“Hey Kerry?”

“Yes?”

“Could I dress you as a girl sometime?”

“I would love it if you would... although... I would be kind of nervous to do it around here, at least for now.”

They had Sydney’s and Trish’s attention. Melanie gently put one hand on Kerry’s shoulder.

“I hear you loud and clear. Why don’t we set it up so that you three can hang out at my place for a weekend?”

by Mona Lisa

---

Lynzie sat on the bathroom floor, crying, with her makeup looking as though she were starring in a trashy horror movie. She felt humiliated. She had sworn that she would never again allow herself to develop feelings for a girl who didn’t feel the same way. Yet, Lynzie had misread Sydney’s signals and it had happened again. On top of that, Lynzie revealed her feelings to Sydney while drunk at a crowded party.

She wanted to know why she had misread Sydney’s signals. Was Sydney sending out signals that she did not intend to -- like the last girl -- or was Lynzie simply clueless when it came to interpersonal signals? She went over everything in her head and tried to figure out what had gone so wrong.

* * * * *

Kerry had met Sydney, Trish and Melanie during their freshman year in college. They were attending a frat party. The four of them were standing in a back corner of a basement room with a small stage drinking cheap beer out of cheaper plastic cups. On stage was a terrible band playing what they tried to pass off as music. Sydney was dancing very deftly to the upbeat tune the band muddled through. Kerry found her dancing quite impressive -- and alluring. He struck up a conversation with the girls in hopes of being introduced to Sydney.

Sydney, Trish and Melanie thought, at first, that Kerry was another girl. His voice was androgynous. He had small stature, delicate features and thick, shoulder length hair of which more than one girl had admitted envy.

Several minutes into the conversation, the subject of significant others came up. Trish was the only one of the group who had one. She began talking about her boyfriend and she drifted into a separate conversation with Sydney. Kerry found himself thinking that he’d love to get to know Sydney better.

“So, Kerry, what about you? Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No. I’m straight.”

“Huh??”

Melanie looked at Kerry funny. Kerry giggled at the confusion to which he had grown so accustomed. He hazarded a glance at Sydney.

“I’m straight -- I’m also a guy.”

“Wait, you’re a guy?”

“Yeah! You thought I was a girl, huh?”

“Well, with those eyes and that hair -- I hate you, by the way -- yes, I did! I’m sorry about that!”

They giggled together. Kerry found himself wishing he could figure out a way to talk to Sydney -- not that it wasn’t fun talking to Melanie.

“Don’t worry about it. It happens all the time. Besides, if I hated being mistaken for a girl I wouldn’t have grown my hair this long.”

Melanie looked at him for a moment and smiled.

“So, does that mean you like being mistaken for a girl?”

Suddenly, Melanie had his full attention.

“Oh shit,” he thought.

He had only meant to convey that the confusion didn’t bother him. He had not intended to reveal that he did, in fact, enjoy having a feminine appearance. At least he hadn’t let his entire secret slip out! Kerry took a swig of brew as he tried to figure out how to get himself out of this one.

“I-I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to,” Melanie thought.

Melanie sipped her beer as she looked at him approvingly for a moment and smiled.

“Well, just so you know, it doesn’t bother me at all either way.”

She clearly suspected that Kerry liked his feminine appearance. What could he say?

“Thanks for saying so,” he thought.

“Well, um, you’re certainly an open-minded girl.”

He smiled nervously and took another sip.

“Thanks! I try to be.”

Suddenly, Kerry had an idea how he might chat with Sydney.

“Well, maybe we should tell your friends that I’m a guy so that we can clear up any misunderstanding.”

He chuckled at the latest round of confusion.

“Yeah, that’s a good idea!”

Melanie tapped Trish on her shoulder.

“Hey, you two. Did you know that Kerry is a guy?”

Sydney’s eyebrows raised and Trish dropped her jaw.

“No! You’re a guy?”

“Get out! Really?”

Finally, Kerry had Sydney’s attention! Kerry smiled at her.

“Yup, I’m a guy.”

Sydney was amazed.

“Wow, you totally look like a girl.”

Trish agreed with Sydney.

“Yeah, Melanie should dress you up sometime -- she loves to dress up guys -- it’s like her fetish!”

Melanie suddenly looked as though she were caught with her pants down.

“Shut up! Don’t tell people that!”

“Oh, shit! Was that private?”

“Well, yes and no. I just don’t want it to be common knowledge because it might scare off guys. I mean, if you were a guy and you thought I might want to dress you up as a girl would you want to date me?”

Sydney answered compassionately.

“I would if I were a guy that liked that sort of thing. There are lots of guys like that, too, you know.”

“Yeah Mel, she’s right,” Trish reassured her. “There are guys like that.”

“Where? I’ve tried going to online personals sites but the only ones where I can find them are basically porn sites -- or at least it sure as hell looks like it! Anyway, I don’t want that to be openly known, okay?”

Sydney and Trish felt bad.

“I’m sorry, Melanie. I didn’t know that was a secret. I will never reveal that again without your permission.”

“I didn’t know either, Melanie -- and I won’t say anything to anyone either. I’m really sorry.”

Sydney and Trish seemed genuinely remorseful, but poor Melanie stood there hugging herself. Kerry put in his two cents.

“Melanie, I would never tell anyone either unless I knew it was okay with you.”

“Thanks, you guys!”

Melanie hugged each of them and decided it was time to change the subject. Opportunity came walking down the basement stairs.

“Hey, Syd, isn’t that the guy you have a crush on? What’s his name? Mark?”

“Oh, yeah, it is Mark!”

Kerry did not want to hear that! He liked Sydney quite a bit -- for multiple reasons -- but when he saw what Mark looked like, he got the familiar sinking feeling that he would never hold up to the competition. Hell, Sydney could take her pick of the most butch, rugged, manly men on campus. Why the hell would she choose a tiny boy like Kerry who looked more like a girl?

Trish and Sydney began chatting among themselves. Kerry still wanted to chat with Sydney, but he didn’t want to hurt Melanie’s feelings. She was fun to talk to and he liked her quite a bit as a friend. Besides, he really felt for her embarrassment. He knew that if he were summarily outed that way he would probably run out of the place crying. He wanted to make sure that she was okay. With the other two girls distracted, Kerry spoke quietly to Melanie.

“Melanie, listen, it’s really okay that you like to dress up guys -- or at least, it’s really okay with me.”

Melanie looked at him sheepishly.

“Really?”

“Yeah, really. I’ll bet your friends only brought that up because they suspected I would be okay with it, given my appearance.”

Melanie shyly looked at her hands.

“Maybe.”

Kerry glanced around. He knew that her harmless fetish had made her feel like a freak -- at least at times -- and he knew the feeling.

“If I tell you something private about me, can I trust you to keep it to yourself?”

“Yes, absolutely! I mean, I know I was stupid enough to tell my friends about my little secret -- not that it’s secret now -- but let’s just say I won’t make the same mistake twice!”

She smirked bitterly at Trish.

“Okay, you can not tell another soul about this, but...” He took a deep breath. “I like being dressed as a girl -- actually, I love it -- so it really doesn’t bother me that you enjoy doing the dressing.”

Melanie relaxed and smiled at Kerry.

“Really?”

“Really. I would never make up something like that. I don’t screw around with people’s heads.”

