Coming home from work, I passed by Steph Reid’s house hoping to see her car there as I wanted to speak to her, hopefully in person. Her red Camaro was there so I stopped and what up to the house. What I didn’t expect was Brett Miller a guy she met again a month ago.
Okay, she already knew him and he was two years ahead of us but at one of the other Dubuque high schools.
I wanted to tell her personally that I was going to see my friend Lexi from ISU and hoped she wasn’t upset. What I hadn’t expected was that Steph was keeping my friendship, but moving on with her getting serious about another guy.
Brett was relieved that Steph’s best friend Nick was also Nicole. Brett said, “Until we met just now, I had trouble believing I didn’t need to worry about her best friend Nick.”
Steph said, “I’m sorry you both met this way. I wanted to be the one to introduce you to each other… Nicole is that a new work outfit, I don’t remember seeing it before?”
I said, “Yes, but I wanted to stop by and let you know I was going to see a friend from college this weekend.”
Steph said, “Yes, I guess we both have new friends. I hope your weekend goes well. You’re welcome to sit down but we’re not staying long.” I awkwardly said goodbye and squeezed Steph’s hands, feeling too awkward about hugging her.
I was almost home and ready to drive onto our property as I notice my eyes had tears. I remembered to dab my makeup, and thankfully most of the mascara stayed in place. Mom was out to the steps when she realized some emotions got to me.
Mom said, “I hope you can take some good news. The University called and left a message. They have a better financial package for the coming year. You need to call the financial aid department tomorrow after 9:00 a.m.”
Mom paused, “What has you upset?”
“It’s nothing big Mom; I went over to tell Steph I’m to see Lexi this weekend. And well I met her new boyfriend. He was happy to see Nick as Nicole.”
I didn’t need to hear mom’s “Oh.” It was a sound usually reserved for my sisters. She hugged me, and I felt like Rachel. It was not bad news, just not what I hoped for at the end of my workday.
Dad was coming out and he overheard us, “I know that must hurt, I just hope you two remain good friends.” Dad paused and then asked, “Does that help at all in seeing Lexi this weekend? …It will be good to give the university a call tomorrow and to receive some good news.”
I went upstairs, changed out of my work outfit, and took a shower. Staying under the shower, as well as shampooing and conditioning my hair helped me to relax. I put on a pair of stretch jeans and a simple top. It was good to relax and have a quiet time.
I had started reading more both for relaxation and my other reading was in preparation for my sophomore year. The book I picked up was a simple love story.
The following morning, I received a message as I clocked into work. ‘Call Mr. Dobbs.’ I called his office and planned to call the ISU Financial Center after nine o’clock.
Mrs. Marge Cooper answered for Mr. Dobbs, and she giggled as she heard who was calling for Mr. Dobbs. “We continue hearing good things about your work young lady. It sounds like you settled into your character and it has gone well for you… Just a moment and I’ll tell Mr. Dobbs you are calling him back. You have a good day Nicole.”
It was just a moment later that Mr. Dobbs answered. He told me, “Someone from the corporation communicated to the university and complimented on the fine student they had in you, Nick. The corporation was seeking to give scholarship aid for you but when had asked the university what aid they were giving you. They said that was under review and that they couldn’t comment on that. Ms. Chambers told them their review should be favorable. She told them that their aid to you should be proportionately higher than a five thousand dollar scholarship that JD would like to give.”
I was speechless after Mr. Dobbs finished his statement. Finally, I said, “There was a message from the university that my financial package had been renewed and that I should call them back sometime today.”
Thinking that I might have some leverage, I stated, “I am to go back to the University this weekend. I was wondering if it were helpful if I could take either Friday or Monday off to speak in person to the people at the university?”
Self-confidence has not been one of my past strengths, and, even now as I called back to ISU, I was uneasy knowing more than they knew.
I had forgotten if there was a name to go with the number I was calling. Whoever answered took my name and student i.d. number and I was asked to hold. It took a few minutes before she came back online, “Ms. Nance, one of our managers has your information, hold on.”
