Once back at our place, the discussion had changed to whatever someone thought of. We were ordering pizza and heard the different plans for the evening. Sadie told me, “Harrison told my guy that he hoped you’d be at Kregg’s Keg for the dance tonight.”

Josh had shot a paper wad that stung my exposed leg. “Yeah, Nicole, you better watch how you sit and not give away the store.”

I got up to hit Josh, but Talia blocked me. She told me to hold my temper and not start a fight. Then she turned around and slapped the laughter off of Josh’s face. I didn’t hear what she said to him. But instead of getting angry, he apologized for what he did.

Teri and Talia called me to our room and showed me a mauve-colored skirt they wanted me to wear. “If you’re staying as Nicole, you should go out with us and have a good time…” The other said, “You seem to attract the attention of some good-looking guys. Harris surely likes you.”

I said, “He’s shy too. I think he thought I was desperate enough for him to have a chance. I thought he was a good-looking guy, but that he didn’t hold any interest for me.”

Teri had seen us kiss and didn’t buy the excuse that it was an accident. She said, “That is like a person saying he accidentally stabbed me three times.”

The skirt was a mock suede and it hugged my body, showing a girl’s shape. Thankfully, it was of moderate length.

I hurried to be in line for the shower, not wanting it to run out of warm water. I was in the shower bathing when cold water came over the curtain. Layla remarked after my scream. "I was wondering if you would stay in character as you responded. I just felt a need to see… Oh, by the way, you look like a girl through the curtain.”

I grabbed a towel before I got out of the shower and wrapped it around me like Nicole. I was reminded to wear the cutlets I was wearing as Talia said it would be more flattering. She gave me a bra that seemed designed to reshape my breasts. I wore a shimmering silver panty that did not show the shield protecting me.

I liked the feel of shimming into my skirt. Talia was outspoken saying, “No boy should look that good in a skirt. Shame on you, Nicole.” I wasn’t too keen on wearing the blue bra under a thin white top. If I was a boy looking at the girl I was seeing in the mirror; I would have thought she looked awfully sexy.

I asked, “Talia, do you think I should be going out like this?”

“You’re going to dance; if Harrison is as shy and suffering from low self-esteem this might help him.”

I wasn’t sure what to say without sound egotistical as a girl. I looked at the long-strapped pocketbook that I used last night. I was putting in my makeup, some tissues, a comb, and my new money purse. Then Teri was amused by how far I had come in thirty-six hours. “You’ve come a long way in a short time, Nicole. Will you be relieved or sorry when the weekend is over?”

“I can’t believe, I’m still dressed as a woman. I’m afraid if I tried to be Nic, someone would recognize me as Nicole anyway.”

Teri said, “You would have to wear an undershirt to go swimming and then worry about it riding up or your girly tan showing through.”

I sat and watched Teri get ready for the night. She said, “You know it’s troubling on my psyche to have a boy watching me change; knowing he’s watching to get tips for makeup and dressing up for a night out.”

I blinked my eyes to snap out of my little trans. “Oh, I’m sorry what did you say?” She and Talia both giggled. I was doing as she said.

My phone buzzed; there was a message from Mom. “Nicole, can you meet us tomorrow morning at the Ocean View Restaurant at 9 o’clock for breakfast? I’m guessing you aren’t going to church like you are. Please, come as you are.”

I voiced aloud, “Why would my Mom choose to meet me in a public place like that? She even called me Nicole.”

There was another message from her. “You can bring Teri, Talia, or both, my treat.”

Teri looking over my shoulder sees the message and, Teri says, “I’m suggesting so no one loses their cool. I know I could go with you. How about you Talia?”

We ate pizza at the house and then went to enjoy walking the boardwalk. I always enjoy seeing the colorful lights come on at the boardwalk. Nine of us played miniature golf. Ironically, we played in groups of three, and Josh, Mitch, and I were each in separate groups. Since I hadn’t done as much with Layla and Tammi, we were in the same group. There was a bunch of guys giving Josh and Mitch a hard time for keeping so many girls to themselves. Mitch yelled back that there was another guy in the group. Everyone in our group froze for a moment until Josh said, “Miniature golf was too tough for him." Everyone laughed and we went on.

