"I don't need you to worry for me 'cause I'm alright. I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home. I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life. Go ahead with your own life, leave me alone."
~Billy Joel, 'My Life'
~~~
*Kai's POV*
"Stop spamming!" I shout as Frankie continuously attacks my character with the same move.
"Hey, I'm just pressing random buttons!" They defend with a smirk. I grind my teeth in annoyance.
"You're pressing the same button over and over!"
"It's effective."
"It's obnoxious."
"Lucky for me, I don't really care," Frankie grins. "It's helping me win."
As Frankie chuckles to themself, I reach over and smack the controller out of their hands.
"Cheater!" They screech, scrambling to pick up their lost controller. I take my chance to beat the shit out of their character. "That's not fair!" Frankie protests.
"Lucky for me, I don't really care," I throw their words back in their face with a grin of my own. Frankie huffs and works on rebuilding their character's strength.
A few days ago, Frankie agreed to stay with us for a while. Their grandparents were constantly testing their patience by using incorrect pronouns and their dead name. Being cisgender, I never really thought about how hard that would be for someone unless I'm hanging out with Frankie. I guess you could say I take it for granted that my gender identity matches my birth sex. I think a lot of cisgender people are like that too. You don't really think about how hard it is for transgender people until you meet them.
I don't understand why Frankie's grandparents are so offended by their gender identity. It's about Frankie, not anyone else. Besides, it's not like Frankie became a completely different person when they came out. They're still the same person I've known since we were kids. The only thing that's changed is how I address them.
Well, that's not entirely true. There is something different about Frankie.
They're happier. Even if things are strained with their family, they finally have inner peace. Something Frankie didn't get to experience for most of their life until coming to terms with their gender identity.
"Hey, pay attention!" Frankie nudges me. "It's not fun to beat you if you're not putting in an effort!"
"How about we take a break?" I suggest. We have been playing for nearly four hours, and it's already evening. "I can make us some sandwiches or something."
"Yeah, sure," Frankie shrugs, setting their controller down. "No peanut butter. I'm allergic."
"I remember," I say with a nod, standing up from the floor and stretching my arms above my head. My shirt lifts a little bit, revealing my soft stomach. Frankie grins mischievously and sticks their finger in my belly button.
"Boink!"
"Frankie, what the hell!" I squeak, pulling my shirt back down. My cheeks heat up with embarrassment as Frankie laughs at me. "You're so weird!"
"You love me," Frankie grins cheekily. Rolling my eyes, I leave them alone in the living room and head into the kitchen to make us food. Pushing myself up on my tiptoes, I frown as I search through the cabinets.
"Damn it," I groan, dropping back down onto my heels.
"What's the matter?" Frankie calls from the living room.
YOU ARE READING
Chasing The Rogue
Werewolf[Book 2] A rogue wolf and an Omega must navigate their tricky relationship in the face of a burgeoning war. 🌻 Lucca Rivera; a rogue wolf with a few screws loose. He's spent his entire life cu...
