Chapter 7

Jamie woke with a start and it took her a moment to remember where she was. The couch at Heather’s apartment wasn’t very comfortable and she had been dreaming again. She swung her feet over the side and sat with her head in her hands in the darkness of Heather’s living room, remembering what she could of her dream.

She was in an all-white room by herself when she heard a voice ask her “Who do you want to be? It’s your choice…it’s your body…it’s up to you”

Jamie stood up and felt a dull ache in her stomach. She thought it was last night’s dinner not sitting right on her and she headed to the bathroom thinking “I would go back to James” She sat down and felt that ache become a pressure like she had never felt before. She had been squinting against the light she had turned on when she saw the tell-tale sign of the last part of womanhood she wanted to experience. “Oh shit” she mumbled “I’ve started my period”

Jamie was wide awake now despite it only being 5:26 A.M. She stood up gingerly and shuffled to the vanity in the bathroom. She crouched down and searched the boxes underneath until she found what she was looking for; “Here goes nothing” she said as she took a pad from the box. She sat back down and got it applied and pulled up her panties and shorts “God it feels like I’m wearing a diaper”

Jamie went into the living room but was afraid to sit on the couch at first. “This is so stupid” she said to herself as she lay back down but the dull ache in her abdomen and the not quite knowing what to expect kept her awake.

When Heather came out from her room and found Jamie awake and watching TV, she knew that something was up “What’s wrong?” she asked and stopped in her tracks.

“Well” Jamie started “I’ve already switched from pads to tampons and I’ve decided that I don’t like either of them”

“Oh my God…you’ve got your period” Heather said.

“Yeah” Jamie said sarcastically “I am a woman so I guess I get to experience everything a woman does…remember the bet”

“Yes” Heather began “And I know what hormones do to a body…just relax”

“Sorry” Jamie said.

“It’s okay, you haven’t been dealing with these for half your life” Heather replied. “But at least we know that you’re fully functioning”

“Thanks for that…I can get pregnant; awesome…yea me”

They spent Sunday just relaxing and talking and no texts showed up about the Cowboys game.

Monday would be Jamie’s worst day as a woman so far she feared. The pains of the second day of her period made her just want to wear sweatpants and stay in bed all day but she knew she had to go to work and she knew she would have to face Josh. She got dressed in loose black pants and a large dark purple sweater and headed in to work.

She managed to avoid Josh throughout the morning but ran into him in the lunchroom when she went to get a diet Coke.

Josh smiled nervously at Jamie when she turned around and spotted him. She nodded and said “Hello Josh”

“Hey Jamie” he said before adding “Look; I know Saturday didn’t go really good but I hope it won’t be weird here…I mean we do still have to work together”

Jamie gave him a weary half smile “No, it won’t be weird here…it just wasn’t supposed to go that direction for us”

“Yeah” Josh replied “Don’t say anything about it around here if you don’t mind”

Jamie raised an eyebrow “Don’t worry, I won’t be talking about it” as she walked off.

Josh began to say something else but stopped when he saw that she was not interested in continuing the conversation any longer.

As the week passed and she began to feel better as her period passed, Jamie really began to think on what had happened, who she was, and what would she be.

It was a Friday night that she spent at home with Heather as they covered the pros and cons of both sides of the fence.

“This is going to be so hard” Jamie said as they sat down.

“Yeah, but think of it this way: If you really get to decide who you are going to be…if this dream where you get to choose is how this plays out, think of the choice you actually get to make. No one else gets to pick if they are going to be a man or a woman quite like this; this puts gender surgery in a distant second place” Heather said.

“I know, but do you have any idea the amount of responsibility that comes with this decision. This is the rest of my life we’re talking about and how I’m going to live it”

Heather just shook her head “So where do you want to start?”

Jamie said “I hope I stay objective here…I hope it’s not just a novelty factor in being female and the fact that I didn’t grow up as a little girl”

“You have to work with what you know and what you’ve got on the table” Heather said bluntly. “Two weeks in and you’ve had orgasms, flirted and had a bad date where your heart got broken just a bit and had a period”

“Yeah, period is a big strike against” Jamie said “Same with being on the receiving end of a bad date; orgasm as a female though…” she smiled.

“But it’s not just those things” Jamie continued “There’s a lot of little things to consider too” she sighed “I don’t know why I feel more comfortable in my own body as Jamie than I ever did as James. But yet my familiarity with James from 27 years there is also a factor: There was a certainness there that’s not here”

“Maybe you were always meant to be Jamie and this was just a way to correct a cosmic mix-up” Heather said.

“It’s not going to come down to something as basic as peeing standing up or the ability to bear a child that’s going to make up my final decision” Jamie said “But simply what feels right for me going forward”

“You still have two weeks to decide” Heather said “But that’s going to be here before you know it”

They talked for hours before they fell asleep.

Chapter 8

Jamie was reading and relaxing on Thursday night…20 days into being a woman, when her phone went off. “Hey Heather…what’s up?”

