This story is an arc between Sam Evans and Unique Adams. To set up the story better I have made one important choice. In my story Unique started her transition in her early teens. I felt this allowed for more character development. Also Sam is keeping his longer hair because I found it sexy ;d! Some details had to be 'filled' in, however I did my best to stay true to, and go along with, the show. The goal of this story is to promote the image of Transgender people, as people. Thank you and I hope you enjoy.

When I was a child, I liked to play a game. A game where I was someone else. I was not 'Wade' but a beautiful girl named 'Unique'. Unique was strong and powerful. Fearless like a tiger, mesmerizing like a swan, and strong like a bear. Unique was free. And I was ready to become Unique.

"Mom…dad" I am sitting in front of my parents. My heart, it hurts. I do not want to grow up being something I am not. My mother looks at me concerned, and my father makes the couch squeak as he moves around impatiently. Had I not spoken for that long? "I'm a girl" a whisper, yet I felt like I was yelling. My hands were trembling.

"Speak up son" my father's voice trying to make me assertive.

"I'M A GIRL" I finally could yell. The volume startled all three of us, I could see them look at each other. None of us spoke.

"Wade…"

"I'm not Wade" I interrupted my father.

"Then, who are you?" Mom asked me.

"I'm Unique. I am your daughter, Unique Adams"

This was at the age of 13. And over the next few months my parents helped me truly be Unique. I was able to have my name legally changed, and I was able to start hormone replacement therapy allowing me to have a woman's body. And I am grateful for what my parents have done but this story is not as happy as it seems.

Unique was real, but she was not whole. Unique was still a man, as long as I had my genitalia I will never be able to legally switch my sex. And I'm embarrassed. During the rest of my middle school and early high school years I moved to Ohio from Chicago where I kept my distance from everyone as I grew out my hair and female features began to show. I was a loner, but I wanted to be a performer.

It was in my sophomore year that I decided to speak up.

"Unique" Betty, my mother, spoke to me as I was opening the door.

"Yes mother?" My tone sharp, I was about to miss the school bus.

"When we helped you…change we thought you were going to be happy. We don't ever see you smile anymore." In her eye was something I could not face, disappointment. I looked out to the sky.

"I know" was all I could manage to say before I walked out. The words agony, shame, loneliness are what I feel. Cliché, I know, but when you feel this over and over sometimes it just simply the truth.

As a trans woman you learn new words, diction that belongs to us. What should be up being empowering turns into the center of our weakness. Every trans woman's dream is to pass, or simply put: look like a woman. And boy oh boy do I pass, in fact. I know I do more than pass, I graduated. But how do you tell the boys who like you that you have a penis?

You don't.

As a beautiful transgender thick girl I feel as if the entire world around me is fake. Each man who showed interest never truly gets to understand Unique. I am not a man, but a girl with a penis. Sometimes it hurts to be unique.

Stepping into Carmel High School I was already used to the procedure. Attending each class was a mix bag. While my classmates mostly ignored me, beyond some of the boys, the teachers acted differently. Because my legal sex is still male the staff of the school had to be made aware of my transxuality. I could not just simply be seen as a girl. Staff always glared at me, or stared too long. I was always that thing they could not understand. And it created a painful shock of truth each day. Each day I was told that Unique was too unique. And I have learned that being unique also meant being alone. I wanted to shine.

And there it was posted on a bulletin board. Vocal Adrenaline was recruiting, and in the world of Carmel High School this was astonishing. You never contacted Vocal Adrenaline, they contacted you. There was a small crowed around but I was able to read the post further.

The paper was simply printed on a white sheet of paper and it gave the date of the recruiting in a very boring font. Yet even in its blandness it was the only post anyone was looking at. Its mere existence was the attention grabber. The recruitment was going to be in a week.

"I hear Dustin Goolsby got fired!" a girl near me whispered.

"This is our time to show who we are! We can make a reputation for ourselves in school!" A boy was speaking back to her. Vocal Adrenaline was the school's most popular club, winning back to back 8 times in choir competitions until last year. In Carmel High School the jocks and choir members were on equal footing.

