"Hey bro, you headed back to that dress shop tomorrow?” Jessica asked innocently the snicker only audible in her voice if Alex chose to hear it.

Looking up from his phone, Alex decided to ignore it and pretend he had not heard the implied levity levelled at his expense.

"Yeah, Tracy and Lilly want me back to help out again there's still a lot of work to do. I can't believe mum stuck me with this though instead of you. "

“Well, that's easy, she probably knew which one of us would be more interested in hanging around a dress shop.” Jessica quipped smugly.

“Hey, that's not fair, I've seen you in a dress at least twice this year.” Alex exasperatedly choked out in defence. His sister's raised eyebrow was her only real response.

While it was true that Jessica did occasionally wear dresses, her accusation although made in jest did have some merit behind it. Alex had never been a particularly boyish kind of boy, while his sister had always more easily fitted that stereotype having always been somewhat of a tomboy, now in her late teens growing towards adulthood that had seemingly not changed much. Usually, she could be found when not otherwise occupied, in a set of loose-fitting jogging bottoms and a white muscle top worn over a white sports bra. The muscle top showed off the well-defined muscles of her arms and shoulders, a testament to how long Jessica spent working out in the home gym she had created. The gym had been created several years ago, by partitioning the double large double garage in half. It was just such an outfit that Jessica wore now perched on the arm of the sofa annoying he brother. Alex was not in fact helping his own case. He too wore jogging bottoms but they were only really that in name only, the material was much lighter than most and fit snugly over his legs more like leggings than jogging bottoms. That, however, was not what had caught his sister’s attention, which was directed solely at the oversized t-shirt he was currently wearing, the hem of which hung down to mid-thigh level.

"Ha ha, sis, very funny, what's next, suggestions that I could accessories with a high waist belt or something.”

"Nah, nothing so cruel, I was just going to ask you if your boyfriend wanted his shirt back and if he knew you had stolen it.” Jessica smirked, taunting Alex was always far to easy and saw it as her duty as the elder sibling. She knew perfectly well that Alex had deliberately bought several of his T-shirts far too big because he loved the effect for just hanging around the house but it made a particularly tempting target especially when considering dresses.

"Funny, I was going to ask you the same question.”

“Ha jokes on you, I haven't dated guys in years, and Katie really loved it when I wore this. " Jessica nonchalantly returned.

Alex blushed crimson at the memory, only a month ago he had made the mistake of trying to find his sister when she had invited Katie over, he had scrambled away before he had actually seen them, but Katie's, carnal screams had left him extremely embraced and in no doubt as to what they had been doing. Jessica, who preferred to be called Jess by most people, made no sex secret of her sexual encounters or her relationships such as they were, had known of this and found it immensely funny how embraced Alex got about it.

“Well, bro, I’m going to go and do some weights, want to join, you never know Tracy might prefer a more muscled version of you.” Tracy was something else that she liked to taunt Alex about, several months ago she had discovered his crush on the girl and what is more, Jess was virtually certain that Tracy felt the same way but neither had moved to do anything about it.

Alex shook his head. “No thanks. Though I hope she doesn't, I'd hate to lose her to my big sis. Wouldn't that violate some kind of brotherly code or something?"

Despite the hushed tone of the last part of his sentence, Alex's words were caught by Jess and her clear light laughter could be heard long after she had left the room.

As good as the tea had been the last time Alex had worked with Tracy at her mother’s store he stopped by a McDonald’s on his way to the shop and purchased a chocolate milkshake for himself and a strawberry one for Tracy, her favourite flavour. Despite it being totally the wrong time of year for anything as cold as the milkshakes, Alex felt that it could never be the wrong season for milkshakes and he felt certain that Tracy would agree with him.

The pair drank the cold but extremely tasty milkshakes as they discussed what they were doing for the next several hours, taking sips of the nearly frozen liquid between sentences so as not to end up with brain freeze.

“Mum thinks we have done a lot so far, she told me if we continue at that kind of pace this morning, we can do something far more exciting this afternoon. " Tracy paused in her exuberant excitement to consider Alex for a moment.
"Well, something I think is more exciting anyway. Mum has agreed to a few model shots and stuff."

Alex nodded, obviously not as enthused as Tracy was.

“Come on, it will be fun you will see. You can take most of the pics and I can do most of the hard modelling work. Lighten up will you.” With that last sentence, Tracy punched Alex in the arm in a jovial way.

Fate might have been so different but for that one act. Alex had only just retrieved his half-drunk milkshake the contents having just warmed up enough to be liquid enough to easily be sucked out through the straw. Unfortunately, for Alex, he had not bothered to make sure the lid was properly attached. One minute at Alex was holding the Milkshake the next, jostled by Tracy, he was wearing the half-drunk milkshake.

Tracy immediately raced to find some tissue to mop up the sticky cold mess, apologising profusely as she did so but no matter what she did, the damage was done. Alex stood shivering slightly, the cold sticky milk having already seeped through both his light blue fleece and his t-shirt underneath it.

“Well, there’s nothing for it, you will just have to start modelling early is all." Tracy said finally with a smirk.

“What?" Alex questioned through chattering teeth.

"You’re standing in a clothing shop, and yes lots of what my mum sells is not cheap, but some clothing lines are quite moderately priced, and I'm sure mum will give me a discount. Don't look at me like that, you can't stay like that, you can’t go on wearing those clothes now, and you can't go anywhere to get others, not like that anyway. "

Alex, who had been glaring profusely at her, slowly let the sense of what Tracy was saying wash over him and he was reluctantly forced to agree.

"OK, I guess, but just nothing too... " Alex trailed off.

"Fine, I will see what I can find. Why don't you take off those wet clothes, while I go up and talk to mum and hopefully find something for you to wear.” Tracy enthused already bouncing off to do just that. While Tracy was gone Alex removed the sticky garments until he stood in just his boxer shorts. While his fleece hoody and t-shirt had brown the brent of the sticky cold liquid his jeans had not been so lucky as to escape the dairy deluge altogether. In the remaining time before Tracy returned Alex used the sink and some tissue to sponge as much of the sticky residue from his skin as possible.

Alex felt quite vulnerable standing there in only his boxer shorts waiting for Tracy to return. A vulnerability that was not helped by the look in Tracy's eyes when she caught sight of Alex. She was holding a bundle of clothes that looked ominously pink, the bundle of clothes was haphazardly dumped on the one of the two bean bags as Tracy stalked towards Alex like a lioness stalking her prey. Alex stood nervously, unsure what to do or what he should think and feel as Tracy closed the gap between them.

