Transcend

Non-binary

It has been 2 months since Karlees mom gave her that book. Ever since then, Mavis has been experimenting with pronouns and now goes by She/They. At Jesse's 10th birthday in the 10 year old minds of Mavis and Karlee the kissed as friends, but for the past 2 months with no discussion of feelings, they have fallen for each other.
Texting:
Mavis- hey um I need to tell you smting
Karlee- yea wht is it
Mavis- you know how last year we learned abt sexuality and that stuff
Karlee- yea.... Why
Mavis- ive been thinking... um.... I think at Jesse's party i wanted more than to kiss as friends but I didn't know it was a thing...
Karlee- i.... Um
Mavis- its ok you don't have to like me back i just... wanted you to know i guess
Karlee- mavis..... i like you too
Mavis- REALLY? You do?
Karlee- yes but dont make it awkward
Mavis- sooooooo..... are we dating now or....
Karlee- yes stupid. Ill date you

In mid September school started again. Karlees mom had taken her to the Tri-cities to live with her new wife. Karlee started middle school there. 6th grade was gonna be weird, new school; new people. Scariest of all no Mavis. The first day of school was the slowest day ever, or so it felt to Karlee. By the end of October she made a few friends. Not many but what matters isn't the number but the quality.
"Hey guys," Karlee calls out on the walk home from school.
"Yea whats up," Leah says.
"I think I might be non-binary. I don't know for sure but being a girl just kinda feels wrong I guess."
"Hey its ok. I noticed every time someone called you a girl you kinda tensed up," Estella replied.
"Wait, slow down. Whats non-binary," Kate asked.
"Non-binary means you don't identify as a girl nor a boy if that makes since," Karlee replied.
"Ohhhhhh ok. Yea that makes since."
"Well anyway thanks for trusting us with that, we're at your house now though so, GOODBYE BESTIE," Violet yelled.
"Ok goodbye guys see you tomorrow," Karlee replied with a laugh. She walked inside and immediately texted Mavis after getting a snack. They talk about the non-binary thing for awhile and it went over better than Karlee expected even though Mavis uses she/they pronouns.
"Hey Kar, I'm home," her older sister called from the living room.
"Hey," Karlee said sliding down the hallway on their socks. "I need to talk to you about something."
"Ummmm ok. Are you ok?"
"Yea I'm fine. Its just um, I've been thinking about being non-binary."
"So you don't wanna be a girl is what you're telling me?"
"I- um. Yes?"
"Well I guess now I know why you've tensed up every-time anyone calls you she/her. But are you thinking of a name change on top of that? Its just that every non-binary person I've talked to has a gender-neutral name not based of gender. You don't have to obviously it's just a question."
"No I wanna change it. Any ideas?"
"Not currently. Come to my room in 10 minutes and we'll figure it out."
"Ok." Karlee then headed back to their room.
"Mmmmm what about Sky or Skyler," bailey asked.
"No. To girly in my opinion," they replied. The siblings are scrolling through gender-neutral name websites. "I was thinking Lee. I don't know just a thought. Its a nickname of mine anyway."
"Mmmm I don't know. We'll keep looking. What about Ash or Asher?"
"Ash. Hmm, I like it."
"Like it enough to have as a name?" Bailey asked.
"Yea I think so," Ash replied.
"Ash it is then."
"How do I tell mom though?"
"I can tell her for you," Bailey replied.
"Would you? I'd love that. Thank you."