Jasmine was walking back from the disposal where she had left her tray when she heard a girl's voice. "Hey, how are you? I heard about what happened. How you feeling?"
Turning, she saw Tarmesha, one of the other students at her school. Jeff and Tarmesha had become friends when they worked on a class project together, although it had never gone beyond that.
"Oh" Jasmine cried. "It's horrible. Everybody's happy about it, even the other changed guys. Everyone expects me to be happy about it and I hate it. I don't know anything about being a girl and I don't want to know anything let alone be a freak. I don't want to start liking guys or having periods or any of that stuff, but there doesn't seem to be anything I can do."
Tarmesha took her friend's hand and led her to an empty bench. "It's OK sweetie, it's OK. You don't have to be happy about anything if you don't want to. You just go ahead and cry, sweetheart."
Jasmine was bawling her eyes out, and her friends and family decided to leave her with her friend for a few minutes. (Jasmine's mom was very happy to see her new daughter with a female friend.)
Jasmine realized that there was something that felt good about Tarmesha's embrace, beyond the strength and comfort her friend offered. Oh god, she thought, I'm getting turned on, I'm a lesbian! Is that good or bad?
Jasmine's sensitive nose picked up a new scent from her friend, and she remembered that in spite of being one of the prettiest and most graceful girls at the school, Tarmesha had never had a boyfriend.
"It's OK to be a freak." Tarmesha muttered soothingly.