SizzlR here, and I have a story that's been in my head for a while. I know I say that about every story, but this one is different, hear me out. I got this idea from Deviantart, and it was so good I couldn't resist. Unfortunately I saw there was a very similar story on the website by Autistic Writer, so I'm gonna be taking some queues from his work. So I guess this is a joint thing by me and someone I've never talked to, Ha!

Anyways, some notes before reading:

Everyone except Clyde and a few other exceptions are genderbent. I'm doing this for the sole purpose of making it interesting for myself.

Ronaldo (genderbent Ronnie Anne) will play a bigger role in the story than his cameo in this chapter.

The story takes place through the spring of fifth grade, from early March to late May/early June.

Enjoy!

It was Friday afternoon in Royal Woods, Michigan. School had just let out minutes ago, and both kids and adults had already taken to the streets to enjoy a much needed vacation. Learning took a toll on EVERYONE; you could only get a reprieve from the dreaded task every once in a while, and when you DID get it, most everyone enjoys it.

Everyone… except for one boy. He was too busy stewing as he walked to the corner of Elm Street and Tubber Avenue, only two blocks from his house. And as Clyde McBride stormed to the crosswalk, he thought one singular thought to himself, over and over and over again:

He was NOT a pansy.

So what if he didn't play sports like any of the other boys in his grade? Sports were overrated, anyways. All you really did was toss a ball around a field or a court or whatever… not much fun in THAT. And who cared if his hobbies were different? A boy was allowed to knit from time to time, wasn't he? And it CERTAINLY wasn't too weird to cook, was it? Most anyone could make a pan seared chicken parmesan with chives and honey mustard glaze if they tried!

No, if Clyde McBride was anything, he was NO pansy. He was a MAN! He took that fact in stride!

And looking back, he kinda HAD to. Clyde had never really had a true manly influence around him. There was always the parental issue to worry about… and he always tended to hang around girls more than he did boys. It had been that way since he was a kid, and he saw no reason to change that.

...At least, up until now. Spring of fifth grade. His choice of acquaintances had NEVER been attacked before… but today was different. He had been with his friend Penelope near the jungle gym, both of them reading; Physical activity really wasn't their thing.

A boy had walked up to them from behind (without them noticing, of course,) and got their attention, his tone indicating he was NOT in the mood for messing around.

"Hey, guys, beat it. I want to go down the slide."

Penelope had looked up, not really noticing him until a few seconds later.

"What?"

"Uhh… get up. I want to use the slide."

She squinted her eyes at him, a scowl setting across her face.

"What's the magic word?"

"Magic...word?" the boy asked, looking confused. "What… you know what, I don't care. Move."

"Hmph! Not with THAT attitude…" Clyde scoffed from behind his book, making the kid grimace at him.

"Fine! I'd move you BOTH out of the way, but lucky for you Mr. Johnson is watching!"

"Ok," Penelope said, not even bothering to look up. "Have fun."

If the boy had looked mad before, he was pure ANGRY now. He ripped off the purple hoodie that had been wrapped around his torso and gripped it, making sure not to do anything he'd get in trouble for.

"I didn't even WANT to use it!" he spat, beginning to storm away. "Use it sometime, you pansies! Get some REAL friends, McBride!"

Clyde hadn't really looked up until then, but he had heard enough. The word lingered in his head for the rest of the day… from science, to english, to the bell… all the way to his street corner, which he had reached in record time.

Pansy… not him! He had real friends! Penelope! Agatha! Jaime, Doris, Ashley… umm… who else? Pam? No, no, a GUY… someone he could-

"Clyde!"

He turned his head in the direction of the school, where the noise had come from. There, running up to him, was his best friend. Every insecurity Clyde had had was replaced, thankfully with much better feelings.

"Hey!" he said as his friend reached him, white hair flailing. "Where were you?"

"Had to make up a test… didn't slow you down, did I?"

"Not at all!" he said as they began to walk down Elm towards Franklin. "I was going slow anyway. Had a lot to think about…"

His friend stopped and looked at him, concerned.

"Like what?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just something that happened at recess. No big deal."

"Well, it's OBVIOUSLY a big deal if you're slowing down to think about it! Tell me!"

He sighed. There was no use in fighting - his friends ALWAYS got what they wanted out of him eventually. Maybe he WAS sort of a pushover…

"It's just… -sigh- Someone called me a pansy today and I've been thinking since then."

"Hmm… why'd he call you that?"

"That's the thing! I don't know!" he griped, throwing his hands out. "I was reading with Penelope and he said to get 'real friends,' whatever THAT means…"

"Well… I'M your real friend… aren't I?"

He stopped, sighing as he turned to his best friend.

"I think he meant friends that are GUYS, Linka…"

"Oh…" she said, a look of disappointment on her face. It was quickly replaced with a smile, however, as she ran up to him.

"Well, don't worry about him! He's just jealous of you!"

Even though it was obvious she was pandering to him, he still gave a small grin.

"Thanks, Link. You're a real friend."

