I feel like this chapter sucks but what do you do? I hope you guys like it anyway and feel free to review! Enjoy!
"She really didn't have a choice Anne," Edward says taking a seat on the couch with a plate of grilled cheese in his lap and hands one to me. Yes at twenty four years old me and Edward still make grilled cheese.
"My medical supplies is in the box I keep my binders and tampons in," I sigh and rest heavier into the couch. "The look on his face was pretty priceless I must say."
"I imagine you had the same reaction," Edward says to Anne who sits in between us.
She glances over at me with a smile and turns back to him, shaking her head. "Not really, it kinda..."
"I think this is a story for another time," I cut in, stopping her from saying what transpired that day.
"What can it hurt?" Edward asks taking a bite out of his sandwich. "I already know you two have some kind of relationship."
Anne and I both look at each other and as our gazes meet we both bust out into laughter. "I think you have it all wrong, mate," I laugh.
"You see," she starts after calming down, "everything between me and Mary is platonic. At one point we were together but not anymore."
"It wasn't anything really. More of an arrangement we made," I say after taking a bite. "Now my birdy has left the nest for greener pastures," I add sarcastically.
She rolls her eyes playfully and she turns back to Edward expectantly, waiting for his reply to this news. "So you two are telling me, that when I was in the mess you two were getting off with each other?"
"Not usually..."
"Sometimes," Anne says cutting me off.
"We don't have to tell him everything." I cast her a look that I think she understands.
"I won't meddle into your personal lives," Edward says passively. "You don't meddle in mine even when you spend ten minutes waiting in the hall."
"What happened exactly?" Anne asks with a skeptical look. "You said something about a blonde earlier."
"After you dropped me off here a few days ago I came up to find the door was locked and a woman moaning Edwards name so loudly I'm surprised it didn't bother Rhona." I finish off my sandwich and lay the empty plate on the floor. "The best part was him finding me sitting outside and not realizing it at first."
"Hey Kidd, I have needs too," he says jokingly. "When opportunity comes knocking I answer."
"Opportunity isn't the only thing that came," I challenge. Anne bursts into helpless laughter as Edward just shrugs, seemingly innocent as he pushes a stray lock of blonde hair behind his ear.
"Is that jealousy I hear? Have something you want to admit?"
"I'd rather be abstinent for the rest of my life, mate," I say with a bitter tone. "Does this mean you're insinuating that I should be jealous?"
His smile doesn't fade even through the harsh words. "I can't be that bad. You have spend multiple nights clutched to my side." He makes a point to dodge the question.
I roll my eyes. "Yeah and all those nights I wake up with a part of you pressed against me that I don't want to get close with."
"So do I. You get especially warm through your trousers when you sleep," he says with a sly smile.
"Okay moving on," Anne laughs. "You two can talk about this when I'm not here. When it comes down to it, I know what's happening here." Her tone is so matter of fact as she stands, taking my plate.
"What?" I ask incredulously.
"You two. It's funny how neither of you realize it." I look over at Edward and he looks back at me, just as confused as I. I turn back to Anne who laughs at us. "You really don't see it?" She holds her hands out in exasperation.
"Are you gonna say what I think you're gonna say?" I ask, fearing the worst. She wants us to... Please don't Annie.
Her eyebrows furrow and she places her palm to her forehead. "You two would risk your lives for one another right?"
"I could say that," Edward nods. "Now where are you going with this?"
I know Edward's not daft. I take that back, he is daft but when it comes to this he's not entirely too stupid.
"I'm just trying to show you that you two mean a lot to each other. I'll leave it at that because I want you guys to find out for yourselves." She leans on the counter and grabs a jacket she must have thrown off when she came in. "Take it easy Mary. I best be getting home before Jack hurts himself," she jokes but the likelihood of him hurting himself a pretty high.
"Annie wait," I call but she winks, turning her back and leaving. The door closes behind her and I'm left wondering what she's trying to do.
"That was weird," Edward sighs. "That's what you meant when you said Anne wants us together." He puts on an uncomfortable smile.
"She's just worried about me," I brush off. "Besides we're just friends, right?"
He looks blankly at me before realizing I asked him a question and shakes his head. "Right, to think that we would ever..." He let's his sentence trail off letting me paint the picture for myself.