Kerry shrugged and Melanie smiled at him warmly.

“Well, thanks for telling me.”

“You’re welcome.”

Their conversation trailed off for a moment as the band played its least cohesive tune of the entire evening.

“Jesus Christ!” Kerry held up his beer. “Are they fucked up on this piss or do they just plain suck?”

Melanie cracked a smile.

“I think they’re fucked up and they suck.”

They began laughing. Just then, one of the band members went to switch from his acoustic guitar to his electric guitar. After he removed the strap from his shoulder he dropped his acoustic guitar and it hit the ground with a twanging thud. Kerry and Melanie laughed like a couple of drunk hyenas.

“Oh my God, they even suck at fucking up!”

Melanie threw back her head and laughed at Kerry’s observation.

“And yet, they’re better at fucking up than they are at playing!”

Kerry couldn’t agree more.

“Yeah, they are! I could probably play better than they do -- and write better music, too!”

“Really? What instrument do you play?”

“Keyboards.”

“Cool! Do you really write music?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“That’s so cool! What kind of stuff do you write?”

“Soulful stuff. Ballads, light rock, and stuff like that.”

“Ooh, that’s my favorite stuff!”

“Cool! You like to be moved, too?”

“Oh, yes! If it doesn’t move me it’s not music -- or at least that’s what I think!”

“I’ve always felt that way, too!”

“That’s so cool! I would love to hear some of your stuff -- in fact, I wish you would go up on stage and send them off on an indefinite break!”

* * * * *

Sydney’s words of rejection echoed in Lynzie’s head. Sydney had tried to be merciful, but rejection is rejection.

Whatever the case, what the hell had Lynzie been thinking of to tell her while drunk? Oh, that’s right. Lynzie wasn’t thinking -- she was drunk. Now she was embarrassed.

Lynzie stood up to clean her face. She grabbed some toilet paper and began removing her mascara. She looked at herself miserably in the mirror. It was supposed to be a very special night for her and it was a complete disaster. She felt like leaving the party and going back to her dorm.

She dabbed at her face to get rid of the runny mascara and did her best to clean herself up. She was still trying to figure out how she got so lost again, and her mind wandered as she worked.

* * * * *

A month after the frat party, Kerry, Melanie, Sydney and Trish were returning from having dinner off campus followed by a movie and they were heading to Sydney and Trish’s room. They were walking past the main lounge in Sydney’s and Trish’s dorm. That particular lounge had a “baby grand” piano standing in the middle of it. The piano was old and somewhat beat up but it still had a decent sound.

Melanie informed the group that Kerry played keyboards and wrote music. She pleaded with him to play something. Kerry was somewhat hesitant, since there were other students about the lounge that night, but he shrugged and walked over to the piano. He sat down at the instrument and adjusted the bench. Sydney sat down beside him, much to his delight -- making him wonder if he’d be able to concentrate on the music. Meanwhile, Melanie stood just on Kerry’s other side. Kerry got the feeling that Melanie wanted to be sitting on the bench next to him.

Kerry began to play his most recent song. He sang the lyrics as he played, hoping his quiet voice would be heard over the piano. He had written the song about the gender confusion that he was experiencing -- but he wasn’t about to tell them that! Fortunately, he wouldn’t have to. His lyrics illustrated confusion only in a broader sense. Nowhere in the song did he indicate that the confusion -- at least for him -- was gender related.

He finished his performance and his small entourage applauded -- as did everyone else in the lounge! Kerry smiled self-consciously as he stood up and took a bow for everyone present. Kerry’s companions stood to head upstairs. Sydney gently put a hand on Kerry’s shoulder.

“Kerry, that was awesome!”

“Thank you, Sydney!”

“Yeah, Kerry, that was just beautiful!”

Melanie was a bit choked up and she gently touched his other shoulder with one hand.

“Thanks, Melanie!”

“Oh, you’re welcome! Will you play us some more of your songs! Please?”

Sydney liked that idea and she smiled at him brightly.

“Yeah, can we hear more?”

“All right, I’ll play some more.”

Kerry returned to the piano, where Melanie was now sitting on the bench, and sat down beside her. For a moment he thought he felt Melanie slide closer to him. He began playing other songs that he had written. Most of them were about love, but one of them was about having no idea what Kerry wanted to do with his life. Another was about turning his laundry basket of whites pink after he accidentally put a red sock in the machine with the load.

After each song, the students in the lounge applauded and at the end of his performance, Kerry took a final bow to the applause of everyone in the lounge.

“Thank you very much, everyone! I don’t have a band yet, but I’ll be playing with myself all over campus!”

Everyone laughed at Kerry’s joke and the four of them went upstairs to Sydney’s and Trish’s room.

On the following Friday, Kerry got a call from Melanie, who asked if he wanted to take a walk with her. Kerry knew intuitively that she needed to talk about something and he readily accepted her offer. He always did when someone needed to talk; it was very instinctive for him.

They met up outside her dorm and began walking in the nearby woods. After catching up about the week, Melanie garnered the nerve to ask Kerry what she had been wanting to know since she heard him play.

“Hey Kerry, can I ask you a question about one of your songs?”

“Sure! Go right ahead.”

Melanie briefly smiled at him. She took a breath... and then she took the plunge.

“I really liked the song you wrote about confusion. There’s something I’ve been confused about for a while and your song really got to me. I’ve been wanting to know what kind of confusion you were expressing in your song -- if you’re comfortable sharing that, I mean.”

“Oh, Christ! You had to ask! Well, it serves me right. If I didn’t want people asking about that song then I probably should not have played it,” Kerry thought.

“I mean, I get that you want anyone to be able to sing it and not just someone who’s going through the exact same confusion as you, but I’m dying to know what your confusion was -- or is.”

She chuckled and he smiled at her. What was he going to tell her? Melanie picked up on his hesitation.

“I’ll tell you what. I’ll tell you about my confusion first. I think that might make it feel more comfortable to talk about yours.”

“Okay.”

“Okay, well, I’m confused about my sexual orientation. Sometimes, I’m attracted to a guy, and sometimes, I’m attracted to a girl. Sometimes I just want to know which it is -- or if it’s both, you know?”

“Yeah, I do. That must be hard.”

He spoke with deep empathy, putting an arm around her. He felt her sidle up to him.

“It is hard. I’ve been single a long time and... I’m getting really tired of it!”

“I know that feeling. Oh, how I know that feeling.”

“You do?” She put her arm around him. “Is it because of what you’re confused about?”

“Yeah, it is.”

Kerry was silent for a moment. Should he really tell her? She had revealed her secret, but that didn’t mean that he had to disclose his. He hadn’t asked her to share. However, Melanie appeared to be disappointed.

“Maybe you’re not ready to talk about it. I’m sorry. I’m sticking my nose where it--”

“No, it’s okay, really.”

Kerry knew what he had to say. He understood that Melanie had identified with his song about confusion and he realized that she was feeling very alone. She needed to know whether she was the only one who felt different! Kerry knew that feeling all too well -- and that did it. He told her everything.

“My song is about, um...” He swallowed. “It’s about gender confusion.”

He tensed for her response, but Melanie looked genuinely pleased to hear it. She stopped walking and looked at Kerry. He stopped walking with her.

“Wow! Now I really see what your lyrics mean. That must be difficult to grapple with.”

