~* Practice Makes Perfect *~ “So I heard you’ve never played before.” She offered in a friendly tone. I couldn’t decide if she had finally decided to drop the high school drama act or not, so I decided to take the high road. I carefully rolled my towel, letting it hang about my neck as I looked at her. “Yeah, I’ve never really been into sports before, but Chelsea talked me into trying out.” “That explains why you shoot like my grandmother at least.” She laughed as she stood. I sighed, turning my attention to nursing my water bottle, but Maria, who had witnessed the whole thing from directly behind us, scowled. “Hey, what the hell is your problem, chica?” She rattled something rather foul-sounding in Spanish. Brittany whirled around to glare at her, biting back. “What business is it of yours? And you’re in America now; learn to speak American!”

---

“Ah, so good of you to ‘join’ me for dinner!” The raven-winged villain cackled, as Aria Blade writhed helplessly entangled in inky tentacle-like shadows. The villainess crossed the short distance between them, smiling grimly. “Such a pretty face. I do hate to waste it.”

“Get away from me you monster!” Aria shrieked, sending out a shockwave that should by all rights have sent Raven Wing flying backwards. She calmly adjusted her form-fitting purple corset, even as the shield of mystical, dark energy faded, a cruel smirk on her lips.

“Did you really think I would go to all this trouble to lure you here without taking the necessary precautions? Now, do I unmask that pretty little face now, or make you wait?”

“Robin, there you are!” Allison snapped my attention away from my book. I quickly spirited it away as I turned from my locker to wave. I offered her a wry smile. The hall was otherwise empty save the janitor pushing a dust mop down the long, tiled hall.

“Sorry. I just forgot my uhm… algebra book.”

“But we had a test today,” she responded in a puzzled tone. She gave me that ‘I know you’re lying to me.’ glance. I sighed as I turned to lean against the lockers. Thursday had finally come, and with it the preliminary practice for basketball hopefuls, but I thought we still had some time before we needed to be at the gym. Allison stepped closer, wrapping me in a hug. I caught a faint whiff of her perfume, aged by the day’s goings-on, but still sweet enough to make me smile. It definitely suited her. “Robin? What is it?”

I gave her a wry smile as I hesitated, but finally relented. “It’s just kind of embarrassing.” I shifted my gaze from her, peering around and making absolutely certain no one else was standing within earshot.

“There’s this comic book I’ve been really getting into lately. It just seems like such a ‘guy’ thing, you know?” Allison blinked a couple of times. I could tell she wanted to giggle. I rolled my eyes and waved a dismissive hand at her. “Go ahead and laugh.”

She grinned, giggling a little, “Sorry. It’s just… I wasn’t expecting that.”

“Just promise you won’t tell Nikki?” I pleaded.

“But-”

“Please?”

She frowned, nodding. “Okay okay, I promise.” She looked like she wanted to say more, but the relieved expression I gave her left her silent. This time it was me that hugged her, stepping back again as Maria’s voice echoed from further down the hall.

“Hey you two, I was wondering where you guys were hiding.” She looked dressed and ready for our first practice already. I glanced at the faux-silver chain watch dangling from Allison’s wrist.

“Oh, crap! We’ve got like ten minutes to change!” I yelped. Maria giggled.

“Yeah, no kidding chica! Come on, Coach Wilson’s waiting!” She added a moment later, as we scurried toward the gym, “But you didn’t answer my question! Really, you guys made me feel so welcome my first day, I just want to return the favor you know?”

“Really, I’m okay.” I offered her a cheerful smile. I really did feel better, but I DID still kind of feel comics were a real ‘guy’ thing. I had only been learning to be a girl for a few months now, and I still had so much further to go. “Thanks though. Hey, how do the team hopefuls look this year?”

“De nada; and the competition’s … Well let’s just say Allison and Chelsea are a shoe-in, and you’re definitely up pretty high too. Me, well, not so much. I mean I thought I’d get right in, but some of these girls are good!”