“Jamie; dear sweet Jamie…how many times have I ever asked you for a favor?”

“More times than I can recall; why?” Jamie said a bit bored.

“Well I need a huge favor from you tomorrow” Heather said.

Jamie could tell the pleading quality of Heather’s voice when she replied “What do you need?”

“Well” Heather began “I have a date tomorrow night and he’s really cute and super nice and awesome…”

“…and…” Jamie said.

“And he will only date me if it’s a double date and I said yes…don’t hate me”

“What?!” Jamie said “I have no, repeat no, interest in this”

“Come on…please…I’m begging you. It’s only one date and if you don’t like him you never have to see him again and if you turn back into James you really don’t have to see him again” Heather pleaded.

“Why do adults have to double date anyway…why can’t this guy get a date on his own and why do think that now that I’m a girl that I want to date so much…I mean I had like 3 dates in the last 3 years” Jamie said.

“He is not some horn having freak; he’s Sean’s cousin and he just moved here from Seattle so he doesn’t know anyone. His name is Dan and he’s shy…so you two should get along grand” Heather said. “Please do this for me and I will never ask you for another favor again as long as we live”

Jamie sighed “I highly doubt that; but okay…I’ll go”

“Oh my God Thank You thank you thank you. You are the best friend I’ve ever had” Heather said.

“I’m the only best friend you’ve ever had” Jamie retorted.

“Yeah but it’s so much cooler now that you’re a girl like me” Heather blurted out.

Jamie sat stunned a bit “So you still think that?” she asked.

“What?” Heather asked not really realizing what she had said before.

“That it’s cooler for you because I’m a girl now” Jamie said.

“That’s not the way I meant it and you know it. We’ve gone out on double dates before as guy and girl; now we get to go as girl and girl so if it’s going bad we can go to the bathroom together and destroy them…that’s what I mean” Heather replied. “Don’t take everything the wrong way…I loved you as James and I love you as Jamie…it doesn’t matter what sex you are, you’ll always be my best friend”

Jamie decided to let it go at that and simply asked “Where and when?”

“Tomorrow night at 7…we’re meeting at Murphy’s”

“I’ll be there” Jamie concluded. She hung up the phone and sighed heavily more confused than ever.

Jamie was waiting in the parking lot when Heather pulled in. She got out and straightened her skirt and walked over to join her friend and walk in together since she had no idea what these guys looked like.

Jamie was wearing a green blouse, black skirt, black tights and black boots for the occasion. “Let’s go get this over with” she said to Heather.

“Don’t act too excited” Heather replied “And please don’t ruin this for me, at least act nice”

“I will be…don’t worry” Jamie said as they entered the restaurant.

“Hey Heather; Over here” they heard from across the room.  Heather waved and nudged Jamie in the ribs to get her to move with her. “Hi…I’m Sean” Heather’s date said as he put his hand out to Jamie.

Jamie took it and gave it a quick shake “Hi…Jamie Campos”

“Thanks for coming Jamie…You’re doing us both a huge favor by double dating tonight. My cousin is new in town and I wanted him to get to meet someone and Heather just raves about you”

Jamie smiled “So where is Dan?”

“Oh…here he comes now…Hey Dan!” Sean yelled out.

Jamie turned and saw a very handsome guy walking toward them and she felt her stomach jump a bit. “He’s hot” she thought immediately and blushed at the thought.

“Dan” Sean said “I’d like you to meet Jamie. Jamie…Dan”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Jamie” Dan said.

Jamie smiled as wide as she had ever smiled “Nice to meet you too Dan. So Sean said you just moved here from Seattle…”

“…So that’s my number…” Jamie said as Dan entered it into his phone three hours later. They had talked the entire time and really hit it off.

“I hope to get to see you again” Dan said as they stood in the parking lot.

“I’d like that too” Jamie said.

Dan leaned over and gave her a light kiss on the lips. Jamie returned it with her heart beating faster and her stomach in full flutter. “I had a great time tonight” Jamie said as they looked into each other’s eyes.

“Me too; I’ll text you or call you or something soon; okay” Dan said as he opened Jamie’s car door.

“I’d like that…I’ll talk to you soon” she said as she tucked her legs in and pulled down her skirt. She smiled and waved as he shut her door and backed up a few steps. He watched as she pulled away.

Jamie drove home with a smile on her face the whole time. After she got back to her apartment, she kicked off her shoes and dropped her head. She had known all week that she wanted to stay as Jamie but tonight had solidified it for her.

She had realized as time went on that she didn’t need a man in her life. What had done it was a feeling of the end for her. It made her unhappy to think of going back to James and never seeing or being Jamie again. She hadn’t missed being James and didn’t miss him per se and that was what had sealed it for her. It felt like a clock ticking down to an inevitable depressing ending if she had to go back to being James forever, where as she looked forward to continue being Jamie. Now she just hoped that her dream was true and she did get to make the choice.

