Camera Shy

Part 3

Chapter 17

Ari was reflecting on the last week, and the changes he had endured. An
expanding wardrobe, a changed course schedule, being officially
registered at the school as a transgender coed, and having a potential
boyfriend now in his life. It was a lot to take in, and he knew it would
be difficult to undo it all. But he was determined to find a way, he had
to find a way.

Sitting inside Stephanie's room Ari did his best to enjoy the little foot
spa she told him to use after his long day in those heels. His schedule
was full. He went to Feminist Theory, Women in Literature, Creative
Fashion Design and then he had to go off to work.

David had told him how it wasn't in dress code to wear five inch heels,
but he also said that after praising him for how he looked as he added
the name tag Ariel to his blouse. He hadn't even considered the dress
code, only that the girls hadn't allowed him to change and Ari was
thrilled to be able to tell them how he could only wear flats, but even
that dream was crushed.

"I have great news for you Ariel," David said, pulling him into the back
office an hour into his shift. It was nice that the old coworkers didn't
recognize him, but he hardly recognized himself anymore. "I spoke with
the corporate office and considering your circumstances you have been
given permission to wear heels of that height. I told them how much it
meant to you to show the world how feminine you were. So starting today
not only can you wear five inch heels, but consider them part of your
work uniform. Now you will get to wear what you love everyday at work! Oh
and now that I have your sizes I put together some more clothes for you
in the bag over there by the door. We will get a new line into the store
in two weeks, at that point I can give you more from our current
selection as we move them out of circulation."

"Aww David darlin you shouldn't have." His feet were throbbing and he
couldn't imagine wearing heels like this everyday. Most of the shoes he
got were four inches, still too tall, and here his boss was telling him
that effectively he now had a uniform for his feet and while he would
love to just show up in sneakers and let go, he was sure it was actually
going to end up with him going back to Happy Heels.

"You know I have some cute flats or shoes with a lower heel that I can
wear." Ari didn't feel too good about the question when he saw David
shaking his head, even if he was still smiling. "I won't even hear it, I
have been trying to do research and I understand how important things
like this can be. I have your back Ariel and have let the suits know what
to expect when they see you on the sales floor."

*****

Later that night, the girls chatted on about something while the news
played on the little tv in the room that no one was paying attention to.
Ari was ignoring them, thinking about his current life and how to escape
like Frank Morris in the movie Escape from Alcatraz. Tomorrow was going
to be another day and a bad one at that. He had given a lot of thought to
escape all of this, but now that the dean was off the table he wasn't
sure what to do at all. Tomorrow he had Fashion Visuals, Women's Health,
Introduction to the Fashion Business. Some of the courses he was taking
this semester only met once per week, some met every other day, but
nowhere on his schedule was any of the core classes he would have
expected.

"Hey umm.. I have a question?" Both Stephanie and Bianca stopped what
they were talking about and looked over to Ariel who had his feet resting
in the bubbling water. "Girls don't wear five inch heels often do they?"

Bianca shook her head, while Stephanie waved her hand back and forth like
a sea-saw. "I have two pairs myself, and they are super cute, but shoes
like that are more often a sitting shoes or a two hour shoe." Ari looked
at her confused wondering what exactly a sitting shoe was or a two hour
shoe.