45th Annual Gala of Tiresias: 5

 

Skyler becomes more determined to win the Gala, especially after discovering that not all
of the contestants are nice. He joins Regina and Paula for their first modeling gig and then, of
course, life gets more complicated. P.S. There are no music links at the end of this chapter.
Only 2 new pieces are mentioned and they are fairly modern songs that are easily googled
if you don't know them.

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Author's Note: Please continue to comment and review. I truly love to read your comments, and, even though this story is pretty much completed, your comments do influence my writing. Thank you for your assistance!!! ~Clara.
 
This version of 45th Annual Gala of Tiresias: 5 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.

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Chapter 5
 

"Alright, ladies," the director of the gala said, clapping his hands and calling everyone to attention, "let's get this rehearsal underway. My watch says it's eight o'clock. I know it's early for a Saturday morning, but we have a lot of work to do. So, gulp down your coffee and let's get this road on the show."

A few of the people in the hall giggled at that, but most just moved to their seats.

"Alright," the director said again once the room had settled down, "this morning, we're going to start by rehearsing the opening presentation, then discuss how you'll be doing your swimsuit and evening gown presentation and some of you will be doing your talent portion for our technical team so they know what to expect and can make you look and sound your best. Ok?"

"Ok," the contestants all responded in mumbles.

That morning, both Hanna and Regina were sitting with Skyler, one on either side. Hanna was there both as Skyler's chauffeur and to offer support. Regina was there both because she and Skyler had to get to their first modeling session very quickly after the rehearsal and because she was curious as to how this pageant would be
different/similar to the pageants in which she'd participated.

Skyler was feeling a bit confused by the way everyone was dressed that morning - which is to say, several were wearing flowered shirts, but all wore jeans or slacks of some kind while he was wearing a lace covered, white silk blouse and knee length, black, pleated skirt along with a pair of two inched heeled pumps. He was the only contestant dressed entirely as a woman.

"Good. Now, I'm hoping that you were all truthful about your height when you filled out your applications, because I'm going to call you up to the stage and put you in order from the tallest to the shortest and then put you into the positions you'll be in AT THE END of the opening presentation. Then, we'll teach you how we plan on getting you there. So, please come up when your name is called and stand where my Assistant Director tells you."

He began calling out names and it became obvious that he was calling up the back row because the contestants were all tall.

"I know that most of these people aren't in makeup or costumes yet," Regina whispered to Skyler, "but I honestly don't see a ton of competition here. You're way cuter than any of these guys. Most of them would still look like guys, even in dresses."

"She's right," Hanna said from the other side of Skyler. "You're three times more girly than any of these guys."

Skyler looked around at his fellow contestants, many of whom were just ordinary looking guys, but some of whom were very feminine, one might even say effeminate, or even... well... as if they were putting on a show of their own at all times. Being told he was three times girly than some of these contestants was a lot to take in.

"Skyler... Skyler Moynahan," the director said into the microphone.

"Good luck," both girls said to him as he stood and headed to the stage.

As he climbed the stairs to the platform, one of the contestants said to the Assistant Director, "I thought that people who are transitioning or already on HRT were not allowed to compete."

"That is correct," the Assistant Director said without realty looking up until Skyler was right in front of him. "Skyler Moynahan? You go..."

He took a look at Skyler, and Skyler's somewhat low-cut top and stopped. "Wait here," he said.

The director called the last contestant to the stage just as the Assistant Director whispered something in his ear. The Director turned and took an evaluating look at Skyler before saying, "Skyler? May I see you for a moment?"

Skyler looked a bit nervous as he approached the Director. "Yes?"

The Director looked him over very closely before saying, "You know that this competition is limited to non-transitioning contestants, correct? If you are already taking hormones, or already had enhancement surgeries, you're not qualified to participate."

Skyler nodded. "Yes, sir."

"So..." the Director lowered his voice a bit, "you're telling me that you're not in transition? That you're not receiving any hormone treatments? That you are one hundred percent male?"

"Yes, sir," Skyler affirmed.

The Director considered his words for a moment, but ultimately decided to be blunt. "Skyler... I'm looking at some very real tits on you. Care to explain?"

His remarks could easily be heard by everyone, and everyone was a bit taken aback by them, but only Hanna heard Regina saying, "Tits? Did that asshole just say 'tits' to a pageant contestant? Who the fuck does he think he is."

She started to stand and make a scene, but Hanna grabbed her arm. "Relax, Reggie. They're not real breasts and Skyler can handle this."

"I doubt that," Regina huffed, but she did sit back, her arms crossed and her face red with anger. "Sky is afraid to stand up for himself."

Skyler, who had only just started feeling comfortable with this new addition to his chest, was caught off guard. "They're... umm... they're artificial breasts."

The Director looked closer. "The don't look artificial." He stepped closer. "May I touch them?"

Feeling completely humiliated, Skyler sigh, but nodded.

The Director reached out and squeezed the prosthetics. He looked at the Assistant Director and scowled. "They feel pretty real to me." He looked back at Skyler. "Open your blouse for me, please."

"What?" Skyler asked, looking around at the rest of the contestants standing nearby, waiting. The breasts weren't his, but they had become part of his body over the past week, and he had come to treat them the same way that any woman would. "Here? Now?"

"Yes," The Director said, matter of factly. "Now. Open your blouse. Unless, of course, your tits are real."

"That's it," Regina announced as she stood and stormed towards the stage before Hanna could stop her. "This guy's an asshole."

"Reggie," Hanna snapped, but the irate fourteen-year-old was already on her way down the aisle.

"You're holding everything up...," The director said, checking the name of the contestant in front of him, "...Skyler. Show me your tits now, or go home."

