We sat in the kitchen in silence. I was expecting some kind of judgment from Sandy and Kirsten but they really hadn't said anything. I was wearing a yellow net cardigan with a black camisole and jean shorts with a small amount of blue eyeliner and pink lip gloss. Today was registration for school, even though I didn't particularly feel like going while Marissa was still a coma.

"So, I have three sesame and one plain." Kirsten declared. "We're probably not going to hear from the hospital for a while, so you might as well eat before you meeting with the dean."

They were trying to get me into the same school as Rose. I really wanted to go because all of my friends and Marissa would be there. Okay, so Summer was really only friend if you take away my sister and my girlfriend. Still my girlfriend was going to go there.

"I'll take them to school." Sandy volunteered.

"You can't be late for your first day." Kirsten reminded him. He had taken the job with the law firm. I did hope that he would still have time to defend people, even if it was just a little bit. "Okay, if we're not going to eat, we should just go."

At that time, the phone rang. I quickly grabbed it.

"Hello? Hey Mr. Cooper. That's great. We'll be right there." I declared. "She's awake."

We then went to the hospital. Even though, I didn't fully consider Marissa a friend, I still wanted to see her. The first thing I did was give Kaitlin a hug.

"Oh hey, she just fell asleep." Jimmy stated as I looked her over. "She was awake and aware. Thanks for calling the hospital and finding her. If they hadn't airlifted her out of there, she probably would not have made it."

"When can she go home?" Rose asked.

"They said in a day or so." Jimmy remarked. Where was her mother in this? "They're gonna keep her under observation."

"That's hospital policy." Kirsten declared. I couldn't help but wonder how she knew that. That seemed more like a Sandy thing.

"It's not like there's any reason to be concerned, right?" Mrs. Cooper quipped as she entered the room. "I mean a teenager popping a dozen pain pills and then washing it down with tequila is perfectly normal, right? Now how about you explain what you are doing here?"

"I called them." Jimmy stated.

"What Marissa needs right now is to be with her family, no visitors." Her mom declared.

"We should go." Sandy replied. I gave Kaitlin a kiss before we walked out. I saw her mother stare at me with daggers. "Don't take it personally. Julie has just been through every parent's nightmare."

"I'm sure she'll apologize." Kirsten told me.

"You are?" Sandy asked in disbelief. I was with him. She didn't seem like the type to apologize.

"Excuse me, Rhiannon can I talk to you?" Julie requested. "I don't know what happened in Mexico but here's what I do know. Marissa was a lot better off before you came here. Every problem she's had is rooted in you. Now you've almost killed my daughter."

I was about to say that I barely even knew her before Kaitlin spoke up.

"Mom, this is not Rhi's fault." She argued. "Marissa took the pills because Luke and Holly were cheating on her and you and dad are breaking up. She barely even hangs out with Rhiannon."

"I want you to stay away from both of my daughters." Julie ordered. "If I ever see you and Kaitlin together again, I will put you in juvie where you belong."

"Why is she blaming you and not Holly and Luke?" Rose asked once we got to the school. She was wearing a two piece blue and white checkered crop top and high-waisted miniskirt set.

"Because I'm easy to blame. I'm the outsider. I'm just glad that Marissa is okay." I replied.

"She can't keep you and Kaitlin apart." Rose pointed out.

"Girls, I'm gonna meet up with the events committee. I'll meet up with you at the office." Kirsten told us. "Don't be nervous, Rhiannon. You'll do great."

I looked around the campus and I couldn't help but be amazed by it.

"This is your school?" I questioned in awe as I saw a pair of signs. "You have a tennis court and a swimming pool?"

"I'm guessing you didn't at your old school." She replied. My old school was a middle school.

"They had a basketball hoop." I deadpanned. We walked around and saw Kirsten talking to one of the teachers.

"My mom is more popular than me. That's a little specific." She stated. "By the way, after the meeting we have to get our photos taken for our school IDs?"

"Your school has IDs?" I questioned.

A little bit later, I was sitting outside of the office with Kirsten. I was really nervous.

"Everything's going to be fine." She tried to assure me. It wasn't working. Even though I was a freshman, I knew the high school in Chino wasn't like this one.

"I don't know anything about high school." I admitted. "At my old school, they just wanted you to be there."

"Rhiannon, Harbor is one of the best private prep schools in the country." She explained. Yet for some reason, they didn't have uniforms, not that I was complaining. "If you graduate from here, you can get into any college in the UC system, maybe even the Ivy League."

I never saw myself as an Ivy League girl. I wasn't even sure if they let transgender people. No wait, they were in the North, of course they did.

"I've never really thought about college." I admitted.

At that point, Rose returned with her schedule, which consisted of some classes I had never even heard of. I was frightened.

