of work on the TV, show. There are complications of the set and Bebe
begins to assert herself in a familiar way. The child-actresses demands are,
ultimately, met and, as a result, his role on Civil Disobedience may become
a bigger one than he'd expected. Then, he's off to meet his date, Blaine,
at Homecoming with Ella, MK and Kylie!
Author's Note: Hope you like it! Please let me know!
Please, leave me a review. Good or Bad, I read them all. ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 2 has been updated with many corrections towards spelling and grammar.~Sephrena.
Image Credit: Image created through the use of ai at https://perchance.org/beautiful-people .~Sephrena.
DEALING WITH REALITY -or- HER MIND HAD GONE DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
"Ok," the assistant director called through a megaphone, "I need all the background performers to report to desk by the entrance to the school to check that your paperwork is all in order. Actors with unnamed characters, that includes boys numbers one through twelve, I need you to report to my assistant who is waving, over to your left, and I need the characters of Pitcher, Catcher, Umpire, Ronny, David, Peter and Alex to all come see me. Right now, please, people! The clock is ticking, let's get moving!"
John was wearing the same blue plaid dress he'd worn in the scene with Marion several days earlier. This scene would actually precede that one when the show was assembled. Doing scenes out of order was new to him, but Ed told him that it actually was easy once you got used to it. You just had to review the full script to remind yourself of where things occurred.
"Alright, boys... and Bebe," the AD said, "we're going to start with a bunch of staged movements - pitcher on the mound, staging some outfield catches, some of you running the bases, a few staged slides - stuff like that, ok. Bebe, Alex needs to do a lot of these things, too, are you ok with that?"
John's first reaction was to call the AD a condescending chauvinist, but instead just said, "Yeah, of course."
Some of the boys snickered, but a couple of more serious boys made the others knock it off. 'Seriously,' John thought, 'this far into the twenty-first century and boys still think that girls can't play sports!?'
"Great! Then let's get started." The AD began with the outfielders. The three camera men worked with him to film a variety of differently staged catches with the boys just catching the ball, or running after it and diving, or throwing it towards the infield.
"Hi." A boy came up to John while he leaned on the fence behind home plate and watched the process.
"Hi." John smiled at him.
"You don't remember me, do you?" The boy was at least sixteen or seventeen, with short-cropped hair, wearing a standard, grey-heather, pull over sweat shirt, jeans from the early 1960s and a generic baseball cap.
"You do look familiar, but, I'm sorry, I can't place you." John, who was usually good with faces, couldn't place this one at all.
"I'm Darrin," the boy smiled and laughed, a bit embarrassed. "We met at auditions a few months ago. I was..."
"Oh, Darrin!" John flashed back to the last audition. Darrin was the last to go in and he was petrified. John had made everyone clap for him and encourage him before going in for his own audition. "You look so different! You had longer hair, and it was darker, wasn't it? I'm sorry that I didn't recognize you! You got a part! Congratulations!"
"Yeah..." Darrin seemed nervous to even be speaking to John. John wondered if it was because Darrin was just nervous near him, or nervous around girls, or just nervous on set, or just nervous all the time. "Umm... I just found out the day before yesterday. I'm playing Peter. I guess, I'm your friend, Cora's, older brother. I don't know how often I'll be on, but I'm really happy to be here."
"That's awesome!" John smiled and gave the tall boy a friendly hug. "I'm really happy for you."
"Ummm... Yeah... well, me too... for you, I mean. Ummm... anyway... well... thank you for helping me... well and everyone else... that day. Without you, ummm... Bianca..."
"Bebe." John smiled at the sweet boy struggling to get the words out. "Everyone calls me Bebe. I'm not really a 'Bianca' kind of girl, you know?"
"Umm... Yeah," he laughed at the joke. "Anyway... Bebe... thanks. I mean it. And I'm really sorry, but... well... I have to say some pretty mean things to you in this scene. I'm... well, my character, Pete, that is... well, he's kind of a bully, I guess, and it kinda looks like he picks on you and Cora... like, a lot."
John laughed at his apology. "Darrin, you don't need to apologize for things in the script. Don't worry about it, ok?"
"Yeah... ok, thanks."
"So, Kylie is playing your sister? That's cool, huh?"
"Kylie?"
"Yeah, remember Kylie? Red hair. Pretty face. She was with us that day. She was number twelve, I think."
"Oh, yeah! I do remember her! That's cool! I didn't know that. Wow... cool... Ok, well, anyway... thanks, again, I mean, you know, for everything."
"You're very welcome, Darrin, and congrats, again!"
"Yeah... thanks... I should...." He looked around the infield. "I should, you know, go over my lines, I guess and, well, sorry for what I have to say in the show."
"That's ok. I'm a big girl. I can take it. Bye, now, Darrin."
"Bye." The boy was handsome and seemed bright, but he was very clumsy when it came to talking to John. John just hoped that he could overcome that when it was time to act, or this was going to be a very long morning.
Eventually the AD had John run some bases and catch some tossed balls, which he did without much effort, but after a couple of takes of John running, he asked to speak to the AD alone for a minute.
"Umm, I have a little problem with running in this costume."
"What kind of problem?" The AD seemed more focused on the shoot than the actress.
"Well, see, they have me wearing a slip under this and it's kind of narrow in the skirt. I can't really run full out while I'm wearing it. Could I, maybe, take it off and just wear the dress?"
The AD looked at the young girl, confused. "Did the costumer Tell you to wear the slip?"
"Yeah, but she..."
"Then you wear the slip unless she says otherwise. Now, let's get this done."
The AD walked away, leaving John huffing in frustration.
Around eleven o'clock, a car pulled up and Marion and Rose, both in costume, got out and waved to John. He was just about to start taking swings and hitting the ball for some shots. John waved back, then got into the batter's box. Darrin was on the pitcher's mound and had already performed a whole series of throws and glances and catches for the AD.
"Ok," the AD said, "we need a couple of strikes and look frustrated, Bebe, ok? Here we go! Just toss it in nice and slow, Pete," he called to Darrin. "We don't need any fast balls right now."
