Prom

It wasn’t how I imagined going to prom would be. No, in those younger fantasies I was walking into the hotel ball room with the head cheerleader Megan on my arm. Or maybe the sexy and intense head of debate, Hermione at my side. All my fellow classmates clapping and cheering as we enter and have our picture taken. How we would win prom king and queen. How everyone would be clambering to invite us to their cool party that weekend. How my prom date and I would end up alone in a bedroom, tearing each other’s clothes off as we passionately fucked until the early morning.

That was the younger Kieran though. The Kieran that hadn’t sat next to Megan for an entire year in science class, and found out that although stunning, had as much personality as a wet carrot. The Kieran that hadn’t been paired with Hermione for an English project and found that that sexy focus was a crazed drive to succeed. A drive to be the best in the year, to go to the best collage and damn anyone in her way.

No, that Kieran was a star eyed romantic, this Kieran, that was currently staring at myself in the mirror, trying to tie a bow tie unsuccessfully was a happy realist.

No, I knew that tonight was almost certainly not going to end up in hot sweaty sex, but it was going to be fun. With my three closest friends at my side, I was just excited about hanging out, dancing and generally acting like idiots in celebration that our high school chapter had finally end.

I was going to miss them. Most of us were going our separate ways next year. With Molly getting into Florida and Pete going to California. It was only Kimmy and I who decided to stay and attend collage in New York. This summer was probably going to be one of the few times that the four of us were going to be able to hang out. So no, I wasn’t sad that my adolescent fantasies weren’t going to happen.

I stare into the mirror and smile pleased with the reflection. “There” Finally straightening up the bow tie that took three separate YouTube guides to nail. “Not to shabby” I mouth with a smile. Staring back at me is a fresh faced brown eyed man, now 18 ill have you know. I’ve managed to actually get my usually crazy curly brown hair to obey for once, It sits flat on my head, with only the occasional rebellious curl. I lift my arms out once more to check that the cut of my suit was right.

It had been a **** congratulation present from my folks, because of how well I did in my final exams. My parents both explained how important it was that every man has at least one well cut suit. At the time, I thought the idea was ridiculous as a shop tailor took my measurements. Now as I stared at how the charcoal grey fabric clung to my slim 5’10’’ body I had to begrudge my parents were right. I defiantly wasn’t any 007, but in this suit, I might get away as his scrawny nephew.

The doorbell downstairs goes, and I’m brought out of my self-indulgent rapture. I hear my parents open the door and there is a barely audible gasp and then the sound of pleasant conversation.

“Kieran! Kimmy’s here!” My dad bellows from downstairs.

“Coming dad!” I reply, taking one more cursory glance at my reflection, give myself one spritz of my after shave and then head downstairs.

As I descend downstairs the reason for the gasp make’s sense. Standing there talking to my parents is my best friend Kimmy. But its not the Kimmy I know. That Kimmy wears flannel shirts, ironic anime t shirts and baggy jeans. That Kimmy wears her shoulder length hair up and always has her glasses on. That Kimmy wears trainers every day. This Kimmy on the other hand…

“Wow…” I mutter breathlessly as I climb down the stairs. That elects a chuckle from my parents, and a slightly blushing eye roll from Kimmy. “Jezz… Kim you look… Amazing” I stammer out. She really did. Gone was the constant hair band. Her silky black Asian locks went slightly past her shoulders in a wavy fashion that framed her cut pale face. Which for a change I could see all of as she must be wearing contacts.

Then instead of her usual punky attire she had on a gorgeous red dress of eastern origin. The way it shimmered; it must have been some sort of silk. With embroidered dragons and clouds decorating the stunning piece it really was beautiful. Then lastly were her shoes, she was wearing heels. I would have predicted the likelihood of various global apocalyptical events ahead of Kimmy Jiang wearing high heels.

I had known Kimmy pretty much my whole school life. She had always worn baggy clothes. I had never seen her in something like a dress. Something that was so figure hugging. I knew she was pretty lithe, and the occasional and accidental look I got of her boobs through baggy clothes, had always guessed she didn’t have much going on under there. The way the dress hung on her though begged to differ. I would have probably put her at a C cup the way it pronounced beautifully over her.

“Aha… Thanks you don’t clean up to bad yourself Mr.” Kimmy jokes, still blushing a little.

“You both look beautiful!” My mum says clapping.

“Go on stop standing there like an idiot, give the girl her corsage.” My dad says clapping me on the back grinning.

“Oo yea, ops sorry!” I stammer out. I rush over to the side table in the hallway and open the bag. Inside are the corsage’s my mum had made me buy. I quickly pull them out and walk over to Kimmy.

She’s taller now in heels. Only about three or so inches short than I am. She gingerly raises her arm and I tie the flowers around it. ‘Christ she even smells gorgeous…’ I think to myself as I take in her flowery perfume as I make the final tie.

Once done Kimmy lifts her hand up to give a cursory shake before grinning at me. She grabs the other corsarge and affixes it my lapel. “Aha not shabby indeed” She laughs once its secure and gives me a pat.

A camera flash brings us both back to reality and we turn to see my mother armed with her disposable camera. “Come on, Photos please! You guys are growing up… aww I’m so proud.” She says tearily as she winds the camera.

The pair of us just groan and turn to face her, ready to take a picture. At that moment a car horn outside beeps three times.

“Oo sorry Mr and Mrs Q, Molly and Pete are outside.” Kimmy says quickly, as eager and I am to end the photo op before it really begins.

“Okay okay, come on darling” My dad says and gently puts a hand on mums’ arm to lower the camera. She quickly gets another shot in while were looking and then begrudgingly lowers it. My dad turns back to Kimmy. “Well, it’s usually the boy who picks up the girl, but seeing as you're picking up Kieran I suppose I have to give you the speech.” My dad says in a mock serious tone.

I groan and roll my eyes, knowing my father’s sense of humour, I have an inkling of what’s coming. “Dad…”

“No, no this is very important.” He continues trying to keep a straight face. “Now Kimmy, I know that you’re all getting a hotel tonight, but I want to remind you no funny business! I want my Kieran here tomorrow lunch time in one piece and un-besmirched. Do I make myself clear Miss Jiang?” He raises his finger and points it threateningly.

Kimmy’s tries and fails to keep a straight face. “aha yes! Mr Quinn! I promise ill have your darling son back to you tomorrow, no funny business.” She puts her hand on her heart in promise.

“Good girl” Dad nods, his face breaking into smiles as he holds it together.

“Pff” I raise my hands in exasperation and go to open the door. “Bullies the lot of you!” I say as I open it and move towards the car, where Molly and Pete are waiting. I can hear a room of laughter as I leave and smile to myself as well.

“Have a good time kids!” Both my parents’ yell.

“Thanks Mr and Mrs Q!” Kimmy yells and follows out behind.

She quickly catches up and walks alongside me to the waiting car. “Excited?” I ask her.

She looks up at me and smiles. “Yea more so than I thought I’d be. You?”

I smile back. “Yep! Also, who knew you could actually dress up? Your wearing heels Kimmy! Heels!”

She smiles back, a slight glint her eyes. “Well maybe I needed the right reason to dress up”

She really did look beautiful, and it made me nervous. Looking at her and seeing that beauty, made me anxious. I’ve known Kimmy since kindergarten. But she had only really been Kimmy for about four years of that. In the years before that she went by another name, and another gender. Kimmy was trans.