Second Chances

By Alexander Kung

Former bully Ryan now finds himself in the body of “Creepy” Kelly Daniels, the school outcast, a lonely troubled girl with a miserable life. Poor choice of words, hurt feelings and a serious accident finally force her to be honest with herself and her feelings but will it be too late? P.S special cameo from a certain wizard from Bill Hart's Universe

Second Chances — Part 3

It had just started to rain as Rani and Jay started to walk home. The storm had shown up so suddenly that they had to cut their time in the tree house short. However nobody said how long they could take on the walk home. Since they were next door neighbors, they could get away with taking the scenic route.

“So, Jay” Rani asked with a slight nudge “Do you have a girlfriend?”

“Not really” Jay replied “I guess girls don't like me”

“One does, all you have to do is ask her” Rani said hoping he’d get the hint

“Oh yeah, who?” asked Jay

“Ugh, you are so frustrating! Me, you dummy!” Rani said smacking her forehead “The girl you've been kissing,
remember?”

“But” blushed Jay “I'm not that cute... are you sure you want to be my girlfriend?”

“I wouldn't have said anything if didn't want to, stupid!” Rani said “And for your information, I think you are very cute!”

“I think you’re really pretty too” said Jay turning red

“Good!” the little girl said with a smile “Since we are now officially boyfriend and girlfriend, I think we should go out on a date”

"What? Now?"

"Yes, right now!" she said hooking her arm in his

Even though they knew they would get into a bit of trouble for staying out in the rain, they decided to take a detour toward the busy downtown area of town. Stopping first by the local ice cream shop they shared a banana split ice cream sundae. It was funny how not really much changed, going from best friends to boy friend and girlfriend. They still joked and played around, giggling as they flicked the cherries at each other. After Having their fill of ice cream they went up to pay.

“I guess we can go dutch” Rani said pulling out her money from her pocket

“No we can’t!” Jay said pulling out his money and paying the cashier “I got this”

“You never had a problem going dutch before” said Rani crossing her arms

“Well we were best friends before” said Jay “Besides; Dad says a gentleman never lets a lady pay for the date”

“And why is that?” asked Rani

“I don’t know” Jay said “I guess it’s just what boyfriends do, you know take care of their girlfriends”

“So, you are you going to take care of me, huh?” asked Rani sweetly cuddling close

“Ummm…..urrrr” stammered Jay shyly, grabbing Rani by the hand “Lets finish our date”

It was so nice and romantic. People thought it was so adorable when they walked down the street holding hands. Jay blushed as Rani snuggled close, as best friends they never held hands but now it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to do.

Walking past a bridal shop, Rani sighed as she spied the beautiful white gown in the window. Looking down at her feet and her shoulders slouched in defeat.

“I’ll never be a beautiful bride” Rani said sadly

“I don’t know” said Jay “I mean you’re pretty now, I bet you’ll be a hottie when you’re older”

“Oh Really?” Rani asked turning bright red “You think so?”

“Yeah, I mean when…” started Jay “Never mind”

“When what?” asked Rani instantly curious

“Nothing” Jay said “It’ll never happen”

Tell Me! Tell me! Tell me!” said Rani twisting his arm

“OWWW! Okay, Okay…Yeesh!” Jay said as she let go

“So tell me already!” whined Rani “Come on!”

“We’ll..um.” stammered Jay “If you wanted when we got older.. I. you know.. could marry you! I mean .. if you wanted to that is…”

“Well duh!” said Rani secretly glad “Who else would I want to marry?”

“We better get home before we really get in trouble” Jay said noticing the sky getting darker and the rain getting heavier

“Yeah, I guess” Rani said kind of disappointed they have to go home so soon

“But we have to finish the date, right?” smiled Jay “Come on, close your eyes.”

Rani smiled as she slowly closed her eyes, giggling a little bit as she felt his arms wrap around her waist.
When his lips touched hers, her heart thumped so hard she could hear it in her ears. Dropping the umbrella, she wrapped her hands around his neck, not caring one bit if she got sick from the rain. If she did, it would be totally worth it.

Sure they kissed lots of times before but this one seemed more special than all the others combined. Maybe it was because they were now boyfriend and girlfriend or maybe it was because it was that they had their first date, who knows. But to Rani, it was the best kiss ever and she never wanted it to end.

Breaking the kiss, they softly touched foreheads, looking into each other’s eyes, not saying a word. Words weren't needed now; they pretty much knew what the other was thinking. Picking up the umbrella, they continued their walk home holding hands.

“I really like you Rani” whispered Jay

“I like you too” said Rani resting her head on his shoulder “You’re really gonna marry me when we get older?”

“Yeah” Jay whispered shyly “I mean if you want to anyway.”

“I’m holding you to it” she said squeezing his hand tight “Don’t ever break your promise’

As they finally rounded the corner on their street, there was a big commotion from Rani's house. The police were there as well as a big limousine parked in front of the house. Rani's mom was being lead out of the house in handcuffs.

“Mom?!” Rani asked in complete horror “Why are they taking my mom away?”

“I don't know” Jay said “We better go see what’s going on”
On the front lawn were Jay's parents, Rani's Mom and a man Jay had never seen before yelling at the top of his lungs.

“Where is my boy!” screamed the Man at Rani's Mom snatching her by her shirt “I want my son home with me where he belongs!”

“Hey! Let her go! You have not right to treat her like this” Jay's mother said coming to her friends defense

“Mind your own fucking business you nigger loving bitch” shouted the man shoving the woman aside

“I got your nigger right here, you sorry piece of shit!” yelled Jay's dad being held back by both his wife and the police “Don't you dare disrespect my wife again”

“Let my mommy go!” screamed Rani “Don’t take her away!”

“What the fuck?” said the angry man looking at the two kids holding hands under an umbrella “Ryan?!? Is that you?!?

