Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Degrassi characters, just Natalie

A/N: Hey guys! I worked long and hard on this chapter-I believe it's the longest one yet :] And I believe it maybe even 'Go There' a little bit teehee.

So I'll stop boring you with my useless talk because I'm sure you guys are as eager to read it as I am for you to read it! But first I got to say: Wow, you guys! 21 reviews for last chapter(s)? Amazing! Thanks so much! I'd also like to say I apologize in advance if there are any glaring grammar/spelling mistakes-I've read it over about once but am too excited for you to read it to be able to do it properly-If there are any that are too bad, I'll delete, fix it and repost it but I don't think there's anything too bad.

R & R!

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: GRACIE

Giving up on the idea that Drew would ever come for me, Natalie drove me home that evening after our kiss. The car ride was silent, but full of little sideways glances at her when I thought she wasn't looking.

"See you tomorrow," she said as she pulled into my driveway. Even in the dimming light of the dusk I could see her blush. She seemed to notice too because she quickly looked away.

"Bye," I said, smiling to myself. I didn't want to leave. I wanted to stay right here with her, but I knew I couldn't. I reluctantly dragged myself out of the car and waited in the driveway as she backed up, waving at her like an idiot. It wasn't until she disappeared around the corner onto the main street that I went into the house.

"Hey, I was just coming to get you," said Drew, appearing in the entrance hall about the same time as I came through the front door, indicating the car keys in his hand.

"Yeah…you're only about—" I pretended to check my watch, "—Two and a half hours late," I said sarcastically but, given recent events I could hardly be angry.

"Sorry, dude…Got held up," Drew told me.

"With Alli?" I asked.

"Yeah…"

"Of course," I said, rolling my eyes and laughing.

"I bet your attitude towards Alli will change once I tell you what she told me…" said Drew in a song-song voice.

"Enlighten me," I said. "What pearl of wisdom has Alli bestowed upon you this time? Never wear white leather pants after Labor Day? Never wear white leather pants ever?"

"Alli has it on good authority—and by that I mean, it came straight from the horse's mouth—that your little friend Natalie, has a thing for you," said Drew beaming with pride. "Natalie told her a couple of weeks ago at girls' night with Clare and Alli".

I laughed, due of the look on Drew's face, I almost didn't have the heart to tell him this wasn't exactly news to me—I said 'almost'.

"Thanks man but you're about two hours too late," I said, unable to wipe the grin off my face at the very thought.

"Yeah, I know—We've been over this, I'm sorry," said Drew irritable.

"No, no, I mean—I know she likes me," I told him happily. "Or at least I think so…" You don't kiss people who don't like, do you? I wasn't exactly an expert.

"How?"

I figured it would be easiest to start the beginning. So I did, telling him everything that had happened today—Right down to the kiss.

"All right, man!" said Drew, giving me a high-five. Of course, I didn't expect anything less. Drew was all about girls and conquests. I, on the other hand, began to think about how in the world I was going to tell Natalie my secret now…somehow I started to think I'd made things more difficult for myself by kissing her before she knew.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^later^^^^^^^^^^^

I woke up the next morning, with an unpleasant feeling. Upon entering the bathroom, I realized that, overnight, I'd received my monthly subscription to a magazine that I didn't want—If you catch my drift. One that I couldn't unsubscribe from now matter how much I wanted to?

Now, I know most girls resent getting this 'gift' (I can't even say the word…) but for me, it's a horrific experience. This is not something that should happen to dudes—It just shouldn't. Most girls think it's only a little blood; to me it looks like a crime scene. Like I said—Horrific.

All I'll say on the subject is that I took care of it with, as Clare so expertly put it, some feminine hygiene products. Grudgingly stuffing some a small compartment of my backpack, I was done and don't want to talk about it anymore…

When I got to school the that morning, my nerves were starting to get the better of me—I was still stoked about the kiss with Natalie but I couldn't stop thinking about telling her my secret. That was it, I knew I had to…now. I made a deal the minute my lips touched hers and I had to make good on it.

Unfortunately, I had no idea how the heck I was supposed to. 'Hey, Natalie great kiss yesterday—By the way, I'm transgendered. Yep, that's right I've got the body of a girl' …Somehow I didn't see that going over so well.

Instead, I decided to seek out the advice of the most sensible person I know. I found Clare in a deserted hallway leaning against her locker, a heavy textbook propped open against her arm.

