Sticks And Stones

Day 2

[Day 2]

“You’re going to make it through! I have utter faith in you, my beloved!” Lydia fisted her hands in show of support, and I held on tight to my pillow, sitting before the mirror. This was it.

“Close your eyes, my dear. It’ll make things better.” Lydia said again, and I obeyed. This was going to one of the hardest part of this mission… but my heart was set. I am going to do this… for my heart, for my willpower, for my soul. It was a crazy gamble to take, but heck. I was going to do this.

Snip.

The sound of scissors close to my ears made my heart drop, and I opened my eyes in reflex. Blonde hair pooled on the floor around the chair, as I met Lydia’s tearful eyes through the mirror. Her hand trembled on the scissors, a look of horror drawn on her face.

“Oh my god… I’m so sorry… I’m so sorry!” She began to say, but it was already half-done. One more snip…

I squeezed my eyes shut. “Do it!”

“OKAY!” Lydia screamed, and another snip sounded.

My heart almost sank when I saw the thicker pool of hair on the floor, but when I looked up the mirror… Ronin stared back at me.

Except for that one strand of fringe at the front of my hair that always stood up unless I tackled it with gel. It was the only indicator that I was still Shaine. Still Shaine Ashiya.

“Your beautiful hair… Shaine…” Lydia dropped the scissors, struggling to wipe her tears away from her eyes as she stared at the pool of long blonde hair on the ground. My heart broke, for I had spent so long taking care and being proud of my beautiful hair.

But it had to be done.

“From today onwards until I come back, my name shall be Shay.” I declared. The cutting of my long hair had been painful, but I would rise from the ashes like a phoenix. Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but nothing could stop me from getting what I wanted.

To see and cheer Kyo Izuma on the tracks, in real life.

Hours later, I stood at the door of my dorm room, hugging my best friend a teary goodbye. Lydia had skipped school especially for me, because I needed to leave at a time where nobody could recognize me. Pulling her close to me, Lydia grabbed me tight, pressing her breasts against my now-flat chest. We had found a way of concealing my rather big breasts by wrapping a tight vest that gave me a rather more imposing outlook. All in all, I looked like my brother –except  shorter.

“Remember to write to me and update me about how it’s going! If you want to come back, I’ll have you back anytime! I’ll keep your side of the room open for you!” Lydia cried as she hugged me, as I stroked her back and her hair –the way boys would. I was trying my best to learn, and since I already had a brother…

“I will, Lydia. I promise.”

Finally, Lydia let go, and stood safely in the room, as if she hadn’t been planning to chain me down with handcuffs from the start when I told her about my crazy plans.

“Take care of yourself there, Shaine… I’m always just a phone call away. It’s a dangerous place there.”

I laughed in spite of myself. “I have Ronin there, Lydia. I don’t have to worry.”

“I’m still worried. You’re a girl in an all-boys school. Of course it’s dangerous.” Lydia shook her head, but I only hiked up my backpack further up my back. I needed to get moving if I wanted to be in Heathrow by sundown.

“They won’t know a thing.”

“Make sure it stays that way. I love you, my dear!”

“I love you too. Take care of yourself when I’m not around.” I grinned, waving goodbye. I was going to miss Lydia so much. In the semester that I had spent here, Lydia and I had gotten into so much trouble. I was going to miss everyone here, but I had a dream.