the children said, even as she knelt to try and determine the extent of the damage.

"Oh God, Roger" she whispered, as she also quickly looked Edward over too, to determine if he was hurt or if the blood she saw was young Rogers alone.

"Don't move his head, dear." She said quickly, seeing that one of the new girls was cradling his head in her lap."

"I'm not Ma'am" Edward said. "I'm holding it still, and pressing the wound."

"Good girl." Mrs. Adel said gratefully, as she looked back to see the nurse and two other teachers racing in her direction. "Help is coming, Roger." She said.

Roger nodded his head again, but on hearing the adult voice, began to cry once more softly, only to have Edward lean down close, and whisper. "It's Ok, Roger. It's really not that bad. You'll be ok, I promise, so you just lie still. I'm sure it will stop hurting so much in a minute. The nurse is right here…"

It was just then that one of the older kids chimed in. "Would you look at that? Isn't that the most special thing you've ever seen? Little Edwina is going to be a nurse someday. You'll make someone a fine mother, Edwina!" The boy laughed viciously.

About half the kids laughed a little along with him. Amy didn't know the older boy, but she turned to glare at him with a look that might have done a younger child actual harm. The older boy just laughed at her too.

"That will be quite, enough out of you, Sims." Mrs. Adel snapped in a voice that left no doubt that Sims had just bought himself another little talk. "Recess is over for today, everyone back inside", she continued in the same no-nonsense voice. The children moaned, even though it was only a few minutes until the bell sounded anyway, but all obediently began to move for the doors, except for the three on the ground.

Looking back at them, she could see the two girls looking expectantly at her. "That's OK, dears. Not you two. You can stay right there." But soon Edward felt himself lifted to his feet by one of the male teachers, while the Nurse gently extracted Roger from his grip, and began to work on him.

"Don't worry, Dear," the nurse said to Edward. "He'll be just fine."

Edward smiled at the woman, even as a few tears began to slide silently down his own face. Amy placed her arm about her friend's shoulders, and began to lead them away.

"Come on you two." Mrs. Adel said as she placed her hand on their shoulders to steer them toward another door. "Lets get you two cleaned up." She said firmly as they walked in the indicated direction.

"That was some good thinking you did there, young lady. Did you see him fall?" The head asked Edward.

"No, Ma'am." He said. "Amy and I were on the seesaws, when we herd him scream. We just ran to see, like everyone else."

"But then," She continued for him, "unlike everyone else who just stood there, you knew to administer basic first-aide. I am very impressed, and very proud of you both." She beamed at them. "So where did you learn your first aid? In the brownies."

Amy answered for them. "No Ma'am. We're not in Scouts." Amy had given up any desire to join the Brownies on the day they told her Edward wasn't allowed in. "We saw it on a show on TV."

"Well, That was very clever of you both, and I intend to make sure everyone knows it." The head mistress said. "So you are Amy?" She nodded at the girl, "and what is your name, dear?"

"Edward, Ma'am." The boy said. "Edward Gordon."

"I beg your pardon?" Mrs. Adel said confused for a moment, until she got a better look at the boy's cloths. "Oh, I'm so sorry Mr. Gordon. I thought…" Mrs. Adel did not finish, not wanting to embarrass the brave boy any further.

"That's Ok, Ma'am." Edward said softly. "Everyone does that."

 

Chapter 5

 

The clock in the square had just struck one, which meant they were later than they had told Amy's mother they would be. They were fifteen, and had been over to the shops in the village for much of the morning. Due home by one, they were passing through the park, on the way back to Amy's house. Suddenly, from behind them came the all too familiar taunts, but ones that they instantly knew was far more serious "Jesus, will you look at that now! Edwina is wearing pink lip gloss."

Oh god, they had forgotten. "I'm so sorry, Amy." Edward whispered.

"Not your fault, Em." She said in despair. "I forgot too, just keep walking"

Quickly they were surrounded by almost a dozen of the neighborhood children who had been hanging around the park, and who began to examine Edward with some interest. "That's Mascara on his eyes too." One of the other girls said.

"You just leave her alone, Betty" Amy said fiercely, while forcing herself in front of her friend.

"It's OK, Amy." Betty began to say while trying to show Amy that she really did not mean any harm. "I mean, so he is wearing makeup, and that's probably your white blouse too, isn't it? It's not that big a deal."

It might still have been Ok at that point. The children who were looking at Edward were suddenly far more curious about a boy who would wear makeup and blouses, than they were in taunting him. One of the boys their age, William, even said, "Awe, let them be, will ya! It's not like we've never seen the Gordon sisters before, is it?" He looked at the others. "Besides, most of you girls are probably just jealous, anyway. I mean…" William said laughingly as he casually reached out to brush Edward's long hair from the side of his face, "I fancy he's a lot prettier than most of you other girls. So leave them be, and lets finish the game!"