Although he had never played baseball in an organized league, John used to play in the school yard all the time and did very well amongst his friends, some of whom were very athletic, so he was not inexperienced at swinging a bat, but swinging a bat in a dress turned out to be a bit of a chore. The dress was swinging high on his thighs when he swung with any power and it was a distraction that threw him off, a bit. Added to that was the way that the slip would cut into his torso whenever he made the movements required for hitting a baseball. So, not only was the swing difficult and potentially embarrassing, but following each swing, he found himself trying to readjust the slip, which required a lot of shifting of the clothing around his bra in very awkward way. Each attempt to swing like a 'tomboy' made him more and more self conscious.
"Alright, let's hold up," the Assistant Director finally called. Then, he called the pitcher in to meet him at home plate, where in front of Darrin, the boy playing the catcher and the man playing the umpire, he said, "Ok, Bebe, this just isn't working. We'll have to bring in a double who can play baseball to reshoot these shots. We'll just move on to the part where your sister, Susan, and your grandmother come to take you home..."
"Wait!" John's voice was louder and more frustrated than he'd intended it to be. "I am perfectly capable of swinging a stupid baseball bat, I just need to take off this slip. It's so uncomfortable..."
"Of course you are," he dismissed, "but I can't spend all morning here while you play with your underwear..."
"Excuse me!?" John was insulted on almost every level imaginable. He was insulted as an actor who was talking to an Assistant Director who wasn't listening to reason. He was insulted as human being who was hearing someone insulting someone else - in this case, him - but mostly, he was insulted as a young girl being forced to wear impractical clothing and being condescended to by some idiot who never had to deal with a stupid, uncomfortable slip!
"Don't worry, Bebe, not everyone can play sports. We'll find someone who can..."
"Play sports!?" John was embarrassed and outraged. "You're not asking me to play sports! Your asking me to pretend to play sports! I can do both, if you'll let me just take off this stupid..." embarrassed to shout it in front of the boys, he lowered his voice, "... slip."
"Uh huh," he nodded, "Well, regardless, this conversation is over..."
"No, it's not," Marion was suddenly standing with the rest of them. "Just because you went to film school and have relatives in the industry doesn't make you our boss, Jason." She spoke sternly to the AD. "I suggest that you give the cast and crew a ten minute break while I call your uncle, who is the actual director, and we talk this over with him."
The AD tried to maintain a smile as he scoffed at the older actress. "Look, Marion, Mr Rutherford..."
"Or your Uncle Phil, as I call him..." Marion interrupted.
The AD's eyes narrowed. "... be that as it may, Mr Rutherford gave me this assignment to complete and that's what I intend to do. I am not going to interrupt his Saturday morning..."
"Fine." Marion held up her phone with the contact name 'Phil Rutherford' displayed. "I will." She pushed the 'Call' button and the 'speaker' option.
The phone rang twice before a voice answered. "Hi, Marion. What can I do for you?"
"Hi, Phil," her voice was sweet and didn't indicate any stress at all, "I'm out here at the ball field with your Assistant and he is having a little difficulty with the shoot."
"Oh? What's the problem?"
"Well, you know how it is, Phil, young guy and all... well, Bebe is having a hard time playing baseball because of the slip that wardrobe gave her is uncomfortable."
"Slip?" the Director's voice asked. "Slip - as in underwear? That's holding up a shoot?"
"Yes. Silly, I know, but he won't even let the poor child talk to wardrobe about it. Would it be ok if she just took it off and filmed the scene without it?"
"Well, yes, of course it would be fine. Is Bebe with you?"
"Yes, she is Phil. Would you like to speak to her?"
"Yes. Take me off speaker phone and hand the phone to her."
Marion handed John the phone and he put it to his ear. "Hi, Mr Rutherford. I'm sorry that we had to bother you..."
He listened for a few moments, then said, "It might be visible, sir. I'm not sure. I think that it showed when I took swings before."
He listened again. "I think that's a great idea, Mr Rutherford. Yes. I can do that. No, it wouldn't bother me at all. Yes, sir, he's here, too. Yes, I will. Thank you, sir."
John looked at the AD and said, "He wants to talk to you."
The younger man took the phone. "Hi." He listened and eyed John as the director explained what he wanted. "Ok, but are you sure? I mean, she's pretty young..." He looked at Marion. "Yes, she's here. So is Rose who plays Susan. Ok. Ok, if you say so. No, if she can actually swing the bat and hit the ball after that, then I'm sure we can finish in a few hours. Ok. Yes. Goodbye."
Twenty minutes later, a new set up was ready to be filmed. John and Darrin had worked out some dialog and they were ready for the first sequence.
"Everyone ready?" a production assistant called. Everyone on the crew nodded.
"Alright, then," the AD called out, a bit skeptical. "Let's do it. Action!"
Darrin, in character as 'Pete,' wound up and threw the ball across the plate with a reasonable amount of force. John swung and missed.
'Pete' chuckled, "Ha! You used to be a big shot, huh? I told you that things would change. Wait till those little things on your chest get bigger. Your days of being a ball player are over, baby!"
"Shut up and pitch," John as 'Alex' replied, hurt and angry.
"Oh, what's the matter? Is the little lady on her period?"
'Alex' threw the bat and charged the mound, but the boy playing the catcher caught him and carried him back to home plate. "Maybe you should just go home, Alex," the catcher whispered. "Maybe Pete's right. You know, guys and girls... they're built different."
'Alex' turned to the umpire and said, "Can I have three minutes?"
The umpire rolled his eyes and said, "Two. Then you're out."
And 'Alex' ran away.
"Ok," the Assistant Director called. "Cut! 'Alex' go get changed and get back here ASAP."
About four minutes later, John was back in the batter's box, swinging the bat. Except for the fact that the sun showed through his spread legs when he took the batter's stance, he looked almost exactly the same - that is until he took a swing and no slip was visible.. The Assistant Director made sure to capture all of these things in his filming, too.
Then 'Pete' called from the mound, "Is the spoilt little princess ready?"
"That's enough!" The Umpire called. "Play ball!"
This time, Darrin threw a medium speed pitch right straight across the plate and John swung, connected and sent it sailing deep into the outfield. Then he ran the bases, enjoying the feeling of the breeze through his dress.
As planned, when he approached home plate, running full speed, 'Pete' ran forward and knocked him out of the baseline and onto the ground, causing 'Nana' and 'Susan' to come running to help 'Alex' out. Then 'Pete' caught a throw in from the outfield, tagged the downed girl and the umpire shouted, "Out!"
