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Waverly and Nicole walked hand in hand into the mall, Billy and Rachel a few feet ahead of them. They both took off towards their favorite stores the moment they stepped inside.
“Please don’t steal anything!” Nicole yelled as they ran off, which was pointless, considering they were too far away to hear her.
“They won’t steal anything honey,” Waverly said, “Rachel’s too smart for that and you know it.”
“Ya I know. It’s Billy I’m worried about,” Nicole said as Waverly laughed.
“I know. But my point is that Rachel isn’t going to let him do something so stupid. Okay?” Waverly asked.
“Ya okay,” Nicole said, “Alright come on. Let’s go chop all that hair off.”
The pair took off towards the salon, Waverly clearly getting increasingly nervous as they continued walking. They had only told Nicole they were genderqueer earlier that week. They hadn’t even told Jeremy yet. Was this all happening too soon?
Nicole could tell how nervous they were and stopped walking.
“Hey. You okay? We don’t have to do this if you don’t have to,” she said.
“No, no I do. I really really do, I’m just nervous, you know?” Waverly asked.
“Of course. This is a big step,” Nicole said as she led them over to a bench to sit for a moment.
“It’s not that I’m gonna miss my hair. It will grow back, and I really wanna cut it, but then everyone’s gonna know,” Waverly said.
“Wave, I don’t think everyone’s gonna see your short hair and just immediately assume that you’re genderqueer,” Nicole said.
“Well, maybe, but won’t everyone figure that something’s going on?” Waverly asked.
“Maybe, but let them whisper! You’re not doing this for them, you’re doing this for you,” Nicole said.
“What if everyone thinks it’s weird?” Waverly asked timidly.
“I thought you were past wanting everyone’s approval,” Nicole said. Waverly considered that for a moment before taking a deep breath and nodding their head.
“Okay, you’re right. Let’s do this,” Waverly said as they stood back up.
Nicole looked at Waverly for a moment considering how similar their sense of style had gotten recently. They were both wearing flannels, jeans, and sneakers. Everything was a different color, but it still made Nicole laugh a little bit.
Once the couple got to the hair salon, they saw that there was a small line, so they both sat down for a minute before an androgynous looking person came up to them.
“Hi there! What can I do for you folks today?” they asked. Nicole looked at Waverly and gave them a reassuring smile.
“I uh...I guess I want a haircut!” Waverly said, now feeling a little more excited now that it was actually starting.
“Alright. And you’re here for moral support?” the person asked Nicole as they smiled.
“Yes I am,” Nicole said. She was happy they seemed to have gotten a very kind and understanding person.
“Okay, follow me please,” they said as the couple followed them to a chair near the back of the salon, “So how short do you want it?”
“Oh wow. I was so nervous about getting it cut I hadn’t even thought about that yet,” Waverly said, looking over at Nicole for some guidance.
“Don’t look at me. You’re doing this so that you feel good, not so that I like it,” Nicole said.
“Right,” Waverly said as they looked away. Although they had made progress, they were still getting used to the idea of doing things for themself, and not for everyone else.
“If you want we could just shave it all off so you can really get a sense of what length you like as it grows out,” the stylist said.
Waverly thought for a moment. They couldn’t really imagine themself with a shaved head, but they did really like the idea. They smiled and looked up at Nicole.
“I’m into it. What do you think?” they asked.
“Honey, it doesn’t matter what I think,” Nicole said as she leaned down a little bit, “but I think it’d be really hot,” she said as she quickly kissed Waverly.
“Alright. Let’s do it,” the stylist said.
After that, the stylist got to work. It was a longer process than Waverly had been expecting. They thought the stylist would just take a razor and shave it all off, but they started by cutting it shorter, little by little. Once Waverly’s hair was significantly shorter, they couldn’t believe how emotional it made them. They never thought they would actually get to see themself this way.
Finally, the stylist picked up the razor and started shaving off the remainder of Waverly’s hair. Near the end, they had to turn the chair around, so Waverly wouldn’t get to see the end result until the chair was turned back around.
“Alright! All done here! You ready to see?” the stylist asked. Waverly took a deep breath.
“Ya. I’m ready,” they said.
“Okay,” the stylist said as they turned the chair around.
Waverly’s breath caught in their throat. They started to tear up a little bit. For the first time in their entire life, they were actually looking at themself. Not some picture perfect “nicest person in Purgatory,” but them. Waverly.