Kerry stopped and looked at her for a moment. Slowly, he nodded his head.

“It is. I’m not sure what to think yet. All I know now is that I don’t identify with guys at all but I do identify with girls -- and I love to dress as a girl, as I told you at that frat party. I mean, there’s so much to it, but just to give you one example, I’m always thinking how I’m not big and muscular like other guys, or aggressive like other guys, or rough like other guys or loud like other guys and--”

Kerry abruptly trailed off as he realized what he was saying. He noticed that Melanie was looking at him with deep concern in her eyes. She sensed that he wasn’t quite finished and she remained silent.

“Jesus!”

He looked around the woods for a moment and looked into Melanie’s eyes.

“I’m a girl, Melanie! When I say I’m not big or aggressive or rough or loud like other guys, it’s just different ways of saying that I’m not a guy at all. In other words, that’s why I’m not aggressive or rough or loud like other guys! I’m not a guy! I’m a girl! Jesus, I really am a girl!”

Kerry became very emotional. He had known on some level all along, but he was feeling very overwhelmed.

“Oh wow!”

Without hesitation, Melanie stepped toward Kerry and wrapped her arms around him.

Into his ear, she said softly, “Well, for what it’s worth, I think that makes you officially special!”

Tears began to leak from Kerry’s eyes and for a moment he clung to her, choked up and grateful for Melanie’s warm acceptance.

“You know, Kerry, we girls are free to cry if we want to -- unlike guys -- so if you want to, please go right ahead and cry.” She paused as she looked off into the distance. “God knows I do.”

Kerry began crying almost as if on cue. Melanie seemed to know how to emotionally touch him just the right way at just the right time; Melanie held him for a long while and comforted him.

“Melanie?”

“Yes?”

“Do you think that... Trish and Sydney... are going to accept me?”

Melanie gave him a squeeze.

“Yes, I do. They’re very open-minded girls.”

Kerry breathed a sigh of relief.

“Good. I want to tell them next. I mean, I don’t know who else I’m going to tell, but... I just want to make sure that they hear it from me.”

“I think that’s very wise.”

“Yeah. Anyway, Melanie, um... if you ever need to talk about your confusion again, will you please let me know?”

She nodded at him and smiled.

“I will. That’s a promise.”

* * * * *

Lynzie finished removing her mascara -- or trying to. She looked at herself in the mirror for a moment. Then she put down the lid on top of the toilet seat and sat down. She sat still, looking at her hands and watching her fingers play with the ring she was wearing. She paused to wipe a tear from one eye and resumed playing with the ring, not taking her eyes off of it. She wasn’t ready to come out of the bathroom, and she let her mind go where it would.

* * * * *

“What are you going to have, Kerry?”

“I’ve got a hankering for a Belgian waffle with whipped cream and strawberries, actually. The nice thing about a pancake house like this is that they serve them twenty-four-seven.”

Melanie was tantalized with Kerry’s choice -- and wondered if something was bothering him.

“Ooh, that sounds super yummy!”

“Want to split it? There’s no frigging way I’ll eat it all.”

“Sure! Thanks!”

“Anytime!”

Like Melanie, Sydney detected something wrong somewhere within Kerry.

“Um, hold the phone a second! A Belgian waffle with whipped cream and strawberries is definitely comfort food. Is there anything that you need to talk about, Kerry?”

“Yes, Sydney, um, th-there is something I wanted to tell you and Trish... about me...”

Kerry took a breath. He was way more nervous about telling Sydney than he was about telling Melanie -- probably because Sydney was the one he liked.

“Okay, Kerry. Well, I think I speak for everyone when I say that we’re all ears.”

“That’s right,” confirmed Melanie, putting one hand gently on Kerry’s shoulder.

“Thanks, you guys. Okay... well, here it is.”

Kerry took another deep breath.

“I was taking a walk with Melanie the other day and while we were in the woods I--”

“Woo hoo! Walking in the woods with a girl! You go--”

“Trish, shut the fuck up!”

Melanie silenced her. As much as Melanie hated to acknowledge it, romance had had nothing to do with it, no matter how much she wished it had.

Trish put up her hands.

“All right, all right, I’m sorry. I don’t mean any disrespect.”

“We’re just friends is all,” Melanie informed her as she took a big sip of her vanilla milkshake the way one might take a big swig of one’s drink to calm one’s nerves.

“Ow! Dammit!”

“Brain freeze?” Kerry empathized.

“Yes! Ow! Shit!”

Melanie began giggling and got Kerry started. Seconds later all four were chortling at Melanie, who was turning as red as a ripe strawberry. Kerry summoned a waitress and asked for a cup of hot tea. Melanie knew that he ordered it for her as a way of easing her “cold headache” and she smiled at him. The waitress left to get the tea and Kerry resumed where he left off, somewhat relaxed by the humor of Melanie’s antics.

“Anyhow, where was I? Oh yeah, walking in the woods and talking with Melanie. Okay, so, what happened was that Melanie was asking about the song I played you that I wrote about confusion. She wanted to know more specifically what kind of confusion.”

Kerry took a breath as the waitress put the tea in front of him. When she left, Kerry slid the tea to Melanie, who thanked Kerry as she took a sip to start working on her “cold headache”. It worked fast.

“So, I told her. The answer is that it’s about gender confusion.”

“You mean...” Trish started.

“That I’m transgendered,” Kerry finished for her.

“Wow! I’ve never met a transgendered person before.”

“Me either,” Sydney added, “but I have zero problem with that. You didn’t ask to be born that way and you’re not hurting anyone.”

“You got that right!”

“Are you... like a drag queen? I-I don’t mean to be...”

Okay, so Trish needed a bit of education. Fair enough.

“No, I am not a drag queen. I am not a female impersonator. I am a girl!”

Just saying it made Kerry feel good and he smiled.

“Oh, I see. You’re a transsexual?”

Kerry paused for a moment.

“Erm, well, yeah. That’s correct.”

“So you want the operation?”

“I think so, yes. It’s probably correct to think of me as a ‘pre-operative transsexual’ -- or maybe ‘pre-pre-operative’ or something.”

Kelly chuckled and Melanie softly giggled with him.

“Well, Kerry, my view of you hasn’t changed any -- except that it’s a prettier view.”

“Awww, thanks, Sydney! That’s so sweet of you to say!”

“You’re welcome.”

Kerry gave her a hug as a tear slipped from one eye, which he didn’t notice. As he sat back in his place, Melanie reached over and softly wiped it with one outstretched finger.

“Wha -- oh, was I leaking?”

“A little bit.”

“Oh, thanks, Melanie!”

“Anytime!” She smiled at him.

“Well, Kerry, I like what Sydney said and I doubt I’ll be able to top that, so there you have it!”

The four of them laughed as Trish got up and walked around the table for a hug.

“Thanks, Trish!”

Kerry gave her a hug and she returned to her seat.

“See, Kerry? I knew they’d be okay with it!”

Kerry hugged Melanie.

“Yeah, you were totally right! Anyway, damn, a girl could get used to this kind of treatment!”

Another round of laughs echoed off of the walls.

“Hello, folks, what can I get you this evening?” The waiter interrupted them.

“A Belgian waffle with whipped cream and strawberries, please!”

“And two forks!” Melanie added.

* * * * *

Lynzie listened to the sounds of the party on the other side of the bathroom door as she tried to compose herself. She heard the music playing from a computer attached to good quality speakers.

