Despicable - 3. Lie to Me (Part Two)

The text editor for GA tends to mess with my formatting, much to my chagrin, and mess up cues signaling a new chapter. So to differentiate the change of scene/setting and characters, I've introduced more blatant cues to make reading easier

Feedback always welcomed ❤️

Chapter 3: Lie to Me(Part Two)

SCENE A

Mateo stepped out of their shower, drying their hair with the towel, and stopping for a moment to look at the reflection in the partially steam obscured mirror. Gone was the blue hair and tight form-fitting clothing, bra and thongs they chose to wear. The make-up which masked the coming of five o'clock shadow.

“Hey Mateo,” They said quietly.

It was confusing for them. Up until a few months ago, they had no issues with their male persona. It was actually quite fun and allowed Mateo to engage in some sports his female persona wasn't exactly known for.

But now, it was almost like.....a sense of hate. The 'he' felt less attractive than the 'She'. The 'She' was confident and strong. The 'He' was safe and quiet. The epitome of perfection....what his parents silently wanted, even when supporting her,

It was suffocating and yet here in peyton, Mateo hated the sense of insecurity...it was so him and not her. Would they be forced to present male here.

Could they live with that 24/7?

Sighing, Mateo opened the door to their bathroom and walked into the bedroom and startled by the sight of their brother sitting on their bed

“Caleb.....” Mateo said, surprised.

“Hello brother,” Caleb said quietly. Mateo quickly noticed they were naked and covered their privates up to which Caleb chuckled. “Relax, we both have them...even if one of us hates it.”

“I don't hate....” Mateo began, but frowned immediately and swallowed, regaining some of his bite. “Why are you lurking in my room? I thought you weren't coming in till later tonight?”

“I have practice at our new school and felt I should get in a little earlier,” Caleb replied, as Mateo quickly put on a pair of boxers.

Mateo turned to face him.

“Great, is there anything else I can do for you or can I change in peace?”

“Into who exactly?” Caleb inquired. “Into Madison or are we sticking with Mateo? I can never keep up these days, bro.”

Mateo felt the usual sharp comment building and yet couldnt allow it to come outl

“Well, you know, I like to keep it fresh and keep the suspense going,” They replied sarcastically. “Now if you excuse me, I need to get dressed and I'd like to do so without my little brother watching me. We may live in a small town but no need to start embodying stereotypes.”

Caleb chuckled but made no move to get up. “I wanted to thank you,:” He said standing up. “I am a second year student starting in the Varsity football team with guys older than me. I'm not benched. I get to play for once.”

Mateo shrugged. “Okay, you're welcome, I guess?”

Caleb walked up and hugged his brother tightly. Mateo tensed up, not used to the affection but returned the hug.

“Just, this is my second chance.....I was making a name for myself back home and I had progress established there but we were forced to move,” Caleb said. “I love Madison, I do. But could you just be Mateo? It makes things so much easier and I know I give you grief and tease but I dont mean it to be bad. But I need my brother back....”

Caleb pulled away but kept a hand on Mateo's shoulder, who stood frozen and speechless.

“Being the brother of the guy who sometimes is a girl is a lot to take for a 15 year old who just wants to play football and enjoy high school and yet I have to protect you and....”

“Get out,” Mateo said quietly.

Caleb looked at him confused. “What? You can't possibly be mad at me for asking you to think of someone else besides yourself?”

”I said get out,” Mateo said pushing him away. “Get out of my room, now.”

“You act as if I am the bad guy here,” Caleb said exasperated. “You're almost an adult and it's fucked up that you expect us to baby you like some kid playing pretend and dress-up like he's some kind of barbie....”

Mateo slapped him across the face hard, breathing heavy. Caleb's eyes widened in shock. Mateo was never one to lash out

“Get out or so help me god they will have to pull me off of you,” they said, pushing Caleb towards the door and opening it to see his parent's standing there.

“What's going on?” Juan demanded but Mateo shoved Caleb out into the hall and into them before slamming the door and locking it

Hyperventilating, they felt the urge to cry....to scream out loud....to do the one thing they hadn't done in months.

Mateo rushed over to their bed, looking for the lighter. Grabbing the box by their bed, they ripped nto it tossing the trinkets and finding the lighter.

