Against Myself.

Chapter 32.

My mom finished putting her suitcase in the trunk as I put my headphones in my ears.

It was the Friday after spring break ended, and we had a family reunion to go to. It was a two hour drive to the hotel, so that meant I had two hours to try to calm down.

This would be the first time I saw my family since the coming out post.
I haven't yet looked at the comments on the post, but it's something I'm planning on doing once everything starts falling into place.

I was prepared for mixed reactions, regardless. My family religion was Christianity, but some people like a few of my cousins were more accepting.
But I was scared.

During the car ride I listened to various bands. Music always tended to calm me down. But that's how it is for a lot of people.

When we finally got to the hotel, my mom checked us in, and I saw my aunt running up to us.

"Sandra!" She shouted. "It's been so long!"

My mom nodded and hugged her.

"I missed you." She said.

"I missed you too!"

She didn't really say anything to my brother and I. I'm glad, though. I didn't really want anyone to bring up the whole transgender thing.

We didn't see any other family that day. I was still freaking out about the next day, which was when the reunion was.
We went out to eat that night, and I ended up passing out as soon as we got back to the hotel.

The next day we had the reunion. To my relief, no one said anything about the trans thing. I got a few looks here and there, but I saw that coming.
I was playing a game on my phone when I saw my cousin, Alex, standing in front of me.

"Come on." He said.

I followed him outside to the parking lot, and he leaned against his car and lit a cigarette.
Don't worry, nothing illegal. He's 19.

"So you're trans?" He asked.

I nodded. "Yep."

"That's pretty cool."

I shrugged. "Not to a lot of other people."

"Yeah I know. I came out as non binary to my dad a few months back, he didn't really like it. Luckily I've got an apartment back in Cali and I'm over two thousand miles away from that piece of shit. Kind of awkward now that I have to see him here, though."

Alex and I have been really good friends basically our whole lives. Despite the 3 and a half year difference.
He came out to me as non binary when he was about 12, so I wasn't out yet as trans.
He ended up getting into some school in Los Angeles, and that's a long way from where I live. Sucks that I don't get to see him very often.

"How's LA treating you?" I asked.

He put out his cigarette. "Pretty good. Better than how the old hometown was."

I nodded. "Don't blame you for saying so."

We went back inside and stayed for the rest of the reunion, we said our goodbyes, and my mom, brother and I went back to the hotel before going home the next morning.