being a peacock

It didn't matter what I said, after school, we all went to the mall since apparently, my idea of wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt was 'Just horrible'. "I really don't wanna do this."

"Chill gurl, you're just nervous." Did Claire just call me a girl?

"I'm not a-"

"We've all been there." Frankie pushed a pair of heels in my hands, "But trust us, once you get into it you'll kick yourself for not starting sooner."

I looked to Bobbi who had tried on a pair of heels on and smiled at me, "Believe me. Kyle is a great guy to start with. He's a sweetheart darlin'."

I leaned close to Bobbi and whispered in his ear, "I thought that we...um..."

"What?" He whispered back completely clueless.

"Nothing. Where do we start?" The oblivious look in his eyes was too much to take. He simply didn't feel the way I did and I didn't really understand how I felt.

"That's the spirit!" Andy sat next to me on the bench. "Start with putting those shoes on." I relented and put the black heels on. Amazingly they fit. "They look great! How do they feel?"

I stood awkwardly afraid to take a step. Bobbi reached out his hand to help but I clung to the shelf to steady myself as I took my first awkward steps. "They feel alright...for heels."

"They're not heels." Claire laughed, "They're sandals."

I twisted carefully holding on to the shelf so I could lift my foot up to show off the heel. "They have heels."

"Yeah, but they're sandals," Bobbi said, "And they don't have that much of a heel."

"Why do they have heels at all?"

"Because Kyle's so tall you're gonna need the height if you're gonna kiss him," Claire explained.

"Who said anything about kissing him?" I couldn't kiss him could I? I don't like...I mean Bobbi sure...maybe.

"Why don't you guys go find some other shoes so he has more options." Bobbi started to say something but Claire shooed him away with the others.

Claire took my hand and helped me sit back down on the bench without breaking my neck. "Talk to me."

I sighed and watched Bobbi walk away, "What am I doing here? I let Bobbi lead me around cause...and now this?"

"You like Bobbi? I never would have guessed!"

"I don't! I mean...I don't know. How can you tell?"

"Cause I have eyes. Don't worry, Bobbi doesn't know. For all his 'sweeties' and 'darlin's' he's a simpleton."

"Then what do I do?"

"He'll figure it out eventually. Until then go with this guy. Have some fun and a free meal and who knows maybe he'll make you forget about Bobbi."

"I doubt it," Claire rolled his eyes, "but I'll try." I lied. The peacocks came back with more shoes and Frankie showed me how to walk in heels, strut rather. I did my best I was getting the hang of it to a point. I was still a little unsteady but I could walk like a human instead of a drunken calf. I tried on several pairs of shoes and heels and picked my 'faves' as Andy said.

In the end, I got the sandals and a pair of white heels. They insisted I wear them out to get used to them. I stumbled awkwardly a bit but Claire let me hang on to him. Holding on to Claire was different than holding on to Bobbi and I had to admit it was because I didn't like Claire as more than a friend like I did Bobbi. "Cheer up darlin'," Bobbi hung on me so suddenly I thought I'd fall, "you have a date. You should be happy."

"You're right." I **** a smile to my face as we walked into the next store. Of course it was a lady's clothes store, guess I shouldn't be surprised at this point. I didn't argue this time when they started holding up skirts for me to try on. I didn't fight when they had me go into the changing room with a couple of skirts and tops.

"Alright, so here's the plan," Claire said from his stall, "Frankie already told Kyle to pick you up at my house that way you avoid that whole awkward first date mess parents love to do."

"But what do I tell my folks?"

"You tell them you're having a sleepover at Claire's, duh." Frankie stepped out in a sparkly dress.

"A sleepover? Isn't that a little...uh," I realized pointing out how girly it was while wearing a black skirt that barely covered my butt was pretty ridiculous. "aren't we kinda old for that?" I swapped the too short black skirt for a longer one that came mid-thigh. It was like wearing shorts really, just different.

"We've done it every Friday since we were eight." Andy stepped out wearing a red dress.

"It's tradition." Bobbi explained.

"And I'm invited?"

"Of course!" Frankie exclaimed.

I stepped out to see everyone waiting expectantly, I didn't want to tell them they were the first group of friends that accepted me so quickly. Even if they were weird as hell. But maybe that's why they treated me like I was one of them. "How do I look?" I held the hems of my asymetrical shirt nervously loving the feel of the soft fabric against my skin.

