"Man I don't know how to tell her this; I mean what if she freaks out on me?"

"Dude, no worries, you guys almost dated, she'll be cool" The two boys sat down at the table, the smaller one was visibly nervous about something.

"What is it? Pinkies swear you guys can tell me anything" Sarah smiled as casually as possible. Whatever was bothering Ethan was obviously of some importance.

"I mean, Benny's right, we almost did date, you can tell me anything" Ethan smiled sheepishly,

"Ok then, well, here's the thing; I wasn't necessarily born, well, a guy" Sarah tried her best to support a blank expression, but she must've cracked because Ethan started to turn to his best friend

"Look I'm sorry I don't know if..." he couldn't finish his sentence before the older girl grabbed his hands

"Look I told you could tell me anything, and you can. I'm glad you told me okay?" He looked visibly relieved.

"I'm having top surgery in a few weeks", he blurted out, and then promptly smacked his forehead. "Ugh I knew I should have waited before I said anything"

Benny turned to him, mouth agape, "DUDE you didn't even tell me about that! What the hell?" He lifted his head from the table and stuttered

"Look I meant to but it just kind of...came out. Sorry" "No, I'm happy for you but, why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Hey, so is it alright if I don't care over tonight, not to bring you down or anything but I just have some serious work I need to"

"With what? We don't have any homework and it's Friday, and even if we did you know you wouldn't care"

"I just want to try out some magic-y stuff, hope you don't mind" Ethan knew his best friend, and knew it was something more than that, but decided not to press on the subject.

8 hours later Sarah showed up for her usual babysitting gig, but this time she was more worried about Ethan than about any supernatural mishaps that usually happened

"Look, I'm fine with you. Whatever and whoever you are, just know you can tell me anything."

Ethan sighed and fell into the couch "It's not you it's just I've never been sure now people would react to stuff like that, you know? Not everyone is a vampire who hangs out with a kid who has visions and a barely competent would be sorcerer" Sarah chuckled. "I was born female. there it is I started transitioning while everyone else was going through puberty, so no one would notice. I only took really light shots at home, but lately I've had them twice a day."

"So what did you mean by having top surgery? Like, what is that?"

"Basically just getting my breasts reduced, since even though I started testosterone so early they still came in, just smaller. that's why I have a binder" he paused and laughed "Look I know all of this is a lot-"Sarah stopped him in his tracks

"Like you said, I'm a vampire who hangs out with a kid who has visions and a would be sorcerer, why would this -" she made a gesture towards him "freak me out?' she laughed, in an attempt at lightening the mood.

"You're right, what am I even worrying so much about" he yawned "If you don't mind I'm just gonna go read upstairs and call it a night? I've been super tired lately"

She scooted over on the couch slightly 'No big deal, it's pretty dead all around, besides Jane and I have some cookies to make" Sarah exchanged a smile with Ethan's younger sister "don't we?"

"Right" Jane nodded aggressively.

"So… I guess you're fine?" Sarah smiled nervously at Ethan, who was already halfway up the stairwell.

"Yep, I'll be alright" Ethan shrugged and proceeded up to his room.

At the end of the night, after Jane had gone to bed, Sarah decided to check in on Ethan. After all, she may have been there just to watch after Jane but Ethan was still one of her best friends. She walked up to find his doorway halfway open, his computer still on and a book open next to him, lying under the covers fast asleep.

Well, she thought, he really wasn't lying when he said he was more tired than usual. She took it upon herself to shut down his computer (after saving everything he had worked on), put a bookmark where he had left off in his book, and pull his blanket up to his chin. He rolled over, a contented smile on his face, almost gratefully, as Sarah walked out of the room to rest on the couch downstairs and watch a movie while she waited for their parents to get home.