Becoming A High School Girl - Chapter 3

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I thought about everything that we had bought that afternoon. First, there was the makeup. I think that that was the most intimidating thing that I needed to learn. Cat promised me that I would be an expert in two or three weeks, but I thought she was optimistic. We also picked up the soap, deodorant, and some other toiletries.

Then we made a stop at the shoe store. Luckily, I have small feet, so getting shoes wasn't a problem. I was amazed at how many pairs of shoes Cat said that I would need. I was used to wearing sandals in the summer and sneakers in the winter. I now had to worry about coordinating the shoes with the clothes. I ended up getting twelve pairs of shoes. Cat said that this would be a good start.

We stopped at several clothing stores. The first stop was a bit embarrassing, as we had to get my underwear. I never realized that buying a bra was so complicated. The woman in the store measured me and told me that a poorly fitted bra would feel very uncomfortable by the end of the day. I ended up getting six regular bras and two sports bras for PE. She said that I could always come back if I needed more. She also provided me with another pair of silicone breast pads. She said it was their gift to all contestants. Cat then helped me pick out several pairs of panties, pantyhose, and tights. The last items we bought were the most important. I had to purchase several gaffs. They were like really tight thongs and were used to hide my male organs. They weren't very comfortable, but the saleswoman told me that I would get used to them.

Then there were the accessories. I was beginning to have a greater understanding and appreciation of what women had to go through. I needed a purse, wallet, jewelry, belts, a watch, and countless other things. Luckily I was getting a discount for all the stuff I was buying.

"You know, Cat, even if I win this competition, I may be losing money," I quipped. "I can't believe all the stuff we have bought today!"

She popped her head into the dressing room. "Don't forget that in a few weeks, you'll need a whole new wardrobe," she smiled. "Turn around; I want to see the back."

I turned around to show her the back of the skirt. "Why will I need a new wardrobe?"

"In case you've forgotten, you're not in sunny California anymore. We get all four seasons here, and that means lots of clothes. The skirt looks good. You change, and I'll meet you at the checkout," replied Cat.

She was right. I had totally forgotten about the change in seasons. I felt pretty stupid. I pulled my skirt up, grabbed the remaining clothes, and headed to the checkout. As I walked over to Cat, I noticed she was talking to another girl.

Cat introduced me to the pretty blonde. "Erika, come here; I want you to meet someone. Kristen, this is Erika."

"Hi, Erika. I think it's so cool that you are in the competition," Kristen stated.

"It's nice to meet you, too," I replied. I still felt shy and self-conscious about my new appearance.

"Cat told me you're from California. That's so cool. I've always wanted to go there. Actually, I want to go anywhere! You'll have to tell me all about it sometime," Kristen replied.

I nodded. "Sure, anytime."

"Great! Well, I'll see you two around. I have to get to practice. Bye!" she stated.

We watched her walk away. Cat turned to me and smiled. "Kristen is the head cheerleader. But don't hold that against her; she's pretty normal!"

"I can't get over how accepting everyone is about the way I'm dressed," I stated, almost in a state of disbelief.

"Well, we've known about the competition our whole lives. It's just something that has always been there. Now, I guess that we'd better go back to your house. I'll help you set up your room," explained Cat.

We got back to my house around 5:00. Cat wanted to set up my bathroom as her first priority. Fortunately, my bedroom came with its own bathroom, so at least I had some privacy. Cat told me that she would come over early and help me with my makeup but that I should practice on my own. She was showing me some tricks when I heard my Mom come in.

"Erika, I'm home. Are you up in your room?" yelled Mom.

"Yes, Mom, I'll be right down," I replied nervously. I sat down on my bed and stared at myself in the mirror. I was trembling slightly.

"You okay? You look worried," asked Cat, as she sat down next to me.

"I'm so nervous! I'm wondering if I'm doing the right thing. This all seems so strange," I replied.

"Come on, this won't exactly be a shock; you did tell her that you were entering the competition," she continued.

"Yes, I did. But I didn't know that I would be looking like this today," I answered.

Cat nodded. "Well, unless you plan on staying up here for the next two weeks, you might as well let her see you now. Besides, you look great, Erika!"

"Here goes nothing," I mumbled softly.

We walked downstairs and found her in the kitchen. "Hi, Mom."