Some of the kids began to drift away, not finding the novelty that engrossing, but Betty and two of the girls stayed right in front of them, while another girl, and two boys in their class stood a few paces away. "Well why don't you two come back and hang around with us as while?" Betty said, cheerily, and the sentiment was soon echoed up by several of the other girls there as well.

So, it might have been Ok, except that was when Sims and his gang showed up.

"Well bloody hell," Simms said, and he began to laugh, and point at Edward. Amy once again tried to step in front of him, but Edward held her back.

"No, Amy." Edward whispered in genuine fear that she might be hurt.

"Run, Emily." Amy whispered back,

"I can't outrun them, and it won't help." he sighed, softly. Sims was right in front of him now.

"Well I was right. It's Edwina, and looking very pretty today too." He was just getting warmed up to full taunt, when he froze.

When he continued, you could hear the satisfaction in his voice. "Well. Well. Well." He breathed. "And the little Fairy has finally done it. He's in drag too. Well isn't that just too sweet." He finished in a falsetto voice, with both hands on his cheeks, and with an exaggerated surprise and glee, to mock Edward

 

"Well Edwina? What are you doing? Cruising for a date for the pictures on Friday?" His sarcasm caused one or two of the kids watching from father away to laugh.

 

"Leave him be, you Bastard." Betty said. Which surprised everyone.

"What did you say, bitch?" Simms said with a dangerous look in his eyes.

Betty tried to hold her ground, but she was afraid of Sims, and rightly so. It showed. "I said leave him be. He's not bothering you. He's never done anything to anyone." She stammered.

"Shut your hole, girlie. I'll let you know when I need your permission to take a piss. Right now, I think we should take little missy here for a walk, and see if it's really a girl or a boy in her knickers." Sims began to advance on Edward.

It was Amy this time. "You leave her alone, you sick pig."

"Her?" Sims laughed. "Well we'll just see about that, now won't we. Perhaps Edwina is about to have 'Her' first real date."

Sims lunged to knock Amy out of the way, but Edward had seen it coming. Desperately, he also lunged to pull Amy back, only to be knocked to the ground cruelly in her stead. There was nothing he could do, because Sims out massed him so.

"Stop!" Amy shrieked, and launched herself at Sims Crying.

"Get off Bitch." Sims said, as he swatted Amy to the ground as well, where she just sat there staring at him in horror.

"Hey…" one of the other boys said, only to be tripped by one of Sims's gang.

"What's the matter?" The cruel boy asked sarcastically. "You afraid that I might kill Edwina, and then you'd have to find a real girl to snog, you little dyke?" He sneered, enjoying the look of horror on little Amy's face.

In her shock, and her rage, Amy heard someone Screaming at the top of her lungs. "Her name is Emily, you prick! You don't even know her name, you fucking Moron!"

The echo's had slowly faded away before Amy realized who had screamed.

Her response was to begin to sob uncontrollably. "Oh, Em. I'm so sorry…"

"What do you think you're doing?" A calm voice said from off to her right.

It was Roger

Even Sims turned pale. He might be much older and meaner than anyone else, but Roger was at least twenty kilo's heaver.

"Nothing you need worry yourself abou…" Sims started to bluff sarcastically, trying to put the larger boy off.

Seeing his three friends on the ground was enough. Roger had simply taking two steps in, and without another word, or even change of facial expression, punched Sims in the face as hard as he could. He punched him so hard that both of Sims's feet had left the ground at the same time, and were still higher than his head when he and the unfortunate crony standing behind him finally hit the ground.

Everyone was in shock. Roger had never hit anyone before, and it was moments before anyone could believe what had happened so fast.

Sims wasn't quite out, but only remained conscious enough to raise his head and stare in dull shock at Roger. Beside Roger, a girl was trying to wipe blood off of her face.

"That's it, Sims." Roger said quietly. "I told you before to leave them alone. You had best look for some other town to live in from here on out, because from now on, every time I see you, I'm going to punch you just as hard. And if you ever touch one of my friends again, I'll pull your fucking head off, I swear. Now I'll give you one minute to get out of my sight, before I do it again right now." Roger spoke each word slowly, without raising his voice, and without even blinking his eyes.

Frantically, the two remaining cronies began to drag Sims away…

 

Edward got up, and quickly rushed to Amy, pulling her up off the ground to hug her protectively. "It's Ok, Amy. Shhhh." He whispered.

