Back to Mia

Coming out

"So... I've been trying a few things, and I think I'm transgender."

"Okay. What name do you want to go by?"

"Shouldn't you already know what name I want to choose?"

"I do, but a few things have changed, I want to make sure your name hasn't. What name do you really want to be called?"

"Ash, maybe?"

"Okay, Ash. I'm still proud of you. And you just saved a few months of name finding."

"What name did I choose the first time?"

"Eventually you chose Ash, but it started as Trey."

"Trey?"

"You were going to try to stick with a T name."

"That is a bad name."

"Yeah." I said, "So... are you and Jasmine still together?"

"Yeah, we are."

"Are things going good between you two? You haven't Fucked it up, have you?"

"No, things are going good. I'm happy with where we are."

"Already doing better than I have. How's the fam?"

"They're alright. My grandma was pissed because of Jasmine."

"Maybe I can help get her off your back with the whole Jasmine thing."

"How?"

"Don't you have a birthday party coming up? Let me go with you, I'll be your date."

"Really? You would do that?"

"Yeah. Just explain it to her, or something."

"Do you think you'll pass in front of them?"

"Did I pass when you first saw me?"

"Yeah."

"Then this should be fine."

"Okay. What if you can't handle them?"

"I can handle them, it's fine."

"Just don't get rude with anyone there."

"I won't be rude unless I have a reason to."

"It's them, it will be really easy to have a reason."

"I'll be fine."

"Okay."

I drove to where the birthday party was and parked. "This is weird," I thought to myself, holding her hand so we could walk in.

I started to get introduced to people, and felt nervous. What if I don't pass? What if someone can see through it? What if a fight breaks out? I saw Connie and Mia walk me over to introduce us. "Hi, I'm Eli. You must be Connie, I've heard a lot about you."

She smiled warmly, speaking softly. "It's nice to finally meet you, Eli. I used to hear Mia talking about you when I was over at their house."

I looked at Mia, and smiled slightly. I never thought anyone around her knew who I was. "I had no idea she talked about me." I said, lightly.

"Of course. You've been there for me when I thought I was completely alone." She said.

She pulled us towards her grandma. "Hey, grandma, this is Eli." She said, and I lightly touched her hand. She lightly touched my hand, and used her hand to find where I was standing.

"Hello, Janet." I said, making my voice deeper, but still normal.

"So you're who Mia is dating?"

I nodded, "Yes, I am." I watched her reaction carefully. She smiled lightly. "It's good to meet you, Ma'am."

I saw her mom sitting across from her grandma, and glanced at her with a warm smile. She seemed surprised, and I knew why. Grandma never liked anyone she thought was dating one of her kids or grandkids, yet she seemed to like me. "What the hell is going on?" I thought to myself, and Mia and I walked away to sit down.

While we were leaving the party, I helped them carry stuff out. I was walking alongside her mom when she talked. "Usually my mom doesn't like anyone, you're lucky. I'm just shocked she came with someone other than Jasmine."

"I just wanted to help her not cause a fight." I said, cautiously. I didn't know any better way to word it.

"Thank you."

I helped her grandma into the car.

"You seem like you've done this before." she said, surprised.

"I used to take care of grandma, I would help her get in and out of vehicles just like you." I said, overly joyful.

"Can I go hang out with Eli?" Mia asked her mom.

"I don't know." Her mom said.

"Yeah, let her go. She deserves a little bit of fun." She said.

I lightly touched her hand again, so she knew I was near her. "I promise you she will make it back home safely and nothing will happen to her." I said, quietly by her ear.

"I like you." I looked at Mia and she smiled.

"Thank you, that means a lot. I'm going to shut your door now." She moved her legs and I shut the door carefully.

We went to my apartment, and Mia noticed a small box sitting on my dresser. I put my hand on it. "Don't touch."

"What is it?"

"Something you don't need to know about."

"Is it toys or something?" She said, with a disgusted face.

"No, definitely not."

"Ten what is it?"

"Guess you'll never know." Her eyes drifted back to the box. "You're not going to rest until you know, are you?"

"Nope." I opened the box, exposing a grinder, tray, pipe, papers, and it had a heavy scent. She took a step back, mer eyes wide. I shut the box and put it up. "You smoke?" She said, shocked.

"Not very much, sometimes."

"Can we smoke together?"

"No." I said, seriously.

"Why not?"

I entertained the thought of just seeing how she would act if she was high. "Because you probably don't know how to inhale and I'm not here to corrupt you."

"You know how to inhale."

"But you don't."

"Then you can tell me."

"I'm not smoking with you. Wait for someone else to show you."

She groaned and let it go. "Fine let's watch a movie."