Chapter One: We Never Talk About Boys
Author's Note: This chapter of the story takes place when Adam was in grade 8. In the semi-alternate-universe-land of this story, Adam wasn't out as transgender at this point, and is still really trying to figure out who he is. So, basically, he's Gracie. I'll try to make things as in-tune with the show as possible, besides that, and the new characters, Dahlia and Bridget (she'll show up in the next chapter). Enjoy!
"DREW! Seriously, please stop knocking your sister down!" Mrs. Torres called from the kitchen, where she was simultaneously on the phone, writing a memo, and watching her children's every move. "You're going to hurt her!"
"She knows I'm just playing around. Don't you, Gracie?" Drew smiled at his little sister and reached out a hand to help her up. Gracie grabbed his hand, and with one strong pull, Drew was on the living room floor right beside her.
She smiled with pride. "Just playing around." Then she grabbed her cell phone and ran out the door. "Going to Dahlia's, mom! Be back later!"
Gracie heard Drew laughing behind her as she ran out the door. She and Drew had been best friends for as long as she could remember. They got along a lot more than most girls her age got along with their older brothers. Drew was in high school now, and high school guys usually shunned their younger siblings, officially becoming too cool for them as soon as they stepped through the doors. But Drew and Gracie did everything together.
The only person Gracie loved as much as her brother (aside from her parents) was her best friend Dahlia. Gracie and Dahlia had a special kind of friendship. The kind where you don't even really need to say anything, you just look at the person and know exactly how they're feeling. That was great for Gracie. Unlike most girls she knew, talking about feelings was not Gracie's strong suit. But if she were to explain how she felt around Dahlia, she would probably have used the words "ecstatic love". Dahlia made Gracie feel like she was capable of anything.
She ran up the steps of Dahlia's apartment building and slammed her fist against the door of apartment number 33 four times. She stepped back, and the door opened to reveal the smiling face of a tall, lanky girl with curly blonde hair, dressed in all white. Dahlia always dressed in all white. Gracie never really understood that, (she was currently dressed in ripped jeans and one of Drew's old Beatles t-shirts) but she loved it. She loved everything about Dahlia.
"Hey! What do you want to do today?" Dahlia asked, looking just as happy to see Gracie as Gracie was to see her.
'Anything.' Gracie thought. "How about we go for a walk?" she said out loud.
"Sounds good!" Dahlia reached over to grab her phone and keys off a table, and they walked downstairs and outside.
They talked about everything on that walk. What they wanted to do on the weekend, what they wanted to be when they grew up, how excited they were to be going to high school in the fall, and how scared they were about that same thing...
"High school seems kind of scary in the movies..." Gracie said.
"What? No way! High school seems like fun! Parties, clubs, dances, dating. My mom says I can even start wearing makeup!" Dahlia squealed.
"How are we even friends?" Gracie joked.
Dahlia just laughed and shook her head at her tomboy best friend.
"You said dating." Gracie said. "Do you think it's weird that we never talk about boys?"
Dahlia stopped walking as the pair came up to a deserted waterfront. The summer sun was bright and hot, reflecting off of the waves of the lake, and making Dahlia's golden hair shine even more than usual. Dahlia took off her shoes and held them in one hand. She reached out for Gracie's left hand with her right. In a moment, Gracie was barefoot too, and reaching for Dahlia's hand. The girls ran straight out into the water, and splashed in right up to their knees, the iciness of it shocking them to their cores. Dahlia screamed and Gracie laughed and splashed her.
After a while of playing in the water, Gracie said "You never answered my question."
"About boys?" Dahlia asked, staring into the water around her feet. "Gracie, what do you want to talk about boys for?"
Dahlia smiled a little, but Gracie could tell she was uncomfortable. Honestly, Gracie was kind of uncomfortable too. With each passing moment in the ensuing awkward silence it was becoming clearer why neither of them wanted to talk about boys.
It dawned on Gracie that this moment could make or break her friendship with Dahlia. It could make or break her identity. But, never one to shy away from a risk, Gracie took Dahlia's hand.
Dahlia drew in a breath and looked up at Gracie.
Gracie took a step closer, unsure whether Dahlia would back away.
She didn't.
Gracie leaned in the rest of the way and gently pressed her lips to Dahlia's.
Suddenly, both of them were fully aware of what they should have known all along.
They were in love.