She turned around and stood there in silence. A huge smile slowly formed on her face. "Oh, Honey! You look lovely. I just didn't expect you to change so quickly. But I must admit that you look great. Cat, I assume that you helped her. Thank you so much."

I noticed that Mom was using female pronouns while referring to me.

"Thanks, Ms. Walters. I enjoyed helping her," answered Cat.

"Well, I was going to cook dinner, but I think that this calls for a little celebration. Cat, would you go ask your Mom to join us?" asked Mom.

"Sure, I'm sure that she's anxious to meet Erika. I'll be right back," announced Cat as she walked out the front door.

Mom walked over to me and gave me a big hug, "I know that you are making a huge sacrifice, and I really appreciate what you are doing. Now, go grab your purse, and we'll meet Terri and Cat outside."

That was something I'd never thought Mom would tell me! It felt a bit strange as I grabbed MY purse. We walked over to Cat's house together. I still found it odd walking in a skirt. Luckily, I was in sandals, so I didn't have to deal with heels too. As we waited for Terri and Cat, I felt a bit edgy. Maybe because I was afraid of being ridiculed. I wasn't exactly sure.

"Oh, my! Cat, you were right. Erika, you look fantastic!" exclaimed Terri loudly.

I was sure that the whole neighborhood heard her. "Thank you," I replied in a soft voice.

"I see that you're still a bit shy. Well, that will wear off as you get used to your new appearance," answered Terri as she gave me a hug.

We went to a local pizza place called Guido's. I was positive that everyone was staring at me. I was getting second, or was it third? Doubts about doing this. However, after a few minutes, I loosened up a bit. I began to accept, however slightly, that this was going to be my life for the new few months. Maybe this year's group of contestants would be all wimp out, and I could go back to being Eric again.

As we finished eating, I noticed a group of boys walk in. They were all wearing Central High Football t-shirts. I was hoping they wouldn't notice us. Unfortunately, I saw one get up from their table and walk over towards us. He was tall, muscular, and had short brown hair.

"Hey, Cat, did you have a good summer?" greeted the tallboy.

"Hi, Alex. I sure did, too bad it's almost over," replied Cat.

"Hello, Alex," said Terri.

"Oh, hi Aunt Terri, I didn't mean to be rude," he apologized.

"Alex, these are our new neighbors, this is Ms. Walters, her daughter Erika," introduced Cat. "Alex is our star quarterback!"

He looked and me and smiled. "I'm pleased to meet both of you. So, you just moved here? Cool! So where did you live before moving to Golden Hill?"

"We lived in San Diego; my mom got a job at the computer company," I replied, hoping my voice didn't sound too masculine.

"Erika is going to be in our class this year," announced Cat.

"That's cool. Before you leave, why don't you stop over at our table, and I'll introduce you to the guys?" he offered

"That's a great idea, Alex, thanks," replied Cat before I had a chance to answer.

He walked back to his table. "He's a good kid," added Terri.

Cat told us that Alex was the son of Terri's sister. She said that, even though he was the same age, she always thought of him as her older brother and was very protective of her. I told her she was lucky. I was also a bit relieved that they were related. I knew that, even before I started wearing a skirt, I couldn't compete with Alex.

Cat took me over to meet Alex's teammates. I had hoped she'd forgotten. The last thing I wanted to do was to meet six football players while I was dressed like a girl. But Cat insisted.

"Everything will be cool, I promise!" she whispered to me. "Wait, before we go over there, you need to reapply your lipstick."

I nodded and reached into my purse for my compact and lipstick. I nervously reapplied my lipstick under the critical eyes of Mom, Terri, and Cat.

Cat nodded her approval and took me by the hand. "Good job! Now, let me introduce you to the guys."

Cat was right; the guys were all friendly and treated me like I was a new girl on campus. I wasn't sure, but I thought that a couple of them were checking me out. That was another unique experience.

On the drive home, Cat told me that I had made some very good connections today. Between Kristen and Alex, I had met two of the upper echelon of the school, and they could have a huge impact on how others accepted me.

The next two weeks flew by. It was pretty much a blur. Cat, Terri, and Mom put me through a crash course on how to be a girl. They were very strict and critical of all aspects of my life. To put it bluntly, they made my every waking hour a living hell. I got a little short-tempered at times, but I knew they were doing this for my own good. The good thing about my lessons was that they took my mind off the first day of school.

