you are lovely

2 - Blood Runs Thicker

  Soon, the bus arrives at my stop. I stand up and walk down the aisle. I then walk down the steps and jump off of the last one. I walk towards my house.

  I only live with my dad, spider ball python, French bulldog, and older brothers. I have two. My mother and father divorced. My mom took my sister's. So, I was stuck with the boys.

  They're all very supportive of me. We are all Christians, but we don't go to church that often. We were all baptised when we were young.

  "How was school?" Dad asks as I walk up to steps to the porch.

  "It was good, even though I was teased/bullied again," I reply.

  "Danny, I've taught you to fight back. You won't ever get in trouble with me if you fight someone in self defense. Just don't start a fight," he explains.

  "I know. Where's Matthew?"

  "Detention. I have to pick him up. You'll be okay here with just Andrew, right?"

  "Yeah," I reply, "Plus, we have Shea here to protect us!"

  "Okay. I love you, kiddo. Be good," Dad says before kissing my forehead. He then walks down the porch steps and to his red pickup truck.

  I really wish he would get rid of that truck. It will break down one day. We have enough money since he's been saving money for awhile, but he refuses to get rid of the truck.

  I open the front door and walk into the house. I see a ball of cream colored fur run up to me; it's Shea! He's panting loudly in excitement.

  "Hello, Shea," I say in a high pitched voice, which leads to my voice cracking. While I have been on T for awhile, I still have the occasional voice crack.

  I kneel down and scratch Shea behind the ears. He thumps his foot on the ground.

  "You're home," I hear Andrew say from the kitchen.

  "Yeah! I am!" I reply.

  I stand up and walk to my bedroom. Of course, Shea follows me. When I get into my bedroom, I set my backpack down. I then check on Alaska, my spider ball python. He's black with white patterns that look a little like spider webs.

  "Hello," I tell him. He comes out from under his rock. He's probably hungry.

  I go to a cage that's in my room. It has lots of small, white mice in it. I pick one up by it's tail.  I carry it to Alaska's cage. I lift up a door on the top and put the mouse in the cage. Rest in peace little mouse.

  "Let's get out of here, and let Alaska eat in peace," I tell Shea. He looks up at me, and seems to agree.

  We walk out of my room and go to the living room. I see Andrew sitting down on the couch. He's watching Dr. Phil.

  "Hey, can I get on Netflix?" I ask him.

  "Sure. Dr. Phil is boring today. Just don't make me watch RuPaul's Drag Race! You're going to make me gay!" he replies. "That Courtney girl is fucking hot."

  "So you like fishy queens. I'm a fan of the darker side of drag," I say, "and tom-drag. It's amazing!"

  "You're only saying that because you've got the biggest, dope-y crush on Adore Delano," Andrew replies teasingly.

  "Shut up!" I exclaim and playfully slap his arm. That makes Shea jump on the couch and put his paw on my arm. He's giving me a look that says, Danny, don't.

  I laugh and pet his head. I then switch to Netflix on the TV. I decide not to make my brother question his sexuality and choose The Middle.

  ...

  Half an hour later, Dad arrives home with Matthew. Matthew doesn't look sad, he looks happy. He's probably not in trouble with Dad.

  "Why did you get detention?" I ask.

  "I was defending this girl I like. This ass-hat of a boy thought he could try to hit her. I showed him that he couldn't," Matthew replies.

  "And I am very impressed," Dad says, "I've taught all of you to never hit a girl and to respect them. It looks like it's working!"

  "Even Danny?" Matthew asks.

  "Even Danny. He's a boy as well," Dad replies.

  Matthew has always gotten sex and gender mixed up. He thinks since my biological sex is female, I can hit a girl and get away with it. That's not right. My gender, which is how I mentally feel and how I express myself, says otherwise.

  "What's for dinner?" Matthew asks, "Please tell me it's protein so the couch will get off my back."

  "Steak. You got lucky. Why's your coach on your back?" Dad asks.

  "I'm the lightest boy on the football team. He's telling me to bulk up," Matthew replies.

  "I can help you with that. So can your brothers," Dad says. Matthew smiles.

  "Anyways, spelling of my football team," Matthew sits next to me on the couch and Shea jumps up in my lap, "I hear Danny has a thing for a player on my team!"

  I feel my whole body heat up. When I get embarrassed, my whole body heats up, not just my face.

  "Which one? Blayne, Levi, or Aubrey?" Andrew asks.

  "Aubrey," Matthew replies, "I say he's got a chance with him."

  "But he's straight!" I exclaim.

  "He's bi. He has to be. I've seen him kiss guys before. Maybe he's staying in the closet," Matthew explains.

  "Kissing guys does not make you bi," I reply, "I've kissed girls and I'm still gay."

  "Fair point," Matthew says.

  "Let's change the subject," Dad suggests and we all agree.

  The subject switches to who we think it going to do the best in highschool football this year. Of course, I said Aubrey's team, the Dolphins. I'm sure I'll be teased about it later.