I walked away as it continued to get more crowded. To sing, the idea felt right. Singing allowed me to feel like a star.

After a rather ordinary school day I step off the bus. Before me is my brown two story house. It has seen so much in its old age: my parent's union, my birth, and in many ways, my rebirth.

I slam the door behind me, there was no need to be quiet since my parents were both at work. Dropping my backpack I ran upstairs and into my bedroom looking for my secret pleasure. In the corner of my room was a full length mirror with a beautiful wooden portable frame.

In its reflection I could see my round face, and soft womanly features. All these years going through an estrogen based puberty crafted me to my perfection. Touching my long and thick coils I looked at my frame and girl I could give Venus a run for her money. In my hourglass dazzle I enjoyed the way my body weight had stored itself on my body.

Slipping out of my heels I went back to my bedroom door and shut it. Closing my window I hid myself from the outside world. I wanted to be alone, I wanted to be concealed.

I looked myself in the eye. In sight of the mirror I began to undress myself. Article by article I did not stop and I did not look away. Sliding my panties down I looked at my entirety. So much of me was woman, so much was ogled by men. Yet where it mattered…

Did it matter?

"I am Unique" even my voice was womanly, but would men consider me to be a woman? I held a comb to my mouth and closed my eyes. I see it. Standing on a stage alone, the center light falls on me. The red chairs are empty except one, there is an undefinable man sitting in it.

The violins begin to play, the mic is in my hand. Singing out I sing my truth.

I am timid and I am oversensitive

I am a lioness, I am tired and defensive

You take me in your arms and I fold into you

I have insecurities, you show me I am beautiful

My voice is loud. I am proud. I know the man watching is my lover.

Love me or leave me, just take it or leave it

It's not that I'm needy, just need you to see me

Take me, free me, see through to the core of me

Take me, free me, there will be no more pretending

He stood up, the figure began to confidently walk to the stage. I kept my eyes on him. Arching my free arm out I invited him to me. The instruments began to flourish with passion.

I am temperamental and I have imperfections

And I am emotional, I am unpredictable

I am naked, I am vulnerable

I am a woman, I am opening up to you

He now stood in front of me. Though I could not truly see anything about him, I felt as if I was looking into his eyes. He loved me.

Now I stand before you with my heart in my hands

I'm asking you to take me just the way that I am

Please lay down your arms, do you know me?

Make me feel safe from harm

Holding me he shielded me, his arms around my stomach told me I was sheltered. I was struggling to hold back. I wanted to scream with pain and with joy.

Love will just take me

I could not finish the song. Dropping the brush I looked down at it. It's pink back and heart looked back at me, it laid on the ground unmoving. Grabbing a sheet off from my bed I wrapped myself and fell to the ground. The carpet was the only thing that gave me comfort. I sat alone, I felt alone, and ultimately, I was alone.

The front door slammed shut, Rob, my father, was home.

"Unique you home?" he yelled. Looking at the mirror one last time I saw my hair splayed out down past my shoulders, a tear was moving down my cheek.

"Yes father I am" I said loudly back, I watched myself speak. Getting dressed, I also lightly reapplied makeup before I stepped outside my room to see my father.

"Daughter" he said I could tell he was tired. He was frequently tired. "Mom spoke to me" rubbing his shoulder and cringing he continued. "We don't know what to do. We moved, we helped as much as we can legally. We just don't have money for…everything" he was referring to my sexual surgery.

"I know father, I will always be grateful for what you have done for me" We were in the kitchen and I began to cook him dinner. I could hear him sit at the dinner table; we often ate together without mom because of her job. Serving him mashed potatoes and gravy he smiled at me.

