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

“No!” shouted someone, I think it was me, but I was frozen and unable to move so maybe it wasn’t me. My hand was over my mouth anyhow, and the other one trying to cover my eyes, only I was also afraid to notwatch. A car was barreling down the road, right toward my little neighbor, who stopped, turned, and stared, directly in front of the onrushing headlights. Chrome glinted and time stood still, and then from behind me a ghostly Lord Ashton dashed out, sword in hand, his whole body glowing as if lit from within. Maybe he hadn’t drawn his sword, I don’t know now. But he grabbed Curly and somehow manhandled him out of the way of the car, getting whacked by the mirror, which fell into the street with a tinkle of broken glass. When the car was gone, and no, it didn’t even bother to stop, there was Curly standing with Annabelle and Nell, being hugged by both of them, and the other boy was nowhere in sight. There wasn’t any blood, there was no body, nothing was left. Where had he gone?


Chapter 10