Bebe Goes To Hollywood free porn video

"I wouldn't give you two cents for all your fancy rules if, behind them, they didn't have a little bit of plain, ordinary, everyday kindness and a little looking out for the other fella, too." ~ Jimmy Stewart as Jefferson Smith from 'Mr Smith Goes to Washington' XXXX "Oscar," Joanne asked politely, as she and John settled into the backseat of the tow car, "would you mind if I close the privacy partition for a few minutes? I am sorry, but I need to talk to Bebe for a moment." "Not at all, ma'm," Oscar smiled into the rear view mirror and raised the divider for her. John sat on the back seat with Joanne and looked at his phone where there was a slew of texts. From Ella - HEY MOVIE STAR! HOW'D IT GO? - IS ANNA KENDRICK AS CUTE IN PERSON? - CALL WHEN YOU'RE OUT - LOVE YA From MK - IF THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER STAR, I'M AVAILABLE - GOOD LUCK LOVE - IF YOU SEE A JONAS BROTHER (PREFERABLY NICK) GIVE HIM MY INFO!!! - DYING TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR DAY. WANNA DO SOMETHING TONIGHT? LMK From Blaine - LOVE YOU - EVERYTHING OK? I'M THINKING OF YOU. HOPE ALL IS GOING GREAT - LOVE YOU. BE A SUPERSTAR John sighed as he shut off his screen and looked to Joanne. "Well, That didn't exactly go to plan, did it?" Joanne said. John shook his head. "Thank you, mom. I really appreciate your help." Joanne smirked. "Look, Bebe, you know I love you and nothing would make me happier than to have you call me 'mom,' but if you're doing it because you don't want me to talk to you about what happened or if you're just going to try to manipulate me, then it won't work." "I'm not," John said, quietly. "You and Rose are kinda like my moms, now. I talk to my mom and all, but between her new life with Mr McManus and the fact that I don't think she really understands any of my life out here, I really need some moms. Do you mind if I just keep calling you 'mom?'" "Of course not, then, honey." Joanne touched John's smooth face. "Now... about this surgery..." "I'm sorry that you found out that way. I really did intend to talk to you and Blaine this weekend." "That's fine, but, listen - you know that I worked in the medical field and I'm aware that the this is a very personal decision, but... well, I'm only trying to watch out for your health, so do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" "No. You can ask me anything." "Thank you, Bebe. First, does your therapist approve of you doing this?" "Absolutely. If you'd like to come to my next session, I'd be fine with that." "No, Bebe, that's ok. I just... I just worry. You understand, right? I mean, you're out here, pretty much by yourself. Ed and Rose are great and all, but they're barely adults themselves. The same goes for Nancy and she...well, she's doing well, now... but you understand why I'm concerned?" "I do, and thank you, mom. To tell you the truth, as much as I love Ed and Rose, I realized recently that I look to you and Don as parents more and more. Your opinion is more important to me than you could possibly understand. I'm sorry if I disappointed you, today." "Disappoint me!? Bebe, I am constantly and continually in awe of you - your courage as a young man caught in a medical conundrum, your courage to become a young woman, your courage to come out here so young, and your courage an actress when you take over a set and do what you feel is right instead of just saying the lines - and now, the courage you're displaying as you head into a life changing surgery... Bebe - you are, truly, unbelievable. You could not possibly disappoint me." She reached over and hugged the child next to her. "I love you, Bebe, and I always will." "I love you, too, mom," John was relieved, "but... how do you think Blaine will take the news?" "I think he'll be confused, honey. He's a teenaged boy. Teenaged boys live in a world of confusion. I doubt that he's given much thought to you even having a penis for a long time, but he'll need to face that fact, now, so - Yeah, he'll be confused, but he'll be ok." John nodded. "Ok. Maybe we should go to your place first, then, so I can tell him right now." Joanne shrugged. "Sure, honey. If that's what you want, but... you've had a hell of day already. Are you sure that you're up for this today? I mean, talking to a teenaged boy about removing a penis is bound to be difficult. Blaine's penis is pretty much his best friend." She chuckled at that and John smiled. "Mine used to be my best friend, too, but... I guess my friend betrayed me." Joanne nodded. "Ok." She pushed the button to lower the privacy panel and said, "Thank you, Oscar. I'm sorry about that." "Not at all, Ma'm," Oscar smiled. "Change of plan, Oscar. We're going to stop by my house for a few minutes. Then, I'll still need a ride back to Bebe's to pick up my car. Is that ok?" "I'm all yours, ma'm. Whatever you want." XXX Joanne poured lemonade for John and Blaine and looked at the two of them sitting at the kitchen table. So cute, together. Why couldn't they just be a normal boy and girl? Why did everything have to be so damned complicated? "Alright," Joanne put the pitcher back into the refrigerator. "I'll leave you two alone." She touched Blaine's shoulder as she headed to the door. The boy was obviously concerned about why they were having this conversation. She'd intended that her touch would offer some support, but, instead, she just made him more concerned. She nodded to John, smiled and left. Once in the living room, Joanne picked up her tablet, opened her Kindle app and continued reading a book she'd started about a week ago. It was a detective story. Not bad, not great. Drugs, kidnapping, guns and sex, nothing out of the ordinary for this kind of thing. Easy to read. As she turned a page, she heard some noises that sounded like concerned voices coming from the kitchen. Obviously, Bebe had told him. Joanne stopped reading and listened. The tone stayed the same for a few sentences, but eventually she could make out words that sounded more excited and most of those words came from Blaine. "I'm not saying it's wrong," her son said, "I'm saying that you don't have to do it. We're fine