It was a strange feeling that followed our semi-final. On the one hand, we had done brilliantly in reaching the cup final, which had always been our aim. On the other hand, we would have to play the final without our captain, Katie. I felt particularly bad: she'd only been sent off because she was acting to protect me. I did express this to her, but she wasn't having any of it.

"Don't be silly. It's my own fault, I act before thinking sometimes. But at least I made it a good one, wiped the stupid cow right off her feet."

We both shared a laugh and a hug.

Training ramped up in intensity in preparation for the final. It was indeed Shevington Academy who we would be playing. They had won both their previous games by a 4-0 score line each time, so they were in red hot form. Not only were we training harder but we were training longer, too. Everyone was determined to win this match, and our added incentive now was to win it so that Katie could join us on the pitch and lift the trophy as our team captain.

But as she'd be missing the match through suspension, someone else would have to lead the team in the match. At the end of our final training session, Miss Snell gathered us in to run through the starting XI and subs.

"So, we've obviously had to make one change for the final, and it'll be Erin coming in to midfield to replace Katie. We're going to keep everything else the same as it has been working to good effect so far. As for match day captain, I've been thinking long and hard about this, and I've decided that it'll be Tabitha wearing the armband."

She held out the armband for me to take. I was stunned.

"Oh...um...well...thank you, Aunt Lucy...but...well...I'm still new to the team...and...I suppose...really...shouldn't someone else be captain for the final instead? I feel like I've taken someone's spot a little bit, y'know?"

"Nonsense. You've been a great addition to the team. Plus, you showed a steeliness in that last match. You're proper captain material. Am I right girls?"

I looked around, expecting everyone to disagree with Miss Snell. Instead, I was met with smiling faces and nods of approval. They weren't just placatory nods and smiles either. I honestly believe every single player was happy with me being appointed captan for the match. I took the armband from Miss Snell.

All the girls came up and hugged and congratulated me in turn. I can't put into words how good that feeling was. I was now in a place where I felt accepted, where I was contributing valuably to the team, and where I, for the first time in my life, felt really, really, really happy.

As Miss Snell was driving us back to her place, I said: "thank you so much for making me captain. I promise I won't let you down."

"You earned it, sweetheart", she replied. "I'm proud of you. But don't go putting too much pressure on yourself because of that armband. You played with more freedom in the last match, I could tell, and you played better for it."

We pulled up by her house, entered, and I headed straight upstairs, ready to become Toby again (which was easily becoming the only downside of this experience: having to become Toby after being Tabitha was like transforming from a princess into a frog every day). But as I was halfway up, Miss Snell, just entering the hallway herself, called up, "I was thinking, Tabitha, that maybe we should head out for some food, you know, just the two of us. Reward ourselves for a job well done so far, and talk a bit about the final, too."

"Oh, that sounds lovely", I replied. "But I told my parents I'd be home in an hour."

"You could always text them and ask if you can stay out later? But don't stress about it, if you want to go home that is fine."

I considered for a moment, then rang my mum. She answered after three rings. "Hi mum, I'm out with a friend and they've asked if I can stay out a bit later...yeah...oh, about 9pm, no later...yeah...yeah...oh, thank you so much mum!...I'll catch you later...ok...ok...love you too, bye!"

"I guess you've got the green light then", Miss Snell said.

"Indeed. But I'll need to be home by 9. Is that alright?"

"Perfect. We'll go to Luciano's in town."

"Oh, wicked, I love Luciano's...but what am I going to wear?"

"Oh, don't you worry about that. I think it's best you have a shower first, and I'll grab something for you to wear."

She helped me detach my breast forms, placed my wig on a mannequin head she had in her bedroom, and left me to shower. I showered and also shaved again for the first time since my first transformation into Tabitha. Luckily, everything I had used the first time was still laid out on the bathroom side unit. I finished up drying myself and wrapped a towel around me.

I walked into Miss Snell's room to see her fiddling with her phone.

"Ah, that was quick. I was just booking us a table." She slipped her phone onto the bedside table.

I whipped my towel off without even thinking, I'd become so comfortable in her company, and pulled the gaff into place. She then held the breast forms against my chest, letting go after the usual 10 seconds. All tucked and with boobs applied, I was ready to get dressed.

"Right, whack on this bra and these knickers, Tabitha." She handed me the red bra and matching thong I'd worn to the bowling alley. I put them on as instructed. She then handed me a red, short-sleeved skater minidress. I slipped it over my head. There was a small zipper at the back of the dress that Miss Snell did up for me.

She did my make-up a bit heavier than usual, and the lipstick she put on me was of a shade of bright red that matched my dress. She placed the wig on my head and started styling my hair. After she finished tinkering, she explained that she'd put it into beach waves, and told me to look in the mirror. I did, and saw that I looked gorgeous, but I didn't stay looking for too long this time. I'd become used to looking good as a girl...maybe I was taking it for granted a bit that Miss Snell would style me up all lovely, as she'd never let me down before.

