Admin and paperwork

From Grief to Willows-rough draft v1

The college campus buzzed with the usual student chatter and hustle. Jasmine clutched Natalie's hand tightly as they walked through the main gates. Jasmine's heart pounded in her chest, her mind filled with a mixture of fear and anticipation. This was it. She was about to introduce her true self to her college peers and faculty.

Natalie, while physically present with Jasmine, was mentally somewhere else. Her mind was filled with plans of **** against Mark, every step she took on the college campus bringing forth another idea, another angle. However, she put these thoughts aside for now, focusing on the woman beside her who needed her support.

As they made their way to the administration building, they passed by groups of students. There were surprised looks, whispering, and some outright stares. A few people did double takes, recognizing Jasmine from her previous persona as Jeremy. Some faces lit up in recognition and approval, while others recoiled in shock or disgust.

Despite the mixed reactions, Jasmine held her head high, bolstered by Natalie's unwavering presence. Natalie offered her support with reassuring smiles and words, glad that none of the reactions seemed to touch her the way Mark had, betrayal was sinister that way.

When they reached the main office, they were met with a kind-faced administrator named Mrs. Henderson. She had always been a favorite among students for her gentle demeanor and understanding nature. Upon seeing Jasmine, her eyes widened in surprise, then quickly shifted to a warm smile.

After a quick explanation "Jasmine," she greeted, her tone acknowledging the change. "It's nice to meet you."

In a swirl of paperwork and explanations, they navigated the nuances of the administrative process, but Nat's mind was elsewhere. Mark's actions had lit a fire in her that was difficult to quell. Every potential **** plot she could think of danced in her mind. She considered rebooking his classes, cause schedule conflicts, arranging sensitivity training, set him up at work to say those terrible things in front of the wrong customers. (note- brainstorm and flesh this internal scene out)

"Are you okay, Nat?" Jasmine's voice cut through her thoughts, and she looked over to see her girlfriend studying her, concern evident in her eyes.

Natalie quickly masked her vengeful thoughts with a smile. "Yeah, Jas, I'm fine. Just thinking about something." She quickly changed the subject. "How about we head home?"

As they left the campus, Natalie's mind continued to scheme, but she kept her expression neutral, even cheerful. She didn't want to worry Jasmine more than she already was. She would handle Mark on her own.

On the way home, Natalie made a sudden turn, leading them to a small boutique she knew Jasmine had been eyeing for weeks. "Why are we here?" Jasmine asked, a hint of excitement in her eyes.

"I thought you could use a treat," Natalie replied, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Let's find you something beautiful."

"Whispering Willows" indeed was a haven for Jasmine. The boutique, a unique blend of Victoria's Secret elegance with the punk undertones of Hot Topic, was everything she needed to express herself. She was drawn to the section that screamed 'Gothic Kawaii', quite literally with a stylized sign, a style she had admired from afar but never dared to adopt.

Rows of pastel-colored dresses with lace trims, chunky platform shoes, and adorable accessories adorned with skulls and crossbones pulled her in. She ran her fingers over a lavender dress with lace detailing, her eyes shining with a mix of excitement and apprehension. She realized that while she had been enjoying the style her and Natalie had created for, she was taking refuge in the edgy and androgynous pieces, that sprinkled the outfits, to not fully embrace herself, the desire to try these on and be cute was immediately pushed back like normal, but this time she grabbed that thought and wrangled it, she was tired of being scared of every feminine thing she wanted and only being able to let her self enjoy it with Natalie doing all the emotional labor.

Natalie, watching Jasmine's fascination, encouraged her with a nod, like normal but saw Jasmine already moving. "That one seems to have caught your eye. Why don't you try it on?"

With a glance at Natalie to give her a grin, Jasmine took the dress off the rack, along with a pair of chunky black platform boots, a black choker adorned with a small pastel skull, and a pair of black lace gloves. In the fitting room, she changed into the outfit, her heart pounding with anticipation.

When she stepped out of the fitting room, Natalie's eyes widened in surprise. Jasmine looked absolutely stunning. The lavender dress contrasted perfectly with her dark hair, the boots gave her an edgy look, and the accessories tied the whole Gothic Kawaii look together. She looked feminine, edgy, and most importantly, she looked happy.

"You look beautiful, Jas," Natalie said, her voice choked with emotion. Jasmine blushed, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"I feel beautiful," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked at herself in the full-length mirror, her eyes filling with tears. She had never felt more herself than she did in that moment.

When they left the boutique, Jasmine was wearing her new outfit, her old clothes tucked away in a bag. The transformation was complete - Jasmine was no longer hiding

The symbolic nature of the act wasn't lost on Natalie. By buying these clothes, Jasmine was affirming her identity and her determination to live her life as she wanted. And Natalie was there, supporting her every step of the way. As they drove home, she couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

Mark could wait. For now, Natalie's focus was on Jasmine and making sure she knew she was loved, accepted, and beautiful just the way she was. But as she looked at Jasmine, her heart filled with warmth, her thoughts returned to Mark. He would learn his lesson, Natalie decided. No one hurt Jasmine and got away with it.