I bought three rings for the ring toss at another game and my second throw went on a bottle and I won a large stuffed puppy. If there was any doubt I was a girl, it left with me carrying my stuffed animal. It was large enough that I had to cuddle it in my arms to keep a hold of it.

Four of us took the time and our money to play skeet ball to help a little girl and her dad to win a larger prize. I had tried to give her my large stuffed toy, but she had her eye on her own prize. It took the four of us plus them fifteen minutes to accumulate enough points but joyfully we did.

It was closer to the time to go dancing so I took my stuffed animal back to the van. Josh was there and spoke with me. “Sorry for giving you such a hard time; the truth is I wished I had gotten the attention of others like you. Sometimes it is hard to enjoy some things for fear of getting called a ‘sissy,’ or something more derogatory. I’m sorry.”

I said, “Thanks, it has been kind of fun. With three sisters I wondered how it would be from this advantage point.”

We walked back to find the others and Josh asked to hold my hand part of the way. We joked about cooties rubbing off.

Teri came up behind us, mentioning us making a nice couple. Josh quickly threw off my hand. A bunch of us went into a restroom to check our makeup and more if necessary. I was able to refresh my makeup and take care of my hair without the help of the others. That didn’t go without notice from Layla. She touched below my ear with a perfume wand.

Teri spoke up, “‘Seduction’ might send the wrong message to her admirers.” Talia’s car was closer than the van so we all crowded in until we got to the van and then we used both vehicles to get to Kregg’s Keg & Bottle. Sadie had sat on my lap. When she got off, she said, “I’ve sat on you before, but tonight definitely felt different.”

We arrived after the dance had started and yet early enough to find tables and chairs to bunch together. I was moving one tall chair when Harris came behind me and put one hand on my side and then another. Squeezing me and pulling me toward him; I knew he got the scent of my perfume. I cautioned him not to presume anything. Turning to him I quickly took his hands in mine, pulling them from my side.

Looking at the other guys, I knew Harris also looked handsome. Having him smiling and having his eyes on me was more than a little unsettling. Harris got a beer for himself and a wine cooler for me. I had learned from one of the girls to wet my lips, so I didn’t leave as much lipstick as I might have.

We visited awhile before Harris asked me for a dance. It was a slower song and I was worried about being able to follow him. Between his hands, hips, and feet, I was following his lead with little trouble.

I was bumped from behind and a bit upset until I saw it was Julie and her husband Mac. I guess that’s why her parents had come to watch their children. Julie commented about it being nice seeing me enjoying myself. I wanted to tell her otherwise but I was sure she wouldn’t believe me.

Julie said, “Sorry, to bump into you. My, Nicole, look at how pretty you are?”

Embarrassed and knowing I’ve turned red, I simply say, “Thanks, but you’re just saying that. One can’t tell anything in this lighting.”

Harris says, “Not true, it is easy to tell you’re very attractive and have good taste in fashion.” Now I’m even more embarrassed. Fortunately, Mac moved them to another spot.

Harris asked how I knew them, and that led me to tell him about how I met Debbie. Harris drew me in for a hug, He said, “That makes you even more beautiful in my eyes. I see a lot of us who wouldn’t care about the feelings of a young girl. It shows me that you have more depth as a girl than many others.”

I was back at our group of tables visiting with others when Anthony walked up to us. I hesitated in saying hello, hoping someone would get up and go dance with him. He asked the group, “Please call me Tony.”

When I said hello, he asked me if I would dance with him and he extended his hand to help me up. Quickly the old image of Anthony as a shy boy melted away. He had grown over the summer and filled out as well. It was me who was now the smaller of the two of us. My eyes blinked and I knew I just flirted with him.

The first two songs we danced to were fast enough we were not touching. I got to see that Tony now moved well on the dance floor. His conversation had lost its awkwardness. I too was more relaxed during my visit with him. We were ready to go back when the third song was slow and Tony drew me to him for another dance. During the dance, Harris touched him on the shoulder to cut in, but Tony said, ‘No.’