I gradually got better with my makeup. I was very pleased with myself when I passed their inspection for the first time.

The only time I dressed as Eric was when I went to the DMV to get my Pennsylvania driver's license. I wore a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and sandals. Cat used some hair gel to make my hairstyle look somewhat masculine. I also took out my earrings. Even with my hair slicked down, I still looked like a girl in my license photo.

While I was far from feeling completely comfortable, I was becoming more used to my new identity. Actually, that wasn't a true statement; I was starting to feel comfortable with my ability to pass as Erika. I shrugged this off and tried to convince myself that I thought this way because I was new in the area. I knew I could never have done something like this at my old school.

Mom invited Cat and Terri over for dinner on the night before school started. I had always helped my Mom in the kitchen, but now she had me do more than just prepare the salad or wash the dishes. She began to teach me how to cook; she told me this would make going to Home Econ easier. I had a feeling that she was just enjoying the fact that she now had a daughter instead of a son.

During dinner, Cat told me that I would have to check in with Ms. B first thing tomorrow morning. Then we'd go to homeroom, and then there would be an assembly to start the school year.

"Erika, I know you are nervous, but you'll do fine. Just try to relax," reassured Cat.

"Isn't that the same speech that they gave the Christians before they sent them out to the lions?" I answered with a smile.

"Once you get through the first day, the rest will be much easier," added Terri.

I barely slept that night. I watched the minutes tick by on my clock. It was bad enough that I was the new kid in a strange school. But the added "difficulty points" of being Erika made it even more stressful.

I woke up to the sound of Mom's voice. "Honey, you need to get up; today's a big day."

I got up and showered. I dried and styled my hair. I appreciated the style that the salon had given me. It really made it easier to get ready in the morning. I nervously did my makeup. Thanks to Cat, I was better than average.

I checked out my outfit for the first day of school. One of the restrictions of the contest was that I could only wear pants to school once a week. That was subject to change once it got cold. Being it was still summer, the chances of a blizzard that day seemed highly unlikely! I selected a green skirt and a floral top. I would wear sandals as much as I could, although I knew that I would eventually be forced into heels.

Cat had told me that to weed down the number of contestants, they would issue short notice challenges. She told me that last year they'd required them to wear high heels for a week straight as well as making them volunteer for a charity fashion show as models. I was to keep my focus on the goal of winning the scholarship and not to sweat the small things.

Mom seemed to approve of my wardrobe choice and helped me with my jewelry. I was still wearing stud earrings since it would be a few weeks until I could wear anything else. I had decided I liked silver jewelry. I'd acquired a few silver rings and had been wearing them in several combinations. That morning Mom gave me a small package. Inside was a silver chain with a silver dolphin and a matching ring. She helped put it around my neck, and I felt warm and happy. It made me feel so much more at ease knowing how much she cared about me.

"You did a good job with your makeup this morning, dear. Just remember to check your lipstick after you eat," reminded Mom.

"Thanks, Mom. I bet you'd never thought you tell me that!" I quipped.

Unfortunately, the closer I got to school, the more my apprehension grew. If Cat hadn't been there, I never would have gone. Several times I was tempted to run back home.

I arrived at Ms. Bell's office and had to wait in line. There were four other "girls" ahead of me. Two looked like boys in dresses, and one hadn't even shaved his legs. They were wearing really cheesy wigs, huge breasts pads, and heavy makeup. I knew that they wouldn't be any competition. The other two looked passable. I had to admit that I looked the best. There was a one really tall girl with black hair. She gave me a dirty look as she walked by. I shrugged it off.

The line moved pretty quickly. Ms. Bell was doing an initial inspection, and she was very strict. The two who looked like they were going to a Halloween party were told to go home and change. By the time I was next, there were seven others waiting behind me. I talked to the girl behind me, and we instantly became friends. She was calling herself Caroline, and, like me, she had entered because it was her only way to afford college. Caroline was a little taller than me and had curly red hair. Caroline's real name was Kevin, and she told me that her dad wasn't all that happy with her entering. We talked until it was my turn to go in.

Ms. Bell was delighted with my appearance. "Excellent job, Erika! Now I need you to report in once every week. If you need to see me or if you have any problems, you can stop by and make an appointment."

"Thank you, Ms. B; I appreciate it," I answered.

