This was it!

Her moment of truth.

She grinned practically skipping down the corridor. She had the dress in a garment bag planning to change once school was over and confess to Nathan, she even picked the location already. The big tree behind the gym was perfect.

Dakota teased her about making a big deal out of this to the point of dressing up, but she was about to confess to her beloved. She needed to look and feel good, a school uniform didn't give her that.

"What's the occasion?" Cammy asked turning to her as she closed her locker, spotting the garment bag she carried.

"Oh nothing....you know just me about to snatch the man of my dreams!" She grinned watching Cammy smile.

"Oh yeah? You about to bag Nathan?"

"Naturally!"

"Damn where'd the confidence come from?"

She smiled thinking about the pep talks Dakota gave her, telling her things like to stop thinking she can't and instead can.

"My personal fairy, he's more of a parasite though"

Cammy gave her puzzled look not understanding what she meant but didn't bother to question it.

They collected what they needed from their lockers and made their way to class.

"Oi, I texted you last night about the literature assignment. Why didn't you reply?" Cammy glared pouting.

Frankie chuckled nervously as they entered the classroom.

"I actually feel asleep I haven't even looked at my phone all morning."

"Ugh. Fine I won't be mad, lend me your notes though!"

"No problem."

She had stayed up last night rehearsing all she'd say and even how she'd get Nathan to the tree to confess; but she couldn't tell Cammy that. It was so embarrassing, and by the time she fell asleep it was morning and she soon had to rush to school.

Ahh! I'm so excited!

She grinned focusing on class, butterflies erupting in her stomach.

-

Dakota sighed staring at his phone.

She still hasn't replied yet..... Did something happen?

He was skipping classes again, though not alone. They were currently in one of the empty classrooms upstairs. Dakota looked across from him to see Dylan playing on his phone and Garrett watching videos on YuuTube, his earphones in so as to not make any noise.

He leaned back on the wall to look at his chat inbox with Frankie but still nothing.

Putting his phone is his pocket he figured he'd go get something to drink and cool his head off.

"Hey you guys want anything?"

He asked tapping only Garrett so he could remove his earphones.

"You going to the vending machine?"

He nodded mutely.

"Water for me." Dylan said

"Get me a mountain dew!" Garret ordered.

He left the classroom being sure to close the door behind him and went downstairs.

The halls were pretty empty except for a few students going to class or about their business. He groaned silently seeing the one person he didn't want to see.

_

Frankie grumbled under her breath feeling like an errand girl, this is her second trip to the teacher's lounge to get papers for some activity she was doing. She doesn't even remember what it was at this point.

Ugh these are heavy....

She currently carried two bulks of large white paper. She glanced up then to see familiar faces in the school's garden. There wasn't anyone else there as classes were in session.

It was Dakota and.... Nathan??

Eh? Why are they together again?

She quickly got closer being sure to hide behind a wall close by so she could hear them. Dakota had a few drinks in his hand.

Why does he need so many drinks....?

She placed the papers down, and watched as Dakota pushed Nathan and gasped, covering her mouth so as to not make anymore noise.

"I said to back off didn't I?"

"Woah why are you mad? Shit.... you're actually kinda scaring me." She heard Nathan say. Her eyes widened at the tone he was using. It didn't sound like him.

"Of course I'm mad! You keep butting into my life, I swear to God Nathan...." She heard Dakota sneer venomously.

".....if you don't leave Frankie alone, I'll personal end your football career."

"What the fuck you think I'm-"

She could hear scuffling and the sound of something dropping on the soft grass. She peeked around to see Dakota was really close to Nathan, she watched him pale from something Dakota said and pushed him back.

"Shut the fuck up! You wouldn't dare!" He yelled looking scared.

Oh? What did Dakota say?

"Try me." He teased glaring.

"Whatever." Nathan grumbled.

She quickly hid further behind the wall as he left so he wouldn't see her.

"Ah fuck!!" She heard Dakota scream before falling silent.

Not waiting for him to notice she grabbed the papers and quickly went back to class.

She sat down after handing the papers to the teacher feeling numb all over.