Miss Snell then went into the bathroom to get herself ready for our outing. While she was doing that, I sat on her bed and watched some TV. I flicked through the channels and settled on some reality TV show called 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey'. I'd never seen nor heard of it before, but quickly found out I was into it. I dunno, but I think I'd always liked this sort of rubbish-but-in-a-good-way reality TV stuff but never thought it appropriate for me to watch it as Toby. But, as Tabitha, my tastes were allowed to be slightly different, and this was right up my street.

She must have been a good hour or more before she emerged, as I'd watched a whole episode and was partway through my second.

"A girl after my own heart", Miss Snell said as she entered her bedroom and saw what I was watching. She turned the television off by the remote and said that it was time to be heading off.

She was wearing pleated maxi dress that was an autumnal shade of orange with floral decoration. Her hair was worn straight back so that it flowed to halfway down her spine. Her lipstick was a shade of plum. If I thought I looked gorgeous earlier, then Miss Snell was on a whole new level of gorgeous. 'Mr Phillips is one lucky man', I thought.

We drove into town, parked up, and headed for Luciano's.

We were seated towards the back of the restaurant and were served by a handsome waiter named Giovanni. He was wearing tight black trousers and a black shirt with the top two buttons undone. He had short black hair that he'd clearly gelled up at the front, and I also noticed that he had a gold stud earring in each of his ears.

"You ready to order", he asked, and we both nodded. "Splendid. What can I get for you, M'dam?"

This was directed to Miss Snell. She ordered the 'Risotto del Contadino' and a sparkling water to drink.

"Excellent choice! And for you, pretty lady?"

'Jesus', I thought, 'Is this guy flirting with me?'

"What would you recommend?"

"Well, as I say, the risotto M'dam here has ordered truly is bellissima. But the 'Ravioli Di Capra' is very nice too, and there's always the 'Pepperoni Campagna Pizza', if you feel a little cheeky tonight." He said this with a wink and knowing smile.

'God, he really is flirting...but I don't mind it at all.'

"In that case I'll have the pizza, please. Oh, and a Fanta to drink, too."

"No problem", he said, and finished scribbling our order on his jotter pad. "I'll just take these menus from you beautiful ladies, and I'll be back with your drinks in a minute."

After he had left, I said to Miss Snell, "was he flirting with me just then, or am I imagining things?"

"Oh, he was flirting alright", she replied, "and you were too. Taken a fancy to the hunky Italian waiter have we?" She giggled as she said this.

I blushed, a telltale sign that she was on to me, but batted away the notion, claiming to be joking around.

Giovanni returned with our drinks a minute or so later, and our food arrived about 15 minutes after that. I hadn't eaten since before the match that day and was tucking into my pizza as soon as it arrived. The food was scrumptious, and we both cleaned our plates. Over food we talked a bit about the match, a bit about the team, a bit about local town gossip, and a bit about fashion. The last topic certainly wouldn't have been a comfortable subject for me just two weeks ago, but now it felt utterly normal.

Giovanni came by once we'd finished eating to collect our empty dishes to take back to the kitchen. He asked if we wanted to see the dessert menu.

"Not for me, thanks Giovanni, I'm watching my figure", I joked, patting my belly.

"Ah, a small dessert won't harm you, surely? You look terrific. Are you sure you don't want anything?"

"No, honestly, thanks. I'm fit to bursting after the pizza. Which was 'bellissima', by the way, as you said it would be. Thanks for the recommendation."

"My honour, amore mio. What about you, M'dam?"

"No, I'm good too, thanks", Miss Snell answered. "Can we get the bill though, please?"

"Absolutely, give me two seconds."

He went away and came back with the bill. Miss Snell paid for us both. I didn't have any money on me, but said I would pay her back.

"No you won't." She had said. "This was my treat."

She paid up, left Giovanni a generous tip, and then we left the restaurant. Giovanni was waving at us as we left, and I returned a hearty smile and waved back.

We jumped in the car and headed back to Miss Snell's house. En route, she fished a piece of paper out of her handbag and handed it to me.

"I think this was meant for you", she said as she handed it over.

It was crumpled a bit so I unraveled it. It turned out to be the bill for our meal. And at the bottom of the paper was a phone number. 'Giovanni's number!' I realised.

"Oh my god! What am I meant to do with this?"

"Well, I think you know exactly what he wants you to do with it. But don't worry about it now, you don't have to act on it straight away. Or ever, even, if you don't want to."

"Um, OK". I kept the bill crumpled up in my hand all the way until we got to Miss Snell's house. As I went through the usual routine of turning back into Toby, I slipped the bill into Toby's trouser pocket. I can't lie, Giovanni giving me his number had spun me out a little bit. But it didn't appall me in any way. Actually, I was kind of glad. I had no idea what I would do with it, but I wanted to keep it safe in case I wanted to act on anything at a later date.

I thanked Miss Snell for a lovely evening, and headed home.

Tomorrow was cup final day, but I wasn't really thinking too much about that. Maybe that was why Miss Snell had taken me out to dinner, to take my mind off the forthcoming. Whether that was the plan or not, I slept soundly yet again, drifting off as soon as my head hit the pillow. And that night, as I slept, it was Giovanni who was at the forefront of my dreams.