“Hey!” Allison responded, “Don’t sell yourself short either. That was a heck of a three-pointer you shot the other night. Even Chelsea was impressed.” Maria laughed as we entered the gym from the school’s open-air courtyard.

“Sure, but she’s part of my host family; she’s supposed to be biased.” She teased. They both turned their attention to me as we reached the Coaches’ office. Already the sounds of multiple basketballs hitting court echoed loudly through the area.

“I’ll see you in a minute,” I spoke, waving as I parted ways to step into the office. Coach Wilson was nowhere in sight, so I presumed she was already on the court. Elaine sat typing away at the computer. I quietly slipped up behind her and spoke. “Hey Elaine.“

She squealed with surprise, throwing her hands up and inadvertently mistyping something into her spreadsheet in the process. I stifled a giggle as she looked up at me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Her furious blush belied her warm smile as she shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I was just so lost in what I was doing… Oh, you’re here to change aren’t you? I’ll just get out of your way…”

“No, you’re fine. I can change in the bathroom.” I offered. I’d already interrupted her work, and didn’t want to make it any worse.

“Really? I mean, I know the rumors…” She trailed off, a moment later looking positively guilty. “I’m sorry, that just slipped!” She blushed even more profusely.

“Hang on a second, what rumors?” I asked, a little concerned. She slowly turned her computer chair toward me as she looked up.

“… Some kids have been saying that you’re not allowed to change for P.E. or basketball because you’re… Well… into girls?” Her gaze plummeted, settling on my black patent boots. I knelt down, placing my hand on hers, which caused her to slowly look up. When our eyes met, I gave her a friendly smile.

“Listen… Things at camp got a little weird. I don’t know what you’ve heard about me specifically, or from whom, but if there’s something you want to talk to me or my friends about, you don’t have to feel uncomfortable. As far as why I change separately, that’s between me and the school board, but I will say that it has nothing to do with the fact that yes, I’m dating a girl. Nikki and I are best friends first, though.”

“So… You didn’t have to leave camp because of that?” She asked, slightly less hesitantly. I shook my head. I HAD to have been grinning at this point largely because of the fond memories of that day flooding back. I cried for what felt like hours, so relieved knowing Momma was awake.

“No, I had to leave camp because my mom finally woke up. She was in a coma for like, a month, after she fell asleep at the wheel. I’m sorry, I had no idea you were never told all this.”

“It’s okay. I guess I’m partly to blame for never asking. I’m-” she began, but a knock at the door interrupted us.

“Robin, hurry up!” Chelsea called from the door. Elaine nodded her agreement.

“You’d better hurry and get changed. We can talk again later.” She added with a smile, returning to her work. For my part I gave her a friendly pat on her shoulder and hurried into the bathroom.

Tryouts wouldn’t be until the end of the month, but we could already tell who our core team would be. I don’t mean to boast, but the extra practice we put in really did help a lot, and like Chelsea had mentioned the other day, they lost a few of their star players over the summer for various reasons.

At the end of our practice there were only fifteen of us left still interested. As we sat on the bleachers, toweling off and rehydrating, Brittany (the catty blonde whom I’d met on day one) stood up and walked over to sit beside me.

“So I heard you’ve never played before.” She offered in a friendly tone. I couldn’t decide if she had finally decided to drop the high school drama act or not, so I decided to take the high road. I carefully rolled my towel, letting it hang about my neck as I looked at her.

“Yeah, I’ve never really been into sports before, but Chelsea talked me into trying out.”

“That explains why you shoot like my grandmother at least.” She laughed as she stood. I sighed, turning my attention to nursing my water bottle, but Maria, who had witnessed the whole thing from directly behind us, scowled.

“Hey, what the hell is your problem, chica?” She rattled something rather foul-sounding in Spanish. Brittany whirled around to glare at her, biting back.

“What business is it of yours? And you’re in America now; learn to speak American!”

“… It’s ENGLISH, Brittany,” I responded icily. I’d had enough of her attitude on and off the court. “And leave her alone; she speaks better English than a lot of people I’ve met.”

