Understudy Sister - Chapter 2

Alex had spent most of the rest of the weekend engrossed in drawing, painting, and practicing the flute for the upcoming Spring band concert.  It wasn’t as spectacular as a National cheer comp, as it wasn’t, in fact, a competition of any kind, more like a band recital, but he had committed to it, so practice was necessary.

In fact the only thought he had given to Friday night, besides going with the others to cheer Terri up - no pun intended - that Saturday morning, was when he’d gotten a text from Coach Gwen asking if he’d be able to stop by the gym on Monday after school for a uniform fitting, ‘just in case’.

He’d responded that, Sure, he’d be happy to, but he was pretty sure Terri would be able to do the competition, to which Gwen had replied that she wanted to hedge her bets, since he expressed a genuine interest in joining the squad a couple of nights ago.

He actually had Coach Gwen for his final class of the day, AP Chemistry, which coincidentally included several members of the squad, so the last hour every day was almost more like a casual get together than a rigid junior high classroom for the twins.

Oh, Gwen made sure they did their work, but she made learning a lot of fun, and went out of her way to make sure the non-dance students had fun too, so much so that her classes were some of the most popular, with a lot of her former students wishing she’d graduate with them on to High School.

“Soo,” Emily, who shared a chem lab workbench with the twins said as she leaned closer.  She was her more usual goth self today, albeit super casual with a black cami top over a black muscle shirt, black skirt, black boots...  Black scrunchie ironically holding her oonytail.  “What’s on the agenda for this afternoon?” she teased them.

“Alex is getting fitted for a cheer uniform,” Alicia blurted right out, grinning as Alex rolled his eyes.

“Oh shi-” Emily caught herself.  “Seriously?”  She looked at Alex.

“Yeah, Coach wants to hedge her bets.  Terri’s more than likely going to be able to compete, but just in case she’s not better, I’ll be her second.f  That way you won’t have to change up the routine you’ve been working on.”

“That makes sense,” Emily said, nodding thoughtfully, and then added, “I just meant we might finally get to see you in a miniskirt,” she teased.  “But alas, a fitting is just a tape measure, one and done.  I’m not going to wish ill on T just to see that,” she giggled again.

“Thanks,” Terri spoke up from behind them, her left hand in a cast that practically read like the back of a yearbook, covered in signatures, and a few heart-dotted ‘i’s from Alicia, to boot.  “You could always just dare her to wear Alicia’s next time we play T or D,” she laughed, handing Alex a pencil.  “The one I borrowed last week,” she said.

“Oh,” Alex laughed, “Thanks.  NGL I totally forgot about it.  Pretty sure I snagged it off Alllie the other day anyway,” he said, hping the change of subject might derail Emily’s train of thought, but the wicked grin she now sported suggested otherwise.

Of course Alex knew there were guys who did cheer, with jumpsuit-like uniforms that didn’t look out of place with the girls’ skirts.  Some girls even preferred them over the skirt uniforms.  And he wasn’t against the idea of wearing a skirt, heavens knew.  But likewise he’d never gone out in public as ‘Alicia’s sister’, bar occasionally forgetting to remove nail polish or lip gloss, but nobody complained, or had anything to say bar asking what shade/brand.

The final bell rang, jarring him from his thoughts.

“Well,” Megyn said as she joined the three of them, “At least you’ll let me help you pick out a nice dress for the Spring concert.  I mean it’s the least I can do after you helped me on my Home Ec project.”

Alex blushed slightly.  That thought had never even occurred to him, let alone that the Spring concert was a semi-formal affair in the first place - or that Megyn was first chair flute.

“Oh, uh,” Alex managed to choke out, “No big deal really.  It was fun, and fashion is related to color theory and-”

“Methinks she doth protest too much,” Emily giggled.

