Fanfic

Question

Part 5

"You stayed up watching me?"

"Only till twelve I do need some sleep you know."

Mad scampered off to get ready for school.

Seconds later Carol was shaking me.

"How are you feeling this morning? How's the chest?

"Pretty good." I risked a few deep breath's, no wheezes or strange noises.

"No headaches, runny nose, tickley coughs?"

"Nope seems to be all clear." I grinned.

"Good I thought a bit of fresh air would help today, you've been stuck inside far too long, You can give me a hand with the shopping this morning."

"Sure, better not go to the mall though they've got the Gestapo out these days."

"The what?"

"Truancy patrols, and the shops call them if they think you should be in school."

Ah yes I did read about it in the rag. No problem we'll go to the out of town centre in Mansfield." "Besides I'm sure I can disguise you." Carol laughed.

'Oh Shit!' I only had my school uniform here, which could only mean one thing.

"You mean Gabby don't you? But I'll still look as though I should be in school. Maybe I should stay here and guard the sofa again."

"Well I was hoping to get Maddy's Christmas present and as she wants clothes this year,,, I'm sure I can make you look older, after all you got into a pub not so long ago."

"So you want me to be seriously Gabby." I sighed.

"Please Drew, it means Maddy will get a nice surprise this Christmas, and I do need help with the groceries. Maybe you'll see something to get her as well."

I shrugged, I couldn't really say no after Carol had looked after me for the last few days and I did need to get out for a bit.

"Ok you get in the shower, don't wash your hair though just rinse it Ok? Don't be long I'll get some breakfast going for you."

I entered the kitchen doing my drowned rat impression, just as the smell of grilled bacon started to greet my nostrils. Carol shovelled a few pieces to join some eggs on my plate.

"Good to see you've got your appetite back." Said Carol as she started to attack my hair with a towel as I shovelled the bacon down.

I was munching my way through a bacon butty when I felt something hot on my head.

"What are you doing?"

"All part of the disguise Drew. Pretty soon you won't even look like Gaby."

"Yes but what are you doing?"

"Just adding a few curls."

"Ah... They will wash out won't they? I'd like to look a bit like me tomorrow."

"Never mind tomorrow your going to the sports centre tonight aren't you?"

"Oh, yes I forgot about that."

"In fact lets hope you don't get caught in the rain, we'd better take umbrella's."

About 15 minutes later my head must have looked like Medusa, as Carol had twisted a heap of multicoloured worms into my hair. Wrapping a scarf around my head she led me back upstairs.

."You need something that's warm yet easy to get in and out of. How about this."

Carol produced a very pink tracksuit from Maddy's closet

"Here's your other stuff, you'd better use the glue on the forms, you maybe changing a lot, we don't want any slippage do we. Oh. And here's a cammi and these tights will help as well."

Grrr. I was getting far too expert in getting into Gabby mode, but not before checking I had the solvent.

"Welcome back Gabrielle, thankyou for doing this, it really is a great help. Come sit here and I'll fix your face."

"Just a little mascara should do it, there you go, now darken the eyebrows a bit, fill in the little gap, and whoosh Gaby school girl becomes Gabrielle girl about town taking a break from Uni."

"What about the hair?"

"Have you looked in the mirror yet Gaby? You look perfectly natural. Just a girl helping her Mum with the shopping, that's maybe going somewhere special this evening, so your saving your hairdo till the last minute."

"I just don't want to be recognised."

"Gaby, What happened Monday night?"

"Some boys followed us, what does..."

"What were you wearing?"

"My uniform."

"Yes, trousers blazer shirt and tie, I'm sorry but I can't think of an easy way to say this..."

"I look like a girl no matter what I wear you mean?"

"Yes I'm afraid so."

"But I don't act like a girl do I?"

"Well how does a girl act Gaby?"

"Well sort of girlie you know."

"You mean squealing and giggling maybe waving you hands about all the time?"

"Well yes. I suppose."

"Well some do I suppose, like Sarah your friend at the shoe store, but Maddy doesn't does she, Ok maybe the giggling, but that sort of behaviour is unusual isn't it, sort of an extreme."

"So I don't act like a boy?"

"How does a boy act Drew? Aggressive, loud maybe, swaggering, argumentative. How many of your friends fit those words?"

" Er. None really, I suppose Clive can be aggressive sometimes and Paul occasionally shouts but normally there pretty quiet like me I suppose. So your saying I'm in the middle."

"Yes. I suppose I am. Most of the time the extremes are just an act, both with boys and girls."

"So I don't have to remember to behave any differently."

"No not really, just be you, perhaps keep your legs together a bit more, stay away from extremes of anything, I'm sure Sarah practises being a bimbo, To attract attention."

I must have looked a bit sad; Carol put her arm round me.

"For heavens sake don't do that Gaby or I'll have to carry a cricket bat to keep the boy's away."

"What did I do?" I was horrified.

"Looked away and then back, Lady Di used to practise that look all the time it's a killer. Just hold your head up and show confidence you'll do fine, you have before."

"Yes but that doesn't mean I wasn't scared."

"I know, but that nervousness probably reinforces the image that we want to project, making it even less likely that someone will realise your not a girl."

"Come on Gaby, lets try it I promise that if you feel it's too much we'll come straight home." Carol could sound so reasonable. She felt my hair.

"Your hair's dry now so you wont be risking a chill, lets make a move or we won't get anything done."

I followed her down the stairs and before I knew it we were in the car and off.

Why me? I thought. It was one thing for Gaby to be around with Maddy, but with your girlfriend's mother?

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