Rent or Forfeit 29

Chapter 29: A Tale of Two Dates

“What do you think of this skirt?” Maddison asked, holding it up for Tommy to inspect.

“Erm… not really your colour,” Tommy replied, smirking.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Maddison agreed, twirling the hanger slightly. “It would probably look better on you.”

“What do you mean by that?” Tommy replied playfully, pretending to be offended, but his tone revealed a hint of genuine hurt.

“Oh, don’t be so sensitive,” Maddison said with a cheerful laugh. “Your skin tone just suits bright colours more than mine. Come on, let’s get out of here and find a snack. I haven’t eaten since lunch.”

Tommy’s stomach growled on cue, making him nod in agreement. “Good plan. What are you in the mood for?”

“Let’s check out the food court and see what we see,” Maddison replied, looping her arm through his.

The pair strutted out of the clothing store, their high heels click-clacking in perfect unison on the polished floor. The open-plan shopping centre stretched out before them, with its gleaming glass storefronts filled with overpriced gadgets and clothes nobody really needed.

The food court sat at the very top of the four-story mall, requiring two escalator rides to reach. As they ascended, Maddison shot a sideways glance at Tommy, her lips curling into a sly smile.

“So,” she began, her tone teasing, “are you going to tell me more about your date with Cameron last night?”

Tommy’s expression immediately shifted, nervousness flickering across his face. “I already told you,” he muttered, avoiding her gaze. “We had some drinks. We chatted. And then he brought me home.”

“At 1 a.m!” Maddison scoffed, raising an eyebrow. “Come on, what else did you do besides drink and chat?”

Tommy hesitated, glancing at the escalator steps beneath them. “Well… we danced a little at the club,” he mumbled.

The moment they reached the top, Maddison grabbed Tommy’s arm and turned him to face her, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Why are you being so cryptic? You know what I’m asking. Did you guys hook up?”

Tommy exhaled sharply through his nose, his frustration bubbling over. “And I know what you’re getting at,” he replied, his voice louder than he intended. “You want to know if I felt like a woman on a date with a handsome man. If I enjoyed it. If I’m ready to give up on being a man and live my life as Tammy forever!”

Maddison didn’t flinch. Instead, she simply smiled, as if completely unfazed by his outburst. “Well… yeah,” she said, her voice light but direct. "So you think he's handsome then?"

Tommy groaned, running a hand through his hair. “Why are you so fixated on this? Can’t we just enjoy our date without turning it into some sort of interrogation?”

Maddison sighed dramatically, shaking her head. “You’re really calling this a date, Tam?” she asked, giving him a pointed look. “We’re out shopping like two girlfriends."

“Yeah, because that’s what you said you wanted to do,” Tommy replied, his tone defensive.

“Well, that’s what I’m trying to get you to see,” Maddison said, meeting his gaze directly. “Did Cameron ask you what you wanted to do? No, he didn’t. He took the lead and made the decisions. Like a man should on a first date. Don’t get me wrong - I’m having tons of fun today, but how is this any different from the hundreds of other times we’ve gone shopping?”

Tommy hesitated, searching for an answer. “Well… erm… I’m more dressed up than usual,” he finally offered.

Maddison rolled her eyes. “Hardly,” she shot back. “You look super cute in that top and skirt, sure, but you’re dressed almost exactly like me.”

“I’m wearing heels,” Tommy said defensively, lifting a foot slightly. “And I got my nails done,” he added, holding up a hand to show off the long, purple acrylics he’d had done the day before.

Maddison chuckled. “Tam, you always wear heels. And as for the nails, I seriously doubt you chose to get such long nails with me in mind.” She tilted her head, a playful but knowing smirk on her face. “Come on, be real with me. I was there when you were getting ready last night - fussing with your hair and makeup for hours, worrying about what to wear. There was none of that today before we left the house.”

Tommy folded his arms and looked away, his cheeks reddening. He hated that Maddison was right. The truth of her words gnawed at him, reminding him of how nervous he’d been before his date with Cameron. He’d spent what felt like hours trying on different outfits, wanting to find the perfect one. He’d wanted to look good. More than that - he’d wanted Cameron to find him attractive.

The thought shocked him, and once it entered his mind, he couldn’t unthink it. He was suddenly transported back to the previous evening—standing in a nightclub in his sexy outfit. It was early, so the place was practically empty, but he remembered feeling good as he noticed a few heads turn to check him out. His six-inch leather pumps clicked on the floor as he strutted in, his shapely, nylon-clad legs catching the light, while his slim, feminine figure filled out his little black dress perfectly. In that moment, as he glanced at Cameron, he hadn’t been wondering if Cameron was going to kiss him again—he’d been wondering why he hadn’t already.

(See image 29)

“So… I wanted to look nice for him. Where’s the harm in that?” Tommy said, snapping back to the present and glaring at Maddison.

“There isn’t any harm,” Maddison replied gently, her tone softening. “That’s my whole point, Tam. You’re allowed to want to look nice for Cameron. You’re allowed to feel pretty.”

Tommy’s cheeks flushed a deeper red, and he looked down, grimacing. “But… I’ve never liked boys. I’ve always been attracted to girls.”

“Maybe you’re bisexual,” Maddison suggested, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “A lot of people are. But tell me this - do you fancy Cameron?”

Tommy hesitated, his heart pounding. Slowly, he nodded, the admission sending a shiver of fear through him - he wasn't just admitting it to Maddison, but to himself.

Seeing the vulnerability in his eyes, Maddison leaned in and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a warm hug. “Come here,” she said softly. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay,” Tommy replied sullenly, his voice barely above a whisper. “I shouldn’t be feeling this way. I shouldn’t be dressed like this.”

“Forget all that for a moment,” Maddison said, stepping back and gripping his shoulders firmly. Her tone was firm but soothing “Just take it one day at a time and focus on what feels right."

Tommy hesitated, then managed a small smile. “It sounds easy when you put it like that.”

“That’s because it is easy,” Maddison replied, her smile lighting up her face. “Now, tell me - did Cameron ask you on a second date?”

Tommy chuckled nervously, glancing away before nodding.

“And… are you going to go?” Maddison pressed, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

“Well, I haven’t answered him yet,” Tommy admitted, his wide eyes betraying a mix of nerves and excitement. “But… I think I want to.”

“Perfect!” Maddison said, her tone suddenly chipper as she clapped her hands together. “Well, you’ll need something to wear. Food can wait - let’s find you an outfit that will make Cameron’s eyes pop out of his head when he sees you!”

Tommy blinked, momentarily overwhelmed by her enthusiasm, but a small smile crept onto his face as he nodded. “Okay,” he said, letting himself get swept up in her energy again.

Maddison wasted no time, looping her arm through his as they strutted off, their heels clicking in perfect rhythm against the polished floor once again. She glanced over at him with a mischievous grin. “Alright, spill - how’s Cameron as a kisser? I want all the dets.”

Tommy felt his cheeks flush as he couldn’t hold back a shy smile. “Well…” he began, launching into a detailed account of Cameron’s soft lips and how he wasn’t shy about using his tongue.

Maddison listened intently, nodding along and offering little bursts of encouragement. To anyone watching, they looked like any other pair of fashionable, beautiful young women out for a day of shopping, chatting animatedly about boys and the latest gossip. The world around them faded into the background as their laughter echoed down the gleaming hallways of the mall.