"Geez, Clare—You should really put more effort into your school work. You're such a slacker," I joked, going up to her.

Clare looked up, smiling.

"Silly me," she said, fluttering her eyelashes exaggeratedly. "So how'd it go yesterday?"

Man, she doesn't beat around the bush, does she?

"Gooooooooood," I said, grimacing and avoiding her eyes.

"So you told her?" asked Clare, trying to catch my eye. "She knows?"

"Not exactly…" I said slowly.

"What happened?"

"We kinda…sorta…Kissed?" It sounded like a question. I looked at her nervously, finishing with a guilty smile on my face.

"Adam!" exclaimed Clare, almost dropping her book.

"I know, I know," I said quickly. "I'm a horrible person". She sighed loudly, closing her book and putting it back into her locker.

"You're not a horrible person," she said calmly but her voice was flecked with worry. "But you are digging yourself a pretty deep hole".

"I know," I whined, looking to the ceiling and scratching the back of my neck.

"You have to tell her," Clare said firmly, stating the obvious.

"No shit, Sherlock—That's why I came to find you," I explained. "…I don't know how".

"You told Eli and me, remember?" she said. "That wasn't hard was it?"

"At first, it was..But then you guys were cool with it," I told her. "And besides, you guys are my buds…With Natalie, it's a little different". Clare thought about it for a moment.

"I—I don't think there's a right and wrong way anymore," she said slowly. "You should have been honest with her from the beginning".

"So what do I tell her?"

"The truth…?" Offered Clare, and her expression told me that was all she got.

Just then, I spotted Natalie walking towards us.

"Hey Adam, Clare," she said, smiling. She looked really happy and I must admit, seeing her made me feel very happy too.

"Hey Natalie," said Clare, smiling back. "I—uh—Have to go…do something for yearbook. "It's an emergency," she said quickly. "I'll see you guys later". With that, she walked quickly down the hall and ducked into a nearby classroom.

Thanks for the moral support, Clare, I thought.

"She does realize the yearbook room is on the other side of the school, right?" said Natalie, amused, watching Clare go.

"Maybe the emergency was that she doesn't know where the yearbook room is," I joked. Natalie looked back at me. Our eyes really locking for the first time since she'd arrived.

"Hi," she said, her tone changing—she glanced down shyly.

"Hi," I said, my voice as breathless as hers. Forgetting all about the trouble I was in, I boldly took her hand and squeezed. Natalie looked away again and laughed under her breath. This made me feel like I had to kiss her again—So I did.

I don't know how long we stood there kissing the empty hallway but at one point Natalie broke away and said,

"We're going to be late for class". I was so happy with her right then, I'm pretty sure I didn't care but I knew we had to stop. It was very important that I tell her the truth…right now.

"Natalie, I have something to tell you something," I said my voice shaking involuntarily. My heart racing the hardest it has ever raced in my life—I wouldn't be surprised if I had some internal bruising.

"Okay?" she said, furrowing her eyebrows, obviously perplexed by my sudden change in behavior.

"I don't want you to freak out—" I continued with my disclaimer. "Just try to listen and understand".

"Adam, you can tell me anything," she said, squeezing my hand. I smiled nervously. I sure hope so, I thought. I kissed her one more time, in case it would be the last time she wanted to have anything to do with me—I admit I was preparing for the worst. I straightened up, clearing my throat.

"Natalie, I'm—"

"No way!" guffawed a stupid voice. Both surprised, Natalie and I turned to the source of the voice and came face to face with Fitz, Owen and Bianca standing a little ways away down the hall. They were coming towards us.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! Why now? Then it occurred to me, what had they seen?

Quickly, I dropped Natalie's hand and took a big step to the side, away from her. She was looked at me with a confused expression on her face—I turned away swiftly. It might have been a rude thing to do but I had to protect her…If these bullies found out she liked me, they'd never let her live it down.

Meanwhile, Fitz, Owen and Bianca had reached us. Fitz and Owen were falling all over each other laughing and Bianca stood with her hands on her hips, smirking evilly.

"See?" she said, giving a little chuckle. "I told you I saw the tranny making out with someone back here".

"This is priceless!" cried Owen, still howling with laughter.

"I didn't know we had any lesbians at Degrassi," said Fitz tauntingly. "…Besides my man over there". He gestured towards me.

"She's new," spat Bianca, as though it was an insult.

