10: Girlfriends & More

But I’m tired of coming out. All I ever do is come out.
I try not to change, but I keep changing,
in all these tiny ways.
I get a girlfriend. I have a beer.
And every freaking time, I have to reintroduce
myself to the universe all over again.

Becky Albertalli

A car honked outside their temporary refuge and Wendy leapt to her feet. “They’re here!” She was already in the hallway before she pulled up short, her face clouding. “Are we sure it’s them?”

Alli chuckled. “I seriously doubt trained killers announce themselves by honking their horn in the driveway.”

Wendy’s face lit up like it used to at Christmas. “Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!”

Throwing their front door open, she noted their guests were still gathering packages from the back seat and ran out to greet them.

“Welcome!” Lisa turned before Wendy wrapped her in her arms. “God, I’m so glad you’re here! It seems I’ve been waiting forever. It’s not like we get much company.”

“I’m excited too!” she confessed, hugging her while holding a bag in her left hand.

“When Dr. Phisher called, I was eager to make the trip. Though it took a while to convince her mother that this was legit, having never met, but after calling to confirm, it sealed the deal. It seems she’s already familiar with Wendy from previous conversations with her daughter.”

“Mom’s been edgy, eagerly waiting for you to arrive,” Wendy said.

“Stacy, Lisa! Get your damn butts in here so we can welcome you like decent hosts.” Alli called, holding the door open.

Their favorite waitress turned, carrying a florist’s bag as she run up the stairs. “We brought gifts!” she announced.

“You didn’t need to. You’re being here, and bringing Lisa, is enough.”

“So you say, but everyone likes surprises!” Stacy kissed her cheek before sweeping past, holding another grocery bag. “We also bought groceries, assuming you don’t dare go shopping. Let us get settled and we’ll bring them in.”

“You’re a lifesaver! We’ve been rationing our food for days, eating only crackers since yesterday.”

“We suspected as much.” She returned to hug her after dropping her packages on the living-room table.

“Get a room!” Lisa suggested as she and Wendy entered. “Then, show us ours, so we can finally get to know each other physically.”

“I hope not too physically,” Alli cautioned.

“Don’t worry,” Wendy assured her. “We’ve already tested the waters in our dream with Theo. Now, we want to start fresh, getting to know one another as we’re in a new relationship.”

“I’m unsure about these two. Unlike most girls, they’re incredibly reasonable and mature. If I didn’t know better, I’d suspect they were up to something.”

“Honestly, that was what I planned too,” Alli said, releasing Stacy, who headed back to her bags. “Given the intensity of the dream experiences, I don’t want to rush, only to be disappointed. It’s best to wait, establishing our connection by learning about each other before comparing the encounters.”

“That’s part of it,” Wendy said. “The other is we’re both dating for the first time. It’s our first lesbian relationship, and unlike our peers, we’d rather take our time and recapture what everyone else tries during their teens.”

“Yeah, we want to reclaim our lost youthful indiscretions,” Lisa explained, giggling, “before redefining ourselves for the rest of our lives.”

“That makes sense,” Alli said, as Stacy displayed a crystal vase with bright-purple orchids. “Stacy. They’re beautiful!”

She leaned in, announcing “I also brought enough wine for another week,” in a stage whisper.

“For someone I barely knew, you know me all too well!”

“Me too,” Lisa admitted. “As the only gay girl among my friends, I considered walking into a lesbian bar and seducing someone just to talk. Finding someone else, also beginning the journey, is such a relief. Especially since I already trust Wendy so explicitly.”

“Uh...” Wendy hedged.

“Relax. There aren’t any expectations. We’re starting from ground zero, together.”

“That’s very mature, Lisa,” Alli said, waving them in.

“Please, call her Lai,” Wendy corrected. “Lisa’s how the morons at school refer to her. It’s not her name. I’m not interested in some white girl named Lisa. If this relationship is going anywhere, we need to learn about each other.”

“I told you they were both surprisingly mature,” Stacy reminded them, as she slowly inspected someone else’s long-ignored vacation home.”

“I’d say the same about you.” Alli examined a bottle from her new wine stash, taking it to the kitchen to find an opener and glasses. “Despite surrendering a wonderful sex life to join a threesome with someone you may never actually meet, you’re what’s keeping my head above water.”

