I stood up for him when he was accused of inappropriate solicitation of a minor

Since he addressed the name Charles Ruiz in the third-person and not me directly, I open my mouth to explain the actions of my male persona in the closing months of his senior year. “It was right after your class. Since it was the sixth period, you usually gave everyone time to freshen up before heading home. Charles almost walked out of the gym when he saw you standing in front of a group of girls. They were sort of ganging up on you and openly flirting with you, trying to get a reaction out of you. Michelle Townes seemed to be the main girl trying to egg you on. Charles hid behind the wall and took a video of the incident. The lighting wasn’t ideal, but it was clear you had your hands behind your back.”

I pause to look up at him, catching him looking elsewhere but me. I restart my story of Charles when he locks his eyes with mine. “A couple days later, he and his classmates found that they had a substitute teacher for their sixth period P.E. class. The fact that Michelle wasn't at school that day may have been a red flag. The sub didn’t really give us any information, but word around the school said that you were being put on leave due to an incident on campus. There were also rumors going around that you were alone with a female student, and she accused you of touching her.” I pause once more, seeing Mr. Abraham nod, but whether it was for recognition or understanding, I’m not sure. “Knowing your reputation as a stern, but kind teacher, who knew his boundaries, Charles went to the office and turned in evidence of the incident to the principal. She asked him permission to make a copy of the video and to also keep news of this video to himself.”

Having explained it to the best of my ability, I stop talking to wait for a reply or reaction from Mr. Abraham. He wears this face that tells me he is in contemplation or deep thought. I open my mouth once more, throwing out the third-person speech. “Whatever happened, that was the last time we saw you that year. You weren’t even at our graduation. My friends thought you went to jail or that you were, at the least, let go.”

Mr. Abraham breathes a sigh, but I’m not sure if it’s from relief. He explains his side, saying, “I did not go to jail, but I was in court for pretty much the rest of the school year. Some parents tried to sue me, for just being an attractive male in his thirties and a distraction to their daughters. We settled out of court, and I just quit. You don’t know this, but this is not my first run-in with underaged girls taking advantage of my kindness.” He pauses and breathes another sigh, of relief I’m sure this time, since it seems this was something he kept secret to himself and had just not let it go to someone who claims to be a female Charles. “So, you’re the Charles Ruiz, now Charlene Ruiz. And this is because…?”

“X-Change,” I reply, and he immediately recognizes the product that turns males into females and vice versa.

“And you’re here in my house… why?” he asks.

I look around what should be the living room. Apart from the different decorations and furniture, the shape of the room resembles the shape of the living room of my house. It’s then that I get to my feet and look across the rest of the house, since it has an open floor plan. Not only is the den, where the television is, different in its arrangement, but the cabinets and dining table in the small kitchen are different as well. Even the backyard outside is not as remodeled as mine was. “This isn’t 401 Paladin Way?” I ask.

“It’s actually 335 Paladin Way,” Mr. Abraham tells me.

“I could’ve sworn…” I say, trailing off. “Then how did I get in?”

“That may have been my fault. I actually ordered some food on DoorDash. When I went to get it, I must have left the door unlocked,” he explains. “But I didn’t think some half-naked girl claiming to be my former student Charles Ruiz would come in and get comfortable on my couch.” He gets to his feet and approaches me. Instinctively, I clutch the pillow to my pelvis a little bit more, realizing I kept it with me after standing up. “Seeing you in your choice of outfit, sleeping so soundly, or in your case, pretending to be sleeping, it was too tempting to just watch. And while I did not touch those girls at your high school, now that I don’t have the responsibility of a physical education teacher, I felt it was my chance to take the risk and touch you.” It's then he reaches over with his hand.