Her hands met the exposed flesh of his torso, stroking upwards to roam over his chest. Alex breath hitched at her wondering hands and the powerful, possessive, controlling, lust-filled look that met his own adoring and admittedly lust-filled gaze. Tracy could feel herself getting drunk on the power she clearly had over Alex. She could feel his body shiver with pleasure and excitement at her touch. The adoration and pleasure she could see in Alex's eyes that bore straight back at her own, enticed and egged her on. At last, unwilling to go further Tracy ran her hands down from his shoulders to the centre of his chest eliciting enticing little gasps that sorely tested Tracy's resolve. Finally, Tracy removed her hands from Alex's chest all together and took a half step back, taking a moment or two to regain control of her lust and other emotions.

Tracy let out a breath and spoke, her voice suddenly raw and gravelly full of emotion.

“Go and put on some of those clothes I brought on." Tracy's voice so commanding and far harsher than she had intended it to be, struck a note inside Alex and without a thought he instantly found himself moving to obey.

Alex examined each item before he put them on and was quite relieved to discover that Tracy had been for the most part kind in her selections. While the top was indeed a girl’s top, it was a light blue and there was only a small discernible difference from a guy’s top. Alex was slightly perturbed to discover that the girl's top fitted him better around the arms and shoulders than the guy’s t-shirts he was used to wearing it left him wondering if maybe his sister hadn't been right after all about those weights. Tracy had found a replacement for Alex's fleece, while it was bright pink and very girly the fleece did, have a zip at the front which was a design that Alex favoured. The pink hoody was in this way a slight upgrade over the light blue one Alex had worn to the shop that morning but and when Alex felt the material, he was forced to raise it even further in his estimation, his light blue one was the warmest fluffiest fleece Alex possessed and he loved the soft fluff but from the feel of the material, this pink one had it beat.

The leggings were similar to his jogging bottoms at home and Alex took a moment to admire how the material hugged his legs and bum, a trait that he was not alone in admiring as Tracy looked on eagerly.

“Sorry I couldn't get you any jeans, women’s jeans tend to hug our hips and bums more than men’s, to wear most of the designs mum sells you would need panties and that’s one thing mum doesn't sell. I think you can just about get away with the boxers under those leggings though." Tracy hurriedly explained.

When the full effect was complete, Tracy stepped back from Alex to admire the transformation and gasped. Alex immediately started to become self-conscious over his appearance and the clothing Tracy had dressed him up in, an anxiety that was only partially assuaged by Tracy’s calm reassurances. She had sat back down next to Alex her hand pressed soothingly to his back running reassuring circles over it until Alex had his emotions under better control. When Alex was more in control of himself Tracy gave him tissues which he used to dab away the tears that had tricked down his cheeks during the few minute’s ordeal.

“You look fine Alex, really you do. It's just, well, it's just I didn't expect to look so natural, so feminine. It came as a surprise but you don't look like a freak as you claim. You look great, hot even. "

Alex snorted at this and tried to look annoyed, after all, what guy wanted to hear that they look like a cute girl, even if they are wearing women’s clothes but a part of him, a large part was really very pleased. Part of Alex felt that this was the most right thing he had ever done and Alex was not sure how to react or deal with that part of himself now he was suddenly confronted by it.

Alex was quite perturbed by Tracy's refusal to allow him to see how he looked. She had taken his phone before this had begun and the basement didn't have any mirrors. Alex briefly considered going up to use the one in the store but immediately rejected the idea, he had no wish to make himself into a public laughing stock if everything did look as disastrously drag as Alex believed it did despite Tracy's reassurances. Instead, Alex resorted to an annoyed pout, a pout that Tracy found incredibly cute, laughable and just as irresistible.

“Fine, I will let you look but you need to allow me to brighten you up a bit first."

Alex considered for a moment his face brightening. “Ok, but no makeup."

"Yeah," Tracy nodded eagerly. “You don't need it, and this is already a lot for you. Maybe some other time.” She added wistfully.

Tracy instead set to work on Alex's hair, first brushing it out of the usual ponytail Alex had put it in that morning, trying to make his flowing locks appear as plain and boyish as possible before she arrayed it in a high ponytail that bobbed around at the top of his head. As a last finishing touch, Tracy added a red satin ribbon tied into a bow. Alex sat patiently back as Tracy worked, the feeling of someone brushing his hair and strongly calming, reminding him of when his mum used to brush his hair when he was little. Alex would admit to being slightly perturbed when Tracy produced the ribbon to tie into his hair but he remained mostly calm and did not freak out like he had earlier. The sensation of the high ponytail was unusual and felt different but not in a way that upset Alex, on the contrary thinking about the feeling caused a warm wave to course through him. It was a feeling brought on by the same place in him that was positively giddy about the whole transformation a part that was rapidly winning against the more boyish elements of his psyche.

Pulling out her own phone Tracy unlocked it and set it to the camera function. She then directed Alex to stand and pose for her while she took pictures from several different angles. Finally, Tracy sat back down next to Alex sharing the bigger of the two bean bags, cautiously she handed over her phone set now to the gallery displaying the pictures she had just taken, and Alex eagerly accepted it.

Flicking through the pictures Alex let out an audible gasp the girl staring flirtatiously back at him from the phone screen looked undeniably beautiful, happy and full of life.

“I look like a girl. "Alex breathed softly almost under his breath.

Tracy’s arm shot out at his half-uttered words and pulled him tight to her.

“You make a really beautiful girl, Alex you're a very hot girl."

Alex blushed, the words Tracy had uttered speaking to his soul and once again Alex felt the same familiar hot tingle as the girlish part of him silently begged him to accept this.

"It feels really odd calling you Alex now. I mean it can be a girl’s name as well as a boy’s but, well you don't really look like an Alex like that." Tracy babbled in coherently at his side.
Alex felt the same tingly heat and a certain rightness in all of this, a name sprang to mind.

“Alice." It was quite little more than a whisper, at first Alex did not even realise he had said it out loud until he looked over at Tracy.

More confidently now he spoke again. "For today at least I am Alice." Alice immediately tasted the rightness of her own words and leaned into Tracy's embrace her head resting on Tracy's shoulder and a smile playing peacefully upon her face. Tracy smiled back acceptance in her eyes as she fully accepted Alice and how full of surprises Alex could be.

“Well then Alice, come on girl we have a lot to do this morning." With that Tracy disentangled herself from Alice and strode off confidently towards the other side of the long room.

Obediently, her heart and cheeks warm and glad for two very separate reasons, Alice followed like an obedient puppy.

Alice had to admit that, that day was one of the best she had ever experienced. While the morning was spent cataloguing as before, the afternoon was spent in joyous revere with Tracy. They were supposed to be modelling clothes or at least Tracy was but as they both joyously declared to one another, there was no reason that they could not have some fun while doing it. In fact, the pair had rather a lot of fun teasing, and laughing and talking as much and as loudly as they dared. By the end of it, Alice had taken several very good photo shots of Tracy in four different artists that Tracy had told her could be used later when Tracy was back home and could be added to the shop's website and social media pages.

