GHOST WRITER ? by: Circe (
[email protected])
Since I was little I always wanted to be a writer. One of my earliest
memories are of writing a huge (for me at the time) five-page epic story
of a Prince and a Princess. I loved reading about people, and so I wrote
about people. When I was eight I started a journal, just observing the
people I saw every day; my mother, my father, my sister, my
schoolteacher.
I think when puberty hit me and hormones began coursing through my body
that the tone of my stories changed slightly. There were more girls in
them for a start, and the male hero (which there invariably was) was
replaced by a female character. Women fascinated me. Since I had an older
sister I had slight access to this arcane world. I could observe her (to
a degree) going about her daily life; how she ate her cornflakes, how
much makeup she would wear depending on who was visiting her, who she
would scamper up to her bedroom and change her clothes for and so on.
Obviously I didn't have full rights to her world ? her bedroom was
strictly 'off limits'. I watched her, however, with a due sense of
wonder as she changed from a girl into a woman, and how her mind changed
with it and I suppose it was with a sense of curiosity that whenever she
was not in the house I took every opportunity to advance my research.
Subsequently I tentatively began to include, what I thought were
realistic portrayals, of what went on behind these closed doors, in my
stories. Having access, of sorts, to her world of lacy undergarments
(for those are what I chiefly found fascinating) and different clothing I
began to write about it, and the body I saw developing underneath which
would, of course, require these clothes.
I became very popular in high school. With girls as well as boys. I began
to sell the stories I wrote and, as my creative confidence grew, write
long novels which I would serialise. My own sister was my most regular
customer, and she never once questioned me on where I got most of my
knowledge.
It was fate I suppose that took me to college as an English Major. There
I actually had a few relationships with girls (young women, I suppose)
and discovered sex ? which obviously I had written about before, and, as
is customary, got most of the details wrong. My writing became more
mature, and less childish, as I read more and more literature and became
influenced by it. It was in my final year that I was first published, in
a women's magazine.
I had been sending stories religiously to whatever magazines I could find
since late high school, with little or no success. Most hadn't even
bothered with a 'Thank you' note in reply. The story that was published
however was one of my favourites. It was a romance about two high school
sweethearts who had fallen in love at school, but never told each other.
They had graduated and gone to separate colleges and found separate
partners, and gone to separate states and found different jobs; the woman
even got married. It was by complete chance that they met again, on a
eight hour plane journey to Europe, and so on and so forth. Yes, I
realise its not exactly original, but the magazine liked my
characterisations (I can only hope; it may have been the mile-high love
scene) and decided to publish it. I was thrilled, and knew that writing
was to be my vocation.
If I was enthusiastic before, I was frenzied now as I tweaked my existing
stories and wrote new ones by the bucket load to submit to magazines.
Every so often I would get something published, but more often that not I
would get a rejection. Then, an idea hit me. My then girlfriend was a
beautiful girl called Nicola Parker; but she liked to be called Nick.
She was horrified one morning when she received a free copy of a cheep
porno magazine because, she later found out, she was down as a male on
their market research form ? Nick, you see. The company apologised, but
had assumed that she would like the magazine, based on her gender. I
think you could see where I was heading.
I was christened Andrew Thomas Kennedy, but had always preferred to be
called Tom rather than Andrew. After a fun evening spent with my
girlfriend and various baby books, Andrea Thomson was born. To be honest
it wasn't much of a cataclysmic event, as she only existed on paper, but
if I had know where this simple and fun evening would have led me, I
think I would have had to had thought a little harder about it.
With my new pseudonym under my arm, so to speak, I began re-submitting
old stories, and writing new ones ? conscious of the fact that I was now
supposed to be writing from a woman's perspective. I would be greatly
exaggerating to say that I was instantly published, but the acceptances
became more and more frequent and peaked in the offer of a job. On
reflection, my writing was getting better and better too, as I worked and
reworked the things I had written by trying to write from what I thought
was a 'female perspective'.
It was entirely possible that the reason I was getting published now was
simply that my writing was better! However, I didn't stop to think about
that, I simply put two and two together ? that when magazines thought I
was a female Romance writer I was published.
I graduated that summer, and took the job ? a freelance writer for a
romance novels company (sort of like Mills and Boon). I didn't have to
lie, I simply told the truth: that I had created a pseudonym to get
published in what I saw as an all-female field. My publisher, a
delightful middle-aged woman by the name of Suzanne Green, found this
whole charade deeply amusing, and took great delight in introducing me as
'Andrea' at launching parties and jokingly saying how great I'd look in a
little black dress. I took it all in my stride.
After working for ***** for four years ? churning out Romance novels of
an almost formulaic quality, I received my first piece of fan mail.
Actually, this is inaccurate. I received my first fan mail sack. Without
really caring about how many copies I had sold (I was paid the same wage
anyway) I was rather delighted to find out that I was one of the top
three sellers in the Romance novel genre. I had finally found something I
was good at, and I made sure I replied to each and every letter
individually (taking great care to autograph each one 'Andrea'). I had
been experimenting with my writing by trying to mix formulaic Romance
stuff (boy meets girl, the lose touch, girl gets pregnant, tall dark
stranger enters and takes care of child, etc) with a more literary style
? it looked like it was working. Suzanne approached me shortly after the
fan-mail episode and took me to one side.
"Tom, we need a photo."
I looked at her blankly for a moment, looked down at my desk and rummaged
around for the dust-jacket folder she had given me the day before.
She held up her hand. "No. No. I mean for you! You're our best selling
author, Tom."
"Well, um? thanks," I smiled.
She looked at me for a moment, and shook her head. "Success never sat
well with you," she grinned. "Seriously, we need a photo of Andrea for a
promotion."
My face fell. I knew exactly what she meant. The company were in the
habit of recruiting local models and actresses to provide author
photographs for the less attractive members of the publishing house. Oh
well, what would it matter: they were my words that were being read, even
if the readers were thinking of someone else.
Suzanne caught my expression and put a hand on my shoulder. "Hey, you
don't have to do this forever. When you ever want a straight writing job
I'll put in a good word for you Tom." I nodded. "Someone from the agency
is coming over this afternoon at three. Meet me in my office."
She turned on her heel and left, leaving me with a somewhat melancholy
expression on my face. I was quite happy doing what I was doing, except I
didn't get any recognition for it, and now I had to choose the face that
would stick in the minds of my readers everywhere. I was going to make
sure then that she would be as much like me as possible. This turned out
to be a very big mistake.
Her name was Rebecca McCay, and she was beautiful. I had been thumbing
through the various portfolios for over three hours when I spotted her.
She had long blonde hair, a small nose, deep green eyes, high perfect
cheekbones and a neck of grace and beauty. She also looked, to be fair,
completely vacant. However, she had the look I was going for, and
although Suzanne thought there was a vague similarity I couldn't see it.