“My name is Rani” shouted the girl to the angry man

“You fucking bitch!” the man screamed at Rani's Mom “It isn't bad enough you try to steal my son away from me but you turn him into a FUCKING FAG!?!”

“You’re going to have to go come with us” said an officer to Rani

“No!!” Rani screamed loudly; completely freaking out “I don't want to go! I want to stay here! I want to stay here!”

Rani screamed and pleaded as the officer pulled her and Jay apart. To their credit they struggled and fought to hang on to each other. But it was in vain as they finally separated the kids, accidentally knocking the Jay in the muddy grass.

Rani kicked and screamed even harder, tears streaming down her cheeks as she was loaded in the limo. She couldn't stop crying as it pulled away from the only home she knew, away from her mom and away from Jay.

“Mommy...” sniffed Rani “Jay....”

“Quit crying!” growled Ryan's father “You're a boy and boys don't cry. Your bitch mother and that little mutt may have turned you fucking queer but I'm going to fix that shit good and proper. No son of mine is going to turn faggot”

~O~

Kelly woke up from her dream in tears, a mix of the revelation of the dream and the dull pain in her back from last night's beating. Sadly she had found herself getting used to the drunken beatings, growing numb to the violent abuse.

Her stepfather accused her of stealing money out of his wallet. When he forced her to empty her bags and pockets, he found the remainder of the $20 that Jessie paid her for the drawing. She got it double that night for compounding her “stealing” with 'lying” She shuddered to wonder what he would have done to her if he would have found the $400 she had tucked into her shoes.

Not bothering to worry about it now. She quickly got dressed, applied her makeup and sneaked quickly out of the house. It was still dark, and again she found herself was lost in her thoughts. She really started to despise her life.

Ever since that woman put that stupid curse on her, her head was all screwy. Hell even last night was so confusing. She had kissed Jessie Taylor...and she liked it! Come to find out it wasn't her first time doing it either!

“No” she thought “It's not possible. It's the spell that's making me feel like this. Yeah, that's it, it was just a dream”

Feeling dizzy she sat down on nearby bench to compose herself; it was a lot to take in. No, it couldn't possibly be real. But if it was just a dream why did it feel so real, why did she feel so happy when she kissed him and so sad when she was yanked away? Was Jay really Jessie? No it wasn't possible, it couldn't be. Boys aren't supposed to like boys, much less kiss them. No... She wasn't Kelly she was Ryan...Ryan damn it!

“I need to put a stop to all this crap, so that I could get back to my old life!” she thought angrily

Gathering her book bag she headed toward the beach. Normally she would meet Jessie at the mini mart but not today. Because the more time she spent around him the harder it was going to even want to be changed back. No, right now she needed to be by herself and think really hard.

~O~

Felicia opened her shop bright and early at 7:00 am as she did every morning. The pain from last night’s event had subsided and the bit of blood never came back. Still she needed to be on her guard until the backlash was through with her. The true torture was not knowing what was coming next but she'd cross that bridge when she had to.

The little bell on rang as someone entered the store. Looking up from her desk she saw that it was one of her regulars, Mr. Smith.

He was an odd sort of gentleman; his silver hair was unkempt and messy as was his shaggy beard. Dressed in a ratty bathrobe and bunny slippers, he was definitely an odd man. One would at first glance think, he was a one the random street crazies but looks could be very deceiving. For as eccentric as he was, he was very knowledgeable in the way of fine antiques and unusual artifacts.

His golden eyes surveyed the shop drawing the slight similarities to his own. It had a woman's touch to be sure, the many items dusted and meticulously cataloged. Normally he would have considered her shop as competition but he was willing to coexist with the owner as she sold him rare items on a semi-regular basis at a good fair price. It also didn't hurt that she was very easy on the eyes.

“Good day, Felicia” said Mr. Smith

“Ah, Mr. Smith” said Felicia “According to my records, your order won’t arrive for another 2 weeks”

“I'm not worried about that right now” the old man said waving his hand dismissively “To be honest, I'm bit more worried about you”

“Me?” Felicia said coyly “I'm truly flattered, but I assure you, I’m doing quite fine.”

“Is that so?” the old man asked “Then would you care to explain the excruciating pain and coughing up blood that that happened to you last night?”

“How could you possibly know that?” Felicia asked suspiciously

“I'm a wizard” said the old man with a smile “It's my job to know”

“Aren't you a little bit old to believe in wizards and magic?” Felicia said with a sly smile

“Let's cut the false pretenses, shall we?” said the wizard gruffly “Don't insult my intelligence and I won’t insult yours. You're a chovihani and while I applaud you for hiding it so well all these years, it would appear that you used powerful magic here recently. A very old and very dangerous kind of magic.”

“Let me guess, you wish to punish me for misusing my magic, am I right?” Felicia said narrowing her eyes “I assure you, I’m not pushover”

“Oh no, you can put the claws away. I'm not here to fight” chuckled the old man “I myself have occasionally bent or broke a magical law or two to give someone what they richly deserved. Oh the stories I could tell.”

“Then why are you here, then?” Felicia asked growing uncomfortable “To tell me to make things as they were? I can't do that either”

“It is not my place to tell others how to use their gifts” the wizard said studying a nearby suit of armor “Had I been in your shoes, mad with grief; I doubt the result would have been much different. I just wouldn't have used such a chaotic magic, that's all.

You didn't answer my question” Felicia said sharply “Why are you here?”

“I have no desire to involve myself in your situation; if that's what you’re worried about” the Wizard said gently “You and your grandson have always been decent to me, so I feel obligated to give you a warning of what’s coming”

“I already know the three fold law” Felicia said confidently “I'm fully willing to take my lumps for what I've done. But I don't regret it one bit”

“That you may be, but I doubt you understand the full severity of your actions” said the wizard “It's possible that the backlash from your anger may also hit those close to you as well”

“What? How is that fair?” Felicia said "It was my doing!"

