I thought I might be sick. I put on my suit, crying quietly. I was about to leave when I shook my head. I changed into the dress and smiled, washing my face. And then another wave of doubt washed over me and I shook my head. I changed into the suit, my heart dropping.

I went back forth between the two for over a half an hour until Jamia called me impatiently. I decided to just go for it and change into my dress. I wore my dirty old converse with it and frowned softly at my hairy legs. I tried fixing my hair before I sighed.

I snuck passed my dad and went downstairs. I drove to Jamia's house, my stomach twisting with nerves. I parked in the driveway and grabbed the bouquet of flowers. I was grinning as I went up to the door. She opened it, dressed in a beautiful dark blue gown.

"You look amazing," I said.

"What the fuck," she said.

I handed her the flowers but she hit them out of my hand to the ground.

"J-Jamia?" I asked nervously.

"What the hell are you wearing?" She asked.

I looked down at my dark colored dress before looking up at her.

"I-it's pretty," I whispered.

"Go Home and change into your suit," she ordered.

"N-no," I denied weakly.

"Frank, you can't wear that fucking dress," she said. "You're gonna humiliate me."

"I like this," I said.

"Get into your suit and stop acting like a fucking tranny," she said.

My eyes watered as I shook my head.

"I can't believe this," she muttered. "You know, everyone told me I shouldn't date you because you just some wimpy gay boy."

"I'm not gay," I denied.

"But yet you're here on my front step crying in a dress!" She shouted. "Fuck you, Frank!"

She slammed the door and I sniffled. I went to the car and took a few deep breaths, calming myself down. I considered going home but I decided I wouldn't let this ruin my night because I looked fucking good and already spent over a hundred dollars. I wasn't going to waste tonight, I was going to make it better.

The prom was already going by the time I got there. I gave the lady my ticket and smiled as I walked in. Despite what just happened I was still feeling pretty good. I was just so happy to be here in this dress because I knew I looked pretty damn fine. It was like I could cut a bitch and still look hella good doing it.

People stopped and I looked around. They all quieted down and stared at me. It was a torturous silence that twisted my stomach and made me sick. The laughing erupted and I felt my heart pound, tears pricking my eyes. I thought I might throw up as they pointed at me. Two big guys from the football team pushed me out the door while the teachers turned a blind eye.

"Fags aren't welcome here," one of them said.

I tried pushing passed them but they shoved me, chasing after me as I ran away. I sobbed loudly, my lungs hurting. I just kept running and running until my legs ached and I couldn't go anymore. I collapsed to the ground and I swear I blacked out for a moment.

"You okay, Sweetheart?" Someone asked.

"Do they look okay?" Another person asked.

"Stop being all pissy," the first person said.

I opened my eyes and looked up at the three people standing over me. I was shocked to see two of them dressed completely in drag.

"Come here, honey, you look like you need some water," one of them said.

He—she?—helped me up to my feet and I whimpered quietly, my legs feeling like jello as they threatened to give out. He helped me into the building I was by and we went up to an apartment. He handed me some water and sat me on the couch.

"Just wait while I go get changed," he said.

The man left and all of the sudden fear and realization washed over me. I had been too dizzy and tired to realize it but now I knew I was sitting in some stranger's apartment. I set the cup on the coffee table and whimpered as I looked around. There were pictures on the walls and magazines on the island. I was about to leave when I heard footsteps behind me.

"I'm Gerard," the man said.

I turned around to face him. He was wearing some sweatpants and a Misfits t-shirt. He was pale and had black, shoulder length hair. When he stepped close I could see his hazel eyes that seemed to sparkle when he smiled.

"I-I think I should go," I mumbled.

"You sure?" He asked. "You look like you could use a shower."

I bit my lip, looking down. I gasped when I saw the dirt on my dress, my eyes watering.

"Oh, honey, it's okay," he said. "We'll get that cleaned up."

He took me to his bathroom and sat me on the vanity chair. He was on his knees in front of me, carefully dabbing at the dirt with a soft rag.

"This is a very pretty dress," he said.

"Th-thank you," I said quietly.

"Were you somewhere special tonight?" He asked.

"Senior prom," I mumbled. "I kinda got kicked out."

"Oh, I'm sorry," he said. "But let me tell you, I think you look fabulous."

