Scene 11

Yelling into the pillow had felt good to Jackson, things were just so, so incredibly fucked up! He screamed again, kicking his feet backwards into the air before kicking them down into the mattress as it yelled into the pillow till he felt his lungs were burning from the lack of air. Rolling over onto his back he felt the fake breasts that were free from a bra move and then jiggle, again and again with each heavy breath he took to refill his lungs. Laying there in bed, Jackson seethed with anger. This wasn’t even his bed, this wasn’t even his room. His bossy older sister had talked him into letting her move into his room and she had sent his bed and his clothes off to her storage. That hadn’t even been their agreement, he should have known better. Maddy had always been the type of person.

Growing up he would talk people into doing what he wanted and she would just do whatever… like she went where the wind blew her. It baffled him that not only did she go into programming, where you had to follow the rules of whatever code she was writing, but she had gone to work for a corporation. “She got what she wanted… to dress me up like some doll, my room and a good job.” Jackson said, ignoring the fact that he knew she wasn’t happy stuck as a junior programmer. “What do I have? A job as a secretary, one that I have to do while flirting with my boss and pretending I’m a girl or.. Well being trans or… fuck I hate this. I’m now hiding in my roommates room after finding out Linc won't be able to pretend to be my boyfriend anymore and that he was going to go get fake married to his sister. My life sounds like a bad sitcom!”

Bang, bang, bang

That wasn’t that loud, but the knocking on the door was enough to get Jackson to stop talking to himself and turn his attention to the jerk who was on the other side of the door. “GO AWAY LINC!”

On the other side of the door Lincoln pressed his palm to the thin apartment bedroom door. Things had not gone well when he brought up the marriage thing, he could understand. He didn’t want to get married, he hadn’t even considered it other than he hoped to find the right girl one day. Yet he had this opportunity, that he was positive wouldn’t come around again. If someone had asked him a month ago if he wanted to be the number two person for the Florida branch of Mega Corp he would have thought about how nice the money would be and then said no thanks. But now… now it was real. He could toil away inside that building for the next thirty years, getting raises and promotions along the way and would still not reach what was being just offered up to him. Sure it wasn’t because he had earned it, no. Dunn was offered it to him because he wanted a yes man working under him and not someone who would try to undermine him, but Dunn’s reasons for the offer didn’t change the offer itself. Lincoln sighed, before stepping away from the door to give his friend space for now. With his laptop in his room Lincoln moved over to the couch, turning the tv on to the history channel.

With joy apparent on her face and a light heart Madison came into the apartment, she had a wonderful morning with a beautiful girl. Them having picked up their more drunken activities when they had woken and then went out for a brunch that had left her feeling more stuffed than the cream cheese stuffed french toast she had with her mimosas. Over brunch her and Callie had made it official that they were a couple again, an awkward conversation when she felt obligated to bring up her deal with Lincoln. That opened up many more questions because he was supposedly taking Jacqueline and Callie wondering why she wouldn’t do it. Both remembering her saying for all the world to hear how she loved the man's cock the night before. Madison told her about her little sister's fear of commitment, something Callie was all too familiar with and opening up an old wound from when they had broken up last time. Things had definitely gone smoother with the assistance of the bellinis Callie was drinking.

Madison put her purse down on the half wall counter between the kitchen and living room, looking at the back of Lincoln’s head she could see over the couch. The little deal with him had almost cost her the current relationship she was building with her old flame. It was surprising to her how understanding Callie had become after she understood this was a financial arrangement and not a sexual one. Sure she would have to do a little now and then while she and Lincoln were together, but it wasn’t like she was in love or even in lust with the man. After the last two times with her lover, they had more than shown they were both up to the task of keeping each other satisfied. Walking around the couch Madison fell backwards into the middle seat of the couch, leaning to the side soon as her ass hit the cushion so that she was pressing her side into Lincoln’s.

“Ahhh, Hey Madison.” Without looking at him she put her head on his shoulder, moving one hand over to hold his arm.

“What happened to calling me Maddy?” She said in a cheerful voice.

“Sorry, afternoon Maddy. You seem to be in a good mood.” She smiled, taking in a deep breath.

“I am, today is going great so far, but I wanted to talk to you more my husband to be.” Lincoln swallowed hard, glancing over to his still closed bedroom door. He hadn’t heard anything from his friend since they yelled for him to leave them alone and he didn’t have high hopes the topic with the girl currently cuddling up to him was going to be better. Lincoln loved to have Madison doing just what she was doing, but at the same time it felt a bit awkward to him. Things had been great between the two of them the other night, but they both had more than a few glasses of the social lubricant that was wine.