Not until I turned the page and saw her laugh. At least, I assume she was
laughing, but I could see all her teeth. Her eyes sparkled in the
photograph, and I couldn't take my eyes off them.
I recognised the sparkle; I had seen it in the mirror often enough. With
her eyes and mine in common (even though they were different colours ?
mine are a deep blue) I started examining her for other similarities.
Her nose was similar to mine, although hers was more defined; my chin
(which now sported a goatee beard) was an exact copy of hers ? elvish and
narrow ? but with my facial hair it was less obvious.
I turned the page. This girl (who couldn't have been more than eighteen
in the photo) who I had never met but felt drawn to, stood before me
naked. It was artfully done, of course, (which meant it was in black and
white) but she was there naked nonetheless, her hands behind her head,
arms raised, legs apart in a striking pose.
I was on my third examination of her belly button when I was aware that
there was a still silence in the room. I glanced up and smiled at
Suzanne, who was looking at me in a slightly motherly fashion.
"I take it that's her then?" she asked, a slight smile playing over her
lips.
I laughed, nervously. "Yeah. She's perfect," I said.
I recall that phrase completely.
I was dismissed and my publisher and the model agent began a long
conversation, which was not concluded when I left for the evening three
hours later.
That night I could think of nothing else than Rebecca. The photograph of
her, naked, stuck in my mind. She was perfect. She was beautiful. She
was me. I'm not quite sure how my mental processes worked that evening
(as I have already said, I tend to overlook the obvious) but I spent most
of the night imagining what it was like to be her; how she would think,
act, dress, be treated. I have had a few girlfriends in my time, but no
serious relationships. In fact the only girl who has stuck with me for
any length of time is my sister, who I see regularly.
So, I was no stranger to the inner workings of the female mind. The last
thing I remember about that evening, despite getting completely drunk on
Gin, was masturbating myself to sleep with one definite image in my
intoxicated head. I dreamt of her too (not for the last time). I watched
as she posed for the photograph, as she stripped off her blue print
summer dress to reveal her perfect breasts encased in a satin white
brassiere, as she delicately slid her panties down her smooth long legs,
as she unhooked her bra, and as she took up the pose, proudly displaying
her round, full, high breasts, the patch of blonde fur between her legs
and, of course, her belly button.
She turned towards the camera, and blew a kiss; her long luxurious blonde
hair framing her face wonderfully as the camera flash made lightning
bolts in the background. I was suddenly aware, in the dream, that she saw
me. Her poses became more and more risqu?, as she became conscious of her
body; playing with and cupping her breasts, caressing her soft smooth
flesh, running her delicate fingers over her wide hips and behind, and
eventually masturbating in front of the camera.
Once she had reached orgasm several times, she turned, and looked
directly at me, smiled, and looked down. I felt myself look down also,
and saw, proudly hanging from my chest, the most wonderful pair of
breasts I had ever seen. I looked up again, and saw Rebecca look up. I
brought a hand up to my face, she brought a slim, expertly manicured hand
to hers. I realised I was looking in a mirror.
I found out from Suzanne the next day that I was to go with her to a
photo shoot the following day and pick out the 'look' that Rebecca, as
Andrea, was going for. There were butterflies in my stomach all day as we
flicked through a catalogue together picking outfits for this intelligent
and feminine author to wear on her dust jacket. All I could think about
was my dream. We eventually decided on a couple of looks, from
businesswoman and fashion girl at home to bookworm.
To try and make her look more intelligent (an awful thing to say, I'm
sorry) we decided to die her hair auburn, give her a pair of very thin
glasses (I wore contacts) and photograph her in front of a library ? in
the vain hope that because she is sitting in a library, she must be well
read.
I met Rebecca the next day at the photo shoot. She was having make up
applied when I arrived. She looked startling. Her hair had already been
dyed and styled into a high, off the face look, which made her face look
even more attractive. The other startling thing I noticed was that she
was in her underwear. Like any red blooded male I tried to get as many
covert glances as I could, but like every sensitive ponytail guy (I've
had it since college) I tried to look at her eyes.
It transpired that she had read my stories and was honoured to pose as me
for them. She laughed when she told me that she had found out I was a
man. All the while I watched her round breasts rise and fall in the black
underwired bra she wore, trying to catch a sneaky glance at her nipples.
We talked for a good ten minutes as the last of her makeup was applied,
and I watched with genuine interest and surprise as she stood up,
adjusted her underwear, and slipped on a pair of gold rimmed glasses.
She looked amazing. She smiled at me and walked off to a dressing room. I
turned and found Suzanne starring at me.
"She's very pretty," she said, fighting back an obvious smile.
I cleared my throat. "Yes, she is. She's perfect."
The photo shoot went very well. The outfits we had picked out looked
fantastic on her and she posed and did her best to look literate. At the
end of it we kept about twenty different pictures, paid the girl and said
our goodbyes. I thought that was the last I would ever see of her in the
flesh.
The next book I published, which Suzanne said was my best ever, we put
one of the dust jacket photographs on. I received a sack of fan mail.
Each day. The tone had changed now. Instead of people (mainly women)
saying how much they loved the book, I now got more letters from men
asking for dates, marriage, sex and a whole host of other things I didn't
even want to think about.
About ten months later, my world changed. I received a letter from MBC
studios. They wanted Andrea as a guest on a talk show. They were
assembling a panel of guests to talk about literature, of all things, and
wanted me there. I panicked. There was no way we could use the model.
This was not the first time something like this had happened. Suzanne
came to me every once in a while and asked/told me that another bookshop
chain had asked for a signing tour ? which we always politely refused.
Things were different now. Over the course of the last year, Suzanne (who
owned the publishing house) had been moving out of the Romance novel
industry, taking on more 'serious' writing. I was the only member of her
original group she had retained, and I found my books on the 'Literary
Fiction' shelves instead of the 'Romance' section. It would be seen as
very bad form for the star author of a publishing house to refuse this
kind of publicity.
I was deeply thinking about this when I read the morning paper the next
day, a Saturday. There was a literary supplement, and a two page article
about me! It showed a variety of the photographs from the photo shoot and
had a very interesting article about Andrea Thomson, the 'Ghost Writer'.
It talked about my publicity machine of 'absenteeism' and how by showing
tantalising photographs, but never publicly appearing, I was more popular
than I should be.
I was in a state of shock when I phoned Suzanne. She told me that she
hadn't authorised the article, but that it showed that something had to
be done. I told her I had no idea what. I must have sounded really
distraught on the phone because, half an hour later, she arrived at my
front door.
"I quit Suz, I cant do this any more," I started.
She slapped me across the face, hard. "Don't be a bloody fool."
I stared at her. This was the first time ever she had hit me.
"We can sort this out. Have faith." She reached into her bag and produced
a large bottle of Gin and a ring binder portfolio. I was not surprised
when I saw it was the results of the photo shoot with Rebecca. She
poured me a drink.