the way we are." This was not what she'd expected Blaine to say. She rose and listened at the doorway. "Blaine," Bebe was saying, "please, try to understand. I need to do this." "No, Bebe, you don't 'need' to do it, you 'want' to do it and you don't have to. I love you just like you are." "And I love you, too, Blaine, and I want to, someday, be able to be with you - like a man and a woman. I'm not meant to have this... THING between my legs. I have to get rid of it." "No!" Blaine was more scared than anything else. "No!? Are you trying to forbid me from doing this, Blaine?" "No, I'm not but... please... don't do it. Please." Feeling it was time to become a mediator, Joanne entered the kitchen where Blaine was leaning against one counter and Bebe was leaning against another at the polar opposite end of the large kitchen. "Blaine?" Joanne's voice was quiet and confident. "Are you ok, honey? What's going on?" "You know what's going on, mom," he said, on the verge of tears. "She wants to have a surgery that she doesn't need. You know about these things. Please, tell her not to do it." "Blaine, honey," Joanne made the classic adult mistake of chuckling at the rampant emotions of her son, "you're over reacting..." "Over reacting!? Mom! People die in surgery! No! I don't want to loose her! Make her see some reason, please!" John looked from Blaine to Joanne and back again, confused and a little frightened by Blaine's reaction. After all, after John, the person who stood to benefit the most from this surgery was Blaine, not Immediately, of course, but some day. "Honey," Joanne tried to get Blaine to see reason, "calm down..." "Calm down!? Mom! I've read that, like, thirty-percent of people die from the anesthesia, alone!" "Blaine, that's a pretty big exaggeration..." "I don't care, mom! If there is a zero-point-zero-zero-zero-zero-one percent chance that something bad can happen to her, then it's not worth the risk! I don't want to lose her mom!" Joanne was speechless. Blaine looked to John. "Please. Please, don't do this." John could not figure out what to do or say, so he turned and ran for the door, not knowing where he'd go, just needing to think. "Bebe!" Joanne ran after John, but stopped at the door and turned to Blaine. "Aren't you going after her!?" "Aaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhh!" Blaine groaned, frustrated and frightened, he slammed his fists on the marble countertop and ran out the door behind his mother. They caught up with Bebe as she turned the corner and was headed for Oscar and the town car. Joanne passed him, grabbed hold of him and pulled him into a big hug. John sobbed and shook, not certain of the the reasons for Blaine's stubbornness. "Oh, momma," he cried. "Oh, momma, I don't know what to do." "Shh, Shh, baby," Joanne whispered. "It'll be ok. Just come back inside." "Is everything ok?" Oscar asked as he came closer to the group. "Ms Bebe, are you ok?" "She's fine, Oscar," Blaine said, dismissively. "It's a family issue. Just wait in the car." "Blaine!" Joanne yelled at her son's insensitivity. Oscar understood, more than anyone, that he was from a different class than his clientele, and he understood that the younger the person was, the more untitled he was. Even though he had shared a good deal of off- work time with the young man, this dismissive behavior did not surprise him. "No offense, Mr Blaine," Oscar said as he moved to stand beside Joanne as she embraced Bebe, "I don't work for you. I work for Ms Bebe and she seems pretty upset. Now, I don't know what exactly happened here, but I think it might be a good idea if you gave Ms Bebe a few minutes. Maybe you should go back in the house until she calms down." Blaine couldn't believe he was being spoken to in this manner by anyone, let alone by a driver. Before he could speak, though, Joanne said, "That's a very good idea, Oscar. Blaine, give us a few minutes. We'll meet you in the kitchen when we're ready." Blaine couldn't believe it! What the heck was wrong with everybody!? Why couldn't anyone see how wrong everything was!? "Fine!" Blaine finally said with frustrated rage and he turned and stormed back into the house. "I'll leave you to it, ma'm," Oscar said with a deep, warm voice. "If you need me, I'll be in the car." "Wait," Joanne stopped him. "Could you...?" She indicated John's sobbing form. "Of course," he smiled and took the child to his chest as Joanne hurried back into the house. She found Blaine sulking in the kitchen. "Mom, " He was still revved up, "you've got to talk to her..." "Now, just stop, right now," Joanne interrupted him. "That girl is desperate and you just made her feel worse." "But mom!" "But nothing, Blaine! We've been through this before. You behaved horribly when Bebe first told you about her condition and you're behaving horribly, now, too. How would you feel if you thought that you were one kind of person, then found out that you weren't? That you were something, not completely different from what you thought, but partway in between one sex and another? How would you feel? Haven't you ever thought about how difficult this is for her?" Blaine remained quiet and looked everywhere except into his mother's eyes. "Well, please, Blaine, put yourself in her place. You were confused, frightened, alone, in a new city when you found a boy who loved you and made you feel whole. Wouldn't that make you feel better?" Blaine still didn't talk. "But you knew that you could never be with that boy the way that you wanted to be. Kinda sucks, Blaine, doesn't it?" "I guess." "Look, Blaine," she took a deep breath, "Bebe is an amazing girl and I understand why you love her, but, Blaine, she's not... complete... and that is a big problem, honey. She's not talking about unnecessary surgery. She's talking about corrective surgery, baby. If she had a leaky valve in her heart, she'd have to have it fixed. If she had a bone spur in her foot, she'd have to have it fixed. Blaine... she has a penis where she's supposed to have a vagina. It makes her feel incomplete, honey. She needs to be made complete and this, very safe, tried and true procedure is what she NEEDS to do. Can't you understand that?" Blaine