"Hey, dickhead!" Regina shouted as she mounted the stage, Hanna following behind her, uncertain of what Skyler's little sister was doing. Regina pulled the loose sweater she'd been wearing over her head and past her mane of thick, blonde hair. "If you're that interested in seeing a pair of real breasts, take a look at mine." She indicated her own modest, but perfect breasts that were now displayed in a rather beautiful push-up bra. She reached behind her back as if to undo the bra's clasps, but Skyler stopped her.

"Reggie! What are you doing! Stop!" Skyler shouted, hurrying towards his sister.

"What's going on here?" The Director shouted.

"If you're that anxious to see a pair of real tits, then I'll show you mine," Regina said with vehemence, but Skyler was already shaking out his sister's top and helping her get it back over her head.

"That's enough," Skyler scolded, sliding the head hole onto her.

"Are you two twins or something?" The Director asked, partially confused and partially bemused.

"She's my brother," Regina snapped. "Well... HE's my brother, but he's not required to show you his tits. That's a violation of the rules of any pageant. His are fake anyway. If you're so desperate to see a pair, though, mine are right here. Just leave him alone."

The Director shook his head and smirked in an incredibly irritating and condescending way. "I don't want to see your... breasts... young lady. Thank you all the same."

"I wouldn't mind seeing them," one of the contestants said from where he was standing on the stage.

Skyler's head snapped and he stared at the smart-Alec. "Hey!" Skyler said angrily as he stormed across the stage. "That's my fourteen-year sister, you asshole!"

The fact that he was in a lace blouse and pleated skirt didn't diminish the look of anger on his face.

"Step off, Mary," the contestant laughed and waved a limp-wrist at him. Then he looked at the contestant next to him and said, "Geez, some of these bitches are just toooooooooo touchy." He looked back at Skyler and then at Regina and his look of superiority and disdain was enough to fire up Skyler's anger. Not so much because the contestant was behaving this way towards him, but because he was being disrespectful to Regina. Things got worse when the contestant rolled his eyes and smiled as he said, "Maybe these two have linked their cycles. I bet they're both on their periods."

Both Skyler and Regina dropped their jaws in shock and their identical looks made some of the others laugh.

"Listen to me, you fucking asshole," Regina hissed, clenching her fists and stepping forward towards the insulting contestant, but Skyler put his arm around her shoulder and stopped her.

"Alright, Reggie..." he said, then let out a tired sigh. "... let's just go. We're done here. I don't want to be with these people and and I don't want them near you, either."

Regina's head snapped around in shock. "But, Sky... the scholarships... you've worked so hard..."

"Not to be treated like this, though," he said, still looking the other contestant in the eye. "Let's go."

"What in the world is going on here!?" Someone shouted from the wings as they walked into to the light on the stage. It was last year's champion, Jenny Jacobs.

"Nothing to concern you, Ms Jacobs," the director said, sounding a bit sheepish. "Just a little squabble among the contestants.

Jenny stopped as she reached the front of the stage and saw the twin visions of Skyler and Regina. She looked at the two and finally settled on the slightly smaller, more girlishly dressed of the two. "Skyler, right?"

"Yes, Ms Jacobs. I'm sorry. We're leaving," Skyler replied, turning to Regina and bobbing his head towards the stairs as he took her hand in his.

"Leaving?" She sounded astounded. "After all that I went through to get you a good piano for your talent segment? I don't think so. Someone tell me just what the devil is going on."

The director paused to think of a plausible explanation as to how things had gotten out of hand, but one of the other contestants spoke up. He pointed to the offending contestant "This bitch decided to butt her nose into that little girl's business and he," the contestant indicated the director, "took the bitch's side."

"Who are you calling a bitch, bitch!?!?" The offending contestant spat.

"Alright, ladies," Jenny shouted, "ENOUGH! YOU," she pointed at the contestant who'd challenged Skyler, "and YOU," she indicted Skyler, "come with me." She looked at the director. "I'll have these two back in a few moments."

"Are you going to be ok?" Regina asked her brother.

"Me? I'm fine," he replied. "I'm more worried about you."

"Why?" She asked, genuinely confused.

"Because a few seconds ago, you were about to expose yourself in front of a room full of men."

Regina shrugged. "I doubt any of them would have cared."

Skyler gave her a sad smile, then kissed her cheek. "I'd care."

Regina smiled back at him. "Are you SURE you'll be ok? I'll come with you if you want."

Skyler nodded. "I'll be fine." He took one of Regina's hands and put it into Hanna's hand.

"Skyler?" Jenny called across the stage. "If you don't mind?"

"Coming," he called back. He gave his little sister a hug. "Thanks, Reggie."

She chuckled. "No prob. Besides, I need you to be ok so we can get the 'Twin Pay Rate' for the modeling job later today."

Skyler smiled. He knew she was just teasing.

"Skyler?"

"Yeah," he replied and crossed the stage.

"What we're you two thinking!?" Jenny scolded when she had Skyler and the belligerent contestant alone in a smaller room to the side of the main ballroom. "A hundred thousand dollars at stake, and you two are behaving like a couple of pubescent seventh graders on a playground. Now, what the hell happened."

Neither Skyler nor the contestant said anything.

Jenny looked at the contestant and asked, "What is your name?"

"Pussy Boots," the contestant responded resentfully.

"Not your stage name," Jenny snapped. "Your real name."

He sighed and crossed his arms. "Rodney."

"Alright, Rodney, would you please explain what happened out there?"

Rodney rolled his eyes. "Look... I may or may not win this thing, but I just don't want to lose because someone else cheated." He glanced at Skyler. "Look at that girl. There's no way that she's not taking hormones. Hell, she looks just like the other girl who ran up onto the stage. And those little t... breasts... They have to be natural. You know as well as I do that no one goes 'little' on their boobs around a show like this. We all go huge!"

Jenny shook her head. "Listen, Rodney, just a week ago, I had the opportunity to meet Sky, and when we met, not only did Sky not have breasts, she looked almost nothing like she does now. All of this," she indicated Skyler's entire body, "is new. So, unless you're aware of some AMAZING hormones that encourage realistic breast growth that will take someone from zero to a generous A cup in a week, she is wearing prosthetic breasts. Good ones, yes, but prosthetic nonetheless."