'Nana' and 'Susan' then ran to him and argued his call, until the AD called, "Cut! Great work, everyone! Let's see - Rose and Marion and the umpire, stay put and we'll film the argument. Outfielders, we need to get some coverage on you guys. Pitcher, I just need to get a shot of you running in from the mound and, Bebe, after I do the argument and 'Pete' running in from the mound, we'll shoot your 'behind the tree' moment, then I think we can call it a day. Ok, let's get this done. Quiet, everyone! Grandmother, sister and umpire, you're up first!"
After they'd finished with the argument and Darrin's run in from the mound, they set up by a wooded area. First, they filmed John running into the woods, then they staged a series of short shots in which he first removed his dress, then pulled down the tiny zipper on the side of his slip. Then the slip was removed and left it in a heap on the ground. He pulled the shirt dress back over his head and ran back to home plate, buttoning as he ran.
Finally, as it was approaching 2:30, the Assistant Director told Rose that she, Marion and John could leave, so Rose grabbed John by the hand and pulled him towards the car in which she and Marion had arrived.
"Come on, Beebs! Julia is sending me very panicked texts. We need to go, now!"
But, before he was able to get into the car, Darrin called to him and ran to them.
"Look, Umm.. Bebe... I'm really sorry about, you know, what the AD said and about what I had to say in the script. I mean, we still have to do the part in the dug out where I really talk some sh... Umm... trash about you. It's kinda mean, really and, well.. I'm just sorry, is all."
John smiled and gave the sweet boy a little, friendly hug. "No need, Darrin. It's just a script. I gotta run. See you soon, I'm sure."
"Umm, Yeah, sure, but... um... could I, maybe, get your number? Just in case, you know... for the show?"
"Of course!" John gave him his number, which Darrin immediately used to call him so that Bebe would have his number, too. Then, a quick peck-on-the-cheek and John was in the car and on his way to be made beautiful.
"Well it's about time!" Julia shouted, not altogether playfully, as Rose, Marion and John entered the makeup studio at the studio. "I thought that you'd be here before 2:00! It's after 3:00, now! Where have you been?"
"Oh, that idiot AD," Marion cursed. "He couldn't find his way out of a paper bag and they put him in charge of a Saturday morning shoot when everyone has someplace else to be. I didn't think we'd ever finish."
"Sorry, Julia," Rose had John facing her and was already unbuttoning his dress. "Take this off, Beebs. You'll have to wear your undies for this. Your own dress is on its way, but you need to get started."
"Can't I just keep this on for now?"
"No, sweetheart," Julia helped pull the dress over his head. "Once your hair is done, we don't want to pull a dress over your head."
"Ok," John said, but then he saw Kylie sitting in a chair having her hair worked on. "Umm, isn't there a robe or something I could wear? This training bra is really..." he left that hanging. He glanced towards Kylie.
Rose understood what he meant. She suppressed her amusement and said to Julia, "She's just concerned because Kylie hasn't seen her without either a padded bra or a top on."
Julia suppressed her giggle, too. "Well, well, well," she said so that only John and Rose could hear, "we have certainly developed a sense of maidenly pride, haven't we. Why, I bet at this time last year, you were comparing the size of your manliness to the boys in the gym. Now, your self conscious about how your boobs compare with another girl. Not so very different, is it?"
John didn't answer, but he turned fully away from Kylie so that she couldn't see his underdeveloped breasts.
"Beebs," Rose grinned, "what's the big deal? You just took off your dress in front of a whole camera crew. Kylie doesn't care."
"They only filmed me from behind, Rose. They saw my bra strap and my butt in a pair of white cotton panties. They didn't see that I've got the breasts of an eight year old. Please, Rose. Isn't there a robe around here somewhere?"
"Tell you what," Julia patted his head, "I'll get a hairdresser's cape and put it on you. We won't take it off until your padded bra arrives. Is that ok?"
He nodded, but kept his arm strategically placed across his chest until the cape was on and secured.
"Better?" Rose asked.
He nodded, very embarrassed.
Marion, who had been waiting nearby, said, "Bianca, there is no need to be ashamed of your body. They'll come in, I promise. You're already beautiful. They'll just make you more so. Until then, who cares?"
He nodded and shrugged. "I'm really... small there, Nana. That's all."
"Oh, who cares. Walk proudly, little girl. No one will even notice." She kissed his cheek and said, "I'm going to hang around to see you girls in your dresses for the dance. Is that alright?"
Everyone agreed that it was and Julia dragged him over to a small bathroom with a shower. "Be quick, little girl! Get your hair good and wet, wash your body well, put your bra and panties back on, then call me when you're done. I'll have another cape ready for you." She kissed his head and slapped his bottom, hard, a said, "Now, go! Go! Go!"
"Oh, I love it!" Kylie gushed as she looked at her hair in the mirror. John, freshly washed, and then powdered by Rose, agreed. Julia was just starting to comb his hair out while one of her partners worked on John's pedicure in the hopes of getting him ready in time.
"You look beautiful, dear." Julia smiled at the girl. "It's going to be at least forty-five minutes before Bebe's ready. If you'd like a snack or something before you dress, this is the time." She began rolling hot curlers into John's long hair.
"No thanks, I'm good." Kylie sat in the chair next to John so she could watch and talk. "Did your shoot go well, today? I heard that you were shooting the baseball game that we talked about in that scene we did on the porch this week."
John told her about the shoot, leaving out how frustrating the AD had been to work with, and he told her about Darrin being cast as her brother.
"I didn't know that they planned for Cora to have a brother. That's cool. I don't really remember him, though. I was pretty stressed that day. I'm sure I'll know him when I see him, though."
Just as Julia completed rolling John's hair in curlers, a woman appeared in his field of vision. "So," the woman smiled, "is this the little girl who's making my job so much more interesting?" She was Looking directly at John, who didn't know quite what to say.
Julia laughed. "Probably! She seems to cause extra work for everyone, everywhere she goes! Just look at me and my team. We should be home, enjoying a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Instead, here we are getting her ready for a homecoming dance."
The woman glanced at Kylie and said, "My, don't you look pretty. Are you going to the dance as well?"
"Thank you. Yes, I am," Kylie smiled.
"That's Kylie," Julie continued working on John's hair, placing a bonnet dryer over his head, allowing his ears to remain free to hear the conversation. "Kylie plays Cora on the show. This one, here, is Bebe. She's the real troublemaker."