"It's a good thing I don't have a life." She quipped. Why was she always so sarcastic anyway? "What's wrong? Are you nervous?"

"Rose, will you please tell her Dr. Kim is very nice." Kirsten replied.

"Yeah, she's sweet." Rose stated. Wasn't sure if she was telling the truth or not. At that point, a Korean woman walked out.

"Kirsten, how are you?" She greeted. "Rhiannon, why don't you step into my office?"

I was already intimidated.

"So, we have weak grades, truancy, and criminal activities." Dr. Kim said as she read my file. It wasn't good.

"It was a misdemeanor. She was coerced." Kirsten explained. "Plus she was dealing with depression from not being able to be herself."

I wouldn't say I was depressed, but I definitely didn't enjoy school.

"There's no doubt that Rhiannon has extraordinary promise, but I'm concerned that she won't be prepared for our rigorous curriculum." The dean replied.

"Are you sure you're not just concerned about the parents that don't want her hear." Kirsten retorted. I imagined Julie didn't, but who else?

"That is a consideration." Dr. Kim admitted. At lease she was honest. "But not a decisive one. Kirsten, you know how bright and motivated our students are. Those who aren't bred for USC go off to Harvard and Yale. I just think that Newport Union would be better for someone like Rhiannon."

"Someone like me, as in what?" I asked in offense. "I know I can't change where I'm from or who I am, but I can change where I'm going."

"Rhiannon, you do understand that if you fail, you would not only lose a year, but also self-confidence, don't you?" She asked.

"So, you want to boost my self-confidence by not even letting me try?" I quipped. "I just want a chance. I haven't been given a lot of them in my life. Just one chance, please."

"Your test scores are superb." She complimented. "I did respond to your essay and we could use a little more diversity even there are already three transgender students here including Rose. If you could pass a placement exam…"

"Just tell me where and when." I interrupted. "Sorry."

At that moment, I got a text from Kaitlin. I hoped I could Facetime with her later.

"Is there any room in the pool house for me?" It read. I didn't know how to reply back. I didn't know if she would really try to run away from home. She then sent another. "My mom wants sole custody."

Once we got home, Rose let me look over one of her old practice tests.

"It's a good thing I never throw anything away." She said. "The questions will be different but this should help."

"Do you really think I can pass this?" I inquired.

"Yes. So I don't mean to cut into your study time, but do you still want to go to that group?" She asked.

"Yeah. When is that again?" I responded.

"Half an hour." She replied.

So, half an hour later, the two of us went to Dr. Carter's office where we met a few different girls around our age.

"Alright everyone, how is it going?" Dr. Carter asked. "We have some new members today. This is Rose and Rhiannon Cohen. Maybe everyone should introduce themselves."

"I'm Chelle and I have some news." The blue-haired girl said. "I'm just got word that my moms scheduled my surgery for December 22. So, I am getting a vagina for Christmas."

"That's great Chelle." A British blonde declared. "My name is Vicki Lucas. I have a twin sister. We're technically fraternal twins, but ever since I started transitioning, we get mistaken for being identical all of the time."

"Well does anyone want to talk about anything? It doesn't have to be related to being transgender." Dr. Carter remarked.

I decided that I probably should talk about it.

"So, I met with the dean of my new school today." I declared. "At first, it seemed like she didn't want me because I didn't have the grades before I started living as a girl. I got her to give me a chance, but I'm not completely sure that I can do it. I want to go to school there because my girlfriend is going there and maybe high school can be a fresh start."

"What school do you want to go to?" Vicki asked.

"Harbor." I answered.

"That's where I go too." Vicki says. "I hope you get in. I'd love to see you there."

That night, I decided to Facetime Kaitlin while I was studying. Technically, we were studying together. She had convinced her mom to let her go home for a while. I wasn't sure why she didn't just come to the pool house, but it was probably safer for us to Facetime. She needed to pass the test too. I wouldn't be surprised if there was pressure to Marissa from the school and not let Kaitlin in. Come to think of it, how were they going to pay for the school? Was Kirsten fitting the bill?

"You're lucky you have a bit more time to study this stuff." I declared.

"I don't even know if they want me at school because I'm pretty sure that my dad embezzled money from more than a few parents." She said.

"We we're going to need to kick this school's ass to show that we do belong." I told her. "I wish I could see you face-to-face." I remarked.

"You will as soon as I figure out a way to deal with my mom." She replied.

The next day, I headed to the school for my test wearing a grey asymmetrical dress and a jean jacket with some black nail polish. I was a little bit nervous. As I was about to start. I got a text from Kaitlin that simply read SOS. I didn't know what it meant other than possible trouble, but it wasn't like I could leave especially when I didn't even know what it meant. I just started to read through the questions of the test.

I was about halfway done when Rose and Summer entered the room. I didn't know the two of them were hanging out again. That was good, but I couldn't figure out why they were there.