Rodney shrugged and rolled his eyes. "If you say so, I guess," he muttered.

"I do," Jenny said, emphatically. "So... where do we go from here, then? Do I send you both home, or do I send just one of you home, or do you both agree to put on your big girl panties, and we all move on?"

They both stood in silence for a few moments until Skyler finally said, "I'd like to stay, Miss. I've worked pretty hard to get this far and I don't want to give up."

Jenny nodded. "Rodney?"

"Well, yeah, I want to stay, of course." He gave Skyler an appraising and slightly disdainful look. "I mean... if this is my only competition..."

"That's enough, Rodney!" Jenny interrupted. "If you stay, then you start acting like an adult. Is that clear?"

He smirked. "As crystal. I'll be a good girl from here on out."

Jenny nodded but kept her air of leadership about her. "Alright, then. You can both stay, but I'll be watching you."

They both nodded and turned to leave.

"Sky? A word?" Jenny said.

After Rodney had left, Jenny asked, "Who is that girl? The one who looks like your twin?"

"She's my kid sister."

"She doesn't look like a kid to me," Jenny chuckled. "Why was she shirtless when I arrived?"

Skyler explained about the director's demands and how Regina was trying to protect her brother. "I know it was kind of a rash thing to do, Miss, but she's only fourteen and she was trying to keep me from being hurt."

Jenny nodded. "I understand. I'll be speaking to the Director, too. Go ahead out there and join the others." Skyler nodded and turned to leave, but she stopped him, "Oh, and Sky... don't let people like Rodney get into your head. If they have to tear down others just to feel good about themselves, then they're not worth thinking about."

Skyler nodded. "Miss... my whole life, I've been picked on because I didn't fit in. I was too small to play sports, not smart enough to be an honor student, the only brother in a house full of sisters... Heck, I even PAID piano teachers to tell me I wasn't good enough. Bullies have always seen me as a good target. Rodney's no different. I understand that they lash out to make themselves feel better, but... they still get into my head. I don't know how to keep them out."

Jenny stepped forward and looked him in the eye, gently touching his cheek as he spoke. "Get this in your head, then, Skyler. No one ever expected me to win this pageant last year. But I did. Half of the contestants in this pageant are just like Rodney, but the other half are sweet, supportive girls who just want to compete and, let's be honest, Sky, they're just looking for acceptance, too. Just like you. So, find the nice girls out there. Support them and they'll support you. And... you know what... for someone who says that she doesn't fit in... I noticed that your girlfriend and your sister were right there on the stage, ready to jump in and help you when they thought you were in trouble. So... I'd say you fit in just fine."

Skyler nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Miss."

Jenny smiled back. "Jenny, Skyler. Call me Jenny."

"Yes, Miss," he smiled a bit more broadly and turned to return to the stage.

"Pink, blue, pink, blue, pink, blue," the stage manager looked at Skyler as he returned to the rehearsal. "You go here," the stage manager said, obviously perturbed. "See me for the blocking you missed. Pink," he said to Skyler, then to the last contestant, who was the only one shorter than Skyler, "blue."

"Alright," the stage manager said, noticing that the Director was leaving the stage with Jenny, "to review: The opening presentation requires you to be in a formal gown. You've been assigned a color, either pink or blue. Please make sure your gown is appropriate. We're looking for baby blue and ballet slipper pink - not navy blue and certainly not fuchsia. And keep the gowns tasteful. Remember, this is a salute to womanhood, not a drag show. If you have a question about the style or color, then you should send a photo to either Ms Jenny, or me. Our numbers were in your packet. Alright, let's run this again. You," he pointed at the contestant next to Skyler, the one who was shorter than Skyler, "lead everyone to the back of the house. Everyone follow and then you," he pointed to the tallest, "lead them all back in. You," he pointed at Skyler, "follow the person in front of you and do what they do."

"Ok," Skyler nodded.

The rehearsal continued for the next hour and a half until the stage manager, who seemed to have taken over the rehearsal since the Director disappeared with Jenny, said, "That'll do for today. Now, if you're scheduled to show us your talent today, please stay on the stage. If you're not on the list, you're done for today. You can stay if you want, but please sit in the back of the house. Ok, those of you who are done, please exit the stage. Oh, and thank you all. I'll see you all back here next Saturday."

About half of the contestants left the stage and most of them sat towards the back of the ballroom. Skyler, whose name was on the list to rehearse that day, remained with the half on stage.

"Ok," the stage manager said grabbing a small paper bag, "there are twenty plastic tags from the coat room in here. They start at number one and go to twenty. Each of you come forward and grab a number from the bag. If you get numbers one, two or three, stay up here. Anything from four and up, please sit in the first two rows."

They all stepped up and grabbed a number. Several people grunted at their numbers, probably because they were higher numbers that would keep them there longer. Skyler pulled number three and stepped to the side so the others could pass. When the stage was cleared, only the stage manager, one of the taller contestants, Rodney and Skyler remained.

The stage manager spoke to a woman in her forties, who nodded and tapped on her iPad continuously.

"This is our technical director, Karen. This part of the rehearsal is so she knows what you are doing and she's sure that you're hearing your tracks. Do what Karen tells you, ladies. She's run the technical side of the gala for seven years and knows more about stage production than all the rest of the staff put together."

"Hi, everyone," Karen said, giving a self-conscious wave to everyone.

"Who got number one?" The stage manager asked.

"That would be me," Rodney said, thrusting out a hip and holding up his number to display it.

The stage manager motioned him over and checked the iPad. "So, for your first talent, you're dancing to 'S&M' by Rihanna and, if needed, you're doing a gymnastics routine to 'Firework' by Kati Perry. Correct?"

