Mellissa and Tim were both sat on the front step outside the house when Lexi pulled up in front of the house. Lexi couldn’t help but look at the deferent’s she saw in the two kids this morning to how they had looked last night when she followed them around the mall.

    Lexi had grabbed pizza on the way back to base and then sat with Sarah, Lana, Alice, Bill and Ted while they all ate, and talked about the best way to handle the information Lexi now knew. They had talked through different ideas, but in the end they thought it best to just pretend they didn’t know anything about it.

     “How would you have felt if a woman had become your friend as Alex back in high school, and then suddenly told you she knew all about Alexis?” Sarah had asked Lexi.

     “I’d have been freaked out.” Lexi said. “It was bad enough when you turned round and said you knew about her.” Lexi added as she thought back to the night they went to the movies and then Sarah told her and Alice she knew about Alexis.

    Lexi had been wearing a special pair of glasses while she followed Tammy and Mellissa around the mall with a camera built into them. Ted logged into the coms room computer system and pulled up some of the footage of the two girls shopping, so Alice and Sarah could see what they looked like. Ted also showed them footage of the two kids at school as well, so they could see how different they both looked.

     “So one of them Goth’s is really a boy?” Sarah asked as she looked closer, trying to work out which one. “Well they’ve got me stumped.” Sarah added after looking for a couple of minutes.

     “Tammy is the one in purple Saz.” Lexi told her. “The only reason I know that is because I got close enough at one point to overhear Mellissa call her that while Tammy just kept calling the other one Mellissa.” Lexi added.

     “I use to think you did a good job looking like Alice, but what they have done is pretty amazing.” Sarah said looking impressed.

    Lexi was snapped out of her daydreaming when Tim opened the passenger door and slipped into the back seat just before Mellissa got in the front. “Morning Lexi!” Tim said with a smile as he got in.

     “Morning Tim, morning Mellissa.” Lexi smiled as she gave them both another quick look over.

     “Morning Lexi. Is everything alright?” Mellissa asked looking worried as she looked at herself and then Tim. Mellissa had seen the odd way Lexi had been looking at them both.

     “Yes, I’m fine Mellissa. I was just thinking over some work related stuff.” Lexi giggled.

     “Wouldn’t that mean you were thinking about stuff to do with me?” Mellissa asked with even more worry in her voice.

     “I can see your point Mellissa, but I do have other things to worry about apart from you.” Lexi smiled. “Or should I be worried about something?” Lexi asked with a raised eyebrow.

     “No, no, nothing going on here Lexi.” Mellissa giggled and relaxed again.

    Lexi drove them both to school and parked up like she had the past couple of days, but Peter and Kenneth were both stood waiting for Tim when they got out the car.

     “I hope you boy’s aren’t looking for trouble?” Lexi asked as she stepped between the two boys and Tim.

     “N... No ma’am. I just wanted to ask Tim if he could help me with some homework I’ve been having trouble with.” Kenneth said as he held up a folder. “Pete told me how Tim had helped him work something out, and I was hoping he could help me out too?” Kenneth added as he lowered the folder to cover his privates.

     “You don’t have to help him Tim if you don’t want to.” Mellissa said with anger in her voice. “Not after the way they’ve treated you all this time.” She added as she looked at Kenneth and then Peter.

     “I know you’ve got every right to tell me to take a walk, and I’d understand if you did Tim, but all I can say is sorry for being such a jerk to you all this time.” Kenneth said with some pleading in his voice for Tim to help him out.

     “I’ll help you out Ken, but you have to promise me that you won’t start picking on me again when Lexi stops protecting Mel?” Tim asked.

     “I don’t pick on friends, and I won’t let anyone else pick on them either.” Ken said with determination in his voice.

     “The same goes for me too Tim.” Pete said with the same determination in his voice.

     “Okay then, let’s go and sit over here.” Tim said as he led the way over to a group of tables that they had outside for the kids to sit on while having their lunch outside while the weather was nice. “We have some time before homeroom.” Tim added as he looked at his watch.

     “Thanks Tim, you’re a life saver.” Ken said with a sigh as he followed Tim and Mellissa over to the table and took a seat.

