A soft hand strokes my salty cheek, and I look up to see my mother, smiling down at me with her perfect hair blossoming around her in a cloud. I wipe my tears with a small chubby hand that I can hardly recognize as my own, and wrap my short stubby arms around her long lanky legs happily. Her bright sundress flitted in the night wind, billowing around me as I step away. Red pierces her chest, blooming across her, her eyes going dark. Before I can realize what's happening, two large arms pick me up, swallowing me in darkness.

I wake up in a thick heavy sweat, trying to sit up quickly, only to realize Bailey’s heavy arm lying across my chest. I grumble and groan, struggling against him as I try to get up, before promptly wiggling underneath it, and sliding out of the bed from under the covers.

Pantingly, I unbraid my thick hair, letting the curls drop around my in a frizzy cloud of dark purple streaked with lighter natural streaks. I sigh, catching myself in the mirror by Bailey’s bed. My small frame was draped in an oversized grey sweatshirt, my thin dark arms coming out of the sleeves looking weak and puny. I groan as I look at my small legs as well, trying to count back to the last day I went to the gym. My eyes flit back to the reflection, and I can’t help but wonder why they were so weird as I stare into their depths. They were dark grey, flecked with gold, as if a rainy cloud were raining drop of sunshine. It was a weird mixture, I know.

Cautiously, I walk to the bathroom across the hall, trying not to wake up Bailey or his mothers, who were sleeping in the room next to his. Before I open the white peeling door that lead to the bathroom, my eyes fall on the small etchings on the baseboard on the side of the door. Before I realized what I’m doing, my fingers trace the etchings, like I have done a thousand times before.

They were small lines, with a B or A next to them, representing our names. I squat to find the first one, which was so many years ago. When his mothers adopted him, and he was no longer living with his grandmother, he brought me over. We were in third grade, back before he was the way he was outside as he is on the inside.

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“Alice, guess what?” Bailey shouts happily, running over to me with his emerald green hair cut short, unlike the long locks he used to be forced to have. I hadn’t seen him in a week, and was worried his grandmother had finally found out his secret. That he wasn’t actually a girl, not on the inside at least. But luckily, that was not the case.

“I-I, they took me away from my granny. It was scary, but then these two amazing women took me in! Muma Euralie and Mummy Tera. I don’t have to say their names though, and they hug me and love me. And they let me cut my hair, and they bought me boy clothes and-” He stops shortly, to collect his breath, as he jumps up and down, practically bouncing of the walls in excitement.

“And I told them how you helped me, and they said we can have sleepovers! With popcorn and games and movies!” I happily laugh, glad that Bailey was finally, you know, him.

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“You two were so tiny and precious back then. Sometimes I see you guys just talking and I wonder, why you had to grow up so quickly? You know, you look a lot like your mother.” A familiar voice awakens me from my flashback, bringing me back to reality. I whip around quickly, standing up straight as I recover from my squat. Standing there in a simple dark blue silk nightgown stood Euralie, one of Bailey’s mothers. Her dark purple hair was neatly tucked into a bun, as if she didn’t just wake up, and despite her attire, an air of beauty and grace laced around her.

Hiding my original shock, I simply nod, and lean to hug her, her short large frame under my arms as she hugs me gack. I pull away, and look down to her, smiling simply. They took care of me when my parents died. I owed so much to them.

“Thank you so much for doing all you have done for me. It means so much.” I say quietly, looking down at her deep mahogany eyes filled with love. She smiles happily, her eyes watering slightly. For some reason, I don’t think it was about this moment now. I stay quiet, sensing she was either diving in the past, or clawing towards the future. I wait for her to speak, knowing from experience not to ruin such a personal moment.

“Well. I should let you get to it. Let Mistress and I know if you need anything, okay? We’re right in the other room.” She says, clearing her throat as I nod. Mistress was how she referred to her wife, Tera. I just chose never to look into it though, it seems too personal to be any of my business.

I quietly step into the restroom, pondering the strange interaction I had with Euralie. Trying to be as silent as possible, I start the shower, and step in after peeling off Bailey’s sweaty clothes. The hot water sears the night off of my skin, and I hum happily for the warmth.

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Now came the hard part. Getting out of the bathroom and stealing a fresh pair of Bailey’s boxers, whilst remaining unseen, and unheard. I wrap a soft towel around my hair, hoping it dries quickly, and wipe off my skin, wrapping another light blue fluffed towel around me. I tuck it carefully, using a clip to hold it in place while I search in the drawers. Before I leave, I look into the mirror one last time, wiping the fog clear. Before I can get a good look, the fog returns, and I step out of the bathroom, trying my best not to make the floorboards creak.

Bailey’s door opens silently, causing me to internally scream thanks to the gods above. I quietly step in, only to have the door shut behind me, and the light flicker on.

“I wake up to the shower on, with Muma downstairs crying over a cup of tea, and you missing. It took a second too long to realize you and her talked, and you left to take a shower. And then, I’m guessing, now you're going to steal yet another pair of my underwear.” He says, drawing in a deep breath before continuing, not letting me explain myself.

“And let me make this straight for you, Alice Moore, you still have my game theory underwear at your apartment, and I want them back.” He finishes by crossing his arms, looking down at me with a serious face. That causes me to burst out in laughter.

“Oh my gosh. Do your laundry dude, I gave them back to you a WEEK ago! It's not my fault you never actually wash your clothes!” I grumble, slowly stepping towards his dresser, readjusting my towel to keep it from slipping. He rolls his eyes, then plops on the bed, his arms still crossed.

“Uncross your arms, Bailey Hunter. You’re being extra.” I say, rolling my arms and pulling a shirt out of the dresser. I pull the shirt on over the towel, and unclip the towel, letting the shirt cover me as the soft fabric once clinging to me free falls.

“You know, you really shouldn’t be undressing in a boy’s room like that. So unladylike.” Bailey teases, tutting me as I roll my eyes.

“And you shouldn’t be staring at said ‘lady’ while she is trying to dress.” I say sarcastically, before throwing a stuffed animal sitting on his dresser at him.

“Now, turn around.” I order, and he reluctantly agrees, moving around on the bed until he faces the pillows and wall parallel to me. I sigh and slip on some random dinosaur boxers I find at the bottom of the drawer, before flopping onto the bed in exhaustion. I snuggle under the covers, completely blocking out Bailey, and fall back asleep. Too tired to fight.

“Muma!” I scream, reaching out into the dark expanse stretching before me. The heavy weight on my chest was soon lifted, and I could once again see. There, before me, was a giant wolf. His eyes shone gold, his fur ruffling in the wind. For some reason, he was friendly… familiar to me. I reach out to pet him, as if he was an old friend. He howls, and runs off. Leaving me alone in the darkness once again.