Clyde and Linka had known each other for so long, it was almost impossible to pinpoint dates anymore. They had met in preschool, they had agreed on that… they both seemed to remember snack time and the giant slide in the back of the building. There wasn't really anything too special about it; just two kids eating lunch and playing at recess together… and who conveniently lived only 4 houses away from each other.

They had sat next to each other in homeroom since first grade; their last names were close together. They talked, ate, read… anything you could imagine a little kid doing with a friend, that was them. And no, Clyde didn't think it was weird his best friend was… well, a girl, but growing up DID mean that he was taunted about it; almost every day in the most recent school year.

Before either of them knew it, they had reached the McBride household. Linka and Clyde stopped at the curb to say their farewells.

"I'll talk to you tonight, alright?"

"Yeah! I'll keep my walkie talkie with me!"

They commenced with their patented signature handshake: two hits to the left, then the right, up, down, diagonal, thumbs together, and BAM! Punch to the shoulder to finish it off!

They laughed as fist connected to shoulder, Clyde's punch softer than hers; even though she BEGGED him to go hard at her, he had to hold back… for her sake, of course.

She waved goodbye, and with a quick turn of her heel, was off in a minute. Clyde watched her until she got to her house; it was important to watch for anyone suspicious out there… you never could tell. His parents had warned him about the town being more dangerous than usual, but he really didn't see it. But, if it meant Linka wasn't safe...

He turned to his door and walked up the sideway, where he opened the door and walked inside.

"Hey, mom! Hey, mom!"

At once, a slender, red headed woman peered her head out of the kitchen, her eyes widening in excitement.

"Oooh, Clyde! You're home!"

"Yeah, mom, I made it… again…" he grumbled as his mother ran to hug him. He playfully rolled his eyes; while his mom's DID tend to smother him, being the center of attention was always nice.

"I missed you so MUCH!" she cried, hugging him. "You were supposed to be back 3 minutes ago!"

"I know, Mom. I was waiting for Linka, it's ok…" He said as she let go of him.

"Well, at least you're home safe. Your mom is downstairs doing god knows what… dinner will be ready soon, so go do your homework."

He complied, getting his backpack and going to his room. It was nice and neat: just the way a room should be. A picture of him and Linka stood on his nightstand, showing their first day of second grade. Ahhh, memories...

He flopped onto his bed and had JUST opened his math book to page 206 when his walkie talkie went off.

"Clyde! This is Linka, over!"

He immediately forgot about the math and grabbed it, speaking rapid fire.

"I read you, Linka! I am safe at home, over! Mom's know I'm here, over!"

"Well, that's good, over! I arrived home and I'm currently doing homework, over."

"Same, over. And why do we keep saying over, over?"

"I don't know…" she said, before laughing. "I guess it's just traditional."

"Yeah, I guess so…" He said, laying on his bed again. "So how was your day?"

"Oh, it was good! I got most of my work done already, but there's still a lot of math…"

"-Ugh- Tell me about it," Clyde said, rolling his eyes. "It's not like Mr Johnson gives us enough already! I mean, he isn't even that good at math!"

"I know, right? I bet he can't even do what he's teaching us!"

They both laughed as Clyde's mom peered into his room.

"Clyde, do your homework!"

"Oh, alright!" He said as he pressed the button down again.

"I have to go, Link. I'll talk later, okay?"

"Yeah, sure! I'll talk to you toni-"

"HEY, GUYS! LINKA'S TALKING TO HER BOYFRIEND!"

Clyde could hear the audible groan Linka gave at her brothers words. He joined in, knowing what would happen when he hung up.

"They heard us, didn't they?"

"Yep. They'll be here in 3...2...1…"

The bang of the door was the last thing Clyde heard before the walkie talkie went static. He sighed, throwing it to the side.

Why did everyone seem convinced that they were dating? Linka had told him that she was asked at least 5 times a day whether they had kissed or not… no! Fifth grade isn't a time for kissing! They were friends! Nothing else!

Well…

Clyde laid back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Homework or not, he needed to think. Sure, Linka was his friend, but… did it HAVE to be limited to that? It was nice being her friend, but… what if?

It was a few months ago that he started to feel that way. They had gone to Flips together to apply for an internship. They both managed to get the old man to work for them, not without almost killing each other… it was when they were fighting to get into the bathroom first. That was when.

As much as he hated to admit it… Clyde cared about Linka. Not just as a friend, either.

It wasn't wrong to want to date her, was it?

Of course, they were only in fifth grade… most HIGH SCHOOL relationships end early. And Linka had told him many, MANY times before how annoying it was to see a couple their age holding hands. Her words swam through his mind rapid fire…

"That's weird! They should really wait until they're older!"

"Why are they DOING that? Gross!"

"It's a good thing WE aren't like that, Clyde!"

Yep, that was an actual quote. Depressing, he knew… he'd been displaced to the friendzoned without even trying to leave in the first place.

Clyde would usually come home and do exactly what he was doing; lay on his bed and think of the what if scenarios… his mom's told him he should get outside more, but you couldn't think we'll when birds were chirping and the sun was shining directly in your eyes. Clyde and Linka, Linka and Clyde… best friends forever…

Best friends… FOREVER?