Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Picture (Im)perfect
    Picture (Im)perfect
    Picture (Im)perfect
    Ebook256 pages4 hours

    Picture (Im)perfect

    By J.S. Frankel

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Nolan Goodman, star swimmer for Portland High, meets Mia Swarva at a swim meet and thinks he’s found his perfect girlfriend. They start dating, things are going well...and then he finds out that Mia was born Mark, and his concept of what constitutes relationships not to mention sexuality goes out the window. However, Mia has that certain something about her, and Nolan does his best to understand as he genuinely cares for her. Their relationship develops after a series of stops and starts, but when Mia is inadvertently outed on a social website, she and Nolan have to run the gamut of emotions as well as deal with the inevitable reaction to her being transgender. It is only then, that Nolan learns the true meaning of commitment.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublishereXtasy Books Inc
    Release dateOct 1, 2015
    ISBN9781487404697
    Picture (Im)perfect

    Read more from J.S. Frankel

    Related to Picture (Im)perfect

    Related ebooks

    YA LGBTQIA+ For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Super Power Couple

      Jun 15, 2022

      Super Power Couple
      6 min read

    • Article

      DVD & STREAMING

      May 20, 2021

      Starring Thiaggo Cazado and Paulo Sous Directed by Maura Carvalho, Thiago Cazado As you might suspect, LGBTQ-cinema thrives on forbidden, cautious love, and this bold love story fits snugly into that category. An inhibited youngster must share his ro

      2 min read

    • Article

      Country Road

      May 18, 2021

      Country Road
      3 min read

    • Article

      Heart Stopper

      Nov 30, 2022

      Heart Stopper
      1 min read

    • Article

      With Open Arms

      Aug 12, 2021

      With Open Arms
      7 min read

    • Article

      Christmas Carol

      Nov 26, 2021

      Christmas Carol
      3 min read

    • Article

      You Talkin’ To Me?

      Sep 16, 2022

      You Talkin’ To Me?
      3 min read

    • Article

      SEX, DRUGS and a BUDDHIST MONK

      Oct 27, 2022

      Severely obese, depressed and an avid drug and alcohol addict, Australian author Luke Kennedy was trying to get his shit together and reset his life. After venturing to Thailand for one final hurrah, he partied hard, overdid it and his path collided

      10 min read

    • Article

      Running Free

      Nov 16, 2022

      Running Free
      5 min read

    • Article

      I Confronted My School Bullies

      Jul 3, 2019

      I Confronted My School Bullies
      6 min read

    • Article

      Shame Is Ever-Present When You’re Sitting in a Cell

      Oct 23, 2020

      Between a strained relationship with my family and the death of a good friend, I’ve struggled to feel like I’m worth something.

      5 min read

    • Article

      The Sea

      Dec 15, 2020

      The Sea
      9 min read

    • Article

      Moncada Bros

      Sep 21, 2018

      Moncada Bros
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Gift of Sobriety

      Sep 26, 2022

      The Gift of Sobriety
      8 min read

    • Article

      Excerpt

      Nov 12, 2019

      I didn’t see him come in, but I felt it. There was a stillness in the room, the kind that happens with fresh meat in shark-filled waters. No doubt everyone was sizing the newbie up, taking in his age and build, worrying whether they would be kicked o

      5 min read

    • Article

      SEX DRUGS and a BUDDHIST MONK

      Oct 26, 2022

      Severely obese, depressed and an avid drug and alcohol addict, Australian author Luke Kennedy was trying to get his shit together and reset his life. After venturing to Thailand for one final hurrah, he partied hard, overdid it and his path collided

      10 min read

    • Article

      ‘Tomboyland’: Featured Nonfiction from Melissa Faliveno

      Aug 5, 2020

      An excerpt from a debut essay collection Booklist describes as "a full-dress portrait of a writer whom most readers will be intrigued to know.” The post ‘Tomboyland’: Featured Nonfiction from Melissa Faliveno appeared first on The Millions.