“Oh, so the Valley Girl’s got some claws after all.” She sneered. Everyone else stayed silent. They apparently saw what, or I should say who, was coming.

“What’s the problem ladies?” Coach Wilson’s authoritative clip followed shortly. I could see the fear in Brittany’s piercing blue eyes. Against my better judgment, I quickly turned, shooting the approaching adult a disarming smile.

“No problem Coach. We were just debating who the starters would be. WEREN’T we, Brit?” I forced a smile, glancing back at the blonde. She quietly nodded.

“Yeah. Listen, I’m gonna go hit the showers. Nice practice.” She turned to walk away. Coach Wilson glanced at me briefly, and I smiled.

“Really, there’s no problem.”

“… Alright, if you say so.” She responded, turning her attention to her clipboard. “Right, everyone hit the showers. Next practice is this Tuesday. Someone tell Brittany so she doesn’t miss it. Dismissed.”

Maria stepped down off the bleachers, placing a hand on my shoulder for me to wait, while the others walked away. She frowned, staring at me for a moment before breaking her silence. “Listen… It’s not that I don’t appreciate you standing up for me like that, but why did you let her get away with being a pend-I mean a jerk? You could have told Coach Wilson the truth and not one of us would think any less of you.”

“Honestly? She’s not worth the angst. I have enough problems without looking for trouble. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m not afraid of her, and I’m not afraid to stand up to her-”

She laughed. “Obviously.”

“-But I’m not going to let her get to me either. C’mon, I need a shower, and you do too.” I teased, causing her to chuckle. As we walked off the court, she smiled, glancing my direction.

“Nikki’s lucky to have someone like you. My last boyfriend didn’t work out so well. Do you think there are guys like you out there?” She hesitated, blushing, “I mean, not.. guys who are girls, but guys with good hearts, who aren’t jerks.” She recovered quickly.

I gave her a smile, trying to ignore the comment. There were times when I felt lost, trapped between being a boy and being a girl, but they seemed fewer and farther between than ever these days. “Absolutely. Have you met Jen’s boyfriend yet? He’s a really great guy. There are jerks in every school, and that’s true for both guys and girls, but there are some decent people out there too. Just hang in there and don’t compromise just because he’s cute!” I teased. She giggled, waving as we parted ways, and I stepped into Coach Wilson’s office.

She smiled, giving me a silent nod as I passed and stepped into the bathroom area to get my shower. By the time I had changed and stepped out again, the office seemed empty. I sat down to slip my feet into my boots, when I heard Brittany’s voice.

“About time. I thought you were going to be in there forever. Why do you shower in there anyway?” She held up her hand before I could respond. “Never mind; look, I just wanted to say thanks for not saying anything to Coach Wilson. This doesn’t mean I like you, or that I feel like I suddenly owe you anything or whatever. … But I’m glad I can still try out, so thanks, I guess.”

She practically scurried out, as though associating with me would damage her social status further. Allison passed her in the doorway, glancing over her shoulder after the girl as she stepped inside.

“What did SHE want?” She scowled. I chuckled a bit.

“To apologize.” I responded curtly. Of course, I’d tell her the rest momentarily, but I wanted to see the look on her face first. I didn’t have long to wait, as Allison’s jaw dropped and she stared silently at me for several seconds.

I couldn’t hold it in anymore though and started laughing. “Okay, so it was a token ‘Thanks for not getting my ass in a sling’ type apology, and I fully expect her to continue giving me crap, but I’ve already decided I’m taking the high road. If she wants to dig her own grave that’s her problem.”

She nodded at that, and stepped closer to give me a hug as I stood. “If you say so. C’mon, we need to talk.”

“Uh oh,” I responded nervously. She just grinned, grabbing my arm and walking with me out of the gym. We bumped into Chelsea and Maria on our way to the parking lot.

“So, Robin, the girls and I have been talking…” Chelsea began.

