Chapter two

Beth

I woke up and my throat hurt. I look around and notice Shawn is sleeping on the edge of my bed. I try to feel my neck, but my fingers graze something and I start freaking out. 

Shawn shoots up from her sleep and caresses my face. "Calm down, you're safe. It's a neck brace to protect your throat. Try not to speak," she says in a soothing tone and I relax against the pillows.

She helps me drink water and I say in a croaking voice, "Thank you."

The doctor walks in with my mother and she runs to me when she sees I'm awake. "Oh sweetheart, you've been here over a week. Shawn has been collecting your homework and stays the night. Its Saturday," she chokes quietly with relief. 

I look at Shawn and she blushes, looking away from me. "You never miss a day of school. You missed almost two weeks and I wanted to make sure you stayed on top of your lessons. It helps that we're in all the same classes," she says quietly. 

"Thank you," I croak quietly and she looks up at me.

"You're welcome," she says with a light smile.

Monday...

I was able to return to school, but I couldn't speak much or participate in cheering for a few more weeks. Shawn drove me and Mandy to school and carried my books. Trey and his friends cower away from her and thankfully haven't bothered anyone since she knocked him out.

One of Trey's friends walks up to me with a smirk on his face and she steps in front of me. "Back off Darren," she growls in a protective tone. 

She was wearing a tank top and I watch as her muscles flexed as she balled her hands in tight fists. For a teenage girl, she had a body build like some of the football players. She also stood six feet tall to my five feet five inches. 

I hug my arms around her waist and lay my cheek against her back. I feel as she lets out a calming breath and I take her hand. Without a word we walk away to our first class, English. I turn in all my missed assignments and the teacher looks at me surprised. "You wrote two essays in two days," she asks with raised eyebrows. 

"Yes ma'am, I helped her a little, but she wrote both papers herself," Shawn says softly and Miss Jenkins nods with approval. 

"Its a free period if you need to work on your other class assignments," she says with understanding. 

"Shawn helped me finish all my missed assignments over the weekend," I say in a raspy whisper.

"Glad to have you back in class," she says with a smile and I nod lightly. 

Lunch...

Shawn got herself lunch and grabbed extra jello and applesauce for me. She sat with me and the rest of the cheerleaders and to my surprise they welcomed her. Some of the jocks walk up to our table, sideeyeing her and she just looks at them with a blanck face. 

One of them starts feeling up Melissa and she tries to shrug him off. Shawn gets up, grabbing his arm and sharply twisting it behind his back. "She said no," she bellows and grabs the attention of the entire cafeteria. 

She shoves him and he scurries away holding onto his arm. Annie walks up, caressing her face and gets her to calm down instantly. She sits back next to me and I kiss her cheek. "Thank you," Melissa chokes quietly. 

"No means no," she says quietly handing her a tissue.

"You have strong arms," Tina says seductively biting her bottom lip. 

"I workout and take defense classes," she says casually. 

"Did you get rough with Beth that she ended in the hospital," Blair asks with a snicker. 

Images of my father choking me in the hallway cloud my mind. I feel hands on my face and start to freak out, hitting the person holding my face. "...me. Beth you need to breathe," Shawn says in a soothing tone as I slap at her chest.

I meet her eyes, falling limp against her as my breaths shutter as I calm under her touch. Tears rapidly roll down my cheeks as I break into uncontrolled sobs and she takes me in her arms. "He's in jail, for a long time okay," she says in a soothing whisper and I hold onto her tightly.

"I'm sorry for setting her off, I honestly meant it as a joke," Blair chokes quietly. 

"Take me home," I choke in a whisper. 

"Okay," she says softly kissing the top of my head. 

She walks me out to her car and drives me home. It was a quiet ride home and my mother was surprised to see me home so soon. "She had a panic attack after one of her friends joked about her being in the hospital because of me," Shawn chokes quietly. "She wanted to come home."

My mother nods, thanking her and she was getting ready to leave. "Shawn," I choke quietly and she looks at me. "Stay, please."

She takes me in her arms and I shutter a calming breath. "I should let my parents know I'm here," she says quietly. 

"No need," a woman who looks like Shawn says as she walks out of our kitchen with another man. "This is Beth?"

"Yes mom, my girlfriend," Shawn says quietly, keeping me wrapped in her arms.

"Thank you," she says with a smile, taking me from Shawn's arms and into a hug. I hear her sniffle as she continues, "I can't begin to explain how happy I am to see her happy since she started high school."

"You're welcome," I choke quietly. 

"If she mistreats you in any way, let me know," her father says in a serious tone. 

"No worries there Mr. Andersen, Shawn is the perfect gentlewoman," I say with a smile.

Shawn clears her throat and asks, "I know it's a school night, but can I take her to dinner? I just want to distract her from everything."

Her parents shrug and look at my mother. "Home by ten," she says with a smile.

Abbigail 

I got a call from Beth that she wanted to come get me to meet someone. I was waiting for her on the swing on the front porch. I could hear an unfamiliar car pull in the driveway. Moments later I smell as Beth and someone else walks up on the porch.

I immediately hug Beth and choke quietly, "I'm glad you're okay. I heard about Uncle Joe, thank God your friend showed up when they did."

"She's blind Shawn, she'll want to feel you to get an idea what you look like," Beth says softly as she steps back.