“Since when has chaotic magic been known to be fair?” the old man said walking out the door "Just please be careful and stay alert"

~O~

“So come on, don't leave ol Tex here hanging” said the larger of the two boys hanging out on the by Jessie's locker in the main hallway before first period started

“Well I walked her home and she..... Gave me a kiss goodnight” Jessie said with a blush “She is really a good kisser.”

“Well, wonders never cease” teased Tex

“Gee thanks” Jessie said “It’s nice to know that even my friends think it’s amazing that I could ever get a girl to like me”

“Aw, quit whining ya little wuss. I'm just teasing ya” said Tex smile “But look alive 'cause here comes yer sweetheart”

Kelly walked down the hallway with a large knot in her stomach. She thoroughly she had convinced herself that this was truly the right thing to do. It was better this way, it had to be.

“Jessie can I talk to you for minute” said Kelly not making eye contact with him

"Yeah, of course" smiled Jessie "I'll always have time for you"

“Ugh, why does he have to be so damn sweet?” she thought in frustration

He tried to move in for a quick kiss only for her to lean away. Her heart dropped from the confused hurt look on his face. No matter, she reasoned, he'd get over it. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to not show one ounce of emotion on her face. There was no avoiding it, it was going to hurt

“What's the matter?” Jessie asked completely confused of her attitude toward him

“Look, what happened last night was a mistake” Kelly said coldly “It shouldn't have happened”

“It was a mistake?” Jessie said with a bit of hurt in voice “That all it was to you, just a mistake?”

“Look, it’s not you...” Kelly said her voice breaking a bit “Besides there are other girls...”

“Don't give me that it's not you, it’s me shit!” said Jessie “I don't want any other girls; I wanted you. Look, maybe we're moving a bit too fast and if so, I can pull back. We can start back as friends see where it goes.”

“I'd rather not have you as friend either. It's too complicated for me to deal with” Kelly said “Believe me its better this way”

“Better what way?!?! What the hell? I don't fucking get you!” Jessie said his eyes welling up and voice breaking

“You act like you like me, and then you pull away? Why bother playing games with me?”

“Look I never meant to”.... Kelly said trying hard not to cry herself. She was hurting him, far worse than any beating that she ever gave as Ryan.

“Yeah right!” Jessie said angrily slamming his locker "You know exactly what you're doing!"

“I'm really... sorry” said Kelly as she started to cry

“Yeah? Me too!” said Jessie “Sorry I wasted my fucking time with you. But don't worry I'll give you what you want and I'll make sure you don't see me again. Fuck you!”

As she stood in the hallway watching him storm off, her heart twisted and throbbed with a dull ache. She got what she wanted; she got rid of Jessie, supposedly to make getting back to being Ryan a lot easier. If that was the case why did it hurt so badly? Why did it feel like someone twisting a knife in her heart when she saw the hurt on his face? Why did she feel like the biggest heartless bitch in all creation?

“Yeah, it was better this way” thought Kelly sadly “Now it'll be so much easier to go back to being, an ego inflated, hate filled asshole….”

She stopped in her dead tracks. Did she really think of herself that way? No, it had to be the spell making her act that way. She was sure of it. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she walked to her next class hoping to put it out of her mind.

~O~
Kelly hated gym class, even more so now. She just couldn’t get that look of Jessie’s heart breaking out of her head. She tried to convince herself that this was the best way but she felt so guilty. It was funny as Ryan she never felt any sort of remorse for anything she did to him, but as Kelly she felt so rotten about it.

“No, he’ll get over it” she thought as the opened her gym locker and started to change her clothes “I hope…”

From around the corner, Jessica Sanderson and the McQueen sisters strutted into view. A sick and cruel smile appeared on her face as she saw Kelly Daniels.

“Well, Well, Well” sneered Jessica “If it isn’t the little tittied trailer park trash”

“Not today” said Kelly gritting her teeth, wondering what he ever saw in this girl as Ryan “I’m not in the mood for it!”

“Awwwww” mocked Jessica as she shoved her into the locker “Did your ugly ass boy friend dump you?”

“That’s not nice” said Billie shifting uncomfortably

“Yeah, Jessie’s kinda cute” Bobbie said with a small smile

“Will you two stupid sluts just shut the fuck up!” sighed Jessica rolling her eyes “He’s an just an ugly little ner…..

Jessica never got to finish the sentence as a fist came crashing into her nose. Kelly snapped as she started to slam the girl into the nearby lockers and knee her in the stomach.

“LEAVE…ME..THE…FUCK …ALONE!!” she screamed as Billie and Bobbie pulled her of the Jessica whose face was just covered in blood. Shaking her former goons off of her, her eyes narrowed in a wild crazy look.

“If any of you bitches decide to fuck with me again; I will fucking kill you, got it!” she growled as Jessica cowered in the corner. Grabbing her things, she stormed out of the locker room in a huff just as Ms Tyson walked in the area.

“What the hell just happened here?” she asked as Jessica whimpered covering her bloody nose

“I fell” Jessica cried as she glared at the twins

~O~
“Okay class” said Mr. Apter the, art room teacher “Today's assignment, I think will be a fun one”
He passed out large sketching pads, charcoal pencils and kneaded erasers. Kelly found that she really liked art class. It was the one thing she really felt that she was good at. When she worked on her drawings, her problems went away for a little bit. For that short period of time, nothing else mattered but piece she was working on. After this all the shit that happened this morning, she could really use this class.

“What's the project?” asked another student in the class

“I want each one of you to draw your definition of happiness” said Mr. Apter “It can be whatever you want. You
have until the end of the class to finish”

“Happiness…what a fucking joke” thought Kelly as she started sketching her outline “There’s no such thing”

Happiness, huh? Being Ryan made her happy. Playing football made her happy...sort of. To be honest, she never really liked football. Her dad said to be a man she had to play football, she had to like football. Anything to please dear old dad, right?