"I called Rebecca."
"You what?!" I almost spat the drink onto the carpet.
"I called her," she said calmly, crossing her legs. "There's some bad
news."
"Oh great! Now what?"
"Less of the histrionics please." She took a drink. "There's been an
accident."
I blinked.
"A Motorcycle accident. She was riding with her boyfriend a few months
ago and they hit a truck. He was killed, she was badly scarred. She's had
plastic surgery but . . . " She let the sentence trail off.
"Oh god," I quickly finished the drink.
Suzanne poured me another. "Calm down. She's okay. "
"That's not the point is it! There's no way we can use her now is there?"
We had used her photograph since then. Cruel, I know, to be thinking of
such pragmatics, but my mind was in a very selfish place at the time;
understandably, I think.
Suzanne nodded. "There is another option."
"Her twin sister?" I added hopefully.
Suzanne shot me a glare, which I quickly avoided. "No," she paused,
pursing her lips together. I knew this was a bad sign. "You do it."
I laughed. I laughed very hard indeed for the first time in a few days.
"You're kidding right?" I asked, when I had wiped away the tears. "I
mean, I look nothing like her, despite what you might think. She has a
figure to die for, I have love handles and a goatee!"
"Look, Tom. Who can talk about Andrea's books better than you?"
I shrugged. "We could train an actress, someone who looks similar, I
ventured.
"It has to be you."
I began to speak, to say anything that would change this crazy woman's
mind. I looked into her eyes, and saw how resolute they were. I realised
she was right.
"So I go on TV and admit that Andrea was a pseudonym."
"And have this thrown at you," se picked up the newspaper and threw it
at me.
She was right. I didn't need the bad press. Or more bad press, to be
exact. I needed to defend myself. And I needed to be Andrea.
"Its impossible."
"Leave it with me," she smiled, and raised her eyebrows; an expression I
have grown to fear.
* * * * *
When I returned to work on Monday I was still a nervous wreck. Even more
so when I found out that MBC had phoned. I went into a paralytic shock
when I found out that Suzanne had set a date! Two weeks from tomorrow. I
went straight into her office, to be confronted by Suzanne and another
woman in a meeting.
"I need to talk to you!" I said. I think I may have shouted.
"Ah, right on time," Suzanne gave me a predatory grin. "Tom, I want you
to meet Charlie."
She gestured to the woman opposite her.
The woman, who was introduced to me as Charlie, turned her head towards
me. I think my mouth must have opened slightly.
She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my life. Her dark
brown hair formed a mass of curls around a lovely round face. Her red
lips pouted slightly as she extended a slender hand and said, in an
enchanting voice, "Charmed." I took it, and shook it dumbly.
Suzanne gestured at the chair next to Charlie's, which I took. I was
surprised when I sat down as Charlie turned her chair and faced me
directly.
"Charlie is going to help us with our problem Tom."
I gave Charlie a look over, from head to feet. I must confess this
wasn't completely professional. She was wearing a business suit, with a
short brown skirt that sat on her shapely nylon-clad thighs. Her white
blouse was open at the throat down to the top of her impressive cleavage,
and open enough that I could see the lace trim of her brassiere.
I turned to Suzanne. "No offence, but she doesn't look anything like
Rebecca."
Suzanne smiled. "That's not quite the point, Tom."
I turned, with a puzzled look on my face back to the gorgeous woman who
sat next to me. She reached up to her blouse and started unbuttoning it!
I couldn't say anything, and was frozen to the spot, as I watched her
undo the last button, and wiggle slightly as she took it off, letting it
drop to the floor beside her. I looked round in a panic, and noticed
that the blinds of Suzanne's office were down.
Charlie smiled at me, and I felt my pulse increase. "Do you like what
you see, Tom?"
The words surprised me. I had never heard a woman say that in my life.
"Or would you like to see more?" She stood up and turned around, pushing
her delightful ass in my face. As she wiggled her behind, she brought
her hand round and caressed it in front of me, before unzipping the short
skirt and letting it slide down her nylon stockings (I could see they
were stockings now!). She turned to face me again, her hands on her hips
as I took in her body. As my eyes passed over her breasts she smiled at
me, and unclipped her bra at the front, exposing her impressive breasts
to the world. Her nipples were rock hard, and they weren't the only
thing.
I felt my cock strain against the confines of the jeans I wore. By this
time I was completely engrossed in the rather strange performance in
front of me. I had completely forgotten about Suzanne. Even more so when
the gorgeous woman in front of me unclasped each stocking clip and slid
her panties down her legs, revealing a small patch of brown fur between
her legs. I had completely lost my voice, and could only stare at this
display of female flesh.
"Do you think I am a beautiful woman?" Charlie asked, caressing her own
body with a disturbing narcissism. "Would you like to fuck me?" I said
nothing, instead watching her red fingernails trace lines down her
abundant curves. Finally I nodded.
A triumphant smile grew on the lips of this lush woman as she sat down,
completely graceful and very naked, apart from her stockings.
"What do you think of him, Tom?" I was brought back to reality by
Suzanne.
"She's gorgeous," I said, unthinking. My gaze never moving from this
wonderful woman. There was a pause for a few seconds as my mind caught
up with current events. As I have said before, I sometimes overlook the
obvious.
"Him?!"
There was a giggle from the chair next to me, as Charlie wiggled out of
the chair, her (his?) sumptuous body rising to her full height. She bent
down, her (his?) large round breasts hanging in front of my eyes and took
my hand from my lap and placed it onto her pert nipples. She felt
wonderful, warm and smooth and soft. Meanwhile my brain was doing
cartwheels. She stood suddenly, gathered her clothes, and strutted into
Suzanne's washroom as I watched her perfect ass wiggle.
I blinked several times before I regained the power of speech.
"Him?"
"Charlie is a makeup artist. He's a friend of a friend."
"And the little show was to . . .," I tried to cover up my arousal.
"Prove to you that a man can be a woman. And a convincing one to. Here,"
she tossed me over a Polaroid photograph. It was of a handsome man,
dressed in an expensive suit. There was no similarity in the photograph
between this man and the woman who had taken her clothes off for me.
"How long ago was this taken? I mean, I know surgery and drugs and . ."
"Yesterday," she said flatly.
"My God. That's? ," I fished for a word, "Stunning," I paused, "But,
there's more to being a woman than looks and ? boobs." I finished, my
mind still dwelling on the delightful curves of the strip artist.
"Let me worry about that. Look," she leaned forward, "You need to be on
this TV show. You need more exposure. I know it sounds ridiculous but
you know you have to do it."
"Ok," I nodded, giving in to defeat.
She smiled. "I knew you would. Charlie!"
The tall woman walked back into the office, fully dressed again. Except
this time her blouse was more modestly arranged. She offered me her hand
again. This time I kissed it.