“Actually, yeah we should talk. I let Jacqueline know about the promotion and the strings.”

“Oh and how did she take the news of the golden handcuffs Mega Corp was putting on you?” She asked quirking an eyebrow up without moving her head from his shoulder.

“Oddly, really. She said it was unfair to her, specifically saying what about me? And then offering to blow me every day and then telling me I was just like every other man before storming off and slamming my bedroom door. I tried to see about talking through it, but she just said for me to go away.”

“Hmmm sounds like you done fucked up. Flowers and chocolate, it won't make the situation go away, but everyone loves getting flowers and every girl loves chocolate. But it does sound like it went as bad as you thought it would. ” Lincoln grunted a confirmation.

“Jackie really said, What about me? When you told her about putting a little ring on my finger.” Madison held up her left hand, wiggling her unadorned ring finger. “Maybe you should have a deeper conversation with her about what she wants for the future. It sounds like my little sister might have thoughts about the two of you. Besides I was talking more with Callie about all of this.”

“Callie, the blonde bartender you are dating? You told her about you maybe marrying me so I could get a job?” Madison rolled her eyes.

“Yep that is her Caroline Demir and as of today my girlfriend. Now we are both dating pretty blondes while plotting to marry.” She laughed. “But you know this isn’t just some job and I’m not doing it out of the kindness of my heart. I will wear the ring, I will walk down the aisle to you in a white dress, and say the vows, and you will pay me. In fact talking with Callie she brought up alimony for when we have a divorce.”

“You don’t even have a ring on your finger and you are already talking about divorce. I can just feel the love.” Madison sat up, pulling away from Lincoln and her cuddling position. She tilted her head slightly in his direction, appraising him for a second before leaning forward to give him a kiss on his cheek.

“You knew what this was, but I was also thinking after a few months we should get a house. Something better than an apartment and when the end comes we can either sell the house or figure out who gets to stay.”

Lincoln touched his cheek where the girl he had a crush on had kissed him. The conversation was so surreal to him. She jumped from talking about her current girlfriend to them getting married at the drop of a hat and then transitioned into them getting divorced in almost the same breath. It felt… impersonal, so… hollow.

“Sounds like you would want the house.” Madison clapped her hands together with a big smile.

“You would do that for me?! You are going to make the best husband ever!” Madison didn’t consider herself a gold digger, but if the relationship started on the foundation of a financial decision and he was making the money it only made sense to her to try and get financial stability out of it.

Lincoln was about to sarcastically tell her it sounded romantic, he knew what the arrangement was and why he needed it, but it really felt shallow to him, not something he ever would normally consider. He was saved from making the retort when his bedroom door opened and out stepped his friend. Jacqueline’s blonde hair was no longer in a ponytail, but didn’t look like she had bothered to brush it. “Oh, good you are both here.” Jackson said taking the few steps needed to move from the doorway to the master bedroom to stand in front of the two on the couch. He had thought long and hard about everything, and took a nap, but mostly thought hard about the situation. If he quit it would take him possibly years to even start a career and how many would depend on the wake he left when he quit. It wasn’t like he had the money to pay back the clothing allowance. If he held on longer and Lincoln took over Dunn’s role he could be set up for success. The news could be Jackie had to leave, and her brother was coming back to the company after no one had seen him for a few months. Leaving the transition thing to Lincoln to work out with HR. The more he thought about the more he thought his current situation was fucked, after he worked three months if someone called for a reference it would have to be for Jacqueline and that wasn’t going to help him be a man again.

“You.” Jackson said, pointing at his sister. “I’m not going to allow you to marry Lincoln Hatch.” He turned his hand over, tucking in his index finger to point to his friend with his thumb.”

“You aren’t going to allow me? What year do you think this is?” Madison looked at him with indignation. Jackson looked at her, his jaw set as he gave two small, slow shakes of his head.

“When you get married you are going to do it because you love someone. You deserve so much better than what we had growing up.” Saying that out loud it made him wonder if her penchant for jumping from one person to another was to keep herself from getting hurt and broken like their father was. “Right? You know you deserve to love and be loved, right!?”

“Well…” Madison stopped what she was about to say, she had been ready to jump down Jackie’s throat before she had even finished what she was saying, but her younger siblings words had struck a cord. “Maybe, maybe not, but Lincoln needs help. What do you suggest we do if you aren’t going to… let me marry him.” She held up both hands to make air quotes when she said the word let.