    Lexi followed behind while keeping an eye out for trouble, but also keeping an eye on Ken and Pete to make sure this wasn’t some trick they had planned out. Lexi dismissed that idea as being well beyond what they could think up, but Alex and Alice had once been outsmarted by Tiffany and Matt, so she wasn’t going to rule anything out at this point.

    Tim started to help Ken with his problem, but the subject Ken was having trouble with wasn’t one of Tim’s best subjects either, so they were all having a little trouble with it until Lexi stepped in to help them out. All four kids sat with their mouths open as Lexi explained the reason they were all having trouble with the subject, and then she showed them an easy way to solve it.

    Lexi stopped speaking when she realised that all four of them were sat looking at her. “What?” Lexi asked with a puzzled look.

     “What do you mean what?” Mellissa answered for the group. “You look amazing, you can fight like Jackie Chan, and now you show us that you have a mega brain to go with it.” Melissa added. “Next you’ll be telling us that you can cook too.” Mellissa giggled.

    Lexi went to say something but stopped herself, not wanting to show off too much.

     “You can cook too can’t you?” Mellissa asked with a frown.

    Lexi just gave a weak smile as she nodded her head up and down. “I’m a girl of many talents.” She shrugged.

    Before any of the others could say anything, Lexi heard Lana’s voice in her ear. “Watch out Lexi, a couple of boys are planning something just behind you, using a football.”

    Lexi turned just in time to see one of the boys Lana had been speaking about throw a football right at her. Lexi caught the ball so fast that no one could believe it, and the boy that threw it thought it had hit Lexi right in the face. He soon stopped cheering himself when he realised that no one else was cheering with him.

     “Sorry babe! My hand slipped.” The boy said trying to look tough in front of his friends.

     “I’m glad you don’t play on the football team with a throw that bad.” Lexi giggled.

     “I do play on the team!” The boy said looking hurt at her comment as everyone started laughing at him.

     “Oh, sorry about that then.” Lexi said, but not looking sorry at all. “Would you like your ball back now then?” Lexi asked as she went to throw it back to him.

     “Sure, but don’t break a nail.” He laughed, trying to save face with his friends.

    Lexi smiled an evil smile as she threw the ball wide of the boy, bouncing it off a pole and sending it back towards him from another angle. The boy turned to see where the ball had gone just as he went to say something sexist to her. This all stopped though when he was hit in the face by the ball and knocked to the ground from the impact. Lexi ran over to help the boy up while all his friends and most the school looked on laughing at him as he staggered over to a bench and sat down.

     “I’m so sorry about that. I really do throw like a girl don’t I?” Lexi said looking all flustered, but not really feeling sorry or flustered. Lexi leaned in so only the boy could hear her. “Don’t call me babe” Lexi growled in his ear before moving her head away and looking all flustered again.

    The boy just looked at Lexi in shock as it dawned on him that she had known just what she was doing, and could have thrown the ball right at him if she’d wanted to. The look in Lexi’s eyes was daring him to say something out loud; He just went back to worrying about his bloody nose and whether or not she’d broken it.

    Lexi almost skipped back to the table where Mellissa, Tim, Ken and Pete were still sat looking at the boy sat at another table nursing his bloody nose. “Do you all understand the subject now?” Lexi asked like they had never been interrupted in the first place.

    All four of them nodded as they kept looking over at the boy now being helped up so he could be taken to see the nurse. “Why do I get the feeling that you meant for that throw to do that Lexi?” Mellissa asked.

     “Do you realise how smart you would have to be to calculate a shot like that Mellissa?” Tim said as he looked at Mellissa.

     “Yes I do Tim.” Mellissa said as she tapped the folders they had out on the table still.

    Tim had to slap his hand over his mouth to stop a very girly sounding giggle getting out as he realised what Mellissa was getting at. He just looked at Lexi as he pointed at the boy being taken into the school by a friend. Lexi just let a grin spread across her face as she winked at him. This just made Tim want to giggle even more.