wiped a tear from his cheek. "Mom." He still could not look directly at his mother. "Last year, this kid from my class, Eric Heffernan... he went into the hospital for a simple hernia operation and, once they had him under sedation and started working on him... everything went wrong and... he was a healthy fifteen year old kid, mom, and he was... gone. Dead. Fifteen, mom, and dead. Everyone said it was a 'routine operation' but he died, mom. He died! How old is Bebe?" Joanne felt everything drain from her. The poor boy. He'd never told her about this. Well... maybe he had. Before Bebe came into the picture, she and Blaine had been drifting apart for several years - really since she'd remarried. Now, mostly because Bebe included Joanne in almost everything they did, Joanne and her son were closer than ever. She crossed the room and touched his face. "She's fifteen, honey, but that's not going to happen to her." "How do you know?" "I know, Blaine. I know where the procedure will be done and I know the doctors who will do it. She'll be in the most capable hands in the world, honey. I promise you. She will be fine." Blaine looked out the window where Oscar was still holding Bebe. "I love her, mom. I love her so.. much. I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost her." Joanne moved closer and stroked his arms. "You're not going to lose her, Blaine. She's going to be fine and you're going to have a long, happy life together." Blaine chocked back his emotion. "Yeah?" "Yeah, honey. You guys are going to grow old, fat and happy together and you're going to adopt and raise up beautiful babies that I can spoil rotten. I promise." He nodded and she hugged him. "Now, go talk to her. You really gave her a pretty big scare." He looked out the window a moment longer and he realized that he'd have to face more than just Bebe. "Mom. What do I say to Oscar. I was such an asshole." "Well," Joanne smiled, "I'd usually say, 'Watch your language,' but you're right, you were an asshole. So, go out there. Apologize to Oscar. Shake his hand and, if he allows you to get near Bebe, hug her and bring her back in here so you can tell her how much you love her, how much you want for her to be happy, and how you're going to support her as she goes through this procedure. Sound good?" Blaine let his arms unfold. He took a deep breath and nodded. "Sounds good." XXX Nancy's condo was empty when John got back at 6:30 that night. Joanne had wanted to come up and sit with him, but he said he was too tired, and he was, but when his phone rang and the ID said 'MK' he was happy she'd called. He pressed the green button. "Hey, MK. What's up?" "'What's up,' she asks," his friend's flippant voice came through loud and clear. "What do you mean by sending me a text that says 'worst day ever' and then not responding to my questions?" "Sorry," John made a face as he realized that he'd never gotten back to her after they'd left the studio. "Sorry, my ass, young lady," MK scolded. "Now, push the button and open the freaking door to this building. We're coming up." "We?" "Yeah. Ella and me. We brought sushi. Open the door." John almost shook with happiness. These girls knew he was hurting and had come all the way from Beverly Hills to comfort him. He wanted to be alone and just have a good cry, but this was so much better. He pushed the button on the security panel, opened the door and waited for the elevator to arrive on his floor. When Nancy arrived home at eight thirty that night, she found her little brother sprawled on the floor with his two closest girl-friends, empty carry-out food boxes on her coffee table, red Solo cups half- filled with soda and 'A Walk To Remember' playing on the television. It didn't take a great detective to know that this was an estrogen-fueled- pity-party. After saying her hellos to Ella and MK, Nancy invited John into the kitchen for a moment. "Something go wrong, today?" She asked. "Nothing went right," John scoffed. "Everything was a mess. The fitting session... Blaine... everything. I hope you don't mind that the girls are here. They came to cheer me up. I didn't even invite them. I saved you some sushi in the fridge." Nancy pushed a few stray hairs behind John's ears. "Do you want to tell me about it, Johnny?" John glanced back to the girls. "Could were, maybe talk tomorrow? I kinda had to edit a lot when I talked to them, and..." he let it hang there. "Oh," Nancy's eyes opened wide. "Oh! They didn't... see it, did they?" John shrugged. "It's a long story, but everything's alright for now." "Soooo," Nancy looked at John with a questioning expression, "you're still doing the movie, right?" "Oh, yeah, nothing's changed. It was Anna and Lily who saw... it, and they say that they're fine with it. I don't think they'll say anything." Nancy acknowledged that. "Was Joanne with you?" John chuckled. "Nan, you should have seen her. She was like a lioness defending her cub. I think the costumers are actually petrified of her. She took good care of me." Nancy joined his chuckle at the thought of sweet, quiet Joanne not just protecting Johnny, but scaring the costumers. "That's good, Johnny. Now, give me hug." They hugged tightly, two dark haired peas in a pod. One a younger version of the other. When the hug ended, Nancy ran her hand through John's soft, shiny hair and smiled. "You'll let me know if you need anything, right, Johnny?" He smiled back at his sister. "I'm fine, Nan. Honestly, I am. I promise." She smiled and nodded, accepting the response. "And the girls? Are they spending the night?" John looked over his shoulder, then back to Nancy. "Would you mind?" Nancy's smile grew wide. "They're good girls, Johnny. I'm glad you have them. They're always welcome here. There's blankets in the linen closet." John smiled and hugged her again. "Thanks, Nan. Love you." He hustled off to tell the girls. As Nancy pulled a plate of sushi out of the refrigerator, she heard a cheer rise from the living room, followed by shouts of, "Thanks, Nancy! You're the best! Woo hoo!" XXX At 9:45 the next morning, John's phone began to vibrate on the floor next to where he was sleeping. "Bebe," Ella shook his shoulder. "Bebe. Your