I smiled, looking down at him as he cleaned up my dress.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"Frank," I said.

"Ah, nice name," he said. "Don't meet too many Franks nowadays. What are your pronouns?"

"My what?" I asked.

"Pronouns," He repeated. "Like he or she or they?"

"Well, I've got a dick so obviously I'm a He," I said.

"Not necessarily," Gerard said.

I frowned in confusion but he didn't elaborate on it. He finished cleaning my dress and stood up.he pulled me over to stand in front of the full length mirror.

"I think we should finish off your look," he said. "How about a bit of makeup?"

"I-I don't know," I mumbled.

"I won't do it as heavy as I do my makeup, I promise," he said.

I nodded and he smiled. He turned me around to the arsenal of makeup. He sang quietly as he did my makeup.

"You have such beautiful eyes," he said.

I blushed softly as he continued to do my makeup. I've been called a lot of things in my life but never sexy, it made my heart swell. He finished up and gave me a pair of heels. I stood in front of the full length mirror and gasped. My makeup was nice with A Smokey eye and perfectly winged eyeliner with red lipstick to top it all off. The foundation and light contour made me seem more feminine as well as the heels. In a way I almost looked sexy.

"Beautiful," I whispered.

For the first time in my life I wasn't appalled by my reflection.

"What would you think if you had more curves?" Gerard asked behind me and I tried to imagine it. "Imagine some curvy hips and some breasts, perhaps. Maybe change your hair, grow it out a little longer if you'd like. Maybe you would even change your name. Maybe change it to something like Julia or Rebecca?"

"Frankie," I whispered. "My mom used to always call me Frankie but my dad hated it because it's too girly."

"Frankie, have you ever questioned your gender before?" He asked and I only shrugged. "Do you think you would want to be female, Frankie?"

I didn't really know what to think right now as I stared at myself in the mirror. It was all just so overwhelming, my mind was just swimming.

"Because if you did then I think you would be a beautiful woman," he said.

My heart swelled as I looked at him in the mirror with a small smile. I tried to imagine myself with a more feminine body and I liked it.

"Do you have any family or friends, Frankie?" He asked.

"I-I have my dad and some friends," I said. "A-and maybe a girlfriend? I don't know, she might've broken up with me tonight because I wore a dress to our prom instead of a suit like I was supposed to. B-but I just Love the way that this dress makes me feel. I-I feel like I'm really myself."

"You don't need that negativity anyways," he said. "Maybe your dad and friends can help you discover yourself."

"I can't tell them, they would hurt me," I said. "I-I'm already just a big fag."

"You are not a big fag," he denied. "You can be anything you want but not a fag. You can be Frank or Frankie and either way you're perfect."

I sniffled, smiling softly.

"Why don't you grab a shower while I cook something for dinner?" He asked.

I nodded my head and he showed me the other bathroom down the hall where I took off my makeup and slipped out of the dress. I didn't spend long in the shower and I stepped out. I went into the connecting bedroom and saw two different piles of clothes on the bed.

Wear whatever you're comfortable with, you'll be great with everything.

One pile had just a pair of plaid pajama pants and a hoodie. The other had pastel pink sleeping shorts and a soft, white, cotton t-shirt. I went between the two of a while before putting on the pink shorts and shirt.

I walked out to where Gerard was cooking and looked at him a little bit nervously. He was really nice and all but he was also just a stranger. I didn't know him, what if he's actually a murderer?

"You're done," he said when he heard me. "Well, perfect timing because I just finished dinner."

He handed me a plate and we sat at the counter together. We were both quiet as we ate and I frowned softly.

"Gerard, a-am I transgender?" I asked.

"That's not for me to decide, Sweetheart," he said.

"How will I know?" I asked.

"I can help you," Gerard said. "You wanna stay the night?"

"I-I don't know," I mumbled. "I don't know you."

"My name's Gerard Arthur Way and I'm twenty-two," he said. "I'm getting my college degree in a month, I'm working as a graphic designer and I do drag."

I blushed softly and looked down.

"Not such a stranger now, am I?" He asked and I shrugged. "I know it must be nerve wracking for you but I promise that this is a safe place, I won't hurt you and you're free to express your gender however you want."

"Okay," I mumbled. "I'll stay the night."

Gerard and I ended up staying up most of the night, talking and laughing as we got to know each other.