"Very nice to meet you, girls." The woman shook hands with each of them. "My name is Barbara Gravel and I am one of the writers on the show. Now, it seems that the character of Alex, which would be you, I believe, took a turn off of the page today due to a wardrobe issue, correct?"
John nodded.
"What wardrobe issue!?!?" Julia was concerned that no one told her about any problems.
John explained the problems caused by the oddly clingy slip and the solution they came up with.
"Well, it was a more creative and more involved story than I would have come up with," Barbara spoke as she leaned against the wall in the makeup area, "but it has created some new possibilities for our first arch and, guess what, I am now your character's supervisor. So, I will be working with the head writer and director to feature your character more prominently. How does that sound?"
John was in shock. "Wow!" he said.
"Wow is right!" Kylie joined. "This is great Bebe! If your character is featured more, mine will be too! Wow!" She was thrilled.
"Well," Barbara smiled, "I can't promise anything to anyone, right now, but I need to follow through on the scenario you created today. I'll be working with the team this weekend and I'll be sending you some new pages on Monday. The director would like me to get feed back from you as we construct this story, ok? So, let me know what you think."
"Oh, believe me," Rose giggled, "you will know what 'The Beebs' thinks! She doesn't keep her opinion to herself when it comes to acting!"
Barbara smiled. "Excellent. Well, have a great time, girls. I'm going home to see my husband for the first time in a week. Bye, bye."
By the time Julia removed the bonnet, John's makeup was complete and his fingernails were drying. Oscar had shown up and he'd brought Ed with him, who, in turn, had brought the garment bag with all of John's clothes for the evening.
Kylie was sent to change while Julia fussed over the sculpting of John's hair. "I'm going to keep her a bit young, still," she told Rose, conscious of the people present who did not know John's secret. "See, her lips are a little thinner than I'd do for an older girl, and her makeup is less severe. I'm just going to create a little 'poof' here on top, so that we can put a tiara there, then bring all of these curls in the back into a high pony tail that will 'poof' out a bit, too. Pretty, but sweet and young. It's actually kind of important that we maintain this kind of a 'young' look. We can't have a picture appear in the press where she looks older. That's not the image the studio wants."
Rose nodded and watched as Julia did her magic.
Ed wandered over to watch, too. "Well, she looks pretty grown up, to me," he teased. "Make sure that you don't make her too pretty. I don't want to have to hire an armed guard to protect my niece 24/7." He smiled a friendly, loving, paternal smile at his friend. "If you ask me, she's already, too pretty. Make her look more... normal, will you?"
"Oh, get out of here, you!" Rose scolded as she smiled and pushed him away from the chair.
When Kylie emerged from the dressing room, she looked stunning in a simple, aqua dress - An A-line skirt and a tight bodice with tiny, spaghetti straps. Her well developed figure looked perfect and the color of the dress made her gorgeous red hair pop.
"Oh, Kylie," John was very impressed, "you look so pretty!"
"Thanks. Could some one take a picture so that I can send it to my mom? She's really bummed that she couldn't be here to help get me ready."
"Sure." Ed took the picture for her, gave her back her phone and said, "You look like you're twenty five years old! Your date is going to pass out when he sees you."
"Thanks, Ed." She was glowing with young beauty and excitement.
Then Ed turned to the team working of John and said, "Nothing like this for Bebe, though! I don't want a bunch of boys drooling over my niece!"
"You just stop it, or I'll call security!" Julia teased. "She can't help but be beautiful!" To John and Kylie she said, "Now, you both have my cell number. I want to see pictures. Lots and lots of pictures! You hear me?"
They both swore that they would.
Finally John was done. There were small, springy curls atop of his head, a glimmering tiara pinned securely into those curls, several curled tendrils helping his curled bangs to frame his face, then his curled and wavy hair was all pulled to the back of his head, where it was gathered and pinned before falling in a thick, glamorous arrangement to just below his shoulders.
His standard 'young and fresh' makeup was enhanced with a little more color on his eyes. A little eye liner, curled and heavily mascaraed eyelashes and bright red lips - not too lush, but not thin, either.
He was gorgeous without being gaudy. Girlish without pretending to be womanly.
Rose hustled him into the changing room where, first, he donned his new, lacy, bright red bra, then the matching panties and shoes. "My mom would have made me wear pantyhose for an event like this," Rose reminisced, "but you're wearing open toed shoes, so the pantyhose wouldn't look right."
Once the shoes and undergarments were all on and secure, Rose called out to Ed to help with the dress.
"I'm not very experienced at this - no sisters at home. What so I have to do?" he asked when Rose handed him the left shoulder of the dress.
"We are going to lower it to the floor. She'll step into it and we'll raise it up her body. Once it's on her shoulders, I'll need you to hold the top of the back nice and tight so that I can lace it up and tie it off."
"Ok."
They lowered it and John stepped in. As they raised it up his body, Ed took note of the shape of John's hips and buttocks. They were definitely girly - young girly, not womanly, but seductive in their own, young way.
Once the dress was on John's shoulders, Ed tried to hold the back of the dress tight by standing behind John and pulling the panels towards the center, but he was in Rose's way. So, she scooted him around to John's front so that she could work.
Ed stood facing John, his arms over john's shoulders, holding the fragile material tightly while Rose worked on the laces of the dress.
There was nowhere for either John or Ed to look except at each other.
"This is a little weird, huh?" John chuckled. "You helping me put on a dress so I can go to a dance with a boy?"
"No, not really," Ed replied with a warm smile. "You need help. I'm helping you. We've been friends for more than ten years and we always help each other out, right?"
John smiled and nodded. He noticed that his lipstick tasted a little different than usual. He mentioned that to Rose who said that it was because the stuff he was wearing today was really expensive. "We can't have your little freshman friends judging you for wearing cheap lipstick, now can we."
"Your lips are very pretty," Ed said.
"Thanks." John still had nowhere to look. Ed was much bigger than him and his arms were blocking his peripheral vision.
"Am I embarrassing you by saying that?" Ed was watching John blush.
"Maybe... I guess... a little."
"Sorry," he smiled at John. This young, beautiful girl, his niece, was so far removed from his best friend, that young man with the with the scraggly beard and the greasy boy-bun, that it was hard to believe that they were the same person. At one point, when Bianca was just appearing, Ed was so attracted to the woman his friend had become that he almost asked her out. And why not? She was sexy and beautiful!