"Tom, I can make you look exactly like this girl," she gestured towards
the photographs of Rebecca arranged on the desk. "I can make you walk
like her, talk like her and give you her body. All you have to do is
trust me. Do you trust me?"
I nodded and smiled. "Okay. I trust you. Anyone who can make themselves
look like you do not only deserves my trust, but my admiration too."
She blushed. "Thank you. I take it you enjoyed my show?" she smiled.
"I'm not actually that much of a slut, but hey, I was making a point."
"Good point, well made," I quipped. "The first thing that worries me is
that I don't even vaguely sound like a woman. I mean, I believe that you
can make me look like Rebecca, but I've never been even remotely good at
giving myself a woman's voice."
"Andrea, sweetheart, leave it all to me."
* * * * *
I stood in a white bathrobe in Charlie's studio. It was amazing. There
were variously dressed mannequins and dummies everywhere, and several
disembodied heads. The most obvious part of the room was dominated by a
huge mirror, surrounded by very theatrical lights, a couple of tables
with an assortment of make-up and surgical tools. To say I was scared was
an understatement. Charlie was there, of course, dressed as I had seen
him in the photograph, except in Jeans and a T-shirt. The woman I had
seen had gone completely, although I was not surprised when I saw her
face hanging on one of the polystyrene heads.
"Ok, Tom. This is going to be a long process." He sat me down in what
appeared to be a dentist's chair.
"Do you have to do a full job?" I asked. "I mean, no one's going to see
me naked."
He smiled. "That's not the point. If you are a woman from the skin out,
you feel more feminine. Have you ever done amateur dramatics?" I said
that I had, in college. "Right, then you'll know yourself. You can
rehearse a part all you like, but its only when you in complete costume
that you feel closer to the person you're playing."
I nodded, and could only agree.
"Ok, what we're going to do is take a cast of your face, and accurate
measurements of your body. I don't have Rebecca's face here sadly, so
I'll do the best I can with these pictures. Your body will be a lot
easier, believe it or not, because all I have to do is take your
measurements and make them into hers. At the end of this you'll be a 36-
24-36." He smiled. "Nervous?"
"Very. I'm just worried about this, and the TV show and, well, not
making a fool of myself really."
He put a hand on my shoulder. "Listen Andrea. You'll be fine. Just
pretend you're a character in one of your books." I nodded and took a
deep breath. "You'll have to take your robe off."
I had prepared myself for this, and had, as per Charlie's instructions,
shaved my entire body the night before (although, this had only really
been my legs and pubic areas. I've never really had much in the way of
chest or arm hair). I had even shaved my goatee, which made my face look
very odd. I removed the robe, and placed it on a nearby chair.
Charlie said nothing, but walked up to me with a measuring tape and
proceeded, for about twenty minutes, to take various measurements and
write them down. "You can get dressed if you like," he said. I complied.
He them gestured to the chair in front of the mirror, and sat me down.
"Okay, I'm going to take a cast of your face. To be honest this won't be
pleasant." I nodded and took a deep breath. "Hey, relax; You're going to
be beautiful."
He placed a latex cap over my head, covering all my hair, and two straws
up my nose. For the next hour my entire face and neck was covered with a
foul-smelling green paste which made my skin itch. After it my face was
all equally covered, and Charlie was happy, he left me sitting there for
a further half hour, breathing through the straws in my nose, as we
waited for the mould to set. It seemed like an eternity.
The mould was taken off my face in two halves, which I was glad of!
While I was rubbing my face and trying the novelty of breathing properly,
Charlie put it together again on a special rack, and poured a white
grainy liquid into the mould through the open neck. After a while he
opened the green mould, to reveal a perfect bust of my head.
"Not bad, eh Tom?"
I could only nod, bemused.
I got the afternoon off that day, as Charlie did whatever he did to make
my face on the cast look like Rebecca's. I went home, and sat in front of
my computer, hoping that I could write something, anything, to take my
mind off what was happening. I guess when truth is stranger than fiction
you really have nothing to write. After an hour or so of this I gave up,
and went out for lunch.
After a short while sitting in the restaurant I had already settled into
my usual habit of watching people going about their lives. Something was
different this time though. Instead of watching the customers in the
quiet restaurant and creating lives for them, a narrative if you will; I
was only watching the women, and I was watching how they acted.There were
two young women in their middle twenties at a table opposite, talking and
laughing. They were dressed quite casually, one in jeans and a sweater,
the other in a long skirt and tight vest top.
I became acutely aware of their subtle mannerisms as I watched them and
began, with a subconscious desire, to mimic how they ate, moved and so
forth. After a few minutes of this I shook myself and stopped, confused
and more than a little worried. What did this mean? Nothing, I was sure.
Only that I was interested in playing a woman very well. If this was how
I acted having never been fully made-up however, I began to worry what I
would do after being 'in costume' for a day or so! I shrugged it off, and
returned to my lunch.
The next day I returned to Charlie's workshop at around seven a.m. He
was already up and moving about when I arrived. Sitting, proudly, on the
table next to the mirror was a perfect, flesh-coloured rendition of
Rebecca's face. I recognised the mould underneath. It was my face.
"What do you think Tom?" asked Charlie, over his shoulder as he mixed
something in a bucket at the far end of the room.
"Its staggering. Really." I looked at it from all angles. It was very
subtle, with as much of the wearer's own face visible as possible.
Obviously my chin would be completely covered by the prosthesis (so as
not to give my stubble free reign), and my cheekbones and nose, but the
forehead area and a great deal else was completely uncovered by the mask.
I touched the cheekbones, and found them to be filled with some liquid
which gave them realistic properties. "Amazing."
"Thanks." Charles turned back to what he was doing. "This morning, and
then this afternoon see if the face is going to be alright. It should be
though," he added.
"Fine," I shrugged. "What do you want me to do?"
"Just take off all your clothes and lie on the chair," he said,
matter-of-factly.
I was still not used to his manner, and so was still quite hesitant about
disrobing in front of him. Nevertheless I did so and sat in the chair,
my body exposed to the world.
"First things first," Charlie walked over to me, "you have to shave and
do hair removal every day from now on. Okay?" I nodded. "Shaving isn't
really good enough, so go get your legs waxed." I blinked, and Charlie
smiled. "We'll do it tomorrow, once you've got your make-up on." The
thought sent butterflies through my stomach ? I had never been out
cross-dressed before. Charlie must have seen my panic because he smiled
and shook his head. "You'll be wonderful. And I'll be with you to make
sure you do great. Okay?" I nodded. "But for the rest of your hair
removal, use this cream," he gestured to a bottle on the table top.
"I'll give you some away with you. Make sure you use it though, it makes
things easier . . . . .
Now, the first thing we've got to do with your body is fairly unpleasant,
but if we get it over with quickly then . . . ," he stopped, "Well, it'll
be over with." He smiled.