Having lots of money and pushing people around that made her happy. Not really, honestly after dealing with Jessica and the McQueen’s, it just made her as Ryan seem like an asshole. Her dad said to be a man you had to crush the weak peons beneath you. Maybe she liked it before, but not now.

Being a ladies’ man surely that must have made her happy, right? No, it not really didn't. Her dad said that a man who wasn't popular with the women wasn't really a man. Half the time she had to force herself to do it, if she could get it up at all. There was hardly any attraction at all. Of course all the macho posturing and grandstanding was not for him but for his father. Everything was just to please him.

Looking back, none of the shit when she was Ryan made her happy, absolutely none of it. Nothing about her former life made her the least bit happy; it wasn’t her life but her father’s and living up to his expectations. Not that her life as Kelly was any better but why the hell would she want to go back to life as Ryan? Under all that bravado and bullshit, she was fucking miserable.

“Okay pencils down” said Mr. Apter as he walked past each student “Good”

As he walked by each drawing he was slightly disappointed in some of the students. Not their art of course, because some were completely outstanding. They had perfect anatomy, flawless shading and light. However most were woefully materialistic, consisting of cars and houses and money.

“Sorry Mr. Apter” Kelly said, sadly closing her sketch pad “I couldn't finish mine”

“Well, let me at least see what you have done anyway” said the Teacher kindly opening up her sketchpad

On the large piece of paper was an unfinished collage of memories flowing into each other. First it was a little girl kissing a little boy in a tree house. Below it were the same two kids walking in the rain holding hands. Below that was an older girl crying in the arms of a boy who was comforting her. Beneath that was a scene of those same kids smiling in the cafeteria and the last drawing in the collage, the two kids kissing beneath the moonlit sky”

“It's beautiful” said Mr. Apter “May I ask what is the inspiration of this piece?”

“It's just a few memories” said Kelly softly “But I never felt happier then when they all happened”

“Well done, Ms Daniels” said Mr. Apter “A+”

As the bell sounded signaling the end of class, Kelly quickly gathered her things and raced out the door. It was never clearer then now. She was happy when she was Rani; the sweet little girl that was yanked out of her mother’s care and turned into a mean and cruel boy. Why was he so mean? Because he could never be Rani, that is, not until fate stepped in and made her a girl again.

Gah, she was so stupid for not seeing it. She finally realized that she fell in love with Jessie Taylor and that she always was in love with him. And like a complete idiot once she had what she really wanted, she threw it away. She crushed his heart like it was nothing.

She needed to find him and talk to him; somehow make this right.

~O~

"Nothing makes a day goes worse than getting your heart ripped out of your chest, then having it jumped on and seeing someone punt it down the hallway" Jessie sighed as he changed classes.
Maybe he was being melodramatic but it sure hurt like hell. Rejection was always the worst, but normally he could deal with it. It was the toying with his heart that hurt the most, making him think he actually had a chance with somebody like her.

“Yeah, Right” sighed Jessie sadly “Like I ever had one”

His next class was across the street in building two. Lost in his thoughts, he wasn't looking where he was going and crashed into a pair of girls spilling both their books all over the street. Of course, it just had to be the McQueen girls.

“Sorry” said Jessie leaning down to pick up the books and scattered papers

“Aw, what's the matter, sweetie?” Billie purred with a sexy little pout “You look so sad”

“Girl problems” Jessie said sadly handing her books back to her

“Awwww” Bobbie said seductively while gingerly touching his arm “You poor little thing. You know, Billie and I could help make it all better”

“I'm sure you could” Jessie sighed “Believe me it’s really tempting, but I'll have to pass. I really just need to be alone right now”

“It's Kelly isn't it? We heard you two broke up.” Billie said raising a slight eyebrow "Did she break your widdle heart?"

“I knew it!” Bobbie exclaimed “That why you’re so mopey”

Without any warning the boy pushed them in both the chest as hard as he could, knocking them away from him, causing them to fall on their hard on their asses.

“Hey, you asshole! It was just a...”

Billie's anger was turned quickly to horror as Jessie was plowed by a runaway drivers ed car. It happened so fast. The loud screech from the car's failing brakes filled the air followed by the sickening crunch as it hit him sending skidding along the pavement like a rag doll.

“Oh my god ...oh my god...” Bobbie said trembling

“HELP!!!!!” Billie yelled at the top of her lungs “SOMEBODY CALL 911!”

A rush of students crowded the scene as the ambulance was called. Following the others outside, Kelly covered her mouth as she saw the horrific scene. He was lying motionless on the ground a few feet away from the car. There was a quite a bit of blood on the street from the cut his head.

“Oh no!” thought Kelly hysterically “Not again!”

“Everybody keep back!” school security yelled trying to keep some sort of order

“Like hell I will. We're first aid certified, so move yer fucking ass” said Tex pushing past them racing toward Jessie. Ericka was close behind carrying a first aid case that she had snatched from a nearby wall.

“Be careful not to move him, babe” said Ericka using all her will power not to freak out “We don't know how bad he's hurt and we don’t need to make it worse”

“Gotcha, don't move him” Tex said snapping on a pair of latex gloves

Checking for a pulse, he was relieved to feel one as well as see his chest move up and down. That didn't mean he was out of the woods yet though. His breathing was ragged and who knew what internal injuries he had. The least he could do was try to stop the bleeding from his head.

“Shit!” Tex said in frustration “He's bleeding through the gauze, do I add more pressure?”

“No” Ericka said handing him thicker pieces of gauze “Just use more until the ambulance comes

“Hang in there bud” said Tex not sure if Jessie could even hear him “Help's a coming, Just hang in there”

The EMT's came pretty quickly and took over from Tex and Ericka, moving a still unconscious Jessie from the hard ground onto a gurney.