Maria promptly butted in, giggling, “Yeah. After the way you stood up to Brittany, she got to enjoy a shower all by herself. Nobody else wanted anything to do with her. It was kinda sad really.”

I frowned a little as I glanced at Chelsea. “So that’s why she apologized?”

“She apologized? Well, that’s a surprise. Anyway, I just wanted you to know you have the girls’ basketball team and our boyfriends’ votes this year.”

“Er… Votes?”

“Yeah, with homecoming soon we talked about votes on our freshman and sophomore maids respectively, and we decided we wanted you to represent us as a ‘team’. The Freshmen lose out on voting for their class Maid, but it was their idea. And I’ll talk to the cheerleaders too, but no promises there.”

I stared, dumbfounded, as I stopped in my tracks. “B-b-but,” I stammered. Chelsea shook her head.

“No buts! It’s already been decided.” She insisted. “My mom’s here to pick up Maria and me. I’ll see you tomorrow okay?”

She and Maria both waved as they hurried off, leaving me stunned silent with Allison close-by, apparently having been trying to get my attention for several seconds, as the next thing I remembered, she had a small square of my arm flesh pinched between her fingers.

“Ow!” I yelped, spinning to face her.

“Sorry. I was trying to tell you your mom’s here to pick us up.” She nodded toward an unfamiliar vehicle, a sapphire blue late model Chevy Cavalier with a very familiar driver, grabbing my hand.

“But, wait, what just happened?” I sputtered as I found myself both literally and metaphorically pulled along. I had just unwittingly been nominated by thirteen out of fourteen girls, and their boyfriends, for a competition I wanted no part of! How did I keep getting myself into these messes again?

“Cool car, Linda!” Allison squealed as she dove into the backseat, taking my backpack and gym bag with her. I managed to return to my senses enough to seat myself and attend to my seatbelt, but not much more.

Mom smiled cheerfully as she started it up again. “The insurance claim on my old car has been sitting in limbo since the accident, since I wasn’t in any shape to drive, but now that we know what caused me to black out I should be okay.” She glanced over at me as we pulled out of the parking lot. “Robin, sweetheart? What’s wrong?”

“I…” I started, blushing intensely. Allison giggled, finishing for me.

“Basically there’s this catty girl, Brittany, who’s been giving Robin a hard time since the first day. She’s the one responsible for those stupid ‘Valley Girl’ rumors, only it totally backfired on her today. She tried to pick a fight with Robin and Maria, our foreign exchange student stepped in…” Mom listened as Allison chattered away, occasionally throwing me a concerned glance.

“So now Robin has like, the entire girls’ basketball team and their boyfriends voting for her. Even the freshmen are going to waive their right to vote for their Maid to vote for Robin if the Principal will allow it. It’s SO cool!” She giggled.

Mom slooowly tilted her head to look at me. I just stared out the window. My cheeks felt so hot I thought I could probably fry an egg on them by now.

“Robin, I had no idea you were even interested!” She spoke proudly. I glanced back at her, trying to smile.

“I… I’m not. I feel like it should go to a r-” I cut myself off before I could say ‘real girl’, but it was too late. The damage had been done, and my thoughts that continually interrupted any joy I might or should have felt had finally been brought screaming into the light. Allison leaned forward, thwapping me rather hard across the shoulder.

“Ow!” I cried out, glaring back at her. She positively scowled.

“Robin Jane Smith, you need to stop doing this! You ARE a real girl, damit!”

Mom shot Allison a motherly ‘Language…’ glance through the rear-view mirror, then turned her gaze on me. “She’s right, sweetheart… You need to stop doubting and degrading yourself. The only, and I mean ONLY difference between you and Allison right now, is the shape of your physical genitalia.”

Moments before, I hadn’t thought I could blush any more ferociously, and then she went into Nurse Mode. Allison shifted uncomfortably in her seat too, at least, but it didn’t stop Mom from continuing down this tangent.