She heard guys being loud and obnoxious. She heard other girls laughing, cheering, chatting and socializing. She also heard the sounds of her sobs and sniffles and, faintly, the sound of her heart beating.

Then she heard a knock on the door.

* * * * *

One frigid Friday night during the February of their freshman year, Kerry, Melanie, Trish and Sydney sat at a dining hall table eating lunch. Sydney and Trish were off in their own conversation again and there was something new that Melanie was dying to know.

“Hey Kerry?”

“Yes?”

“Could I dress you as a girl sometime?”

“I would love it if you would... although... I would be kind of nervous to do it around here, at least for now.”

They had Sydney’s and Trish’s attention. Melanie gently put one hand on Kerry’s shoulder.

“I hear you loud and clear. Why don’t we set it up so that you three can hang out at my place for a weekend?”

“That sounds like fun!”

Kerry thought about spending an entire weekend with Sydney close at hand. He did also like the idea of spending time with Melanie, of course -- she really had been a true friend -- but Sydney really had his attention.

Suddenly, Melanie gasped and her eyes lit up.

“Oh my God! You know what? My mother will be away on the first weekend next month for this annual sales conference she has to go to. She’d probably have to be dying of malaria before she’d stay home from anything work related, so we’ll have the house to ourselves!”

All three of them were very keen on the idea of spending a whole weekend at Melanie’s house with no crappy dining hall food and no parents around -- which would make it very easy to have a few beers, too!

“So we could sneak over to your place while she’s gone and she’ll never know?”

Sydney was quite the clever one. Melanie looked at the ceiling for a moment.

“Well, no, because she would definitely notice food missing from the fridge and the pantry -- she gets rid of junk so there’s nothing in there that goes unused or unnoticed. Anyway, we would have to tell her that I’m having guests. Now, I’m not allowed to have boys over while she’s gone -- not that I haven’t broken that rule several times!”

She put one hand over her mouth as she giggled.

“With a single mom, it’s just too easy! But in this case, Kerry, I want to be sure that she doesn’t go asking questions, so I’m going to tell her that I’m having three girls over for a girly weekend.”

Kerry smiled.

“Why not? It’s the truth! I mean, just because one of them got stuck with a penis, it’s not her fault!”

Sydney and Melanie laughed.

“Good point. Anyway, why don’t we drive down there on that Friday right after classes? That way we could dress up Kerry at my place on Friday night. If you feel ready, Kerry, we could even take you out somewhere.”

“I think I would like that!”

“Cool! And you know what’s even better?”

“What?”

“On the Saturday night while my mom is gone, I’m going to an old friend’s party and she told everyone that we’re all welcome to bring other people!”

“Oh, neat!”

“Yeah! And Kerry, if you have fun on Friday night, well, nobody knows you in my home town, so you could even come to the party as a girl and be yourself!”

“Wow! I want to but I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it. I’m hoping I can overcome my nerves and go for it, though!”

* * * * *

Three weeks and a three-hour drive later, Melanie pulled her car up to her house. Trish was right behind her in own car with Sydney. Melanie and Trish both drove two-seat sports cars -- the only two cars of the group -- so they’d had to use both cars. Kerry had spent the trip wondering how he kept ending up with Melanie rather than Sydney. Melanie was a wonderful girl, and Kerry did enjoy the ride with her, but the heart wants what it wants.

“What a beautiful house, Melanie!”

Melanie smiled at Kerry.

“Thanks, Kerry!”

They got their bags out of the car and headed inside. They were in Melanie’s bedroom dropping off their bags when things got started.

“So. What do you guys want to do?”

Melanie glanced at Kerry, who had the smile on his face she was hoping for.

“Well, is it too early to dress me up?”

Sydney and Melanie smiled at him and Melanie answered for all three of them.

“Hell no!”

Melanie went to her closet.

“Let’s not keep you a guy any longer than we have to!”

Kerry smiled.

“Yes, let’s not!”

Melanie disappeared into her closet for a moment before reemerging.

“Any idea what you would like to wear, Kerry?”

“A skirt. Any skirt. I’m super-sick of pants!”

“You got it! Anything else?”

Kerry hesitated for a moment, but he was a girl and Sydney and Melanie knew it.

“Well, erm, I love wearing tights.”

Sydney giggled.

“I can’t wait to see what you look like, Kerry!”

Kerry smiled at her.

“Me either! Well, actually I do kind of know what I look like already.”

Melanie reappeared for a second.

“Oh, that’s right, you mentioned that you love being dressed as a girl which means you’ve been dressed as a girl before, right?”

“Right!”

“Tell us about it -- if you want to, I mean!”

Melanie went back to her closet.

“Sure, I’d like to tell you. Let’s see. I got started dressing as a girl when I was eight. I had a cousin living in the same town and my mother and I used to visit all the time. She was my age and the same size, fortunately for me. Her name was Winnie. Anyway, she always used to dress me up whenever I was at her place. Once or twice she even snuck an outfit over to my house. We had so much fun! She used to dress me up with everything, too, including underwear and skirts and tights and everything. I loved that! It felt so good, you have no idea!”

“I bet it did!” Melanie empathized.

Melanie had emerged from her closet and was laying on her bed a wine colored corduroy knee length skirt, long sleeve black cotton shirt, and a wine colored cardigan. She plunked a pair of black leather flats on the floor next to the bed and headed for her dresser.

“Does your cousin still live near you?”

Kerry got nostalgic.

“No, her dad got transferred halfway across the country.”

“How long ago was that?” Melanie wondered aloud.

“About five years.”

“Oh, you poor girl! You haven’t been able to be yourself in five years?”

“Nope.”

“Well let’s get you back in girl mode, chick!”

Kerry giggled at Melanie, who handed him a satin bra and a matching pair of panties.

“Thank you! I’m just going to change in your bathroom!”

“Go right ahead! My bathroom is your bathroom!”

Kerry hurried into the bathroom, closed the door, stripped, and carefully donned the beautiful lingerie. He removed the hair band that kept his hair in its usual pony tail and shook out his hair. He smiled at his girly reflection in the mirror and he went back to Melanie’s bedroom.

“Okay, I’m ready to get dressed!”

He put his clothes on Melanie’s bed.

“Excellent! Would you like a pedicure or no?”

“Ooh! Really? Could I?”

Kerry was very excited.

“Of course! You deserve to be yourself in all your glory this weekend.”

“Thanks, Melanie!”

She smiled at him.

“It’s my pleasure, remember?”

“Oh, yeah!”

Kerry remembered that she loved dressing up boys as girls -- not that Kerry was a boy.

Melanie went to work filing Kerry’s toenails and applying a few coats of pinkish red nail polish. Sydney got out Melanie’s hair dryer and dried Kerry’s toenails while Melanie did his fingernails. The sensation of Sydney touching his feet was absolutely heavenly -- not that it sucked to have Melanie touching his hands! Kerry was having the best weekend he had had in five years -- or perhaps his entire life! Sydney finished drying his toes and began to blow his fingernails dry. Meanwhile...

“Hey Kerry, I don’t have any tights that would fit you thanks to my short legs. However...”

She rummaged in her bag for a moment and pulled out two brand new packages of semi-sheer, off-white pantyhose. She handed them to Kerry who was smiling from ear to ear.

