Metamorphosis (Chapter 7)

I was already awake before my mom was. I was anxious and fidgety, I couldn’t have slept if I wanted to. I was going back to school! I’d finally get to see what people really thought of me! The thought alone was enough to excite me…but at the same time I felt a twinge of dread. I was still a girl…and I couldn’t go back to school and try to explain who I was. I would still have to go under the disguise of my cousin Cheryl. The sun hadn’t quite risen in the sky, and I didn’t know if I was excited or terrified of when it finally came up.
“No use waiting around, I guess.” I muttered to myself. I walked to my drawers and pulled out some clothes. I was still wearing a bra and panties but I needed to find something suitable to wear to school. The truth was that I was starting to get used to girls clothes. They weren’t that odd to put on anymore. With that said, I still wasn’t fully fond of putting them on. If I was going back to school, I wanted to hold on to some shred of my old masculinity. I pulled out a red t-shirt with a black stripe down the shoulders, and I slipped it on. I grabbed a pair of jean shorts and slipped them on as well. I found my old sneakers and tied them onto my feet. Finally, I grabbed my baseball cap and put it on. I flipped it backwards and then looked at myself in the mirror. If anything, I looked like a tomboy…and that suited me fine. I didn’t want to go back looking to feminine. I grinned and rushed downstairs.

Dad was already at the table. He looked up to see me and he smiled weakly. He was tired, but he was also still sad to see that I was still a girl. I couldn’t blame him either. Mom walked in behind us. She looked to see me and gasped a little.
“You aren’t wearing THAT to school, are you?” I looked at myself and then at mom and smirked.
“No Mom,” I laughed, “I’m wearing these to the mall.” Mom shot me a dirty look.
“Sarcasm is unbecoming on a young lady.”
“Yes, well I’m not a young lady, remember?” I asked forcefully.
“Right now, you are. So go back upstairs and change into something else. I want you to look presentable.” Mom argued. I snorted.
“Jeez, I thought I was presentable, thanks for straightening me out, Mom. Now I’m well aware that I looked like a slob.” Mom pouted and shook her finger at me as I walked off.
“Don’t take that tone of voice with me, I’m just trying to make you look nice and have some pride in your appearance.”
“Whose pride?” I demanded. “Mine or yours? Because honestly, going to school looking like this isn’t something I’m proud of.” Mom didn’t answer as I rushed upstairs to find some clothes. I was angry and I was hurt. Though I knew she meant well, every time I turned around, it was like she was trying to doll me up. Did she want me to wear a skirt next or what? I went through my stuff to find something to wear when I heard a knock at my door.

“Chase, it’s me.” I looked up to see my Dad standing in the door way.
“What’s up, Dad?” Dad walked in and looked at the pile of clothes I had pulled out.
“I came to help you find something to wear. Your mom is worried that what she picks will upset you more.” I flushed and looked down guiltily.
“Yeah…sorry about that.”
“I’m not the one you need to apologize to.” He stopped and looked at me. “Chase, I know that you don’t enjoy this…and to be honest, I agree with you. However, there is a right and a wrong way to approach things…and the way you spoke to your mother was quite disrespectful. I’ll pick out your outfit…you go downstairs and apologize to her before she leaves.” I nodded and ran to the door. I was still a bit angry, but Dad was right that I had been too harsh. I ran to the kitchen and saw Mom just about to walk out the door.
“Mom, wait!” I cried. Mom paused and turned to look at me. “I wanted to say sorry.” I admitted. Mom nodded but didn’t say another word as she walked out the door. I gritted my teeth and moaned under my breath. I hated when my mom did that. She would always sort of give me a look and not say anything, and then I’d be beating myself all day in guilt. It was her “Silent Treatment,” punishment, and it was worse than anything else. I can take being grounded, or getting swatted across the backside by Dad’s belt…but the silent treatment is the worst thing a mother can do to her child. It should be a crime! I walked back upstairs to join my Dad.
“Did you get her?” Dad asked. I nodded but didn’t look at him. “Well, I picked out some clothes for you. Now go change and get ready, I’m taking you to school as soon as you’re done. I sighed, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to live down my mistake this morning until I properly apologized to Mom. I looked at the outfit and cringed a little. I wasn’t happy about it, but I knew that it was probably what I deserved.
“Let’s just get this over with, Dad.” I muttered.

