2. Prescription For Love

The big hand squeezing Blake’s chest let go. Hopeful, he said, “I keep trying to figure out why, exactly, so, you know, maybe I can explain better. My best friends were these three girls and a guy I’d gone to school with forever. When I told them, one of the girls weirded out even though she tried to pretend she was cool with it. Allie said she felt like she’d been sharing secrets with a guy all along, and she never would have said some things if she’d known. And how now she couldn’t be herself with me.”

“Wow,” Margie said thoughtfully. “It seems kind of backward, don’t you think? Because you were sharing secrets with them too, probably.”

“Yeah. But you know, not the big one.”

“True. I can see how it might be hard when your really close friends have to think of you differently —like if one of my sisters said she was really a guy. But they’d still be them, right? I mean, you’re still the same person. It’s on the other people to see the real you.”

Blake sat down on the floor next to Margie and wrapped his arms around his bent knees. The sick feeling was gone, and a flame of excitement kindled in his middle. Maybe this would be all right. “I guess when you find out the person’s different than you thought, you don’t know quite how to act.

Because we expect guys to be a certain way and girls a certain way.”

“I think we ought to just take people as they are, girls or guys or whatever, as they put themselves out there, you know?” She laughed. “I guess you must. Since that’s what you’re doing. Being the way you know you are.”

“I’m kind of glad we moved up here.” Blake hadn’t told his mom, but in a way, it was a relief to be in a new place and maybe have a new start. “I do miss my friends, but I feel like here, I can just be me and no one will be comparing me to the me they think I should be.”

“Are you gonna tell the school

the teachers, I mean?”

“Yeah, I think so. When I’m eighteen, I can legally change my sex—you know, on forms and stuff like that, but I don’t want to wait to be treated like

like me.”

“Yeah, that makes sense.” Margie pursed her lips “So, what about

the other. You know.”

Blake let out a breath. He knew. “I haven’t talked to my mom yet, but I’m ready. I just started the shots a couple of months ago, but I’m ready for the surgery. For the top, anyway.”

“You should get my sister to do it,” Margie said with conviction. “She’s the best.” “You don’t think it’s too out there? A lot of trans guys don’t ever have surgery.” “Do you think it is?”

“No. It feels

not right this way.”

“Well then, you should do it. You know who you are, right? You know what feels right for you. I think you should do whatever feels right for you.”

“Thanks.”

Margie bumped his shoulder with hers. “I didn’t do anything. You’re the one who’s brave.”

Tears pricked Blake’s eyes and he blinked to keep them from falling. He’d heard it before, from his mom, from his therapist, from the others in the trans group. Margie was the first friend he’d made since he’d determined to be out with everyone. She hadn’t freaked out. She understood. She gave him hope.

“You think we can sleep down here with Rooster and the chicks?”

“I don’t see why not.” Margie jumped up. “Let’s find some pillows and stuff.”

“And popcorn?”

Margie grabbed his hand. “Most definitely.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Abby counted eight emergency vans in the line extending down the drive from the ER entrance. Who knew how many had arrived in the time it had taken them to free Flann and drive over. “Stop and let me out here.”

“Wait.” Flann grasped her arm. “You’re in no shape to see patients just yet. You’re wet, cold, and

ah, dirty. Plus your hand needs some cleaning up.”

Abby couldn’t argue. Flann was never more annoying than when she was right. Abby’s legs below her shorts were scraped and mud caked, her shoes were a ruin, and her palm stung from the dried blood and grit stuck to the lacerations. “Fine. I need you to get me some scrubs. Where’s the locker room?”

“Presley,” Flann said, “pull around to the side entrance. I’ll take Abby up to the OR for a shower and some scrubs.”

“All right.” Presley swung around the circle in front of the main entrance to the white colonnaded brick building and into the side lot. “I’m going to head to the ER to see what the situation is, but I want to try Harper first.” She pulled out her phone and swiped the screen. “I’ve got a signal.”

Abby dug out her cell. She had a weak signal but at least there was hope the service would be back to strength soon. “I’ll try the kids.”

After a minute, Presley sighed. “I’m not getting through.” “I’m not either.” Abby powered off.

“The circuits are probably overloaded with everyone trying to check in with family and friends,”

Flann said. “We’ll have to just keep trying.” “I should have gone with Harper,” Presley said.

“Harp knows these roads. She’ll be fine,” Flann said. “You’re the boss—you need to be here, especially if we have to call in reinforcements.”