Her mind kept replying what she heard and what she saw.

"You know for someone who hates guys, how can you love the trashiest of them all?"

Swan's words rung in her ears.

Was Nathan.....

She couldn't finish that thought, it felt like if she did her entire stomach would just come through her mouth and onto the classroom floor.

Impossible....he couldn't....

She sat there growing more ill by the second.

"Woah Frankie you okay?" She turned to Swan who seemed worried. She looked down at her cold hands and nodded giving her a small smile.

"Y-Yea just a little tired."

Swan didn't seem to believe her but accepted her response anyway.

She swallowed hard, refusing to puke and began to contemplate her next move, her angel was probably a demon in disguise. She sat there a minute longer until she realized something. Turning back to Swan she whispered.

"Hey....could you tell me why Nathan is trash...? You said so once before...."

Screw confessing.

☆

Frankie pulled back from the mirror to look at her glossed up lips. As she didn't like lipstick she went with lipgloss and colored lip balm that would stain her lips instead.

She fixed her earrings, her hair up in a large ponytail. It looked like a poof ball on top of her head. The small burgundy dress was paired with some nude strap heels. The ribbon like strap of the dress giving the floral bottom it had a very soft and gentle look. Her bust was small but this made it look a bit bigger.

Smiling she left the bathroom to see Dakota was outside looking worried.

He turned to her and stared, his eyes running over her body and taking in all of her.

"Ah.....you..uh...." He trailed off.

"Damn I did a good job." He finally said a teasing smile on his lips. Frankie punched him at his comment suggesting she wouldn't look good if he didn't help.

"Ah! Ah! I'm joking, you look beautiful." He whispered softly.

Frankie stared at the regretful expression he had and looked away, it made her feel squirm-ish, and empathize with him.

"Well I'll tell you all about it later!" She grinned going down the corridor. Dakota quickly ran infront of her his arms out stretched to stop her.

"So uh..... There's something..."

She raised a brow at his messy sentence.

"Frankie...." He sighed putting his hands down.

"I don't think you should-...." She patted him hard of the shoulder stopping him mid sentence.

She winked walking around him.

"Just watch me."

Dakota blinked feeling his face flush.

Did she just wink at me....?

Stunned he stood there for a second before running to catch up to her. She was currently going behind the school, to the large tree they had by the gym's storage room. He wanted to stop her again and tell her not to do it, but he knew how much Frankie liked that asshole.

He clenched his teeth in annoyance. If he stopped her she'd probably hate him and say he's lying, he might even lose her.

If he let her do as she pleased she'd be happy for some time but then immediately become depressed once Nathan was done with her, she'd more or likely find out he knew and end up hating him for not telling her.

Either way she'd hate him and he didn't want that.

Dammit I can't do anything.

He tensed once they entered the clearing around back to see Nathan. He stood there looking fresh and clean.

He probably used the school showers....

He looked up once he saw them approaching.

"Oh Hello. Are you Frankie Bennett?" He asked sweetly, holding up what seemed to be a hand writing note from Frankie. Dakota rolled his eyes but said nothing.

He expected Frankie to gush and turn into a puddle from Nathan saying her name but when she didn't stop and continued to march ahead he quickly got confused.

Wait what is she....

He watched in pure horror as Frankie pulled her foot back to kick Nathan right in his balls. He screamed and fell to his knees; tears already running down his face from the force she used.

He covered his crotch instinctively knowing how the pain felt.

"You pathetic excuse for a human being...... you're not allowed to utter my name in that shit invested mouth of yours." Frankie spoke calmly controlled anger behind her words.

Dakota covered his mouth in shock.

What's happening??!

"You fucking bitch!!!" Nathan managed to squeal still unable to stand or move. Dakota watched feeling oddly excited as Frankie stepped on the hunched over figure of Nathan, sinking her heel into his back.

"A bitch you'll never get to touch you swine. You should be grateful you're able to even grace your sight with my image." He watched her spit on him and adjust her earrings.

"Disgusting."

She sneered before walking away as if she didn't just violate someone.