      4 min read

    • Article

      First Love and a Life Lesson

      Dec 5, 2023

      Being 10 years old and living in a small Missouri town in the mid-1960s, my life was pretty darn good and carefree. Bowling Green was a very friendly town, kind of like the Mayberry of Missouri. I seemed to have something of a weekly routine: five da

      3 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Picture (Im)perfect

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Picture (Im)perfect - J.S. Frankel

      Finding a girlfriend in high school is hard. Finding out your girlfriend isn’t a girl is even harder.

      Nolan Goodman, star swimmer for Portland High, meets Mia Swarva at a swim meet and thinks he’s found his perfect girlfriend. They start dating, things are going well...and then he finds out that Mia was born Mark, and his concept of what constitutes relationships not to mention sexuality goes out the window. However, Mia has that certain something about her, and Nolan does his best to understand as he genuinely cares for her. Their relationship develops after a series of stops and starts, but when Mia is inadvertently outed on a social website, she and Nolan have to run the gamut of emotions as well as deal with the inevitable reaction to her being transgender. It is only then, that Nolan learns the true meaning of commitment.

      The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

      Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

      This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

      Picture (im) perfect

      Copyright © 2015 J.S. Frankel

      ISBN: 978-1-4874-0469-7

      Cover art by Carmen Waters

      All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

      Published by eXtasy Books Inc or

      Devine Destinies, an imprint of eXtasy Books Inc

      Look for us online at:

      www.eXtasybooks.com or www.devinedestinies.com

      Smashwords Edition

      Picture (im) perfect

      By

      J.S. Frankel

      Dedication

      For Beth

      Chapter One: Meet and Greet

      As I waited on the starting block for the electronic timer to sound, a faint whiff of chlorine filtered up to my nostrils. I should have been concentrating on the upcoming race. This race would decide my future. It all lay in a straight line down the lane, there and back. I just had to win.

      I should have been concentrating. Instead, my eyes locked with Mia’s, the girl I’d met only a few minutes ago. Green and expressive, they seemed to swallow me up, and she gave a faint nod before...

      Nolan, move your ass!

      * * * *

      An hour ago

      Bill Minton, my best friend since grade school, Mason Carter, and Tony Gibbons, the other three members on the relay team, stood beside me as we stared at the school of our chief rivals, the Leeside Monarchs. This was the state championships, and as far as I was concerned, it was us against Leeside. The other teams were good... but they weren’t as good as Leeside... and Leeside couldn’t touch us.

      Everyone else on the team had already gone ahead and left us to psyche ourselves up for the coming race. The four of us against all the rest... win it all for Portland High.

      We stood there at five in the afternoon, our blue and white gym bags beside us. The late November wind cut through my sweat clothes. While the others remained quiet, I tried to keep from throwing up. I never got sick during practice, but every time a competition came up, so did everything in my stomach.

      Bill, our leadoff swimmer and the fastest guy on the team, started to bounce on his toes. Tall and slender with a head of close cropped blond hair, his eyes and body were constantly on the go. With him it was move or die. Maybe he had ADD or maybe he just couldn’t sit still. I’d never been able to figure it out.

      We’re gonna rule the pool, he said, nodding and smiling. This is our time, our time.

      You got that right.

      That comment came from Mason, our number two guy on the relay team. Unlike my best bud, though, Mason had dark hair which he shaved during swim season for the cue-ball look. One of his mantras was, Hey, this induces less drag in the water.

      With large buck teeth, he chewed gum constantly and reminded me of a beaver on amphetamines. That, and the fact that he glared at everyone when talking to them tended to set him apart from most of the human race.

      Another of his mantras was winning. There’s no room for second place, he always said. I’m an athlete, an achiever, and I don’t train for second. If you come in second place, you might as well come in last.

      You had to admire the guy for his intensity and commitment, but you couldn’t really like him. Bill once compared him to the exhaust fumes made by someone who’d eaten too many burritos. It made sense.

      Tony Gibbons, the third person on the relay team, had to be the quietest guy around. A junior member of the varsity, shy and soft-spoken, he just wanted to swim. He stared at the school in front of us and said nothing.

      Time to man up, Mason said, cutting into my thoughts. This is where we win. As usual, his attitude was intense.