phone is ringing." John snorted himself awake and looked around as he tried to shake the late night of teen-angst-movies and female camaraderie out of his brain. He grabbed his phone and saw that it was an 'unknown' number, but he accepted the call, anyway. "Hello?" "Bebe?" The voice came through the speaker. It was a familiar voice, but John couldn't imagine it was who he thought it was. "This is Bebe." By now, MK and Ella were both sitting up and rubbing the sleep from their eyes. "Hi, Bebe," the voice cheered up as it spoke. "This is Anna. I'm just calling to see if you're ok." Suddenly wide awake, John sat bolt upright, the straps of yellow camisole he was wearing as a pajama top slipping from his shoulders. "Anna! Umm... hi. Umm, yeah, I'm ok, thanks. I mean... yeah... I'm fine, thanks." "Anna!?" Ella jumped closer to hear and giggled. "As in Anna Kendrick!?" MK moved in tightly on the other side. John nodded. "Look, Bebe, I feel really bad about everything that happened yesterday and, well, I was thinking... if you're free this afternoon, maybe you'd like to come over to a little restaurant by the studio and have some lunch. I mean, I'm recording here today and we could, you know, get to know each other a little." John glanced at the clock and at his friends. "Oh, well, you know, I'd love to but, my friends came over last night to cheer me up and they're still here, and..." "Well, bring them along," Anna said. "I'd love to meet them." "Seriously?" John asked as Ella and MK made silent cheering motions. "Sure," Anna said. "And bring your mom if she's available. I liked her. Your boyfriend, too if he wants to spend an afternoon with a bunch of girls." "Oh, Umm, Wow, ok, thanks. Ummm, what time and where?" "There's a little Armenian place, just down the street from the studios, called 'The Gentle Lentil.' How about one thirty? Sound good?" Before he answered, he thought of something. "Oh, ooo, I just thought... can I bring my sister, too?" Anna laughed. "Of course. Now, is she your real sister or is she your sister like your mom is your mom?" John let out a nervous giggle. "No. She's my real sister. I'm living with her right now and I don't think she's working, today. You wouldn't mind?" The smile in Anna's voice was obvious. "Bring anyone you'd like, Bebe. I'll see you and your whole crew at The Gentle Lentil at one thirty. Bye." "Bye," John hit the 'end' button and there was an instant scream of joy from Ella and MK. "We're having lunch with Anna Kendrick!" MK yelled. "With Beca Mitchell!!" Ella joined in as they both erupted into shouts and dances. "What's going on in here?" A disheveled, tired and recently awakened Nancy asked from the entrance to the hallway. "Get dressed," John said as he and his friends rocketed past her and headed for his bedroom. "We're all having lunch with Anna Kendrick!" "Can I borrow a dress?" Ella yelled to John as MK skidded to a stop. "Yeah! Of course," John yelled. "Come on MK!" "What? Me too?" Nancy yelled down the hall, as MK skidded to a stop and turned to face Nancy. "Yeah, you too!" John called back from inside his room. "And can you call Joanne and Blaine and tell them to get dressed and meet us here by twelve thirty? I'll call Oscar and see if he can drive us." Nancy shook the sleep from her head. "Oh, ok." Then she spotted MK standing in the hall, waiting to say something. "MK? Do you need something?" "Um, yeah, Nancy. Could I, maybe borrow a dress from you? Those two are a lot more flat chested than me and even though you're... well... you're closer to my size." "Yeah, yeah, of course," Nancy nodded and smiled, happy to be included in the girls' fun. "Come on in. I'll show you what I have." "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" XXX The Gentle Lentil was a small place, set just off the main road near Disney's recording studios. The Hagopian family had been serving good food from the Armenian tradition for nearly a century and they didn't need to advertise. They catered to the Hollywood elite and kept a very low profile. The sign on the door to the restaurant was no bigger than an index card and without knowing it's location, people would pass it by without a second thought. Luckily, Oscar knew where it was. Anna Kendrick was speaking to the proprietors as a parade of people entered, led by her young costar, Bebe Foley. "Hi, Beebs," she called out, as she came over to hung John. "Bebe, you have got to stop dressing so beautifully! I always feel like bum next to you. This dress is beautiful!" She fingered the soft material of the skirt of the pale, blue sundress with tiny with flowers. It hung loose and pretty from John's shoulders, blousing at his breasts and contracting again at his waist before blossoming out again into a flowing, feminine, umbrella of a skirt that ended just at his knees. "Oh, thank you, Anna," John smiled broadly as he made the introductions, "this is my friend, Ella, my friend, MK, my boyfriend, Blaine." "Whoa," Anna stopped at Blaine for a moment and looked him over. "You ARE a good looking guy. No wonder she's crazy about you." Blaine blushed and said, "I'm crazy about her, too." Anna laughed and smiled that big, trade mark smile of hers. "I'm glad to hear it." She moved on in the line, "Oh, and here's momma," she said to Blaine's mom. "Good to see you again, Joanne." "You, too, Anna, and thank you for having us all." "This is my good friend, Oscar," John continued. "Oscar? We've meet before, haven't we?" Anna asked. "Yes, Ms Kendrick. I'm a driver. I've driven you several times. I'm, kinda, Ms Bebe's personal driver, now." Oscar shook her hand and acted almost apologetic that he'd been invited in for lunch. "You're not my driver, you're my friend, Oscar," John said. "You just happen to have access to big cars." Oscar laughed. "And this is my sister, Nancy." "Oh, my goodness," Anna laughed. "Talk about family resemblances! You two look like you were made in the same mold! My brother and I look a little similar, but... wow! Hi, Nancy. I'm Anna." "Oh, I know," Nancy said, nervously. "We hear that we look alike all the time. Thank you, so much, for including us all. It means so much to the kids to get to meet