Meanwhile I try to steel myself for confronting the others in a bit. Dinner is sure to be interesting at least.
Selene Chapter 5
When we got to the gathering spot at the park’s entrance I wasn’t greeted with wide spurred eyes and spit takes like I expected. That could mean one of two things, either they didn’t notice me yet or me showing up in a dress was completely within their expectations. Not sure which I’d prefer. Of course Kelly did recognise me, knowing my mom’s antics and all. And because he wasn’t exactly known as a ladies’ man, him casually walking up to me and starting a conversation drew the attention of the others and I got the wide eyes and spit takes I expected.
Kelly: “Hey, are you in that outfit because of that guy earlier, or because of your mom?”
This is what I like about Kelly, no long explanations needed, he’d just get to the single point that he doesn’t know yet, everything else he just seems to deduce, it’s almost scary even.
“My mother switched my suitcases.”
Kelly nodded knowingly, no other information needed.
Kelly: “Man that sucks, so what’s the official story?”
“Suitcase got lost at the airport, had to borrow stuff from Kim. What’s the reaction from the others to me being denied access to the guys’ caravan?”
Kelly: “Well Jordy has been driving us crazy with how he knew you were a girl all along. I’m afraid that nothing short of allowing him a very close inspection of your nether regions will convince him otherwise. The others aren’t so sure but they’re not fools either, they know something is up. A guy doesn’t get to share with the girls just for looking girly.”
“Ugh Jordy has always been a pain, he can think whatever he wants to. As for the other thing, it seems that I DID get to share with the girls just for looking girly. Of course Mr. Johnson wouldn’t allow it without Miss Karen also present but that other guy had no idea of my medical details.”
Kelly: “Really? That’s pretty dumb.”
“Yeah, but it seems that if the other guests got the impression a boy was sharing with the girls it would be bad for business so he barred me from sharing with you. For the same reason he had no issue with me sharing with the girls, provided that the other guests don’t clue in I’m a guy at least.”
Kelly: “Well no danger of that happening with you dressed like that”
“Yes, that’s at least one good thing to come out of this mess, the other is getting a room for myself alone.”
By this time the others came out of their shock and started to ask questions, however it’s this time that Mr. Johnson showed up telling us out bus was arriving and we had to be fast if we didn’t want to miss it. The bus ride was fairly boring, except everybody was whispering to each other what might be the big deal here. It was too noisy to make out the entire conversations but certain snippets stuck out and slightly worried me.
“That bitch” (What, why?) “No fair” (I know it’s not fair to me, but why is this not fair to you) “Dude she’s a guy” (thank god someone believes me) “I’d hit that” (Eww, eww, eww, I’d like to know who said this so I can avoid them in the future) “Well didn’t see that coming” (I know, right) “Uhuh, no way those are fake” (WAIT WHAT!?)
This could be bad, someone picked up on the fact I wasn’t wearing rolled up socks underneath this dress. I had to find her and silence her before this got out of hand. By concentrating on that line of talk I managed to isolate the culprit, Angela. Problem is she’s the biggest gossip in the entire school, I’m doomed, but why did she think my boobs are real. I need to talk to her and fast. Fortunately it’s about this time that we arrive at the restaurant.
After we’re seated and our orders are taken I see Angela walk to the bathroom, thinking that this might be my chance I stand up too and follow her. After I enter the ladies I notice that Angela has already entered a stall, now I could wait for her, but I really need to go anyway. After finishing my business I notice Anglea is reappearing her make-up, I go and wash my hands right next to her and she notices me.
Angela: “Oh hi Alex, just the girl I wanted to see. Could I have a quick word with you?”
Oh shit, she’s the one taking the initiative. I have to be careful here or she’ll walk away with way more information to spread around than I want her to.
“Sure, honestly I would have been surprised if you didn’t have questions. So shoot.”
Angela: “So what’s the deal with that getup? If I were to believe Jordy you always were a girl and that Italian guy caught you and made you dress like a proper woman. I know that’s total BS but I also don’t believe that you put on that dress for shits and giggles like some of the other guys are saying. So what gives?”
“My suitcase got lost so I had to borrow something from Kim or go hungry.”
Angela: “Uhuh, no way. Had you told me you WERE wearing that dress for shits and giggles I MIGHT have actually believed you..”
“But you just said...”
Angela: “I said that I didn’t believe it when the other guys told me, coming from your mouth it’s something different. I also have a knack for knowing when people lie to me, and that just now was a lie and I didn’t even need my special talents to know that.”
“Oh come on, it’s a totally plausible story, what gave me away?”
Angela: “First of all thanks for confirming it was a lie, I wasn’t exactly sure just now.”
“You bitch, you set me up!”
Angela: “You’re just too easy to play with, but while I wasn’t exactly sure there most definitely are hints that your story just now was made up. For starters there is no way that Kim would own two of the same dresses, secondly Kim would NEVER wear purple and last but not least you have bigger boobs than Kim, or Yuki for that matter. There is no way you’re wearing one of her bras filled with socks, it doesn’t work that way. Now if you wore that dress as a prank that would explain away all these things, you’d also have your own bra with fillings in order to pull it off. I have given several opportunities for you to claim it was a prank, you didn’t take them. So why do you have a bra of that size with you? It wasn’t a prank so I can only conclude that you need it for some reason.”