“I'm goin' to ride along with em” Tex said as they loaded him into the ambulance

“Sir, are you a family member?” one of the EMTs asked

“Hell yeah, I’m a family member” said Tex “Don't ya see the family resemblance”

“Uh...right” the EMT said unconvinced but allowing him to hop in the back

“Babe?” Tex said kissing his girlfriend “I need ya to go and git Jessie's Nan and meet us at the hospital”

“Already on it” said Ericka

As the Ambulance pulled away, the crowd dispersed leaving Kelly standing there all alone feeling completely guilty. It was like she couldn't help but hurt the guy. This was the second time he almost died. And worse, she dreaded what his grandmother would do to her this time when she found out

~O~

Tex paced back and forth through the waiting room as the hours ticked by. He was relived as he saw Ericka and Felicia finally arrive. She tried to compose herself like proper lady but failed miserably. There was no way she wasn't going to lose Jessie again.

“How's he doing, Max?” Felicia said trying hard not to cry

“Don't know yet” said Tex giving the woman a comforting hug. “They haven't told me shit since we got here.”

“So what exactly happened?” asked Felicia

“I don't know fer certain” Tex said “According to the McQueen sisters; He shoved them out of the way of a speeding drivers end car. Why it was going so fast I don't know”

“The McQueen sisters said that?” Ericka said with a cocked eyebrow “Why are they even here?

“They're being treated for shock” said Tex “I overheard them talking to the cops that were taking the report”

“No....It's my fault” thought Felicia "Jessie doesn't deserve this"

“Taylor family?” said a doctor from the hallway

“Yes, I'm Jessie's grandmother” said Felicia “Please tell me, how he is doing?”

“Your grandson's very lucky, all things considering” said the doctor “2 broken 4 cracked ribs, 20 stitches in his head, a bruised spleen and a mild concussion. If it is alright with you, we'd like to keep him a few nights for observation.

“Whatever you think is best” Felicia said much relived “Can I see him?”

“Of course” said the doctor “I warn you though, he's unconscious at the moment. He was in a great deal of pain so we had to give him some pretty strong medicine.

“Are you two coming?” asked Felicia of the two teenagers

“Nah, this is family time” said Tex “You go first”

“We'll visit when you're done” said Ericka “Right now, I’m just glad he's okay”

“He's so blessed to have friends like you two” smiled Felicia

“We're just as blessed to have him” said Ericka

“Yep” said Tex

~O~

Kelly sat in her usual spot at lunch; the past days were a blur. She hadn't really slept much in the past few days. For the first time since becoming Kelly, deliberately started a fight with her stepfather. She willingly took the beating as some sort of sick penance for all the pain she caused. It didn't help as much as she thought it would.

Nibbling on her cheap baloney sandwich, she ate alone for the first time in weeks. She missed having someone to talk to and to laugh with. She missed that way he’d flirt with her and they way he’s make her tingle all over when touched her. But what she missed most of all was that charming sweet nature of his, the way he’d try to make her laugh or feel better when she was feeling her lowest. How could she ever have been so cruel to him as Ryan? How could she be so cruel to him as Kelly?

“I fucked up royally!” She thought pushing her sandwich aside “How the hell do I make it all right?”

“Mind if we sit here?” asked a sweet feminine voice

“Go ahead” Kelly said as two students sat down at her table

“I’m...

“I know who you are” interrupted Kelly “You're Tex and Ericka; Jessie's friends”

“Yep and we know all about you too” Tex said “Hell, Jessie wouldn't shut up about you”

“That's not exactly making me feel better” Kelly sighed “He's hurt because of me”

“Well unless you were behind the wheel of that car that hit him” said Ericka “Then it’s not your fault”

“You don't understand” said Kelly “I....I told him I didn't want to see him anymore with him and then he got hurt”

“You did what? No wonder he'd been actin' all heartbroken that day” asked Tex “Why'd you do it?”

“I… Iwas scared” Kelly said softly “I've been going through a real confusing stage in my life and I didn't know how to deal with it. I hurt him but I swear I didn’t mean to”

“Well feeling guilty isn't going to do you much good” Ericka said “What are you going to do about it?”

“What can I do about it?” asked Kelly “I fucked it all up”

“Yeah ya did” Tex said bluntly “But do ya care about him or are ya just feeling guilty because he got hurt?

“I ...I care about him” Kelly said matter of factly “I really do!”

“If you mean it then we’ll help you fix it then” Tex said “Just don’t dick him around, he’s been through enough.

“Why?” Kelly asked “Why would even want you help me?

“Because we're his friends” Ericka said “And he was never happier than when he was with you”

“He..He really said that?” Kelly asked with a slight blush

“Yeah he did” said Tex

“Hey, he thought enough of you to consider you a friend” said Ericka sweetly “We’ll be yours too, if you want it”

A pair of girls wearing very conservative turtle necks and jeans with very tastefully done makeup and simple ponytailed hair approached the table. Kelly stiffened and glared as she recognized them, the McQueen twins. What did they what?

“Don't worry, Kelly” Bobbie said noticing her body language “We're not here to fight or harass you anymore”

“We’re not friends with Jessica anymore” said Billie remorsefully “In fact, we're really sorry being such bitches to you”

“What do you two want?” Ericka asked curiously

“You guys are Jessie's friends, right?” Bobbie said handing her a small package “Could you pass this along to him?”

“It's a get well gift” Billie explained “We tried to send it to the hospital but he got discharged and we didn't know where to send it”

“I'll make sure to pass it on to him, thank you” Ericka said kindly

“Hey ladies what’s with the toned down look” Tex asked curiously

“After what happened” Bobbie said with slight grin “We took some time to rethink the way we lived our lives”

“We thought about all the people we hurt” Billy said “And the bitches we've been”

“I guess what we’re saying is we're trying to be better people than we used to be” Bobbie explained

“We got a second chance now” Billie said looking directly at Kelly “We're not going to waste it”

“Anyway” said Bobbie sweetly “Can you guys tell him that we hope he gets better soon?”

