I didn't really know what to expect, when Reily called me Saturday afternoon and told me to be at some high school gym a little less than an hour away from Lakewood. When I got there, with Neil, Taki, Edmund, the Zachs, and Hans and Frans (because they insisted upon coming with me. I really just think that they wanted to drive their convertibles in the nice weather), all my friends from Boringsville were there. Xoi greeted me as I stepped out of Neil's car.

"Dude, Reily went crazy." She whispered. "She brought everyone down here for my birthday. And why did you bring all your friends? If it was just us, you wouldn't have to worry about being in disguise."

I hadn't really thought of that. In fact, I was still dressed like a guy, flat like a guy, and with my hair styled like a guys. With a comb and a skirt, I could pass as a girl, but today, with dirt under my short fingernails and those too-big shoes, I definitely looked guy-ish.

"This is going to be really weird." I whispered back as my friends came forward to meet me and my other friends.



"It's just so cool that you are Nathi's cousin." Stefani said, after my lie had been bought and my secret kept so.

"Yeah, but I thought Nathi was coming." Reily said sadly.

"She had a lot of homework." I lied.

Now, if such a thing as love at first sight exists, Yadi had fallen victim to it. Maybe it was just the way he moved, spoke, or offered her cake, but she had fallen for Neil like a like a rock in a high gravity environment. Stefani too seemed to have a particular fondness for my roommate, and Hans (or Frans, I couldn't tell) had literally swept Reily off her feet. And Edmund's hot accent melted layers of my friends' hearts into puddles. I was rather surprised that they weren't dripping.

After a while, Takashi, Taki's older brother, showed up, put on coconut boobs, and joined the party. It was hilarious.

"So that's the heir of a major Japanese company..." Edmund noted, standing by my side. "Interesting."

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, listening to music, playing with the Silly String, and eating. Then, when most of us went outside to set off fireworks, the cheap kind, according to the twins, Caroline arrived.

I was eating cake, relaxing on the gym stage, swinging my feet to the rhythm of "Crazier" by Taylor Swift. It was very peaceful, until...

"Ethan? It's me, Caroline."

I jumped off the stage lithely. "What's up?" I asked, wondering if she was even invited in the first place. She was Xoi's roommate, but why didn't she arrive with her?

"I....er....I wanted to..." She stumbled for words before she thrust a handkerchief into my hands. "Here." She said.

I looked at the cloth, remembering that I had given it to her when she was crying at the dance last week.

"It's yours." She reminded me as I hesitated to take it. I really belonged to Adam.

"Thanks." I accepted it and put it into my pocket.

From then on, she wouldn't leave me alone. Now I know how guys feel when they're followed constantly by a girl who likes them, only it was a lot more awkward fro me, because of the gender confusion. I tried everything to escape her, even hiding in the boys' bathroom, but she persisted in her relentless pursuit. It was my third "bathroom break" when I was wandering the school when I found the lights on in one of the rooms.

I was about to turn away when someone shouted, "Hey, you."

I turned around to see the boy from the music shop. "What is it?" I asked.

"You know," the boy held out his hand, for me to shake. "I'm really sorry for thinking that you were a girl."

I concealed my smile. "No biggie." I shook his hand, which was firm and calloused. "I get it all the time."

So, we got to talking. Mostly about music, but a little about each of us. His name was Patrick and he played the trumpet. His job at the music store was a part time thing, for when he needed a little extra spending money. By the time we separated at the gym doors, we were friends.

Both Adam and Caroline were waiting for me. I still don't know how Adam knew I was there, but he did, and, when Caroline almost drowned me in unrequited affection, Adam whisked me away in that Ferrari of his.

"Thanks." I told him as we pulled away.

Adam pretended that he couldn't hear me, but I saw a little smile grow across his lips. Maybe he wasn't as bad as I thought he was.