Short story #2: Old…”friends?”
(Clef’s phone vibrates)
Ana: Hey, you all right? You seem a little preoccupied.
Clef: Someone’s been texting me. I don’t have this person in my contacts, but they claim they knew me when we were kids.
Ana: Before you transitioned…
Clef: Yeah, those guys are harder to talk to, mainly because it takes them a while for the change to sink in. Look at these texts.
Ana (reading): Hey…(she mumbles the name) this is…Sandy? Wh-Who is she? And wh-who’s…(she starts to say the name, but mumbles it instead) S-Sorry, if it was a name no longer used, I didn’t really want to—
Clef: No, no, that’s all right. That’s my former name. She doesn’t know I’m Clef. Hell, she doesn’t even know I’m autistic either. She just thought I was really strange. Didn’t really ask about it, but she tried to have me “be like others because it’s trending.” She was that weird friend who’s one way in front of adults, and completely different in front of kids. Though I have a feeling she’s going to be strange around the fact that I’m autistic and am still managing to live my life without people pitying me.
Ana: What you’re saying is, she’s gonna think you’re masking?
Clef: I dunno. Probably??
(His phone vibrates again. He reads the text.)
Clef: Aaaargh! She’s gonna be here and…(he groans) I have to get dressed. She’ll get weirded out opening the door to see a fully nude elf hybrid. The fact I’m covered in towels doesn’t help either.
Ana: If you’re so concerned about appearing fully nude…Wait! Is she human? They seem kinda squeamish about that kind of thing.
Clef: Y-Yeah she is. (He throws on a hoodie and pulls on a pair of briefs and sweatpants.) *His face drops* Gods. She was pretty hard to handle as a kid, but she’s probably like, 20 now. Aaaaafh. This is going to be hard to do.
Attendant: Hey, you two. Is there anything I can help with?
Clef: Tori, you’re human, right? Can you at least lighten the mood when…some weird friend I knew as a kid gets here? It’s going to be pretty awkward.
Tori: Will do. Do you need anything else?
Clef: Chamomile tea, please. In a mug with the pouch as well.
Tori: All right, then.
Clef (fiddling with a cube): Okay…Just chill. If she doesn’t recognize you, but can still somehow recognize your face, introduce yourself. If she still doesn’t see it, show pictures and give the full story. *softly* Gods, Testosterone can’t be that drastic…Can it?
Ana (gently): Clef, you’re working yourself up. Just go slow, okay?
Clef: All right. *Breathes deeply* Be chill.
(Tori neatens up the room, but takes special care to not knock Clef’s stuffed dragon.)
Someone knocks on the door.
Old friend: Oh my gods, it’s been years! Hey, where’s _______? A princess told me she’d be here, but they said something about someone named Clef? Who’s Clef? Where’s _________? (Looks at Ana) Do you know?
Clef (nervously pulls out a photo): Uh…Look at this.
Old friend (squeals): I remember that photo! That kid always liked short hair. Wonder why. And your face looks familiar. Kind of like that photo. I can’t place it. *Gasps* Are you ________?? Oh my gods! You changed so much. But…I thought…
Clef (fiddling): Yeah, that was old me. This is me now. I am Clef.
Old friend: But you look like a boy. And you’re acting completely different from the last time we talked. Didn’t the cool lessons pay off?
Clef *slightly annoyed*: Acting completely different? This is how I have always been. It’s not acting. Look, I’m autistic, and frankly very nervous. You randomly texted today and I really do not know who the fuck you are.
Old friend: Woah, there, don’t get mad. And isn’t that the scarf you always wore? I thought you traded that.
Clef: It was special! (realizes) You were the kid who tore it in front of me! Weren’t you?
Old friend: I thought I could fix the weird.
Clef (putting it on): Okay. (His voice softens, but is still angry) That is why we stopped hanging out. You were too painful an influence. This is how life is for me. You cannot change that.
Old friend: You’re not how I remember.
Clef: You’re right. I’m not. I’m someone I can finally love, better than what you tried to mold me into. I didn’t know how to make friends then. But now I do.
Old friend: I can be better! I-I didn’t know.
Clef *laughs dryly*: That’s no excuse. I don’t need you. I never did. I have friends, family, and a mom who loves me, and an awesome girlfriend.
(Ana smiles)
Tori: Sorry to bother you two, but here’s you tea, Clef. Not too hot, not lukewarm, just right.
Clef (gently) Thank you, Tori. *sips softly* It’s lovely. Lightens the mood.
Tori: Glad to be of help. By the way, you can come down for breakfast if you wish.
Clef: Sure. Ana and I will be down in a bit. I just need to have a little chat with…an uninvited guest.
Sandy: I-I can do better! I was a kid then! I changed!
Clef: It’s clear to me you haven’t. Tearing my scarf, stealing Rory, and breaking my cube is no excuse to come crawling back for forgiveness. You did it so many times, but I will not take it. I’m not having a liar as a friend. You cannot fix what wasn’t broken. Face it, It was an asshole move then, and it’s still an asshole move now.
Sandy: But—
Clef: Leave. Now.
Sandy: I—Never mind. (She storms off)
There is a long period of silence.
Tori: Hey, do you two want to go down and have some breakfast? There’s warm eggs, sausages, and fresh cream and pastries waiting!
Clef: Sure, thanks very much. Those sound delicious.
Ana: We’re coming!
(Outside)
Tori: You handled yourself very well with that guest. She seemed kind of intrusive. Asking for someone you used to be, not acknowledging the person in front of her.
Clef: Thank you, Tori, and yes, she did seem kind of intrusive, even as a kid, but she doesn’t concern me at all. I have Moon. I have Ana. (He gently leans down to kiss her on the forehead as she smiles) What more could I want in life?
(He inhales deeply) Besides, the simple pleasures of nature are good enough for me.
(Note: the blank spots where Clef’s name is supposed to be when Sandy talks to him is her calling him by his given name, rather than the one he goes by in the present, showing that while they knew each other as kids, she doesn’t really know who he is now, and she is forever a stranger to him due to the fact that she doesn’t really know Clef at all, and also doesn’t know he transitioned, and doesn’t quite “get him” as a person at all, which shows that their childhood friendship wasn’t really genuine. She wanted to be friends with him, but it was very one-sided. At least he has real friends now.)