“We will” smiled Ericka

As the two girls walked off Tex couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.

“Do you mind sharing with us what’s so damn funny?” asked Ericka

“I believe Jessie is going to be in a heap more trouble when he gets back” said Tex

“And why is that?” asked Kelly

“Can ya just imagine how many pissed off guys are gonna be after him for un-hoochie-fying those two?” said Tex

Kelly allowed herself a small chuckle along with the other two

“They got a point though” said Kelly “Maybe I should take their lead”

“Oh come on girl. I know ya feel bad but fucking the wrestling team won’t make ya feel any better!” Tex said receiving a hard hit in the shoulder from his girlfriend

“Not funny, you dickhead” Ericka smirked “Okay it was a little funny, but you’re still a pig!”

“That wasn't exactly what I meant” Kelly said getting up “But I think they’re right about not wasting a second chance. I have a lot of apologizing to do; I just really hope it’s enough”

“Good luck” smiled Ericka

“Yeah” she said “I’m gonna need it”

~O~

Kelly choked down a huge gulp as she stood in front of The Relic. She felt so guilty; if she wasn’t such a fucking bitch to him none of this would have ever happened. Drawing an all her nerve, she took a deep breath and stepped inside. The store was relatively empty. Near the Felicia's desk were the same two people from the other night, Ms Forelli and her granddaughter Maria.

“Go on” said Ms Forelli gently chiding her granddaughter

“Um...this is for Jessie” Maria said sliding a fruit basket as big as she was on the desk “A feel better soon gift"

“I'll make sure he gets it and lets you know he appreciates it” Felicia said kindly

“How is he doing?” asked Ms Forelli

“He's doing better” said Felicia “Right now he just needs rest”

“Nonna?” asked Maria “Is it okay if I ask?”

“I don't think it's a good time right now” said Ms Forelli “Perhaps some other time”

“Oh...” said Maria obviously disappointed

“What was the question?” asked Felicia genuinely interested

“Well, I was wondering if I could work here an hour or two a week to help pay for my summer vacation?” asked
Maria “Please?!”

“Hmmmm” mused Felicia “I could use someone to help me dust the items in the store and do a few odd jobs. When can you start?”

“How about right now?” Maria asked “See, I'm already in my work overalls and ready to work”

“Are you okay with this?” Felicia asked Ms Forelli

“Only if it's okay with you” said Ms Forelli

“You’re hired” smiled Felicia

“Okay Maria” said Ms Forelli kissing her granddaughter on the cheek “I'll be back in an hour to pick you up. You do everything Felicia asks you to do, okay?”

"Okay Nonna” smiled Maria

As she walked out she recognized Kelly from the other night

“Hello again” smiled Ms Forelli “You're Jessie's friend right? The artist?”

“Yeah” said Kelly softly “Sort of”

“Can I take a look?” said Ms Forelli taking Kelly's sketch book “This is Beautiful. Here take my card; we need to talk some time about a personal piece.”

“Thanks” said Kelly as she took the card. “If I'm around later, maybe”

As the woman left Kelly gathered her courage and made her way toward hoping her apology was enough. Somehow the phrase ‘im sorry’ doesn't seem to cut it when it comes to almost killing a witch's grandson not once but twice.

“Yes Kelly?” said Felicia firmly “What do you want?

Whether it was the tone of her voice, the massive guilt she felt over all of what had happened or just plan fear of what was going to happen, she completely lost it. She remembered those vengeful evil red eyes of hers and she was frightened to her core of what the woman would do to her now.

I'm......I'm.....so........” she sputtered through crying gasps“It'sallmyfault.Inevermeantforittohappen. Notlikethis. Ididn'tthinkhe'dtakeitsohardandgetrunover. Ihadthesefeelingsandthey'resoconfusing. Ididntknowwhattodo.Ididn'tmeantohurthimIswear,Ididn't. Pleasedon'tpunishmethistime,I....I....I...

Felicia and Maria both looked at each other in confusion as the poor girl babbled incoherently and sobbed hysterically. It got to the point where the girl actually started to hyperventilate. Leading the hysterical girl to the desk, she sat her down and grabbed a paper sack.

“Calm down” she said gently holding bag over her mouth “Breathe slowly, easy”

As she started to calm down, little Maria handed her a glass of water. Her hand was shaking in terror as she brought the glass to her trembling lips. Her pretty green eyes were red from crying and they were full of guilt and pure fear.

“Easy” said Maria “It's just water, just sip it slowly”

“It's okay, Kelly” said Felicia “Calm down, try to take some deep breaths and relax”

“I'm....so.....sorry” sniffed Kelly “Really I am...for everything. I know you probably don't believe me but I am”

“Please slow down Kelly” said Felicia gently “You going to make yourself sick if you keep carrying on like this”

“After all the fucked up shit I've done, you’re worried about me getting sick?” sobbed Kelly harder

As the girl cried harder, Felicia found herself both conflicted and confused. The girl was completely frightened out of her mind and showing actual signs of remorse. What did she do that she thought was so bad this time?

“Relax, take your time and just tell me what’s the matter” said Felicia kindly

Looking at the desk Kelly grabbed a small framed portrait of a handsome black man, a beautiful light skinned Roma woman and in the middle their young son.

“That was my daughter's family” said Felicia gently taking it back “It’s an old wound i don't like talking about much”

“Nadia and Darius Taylor and their son Jay.....Jessie” sniffed Kelly

"How do you know that?” asked Felicia cocking an eyebrow

“I used to live next door to them when i was little” sniffed Kelly as she started to cry some more

“Maria, is that one of your old memories?” asked Felicia

“Nuh uh” said the little girl “I never lived by Jessie”

Felicia walked over to the front door locked it and flipped over the open sign to closed. Kelly stiffened as she walked back not sure what her fate was going to be. But she just knew it was going to be bad.

