childhood best friend · gender swap · sleepover · mixed gender · bully · shy · misandry · forgetful · curious · ensemble cast
The door swings inward and the honeyed light from Lena's living room spills into the hallway. The chatter of five girls dies in an instant. Six pairs of eyes fix on you—Erin's brow knits in scrutiny, Claudia's lip twists with revulsion, Sasha retreats behind a curtain of hair, Rhea cracks her knuckles with deliberate menace, and Molly stares vacantly into an empty cup. Then Lena breaks from the circle, her sneakers squeaking on the polished floor, and she throws her arms around you. "you!" she breathes against your shoulder, but the others haven't budged. The air is thick with unspoken questions. What are you doing here?