"No, never." I say with a false bravado. Would it really be that appalling to me? Thinking about it I don't think it would. I think he would find it that way though. Who wouldn't? I'm a woman pretending to be a man for reasons unknown to him. Some days I don't even want to be Mary.
I think I've stayed here too long. I feel myself getting attached and the longer I wait to leave the harder it's going to be
"Now that that's out of the way what do you wanna do?" He casts his feet up onto the back of the couch and I can't help but feel guilty for planning on leaving.
"Well I guess that now you know I'm a woman you probably have questions and I'm not going to answer those." I send him a shitty smile that makes him just smile back at me. "But I will answer any question you have just as long as it doesn't involve my family or why I dress as a man.
"Fine," he says as it seems I have peaked his interests. "The scar. The one over your eye. How'd you get it?"
I let out a bitter laugh without even thinking. "It's not that eventful," I sigh. "I used to be a pickpocket when I got into my teens and there was this man. Used to walk down that same street everyday to his expensive car and everyday he ignored everyone else on the street like he was untouchable. I got it into my fifteen year old head that he didn't deserve what he had and that what I took from him wouldn't matter. After awhile I learned he kept his wallet in his back pocket and I found my chance. I tried to take it and for the first time in my life I didn't get away cleanly. He swung his briefcase back at me and it cut clean with one of the corners. Stitched it myself. On the bright side I did make three hundred dollars that day." I still hear a bit of my young pride shine through in my words.
"I would have never thought you a pick pocket," he says quizzically. "The scar suits you though. It kinda makes you look like a badass."
"It does?" I ask knowingly. "The only thing it ever did for me was help me scare away the confused straight men." I feel to myself smile bitterly.
"Have problems with that?" He questions with a shitty smile.
"More often than not I have to tell a drunk one I'm not interested nor am I a girl." I subconsciously touch the side of my neck where the hickey used to be. I still don't understand any of that. "Didn't seem to scare you away," I mumble under my breath.
"My mother used to say I liked women that could kick my ass," he looks away, pretending to say it absentmindedly but he can't hide that guilty smile of his.
"You're such a bastard," I scoff. "I would kick your ass right now but I'm afraid of the repercussions."
She share a laugh, then sit in silence, thinking in our own heads. What now?
The answer comes as Edward's phone goes off with a loud buzzing. He pulls it out if his pocket and answers it.
"Hello?" There's a pause before he smiles brightly and responds. "Lord Nick it's been years."
"Five. Wow it's been a long time," he sighs.
He glances up at me and then down at the floor underneath his feet. "I could."
"Holy hell you're married!" His look turns to one of concern.
"I just got out of the service a week ago. Do you really think I'm married?" His tone is overly sarcastic.
"I have a girlfriend," he says without a waver in his voice. "I think she'd be happy to go with me."
"She is? They have a kid too?"
"I guess this is what happens when you disappear after high school." He scratches the back of his neck and sighs heavily like if he tries hard enough his problem would go away.
"I'll see you then. It was nice talking to you. Bye."
He ends the call and groans loudly, sinking further into the couch.
"What's wrong?" I ask wondering what all that could be about.
"That was an old friend of mine inviting me to my five year high school reunion." His voice is heavy.
"And who is this girlfriend you're taking with you? I'll have to thank her for taking you out of the apartment for a few days." I cross my arms across my chest.
He looks up at me with a nervous smile. "I was hoping you would go with me," he says awkwardly. "I can't be the only guy who is single five years after high school."
I look at him accusingly. "A lot of people aren't married five years after high school, Kenway." Why me?
He shakes his head. "You don't understand. It's a small town and half my class was married within the year after we graduated. The reunion is our opportunity to show off to everyone else. They go all out. Suits, dresses, the whole lot."
"That still doesn't mean I'm going to pretend that we're together so you can look good in front of you're old friends," I say, my voice taking a dry tone.
"Please. Just this once," he begs sitting up fully to look at me pleadingly. "You just have to stand by me and flirt a bit. According to Anne we do that anyway."
What real harm can it do?
"Fine," I say stagnantly, surprising him a bit. "But what's in it for me?"
"Wait, really?" He asks, confused. "You'll do that for me?"