“I just wanted you to know I didn't mean for Jessie to get hit by that car” she sniffed crying harder “I thought that if I told him I wasn't interested in him anymore that maybe it would be easier to go back to being Ryan. I didn't know he was going to react that way, then i realized i made a big mistake. He got hit by that car and I saw all that blood...it was just like what happened...here...."

“It's okay, Jessie is fine....well he's hurt but he's going to be okay” said Felicia noticing the relief on Kelly face

“Really?” said Kelly calming down “He's really gonna be okay?”

“Yes but I think you two and I need to have a little talk” said Felicia handing Kelly some tissue

“Okay” she said wiping her eyes “I’ll take my punishment, whatever it is. Just please make it quick”

“Oh, no. It will be long and drawn out” said Felicia handing her a feather duster “You can start by helping Maria and I dust the shop. While you’re at it, you can tell me everything and I do mean everything”

Kelly looked in confusion as she took the feather duster, not sure if it was going to turn her into a mouse or something

“It’s just a plain old duster” said Felicia

~O~

“Mom and Dad had a really messy divorce” said Kelly as she dusted the paintings “So mom took me and we tried to start a new life somewhere else. She dressed me up as a little girl to make it harder for dad to find us. I kind of liked being a little girl; I guess I liked how I got treated special”

“So what happened next?” asked Maria dusting the lower item on the shelves

“I met my best friend, Jay” Kelly smiled “We used to do everything together, rode our bikes together, got into trouble together, built a tree house together. We were partners in crime so to speak. He was also... my....

“He was also your what?” asked Felicia dusting the top shelves

“My very first kiss” Kelly said almost ashamed “Kind of gross huh?”

“Not really” said Maria “You were a girl”

“Correction, I was a boy pretending to be a girl” said Kelly “Still I liked him, I liked him a lot but of course it couldn't last”

“Your father found you didn't you” said Felicia

“Yeah” said Kelly softly “He had the better lawyers the better private eyes and being a city councilman, more friends in high places. I was ripped from everything I knew, my mom, my friends, and my...first boyfriend”

“I take it your father wasn't too thrilled to see his little boy in a dress” said Maria

“That's putting it lightly” Kelly said in disgust “He was going to unqueer me, damn it. He shoved a football in my hand, I wasn't allowed to cry, and I had to be a “man” if it killed me”

“How does one go about so called “unqueering” somebody?” said Felicia

“Easy” Kelly said bluntly “Find someone else to blame.’It wasn't my fault the way I was I was, it was my mom's and that little nigger mutt that made me that way'. That was my dad's words exactly”

“So that's where you got it from” said Felicia

“I guess I could lay it all at my dad’s feet if I really wanted to, just someone else to blame” said Kelly truly ashamed of herself “Yeah he planted the seed but I let it grow. It wasn't long before I started believing his bullshit. I'm just as much at fault, i just didn't realize it until that day Jessie got hit by that car.”

"So what else happened?" Maia asked

“A few years later I ran into Jay/Jessie when he moved into this town” Kelly said gritting her teeth in anger “I think it was about middle school, 8th grade maybe. He acted like he didn't even know me! I still cared about him all that time. All that time that I suffered under my dad and he just tossed me aside like I didn't even exist! So that's when I started hating him and swore I would make him suffer”

“Kelly?” Felicia said sadly “Jessie couldn't have remembered you”

“What are you talking about?” Kelly said tossing her duster down in frustration “Of course he could have, I mean sure we couldn't have been lovey dovey anymore but we still could have been friends! But no, he just cast me aside like I was nothing. I bet he was just ashamed that he kissed a boy!”

“No, I mean there is no way he could have” Felicia said “All that time is a complete blank to him.”

“Let me guess, it’s your magic right?” scoffed Kelly

"I wish it was” said Felicia “It might have been easier to fix”

“What happened?” asked Maria “If it wasn't magic, then what was it?”

“Drunk driver, probably not long after you were taken by your father” Felicia said looking at the picture sadly
“Some idiot decided to leave the bar hammered, his truck jumped the meridian and crashed into their car head on. They never had a chance. Had he not died at the scene, I would have made that driver suffer for the rest of his days”

“And what happened to Jessie?” asked Maria

“Alive but hurt very badly” Felicia said her lip trembling “He was in a coma for two weeks. When he woke up,
everything that he was up till that moment was gone, erased. Things that everyone else took for granted, tying your shoes, walking, and even talking were things he had to learn all over again.”

“You’re kidding right?” Kelly asked in surprise “Amnesia?”

“It’s not like the movies” Felicia said her voice cracking a bit “ It took three long agonizing years before he could even remotely function in society. But the important things, the memories he cherished are gone forever. He can’t even remember what wonderful people his parents were much less his first 'girlfriend.' It’s as if Jay died that day”

Kelly felt nauseous as it all sunk in, all this time she hated him for acting like he didn't know her when she was Ryan. She had always assumed it was because he was ashamed or that he hated her. Come to find out it was just because he truly didn’t remember anything.

“Can you two please take those bags out to the dumpster out back” said Felicia motioning to four large bags of garbage on the floor “I…I need to check on a few things in the back room”

“Yeah” said Kelly “No problem

She saw through the old woman’s lie. There was probably nothing in the back room but a place to break down in private. Reliving that old memory must have been extremely hard on her. Grabbing her bags, she walked toward the back door with the little girl following right behind.

“Was that the only reason you hated him” asked Maria dragging her bag behind her

“No” said Kelly sadly tossing her bags into the dumpster “ I hated myself too, I knew I could never be the girl
I wanted to be and at the same time knowing that it was 'unnatural” to think that way. I figured if couldn't be happy, nobody could. So I made everybody's life as miserable as mine was”

“Miserable? Please, spare me the rich kid blues” scoffed Maria “You were rich, you had anything you wanted, and you never got in trouble because of your daddy. You are only now learning what misery is”

“Speaking from experience?” asked Kelly

“Damn right I am!” said Maria “I couldn't take it anymore it was so bad”

“Why?” said Kelly softly “Why did you kill yourself?”