"Oh, Emily, I thought…" She continued to sob

Several of the other girls crowded around the two, and tried to help comfort Amy, but for several minutes it was of little use. Finally, she began to calm down enough for Edward to look around at the circle of faces.

On seeing Roger standing there, he smiled gratefully, if weakly. "Thank you, Roger. If you hadn't come along…" he cold not think of anything else to say for a while. "I should take Amy home now."

"No," Amy whimpered. "Take me to the table, and let me sit down, please. I can't let my Mum see me like this. She'll totally freak"

Edward Reluctantly agreed, and steered Amy to a nearby picnic table under a tree.. Thankfully, one of the other girls soon arrived with a wet napkin, to wipe Amy's face. That seemed to revive her a little, as the girls worked on her.

"I am so sorry, Em. I forgot all about…" Amy began to say.

"Amy, it was I. Don't blame yourself for something that I did." Edward said.

"That Animal was going to hurt you, Em. Really hurt you. If Roger hadn't come…"

"I'm OK, though. So, just try and calm down. It's OK." Edward tried again.

Roger chimed in as well. "I don't think he'll bother you again, Amy."

Amy just nodded her head, before pulling Edward into another embrace. "Oh Emily, if anything ever happened to you, I don't think I'd survive."

It took just a little longer for her to loosen her grip on Edward again. "Sorry everyone," she finally whispered. "I was just so scared for her."

Betty answered for them all, who were staring at the pair with similar expressions. "We all understand, Amy. We were frightened for him too." And with that, Betty turned her attentions with the wet napkins to Edward's face.

"Here, Hon, hold still. Your Mascara has run a little." And, she began to dab the little smudges just under his pretty eyes, before she continued. "Good thing you only had a little bit on. You know, I think William was right. I'd kill for your eyes, and a little mascara does wonders for them." She smiled at him a little.

"Thank you, Betty, but I'd better take Amy home now" Edward said softly, as she let go of his chin. Suddenly he stiffened a little as he felt another hand on his shoulder, holding him down.

"Hold on a minute." Roger took a moment for a breath before asking the question on everyone's mind. "Emily?"

Edward sighed, as his shoulders visibly slumped.

Amy was quickly on the defensive, thinking that the ordeal might not be over after all. "Roger, please don't tease him!" Amy begged him. "That's all my fault, really"

Roger smiled reassuringly as he walked around to sit in front of the two, and reached up to pull Betty to sit down beside of him as well. "Amy. You know that I don't tease him, or anyone else. You also know that no one teases him when I'm around either. I just want to know what this is all about finally, and why you call him Emily." Roger then looked to Edward, and gently asked "Well, Emily?"

Edward sighed deeply, and was silent for a moment. He continued then, while looking down at his hands in his lap. "Well, I think you already do know everything there is to know, Roger. I mean it's not like I've ever tried, or even been able to hide what I am."

For a long while, he was as still as everyone else. Then he deliberately leaned behind Amy, and reaching into the small pack that she had strapped on her back, he pulled out a small pink case that contained his makeup and jewelry. One of the stops they had made that day was at the cosmetics shop, to refill some things he had been running low on. It had been the girl at the shop who had shown him the new lip color. He pulled it out, along with his compact to inspect his face

Roger finally found his voice, somewhere amongst the burning he felt in his stomach. "What do you mean what you are? Are you telling us you're Gay, Edward?" Roger asked him just a little unsure to have it all out in the open. None of the kids had ever known anyone that – different.

Edward laughed nervously and shook his head, as he put down his compact, and reached into the pack again for his brush, and a white hair scrunchie he had placed in there before they had headed home. As he thoughtfully began to brush his hair back, he said. "No, Roger. It's not that simple."

Everyone remained quiet as he quickly brushed his hair into a ponytail, and then tied it off with the scrunchie high on the back of his head. Then reaching into the bag once more, he took out a white ribbon, and deftly tied it into a bow over the scrunchie, before once again picking up the compact.

"I don't understand, do you mean to tell us you're not gay?" Roger asked again, as he watched the boy pull out a tube if tinted moisturizer, and began to quickly rub it on his face.

"The truth is," Edward said while visibly holding his breath, "that I'm not sure."

Looking in the little mirror again, he checked the job before applying a little powder to his chin, cheeks, nose, and forehead. "I won't lie to you. I did have a crush on that boy who stayed down in the Stony Brook Cottage last summer, but I never did anything about it. Mostly, I find that I fancy girls. I'm just not really sure what gay might mean for me."

Throughout this time, Edward's deft movements fascinated the children, as he quickly moved on to his eye makeup, and began to line his eyes softly and subtly with a liquid pencil on the top, and a regular pencil on the bottom.