"Ok, what is it?" I asked, looking warily at the bucket in his hand.
Setting down the bucket on a worktop, he produced what can only be
described as a pipe. "I have to catheter you."
Once done, (an experience I have never really grown fond of) I was told
to don a pair of skin-tight panties, made of some rubber. "This rubber is
porous, sort of like latex mixed with lycra. So your skin can breathe."
I nodded and donned the tight, tight undergarment. My penis was pushed
flat against my stomach and the catheter was fed through a hole in the
bottom of the panties. I was not surprised to note there was a long slit
at the rear of the garment.
Charlie then produced a pair of bicycle shorts. They were flesh tone,
very thin, and made of the same rubber material. I didn't need a diagram
to know where they were going, or why. The shorts were padded, in the
hips, rear and front and sported a perfect patch of dark brown curls
between the legs. I pulled them on, with great effort, and wiggled around
a little until they were snug against my skin. I looked down. It looked
like I was wearing a pair of skin-coloured shorts. I was less than
impressed, and said so.
"Wait, Andrea, wait. There is magic at work."
During the course of the next hour I was told to spread my legs wide, and
an artificial latex vagina was fitted, and blended with the colour of the
shorts. The bottom of the shorts, which sat just at the edge of my
'bikini line' were blended with the tops of my legs, and a layer of
special foundation applied to the rest of the area between my stomach and
my thighs.
Then came the garment I was dreading. A corset. This particular garment
was the same flesh colour that the shorts had started out as, was made of
the same material and was soaking wet. I also didn't have any hooks,
eyes or a zip. It was put over my head, and pulled down into position,
just slightly above the artificial swell of my pubis and just underneath
my nipples. It was tight, but not unbearable as it stretched a little for
ease of wearing. My stomach was certainly a lot flatter, with less in the
way of love handles, but it was by no means a 24 inch waist.
Charlie surprised me again. Once he was satisfied that it was in the
correct place, he turned a hair dryer on me, drying out the wet-suit type
corset. As the water left the garment, it began to shrink and mould my
body to the mould with which it had been designed. It was extraordinarily
painful. When it was completely dry I sported a wasp-like waist and
perfectly proportioned hips and ass. The fact that none of this looked in
any way real at the moment was a slight worry. I said nothing, and
watched with a due sense of fascination as a pair of breasts were brought
forth.
I confess, I have always been a breast man. Well, breasts and hips.
Curves basically. And I knew enough about the curves being attached to my
body to know that these were impressive. (I also knew from studying
Rebecca's portfolio that she was a 36C) After the silicon breasts were
attached, another rubber one-piece garment was put around them and fitted
into place around my back. It was at this point, once the glue had set,
that we stopped for a break.
I examined my self in the mirror. I looked like a woman-shaped doll. The
colours of my body were completely unnatural. At this point I began to
doubt Charlie's abilities. Bearing in mind the show I had received
yesterday, I should really have had more confidence. I voiced my concerns
to him as he drank his coffee, which he politely ignored, simply telling
me to 'wait'.
The next hour was the most magical time in my life. I watched Charlie
apply various kinds of blending, toning, and foundation make-up to my
'body' with a skill and artistic eye I had never seen. Finally, I was
told to stand and sprayed all over with some form of setting agent. I had
my eyes closed for the duration of the spraying, and my contact lenses
out, so even when I opened them I couldn't really see anything. After the
setting agent had set, I was told to sit down again, and close my eyes as
he applied my face.
It was a strange sensation, wearing this body, and I began to explore it
through my mind as Charlie fussed and attached things to my face and
neck. My waist was sore. This was the first thing that struck me. Every
time I took a breath I felt the constriction, but that wasn't all I felt.
The sensation of my unclad breasts rising and falling as I inhaled was
amazing. There was a subtle weight, which I had compensated for
automatically.
However, any time I tried to turn myself on, by imagining what I looked
like naked, I was painfully reminded of the catheter and the tight
constriction around my penis. For some reason, at this point, I thought
this was not going to be a great deal of fun.
Charlie stopped for a break again once all the appliances were attached
to my face. He made idle chit chat about this and that, and even brought
up one of my books, which he had obviously read repeatedly. I was still
very nervous indeed. I was completely vulnerable at this point, having
never been so in my life. My body was entirely in his hands, as it were,
and it scared me.
After the break the make-up was applied to my face as I sat, eyes closed.
My hair was still its natural colour (brown) but we decided to leave it
for now, so that we could practice outside without too many people
stopping for autographs (!). Finally, a retainer was slipped into my
mouth and a set of deep green contact lenses were put in my eyes. I
refused to open them. I felt Charlie's hands take me by the waist and
lift me up, and walk me over to a point in the room. He let go. I don't
think I have ever been more scared to open my eyes than I was at that
point. I was woken from my panic by Charlie softly whispering in my ear,
"Andrea. Tell me what you think."
I opened my eyes.
Rebecca stood before me. Although to simply say that is not to do
justice to what I saw.
In the large mirror in front of me stood an open mouthed Goddess. Her
breasts, which were the first thing to strike me, were unnatural. They
were full, round, high and perfect. I turned slightly, and was not
surprised to see that my ass was similar. Perfectly round, high and
completely unlikely in a woman. My legs looked longer, completely without
blemish, smooth and striking. My hips were wide with a bone structure
that pointed to the smooth mound between my legs, and the red hair that
nestled underneath.
My waist was so thin! I couldn't believe it. The effect of which was to
make my hips and ass look even larger, and more impressive. I brought
one of my hands up to my neck. I was not surprised to see that my hands
were perfectly in proportion with my body, and that my fingernails were
now a light blue. My neck was completely smooth, with not a trace of an
Adam's apple. But my face, my face was the masterpiece. It was Rebecca.
From the small nose to the high cheekbones and the eyes! Oh, the eyes
were the same beautiful piercing deep green. However, it was also not
Rebecca. My face was older, more mature than that of the eighteen year
old that had posed about a year ago for me.
As a afterthought my eyes traveled down to my belly button, which was an
exact copy. I giggled.
I froze.
I had not giggled my giggle. For some reason I had expected a deep,
manly giggle, which is what I normally do. I should have know that
Charlie would have come to my rescue. I spoke the first words Andrea had
ever said, "I'm a woman."
My voice was amazing. High and soft it sounded like . . . sounded like .
. . I couldn't quite place it. Charlie spoke behind me, but I was so
engrossed in the form that stood before me ? that was me ? and the
dramatic change that had taken place that I didn't hear him. Then I felt
his hands softly rest on my hips.
It suddenly struck me that I was naked. I know this may sound like a
strange thing to say, but my mind was still thinking in terms of my body
underneath the make up. Now I found myself realising that for Andrea,
this was naked.
"I said," said Charlie, with a smiled I could see reflected in the
mirror, "what do you think?"
