It was a little bit strange that no one noticed the boy standing leaning on a pillar at the mall. Not that there was anything special about him. Five foot seven inches tall, not really thin but definitely not fat, nice blond hair that he had let grow almost to the shoulders. His clothes were average, neat and clean but nothing special. The family did not have that much money since Andrew’s father died. No, the reason someone might have noticed him was that for the last 20 minutes he had been standing there staring longingly at a gown in a shop window.

Andrew, that was his name, was a junior. He was two years younger than his class-mates since he had been pushed ahead due to his scholastic achievements. Now he regretted that since he felt very lonely. Looking at the dress he imagined himself in it dancing with Sam Grenholm. Sam was handsome, the school foot-ball team QB already as a junior last year, son and heir of the owner of “Prylar & Grejor”, the main employer in town (Andrew’s mother worked there), and straight A student. Just barely though and to a certain degree thanks to the coaching Andrew had given him in mathematics. Sam was not extremely bright but worked very hard. It had been pure bliss and pure hell for Andrew to sit next to Sam helping him to get through the math exercises.

Actually, thinking about it he could almost smell Sam.

“Hi, Andrew! You would look absolutely stunning in that dress.” He suddenly heard the object of his dreams say. Sam was standing next to him.

”Glgh” was Andrew’s intelligent answer.

“That color would go very well with your hair and eyes”

“Gllk?”

“Tell you what, if you agree to go to the Homecoming dance with me I’ll buy that dress for you”

“Why?” Andrew finally managed to say something intelligible.

“I saw my cousin Peter with the exactly same expression looking at another dress only a day before he did something REALLY stupid. Don’t worry I found her in time and she will get well, eventually. So, what do I call the real you?”

“Audrey” she said without realizing it.

“Audrey, would you do me the honor to go to the Homecoming dance with me”

“Yes!”

Sam gently pushed the still dizzy Audrey into the shop. When the shop attendant at first was reluctant to help Audrey Sam waved his platinum card and asked her if she had seen Pretty Woman. Well, she hadn’t but she wasn’t stupid either once she realized who Sam was. Audrey HAD seen the film and felt a bit insulted but said nothing.

They had not been mistaken. The gown could have been made for Audrey. A few small changes were necessary so they walked around the mall for a while. Sam always attentive and Audrey more and more in love. Finally it was time to go back to the shop. Leaving the shop with the gown they met Andrew’s mother. Audrey tried hiding behind Sam but Sam pushed her in front.

"Hello Mrs Wilson. May I introduce Audrey?”
“Glmp” Audrey was apparently as eloquent as Andrew had been.

“Nice to meet you finally Audrey. I knew you were around somewhere but I didn’t want to push”

Sam explained the situation to Mrs Wilson. He also mentioned that his father had made sure that the company medical insurance covered Gender Dysphoria, though not SRS. During the explanation Audrey realized that while Sam was a really nice guy he had no romantic feelings for her.

Sam saw that and told her:
“I’m sorry I can’t feel for you what you feel for me. I also know that you will have a very tough time ahead of you. Going to the dance with me will give you a good start. I know that what I do matters in school and I will help as much as I can.

And no matter what else, I will make sure that the Homecoming dance will be the best evening ever for you.”

And he was right.