"So you are bi?" Roger asked still confused. "Is that why she calls you Emily?"

Edward looked sadly at Roger, and said simply "She calls me Emily, because that's my name, Roger."

For his part, Roger was trying really hard to understand, but his brows looked as if they were knitting themselves a sock where they met in the middle. The half dozen other kids looked no less confused.

"I'm a girl, Roger." Edward said simply, and then began to work on his lashes, this time applying a much heavier coat of mascara to his long lashes.

He could see that the open admission even shocked Amy a little; as it was the first time he could remember saying that out loud.

At first, Roger had wanted to snap at him, for making fun of them, and saying silly ass things to make them all feel bad, but the transformation they were watching held them all spellbound, including Roger. When Edward finally had a faint touch of color on his lids and brows, and had blended a little rose color on his cheeks, he picked up the tube of bright pink lipstick, and quickly added a finishing coat to his lips.

Then standing up, he quickly pulled a little of the white top out of the waist of his pants, which everyone had noticed were really girls jeans, and bloused it out a little around his midriff, before once again reaching into the backpack, and pulling out a pretty silver metal belt. It was made of filigree in a very pretty floral pattern, and he placed it around his waist. He then pulled out a necklace with a heart pendant, and some small earrings, and put them all on too. Finally he kicked off his trainers, and pulled out some low heeled casual shoes, and slipped them onto his feet, before taking a step back, and turning to face the awestruck children sitting on the picnic table. Looking very nervous, he held his hands together in front of him, and tried valiantly to maintain eye contact with them.

"Oh, my god," Betty said, her hands slowly moving up and covering her mouth. "You look fabulous"

"Thank you, Betty" He said shyly, and blushed at them.

"Bloody brilliant." George said, who had moved from England last year.

They all said he looked beautiful, which embarrassed him, but made Amy positively beam as she reached out to squeeze his hand.

"I can't believe how you can do that so easily." Roger said softly, as he stared in wonder at his long time friend. "I mean, you've always been good looking… Now you look like any of the girls"

"I told you, Roger. I am a girl. I always have been. I think something got pretty messed up when I was born, but inside I've always felt - well - like this." The girl in front of them raised her hands helplessly. The worst part was, that not only was she very pretty, a real knock out, but every move she made now seemed not only feminine, but down right adorable – even the helpless shrug.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Betty asked.

"Are you kidding?" Amy snapped, "With everyone shouting sissy all the time, and worse. Did you think he wanted a target painted on his back?"

"I can see that." Betty said.

"What should we call you now then?" Roger asked softly, causing Edward to blush profoundly.

"Emily, if you don't mind Roger. It's my name. It's what I call myself." The pretty girl looked at the ground for a few moments before continuing. "I never meant to lie, or to play a mean trick on anyone. I didn't want to freak everyone out. I just can't go on trying to remember not to be who I am. I'm sorry, but It's just getting harder to do with each passing day" Emily said, and again looking down at the ground as soon as she'd finished speaking.

"Well," William said suddenly, "I don't know about anyone else, but I'm freaked. I mean really, Ed…I mean Emily. I mean, there you stand looking - hot. I'd have to say that I am quite thoroughly freaked out." However, when Emily looked up at him, his look held far more compassion than horror. "But I don't mind calling you Emily, either. If that's what you say your name is, then it's good enough for me. I've always thought you were the nicest kid in school, so what if you're now the prettiest too." No one spoke immediately, but several of the girls did give William an odd look or two.

Emily looked at Roger, and could see deep concern in his eyes. "I'm so sorry Roger. All the times you've stuck up for me when the other kids were picking on me, and shouting all those awful names… I just feel like I've stabbed you in the back. I suppose they were right all along, even with those despicable names" The pain in her moisture laden eyes was genuine.

"Don't be silly… Emily" Roger said quietly. "Nothing you did ever caused that, and I still couldn't stand by and let anyone pick on you. You've always been good to me too. I never understood how you could just take it, without getting mad back, but I guess now I understand. It's going to take some getting used to though. Not much I suppose, but some. You do make a very pretty girl Emily. The real question is what are you going to do now?"

"I don't know, but I'm going to take Amy home now." She said pulling Amy Up beside her, and began shoving her things back in her pack. "Her mom is really cool about it. And, I suppose that if I never see you again, it's because my mother killed me, or sent me to a home, but somehow I think I need to have a long talk with her right now. So, for what it's worth, all I can say is 'thank you."

The other kids just brushed her thanks aside, as several of the other girls got up and hugged Amy and Emily both while wishing her good luck. Then to her great surprise, so did Roger. "You call me if you need me, Em." He whispered seriously.