    Ken and Pete looked a little puzzled at the way Tim sounded when he giggled, but didn’t say anything about it. They did look impressed with the throw Lexi had used to shut up the other boy. They already knew what Lexi was capable of after she sorted them out the day before.

    It was soon time to start the school day, so Lexi let them get to class while she kept an eye out for any sign of trouble. Lexi had a pretty good idea that no one would try anything at the school. Too much press coverage involved.

    Lexi had a little iPad that she could watch Mellissa and Tim on while letting them get on with their school work, so she could keep a safe distance. She met up with them at lunchtime and once again Tim shared his lunch with her.

     “So how did the two of you become friends then?” Lexi asked thinking it was a harmless question. The worried look Mellissa and Tim gave each other said it was anything but a harmless question.

     “It’s a little complicated to explain Lexi.” Tim said in a whisper. “I don’t think you’d understand any of it if I told you.” He added with worry in his voice.

     “I think you should let him know that you know about Tammy, and you’re okay with it Lexi.” Lana’s voice said in her ear.

     “Are you sure that’s wise Lana?” Lexi asked. “I thought we said...” Was all Lexi got out before Lana spoke again.

     “I know what we said, but he’s hurting for some reason, and you can help him find out that he’s not the only one to go through any of this.” Lana said. “Just don’t give him any details about your past that he could track down on the net.” Lana warned.

     “What’s Lana telling you to do Lexi?” Mellissa asked. Tim was just sat looking down at the grown to afraid to look Lexi in the eyes.

     “Does the two of you being friends have anything to do with Tammy?” Lexi asked, blanking the question Mellissa just asked as it would all become clear in a minute what Lana was talking to her about.

    Tim’s head shot up and him and Mellissa had matching looks on their faces as they waited for Lexi to start laughing at Tim, but they soon looked puzzled when Lexi just sat waiting for an answer. “Well does it?” Lexi finally asked when she saw that Tim and Mellissa had been struck dumb all of a sudden.

     “How do you know about Tammy?” Tim asked in a shaky voice close to tears.

     “I asked you a question first?” Lexi said with a girly whine. Even under these circumstances Mellissa and Tim had to giggle at the way Lexi said it.

     “Yes Mellissa and I became friends because of Tammy.” Tim finally said with a sigh like it had been a deep breath he’d been holding in forever.

    Lexi smiled at the fact Tim had answered her question, so she now answered his. “I followed you last night when you went to the mall window shopping.”

     “You did?” Mellissa asked. “We never saw you.” She added with a puzzled look.

     “I wouldn’t be very good at my job if you did now would I?” Lexi asked with a grin. “I thought you both looked very different last night. Is that your normal look when you go out together as Tammy and Mellissa?” Lexi asked.

     “Yes it is. Tammy was dressed like that when we first met.” Mellissa said as she looked at Tim and smiled. “Tammy saved my life and we’ve been best friends ever since.” Mellissa added with a tear in her eye.

     “Sounds like quite a story.” Lexi said as she looked at her watch. “We have some time so spill the beans.” Lexi added with a grin.

     “You don’t mind about what I do Lexi?” Tim asked.

     “Nope, why should I?” Lexi asked. “I have some experience in this sort of thing, so I may be able to help you deal with it Tim.” Lexi added as she reached over and took hold of Tim’s hand in a friendly way as she smiled at him.

     “You have a friend that likes to dress like a girl?” Tim asked looking excited to find out more details about it.

     “Yes I do, and he is now a she.” Lexi said.

     “That’s what I want when I’m eighteen. Please tell me all about it and how you friend likes being a complete woman now?” Tim asked all excited still.

     “Hey! Not fair Tim, I asked you first.” Lexi pouted. “You tell me how you and Mellissa became friends and I’ll tell you about my friend.” Lexi added as she held out her hand to shake on it with Tim.

     “Deal!” Tim said as he quickly shook Lexi’s hand. “Are you still close friends Lexi?” Tim asked.

     “Yes we’re still very close friends Tim.” Lexi said with a smile. “Okay then let’s hear how the two of you became thick as thief’s?” Lexi asked as she got a little more comfortable on the grass under the tree where they were sat.