Sliding his eyes over towards Lincoln, Jackson jerked his hand toward the man, pointing his finger at the center of his chest. “We are going to get engaged and make a big deal about the wedding arrangements.” Jackson flipped his hand around again, this time to point at himself with his index finger. “The flighty, ditzy girl Jaqueline is going to have the hardest time making decisions for such an important event in her life. Dragging out the engagement till after you start your job and then when Dunn is happy in his new position everything will work out.” Jackson smirked, wobbling his head from side to side slightly as he looked between the two. “You asked me to come up with something and I did. What do you think?”

Madison was the first to speak up, focusing on Jackie, not bothering to look over at Lincoln. “Everything will just work out? So you decided you wanted to be Mrs. Hatch? Was all that earlier that I heard about because you were upset or jealous?” Jackson looked at his sister like she was an idiot, he knew she wasn’t, but she wasn’t exactly letting any of this sink in.

“Nothing to be jealous about, it isn’t like the two of you are in love.” Jackson stopped, glancing back towards his bedroom now, where his sister was now sleeping and where he knew Callie had slept the previous night. “Well maybe a little of you and Callie.” Madison stood up, wrapping her arms around her brother, now sister. She kept her emotions mostly in control, not letting the tears in her eyes turn into anything more as she stood there just holding her transgendered sibling. Wishing Jackie didn’t have to be jealous about how her and Callie could be open about their relationship. Not everyone was accepting of her lifestyle choices, or at least not when she was dating another female, but much less were accepting of people who changed their gender. She was happy that Jackie was passable enough that no one had questioned her being her true self, it was just a shame people had such a narrow view of the world that it had taken this long for her to even admit this much.

“I love you Jackie.” She sniffled, still trying to contain her emotions. “I hope you know that you deserve to love and be loved too.”

“I love you too sis. Think that love can extend to me getting my room back?” Madison pulled away, still lightly touching Jackie, looking like she was considering her siblings request.

“I could spend a few nights at Callie’s place.” She bit her lower lip, before shaking her head. “Sorry no, its mine now. Fair and square.”

“Fare and square!?” He asked in outrage.

“Yeah, I pay rent, I get space and you get an excuse to move in with your lover and have as much premarital sex as you want.” Jackson’s eyes bugged out, glancing over to Lincoln who was still sitting on the couch, but very much looking embarrassed. Jackson was sure he was thinking about the incident in the supply room.

“Maddy.” Lincoln said standing up, waving one hand to the left and right while his arm stayed still, wanting to have her attention and for this conversation to end. “You really don’t want to hear about our sex life do you?”

“No, of course not. Maybe?” She cocked her head to the side, raising one eyebrow. “Okay, a little, but that is because I’m a nosy bitch, with less shame than I should. It is a feature not a bug.” Lincoln couldn’t find any words, it was supposed to be a rhetorical question.

“I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT SEX WITH YOU MADDY!” Lincoln watched the blonde stomp away back into their room, stomping on the floor loud enough that he was sure the people down stairs would be none to happy with them. The door didn’t close after her, so he counted that as a good sign. Shifting his weight, the tension fell away from Lincoln's shoulders as he looked back towards the older Hart sibling.

“Looks like that is settled.” He glanced back to the open door for a second. “Also I told you she likes being in control.” Madison shrugged.

“Runs in the family. Father wasn’t a much of an in control type of person and we had to take turns being the adult. Wonderful, loving man.” She shook her head before shrugging again, not wanting to say any more about the topic.

“Guess no alimony for you, but as a consolation prize you can be a bridesmaid.” Madison gave the man a sour look.

“Maid. Of. Honor.” She held up a finger, poking Lincoln not so gently on his chest. “Nothing less will be accepted. Now go… shoo.” Madison waved her hands in his direction. “The two of you fought earlier and now you made up, go enjoy the best part of making up.” When she saw the confused look on his face, she realized just how little experience he had in relationships. “Sex! Go enjoy makeup sex! I’m going to go to my room and put on some noise canceling headphones for the next few hours.” Madison patted the man on the shoulder as she walked away.

For Lincolns part, he watched Maddy walk away. Feeling strangely happy about how things worked out. He had liked her, lusted after her for so long and the idea of being with her was amazing, but now that it wasn’t happening. He was more than just fine with it, it felt like the two had a clean break. Where he didn’t need to pine after her anymore, the two of them were never going to be romantically entwined and that was okay. Smiling to himself, he looked from her and back to his room. His grin increasing in volume as he moved, closing the door behind him, thrilled to see Jacqueline give her that tight, tiny smile. It was just a friendly little thing Jackson used to do when he would bring his friend coffee at work, or when he was waiting for some prank to be sprung, but right now. After she had said what she did out in the living room, that tiny smile felt like it meant so much more.