“This is Julie Nance, is this a Strayer, we were expecting Nicolaus to call, but my assistant said it was a woman calling for him.” She paused, “I know there are other circumstances, but I do not want to presume anything.”
I felt embarrassed, I had called as Nick but had stayed in my persona as Nicole. I said, “That is my fault.” I was trying to change my voice but it was not coming easily. I asked, “Can I confess another identity without it getting around?”
When Ms. Nance said, “Yes, that would be helpful.”
I confessed to also being Nicole Greene to them and Nicole Strayer to some others. She said, “Then may I congratulate whomever that you have an additional $12,500 in grants and scholarships coming to you for the coming school year. The grantor of the scholarship said the scholarship could continue, based on you continuing a B average or better.”
“I do ask,” she said, “That the next time you are on campus that you stop in to sign some papers? Would that be acceptable?”
I replied, “I plan on meeting another student this weekend at the campus. Would it be possible to sign whatever is needed either on Friday or Monday?”
Ms. Nance was silent for a moment and then said, “I usually leave early on Fridays and I am taking a week of vacation beginning on Monday. When could you be here on Friday? I will make the effort to be here to meet you, if it could be before 2:00, that would be greatly appreciated.”
I said, “I could easily be there by 10 in the morning, would that work for you?”
She said, “If you would be here by 11:30, I am willing to treat you to lunch as part of our meeting. We are encouraged to meet with numerous students. That is unless you already have plans.”
We agreed to meet and talked some more before we ended our call. It was understood that I would be there as Nicole as my other friend was also expecting me.
With four days of work to fit into three days, I became busy. During a visit with my friend Tenne, she assured me that I didn’t need to complete my work. I said, “I might not be able, but most of Friday’s work should be available to me by noon on Thursday.”
I wanted to tell her of my scholarship from JD. Instead, I just mentioned my financial aid from the university had been reviewed and received, and grant.
She said, “The financial aid along with an extra day to make it an extended weekend sounds heaven-sent. I bet Nicole will enjoy her long weekend with some understanding friends. I think they will be delightfully surprised how far you have come with this side of you.”
I didn’t say anything, but I was happy that part of my intimate time with Lexi would be as Nick.
Wednesday, Rachel and I already planned to take my sister-in-law Haley out to dinner. It was really our mother’s treat, but Haley and I were becoming closer. A surprise occurred when my brother Ken asked if we would mind taking his girlfriend Lynn as well. He said, “I am going to ask her to marry me, but I want to make sure she’ll be well received into the family.”
Rachel was the one who responded strongest. “The way you’ve taken her for granted has been awkward for us. I will check with Haley, but I’m pretty sure we’ll all love having her in the group. I just hope she doesn’t feel awkward that Nicole has asked that we dress up.”
The idea of dressing up was really Rachel’s but she knew that I presented better when I was more intentional in how I dressed. Lynn Dauber had taken a liking to Ken back in 4-H in junior high. She had an associate's degree in environmental sciences and worked in the same district as Ken.
She had previously met me as Nicole, and it took into July for her to accept this side of me. It was different for me to see Haley away from her daughter Marcy, and to see Lynn away from Ken. They naturally delighted to be in the fellowship of women. Thus we not only went to a nice place to eat but had gone shopping beforehand.
Rachel was amused that Lynn and Haley were interested in shopping for intimate apparel and asked if I wanted any tips in pleasing a man. They teased me when I was slow in denying my interests had begun to change.
Haley said, “You shouldn’t be surprised. The extent of time you present as Nicole that you’ve come to enjoy being her. It is a natural progression that you are changing despite whatever your plans were.”
They did encourage me and I did buy a satin panty and camisole set.
Lexi and I would be staying with Kayla when we met. We would have separate rooms when school resumed but this weekend we were staying together. Unfortunately, Lexi did not get to leave her home or work early as I did. She wouldn’t be there until late in the evening.