      Tough words, but in high school you had to play up your Man Card if you were a guy. When you entered the doors of Portland High, you entered testosterone city. Show your swag. If not, trouble followed.

      In addition, you had to be part of a crew. No one actually said it or wrote it down, but internally you capitalized those letters to give them greater importance and meaning. Swim Crew members had to be lean, mean, swimming machines. If you belonged to the Football Crew or the Baseball Crew, you had to be tough. Bottom line, you had to belong. If you didn’t belong to a crew, you were nothing.

      Still, man-up display or not, right now my guts were doing a rock-and-roll beat and I couldn’t wait to go inside. I just had my Speedo on under my school sweats, and it was cold. Shivering, I said, It’s time.

      As we approached the entrance, I remembered Coach Frees talking to me about the race just before we boarded the bus at my school.

      You’ve got the right stuff, Nolan, he’d said. You’re not the fastest, but you’re the steadiest. That’s why I’ve got you swimming anchor and that’s what’s going to get you a scholarship.

      A scholarship was like winning the jackpot as my mother didn’t have jack for savings. She worked two jobs, one at an office and one at a packaging plant, and even then, we barely got by. I’d applied for a loan and a scholarship, just in case, although I was counting on the former and not the latter.

      This being my senior year, I wanted to go out a winner. Winning meant praise. Winning was something I’d been working for, and today... I was going to own today.

      One of the officials met us at the main door with an apologetic look on his face. I’m sorry, but we had a blowout in one of the water pipes in the guy’s locker room this morning. There’s water everywhere and it smells. You’ll have to take your bags out to the deck. If you need to change, use the men’s room.

      Mason muttered something about psychological warfare, but I just wanted to get inside. You heard what the man said, I told him. Let’s do this.

      The official nodded. Thanks for understanding. Everything starts in twenty minutes. Good luck to your team.

      Chase Cummings—Bill’s girlfriend, a tall slender redhead with a pretty face full of freckles—ran up to us as the official left, panting. What are you guys waiting for? she asked before kissing Bill on the cheek. She pointed to a corridor off to our right. Pool’s that way. I’ll be waiting. She took off again, leaving us to stare after her.

      Damn, even a glimpse of them together made me envious to the nth degree. They’d been dating since our freshman year. Me, I was still flying solo...and then my stomach heaved. Gotta find the men’s room, I gasped.

      Snatching my bag, I looked for the toilet, and fortunately, it lay only ten feet in front of me. Once there, I lunged into the nearest toilet stall and my lunch tore out of me like an alien erupting from my stomach. Ah... that was intense, I muttered, grateful that it was all out.

      Retching finished, I rinsed out my mouth and checked things out in the mirror, just to make sure nothing sticky was hanging around. My reflection, a narrow face, long nose, gray eyes and a mop of brown hair, stared back at me. Pale and ashy from barfing, the color gradually crept back into it.

      Heading to the door, I found Mason barring the exit. Are you going to make it? he asked.

      My stomach still hurt, but no sense in telling him. Yeah, don’t worry.

      Glare on his face, his jaw worked the wad of gum in his mouth furiously. Chew, chew, and chew some more. Good, because this contest is on the real, he stated. It’s the last link in the chain, and I need to count on every member.

      Captain Commando started his stare-down routine, we locked eyes, but after a few seconds he blinked. Are we done here? I asked, inwardly triumphant over being able to outstare him. Right, like that would look good on a résumé.

      He said nothing and walked out. With a sigh, I grabbed my bag and followed him out to the pool. Once there, the pain faded, replaced by a surge of adrenaline.

      Aside from our own cheering squad, some reporters from the local television and cable news stations had also shown up, cameras busily filming away. This would be on the news for sure which made me doubly determined to kick ass. I scanned the crowd, wondering if any university scouts...

      I’ll take your bag for you, a voice said.

      What?

      Turning around, a short, slender dark-haired guy appeared from out of the Leeside crowd. I’ll do that, he said. I’m helping out the girl’s team. My name’s Charlie, Charlie Morton.

