Part 3
“There you go.” Becca smiled, brushing her fingers through
her friend’s now very short hair. She had just finished cutting it and if she
could say so herself she thought it looked great. “Take a look at it.”
Alex turned to face the mirror and gasped. Her long hair had
been cut and styled in a way that it was now short, slightly spiky and a little
wild. She looked at her friend. “Becca this is…” She didn’t know how to explain
how different she felt with this new style, lighter somehow. She felt as if, by
cutting the long hair she had dropped a little weight off her shoulders.
“I know, Al,” Becca said smiling. “Now take off your earrings,
while I get those non-prescription glasses I was talking about.”
As soon as the earrings were off, Becca placed the frames on
her friends face. They were squarish and not too large to be unstylish but not
too small to be feminine.
Becca mussed Alex’s hair some more and stepped back. “Stand
up!” she said with awe in her voice.
She started laughing as Alex stood up. “My God, Al. Look at
yourself!”
Alex turned again and was surprised. She had binded her
breasts so now her sweatshirt lay flatly on her chest. The baggy looseness of
the clothing hid her shape. Her dark hair was now suitably boyish and the
glasses partially hid her face and dark blue eyes. She looked like a boy, a boy
that was a tad sweet looking, but a boy nonetheless.
She laughed with her friend; she couldn’t believe the change
in her appearance. Feeling playful she grabbed her baseball cap and put in on
her head. Deepening her voice she faced Becca,
“Well hello there, sweet thing. Wanna come to my place and
fool around?”
Becca laughed. “With that sort of flattery how could any
girl say no. Seriously though Al, you sound and look like a guy. It’s
unnerving.”
Alex brushed her hair with her fingers; she was still
getting used to the lightness of her head. Suddenly turning serious she plopped
on Becca’s bed. “I guess that’s it then. Tomorrow I’m off.”
“Wait a minute. There’s something else you’re going to need.
A fake ID. If you plan on masquerading as a boy, you’re going to have to prove
that you are one.”
Alex lifted a brow. “And how pray tell am I going to get a
fake ID?”
Becca grinned. “Just leave it to me.” She went up to her
closet and took a photo album down. In it were pictures of her family and her
friends including Alex.
She flipped through it until she found the picture she
wanted. It was a picture of Alex two years before. Alex was standing in front
of a wall, she was smiling slightly and her hair was pulled back. It wasn’t of
the best quality and it was quite dark but it suited Becca’s purposes quite
well.
“I’ll be right back,” she said smiling and left the
apartment.
Alex wasn’t very concerned she knew that Becca knew what she
was doing. Five minutes later, Becca came back sans picture.
“What’s going on?” Alex asked.
“My next door neighbour makes fake ID’s. He owes me a favour
so he’s going to make one for you free of charge. He says it’ll be ready early
tomorrow.”
Alex was touched. Becca had really helped her out and she
was really going to miss her. She got up and hugged her friend. “You’re one of
the best people I know. Thank you!”
Becca smiled even as tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m going
to miss you Alex.”
“Me too.” They hugged a little longer.
Becca cleared her throat. “Well you better get some sleep.
You’re in for a long day tomorrow.” Alex nodded and they both headed to sleep.
---
“Take this,” Becca said handing Alex her cell phone.
“What? No!” Alex shook her head.
“You actually think I’m going to let you go off without me
having some way to keep track of you? You don’t know me very well do you?”
Alex smiled slightly, she should have known better. She took
the phone. “Thanks for everything Becca.”
Becca grinned. “Just make sure you call me when you get
wherever you are. I’ll call Kat and let her know what’s happening.”
They were both standing outside the bus terminal waiting for
Alex to board. The bus had almost finished boarding, so the friends hugged one
last time.
“Be careful! And watch out for lechers.” Becca
smiled, trying to cover her anxiety over what Alex was about to do.
“I will. Later Becca.” And with that Alex boarded the bus
with her guitar and bag slung over her shoulder and her fake ID in her pocket.
As soon as she sat down a wave of panic went through her.
Was she in way over her head here?
She shook her head. This was not the time to be having
second thoughts. Her father had very likely found out that she had disappeared
by now. She could never go back. She refused to go back.
This was her chance. Her chance to do something with her
life.
To be somebody.
And
there was no way she was giving that up now.