But now... now she wasn't John or Bianca to him at all. Now, she was Bebe and she depended on him to be the grownup. Uncle Ed. He'd miss John and he'd probably fantasize about Bianca from time to time, but he would love Bebe as if she was his own child. He would do everything he could to help her be safe, happy and healthy.
He loved John as a friend.
He lusted after Bianca as a sexual partner.
He would love Bebe as if he were her her father and she was his daughter.
FIRST DATE -or- EVERY ADVENTURE REQUIRES A FIRST STEP
After the pictures, a quick Skype conversation with his mother in Worcester and kisses from everyone, Oscar was finally able to herd both John and Kylie into the limo and, with a text to Ella to tell her they'd be picking them up in about a half hour, they were on their way.
There were a couple of dozen photos at Ella's house - mansion would be a better description - with Ella and MK's moms posing the four of them all around the house and yard.
The next text was sent to Blaine as the limo approached the school's entrance. 'HI. ITS BEBE. WE'RE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THERE'S A LINE OF CARS DROPPING GIRLS OFF BEFORE WE GET TO THE DOOR.'
The reply came, 'GREAT. I'LL BE THERE. WHAT KIND OF CAR?'
'BENTLY LIMO.'
'REALLY!? WOW! ILL DEFINITELY BE THERE! I WANT TO SEE IT.'
John laughed. "Blaine wants to see the limo."
"So does Oliver," Kylie said.
"So does Rutger," MK said.
"So does Craig," Ella said.
That made them all laugh hysterically.
As the limo came to a stop, Oscar lowered the privacy panel and spoke to John and the girls. "Ok, ladies, we're here. Now, you all have my number. If you have any problems, just call me and I'll come in and get you. Now, be careful and remember that boys are all dangerous. Keep them at arms length."
The grins on the kids' faces could not have been bigger and hearing Oscar stating that they were tempting to boys only made them that much more excited to get out and get started.
John, however, had nothing but butterflies in his stomach.
"But Oscar," MK teased, "you were a boy once, right? Were you only interested in sex, too?"
The girls all giggled.
"Yeah, ok, laugh if you want," Oscar smiled at their teasing, "but just know that, if you need any help, Oscar is just a phone call away. Ok?"
"Ok," they giggled together. Then, a boy working as a valet, opened the door to the limo and invited the girls to exit the vehicle.
There were four boys, Blaine, Oliver, Rutger and Craig, all waiting. The girls all knew their dates, so they received quick hugs before the boys ducked their heads into the limo to look at the interior of the vehicle. The girls were left staring at the boys' bottoms while the boys exclaimed, "Whoa! This is gorgeous."
Blaine, who was as tall and handsome as his picture indicted, stood back a few steps until John noticed him. He smiled warmly, his hands tucked deep into his pockets, his dark, burgundy suit jacket hanging over his pocketed arms.
John held his little, red clutch purse in front of him with both hands and smiled back at the boy. "Hi." John took several steps towards him and his smile grew.
"Hi, Bebe," he said, then took his right hand out his pocket and offered it to John. "I'm Blaine. You look... beautiful..."
John felt a warmth in his belly. Blaine was handsome and polite. John liked his compliment, too. They shook hands. "Thank you. You look... very nice, too." They smiled at each other for a moment, then John said, "Do you want to see the inside of the car?"
Blaine, snickered and shook his head. "Nah. It can't be as beautiful as you. Let's just go in and get our picture taken."
Blaine offered his arm and John wrapped his around it. Blaine walked slowly but decisively towards the entrance, and John could hear Ella shouting at her date, "Hey, come on! We want to go in!"
The photographer had a beautiful array of flowers set up for the students and their dates to use as a background for the portraits. There was also a monitor facing the couple so that they could proof their portrait after it was taken. Thinking back to his own proms, when he and his date wore rented clothes and stood in front of a mottled grey piece of vinyl to have a picture hastily taken, this all seemed so very elegant. Not only did he like it - he really appreciated it.
They took their picture in the traditional position, with John standing in front of Blaine, Blaine's arms around John, the couple slightly askew, heads turned and smiling towards the camera. Blaine approved it and they proceeded into the hall to meet other students and their dates.
Eventually, Blaine led John to the buffet table and they made their selections. Again, thinking of his own proms with baked chicken, mashed potatoes and green-bean-almandine, while this feast of everything from elaborate tofu dishes to African cuisine to prime rib, seemed amazingly elaborate.
When they sat, it was with Blaine's friends and their dates. Kylie sat at the next table with her date and Ella and MK were across the dance floor. With Blaine on one side of him and another athletic young, handsome boy on the other, John felt very small in his beautiful, red dress.
"Your school is beautiful," John said very sincerely. "Norte Dame kinda looks like an old church, or something. This school looks like a fancy hotel."
Blaine smiled and looked around. "It is nice, I guess. I'm kinda used to it, now. I don't really notice it much."
"You're not from here, are you?" John tasted his egg roll. It was amazing!
"No. I'm from the Florida pan-handle. My mom married a TV executive who used to work out of Atlanta. He had an opportunity out here, so I got dragged along. It's nice, though. These are good guys. I'm happy enough."
John smiled at his date and took another taste of egg roll. Just as he took a bite, Blaine said, "Ella says that you're from Boston?"
With a mouth full of egg roll, John could only laugh and hold a dainty hand in front of his mouth until he was able to swallow. Blaine laughed at his predicament.
"Hey, don't laugh at me!" John giggled, adorably, "that was your fault. But, no, I'm from Worcester. It's in the middle of
Massachusetts. Like forty miles or so from Boston."
"Oh, Sorry."
They chatted about their lives and got to know each other.
"So," Blaine said as he returned to the table with their desserts, "did the girls mention why I'm not dating anyone, at the moment?"
"No, not really. They said you were shy."
He laughed at that. "I guess I kinda am a little shy, but that's not the reason, and besides, you're really easy to talk to."
John smiled. "That's nice of you to say. You're easy to talk to, too."
Blaine smiled. He found Bebe, not just pretty, but very, very cute. She had a genuine, honest smile and laugh that didn't take into account how a boy would respond to her. He really liked that. "Thanks. Anyway, well, there's a girl back in Florida and, until I moved away last spring, we'd been going together since seventh grade. She comes out here when she can, too, so... you know, I just wanted to let you know that, even though I really, really like you, I kinda already have a girlfriend."
