Becoming A High School Girl – Chapter 46

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Ending Part - 1

Friday was our "Act Like a Tourist" day. Saturday, we were going shopping, and Sunday was up in the air until Tony suggested we go to Yankee Stadium. He said he could get us great seats. To my total surprise, everyone thought that was a great idea! We were also going to the Broadway show that evening and then a late dinner.

I won't bore you with all the details, but Tony's fifty-cent tour was well worth every cent! We did go out to the Statue of Liberty, and he also drove us past other sites. Yes, we went to the top of the Empire State Building; I said we were in tourist mode! We also went by Rockefeller Plaza and the UN building. I was glad I'd brought my camera again.

The amusing thing was that Tony was taking a liking to Terri. We all got a kick out of that, including Terri! She said that there was nothing wrong with a little flirting.

Tony had us back at the hotel in plenty of time to get ready for the show. He told us that Nick would be our driver again that evening and that we had reservations at the restaurant near the theater courtesy of Mrs. Lincoln. I guess she was determined to make my trip as pleasant as possible.

I wore my little black dress and my new diamond earrings for the show.  I loved this! That was another huge change in my persona. I disliked dressing up as a boy, and I was not too fond of ties and jackets. At least a woman can get dressed up and still be reasonably comfortable, except for the shoes. I have become convinced that a woman invented the necktie in retaliation for a man creating high heels! I feel that I could be considered an expert on this issue.

The show was excellent. I could get addicted to seeing Broadway shows! Nick drove us the short three-block drive to the restaurant. As before, there was a long line to get in, and VIPs got to walk past the lineup.  It was fun doing so, and we could hear them asking who we were.

It was pretty cool inside as well. There were many celebrities, and we were all a bit star-struck. I was so happy to be sharing this with Mom and my best friends. It was hard to eat, as there was so much going on around us. Because we were seated immediately, everyone thought we were 'somebody.' People walked by our table and nodded and acknowledged us, just in case we were important.

But the biggest thrill that night was when that famous actor, a friend of Mrs. Lincoln, either recognized me, or Mrs. Lincoln had tipped him off, and he came over as a favor to her. Either way, I don't care!

He even remembered my name, and I introduced him to everyone. We all chatted for a few minutes, and even Cat was impressed! It was another great day.

Back at the hotel, I joined Cat and Laura to watch some late-night TV, and we were all in our PJs by then.

"I still can't believe that he came over to our table and said hello to you!" exclaimed Laura.

"If I hadn't been there, I'd never have believed it," added Cat.

"I was there, and even I'm not sure it happened!" I added. "I'm so happy you two are here with me."

"We don't mind being on the Erika surgery tour of America. Just make sure you pick somewhere fun for your SRS!" replied Cat.

"Well, at least this time, you won't be sleeping in a waiting room," I added.

There was a long silence.

"I can't tell you how much you being there meant to me." I could feel my emotions pick up a notch.

"We know," replied Laura.

"Still, I like telling you..." I could feel my eyes watering up. "I was so scared," I softly added, and I started to cry.

Cat and Laura hugged me. "If it makes you feel better, we were all pretty scared too," added Cat.

I felt better after my soft cry. It was nice to show emotion and not worry about what others may think, which is one of the most significant male drawbacks.

Saturday was a shopping day. This event was another change in my persona, as I enjoy going shopping now. It was also fun going shopping as a group. We didn't buy much, but we had a great time. We did stop at Undercover Elegance. Mom wanted to get something special for her wedding night. Bridget was very friendly and helped Mom pick out a luxurious silk nightie and a matching nightgown.

Sunday, we went to the Yankees game. We invited Tony to join us, and he gladly accepted the invitation. Tony got us great seats, and Terri sat next to him, and they were becoming friends. It was beautiful sitting outside on a lovely afternoon.

I bought a program and scored the game as we watched. I enjoyed keeping track of the plays, and it made an excellent history of the game. My scoring the game caught the attention of some of the guys sitting around us.

