Just a Phase (Single Chapter)

This short story was inspired by the country song, “Just a Phase,” co-written and performed by Adam Craig. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X2zjNYRO38. I took the lyrics and reinterpreted it as a trans allegory.

* * *

Megan opened the liquor cabinet and picked up the bottle of whiskey.  She eyed the label for a moment trying to decide if it was a whiskey night or not.

“Whiskey sounds good,” Kyle chimed in.

“Not tonight” she replied.  It’s always a whiskey night for Kyle, but Megan wanted something classier. She returned the bottle and pulled out a bottle of red wine.  “Sangiovese?”

“I was saving that for a special occasion,” he replied.

“Well, this is a special occasion.” she replied, placing the six year old red wine on the counter.

“I won’t argue with you there,” he said, with a nervous laugh.  There was an awkward silence as he watched her dig for the corkscrew. “Megan,” he said in a more serious tone.  “What are we doing?”

“We’re getting reacquainted.” she replied, pulling the cork out of the wine bottle. “We haven’t seen each other in a while.”

“I’m just nervous,” he replied.

“Don’t be nervous. We have all night to ourselves.” She poured the wine into her glass.

“That’s what I’m worried about,” he said. “Us.  Me and you.  This is just supposed to be something fun.  An experiment.  Just a phase.”

“Oh Kyle,” she replied.  “This isn’t just a phase.  I see the way you look at me.”

Kyle sighed. Did he want her to be just a phase? He liked her.  It was exciting every time he let her into his life.

Megan took her wine glass and walked to the bedroom.  She stood in front of the open closet for a moment and took a sip.  She set the glass down on a nearby dresser and pulled out several hangers worth of clothing.

“So, what are you going to wear?” Kyle asked.

“Something casual to start maybe?” Megan said.

Megan opened a drawer and at the back pulled out a pair of panties, a bra, a white tank top and a pair of socks.  She slid the panties on, followed by the bra, then the tank top.

“What pair of jeans should I wear?” she asked.

“How about those stretchy jeans in the drawer?” Kyle suggested

“Perfect.” she said, retrieving the jeans.  She slid her legs through the jeans and pulled them up over her hips. She then slipped on the socks.

“What should I wear as a top?” she asked Kyle.

“How about that plaid shirt right there.” Kyle replied.

“That’s your shirt.”

“So, you can wear my shirts.  I want to see what you look like in it.”

Megan put the plaid shirt on, buttoned the buttons and tucked the front of the shirt into her jeans.

“Shoes?” she asked Kyle.

Kyle held up a pair of Converse sneakers.

Megan put the sneakers on, and admired the outfit in the mirror.  She twirled around, admiring how the jeans clung to her curves. “Casual and cute.”

“How about those boots you bought last week?” Kyle asked.

“Good idea.”

She kicked off the sneakers and pulled the brown knee high boots from the closet and put them on.  She zipped the boots up.

“How do I look?”

“Like we’re going to a country bar,” he laughed.

“I don’t have a cowboy hat or else I’d consider it.” she said.

Kyle nervously laughed at the thought of going out.  “You look amazing.”

Megan unbuttoned the shirt a few buttons to let the tank top show through. “Actually.” She unbuttoned the bottom two buttons and tied the ends of the shirt together.  “Cute.” she said.  

Kyle looked at Megan.  “This is totally a phase,” he thought to himself.  “We’re going to wake up and realize this was all just for fun.”  He smiled.  “Might as well smile and take it all in,” he thought.

Megan picked up the cellphone and after a few swipes pressed play on the playlist.  A rock and roll song came on.  She grimaced and switched the playlist to a different one.  A pop song from a popular female artist came on.  “This is better,” she said, dancing around the bedroom.

She stopped for a moment. “I’m not feeling this outfit anymore.”

Megan removed the boots, shirts and jeans and tossed them in a pile on the bed.  “Besides, I just shaved my legs, I’d like to show them off.”

She retrieved a black dress from the stack of clothes she pulled from the closet.   She stepped into the dress and slowly pulled it up her waist, then over the bra, and finally onto her shoulders.

She ran her hands down her dress and smoothed it out making sure it wasn’t bunched up.  She then pulled out a shoebox from the closet and found a pair of back pumps with a strap at the ankle.  She slid the pumps on and buckled the strap.

She slid her hands up her smooth legs.

“That’s hot,” Kyle said.

Megan pulled out a makeup bag and started doing her makeup.  Foundation, concealer, eyeshadow, mascara and lipstick. When she was happy with the results she took another sip of wine.  She noticed the lipstick print on the wine glass and smiled.

“Should we go out?” She asked, bobbing to the pop song.

“Not tonight,” Kyle said with resignation.

“Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?” she asked.

“No,” he was quick to reply.  “It’s just that - I’m not ready.”

“You know this isn’t a phase right?” Megan asked Kyle. “This is real.”

“This is totally a phase,” he said what he was thinking earlier.  “We’re going to wake up and realize this was all just for fun and we’re back to normal.”

She smiled.  “Are you having fun?”

“Yes.”

“Then smile.  If I’m not here in the morning, know that we got to have our moment.” she said.

The pop song gave way to a slower song and romance.  Megan slowly swayed around the room and out into the living room.  She dimmed the lights and fantasized about going out.  About being out in a dimly-lit club, or elegant ballroom. Dancing, losing herself in the moment.

“Do you want to watch a movie?” Kyle interrupted.

“Sure.” Megan replied, stopping the music.

Megan picked up the remote and put on Netflix, selecting a romcom she’d been meaning to watch.  She took off her pumps and jumped onto the couch and curled up her legs underneath her.

“Do you want to change into something casual?” Kyle asked.  “Leggings maybe?  I have that comfy college sweatshirt you like.”

“Nah.” she replied. “I want to stay in this dress longer.”

They both settled into the couch and watched the movie.  

“This is nice,” Kyle thought.  But he had a pang of guilt knowing that Megan really wanted to leave the house.

After the movie was over, Kyle took a deep breath.  He knew the night was coming to an end.

“It’s time for me to go isn’t it?” Megan said.  She could feel a tear forming.  She quickly tried to wipe it before it smeared her makeup.

“Unfortunately” Kyle said.

“Next week?” Megan asked. “Same place, same time?”

“Yes.” Kyle replied. “I’d like that.”

“Maybe we can go out next week.”

“Maybe.”

“Good night then,” Megan said.

Kyle stood up and took the wine glass to the kitchen sink.  He looked at the wine glass with the lipstick stain on the rim.  He smiled and rinsed the wine and lipstick off.

He walked back to the bedroom.  He took off the dress, the bra and panties and tossed them onto the pile of clothes on his bed.  He put on a clean pair of boxers then walked to the bathroom.

He turned the faucet on and started washing the makeup off his face. “She’s just a phase.” he said when he was done and dried his face with a hand towel.

He kept telling himself that as he slowly dug through the pile of clothes on the bed.  He then hung them back on hangers putting each one remorsefully back into the closet.

“She’s just a phase.” he said again as he held onto the last hanger for a moment and smiled.  

He hung it up then turned around and opened up another drawer.  He pulled out a nighty and looked at it for a moment, then eagerly slipped it on and slipped into bed.

“I’m just going to lay right here and pretend it’s not true,” he thought.  “This is just a phase I’m going through.”