Tracy kept Alice's boundaries in mind through most of the day, she did not want to scare Alice away, it was strange, Alice was just so natural it almost made Tracy forget that she was really Alex. That line of thought made Tracy question a lot of things about Alex, if Alice was so natural was she meant to be there instead of Alex? Tracy assumed her friend would tell her the answer when and if he knew, but Tracy did have to question even that because Alice seemed to be something Alex had been struggling with for a long time and he had never even vaguely confided in Tracy. Tracy tried not to feel too hurt by that decision.

While Tracy had tried to be mindful of Alice's boundaries, she had been forced to push them twice. Once out of necessity and once for Alice's own good. It had been necessary for Lilly to meet Alice, something that had gone surprisingly well. While Alice had been very frightened of Tracy's mother's reaction, she need not have been, all Lilly gave her was compliments, there was no judgement there. Lilly was just incredibly supportive and completely understanding of the young girl's, younger even than your tender years, anxiety over being seen in public.

Yet despite Tracy's knowledge of Alice's anxiety over being seen in public, Tracy still forced her out, so that together they could get something for lunch. Alice was self-conscious the whole time, despite most of her outfit being covered by her coat, looking all about her suspiciously as is every person she met, and even the inanimate objects might soon discover her and do her some harm. Tracy did her best to distract her friend and by the time the pair came back to the basement to eat, Alice was no longer so wry or afraid. Tracy though did mark the change in attitude between Alex and Alice. Alex was usually very closed off and times distant, there were times that Tracy had found she had to call his attention back to either herself or the task he was doing. Getting Alex to talk was also sometimes difficult and while most of the time he gave normal answers, at times he would seem even more closed off and liable to give monosyllabic answers. Alice in contrast was bubbly and talkative her attention never wondering she also seemed somewhat happier, and freer than Alex ever had. Tracy wondered at such a marked difference between them, it troubled her even as she was glad of Alice's more upbeat nature and freer tongue.

As the pair were finishing up for the day, Tracy finally shared with Alice some great news that she had been intending to tell her all day.
“Mum's book idea is going really well. The other day I told you that she had contacted one of the authors and that, that author lives locally. Well, the author has been in contact and she is going to come to the shop at the close of business in two days’ time to sign some of the books and meet with mum. Mum asked me this afternoon to ask you if you would come back that day to help us prepare."

Alice nodded vigorously, her high ponytail bobbing comically. “That's amazing, of course, I will come and help." She giggled.
“I was told to tell you that it doesn't matter who comes Alice or Alex, mum doesn't mind. She told me to tell you that there is no pressure or expectation either way. " Tracy broke into the giggle fest, regretting it instantly as the giggling immediately fell silent. Alice wasn't sure how to react to that, emotion overwhelmed her at the acceptance, she merely nodded, her eyes to the floor and a tear of gratitude trickling down her cheek.

Tracy immediately stepped forward to close the gap between them and threw a supportive arm over Alice's shoulder. The other hand sought and found in her pocket a small pack of tissues, one of which she used to dab away Alice’s tears.

They stood like that for some time before they were interrupted by a loud electronic beeping. Alice disentangled herself from Tracy's comforting embrace, which she had been quite enjoying, realising that the beeping which had since ceased had been her phone.

Alice's face fell when she looked at the text message, she had just received and Tracy came bounding up to her because Alice once again looked to be on the brink of tears.

"Apparently, it's going to be really cold tonight, possibly snow. Mum fears that it is already getting icy so she has sent Jess to fetch me in the car." Alice told Tracy when queried about what was wrong.
"So,” Tracy began, drawing out the last letter as she did so. "I don't see what the problem is.”
“She is coming in ten minutes and I am like this.” Alice gestured to herself her confidence having clearly evaporated at the thought of her sister's impending arrival.
“Yes, and you look very hot. I'm sure if she wasn't your sister she would not be able to resist you." Tracy joked lightly.
Alice didn't find it half as amusing as Tracy did. “First off ew, no, just no. And again ew gross. Second, she will judge me."

Tracy snorted at that last sentence and could not contain her mirth and laughter at the notion. "Really, you think Jess, your sister, who is one of the most prominent members of the LGBTQ community in our small town, will judge you, for this? Jess who is every lesbian or bi-girl’s wet dream, " Here Tracy sighed dramatically. "Is not going to judge you for this even if you weren't her little sister. " Alice felt a surge of joy despite herself at being called Jess’s little sister and could not help either the snorting or the giggling that ensued along with Tracy now her fears and tears forgotten.
"You seem to have given my sister some serious thought." Alice pointed out through her giggling.
“Oh please, what girl in this town hasn't fantasised about Jess.” Tracy dismissed pulling a still giggling Alice close to her.

Macy stood hovering over her clothes-covered bed presiding over organised chaos like a monarch over her unruly subjects, she was putting forth as much consideration as she could to her potential outfit choices. It was the day after the BBQ and she was considering a blue glittery top her mother had bought her a couple of weeks ago. Even then she had been unable to figure out what it went with now looking at it again she was still at a complete loss. Sighing she set it down on the bed again and pulled out yet more skirts and pants in a vein hope it might work with one of them.

"Hi sis, what are you doing?" Jack asked in a light and breezy lilting tone from the doorway.

"Just trying to find something that goes with this top, mom bought it for me, but I just can't find anything that it fits with." Mary exasperated.
"A date then, maybe with Sebastian, you were awful close to him yesterday." Jack teased joining his sister by the bed.
"I could say the same of you, date with Theo on the cards, you two were pretty snug as well. " Mary challenged in the same teasing manner. Jack was now actively sorting through the pills of clothes on Macy's bed.
"Nah, he knew who I was, I think he was just being friendly you know, looking out for me. I don't think he meant anything by it." Jack told her in an upbeat tone that betrayed the obvious regret he felt, even if he was unwilling to acknowledge it. Macy nodded in acceptance but could not help but feel that Jack might be wrong from where she had been sitting last night the look in Theo's eyes and the way he acted suggested something else entirely.

"What about that skirt or this pair of parts," Jack asked holding up a black knee-length skirt with blue strips down either side and a black chino-style pair of pants with silver that glistened a silvery metallic in the light. Macy gave a squee of delight and hugged her brother tightly.

**************************

At about the same time that the twins were having their heart-to-heart, Victoria was more confused than ever. Her conflicted feelings of the night before had only gotten worse with time not better. She had woken up to the thought that she might be gay after all the only time she had really taken interest in Jack was when he was dressed undeniably as a girl. She ran through girls she knew in her mind, several of them were pretty but she couldn't decide if she was attracted to them or not. Stumped Victoria began running through and listing guys she knew and deciding if she found any of them attractive, again Victoria found herself stumped, she knew several who were handsome but couldn't decide if she was attracted to any of them.