Flicking it, the flame came and Mateo raised their hand towards the flame but paused. When the dysphoria began years ago, Mateo often found the burns made them feel better. It hurt like hell and yet it was soothing.

But it had been 9 months since they burned and it dawned on them why. Nine months ago, Mateo had exclusively been living as Madison. It was only as Madison they didn't hurt. They didn't hate the reflection they saw. Madison had the power and Mateo...Mateo was the weakness. They killed the flame and stood up in the mirror. Mateo grabbed their lipstick and smiled softly.

Scene B

“Oh God, yes,” Keeley moaned with each thrust from David. “Oh, yes....yes, Davey. Right there, baby. Almost there.”

Dave's body knew exactly what she liked. How to move his body as an instrument for her to use for her pleasure.

They had been broken up for awhile and she had been away for the summer. He honestly hadn't wanted to fuck. He merely wanted to talk. Sex with some of the girls around here satiated him slightly but he still felt alone.

He had broken up with Keeley because she seemed to care more about him as a prop for her own ambitions and goals. Dave was popular....and aware of his talents as a football and hockey player. He was aware of his looks and yet while he appreciated the life of popularity he equally didn't care.

Keeley's body shook with pleasure and his eyes went down as her breast bounced with each thrust inside of her. She was beautiful.....one of the prettiest girls he had ever seen. She was his first. She was the first girl he let his guard down with. The first girl that he let know embarrassing secrets with. For awhile, when they dated freshman year they were normal and it felt right and he wanted her with him

2 years later, a breakup, and casual fucks...it saddened how mechanical it was. It angered him that he wanted her. It sickened him that he missed this.

He loved her....or at least love having someone who knew him the way he wanted to be known. Being alone wasn't something Dave knew how to handle well.

He felt her release and she let out a satisfied moan, pushing him aside. It dawned on Dave that he didn't come. It often was like that but he didn't care much.

“I've missed you,” He said with a smile.

“I've missed you,” She said with a chuckle. “More importantly, I've missed those muscles and your cock in me. It's good to be back home.”

She stood in his mirror and fixed her hair.

“Seriously, the guys on vacation definitely don't compare,” She said with a chuckle.

“Really? You just fucked me and you are talking about other dudes you were with,” He asked her, shaking his head.

She turned to face him. “Really? You want to play the jealous card when you broke up with me? I'm single...You chose to end things and keep it casual.”

“I know that but doesnt mean I want to hear about you and other guys,” He said to her. “It's a matter of respect. I'd never talk about the girls I've been with.”

“You dont have to because I'll hear about it when we get back to school,” She said. “I dont want to fight Why can't we just be like we usually are? Like we were before all this.”

Keeley sat back on the bed. “I miss talking and our text chains,” She said to him. “It hurt when you broke up with me so yeah I took other guys and I enjoyed myself all the while wanting you.”

She placed her hand on his cheek and smiled. A smile Dave knew all to well and he missed seeing. He smiled back and held his hand against hers.“There's a party tonight.....and everyone is expecting to see us together as one,” She said to him. “School starts shortly after. How will it look to others that the two hottest people aren't together?”

Dave's smile faltered for a moment and he sighed;

“People will talk and I dont want that for me....or you,” She said to him. “I want us to be happy. I want us to show everyone how happy we are together. How perfect we are together.”

Dave stood up and shook his head. “Keeley, for once can you stop worrying about what people think about you? You say the right things and then turn around and fuck it up.”

“I am saying what needs to be said and you know it's true,” Keeley said calmly. “I love you and you love me. And no matter how much you act as if you don't care about status, you do. You love it as much as I do. You need it...like me.”

She grabbed his hand.“I'm being selfish by wanting you and telling you I need you,” She said to him. “I don't want to settle for some random guy anymore. I want you. I want us. A power couple. I need a strong man for this strong woman and he's you, Davey.”

She kissed him on the lips softly before turning and dressing.

“Pick me up tonight at 8 and let's go get some ice cream before the party and show everyone that we found our way back to each other,” She said to him.

Dave scoffed. “I never said I wanted to be back together,” He said to her as he watched her walk towards the door.

She turned to face him and smiled. “You didn't have to,” She said to her. “I am what's best for you and you never want to disappoint me for too long. So I know you'll be there tonight to pick me up. It's why I love you; You've dependable and predictable, Davey.”