"Kenway, I spend everyday with you. If anything I should get the opportunity to make fun of you in front of your old friends." A thought comes to mind and I find myself smiling. "What would be even better is if I went as James."
"I wouldn't mind but that would mean my story wouldn't match up and I don't think they would take too kindly to me dating a man." He pauses as if debating on if he wants to say what's on his mind. "I always thought you were a handsome man anyway." He sounds smug and sends me a smile as an apology for the revelation.
"Always knew you had a thing for me," I joke, hoping he doesn't mean anything by it. "I'll go with you just as long as you don't go overboard trying to pretend. I don't want you touching on me but this doesn't mean I won't be touching you," I look down at my hands and pick at the short nails so I don't laugh at the look I know is going to cross his face.
His expression contorts into one of confusion but holds distant understanding. "So you can do whatever you want but I have to keep my hands to myself?"
"Aye, that's the price for forcing me to pretend we're together so you can pretend to be a proud peacock." He rolls his eyes at me but smiles in spite of himself.
"You are so difficult, woman," he says breathlessly.
"Woman or not I've always been difficult." He laughs at the comment realizing what I mean.
He pulls out his phone and starts typing at the screen. "I guess we have flights to book."
"Where are we going again?" I ask bracing myself for the answer.
"Ohio," he says simply. "That means we'll be staying with my parents after all."
"How in the hell do you have a Welsh accent if you're from Ohio?" I protest. I realize now how little I do know about him.
"My parents moved here just before I was born. How about you?"
"Born and raised in England. Don't you find it a bit ironic that four of us all with accents ended up rooming together? Ade, Anne, you and me and you could say Thatch too but I don't know where to place his." This has crossed my mind many times and I find it pretty funny.
"I've thought about it but can't come up with any explanation other than that we just remind each other of home." The words seem to hold a deeper meaning than just in the way he says them. I do feel at home with them and I'd hope the same for him.
"I guess I'm going to go take a shower to wash some of the extra blood off. I'll be back." I stand slowly, cautious of my side. "By the end of the week my side should be mostly healed and within two the stitches should dissolve. Maybe then I'll be able to spend more than a few hours away from you."
"Doubt it," he says smugly. "You'll never get enough of me."
"If you're going you need to look the part," Anne says with a devious smile.
"You try to put me in a god damned dress and I'll make sure I never be anymore than James from then on." I cross my arms over the shirt Anne forced me to wear. It's a lose fitting light blue tank top that is layered with ruffles. It's something that looks nice on her. Me? Not so much.
I'm only wearing it because Anne thinks it'd be a little weird to come in as James and buying women's clothing. I don't think I'd be that bad but she insisted on dressing me as she tried to hide her smile. I'm just glad no one else has to see me like this.
I don't like the looks I get when I'm dressed like this.
"I promise I won't. But I will find something that will make even the most faithful married man drool." She grabs me around the waist and pulls me close to her side.
"Face it Annie. You just want to see me in it." I look down at the pretty redhead on my side.
"I also know a man who wouldn't mind seeing you in it." She looks up at me as we walk through groups of people.
"You're dead set on this aren't you?"
"You could at least try. Here this is the store." She lets me go and instead grabs my hand and pulls me inside.
I take a look around and I'm surrounded my racks filled with glittery tops and dresses as pop music blares over the loud speakers. "Anne..."
"Don't worry we'll find something. You have the intimidation down but now you need more confidence and the right outfit can help with that. I know you Mary." She stops me squeezing my hand reassuringly. "James holds all the confidence and he shouldn't because I like Mary just as much."
"Thanks," I say awkwardly. She's trending along a line I don't like to cross.
She lets go of me with a nod of approval and moves to the nearest rack to shuffle through it. I look around and begin and wander throughout the vast store. Everything is something I couldn't see myself wearing. So many fluffy dresses and dresses that are slim and form fitting. All the tops I find are made to be worn with a skirt, something I can't even think of wearing.
How do women do it? Wouldn't their be gusts of air and god forbid you try to run in the tight kind. They're like goddesses.
"What about this?" Anne asks holding up a blue shirt that is connected with a zipper that runs up the front. The front dives down to show cleavage I don't have.
I look up at her with an awkward smile. "It's nice."