“You’ve heard Doctor Ketz say it countless times, sweetheart. Hormones are what define your body, and your brain is what defines your gender. You are a girl, and you have every right to wear that crown as any other girl. And from the sounds of this Brittany girl, quite a bit more right than some.”

I sat silently, mulling over what both she and Allison said. For several seconds, none of us broke the contemplative silence. Finally, I smiled, tilting my head toward her. “You’re right… You’re both right. I’m sorry, Mom, Ally.”

Allison leaned forward, squeezing my shoulder gently. “And I’m sorry I smacked you, but come on. You had it coming. I’ve known you were a girl from the second I met you!” She giggled, dredging up mental images of that first terrifying day I spent with her, letting her do my nails and hair. That was such a magical, wonderful day. The day I ‘became’ Robin.

“And looking back, I can see all the signs I should have seen so long ago. I’m sorry Robin,” Mom added, a few stray tears rolling down her cheeks as she squeezed my hand tightly. “If I hadn’t have been working so hard… If we had more time together, then I might have seen it sooner.”

“Momma, no, it’s not your fault. I mean, when dad left you didn’t have any choice. You wanted a better future for us both. I’m just glad you know now, that I don’t have to hide it anymore.”

“I am too, sweetheart,” she responded, smiling at me. She glanced up at the rear-view mirror, smiling warmly at Allison who, by now, was on the verge of tears herself.

“Sorry… That’s just really beautiful,” she finally spoke, her voice cracking. “I’m so, so glad I came over that first day… I love you guys.”

“We love you too,” I responded as we pulled into the driveway. I half-expected to see Sensei Rogers’ car waiting for us, but it was only Margie’s. Mom and Sensei had gone out for coffee yesterday afternoon, but she wouldn’t say anything about it other than ‘He’s a very charming gentleman whom I’d like to get to know better’. I grabbed Allison in a big bear hug as she slid from the backseat. She giggled a little and hugged me back.

“Hey, Linda, can Robin come over and work on homework with me? We’ve got a birthday to plan.”

“Of course, Allison!” she responded warmly. By now I had finally remembered to ask her what caused her to black out, only to be distracted by Allison’s request, and more importantly, talk of someone’s birthday coming! I shouldered my backpack, grabbing my gym bag and turning to face her again.

“I’ll be right over. I just need to put my gym bag inside so I don’t forget to air it out before Kenpo tomorrow.”

“Oh, no problem. Just come on down to the den when you’re ready.”

“So what was wrong? I mean, what did the tests show? Is there a chance it’ll happen again?” I bombarded Mom with questions as I followed her inside.

She smiled warmly. “The non-technical answer is ‘complications’. Remember that cold I had not long ago?” she asked, following me up the stairs to my room. I nodded as I stepped inside, waiting for her to follow, and continue with her explanation. Meanwhile I placed my backpack on my bed, laying the latest issue of Aria and Raven on my bed so I could finish reading it before bedtime tonight.

“Well, I was actually pretty sick for awhile there. I should have realized I wasn’t getting enough fluids in my body, and I was already pretty weak. I’m still not back to one-hundred percent even now,” she admitted with a wry smile as she watched me unpack my gym bag. I laid everything in a neat pile to take to the hamper, hanging my open bag on the back of my vanity chair.

“But it was equal parts mild dehydration and lack of critical vitamins in my body. In short, your mother needs to be taking her own advice about eating her spinach.” She grinned, causing me to laugh. I turned to wrap her in a hug. Tears began to stream down my face as I held her tightly close. She wrapped her arms around me, slowly stroking my hair.

“I’m just so glad you’re okay Mom. I couldn’t bear losing you twice.”

“Sweetheart, I’m not going anywhere for a long time. Now, you should go over to the Jones’ before Allison gets bored waiting! Carol’s probably making tacos just for you two.”

“Oooh, tacos! Someday I have to get her recipe!” I giggled a little, giving her another warm hug, then bounding back out of the room. On my way out, I grabbed my now much lighter backpack so we could do our homework together. I still had to wonder though, whose birthday was she talking about?