Six Months Later

"Are you ready Nannah?", Chiara asked me with her italian accent.

"Ready. Let's do this", I answered when we entered the Restaurant. I took off my coat to reveal a sparkling dark green dress that reached my knees and had medium thick straps. It was tight, but not slutty- tight. More like hugging- my- every- curve tight.

And I sure had a lot of them. I used to be quite self- conscious, but being in NYC and being a dancer made me forget most of my struggles with my body completely.

"Hey. There you are, we were worried you weren't coming after all.", Jackson said, as he hugged me from behind. Yes, Jackson was my boyfriend of two months now. And I had a doubledate today, with my roommate, Chiara (used to be a Carl; but always felt more like a Chiara; her parents are radical catholics, so you might be able to imagine how their reaction to their trans- child was; had her surgery 2 years ago; Junior in College) and some dude called Felix, that she met in a club. I almost wanted to bet he was a drug dealer. But Chiara was so nice, so I kept quiet.

Jackson led me to the table. "So, where is your date?", he asked once we all sat down with a cocky undertone and I kicked him under the table. He never liked Chiara, I don't know if it was a personal issue or just the fact that she was trans, but it bothered me that he was so mean.

"I think he's just a little late. Didn't you say he was from New Jersey. Maybe he got lost. Or he's still getting you a buquet of red roses. ", I wiggled my eyebrows and she laughed, ignoring Jackson completely.

Chiara is the exact opposite of me: she can be cocky and mean if she wants to, but mostly she's just hilariously honest to everyone she meets. That night she was wearing a short jearsey skirt in navy blue to underline her dark skin, she wore a black bandeaux- bra, with golden chains sewn to it, which fell over her stomach in waves. Her hair was all around her face in an afro and she braided golden rings in there somehow. She combined the look with high killer- boots. Overall, she looked just extraordinary.

"Chiara", a deep voice sounded and we all looked up at the dark stranger. He was tall, and very, very muscular- close to Schwarzenegger- not at all my type. I always ask myself what these muscles might be compensating for. His skin was like ivory and his hair so black, it almost shone in a blue tone.

He wore a completely black outfit and held a buquet of red roses in his hands: "I thought I would bring you flowers, but then I got lost", he said and revealed a perfect line of shining- white teeth.

I looked at Chiara who was smiling from ear to ear- then my eyes wandered to Jackson, who had a doubting, but somehow pissed look on his face.

After we all sat down, introduced each other and ordered our food we started chatting:

"So, you guys are at the AADA? that's pretty cool.", Felix said and Jackson snorted: "I'm not on this school. That's for fags", I kicked him again, but he ignored me. "I think it's really cool."; Felix said and gave a warm smile. Yup, I liked him.

"We are actually planning a flashmob in Central Park right now. ", Chiara started, then looked at me, "With the world's best choreographer."

And I looked down in embarassment: „I'm not that good."

„Did she tell you that she passed every single class with 100% in her first semester. No one ever managed to do that at this school", Chiara took a bite fron her Pasta and frowned. It was hard to impress an italian girl with pasta, especially in America. But she just wouldn't give up hope.

"Because I don't get distracted."; I answered, even more embarassed.
"That doesn't help you whatsoever when you're not having fun...
Or at least fun friends", Jackson grumbled and Chiara's face turned red with anger.

Yep, this evening will feel like ages...

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Frank Sinatra