"Erika, I'm a bit concerned about you being in the competition. All the other contestants have been in this school for at least a year. You, on the other hand, are coming here and jumping right into the contest. It may make your adjustment more difficult. So don't hesitate to come in for help, okay?" offered Ms. B.

"I will, Ms. B; thanks again for your concern." I then left and went to my classroom. As I walked out of the office, I noticed that the line to check-in was even longer.

I arrived at my homeroom and found that Cat had saved a seat for me. My homeroom teacher was Mr. Grant. He was a math teacher and had actually been a student at Central High ten years earlier. He seemed okay.

"So, how did it go down there?" asked Cat.

"So far, so good. Ms. B already disqualified two guys." I replied. I told her how they were dressed.

"There are always a couple who enter as a goof," explained Cat.

I went on to tell her about Caroline. Cat said to me that she had known Caroline since the third grade. Caroline's father was a big-time college jock and didn't like the idea of his son dressing as a girl. Cat said that she fully understood why Caroline wanted to get away as quickly as possible.

"He had always figured that Caroline would get an athletic scholarship, but she's more interested in art," she explained. "She could use a friend like you!"

Then the bell rang. Mr. Grant took roll and passed around a seating chart. We had homeroom every day for 30 minutes; it was a time to take care of administrative needs, and it also served as a study hall. Mr. Grant allowed us to socialize as long as we didn't get too loud. I was the only contestant in the class, and I was also the only new student. Mr. Grant asked me to introduce myself. Earlier, Cat had told me that there was no need to mention the scholarship. Everyone would know who the contestants were eventually.

I stood up and addressed the class. "Hi, I'm Erika Walters. I just moved here this summer from San Diego, California. That'll be the first winter I've seen snow. We moved here because my Mom got hired at the software company. I'll be happy to answer any questions you have."

I was the temporary center of attention as I answered questions. Everyone seemed pretty cool. Then the announcement was made for all students to head to the assembly in the auditorium.

The assembly was the standard "welcome back" pep talk. The upcoming football season was touted as a potential championship season. The cheerleaders were introduced. I watched as Kristen led them out and into their routine. Then, a short Asian woman in a navy blazer and matching skirt walked up to the mike. She was the principal, and her name was Mrs. Lee. Cat whispered that she was nice, as long as you didn't break any rules.

"Never, ever underestimate her! Mrs. Lee may be short but doesn't take crap from anyone," whispered Cat.

She talked about grades, discipline, etc. It was only when she got to the end of her speech that it directly affected me.

"This marks the 18th year of the Senior Scholarship Competition. Due to some late changes and entries, we have forty-six students competing for the prize. This is our largest group ever," she announced. "I would like all contestants to please stand up, and I would like the rest of you to show them your support."

I almost died. The last thing I wanted to do was stand up in front of the school and wave and say, "look at me!" However, I had no choice as I saw the others start to stand up. Plus, Cat elbowed me in the ribs. I slowly got to my feet. The whole audience was clapping. I felt a little silly.

When I sat down, I heard a boy behind me say, "There's no way she's a guy."

I felt my face turning red again.

"You're blushing; how cute," whispered Cat, kidding me.

My classes went by pretty quickly. Being the new kid meant trying to remember everyone's name, which wasn't one of my strong points. My morning schedule was English, Civics, Ecology, and Calculus. Cat was in my first two classes. Luckily, Kristen was in my Ecology class, and Alex was in Calculus with me. Having at least one friendly face made it a bit easier. I was pulled out of class for a few minutes during the second period. They had to take my photo for my ID card. I was now Erika Walters, a high school senior.

At lunch, I scanned the cafeteria for Cat. I saw her waving me over to a table. I walked over and sat down. There were six other girls at the table who were introduced by Cat.

The only one that I initially remembered was Laura Adams, a stunningly beautiful brunette with short hair. I found out that she was also the class president. We seemed to hit it off immediately. She asked me if I was coming to the football game tomorrow night. I hadn't really thought about it, but when I saw Cat nodding yes, I said that I would.

"We have a cool tradition here. The senior section is called 'The Pit.' We never sit during the game, and we never, ever allow non-seniors in. It's kind of the party before the after-game party," explained Laura.

"Sounds like fun," I replied.