“Thank you, Melanie! You didn’t have to do that.”

“I know, but I wanted to.”

“Did you know that I love tights?”

“No, I didn’t. I had that outfit in mind and I often wear off-white hose with it, so I picked up a couple pairs for you in case you wanted them. Oh, um, I was going to recommend shaving your body hair but it appears that you’ve taken care of that already!”

Kerry smiled.

“Yup! I sure did! Arms, armpits, legs, all of it!”

Kerry ran his fingertips up and down his arm and the four girls giggled together.

“I used to keep my body hair shaved so that I would look as pretty as possible when my cousin dressed me up. Unfortunately, I knew my mother would notice that I wasn’t growing any body hair, so I finally had to let it start growing. Anyway, I figured we’d go all-out while we’re here and I decided to come prepared like I used to. I might get some razzing when we get back, but I don’t care. It’s so worth it!”

Melanie smiled at her new girl friend.

“Yeah, there’s nothing quite like smooth skin! Well, anyway, you can tell everyone that I got you drunk and shaved you!”

They giggled again.

“Thanks, Melanie. I just might take you up on that!”

Kerry smiled at Melanie. He opened a package of nylons, threw away the wrappings, slipped on the nylons and carefully smoothed them. His experience with them showed. He pulled on the skirt and shirt and got them settled in place. Then he put on the leather flats. Finally, he put on the cardigan.

“Well? How do I look?”

Kerry did a quick twirl for the girls and they both giggled at him.

“You look beautiful, Kerry!”

“Thanks, Melanie!”

“Yeah, Kerry, you look so pretty!”

“Thank you, Sydney!”

“Let me do just a couple more things!”

“Okay!”

Melanie grabbed some eyeliner, mascara and lipstick and applied it to Kerry’s face. Then, she selected a silver necklace with a five-petaled flower on it, small clip-on silver hoop earrings, and a silver ring that looked like part of it was tied in a knot. Last, Melanie did Kerry’s hair in a single braid behind her hair. She walked Kerry over to the full-length mirror at one end of her room. When Kerry saw his reflection, he wanted to cry -- but he didn’t want to mess up his makeup. He hugged Melanie -- and caught himself wishing he were hugging Sydney. He felt very guilty about that. Melanie had been wonderful to him and she deserved his gratitude, so he made that hug count. Kerry pulled back to look at himself again in the mirror.

“You really made me look pretty, Melanie! I-I don’t know what to say -- except thank you so much!”

Kerry hugged her again.

“You don’t have to say anything, Kerry -- and you’re welcome.”

“Damn, girl! You are looking fine!” Sydney joked. “I would love to take you out!”

“Really?”

Kerry loved to hear that -- but Sydney began to backpedal downhill.

“Erm, well, y-yes, I would love for the world out there to see the real you!”

She smiled nervously as Melanie remembered her “master plan” for the weekend.

“Oh, yeah! Kerry, have you ever been yourself outside of your house -- or your cousin’s?”

Kerry looked at her briefly before returning his gaze to the mirror.

“No, I haven’t. I’ve been wanting to, but of course my cousin moved away and I don’t have any of my own stuff.”

“Awww, you poor girl. It sounds like you’re ready to go out though, huh?”

Kerry thought for a moment and nodded.

“Yes, I am ready for that. A girl can only stay locked in a closet so long.”

“Awww!”

Melanie seemed to have endless compassion for Kerry.

“Of course, I’m nervous as hell about it, but it’s one of those things that won’t be free of nerves until I’ve done it enough times, you know?”

“Yeah, I do. Kind of like asking a boy if I could dress him up. I used to be so nervous about that when I got started because I was afraid that... well, you know.”

“They might think you were a freak?” Kerry finished for her.

Melanie looked down for a moment.

“Something like that, yeah.”

“Melanie, you are not a freak! You are a kind, loving, generous, loyal, supportive, compassionate friend--”

Melanie inwardly winced at the mention of “the other F word”.

“–and you’re fun to be with, too!”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah!”

Melanie heard all three of them, but her attention was riveted to Kerry and she was beginning to choke up.

“Awww, I think that’s probably the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

Melanie hugged Kerry quite snugly and Kerry held her for a few moments. He released the hug — but she didn’t. Kerry resumed hugging Melanie and glanced at Sydney with his eyebrows raised. Sydney subtly nodded her head.

Melanie released the hug and Kerry followed her lead.

“So, Kerry. Do you want to go out somewhere tonight? Maybe see a movie and have some good pizza? You’ll be safe with us — and remember you’re a total stranger to everyone in this town, so nobody’s going to have the faintest idea that you, um... got stuck with male equipment.” She hoped that was a proper way of saying it.

Kerry looked at her with a mixture of nerve and desire all over her face.

“Ye- well...” Melanie looked like a girl who was tired but trying to hide it. Kerry couldn’t just think of himself. “You just drove for three hours to get us here -- and so did you, Trish -- and I’m sure you must be pretty tired...”

Melanie did not hesitate.

“Yeah, but this is really important for you! You’ve been dealt a very difficult and painful hand and I want to help you to make your life easier however I can, even if it’s only for a little while. I know we have tomorrow night, but one night isn’t enough. It couldn’t be! I mean, neither could two nights, but...” She looked Kerry in the eyes. “If you want to go out tonight, I will! I will totally go out with you!”

Melanie suddenly bit her lip. Kerry was completely preoccupied with the idea of being himself outside her house. It was a lot to think about, it was making him nervous, and his brain never did work very well when nervous. He didn’t notice Melanie blurting out her feelings for Kerry. Melanie hadn’t intended to reveal her feelings for Kerry that way... although, part of her wished that Kerry had noticed when she did.

Sydney noticed it and she raised her eyebrows, smiling in mild surprise. She had suspected that Melanie felt that way, but she wasn’t sure until Melanie slipped up and blurted it out.

“You’re really up for that, you two?”

Kerry studied Sydney’s face as though attempting to read her mind.

“Of course we are!” Melanie answered for them both and headed to her dresser to grab her keys.

Sydney yawned. She was feeling a bit tired from her long week, but Melanie was right. This was important to a friend -- a friend who had had a lot of long weeks. She literally rose to the occasion as she stood up from the chair she was sitting in and stepped toward Melanie and Kerry.

“Yeah, I say we do it!”

Trish followed Sydney’s lead and stood.

“Me, too!”

Trish grabbed her purse.

“Okay! Let’s go!”

Melanie seemed almost as excited as Kerry to be going out for a night of fun with Kerry all dolled up — but she stopped for a moment at the top of the stairs.

“Hey Kerry, do you want to, um, use a different name while we’re out?”

“Yeah, sure! How about…”

He glanced around and saw a newspaper with a picture of a girl about his age on the front page. The caption revealed that the girl’s name was Libbi.

“How about Libbi?”

“That’s cute!”

“Thanks, Melanie!”

“You’re welcome! Okay, let’s go!”

Libbi had a blast! The movie they saw was a classic “chick flick” and the pizza was the best that Libbi had had in a while. The best part of Libbi’s whole night was just being herself without any of the bullshit façade she’d had to hide behind.

When they got home that night, they talked about the following night over a couple of beers. Libbi decided that she wanted to be herself at the party, too. Melanie was right. One night wasn’t enough.

