The Alexandrite Clan

Lapis was returning home low-spirited. Some days had passed since Caeneus and her met each other, but she still had a lot of questions about herself.

She arrived at the entrance and saw her home. Big and colorful, housing the various ladies of the Alexandrite Clan. When she opened the door she realized there were more people than usual making her already loud house even more chaotic.

“Lapis, dear, you look terrible! Go take a shower and say hi to your aunts and cousins.” Said his mom wearing a gorgeous yellow dress e covered with makeup..

Lapis was wearing her soccer uniform, covered in dirt and sweat. She already lived with some aunts, but apparently the whole family was home.

“What is happening?”

“You don’t remember? The Love Festival is next week! We, as Alexandrite Clan members, had to do our job.”

Lapis’ house was full of women, all gorgeous and wearing very feminine clothes, aunts and cousins, carrying ornaments and making plans for the festival.

“Oh, the Love Festival, hooray.” Lapis’ sarcasm was obvious, but she went up the stairs, passing through a picture of her deceased father, using the Rock Star on his belt. Even passing through that picture for the last ten years, she still missed him so much every time she looked at it.

The Alexandrite Clan protected the Rock Star from generations, always passing it to a male member of the clan. Her father had six sisters and none of them had any son, only daughters.

That was actually good for Lapis, she wanted the Star and had no competition to take it from her father, even if it stayed with a cousin until she was ten years old.

She ran to her room taking a long shower, when she left she saw a green dress on her bed, clearly something her mother wanted her to use. She ignored it, wearing a sleeveless shirt and shorts.

She went down to say hi to her family, all of them very happy to see her, but also commenting about her appearance and posture.

“Are you still playing soccer? I thought this phase would be over by now.”

“What are these clothes? We bought you this beautiful dress.”

“Why don’t you let your hair grow, you would be so pretty.”

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

As soon as she said hi to everyone she went to her backyard to hide, knowing none of them would go there. She sat on a bench and summoned Caeneus by her side.

“Why is this so hard?”

“What are you talking about, lady?”

“Please, don’t call me lady, I’m Lapis to you.”

“Of course, sorry.”

The familiar was still shy with everyone, but he could talk to Lapis more comfortably then anybody else.

“I don’t know, why can’t I just be me?” Asked Lapis really wanting an answer.

“And who are you lad… Lapis?”

That was not the answer she was expecting. She knew who she was, still putting in words was another problem entirely.

“I just wanted to be me without any judgment.”

Caeneus got closer, caressing her with his head.

“I’ll not judge you.”

This made Lapis open a small smile, but then she heard steps on the grass, already prepared to hear how she should be more feminine.

Instead she saw an 18 year old girl, wearing a jacket and jeans. She had long and wavy brown hair and was giving a fun smile to Lapis.

“Mina! Thank god you are here.”

Lapis got up and gave a strong hug to her cousin, the only one she could actually have a true conversation with.

“Every year this nonsense of Love Festival, and every year my mom makes me come, but how is my favorite cousin?”

Caeneus rolle to the ground, just appearing as a rock while the two talked.

“I’m bleh.” Answered Lapis showing her tongue and closing her eyes, mimicking how a child would imitate being dead.

“That bad, huh? Want to talk about it?”

They sat on the bench and Lapis struggled to find the right words.

“Why does everyone want me to be so feminine?”

“Yeah, that is a problem, even more with our family. But listen, those are old people's thoughts, today there is a huge specter of things you can be.”

Lapis sighed as that phrase did not make her any better.

“So why do I still suffer to be who I’m?”

“Well, I did not say it would be easy, there is no box that you can put boys and girls in, you can be whatever you want, just be prepared for how the world will react. If you are happy with yourself, others' opinions have less weight.”

The girl stopped thinking about it all. Boys and girls and she could be whatever she wanted, still she questioned herself if it was possible to show the world what she really was inside.

“Thanks Mina, this helped. I think I just need more time to think about it.”

Mina messed up her hair and got up.

“These things about gender, sexuality and behavior can be a lot to someone your age, you have all the time you need and, if you ever need something or just talk, you have my number. Now, if you really are thankful come inside with me, I will not face our family alone.”

Lapis followed her cousin and both went inside, to help her family. Caeneus opened up looking at the two.

“I’m proud of you, Lapis.” Said him before disappearing, returning to his plane of origin.

The two cousins heard a lot about how they should improve their manners. Lapis was impressed by how well Mina could dodge the questions. First she had a boyfriend, what helped her, but Lapis just wanted to feel as self-assured as she was.

They helped their clan prepare for the Love Festival the next days. Lapis tried to spend time with Mina and hide behind her when she got too overwhelmed with their family.