The first thing that I noticed about my school as I jumped out of the car was that it was still just as big as ever. The building wasn’t very big, but the school itself was currently under renovations and reconstruction, so with all the construction machines and contractors wandering around, it appeared a lot bigger than it really was. Students bustled in to the main building with backpacks draped over their shoulders. I made my way from Dad’s car towards the building.
“Cheryl, don’t forget…” Dad called after me.
“I know…I’m Chase’s cousin here to pick up his school work for him since he’s sick. I remember.” I hissed back. I knew the drill…Dad and I had discussed the plan all the way up. He still didn’t think it was a good idea for me to go back to school like this, even if under the disguise of “Cheryl.” However, after what Kimberly had told me, I simply HAD to know what was going on at school. I walked up to school with my shoulder bag hanging by my side. As I walked to the doors, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the glass panels and saw the outfit that I was wearing.
To be fair, it wasn’t as bad as I had expected…though I still wasn’t very fond of the look. I had on the newsboy cap that I liked, but I also had on a blue and silver tank top with short, torn blue jeans. I had on a pair of flats and around my neck was a white scarf. What was wrong with the outfit? It was too cute. I looked to feminine for my own taste…but there was little I could do about it. I felt guilty about what I had said to Mom and this felt like the only real way I could make amends…by letting myself get dressed up for once. I heard Dad’s car drive off and I knew that it was time to face what lay within.

I walked inside and smelled the familiar aroma and heard all the same gossip and talk that I had heard almost every other day I had been there. I made my way to the front office not far away and saw the woman behind the counter. I never bothered to learn her name…because I honestly didn’t like her that much. To be frank, no one liked her. She was kind of mean and rude to everyone. She saw me walk in and looked at me coldly.
“Can I help you, young lady?” She asked. I cringed when she called me a young lady…not because I didn’t like being called that (though that’s a good reason), but because that’s exactly what Mom had said about me earlier today.
“Hi, my name is Cheryl Thames.” I said, trying to sound innocent. “I’m Chase Thames’s cousin, and he’s sick…so I’m just here to see his teachers and pick up his school work for him.” She practically brushed me off as she went back to looking at her computer.
“And Chase’s parents couldn’t come by and do it themselves?” She asked.
“They’re…they’re both working.” I stammered. I was trying hard to think up a good story….but lying wasn’t my best talent. I’d never had any reason to. However, I knew that it didn’t make much difference. I knew that this woman was about as apathetic about her own job as she was about the students…so after a little while she’d get bored of dealing with me and let me do whatever the hell I wanted to.
“Fine, just sign in and go get his work. Don’t forget to sign out when you’re done.” She never tore her eyes away from the computer screen as she spoke. Clearly she didn’t care, and that suited me fine. I signed myself in and grabbed a visitor sticker. It felt odd on my shirt, considering that I was having to be a visitor in my own school. I left the office and continued down the hall to my first classroom. Very few people took notice of me. I was started to wonder what exactly had changed since I had been gone.