Nicole got up and put her hands on Waverly’s shoulders.
“What do you think baby?” she asked.
“It’s um…” Waverly trailed off.
“What?” Nicole asked, slightly concerned.
“It’s me,” they said with a huge smile. Nicole smiled and kissed the top of their head.
“It is baby,” she said, smiling just as wide as Waverly.
“Alright then. What do we owe you?” Waverly asked the stylist.
“You know what? This one’s on the house,” they said.
“What? No. No, you don’t have to do that,” Waverly said.
“No, really it’s okay. I remember the first time I felt what you’re feeling right now. You shouldn’t have to have that feeling and then have to pay money,” they said. Waverly smiled. They didn’t even know each other and they were treating Waverly with so much kindness. Like a moment of understanding between two gender non conforming people.
“Are you sure?” they asked.
“I’m sure. Now get outta here and show off your new hair!” they said.
“Okay. Thank you,” Waverly said with a laugh as they took Nicole’s hand and walked out of the salon.
It was a strange feeling for Waverly. They still felt nervous about what people were thinking, but they also felt the most confidence they had ever felt in their entire life. They kept on running their hand over their head, because they were self conscious, but every time they did it, it felt like their confidence level went up a little bit.
“Rachel just texted me and said she and Billy are getting some lunch,” Nicole started, looking at her phone, “You wanna get something and then we can meet up with them later and get you some new clothes?”
“Ya sounds good,” Waverly said, “Starbucks?”
“Sure,” Nicole said as they made their way over to the food court.
Once in line to get their food, Nicole finally noticed that Waverly kept on running their hand over their head. Nicole quickly took both of their hands in her own.
“Hey, you look amazing!” Nicole said.
“I know!” Waverly said with a smile, “I’m doing it because every time I do, I feel a tiny bit more confident.”
“Oh. Well in that case, get back to it!” Nicole said, laughing a little as she let go of one of Waverly’s hands.
“It just feels so weird. For the first time ever, I’m me. I’m just me,” Waverly said.
“I’m so happy,” Nicole said, lifting Waverly’s hand up to kiss it, “And may I just say, you look so hot.”
“Shut up!” Waverly said with a blush.
“No, I’m serious! Everything about this is so unbelievably hot! I mean, the hair alone is amazing, but just seeing how much more confident you are is like...wow,” Nicole said.
“Hmmm, maybe when we get home I should show you just how confident I feel,” Waverly said.
“Maybe you should,” Nicole said as she leaned in to kiss Waverly.
“Um...sorry, you’re next in line,” a voice said from behind them.
“Oh, sorry,” Nicole said with a laugh as she and Waverly stepped forward to order their food.
After ordering their food, the pair sat and talked as they ate. Nicole could tell just how much happier Waverly was. Not just since their wedding, since the first time they met too.
Nicole hadn’t noticed it before, because she had nothing to compare it to, but Waverly had always seemed just a little sad. Now Nicole knew why, and now, Nicole was lucky enough to see them happier than she had ever seen.
Suddenly, Rachel and Billy came running up.
“Hey!” Rachel yelled as she and Billy approached, “You look so cool!”
“I know,” Waverly said with a smile.
“Ooo, I like this new confident Waverly,” Rachel said as she and Waverly laughed.
“So do I,” Nicole said.
“Ew, do you always have to take it there?” Rachel asked.
“I do. I really really do,” Nicole said.
“You do look really awesome, Waverly,” Billy said.
“Thank you,” Waverly said.
“So what’d you guys get?” Nicole asked.
“Just a few shirts and some shoes,” Rachel said, opening her bag for Nicole to see.
“And I won’t get any calls later saying that you guys stole?” Nicole asked.
“Of course not,” Rachel said.
“Billy?” Nicole asked.
“What she said,” Billy responded.
“Good,” Nicole said.
“So should we go ahead and get Waverly some new clothes?” Rachel asked.
“Let us finish eating first!” Nicole said.
“Okay okay. Sorry,” Rachel said as she and Billy sat down at that table.
The four of them talked for over an hour, all because Waverly was so happy that they couldn’t stop talking about anything that came to mind. And no one cared. They had been looking forward to going shopping but seeing Waverly like this was all anyone wanted. So everyone just let Waverly talk excitedly and excitedly talked along with them. That is, until Billy looked at his watch and saw how much time had passed.
