An Unexpected Fate

A Night to Remember

With the girls all dressed, they made their way to a local Pizza Hut for dinner. Although Ellie had spent the last two days living as a girl in school and at home, she couldn't deny the nerves she felt as she was about to walk into a room full of strangers. Freya seemed to sense this anxiety, once again taking Ellie's hand. They spent most of the walk trying to figure out how they could get Maple a date with her crush, Robert Ambers, a pretty fit boy who played on the school football team. They stopped talking though, as they entered the doors of the restaurant. It wasn't a big dining area and it was decently quiet, but it smelled amazing. The combinations of different pizza toppings was quite mouthwatering. Freya had a quick chat with the host, who showed them to their seats and took their drink orders.

Whilst they all looked over the menus, they continued their conversation from outside.

"What if, after the next game, you just run up and give him a big kiss." Annabeth giggled.

Maple giggled. "You can just see it now. Me, a girl whom he doesn't even know exists, making out passionately with him as his teammates look on in jealousy."

"It'd be a memorable finish." Freya shrugged with a giggle.

"Oh, there'll be a finish, alright." Maple said.

"Gross, come on." Gwen laughed. "TMI, Maple, TMI..."

The girls all laughed. Annabeth turned to look at Ellie. "So, what about you?"

"Wh... What about me?" Ellie asked, confused.

"Who do you like?" Annabeth said with a mischievous grin.

Ellie glanced at Freya, almost instinctively, but then quickly looked away. "Uh, I don't know. I haven't really thought about it much."

"What about Patrick? You talk to him a lot and he's kinda cute." Annabeth said.

"I don't... I'm not really into boys." She said, somewhat sheepishly.

"Oh. OH!" Annabeth said, suddenly realising what Ellie meant. "Oh god, I'm so sorry."

Ellie laughed. "It's fine. You're not the first person to think I was into guys." She said, looking at Freya.

"Actually, I said I thought you were gay. Which, clearly, I was right about." Freya laughed. "My gaydar is on point."

"Gaydar?" Ellie asked.

"You've never heard the term gayday before?" Freya asked. Ellie shook her head. "It's a joke that LGBT people have about being able to sense other LGBT people. A radar for gay people. A gaydar."

"Huh. I'm still new to this, I guess my gaydar is still being installed or whatever." Ellie laughed.

Freya grinned. "As an elder gay, it's my job to guide the newer gays to learn how to use their new found powers, be it for evil or good." She said, putting on a fake old-timey English accent, almost like she was trying to act in a very over-the-top play.

The girls all laughed. A few moments later, the waiter returned with their drinks and took their pizza orders. Gwen and Maple both got chicken and cheese, Annabeth got a vegan supreme, and Ellie and Freya split a Margarita because neither of them could finish a full one. When the waiter left, Freya lifted her glass.

"To Ellie, the new girl." She said.

"To Ellie!" The other three chanted.

"To me!" Ellie laughed. They spent the rest of their time in the restaurant laughing and joking, planning where they would go tomorrow. The conversation drifted on all different topics, talking about new movies and TV shows, debating which flavour of ice cream was the best (Ellie would die on the hill that Irn Bru ice-cream was by far the best), and eventually back to boys (although Annabeth did keep trying to suggest other girls that Ellie might like). Eventually, they finished their dinner, paid their bill, and all of them, stuffed to the brim with food, waddled back to Freya's house.

***

They all piled into Freya's room, collapsing on whatever surface they could. Maple managed to snag the chair, so Gwen and Annabeth were forced to lie on the ground. Ellie and Freya, on the other hand, sprawled out on the bed.

"I think if I move again, I might throw up." Ellie said, holding a hand on her stomach.

"I think if you move, I might throw up, given how stuff I am." Gwen said as she tried to prop herself up.

The bed rocked slightly under Ellie as Freya shifted herself to be sitting against the headboard. She looked up at her, then back to the ceiling as she tried to pull herself up. It took a great deal of effort, but she managed to sit herself up. She slowly and carefully moved up the bed until she was sat next to Freya.

"I think that was the most low energy thing I've ever seen." She said, laughing.

"It was that or throw up over your duvet. I can easily puke if you'd rather." Ellie said with a grin, trying to catch her breath.

"Ehhh, best not." Freya chuckled.

They debated for a little while about what to do. Gwen suggested a Mario Kart tournament, but was swiftly reminded that she wasn't allowed to play Mario Kart anymore after she nearly snapped a controller in half last time. After some talking and a little more debating, they eventually settled on a movie. After a series of intricate rock, paper, scissor matches, Annabeth won and got to pick the movie. After looking through various streaming services, she eventually settled on a comedy film. Ellie and Freya moved closer together to allow Gwen and Annabeth onto the bed, whilst Maple brought her chair over. They didn't actually see much of the movie, though, as they spent most of the time laughing and joking, whilst Maple pointed out every little mistake or inaccurate detail. Once that had finished, they put on a second movie and, since it was getting late, they actually watched this one as they started to settle down.

Halfway through the movie, Ellie, who had been completely zoned in on it, looked around her to discover that everyone had fallen asleep apart from Freya, who was resting her head on Ellie's shoulder. She felt Ellie moving around and looked up.

"You okay?" She whispered.

"Yeah, I didn't realise everyone had fell asleep." Ellie whispered, looking down at her.

"Yeah, it usually ends up with just me being awake." Freya laughed.

"Can I ask you something?" Ellie said. She had been wondering it since the day they started hanging out, but hadn't found the right time to ask.

"Sure." Freya said.

"Ever since the other day, you've been really nice to me. Like above and beyond nice. But before then, we never spoke. Why?"

Freya was quiet for a moment. Maybe Ellie had overstepped and hurt her feelings. The silence felt like it lasted forever. "When I saw you sitting alone, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You've always seemed nice, but we floated in different circles, so I guess we just never really connected. When you were a boy, you were one of the only boys that didn't make me feel uncomfortable. I guess checking in on you was my way of saying thanks for not being a dick." She laughed a little. "But, if you had told me that our conversation in the lunch hall when you accidentally wore your sisters blazer to school would result in all of this? I never would've believed you."

Ellie laughed. "I don't think I would've believed you either. I think this is the last group of people I'd have pictured myself hanging out with."

"How have you found being a girl so far, if you don't mind me asking?" Freya said.

Ellie shrugged. "I'm a lot happier than I was when I was a boy. I mean, it's not perfect, but it's nice to feel like I belong. Plus girls clothes are so much cuter and so much more comfortable than boys stuff."

Freya laughed. "I'm sorry if we're putting any more pressure on you, by the way. We just want you to have fun and be yourself."

"I appreciate that, more than I can put into words. It's actually made this whole thing a lot easier." Ellie said.

"Good, I'm glad we could help. We should get some sleep, we're up early tomorrow to go shopping." Freya said. "Good night."

"Good night." Ellie said. Freya adjusted herself on Ellie's shoulder as Ellie rested her head on top of Freya's. She was just getting comfortable when Annabeth also decided to lean against her, pinning her between Annabeth and Freya. Ellie just laughed to herself as she closed her eyes, trying her best to get some sleep.