20. Clearing the Air

"Wake up you two," Carissa called out, flipping on the lights, "I let you girls sleep in, so I'll need to help you get ready. We've got an important brunch planned. Taylor, you come with me while Kaylee dresses here. I've got your clothes in my bedroom."

"Okay," Taylor said, followed Carissa, while rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Just so we get this over with, honey, I talked to Craig yesterday and I know everything," Clarissa told him while picking up a hairbrush to remove the bedhead.

"You do?" Taylor asked, feeling some relief.

He turned back towards her and she added, "Yes. I also heard you puking last night. You feeling better this morning?"

"Oh definitely," said Taylor. "I really do now."

"Good, once we meet up with Craig later, we'll break the news to Kaylee and clear the air on everything. Until then, this will be our little secret, and just so you know, I'm okay with everything. There is really no reason for you to get sick over all this," said Carissa. "Just relax and understand changes will be coming. Just go with the flow today and later we'll fill Kaylee in."

"Thanks, Carissa," said Taylor as he got up. "So you're not mad or anything?"

"Why would I be? Things are about to get a lot better for you, honey, a female influence in your life, you playing on the team, everything."

"Cool," Taylor replied, feeling relief.

"Good. Now, dress yourself and I'll check on Kaylee. This dress is really frilly. It's all I have for you, but you must look appropriate for brunch, so it's perfect. Craig will be bringing your clothes from your house, so you can be more comfortable later. If you need any help, just call me," Carissa told him.

"I'll be fine, I think," said Taylor, walking over to the bed.

Taylor was happy to hear from Carissa that this would finally be over soon, even as he had just decided to give in and deal with it all. Now he wouldn't have to and that excited him. At least, that's what he interpreted from what she said and what he believed she knew.

He was okay with doing this just one last time and he turned towards the bed. He saw a pair of thin white knee socks on the bed, so he picked them up and found it weird sliding his legs into them.

He kept fidgeting and stretching them until finally he realized they weren't supposed to cover his knees, so he turned them loose and let them settle just below his knees.

They were made of a nylon type material he'd never felt before and found it odd how they clung to his legs verses his normal socks.

walked over and took a skirt and top from the hangers, pulling the top on over his head and stepping into the skirt.

He tried, but couldn't get the zipper on the back of the top all the way up as he struggled, reaching over his shoulder before finally giving up and stepping into his shoes.

When he turned back around, Kaylee was standing there and again they were dressed identically. She came over and zipped him up.

"Come on, Virginia is here to drive us for our hair appointments," said Kaylee, fastening the little button behind his neck.

"You're kidding," said Taylor. He began to panic, but then decided maybe he would be getting a more boyish cut. "Where's your mom? She said we'd be going with her to brunch."

"We are. She's getting dressed before she goes to help your brother, and then she's meeting us there," said Kaylee, grabbing his hand. "Come hurry up. We can't make Virginia late for work."

Kaylee dragged Taylor down the stairs.

The look was simple yet chic as they were both in lacy red and Grey peplum tops and flowing pleated knee length skirts with layers of lace peeking out the bottom.

Their tops had attached lace long sleeves with a red and gray peplum around the waist. The skirt was a red and grey pleated full knee-length skirt with three layers of lace peeking out below the hem.

On their legs, the white knee socks stood out from the red flats and their hair hung perfectly straight without being accessorized.

Taylor quickly found himself in Virginia's car with Kaylee, as she drove them to her salon.

"Your dresses are adorable, girls,"  Virginia told them. "I love how cute you two look together!"

"Thank you," Kaylee politely replied.

"So my plan is keep that promise I made to you two the other night," said Virginia. "Sound good?"

"Yes, perfect," said Kaylee, getting excited.

"Good, this will be fun then, ladies," said Virginia. "And your brunch outfits are to die for!"

Taylor entered the salon that was owned by Carissa (even though she wasn't a licensed hairstylist herself). His senses were popping. He did his best just smiling and nodding as all the hairdressers were gushing over how cute he and Kaylee were and how pretty they looked dressed alike.

He kept telling himself that Carissa had told him he'd be done with all this after brunch, but that wasn't much help right now as he soon found himself in an elevated salon chair, staring straight ahead at his reflection.

He looked over at Kaylee next to him.

Virginia wrapped a long plastic cloth over his entire body as he watched another stylist do the same to Kaylee.

He knew he was about to get his hair done as he saw the other stylist combing through Kaylee's. Virginia spun his chair away from the mirror and his view of Kaylee.

"Now I'm going to give you something along the same lines you girls were trying for the other night honey, but with some pretty little twists," said Virginia as she stepped behind him and he felt her separating his hair with the rat tail of her comb.

"It's really trendy for girls your age, so be patient for me as I guarantee the results will be gorgeous on you."

Taylor sighed, sarcastically rolling his eyes as she brushed feverishly. She dampened his hair just a bit with a spray bottle filled with a smelly substance, combing through it a number of times from top to bottom until she had his entire head coated.

She seemed to keep his simple middle part and the straight bobbed style as she made only fine adjustments until finally she began working on the right. She was lifting and twisting just above the ears as she braided her way towards the back and then repeated the process on the other side.

When she finally finished, she took her hair dryer, removed any dampness from the rest of his loosely hanging hair, and brushed it down towards his shoulders.

