Chapter 16

Nicole stared at herself in the mirror.

She wanted to make sure the makeup looked just right. She turned in a circle with her costume. It looked nice enough, although she wasn't entirely pleased with the body in it.

Since she wasn't a "genetic" girl, she knew her breasts were going to be flat without help.

They wouldn't start to develop until she started taking estrogen, at least that's what Andrea, her shrink, told her.

Even then, she might have to have surgery.

But the blockers were making sure she didn't develop a masculine body either. In fact, Amanda thought Nikki's body was amazingly developing curves on its own, especially around her butt and hips.

"Oh my gosh, you look beautiful," Amanda said as she stared at Nicole.

"You're just saying that 'cause you're my mom," Nicole said.

"Oh no, sweetpea," Amanda said. "You are an amazingly beautiful young lady. And your costume looks great, even if your belly button does show."

Nicole gave her a big hug. Tears were flowing down her cheek.

"Do you think I'll truly be accepted as a girl," she asked.

"I don't think so, I know so," Amanda said. "If no one had ever known you were a boy once, they wouldn't believe it."

She looked around her daughter, inspecting the costume and the makeup job.

"You make an amazing Jasmine, although I never knew Jasmine had sandy hair," Amanda said.

"Well, I thought about a black wig," Nicole said.

"Oh no, I like your hair just fine," Amanda said.

"You know, that harem girl costume does give me an idea," Amanda told Nicole. "I've been thinking about taking that belly dancing class at the rec center. Amber's a bit to young, but you might be the right age."

"Oh mom, that would be so cool," Nicole said.

Suddenly a rush of feet could be heard coming down the hallway. Nicole's door bolted open.

"Mom, Nikki, come quick, you've got to see this," Amber said as she and Kayla rushed into the room.

"Slowdown," Amanda said. "Aren't you girls going to say anything about how your sister looks?"

"You look awesome, sis! Now come on," Amber said.

Nicole and Amanda rushed down the stairs to see what all of the excitement was about.

Amber made sure they looked out the window.

"Wow, now that's impressive," Amanda said about the white stretch limo in the driveway.

"Well, Sam said we were going to be riding in style," Nicole said right before the doorbell rang.

"Well hello, Street Rat," Nicole said to Sam, who was dressed as Aladin.

"Your chariot awaits, my princess," Sam said.

Nicole pretended not to be impressed.

"Well, it beats a camel," she said. "But I was sort of hoping for a magic carpet ride."

"This was all the genie could arrange," Sam said.

"I guess this will have to do," Nicole said as she climbed into the limo.

Sara, dressed as Belle, and Mark, as the Beast, were already in the car.

"Is this cool, or what?" Sara asked.

Nicole just grinned and tried not to blush.

*****

"You're an amazing dancer," Nicole whispered to Sam as they danced to a slow song.

"Thanks, well I can't take all of the credit," Sam whispered back. "Sara's been teaching me."

"Well, you've been a perfect gentleman," Nicole said as the dance came to a close. "You've really made me feel like a princess tonight."

"Well, you are a princess to me," Sam said as they took their seats at a table during a break between songs.

"Wow, you guys were cutting a rug out there!" Mark said.

"You too look so great out there," Sara said to Nicole.

"You guys aren't so bad yourselves," Nicole said as another dance started.

The four decided to sit this one out.

"Boy, the costumes are so amazing," Sara said.

Some of their fellow students came as anime characters. Sam and Nicole noticed two couples that came as gender swap couples.

There were other Disney themed char actors. A couple of Sam's friends came as Shrek and Fiona.

"I wonder where Donkey and Dragon are?" Nicole asked with a laugh.

The dance ended with a slow, romantic song.

"Shall we dance, my dear?" Sam asked.

"Why, of course, Street Rat," Nicole said as the song came on.

It was amazingly enough, Whole New World.

Nicole was amazed that Sam knew the words of the song. He serenaded her as they waltzed across the floor.

"You are so sweet," she said.

She did not want the dance to end.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we hav e an announcement to make," said Ms. Redding, who was Nicole's English teacher.

"The winners of our costume contest are....Sara and Mark," she said.

"That is so awesome," Nicole whispered to Sam. "I told Sara she looked so amazingly beautiful in her costume."

"Actually, I think it was because of Mark's beast head," Sam said with a laugh.

They enjoyed the ride home. The limo dropped Sara and Mark off first.

"Well, I guess it's time I walked you to your door," Sam said, grabbing Nicole's arm.

"I really had a nice evening," Nicole whispered. She felt goosebumps, but she didn't know whether they came from the cool night breeze or whether it was because she was nervous.

They just stood there for a few minutes in front of her door.

"Nikki, would you be offended if I give you a kiss," Sam said.

"I would be offended if you didn't," Nicole said, although she felt a little embarrassed after she said it.

Sam gave her a peck on the cheek.

Nicole blushed and smiled.

"Sam, just a second," she said as he started to walk toward the limo.

He had a curious look on his face.

She walked up to him. Put her arms around him and gave him a peck on the lips in return.

He blushed.

"Thanks for making me feel so much like a lady!" she said.

"I made you feel like a lady," Sam said. "Because you are a lady."