Dakota inched back once she passed him, his eyes wide.

"What? Let's go." She prompted sauntering away complete unfazed. Dakota glanced at Nathan knowing full well he'd be on the ground for another hour at most, He chuckled.

"Later Nathan!" He sung in falsetto knowing that would piss him off more.

He ran away to go catch up with Frankie. He was smiling so hard he swore his cheeks would burst.

"Why are you so happy?" Frankie asked annoyed, keeping her pace with him. Dakota giggled to himself holding his cheeks with both hands.

"I don't know... Ah ...I really don't." And it was true, of course he just saw his cousin get brutally humiliated and physically abused but he deserved it. He shook his head, his hair bouncing in order to calm down.

"How did you know he was.... Well....."

"A piece of shit?" Frankie swore still fuming from what happened.

"Uh yeah...." Dakota mumbled seeing that they were now in the parking lot. Frankie stopped and turned to him.

"I'm guessing you knew too?"

He tensed, his fear spiking. He didn't want her to hate him.

"Frankie I- I'm sorry, I didn't think-"

"It's okay." She sighed looking down.

"Swan told me what he almost did to her. They weren't together but she managed to escape him before he could hook her."

Ahh... That's why.

Dakota relaxed, feeling a lot better.

He watched her open her back seat and throw her bags in. She had a empty expression on her face, that didn't sit well with him.

"Are you okay?" He asked seriously. She just found out her crush of two years wasn't actually the guy he presented himself to be, to top it off their first official encounter he called her a bitch and she hits him. They didn't have a chance to really talk to each other, they were just strangers who knew each other's names.

Frankie turned to him, her eyes filled with tears. Dakota tensed feeling his chest tighten from the immense pain on her face.

"Yeah.... Don't I look okay?" She asked her voice breaking as tears escaped her eyes. She looked down wiping them furiously.

Dakota felt his own heart begin to break.

"Of course you don't idiot...." He muttered feeling choked.

He pulled her to him, fully prepared to be hit.

She melted in his arms and he sighed pulling her closer.

Frankie snuggled into Dakota feeling her tears wet his uniform. She didn't think she'd ever hug a male, much less enjoy how warm and comforting it felt.

Her small frame shook as she cried, releasing all the pain and frustration she felt up to finding out about Nathan.

Dakota closed his eyes and tried his best to be strong and not burst into tears with her. Seeing her like this was really pulling at his heart strings. He felt hot and cold, he felt numb yet so hyper aware of how he held her in his arms, her scent, the softness of her hair, her skin.

He sighed hugging her tighter, wanting to take away her pain.

Dammit.......I really like her......

☆

Dakota cleared his throat and grinned sheepishly.

"Frankie, he what?"

"He's staying here today. He'll sleep in my room."

"What??! There will be no such thing young lady!" Her mom yelled folding her arms.

"Mom it's fine! Look see!" Frankie explained grabbing Dakota by the face and smooching their cheeks together, his face went red and he quickly felt dizzy.

What the hell is she doing?!

He pulled away from her and looked down, feeling the intense gaze of her father.

"Oh my gosh! You...you...you just touched a boy!" Her mom gasped. Dakota looked up to see her Dad also shared a similar expression of awe and shock.

Is it that big of a deal?

"Exactly! I think it's because he's not fully a boy boy... Kinda? He crossdresses."

His mouth fell open at how casually she just outted him. She shrugged and Dakota turned to her parents expecting to see disgust but instead they didn't even seem surprised.

Eh? Huh???

"Oh that could explain it." Her dad mumbled while her mom nodded agreeing.

Wait what are they even talking about???

Dakota felt the need to cry.

Just moments ago he was comforting Frankie and enjoying the feeling of being needed by his crush;

She offered him a ride home but practically kidnapped him. The next thing he knew he was in her house standing before her parents.

He glared at Frankie fully feeling betrayed but not really having the heart to stay mad as he saw evidence of her earlier crying session.

He sighed looking down at his feet.

"Mm. Okay, he can stay. Are you allergic to anything Dakota?" Frankie's mom asked moving to the kitchen

Huh? What did I miss??