"That makes sense," sneered Owen. "She doesn't know what a freak she's dealing with yet…As if the being a tranny part wasn't enough of a give away".

"Let's just go, Natalie," I said trying to push past Owen but Fitz stepped forward too, cornering us with our backs to the lockers. The pair began howling with laughter. I had to get us out of here before the situation got worse. But the minute Natalie opened her mouth, I knew it was too late.

"If you guys are going to be asses, you might want to try making some sense," Natalie shot back viciously. My stomach dropped—By fighting back, Natalie had started something that I didn't want Fitz, Owen and Bianca to finish. All three of the bullies' eyes fell on me, matching wicked smiles coloring all of their faces simultaneously. Nothing good could come of this.

"She doesn't know?" exclaimed Bianca, raising her eyebrows.

"This just keeps getting back and better!" cried Owen.

"Know what?" demanded Natalie, her gaze shifting between Bianca and Owen.

"You're little boyfriend," said Bianca, as though she was talking to a little kid. "Isn't a boy".

Natalie turned to me.

"Adam, what're they talking about?" she asked, laughing nervously as though this was all a big joke and she was just waiting for the punch line.

"I—I—I was gonna—I didn't know how—" I stammered, unable to finish a complete sentence. I felt my face turn red.

"Need proof, Red?" asked Fitz. Owen came up and grabbed me from behind while Fitz advanced on me, ripping my bag off my shoulder. Tearin the zipper open, he overturned it, shaking it in the air and allowing all the contents to fall out and scatter everywhere—When I say all the contents, I mean all the contents…

To my horror, I watched as, along with my books, pens and papers, something else rolled out as well…That's right, my 'feminine hygiene products'. I tried to lung for them, but Owen, who was still holding me in place, grabbed onto me tighter. I turned my head towards Natalie to see her reaction and was surprised by what I saw.

Natalie just blinked, standing there—Her face gave no indication of her emotion. She looked at Fitz straight on; I could see her jaw clenched tightly.

"Need more proof? No problem," he said gleefully. "Strip!" He barked at me.

My heart began racing even faster, if that is possible. I crossed my arms tightly over my shirt—No way was this happening. In a second I would wake up and find myself in my bed—this is just a nightmare.

"Looks like you need some help there, bud," said Owen, holding my arms at my sides. "Bee?" Bianca stepped forward.

"No, stop!" I said, struggling in Owen's death grip but it was no use. Bianca ripping open my flannel shirt with flourish. And there they were. Even in my new binder, they were obvious without a shirt to cover them up fully. "G'roff me!" I yelled through clenched teeth, trying to fight again.

"Let him go!" cried Natalie, glaring at Owen.

"Are you conviced yet, Red?" asked Fitz, stepping in front of me and Owen, blocking Natalie's path.

Natalie said nothing, she just glared at him, defiantly emotionless beyond the daggers she was shooting him. "No?" he said, circling around her once like she was pray, then going to stand behind her. "Ever wondered why he was using the handicap washroom?" he asked her, leaning into her ear. He said the word 'he' like it left a bad taste in his mouth.

"Shut up," was all she responded.

"Wow, Gracie," guffawed Owen. "I guess you found someone who doesn't mind your freakiness".

I was watching Natalie's face as Owen said this. The second he called me 'Gracie', her façade crumbled—I watched, helpless, as her face fell. She looked at me, eyes wide—Blinking a few times in quick succession, I saw she was fighting back tears. That's when I knew she finally cracked.

How ironic was it that the one real lie I told her, would be the one that got to her? Then again, I suppose it made a little sense. I saw the hurt fill up her eyes and felt like I was being stabbed in the heart repeatedly.

It was just then that the first bell rang, signaling the beginning of first period and people began to file into the hallway. I got one last look at Natalie's pretty face screwed up in pain before a rush of people surrounded us and she disappeared into the crowd. I became vaguely aware that Owen had let go of me and that he, Bianca and Fitz had also disappeared. I heard the sound of the contents of my bag being crushed by the sea of people, treading all over it but the sound didn't register.

I just stood there, unable to move; letting myself be engulfed by the crowd as they made their way around me.

A/N: GAH! I hope you guys liked it! It's def the most dramatic chapter yet haha!

I haven't started writing the next chapter yet but, if you review, I'll send the the first page as soon as it's done. Until then R & R!

xx,

Holly