Chapter 10: Alessandra Curry

 

As I leave Charlie’s room the next morning, I feel like I’m on cloud 9. My life is pure bliss. I can’t even help it, I’m skipping because I'm so happy. 

As I make my way to see my mother, the one voice that ruins everything catches my ear. “Hey, tranny.”

I freeze in place and turn to find Amber. She’s wearing her usual satanic smile. “I see you found some guy that must be a freak like you. Why else would he be into such a pathetic excuse of a human being?”

I don’t even know what to say. “Why do you hate me so much?”

“Because you’re everything that’s wrong with the world. You disgust me,” she says. 

“Amber, what the fuck is wrong with you?” Pat asks as he walks up behind her. 

She freezes in place. Her eyes go wide before she turns around to face him. “I was just asking your brother about the people he was with.”

“You mean my sister, right?” Pat asks. “And you are such a liar. I just heard everything. You are such a bitch. I can’t believe I fell for your shit. What the hell happened to you to make you so cruel?”

“Excuse me?” she says, her eyes sharpening like daggers. 

“Why do you have to be such a bitch to my sister?” he asks. I’ve never been so shocked and so proud of my brother in all of my life. 

“You have got to be kidding me. Since when have you ever supported that freakshow?” she spits out.

“Don’t talk to her like that. You know what? We’re done. You can find someone else to drain the happiness and joy from. Come on Sandra. Let’s go,” he says. I think I’m as shocked as Amber is. Clearly, she has no idea what to say to that. Her jaw just hangs there. I walk past her to Pat and we leave her there looking so stupid. 

This day couldn’t get any better. After we leave her behind Pat turns to me. “Sandra, I’m so sorry. I should’ve stood up to them and stopped them from harassing you. I should’ve stood up to dad too and I didn’t. I just let them walk all over you and I hate myself for it. You were always my best friend and I feel like I betrayed you.” 

I can’t fight the tears back as I lunge into his chest and wrap my arms around him. I’ve never been so proud of my brother in my life. “It’s okay. I totally forgive you. Let’s just start over. I’m so glad to have you back.”

“Sandra?” I hear my name and I turn to see Ariana and her friends. “I thought that was you. Pat…”

“Hey,” he says with a more than friendly smile. “You were right. I should’ve stuck up for my sister. I’ve learned and I just dumped the witch.” 

“Well, good. So what are you two up to?” she asks. 

“I have no idea now. I came here with my friends and now I no longer want anything to do with them,” he says. 

“Well… You’re more than welcome to hang out with us,” she says. 

“That sounds great,” Patrick says with his signature smile. 

“Well, I’m going to meet up with mom. You two have fun,” I say. 

“You’re welcome to join us afterward,” Ariana says. 

“Thanks, I might just have to take you up on that,” I say smiling. 

I meet up with my mom for breakfast and go over all that has happened including Patrick sticking up for me against Amber. She’s delighted to hear that Pat and Amber are over. She never much cared for that girl. 

“How are things going with you and dad?” I ask. 

“They aren’t going. He’s been locked up in the room this whole entire time. I’ve about had it,” she says. 

“I’m sorry. I was really hoping things would change with him,” I say. 

“It’s okay. Things haven’t been right between us for a long time,” she says. 

“Is it because of me?” I ask.

“Oh no, honey. Our bickering was going on long before you came out. Sometimes the fires of love burn out. He just isn’t the same man I fell for and I’m not the same woman,” she says. It hurts hearing that. Before I came out, I always looked up to my parents as an example of love. To see them on such bad terms with each other breaks my heart. Even if my dad doesn’t approve of me or wants to disown me I don’t enjoy seeing him and mom like this. 

After breakfast, I head over to find Charlie with Cody, Ariana, and Pat by a pool. Charlie doesn’t hesitate and pulls me into his lap. I fall into his arms and feel like I belong. 

“Will you two get a room?” Cody says. 

“Says the guy who was snogging yet another random girl last night at the bar,” Ariana says. 

“Hey, that’s a different story, we were both drunk. I wouldn’t do that sober,” he says. Both Charlie and Ariana raise eyebrows. “Okay. Alright, you got me. I totally would.” 

“Pat was just telling us about how when you were young the two of you used to sneak into the back of your Aunt’s bakery to steal cookies.” 

I give Pat a death glare as my face flushes with heat. “As I recall, he was the one who pressured me into going with him. I only went along because I didn’t want him to get into trouble.”

“Yeah, we did get caught quite a few times. Eventually, Aunt Christa just started leaving cookies out for us. She’s the best,” Pat says. 

“She really is,” I say. Charlie runs his hand up my back and it sets my skin on fire. I really could get used to his touch. Especially the way his fingers run circles around my skin. It’s so soothing. 

“Well, it was nice talking to you all, I see my next conquest,” Cody says. 

“When are you going to grow up?” Ariana asks. 

“Hey, this is my honeymoon. Okay! I’m not going to grow up until at least after this trip is over,” Cody says. We all laugh except Pat. He’s out of the loop. With that, Cody gets up and chases some red-head. 

“Well, we’re going to go for a walk before meeting up with my friends,” Ariana says as she gives Pat a look of longing. 

“Have fun,” Charlie says. 

“See ya later,” I say. Now it’s just Charlie and me.

“Do you want to go for a walk?” he asks. 

“Yeah, I would love to,” he says. 

“Great,” he smiles as I get up off him. We start out at a casual pace with Charlie sliding his hands in his pockets. “I have to say that these past few days have been truly amazing. Best I’ve had in a very long time, if not ever.”

“Me too,” I admit.

We don’t make it very far before Charlie stops and turns to face me. He looks me directly in the eyes. “Sandra… I really like you.”

“I really like you too,” I say with a bright smile as my face heats up. 

“I was wondering…” But before he can finish what he was going to say, we’re interrupted. 

“Charlie! There you are. I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” a very beautiful woman with perfect blonde hair and a supermodel body says. 

Charlie’s eyes widen. “Lexi? What are you doing here?” 

Hearing her name makes my heart drop into my stomach. His ex! What is she doing here? 

“I’ve come to win you back,” she says. “It was such a mistake. I’ve regretted it and I feel terrible.”

She’s come to win him back. How can I compete with her? She’s perfect. Flawless. I feel self-doubt creep in and along with a feeling of inadequacy. It feels like reality finally caught up to me and reminded me of who I am. A trans girl living in a cis world. I’ll never belong here. I feel the tears welling up in my eyes. “I think I’m going to go.”

“Sandra, wait,” he says, but before he can say anything I walk away and start to run. I don’t know where I’m going, I just need to be alone.