"You know, you're the first girl I've ever seen who could score a game!" interrupted a large man behind us.

"I enjoy doing it. Besides, it isn't very hard," I replied.

"Tell that to my son!" joked the man with a laugh. "So, who taught you to score a game, your dad?"

"Nope! My Mom taught me!" I replied with a big smile. While Mom wasn't a big football fan, she loved baseball, and we had gone to many games back in San Diego.

"I'll be damned!" he exclaimed, and then he started to laugh.

The game was fascinating, and the Yankees won 6-5 with a 9th inning rally. I'm not a Yankees fan, but it would be suicidal to cheer against them in Yankee Stadium!

Tony drove us back to the hotel and said he'd be there at 5:00 am to take me to the hospital. I ate an early dinner, as I had to stop eating by 7:00 pm. I told the others that they could go out, but they elected to stay at the hotel with me.

Monday morning came quickly. I got up and showered, and put on comfortable clothes. There was no need for makeup. I packed my small bag. All I needed was panties, a bra, PJs, toiletries, reading material, my CDs, and a player. I also picked up the rest of my stuff and moved it into Mom and Terri's room.  I checked out of my room since there was no need to be paying for it being empty!

We arrived at the hospital and checked in. I changed and waited for Dr. Ayres. Of course, there were numerous forms to sign, and the Nurse took my vitals several times. Dr. Ayres showed up and examined my nose again. He said that the surgery would take a couple of hours. He gave me a choice of a local or being out. I picked being out!

"How long will I be here?" I asked.

"I'd like you to stay at least one day, maybe two. I'll know more after the surgery," explained Dr. Ayres. "I doubt you'll be wanting to go anywhere."

He was right. When I came to after the surgery, my whole face hurt. The pain radiated out from my nose, and I was lying down with my head elevated.

As I regained focus, I could see Dr. Ayres examining me.

"Everything went well," he announced.

"How long was I out?" I asked. I felt slightly nauseous.

"The surgery lasted just under three hours," he replied.

"How bad do I look?" I asked.

He handed me a mirror. "The swelling and bruising will improve in a week to ten days," he informed me. "But, just so you'll know, like before, the bruising will get worse before it starts to improve."

I looked at myself in the mirror, and to be honest, I have looked worse! I thought about the range of colors on my face the last time. At least I'd save money on makeup in the next few weeks.

"It hurts worse than when he broke it initially," I stated.

"That's true. That creep only hit you a couple of times, and I had to do more to reshape it. We'll be giving you a prescription to ease the pain, and trust me; it will start to feel better soon."

The Nurse brought Mom in, and he explained the precautions and signs to monitor. The Nurse gave me some pain pills, and I drifted out.

Later that evening, I woke up and saw Mom sitting in my room reading.

"What time is it?" I asked.

Mom looked up and smiled. She looked at her watch. "It's almost 7:00 pm, and, yes, it's still Monday."

I tried to manage a smile. "Thanks for being here. I know I'm not much to look at."

"I've seen you look worse." She got up and walked over to me, and took my hand.

"I think I'll stop at just one of these operations, unlike that singer," I quipped with a slight smile.

Mom smiled.

"So, where's everyone else?" I asked.

"Terri took them to dinner. They should be here soon," answered Mom.

"Have you eaten?" I asked.

"They're bringing me something. Are you hungry?" asked Mom.

"Not really, but I am thirsty."

The Nurse brought in some water in a sports bottle with a straw. My stomach was still a bit unsettled, so eating wasn't a priority.

"Did you call Dad yet?" I asked.

"Yes, but he said to call back if you felt like talking." I noticed Mom smiled when I called Sam, Dad!

We didn't talk long. Dad was happy that I came through the surgery without any problems. I was delighted to speak with him.

Just then, Cat, Laura, and Terri came in. We talked for a few minutes, and then I drifted out again.

I wound up staying in the hospital for two days. By Tuesday afternoon Dr. Ayres was satisfied and said I could go home the next day. I looked worse but had much less pain, and it was centralized in my restored nose.