John was actually very relieved. "Don't worry about it, Blaine. I'm having a great time and I'm not really looking to date anyone, either. I'm not going to be looking for you to call me, or anything..."
"No, no... see, what I was going to say is, I know you're new and all and as long as you're not seeing anyone... you know... maybe... if you need an escort or something... I'd be happy to..." the handsome young man looked around the room for a moment, trying to regain his swagger and find the right words. "Oh, man, what I mean is, I think you're really nice and I would love to be friends... if you'd like that, too."
John smiled and placed his petite hand on Blaine's larger, stronger one. "I'd like that a lot, Blaine. To tell you the truth, this is the first time I've gone on a date with a boy and this... event... is NOTHING like anything we did at my old school. I was really scared about coming and you have made it an awesome night. Thank you, and I hope that we'll be friends."
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," a very handsome man with dark skin and a beautiful, bright red tuxedo, spoke into the microphone on the bandstand. "My name is JC and these are The Decades!" The man indicated the other ten or twelve people on the bandstand. There was the typical rhythm section as well as five horn players and a slew of singers, both male and female. The first thing that occurred to John was, 'The band alone must have cost thousands of dollars!'
"Now that you've got full bellies," the man continued, "let's get you up and dancing! We have to work off some of those calories. We're going to kick things off with a song from The Beatles! One! Two! One, two, three...
'Well, she was just seventeen.
And you know what I mean...'"
"Want to dance?" Blaine asked as he was rising.
"Sure, but I'm not a very good dancer," John took his hand and rushed to the dance floor as Blaine pulled him along. He was used to wearing character shoes, but these heels, as expensive and well made as they were, were a different story!
Self conscious, at first, he began moving the way that Rose had instructed, swaying and swinging his hips and arms. Looking around, he realized that most of the other people on the dance floor - male and female - were also self conscious and that made him relax a bit.
By the end of 'I Saw Her Standing There,' he felt good and he was having fun. He forgot about the nervousness and just enjoyed moving to the music and feeling his beautiful dress sway around him, caressing his body. Suddenly, he LOVED dancing! It wasn't stupid or silly - it was wonderful!
Next came, 'Papa's Got A Brand New Bag,' and John and Blaine stayed to dance for that one, too! Soon, MK and her date were dancing nearby. Neither Kylie's nor Ella's dates seemed interested in fast dancing, so they came out together and joined the throng.
The music slowed for the third song, 'When I Was Your Man,' and Blaine opened his arms in an invitation for John, which he accepted.
"I thought you couldn't dance," he whispered to John, as they moved around the floor.
"I didn't think I could," John smiled up at the handsome boy. "You make it easy, though."
Blaine actually did dance quite well. It was obvious that he'd had some experience.
"You really are a flirt, aren't you?" Blaine laughed.
Actually, John would never have described himself as one and was surprised to hear Blaine say it. The cockeyed smile that crossed John's face was meant to read as 'I'm innocent,' but came across as even more flirtatious than before. "I am not!" He laughed.
Blaine loved this silly grin on his date's face and drew her closer to his chest. "Yeah... you are. You just don't know it, yet, and that makes you even cuter."
By 9:30, they were preparing to choose the 'Homecoming Court,' a popularity competition amongst the football players. As it turned out, Kylie's boyfriend, who was a junior, was a big deal on the team. He wasn't voted 'King,' but he was chosen as a member of the King's court, so Kylie joined the Queen's. There was a lot of applause for the boy, but, because she was new, there was less for Kylie. John bounced up and down and hooted and hollered and applauded as loud as he could, even running to the edge of the stage to throw his friend a kiss. Kylie definitely appreciated it and blew a kiss back to her friend.
Each member of the court was given a sash and a crown to wear for the remainder of the evening. John waited at the foot of the stairs to the bandstand to congratulate Kylie and hug her when she descended. Blaine joined them and shook hands with Kylie's date. Ella and Kylie ran over to congratulate Kylie, too.
There were a series of awards given to the student athletes who had competed in the homecoming game earlier in the day and a reminder that, when the dance ended at 10:30, everyone was expected to leave the school and behave as excellent student representatives of their schools. Everyone needed to get home safely and soberly.
That remark got some whispered, sarcastic remarks from some of the older kids, but everyone seemed very happy to just enjoy the rest of the evening.
As the band kicked off their last set, Blaine asked, "I'm getting a drink of soda. Want one?"
"Sure," John said, "thanks."
"Ok, stay right here." Then, he bent gave John a soft, slow kiss on his cheek. "I'll be right back."
John smiled as he watched Blaine disappear into the crowd.
"Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God!" Ella was bouncing out of her skin.
"What?" John asked, genuinely confused.
"He kissed you!" MK said in a whispered shriek.
"Just on the cheek..." John began to protest.
"Yeah," Kylie added, "but he still kissed you. He likes you!"
"No he doesn't," John scoffed. "He told me he has a girlfriend."
"Yeah, like in Ohio!" Ella shook her head, disgusted with John's words.
"Florida," John corrected.
"Whatever... he LIKES you!" Ella was insistent.
"No..."
"Yes," now Kylie was getting into it, "he does, Bebe. You can tell? No one JUST KISSES a girl on a first date! He LIKES you!"
"Well, I think you're wrong. He's just a nice boy who's being polite..."
"Who are you talking about?" Blaine appeared with two paper cups baring the logo of the school and containing clear soda. "You can't be talking about me. You said that boy was polite."
He handed John a cup and smiled. "Are you having a good time?" He asked.
"I am having a wonderful time, yes, and thank you for the drink. I don't think I've ever danced this much in my life. Whew!"
Blaine smiled. "Well, drink up. We can get a few more dances in before it's over." He downed his soda and burped playfully.
John drank a little more, then put his drink on a table. Then he took Blaine's hand with one hand, and with the other, he took Ella's, who, in turn took Kylie's who took MK's and they made a train to the dance floor whilst the band played Prince's 'Raspberry Beret.'
Then, they changed it up with 'Havana' which led to 'Uptown Funk.'
The girls were glowing with a light sheen of excited sweat, when the singer announced, "This is it, ladies and gentlemen! Grab your partners and let's finish the night with a slow dance!"
