Consequences - Part 9 of 9 (Finale)

"So that's the hairstyle you went with?" I said, greeting Lea in the school hallway.

"Yep," she said. "Thanks again for giving me the go-ahead on changing it."

"Happy to," I said. "I mean, it's probably not going to be my hair again anyway."

"Speaking of that..." Lea said, her voice lowering. "Could we talk after school today? In private?"

"It's about that time, isn't it?" I said, matching her volume. "Sure thing. My house?"

"Sure," Lea said. She started inching in the same direction she was walking before we spotted each other. "I've gotta get to class," she said. "But I'll see you at lunch!"

"See you then!" I said, holding my arm up in a 'goodbye' gesture. And when we next meet after that, I thought, I guess we decide our fate. To put it dramatically.

Consequences - Part 8 of 9

As we walked out of the swap clinic together, I gazed over at the girl by my side. The girl whose body I once knew as "me", and as Kirsten Falk before that. The girl whose mind I once knew as Jack, my boyfriend. The girl who I knew might stay with me as my girlfriend. Or might not. We'd have to wait and see.

"So... how does it feel?" I asked her.

"So far?" she said. "Amazing." She was silent for a moment. "How about you?"

I looked down at my hands. Not the exact same color or shape as any I'd had before, but unmistakably attached to a male body. "It feels pretty good," I said, smiling.

"I hope it stays that way," she said. "I just want that body to go to a better home."

"Don't you worry," I said. "I'll take good care of it."

"As long as it takes good care of you," she said.

Consequences - Part 7 of 9

"How are you two doing tonight?" asked the waitress. "Enjoying our rooftop terrace?"

"Yeah," Jack said. "The weather's nice this evening."

"It is," the waitress said. "Are both of you ready to order, or should I give you a few more minutes?"

Jack looked at me, and I gave him a slight nod. "I think we're ready," he said.

"Excellent," the waitress said. She turned to me. "Ladies first?"

I paused awkwardly for a moment. "Right. Sure." I peered at my menu, reminding myself of my choice.