"You'll need to have the sutures removed next week. I've contacted a colleague near your town, and he'll do that," he informed me. He handed the information to Mom. "I'd like to see you again in a couple of months."

We decided to leave in the morning. I spent Tuesday night in the hospital, and it was just easier than going back to the hotel. In addition to my friends and family, Tony came up to see how I was doing. He asked me if I wanted anything.

"Well, I did promise a cheesecake for my coworkers at Mrs. Lincoln's store, is there any way we could take one back?" I asked.

He smiled. "Leave it to me, kid. See you in the morning."

I slowly regained my appetite. Eating was a bit difficult, as chewing caused some pain in my nose. Dr. Ayres also advised me not to eat anything spicy, as he didn't want me to irritate my nose or to have to blow it. There was a famous deli nearby, and Mom brought me up some chicken noodle soup and a delicious rice pudding.

I insisted that they go out for a good dinner. After all, everyone spent most of the day in my room with me.

I read a while before drifting off to sleep.

I had my first nightmare since the surgery that night. I was back in the Golden Hill E R, being examined by the police. The main difference from reality was that my injuries were much worse in the dream, and my whole face was battered and bloody. I woke up disoriented, and it took me a few seconds to remember where I was.

I looked around and reached for the water bottle, but it was empty, so I decided to be a wimp and pressed the call button.

The Nurse was very nice. I asked her what time it was, and she said it was almost 4:00 am.

"Is everything okay?" she asked.

"I just had a nightmare. I'm feeling better now," I replied.

"You want to talk about it?" she asked. She pulled up a chair and sat down next to my bed.

I nodded and told her about my nightmare and how it was related to my present hospital stay.

"How old are you, Erika?" she asked.

"I'll be eighteen next month." Hey, if I was an almost college freshman, then I could be nearly eighteen too!

She just shook her head. "I'm so sorry that you had to experience something like that. I hope they caught him."

"Yes, and he's in prison now. Some good came out of it, too; my Mom ended up getting engaged to our town's D A."

"You ought to write this up as a movie."

We both laughed at that.

We talked for a few more minutes. The Nurse was amiable, and I felt very relaxed talking to her. I drifted back to sleep. When I woke up, it was morning, and she was no longer on duty. I never had a chance to thank her, but I did get her name to write her a thank-you note.

The ride home seemed very long. I slept most of the way home. Yes, I told Mom about the nightmare and the help from the Nurse.

We got home by mid-afternoon. I thanked Tony, and he gently gave me a big hug.

"So who gets the cheesecakes?" he asked. He pulled a refrigerated carton containing six cheesecakes from the trunk in the limo.

I smiled as he handed the carton to Mom. "Thank you so much," I said.

"These are the best in the city," he replied. "And before you ask, they are on the house."

"Thanks again."

Cat said she'd run one over to the Mall.

Tony got the rest of our bags out of the trunk, and I went inside. I'd only been gone a few days, but I missed being home. I immediately went up to bed.

To my surprise, Sam had purchased one of those large pillows that allow you to sit up in bed. It was sitting on my bed, and I immediately put it to good use. The painkillers did a good job, but they made me very sleepy.

I came down later, and Sam got up and gave me a friendly, gentle hug. It was dinnertime, and I managed to eat some solid food. The pain was slowly decreasing, but the bruising seemed to get worse. I now sported a nice pair of raccoon eyes.

I spent the next few weeks healing and recovering.  With the surgery behind me, the next big event was the wedding, followed closely by the trip to the Jersey shore. Then our close circle of friends would scatter. I tried not to think about that, and I wanted to savor the next few months and not think of the separations from so many caring friends.

I'm taking the liberty of jumping ahead to the wedding. However, I'll provide a summary of what went on in the weeks between my operation and Mom and Sam's wedding.