Twenty hours later, Libbi looked even better than she had the previous night. This time, she wore a black denim miniskirt over micro-fishnet tights and a purple, sleeveless sweater with a scoop neck. Melanie did Libbi’s hair with a bit of extra body and did her makeup so that it was extra fancy. Libbi looked stunning. Melanie grinned from ear to ear at her work.

A short while later they arrived at the party. Melanie went to ring the doorbell.

“Melanie, wait a sec.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing’s the matter; it’s just that I’ve been thinking. I want to use a different name. I got Libbi from a newspaper picture of a complete stranger!”

Libbi giggled at herself and Melanie smiled at her.

“I want to have a better story than that behind my name!”

“Okay! What should we call you?”

“Well, right before my cousin moved away, she started to call me Lynzie. We only used that name two or three times and then she was gone. I forgot about that until now! Anyway, please call me Lynzie?”

“I love it!”

Melanie certainly was enthusiastic about it!

“Yeah, Lynz, that’s a cute name!”

Sydney liked it too -- even better!

“Come on, Lynz, let’s party.”

“Are you ready, Lynzie?”

“Yes, Melanie. I’m ready!”

Melanie rang the doorbell and her friend Ruby opened the door. They greeted each other enthusiastically with a great big hug and then Melanie introduced everyone.

“You two I’ve met a couple of times, but who’s this chick?”

Ruby asked with a pleasant smile on her face.

“Ruby, this is my good friend Lynzie from school. Lynzie, this is my friend Ruby from grade school.”

Lynzie spoke in a soft voice pitched slightly higher than her androgynous “male voice”.

“Oh, wow! You two have known each other a long time!”

“Yeah, we go all the way back to the days when Melanie used to love dressing up boys as girls.” Ruby gave Lynzie a wry look. “You aren’t a guy that Mel dressed up are you?”

Lynzie blanched at the question. She hoped to hell that Ruby hadn’t figured her out! She decided to try to diffuse the situation with humor.

“Holy shit! Do I look that bad?”

Ruby threw back her head and laughed. Lynzie laughed right along with her. Ruby put one hand on Lynzie’s shoulder as she reassured her.

“I’m just kidding, home girl. If you’re a guy, then I’m Elizabeth Fucking Taylor!”

The group laughed at Ruby’s energetic sense of humor.

“Seriously, girl!” She waved her hand around near Lynzie, “That look is totally hot!”

Lynzie smiled as her tension melted away.

“Well, I aim to tease, as the old saying goes!”

Lynzie got a round of laughs out of the group.

“You are all right, Lynzie. All right girls, come on in, throw your coats on the couch and grab yourselves a beer in the kitchen.”

“Thanks, Rube! Come on, Lynz.”

Melanie hooked her arm in Lynzie’s and walked her into the kitchen — which was empty.

“Are you okay, Lynz?”

“Yeah, I’m okay. For a moment there, I thought she knew!”

“Yeah, she had me going, too! Oh well. Care for a beer?”

“Yes, please! I could use a little something-something to calm my nerves.”

For the next couple of hours the room full of people had a great time. Then, Melanie privately asked Lynzie if she would like to play a song or two for the crowd. Melanie knew that Ruby had a keyboard and amplifier in her apartment.

Lynzie hesitated at first, but Melanie reassured her that she had heard Lynzie sing and her voice would not give away her secret. When she heard that, Lynzie felt confident enough to do it — and drunk enough -- and she did. She played a few of her love songs and glanced at Sydney throughout her performance, which was rather painful for Melanie to watch. However, Melanie kept her cool — and her buzz.

After her performance, Sydney asked to speak with her privately. Lynzie smiled brightly and enthusiastically consented. Sydney escorted Lynzie to Ruby’s bedroom and gently said that she had noticed Lynzie looking at her throughout her performance of love songs. Lynzie admitted it and she was drunk enough to reveal her feelings to Sydney. She had not been planning on revealing her feelings to Sydney while drunk at a party. However, alcohol does strange things to the brain. Lynzie revealed everything. She told Sydney how she noticed her the night of that frat party and approached the girls in hopes of meeting Sydney and talking to her. She told her how much she loved it when Sydney sat down at the piano bench in her dorm while Lynzie played. She told it how much she’d loved it when she told Sydney that she was a girl and Sydney said the view was prettier. Lynzie held back nothing.

Sydney became very uncomfortable. She gently told Lynzie that she didn’t feel the same way and that, for that matter, she wasn’t ready for a romantic relationship at that time anyway. Sydney also mentioned that she was not a lesbian, which Lynzie, in all her infinite drunkenness, failed to think of. Lynzie felt awful. She felt rejected; she felt embarrassed; most of all, she felt that she’d made a drunken ass of herself. Lynzie apologized to Sydney and excused herself, saying that she needed to use the bathroom. She darted for the bathroom, closed and locked the door behind her, sat down on the floor, and cried.

* * * * *

Lynzie heard the knock again.

“I’ll be right out!”

“Lynz? Is that you in there?”

“Yes.”

It was Melanie.

“May I come in? Sydney told me what happened and–“

Lynzie unlocked the door and admitted Melanie to her hell. Then she closed and locked the door behind them and began to cry again. She hugged Melanie.

“I made a complete fool of myself. I mean, at least it was in private, but still.”

“Still hurts?”

“Yeah, still hurts.”

“Awwww.”

“I mean, for God sake, how could it not occur to me that she’s not a lesbian?”

“Oh, honey this is only your second night as a girl in five years and you’re probably not used to thinking of things this way.”

Lynzie paused for a moment.

“Yeah, and I’m also drunk. I should never have gotten myself drunk.”

“Eh. It happens. I’ve been drunk a time or two in my day -- and one time I even puked in a planter. That was the only time I’ve been that drunk, though.”

Melanie had Lynzie giggling and Lynzie looked at her with a weak smile on her face.

“That’s okay.”

“Thanks, I guess.”

She smiled at Lynzie.

“Feel better?”

“Yeah, I do, but... ”

“But?”

“I think I would rather go back to your place, if that’s okay.”

Melanie smiled at Lynzie.

“Of course it’s okay. Do you want me to fix your make up?”

Lynzie glanced at the mirror.

“I do look more ghoulish than girlish. Yes, please.”

Melanie gently chuckled. She pulled a tube of mascara from her purse and quickly repaired Lynzie’s make up and dabbed up any that didn’t belong there.

“There you go! Beautiful as ever!”

“Thanks, Melanie.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Well, I guess we should find Sydney and Trish.”

“Yeah. Come on. Hold your head high, girl.”

Lynzie smiled at her.

“I will.”

Melanie smiled back as she unlocked the bathroom door and, arm in arm with Lynzie, set out to find Sydney and Trish. They spotted Sydney talking to a guy in one corner and approached her. Lynzie felt more nervous around Sydney than he ever had.

“There, you are, Syd. Listen, we’re going to go back to my place, okay?”

Sydney appeared understanding.

“Okay, I’ll see you around.”

That sounded funny to Melanie and Lynzie. Melanie was the one to ask, her eyebrows knitted.

“Is everything okay, Sydney?”

Sydney looked a bit bashful.