"Thank you all, for being so kind, and trying to understand." Emily said sincerely, "You're the ones who are Brilliant" She said, paraphrasing one of George's favorite expressions. "I'm very sorry to have caused you so much trouble." And then taking Amy's hand, she began to walk toward home, feeling both relieved and nervous. Well it was definitely time to face her mother, before the word got back to her via the grapevine; but, what she had said was very painfully true. She couldn't pretend anymore. When you had to censer everything you thought, or said; or, when you had to watch even the way you moved, and talked; you just became tired. Too tired to keep it up, no matter how bad the consequences might seem. She knew that now.

 

Chapter 6

 

"Mother, I'm sorry, but you've got it all wrong."

Emily paused in getting ready, to turn off the alarm clock near her bed. She had it set for two p.m., to warn her that she had to be ready by two thirty if she were going to get to the movies on time.

"I've got it wrong?" Joan said frantically. "Just look at yourself. I mean I've tried to understand as best I could, child, you know that I have. We've spent the money for the doctors, even though your father thinks you've just charmed them, like you seem to do with everyone. And you're still doing stupid things, like going out again dressed like that. Do you think that that Simmons kid was the only one out there? For the love of god, do think about what you are doing, before you get killed."

Amy just calmly continued to ready herself, checking her makeup and outfit for the tenth time, while trying to pay as much polite attention as she could until her mother's fear and frustration spent themselves on her.

"May I talk now, Mother?" Emily said calmly, sitting on the bed beside where her mother had sat herself down in disgust. Seeing the love, and fears in her mother's eyes, she felt bad for having upset her, but waited her out just the same.

"Of course, sweetheart. I never said I wouldn't listen, did I.? I just don't want you, or anyone else to get hurt."

"Mom, listen. I've been going out like this for a very long while now. The thing you don't understand is, that when I go out like this, I'm much safer than when I dress the way you want…." Emily had to place her fingers gently on her mother's lips to keep hr from interrupting. "The truth is, that when I'm dressed as I am now, people actually treat me kind of nice, and I really like it, Mom."

Joan could only stare at the revelation.

"You see, it was when I was dressed as a boy, that I caught most of the trouble, because I looked so strangely as a boy, and acted so strangely when I was trying to be a boy. That's when people wanted to beat me up - not now. I know that some people are still pigheaded and dangerous bigots, mom, but you raised me to be careful, and I always am.

Today I'm going to the matinee With Amy, Betty, Roger, William and George. I promise you that no one is going to bother me or anyone else with the boys there."

Joan had come to realize that Roger had long ago appointed himself Emily's protector. She knew he was big, even larger than her husband, which made her feel better, but it just seemed that leaving the job to a boy who was so young, and so polite, was a mistake. She still found her image of him hard to reconcile with punch that the girls had described to her some months ago.

'Listen to me!' she thought suddenly and sharply frustrated by her own confusion; 'The Girls' Indeed… "Edward, you are one of the boys, and if anyone should find out…"

"Not where in really counts, Mom, in here." Emily said, placing her hand on her chest.

"We have different opinions of where it really counts, Dear, and so will the rest of the planet Earth." Joan snorted.

"I know that Mom, but you know that in the end, that may be the easiest part to change - if I decide to go that way. For now, it's the part that gets covered up by my new clothes." She finished with an irresistibly infectious smile. "So what do you think?" she indicated her outfit with a gesture.

Joan laughed slightly, in spite of herself. The image was a complete one, looking at the pretty skirt and top. "Emily" was a little small and thin, but she was very beautiful. "You look just lovely, honey. That was never the problem… Or, perhaps it was…" Joan quit while she was loosing badly.

"So you like my outfit? I had to baby sit for weeks to get the money for it. Is it good?" Emily enthused brightly.

 

"The outfit is fabulous, sweetheart. But my biggest worry is what will happen to you if you are found out. You don't seem to be afraid enough what might happen if some boy… I know it's the easiest part of you to change. I just don't want it to be someone else's choice, and in some dark alley in the middle of the night. Can't you see that?"

 

"Of course I can. But you see, mom, I know something for sure that you can only hope is true." Emily smiled at her in that understanding way, which seemed to infuriate some small part of Joan's maternal instinct. It was so hard talking to her, because you tended to forget who was the adult, and who was the addled adolescent.

Emily was waiting for her mother to look directly at her, so Joan did and was struck once again by her beautifully sincere eyes. "I'm a good girl, Mom. You don't have to worry about that."

Joan began to cry. "Shit." she said to herself, as she pulled her daughter to her. "Do you know how hard this is for me?" she said hugging her daughter close. "And for your father? I thought he was going to slug that doctor who said you were a spoiled brat." She laughed a little, in spite of the tears that slid slowly down her face.