That confusion continued throughout the early part of her day and into the afternoon, it colored her mood and she seemed deep in thought or far away lost in her own head. At last, her mother, having noticed this behavior, resolved to talk to her daughter, asking if she were all alight and if anything was troubling her. Victoria, who had always had a good open relationship with her mom, considered for a few seconds before bravely diving straight into the crocks of the issue.
"I think I might be gay momma Victoria stood waiting for her mom's response.
"OK dear, is there a particular girl you like?" Victoria's mother, a no-nonsense blonde woman in her early 40's questioned.
"You don't mind, momma. " Victoria's voice wavered, not being sure of much at the moment and having dreaded a reply that she had known would not have come but was to be dreaded regardless.
"No of course not, dear, I just want you to be happy, that's all. Now back to more important things, is there any particular girl you're interested in?" Victoria's mother asked again.
Victoria thought about it for a second or two, she wasn't sure how to express this, she certainly was interested in Jack but he wasn't a girl, at least she didn't think so and right now he was the only one Victoria was interested in, you couldn't be a lesbian if you like a boy, could you? So was she bi-sexual then, Victoria wasn't sure.
"I don't think so, momma." Victoria eventually decided on it.

*************************

Later the same afternoon Macy burst into Jack's room running in without announcing herself so overcome with great excitement. Jack was sitting on his bed, feet curled up underneath him playing a video game and though he was initially startled by his sister's sudden entrance he insisted much to her great annoyance on reaching a point that he could pause the game before he would listen to her.

"Victoria has invited us to go to the mall with her tomorrow," Macy announced as soon as her twin would allow her to speak.
"OK, Sis have fun," Jack told her trying to hide his disappointment at not going with them.
"No silly, we are invited, as in you and me, unless you don't want to go."
Jack put down the controller and demurely leaned back, yawning slightly. "Of course, I want to go sis."
Macy looked relieved, it was rare that any of her friendship group invited her out without the others as Victoria had and she hadn't wanted to have to tell Victoria that Jack had refused the offer. Nor did Macy particularly want to go out just her and Victoria the other girl's confidence and outgoing personality had always slightly intimidated the much less outgoing Macy.
"So, what are you going to wear?"
"Probably just jeans and a T-shirt." Jack shrugged nonchalantly. He wanted to appear manly in front of Victoria or at least he assumed he should want to appear masculine in front of Victoria. She was after all very pretty and asking him out if not one-on-one then close to it.
"Ok," Macy considered how to frame her next few words, she didn't want to upset Jack in any way, she knew that he often struggled with what he thought society and others expected of him.
"I thought it would probably be easier if you went as a girl, fewer questions at stores and things when you want to try things on." It was Macy reflected as extremely harmful to society and massively wrong but a girl who wanted to try on a boy's clothes would garner a lot less attention, being more accepted by society than a boy who wanted to try on a girl's clothes.

Jack considered for a second then shook his head.
"Nah, but you should totally wear those navy blue leggings with that cutie pink top, you know one at the back of your middle draw."
Macy recalled the top immediately; Jack was totally right it was really cutie.
"Thanks, I think I will." She responded excitedly.
Jack smiled at his twin's excitement picking up his custom pink and blue Xbox controller, to resume his game.

Victoria got her mother to drop her off at the twin's house so she could ride with the twins whose mother was taking them to the mall. Tara was only too happy to drive all three to the mall and drop them off especially as Victoria's mother had arranged to pick them all up again later that afternoon. One of the first things Victoria noticed upon entering the twin's home was how pretty Jack looked he was dressed as he had told Macy he would be in blue jeans and a red t-shirt, yet he still, Victoria looked more pretty than handsome. While the outsit was entirely men's clothing, with his long hair and effeminate look the effect seemed to have lost most of the masculinity Jack had been anxious to convey.

Eventually, Victoria was able to pull her eyes and attention away from Jack and to greet Macy. Victoria felt that she had overlooked Macy in their friendship group and was hoping to further cultivate that friendship. Victoria was also anxious that her interest in Jack was not known by any of the adults yet, it would be easier that way, she had decided if it just appeared that she thought that Jack and Mary were a package deal and not that Jack very much held her interest quite apart from his sister. Therefore, while she was conversing and cordial with Jack, for the whole time Tara was around Victoria made sure to spend a long more time conversing with Macy than Jack.

As soon as Tara was safely out of sight and the three teens were headed towards several of the large clothes shops, Victoria's attitude immediately changed and more of her attention and the conversation was switched to Jack. Who, without his mother present was much more energetic and conversational. Conversation flowed enthusiastically between all three and Jack, despite forgetting his intention of trying to seem more masculine for Victoria, is a casual observer was listening to their conversation they would have thought that all three were girls, best friends at that, talking excitedly together in the most girlish way possible.

The first store the trio stopped in at soon had the two girls changing running to the changing rooms laden with armfuls of hopeful choices while Jack offered helpful advice to both in turn as to what went with what and what suited them best. Other times Jack would wander around the racks with a wistful look in his eye and a disappointed look on his face. It was at one of these times that a sales assistant saw him looking longingly at one of the pink belly tops. This particular sales assistant had actually noticed Jack some time earlier but now she saw an opportunity and gingerly approached him.

"Hi Jacoline, I don't mean to intrude but that top would look lovely on you, why don't you try it, dearie," Jack startled from his own thoughts, looked at her slightly dazed.
"Jacoline? " He questioned.
The woman blushed, hurriedly explaining in embracement, "I had heard the other two girls calling you Jack or Jackie so I thought that must be your name. If it isn't I apologise."
"No that's fine your right. " Jack told her hurriedly backpedaling, liking the feminine name but still not really sure if it suited him. Agreeing with the store assistant seemed like the better thing for him to do anyway, it seemed a lot easier to him at that moment than trying to explain everything to her.
"In that case why don't you go and try on that top, even tomboys can get girly tops occasionally." She encouraged with a wink.

With that Jack's reluctance was forgotten and he rushed with the top to the changing room to try it on and get Victoria and his sister's opinions. In no time at all some girly jeans with pink bows on the side to match the top joined the aforementioned top in first a basket and later a shopping bag.

The store assistant who had encouraged Jack saw the trio leaving and called out.
"Have a good day Jacoline."
Jack thanked her politely with a large grin as they exited the shop. Mary and Victoria stared at him in confusion. Their confusion and continued pestering necessitated a retelling of the store assistants kindly at words. The retelling carrying them almost to the doors of the next clothes shop they wanted to look around.
"Well you need a better name than that, you're too pretty to suit that name," Victoria teased in a semi-serious way as they entered. "Don't worry, honey, we will help you think of something."