"Correct," Rodney said, dismissively, taking a superior attitude.

"Ok, give me a sign when you're ready and I'll start the playback for you," Karen said.

Rodney sashayed to the center of the stage and nodded to Karen, who in turn hit the play button on her iPad. The rhythmically aggressive song began, and Rodney began dancing and lip syncing to the song. The dancing was impressive, that was for sure. He was obviously an experienced dancer and threw himself into the dance with abandon.

When the song ended, the crowd gave him a supportive round of applause.

"Ok, now before we play 'Firework,'" the Stage Manager said, "will you be lip syncing while doing your gymnastics routine to that?"

"Yes, of course," Rodney shrugged. "It wouldn't be much of an act if I just did the gymnastics."

"I suppose not," the stage manager agreed, "but that means that your first and second talent sections are essentially the same talents, and you are required to have two different talents."

"It's a different song," Rodney said, shocked at the stupidity of this underling. "Pussy Boots is the popular performer at my college. This is what she does."

The stage manager nodded, not wanting to start the tech rehearsal with a fight that might cause a delay. "Alright, run the routine and we'll have to let the Director make a decision as to whether or not you need something different."

Rodney looked about. "He's not even here."

"It's all being videoed," the Karen, the Technical Director said, sounding rushed. "Are you ready?"

'Firework' was an impressive routine as well, but not all that different from the 'S&M' presentation.

When he'd finished, the stage manager called up number two. His first talent was a juggling bit, which didn't go all that well - Skyler could see that the contestant was nervous and assumed that was the reason for his poor performance. His second talent section was another lip sync act. It went better, but not as well as Rodney's had.

"Number three?" The stage manager called.

"That's me," Skyler said, crossing the stage.

"Skyler Moynihan," the assistant Director said, looking at Karen's iPad. He let out a sigh. "You're the piano player, right?"

"Yes," he nodded.

The stage manager shook his head. "Do you NEED to run that today?"

The question surprised Skyler. His first reaction was to just accommodate the assistant director and say that he was fine, but the truth was, he did need to try the piece in front of an audience. It was a new piece to him, and he had no idea what the audience reaction would be like, so... "Yes. I kinda do need to run it today."

The stage manager was obviously irritated. "Alright. Can someone bring in that piano, please?"

It took a few minutes to maneuver the piano into position. Skyler looked at it. It was a Yamaha C, similar to the one in most of the recital halls at the college. A decent model, certainly, but one that could have a lot of variations in playability from one instrument to the next.

He smoothed his pleated skirt under him as he sat and touched the keys a bit. Hmmm. A bit high-end sounding and the action wasn't as responsive as he'd like, but not terrible. He played a two-handed scale exercise and got his bearings.

"Skyler?" The assistant director asked, impatiently. "I need you to play your piece. We don't have an awful lot of time."

He nodded, looked at the highly polished top of the instrument, placed his fingers and took a deep, calming breath. Then he closed his eyes and began to play.

With his eyes closed and his hearing focused on the music, he didn't see the reaction of everyone in the audience who stopped their conversations and looked up as Chopin's notes filled the hall. There were even some impressed gasps as his fingers sped across the keys.

Jenny stood in the back of the hall room and watched. She'd heard Skyler's audition recording, but this... hearing this boy in this cute outfit playing live... this was unbelievable. "Holy cow," she whispered.

When he finished the song, the first thing he heard was the sound of applause from all of his fellow contestants - well, all except one. The only contestant to not participate was, of course, Rodney, who scowled and shook his head.

That was impressive," the assistant director said, trying to sound unimpressed. He glanced at the iPad that Karen held. "So... for your second talent, you're lip sync-ing to a song..."

"Not lip sync-ing," Skyler interrupted, "singing."

The stage manager raised his eyebrows. "Singing?" Of course, he already knew Skyler was singing. He'd been in the room when the discussion about Skyler's choice of talent had been discussed. He was just offering Skyler an opportunity to change his mind.

There was a twitter of laughter through the audience when they heard the word 'singing.'

The stage manager looked at Karen. "Can we get the lady a microphone?"

Karen reached down and into a large pocket on the cargo pants she was wearing and produced a wireless microphone. She switched it on and tapped on its windscreen until a quiet thump was heard in the ball room. She handed the mic to Skyler who nodded in thanks.

"You have his song cued up?" The stage manager asked Karen, who nodded. "Alright..." he smirked at Skyler, expecting him to fail miserably, "... you're on."

Karen pushed 'play' on his track and Skyler heard the rambling introduction to the song he'd been preparing. He took a deep breath and released it as he placed his voice correctly in a mix of head and chest voice and then began.

"I'm one of a long line of good girls

Who choose the wrong guy to be sweet on

The girl with a face that says 'welcome'

That men can wipe their feet on

I'm there when he wants me

The trusted Girl-Friday, alright

But what good does it do me

Alone on a Saturday night?"

From there the song picked up its tempo and Skyler sang it as well as he could, still a bit nervous about the choice of songs and its wide range.

He nailed it, though.

When he got to the part that went,

"I go for the riff-raff,

who're treating me so-so

If I can play the second fiddle

I'm a virtuoso..." he was much more comfortable and got more playful, physically.

The contestants in the audience went wild with supportive applause and despite his nervousness, Skyler smiled at the support and began to actually enjoy his own performance.

By the time he reached the end of the song and was supporting the long note the finished the song, he was loving the feeling of success he felt. The audience was loving it too. They all leapt to their feet and applauded - well, not all. Rodney turned his back and walked to the snack table at the rear of the room to grab a water and shake his head at stupidity of the rest of the contestants. He knew who the best, most talented performer was. He just needed to make sure that the judges knew as well.

"Well," the assistant director said, taking the microphone back from Skyler and giving him a pat on the shoulder, "I must say... I am impressed. Good job, Skyler Moynihan. Good job."

"Excellent work, Skyler," Karen said with a wink and a smile.

