Out of the Rabbit Hole

Chapter 11

I nearly choke on my spit when Simon said that.

He thinks I look like Andrew Matthews?!  Should I be mad that he believes I look like a guy, or happy that he actually recognized me from before. What gave it away? Well, I have the same last name, same sister, and same boring personality as ever.

Hiding things has never been a strong trait; Couldn't hide the training bra I stole from Mandy, the lipstick I borrowed from mom, nor the fact that being a girl was something that's been eating away my manhood.

And now, I've practically held a sign in front of Simon, saying, 'I AM ANDREW MATTHEWS'. I did promise to tell him sooner or later. I'll come out and say it.

"Oh." We head to the cashier, who was staring at us earlier. She smiles when Simon smiles at her, as he pays for both our yogurts.

We take our yogurts and go outside to sit in the provided seating area. It's right in front, and our table is covered in pools of chocolate melted frozen yogurt. Simon pulls out a chair for me to sit on, then he plops down across from me.

 I'm anxious for him to say something.

We slurp our yogurt in silence for a while, when he finally speaks.

"I don't think you look like a man."

It's kind of out of the blue, but is a little relevant. I'm guessing he doesn't want me to think of it as an insult. I scoff.

"Well I would hope not." I smile to ease the tension that seems to slowly find it's way between us.

"But I still stand behind what I said. You and him look quite similar." His tone is not amusing nor is it really questioning. It's hard to explain.

What should I say? He's my triplet? Distant uncle? Doppelganger?

"He's my cousin."

"Cousin?"

What did I just do?

"Yeah, my uncle's son."

My uncle doesn't have kids, in fact, he's completely disgusted by them. Don't know why I had to get his name on my birth certificate.

"Your uncle's? But to look that similar and what about Mandy."

"We've been mistaken as brother and sister a few times, so has Mandy, but she's my sister."

This is a really loose lie. There's so many holes and I'm  so obviously lying. At least I think I am.

"Really? So that was your cousin. Does he live here still?"

I can't believe he remember's me. We weren't the closest, but it shows that he wasn't just being nice.

"No. Moved. Hated living here."

"Oh okay. That's... nice. "

We go back to being silent.

I feel bad, Simon's so gullible and doesn't question me further on the subject. I should of told him, but I was nervous,I've never done it before.

Why would I tell him though, it's none of his business on how I was perceived before. Even if that identity has completely changed from man to woman.

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"Why would you do that?" I let out a solid laugh, holding my stomach so it doesn't burst from the constant motion.

"I was eight, didn't know that diving was hard, and believed that the high diving board wasn't six feet tall."