Becoming Her (Trans)

Chapter 29

A few days later I find out the reason Mom hasn't yelled at me for the heels under my bed. She's planning to wear them on a date.

That's right. A date.

I've just completed my homework at the kitchen table. I'm putting the load away in my backpack when she comes out of her bedroom looking the nicest she's been in a while. Seriously, her hair's up in a bun with a barrette, and to match the pumps she's dressed in a red evening dress, a tiny (red) purse hanging off her arm. For the first time since the day Dad left, she's smiling.

I fucking hate it.

"So," I start. "You going somewhere?"

She nods enthusiastically. "A kind man asked me to spend some time with him tonight," she says. She opens her purse and takes out a compact mirror and a lipstick tube. She applies some on her lips, and makes a smacking noise after she's done. "I'll most likely be home late, so make sure you and your sister eat dinner."

Without noticing I've got one of my hands clenched. Isn't there some unwritten rule about women stealing each other's clothes without asking?

I pretend to see the shoes for the first time. "Wow, where did you get those kicks?"

Mom looks down, clicking the heels twice. "Oh, I found them under your bed," she says. "I know Kelly likes to spend time in your room, but she should really put her own things in her own room."

She takes out a phone and looks at the time. "I'm going to be late. Behave, and don't let Kelly get into trouble." Mom tries to give me a hug, which I refuse. She chuckles, gives me an air-kiss instead, and goes out the front door. When I'm sure she's gone, I let out a huge sigh in anger.

"Bitch," I mutter under my breath. I get a glass from the cupboard, slamming the door, and get out a carton of orange juice, also slamming the fridge door. A few slams later, Kelly's door opens.

"Why the fuck are you slamming things?" she grouches, coming down the stairs to give me the lecture in a closer distance. "You're interrupting my murder-plotting time--" she stops mid-sentence when she sees my face. "What happened?"

I take a swig. "Mom's out on a date," I answer.

My sister gives me a questioning look. "So?"

"She took my heels." At some point during the hospital stay I confessed to taking the pumps out of Kelly's trashcan and hiding them. She only shrugged. "At least someone's using them," she said.

"Oh. Wait. She found them?"

Draining the remains of my drink, I add, "She thinks they're yours."

"That's just fucked up."

I laugh. "So am I."

"No you're not. You're a better person than she is." Kelly walks around the island and gives me a hug. "You actually maintain your bitchiness."

I laugh. "That's a nice compliment from you," I say.

"Yes, it was." Kelly lets go of me. "Do you know when she'll be home?"

"She told me late. That's all I know." Suddenly Kelly rubs her hands together. She usually does this whenever she has an evil plan. "Oh God what are you planning this time?" I groan.

My sister notices what she's doing, and stops. "Um, nothing." I raise an eyebrow, and her shoulders slump in defeat. "Fine. But I'd rather you're not here while I go through with the plan."

I take in a sharp breath. "Does it involve ruining anything in particular?" I ask. She grins, and I raise my hands up. "Never mind! I don't want to know."

________

"I see you're dressing like yourself, Miya," Darlene comments after spotting me at an empty table. She takes a glass of something clear and takes a huge gulp from it. She sets it down on the table surface and sits in one of the chairs. Since she doesn't look in any way affected by how much she's consumed, I assume the drink is only water.

I nod. "Yep," I say. I feel the urge to scratch an itch on my face, but I don't want the foundation scratched off as well. I don't know why I've gone back to the make-up and the cross-dressing when people like the guy are around. Then again, I'm at the Fox Hole. Right now I don't know any safer place to be than this.

The second thing Darlene says is, "Oh, your hair! You chose a nice shade. Certainly fits you."

I can see the end of it reaching down to my shoulders. I smile to myself. "That was what I thought."

"You know, you never did tell me if you went to the store I suggested," Darlene says pointedly. She's got an amused smile on her face, however.

Unzipping the jacket I'm wearing, I pull out a dress underneath. "I bought 3 of these," I say. "They came with sashes!"

She analyzes it and tsks. "Honey, you have to get rid of the jeans," she says. "You need to flaunt your identity to the world." With that, Darlene gets me to stand up and follow her to the restroom area. She shows me the door labeled, "Ladies", while a couple of people nearby are giving us a look.

I shakily enter the room, and the first thing I notice is there's no one there. I expected the room to be filled with women gossiping, putting on lipstick, and such. Wait, I'm thinking about school. Never mind.

Taking the nearest stall, I lock the door, take off the jeans, and hurry my way out of the restroom. I'm not risking the chance of some woman bumping into me and think I'm some kind of Peeping Tom. The dress is now moving around more freely from the gust of air whenever I take a step.

"Much better," Darlene says as soon as I come back to the table. "Now you have no reason to be afraid."

"Didn't think I was supposed to be afraid of anything here," I mutter under my breath.

Darlene chuckles. "I heard that. Now come on. You have some dancing to do."

"Um, if you say so."