Logan and Alex spent the rest of the day, practicing for their English project. They had moved to the kitchen to use the island counter as a substitute for the teacher’s table—an essential piece for their performance.
“Think about it, Alex” Logan mused, “I can just lie on this and have my Snow White/Sleeping Beauty moment.”
Alex sighed, “Logan, we are not doing the tomb scene. How many times do I have to say it to get through your head?”
“Maybe about 1 each for 730 days?”
Alex rolled her eyes and began to push him off, “Get up. Stop spreading your germs all over the countertop.”
Logan sat up on the counter and hopped over to one side. He dusted off the back of his pants and his shirt. When he turned to face Alex, he had his lips pressed together in deep thought.
“I have an idea” he said carefully, crossing his arms and rubbing his chin, “With your natural femininity and charm, I think… you should play Juliet. It would be an easy A for sure.”
Alex raised her eyebrows, amused by his attempt at nonchalance. Now that Logan knew her real gender, she made no show to prove her ‘masculinity’—as tempting as it was to do so.
“Thanks for trying, Logan” she smirked, stretching her arms and placing her hands on the edge of the counter, “But the rules say that us, females, get to be Romeo.”
She tilted her head to one side with a smug grin on her face. It didn’t appear to affect Logan’s attachment to his idea.
He snapped his fingers, “But Ms. Smith doesn’t know that.”
Alex’ smile only grew bigger, “Oh, but she does.”
“What?”
“Every single employee knows, the whole staff” Alex told him, “It’s how we keep track of things. You’d be amazed by how much janitors hear.”
A part of Alex believed that the employees gossiped more than the students. The students may think they were getting away but really, someone just turns a blind eye. Alex wasn’t sure why though… but maybe for entertainment?
Logan stared at Alex in disbelief. Even though it had been hours since he found out about her secret, it still hadn’t fully sunk in quite yet. He had created several theories. Some had been debunked when Alex clarified her sexual orientation.
But not only did she turn out to be a girl but this secrecy was big enough for the entire school’s staff to know?
“Just who are you?” The words came out of his mouth before he could process them.
“Your worst nightmare.” Alex replied, sticking out her tongue.
Logan scoffed. He slammed a hand on the counter and pointed a finger at her, “I accept that challenge.”
“Looks like someone is in the know.”
Lilly leaned her side onto the kitchen’s door frame. The unusual noise in this usually quiet house picked up her interest. After the last time Logan came over, he didn’t come again for a while since the coach had them prepare more for the upcoming basketball game.
Now, the house became lively again. Maybe for a longer period this time—even when the project was over.
She looked over at Alex with a knowing smirk, “You surely took your time to tell.”
Her niece gave her a deadpanned look, “I already have my regrets.”
“So dramatic” Lilly chuckled then, she turned to Logan, “Anyway, glad to have you on board, Logan. I hope you keep your word about looking after Alex.”
“Yes, ma’am!” He answerer enthusiastically.
Alex didn’t find the exchange amusing, “Hello? I’m right here? I don’t need a babysitter?”
“I heard you’re like one of the youngest people in our year” Logan told her, “Sounds like a baby to me.”
“Sounds like you need to step up your game, old man, since this junior can outmatch you.”
Logan grimaced at Alex’ words. Back in his elementary and middle school days, he held the top spot consecutively. Then, this guy—girl showed up as if she casually walked in the park and took it away from him. Logan didn’t obsess with studies but he had been at the top for so long that the fall felt brutal.
Although, it was just one rank.
“Just you wait, Carter” he taunted, “The year hasn’t ended yet. If I don’t get you this year, I will surely get you next year and take the award home. With that by my side, your previous records will mean nothing to me.”
Alex squinted her eyes and smiled mischievously, unworried about Logan’s threat, “Bring it on, Parker.”
Lilly stood by and watched the two challenge each other. It was a pleasant sight. Alex had a friend. The sound of their banter gave the house life—and hopefully her niece’s life too.
Then, she frowned, now that everything was fixed, did she need to tell Angeline to drop their plan?
The question only lasted a second before she waved it off.
‘Ah, well’ she sighed to herself, ‘Since Angeline already knew Logan existed, might as well go through with the plan. Not much difference anyway.’
“But first” Alex said, interrupting her aunt’s thoughts, “Stop being a sissy and take your Juliet role seriously. If you can’t pull this off, you are an unworthy opponent.”
“Hey, that’s not fair!” Logan protested, “I’m a guy! How do you expect me to be a girl?”
Alex half-scoffed and half-smirked, “Well, I’m a girl. How could you believe I was a guy?”
“I—” Logan hummed to himself, “Touché.”
Logan once again retreated to his mind. Alex figured he naturally did this a lot. Deciding not to wait, she sat on the stool and began to review on her added notes on the side of the script.
“Hm. What does it take to be a girl?” Logan began to think aloud. Alex only listened lightly as he continued to blabber, “Should I wear a dress? Maybe some makeup? A wig? Where would I even get one? Oh, wait Alex has one. I can borrow that. Is there any mannerism I should know about? Hmmm… this would be a lot easier if I could talk to a girl.”
Alex glanced up at him and made a funny face. When she turned to give her aunt a look, she wasn’t there anymore. Alex placed an elbow on the countertop and rested her cheek on her hand. She kept her gaze on Logan, waiting for his epiphany.
Like Christmas lights, Logan’s eyes sparkled and his mouth shaped into an ‘O’.
“Hey, Alex—”
“I refuse” she bowed her head and ticked on the parts she already went through dozens of times.
She felt Logan place his arms on the counter to lean over, “But, but, but… you’re the closest girl around here.”
“Then, move somewhere else.”
“Ugh, but this our project. You are my partner, my comrade… in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer till de—the project is over.”
Alex still didn’t look at him and added more notes to her script, “If I help you, would you stop the ridiculous British soprano you keep using?”
Just like she wanted, Logan didn’t hesitate to agree, “Deal!”
He had a huge smile on his face as Alex pointed the tip of her pen at him, “Then, we’ll do this on my terms.”