"What are you guys doing here? Dr. Kim said that she would be right back." I said.

"I know this isn't the best time, but Marissa needs you…well us." Rose explained.

"Her mom has gone full Brittney Spears crazy." Summer explained. "She's trying to have her committed."

Suddenly, Kaitlin's text made a lot more sense. I still wasn't sure what I could do.

"What is going on here?" Dr. Kim asked them.

"Hi, Dr. Kim." Rose greeted her. "We're not helping her cheat, but this is kind of an emergency."

"We need Rhiannon for a little while." Summer added.

At that point, an argument broke out with all three of them trying to talk at once.

"Get out now." Dr. Kim ordered. Rose told me that they would be outside.

"I can't do this." I replied as I stood up.

"Have you finished the test?" She asked.

"No…" I remarked.

"Rhiannon if this is too difficult…" She responded. "If the Cohens are pressuring to do this…"

"It's not too difficult and they're my parents." I said. "I have a friend who is in a lot of trouble right now. One of the words on the school seal was loyalty and I have to show that now. If that means I have to sacrifice this, then I will. I'm sorry for wasting your time."

I walked outside and there they were.

"Let's go." I stated. I had no idea how we were going to do this. I was most likely sacrificing my future for this, so I hoped that it would work. It was quite possible that what we were about to do would be a felony. I didn't know the law, but it was worth the risk to get her away from her evil bitch of a mother. Hopefully, Kaitlin would be able to get away too.

Rose and I went to the hospital. Summer was supposed to be getting us some clothes to fit in better.

"This isn't good. She should have been here by now." Rose remarked.

"I'm sure that she is on her way." I replied.

"What if something's happened?" Rose rambled. "Marissa's dad can't even get her out of here. What are we going to do? This is probably illegal."

"Hi, I'm here for Marissa Cooper." I declared. Maybe they would believe I was her cousin.

"It's okay, Denise. They're with me." Summer interrupted. She was wearing a candy striper dress.

"Good lord." Rose stated. I couldn't believe how hot she looked wearing the dress. She had a cart of books with her.

"I told you I was a candy striper." Summer replied as she began to push the cart.

"I thought you were kidding." Rose said.

"It's for charity. All of the girls do it." Summer explained.

"Guys, less flirting and more rescuing." I interrupted. "Can you get us to Marissa's floor?"

"Try to keep up with me." She instructed. We followed her as she walked down the hall. "Hi, Gloria. I know it's my day off, but I just can't get enough of helping sick people. These girls are going to help me with the sponge baths."

"Dibs on that guy." Rose declared as she pointed to a random patient.

I hoped Kaitlin would be by the door. She knew that we were coming. She texted me saying that her mom was in the room and we needed to hold off for a minute. I needed to get changed into the dress that Summer gave me, so I had a little bit of time. I didn't see how her mom was able to do what she was trying. There was no way that Jimmy would agree to it. They couldn't just take her away.

I eventually found Kaitlin outside and headed into the room. I gave Marissa a dress to change into. I hoped it would work.

"I'll do my best to distract her." Kaitlin declared before she ran out of the room. "You don't have a lot of time."

"The dress was Summer's idea." I stated.

"Right…" Marissa declared. "Hey, don't you peek."

It didn't take that long for her to get dressed. I wished that we could go out the window, but we were too high up.

"Are you ready?" I asked. At that moment, the door opened. Thankfully, it wasn't her mom but instead Luke with some flowers.

"Luke, unless you're here to help us get Marissa out of here, you need to leave." I explained.

"Are you running away?" He asked.

"We don't have any other options." I pointed out. "Her mom is trying to get her locked in the loony bin, so either help us or leave now."

"Take the stairs." He instructed. I couldn't believe that he was good for something.

We began to move quickly to get her out. We decided to hide her the only place that we could think of: Jimmy's apartment. Needless to say, he was surprised when he saw us on the couch.

"Hi, Dad." She greeted him awkwardly.

"What are you doing here?" Jimmy asked.

"I checked myself out." Marissa lied.

"Does your mother know about this?" He questioned. It seemed like the lie would fall apart quickly.

"We'll wait in the car." Summer announced before all hastily stepped out. I wished that Kaitlin had been able to come with us, but we did not have time to wait for her.

"So, do you think this will work?" I asked Rose. "Do you know anything about the law? Do you ever pay attention to your dad?"

"Being a lawyer isn't very high on my to-do list." She answered. I sighed. She was useless.

"Well, she has to be able to stay here." Summer replied. "I need Coop here. I can't be friends with Holly anymore and I don't want no friends."

"We're standing right here." Rose pointed out.

"I still don't want her to go." Summer responded. Did that mean that she thought of us as friends?

