"So," Ryan began, wanting to phrase his next sentence carefully. "I'd be honored to be your first, let alone welcome you into were society," he said, reaching out just enough on the bed till his hand was brushing against his friend's. "When, that is—"
"I do have some questions first. If you don't mind," Connor said in return.
"No. Not at all," replied Ryan. "I'll be glad to answer any I can," he added, looking intently at his friend.
"Does it hurt?"
"Your first transformation?"
"No. The... method."
"Oh," Ryan said, knowing what Connor was wondering about. "Hard to say, no pun intended. I'll be as careful as can be, but everybody's different, no matter whether we're talking what's considered the traditional male/female or two men. My first time, my... partner was as gentle as can be."
"Are you still with him?"
"No. I'd still be your friend, if you wanted me to be, but if me and him were still together, I wouldn't be in this room right now with you," Ryan answered.
"Why? Nothing would happen that I didn't want to happen."
"Honestly? Besides the fact it would be cheating on him, I don't want anything to go wrong between us," admitted Ryan.
"Really?" Connor asked in disbelief.
"I'm not saying you're 'The One', because I have no idea what my 'One' should be like to begin with, but something tells me to take it nice and slow and let anything that might happen between us develop naturally."
"I understand. It's taken me quite a while to reach the point I'm at now, so I'm in no hurry either. Don't want to rush into something that might not work out," Connor said.
"I understand that, but my dad's always said 'What's life without an occasional risk?' When the time does come, I'm willing to think about taking a risk on and with the right person."
"How do you know when you've met the right person?"
"If I knew that..."
"If I can ask, why did the two of you break up?" wondered Connor.
"Truthfully, that's a bit difficult to know. We were good in the beginning, or at least I thought so, but in time we started noticing differences in each other's personal tastes and opinions that showed things just wouldn't work out between us in the long run. Doesn't matter who the two members of a specific couple are. If it ain't right..."
"I see," said Connor, thinking things over.
"Which does raise an interesting question I should ask. What are you looking for?" Ryan wanted to know.
"Truthfully? To love and be loved. Other than that, I really don't know right now," Connor admitted. "I had a difficult enough time realizing and coming to terms with the fact that whoever I'm destined to be with wasn't female."
"Not many people you could talk to about it, huh?" realized Ryan.
"No. I'm not even sure what my parents, let alone my sister, know or at least suspect. Let alone how they'll react once they find out."
"That is difficult for anybody in our position. Telling others," agreed Ryan. "While the world is a lot more open and acceptable now than it used to be, such an announcement is one not everybody is going to agree with the moment they hear it."
"I know. But now that I've personally come to terms with who I am..." said Connor, his voice trailing off at the monumental importance of such a commitment.
"This may sound cliche, but are you sure?" Ryan needed to know.
Connor looked directly at his friend and said, "As sure as I can be of anything in life."
The two of them just stared at each other.
Each realized what was going on between them and where things might lead.
Then Ryan took a deep breath and said, "Not to press the issue, but when..."
Connor thought about it, and then said. "Definitely a Friday night, so we can have the weekend together, but not on our first date."
"You want to go out with me?" Ryan asked in disbelief.
"Why not?" Connor asked in return.
"No reason. It's just that usually I have to do the asking when I'm interested in someone and nobody's ever asked me to do the honors of inducting them into were society before, let alone..."
"It's okay," Connor said, putting his hand on top of Ryan's. "Another thing I do know. Your first time should be with someone special. Even though my circle of friends in Moon Lake is limited, I'm glad you're among them. I was thinking we could go out a couple of times. Really get to know each other better, and then..."
Ryan smiled and said, "I'd like that."
"Me too," Connor replied, smiling back at him.
TO BE CONTINUED...