you. Oh, well, it means a lot to me, too!" Anna laughed, "Well. It means a lot to me to get to know all of you, too. Let's sit down and get things started." There was a large, round table set up towards the left side of the small restaurant. They all took their seats around it with John and Nancy set like bookends on either side of Anna Kendrick. There were a couple of other, small parties of diners in the restaurant as well. Most were hidden in small alcoves with drapes drawn to offer privacy. John had brought so many people with him that their party could not fit into one of those little cubby holes, so they were in the larger, open part of the room. "Are you ever mistaken for Bebe?" Anna asked Nancy as things settled in. "Just from a distance. Once they get close and see that I'm a lot older, they usually just smile and move on." "You do look uncannily alike," Anna looked from one side to the other. "Well, Bebe, at least you know that you'll be gorgeous when you're in your twenties. Nancy, have you done any acting?" "Just a little when I was in high school," Nancy was enjoying the conversation with and compliments from this movie star. "I did a few plays in school and I was in a few of the Shakespearean plays with a rep-company on Cape Cod. That's the same theater troupe that Johnny, Rose and Ed were all working for when they were cast in 'Civil Disobedience.'" "Johnny?" Anna asked. "Was That Bebe's name before..." John and Nancy both held their breath, realizing that Nancy's faux pas had indicated to Anna that John's secret was common knowledge with everyone around the table. Thankfully, Joanne had her wits about her and interrupted the star. "Oh, Anna," she laughed, casually, "you should have known Bebe a year ago when we all met her. An awkward tomboy who hated all things girly. Nancy always called her 'Johnny' as a bit of a sisterly tease." "It's true," Ella joined the conversation. "When Bebe first came to our school, she only had her school uniform skirt and a few, uninteresting pieces of clothes." She indicated herself and MK. "Mary Katherine and I had a heck of a time turning her into this fetching creature, here." Anna laughed at the overly-mature manner in which Ella had spoken, and use of the word 'fetching' was adorable. She also realized that the girls were oblivious to Bebe's gender history. "That's the truth," MK laughed. "When we fixed her up with Blaine, she was actually mad that we made her buy a new dress to go out on a date. Can you believe that?" "Oh, Bebe," Anna teased, "buying a new dress is the best part of a date! I certainly hope that you've learned your lesson." "Oh, she's learned it, and then some," Blaine shook his head and looked to Oscar for support, who just smiled. "I can't tell you the last time I saw her in anything other than a dress and she must have four hundred in her closet. Not to mention the shoes and jewelry and everything else." "It was like she was brought up by wolves," MK laughed at her friend. "Or like she was brought up as a boy," Ella added. Anna laughed at the roasting of her young costar. "But now, you're a perfect young lady, Bebe?" She squeezed his soft hand. "I try," John laughed, relieved that Anna seemed to understand the situation. "Well, believe me," Nancy spoke to the girls, "she certainly didn't get all this girly-girl stuff from me or my mother. She gets all of that from you guys and Cousin Rose. I'd much rather wear jeans and sneakers." By this time, the waitresses had delivered pitchers of lemonade and iced tea for the kids and Oscar, who couldn't drink while working, and glasses of surprisingly delicious Armenian pomegranate wine for the older women. Anna held up a glass and offered a toast. "To all of you, who took Bebe from Tom-boyhood to womanhood. Great job, everyone!" They all clinked glasses and laughed. The meal was delicious - Hummus, cheese and olives for appetizers, lamb, beef and chicken kebabs with rice for the main course and sweet, sticky Baklava for dessert. Everything was amazing and very different from the 'California Cuisine' that they all tended to eat. As the meal was wrapping up, Anna called for a check. "Oh, let me pay for it," John tried to insist. "I brought too many people." "Don't be silly," Anna smiled. "You're all my guests and I haven't had this much at lunch in ages." Then the waitress said, "The bill has already been taken care of, Ms Kendrick." Both Anna and John were surprised. "By who?" Anna asked. "By me," Don Ferry clapped his hands as he approached the table. He leaned over and kissed John's cheek. "How are you, sweetness?" "Don!?" John said in surprise. "What are you doing here?" "I might ask you the same thing, my dear. I was having lunch with Bruce Willis and Kurt Russell about a charity event next week, but I was surprised to see all of you here. The Gentle Lentil is one of LA's best kept secrets. I assume that this lovely lady introduced you to it." He turned and offered his hand to Anna Kendrick. "Hello, Anna. Nice to see you, again." "Don, how nice!" Anna stood and shook his hand as she air-kissed his cheek. "It's been a while." Don's money-making smile was beaming to everyone at the table. "It has, Anna. The fundraiser for the governor's re-election, I believe. Now, I need you to take good care of my little girl here on that set of that movie, ok?" "I promise, Don," Anna smiled at John. "She's in good hands with Lily and me." Don looked around the table, "Blaine, Oscar, how we doing boys?" They both smiled and responded that they were fine. "Nancy, Joanne," he continued, "looking as beautiful as always." They both thanked him. "And the rest of the wreaking-crew," he smiled at the young women. "It's Ella and Mary Katherine, right?" Flattered that a star of Don's stature would remember their names, the both glowed with joy. MK didn't even bother to correct him - she HATED being called Mary Katherine and it had already happened twice during this meal. "May I steal my favorite child for a moment, Anna," Don smiled as he helped John move his chair away from the table. "You certainly may, but bring her back quickly, please," Anna laughed. Don escorted John to the other side of the restaurant