The next morning Kyla comes up to see how Ashden’s date went. “Hey, Ash how was your date?” She opens the door. Spencer emerges from under the covers. “Kyla! Hi,” She pulls the sheet around her. “Wow, ok. Bye.” Kyla just walks out. Spencer laughs. Ashden sits up. “Spencer? Why are you laughing?”  “Kyla just came in to see how the date was.”

“Oh man, hope she’s not scarred for life.” Ashden laughs. “Hey!” Spencer punches him in the arm. “Kidding, kidding.” Ashden smiles at her. “What?” Spencer blushes. “You’re just beautiful.” Ashden kisses her. There’s a soft knock on the door. “Are you decent?” Kyla calls. “Not really.” Ashden says. “I’m coming in anyway.” Kyla opens the door with her eyes closed. “What do you want that you need to interrupt us?” Ashden embellishes his anger. “Just be glad I’m not Mom. She’s coming home early. Apparently she and James broke up.” Kyla holds up a letter.

“Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap! I thought she said a month?” Ashden rubs his temples. “She’s not staying. ‘James and I have decided to go our separate ways.’ Blah blah blah. Same as every other time.” Kyla mocks. “She can’t come home. Not now. Not when I’m happy.” Ashden’s voice cracks. “What are you going to do?” Kyla opens her eyes. “I don’t know. I thought I had two more weeks.” Ashden sighs.

“Do about what?” Spencer looks between them. “My mom said that if I wasn’t ‘back to normal’ by the time she got back she was gonna send me away. And that was supposed to take a month. Not two weeks.” Ashden pulls his bangs over his eyes. “What?” Spencer’s face is a mix of emotion. “I know. She wants me to like be a girl or something.” Ashden frowns. He pulls Spencer close, smoothing her hair. “I wasn’t even a ‘girl’ before I started transitioning.” Ashden sighs. “I’m not good at girl things.” Ashden squeezes Spencer in his arms. “Not the way you fucked me last night. No girl has ever done that to me.” Spencer whispers into his ear. “Mmm, Spencer.” Ashden lays her back on the bed.

“Hello! Still here! Can’t you wait?” Kyla exclaims leaving. Ashden runs his hand up Spencer’s side. “You have no idea…” He kisses her neck. “how afraid I was…” He gently scratches her side, next to her breast. “of messing up.” He nips at her collar bone. “You didn’t… mess up. I’m still… horny.” Spencer is breathless. Ashden, still scratching her side, kisses the bruise Shane left. “I can’t believe she hit you. If she wasn’t a girl I’d beat her into a pulp.” Ashden is really angry. Spencer moans. Ashden realizes that he’s squeezing her thigh with his other hand. “See? How am I supposed to pull off this girl thing when I don’t even think of myself as girl enough to beat up Shane?” Ashden takes her breast into his mouth.