This store went much the same way as the last but Jack was much less afraid of trying clothes on, figuring that since he was so easily mistaken for a girl once then it was highly likely that anyone who did see him would think the same and give the matter no other thought. The conversation that flowed between them admittedly with short interludes as one or another of them dashed off to try something and ask the opinions of the other two, was that of cheerleading next year. Both Macy and Victoria were planning on being in the squad and could not hide their excitement to begin learning the various routines and cheers. Despite himself, their conversation soon pulled Jack in, and he did his best to chime in when he could. While cheerleading and gymnastics had never interested Jack as much as they had Macy he had watched many videos and tutorials with Macy over the years and to say he wasn't as interested was not to say he wasn't interested at all. In reality, much of Jack's disinterest originated from the fact that as a boy it was not something he would be able to participate in. He had been active in many gymnastics groups and clubs alongside Macy for a lot of their childhood but had stopped about three years ago seeing no future for himself in it.

"Why don't you start practicing some of the cheer moves in the holiday, that way you know them for when you actually go, I could help you if you want." Jack proposed, having no idea what he was getting himself into.
The girls both thought it was a great idea and Victoria even thought that some of the other girls might want to join them. Both were equally equivocal that they wanted Jack to help them and Jack for his part was more than happy to do just that.

After that store, there was disagreement as to which stores to go to next. There were two more clothing stores, a bookstore, and a video game store they wanted to stop at the other two clothing stores were on the way to the food court with one only a few feet away from the burger place that all three had decided on for lunch. Victoria wanted to go to all four clothes stores before getting food while Macy wanted to go get food now and go to the other four stores afterwards. The disagreement did not take long to be resolved in a compromise; they would go to one more of the clothes stores before lunch and then one afterward.

Straight off the bat when they entered the third store Victoria was notably more playful and teasing than ever. This string of playful comments mostly aimed at making Jack blush and get flustered which Victoria secretly found to be the cutest thing ever, culminated when she saw a revealing two-piece in a light blue color. Taking the bikini from the shelf Victoria practically skipped to the changing room calling out for Jackie to follow her before she entered the changing room.

Jack waited outside the changing room he had not seen what Victoria had picked up so he had no idea what he was about to have to give an opinion on. Victoria opened the door to show him, and Jack's jaw dropped. Seeing Jack's reaction Victoria could not help herself striking a pose with one hand on her hip and the other holding the back of her head deliberately arching her back as much as possible.
"Do you like it? My ass doesn't look too big in it does it?" Victoria asked innocently.
It was at this point that Macy came to investigate what the other two were doing. Taking one look at the display Victoria was putting on she could not help but shake her head in disbelief. Macy was finding it difficult to deal with the atmosphere between her brother and Victoria one minute it was that of two best friends and the rest it was that of two lovers, try as she might Macy could not seem to predict which one each scenario would elicit from them. The whiplash in the changing dynamics and energy was becoming more and more difficult for Macy to comprehend much less react to.

Sighing Macy gently shut her brother's jaw and led him back towards the rest of the store.
"Go and put some clothes on Victoria."
"You're no fun Macy, I still haven't found out what Jackie thought yet, however, will I know if I should buy it or not now," Victoria replied with a chuckle.
"As Jack's sister and your friend, I don't want to know what Jack thought," Macy told her firmly, a note of hard finality in her voice.

At the food court, it was quickly decided that they would all go for a burger and fries. It seemed the easiest option to all three and the agreement came quickly and unanimously, Jack and his sister scurried off to secure them a table leaving Victoria to order.
"Couldn't you have gotten a few more fries and maybe a Coca-Cola or something," Jack whined for the second time in nearly as many minutes gesturing to what he clearly considered to be a diminutive pile of fries and the bottle of spring water he had gotten.

Victoria sighed deeply, not having realised when she had made the choice that it would be so controversial.
"Jackie if you want to look like a girl you are going to have to start eating like one. Most girls are constantly watching their weight and I personally would never eat more than this for lunch while shopping. We really should have had salad with the burgers, but I figured we all could use the extra calories with how much serious shopping we are doing."
"Regardless, one day of marginally healthier eating will not harm you," Macy told Jack simply not wanting to put pressure on Jack over the male or female debate, but she was unwilling to listen to any more whining.
Jack wasn't so sure that he agreed over either of their arguments but wisely decided not to complain anymore and instead just enjoy the food and the jovial conversations that seemed to so easily flow between himself, Victoria, and Macy

The final clothes store they wanted to go to was visible from the table that Jack and Macy had chosen, so it wasn't long after they had all finished that they made their way over to it. The store was considerably different from the other two big-name retailers they had previously visited, being much smaller than either of them and containing only a select number of brands none of which were those you would expect to see in one of the big Highstreet stores. It was well known to everyone that I lived anywhere nearby that the store was owned by a local woman who tried hard to support small or independent clothing brands and give everyone a different choice than they would get from more mainstream stores. Both Macy and Victoria had come there regularly and while they loved to browse the various styles and fabrics, both found the prices to be slightly off-putting, usually being too high for either of them to afford. This trip proved to be no different than the others with only Victoria buying anything at all. Even Victoria only bought a single dress, it was reduced and while still being significantly costly she had been unable to resist the summery dress that was a retro black and white design. Despite the lack of purchases none of them felt the visit had been a waste of time and they had spent a considerable amount of time inside the quite small shop especially considering the limited number of items the store stocked.

Both Jack and Macy were extremely excited to go to the video game store that was only a few minutes' walk away so naturally with a shrug Victoria accompanied them. Victoria herself had no real interest in video games and quickly lost sight of them when they both ran off into the store like two small, exited children, both of them excitedly flittering between several racks of shelves, practically screeching at each other in their eager adulation. The store was not exactly large but bigger than Victoria had anticipated though the loud conversation between Jack and Macy helped her find them easily.
"Nurds." Victoria sighed with a shake of her head at the twin's antics.

She had found them hunched over a shelf in heated conversation over the game's main features and their obvious excitement for such things was entirely foreign to Victoria who could not understand why moving pixels with a controller would possibly appeal that much to anybody. When she pointed this out to them both, she did not get a great reception from them.

Jack pouted and pointed out that Victoria was being mean. His pout and feigned sadness prompted first, Macy and Victoria to wrap Jack in a protective embrace. By the end of their shopping trip, the twins had forced Victoria to accompany them to two other stores that she considered to be incredibly nerdy. One being a comic bookstore and the other being an ordinary bookstore. It nearly being time for them to leave, Victoria's mom was coming to pick them up, so they all decided to return to the food court and get a hot cup of cocoa before they left.
"Hi, Jack."
A male voice suppressed all three as they sat, unannounced Ther sidled up to them taking a seat on the opposite side of Jack from Victoria.
"I didn't expect to see you here. " Theo' explained, aiming the conversation at Jack, though not entirely to the exclusion of the other two, as he rested his arm slightly possessively on the back of Jack's chair. Jack said nothing but did slightly lean closer to Theo, his heart beating slightly faster than it had been a few moments before.
"Victoria invited us," Macy explained noticing the frosty atmosphere between Theo and Victoria who was currently giving Theo such violent death glares that if looks could kill she would have been accused of murder.
"I thought it would be nice for Jack," Victoria responded with barely contained animosity.
"I see, well I was just passing by and saw Jack and thought I would say hello. Maybe me and Jack could leave you two ladies for a bit." Theo flashed a daring grin in Victoria's direction.

