Tyler Taylor Swop Days - Chapter 15
by
Julie D Cole

He kissed me lightly so not to smudge my lipstick and we headed for school. I knew then that this was the real me.
As we approached school Darren asked if I was nervous because I was certain to attract a lot of attention from pupils and staff. He was concerned in case I panicked and broke down so he decided that he would miss his first lesson to be on stand-by. I tried to re-assure him that I was OK but I had to give in and he said to message him if he was needed.

I had a butterfly stomach as I headed to my classroom to register my daily attendance (as Taylor of course) but at the same time I was quite excited. It was nice to be receiving glances and smiles from my classmates, boys and girls. They seemed to be getting used to me attending as Taylor and with her keeping a low profile as me, it was making it easier for me to blend in without any apparent suspicion or need to confront me. For the first time since we swopped clothes and identities I received acknowledgement as Taylor and several comments because I was dressed in a more feminine style in a skirt and blouse. Even our form mistress noticed and she made a point of complementing me in front of the whole class that caused me to blush which was quite out of character for Taylor. She would be livid if she was across the classroom with the gang of boys she now classed as her group of friends. Ms Campbell said that I was setting a good example to the rest of the girls that naturally brought a few light-hearted boos around me since they hated uniforms. A few of the boys did mock cheers referring to the length of my skirt but quickly hushed so not to give the wrong impression to Ms Campbell who had a reputation as a strong feminist and had confronted a few elder pupils and parents.

When the banter quietened Ms Campbell asked me where Tyler was since he had a few absent marks in the register. I just said he’d not been feeling well but that I had decided not to disturb him before I’d left home. Taylor was not doing me any favours with her behaviour. I would get into trouble if she carried on like this. Hopefully my enhanced femininity might shock her into co-operating and listening.
I had removed my cardigan so my bust was prominent that I liked and clearly a few boys did too. It was a good job that Jane had insisted I wear a white bra since it was more visible than I expected because of the light material of my blouse. Why would Taylor want to bind hers? Her breasts were firm and seemed perfectly shaped although I’d never seen them up close since they first came into bud. I wished I could experience what it was like to have my bra filled by flesh rather than with padding. Even so Darren was clearly impressed that I’d enhanced my bust based on the way he had looked at me. I was pretty sure that he’d wanted to say something on the way to school.

We headed to assembly where we lined up by class in the school hall to hear the headmistress make any announcements before leading morning prayer followed by a hymn. I was pushed along by our form mistress, Ms Campbell, so I ended up surrounded by most of the girls in our class. The boys were in a row standing behind us. I knew them all but they clearly thought I was Taylor and maybe my more feminine attire had them fooled. They were teasing Sarah and Jane the two girls either side of me and pulling their hair but seemingly were too wary about teasing me. I overheard a few lewd comments since they were getting loud and then Ms Campbell stepped in and threatened them with detentions. The ring leaders were Mark Taylor and Matty Walker who I tended to avoid because they were bullies. It was a good thing Ms Campbell hadn’t heard what was said about Sarah and the remarks about her breasts and what one of them had done to her at the weekend. Some of the other girls were encouraging them and gave as good as they received that surprised me.

When the hymn was finished we all filed out of the hall in turn and I was included amongst two classes of female students and directed to one of the lecture theatres along with the girls of my class. The boys went into a larger film theatre to attend a film about career options in engineering and technology that I should have been attending to get credits. There was no sign of Taylor.
I collected her school bag and notebook from her locker on the way to the class and found a vacant seat. Unfortunately, it was almost central so I was in clear view of our biology teacher, Ms Gilmore, who was in charge of the lecture. She knew both Taylor and I since she had been our form mistress in the first year and more than that she knew our parents quite well. As she stood in the doorway, she seemed to focus her eyes on me and scrutinised me quite closely that made me nervous. I smiled weakly and stared back that seemed work so she averted her eyes to look at other students.

The lecture was entitled ‘Common Teenage Girl Problems & Solutions’ and the lecturer emphasised that she was available to assist anybody who might feel in need of advice on a confidential basis. She had 10 items listed that she went through one by one and told us that the school objective in this lecture was to try to stop bullying and on-line abuse by highlighting problems with the hope that it would encourage girls to support each other. None of the presentation seemed to tell us anything new and it wasn’t embarrassing, other than the sections on Menstruation and Female Hygiene. I tried to look out of the window but it would appear that I wasn’t paying attention. I didn’t want to know about girl parts or monthly cycles and risk of pregnancy and I didn’t much care for the idea of the distribution of free samples of tampons nor the slides showing how to insert them. The regular examinations that were recommended at home and by GP’s or at hospital left nothing to the imagination. No wonder Taylor wanted to be a boy.

