Tyler Taylor Swop Days - Chapter 14
by
Julie D Cole

‘Surely she doesn’t expect you to cover for her.’
‘Surely she does.’
I sighed so Darren put his arm around me and we continued our walk by the river. It was nice and sunny so it was busy and there were lots of people on the bridge ahead of us taking photographs and waving to a small pleasure boat that was navigating it carefully holding up a few rowing boats. We stopped to watch. Then suddenly there was somebody shouting to us.
‘Taylor, Taylor hi. Taylor is that you?’
Darren dropped his arm and smiled and waved back. ‘It’s Angie Hemingway and some girls from school. They are in your year I think.’
‘Oh no. They’ve seen us together and she used to live near us until they moved. She is sure to know it’s me if she gets up close. I try to keep a distance at school.’
‘Well just wave. They are on there way back to the jetty by the look of it so they won’t see you up close. Wave or they’ll think something is strange.’

I waved as Darren suggested but not too enthusiastically. I recognised 3 girls who Taylor didn’t talk with too much. I had spoken to them in the refectory and they always sat together gossiping and flirting with boys. Never with me though. ‘It’s Claire Baxter, Emily Walker and Jade Symons I think.’
‘Oh, oh Taylor. On a date? Ha, ha. We’ve seen you. Don’t try to hide. Got you.’
They all took photo’s with their phones and I was stung into silence and felt embarrassed since all the people on the bridges turned their attention towards us.’
I tried to think what Taylor would do in this situation but really she wouldn’t have been seen on a date with someone as quiet as Darren.
‘Don’t you lot dare. Wait until I see you tomorrow.’
I knew Taylor would be annoyed since she would never have gone out with someone like Darren let alone let him put his arm around her. She’d probably find them and shut them up as soon as she got to school but as it was it was me most likely to meet them. I was certain that Taylor would take the day off as she’d threatened.
It took a while for me to calm down and after a while we decided to sit in the shade to eat ice cream 99 cones. Cornets filled with vanilla ice cream with a milk chocolate flake sticking out. This was a treat Taylor and I enjoyed from an early age and it was the same vendor who always had a broad smile. ‘Where’s your brother today?’
It certainly appeared like I was convincing people whilst I was dressed as Taylor so I just told him he was playing football. He smiled and popped an extra flake in my cone. ‘Don’t tell him or he’ll be jealous.’

We didn’t rush eating our ice creams and we had a competition to see who could make theirs last longest. Darren soon gave up and he’d also eaten the extra flake but still finished well ahead of me. I called Jane who wanted to go for a pizza later so we agreed to meet her in the central mall that was about a twenty minute walk for us. She said it would be a special treat for her since she had a strict diet to keep in shape. We didn’t need any persuading the temptation was too great.
Time seemed to fly by for the rest of the afternoon and I was comfortable hanging on Darrens arm as we strolled along stopping occasionally to sit and watch passers-by. We avoided talking about Taylor and Darren told me a little bit about his family and how he had been bullied growing up and accused of being gay. His brother had always watched out for him at school but he was now away at university.
‘Darren do you like me as I am? Do you think of me as a boy or a girl?’
‘Ty when I first saw you I thought you were a girl dressing like a boy. When I first spoke to you I thought that you sounded like a girl so I was pretty sure that you were a girl. When I escorted you home I was convinced that I was right and I haven’t changed my opinion. I don’t really think it matters any more what I think. I like you and I love being with you and especially I enjoy it when we kiss.’
‘Darren I wasn’t expecting that. Surely I didn’t look like a girl in boys clothes. Are you sure you didn’t get me mixed up with Taylor?’
‘I’m sure. I can tell the difference. It’s not just how you both look it’s how you both act.’
‘So you think she acted like a boy and I acted more like a girl even when we weren’t trying?’
‘You could put it like that. So I think this is the real you. I hope I’m not embarrassing you.’
‘A bit. I guess if you noticed that then others did too, especially mum and dad.’
‘Well it wouldn’t surprise me if your mum isn’t shocked if she sees you both dressed as each other.’ Especially if she sees you like this. I have a feeling she might even know that it’s Taylor going out playing football.’
‘But I hadn’t planned on letting mum see me dressed like this. I don’t think Jane will say anything until Taylor and I decide if we want to say anything.’
‘But what about us? How will you explain our friendship because I’ll be spending time with you and messaging and calling you regularly. I’ll be holding your hand and she might even catch us kissing.’

I had no answer and I was obviously deep in thought for a while. I hung onto Darrens arm as we walked and eventually he stopped and bent and kissed me.
‘See you can’t resist me and I could never resist kissing you whoever was watching.’
We met Jane as planned and she waved as we approached. I quickly reverted to holding hands with Darren rather than hanging onto his arm. He teased me and told me it was too late anyway. I needed to freshen up and dressed as I was the only option was to use the female toilets so Jane came with me. She teased me about hanging onto Darrens arm that caused me to blush and I told her what we’d been discussing and asked if she agreed that mum and dad might already have suspected that Taylor liked to dress and spend time as the opposite gender. She checked to ensure the cubicles were empty and we were alone and then told me that mum had suspected that we were up to something and that she’d seen me dressed in Taylors clothes.
‘Was she mad?’
‘No she said you looked very pretty and that you’d seemed embarrassed so she didn’t say anything. She thought it was just a prank and probably a one-off.’
‘Well it was sort of a prank at first and I wanted to stop but Taylor was enjoying herself too much.’
‘Well all I can say is that you can talk to mum and tell her all about it and after that it’s up to you what more you say. Better get it all out on the table in a one to one with mum. Let her deal with dad and you can discuss your next steps.’
‘But I don’t have any next steps. Things have been happening too quickly.’
‘Let’s go back to Darren and we can chat later if you like.’