The band kicked into an updated version of 'Unchained Melody.' Again, Blaine opened his arms as an invitation to John, who nearly collapsed into the bigger boy's arms and allowed himself to be guided, gracefully around the floor.
"I wish we could dance a little longer," Blaine whispered into John's ear.
"Me too." John rested his head on Blaine's chest and enjoyed the movement while it lasted.
When the song ended, they held hands, walked to the table to get John's purse, then each girl claimed a small gift bag with expensive lips balm, body wash and bath salts from an exclusive boutique. When they finally exited the building, Blaine stopped John before they reached the limo.
He turned, so that they were facing each other. Blaine placed his hands on John's hips and smiled down on the beautiful girl that he'd spent the evening with. "I had a great time, tonight, Bebe. Thanks for coming."
John smiled up at the handsome boy who'd worked so hard to show him a nice time. "Thank you for taking me. I had a great time, too. It was a lot more fun than I expected it to be."
"To tell you the truth, these things aren't usually all that much fun for me. Every girl I've gone with before was kind of... I don't know... aloof, maybe? More interested in her dress and makeup and how the other girls looked at her than having fun."
"Wait? You didn't like my dress?" John teased and giggled. His coy smile made Blaine snicker, too.
"No, your dress is beautiful and you look beautiful in it, it's just that... well, you're not an 'it's about the dress' kind of girl. You're smart and easy to talk to. Anyway, I was just thinking, if you'd like to, maybe, see a movie or something, maybe Friday night...? Not a date - just two friends, you know? Just... a movie..."
He left the invitation hanging.
"Oh, that's nice, Blaine," John said, honestly, but also hoping that Blaine wasn't looking for more than they'd already discussed, "but I need to check my 'call' schedule for the show and talk to my cousin and Uncle. Can you, maybe, call or text me after I get my 'call sheet' on Monday?"
"Oh, Yeah, sure," Blaine smiled. "I forgot that you have a job. I'll text you Monday. You can tell your Uncle that we'd just be going as friends, right? Not like... dating... or anything."
John smiled, then glanced towards the limo where he saw six eyes, belonging to three nosy girls watching his conversation. "I should probably go. I think they're all waiting for me."
Blaine nodded, but then realized that his hands were still on John's girlish hips. 'What the hell?' he thought and abruptly leaned in and kissed John on the lips. It wasn't long and smoldering, it was gentle and a bit inexperienced, but it sent chills through John's confused body nonetheless. He closed his eyes and both accepted and enjoyed the kiss.
It only lasted seconds, but when the kiss broke, John was flushed and blushing and he felt a strange warmth coursing through his body. The kiss was... nice and... sweet. He looked away from Blaine, but then looked back and smiled at the boy. "I... I really have to go... Text me. I get my 'call sheet' for the end of the week on Monday."
John moved past Blaine and headed towards the limo, where the three girls were watching, their mouths agape. Then, as one, they began an 'ohh' sound that started low and rose in pitch and volume, getting higher and higher until John got close and they all erupted in giggles.
Embarrassed, both that he'd done something that would warrant the girls' teasing and that the teasing took place in front of Blaine, John stopped for just a moment, to wave to the boy, roll his eyes at the behavior of his friends, then climbed into the limo as quickly as he could, leaving the girls to tease Blaine by blowing him kisses.
"Looks like you had a good time, Miss Bebe." Oscar looked at John in the rear view mirror. "Nice boy?"
"Yes, Oscar, he's a very nice boy, thank you," John said to Oscar's reflection, but then he turned to the door and said in a somewhat loud, very frustrated voice, "Would you three PLEASE GET IN THIS CAR!?!?"
They did, but not without more kisses being blown and calls of, "Bye, Blaine! Don't worry, we'll take good care of her for you!"
They fell into the car in fits of giggles. The beautiful young women of the party, replaced by the playful little girls in the limo.
John put his elbow on the knee of his crossed leg, then his forehead in the palm of that hand. "Ugg! I'll never be able to show my face around here again after that! You guys are horrible!"
"Oh, lighten up," MK giggled. "He knew we were kidding. Besides, he knows us. He knows how immature we are."
"Yeah," Ella laughed, "and Blaine is definitely not going to let us get in the way of seeing you!" Then she made kissy noises before the giggles took over, again.
Kylie threw her arm around John's shoulders. "Hey, you're not really mad are you?"
At last, John lifted his head from his hand. He was a little red faced with embarrassment and the blush he retained from the kiss, but his smile was big and his eyes were wide.
"I knew she wasn't mad!" Ella hollered.
"Are we buckled in, ladies?" Oscar called back as the car approached the road. "I want to get you all home in one, piece.
They all buckled their seat belts, but they didn't settle down a bit. "Oscar, you should have seen it! It was beautiful in there and, guess what! Kylie was made part of The Homecoming Court!"
"All the boys looked so handsome and the girls dresses - oh! They were so pretty!"
"And then, he just kissed her, Oscar! Just like that! He just kissed her, can you believe it!?"
"And he kissed her goodnight, too!"
"Yep, they'll be going steady in a week, I guarantee it!" The last remark came from Kylie.
"No, we won't." John smiled, but shook his head. "Rose and Uncle Ed, will never let me go steady at this age, you know that. Besides, HE ALREADY HAS A GIRLFRIEND!!! He told me all about her!"
"Yeah, like, five thousand miles away...!" MK teased. "She might as well be on Mars!"
John let out an exasperated, yet playful breath. "First off, the country isn't five thousand miles wide, doofus, and second, she's only a few hours away by plane. So, if we go out Friday night, it'll just be as friends."
"Oh, my God! He asked you out!?" Ella couldn't believe that John had withheld this important information from her.
"Just as friends. Not on a date," John said as casually as he could.
"Yeah, right!" Ella scoffed.
"You're going, right!?" both MK and Kylie asked in unison.
"Well... I don't know..." John shrugged.
"YES! YOU! ARE! GOING!" Kylie stated emphatically. "He's handsome, he's smart, he's rich and he's into you! Of course you're going." As the eldest of the girls, she took on a matronly demeanor. "You don't say no to a boy like that. You're going and that's the end of the discussion!"
"Look, guys," John tried to explain, "I haven't even seen my call sheet for the weekend yet..."
"YOU'RE GOING!" the three said in unison and all discussion on that subject ended.