Macy was still not sure what to make of this animosity, but it was very clear to her that Victoria was jealous for some reason and also that her brother had in some way become part of the equation.
"I'm afraid we were all just leaving," Victoria replied icily.
"Never mind then perhaps another time." Theo agreed to pull Jack into a less-than-manly embrace, an embrace that Jack readily returned, and that had Victoria's teeth clenched in an effort to contain her emotions. An embrace that Macy realised was more like that of a lover and not a friend.

When Macy and Jack returned with Victoria, Tara was almost certain it was her two daughters who were returning, bags of clothes gripped enthusiastically in exited hands. Jack seemed completely comfortable in his girly disposition despite Victoria's presence and his earlier qualms which had seen him leaving in as emphatically a boy mode as he was capable of. No doubt about it, Jack was returning even more utterly in girl mode than he had left in boy mode. Hands waving in girlish gesticulation voice high in enthusiastic conversation with the other two. Tara was a little surprised considering her son's obvious nervousness surrounding the whole idea and his earlier decision to go as a boy, even so, it took Tara only a couple of seconds to process the change in her son. Tara had long ago learned to accept both versions of her child and was usually unperturbed by the switch between the two which often left even those who were accepting of the change with emotional whiplash, yet she could not even pretend that this time had not caught her of guard. Tara was even more surprised when Jack and Victoria bid each other goodbye, both seemed to become self-conscious and painfully aware of the two mothers looking on. The sudden self-consciousness caused a hasty and slightly awkward embrace but neither had quite been able to hide their regret at not being able to express their emotions more clearly. Their hidden desire was not missed by Tara's motherly gaze. Briefly Tata considered what her husband would make of such an exchange. Her son was not exactly a manly boy but in girl mode like this, he was virtually indistinguishable from any other girl of his age. From the embrace she had just witnessed her son and Victoria looked more like lesbian lovers than a typical boy and girl. As they entered the house the twin's girlish conversation rose to include their mother describing how much fun they had and several of the outfits they had either seen or bought. After a few minutes, they left their mother to her own thoughts eagerly marching off to Macy's room trailing their shopping bags behind them.

At length, Tara composed herself and went up to find her children, in particular Macy. She could not shake the feeling that as a parent she should do something, in relation to her son's newfound interest in Victoria, at the very least she felt she should find out more about this. Going up the stairs Tara found both her children in Macy's room, both sat on Macy's bed, new outfits strewn about them. Tara asked for a word with Macy and the mother-daughter duo went down the stairs again to sit in the living room.

"I am glad you and Jack get no so well and you know I have never discouraged either of you in that way, I never wanted either of you to feel that there were things you couldn't do," Tara began haltingly unsure of how to broach the topic with her daughter. Macy nodded encouragingly still unsure what her mother was meaning to say.

"I guess I am just worried for Jack, I am not sure that it is the best thing for him to be dragged along with you and your friends. I don't want anyone embracing him or making things difficult for him. He shouldn't be a third wheel or anything." Tara told her daughter worry creasing her brow.

Macy laughed brightly. "Of course, not mom but that's not how this is, Victoria invited us both but I think that really it was Jack she wanted to invited. If anyone was a third wheel it was me. Recently Victoria and Jack have been so close, I think they are fast becoming best friends."

Tara took in this new information in wide-eyed surprise. While Jack and Macy had always been close Jack had never really had close friends in the way Macy had. What friends
Jack had, had over the years were those he played sports with, most of these were other boys who Jack had, had little else in common with. While Macy's friends had never actively discouraged Jack from friendship with them as far as Tara knew, Tara was aware that none of them had ever really attempted to befriend Jack. Victoria's supposed budding friendship with Jack was a little surprising but not unwelcome to Tara, Jack needed to find more people who would care for him and support to him, Tara reflected. Shaking herself out of the train of thought, Tara's thoughts returned to the other area of her concern, the obvious attraction between Jack and Victoria. Deciding on subtlety Tara began to question Macy.

Macy for her part took a moment to consider her responses. She and Jack shared many things and enjoyed a relationship that was not shared by most of her friends who had siblings. Her relationship with Jack contained both a sisterly and brotherly aspect to it and Macy took joy in both, Jack was both her overly protective brother and her supportive sister more obsessed than she was with cute clothes and makeup. Macy did not want to endanger that unique relationship; she and Jack told each other things that they would never tell anyone else. She wasn't sure what to tell her mother, what Jack wouldn't mind their mother knowing. Finally, Macy settled on what to say, she decided that she would only tell her mother what she knew for certain about Jack and Victoria, she would not tell her mother anything Jack had let slip to her, nor would she tell her mother anything that she suspected. That included Victoria's jealousy and the attraction that Macy suspected them both of feeling for each other. Tara nodded to her daughter's answers, she suspected that her daughter knew more than she was saying, but decided not to press her any further. Tara could not shack the knowledge of the lust she had seen in both her son's and Victoria's eyes. Maybe he should talk to her son Tara reflected slowly; he had never expressed any romantic interest in anyone before girl or boy, and might need a bit of guidance from his mother.

Usually, Tara would have left that kind of conversation to Phillip especially since Jack was his son and Tara supposed in most family dynamics such situations would best be dealt with by some father son bonding time. Yet Tara knew better than to suggest that with Jack, there were multiple reasons that such a scenario would not ever work for them. The first being that Jack had never had that kind of relationship with his father, even if he had, Jack had always been different than most boys. That led to the second complication Phillip had proved long ago that he would never accept his son's feminine side in any meaningful way, that alone had driven a wedge between Phillip and Jack. The third factor was Phillip himself, not for the first time Tara wondered why she had married him. Always focused on his career, for many years Tara had felt that he cared more for that than he did for anyone else. Tara herself was lucky if she spoke to her husband more than once a week while he was away, which had been more often than not over the last few years, Tara knew that Jack spoke to Phillip even less than that. Tara sighed at the thought, it was bad enough that her husband ignored her but as his wife but it nearly moved her to tears to think the man, she had married would do that to his children.

So due to her husband's failings and Jack's feminine tendencies, Tara had gotten used to having conversations with her son that were usually the sole domain of Mothers and their daughters. At least her son's interest in Victoria answered or at least gave some insight into her son's sexuality Something that Tara had been unsure of for many years. While it mattered little to Tara it was something she had considered over the years, there were times, especially when the twins played together with dolls or talked together as children about weddings, that Tara had been forced to wonder.