and he indicated that he should sit. When they were settled, Don leaned forward and spoke quietly. "I have spoken to the production company and with the clinic. We've worked out a schedule for the filming the shiow, your surgery and a recovery period. Barring any complications, you should be all set. I'll text everything to you later. Ok?" John took a deep breath and gave Don a worried smile. "Thanks, Don." "Huh," Don sat back a bit. "You look worried, Angel. I thought that this is what you wanted." John shrugged. "It is, but it's just... scary, I guess. I mean, it's surgery and all. Anyway, I'll let Rose and Ed know the schedule, if Ed says it's ok, then we'll do it." Don laughed quietly at that. Uncle Ed protecting his young charge. Don watched him as John glanced at the table where Anna and his friends and family were sitting. "Tell me, baby, how many of them know?" "Everyone except Oscar, Ella and MK." "Anna, too?" "Anna and Lily. There was... an incident... at the fitting. They saw." "The costumers?" John shook his head. Don looked at the happy group across the room. "Let me ask you something." He paused as he thought. "Aside from Rose, Ed, Blaine and Joanne - who have been your closest friends since you moved out here?" John glance at the table across the room where his friends were in heaven, dining with one of their movie-star idols. "You think I should tell them?" "Yeah, sweetheart, I do. I mean, forget about the studios and the publicity machine. Forget about the no-disclosure agreements and all the other bullshit. Those two girls, and Kylie, too, they have been with you every step of the way. They have loved you and helped you become a beautiful, happy, young woman. How do you think they'd feel if they heard about it later? It'd break their hearts, sweetie." John nodded. "You don't have to do it now, but don't wait too long, ok?" He nodded, again. "What about Oscar? You think he'll understand?" "Of course he will. Why?" John shrugged. "Well, Ed and Blaine were kinda freaked out at first and they're family. Do you think Oscar will be ok?" Don considered this. "I think so. He's older than Ed and Blaine and he's a father with daughters and I think he already thinks of you as a daughter of sorts. He very protective of you. I think he'll be fine." Suddenly, a burst of laughter came from the group and Oscar starting singing, "Don't you forget about me As you walk on by." Then the girls joined in, singing the Barton Bellas' finale from the movie Pitch Perfect. "Will you call my name As you walk on by Will you call my name As you walk on by Will you call my name I say..." Now everyone was singing and making a Breakfast Club fist pump into the air "La La, la, la, la-a La, la, la, la-a La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la" At which point their laughter took over the singing. "I hate to bring them down," John sighed. "Hey," Don said as he took John's hand and kissed it. "Better now than later and better from you than from someone else." John nodded. "Ok. I'll do it." "Attagirl," Don stood and offered a hand. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's get you back to your friends. Call me if you need anything. Ok? And I mean anything." XXX It was eight o'clock that evening when Blaine kissed his girlfriend good night. "Do you want me to stay? I mean, I know I overreacted when you told me, but I'm cool with it, now." John stood on the toes of his bare feet and kissed Blaine, gently. "I know you are, but... this is kind of a girl thing, you know?" He smiled and kissed John once more. "Ok. Love you." "Love you, too." And he left the apartment. When she heard the door close, Nancy peeked into the foyer. "Everything ok?" John nodded. "Blaine just left." She glanced into the living room. Nancy had never been much for housecleaning, but the mess generated by having teenagers staying with her was a bit overwhelming. She knew that this was not the appropriate time to address that issue, though. She looked at John, again. "You can wait until tomorrow if you want. You don't have to tell them right now." "Better to get it over with, though, Nan. I'm going to do it, now." Nancy kissed him. "Ok. I'll be in my room if you need me." She smiled, squeezed his hand and walked away. MK was flipping through Netflix options as John reentered. "What do you guys want to watch? Action? Animated? Romcom? Teen angst?" "Hey," John pulled an ottoman over and sat in front of the girls. "Do you guys think that, maybe, we could talk for a bit." "Talk?" Ella sat up. "That's the one thing MK is qualified to do." "Damned straight," MK sat up and shut off the TV. "Listening, though, that's another story altogether. I'm not so good at that." John smiled at his friends. "I kinda need you to listen, too. This is kinda important." "Ok, Beebs," Ella suddenly took on a serious tone to match John's. "What's up?" "Well," he sighed, "I'm going to be having some surgery in a couple of months and I just thought I should talk to you about it." "Wow," MK's smile diminished. "Sounds serious. It's not, like, cancer or anything, is it?" John looked at her, confused, but Ella spoke first. "Just stop, MK. Let her talk." John looked from one to the other, trying to figure out what they thought they knew. "Ok, look, this is kind of a weird thing to say, but..." MK started. "Shut up, shut up, shut up," Ella muttered through clenched teeth. "No," MK said, then looked back at John, "Are you trying to tell us that you are really a boy?" John's eyes shot wide and his mouth hung open. "What?" "Shit!" Ella said. "I told you to shut up. She was only kidding, Beebs. What were you going to say?" John sat, still dumbfounded, and stared at his friends in disbelief. A moment passed and then another until MK finally said, "Oh, my God it's true." Her voice was quiet, but full of wonder. Ella looked from MK to John. "Is it? Are you really a boy?" The look on John's face spoke volumes. "No, really!?" MK was amazed. "I mean, I was like eighty percent joking." "It is true," Ella finally said with both shock and a bit of annoyance. "Damnit." She reached for her pocketbook and pulled out her wallet. She opened the wallet