The rest of the girls asked me about California and what my old school was like. As I told them, I wondered what my friends would think if they could see me now. I would have loved to tell them that I was sitting with some of the most popular girls on campus. However, explaining that I was in a skirt would be more difficult.

My afternoon classes were all electives. Photography was right after lunch. Then I had PE on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Home Econ was on Tuesday and Thursday.

I had noticed several of the other contestants in my classes, but I hadn't been able to talk to them. I was pleased to see Caroline in my photography class. We talked about the stress of the first day.

"So far, it hasn't been too bad. I've gotten a lot of kidding from some friends, but they went easy on me. How about you?" she asked.

"My day has been really smooth. I haven't been goofed on once. Actually, that's making me a bit nervous," I answered.

"I bet that a lot of them don't even know you're a boy. I mean, they've never even seen Eric. In some ways, that will make it a lot easier for you," she explained.

"I never really thought about that," I replied.

"You just need to be careful if you start dating. You'd better make sure they know that you're really a boy!" quipped Caroline.

"Do you plan on dating?" I asked her.

"I don't know. It depends on how long this contest lasts. It is also expected that we go out on a few dates. It's part of the tradition, and we're expected to be good sports," she explained. "Besides, it really doesn't matter. Next year, I plan on being as far from here as possible! So what about you?"

"I just want to get through this. I guess if it is expected of us, then I'll do it. But I'm not really looking forward to it," I replied.

"I'm sure you'd rather go out with Cat," she smiled.

I smiled back. "Is it that obvious?"

Caroline just nodded. I felt a strong friendship growing between us.

My last class was Home Economics. I had kind of expected to see a lot of the other contestants in the class, but there were only four others. I'd noticed throughout the school day that many of the other contestants were wearing wigs and their makeup was a lot heavier than the real girls. I secretly thanked Cat for the hell she had put me through before school started. I had only seen a few contestants that looked like they were in for the long haul. As much as I liked Caroline, I knew that she was a rival - a friendly one but still a rival. She was desperate to win the scholarship so she could escape from her family. I felt sorry for her, but not enough to lose the contest.

I was a bit relieved to learn that the class had a much bigger emphasis on cooking than sewing. Ms. Roberts, the teacher, told us that she'd wanted to turn the class into an advanced cooking class, but the school board wouldn't let her. So, there was still a sewing requirement.

"Since we might as well get it all out of the way. I am giving you your final sewing exam today. Now take out a piece of paper and number it one to ten. Now I will hold up an item, and you must correctly identify it. Here is object number one," stated Mrs. Roberts, holding up a needle.

We broke out laughing and proceeded to take the test. I'm pleased to say that I aced the exam, although the pinking shears question was a bit tricky.

Cat had told me to meet her outside the main office. I noticed a large group of students crowded around a display case. Cat was there, and she waved me over. Inside the case was a photo of each contestant, including me.

"They update this display every time someone drops out or is disqualified," explained Cat; she then pointed to a large number - forty-one.

"That is the present count of contestants; five have already dropped out," added Kristen. "By the way, Erika, you are one of the favorites to win. I've got my money on you."

"You mean that you can bet on who you will think will win?" I asked.

"Oh, sure, it's all unofficial, but everyone is in the pool. Even some of the teachers have entered it. However, you are not allowed to bet; that would be dishonest!" quipped Cat.

"Don't worry, I won't throw the race," I replied with a laugh.

As we walked back home, Cat asked me how I was doing.

"It's been slightly overwhelming," I answered truthfully.

I then told her about my day. She agreed that Caroline wouldn't quit early. I told her what Caroline had said about me and that some people might be confused about my real gender.

Cat nodded. "That might be a problem, but I will tell you that there might be a bigger problem. There is a rumor stating that you are a ringer and that you really are a girl."

"So what should I do, flash everyone at lunch tomorrow?" I joked.

"I wouldn't recommend that; it would get you kicked out of the competition and suspended. I wouldn't worry too much about it for now," reassured Cat.

The second day of school came and went without incident until my last class of the day. The only difference in my schedule was PE class instead of Home Econ. I changed into my workout clothes in our separate locker room. My class had twelve other contestants. I noticed that some were watching me as I changed. Maybe they believed the rumors that I was really a girl. I was tempted to flash them, but I was wearing a gaff, and that pretty much made it impossible.

I began to wonder if I was doing this too well!