“Excuse me,” I turned around at the sound of the voice.
“Yes?” I paused when I realized that the voice wasn’t speaking to me. Behind me was a tall young man with a hoodie jacket and baggy jeans. He had an ugly look on his face and he was staring down a young freshman boy that I recognized as a classmate of mine.
“Where ya think you’re going, Travis?” The taller one said dangerously.
“To class…I was going to class.”
“Is that so? How’re you planning on getting there?” Travis tried to get around the thug, but each time that he tried, he would be blocked and pushed back. I growled under my breath. I began to step forward, ready to rip the guy in half…and then remembered that I wasn’t Chase right now…I wouldn’t be able to do anything.
“Please just let me by, man.” Travis pleaded.
“Having trouble? I thought you were going to class?” I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Lay off!” I shouted. The hallway seemed to pause at my outburst. For a brief moment, I felt like my old self. However, there was one major difference. Back when I was a boy, if I had said that to anyone, they would have backed off…quick. But now, everyone was staring at me in stunned amazement. What was I supposed to do? I felt myself growing hot in nervousness and anxiety as my heart began to beat faster. Travis was staring at me in shock, knowing that I was toast. Clearly, I was burnt toast.
“What’d you just say to me?” The punk barked. I tried to look defiant, but I was trembling. I felt so weak…I couldn’t face him…not like this.
“I…I um…I just…”
“Oh I see,” He looked and saw the visitor sticker on my chest and laughed, “you’re new around here, huh? Well let’s get a few things straight,” he leaned close and I could smell his rank breath, “nobody…and I mean NOBODY talks to me like that. Wanna know why?” Before he could tell me why, he suddenly cried out and pain and fell on his face. I stared at him and then looked behind where he had fallen. I gasped…it was her!
“It’s because nobody had the guts to knee you in the ass.” She snapped. She was my height with long and lovely hair. She had an exotic tan skin tone and her eyes were a lovely aqua blue. She had her leg extended slightly and was staring down at the groaning thug laying on the ground.
“Naomi?!” I gasped. I couldn’t believe that I was looking at the same girl that I had, had a crush on since middle school. Naomi looked up at me but she didn’t smile.
“Ya just gonna stand there, or are you coming? He’s not gonna stay down. MOVE it.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me down the hallway, away from the crumpled and whimpering behemoth in the hall. I followed after her until she yanked me into the girls restroom and slammed the door.
“What are you,” I began to ask, but Naomi spun and stared at me angrily.
“Who are you, and what on earth were you thinking?!” She demanded. “Standing up to Jacob like that…”
“I…I…” Naomi paused and looked at my visitor sticker.
“Cheryl Thames?” She asked. “Wait, your last name is Thames?” I stared and nodded at her slowly. “Then…are you related to Chase?!” She asked. My eyes widened and I nodded again. Naomi burst out laughing, a big smile on her beautiful face. “I get it now! That explains why you were so brave earlier…it must run in the family!”
“R-really?” I asked, still trying to wrap my mind around what had just happened.
“Yeah! I was really impressed. The only person that’s ever stood up to Jacob before was Chase…so when you stepped forward, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He must be proud. Are you his sister or something?”
“No, his cousin.” I answered quickly. Naomi nodded.
“Oh, I see…you look a lot like him…if he was a girl I mean.” I flushed and looked down.
“Well…um…thanks I guess.” I muttered. I didn’t know what to say to that.
“Where is he?” Naomi asked curiously, “He didn’t show up in the last two days…he’s not hurt is he?” I looked at her and shook my head.
“No…he’s um…he’s sick.” I answered. It was so odd talking about myself like that. It also hurt to lie to Naomi like this. Part of me wanted to tell her the truth…and tell her that I really was Chase. However, I had no idea what she would say or do if I told her. “I’m just here to pick up his school work for him.” Naomi sighed and nodded.
“I see.” She groaned. “I hope he comes back soon.”
“You do?!” I asked in shock. I stepped forward slightly.
“Yeah,” she whispered, “to be honest, I only stood up to Jacob today because…well, your cousin kind of inspired me to. He’s not afraid of them…and he stands up for others. It’s really cool.”
“But, I’m...he’s not…” Before I could finish, the bell above us rang. Naomi groaned loudly.
“Save that thought, class is starting. Do you know where Chase’s first class is?” I started to answer yes, but then realized that might sound suspicious.
“Um…no I don’t.”
“No problem, I’ll take you. We’re both in the same first block.” Naomi led me out of the girls bathroom. Just as she made it into the hallway, she stopped and turned to face me.
“Wait…how did you know my name earlier?” She asked. I blushed and looked down.
“Um…I guess…Chase must have mentioned you at some point…” This time Naomi blushed.
“Chase, talks about me?” She giggled. “That’s…kinda sweet.” She then shook her blush off and pointed down the hall. “Come on, we gotta get moving or we’ll be late.”