Crestwood Academy for Young Ladies - Forced Fem Fantasy

Chapter Twenty-Two: Under the Trees

The air outside was warm, with a light breeze that gently rustled the leaves of the trees surrounding the pond. The boys walked in silence, the weight of the morning haircut session still lingering in the air. The pond, a small but serene body of water nestled behind the academy grounds, provided a welcome change of scenery. It was peaceful out here—away from the strictness of the school, the judgments, and the ever-watchful eyes of their mentors.

Kyle, Dylan, and Marcus sat down on the grassy bank, spreading out a deck of cards they'd grabbed from the common area. Aaron lagged behind, his arms still crossed, staring at the water as if contemplating something deeper than its calm surface.

"Come on, Alana," Emily called out, her voice friendly but firm. "We're playing cards, not starting a revolution. You coming or what?"

Aaron didn't respond at first, but Olivia walked over and gently placed a hand on his arm. "Why don't you join us? It'll be a good distraction," she suggested, her voice soft.

Aaron sighed but followed her over to the others, sitting down on the edge of the group, clearly still in a world of his own. He barely glanced at the cards as the others shuffled and dealt them.

As they began to play, the game itself became a welcome escape. They'd chosen a simple game—something they didn't have to think too much about—letting them talk and laugh between turns. Kyle was the first to relax, cracking a joke about how his new pixie cut made him look like someone out of a 90s girl band.

"Yeah, well, at least you don't have bangs," Dylan said, running a hand through his hair with a dramatic flourish. "I've never had to think so much about wind direction in my life."

Marcus chuckled, flicking a card onto the pile. "I can't stop touching mine. I swear I've never had anything feel this weird," he muttered, pushing his textured bixie away from his face again. "It's like my hair belongs to someone else."

The boys laughed, the tension starting to ease as they shared these small moments of discomfort, turning them into something lighter. Even Aaron's lips twitched, though he quickly caught himself and glanced away. Olivia noticed and sat down a little closer to him.

"You know," she said quietly, shuffling her cards, "you can pretend you're not having fun all you want, but we all saw that almost-smile."

Aaron shot her a look. "I'm not having fun," he grumbled, though his voice lacked the usual edge.

Olivia raised an eyebrow. "Not even a little?" she asked, her tone teasing but kind. "Because it looks to me like you're not miserable."

Aaron's shoulders loosened, and after a moment, he sighed again, this time with less resistance. "Maybe... a little."

"Progress," Olivia said with a grin, tossing her cards down as she won the round. "That's all we need."

As the game continued, Olivia made it her quiet mission to get Aaron more involved. She didn't push too hard, didn't force him to talk, but she offered a comment here, a nudge there, and slowly, Aaron found himself responding. He didn't laugh out loud like the others, but his scowl had faded, and by the time the second game started, he was actually playing instead of just sitting on the outskirts.

The sun hung high in the sky, its reflection shimmering on the pond's surface. Ducks drifted lazily across the water, occasionally diving for something beneath the surface. The setting was idyllic, and despite everything they'd been through that morning, the boys found themselves forgetting, if only for a little while.

Once the card games lost their appeal, the group stretched out on the grass, their bodies relaxing into the earth as they stared up at the sky. The leaves of the trees above them swayed gently, casting playful shadows on their faces. The boys lay side by side with their mentors, the earlier awkwardness and tension having dissipated into the warm breeze.

"Do you ever get used to this place?" Dylan asked, breaking the silence.

Sophie glanced over. "Eventually. But it changes every year, depending on the group."

"Is this year different because of us?" Marcus asked with a grin.

Emily chuckled. "Definitely. You guys are... unique."

Kyle snorted. "Is that a good thing?"

"It is," Olivia said. "You're handling this better than we thought you would."

Kyle shifted. "Alright, important question: favorite band?"

Sophie thought for a second. "Fleetwood Mac."

"Nice," Marcus said. "I'm more of a Lizzo guy..."

There was a moment of silence which was quickly broken by the group breaking into laughter. The talk moved easily to favorite movies, bad haircuts, and random bits of their lives. The tension from earlier had lifted, replaced by an unexpected sense of calm. They were just hanging out, no pressure.

As the sun dipped lower, they stretched and brushed off the grass.

Kyle smirked. "Who knew pizza and bad haircuts could be so deep?"

Aaron walked in silence, his shoulders less tense. Olivia nudged him. "See? Told you you'd enjoy it."

He gave her a small nod. "Yeah... maybe you were right."

As they headed back to the academy, the group felt just a bit closer, the weight of the week momentarily lighter.