The light of morning glittered through windows as Tara hurried towards the front door. An unexpected knock on the door had interrupted her morning cup of coffee, something that Tara was at that moment nursing her annoyance at. In truth, Tara was more than slightly annoyed, although, with every passing moment, she was calming herself or at least getting ready to present an air of reasonable calmness, her morning cup of coffee was the time that Tara used to think and prepare for the day. This Morning Tara felt she had fare too much to think over, she had not really known what to say to Jack yesterday evening and had decided for better or for worse to delay any type of action in regard to the conversation she needed to have with Jack until the next day in order that she might be better able to consider how she might even begin to approach such a conversation. Her mind still hummed in mild confusion over the things she now knew and those she guessed in regard to her son's recent newfound feelings for Victoria. And Tara was still working through the implications and was no closer to knowing how to start a conversation with Jack about it when she was rudely interrupted. Tara had hoped for inspiration while drinking her customary morning cup of coffee but that was now interrupted and her thoughts unproductive though they might have been, had been scattered by that interruption. In some ways, it would have been easier, if Jack had been a girl she reflected as she went to open the door, then as soon as the thought came Tara recoiled at it. She had always tried to be supportive to her children and that kind of outdated stereotyping was not helpful to either them or her. Still in this case there was a grain of truth in the unwelcome thought, when talking to Jack Tara never was never entirely sure which version she would be addressing, the slightly effeminate boy or the obviously girly, girl. There were a number of occasions where that difficulty had made parenting Jack quite challenging, a number of times where Tara had misjudged and her message had been taken poorly by Jack. Tara fervently hoped that however, when she approached the topic of Victoria with Jack later today, she would not be caught out by that at least.

Tara opened the door and was quite surprised to see an apparently very nervous youth standing before her. Stockily built with wide shoulders the boy looked uniquely uncomfortable, hands thrust deep into the pockets of his smart jeans, in a mannerism ubiquitous with perturbed men especially younger ones. The boy who had until that moment been looking down at his shoes finally noticed Tara's presence and looked up staring at her with wide eyes that further told of his current anxious disposition. The boy was Jack and Macy's age obviously more at home in sports pants it was clear with his hair neatly spiked with gel and wearing jeans that the boy had done his best to dress up at least as far as the inflexibility of boys his age would allow. Tara eyed this youth for a few second fixedly the boy becoming more and more anxious under her appraising gaze, the longer that gaze lasted the more agitated the boy appeared to become.

"I suppose you are here to see Macy." Tara surmised when at last it appeared the boy could no longer take the apprehension of the evaluating look she had been giving him. Hands resting on her hips, Tara tried her best to be the very model of a stern and intimidating parent.

The boy looked shocked for a few seconds before recovering his composing with a genial smile that lit up his features, displaying his normally affable personality which had only been hidden by the immensity of his nervous anxiety. A small slight shake of his head, added to that genial display as he dispelled Tara's incorrect assumption.

"No, not really," The boy told her sheepishly trying to be as respectful as possible while being as nervous as he was. "I am Theo, a friend of your son, Jack. I was hoping to see him if he is in."

Despite her surprise and the implications of all of this Tara resolved to think of all that later and wasted little time in inviting Theo inside and at the same time calling upstairs to let her son know he had a visitor. Her son appeared only a few seconds later on the stairs silky, smooth, soft hair tied back in a long high ponytail that bobbed with every step he took, wearing a set of navy-blue leggings that hugged his thighs and calves tightly and his Detroit tiger's baseball polo. Jack smiled brightly as his eyes came to rest on Theo, skipping down the last steps Jack allowed the bigger much more muscled boy to fold him into a tight embrace. Tara, stood forgotten by the other two, watching Jack melt into Theo's arms in a manner that made to Tara at once resentful and jealous. It reminded her of how much she did not have with Phillip away constantly. The feeling of his strong protective arms about her, the powerful ineffable feeling of being adored with all the love and passion another can feel. It was a heady feeling and an addiction that Tara now could hardly believe she had nearly forgotten the sole aching need to feel. She had never needed that love, that embrace to be a woman, but she could not deny that she had never felt more womanly than when she was being held tight in Phillips's arms. It had been close to two years maybe even three years since Phillip had last ordained to hold his wife like that, it was becoming difficult for Tara to
remember what it was like to be held like that, yet still, if she concentrated hard enough Tara fancied, she could still feel the ghost of his touch, those strong warm arms about her the soft husky timbre of his, gravely voice above her protective and yet dripping with desire for her. A conflicted look of passionate affection which had been as evident in his words and voice as it was in his eyes when they had finally separated, that had always made Tara's legs weak at the knees. Watching the scene play out before her, Tara was only marginally surprised to see that a similar look from Theo had Jack reacting in the same manner to how she remembered reacting to Jack's father.

Totally ignoring the presence of Jack's mother, the two rushed off to Jack's room an easy gentle conversation flowing between them. Tara watched them go still shocked at the recent development. She heard Jack's door click closed above her and briefly wondered if she should tell them to keep the door open, it is what she would do if it were Macy and a boy or Jack and Victoria yet she wasn't quite sure under the circumstances what she was supposed to do. It didn't seem very responsible to leave them up there with a closed door, especially with the look she had seen her son give Theo and the way they had wrapped each other in such a loving embrace, it certainly worried Tara no end. Equally, she was not even sure that Jack was aware of his feelings and she didn't want to embrace him or Theo. Strolling back into the kitchen Tara busied herself making yet another cup of coffee this was definitely a more than one cup of coffee morning she decided. That conversation with Jack, which Tara had been planning to have, had just gotten a whole lot more complex and complicated.

That evening Tara sat relaxing on the sofa, all in all, things hadn't gone as badly as Tara had feared they might. Theo had stayed several hours before departing in the afternoon. A blushing Jack had confided to her that they had spent most of that time curled up together lying on Jack's bed watching TV on his laptop. Nothing serious had happened between the two that of them, nothing would have alarmed Tara, but Jack did speak dreamily about being held by Theo. They had talked a lot about first Theo and then Victoria. As they went on, Jack's confusion, the dilemma he was stuck in, became more and more apparent to Tara. It hurt her heart to not be able to do more for Jack than to listen to him, even her guidance was of little help. It was clear that Jack had passionate newly discovered feelings for both Theo and Victoria. Those feelings were causing her son no end of anguish and confusion.

"How do I choose between them, Mom, these feelings are all so new, I wish I understood them more, maybe then I would know what to do. I just don't understand how I feel, or what I want. Theo makes me feel so safe and warm, he is so pretty in a ruggish boy kind of a way. I really like being around him, but Victoria makes me feel so alive and adventurous. She is just as pretty but in a more subtle soft feminine way. Theo likes lots of the same sports I like and talking is easy between us, but Victoria gets my humour better, we always end up giggling when we are together. How can I possibly choose between them? They both make me feel giddy when they are close by and I miss both of them when they are not with me, even when one of them is and the other isn't. Being held by either of them is so good, it's like being wrapped up in love, it's magical."