"I knew you were going to hate it. I just wanted to get you used to that feeling." She smiles to hide the laugh. "Don't worry about hurting my feelings because it won't. I know this is hideous."
I glare at her and she laughs moving away to look for something else.
After five minutes of looking at things I wish I was more comfortable wearing, Anne comes back with an arm full of clothes.
"To the dressing room," she says placing her free hand on my shoulder and practically tugging on my arm.
"You're gonna kill me Annie," I sigh.
"I'm trying," she laughs.
She leads me past a sales attendant and into one of the open stalls. After laying everything that's in her arms onto the bench, she locks the door behind us.
"Off the clothes go," she whispers with a smile, aware of people walking in and out.
"I was wrong. This was an excuse to get me naked," I smirk at her as I reach for the hem of the tank top and pull it over my head.
I undo the buttons of the skinny jeans she loaned me and slide them down my legs.
"Only you wear boxer briefs." She stifles a laugh into her hand.
"You're just lucky I didn't wear my usual boxers. They wouldn't look that nice under those jeans." I pull at the material to help I stick it from my legs.
"We also need to get you a bra because not wearing one is not going to cut it in some of this stuff." I groan at the words and lean on the wall.
"All this for Kenway? I'm really second guessing my decision to go with him if that means wearing a bra."
"He'll love it," she says, her voice taking a huskier tone.
"I'm not going to fuck him so get that out of your pretty head," I say in a snide way and poke the tip of her nose.
Her hand grazes my side where the medical tape covers my stitches. "Well if he ever sticks anything other than a needle in you I want to know."
"You get off on this, don't you?" I can read the answer off her face.
"Maybe a little." I scoff at her and she continues. "I just want to see my two best friends happy and I think this is the easiest solution.
"I don't. Now we're here to buy clothes not have conversations where I'm half dressed."
"Fine but I'm not done with this. Give me one sec to run out and grab you a bra. What size do you wear?"
"Does it look like I know?" I say rhetorically in my usual snide tone.
"Probably not. Here." She reaches out and takes my breasts into her hands. This is not the first time and I doubt it will be the last. "I'd say an A and for the size of your rib cage is... say about 36."
"Did you have to touch me to figure out a have the breasts of an over weight teenaged boy?"
She makes an offended look but doesn't move her hands. "Don't say such things. Just because they're small doesn't mean they aren't perfect."
"Just go get me the god damned bra," I pout.
"You'll thank me later, love," she whispers excitedly and I turn away to hide myself as she slips out of the room.
I sit down beside the pile of clothes with a sigh and try to pull myself together. I don't hate women's clothing I'm just not comfortable in it but who is a better teacher than Anne?
I look over at the pile and smile a bit. What has she gotten me into?
Anne knocks and I unlock the door, holding a hand over my breasts, and let her inside.
"I got you one to try on but we'll go to a lingerie ship to get you something nicer." She hands me a black bra that looks like it would be made for a twelve yet old girl who just started puberty. Just my size.
"Slide it over your shoulders and I'll clasp it for you," she instructs. "I'm pretty sure you're more familiar with taking them off of others than putting them on yourself."
"You could say that," I add smugly. "To be truthful I've only been with three people my whole life. Including you."
"Surprisingly it's only been four for me. Two of them I only slept with once. You and Jack are the other two." She grabs the ends of the bra and pulls the clasp together, hooking it.
I turn to the full length mirror and look skeptically at myself. I never once thought i'd wear a bra but here I am.
"You look adorable," Anne says cheerfully.
I force a smile at her and she hands me a red tank top that has metallic studs running down the center. I slide it over my head and I must say the bra lifts everything up enough so it sits higher, leaving me visible cleavage.
"I don't mind this," I say truthfully.
"I was thinking you could wear this to meet his parents." She hands me a pair of black skinny jeans to put on.
I shimmy them up my legs, which is harder than expected because the legs are made for someone with less muscle.
"It'll do," I say, taking one last look before pulling the shirt off.
Anne has a small celebration behind me even exclaiming, "yes."
I fold the shirt and place it in a new pile. "We're getting their late Saturday night and leaving Monday morning so I just need one more outfit and something to wear to the reunion."
"Oh don't worry about that. I have something you're going to like but we'll get the last outfit first I still have four other blouses."