Megyn laughed.  “I’m picking on you sheesh.  I know you don’t like wearing skirts and crap.  Slacks will be totally fine.  Although I am serious about the offer if you do change your mind.”  She put a friendly arm around Alex.  “Getting to know you and Allie these last months has been the best.  I’m really glad you became our athletic trainer instead of some skeevy guy who just wants to touch girls’ butts.”

“Yup,” Alicia grinned, “Better to be a cute, friendly girl who  wants to touch girls’ butts.”

“Exactly,” Megyn giggled.  Poor Alex’s heart was in his throat now, though.  He never intentionally misled anyone into thinking he was a girl.  But he also never went out of his way to act like a “boy” either.  He was himself, and everyone else just assumed he and Alicia were identical twins.

“Oh that reminds me,” Alex said, trying to change the subject, and pulled a note from his pocket, handing it to Alicia.  “Someone got us mixed up again.”

“Oof,” Alicia giggled, opening the note.  She rolled her eyes.  “Ugh.  Boys,” she sighed, crumpled it, and tossed it into the trash can as they passed it.  “Call me old fashioned, but if a guy’s going to ask me out, he’d better damn well do it in person, not through a stupid note.”

“That’s assuming Dad lets either of us date before we’re in our 30s,” Alex laughed.  They had left the school by now, but the high school, and the gym in turn, were only a few blocks away, just a short walk.

“I love having two Moms,” Megan giggled.  “As long as I don’t date someone much older than me, they’re cool with me doing whatever.  Uh, not that I’ve done - anything,” she quickly added.  It was her turn to turn a shade crimson.

“Not even a first kiss?” Emily asked.

“Nope,” Megyn shook her head.  “My older sister Liberty went to a makeout party when she was our age. Her first kiss was with some random dude from another school that she never saw again.”  She shrugged.  “Hard pass.  I want it to be with someone special, or at least someone whose name I know.”

“Hah, same,” Alex said as they entered the gym.

“Thank you,” Megyn brightened.  “I knew I wasn’t alone.”

Emily giggled.  “If you’re implying that just because I’m goth, that I’m loose,” she teased, adding, “Although I do know for a fact that you flutists are damn amazing kissers.”

“It’s the embouchure control,” Alex said.  “Unlike a sax or trumpet player, flute embouchure requires exact muscle control in very specific ways.”

“And we really know how to tongue those notes, too,” Megyn burst out laughing.  One of the boys playing basketball out on the court, overhearing the conversation, lost control of the ball and sent it flying.

“Dude, get your head in the game!” another boy yelled at him, as Emily caught the ball about an inch from Alicia’s head, and managed to send it sailing back.

“Jeeez, thanks Em,” Alicia sighed as they entered the coaches’ offices.  A much older woman holding a tape measure was chatting with the girls’ basketball coach, Coach Kara Lancaster.

“Ah, that must be your errant cheerleader now,” Kara laughed.  “Although in her defense, Gwen isn’t here yet, either.”

Alex blushed a little at once again being called ‘her’, but like always, didn’t bother trying to correct them.  It didn’t bother him, except when other boys tried to flirt, but that was just because he wasn’t interested in boys.

Kara giggled, misreading Alex’s change in skin tone.  “I’m teasing hun.  You’re actually early.  But if you want to hang out and wait you’re more than welcome.  We’re getting the senior girlsand guys measured for their competition uniforms too, killing two birds with one stone.  You have athletic gear you can change into?: she asked.

Ooh,” Alex said, “I hadn’t thought about it.  I do athletic trainer in lieu of P.E.”

“Oh you can borrow my stuff,” Alicia chimed in helpfully.

“Oh, thanks Allie,” Alex said, forgetting for a moment that this meant going into the girls’ locker rooms to get it, a fact that became quickly apparent a moment later.  To make matters more interesting, there were at least a half dozen conversations going on in there as senior varsity girls in varying states of changing clothes milled around killing time before they were called.