and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and handed it to MK. "Here. I guess you get this back." MK laughed. "Ha! Come to mama!" She folded the bill and placed it in her bra. "Wait, Wait," John stuttered. "What's going on?" "Well," MK was very full of herself. "Back on the first day you came to school, I bet Ella twenty dollars that you were a boy." "A couple of months later, when we went to the spa, we saw your breasts and your swimsuit was flat in front, so I figured that you were a girl and made her pay-up." "But I was right, all along!" MK clapped her hands. "Seriously, though, you had us fooled until you admitted it." John was baffled by what was happening around him. He had been petrified of hurting his friends and now he felt a little hurt himself. Ella realized he wasn't joining in their fun. "Hey, Beebs... it doesn't matter. We love you, no matter what. You know that right?" She touched his arm. "I don't know what I know," John said. "I didn't think you even suspected... I mean... did anyone else know?" He was beginning to look and sound desperate. "Oh, honey, no," Ella soothed. "It was really just because you were so, well, awkward, I guess is the right word. You didn't know anything about being a girl. Your makeup was really basic, your clothes outside of school all looked as if someone else chose them for you, things like that. No one else got to know you like we did." "She's right," MK agreed. "Honestly, I was just teasing. I figured you were just a tomboy, or maybe homeschooled- awkward. Something like that." John buried his face in his hands and shook his head for a moment before lifting his head up again and looking at the ceiling, sighing. "Argh, why does everything have to be so difficult!?" He said in frustration. Then he looked at the floor to his left as he thought for a moment. "I'm sorry I lied, guys. I just couldn't really tell you the truth." "No probs," MK smiled a sisterly smile, then planted a gentle punch on John's upper arm, "bro." John nodded, "Very funny." They sat in silence for a moment or two until MK couldn't keep quiet any more. "Soooooooo... is your really name Johnny?" John nodded. "Well, John. Only Nancy ever called me Johnny." "And what?" MK persisted. "You just always knew that you were a girl in a boy's body?" "No. I never really thought about it until last year." He gave them a quick synopsis of his gender issues and how he'd come to terms with everything. "Soooooo..." MK said, again, but this time she has a mischievous smile, "Do you have penis, now?" John nodded, a little ashamed that he did. "How come we never saw it in your panties or bathing suit?" Ella finally felt comfortable enough to ask a question. "I keep it tucked and I use a gaff," John explained. "To tell you the truth, with the amount of hormones I've been on, it's always soft, now and it's even gotten a little smaller." "Can we see?" MK asked, mostly in jest, but still curious. "No!" John shouted, hoping she was kidding. "Does Blaine know?" Ella pushed MK to the side in mock frustration. "Yeah. I told him a long time ago. Right after he gave me this necklace." "And he's ok with it?" MK was skeptical. "It took a few hours, but he said he loved me, so - yeah, he was ok with it." They both smiled at that for a moment. Then Ella asked, "What's it like?" "What?" "Being a boy." "Well..." John contemplated. "I don't know. I mean... it was just how I was." "What was it like to become a girl?" MK asked. "Ummm.... You know... it started just for a play, but since I had to kinda live that way due to the breast forms, I guess it was kind of like a game for a few weeks. Rose had fun dressing me up like a doll and I think she kind of enjoyed freaking Ed out." "Did it make you feel different?" Ella asked, delicately. "Yeah. A lot different. I felt... kind of naughty, at first, I guess, and then... I wouldn't admit it at first, but I just felt... right, after a while." The girls just nodded. That made sense to them. "When I started auditioning for the show, it was for a boy's part, so I was really clumsy, looking like a girl and acting like a boy. It was Don's idea to try it is a girl. Then Nancy was concerned and made me go see a doctor who diagnosed me as intersexed, so it looked like I was suppose to be a girl all along. And now, I can't imagine not being one." "Well," MK smiled, "you're pretty damned good at it, young fellow," making them all chuckle a little. "Well, 'Johnny,'" Ella teased, "I cannot tell you how happy I am that MK and I taught you how to be a pretty, little thing and helped you to get a handsome stud as a boyfriend." MK smirked at Ella and said, with glib pride, "We are freaking awesome," and they high-fived each other. Eventually, they settled in to watch the Broadway version of 'Newsies' on TV and as they all stared at the screen, they girls started asking playful questions. John answered them all, but none of them ever took their eyes from the screen. "Did you like girls before?" "I guess." "Were you ever in love with a girl?" "I thought I was once, but it was nothing like how I feel about Blaine." "Did you ever have 'the hots' for either of us?" "No." "Can you pee standing up?" "I can, but I don't." "Why?" "I want to be a girl." "Were you hairy as a boy?" "Not really." "Do you think Jeremy Jordan is cute?" "Yes." Do you think Kara Lindsay is cute?" "I think she's adorable, but I'm not attracted to her. I love her costumes, though." "Will you tell people about your operation!" "No. Just my friends and family." "Why not?" "It's nobody's business." "You could be a role model." "I don't want to be. I just want to be me." "Will you have vagina?" "Yes." "Will you have a period?" "No. I won't have a uterus." "Unfair. Will you be able to have sex?" "Yes." "Will you be able to get pregnant?" "No. I just told you, I won't have a uterus." "Unfair, again. Do you want to be a mom?" Finally, John sighed and looked away from the TV. "More than anything." MK put her arm around him. "You will be. My mom couldn't get pregnant, either, and she got stuck with me. We yell at each other all the time, just like she gave birth to me. Someday, you'll be looking at your own obnoxious, fifteen year old