“I...I don’t want to talk about it!” said Maria “If I talk about then I have to think about it and I refuse to”

“I don't understand” said Kelly

“Because it never happened to you yet and I hope it never does” said Maria crying “But I just couldn't take it anymore after it happened”

“I'm sorry” said Kelly giving the little girl a hug

“I'm not. I have to be a little girl again but that's okay” said Maria “I got a loving family now and I am truly happy. I don't want it taken from me. You’re more than welcome to my old life and body. Though I have to admit, I am a little jealous”

“Jealous?!” said Kelly “Why?”

“I only had a little puppy love crush on him, I guess kind of I still do now” smiled Maria with a slight blush “But you, I think it obvious....It’s been more than obvious”

“What is?” scoffed Kelly

“You only bullied him because you were in love with him” said Maria “But you couldn't show it, not with all that macho bullshit your father tried to pound into you. Now you got a perfect chance to make things the way you want and you still mess it up”

“Thanks for reminding me” Kelly said feeling even worse

“Come on” Maria sighed grabbing Kelly by the arm “Let’s get back to work”

Walking back into the shop the girls went back to dusting and adjust the various items in the shop. Felicia had returned from the back, her eyes a bit red but the girls didn’t press it. Instead they worked in an awkward silence trying to find the right words to say.

“So what happened?” Felicia said finally breaking the silence “What happened between you and my grandson?”

“A couple of nights ago when you had him walk me home” said Kelly “I kissed him goodnight”

“So what was wrong with that?” asked Maria

“Nothing....I mean” said Kelly “I don't know, I liked it but I hated myself for liking it. And then I hated him for making me like it”

“Wow, your head is really messed up” said Maria

“Maria” Felicia said sternly

“Sorry” said the little girl sheepishly “So what did you do”

“I told him it was a mistake... all of it and maybe we shouldn't have anything to do with each other anymore” Kelly said looking down on the ground “I thought by pushing him away it would make it easier to go back to being Ryan”

“Uh ...wow” said Maria “Did you also kick him in the balls while ripping his heart out then end the festivities by doing the Mexican hat dance on it? I told you not to break his heart!”

“I fucked up okay?” Kelly yelled hysterically “I can't seem to do anything without hurting him! You know what started all this shit? I bullied him because i thought he hated me, that he was ashamed of me. So i hated him back and then right here in this store, I KILLED HIM! I FUCKING KILLED HIM!"

She had been crying off and on the whole time, but she didn't care not anymore. To hell with Ryan's asshole father and his stupid exceptions of what a so called man should be. She was Kelly now. Kelly was a girl and girls could cry all they wanted.

Running over to the suit of armor she angrily yanked the sword from the outstretched hand and slid it into the sheath on its side. She wanted no more memories of that event.

“And then I almost kill him again...” Kelly said sobbing to her knees “ And for what? What did he do to me except treat me with kindness I didn't fucking deserve? He gave me the one thing I really wanted and what do I do, I tell him it was all a mistake.”

The older woman lifted the girl off the floor and gave her an almost motherly hug. Pulling back she gently wiped her tears

“Do you truly care about my grandson?” Felicia said softly “Please, answer me truthfully”

“Yes.....I don't want to be Ryan anymore...I just want to be with him. He really did make me happy” Kelly said with a trembling lip “but it’s too late...he hates me now... I know he does”

“Here” said Felicia handing her a sheet of paper “This is his address. Talk to him, be honest with him”

“He doesn't live with you?” Kelly in surprise

“I travel a lot, maybe 2 to 3 weeks out of each month give or take. When I'm not traveling I live in the loft above the shop” said Felicia smiled “I guess it's the nomadic Roma blood in my veins. Sadly Jessie, doesn't share my wanderlust. I had an old apartment that I never used that i was going to rent out and Jessie thinking he was grown asked to live there”

“You didn't just give him an apartment? Did you?” asked Maria in surprise

“Of course not!” said Felicia “At first I refused, I'm mean at the time he had just barely turned 16. But he was real persistent about it. So I decided to humor him. I told him that he had to pay me rent, cover the bills and take care of the store when I was gone. I figured he would be overwhelmed within a month”

“I take it he wasn't” Kelly said with a slight smile

“The little bastard actually turned a profit on the store and kept up with his payments” Felicia huffed “At first I was upset that maybe he wanted to get away from me as if I did something wrong. But as time went by I realized there was a different reason.”

“What was it?” asked Maria

“He wanted to prove to me he could stand on his own two feet” said Felicia “I guess he felt guilty for being a burden on me, even though he never was. He tries to be so damn independent; I guess he gets that from his mother. He's definitely my grandson”

“He really is special” said Kelly “Are you sure you want me to go talk to him? Even after everything I've done?”

“Let me answer that with a question of my own” said Felicia "If you could take what you have done back, would you?"

"Honestly?" Kelly said trying hard not to cry "I don't know. I mean i never wanted him to die but.."

"But what?" asked Felicia

"I liked the relationship we have now" Kelly said sadly "or should i say had"

"Then go to him" Felicia said kindly "Be honest with him"

“Why are you guys helping me?” asked Kelly “Even after everything I did”

“You have another chance to make things right” said Felicia “Not everybody does”

“Yeah” said Maria giving Kelly a hug “You got a chance, so don't mess it up again or else”

“Or else what?”

“Hey” smirked Maria “ I won’t be a little girl forever, when I turn 18 I might just steal him away from you!”

~O~

The old man felt another magical ripple through his shop. The backlash narrowly missed taking Jessie but it wasn’t done yet. He wouldn’t get involved but he was still interested to see how this would play itself out …………