Hello again... Chapter 2 ------------------------------- I didn't stop running until I hit the back stairwell, slamming my back against the cold concrete wall. My breath came in sharp, ragged gasps. I looked down at my hands, feeling that familiar, frustrating shift inside me. Yesterday, I felt solid—like a guy, completely comfortable in my own skin. Today? Today my masculinity felt drained, low, and fragile, like a fading watercolor. Being boyflux means my gender fluctuates in intensity, and right now, the stress was pulling me down to almost nothing. I felt completely hollow. The heavy fire door creaked open. I braced myself, expecting James, but it was Emily. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were wide with panic."Phoenix, please! Just let me speak!" she cried, taking a step toward me."Speak?!" I yelled, my voice cracking as it echoed in the empty stairwell. "What is there to say, Emily? You knew how terrified I was. You knew I’ve only ever told you. And you just handed my identity to James like it was some locker room gossip!" "I didn't tell him!" Emily’s voice broke, and tears finally spilled down her cheeks. "I swear to you, Phoenix, I would never do that. I was talking to Chloe in the library yesterday during free period. We were tucked in the back corner, and I was... I was telling her how proud I was of you for figuring yourself out. James must have been on the other side of the bookshelf. I didn't see him until he walked past us with a smirk, but I didn't think he heard!" I stared at her, my heart hammering against my ribs. I wanted so badly to believe her. Emily had been my best friend since third grade. But the sting of James's words still burned in my chest. Even if it was an accident, she had still talked about me behind my back."It doesn't matter if you meant to or not," I whispered, pulling my knees up to my chest. "The damage is done. He knows. And you know James—he isn't going to keep this to himself. "Right on cue, the stairwell door clicked open again. A shadow fell over both of us."Oh, look," James's voice drifted down from the upper landing, dripping with mockery. "The 'gradient' boy is having a little meltdown. Hey Phoenix, what's your gender percentage today? Ten percent? Or did you wake up a zero?"