“Okay. Let’s not get maudlin,” Stacy said. “This is a celebration!”

“Does that mean we get some, too?” Lai asked hopefully.

Alli froze, frowning. “While I’m willing to allow you both a glass, how ‘bout we wait for dinner?”

“Until then, we also brought several bottles of diet soda for the girls,” Stacy said.

“That’s at least the start of a celebration. We’ll do the rest on our own,” Wendy announced.

Another car honked outside and Wendy sat bolt upright, her open shirt sliding off her shoulder. “Crap!”

“Were you expecting someone?” Lia asked, rebuttoning hers.

“Uh ... I ... didn’t tell you something major. I’m ... not quite who you think I am?”

“No? Who are you then? You certainly look like you.”

“That’s my mom’s doctor, who wants to speak to me about—”

“Look, whatever it is, it’s fine. You stood by me, even after learning I’m a lesbian. It disturbed me, but knowing you supported me eased my fears, as I didn’t need to continually watch my back. Even if you couldn’t love me at the time, you’d shelter me, regardless of what happened.”

She straightened her shirt, ensuring it was properly tucked in, or more appropriately, untucked in all the appropriate spots. After all, she wouldn’t be a fashion rebel, if she didn’t look the part.

“Whatever happens, you hung in there, until realizing you’re in the same boat as me. So now, if it turns out you’re in a separate vessel, sailing under a slightly different wind, it’s no big deal. No matter what, I’ll stand by you as you did me.

“Unless you killed someone and buried them in the basement, it won’t undermine my feelings for you. I’d prefer we date, but if it’s not to be, I love you too much to ever stop just ‘cause you can’t love me back.”

Wendy froze for several moments, her eyes wide, before breaking into a big grin. She leaned forward and kissed her. “No, it’s nothing like that, but ... I planned to ask you to sit here for the next couple hours while I meet with Dr. Phisher. But after listening to your response, I’d rather have you by my side, ‘cause I’ll definitely need the support. While shocking, it’ll likely rock my world, and like you, I need someone by my side, however it turns out.”

“That’s where I’ll be. Now, let’s go face this together, whatever it is.”

“And that’s why I’ll always love you, too,” Wendy promised, hurriedly rebuttoned her shirt as she brushed her hair.

Entering the living room, they found Alli and Stacy chatting with Amy and a woman they assumed was Fran.

“I hope we didn’t disturb anything promising?” Amy teased.

Wendy blushed, glancing down, but Lia wrapped her arm around her, holding her. “We were learning about one another again. But obviously, this is important enough to put it aside for a bit.”

“Amy, Fran, allow me to introduce, Lia, ... Stacy brought her to visit.”

“Before I ask what she knows,” Amy said, “I’d better ask what you want me to call you?”

“Until I make a final decision, you’d best continue calling me Wendy.”

“We were discussing Theo’s being upset with something. You wouldn’t know what it was, would you?”

“Other than not knowing whether he’ll live another day? No. The last I saw him, he was helping Lia and I get together, which you’ll notice worked. So, he wasn’t disturbed by anything then. And he certainly wasn’t upset by this. Although it bothered him, he accepted my assurances it’s what I want.” She looked at her mother, not expanding on the idea. “Though, if he’s worried, I’ll only worry knowing.”

“Fine. I was concerned he said something to undermine your decision.”

“Theo was upset with me,” Alli clarified, “not Wendy. He’s consistently supported her in this, keeping me out of it to avoid an ugly confrontation.”

“Actually, I think I changed her mind, at least partially,” Lia said. “Since we’re only now exploring our sexuality, she wanted to ensure how she feels. While I’ll support her no matter what she decides, she’s decided to wait.”

“Good. That sounds more positive. But getting back on topic, you’re near the limits of a successful transition, so whatever your choice, it’s vital we get you started on a hormone treatment. We can always stop, but otherwise it’ll be too late to choose anything. To be honest though, since you’re small for your age and haven’t developed much, I’m guessing you’re maturing later than normal, which works in our favor. But it’s important we intervene and circumvent as much as possible.”

“You mean start taking progesterone shots?”

Amy grinned. “Good. You did your homework. Yes, that’s exactly what I’m describing, puberty inhibitors. I’ll need to draw some blood. But as long as your mother agrees, I’ll leave you with the needles and medicine so you can begin once the results come in.”