"Thanks," Skyler smiled, shyly. He turned and headed down the stairs to the ballroom floor, where contestant after contestant congratulated him on his performances.

"That was great, babe," Hanna said, hugging her boyfriend's head to her chest.

"You showed that jackass," Regina said, gloating a bit as she glanced towards Rodney, who was sulking against a wall, arms folded across his stomach.

Skyler smiled at his sister and girlfriend, then picked up his purse and said, "Come on. Let's get going. You've got a modeling gig to get to, tough girl."

Regina smiled. "We both have a modeling gig to get to."

"I guess that makes me the chauffeur for you two fashionistas" Hanna smiled as she joined the two siblings and headed to the rear of the hall, but before they got to the exit, they were intercepted by Jenny Jacobs.

She smiled at her favorite contestant and said, "That was very impressive, Sky. Well worth the effort I had to put in to get that piano here for you, but..." she shook her head, "... your singing was also a huge surprise. I have to admit, I never expected that. The staff had discussed trying to talk you out of singing. Thank heavens we let you prove us wrong."

Skyler smiled shyly. "Thank you, Miss. That means a lot coming from you."

She half smiled at Skyler's continued unwillingness to use her first name. "I think the judges will be impressed. You've set a high bar for the others. The trouble is, they all know it now, so be careful. Don't slack off and... don't let your guard down. Ok?"

That seemed like an odd thing to say. "What do you mean?"

Jenny raised her eyebrows. "I mean... don't leave your makeup or costumes unattended. Check the tuning on the piano before the show. Things like that. There's a lot at stake in this gala. Some of your competition is liable to resort to underhanded tactics to win. Just... be cautious."

"Oh, she will," Regina answered for her befuddled brother. "I've been in a lot of pageants with a lot of conniving contestants. I will be backstage helping and guarding the whole time. You can count on it."

Jenny chuckled at that. "I bet I can," she said, impressed by the young woman. "I bet I can."
 

~^~
 

When they arrived at Fawn Wernick's studio, Regina's friend Paula was already there and was exiting the dressing room wearing an elegant wedding gown. Her hair and makeup had been done appropriately for the event.

"Hey, look at me!" Paula laughed, "I'm a bride!"

"Holy shit!" Regina laughed. "You look amazing! Like... like you're twenty-five or even older!"

"I know," Paula laughed. "My mom had a conniption when she saw me come out of the makeup chair."

"Not a conniption," Paula's mother said, appearing from the inner room, "I was just surprised to see you looking so grown up. You look beautiful dear. I just didn't expect you to be a bride."

She glanced at Regina and Skyler. "Oh, my God. Paula was telling me the truth. I can hardly tell you two apart." She scrutinized them for a moment or two. "You're Reggie," she said, pointing at the correct sibling.

Regina looked a bit confused for a second and shook her head. "No. I'm Sky."

"Oh, my God!" Paula's mother repeated. "You're Sky!?"

"No, I'm really Reggie," the real Regina laughed. "I was just teasing."

"Oh, good, you're here," Fawn Wernick, the photographer, said, entering the outer room. "Excellent. There are robes in the changing rooms. Run in there, strip to your undies, put on the robe and see my makeup person, Carl, as quickly as possible."

"Ok," Regina bubbled, grabbing Skyler's hand and pulling him to the changing room.

Fawn took Paula, while Paula's mother ushered Hanna to a seating area.

"So...?" Paula's mother asked as they sat.

"What?" Hanna asked when Paula's mother didn't continue.

"So... what do you think of this?"

"Of the photographer's studio?" Hanna asked. "It's very professional looking. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. You know what I mean... a stranger approaches a group of girls at the mall and offers to pay them to model, well, I suppose that could lead to anything, but this is obviously a very professional studio and..."

"No, no, no," Paula's mother interrupted. "I meant, what do you think about having a boyfriend that is dressing like his fourteen-year-old sister? It's got to be a bit odd. Right?"

"Oh," Hanna laughed a bit and shrugged. "No. Not really. I mean... it's just clothes, right?"

Paula's mother gave her a skeptical look. "No. It's not just the clothes, and you know it. I didn't see a nineteen-year-old man in a dress. I saw a teenaged girl with dyed hair, a layered hairdo, sculpted eyebrows, impeccable makeup and bright, excited eyes, wearing a cute skirt and top, a fabulous pair of heels and a pearl necklace who was very comfortable in her own skin in a way that Skyler never looked. So... what do you think of all that?"

Hanna sighed as she considered her answer. "Well... I think it's a great opportunity for Sky - and his mother, too, of course. It's a huge prize if he wins and I think he's got a really good chance of winning, so..."

"So?" Paula's mother stopped her, "none of this bothers you?"

"Bothers me? Why should it bother me. Sky looks amazing and I get to enjoy seeing him looking so nice." Hanna tried to sound convincing, but she was blushing as she spoke.

"Hmmm," Paula's mother smirked. "Admit it - there's something... shall we say... exciting... about feminizing a boy this way, isn't there?"

Hanna's eyes opened a bit wider in surprise. "Exciting!?" She tried to play innocent, but her voice cracked, and it made both of them giggle a bit. "Ok, I admit there is something very exciting about seeing a boy dressed so beautifully, but..." she thought for a moment. "... Oh, to heck with it. There are no buts. It's exciting as hell and I'm enjoying seeing him in pretty clothes and looking so girlish. Who wouldn't, right? It's adorable and... yeah... exciting."

Paula's mother smiled at the younger woman's nervousness and honesty.

"Over here, girls," Carl, a very good looking, masculine looking, man in his late forties with just the perfect amount of gray in his otherwise dark hair, waved Regina and Skyler to a couple of chairs near a mirrored wall. "Let me get you two ready. Now, it might feel like I'm putting on your makeup with a trowel, but I assure you, it is necessary for the camera. You'll look very natural in the photos."