"So, have you talked to Kaitlin lately?" Rose asked. At that point, Marissa came out of the apartment. "How'd it go?"

"He can't keep me." Marissa declared. "We're going to have to go somewhere else."

"Maybe we should get something to eat while we figure this out." Summer suggested. We went to the boardwalk and got some pizza. I supposed it was better than nothing. "What do you wanna do now, Coop?"

We could hide you in one of my mom's developments?" Rose offered.

"That will never work." I commented.

"How is this even possible?" Marissa asked. "My mom wants to lock me up in the nuthouse and my dad can't even do anything about it."

"Finally, I've been looking everywhere for you guys." Kaitlin interrupted as she ran over. "I told Mom that I would look for you. How'd it go with Dad?"

"It was a dead end." I answered.

"Well we don't have a lot of time to fix this." Summer said. "You just escaped from a psych ward wearing a candy striper outfit. If they didn't think that she was crazy before, they will now…I'm gonna go get you a slice, Mini-Coop."

"As will I." Rose added before they both walked away.

"If you're leaving town, I'm going with you." Kaitlin stated.

"Me too." I replied. I would go wherever Kaitlin went.

"Mom would love that." Marissa commented.

"Maybe I should just stay away since this is so much trouble." I suggested.

"Like hell you will." Kaitlin declared as the three of us leaned over the fence and looked at the water. I had never seen the ocean before.

"We need to do something." I pointed out. "We can't run away."

"I want to see if I can get her to listen." Marissa stated.

"I have an idea." I declared as I took my phone out and called Sandy.

"Hello?" He answered.

"I'm with Marissa and I need your advice." I told him before I explained the situation to him. "So what should we do?"

"Well, if I learned anything at work today, you don't wanna go to court with this." He replied.

We went back to the house and Sandy called Julie over. I had Kaitlin by my side holding my hand because I was very nervous.

"I told you to stay away." Julie remarked. "Where is she?"

"I don't know. Maybe she's on a ship to Japan." I quipped.

"Rhiannon." Sandy muttered.

"I cannot believe that you adopted this delinquent." Julie stated. "She is turning my daughters against me."

"I didn't need her help with that." Kaitlin told her.

"Julie, sit down." Sandy suggested calmly as he put a chair out for her.

"I will not sit down. I want to take Kaitlin home and find Marissa." She replied. "Now tell me where she is or I'm calling the cops."

"Julie, you've been through a lot but Rhiannon is not the problem." Sandy declared.

"Of course, she's the problem." Julie argued. "She just ran away from the hospital."

"No, she ran away from you." I countered. "What you want and what Marissa wants are two different things."

"You don't know what she wants!" The woman yelled as Kaitlin held me tightly.

"I know what she doesn't want!" I replied. "She doesn't want to live with you."

"I don't either." Kaitlin replied.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to say to this." Julie replied.

"Just say yes." Marissa stated as she came out. "We wanna stay with Dad."

"Oh Honey, you don't mean that." Julie tried to convince her.

"Yes, we do." Marissa said. "I know you want to help, but you're making everything worse."

"You have no idea how scared I was." Julie replied as she started to cry.

"I'm sorry. I'm not going to hurt myself again. I'll see a therapist if you want, but I wanna do it here."

"This isn't over." Julie declared as she wiped the tears from her eyes. She then headed to the door. "I'll let myself out."

Summer then came in to take Marissa to her dad's.

"Do you wanna spend the night?" I asked Kaitlin.

"I don't think that's a good idea." Sandy remarked.

"We're just going to sleep." I replied.

"So I heard about what happened with your test today or rather what didn't happen." He said as he gave each of us a Snapple. "I get why you did it, but I'm worried about you."

"I'm okay with going to public school. It'll still be better than my old school." I told her. I wouldn't like it, but I couldn't do anything about it.

"You are going to go to Dr. Kim and explain yourself." He ordered.

"I don't think she wants to hear it." I argued.

"You can't be afraid of her." He replied. "You just stood up to Julie Cooper, the fiercest woman I know. You can take Dr. Kim. Talk to her. If there's a problem, you'll have your attorney present."

I took the test with Kaitlin the next day. I did really well on it.

"Welcome to Harbor." She told me. "But if you ever do that again, you're going to have to bring Johnny Cochrane back from the dead to save you."

We went outside where Rose and Sandy were waiting.

"Are you two ready to get your photos taken?" Rose asked.

"You mean get our mugshots taken." I quipped.

"Check out my mugshot." Sandy said as he showed off his new employee badge.

"You're going to look good no matter what." Kaitlin said before she gave me a kiss. "Just don't laugh if mine turns out bad."

There's a few characters in this chapter. Dr. Kim is played by Grace Park because the original actress wasn't Korean. Also Vicki is played by Rebecca Rosso and Chelle is played by Meaghan Martin. Please don't forget to review.