He zoned out for a moment.

"Ah no I'm not allergic to-"

"Okay great! Come on let's go, call us when dinner is ready mom."

"Sure!" Her mom called back casually.

Frankie grabbed him by his hand and led him upstairs to her room. Dakota followed silently, his mind still trying to keep up with what was happening.

He was made to sit on her bed while she went to the bathroom connected to her room.

What....?

He didn't even care about the fact that she just casually told her parents he was a crossdresser. He was more concerned with being in her room and apparently staying over.

His heart can't handle that!!

He sighed covering his face.

The idiot obviously didn't see him as a boy, at least from what she said earlier.

And what's up with her parents!!? How could they let a guy just stay over in their daughters room??!

He didn't get what was happening; his parents weren't home today so really no one would miss him if he didn't return home, so there was nothing stopping him from staying.

Right! I can't do this.

He stood up ready to sneak out when Frankie returned fully changed and refreshed.

Oh she took a shower.....

His face went red thinking about how she was naked just a few feet away from him. He was caught up in his head for so long that he didn't even hear her.

She was wearing a really cute pink pajama suit, with a cat graphic on the shirt and smaller cats on the bottom half, her hair cornrowed into two.

Okay. He'd tell her he can't stay, no matter how much he'd want to, he couldn't stay in the same room with the girl he liked.

"Frankie I can't-"

"Let's have a sleep over like girl friends do! Here this is yours."

She interrupted handing him his own pair of cute pajama suit.

A girls night??

His heart swelled seeing the orange peach colored top and adorable flower patterns on the pajamas. The idea to sleep over quickly became appealing.

"Hehe okay!" He giggled instinctively.

"Alright! I'll go make us some snacks! Oh you can use my shower, there's clean towels as well." She left the room going back downstairs leaving Dakota in silence.

Dakota fell to his knees in defeat.

DAMN THIS MAIDEN HEART!!

He thought, groaning pathetically as he hugged the new pajamas to his chest. He felt shame, nothing but shame.

But a girls' night sounded so fun!

Sigh.

How easy was he?

☆

Dakota stood in the shower letting the pressure relax his body. He tried not to think about how he used the same body wash and shampoo as her. She had a honey scented type, that was really sweet. It was her scent.

Ah. Don't be a creep.

He dried his hair with one towel and dried himself off with another, before getting dressed. They had given him a clean set of boxers too.

He got dressed putting on the orange peach top. It was one color with the floral pattern on the pants mimicked on the large pocket he had on his right. The bottoms thankfully weren't shorts and were long enough to past his knee.

He came out with the towel still on his head to see Frankie was watching something on her laptop.

"Uh.... Do you have a blow drier?"

She looked up and paused what she was watching. She brushed past him to go into her closet.

"I don't use it as much but yeah. Sit down." She prompted gesturing to the foot of the bed as she continued to look. Dakota did as told, still using the towel to get as much water from his hair as possible. He watched her plug it into a nearby socket and went to sit behind him. The bed sinking from her weight.

"Oh let me sit in the floor..." He mumbled realizing she was about to blow dry his hair for him.

He shamelessly felt way too giddy about it.

He sat down feeling her pull his head back in between her legs and shivered. She turned the blow drier on and began to dry his hair.

He felt his body relax from the heat; her fingers combing through his thin hair.

His stomach flipped as her hands travelled to the nape of his neck where he was very sensitive.

She was surprisingly gentle with him, being sure to wave through all of his hair.

They sat in silence as she continued her work, Dakota felt sleepy having someone other than himself dry his hair.

"Okay done!". She cheered ruffling his locs as proof of her statement.

Dakota blinked away his drowsiness and leaned forward to allow Frankie to pull away.

I almost fell asleep....

"Oh I saw your text! Sorry I didn't see it before but what do you want to tell me?" She asked putting the blow drier away.

Dakota's heart stopped.

AUUUWAAH!!!! I forgot about that!

Frankie's back was to him so thankfully she didn't see his panicked expression.