They both nodded and watched Paula being photographed in the wedding gown while they were prepped.

"You both have lovely eyes," Carl said as he worked. "I'm going to use a very dark liner, so they pop out in the lens. I know it sounds odd, but if I put a nice, thin line around your eyes, they'll actually look bigger."

"My Beauty consultant says that the eyes of a beautiful woman are the most important thing to emphasize," Regina said. "He always tells me to keep it simple. To stay away from Egyptian linings and things like that. He says that thin lines are always the best."

"He's correct," Carl smiled. "Who is your beauty beauty consultant?"

"Oh, I go to James over by the shopping center near the college."

"I know James. He's an old friend," Carl smiled. "So, you're a pageant girl?"

"Yeah," Regina smiled a big, wide smile. "Both of us are, now. Sky is doing her first pageant in a couple of weeks."

Skyler blushed, but smiled a bit, too.

"No kidding!?" Carl grinned. "You two aren't competing against each other, are you?"

"No," Regina explained. "I've been doing the 'junior' competitions for a few years. Sky is doing 'The Gala of Tiresias' next..." She stopped as she realized that, in her excitement, she had revealed a secret.

Skyler stared at his sister in shock. How could she have done that?

Carl looked at Skyler, looking just a bit askance. "Oh... you're a boy?"

Skyler looked about for support, but there was only Carl and Regina nearby and one of them looked petrified, while the other waited for an answer.

"Umm..." Skyler muttered and thought for several moments before finally saying, "...yeah."

Carl nodded and acted very nonchalantly. "Well, you look beautiful. And don't worry, sweetheart... I'll keep your secret." He gave Skyler a friendly wink.

Skyler relaxed a bit glanced at his younger sister. "It'd be nice if you could keep it, too."

"Sorry," Regina whispered back. "I guess I'm just excited and... sorry."

"Hey," Carl smiled, easing the tension, "it's better that I know. Now, I can help you. There are a few things that can be dead giveaways to the camera lens. I can help avoid those things. To tell you the truth, though, I don't see any of the tell-tale signs on you. I guess you're still young enough to pass. What are you, sweetheart? Thirteen?"

That made Regina burst out laughing while Skyler just blushed.

"What's so funny?" Carl asked.

"Sky is nineteen," Regina laughed. "I'm fourteen, but he's going to be twenty in a few months!"

Carl looked shocked as he gave Skyler another appraising look. "Really?" He muttered, shocked. "Nineteen?"

"Ok, girls," a woman said, arriving with two dresses on hangers, "these should fit nicely. You," she pointed at Regina, "wear the purple one. You," she pointed at Skyler, "wear the pink one."

The dresses were identical in style with a V-line neckline that seemed to be composed of material that was wrapped around the wearer's bust, but it had thin straps, and the back was open and to expose the shoulders and back. They were tastefully colored in a dusty hue of purple and pink, made of layer upon layer of chiffon that flowed down in a long fall from just below the bust to the floor. 'Grecian' was the word that Skyler would have used to describe them.

"Oh, so no bras?" Regina asked, sounding a bit nervous, when she saw the way her back would be exposed. She wasn't the most well-endowed girl on the planet, but she did have breasts, and although she could probably get away with not wearing a bra under a heavy shirt or sweater, she was concerned that a nipple or two may actually be visible through this sheer material. And if a picture of her wearing a dress with her nipples pressing through the top ever got publish and her mother saw it... well, she couldn't allow that to happen.

"There are bras built into the gowns," the woman smiled. She understood fully why the young model was concerned. "Don't worry, sweetie," she smiled. "We're here to make you guys look beautiful. Not trashy."

Regina smiled and looked relieved. "Thank you."

In a few minutes, Carl was done with their makeup. He consulted with Fawn, who stepped away from photographing Paula in the wedding gown, and they both discussed how to do 'the sisters' hair. They finally chose to put Skyler's in a messy bun behind his head, and let Regina's hair hang loose, but add a jeweled hair clip in the back.

Just a few minutes more and they were done.

Regina, bubbling with excitement, grabbed both dresses, handed the dusty pink one to Skyler and hustled them to the dressing area, which was really just a section of the outer room that was secluded due to the hanging of several large curtains.

"You guys need any help?" Hanna asked as the 'sisters' blew past Paula's mother and her.

"Nope!" Regina smiled. "We'll help each other."

It just took a few moments for both of them to be stripped to their panties. Skyler kept his eyes averted to preserve his sister's privacy, which Regina found silly.

"We're both girls, now, Sky. I don't mind if you see my breasts," she giggled.

"No, we aren't," Skyler corrected her as he sorted out her dress and prepared it for her to step into. Once she'd pulled it up and over her shoulders, he drew the zipper up from the top of her rump to her lower back where the dress laid.

Still barefoot, Regina grabbed Skyler's dress and prepped it for him, then turned and was about to bend to hold the gown open for him when she spotted his breasts. "Wow! Those really do look real, don't they?"

"Yeah," Skyler replied, feeling very exposed.

"Huh," she muttered looking at his body more closely.

"What?"

"Oh... nothing. It's just... well, I always kidded that you looked just like me, except for your boobs and butt. The thing is, though, even though your boobs are fake, your butt is, well... cuter... than I would have expected. You know? Rounder. Girlier."

Skyler blushed a bit. "Is it?"

"Yeah... Oh, I didn't mean that as a bad thing, Sky. I really meant it as a compliment. Honest." She looked a bit longer. "Ummm... can I ask you a question?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Ummm... I mean... I haven't seen a lot of boys in their underwear before, but... should you have at least a bit of a bulge down there? I mean... you had one the first time I dressed you, but... now, nothing."

Skyler rolled his eyes. "I... ummm... I tuck it, now."

"Where?"

"Where!? Where do you think!? I tuck it between my legs, Reggie."

"Oh," she said, satisfied with that explanation, but still curious, she asked, "Is that comfortable?"