“Geez when I went in here I expected questions, not the bloody Spanish Inquisition. But fine you win, just not here, if we spend any more time in here the others will start to wonder what we’re up. I’ll talk to you after dinner.”
Angela: “Works for me I’ll go with you to your caravan, see you later.”
With that she walks off leaving me emotionally drained and a wreck, how the hell am I supposed to get out of this mess? Good thing I wasn’t wearing make-up or I would have some bad raccoon eyes right now, now I just need a tissue to dry my eyes and return to my seat. This day certainly can’t get any worse.
Author's note: And this is were Alex' live goes to shambles... maybe. I'm also going to make this a bit of an interactive story by letting you guys decide what Alex should do next. I have several scenarios in my mind myself, but I'm not really happy with any of them, and considering that this is a site with tons of writers a suggestion from you guys might be the inspiration I need. You will get credited of course. You can send suggestions by pm or down in the comment box till next Saturday, best idea wins.
Also remember Kudos are much appreciated, but comments even more.
Comments
If Angela is the biggest
If Angela is the biggest gossip in school, then I would be extremely careful in what I told her. I being Alex in these comments.
Hey Kat I like the story how
Hey Kat I like the story how your writing it and I think you give it the justice it needs. But I think she needs to tell Angela the truth
Thanks
Thanks for the compliment and I'm glad you like the story. Your suggestion has been noted. But who's Kat? I think you might be confusing me for someone else here....
Angela strikes me as smart
Yes, she is a gossip, but wouldn't it be better to have her on your side with the full story than to shut her out?
If Alex's life is going to fall apart here, I would have to wonder why? Are the other members of the class not his friends? I guess Angela would spread Alex's secret and it would hurt him. It seems to me that Alex has been dealing with a lot of this internally and any mistreatment by his classmates might really hurt. Also, I have to ask why his mother would do something like that to her son and leave him stuck in Europe with being forced to dress the way she wants him to. That seems to me like a lack of caring on her part.
Life falling apart
Ah, when I said that this is the point where Alex' life falls in shambles....maybe. I was trying to suggest that this is how Alex himself feels, not that is what's actually going to happen, but fear can be very strong and has a great ability for ignoring facts.
Selene
Tell her as much truth as possible, it's a medical condition, mom packed the luggage and cry and be as emotional as possible and try to get her on your side.
Time is the longest distance to your destination.
Seems To Me...
...the best he can do at this point is admitting to gynecomastia and a mother who switched his suitcase because she wants a daughter all summer. Once he goes that far, I'm not sure whether Alex would find it more embarrassing or less so to tell the rest.
I suppose he'd have nothing to lose at that point in asking Angela to mastermind some sort of alternative story; if she were in charge of promulgating it, it'd be in her best interests to keep the real story a secret. Of course that gives her control over the situation, but Alex is convinced she has that no matter what he does.
As to what she'd come up with, all I have to offer is the old standby of undercover work, which would require Angela to explain why whatever agency she puts in charge hired a boy to do a girl's job. (Claim that Alex's mother is the mastermind and wanted to keep it in the family?) Still would need to explain how he was supposed to keep it secret from the boys; I guess Angela could say they were intended to find out but not this soon, or that the CD part of the project was some sort of contingency plan but a combination of circumstances at this first stop forced it on Alex immediately. But that wouldn't explain where his male clothes went.
(I don't think at this point that Alex could cut out the middleman, so to speak, and tell Angela that's the real story. He's stuck with the gynecomastia at least.)
Eric
I'm hoping Angela
I'm hoping Angela will influence the girls to support and help.
And to make that one guy regret being such a jerk.
"how the hell am I supposed to get out of this mess?"
I dont know, maybe just embrace being a girl?
Well.....
As noted a few chapters ago it's not like Alex doesn't want to embrace girlhood, but rather he fears being seen as a total freak for transitioning publicly rather than in stealth when going to college (and being allowed surgery to complete the image). I've noted your suggestion as "transition ASAP" if that's OK with you.
Mom needs help
Alex's mom really needs help. Not only is she self centered, but thoughtless in that her actions could put Alex in grave danger.
If Alex does tell Angela everything, they need to make sure she understands that if she reveals anything she's told, Alex could be in real danger. And if she poo poos the warning, then they don't tell her a thing.
Alex needs to tell Karen the entire story, and just maybe after hearing the story she knows someone who can help Alex and get his mom the much needed help. And if mom refuses to get help, other accommodations will be found for Alex.
What would happen if one of the boys decided to act on his impulses because of how Alex was dressed for dinner? And what would happen if the owner of the hotel caught him in the almost act with Alex?
Others have feelings too.
Dig deep , find your muse. We
Dig deep , find your muse. We're left at a very interesting place,
Hugs,
Karen
Will try
Maybe writing my new story will give me some much needed inspiration.
Ok, is the true story a continuation or different?
They are two different stories right? Please add more to the story of Alex. I want to see where it goes from here. I get the impression the school gossip is going to end up her friend, at least I hope so, and the gossiping is a facade to maybe hide her own secrets.
Chris
Muse on vaction still
Hope your muse's vacation doesn't take much longer, rather enjoying this so far