      With a pronounced lisp, it made him sound almost girlish. His hand trembled when he reached for my bag. Maybe he had some kind of problem, but hey, none of my business. In the interests of sports equanimity I handed him my bag.

      He walked over to a pile of other bags and tossed it on top. Leeside had been our rival for a long time. Even their school’s colors were the same as ours—white and blue although in a slightly different pattern—and the in-joke among Portland High’s students was the Leeside gang often imitated but never duplicated.

      Taking a moment to assess the competition’s strengths and weaknesses, confidence surged through me. Three other schools’ teams were there, and the total number of points would win it. What all that meant to me was we had to win every race—period.

      Checking out the competition, I felt confidence flow through me. I’d beaten these guys before and knew I could do it again.

      Competition check done with, I automatically turned to eye their girls’ team. While ranking them for hotness, Bill nudged me with his elbow. They got a bunch of honeys, he said.

      Yeah, they’re pretty.

      He scanned the stands. Meredith didn’t make it?

      It came out innocent, but his remark grated on me all the same. Thanks for mentioning her.

      The last thing I needed now was a distraction. Meredith Clark happened to be my ex-girlfriend, a real hottie, but things hadn’t worked out like I envisioned. We’d dated for about three months, had a few fun moments together, did the bed bump thing on our eighteenth birthdays a month ago, and then broke up.

      She was nice, but we’d never had much in common.

      It really came down to her always wanting me to be there for her, but try asking her to come to one of my practices or competitions? Uh-uh, not happening. I’ve got meetings with my friends, I’m on the prom committee... you know, the important things, she said to me. Watching you practice isn’t my thing.

      Was that being selfish? Yeah, but if I’d have mentioned my inner feelings to any of my teammates, they’d have laughed. Their mantra went like this—man up and don’t get attached.

      Turning my gaze to the far side of the pool, one girl stood out on the opposition’s side. Around five-eight, she had long flowing blonde hair and was in the process of putting it under a swimming cap. With a really toned body, narrow hips and a pretty, angular face, she was definitely a ten on the hot-meter. Bill elbowed me again. What is it? I asked.

      He chuckled. You look like a bug.

      Embarrassment ruled. Was I staring?

      You were, he stated, and wagged his head from side to side in appreciation of her looks. She’s pretty okay. I’d be happy with her for an evening.

      You would, really?

      It was difficult to keep the smile off my face. Talks about lust could get a guy like him into trouble. Good thing his girlfriend kept him reined in. Chase was always cool around me, but she had a nasty temper around others she didn’t like. If something pissed her off enough, she wasn’t the kind of person to keep quiet about it. If Bill even looked at another girl she sprouted horns. What does Chase think about that?

      His face turned red. I don’t have to sample the menu, but I can still read it. He sounded defensive, and then laughed. Okay, you got me. Just don’t tell her.

      Bill wandered off, and the kid who’d taken my bag—Charlie—came over. His body shook as if he had some kind of nervous twitch. Her name’s Mia. She’s from LA and she’s a friend of mine.

      He locked eyes with me as if to underscore his toughness, but that was like asking a Chihuahua to outdo a fully grown pit-bull. In the end, I decided to let things go and waved my hands. Message received, dude, I told him. Chill out, okay? I’d had enough of the intensity trip from Mason.

      A few seconds later, the announcer’s voice came over the loudspeaker. The state swimming championship is about to begin. Will the women’s team get ready, please? The first event is...

      Bodies hit the water, and we cheered like maniacs. Our girls’ team swam their hearts out, but Leeside dominated, and that Mia chick kicked major butt. She swam like no one I’d ever seen before.

      Damn, she’s great, Bill said to me in awe as we watched Mia annihilate the competition in the hundred-meter freestyle. You know her name?

      Her name’s Mia. I heard she transferred here this year from some school in LA.

      He grunted. Too bad I didn’t see her first.

      Mia was pretty, but watching her swim was even more exciting. She’d exploded off the blocks like a bullet, and plowed through the water like a missile. When I saw her time on the scoreboard, my eyes practically bugged out. She could swim almost as fast as me!