Without another word, she turned and left, closing the door behind her. Dave listened as the front door closed and heard her Nissan crank and pull out of the driveway.He growled in frustration and hurled one of his trophies at his mirror, shattering it and breaking a trophy he couldn't even remember getting.He hated being alone. But he most of all hated that she was right. Not even caring about the mess, he needed to get some air and out of his house to clear his mind. He threw on some sweats and a tank and grabbed his keys and headed down the stairs and out the door. Opening the door to his Wrangler, he paused as he saw Mateo walking out the front door.Unsure why he wanted to talk to the newbie, Dave climbed inside his jeep and pulled out, driving up to where Mateo stood on the curb of their home.

'Hey,” Dave said, as he rolled the window down.

Mateo looked up and immediately, Dave saw something different in their face from earlier. Gone was the sass and diva attitude and now lay a look of anger.

“You look like you want to punch someone,” Dave said to them.

“Are you offering?” Mateo asked.

Dave chuckled at that. “If it would make you feel better, I can take a punch. So i'll give you a freebie.”

Mateo went back to their phone, opening uber.

“I'll have to take you up on that offer sometime,” They replied. “But right now, I need to catch an uber across town to pick up my Jeep from the guy my dad brought it from.”

“Jeep?” Dave asked. “I'm definitely interested now. Why don't you save your cash and I'll give you a ride?”

“Sorry, I don't take rides from douches,” Mateo replied simply. “And I have more than enough where....”

“It wont matter if you use uber because you wont notice how much money you are spending,” Dave interjected. “Yeah, I speak spoil rich kid too as my second language. You might be richer than I am but I am not exactly poor and I like to think that stuck-up attitude you have is a defense mechanism and you are actually a pretty decent chick who has no idea that across town is a pretty bad area if you aren't careful. Especially dress like that.”

Mateo stood wearing a crop top and tight skinny jeans with stilettos;
“I Can take care of myself,” Mateo said simply.

“Perhaps,” Dave said. “But I am having a pretty shitty day and honestly, I'd like to check out your jeep as a means to give me something to do other than think about how shitty things are. So I'd like to give you a ride, if you'd let me.”

Mateo scanned his face before sighing and putting their phone in their pocket;
'Fine,” They relented. “Only because you drive a jeep. Besides you try anything and I'll mace the fuck out of you.”
Mateo opened the door and climbed inside the passenger side as Dave laughed.

“Noted,” Dave replied, as he pulled off. “By the way, you think I am a douche? You judging me based on my friend?”

“I always was told to judge a person by the company they keep,” Mateo said simply.

Dave laughed again. “I was always told to never judge a book by their cover,” He countered. “What's beneath the cover, the pages, is the story worth knowing.”

Mateo rolled their eyes but grunted in agreement.

“For the record, Parker is douche but he means well in his own way,” Dave said to him. “I like to think I am a halfway decent guy who is friendly and wants to make sure his new neighbor has a friend.”

“How charitable of you, kind sir,” Mateo said shortly.

Dave let the silence sit for a moment before he spoke. “Want to talk about it?” He asked.

Mateo glanced over at him. "Do you?” Dave didn't answer. He simply smiled as he turned the radio on to a country station

SCENE C

Caleb slid the card inside of his wallet and nodded at the cashier as he grabbed his bag and headed towards the exit. He needed a few things before his first practice. He hated admitting he was nervous but he was.

After being forced to leave his old school, he feared his college prospects were forever hampered. All the progress he made and his future on the team threatened with a move to Colorado. It took his fathers persuasion, also known as checking account, to get him on the team here.

Mateo may resent the fact that it was Caleb's sports that led them to the small town of Peyton but their high school was the best for Colorado and he had to make sure he was at the best and playing at the best. But Caleb didn't care. It was his brother's fault for the move in the first place.

He brushed passed a group of girls, who flashed smiles his way and he returned them as he kept walking He felt like a celebrity already. He hated the move and yet he was grateful, because for once...at least now, he wasn't famous for being Madison/Mateo's brother. His skills were already well-known. He was a rising star and soon a supernova coming to sweep through Peyton.

'Yo, Monroe,” A voice called out.

Caleb turned towards the Starbucks and saw on the Patio a group of guys and a couple of girls all sitting round or on the tables. He recognized some from the team and cheerleading squad. Including one of the co-captains, Parker Slater. Jogging over, he fist bumped some of the guys before Parker pulled him into a bro-hug.