Jamie spent the next week in a kind of dread. She tried to enjoy every minute of every day in case she did change back. She withstood a huge amount of teasing and questioning from Heather every day about Dan, whom she was texting so much it was like they were teenagers. But Jamie hadn’t dreamed once all week and that was what was concerning to her. Every night she had said to herself “I bet I could live the rest of my life as a woman” just in case it meant anything for her fate.

Jamie met Dan for dinner after work on Friday and they again had a great time. They talked naturally and comfortably for a few hours and left each other with a kiss.

Once in her apartment, Jamie felt an overwhelming feeling of anticipation. No one had explained any ground rules for her but she was just assuming that since tonight was exactly 4 weeks since she had changed that whatever was going to happen was going to happen soon. It would either be tonight or Sunday after 30 days had passed she felt.

Chapter 9

Jamie Campos stood in her bedroom and began to undress. Her iPod played quietly in the background from the other room as she easily stepped out of her brown boots and she pulled her orange top off over her head. She undid her jeans and let them fall to the floor before she unhooked her bra and began to gather up all the assorted pieces to put them away.

As she put her boots in the bottom of her closet a shiver ran up her spine and she shuttered in response. Her stomach did a flip and she could feel sweat break out across her brow and at the base of her neck. She dropped the dirty clothes on the floor as she stood upright and said “No! No no no no no no no I don’t want to change back; I won’t change back! I’m happier than I’ve ever been as Jamie…you can’t just take that away from me now. I won’t let it happen”

A sudden pain in her stomach made her double over and grasp her mid-section. Jamie kept her head up though and said through gritted teeth “It’s my body…it’s my life…it’s my choice: I choose Jamie now and forever!”

Her knees buckled and she dropped to the floor panting and gasping for air. “Err” she grunted out “I am Jamie…I am Jamie…” she struggled for a moment then suddenly she took in a deep breath a yelled out “I AM JAMIE CAMPOS!” as her head dropped to the floor.

Consciousness swirled in and out and her vision blackened at the edges. Jamie rolled onto her back and closed her eyes.

“I’m so Fancy…you already know…I’m in the fast lane…from L.A. to Tokyo”

Music played from a distance as the figure curled on the floor began to twitch. Fingers curled and balled into fists as leg muscles jumped. Hands began to shift backwards as eyelids fluttered and then suddenly popped open.

Jamie’s eyes opened and saw strands of light brown wavy hair drifting through her line of sight “Oh my God” she thought immediately as she sat bolt upright. As she swung her body upwards she realized that long hair flowed around her and breasts swayed on her chest; she was still Jamie, she hadn’t changed back…she had stopped it.

“HA-HA” she laughed loudly as she looked down at herself in triumph. Her hands grabbed her breasts and squeezed them acknowledging that they were still there and still real. She pulled her legs around and sat crisscrossed. She ran her hands over her smooth thighs and patted her flat female pubic mound even thinking to herself “I won’t even get mad during my period”

She wiggled her small painted toes and laughed before she stood up. She looked around the room and took in the decorations and clothes that were now hers forever. Her dirty clothes from the day sat mere feet away from her and she probed them gently with her right foot. She was just in a pair of panties as she walked into her bathroom and caught her reflection in the mirror. She smiled at the sight and grabbed her robe to put on.
She picked up her phone and sat on the edge of the couch as she dialed up Heather.
“Hey Jamie what’s up?” Heather said casually.

“It’s over” Jamie said cryptically.

“What’s over?”

“The bet…I won” Jamie replied.

“What…are you saying…”Heather whispered.

“I got to make my choice and by the voice that you’re hearing; you can tell that I am now Jamie permanently”

“Oh My God Jamie I’m so happy for you!” Heather screamed into her phone. “So what happened?”

Jamie took a deep breath and told her about how she felt the same dread followed by stomach pains and sweating and how she just kept talking about how much she wanted to stay Jamie until she passed out and woke up still Jamie.

“Well, I’m glad that it’s over…for everyone’s sake” Heather said.

“Thanks” Jamie said as she hung up.

Jamie put her head back and smiled and as her phone went off with a new text from Dan, she picked it up and typed her response.

Epilogue

“I can’t believe it” Heather said as she tugged on the zipper.

“What?” Jamie asked.

“I still can’t believe that I have to be maid of honor in your wedding…that’s what” Heather said as she helped Jamie place her veil just right.

Two years had passed since Jamie had made her stand and she had never looked back. Today she was marrying Dan and moving forward into the next chapter of her life. She smiled at Heather, who had broken up with Sean after Jamie and Dan’s first month anniversary. “You’ll find someone…in fact…I saw one of Dan’s friends that looks pretty cute out there” she said as she peered through the window of the dressing room in the back of the church.

“Just be sure that I catch the bouquet” Heather remarked as the music swelled in anticipation.