"Okay," Shawn says quietly and I reach to my left. I feel an out reached hand and Shawn says, "I'm right here, but I'm tall."

"You have such a seductive voice," I say with a smile. "My girlfriend might get jealous if she heard me say that."

"Are we still going on the double date with your cousin," Melanie asks as she kisses my cheek from behind. 

"Yes, I'm in the middle of meeting her friend Shawn," I say quietly as I feel their arms. "Strong arms, no wonder it only took one hit to knock him out. Beth, your boyfriend is a football player?"

"Girlfriend and no, I bench press one fifty and take defense classes," she says shyly. "I'm intersex."

"You don't have to be shy with me, I won't judge. My girlfriend is also intersex," I say with a smile. I reach her face and she had strong facial features. "Seems attractive, nice catch Beth."

"Hey," Melanie says in mock jealousy. 

"You know I only ever had eyes for you, even if it was only for a night," I say with a smile and give her a kiss. 

Melanie 

We were eating at Gigi's diner when my phone suddenly started ringing. I know it wasn't my parents, they were away on tour. I answer it and my heart stops. "Is this Melanie Smith," an older woman asks in sympathy. 

"Are you calling about Max or Jenny," I ask in a choked whisper. 

"Both, I'm so sorry for your losses," the woman says in sympathy. 

"They told me last week they were coming home for Thanksgiving," I choke in broken sobs. 

"Their chopper was shot down, no one made it," she says in sympathy and I hang up the phone. 

Shawn moves from her side of the table and takes me in her arms. Beth had taken Abbigail to the bathroom. I held onto her as she rubs my back comfortly. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask," she says in a soothing tone. "I can ask my parents about you staying in the guest house."

"Oh my God, what happened," Abbigail asks in a choked whisper as she hugs at my back.

"Someone called about a Max and Jenny," Shawn says in sympathy. "I was just offering my guest house for her to live in."

"They're her parents, they were over in Afghanistan. They were all the family she had left," Abbigail chokes in sympathy. "Thank you Shawn, I'm sure Melanie is grateful for your help."

Shawn

I was late dropping Beth home. I just dropped off Abbigail at her house and explained to her mother what happened today. I had Melanie in the passenger seat, zoned out the passenger window. We had packed some of her clothes and her parents things she wanted and loaded it in the trunk of my car.

Beth was passed out in my arms as I rang the doorbell. Her mother opens the door and was about to scold me but saw Beth was asleep. She lets me in and I bring Beth to her room, removing her shoes. I go back down and her mother was on the phone. "Yeah, she just brought her upstairs asleep," she says softly and looks up at me with an understanding in her eyes. "I'll let it slide this time, thanks for calling Charlotte. 

"I'm sorry about your friend's parents," she says in sympathy. 

"I'm sorry for dropping Beth home late. My parents are probably wondering where I am. I haven't called them yet," I choke quietly. "I hope they let Melanie take the guest house, she has no one."

"Go, I'll call them and explain everything," she says softly and I nod. 

"Thank you," I say quietly and she nods lightly. 

I get back in my car and Melanie was looking at a picture of her parents on her phone. "I'm going to finish this year of college and then I'm joining the military to honor my parents," she chokes in a distant whisper. "I'll tell Abby when I'm ready."

"I'll join with you, we'll have each other's back," I say softly and she looks at me. "I was thinking of joining to gain respect for myself."

"Are you going to tell Beth and your family," she asks quietly. 

"We'll sit them down together," I say softly and she nods as I pull in my driveway. "My parents are pretty welcoming. My mom is a hugger, dad loves firm handshakes. My twin, Annie is like my mom."

"Thank you, meeting someone else like me that wasn't my dad, is comforting," she chokes quietly. 

"Me too, but I'm the only intersex person in my family," I choke quietly. 

Together we get out of the car and walk in to my parents waiting in the foyer. As predicted, my mother immediately pulls Melanie in a tight embrace. "Sweetheart, I know we're just meeting, but you're welcome to stay in the guest house however long you need," mom chokes in sympathy and Melanie breaks into uncontrolled sobs. "We'll help you figure things out okay?"

"Did you bring anything with you," my father asks in sympathy. 

"In the trunk of my car," I say softly and he nods. "Its the reason I'm past curfew tonight."

"We understand Shawn, we're not upset," my father says with understanding. "We spoke with Beth and Abbigail's parents and we all came to an agreement that the three of you can miss classes a few days. I'll pick up all of your assignments. Shawn, you and Melanie can pick up the girls tomorrow."

"Melanie, are you okay with bunking with Shawn? We have to clean out the guest house," my mother says in a soothing whisper. 

"If she doesn't mind," Melanie chokes in broken sobs.

"I don't," I say softly and she looks at me. "Come on, I have something you might like and take your mind off your parents."

I place my arms around her shoulders and lead her to my room. I show her my new racing game on ps4 and tears fill her eyes. "My dad played this game with me," she chokes quietly and looks up at me. "Will you race with me?"

"I wouldn't want to take your dad's place," I say in sympathy. 

"Please," she asks in a choked whisper.

I nod lightly and pull out my gaming beanbags. "Annie usually plays games with me and picked out the beanbags," I say softly and she nods lightly. "You choose the track and difficulty."