Skyler shrugged. "It wasn't at first, but I'm used to it now."

"Cool," Regina smiled. "Can I ask one more question?"

Skyler sighed and shook his head. "Alright... but then we have to get out there."

"Oh, yeah," Regina nodded, suddenly realizing that her fascination with her brother's disguise was actually taking her attention away from the most exciting event of her life up till that point - her first modeling job. "Do you like the way it feels when you wear panties?"

Skyler blinked at his sister. "Do I like the way it feels? Reggie... you know I'm only doing this to try to win the money for school."

Regina shrugged. "Yeah, that's why you STARTED wearing panties, but... now that you're wearing them... they must feel nice, right? I mean... they're a lot softer and hundreds of times prettier than boys' shorts. Honestly, I think it's tragic that boys don't enjoy the softness of clothes that girls enjoy. You get to do it, so I'm just wondering... do you like it?"

Skyler wanted desperately to tell her that he hated wearing these foolish, lacy panties. That the high maintenance of the girls' clothes that he wore everyday now, was a massive pain in the neck. That it was none of her business how he felt. That he was a man, not a boy, and certainly not a girl, and that he was fed up with being treated the way he was being treated when he was all dolled up to look like her clone...

...but none of that was true.

So, he told her the truth.

"Yes," he whispered, partially defeated by the loss of his masculinity and partially relieved to tell her the truth.

Regina could see that she'd asked him something that he'd found hard to answer and she was grateful that he'd trusted her enough to be honest. "Thank you for telling me the truth, Sky." She kissed his cheek, making him feel very small in her presence. Then she whispered into his ear, "I love having you as my sister, Sky. Thank you for giving me that."

She patted his cheek.

"Thank you, Reggie. I love having you as my sister, too."

She smiled and held his gown low and open wide for him to step into it.

Seconds later they both stepped, barefoot from the dressing room, holding the long, elegant, A-line skirts of the gowns up so they could walk without stepping on them.

"We left our shoes in there," Regina giggled as they passed Paula's mother and Hanna. Skyler was smiling, too as he skipped along behind her.

When they were around the corner, Paula's mother looked at Hanna with a smirk. "Is that really the kind of man you want to be with?"

Hanna smiled broadly. "Absolutely. Who wouldn't? I'm going on to watch." She stood near the back wall of the studio and watched the photographer work her craft.

And she was not disappointed. She saw Skyler in his pretty, dusty pink gown holding a bouquet and smiling the sweetest smile she'd ever seen. She saw him holding one side of the skirt to the side to demonstrate the vastness of the material, while Regina mimicked his movement in the other direction. She saw him straightening out the train Paula's wedding gown, she saw him giggling with joy along with Paula and Regina when Fawn complimented how they looked, or moved, or how the clothes looked on them. His beautifully made-up face glowing with joy. She adored every moment of the photo shoot.

As the afternoon progressed and Skyler found himself in one beautiful gown after another, Hanna found herself becoming more and more fascinated by the feminine shape of her boyfriend. His shoulders were so narrow and girlish. His neck seemed so long and elegant. His lips seemed so full and luscious.

And then there were his movements. It was as if he'd been wearing these cumbersome, elegant gowns his whole life. He moved freely in the complicated garments and his smile was genuine and so very innocent. She didn't see her boyfriend anymore. She didn't even see a woman. She saw a girl. A very pretty, very innocent looking girl, who was happy to spend time with her 'twin' sister, but who would be very happy to cuddle with Hanna later.

"What more could a girl ask for?" She muttered.
 

~^~
 

"The United States of America was founded by men," the congresswoman said with great authority at the press conference. "Men. Men who knew the importance of being MEN. You don't seriously believe that George Washington, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson were swanning about in their wives' corsets and gowns, do you? They were men, through and through and in our day and age, the media and the teachers in our children's public schools have been encouraging our young men to grow soft and feminine over the last few decades. A man who was once considered to be the greatest athlete in the world, an Olympic champion, a man's man who was once the envy of every man in the world and the fantasy of every woman in the world, was pictured on the cover of Vanity Fair Magazine in women's lingerie with his hair and makeup done to make him appear as if he had become a woman. But he is still a man. He says he was born in the wrong body. Please! God doesn't make mistakes like that."

"So," a reporter with a British accent asked, "it is your intention to make any and all gender affirming therapy, including hormone treatments, talk therapy and surgery, illegal in the entire country?"

"It is," the congresswoman said with disdain.

"But Madam Congresswoman, these services would still be available to American citizens if they leave the country. That means that the welloff will still be able to have the treatments in question. Therefore this will only impact the most needy and least able to help themselves. These are the same people, particularly young people, most likely to be at risk of self-harm? Aren't you just attacking the most vulnerable members of American society with this legislation?"

"Attacking!?" She laughed. "This bill will protect them!"

"I don't understand, congresswoman..."

"Of course you don't," the congresswoman interrupted. "You're not an American."

Jenny used the remote to shut off the C-SPAN transmission to her hotel's television. "God, I hate that woman."
 

~^~
 

It was well past dinner time when Regina, Hanna and Skyler entered the kitchen of the Moynihan home. As the back door closed, Kathy, who was loading the dishwasher looked at them with great concern on her face.

She looked at Regina, who'd been having the best day ever, and said, "Reggie, do you have any idea what kind of trouble you're in?"

"Trouble?" The poor girl responded, her face quickly changing from a smile to a frown. "What did I do?"

Kathy looked over her shoulder, made sure their mother wasn't near, then said, "Mom got an email from your school today. If you don't pass history this year, you're going to be repeating your freshman year. Did you know that?"

Regina's demeanor had gone from elation to depression in a matter of seconds. "Repeat the year? No. I mean, I knew my history grade was bad, but... I mean... it's just history. It's not like it's something important."