We ordered after deciding to share two large deep pan pizzas to share and some salads. Jane wanted some wine so she ordered a bottle since she said it was better value and we all needed a drink.
As we tucked in I told Jane that Taylor was probably sleeping out and expected me to go to school in her place to ensure she got credits for taking a test and attending a lecture. Jane wasn’t best pleased but she knew that if she called Taylor she’d be wasting her breath.
Darren did his best to eat the lions share of the pizzas and as we sat back Jane said that she had an idea that might help snap Taylor quickly into line. ‘Tomorrow when you go to school I agree that you should go in her place. But I think we should teach her a lesson that she won’t forget and you can wear a blouse and skirt rather than adopting her boy look. We’ll style your hair and add a little make-up.’
‘But we are not allowed to wear make-up.’
‘All the better. We won’t go mad. Just enough so the other girls see the change in you so perhaps you can exaggerate a little and swoon over Darren. Do you see Darren at school?’
‘Sometimes but Taylor never behaves like that. She doesn’t hang around with the girls either.’
Darren chipped in. ‘Well I’m happy to meet up and escort you to school. You can also meet me at break-time. How about we find the girls who shouted to you from the river boat. Give them something to talk about.’
‘I don’t know. Taylor will go crazy when she finds out.’
Jane replied and touched my hand. ‘Look Ty it’s just that Taylor is calling the shots and this needs to be addressed before both of you get into trouble.‘
‘I know. It’s just that I don’t like confrontation.’
‘Trust me. She will come to her senses and then she can face up to the problem alongside you.’
‘OK I will try.’
‘Ty if it helps then in my opinion I’m sure mum will want to help both of you to be happy and she won’t want to watch you both struggle and lose your way.’
Darren nodded his agreement and took hold of my hand. ‘Look Ty you’ve already spent time at school as Taylor and I think it is a positive step. You are going to be in a class of girls most of the day and Taylor never had any close friends amongst them. I know you can handle it.’
‘OK I’ll do it. But I’m not sure that boys would be welcomed in the lecture so I hope I survive.’

Jane giggled and said it was my chance to learn about some of the things women deal with in their daily lives since she recalled the same lectures and follow up tests. It helped her rather than just relying on mums advice.
‘But Jane how is that of use to me. It should be Taylor attending if it’s that important. It’s about womens issues and what impacts womens health and the importance of understanding your own body. There will be pictures and diagrams and things won’t there.’
‘Yes but don’t worry since no live models or the need to be examined. That comes later.’
‘What do you mean that comes later?’
‘The idea is to encourage young girls to have regular check-ups through their life but the check-ups will come later. That will be Taylors problem not yours.’
‘Better be or I’ll kill her.’
We took a taxi home and Darren came in for a coffee. After he left Jane insisted we look through her clothes that she’d left behind in the assumption that Taylor would be interested to wear them. She found a pleated school skirt and blouse that used to be compulsory in her schooldays and had been relaxed by the current headmaster. There was a cardigan as well. She suggested that I dispensed with the scrunched up socks that were fashionable in her day and wore tights instead. I was reluctant but Jane insisted I try them on and she was quick to nod her approval. ‘I think there will be a matching headband and an underskirt if you take a look in the box over there.’

As expected Taylor didn’t come home. She just sent a message to say where she was sleeping and that she’d get home sometime during the day. At least there was little chance she’d be sleeping with any of the team and we wondered how she was going to keep private.
Jane woke me early so she had time to style my hair and she had pressed the uniform and sprayed it so it had a strong feminine aroma.
‘Jane please don’t make me look like one of those St Trinians girls from the old films dad used to laugh at.’
By the time Jane had finished I looked like a mature schoolgirl and whilst my make-up was evident it wasn’t over the top. Taylor would hate it but I couldn’t resist twirling in front of the mirror. Jane took some photos and said I could send them to Taylor later and threaten to post them on her Facebook page. I could feel butterflies in my stomach anticipating the reaction from Darren and then from classmates at school.

Jane just had a few more pointers over our breakfast snacks so that I sat properly in the skirt and I was aware that my bra was visible through the blouse and to keep it buttoned to a discreet level. It wasn’t like I’d much to display but the bra did help to form a cleavage like Taylors. Finally Jane insisted I carry my things in her old school bag that brought back happy memories for her. It had graffiti and badges and she was excited to provide some back stories about friends and events. There were a few boyfriends along the way would signed it inside. I placed the things I needed inside it and there was a phone pocket where I placed Taylors phone.
Darren was on time and he teased me by asking if Ty was in. His eyes were popping out of his head as he stepped back to admire my schoolgirl outfit.
‘Wow I don’t think I dare leave you alone in this outfit. The guys will be stunned. You look amazing.’
‘Thankyou sir but I am beginning to regret this idea. I am worried because I like how I look and I feel like I want people to notice me. He kissed me lightly so not to smudge my lipstick and we headed for school. I knew then that this was the real me.