Emily said softly, "I know Mom. The only thing I can imagine being any harder, would be trying to be what everyone else thinks I should… and then loosing you both over this anyway."

"Emily." her mother groaned, "That was the first silly thing you've said. You'll never loose us over this. No wonder the doctor thought you were selfish. It's a wonder he didn't order a cat scan."

"Mom, the doctors were your idea, and besides, he was just the Endocrinologist. I thought Doctor James said that I was 'a Remarkable girl." Emily giggled silently.

Joan giggled out loud, in spite of herself, and picked up a brush, and began to fix her new daughter's hair a little more carefully, even though Emily had done a good job already. Strangely it was one of the things that gave her the most comfort - to care for her in the same ways as when she was a child. Emily thought so too, as she just sighed, and closed her eyes while her mother gently worked.

"You will be careful, then." Joan finished.

"I will." Emily said pushing back, and kissing her cheek.

"What about School?" Joan asked.

"Well. I was going to wait till tonight, but all of that babysitting money didn't just go to casual clothes, you know." Emily had that gleeful mischievous look in her eyes. Jumping up, she pulled her closet doors far back, and did a credible game-show hostess impression as she showed her mother the half dozen school uniform jumpers, cardigans, and pants that hung there.

"Not all of them are new of course, just these four, but I still have three more from the girls, that I need to do a little mending and some alterations on. I should have plenty of stuff ready in time for school. You and dad don't have to buy anything; I've taken care of that. I also told them you'd be coming in with me on the first day, to help with records and signatures on the course changes and such. They've been very nice. Worried a little like you, but nice."

"You're kidding me, Edward. You did all that?" Joan Gasped.

Sometimes her mother still slipped and called her that. It was Ok though. She was getting better all the time. "Of course I did, mother. I'm not a little girl any more, and I promised that I would make this as easy on you as possible. Besides, I only wish that you could have seen the headmaster's face when I showed up in my denim miniskirt, and white blouse" She giggled.

Joan got up and looked at the clothes, and then at her daughter's smiling face.

"Well, what do you think? Pretty cool, huh?" Emily beamed.

"Come over here, you little goon." Joan laughed, and walked over to pluck the measuring tape from amongst the debris of her daughter's latest sewing project, including she saw several DIY sewing books. Joan quickly took a few confirming measurements of her daughter, and then of the outfits hanging in the closet for skirt length, and waist size. She decided that some of the skirts would do better if they were shorter. Emily looked fantastic in shorter skirts.

"I'm going into the village, to pick up a few more things for you. I'll just stop by the uniform shop while I'm there. And I'll finish the sewing on the uniforms the girls gave you too. I want to make sure they are good enough." Joan smiled.

Emily tried to reassure her mom. "Everyone wears used uniforms from their upper class friends, mother. It's no social stigma, really." She squeezed her mother's arm to reassure her.

"Perhaps so, Child, but I still sew much better than you, and I'm not having my daughter looking like a ragamuffin either."

Emily Squealed, and kissed her mothers cheek, and squeezed her tight. "Thanks Mom. You are so cool. Dad and I are lucky to have you, you know."

"Damned lucky." Joan said, amused by how someone as sweet as Emily could be so deft at getting whatever she wanted by simply being patent and nice. If other kids were half as clever, there would be a ten-year-old prime minister within the year.

Just then a horn sounded outside. "Oh, Mom, I gott'a go. Thank you, thank you." and with two more quick kisses, Emily had dashed out of the room.

"Is your cell phone charged?" Joan called after her, only to hear a theatrical if typically exasperated teenaged reply. "Yes, Mootheeer!…" followed by a silly giggle, and a slammed door.

She watched out of the window, as her friends greeted Emily, and Roger got out of the driver's seat, to let her slip in beside him.

"Drive Carefully." Joan called out the window, causing the car full of excited teenagers to waive back to her. Roger had mouthed that he would.

Joan stood smiling at the image that remained in her mind for a few minutes. It looked like Emily would have the social life that she and her friends could only wished that they could have when they were young. With a sigh, she turned back to her daughter's room. Pulling out a piece of paper in a pencil on the desk, she began to make a list. Blouses, and sweaters, and at least two more new jumpers, knee sox, and oxfords were the minimum. The curtains would go, as well as the spread. She couldn't paint the room today, but she would pick the paint up, and Tom would do it this weekend. He was good at that sort of thing.