My recovery went well. There were no complications, and my restored nose looked pretty good. It wasn't that different from my pre-attack nose. Maybe it was a bit smaller than before, and Laura said it was cuter! However, what was important was that it looked great and was no longer bent, and my sense of smell was still great. It was no longer a reminder of Jason's brutality. Dr. Ayres had done an excellent job. He'd said he'd reexamine the scar above my eye when I saw him for my nose checkup.

Alex and Mike stopped off to see me before they took off to college. They promised to be back for the wedding. Alex was a bit disappointed that he wouldn't be able to attend his family's annual Fourth of July party, and he promised that he'd make up for this in the future. It still was a fun party, even though I just sat and watched the volleyball games.

In addition to Mike and Alex, I had a steady flow of visitors after returning from NYC. I set up camp on our deck, and all my friends dropped by whenever they had a chance. We played board games, listened to music, talked, and worked on our tans. Mom found me a straw hat with a huge, floppy brim that kept the sun off my nose. I had about as much fun as possible in my recovery.

Laura and I continued our relationship. Maybe it would have been better if we'd have drifted apart, but instead, the opposite occurred. We were even deeper in love! Separation would be awful, and I tried not to think about it.

My birthday was low-key and quiet since I wasn't feeling my best after the surgery.  Mom and Sam gave me a pair of diamond stud earrings, and I treasure them to this very day.

My transition was also progressing nicely. My first checkup with my endocrinologist was great. He was very pleased with my progress. I was moving past an A-cup and fully expected to be in a B-cup soon. I also followed a suggestion and began to have some sperm samples frozen. The advice came from someone at Spencer's who said that if I stayed in a lesbian relationship, I'd have the opportunity to "father" a child down the line. The idea intrigued me, and I decided to try it. I was still "potent" enough to start donating sperm for future use.

Cat went down to Philly for a few weeks. She was checking out her college, and she spent some time with Matt. They were becoming quite the couple. Cat told me that they were both playing it smart, so there was no need to worry.

Terri and Mom were in full planning mode for the wedding. I was amazed at how quickly Terri put it all together. She had managed to get the tents, caterer, DJ, and everything else on short notice. Mom picked out her dress at Mrs. Lincoln's store, along with the bridesmaids' dresses. I was impressed with the outfits she selected, and they looked like something you'd want to wear for more than just one occasion!

I also started working at the store again in early July. I was putting in full 40-hour weeks and loving it. I'd wanted to go back earlier, but everyone and I mean everyone, insisted that I stay home and recover a bit longer. Mom, Sam, Terri, Jenny, Laura, Nancy, and Cat voted against my early return to work. With that sort of lopsided voting, Mrs. Lincoln would never consider letting me near the place.

Anyway, when I returned to work, it felt great. I still had to be careful. Dr. Ayres had told me that complete healing would take almost a year. But then again, how badly can you hurt your nose in a clothing store?

The week of the wedding was wild. Sam's family was traveling up from Philly, and he'd reserved an entire wing at the best local motel. Only one relative from our side of the family answered the invitation. She was a cousin who said they'd love to come but didn't have the money to make it from San Diego. The rest of the family ignored our invitations. That was fine with me, and I was just as glad that they weren't coming so that they couldn't ruin the day.

My REAL family was going to be at the wedding. Terri, Cat, Laura, Nancy, and all of our friends in Golden Hill more than made up for our narrow-minded transphobic relatives!

The actual wedding would take place in the city park overlooking the river. Even though Mom and Sam weren't overly religious, they would use a minister for the service. They had asked the one who'd spoken at the rally back in May, and he was honored to join them in marriage.

I was looking forward to meeting Sam's family. They were due to arrive starting the Wednesday before the wedding. They all knew my status, and I didn't mind, as most secrets never last anyway. At this point in my life, I saw myself as female, not as a boy dressing like a girl. I had an identity as Erika and a body that was transitioning to match my mind.

On the Tuesday before the wedding, Laura and I were at Spencer's. We were by now well known and accepted by the regulars. Some knew I was transgender, but most just saw us as a young lesbian couple.