It was past midnight when Oscar pulled up to the front of the complex where Rose and Ed had rented an apartment. He put the car in park, then hustled to the passenger side to open the door for John. He extended a hand to assist the child dealing with the cumbersome dress, just as he'd done for the other three, but instead of waiting by the car door until his passenger got inside, as he'd done with the others, he offered John an arm and escorted him towards to entrance to his building.
"You don't need to walk me home." John smiled. "I'll be fine."
"That's not a problem, Miss," he continued up the path and smiled, paternally.
"But you didn't do this for the other girls." John didn't mind the company, but Oscar hadn't really paid much attention to the other girls.
"They live in houses, Miss. I knew that they were ok as soon as they entered their homes. I'll walk you to your apartment door, if you don't mind."
"No, I don't mind at all, Oscar. Thank you. That's very kind of you."
As they waited for the elevator, Oscar asked, "First date?"
John was a bit embarrassed. "Kinda, yeah."
"And you had fun?"
John nodded.
"First kiss from a boy?"
John rolled his eyes and shrank just a bit. "Yeah, it definitely was that." He shrugged and smiled.
Oscar smiled at the reaction. "Well, looking at you in that beautiful dress, I understand why the boy couldn't resist."
"Thank you, Oscar."
It was strange. For twenty years, John was an ok-looking guy. No one was going to put him on a calendar, but he wasn't ugly. Now, yeah, he was definitely a cute girl, but it just seemed so commonplace for people to tell girls that they were beautiful.
John liked being called beautiful.
He liked it a lot.
When they reached the correct floor, Oscar stepped out first, then offered John his arm and walked him to his apartment door. John opened his purse to get his key, but Oscar knocked on the door. "I'm sure that they've stayed up awaiting your return, Miss."
The door opened within seconds and Rose appeared. She was still fully dressed and relieved to see the people in the hall. "Bebe! Oscar! Is everything ok?"
"Just fine, Miss," Oscar smiled his friendly smile. "Just fine."
"Oscar walked me up." John entered and hugged Rose.
"Mmm," she hugged him tightly and kissed his forehead, "it was getting late and I was getting worried." She smiled at Oscar. "Thank you for taking care of her, Oscar. Would you like a coffee?"
"Another time, I would love one, Miss, but I'm going to let you both talk and get some rest. Your little girl, here, had a pretty big night. I'm sure she has a lot to tell you. 'Night!"
"Good night, Oscar and thank you again. Say 'thank you' to Oscar, Beebs."
"Good night, Oscar. Thank you, very much."
"Good night, Miss. Good night, Little Miss."
"So?" Rose guided John into her bedroom where she sat beside him on the bed. Ed, she'd explained, was still working on a night-shoot on location and wasn't expected home till morning.
"I had a nice time," John admitted, as Rose leaned back against the headboard and raised her arm, allowing him to cuddle next to her.
"And the boy?"
"He was very sweet. He danced well. I'm glad you and Ed taught me a little before the dance. I really enjoyed dancing."
"Did the other girls like your dress?"
Just a few weeks ago, the phrase 'other girls' would have made John react, at least a little bit, but tonight he didn't even notice it.
"I guess. Some of them had REALLY elaborate gowns. They were beautiful, but didn't seem real comfortable. They were all dressed better than the best dressed girl at my proms, though! Everyone was dressed nicely - girls and boys."
"And your boy? Was he dressed nicely, too?"
John pulled his phone out and showed her photos of the evening, explaining who people were and who they were dating. He showed her a picture of Kylie on the bandstand wearing the sash and crown. She showed her the meals and desserts and lots of pictures of Blaine and even some of Blaine with Bebe.
Occasionally, a picture popped up that John had not taken. Usually he could tell that Ella had taken it and he'd giggle. Several were just of Ella and MK making faces into the camera on his phone.
Unexpectedly, though, a photo popped up of him slow dancing with Blaine. His head was resting on Blaine's chest and his eyes were closed. Under the picture, the photographer had written the words 'Young Love.'
John tried to pull the camera away quickly, before Rose had a chance to really examine it, but she was stronger and pulled it from his hand. "Aww, how cute! I told you that when a big, strong, handsome boy held you, you'd enjoy it!"
"Ok, you were right. It was nice to just close my eyes and let him be in control. You know, just listen to the music, you know what I mean."
"Uh Huh," she teased, "and feel his heart beat and feel his warmth and the sway of your dress and and you breasts pressed against his flat chest... I know exactly what you mean. Ooo! Look at this one!"
She held up a photo of Blaine kissing the top of John's head as they danced. John was not even aware that this had happened, let alone that a picture was taken. He thought about the kiss near the bandstand and the other one in the parking lot. He was sure that no one had their phones out at the bandstand, but in the parking lot...? He knew that he had his phone in his clutch at that point, but each of the other three girls may have taken several pictures!
"What's the matter, sweetheart? There's nothing wrong with enjoying it."
"Honestly, Rose. I had no idea that he kissed me, then!"
"Then!? You mean he kissed you other times, too?"
"No... well, yes.... but I mean..."
"Really!? He kissed you? Oh, my goodness, that's awesome!? Did you enjoy it?"
He knew that he was in a no-win situation with Rose, now. She was going to tease him mercilessly, no matter what he said, so he let his head land firmly on her breast and sulked a little.
"Oh, stop it," she teased as she looked through more pictures. "I think it's adorable. And I think you're adorable. And I think your dress is adorable. And, more than anything on this earth, I want to make a nasty little girl out of you, right here on this bed. Will you let me do that?" With that, she reached under the skirt of his dress and patted the flat front of John's new, red, lace panties.
"What if I said that I wasn't that kind of girl?"
Her finger traced the outline of his tucked-in penis. She smiled and said, "Don't fool yourself, you pretty little thing. We're all that kind of girl."
Ed returned at 8:15 the next morning and peeked in to make sure that Bebe had made it home alright, but her bed was empty. A moment of panic passed through him and he hurried to Rose's room to see if she'd heard from him. When he opened that room, he saw Rose soundly asleep with her arm wrapped around Ed's little niece. Both were naked and uncovered from the waist up. Rose's plump, womanly breasts and beautiful nipples made Bebe look very small and young, but the little mounds that were developing on his chest made it clear that Bebe was going to be undeniably female, very soon.
He smiled at the sight, then whispered, "My girls."
To Be Continued...
