My Name is Andrew Lee Cooper.

Chapter Seven

I can't seem to think straight as I sit here, alone, in my room. Mother and Claire are gone shopping and I can't take this anymore. I'm a boy. I'm a boy. I'm a boy. The voice in my head is gone, it has been since the day I met that boy on the skateboard. I have to tell someone; anyone. Everyone. I sit down on my bed and grab my phone. I quickly call Andy, my hands and body visibly shaking. It rings and rings and rings and I think he's never going to answer.

"Hey, Lilian."

"Can I talk to you?" I want to get straight to the point. No hello, no greeting, no small talk. I need this out of my system while he voice isn't here to stop me. He hesitates and I just hear background noise. For a second I think he's gone.

"Yeah, sure. But if it's serious do you want to meet in person? I can go to the park if you want. No one's home and I'm free to do whatever." I wave of relief hits me.

"Yes, please. Can you leave now?" I ask, a pleading tone in my voice.

"Yep, I can."

"Okay, me too. See you soon." I hang up just as fast as I called and I shrug on a jacket over my shirt and basketball shorts. I tuck my hair into a beanie hat and grab my phone, not bothering to message Mother that I'm leaving. She doesn't need to know, or else she'll ask why I need to go and I'm not telling her just yet. But my friends deserve to know and Andy should be the first.

I head out the door and shut it swiftly, the fresh outside air hitting my face. It's refreshing and calms me down a bit. I then start my short trek to the park, which I can get to within ten minutes.

I get there faster than I think I ever have, and faster than Andy because he's not anywhere near our meeting spot where we always cross paths when we come here. So I sit down in the grass near The Tree, and I wait for him. It doesn't take long though, because soon enough I see him whizzing down the park path towards me on his bike. He slams on the breaks once he gets to me, and hops off. He leans his bike on The Tree and sits next to me. I stare at my hands and pick at my nails.

"Hey." Is all I can muster. It takes all I have to not just shout it all at him. I'm trans, like you! I'm a boy and I've felt this way for so fucking long and I needed to tell you and you needed to know and I held it back because I-

"Stop. I know your mind is racing so just tell me." He knows me so well. I look at him, and he has the most serious look on his face. It's almost comical. He has on a bright red flannel shirt with khaki pants, and brown boots.

"Andy," I say, not knowing where to start.

"Spit it out, Lilian."

"I hate my name." That didn't come out right. That's not how I wanted to start.

"What?"

"I hate my birth name. I'm a boy and it doesn't fit. I hate being called a girl and people using she and her pronouns for me, I hate my body and my chest and my curves. I hate how I was born. I hate me." He looks taken aback. I take a second to breathe and I continue.

"I meant to tell you months ago, even during the summer, but I just couldn't and I didn't think I was trans enough for you or you wouldn't believe me. But I'm serious," I say, slowing down, "I'm serious about this. I'm not joking. I'm a boy and I've known for so long but I didn't think I was worth enough and so I didn't admit it. I've been so jealous of you and you coming out. I want that for me, too." He just sits there as I finish, his hands neatly folded in his lap. But then he actually smiles. He begins to laugh and I draw back a bit.

"What?" I sound more offended than I mean to come off as.

"Sorry, Lily, but I know." Now I'm even more confused. "I've always known. I can tell by how you act and how you present yourself. Do you think I assumed the flannel was your inner lesbian or something?" Now it's my turn to laugh, and I do. Gladly.

"Really, Andy?"

"Yes, really. And if you need a new name I'll gladly search with you." Tears are falling out of my eyes and spilling down my cheeks. I lean forward and wrap my arms around him.

"Thank you. I love you, Andy."

"I love you too."

We search for names for what feels like forever, but I finally settle on one that I think fits me really well. Andy and I stand up and hug, as it's my time to go home before Mother does and catches me. I don't want that to happen. I get a few steps up the street when I hear something as Andy on his bike whizzes past.

"Goodbye, Andrew!"

A/N: Sorry this chapter was so short! Hope you guys like it though <3