daughter and, in the midst of a huge, knockdown, drag-out argument over the length of her skirt, you'll suddenly find yourself screaming, 'Oh, my God! You're just like your Auntie MK!'" she pulled his head to her shoulder and Ella leaned into John from the other side. "You're an awesome girl, Beebs. You're gonna be an amazing woman." Ella whispered. "Just like us," MK said as she gave him a squeeze. "Thanks. I love you guys." XXX Oscar sipped his soda through a straw and nibbled on his In-N-Out Burger meal as he looked at John's worried face across the table from him in front of the fast food restaurant. He'd listened to the child's story without saying a word. Now, as he watched her, she seemed uncharacteristically uncertain of herself. Smaller than usual. More scared. More vulnerable. "So?" Oscar asked. The child looked confused. "What do you mean 'so?'" "Well," Oscar shrugged, "you said you wanted to talk to me about something really important, but all you told me was that your life is complicated. So's mine. See that guy over there in the expensive suit? So's his. See that guy begging for money down the street? So's his." John nodded. "Ok, but I'm sorry that I lied to you." "When did you lie to me?" "Well, every day since I got here." "No you didn't." "But I..." Oscar held up his hand to silence the teenager. "Did I ever ask you if you were ever a boy?" "Well, no, but..." "Did I ever ask you if you were genetically a girl?" "No, but..." "Did you ever tell me that you had lady-parts down below?" "No, of course not, but..." "Listen, Bebe, my best friend is a guy named Rafael. I've known him since we were about twenty years old and we have done some crazy things together, but I have never seen him naked, I never want to see him naked and I have never asked him about his genitalia. It's none of my business. I like the guy. He makes me laugh. End of story." John nodded. "But my name..." "Is Bianca Foley. You told me that you had it legally changed. Bebe is your nickname. I could not care less what it was before I met you, I could not care less if you change it later. People change their names all the time, especially out here. Someday, if you get married, you may decide to change it again. Is that any of my business? Nope, and it's nobody else's either, Bebe." "Now," Oscar continued, "I'm not a fool, Bebe. I know that this is a special time for me. I'm just a schlub who drives a car for important people. Right now, I've been lucky enough to strike up a friendship with a very talented young actress and her family. It may last forever, but in this town, it may only last a little while, but no matter what, you will always be a very special person to me. That nervous little girl from someplace in Massachusetts with a name I can't pronounce who took the whole industry, Hell, the whole country by storm and she still was a sweet, kind girl who is nice to my little girls in real life and makes the whole world take notice on her show. You're one of a kind, Bebe. My little princess. And you always will be. Now, do we understand each other?" "Not quite," John said, seriously. "Oh?" Oscar wiped his lips and folded his arms. "Well, then, allow me to clarify any confusion. What do you not understand?" "Well," John looked down as he thought, "you see, I have this friend - more than a friend, really. Kind of a role model - you might even say he's kind of my hero - and he's a really smart guy, and really nice, too. A great father, excellent at his job, protective of the people he loves and he always knows the right thing to say, but..." Oscar smiled at Bebe's story. "'But' what?" "'But' just a few minutes ago, I heard him call himself 'a schlub,' whatever that is, and I can't figure something out." Oscar's smile was as broad as it could be. "And what is that?" "Well, you see, this guy keeps telling me that I'm something special. He even calls me 'his little princess.' So, what I can't understand is, if I'm so special, why would my hero be some 'schlub?' I mean, if I'm so special and I think he's wonderful, well, then, doesn't that mean that he is really something, well, extra special?" Oscar reached across the table and took John's hand in his. "No, Bebe. It just means that your heart is bigger than most. You're right, I love my girls and I take my job seriously, but the only thing special about me is you. I've driven thousands of celebrities, honey, and I have only ever connected with one. You make me special, sweetheart. You make your Uncle Ed and Cousin Rose, special. You make the show special, you make Blaine and Joanne special. You need to face facts, Bebe. You have been blessed, you're something very, very special and we all love you, but the reason that we are all here, together, making each other better, is because of you, Angel." John shook his head. "No, Oscar. The only reason I've had any success is because of you and Rose and Uncle Ed and Blaine and Joanne and Ella and MK and Kylie and Nancy. I wake up every day, petrified that I'm going to mess up and ruin everything and I've never been more scared of anything than I am of what I'm doing in order to become a woman. I need your support, Oscar. Thank you for giving it to me." "You never need to ask, princess." They cleaned up their waste and dropped it into a bin, then Oscar held open the front passenger-side door and let John in before closing it behind him. He ambled to the driver's side and got in. They were listening to some show tunes on the satellite radio when John's phone sounded a chime indicating that he received a text. He dug into his purse and pulled out his phone and said, "Shit." "Hey," Oscar said, very seriously. "Language. We don't swear in this car." John didn't answer, though. He stared at his phone and then, quieter this time, he said, "Shit," again. Realizing that John was very upset, Oscar asked, "What's up, Princess? Is something wrong?" "Yeah," John said. When he looked at Oscar, John was pale and shaking."I got a text." "What does it say?" "It says, 'Call me right away. Very important.'" "Sounds serious," Oscar was concerned, now, too. "Who's it from?" "It's from Austin Meadows." "That guy from TMZ?" "Yeah." "Oh, shit," Oscar agreed.