"You are such a sweet daughter." Before I could walk away to serve myself he grabbed my wrist, his touch was rough. He nodded at me. Pushing my hair from my face I nodded back before walking away released. Eating across from him we remained silent. "Clean the dishes and do your homework before going to bed." There was a pause. "Don't forget to take your medication"

"Yes father" I followed his assigned tasks while he wound down from work. I could tell the manual labor was hard on him. After the mundane tasks were done I looked at my medication. It was what allowed me to be who I was now. I took my estrogen and testosterone blocker. I am stuck on these mediations for the rest of my life. The moment I stop, testosterone will kick into my system due to my genitals and everything will go sour quickly. A reality I simply had to deal with.

With medication taken and all responsibilities dealt with I went to bed and began to think of which song I'd sing for the Vocal Adrenaline recruitment.

The week went by as normal; with the exception that I began to practice the song I would sing. It was unknown who was going to be the new direct of the club but I hope that he or she will not cause me any problems.

Soon enough it was the day of the recruitment, it was a buzz across the school. Everybody wanted to be a somebody. The last class bell rang and I began to feel nervous. Though I did sing for my parents on and off I really did little singing in front of others. My personal interest has helped me learn but my voice has been kept to myself, despite on how loud it is.

The line was long, rows of students lined up so far I had to end up two curved hallways behind. It was as if some people skipped class just so they could be in line. Standing alone I shifted uncomfortably as I watched both guys and girls walking down the hallway crying. For as many people that were in line it was going very quickly. When I was in sight of the door I could see some people literally walking in to come out the next second crying.

I was at the double doors into the theater. I watched the guy in front of me arrogantly walk in backstage.

"Hi-" he began saying.

"NEXT" yelled the adult voice. From the slim white man came a finger pointing out back the door. With his head down the guy looked at me and soon walked off. I bit my lower lip. Shaking off my nerves I walk in. His blue eyes scanned me. His face gave off a very arrogant look about him. He carried himself with pride…or narcissism I could not tell.

"What is your name?" he said sharply. I now stood a few feet from him, I was surprised I made it in the door.

"Unique Adams" I say smoothly, although forced. Her brown brows furrowed.

"So you the…woman I hear about" he handled the word awkwardly and biting. I could feel its sting. "Well Unique, sing for us"

"Us?" I asked him confused, I only saw him. Leading me to the stage I could see the rest of what were the new recruits and the Vocal Adrenaline team. He sat in the first row, and he glared up to me. Clapping the loud theater suddenly went silent.

"Sing" he said. I swallowed hard and took a step back, my clicking heel echoed.

Looking out on the morning rain

I used to feel so uninspired

And when I knew I had to face another day

Lord, it made me feel so tired

My notes were strong but soft.

Before the day I met you, life was so unkind

But you're the key to my peace of mind

I began to raise my voice for my moment was about to come.

'Cause you make me feel

You make me feel

You make me feel like a natural woman

I could see the audience was looking at me with more attention. The recruiter remained unmoved. This song was being sung to man I had not yet met, but knew I'd see one day.

When my soul was in the lost and found

You came along, to claim it

I didn't know just what was wrong with me

'Til your kiss helped me name it

Now I'm no longer doubtful of what I'm living for

And if I make you happy I don't need to do more

I began to rise. Being as loud as I could, I found the attention fun in fact…it was exhilarating!

Oh, baby, what you done to me?

You make me feel so good inside

And I just wanna be close to you

You make me feel so alive

You make me feel

You make me feel

You make me feel like a natural woman

And I softened as I stopped. They all clapped for me, spare him. He was actually giving me a small half smile. Quickly moving he stood up and walked up onto the stage. Moving past me he walked to the open double doors to the line of people.

"RECRUITMENT OVER" and he shut the doors; I could see the faces of disappointment. He walked down to me. "Unique, I am Jesse St. James" his name came with a ring of dignity "And I am your new coach. You WILL show up here after school every day. Expect to be here for hours." And with that he walked off without even letting me respond.

"It's time to work on our song piece for Regionals. That we WILL be winning" he said to everyone. All were at his beck and call. "Boogie Shoes" he said to everyone. I did not know the song. Yet his eyes flashed directly into mine.

"I hope you are ready to boogie." The grin he gave me concerned me.

Songs Used

"I Am" Christina Aguilera

"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" Aretha Franklin