"I think I'm naked," I replied, very conscious of his hands now, and
still unaccustomed to the voice I spoke in.
"Is there anything I should change? I mean, you've met this girl before,
you know what she's like." His hands began to gently move down and round
my hips.
I was unable to turn around. Unable to move.
"It's . . . I'm perfect," I replied, hesitantly.
"Thank you," he said softly, moving his hands now up my narrow frame,
caressing my narrow waist, moving towards my breasts.
I had no idea what to think, or what to do. So I stood there, watching.
Waiting.
Suddenly, instead of touching my breasts, which I had been readying
myself for, he grabbed me hard by the waist, and pulled me round, so my
face was level with his.
"Stop being so narcissistic," he grinned, "and go get dressed."
Charlie had left me to my own devices as I stood in nirvana. Racks and
racks of clothes of various sizes were laid up before me. Basically, I
had no idea where to start. He had told me that we were going out to meet
some friends of his, but this left me with so much scope for occasion he
may as well have said nothing. After a great deal of deliberation I chose
a print dress, a long black skirt with matching vest top, and a short
brown skirt suit I recognised. There was quite a selection of underwear
too, but for the sake of nostalgia, and to make me feel even more like
Rebecca, I chose a black underwired bra and matching panties.
As I walked to the room Charlie had set up for changing in, nakedly
carrying my bundle of clothes, I became aware of several slight but
important changes. The first that struck me was that I was no longer in
any pain at all. This meant that I was getting used to the make-up, but
also that the thought of cross-dressing hadn't made me aroused. The
second was that I was walking differently. The way the prosthesis was
applied to my hips and ass meant that I couldn't walk like a man and that
I had to roll my hips.
I stood naked in front of the mirror in the changing room, a pile of
clothes on the bed besides me, my hands by my side. I began turning this
way and that to try and examine myself from all angles. I was hot. There
were no two ways about it. I brought one hand up, and tentatively touched
my left breast. It felt warm, soft and full. My nipples stood out proud
from both of them. Yet on the inside I couldn't feel them. I had felt my
boobs jiggle as I walked, because of the tug on my chest, but I couldn't
feel my touch on them.
I continued to explore, moving down my waist to my hips, which also felt
firm and warm on the outside, but dead on the inside. Only when I put
pressure on my ass, by squeezing hard, did I feel anything. I moved my
delicately manicured hand round to the front of my hips, and down to
between my legs. It was warm. I found my pussy and began fondling
it, trying to get a reaction. Nothing. Then penetration. Oh-my-god. A
shiver of pure pleasure ran up and down my moulded body. It wasn't deep,
but god was it effective!
I was brought out of my reverie by a loud noise outside, and decided that
Charlie must be growing impatient. I slipped on the black g-string
panties, which felt wonderful on my legs, and manoeuvred them into place.
Next the black bra, which I clipped together at the front, then swiveled
around until the cups were under my tremendous boobs. I slid the straps
over my shoulders, reveling in the fact that I actually had breasts to
put it this garment now. After five minutes of adjusting and re-adjusting
the straps I was cursing them. After the bra was in place, and my tits
had been delightfully arranged inside it, I stood back and looked at
myself in the mirror.
The g-string made my ass look even rounder, and my boobs were high and
proud on my chest, with very impressive cleavage. I looked exactly like
Rebecca had done on the day we had met. I re-arranged my underwear, as
she had done, and giggled.
I turned suddenly as the door opened, but made no effort to cover my
nubile body. Charlie walked in, made-up. She was completely naked, a
sight I had seen and relished before. She said nothing, but walked
straight up to me and kissed me full on the lips, her hands wrapped
around my waist and groping for my ass. I responded hungrily, pressing my
body to hers. She stopped, pushing me away, mouthing the word 'later'
with her lips. I must have frowned, because she smiled at me with a
playful pout, kissed me on the nose, and turned, walking towards a set of
drawers.
I realised then that this was her room. "Come on, get dressed sweetie,
we've got lots to do!"
Charlie's voice was still the same light tenor, completely wrong with her
body; masculine and hard to her soft and feminine. For some reason this
shock made me even more excited. She looked over at me, obviously aware
of my excitement, rolled her eyes heavenward and shook her head, before
delving into the chest of drawers and pulling out a matching set of
white, satin underwear. She turned to face me, as I was perched on the
edge of the bed (her bed?) sliding a pair of silk stockings up my shapely
legs, and held the bra up to her ample bust, giving me a 'what do you
think?' look. I laughed and nodded my approval.
It was amazing: I just 'fell' into the role of Andrea. Once dressed, and
after a brief panic running around for accessories, I realised I was
moving differently, conscious of the constraints ? and benefits ? of my
clothes and body. I began to talk differently, changing how I said
things, and the moment Charlie caught me choosing between two pocket
books was the moment I decided that maybe I was taking this too far.
She had called a cab, and had booked a restaurant, and was fussing around
at the last minute before it arrived, giving me various counterfeit
documents she had assembled ? driver's license, passport, credit cards,
gym membership. Not once until that point had I given any thought about
the type of woman that Andrea was, or the sort of life she would have
led. She had simply become my wet dream. Was this the woman I was? Or the
sort of woman I would have been? A bad character, out of one of my early
romance novels? All makeup and Wonderbras?
It was as if Charlie read my thoughts. "Worried that I've made Bride of
Frankenstein?" she asked, noticing my lingering glances on the photo IDs
she had concocted.
"Kind of," I replied, my high voice seeming natural now, but different to
the first time I had spoken with it. It was slightly deeper now, and not
quite as, well, as bimboesque. "I just haven't really thought about the
sort of woman Andrea is. I just don't feel she's Joan Collins, you know?"
She laughed, "I know. Just roll with it."
I nodded.
"The more you adapt to your body and the way people treat you, the more
you're own personality will come through. At the moment you'll probably
feel really fake, and overcompensate for it by being girlier that thou.
It'll pass. I guarantee by the end of tonight you'll be as Andrea as
you're going to be." She paused, and smiled at me. The door-bell rang,
with a gruff call of, "Taxi!"
"Okay, that's us, got everything?" she asked, and I checked my
pocketbook, looking around before I realised what Charlie may have
forgotten.
"Erm, Charlie?" I asked, she looked up at me. "Are you going to do
anything about your voice?"
"Oh, well done," she smiled, showing a row of perfect teeth, before
opening her mouth and reaching inside, pulling out a brace. She walked
over to the make-up table, and laid it down inside a case. "Thank you,"
she replied, in a very familiar, and very sexy soprano. She gave me a hug
and kissed me lightly on the cheek. "Good luck tonight."
I smiled, checked my make-up in the mirror for a lipstick mark, and
followed her out of the door, heels clacking on the floorboards. If I had
thought about it for a minute, I maybe would have realised that she had
taken the brace out of her mouth, rather than put one in.