In some ways, it was funny in that I got more looks for being seen as a lesbian than from those who might have suspected that I was transgender. Laura told me that I was crazy on the latter, as I looked so feminine. We went to the pool most of the summer, and we never once had a single problem. I think that until I had my SRS, I was worried about being made. There was always the fear in the back of my head that someone would detect my secret and expose me.

"So, how many 'deposits' have you made?" asked Laura.

I smiled. "Several, so far." Okay, I was deliberately vague.

"You know if we stay together, it'd be so cool to have a child that's both of ours genetically."

"That's true, but let's not look too far ahead."

"Trust me; Our destiny will be with one another.  But I'm in no rush to have a baby!"

"So, if we ever break up, it is just temporary?"

"Absolutely. I have this unshakable feeling that we will always be together."

"You know. I believe you," I replied

We then slowly kissed each other.

"My parents are out this evening; you want to go back to my house?" asked Laura.

I just nodded yes. Laura stood up and helped me up, and we walked out to my car.

Back at Laura's house, we went up to her room. She led me to the bed, and we sat down and began to kiss. We started slowly and tenderly. The wonderful thing about our relationship was that it was very sharing and mutual, and it wasn't a competition.

We still stayed above the waist, but that wasn't so bad. Laura knew how to get me going by playing with my nipples, and I experienced feelings that were very erotic. My twin budding girls took me to new sexual highs. Laura was amazed by the reactions she got from me as she worked my nipples. Between her fingertips, lips, and tongue, she had me squirming all over her bed. She enjoyed getting that reaction!

Laura also knew how to bring me back down, and we ended in each other's arms. It's challenging to put down in mere words the sensations that she took me through. Because we cared so much for each other, the sexual side was even more intense.

"How was that?" asked Laura. She was lying next to me, her head propped up by her hand.

"Wow!" was all I could say. I was breathing hard and was awash in emotions.

"I can't wait until you've had your SRS. I look forward to teaching you about that area of your body."

"I know. By the way, we finished filling out the application for the operation, and we should get a response in the next few weeks."

"That's so cool," replied Laura. She leaned over and kissed me again.

As we got dressed, Laura mentioned that she had something to show me. She had combined the photos of my growing chest and ran them through a morphing program on her computer. I watched as my breasts grew out of my initially flat chest; it was pretty cool.

Our future family began to arrive in Golden Hill on Wednesday afternoon. Sam's parents and his sister Carla and her husband showed up first. Sam didn't look very disappointed that Carla had left her kids back in Philly. Sam's brother Brett was delayed at work and would be arriving Thursday, and Sam had selected him to be his best man.

Mom and Sam invited the first arrivals over for a barbecue at our house. For the first time since I had known him, Sam looked nervous!

"Relax, Sam," stated Mom. "Everything is fine; we even have your father's favorite beer in the fridge!" She then kissed him.

"I think they're here!" I announced. A sizeable green SUV pulled into the driveway.

Sam, Mom, and I walked outside to greet them. I suddenly felt very nervous!

They greeted me as if they'd known me my whole life! Sam's father gave me a big bear hug, and Sam's Mom kissed me. Carla was also delighted to meet me, although her husband, Dave, looked a little apprehensive.

It was a beautiful afternoon, so we invited everyone outside to our shaded deck, and Sam and Mom got drinks for everyone. The initial conversation concerned their trip up from Philly, and it then shifted to the wedding.

Sam turned on the barbecue, and his father and Dave stayed out to help him. The 'girls' went inside to get everything else ready.

Carla was very friendly, and I felt close to her almost immediately. Sam's Mom insisted that I call her 'Grandma.' That got to me emotionally.

Mom had previously told them about the issues in our family. They agreed that it was their loss and not ours!

Mom gave Grandma Warren a tour of the house, giving Carla and me some time alone, staying in the kitchen to watch the rest of the meal that was still on the stove.

Carla told me that I looked great and that she was glad that the surgery had gone so well.