“Um, I think it’s best if, um...” She paused for a moment. “Trish and I are going back to campus after the party... I don’t mean to hurt anyone. It’s just... anything romantic makes me uncomfortable right now. It’s not your fault, Lynzie. It’s because of a bad experience I had with a guy. I’m at this really weird phase right now where I love to flirt -- and I have a crush on Mark -- but anything beyond that freaks me out.”

Melanie and Lynzie understood Sydney’s feelings -- but Lynzie felt extra low. Their weekend together was ruined! Melanie looked over at Lynzie as she picked up on her reaction and gently squeezed Lynzie’s arm to reassure her.

“I think we can both understand that, Sydney.” Melanie gestured toward herself and Lynzie. “We’re going to head back to my place, so...” Something occurred to Melanie. “Are you or Trish okay to drive?”

Sydney nodded her understanding.

“I am, yes. Trish is, well...” Sydney giggled. “Let’s just say it might be an interesting ride back, but we’ll be okay. Thanks for asking. Listen--”

“You’re welcome.”

“Lynzie, I... I don’t want to hurt you at all. I promise we’ll talk about this when we get back and we’ll work through this, okay? We’re still friends -- I hope.”

“We’re still friends, Sydney.”

Melanie smiled at Lynzie.

“Good! I’m so glad to hear that!”

“We’ll see you later, Sydney.”

“Yes, I’ll see you when we get back. Lunch, like always?”

Lynzie smiled.

“Yes, lunch like always.”

Melanie smiled at her friends.

“Sydney, will you please call when you get back so that we know you made it?”

Sydney nodded.

“Of course. It will probably be like three in the morning, but I will call.”

“Okay. Thanks! We’ll see you when we get back!”

Melanie squeezed Sydney’s shoulder.

“Yeah, see you then! Hey, where the hell is Trish?”

They glanced around but didn’t see her.

“Shit! I better go find her.”

Melanie and Lynzie chuckled.

“Okay. Take a look out on the little deck out back and see if she’s there.”

“Yeah, good idea! Okay, bye!”

Sydney smiled at them and waved without hugging them. Melanie and Lynzie turned to say goodbye to Ruby on their way out.

“Hey Rube! We’re going to take off a bit early tonight.”

“So soon?”

“Yeah--” Melanie glanced at Lynzie and saw that she was distracted by another girl -- another drunk girl -- who had struck up a conversation and seemed to be all over Lynzie. Time to get Lynzie out of there! Melanie smiled as she whispered to Ruby.

“Lynzie and I are going to be alone the rest of the weekend, so...”

“Really? Damn, how’d you swing that?”

“I’ll give it to you later.”

Ruby understood.

“Okay. Get out of here! Have fun --”

“Will do!”

Melanie beamed.

“-- and maybe some safe sex?”

Ruby gave her a wink and a thumbs up.

“Oh, shut the fuck up!”

Ruby laughed.

“Okay, bye Mel!”

“Bye Rube!”

They embraced and Melanie was ready to leave.

“Ready, Lynz?”

Lynzie politely ended her other conversation -- as if the other girl would remember it in the morning!

“Yeah, let’s go.”

Lynzie was eager to leave the scene of her debacle -- but before she did, she hugged Ruby.

“It was so nice to meet you, Ruby!”

“Likewise! Come back any time, Lynz!”

“Okay, I will! Bye!”

“Bye!”

Melanie’s house seemed so large and quiet without Sydney and Trish there. It gave Lynzie a feeling of weekend plans gone awry. However, Lynzie was beginning to realize that she didn’t miss them as much as she thought she would. She wondered what that meant. Did it mean she was no longer attracted to Sydney or --

“Do you want to watch a movie?”

“Sure, Mel. What do you have? Any good romance flicks?”

Melanie smiled with pleasant surprise as they climbed the stairs to the family room.

“I think I can find something.”

They walked into the family room and approached a cabinet on the left-hand side of the TV. She opened its wooden doors and looked through the collection it housed.

“So, Lynzie, you’re one of those who watches romance flicks when heartbroken as a reminder that romantic things can still happen, yeah?”

“You’ve got my number, all right!”

“Eh, I’m the same way.”

She winked at Lynzie. A few moments later, Melanie found the movie she was looking for. She pulled out the movie Serendipity with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.

Lynzie’s hand moved to her heart.

“Oh, I love that movie!”

“Me, too! It’s one of my favorites!”

Melanie happily fed the movie to the DVD player. They sat together on the couch watching the previews and chatting until the movie began. They relished every second of it, emitting only tears until the very end.

When the movie was over, Melanie stopped the DVD player and smiled at Lynzie.

“Well, there you go!”

“I never get tired of that movie, Mel!”

“Neither do I! I’m sure it will remain a cherished favorite! Well, I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a bit of a hankering.”

Lynzie smiled.

“Yeah? For what?”

“Ice cream! Come on!”

Melanie led Lynzie down to the kitchen and got out some ice cream from the freezer.

“You did tell your mother we’re here, right?”

Melanie smiled at her.

“Of course I did.”

Melanie rolled her eyes flirtatiously.

“Well, technically I told her there would be four us, but who gives a shit?”

Melanie smiled devilishly as she began to scoop the ice cream into a couple of bowls.

“I’m sure she stretched a few rules in her day.”

“Yeah, right?”

They smiled at each other.

“So, how are you feeling, Lynzie?”

“Better, thanks -- thanks to you -- not that ice cream won’t hit the spot right now.”

They shared a giggle.

“You know what, Melanie?”

Melanie glanced at him as she garnished the ice cream with colorful sprinkles.

“What?”

“I think I love the idea of being with someone and not really Sydney herself. I mean, now that I think of it... how good of a match are we?”

“I don’t know, really.” Melanie thought for a moment. “Although, if you’re feeling doubt about it then probably not a very good one -- especially if you have to ask how good a match you are.”

Lynzie nodded.

“Now, there’s an excellent point!”

They giggled.

“Anyway, it wasn’t rejection that got me so upset. Do you know what it was?”

Melanie shrugged pleasantly.

“Tell me about it.”

Melanie handed Lynzie a bowl of ice cream and returned the ice cream to the freezer.

“I misread all of the signals -- or the lack thereof -- and that was not the first time I’ve misread a girl’s signals.”

Melanie brought over a couple of glasses of Diet Coke and sat down at the table next to Lynzie.

“I know the feeling. I probably can’t interpret my own fucking signals!”

Lynzie smiled at her and took a bite of ice cream. The sprinkles were red and tasted strongly of raspberries.

“Wow, this is yummy!”

Melanie smiled.

“Yeah, it’s awesome! It’s been one of my favorite comfort foods for a very long time. God help me if they ever stop making this ice cream -- or these sprinkles!”

They giggled together. Lynzie smiled at her.

“So you were telling me about misreading signals?”

“Oh yeah. I seem to misread signals -- either that or I’m not clear on what is a signal and what’s not. Maybe I was only seeing what I wanted to see -- or thought I wanted to see. I don’t know.”

“I’m sure you’re not the only one who’s done that,” she said quietly, looking down at her bowl of ice cream as she took another bite.

“Yeah. It’s just that I feel like I’m not getting any better at it and that’s what really troubles me. God, maybe I should read a book on body language or something.” Lynzie chuckled. “Anyway, at least Sydney and I are still friends. Last time, the friendship died between me and the girl I liked. That hurt like a bitch! I mean, I tried to talk about it with her and work through it like Sydney wants to, but... oh, fuck it. That’s history. Forget it!”