We climbed into the taxi, no doubt appearing to all the world as a couple
of girlfriends going out for a good time. Charlie leant forward, and told
the guy where we were going, and we sped off. I wriggled on my seat,
yanking my long black skirt down (did I mention that I went for the black
skirt and vest top combo?) so that the slit didn't show too much of my
thighs. Every time the cab stopped at traffic lights, I could swear that
the driver was looking in his mirror, checking out his two gorgeous
female passengers.
Charlie must have sensed I was scared out my wits, as she didn't speak,
just let me look around and try to look comfortable. That being said, she
put her hand on my thigh, and when I looked at her, shot me a smile that
would have stopped traffic. It helped. I had never been so self-conscious
in all my life. Even people I saw out the window of the cab were judging
me, I felt. Looking for flaws in my disguise that made it obvious that I
was faking. That I wasn't real.
Oh God. If this is how I felt in a taxi, imagine how I was going to feel
on national TV. I tried to look away from people, looking at my feet, at
the taxi driver, anyone. The driver shot me a look, and a warm smile. Oh
God. There was a whine, and the intercom screeched into life. Oh God, he
was going to talk to me. Oh God.
"So, night on the town is it?" he asked cheerfully, "Celebrating
something?"
"Uhm," I turned and looked at Charlie, who merely raised her eyebrows.
"Just going out for a meal with friends." I hated taxi drivers at the
best of times. All of a sudden they had become enemies, soldiers to
shatter my illusion of calm.
"Oh, you pair look dressed for a night to kill, wish I was eating with
you. I could just park my cab and come in . . .," he prattled on. I
suppose if I'd been in one of my romance novels, I have found this sort
of bad come-on sexy, even taken him up on his offer ? and probably taken
twenty pages or so to write about what exactly he had done to me.
However, all I wanted him to do at this point was shut up, leave me
alone. I found myself crossing my legs, and folding my arms, tucking them
under my breasts (I have breasts!), and looking out the window. This guy
was chatting me up, and I was annoyed! I started to laugh, cruely, I
know, but that's me.
"What's up?" Charlie whispered in my ear, "Why are you laughing?"
"I'm annoyed!" I whispered back, the constant drone of a cab driver with
bad come-on's in the background. Charlie looked at me, rolled her eyes
and giggled. I think we threatened the driver's masculinity, because he
shut up, and drove. Somewhere inside me, under the layers of latex,
lingerie and lip gloss, something shifted and I smiled. I caught my
reflection in the glass, the city speeding by behind it. Okay, so I
didn't look like me. Okay, so I was a fraud. Okay, so I was lying to
everyone I met. Just as long as I remembered I was still me.
We arrived, smiled sweetly at the driver, paid him, and entered the
restaurant. It was busy, but Charlie's friends had already arrived, so we
didn't have to wait. I was practically strutting around, wiggling my
delightful hips and bouncing my delightful boobs. I undid my jacket,
showing off some cleavage. The clack-clack of my heels on the floor
sounded so erotic to me; I felt on top of the world. We walked towards
the table, and I saw someone stand up, looking at me. I couldn't make her
out, as people kept walking in front of her, but she was so familiar.
She had long blonde hair, a small nose, deep green eyes, high perfect
cheekbones, she waved. My world collapsed ? it was Rebecca.
The next thing I remember is waking up in a strange room, staring at the
ceiling. Suzanne looked down at me on the left, Charlie on the right.
Someone was saying "Oh my God," over and over, like a mantra. As the
world began to swim into consciousness, I realised it was me. "Andrea.
Andrea." Suzanne slapped me across the face. I shut up. "Wow, you look
fantastic."
"She's, Rebecca, you," I seemed incapable of formulating a sentence. I
slowly began to take stock of myself. Lying on the floor in the ladies
bathroom, my back was cold, but not my ass. I also was in so much panic I
was sweating. Suzanne hit me again. For some reason this helped.
"Okay, that's Rebecca right?"
I began to sit up, Suzanne was looking at me, in fact, she was looking
through me. "Hello? Suzanne!"
She blinked, and looked at me for I think the first time. "Tom? Wow, you
look fantastic," she smiled. "And yes, that's Rebecca. She's dying to
meet you again."
I felt like a fool. Some how I managed to scrape myself off the floor and
stand up. The first thing I did was look in the mirror. I wasn't there.
Reflected back were three beautiful women. I thought about checking my
make-up, trying to pretend I was okay, and not in fact considering
running out the restaurant. I realise this was a futile gesture. Any
attempt I made to apply makeup would be obvious, considering the rest of
my face was expertly done. Anything I did would end up looking like Coco.
Charlie, again, came to the rescue. "You look fine, and don't worry, I'll
teach you. I'm only good at it because I've been doing it since I was
little."
Suzanne gave me a hug. "Come on, we're keeping our guest waiting."
Rebecca stood up, again, as we approached her table. This time, I tried
my best not to pass out. To her credit she looked totally unfazed, and
shook me by the hand, then pulled me to her and kissed me on the cheek
hugging me.
"Hi, remember me?" she smiled, and giggled.
"Yeah, you look kind of familiar." I took my seat. Something was nagging
at my mind. "I thought you were in a crash?" I looked at her. She looked
perfect, just as I remembered her.
She looked at Suzanne, then back at me. "No, I think your boss has been
lying to you. I just quit, and went to college. I want to be a writer,"
she smiled. I laughed, shooting Suzanne an evil glare while I did. She
shrugged her shoulders.
The meal went well; we talked, we laughed. Charlie proved to be a fount
of wonderful stories and gossip. I almost forgot that I was sitting next
to my blonder, younger twin sister. Almost, but not quite. Every glance
down at my food brought me a glance at my cleavage, and I was still not
quite used to that. Also, while Rebecca (or Becky, as she wanted me to
call her) was aware of who I was, she still kept looking at me funny, her
mouth slightly open, always on the verge of asking me a question. Also,
of course, I was still attracted to her, and while I was trying as much
as possible to behave like a girl, I was also aware of every touch, every
look, and, of course, every curve of her body.
After the third bottle of wine, I decided to attempt the ladies room. I
had been dreading this (even though I had been in there before, albeit
unconsciously). I wasn't one hundred percent relaxed about myself, and
was sure the sound of amateur fumbling from a cubicle would alert some
real women to my lie. Also, it would mean walking through the entire
restaurant, where everyone could see me, appraise me, and, of course,
laugh at the girl who fainted. The pressure on my bladder increased, so I
uncrossed my legs, pushed the chair back, and stood up, nodding a brief
excuse me to the conversation in progress.
I was slightly surprised when Becky stood up to join me. She grabbed me
around the waist, and marched me off to the ladies.
"Want someone to show you how it's done?" she giggled.