"I'm just glad that it's over. Although it's minor compared to my next operation." I stated.

"I have to tell you that if I didn't know the truth about your birth gender, I'd never have guessed after meeting you today," complimented Carla. "You are a lovely young lady." She smiled at me.

"Thanks, Carla." I noticed that she had a similar smile to her brother.

"Don't worry about Dave. He'll warm up to you. You're the first transgender woman he's ever met, so I'm afraid he's still overcoming Trash TV propaganda," announced Carla.

"So, do you know any other transgender women?" I asked.

"I've met a few through work on both sides of the law," she replied.

"Oh! That's right. I forgot you were in the D A's office in Philly."

"I also followed your case rather closely. Sam was very proud of the way you handled yourself during the trial, and I was also impressed!"

"Did he tell you about my problems after the trial?" I asked.

"Yes, he did. Don't be ashamed of what happened. Your reactions were only human."

The more we talked, the more I liked her.

"Thanks. I still can't believe it happened. I'm also getting sick and tired of the nightmares," I said softly.

"It takes time to recover, Erika. I still get nightmares sometimes."

I looked over at her, and she was smiling gently at me.

"I didn't know. I'm sorry," I apologized.

"It happened a long time ago. It was right after I became a lawyer, and he was a coworker. We went out on a date, and he took it too far," explained Carla.

"That explains Sam's special interest in sexual assault cases."

Sam was still a detective at the time. During my trial, he decided to become a lawyer, becoming angry at how poorly the defense lawyer treated me. He decided he could do more to protect the victims while putting the guilty away for a long time. I also think that he wanted to make the defense attorney pay for the way he treated me."

"Who was the lawyer who cross-examined you?" I asked.

"Martin Turner," replied Carla; she had the Warren smile on her face.

"Wow. It is a small world!"

"How true! If Martin hadn't been so brutal to me on the stand, we might not be talking today!"

I went on to tell her about what Mom had done to Martin Turner in the restaurant. We both were laughing hysterically when Mom and Grandma Warren returned.

"Jill, my opinion of you just went through the roof!" said Carla, who was slowly regaining her composure.

Mom looked confused until I told her what we were talking about Martin Turner's 'fall' in the restaurant. Grandma Warren also seemed very pleased with Mom's actions.

"I knew Sam would marry a strong woman!" stated Grandma Warren. "Too bad the SOB wasn't hurt when you tripped him!" Her comment brought on a new round of laughter.

Dinner went well. Sam's father insisted that I sit next to him and also insisted that I call him Grandpa. I was so excited about the way they accepted me. By the end of the evening, even Dave had warmed up to me.

After dinner, Carla told me all sorts of stories about Sam. Sam came into the kitchen and overheard her telling me a story about one of his wild adventures.

"I must warn you, Erika, that your Aunt Carla is a pathological liar," commented Sam. He smiled at us as he got a cup of coffee.

"You mean that you didn't streak at your high school homecoming dance?" I asked innocently.

Sam just smiled, "Wait until later, Erika, and I'll tell you some stories of Carla's sordid past!" laughed Sam.

Carla then threw a dishrag at Sam, hitting him in the back of the head. He then chased her out of the kitchen and outside. Grandpa Warren just smiled and said it was nice to see some things never change.

After they left, I told Sam and Mom what Carla had told me.

"You're even more my hero now than before!" I announced.

"Mine too!" concurred Mom, kidding him.

For once, he was speechless.

The rest of the Warren clan arrived on Thursday. Sam's younger brother Brett showed up along with several other relatives. I had a hard time keeping track of everyone. I noticed that they all thought very highly of Sam, they were pleased he was marrying Mom, and all seemed to accept me.

Brett was pretty cool. It was entertaining watching Sam, Carla, and Brett insult and goof on each other. Brett also took an instant liking to Terri, and she also seemed interested in him. Cat joked that if things worked out between them, she and I could end up related to each other!

Continued in Ending Part 2.