“What's up man?” Caleb asked, with a smile. “Guys just coolin' it out here?”

Parker shrugged. “Pussy leads and we follow,” He said motioning to the girls, who definitely looked to be first years. Caleb laughed to himself that even in small towns, the young cheerleaders fell prey to the older football players. Anything for relevance, he guessed.

“Got ya,” Caleb said with a nod. “I just needed some new cleats and shit for practice tomorrow. Was about to head home and see what's for dinner.”

“You should stay and hang with us,” Parker said to him. “Team bonding and whatever. Plus, I am sure one of these lovely ladies would love to get to know you as well.”

Caleb glanced at the girls and felt indifferent really. He was focused on sports, not really caring about girls or relationships. He was the only 15 year old who he knew didn't give a hot damn about sex. He cared about his future.

“Sure, that's cool,” Caleb said with a shrug, placing his bag on an empty chair.

“Speaking of, and I mean no disrespect,” Parker continued. “I met your fucking hot sister earlier today. God, she's beautiful. No disrespect.”

Caleb felt a flash of anger. Not towards Parker, but towards Mateo. “My sister? Interesting”

“Is she always so feisty and.....” Parker trailed off, not wanting to offend Caleb.

'Bitchy? Entitled? Shady?” Caleb added. “I could go on.”

Parker laughed at that “I'm sensing some animosity there,” He said. “Sounds like you aren't the one I should be talking to get his sister to be nice and talk to me so I can take her out.”

“Lies,” One of the guys yelled out. “He wants to bang your sister.”

Caleb looked over at the guy, wanting to punch him in the face, yet annoyed he was even talking about Mateo. Once again, even when he has his....Mateo was a factor.

“Shut the fuck up, dude.” Parker said slapping him in the head. “Ignore this prick. I really do want to get to know her at least before anything like that happens She;s your sister so I would never disrespect teammates sister.”

He laughed though after a moment

“But yes, I do want to fuck your sister really bad.”

Caleb sighed and grabbed his bags; 'I should be getting going but I'll say this,” He said; “Tread carefully....my....sister is trouble and dangerous. She's bad for you.”

Parker thought for a second. “Wait, she doesn't have any STDs or anything, does she?” But Caleb was already walking off, getting angrier by the second.

SCENE D

Wow,” Mateo said looking at the jeep in front of them, “Just...wow.”

They glanced over to see Dave's reaction, who stood In awe;

“It's so awesome,” He said walking around the side, inspecting it; “I had no idea they came in this color .”

Dave walked around the Cherokee, which had an 6 inch lift, which was painted in confederate design all over except the roof that was orange.”
“They didn't,” The owner, Seamus replied. “I had her painted this way because well I was going through a rough time after my divorce and well this happened.”

“It did, it did,” Mateo said with a sharp breath. “It definitely did happen.”
Mateo cleared their throat, snapping Dave out of his focus, who came and stood beside them.

“How much did my father pay for this gem, exactly?” Mateo asked curiously.

“Six grand,” Seamus replied, handing the keys over. “It will definitely go to good use. I appreciate your business, Ma'am.:”

Mateo nodded and thanked him for his time and the jeep before turning back to Dave. “Well, considering the circumstances, I guess I shouldn't be entirely ungrateful.”

“I should head back,” Dave said with a small smile. “I may have made a mess and probably should go clean it up before my mom freaks.”

Mateo smiled and chuckled softly at that, much to Dave's surprise. "What?”

"It's the first time since I met you, I haven't seen you scowl and actually laugh,” Dave noted. “You're prettier when you do smile.”

Mateo rolled their eyes but smiled even more. “That was like a backhanded compliment, but thank you.”

“So before I go, there's party tonight. End of summer bash. A good way to meet some people and get really drunk,” Dave said. “You should come.:

“I'll consider it,” Mateo said turning and walking towards the driver's side.

“Well, could I get your number?” Dave asked. “Send you the details? Although, I have to confess. I May have forgotten your name earlier dealing with Parker.”

Mateo shook their head but paused for a second. It was a choice...they made it. It was time to start living their truth, their way,

“Madison,” She replied. “You can call me Madison.”

Hey Madison