      The announcer gave out the details of the first race in the men’s division. Men’s backstroke, he intoned. For Leeside High, Gerry Wilson. For Portland High, Nolan Goodman...

      My name, he called my name, and I walked over to the starting blocks. On the way, the girls on our team filed past me. Chase’s face wore a downcast expression. She hastily wiped away a few tears and pointed in Mia’s direction. That girl swims like a guy—fast. Envy, deep and wide, came out in her voice. Second place stinks. Kick their butts, will you?

      Count on it, Bill said, coming up from behind me and throwing his arm around his girlfriend’s shoulder in a gesture of commiseration.

      He still stared at Mia, though, and Chase smacked him on the chest—hard. The sound echoed over the entire pool. Eyes on me, she said sharply. She may have been beaten, but it seemed like she would not be defeated in the boyfriend-possession department.

      Yeah, I got it, Bill answered, playfully bestowing a kiss on her cheek.

      Chase exited stage left while Mason grabbed my upper arm and towed me to the starting blocks. Let’s take care of business, man. You know what you have to do.

      He spit his wad of gum onto the deck and flicked it away with his big toe. Great, add bad manners on top of a lousy attitude. I shook his arm off. Cool it, Mason. I’m in it to win it, just like you are. I know what to do.

      Once more, he focused his eyes on mine, and I couldn’t stifle the urge to laugh at his overt display of Alpha Maleness. Burn a hole in the pool, Mason, I said. The cameramen will love you.

      An intense glare of dislike crossed his face and, oh, yes, ownage was sweet! I dove in and warmed up. The announcer called us to our marks. Getting onto the block, I set my stance, and felt the power surge through me. Once I heard the beep of the electric timer, I exploded off the blocks, swam my heart out, and pulled out the win. Yeah, that’s the way we do it!

      Our other guys went next, and with one race left to go, we managed to grind out a tie with two other teams. One more race would give us the men’s championship. I mentally geared myself up and moved off to the side to get a little privacy. Win the relay and we’d win it all. While limbering up, things were going well until a massive cramp decided to stab my right calf. This would have to happen and right before the biggest race of my life. A grunt of pain came out of my mouth. Damn it, not now!

      Grabbing my unresponsive limb and massaging it didn’t help. In fact, the lactic acid buildup got worse and the burn and ache didn’t subside. Through the haze of pain, my ears picked up the sound of someone saying, You need some help?

      Lifting my head, Mia stood there. Her voice sounded like smoke drifting over the air on a warm summer’s day, delicate and light. Uh, well, I can do—

      Don’t talk.

      Her fingers, long and tapered, immediately went on either side of my calf and worked powerfully to take out the knot. Does it feel better? she asked. My name’s Mia, by the way. Her eyes, green like the ocean depths, met mine. Feeling better?

      I was. Yeah, it’s, uh, all good. I’m Nolan.

      Mia finished and straightened up. Her eyes glittered briefly, but with good humor. Yeah, you’re going to be fine. And I’ve just helped the opposition. She did toss me a smile, though, as she started to walk off.

      I called out, I’m not going to lose because you helped me or anything.

      Mia stopped and swiveled her head around. I don’t expect you to.

      With a snap of her hips, she sauntered off. Getting to my feet, the sound of Mason yelling echoed over the pool area. Man, we’re up, in case you haven’t noticed.

      Time to man up and I shook my legs out while my teammates started things rolling. As I was waiting on the block, I caught sight of Mia. When her eyes met mine, she gave a slight nod...

      * * * *

      The present

      Nolan, move your ass!

      Aw hell, Tony had arrived at the block and the other swimmers were already in the water, three yards in front. No more game plan, just win! Tearing up the water, I gradually narrowed the gap. Their lead dropped to half a yard, and at the turn, we were even. Digging down and ignoring the pain in my body, I heard only the splash of the water and my breathing... pushed it to the limit...

      Afterward, lying on the tiled deck in a haze and feeling my heart about to crack out of my chest, Bill bent over me, a grin stretching from ear to ear. You did it, man, he said. The flag is ours. First place men’s overall, can you feel it?

      For a few seconds I couldn’t even dig out the strength to move my mouth, and

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1