Magnolia (p.t.v)

Chapter 18.

Holding Vic's hand felt so right. The way our fingers intertwined, and the way my hand fit into his. It was an amazing feeling, and it's a feeling I always wanted to have.

"You're so cute." Vic told me, poking my nose.
"You're so cheesy," I chuckled, hiding my flushed cheeks.

The thanksgiving table was all prepared and set, and the whole feast was out on display. I sat in between Mike and Vic, crossing my legs. Tony, his mother and little sister sat across from us, while Jaime sat besides Mike.

Jaime looked like a nervous wreck, being near tony. He barely spoke to him, not even an hello.

"Did I do something wrong?" Tony asked me, chewing on his lip. "Jaime isn't speaking to me."

I mean I couldn't say no, it's just that Jaime has a huge gay crush on you, so I just shrugged.

"He hasn't been feeling well, I guess."

"I hope it isn't me. I didn't do anything wrong," Tony mumbled sadly. "Jaime hasnt spoken to me in several days. I'm really worried."

"It'll be fine. He's just not in the mood, probably." I wasn't sure how to respond, and that's the best I could do.

Frankie sat in excitement waiting for Alex to come, and Jaime groaned.

"Will you tell your friend to hurry up? I wanna eat!" He whined, earning a glare from Frankie. "Or just tell him to not come if he's going to take this long!"

"It's been five minutes since you walked in, Preciado." Frankie replied with an eye roll.

Before Jaime would respond with a terrible comeback, the doorbell rang. Frankie jumped up, running towards the door.

"Wow, they're serious, aren't they? Frankie and her new boy toy," Mike whispered.

"Mmmm," I mumbled. I couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety. I didn't know how Mike would react, I didn't know how anyone else would react. Especially Mike. When Alex was Alexandra, Mike was so into her. Mike tends to be dramatic with relationships. He always thinks they're the one. He's a hopeless romantic, yet he doesn't show it. Being the school's bad boy, people seem him as harsh and aggressive, but he's a big ol' softee. He blames me for it, but it's not like I put a gun to his head and made him watch romantic comedies with me.

But as I was saying, Mike was very into Alexandra. He was heartbroken when she broke up with him and disappeared.  I mean, Mike always gets heartbroken after every relationship, but he claimed there was a special connection. Mike was so in love with her, it was the second time I had seen him cry when she moved. The first, however, was when Vic was sent to the hospital, while they were together. She opened him up, and Mike would tell me about adventures they'd do together. They'd sneak out at night, and run under the moonlight, revealing secrets only each other know. Alexandra had the biggest smile, and it had brightened Mike's world.

Everyone sat at the table, playing with the cutlery. I heard Frankie clear her throat, and I looked up anxiously. Alex stood next to her, with hands behind his back.

"Mom, Ma, everyone. This is Alex, my boyfriend..." Her voice faded, looking towards Mike.

"Is that...Alexandra?" Mike questioned in a whisper.

"No, that's Alex," I answered, glancing at Mike.

"What?" Mike muttered, hinting he was confused.

"I... I used to be Alexandra." Alex replied, and he shoved his hands into his pocket.

"So...you're transgender?" Tony asked, glancing at Alex.

"What's a trawans - trawansgender?" Monica stuttered, attempting to pronounce the word.

"Yes I'm trans, Tony." He murmured, and then bent down near Monica.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"My name is Monica Graham-Perry," She proudly gave a toothy grin.

"Well, Monica -," Alex was soon interrupted by Mike.

"This is why you left?" He pushed his chair back, raising his voice. "Out of nowhere?! To become a fucking tranny?"

"Michael!" Vivian yelled.

"No! What the fuck? That's why you left me?"

"I knew this was going to happen." Alex mumbled, and Frankie bit her lip.

"Mike, this isn't the time." Jaime replied, staring straight at him. Mike ignored Jaime, and walked towards the couple. His fists were clenched, and my stomach sunk.

"Mike, don't you dare!" Vic scolded.

"Jaime, please take Monica away," I ordered, not wanting her to hear any of this. He nodded, holding Monica's hand and escorting her upstairs.

Regardless of all the warnings, Mike continued. "You disappear, leaving me to mend my own broken self, and decide to come back a year later? As a fucking boy?" He spat furiously. "And worse of all, dating Frankie? How dare you? How could you come effortlessly, as if we'd just forget?"

"Mike, please stop." Frankie begged, looking at the ground.

"No!" He leaned so close to Alex, their noses barely touched. "Do you know it felt? I felt so fucking lost. With my brother being sent to a ward, I was already broken. You said you'd be there for me! You stabbed me in the back, Alexandra! You just fucking left!"

Vic squeezed his eyes shut, and Alex flinched at the sound of his dead name. With that one word, he began to cry. Alex ran towards the door, slamming it behind him.

Within a second, Frankie ran at him, and the huge slapping noise echoed. "That's enough!" She screamed, looking dead at him. "You think Alex just came effortlessly? He fucking sobbed! He didn't want to face you! You think he left you because he wanted to? No, he didn't! He fucking loved you too, Mike! But Alex was a boy living in a girl's body. He hated himself, he hated his reflection, Mike!"

"Did she talk to me about it?! No! She didn't say shit to me! Alexandra just vanished in thin air! I thought she trusted me! Do you know how betrayed I felt?"

Frankie screamed and began to hit Mike, jumping on him. "His! Name! Is! Alex!"

I ran out of my chair, pulling Mike away while Tony pulled Frankie back. By now, both Frankie and Mike were in tears. Blood dripped from a small scratch on his face, and he shoved me out of the way. When he slammed the back door, Aunt Diana broke her silence.

"Thanksgiving is over."