"Not important!?" Came the voice of their mother from the kitchen doorway. "You listen to me, young lady, I am very upset about this situation. You told me that you'd gotten that grade up since your last report card. Now, I find out that your grade has actually gone down. Regina, I am at my wits' end with you."

"Mom..."

"No, you listen to me... according to the email conversation I've had with your History teacher, you have an exam coming up on Monday. If you fail this test, you will fail for the quarter and most likely for the year, which would mean you'd be repeating your freshman year. If you get an eighty-five or higher, however, you will pass the quarter and possibly avoid having to repeat. So, you WILL pass that test with at least an eighty-five, although a ninety-five would be better."

"Mom how am I supposed to pass when I just don't get the subject. I can't memorize all those names and dates. I just can't do it!"

"Well, you'd better figure out a way to do it, Regina, because if you don't do it, then YOU ARE GROUNDED! Do you hear me? GROUNDED UNTIL YOU PASS FRESHMAN HISTORY! AND I DON'T CARE IF THAT MEANS AN ENTIRE YEAR!!! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME!?"

Hanna leaned down and whispered into Skyler's ear. "I'm going to get going, babe. I think this is a family thing and I should bail now." She gave his soft cheek a peck of a kiss. "Love you. Bye."

Skyler whispered he loved her too and she left.

"Do you understand what 'grounded' means?" Their mother continued. "It means you go to school and come right back here, EVERYDAY! No phone! No shopping with your friends. No texting Paula! No dance classes. No visits to your beauty consultant. NO PAGEANTS! Do you understand?"

"Mom!?" The poor girl was overwhelmed with the amount of potential punishment being piled onto her. "How can I possibly pass a test in a class that I'm already failing!?"

"You study!" Her mother snapped. "There's no trick to it, Regina. You'll pass the same way that everyone else passes. They sit down and do the work. Now, you have tomorrow to review everything for the test. I suggest that you get up early and get started."

"But mom!"

"No buts!" Her mother turned to walk away. "You need to get a good grade, Regina, or you're grounded. End of story!"

"I'll help her study!" Skyler shouted above the excited voices. "I'll help you study, Reggie."

Everyone turned to face him.

"Alright, then," their mother said, nodding with a bit of satisfaction. Skyler was a bit of a history buff and had not had any issues in that subject while in high school.

Skyler looked at his younger sister. "We have all day tomorrow to work. I'm sure I can help you pass, Reggie."

Their mother turned to walk up the stairs to her room. "Let's hope so!" She called back into the kitchen.
 

~^~
 

"OH, MY GOD!" Regina screamed in frustration. "Mr Casey is crazy about all of these names and dates! I will never remember all of this. And besides... who cares about a war that ended, like, a hundred and sixty years ago!? Nobody cares!?"

"A lot of people care, Reggie, and it's important," Skyler tried to calm her down. They were only about fifteen minutes into this study session and Regina was already very frustrated. "You know the saying - People who do not know history are doomed to repeat it - right? And if for no other reason, you need to know it just to pass this test. I remember Mr Casey being a pretty big Civil War buff, so he takes all of this very seriously. Just try to remember the order of commanders of the Union Army. First it was Winfield Scott, then he was replaced by George McClellan, who was replaced by..."

"Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah," Regina spat. "I don't know, and I don't care. I'm going to fail anyway, so why even bother with all of this pretending?"

Skyler knew this attitude. Whenever Regina was faced with any situation that challenged her in a way that would make her feel inadequate, she'd lash out at the existence of that situation. She wasn't the smartest kid in school, but she was far from the dumbest. She just hated feeling unintelligent and this History class situation was frustrating her beyond her limits.

"Look, Reggie... I felt like I couldn't possibly pass as a girl a few weeks ago. Now... well, nobody questions whether I'm a boy or a girl and yesterday I had my first modeling job as a girl. If that's possible, then anything is. Right?"

"Wrong," Regina insisted. "I knew how to make you pretty - well, prettier. You were already slender, small and had those big eyes. All I had to do was add a few touches and... viola! I had a new, twin sister. That was easy. Learning all of these names and dates, though... that's impossible."

"It's not impossible, Reggie. If I can do it, so can you."

"'If I can do it, so can you,'" Regina mocked. "God, I am so tired of people saying that to me! 'If I can do it, so can you.' It's like everyone is supposed to have the same talents. I mean... you know about music, and I know about fashion. You know about History, and I know about... wait... YOU know about History!"

"Yeah. I know. That's why I'm helping you."

"Yeah, but... YOU... know... about History, and I made YOU my twin! Sky! You can take the test for me!"

Skyler shook his head. "No, Reggie. That would be..." he tried to continue, but Regina interrupted.

"Sky... Mr Carney is a jerk. He calls me stupid all the time and I hate it."

"He doesn't really call you, stupid, Reg."

"Yes, he does, Sky. Well, not in so many words, but he treats me like I'm an airhead, Sky, and it really makes me feel bad. Sky - I get so stressed in his class that I can't even think straight."

Skyler shook his head. He hoped that Regina was exaggerating, but she sure seemed sincere, and as far as he knew, she wasn't a very convincing actress. "Look, Reggie... I'd like to help you, but..."

"Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please," she begged with machine-gun-like repetition. Eventually, she took a breath, but before Skyler could get a word in edgewise, she continued. "Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please..."

"Alright, alright! Stop!" Skyler said, half desperate and half laughing. "I suppose I do owe you quite a bit at this point, but, so help me, if mom ever finds out about this..."

"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Regina bubbled as she hugged him and planted quick, peckish kisses on his cheeks. "She'll never know, Sky! Thank you, thank you!" She jumped back to her side of her bed when she heard the door knob turning. Luckily, it was just Hanna.

"Hi, guys," she smiled. "How are things going?"

"Pretty good, actually," Regina said, unexpectedly upbeat. "Come in and close the door. We're going to need your help to do this."

"Do what?"
 
 
To Be Continued...