He was good at helping her through all of this too. He had been very supportive of them both. He didn't pretend to understand all of it, but he was gentle and kind about it even when he did not; and, just let some ass like that doctor say something stupid, and you would soon see where his heart really lay. On impulse she also picked up the phone, and made an appointment for herself and her daughter at the salon tomorrow morning, just as she knew all of the mothers with daughters Emily's age would be doing. One of those princess phones might be a nice surprise as well…

 

"Nervous?" He said, while squeezing her hand gently.

"A little, I guess." Emily said with a conspiratorial air.

"A little? Then why are you fidgeting so much?" He teased her gently.

"I'm Just so happy, Dad" Emily Whispered a little more loudly. Behind them her mother giggled at the pair.

Then Emily leaned toward her father and whispered loudly back. "Nervous?"

"I feel like I'm going to faint. My knees are shaking so bad, that I'm even afraid to try and get another drink of water, and even if I did, I think that if I made one more trip to the bathroom, they'd want to charge me rent…" He shook his head sadly. "Most of all, I'm sorry I that I gave that bag back that the woman let me use when I was hyperventilating. I'm feeling distinctly queasy… Since you asked."

"You'll be OK, Dad." Emily patted his arm.

"Sure I will. New clothes, new room, new phone line, and a new car, so that you won't have to ride on the public busses…" He sighed. "I'm ruined."

"What?" Emily gasped over her mother's desperately stifled giggles. "What did you say?" Emily asked loudly, just as the school secretary came out and announced "Emily Gordon, the headmaster will see you now."

"Sorry, Baby. Have to wait till later. We have Business to take care of. See how you like it" She was too stunned to see the satisfied smirk he gave his wife, not least of all for shifting the blame onto her.

"What?" Emily mumbled. As her mother propelled her into the head's office with hands on both shoulders.

"Settle down, People." Said the homeroom teacher, who just happened to be the school's football coach. He usually had no trouble with discipline - that was for sure.

"I would like to introduce our new student for this term, Miss Emily Gordon."

Amy simply beamed at her, causing Emily to smile uncontrollably in return. It was such a wonderful day.

"Wow!" a kid in the back called out. "Who's the hot babe, coach?"

"Well I'm glad that you asked that, Mr. Martin. Now do please sit down and remain silent for the rest of the year."

The class laughed. It looked like Martin wouldn't be taking medication to help him remain calm this year either. Everyone, including the coach was grateful for that, in spite of the petitions they had all sign for just that the last few years. He was one of the good guys, if a little loud sometimes.

"Miss Gordon is, as many of you are no doubt aware, someone who many of you know well. I won't go over all that you have been told, because you've all read the note on this school's policies; and, I know from testing that you all comprehend what you read at least as well as our lawyers can write." The class tittered at the insult.

"I will simply add this. If I find anyone does in anyway behaved badly, or in a way that I find disappointingly beneath the standards that I have come to expect from you, I will have that student, male or female, as my ball holder when I try out kickers next week. They will either be required to sit on the ball, or hold it with their teeth; I'm not sure which yet, as both suggestions by Mr. Martin have some considerable merit. However, I am sure that I will be offering unlimited tryouts, with special bonuses paid out by me, to students who are either legally blind, or who lift weights with their feet." The coach's smile was genuine.

"Usually I would open the floor to the new student at this point." he said raising his eyebrows toward Emily, who only shook her head and mouthed "No Way" back at him and made hand gestures like a major league umpire calling safe, causing the class to laugh with understanding. "Very well then, If miss Gordon would take her seat, I will take the liberty of informing you that Miss Gordon has not only been accepted into the sixth form Scholars program, here at the Trinity School, she has also been nominated for this years miss universe contest. I also happen know personally that she has received offers from several top universities, and that there is even good reason to suspect that she is being heavily recruited by the American CIA's covert ops division… as a free agent contract something or other. So be careful boys."

"Did that cover most of it, Miss Gordon?" He smiled politely at her

"All except for that Nobel Laurite, thingy, coach." Emily replied dryly, and then giggled along with the rest of the class, at his sense of humor.

"Really" the coach said, feigning surprise, by pushing his reading glasses down his nose slightly. "I look forward to reading your dissertation with unbridled anticipation, Ms…, Err. I mean Doctor Gordon."

Suddenly Emily froze in mid smile, and went almost rigid. There on her desk, were more than a dozen flowers. A few were yellow and red roses, but most were pretty wild flowers that had been picked by the students in the fields around the school. Some even looked as if they'd come from the headmaster's window box. Emily felt it coming, and still she couldn't stop it. "Thank you." was all she could manage without embarrassing herself before she gently gathered up the flowers and sat down.

"Don't think too much of it, Em." Martin said softly from the back wall. "I think that a lot of those folks just heard about that punch that Roger gave to that Sims prick, and they just want to be sure they stay your good side…" She turned to smile back at him, to let him know that she was grateful for his attempt at distracting the other kids from her emotions, and then just sat trying to dab her eyes clear without messing up her makeup.