The bathroom was empty, thankfully, and with very little trouble,
amazingly, I completed my business. It felt odd getting dressed again
afterwards, and I was conscious of the clothes I was putting on. I must
also confess to being slightly turned on, the feel of lace on my legs,
then nylon. I stood up, and ran my hands over my hips, smoothing down the
skirt, then over my ass, for no reason other than it felt good.
"How does it feel?" A voice came from the next cubicle ? Becky. "Weird?"
I pulled myself out of my reverie. "Very," I giggled.
She flushed, and I heard the door open. I did the same. We were still
alone.
"Sorry if I freaked you out earlier, Suzanne asked me along. She really
cares about you, you know?"
"It's alright, I just." I paused, "I just wasn't expecting you, that's
all. Yeah, I love her to bits. Listen, I hope you don't think I get off
on this or anything." I let the sentence hang, appraising her.
She looked at me, her lips twisting into a smirk, "Nah, of course not.
Just like you didn't get off on me in my underwear." I froze. "Hey, don't
worry about it. I've posed for worse photos than the ones you wanted me
in, and it's paying me through college."
"You have? I didn't think?"
"No, I was told that when it comes to people, you don't."
I did my best to look hurt. It didn't wash.
"Look, you're a nice," she paused, "person, Andrea, and I thought you
were very nice when I met you. And I still do, even though this is a
little weird for me too. I mean, okay, I was prepared mentally for seeing
you, but when you walked in, all sassy like that, I couldn't believe it.
You looked fantastic. You looked like me. It's scary. Real scary. But,"
she looked at the floor.
"What?"
"Well, I have to deal with this too. I mean, Charlie told me when she
took my mould that it would be good but . . . "
"Wait, Charlie took a cast of you?"
"Yeah, of course. I mean, she's good but she's not that good! Have you
seen that guy she sometimes dresses up as? Wow, it's amazing!"
"Guy? Em, Becky, she is a guy," my voice was a low whisper.
"Yeah, okay, whatever. Listen, Andrea, take some free advice from someone
who's been me a lot longer than you have. Take a look around sometimes at
what's happening to you, ask some questions instead of behaving like some
dumb bimbo from a bad novel. I don't know what's all going on, but I
don't think you do either."
"Hang on."
She held up her hand, and opened the door, back into the restaurant,
stopping me from speaking.
"Oh, and thanks for asking how I was coping with it. Look, you seem like
a nice enough person, but, maybe, instead of just watching other people,
and taking them into yourself, you should talk to them too? Just a
suggestion." She smiled, and walked out, back into the restaurant,
leaving me standing, hugging myself in the bathroom.
My head was spinning. What did she mean? What else was going on? Was
Charlie a girl or a guy? What did that matter? I mean, it didn't matter
at all, really. Except, it meant that Suzanne was lying to me as well.
Becky was right, I was wrapped up in myself, but then, I had a lot going
on, right? I looked at myself in the mirror. A strange, frightened girl
looked back. Everything was just happening at once, and Suzanne knew I
couldn't cope with the pressure of it all. The newspaper article, and the
MBC chat show, and Charlie, and now this. I had to take that all on board
and pretend to be a girl, just 'cause I'd wanted to write books.
I took a few steps back from the mirror, and looked myself up and down. I
was still a knockout, slightly shaky, but a knockout. But what did that
matter, just because I had chosen Becky to be me. Now I had to live with
that, but for how long? One chat show, Suzanne said, but that's not going
to be enough. I knew it. Book signings, and tours, and God-knows what
else. Every aspiring author's dream; to be famous and wanted, and,
ultimately, to know that someone is reading what you spend hours, days,
weeks writing. Except, while I had it, I didn't. Tom did all the work,
and Andrea took all the glory.
"Hey, knock knock? You fall in?" It was Charlie, sticking her head round
the door. "Oh good, thought you'd had an accident or something. Hey, you
okay?"
"Yeah, fine. I guess."
"Good, listen, I think we're all about to leave. Wanna go to a bar?"
"Who with? Is Becky going?"
"I don't know. I don't think so. I think her and Suzanne are heading
off."
"Hang on a minute," I pushed passed her, and walked the length of the
restaurant, not caring in the slightest. "Becky, can we go somewhere and
talk."
She was already putting on her coat. She didn't look upset, just
finished. She looked up at me. "I want to talk with you, Becky. Please."
I felt Charlie arrive behind me. "You know, Andrea, we should really
stick together tonight. I've made you a bed at my place."
"Sure," Becky's small voice broke the silence, "we can go a place."
"Great," I turned to Charlie and Suzanne. "Listen, I'll be fine. I'll
come over tomorrow morning, and we can continue alright? It's safe to
wear this overnight isn't it?" I gestured at the skirt, but I'm pretty
sure Charlie caught my meaning.
"Yeah, totally safe," she smiled. "Okay, in the morning. You know where
I live if you need somewhere to sleep though, okay?" She smiled, looked
at Suzanne for a moment, then at Becky.
"Take care, okay?" Suzanne and I hugged, and I promised her I would, and
that I'd see her tomorrow. We all said our good byes, and I found myself
sitting in Becky's car, driving to God knows where. We hadn't spoke the
entire journey. I felt like I was being tested. I had only plucked up the
courage to say a word when the car pulled over to the kerb.
"We're here."
I looked out of the window, up at a large block of apartments. "Where's
here?" I asked.
"Home. Well, my campus anyway. They don't allow men in after ten, but I
think in your case they'll make an exception," she smiled, and got out
the car. I couldn't figure her out at all. I guess that was why I had
elected to join her rather than go home with Charlie. I shrugged, to no
one in particular, and left the car, and we walked, in silence, to
Becky's room.
What the hell was I doing? I had graduated three years ago; I thought
sneaking into girl's dorms after hours was in my past. Never mind doing
it as a girl. Halfway down a corridor, I decided to take off my heels.
The click-clacking was driving me mad. Oh, why beat around the bush, I
was going mad already: I was following my twin sister down a corridor in
the middle of the night, and I had no idea why.
Thankfully she invited me in. "So Tom, what's on your mind? I hit a
nerve?"
"I," I paused, unsure. "I have no idea. Tell you the truth. I just, it
was what you said, I was wondering, what?"
"Nothing, just, wondered." She was staring at me. No one ever stared at
me. "Your voice. Can you stop?"
"Sure, hang on." I turned away from her, and reached inside my mouth,
like I'd watched Charlie do. I grabbed the brace, and pulled it out,
leaving a strange taste in the roof of my mouth, and scratching my tongue
with my nails in the process. Really had to get used to those. "There,
better?" I almost gagged. It was my voice again, and it felt really
weird. I looked down at the dripping red plate in my hand. Becky just
stared at me. "Could you, that is, please."
"Oh, sorry, sure." She scurried off, and returned with a bowl of water,
which I put the thing in. It floated to the surface. "Jesus Tom, what
the fuck are you doing?"