Daring to Hope (Standing Up to Life Book 2)

Chapter 32:

THE NEXT MORNING, I woke up and realized I was short clean clothes. The only thing I had that was clean and seemed wearable was the dress I bought Saturday. I showered and threw it on – making sure to do my hair like it had been done for me on Wednesday. Honestly, I thought I looked pretty, but hoped the dress didn't make me look too young. It wasn't extremely juvenile... I was just worried about it. That was definitely my biggest disadvantage to being so short as a girl.

I was absolutely nervous as I went downstairs. The news story was a game changer – and I didn't know for certain how it had changed things. What would change at school and what wouldn't? I was fairly certain that I would be losing friends today – there was no way that all of them would be willing to stick behind me now... not when it was going to be so hard to do so.

As I rounded the bottom of the stairs, I saw Amy was already sitting at the table. Amy's mom asked, "What do you want for breakfast Tiffany?"

"I'm not really hungry..." I started off saying.

"You need to at least eat something, sweetie" she said to me.

"Do you have stuff for toast?" I asked.

"Yes, just give me a few minutes," she said with a smile.

As she dropped it off in front of me a few minutes later she gave me a hug. "Tiffany, it'll work out, I promise. And you look very nice today." She said with a smile.

"Thanks," I told her with a slight smile.

I really loved her and their family. There were certainly moments where I was wishing that I'd been born their kid instead of with my parents. I know that's terrible... but it was the truth. I loved my parents though, so I mentally smacked myself for thinking something like that.

Breakfast was over quickly and Amy's mom drove us to school. Mom apparently had driven over my school stuff this morning. I wish she would have brought over some school clothes with her... but she apparently was too preoccupied. She did thankfully bring over some clothes for the dance squad practice afterschool. I had been worried about that as I tried to sleep that night.

As we pulled up to school one of my worst nightmares came true. Across the street, off the school grounds, was a group of people holding signs with various messages on them. All of the messages were directed at me. The signs had such wonderful messages as 'Boys shouldn't wear dresses,' 'Don't let trannys ruin our school,' 'God hates transsexuals,' and many more that were worse and shouldn't be repeated.

There were probably about thirty-five people in the group across the street. I could see Jarred and Lucas standing there with their parents, all but confirming they were partially behind all of this. As I stepped out of the car toward the school entrance, I steeled myself and walked away from the safety of her mom's car. For whatever reason, I wasn't really sure why, I turned around, smiled, and waved at them. I then turned around and walked with Amy into the building.

"Are you crazy Tiffany?" Amy grabbed my arm and asked me.

"Maybe... It was either do that or cry. I figured me waving at them would annoy them more than giving them what they want and crying." I told her. I was shaking a bit now.

"Maybe. Are you going to be alright Tiff?" She asked me as she could see I was beginning to shake, "Do you want to go sit somewhere for a few minutes?"

"No, I'll be okay in a minute... I just hope that I can make it through the rest of the day." I told her.

"You will. Just look forward to practice after school." She suggested.

The bell rang about that time and we headed for first hour. It was like being back on the second day of school again... Except worse.

As I sat down in first hour what students didn't glare at me didn't even acknowledge me. If it wasn't for Kyle, Lindsey, and Ashley – no one except Amy would have talked to me. Students that had begun being friendly to me and talking to me, now wouldn't even give me a second glance. We had a group assignment that day, the groups were assigned randomly, and only Kyle was in my group.