I left home early enough to beat the morning rush into work. I was west of Dubuque and made good time getting past Waterloo and onto Ames. Kayla was at her summer job when I dropped off my things at the apartment. Christine who was sharing the apartment for the summer was also gone from the apartment.
I had enough time to arrange some of the things I left last spring as well as some things I brought with me today.
When Ms. Nance and I met we both paused and looked at the other. I was not expecting a young thirty-something, and I was sure she did not expect to see Nicole capable of passing for a young woman.
She was the first to speak, “I recognize you from the Spring Fashion Show, but I must say you have grown well into being yourself, Nicole. Please step into my office and we will get some of the paperwork done and out of the way.
“Touché, while you didn’t sound old on the phone I expected to see someone closer to my mother’s age,” I said. “If I may ask, are you even twenty-nine?”
She smiled, “A little bit older, but thanks. Let me say when Ms. Chambers sang your praises; it caused a little bit of a wave around her. I am now glad the splash landed upon my desk. They said you used a program from here and part of your education to stop a larger problem in the corporation in its tracks. Ph.D. Fosher said you did better than your high school grades would have hinted at. But he suspected you were one of those who benefited from study groups and getting serious.”
“Your 3.20-grade average gave us room along with your JD Scholarship to give you an additional grant. We tend to hear from the John Deere people concerning engineering majors they are interested in. We were happy to hear them sing praises for our business and computer studies.
“Ms. Chambers said, though she is from their main corporate office she has not only heard of you but met you. And she was pleased that she did.”
I said, “Part of my getting serious at studying was I was paying for more of my education. I didn’t want a large debt from college.”
Besides the formalities with my financial grants and scholarship, Ms. Nance recruited me for a possible work-study program worth $3,000 per semester.
True to her word, we dined out on her expense account. Julie Nance and I had a good meal and visit. The possibility of working with her became more attractive as we visited. She said, she has been wooed by some law firms in Des Moines and national corporations but so far has chosen to stay here. I found it hard to believe that she has six and four-year-old children. She said it had a lot to do with the university staff’s fitness center. I was pleased that I made a new friend.
I was back to the apartment by 1:30 and flopped down for a rest. Kayla found me lying half asleep and straddle over me. Her kiss was that of a very good friend. She was teasingly direct in saying, “If you are open to taking this further, we should retire to my room?”
I said, “I won’t say never, but this weekend I’m with Lexi and a one-person lover.”
Kayla flips back, “I was teasing you. It’s nice to see you again. How was it playing with the big boys at the John Deere Classic? Being a woman seems to agree with you even more.”
The day passed slowly until the lock of the apartment indicated someone coming in; it was Alexis, Lexi, surprising us. She pushed me back and we fell into a sofa and rolled onto the floor. We soon were up, said hello to Kayla and Christine, and excused ourselves to Lexi’s room. Tonight was not for hot passionate sex, but to cuddle and be close.
We did surface once for wine, cheese, and to be polite. I felt nice wearing my satin camisole and panty set and not spoiling it right away. We went to bed early and got up late, but sleep was not as long as our time together. It was morning before being Nick came into play. Making love and being both Nick and Nicole was taking love-making to a new reality.
The day was great in getting away from the bedroom, we so enjoyed sharing our summer experiences. Lexi asked, “Have you noticed some of the ways you are becoming more like other women?”
“I’ve become more knowledgeable about fashion and putting on makeup is that what you are talking about,” I asked?
Lexi said, “That you were doing before we left campus. Besides wearing your hair in a longer style, you’re running your fingers through your hair and fluffing it up. You’re doing a lot of small things like checking your face, or removing hairs from your clothes… Your saying hello to other women is more relaxed, things like that.”
We were playing the Veenker Golf Course at Iowa State. While Lexi’s much more of a regular golfer, today, I was staying with her hole for hole much of the way and I knew it bothered her. We played nine holes and stopped for a simple sandwich and iced tea. Several people recognized Lexi from the golf course and university, while one student remembered me from the fashion show and shoe store.
She mused, “Dressing as a woman now seems to be more natural…”
To be continued…