     “I think I better start Lexi.” Mellissa said with a sad look.

     “Are you sure you want to tell her Mel?” Tim asked looking worried for his friend. Mellissa just nodded as she took hold of Tim’s other hand for moral support.

     “I’d just come back to school after my mother’s death and I was having trouble dealing with everything. My step dad seemed angry that I was still alive, and my so called friends here at school couldn’t care less about anything past the next party or trend.” Mellissa said with a sigh. “I was just getting more and more depressed with life, so I started looking at all the different ways I could end it all and join mummy.” She added as she started crying now and Tim pulled her into a hug.

     “I was out window shopping at the mall when I saw Mellissa arguing with a couple of the girls she hung out with at school.” Tim carried on telling the story. “They said some pretty nasty things to Mellissa and I saw how hard it had hit her and I was worried about Mel, so I followed her to make sure she wasn’t going to do anything silly.” Tim added as he stroked Mellissa’s hair while she sobbed in his arms.

     “I followed her onto a bridge where she looked down onto the freeway. I watched as she started to climb up on to it and I just ran over and pulled her down off it and hugged her.” Tim said as he tightened his grip on Mellissa.

     “So you saved Mellissa’s life even though you were risking being outed as a cross dresser?” Lexi looked amazed as she asked it.

     “Mellissa asked me the same thing when she found out who I was, and I’ll tell you the same thing.” Tim said with a smile. “I can live with being labelled a freak, but I couldn’t live with being able to stop her killing herself and not having done it.” He added with a smile.

    Mellissa had stopped crying and was now giggling a little as she thought back to their first meeting on the bridge. “I had no idea who it was at first, I still didn’t remember him after he said we had a couple of classes together, but he still risked everything to stop me killing myself that night.” Mellissa said with a smile as she looked at Tim. “All I saw was a cute little gothic looking girl wearing a red t-shirt with a silver gothic looking cross printed on the front and she was also wearing a cute little tartan skirt with fishnets on her legs and pink work boots on her feet. Her makeup looked a little scary, but the eyes said that she was worried about me and she knew my name.” Mellissa added with a distant look in her eyes, like she was remembering that first meeting again.

     “So how did you get from that first meeting to being at the mall together last night?” Lexi asked.

     “Tammy took me back to her house where we sat and talked for hours. I found out that Tim had come close to killing himself, but his mum found out about it and she helped him come to terms with what he was and his need to dress like a girl.” Mellissa said.

     “So your mum knows all about Tammy then?” Lexi asked.

     “Yes mummy found a letter I’d been writing, explaining the reason for me having to leave her. She said that as long as I was happy, then she could cope with anyway I wanted to look or dress.” Tim said. “Mummy and I have lots of fun going out dressed as mother and daughter.” Tim added with a grin.

     “What about the gothic look, do you like dressing that way?” Lexi asked.

     “Yes I do, so does Mellissa.” Tim giggled. “Everyone thinks were a couple of trouble makers so they keep away from us while we’re out and about.” Tim added with even more giggles.

     “Has anyone worked out who you are while you’ve been out dressed?” Lexi asked.

     “Nope. We even bumped into my old friends from school and they never realised who I was, or who Tammy really was.” Mellissa giggled. “We even made them run away screaming we were going to beat them up when I went Boo!” Mellissa added with more giggling from the two of them as they remembered the memory.

     “I don’t remember seeing anything in your file Tim about you seeing a doctor about your gender issues.” Lexi said when the two of them stopped giggling.

     “I’ve not seen one yet Lexi, but my mum has me taking some blockers to stop me going through any form of male puberty.” Tim said looking a little worried again now. “I think you should sit down and talk with my mum about all this Lexi. I’m not sure if I’ll get mum in trouble for talking to you about all this.” Tim added.

     “I can understand that Tim, and I’ll have a word with her and see if I can offer any advice that may help you and your mother out.” Lexi smiled.

     “So you don’t think I’m weird or a freak?” Tim asked looking worried still.

     “Yes I think you’re weird, but you’re a teenager, they’re all weird to me.” Lexi giggled.