Lynzie chuckled and Melanie looked at him with empathy.

“I’m sorry to hear that your friendship didn’t last. Anyway, it’s her loss. She must be mentally ill to give up someone like you.”

Lynzie smiled warmly at her.

“That’s a very nice thing to say! Thank you!”

“I like saying nice things to you,” Melanie thought.

“Well, it’s the truth, Lynz -- and you’re welcome!”

Melanie put one arm around Lynzie and Lynzie reciprocated. Melanie had been wonderful to Lynzie and Lynzie really liked her. By helping Lynzie to be herself for the first time in five years she gave Lynzie something priceless. The outfits she picked out -- of her own closet -- were beautiful. The ice cream with raspberry sprinkles was to die for. Melanie helped Lynzie eat her Belgian waffle while they were at the pancake house so that Lynzie wouldn’t be the only one pigging out. Most of all, Melanie’s support for Lynzie’s transgenderism had been unwavering and had really made Lynzie feel good. Lynzie was beginning to think that she had been interested in the wrong girl all along. Suddenly, she found herself very happy to be alone with Melanie.

Melanie finished her ice cream and put the spoon in the bowl. Moments later, Lynzie finished hers as well. Melanie began to clear the table without being asked and Lynzie automatically helped her. When they were done, Melanie led Lynzie upstairs to the family room.

“Do you want to watch another movie? We can just talk if you want to. I mean, whatever you want to do we’ll do. You’re the guest!”

“And you’re a wonderful hostess.”

Lynzie smiled at her. Melanie went to turn on the lights, but Lynzie gently put one hand on hers and stopped her.

“Not yet. I hope you don’t mind, but...” Lynzie looked into Melanie’s eyes. “I kind of like the mood lighting, so to speak!”

Melanie’s smile could have melted a glacier.

“I’m so glad to hear you say that!”

She put her arms around Lynzie, who just as eagerly wrapped hers around Melanie -- who didn’t dare get her hopes up prematurely without being sure that she should.

“Hey, Lynz, um... i-is something happening here?”

“Yeah, something is happening.”

They held each other snugly for several moments and Lynzie loosened her hug enough to look into Melanie’s eyes. Lynzie smiled at Melanie like she never had before.

“You’ve been an angel, Melanie. You’ve always been so good to me in every way.”

Melanie didn’t dare speak. She was afraid that if she opened her mouth she would ruin what she was hoping was happening.

“Melanie, you’re the one I should be with.”

Lynzie moved her face close to Melanie’s.

“I just wish I’d seen it a lot sooner!”

Lynzie kissed Melanie long and hard. Neither was in any rush to come up for air. They both teared up as the kiss endured. After the kiss ended they shared another... and another. For a good while, they thought about nothing other than feeding each other’s hunger for love.

After the best hour that either of them had ever experienced, they finally took a break and just held each other.

“Lynzie, I have wanted this ever since I met you.”

Lynzie softly stroked her cheek.

“I’ve wanted this ever since I was old enough to understand attraction.”

Melanie kissed her again -- and Lynzie’s eyes sparkled as a thought occurred to her.

“Mel, did I see a piano in your living room?”

She rolled her eyes coquettishly.

“You did. Why do you ask?”

“There’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Come on!”

Lynzie grabbed Melanie’s hand and led her to the living room, where they both sat on the piano bench.

“You know, Lynz, when you were playing for us on campus in that lounge, I was jealous when Sydney sat on the bench with you while you played -- although, at least I got a turn.”

Lynzie smiled at her.

“I thought I was getting that vibe! Well, now I’m all yours.”

“Excellent!”

Melanie smiled as she put one arm around Lynzie.

“Yeah! Anyway, I’ve always wanted to sing my love to someone special and, well, now I have someone special to sing to.”

Lynzie began “tickling the ivories” for Melanie. She played more of her original love songs but not the ones she’d played at the party. Drunk or not, she’d managed to save her best songs for a time when she had found her true love -- and was sober. Now, she had the right girl sitting beside her and it was time to unveil them.

Lynzie played one after the other and drew more tears from them both. A few songs in, Melanie gave Lynzie a peck on the cheek as she played. It was an hour later that they heard applause coming from the other side of the front door.

“Who the fuck--?”

Melanie got up to check the front door -- annoyed at having her precious time with her dream girl interrupted.

“Yeah, Mel! You go girl!”

“Sydney??”

Melanie opened her door.

“And me,” Trish giggled drunkenly.

“What are you two doing here?”

Sydney smiled at her sheepishly.

“We, um, left our stuff here.”

Melanie tried to be nice.

“Oh, okay. Stay right there!”

She grabbed Lynzie’s hand and they ran upstairs to Melanie’s room, grabbed Sydney’s and Trish’s stuff and brought it to the front door.

“Okay, here you go. Drive safely now! Buh-bye!”

Melanie shut the front door, making all four of them laugh. From outside the front door came, “Hey!! Aren’t you going to ask us in out of the cold?”

Melanie did the talking.

“No! Your car has a working heater. Go away -- and get Trish back before she pukes!”

“Okay! Have a good night, you two -- wait a minute!!” Sydney gasped. “Oh, my God, are you two --?”

“Yes! Fuck off!”

“Fucking off! Buh-bye!”

Everyone laughed -- and Melanie wrapped her arms around Lynzie again. They yawned together.

“Christ, what time is it?”

Melanie looked at her watch.

“Holy shit! It’s one in the morning! Those fools won’t get back to campus until four!”

“Tomorrow’s Sunday. They can frigging sleep in!”

“Do you think Sydney’s alert enough to drive?”

“I thought she looked okay. What did you think?”

“I really thought she was alert and lucid. She’s responsible about drinking...”

They fell silent as they looked at each other questioningly for a moment, sighed and nodded together.

“As much as I hate to give up being alone with you --”

“-- we’d better have them stay here for the night,” Melanie agreed as she headed for the door -- but before she could put her hand on the knob, Trish’s engine roared to life and they were gone. Melanie put her hands on her hips and turned to face Lynzie.

“Well, so much for that!”

They smiled at each other, relieved that they could spend the rest of the weekend together uninterrupted.

“I hope they’ll be okay.”

“Yeah, me too.”

They moved closer together and hugged each other. Before they let go, Lynzie sang one last song very softly in Melanie’s ear. They began to sway in time with the music. When Lynzie finished the song they kissed again. They decided it was getting late and it was time to get ready for bed. They made sure that everything was cleaned up downstairs, turned off all of the lights in the house and made sure the doors were locked. Then they slowly climbed the stairs to the second floor. Melanie gave Lynzie a nightgown to wear -- and Lynzie began to wonder where she should sleep.

“Hey, Melanie, where, um--”

Melanie took Lynzie’s hand and silently led her into her bedroom where Melanie closed the door behind them. She took Lynzie’s hand again and led her toward the queen-size bed. Lynzie, with a big smile on her face, followed Melanie to bed and happily climbed in alongside her. They pulled her comforter over them, cuddled up and kissed until they became drowsy.

“Sleep well, sweetie.”

“You too.”

“Goodnight, Mel!”

“Goodnight, Lynz!”

They gave each other one last deep, long kiss, and fell asleep in each other’s arms.

---

 
To Be Continued...
 
[ Other Stories By Mona Lisa ]