At the end of the lecture there was a question and answer session and because nobody was prepared to speak out Ms Gilmore decided to single out some pupils and even though I kept my head down I was selected to start. I froze for a moment and wanted to be swallowed by a hole in the ground before recalling an argument between Taylor and mum. I managed to mumble my question about missed periods and if they were common. Mum had pressed Taylor to tell her if she’d had intercourse with anybody that she’d totally rejected. I wasn’t surprised since she rarely hung out with boys except to compete with them.
I was complemented on the question although I couldn’t remember much about the answer. It seemed like Taylor was right to say it was nothing to do with her having intercourse with anybody.
Finally, after a few more questions that I tried to ignore we were released to head out to break that would be followed by normal class lessons until lunch break. At 2 pm we had the afternoon test that I’d assumed was a written test about the lecture but it wasn’t. Ms Gilmore explained that it was a one to one meeting with the school nurse to address some of the issues in the lecture that would include a physical examination. I was horrified by the prospect and I desperately needed the bathrooms my stomach was churning so much.

I had no choice but to follow the girls and join the queue and I looked longingly at the boys bathroom where nobody was waiting. There was no way I dare go in there dressed as I was. I tried to divert my attention whilst I was waiting by messaging Taylor. She needed to get herself to school to have the test or we were both in trouble if I had to undress in front of the nurse.
There was a lot of giggling whilst we were in line and no immediate response from Taylor. Eventually a cubicle came free and I was able to relieve myself although it was a close run thing. I almost wet my pants. Then finally I had a reply from Taylor whilst sitting. She said to just ignore it and head home out of the way and she’d take the flack later. Typical Taylor. I wasn’t accepting that so I messaged Jane.
She responded immediately and said she’d find Taylor and drive her to school. It was going to be tight and I needed to find a place to hide for a while and then meet them so I could go home with Jane. I found a seat close to one of the outbuildings close to the school entrance and sat nervously. I messaged Darren to tell him where I was and he agreed to skip lunch to meet me and he would stay with me until they arrived. I was relieved to see him and he sat with me whilst I explained my problem.

It wasn’t as quiet a spot as I’d hoped and we had to sit apart in case any over zealous prefects or teaching assistants spotted us together since fraternizing with the opposite sex wasn’t allowed. Not that we were breaking any rules of course.
I was relieved to get a message from Taylor to say they were on there way and they’d arrive about 1-30pm. I assumed she’d called home to get changed and when they arrived I was disappointed to see how she was dressed. She looked more like a boy than ever. No sign of her breasts and her hair had been slicked back and somebody had cut it short.

‘Taylor look at you. Are you crazy or what? You can’t go into a test with the nurse like that. I’ve been in the lecture like this and we have to change clothes.’
‘No point. Who is going to believe I’ve changed my hairstyle during the lunch break. ’
‘Taylor I hate you. This is so selfish. What are you doing? We’ll both be in trouble and you don’t care.’
‘I just don’t want to conform to silly rules. I bet this mornings lecture was a waste of time.’
‘You needed the credit so it doesn’t matter whether it was of interest or not. We have to do as we are told.’
‘So, I’ve got the credit now. How come the boys don’t have to attend these lectures and be examined? They have it easy. If I have to go to the nurses office then I’m going like this. If they start asking me why I look different and why I’ve changed my outfit I’ll tell them I am really a boy. I don’t care about ticking a box and earning a credit. I like this look and life is much more fun now. You go in my place if you are so keen to be a girl.’
‘Taylor I can’t can I?’
‘Well if they ask you to strip just refuse. You’ve already shown me up. Anybody who knows me knows I’d never dress like that at school or anywhere.’
‘Well it’s your fault. You don’t listen and you just think about yourself. This has gone to your head. I feel you already think you are a boy and you are certainly behaving like one.’
‘What would you know? I just behave as me. If you think that’s how a boy behaves then how come you never tried it? Until we started swopping you were considered to be a whoosie. At least I’ve got some respect back for the family name.’
I flew at her in rage but Darren grabbed hold of me and pulled me back. ‘Calm down. She is just winding you up.’

Jane stepped in and told us to behave. She confirmed that she’d tried to convince Taylor to get changed and restyle her hair but she was wasting her breath. To reassure us she told us that when she’d met the nurse whilst at school nobody had been asked to undress. It was all about ensuring that girl students knew they could talk about any problems if they found it difficult at home and it was to make a health record setting out dates for reviews and regular medical check-ups.
Darren backed her up and said he thought I should attend and if I became embarrassed then to say so and to ask to leave. Then when mum arrived home to tell her what both of us had been doing and decide if we wanted to take medical advice. Jane nodded her agreement and Taylor shrugged her shoulders that I guess was a yes.
‘But I’m not a freak and I’m not ill. Why do you think I need medical advice?’
‘I think you both need to talk with someone who is an expert in these things. We aren’t saying that you are a freak. You just seem so happy as a girl and so natural. Taylor seems to have a strong desire to be male.’
‘Yes it’s because we had swop days and maybe we went a bit too far.’
Jane spoke up. ‘Maybe you should both take a break from it and let things get back to normal.’
I looked at Darren and then at Taylor and neither seemed too enamored by the idea. I knew I’d have to cool off my relationship with Darren if that happened and I liked the way he treated me and fussed over me. Taylor reacted anyway by saying as far as she was concerned she preferred this normal.

By this time it was 1-45pm so a decision was required. I said I’d attend the test and do my best to present as Taylor and answer any questions. Jane insisted we stop by the bathrooms so I could freshen up to give a good impression and afterwards she wished me luck. Darren said he’d meet me afterwards in the refectory. Taylor just disappeared.