Jimmy's admission that Bille was a fast runner caught her a bit off-guard almost as much as his insistence that she wasn't female. Had she really been that convincing? A small part of her realized she had. Perhaps she should have chosen to remain as a boy, but it would have been worse for her and Gideon in the long run. Even though now seemed just as terrible.

"I am, Jimmy." This time, the confession was quiet and much too serious for a girl who liked to try and shove Fletcher into any horse droppings they happened upon. She wasn't sure wished for that to ever end. Who else was she expected to goad into adventures? Or pretend to loathe entirely?

"And girls can, too, run fast!" She scrunched up her nose at him, "Remember that Susan Parks girl from Irvingly. She outrunned all of us when we played Witches and Hunters against them. Even you gotta admit that." It had been impressive, really.

While she had momentarily sounded like herself again, Billie drew silent once more. However, she was terrified to face his reaction. Fear usually had her blurting, and that day wouldn't be any different. "Just 'cause I'm a girl don't mean that I can't still kick ya in the face!" She wiggled her foot at him and smirked, despite her mind questioning why on Earth that was the first thing that came to her mind.

What was wrong with her?