I try on a blue frilly thing and decline by just saying "it's hideous."
She protests, "it's not that bad and it brings out the green in your brown eyes."
"I'm good," I say shaking my head and taking it off, swapping it for a purple high necked tank top.
"I don't think so," I say with a shake of my head.
"Hold on I have something for this." She reaches over and pulls out a leather jacket. It's very different from the one I own. Mine is a mens that is not worried about a dip in the waist and is not synthetic but this isn't that bad, I kinda even like how it makes me look. "This will do Annie."
"Now for the best part," she says helping me out of everything other than the bra and my panties.
She reaches over to grab something that looks like one continuous outfit.
"It's a jump suit and before you say no you have to try it on." She practically shoves it at me.
"Anne it has no straps," I protest. "Do you really think I have enough to hold this up?" I don't want to sound dry with her but that's exactly what I do.
"Just put it on," she urges helping me undo the zipper in the back and step into it. "What you lack in the top you make up with your bottom." She pinches my backside and I jump, swatting her hand away.
I huff at her and lift it as high as it goes which is lower than I was expecting. She grabs the zipper and pulls it up until the top hugs me tightly.
The neck line is shaped like the top of a heart and follows the small lines on the top of my breast to be outlined. The bra straps are the only thing that covers my shoulders.
It feels like if I move in the wrong direction it will fall down.
Anne grabs the straps and pulls them off my shoulders to tuck them into the material under my arms.
She is practically jumping with excitement as I look into the mirror. "You look so beautiful."
The top hugs my sides tightly and accents the small dip in my waist. The legs are loose and baggy, something that I am grateful for. A red stripe runs up the left side and a white one on the left side of the black material.
"Hold on, one more thing because I can tell you're worried about having it fall down." She hands me the leather jacket I just had on and clips the top of the jumpsuit to the inside of the jacket.
"I really like it," I say a bit unsure of myself. "I just really don't think I want anyone to see me in this."
"Mary," Anne says with a sympathetic smile.
"Before you say anything do not pity me," I warn and she smiles.
"James is a part of you. I know that and so is Mary so embrace who you are and be both sides of yourself for gods sake love. You can be just as sexy no matter what gender you are." She smiles and wraps me in her arms. "Now stop pouting you don't sound like you."
"I'm not pouting. This all just feels so different," I let her go but not before she places a kiss on my cheek.
"Let me tell you though," Anne starts. "Someone is getting laid soon."
"And who would take a woman with a scar like mine." I may say it but I can think of a few.
"Namely two. Edward and if he doesn't grow up I'll have you myself." She smiles like the devil and places a kiss to my nose.
"I guess you better tell Jack you won't be home the night we get back because I'm not laying with Edward."
"That hickey you had says otherwise," she winks and looks at me with her eager eyes.
"How did you know?" I ask, panic in my voice that is masked by anger. "He told you didn't he?"
"I have my ways," she laughs.
"Okay we were drunk and I was still just James. He must of questioned something there. We all do stupid things when were drunk and you know him just as well as I that he will fuck anything with a pulse even when he's sober." I feel like I have to defend myself. I can't accept that I have feelings for him.
Is that it? Do I have feelings for him?
"I also know that Edward hasn't had feelings for a man before he met you so I would change that theory of yours."
I click my tongue and look at her in the eye. "I see you're having conversations about me."
"Just like the ones we have about him," she confirms.
"What does he say?" I feel my heart drop to my feet.
"He has something for you. I'm not sure exactly what but he talks about you every chance he gets and if I even mention your name he perks up like a pup." She smiles sheepishly. "You've got him right under your thumb."
"I don't want to hurt him," I sigh, sitting on the bench. "I do care for him but anything past friendship or platonic fucking I would like to steer away from and having him as a bed partner won't make this situation any easier."
"I understand," Anne says taking the spot beside me. "I won't push you anymore, okay?"
"Thanks Annie." I lean onto her shoulder feeling tired because of the length of this outing.
She pulls me to my feet and helps me out of the clothes and I change back into what I came in.
"We're going to get you lingerie next," Anne says with a knowing smile. "If for nothing else so I can see you in it."
"Fuck me," I groan to myself.
"Gladly love," Anne giggles and leads me out of the fitting room to the register