"You look amazing as always darlin'." Bobbi smiled making me blush.

"What about underneath?" Claire was all business when it came to fashion. He read fashion magazines more than he did his classwork.

"What do you mean? I'm wearing underwear."

"What kind?"

"Just...regular ones?"

"You can't just wear 'regular ones' on a date." Bobbi whispered to Andy he ran off back into the store. "You've got a lot to learn, lucky we're here."

"About that...what...do I do? I never been on a date." I hated admitting it but I needed to know right?

"Really?" Frankie was shocked, I don't know why. I don't look like the kind of guy who had a lot of girlfriends...or boyfriends I guess. Frankie, Bobbi and Claire huddled up and whispered to one another while I stood awkwardly. It's one thing to think someone is talking about you, it's a totally different feeling to know they were.

Andy came back with a bag and handed it off to me. Inside was nothing but thongs, g-strings, and bikini style panties. "What I miss?"

"This is Jerry's first ever date. With anyone."

"Oh!" We quickly paid for the clothes I was wearing and a handful of others and I again wore my new outfit out of the store. They were right though, it looked much nicer than my old ratty jeans and t-shirt. I was fairly comfortable when I was with them dressed this way but I wasn't sure how I'd be when I was in public with Kyle and no backup.

The entire trip through the mall and back to Claire's house they gave me advice from their 'wealth of experiences' on how to handle and seduce boys. I didn't plan on seducing Kyle on the first date but I didn't want him to think I was mean. I listened to their advice and tried to create my own gameplan. Once we were at Claire's, I was given a pink bottle by Bobbi and ordered to use it from my neck down. It smelled like medicine and **** and looked like Pepto. "If you want, I can apply it for you." Bobbi offered and I was kind of tempted but Claire **** him out of the bathroom.

I had plenty of time to think about how Claire might have been right to do what he did while I waited the ten minutes to be over. Bobbi was a real bad flirt, I could see that now, but I don't think he's aware he's doing it or how it affects some people. Maybe Claire's right and Kyle will help me get over him...but I don't think I wanted too. My phone timer dinged and I wiped off the weird Pepto and with it my body hair. What little I had was washed down the shower drain.

After my shower, the strange smell left over from the hair removal cream was gone and replaced by a flowery scent all over my body and a honey smell from the shampoo. I was then left in just my tighty-whities in Claire's room while they went to work on my face. It was like having an entire team of doctors operating on a patient. While Bobbi and Franki painted my face they explained some more about dating while Andy worked on my nails and Claire worked on my hair and explained fashion to the point I thought my head might explode. How can anyone keep up?

Finally, I was declared done at 7:46. "You ready?"

"Sure." I wasn't.

Bobbi turned a hand mirror around slowly and my beautiful face reflected in it my hair looked feminine despite it being so short. I was at least allowed privacy to change my underwear. My fears were slowly fading out to excitement. I had my first date...someone actually thought I was cute and asked me out! I never even tried to ask a girl out at my old school. The thought of it scared the hell out of me...maybe my brain knew something my mind didn't.

I decided on the thong and put on 'nude' pantyhose then my 'wine' colored skirt since apparently, I can't just wear what I wore at the mall and a black party blouse tied off on one shoulder so it was always exposed. "I'm gonna freeze!" I complained when I stepped out into the living room.

"That's what he's there for." I didn't get a chance to ask what Frankie meant when the doorbell suddenly rang.

"Shit, he's here. I don't wanna do this. Tell him I died." Before I could run far Claire grabbed my hand, he was deceptively strong...or I was weaker than I thought.

"He'll be right out." Andy said after opening the door.

"We've been over this."Claire glared at me in annoyance, "If this is about Bobbi-"

"It's not...what if he doesn't like me either? What if he likes me too much and tries to...you know? He's so much bigger than me."

Claire's face softened, "If he didn't like you he wouldn't ask you out. If he tries anything just tell him no, he's a good guy he won't keep going." I was about to say more when he grabbed my pinky and ring finger, "If someone ever does though you take these two little fingers and snap them back as hard as you can and run like hell. The last part is key."

"That'll work?"

"Ask Derik Snyder if it works sometime. You can't miss him, they didn't heal properly cause he refused to tell anyone what happened. And if you wanna be extra sure hit him in his speedbag."

"Okay..." I was feeling a little better already.

"Now remember, you're fierce, fabulous, and fine!"

"Fierce. Fabulous. Fine."

"Now go show him."