Life Imitates Art

Part 23 - She Breaks Out

Max_

I didn't see this coming today. I didn't realise I'd made it that obvious. I guess this Molly is a bit of an expert with her being alike. She's being pretty nice about it all, though. I can't see why this would be some kind of trap.

But Tessa as well? I thought I was doing a good enough job of hiding how I really felt by making it all out to be her idea. The skirts were a moment of weakness but I think I was reluctant enough before the makeup to mask how I really felt.

No one is really talking as we go into the St James' Quarter. It's a frosty silence that's the opposite of pleasant. I suppose the three girls have very little to say. Part of Tess' silence could be shame or shock or a delicate combination. Courtney leads me downstairs towards the toilets, which are up a corridor-like hallway that splits off to the side of the food court area on the bottom floor of the new shopping area. The walls are lined with yellow as if they are warning us not to park there. We keep moving towards the toilets where the stalemate on noise is finally broken.

"I'll check if anyone is in that could cause us issues."

Courtney strides back a minute later with news that they are currently very busy.

"I think they'll always be like that. We'll just create a shield for him. Toilets are preference-based in Scotland anyway. You can use whichever one you like if it's public."

"Oh, I never knew that!"

"It's OK. As I said, I have the tools of the trade. Just walk in. If anyone bothers you, we'll explain it. Just don't go peeping on folk and we're totally fine.

My first peek at the women's toilets is a little underwhelming. It's just the same as the one I'm used to but with only stalls. The one on the end is what Courtney is shooting for. It's a changing stall, meaning there is more space. True, it's also designed for mothers to use for their babies' nappies. We will just have to pretend we didn't know that. All 4 of us enter the same cubicle. I have no idea if that is suspicious, but it feels like it is to a large degree.

"OK. I know we just met, but we're going to need you to take your clothes off. Tess, you got the change bag?" That line doesn't help me feel any less like a baby around the three older girls.

"I have her clothes, yeah." Tess sounds so blasé. She must feel terrible about what I didn't see.

Instead of worrying about her, I take my clothes off as far as my boxers, expecting it to be a repeat of when Tess puts me in her skirts. Sorry, when I put myself into them. No need to lie now.

"Um... we'll leave if you like, but I brought you these." Molly puts a pair of girly underwear on the changing table. It's white but it has cupcakes printed all over. Definitely designed for girls, though the coverage is full enough. No unsightly accidents.

They all leave in unison, telling me I have a minute. I take my boxers off and replace them with the new underwear. It's cold and soft and a little tight, but it feels right to have my body in them.

The girls re-enter a minute later as they threatened. Luckily, they don't see anything they don't want to. Except for Tess. I get the impression she's uncomfortable.

A fifth person enters. And she isn't pleased.

"Excuse me. I've had reports of 4 of you in the same stall. Please stop messing around and leave as soon as you're done. It's a busy centre." Typical of us troublemakers. The staff member even looks at me with a disgusted scowl on her face. It's not a photo opportunity at all.

"The other stuff is in there. You should know what to do with it by now." Tess leaves with the others, those being the last words I hear from her before continuing to dress.

I empty the contents on to the table. A rainbow-pastel jumper, a denim skirt I've almost definitely tried on by this point and pastel blue socks with black love hearts on them. There are no shoes, but it isn't a shock.

Molly_

"I'm sorry about that. Our friend is just really nervous about dressing as a girl for the first time. We were supporting her."

"I get that. Just doing my job at the end of the day. I'm sorry if it came across the wrong way. You ladies all have fun now."

We walk to wait by the yellow wall at the corner. I can only imagine what Tess is thinking at this point.

Tessa_

What a day. F*ck.

Max_

The skirt is almost too easy to put on at this point. I don't know why they asked me to remove the t-shirt without there being a different one to put on so I just go with the same one as before we all stepped in here. The socks are just socks. Overall, the outfit doesn't feel all that different in here. The shoes don't change any of that, being my own pair.

All of that changes when I step out to wash my hands (out of appearing like I was using the toilet) and see myself in the mirror. With the jumper, skirt and socks on and my bare legs showing, I look quite effeminate but in a nice way. I don't look threatening. I look like one of those guys that gets bullied a lot. I look like me. But for once, I love it.

I love it so much in fact that the excitement rushes to my bowels and I need to actually use the toilet. That won't make this any less awkward when I do leave. Thankfully, I can just ignore what the other people around me say. I've become a pro at that.

I take a deep breath as I leave the toilets. I would never have dared to inhale the air of a men's toilet so I guess it has that going for it. The next minute of my life could change it all.

Tessa_

"Eeee!" I don't know why I did that high-pitched squeal. It sounded like the little test siren an ambulance uses before it settles into its expected, steady rhythm. I rush over to Max, not knowing why I'm doing that either. I hug him so tightly that I can feel the jumper sinking into his skin and threatening to pass through to his bones. You get the idea of how in-control I am.

"Holy sh*t! Holy sh*t! Max, you're f*cking pretty! You're Maxine!"

"Yeah. I guess I am!" He smiles. I can feel tears coming, and my makeup's going to start running and ruin his (my) jumper, so I pull away and walk with him to the corner where Molly and Courtney wait. Both actually look a little emotional. Why do they care so much?

"I mean this in the best way, Max. Seeing you like that melts my heart. Look at the smile! You must be so happy like this!"

"Yeah! You remind me of how this one felt in her new clothes months back. And how Jodi would react when I helped her pick outfits."

Max turns to me.

"Thanks, Tessa. You may be a bit of a b*tch, but you were right. I do want to be like you."

"Then let's f*cking make it happen." I shouldn't curse so much. "Sorry for the language. I'm just excited to see my sister."

The other girls shrug it off and we leave the bathroom wing of the shopping centre.

"We can't do this in the bathroom, but I do want to sort your makeup." You'll be my next victim." Courtney says it deadpan, causing Molly to crack up.

"Ah no! Not makeup! Whatever will I do?!" Max jokes. They smile. I'm beaming. I think it's all been fixed. I'll do my best to let go of the regrets of earlier.

Max_

Courtney desperately looks around for a spot to do my makeup. Of all things, she settles on a bench not far from the bus station. It's very public but why hide anymore?

"OK, sit yourself down. I'm about to make you shine, young lady." She's radiating with joy. It's so infectious. I've been contaminated.

Molly and Tessa leave at some point while Courtney applies the contents of her magic silver bag to my face. I wonder what they're doing.