“Oh shit. Guys we’ve been talking for over an hour,” he said with a laugh.
“Oh jeez,” Waverly said, also laughing, “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m talking so much.
“Because you’re happier than you’ve ever been before,” Nicole said.
“I suppose that could be contributing,” Waverly said, blushing a little.
“It’s fine. The mall doesn’t close for like another four hours,” Rachel said, “but still, let’s go!”
The four of them walked over to a big department store and looked around momentarily. It was a comical sight. The four of them stood side by side, and simultaneously looked back and forth between the men’s section and the women’s section.
“It’s disgusting how gendered clothes are,” Rachel said, “I really like that shirt over there, and it’s in the men’s section.”
“So disgusting,” Nicole agreed as they all continued to look back and forth.
Eventually, Waverly just stared at the men’s section before very slowly, starting to walk towards it.
The three others followed close behind. Billy had grabbed a basket and held it ready for Waverly to put things in if they wanted to.
Waverly very slowly made their way around the store, just looking at everything, and occasionally touching things.
Once they made their way to the other side of the store, Waverly took a deep breath and started walking around again, this time, actually picking things up to put in the basket.
They picked up everything, from shirts, to pants, jackets, sweaters, a few belts, some socks, and even a few pairs of shoes.
By the end, Rachel and Nicole were also carrying baskets full of clothes.
Waverly finally seemed to snap out of their daze when they turned around to see the three of them with their baskets.
“Oh shit! I’m sorry guys! I could have done that!” they quickly said.
“No no no,” Rachel said, “We’re here to help and we’re happy to do it.”
“She’s right, if you need us to carry these baskets then we’re gonna carry the baskets!” Nicole said.
“Thanks,” Waverly said with a slightly guilty look on their face, “Come on. Let’s go to the dressing rooms to make sure it all fits.”
The four of them made their way to the dressing rooms. They gave Waverly the baskets and they disappeared behind a curtain. The three others made their way over to a bench and sat down. This was going to take a minute.
“They were in some kind of trance weren’t they?” Billy asked.
“Ya it looked like it,” Nicole said.
“It was kind of incredible,” Rachel said.
“Ya it was,” Nicole said.
“They’re really brave,” Billy said, “Hey Rachel?”
“Ya?” she asked.
“I think I might be ace,” he said. Nicole was slightly uncomfortable to be there to witness a coming between two teenagers in a relationship, but she suddenly became very interested in a thread in her shirt.
Meanwhile, Rachel had whipped her head around to look at Billy.
“What?” she asked in shock.
“Ya. I-I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I was just scared. But you know,” he started motioning towards the dressing rooms, “Waverly gave me some bravery.”
“You’re sure you’re ace?” Rachel asked.
“Ya. I’m sure,” he said.
“Oh thank God!” she suddenly yelled.
“What?” Billy asked in shock.
“I think I am too!” Rachel said.
“Really?!” Billy asked, a huge smile on his face.
“Ya!” Rachel said. Now Nicole was very happy that she had been there to witness this.
“This is the best day!” she yelled. Both teenagers looked at her and laughed.
“It really is,” Billy said. He put his head on Rachel’s shoulder as she put her head over his.
“Aww,” Nicole said.
“Shut up!” Rachel said as Nicole laughed.
Suddenly, Waverly came out of the dressing rooms. They had one basket full of clothes, and another with slightly less in it. They put the basket with less down on a different bench, and then walked over to the cashier with the other basket. They paid for the clothes and came back over to the group without saying anything.
They put their new clothes, now in a bag, on Nicole’s lap and started digging, eventually picking out a few pairs of clothes and going back into the dressing room.
When they emerged from the dressing room a few minutes later, they took Nicole’s breath away.
Waverly was wearing a blue short sleeved button down shirt, black skinny jeans, and red doc martens.
They made their way over to the group who quickly stood up.
“Wow,” Nicole said, slightly out of breath.
“Ya?” Waverly asked, a small smile starting to get bigger.
“Uh huh,” Nicole said, not able to stop looking at their spouse. Waverly simply smiled and went to kiss their wife.
“You ready to go home?” Waverly asked.
“Ya,” Nicole said as she held out her hand for Waverly to take.
The four people walked out of the store, all feeling much happier than they had in a very long time.