She then took the nozzle of her blow dryer, touching each little weaved section for a moment, setting her work. He could feel the intense heat on his scalp before she finally placed it down.

He could feel the butterflies in his belly as she used a small barrel curling iron to stretch a thin section of hair near his left cheek until it was taught and he gulped watching the iron clamp down before rolling up towards his temple.

He could feel the heat near his cheek bone and hear the sizzle before she finally released the hair and quickly cupped the curl with her palm before pinning it tightly against his scalp.

She worked her way ever so precisely around his head, and he soon found she had repeated this fifteen or twenty times before she finally finished at the other temple.

She then brushed through his bangs a few times before taking out her scissors and giving them the slightest trim.

"More cutting?" asked Taylor. "Not much, hon. I just think they'll look better, a touch shorter on you," said Virginia, picking up a 1 ¼ barrel iron and clamping it down horizontally on his trimmed bangs. "They're not as short as they'll look because I gave them a little shape, but I didn't want those pretty eyes of your covered, especially now that we're going to make them pop a little."

"Pop?" said Taylor, confused as she removed the iron and then completely saturated his head with a spray.

"Look up and keep your eyes rolled up until I tell you, princess," said Virginia.

Taylor was surprised as a metal clamp quickly squeezed his upper lash.

"Relax, you're going to look more beautiful than ever when I'm done with you. I promise."

The odd pressure completely caught him off guard and he blinked when she released the lash clamp. It then got crazy as he watched a mascara wand slide across his upper lash.

Virginia held his chin steady as she did the lower lash and then started on the other eye. It was all happening so fast. She recoated each lash a few times then took a little pencil to his upper lids. This took only seconds since she didn't do much, but he felt ready to faint when she opened a large colorful palette.

"Is that all for me?" Taylor asked. "Of course not, sweetie, not all of it.  Carissa told me you're more of a tomboy, but not today, not when I'm done with you. Now close your eyes, please."

There was nothing Taylor could do as he watched her dip a little applicator into some colors before he had to close his eyes and felt it glide across his lids. He was quivering a bit as he felt her jump back and forth  between each eye.

She then told him to open his eyes and he watched a huge soft brush dip into a pale pink then slide across his cheeks.

This wasn't looking like all this would end soon as he watched her dip a small brush into a shiny glossy circle that she then painted his lips.

"Ok, just a little extra setting and I think you'll be all ready," said Virginia, rolling a bonnet dryer over on a stand and lowering it down over his head.

Taylor felt the warm air switch on and Virginia left him there alone. He tried turning towards Kaylee, but really couldn't see her.

Taylor was now totally confused. He thought back over what Carissa had told him. He was sure she had said Craig talked to her and she understood. That meant she either:

a) knew he was a boy

or

b) thought he was trans.

Or did she? Either way what was happening now, shouldn't be, but it is, so what else could she have meant, he wondered.

Did Craig tell her something completely different from what he was supposed to?

What if Craig told her I'm a trans girl? He wouldn't. Or would he? I mean, could I blame him if he did? I have done a lot to make his life miserable since mom and dad died.

By now Taylor's heart was pounding hard in his chest as fear and uncertainty gripped him.

He continued to ponder the situation and finally decided he had to be making this a bigger deal than it was. Based on what he remembered Carissa saying, the simplest explanation was that Craig had told how her I was a boy and how all of this came about. He told her the truth and everything is going to be okay by this afternoon.

I have to believe that's what happened.

After about twenty minutes Virginia returned to switch off the dryer. Taylor looked up to see Carissa.

"Wow, I'm so excited," said Carissa, lifting Taylor's chin and snapping a picture. "She looks amazing already, Virginia. I can't wait to see the final look."

"Not that hard when you give me something this pretty to work with," replied Virginia, touching his head. "So let me just take out the clips and get in a few final touches. In about five minutes you can dress her and you're out of here. I hung the dresses in the back room, so they can get dressed there."

"Perfect," said Carissa. "Craig's here and I thought maybe I'd surprise him and you'd give him a trim while I dress the girls. It's a formal brunch, and I'd like him to look his best."

"Sure thing, boss, have Rebecca wash his hair and I'll handle it," said Virginia, taking the clips from Taylor's hair.

Taylor watched Craig being led right past him. He didn't seem to even notice Taylor being tended to. Taylor wasn't sure if his brother didn't recognize him or was he just not paying any attention.

Taylor could now feel his hair springing and dangling with each pin being released. When Virginia was finally finished, she again took her spiral iron and redid a few sections making sure everything was to her liking.

She then cupped each section in her palm and spritzed it with a pump spray before finally taking a heavy finish spray and saturating his head while she covered his eyes with her palm.

"Oh, you've outdone yourself Virginia," said Carissa, overjoyed as Virginia pulled off his cape.

"They're gorgeous on her, right?" Virginia asked, touching his hair a few last times. "They're definitely going to hold well as I used a max hold setting lotion, good finish spray, and really baked them in."

"Perfect," said Carissa, reaching her hand out to Taylor. "Let's go get ready, sweetheart. I'm sure you're starving, you pretty little thing."

Taylor could feel his hair oddly swinging as Carissa led him through the crowded salon, to the back room where two of the fanciest, most beautiful outfits he had ever seen, were waiting.