"Follow your heart, it will know and remember that you are still only fifteen, you don't have to know yet." Tara had soothed him, pulling him into a motherly hug.

"What if it doesn't?"

"It will," Tara had told him confidently, then a few moments later and more retrospectively she continued with a sigh. "I really hoped I would have another year before things like this came up, for both you and Macy. I guess I never figured on you being such a little temptress." A smile played softly over her lips at this last sentence and quickly turned to laughter, laughter so infectious it soon spread to Jack as well until they both sat huddled together giggling.

Now sat on the sofa thinking back on the day's events, Tara could not help but be slightly worried for her son. A son that so often now seemed like a daughter. It was a dangerous situation he had unwittingly sound himself in one that Tara would have far rather he had not, Tara had never been in that situation but her best friend in high school had when she was only a year or two older than Jack was now. The two boneheaded testosterone-filled territorial idiots had beaten each other up over the poor girl. Tara had spent days consoling the girt and nursing the battered girl's injuries. The bruising and black eye had been unintentionally inflicted when the misguided girl had tried to intervene in the violent struggle, she had herself provoked. Tara could only hope that Victoria and Theo would be less violent and more civil than that. That they would not give in to their violent impulses as quickly as her friend's boyfriends had all those years ago. Both seemed rational and sensible enough, but you could never be sure with something like that and the fact that there was less testosterone in one of Jack's suitors did nothing to calm Tara's growing fears. She had seen just how violent women can get in situations like this when one of her other friends had broken up with her girlfriend. The two lesbians had caused a domestic which necessitated the police with the visceral hate and violence between them, despite the decided lack of testosterone.

"So how was Theo yesterday?" Macy asked her brother, the light of yet another bright and beautiful morning filtering through the windows.

"We had a good time mostly just watched things and talked." Jack admitted easily, ignoring his sister's amused expression.

Macy was about to question Jack further when his phone buzzed with a notification. Jack's hand immediately leapt to grab it, causing Macy to grin even wider this time. Jack had few friends and few contacted him regularly enough for him to be constantly texting him but since Victoria had become his friend Macy had seldom seen her brother without his phone in his hand, either responding to or reading one of Victoria's texts.

Looking over at Jack's beaming grin, Macy couldn't help but let out a small giggle. Jack looked up met his sister's eyes and Macy's giggling became infectious. After several minutes when they had both stopped giggling, Macy asked Jack what had caused his grinning in the first place.

"Victoria just invited me over to this afternoon." Jack explained showing Macy the messages excitedly.

Macy nodded after reading the text. Victoria was indeed inviting Jack over, Macy noted that her name wasn't mentioned at the same time that Jack realised it.

"I'm sure you'd be welcome to come as well, sis." Jack belatedly offered.

Macy was already shaking her head as Jack spoke. Victoria had deliberately not mentioned her name along with the invite, Macy was certain this was because Victoria wanted to spend some time alone with Jack. Not to mention Macy was not sure she wanted to be third web wheel to Victoria and Jack again, such a position got very awkward fairly fast. Whatever Jack and Victoria were to one another Marcy was certain that she didn't want to be in between them while they figured it. Not to mention Jack didn't socialise much with other people, on one of the rare occasions where he was Macy felt it would be better if he did that without her acting as a buffer between him and those he was interacting with.

As usual, Jack's feelings on which gender he should look, feel, and act like flip-flopped throughout the day. He had woken up feeling as male as the society expected him to be, but after talking with both his sister and Victoria, Jack was definitely in a much more feminine state of mind and being. The thought of seeing Victoria's parents jarred Jack into considering his appearance, and how they might view him and he immediately ran to Macy to consult with her about everything.

Jack's immediate instinct had been to dress in one of the cute outfits he had bought while shopping with Victoria and was quite upset when Macy patiently explained that that wasn't a good idea. Jack wanted to argue with her but could totally see the sent sense of her argument. Victoria's parents didn't know Jack that well and neither Jack nor Macy could be entirely sure how they would react if Jack turned up in full-on girl mode. Not for the first time did Jack wish that he had more control over his emotions and when he felt feminine or not. It wasn't like a button he pushed though; it was a lot more complex than that Jack wondered briefly again whether a boy had the right to feel, or should feel the way he felt. Then Jack pushed that ongoing invasive thought to the side to focus on infinitely more important things, clothes.

In the end, Macy was able to help Jack, who she knew was firmly entrenched in girl mode, select a compromise outfit. A blouse that was not too overly feminine was selected, as Macy had pointed out, most men are far too unobservant to realise that the 'shirt' Jack was wearing buttoned the wrong way. Best of all it was one of the ones that Jack had with got during the shopping trip with Macy and Victoria. Which made Jack feel considerably happier even if he couldn't wear one of the more overtly feminine outfits he had initially wanted to wear. Macy found some girls jeans in one of Jack's draws, they were black and went well with the blouse. The jeans had no obvious patterns that indicated they were women's jeans, so while Jack could still feel feminine in his girly clothes, unless someone examined the clothes or the clothes tags carefully nothing would look unusual.

The effect, once Jack was dressed, was exactly as Macy had intended. The clothes fitted Jack's slender figure well. The cut of the clothes and Jack's own girlish physique combined to give a very natural. Girlish look. But the clothes were plain enough that the entire look could easily be explained away as a metrosexual boy's look. Macy hummed and smiled as Jack twirled about in front of her, she was exceptionally pleased with her efforts.

As Jack left to walk to Victoria's house, Macy found herself very glad that she had this unusual relationship with Jack, at times it was like having a sister. Macy knew as they got older this would disappear, idly she wondered if it was selfish to take as much pleasure in this unusual relationship and to want to cling so tightly to every memory of it. Pushing those thoughts to the side Macy found herself deeply worried for Jack, Macy was still unsure of his strange new relationship with Victoria, a girl that Macy had never been especially close to and had never fully trusted. Worse there seemed to be a romantic element to that new friendship, an element that she was unsure either Jack or Victoria were fully aware existed. Worse Jack's relationship with Theo had suddenly seemed to have taken on a romantic element that Macy was certain Jack did not realise existed. Overall, it seemed to Macy that Jack was far over his head with two extremely complex romantic situations at the same time. Macy could not help but feel the sinking crushing weight of apprehension settle on her heart, Jack was so unprepared to deal with this and Macy could not stand the thought of Jack getting his heart broken. Sadly, it seemed one way or the other Jack was headed for just such a disaster and Macy felt helpless, unsure how she was supposed to protect Jack from both himself and others in this scenario.