People don’t take trips, trips take people - Antoine 28

Antoine pinched himself, but he didn’t wake up, “Is this real”? he thought to himself, stood in the centre of Times Square, New York City, dressed in a mini skirt and high heels,  “surely stuff like this doesn’t happen outside of Hollywood movies”.

(See image 52)

Antoine had always wanted to travel to New York, having watched countless movies growing up, and now here he was, standing amongst all the lights of Times Square, albeit perched atop a pair of 5-inch stiletto pumps. Everything seemed so familiar but at the same time not.

After telling his story to Fifi in the park, the two had chatted for hours as they became even closer bonding over their common secret. When they left that day Fifi had promised to help him with his problem and told him not to worry, which was easy for her to say, Antoine didn't get a wink of sleep that night.

But It didn’t take Fifi long to come up with a solution and when she invited him out to lunch, the next day, in a nearby restaurant, she laid out her solution.

“What do you want to eat”? Fifi asked with a smile as the two feminized men sat down gracefully.

“Oh, anything, I’m not really hungry”, Antoine replied.

“You’re still worried about, Zara coming back, the real Zara, I mean”, Fifi said before pausing for a second, “oh this is going to get too confusing; we need a new name for you, you’re not Zara, and Antoine doesn’t suit you, right now”,

“Fifi, please, my whole life is about to explode in front of my eyes, a new name is the last thing on my mind”, Antoine stated manically.

“You look quite cute when you’re animated", she said with a giggle, "I told you, don't worry, I’ve got a plan”.

“Really”, Antoine said with a puzzled expression, “I'd love to hear it”?

“I’ll tell you, but first you have to choose a new name”, Fifi replied, before turning her attention back to the menu.

Antoine sighed, “fine, how about just Antoinette? that's the female version of my name, I think”.

“Hmm… I guess, but it sounds a bit old fashioned, let's shorten it”, Fifi replied, “Toinette, no, that’s too long, Toni, no, too masculine, hand on, I've got it, Netti, Netti is what I’m going to call you from now on”.

Antoine sighed, “I guess it’s as good as any name, now are you going to tell me this plan, or are you going to leave me to die of a panic attack”.

So, over a delicious light lunch, Fifi explained her idea to Antoine, and that with New York fashion week starting in a few days, it would be the perfect time to take a trip. Antoine wasn't so sure and questioned her, but Fifi seemed to have an answer for everything, telling him he could use his own passport through immigration as they had no right to tell him how he could or couldn’t dress.

When he asked about Lily, Fifi suggested she come along too, she and Fifi were good friends and Antoine would need to tell her something. Talking it through, they decided that Antoine was to tell Lily that he had told Fifi that he wasn’t really Zara, but he was to keep the part about revealing he was a boy to himself, this way he could also protect Fifi’s own secret.

When they had finished discussing the plan, Antoine just sat there in stunned silence, he didn’t like the idea of travelling to another country crossdressed, especially one where he couldn’t speak the language, not to mention how different it would be, this time he wouldn't be pretending to be Zara, on this trip, he would be himself, or Netti, meaning whenever he needed to show any form of ID, people would know his true gender

With no better idea, Antoine agreed to try Fifi’s plan, even if he couldn’t get an answer out of her as to what would happen when they returned, in his mind, this plan was just delaying the inevitable, but with Fifi telling him, she had a plan for when they returned but needed a little more time to sort out the final details, all he could do was place his trust in her and pray.

So, this how Antoine found himself posing for a picture, disorientated and jetlagged on a pleasantly warm evening amongst the crowds of people in Times Square. The plan was to stay for a week, see a few fashion shows, explore the city, and attend a few parties with some of Fifi's famous friends.

They had only landed a few hours ago, only stopping briefly at the hotel to drop their bags before an excited Lily had insisted they head straight out and see the city.

“Are you hungry, girls”? Fifi asked as Lily finished taking Antoine’s picture.

“Oh, yes, I'm starving”, Lily announced, “I’ve hardly eaten all day, how about you Netti”?

Antoine nodded, “yes, I could eat”. He announced dazzled by all the lights and noise surrounding him.

“Ok, great”, Fifi replied excitedly, “there’s this place in lower Manhattan, a friend recommended to me, they do all sorts of flavoured rice pudding, it's supposed to be delicious, does that sound ok”?

Lily and Antoine nodded, not knowing the city, they were happy to let Fifi take the lead.

Fifi smiled and did a little dance, “oh, this trip is going to be so much fun, let’s go girls”.

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