"Well, I'd call that a success." The coach smiled at them all. "Save that is for Mr. Martins apt but ill timed misuse of the colloquial term for the male anatomy. There will be no detention this time, however, Mr. Martin, by simple virtue of the small but noteworthy improvement in you're still woefully inadequate vocabulary."

Everyone knew that the coach loved homeroom even more than football.

"And now for the mundane tasks of the day: Abu A'dada?" The coach paused to smile at the boy. "A pleasure to see you again, Mr. A'dada. Somehow, I don't know what I'd do, if I had to start my day without you, Abu." The unintentional rhyme pleased and surprised the Coach as much as anyone.

"Thank you, Sir." The boy said.

"I will get to you in a moment Mr. Martin. I assure you… Marie Claremont. Ah! You've come back to me as well I see. Good to see you, dear…"

 

Chapter 7

 

It was early in the party, when it happened. Emily had been to many parties, and most of them were a very nice time, where she had had a lot of fun. But even though she had been to several where she'd met many nice guys and all, nothing really clicked. She'd danced with most everyone at least once, all of the guys, and even some of the girls who had asked her, but nothing ever came of it.

Then it happened. George came over smiling, with his older sister Victoria in tow.

"Hi, Em." He said giving her a little hug. "I'd like you to meet my big sister Victoria."

Emily was awestruck. Victoria was a beautiful raven haired, and dark eyed beauty, who looked like some fashion model's dream. When she spoke, her voice was as soft and as warm as her hand, and her English accent gave her a lilt that held Emily enthralled, even as the soft tones sent an electric thrill up through her very center…

"Yeah, and you thought all of us must look like me, huh?" George said with great self -satisfaction.

"Thank you, George." Victoria said

"But unfortunately, I'm way too busy to stay here and gloat, so…" And he was gone.

"Are you Feeling Ok?" Victoria asked.

"Oh, yes. I'm sorry, it's a little warm in here, and I've been dancing a lot." Emily said, as Victoria took her arm and began to steer her toward the refreshments.

"I have to say that I've been very keen to meet you. It was almost the first thing I was going to do when I finally got everything together for my parents, and came to join them." Victoria's eyes flashed, as she seemed to drink in Emily's face.

"Here let me get you something cool. I wouldn't want you to give out on me, before I've even had a chance to have one dance with you… So, what will you have?" Victoria stood smiling at her.

She was perfect, and it was all Emily could do to keep from shouting "You!" but somehow she managed to mumble, "Coke. Please."

"You have such a sweet voice, Emily. No wonder you're all George can seem to talk about in his letters. He was right about you being very pretty too. I'm glad I finally got here to meet you."

Emily knew that she too was talking, responding to Victoria's questions at least, but she couldn't even hear her own voice, nor remember what she said. She only knew that when she did, Victoria would smile or laugh, and that those were the two most wonderful things she had ever seen.

Em had no idea of the stares that she and Victoria were attracting from her friends. Nor did she notice when someone gently pulled Amy away from William, to point out the two girls in the corner.

"Well will you look at that!" Amy was stunned by her friend's choice, but clearly, judging by the blush on her friend's face and upper breasts, the choice had been made.

Her eyes never wavered from Victoria's face in the full two minutes Amy Watched her.

"You go, girl" Betty chuckled beside of her. "So what's the pool up to now for the boy or girl, and the one for the specific suitors." She asked absently.

"They combined them months ago." Amy said, sadly shaking her head. "I had Roger. I'd kill her if I weren't so damned happy for her." Amy smiled at Betty, before turning back to William who just said. "What is it?"

"Never mind, the music is starting." Amy said to him.

Across the room, Victoria led Emily over to where the other couples had begun to dance. For just a moment Emily hesitated as she began to slide her hands toward Victoria's waist.

Victoria was faster, though, and took them in her own, even as Emily hesitantly reached for her. "Do you Mind?" she said to Emily as she lifted the girl's hands up so that Emily could place her arms around Victoria's neck.

"God, No!" Emily said with way too much enthusiasm, the admission making her blush and Victoria giggle.

"Well all right then!" Victoria said, grinning from atop the cloud she was standing on. "I'll lead then, shall I?" And she continued to look into Emily's eyes while they danced, until the girl's head had sunk down to nestle against the nape of her neck.

In the far corner, George was counting a considerable sum of money. "I tried to tell you all, that you needed a ringer, but no. You don't listen, and you're all poorer for it."

No one noticed. Everyone else was watching Emily.

 

(continued)

  

  

  

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