I had seen it before and thought a girl would be flattered to have two guys wanting to dance with her. I muttered to myself, “You can’t be.” ‘They’re guys and so are you.’ It didn’t change the feelings welling up inside.

I said, “That was nice of you, Tony. I’m happy to see you stand up for yourself.” He drew me close and gave me a kiss on my cheek. We were cuddled together as we danced. It dawned on me that I was following his lead without even thinking about it.

The dance ended and we were clapping in appreciation of the band. Talia came up to me, asking, “How about we get some fresh air?”

She and I walked out onto the boardwalk overlooking waves coming in. The sound of it all made our conversation private. “Nicole, you seem to be enjoying yourself… I just want to remind you, Tony or Harris, they may want more.”

I say, “We’re just getting to know each other. It’s like a first date, no one goes that far.”

Talia says, “You’re almost eighteen, not a young innocent girl. They most certainly are open to going further than you might want and discovering things you didn’t intend to make known… I can even tell, looking at you that you like them.”

I stepped back and wanted to be angry at her, but she was right. She said, “Why don’t we go in and sit down and when you’re ready we can have our dance. I bet that Harrison will be watching for his next dance.”

Nick was looking forward, even if it is as a girl to dancing with Talia. But why was I wondering about Harrison or Tony?

I finished a conversation with Josh and Talia and then Talia asked me if I was ready to dance. It was an upbeat song and we moved along on the dance floor. I wasn’t ready for it to end as I wanted to dance some more with Talia.

Harrison had a friend who asked to dance with Talia and Harris stepped up to be with me. The band slowed their song down and suggested we do a slow old rock n’ roll line dance. We went through the line once and once we finished, Harris took me so it was just us two. When he tried to talk me to go riding with him I had to bite my lip not to giggle. Another guy was hoping to get me alone so we could make out together.

Harris apologized, after I said, no. “I’m sorry, I’m not usually so forward. I just thought… I do like you. Oh my, sorry but… Can we at least sit and talk, I just like being with you.”

I felt sorry for him, as I had been in that position. I said, “If you promise to be good we could walk together on the beach.” His smile returned, and he thanked me and then guaranteed to be on good behavior. We slowly walked the beach, as he told me about growing up shy and his dad calling him a loser.

I told him my dad had died before we ever really learned to talk. We turned and looked at each other and I felt a desire to hug him and kiss. I didn’t think it was special until I felt him sigh. We both looked at each other. He was leaning into me when I closed my eyes and we kissed. My hands slipped down his back and when he leaned his lower body into me. I knew he was being turned on.

We were close enough to the Kreggs to faintly hear the music. We danced slow and he was grinding himself into me. Strange to my thinking, I was not turned off. We passionately kissed one more time, before I forced us to be walking again. Going into the lounge, I grabbed my purse and made a straight line for the girls’ room. I knew I needed to fix my face. While I was in there, Teri came in to check on me. I was about ready to break down, when she asked, “Did someone hurt you?”

I looked up, “No, he just made me feel good as a woman.”

We heard someone murmur, “Mm, mm. That’s a nice feeling to have.” The woman handed me a scented woman’s handkerchief. I said, thanks and she invited me to keep it.

Teri got Talia and we went back to the bungalow a little early. After I took my makeup off and went to shower; I realized I had messed the front of my underclothing. Teri and Talia both recognized the smell. Talia asked, “Has anyone moved you like that before?”

I said, “Yes, but they were girls.” Talia and Teri both embraced me. “I can’t believe I like the feeling so much, being a girl.”

Teri was the first to say she was sorry, for putting me in the position of acting like a girl. Talia said something similar. They were both surprised when I said, “No, you don’t understand. I like the feelings I’m having. I always thought I wanted to know what things felt like for a girl. I know I’m not a real girl but I like dressing up, learning makeup, and now I find a guy liking me.”

Talia giggled, “I was going to tell you I wanted you to be a cheerleader on ‘crossover' day. You make a wonderful girl, and if you ever dress up after this weekend. I’ll be there for you.”

I wished the weekend could have stopped right there. It would have been perfect if I could stop right there and go back to being Nick…

Story to be continued...