Rock Star Makeover, Part 10.

Author's note: enjoy part 10, folks. It might have to sustain you for a while.
 

We went home, and I told my mom what happened.

“That’s good news about the concert, Noah. But who do you think might have sent Gabbi the note?”

“Not a clue, Mom.”

“What about you, Gabbi, any ideas?”

“Actually, I have one. But it means you have to make a sacrifice, Noah.”

“Sacrifice?” I asked.

“Yes. I … I want you to give up your seat to the concert,”

“But why, Gabbi?”

“I want to announce at school about the concert and the tickets. Then I will say you have a previous engagement and can’t come. Then I will ask for anyone who wants to go with me to leave a message in my school mailbox.” Gabbi said.

“I’m confused, Gabbi. How will that help you figure out who sent the note?”

“Well, maybe they would want to take the opportunity and go with me. When would be a better time to talk with me about their own struggle in private?”

“Maybe, but they sure wouldn’t be the only one wanting to go. She has a pretty solid fan base here. So how would you figure out who it is that way?” I asked.

“Talking about the concert would only get the ball rolling.” The main thing would be making people aware of the mailbox. I could reassure people that the mailbox is secure, with only the principal and myself having access.”

“I get it now. If they know they can come forward without coming all the way out.”

“Right, Noah” she said.

“Wait a minute, Gabbi. You’re already getting mail. Don’t most people know the mailbox exists already?” I asked.

“Maybe, maybe not. No real announcement was made except a note on the school’s home page. Not everyone may have seen it, and even those who did may not realize that they can post anonymously.”

“Well, I guess its our only shot. Too bad, I wouldn’t mind seeing Cathy Mason again, but I’ll do it, if it helps.”

“Thanks Noah.” She said, and gave me a squeeze and a kiss.

The next day, we went early so she could talk to the principal, and during the first period, he made the announcement. Sure enough, during the second period, he did, and the class I was in started buzzing about it. The weirdest thing was a number of people asked me why I wasn’t going with her. I made a lame excuse about a family commitment, but it was seriously strange to see looks of sympathy from my classmates.

At lunch, I told Gabbi what had been going on, ending with “I hope this is worth it, Gabbi. I actually got the impression people think we’re ... having couple trouble.”

She giggled, and said, “Who’d of thought of THAT a year ago.”

I had to grin at that.

“Seriously, Gabbi, do you think this will actually work?”

“I hope so. I’ll check the mailbox tonight, and see.”

That night, I sat with Gabbi, and we saw this message: “Gabbi, I’m envious of you. Like you, I’m a girl stuck in a boy’s body. Unlike you I don’t think I’ll be anything else. It comes down to a simple difference between us. You pass. You look like a regular girl, and I would never look like anything but a guy in a dress. I spend a lot of time on chat sites, because that’s the only place where my appearance doesn’t matter. Maybe we could chat there, if you want to. Btw, Noah is a cutie, especially when he blushes.”

At the bottom of the message was an Yahoo address with a signature at the bottom that said, “inthecloset”

Gabbi actually had tears in her eyes.

“What can we do, Gabbi?”

“I’d like to give her my own Yahoo address. That way, we could talk in real time.”

“Sounds good, Gabbi. Give them mine as well.”

Gabbi started to type, and wrote; “Dear inthecloset. I’m sorry you feel like you can’t come out. Without seeing you, I can’t tell if your opinion that you can’t pass is true or if you’re being too hard on yourself. But if it would help you at all, you can chat with me or Noah online anytime we are on. I’ll give you both of our Yahoo addresses, but no flirting with my boyfriend, okay? Hugs from Gabbi.”

At the bottom of her message she put both of our addresses, and hit “send.”

“I hope it helps her, Gabbi.”

“Me too Noah, me too.”

The rest of the week things fell into a pattern. We withdrew my “previous commitment” and told people I was going to the concert. Every night Gabbi would talk to “inthecloset”, and sometimes, I joined in. Funny thing was, chatting with her online, you could really see the girl in her. Somehow, her feminine nature shown through, even though all we could see of her was words on a computer screen. We started to feel like she was a friend, but she was reluctant to tell us who she was, so that contact was all we had.

Finally, on Thursday at lunchtime, Gabbi said to me, “I have an idea, Noah. What if we invited her to come over to your house, or mine this weekend?”

“I’d be okay with it Gabbi. But would she go for it? I mean, she hasn’t even told us her real name.”

“I’ll try and make her understand she wouldn’t have to come as a girl, if that was too hard. She could just pop by in boy mode, and we would make her feel welcome.” she said.

“Of course we would. I just hope she believes that.”

“I can only try.” She said, and went to the library to use the computer.

That night, just after supper, Gabbi called and told me that “inthecloset” had left a message saying they would think about it. I said, “Gabbi, what if this some kind of game to get you to give your address?”

“There are a lot easier ways to find out where I live, surely.”

“Just a sec, Gabbi. I have an idea.” I said. I put the phone down and told my mom about this girl, and asked, “What if they met here instead of Gabbi’s house?”

“I would have no problem with that, Noah. Except I’m going to be out for a good part of Saturday.”

“Mom, I’ll watch over them.” Adam volunteered.

“Good enough for me.” My mom said.

“I picked up the phone, and told Gabbi my idea.

“Okay, Noah. I will give them your address, if that’s what you want.”

“I’ll be happier knowing you’re safe, Gabbi.”

“Thanks. Love you.” she said, and hung up.

The next day, at lunch, Gabbi said, “You look worried, Noah.”

“Just a touch, Gabbi. I’m just hoping this turns out to be legit.”

She gave my hand a squeeze, and we continued lunch.

That night, Gabbi phoned me and said, “She’s coming! She’ll be there at noon tomorrow”

“Okay Gabbi. Come over at eleven, so we’re ready when she comes.”

“Got it.” she said, and hung up.

Just before eleven the next morning, Gabbi came over, and she, Adam, and prepared for our guests. It felt like we had gone over every detail twice when the doorbell rang.

I went to the door and nearly fainted.

“Hi.” said the tall boy who was at the door.

Gabbi came to my side, and said, “Luke Mathews?”

And it was him. Captain of of our basketball team in the flesh, looking more nervous and scared than I had ever seen him during a game.

“Come in, Luke.” Gabbi said.

He gave her a smile, and said, “Would it... would be okay if you called me... Lisa?”

Gabbi took her by the hand, and said, “Nice to meet you, Lisa.”