The Other Side

1. Sharing

Edwina /Edwin's room @7am

Edwina looked at herself in the mirror and bit her lower lip. She was in a crisp white "boy" school shirt with the senior logo and grey pants. It was still warm in Brisbane but she didn't want to wear shorts as her legs were very slender and "girly" looking. She turned around and looked at the "other" uniform she had hanging on a hook on the other side of her bedroom – the dress she wore up to Year 9 as a junior student. This year as a Year 10 girl, she would've been wearing a "girl" blouse and a separate skirt – the senior girls uniform. However, Edwina was going through a gender transition and she was going to be Edwin, a boy from this school term.

Brad/ Bradleigh's room@7am

Brad looked at himself in the mirror and bit his lower lip. He was in a crisp white "girl" school blouse with the senior logo and chequered skirt. It was still warm in Brisbane but he decided to wear some dark tights. His legs were shaved but there was too much muscular contour if he showed his bare legs. He turned around and looked at the "other" uniform he had hanging on a hook on the other side of his bedroom – the "boys" shirt, grey shorts and school tie – what he wore last year as a Year 10 senior student. This year as a Year 11 boy, he would've continued to wear the same uniform. However, Brad was going through a gender transition and he was going to be Bradleigh from this school term. Then Brad remembered something and went over to his old uniform and grabbed his tie.

Before school in the playground

"Hi...Edwin?"

"Hi... Bradleigh."

They met up at their tree, where they've always met up since they started to go out last year as Edwina and Brad. This was when Edwina was in Year 9 and Brad was in Year 10. They had decided they would start calling each other by their new names from today, the first day of term.

"Hey Bradleigh, you're growing your bangs.. it makes you look pretty. And your new uniform suits you."

Bradleigh smiled shyly.

"Yeah? Thanks. And you cut your beautiful hair short. It suits you though. And you look... handsome in your uniform, too."

Edwin smiled back.

"Thank you."

They gave each other a hug.

Bradleigh sighed.

"Hey, I now have a boyfriend who is taller than me."

Edwin chuckled.

"Yeah, I suppose I am. Not that I ever minded I was taller than my ex-boyfriend."

Bradleigh pulled back from the hug and stared at Edwin.

"Hey, who're you calling an ex-boyfriend??"

Edwin smiled.

"Well, you are, aren't you? You're my girlfriend now."

Bradleigh shrugged.

"I suppose I am.. geez, it's confusing enough for us, I wonder how everyone else is going to think."

"Hey... we decided we aren't going to give a toss about what others think, remember ?"

"Yeah, you're right. Oh, hey, Edwin, I've got something for you."

Bradleigh pulled her old school tie out of her school bag.

"Have you got one already? If not, you can have this one I wore last year."

"Oh, I forgot to buy one.. I'd love to have your tie, thank you. ...um...I don't even know how to put one on."

"Here, turn around, I'll show you how to tie it."

From a distance, they just looked like an ordinary couple, a senior girl showing a boy how to put on his senior tie for the first time.

"So.. um Edwin, are you nervous?"

"No, I think it's actually a bit easier to go from girl to boy.. I have supportive girlfriends who say are happy to keep hanging out with me. What about you Bradleigh?"

"I've got pretty supportive friends too.. but yeah, they might get a bit of a shock when they actually see me in my new uniform..."

"Bradleigh, do you have your unisex bathroom key with you?"

"Yes, I've got it around my neck.. see?"

Bradleigh gently tugged on the lanyard she had around her neck with the key on the end.

"It's kinda funny how we're gonna share a school bathroom from now on, isn't it Edwin?"

"Yeah..."

"Um.. so Edwin, do you think I should wear some make-up?"

"Oh.. Bradleigh, you don't need any, you've got beautiful skin..."

"I didn't mean foundation, I'm not ready to wear that stuff yet.. but maybe lip gloss or something..? I feel like I lack... girly gloss."

Edwin smiled.

"Is that what you called it ?"

"Yeah, I always thought you looked so cute with it."

"Well, I accidentally put some on this morning.. you can have some of mine."

"Can I ? Thanks..."

Bradleigh put her arm around Edwin and pulled him in for a kiss.

Edwin's eyes widened in surprise as this wasn't how he intended to share but he quickly smiled into his girlfriend's lips, gently rubbing his on hers, sharing the cherry chapstick he wasn't meant to apply this morning.

"Hey, this one was my favourite."

Bradleigh whispered between the gentle nibbling of lips.

"Yeah, I know.. I should buy you a new one as a gift."

Bradleigh chuckled.

"I'd prefer sharing like this every morning if I had a choice...."

"Hmm, maybe for a bit.. but eventually, I want to stop wearing flavoured chapstick.."

"Yeah, I always liked the smell of it but I used to not like how my lips would go all pink after kissing you."

"You looked hella cute though.."

"Argh. What about now..?"

They slowly pulled themselves apart and Edwin had a good look at Bradleigh's blushed face. Edwin smiled.

"You've got just enough tint on your lips, you look so cute Bradleigh."