     “Hey! You still look like a teenager yourself Lexi, so you haven’t got room to speak.” Tim giggled as he playfully slapped her on the arm.

     “Complements will get you everywhere.” Lexi said with a grin.

     “How old are you anyway Lexi?” Mellissa asked.

     “A lady never tells her age.” Lexi said in a posh voice as she stuck her nose up in the air. “But as I’m not a lady, I’ll tell you.” Lexi added with a giggle.

     “Well tell us then Lexi?” Mellissa asked as she playfully pushed Lexi.

     “I’m twenty three.” Lexi said. “I know I look much older than that, but I’ve had a tough life.” Lexi added with a sad look.

     “Older!? You don’t even look twenty Lexi!” Mellissa said looking shocked to hear that Lexi was twenty three. “I was thinking you were maybe eighteen at the most.” Mellissa added.

     “I was always small growing up, so it makes me look younger than I really am. That’s how I know how hard it is for you Tim.” Lexi said with a sad smile towards him.

    Tim looked at Lexi for a couple of minutes like he was trying to work something out, then he got a look of shock on his face as he started pointing at Lexi with a shaky finger like he’d just worked something out. “It’s you isn’t it. You’re her?” Tim asked.

     “Just who do you think I am Tim?” Lexi asked with a puzzled look, not having any idea what Tim was getting at.

     “Lexi is short for Alexis, which could be a female use for the name Alex, and that was the name of the boy you told us about the other day.” Tim said before needing to take a deep breath to put some air back in his lungs. “That means you’re the girl that used to be like me.” He added with some pleading in his voice to be right about all this.

     “That’s one smart kid.” Lana said in Lexi’s ear. “To work all that out from the little bits of information you gave him. It’s up to you how much you tell them Lexi.” Lana added.

    Lexi knew that even if Tim or Mellissa did a search on the internet, they wouldn’t find any info about Alex or Alice, thanks to Bill and Ted removing all of it years ago. Lexi still decided to keep it simple though. “Yes I use to be a boy called Alex, but you can’t ever tell anyone about it.” Lexi warned them both.

     “Who would ever believe us Lexi?” Mellissa asked still in shock at what Tim had just worked out.

     “Thanks Mellissa, it’s nice to know I look that good.” Lexi said with a grin.

    Tim was just sat there grinning at Lexi like she had just turned into the perfect Christmas present. “So I could really be a woman one day, just like you Lexi?” Tim asked.

     “Yes you could be a very pretty woman one day Tim.” Lexi said with a smile. She left out the bit about her being super strong and fast healing thanks to a secret mixture of drugs that had been given to her, and a year’s worth of surgery to make her an exact copy of her sister.

     “I thought you said that Alex died in prison?” Tim asked as he had a sudden thought back to what Lexi had said when telling them her story the other day.

     “I just said that to make it sound a little cooler, and he did die when I became Alexis.” She shrugged like it was no big deal.

    Lexi thought they must have brought it because they let it drop as Tim started asking Lexi question after question to do with the surgery. Lexi told him what she could, not sugar coating all the pain she was in when it was first done.

    Tim just sat there grinning as he thought about growing up to be a woman just like Mellissa would. Mellissa teased him about going out on dates with boys, but it didn’t seem to bother him, other than making him blush as he thought about having sex as a female. Lexi never had to worry about them feelings at Tim’s age, she was happy to be going out and having a good time with Alice.

    Lunchtime came to an end and Lexi walked Tim and Mellissa to their next class before she went for a wander around the school to make sure nothing looked out of place. Lana, Bill and Ted hadn’t seen anything, but it was better to look around and make sure herself.

    The afternoon classes passed without any trouble and Lexi took them home to Tim’s house. Tim’s mum was going to be working late so She said that she’d drop them off at school in the morning and then come back to have a chat with Maggie, Tim’s mum in the morning. Tim had promised to keep her secret from his mum until she’d had a chance to talk with her.

    Lexi left after making them promise not to go out shopping at the mall again tonight. They both agreed and said that Mum had asked them to sort out dinner to save her some time when she got home later. Lexi headed for home looking forward to spending some extra time cuddled up to Sarah on the sofa.