Miranda isn’t sure if she is transgendered or a lesbian. When Cal, a gay boy her age comes to stay next door for the summer, they become close. Even though they are opposites, they are both outsiders, and their friendship blossoms over the summer. Could there be romance despite their differences?<br><br>Then twins Ada and Van move into the neighborhood, and Miranda finds herself torn between them. She can’t decide who she’s more attracted to -- Ada, who may be lesbian, or Van, who is transgendered. Will she find love with one of them instead?

A Rare and Beautiful Thing

“But I was the only one I cared about. I mean, I knew why I did, but I figured everyone else was different, that they were, I mean, it just happens, you know? But for me…”


I had a good thing to say. “But you were comparing your insides with their outsides,” and the look that passed between us was bonding—hysterical, but bonding. “No, I mean…not your ‘outside,’ not the obvious part.”


“Well actually, I was, kind of, I mean, you know, I’m not a size queen or anything,” he stammered, trying to pretend he was joking, but failing.


“I don’t want to ask, but really, was it? I mean, bigger?”


“Well, of course!” he blushed. “Now, can we like, go back to what you were going to say?”


“What I meant was,” I stammered, giggling, “You were—comparing what you knewabout yourself and of course you assumed nobody else was…”


Chapter 3