Surprisingly, Alex actually didn’t feel as nervous as he thought he would.  For a start, the senior girls didn’t pay them much attention, at least not initially.  Alex had let his hair grow during the pandemic lockdowns, and only occasionally got it trimmed, and could probably have really done with one of Emily’s scrunchies.

And as to facial hair, if the twins’ father and half-Asian grandfather were anything to go by - which in itself made them both turning out blonde a bit of a mystery - he’d have been lucky if he ever got more than peach fuzz - or unlucky depending on the point of view.

“Pretty boring huh?” Alicia said as they walked to the junior section of the locker room - or more specifically, the area where junior high girls’ lockers were, the difference being they were more squat and short, so that even three to a column, the twins, at only 5’2”, could easily see over them to the seniors’ area.

“Huh?” Alex said.  They were alone, just the two of them.  Alicia laughed.

“Usually people seeing our locker room for the first time remark on how boring it is.  It’s like when you see a senor high girls’ bathroom the first time, and like the only difference is there’s no urinals.”

“And smells a lot nicer,” Alex added as Alicia opened her locker, giggling.

“Yeah, that too,” she said, handing Alex a pair of gray athletic shorts, a white top with cap style sleeves, and a gray sports bra.  “I’m pretty sure we’re still the same shoe size, right?” she asked as Alex sat on the bench and began to change into the athleticwear.

“Yeah, unless you had a growth spurt since last week,” he teased.

“I wish,” Alicia laughed and put a pair of white athletic cheer sneakers on the floor in front of Alex.  “I mean 5’2” isn’t exactly below average for girls, but 5’5” or 5’6”, I wouldn’t complain.”

“High heels,” one of the senior girls, an athletic brunette, giggled as she leaned on the lockers from the other side.  “A good 4 inch heel and you’re pushing 5’6”.  Just gotta make sure they’re comfortable.  Hey, I’m Reggie,” she said cheerily.

“Oh hey!” Alicia brightened.  “You’re the SV cheer captain right?”

“Yup,” Reggie laughed.  “I’m also a reporter for the school paper.  Can I coarse you two into a short interview?” she asked sweetly.  “No pressure or anything.  I just heard about what happened to Terri, and how your sister, like, immediately stepped up to fill in while she’s recovering.”

“Oh no problem,” Alex said, pulling the athletic sneakers into place and tying the first one.  “Yeah, it’s really not a big deal.  I already knew the steps and junk, and I’ve been at every practice and team building thing as a trainer.”

“Yeah, but still,” Reggie said, “I know if it had happened to me there’s a snowball’s chance in hell of anyone in my family stepping in to help,” she laughed.  “That’s two younger sisters and three female cousins, if you were wondering.  Would it be okay if I took a picture of you getting fitted?”

“Oh uh, I guess so,” Alex said, blushi ng a little.

“Thanks so much,” Reggie said warmly.  “I already interviewed Terri earlier.  Getting your perspective is the last part I needed for my article.”

“So when do you want to interview me?” Alex asked.  Reggie giggled.

“Oh, I just did.  Yeah I just needed a nice quote for the article, and,” here she paused, and Alex could see now that she was holding a notepad and pencil, “It’s really not a big deal.  I already knew the steps, Alex told this reporter, and went on to say that she’s attended every practice as an athletic trainer,” she finished, still grinning.  “Sorry,” she laughed, “I’m already composing the article in my head.  I’ll make sure you guys get a copy of tomorrow’s student news.”

“She’s always doing something awesome to help out,” Alicia giggled.  “Like at state a couple months ago this girl from another team sprained her ankle coming down off a statue of liberty,h Alex was on the mat before the coaches, checking on her.”

“Really?” Reggie looked at Alex, who again, blushed.

“Again, not a big deal.  Our team was on deck to perform so I wqas close by on the sidelines.  I saw her slip when she landed and I knew when she didn’t get back up that something was wrong.  All I did was help keep her calm until the paramedics could check her out, make sure nothing was broken.”

“She asked jAlex to help her back to the locker room,” Alicia giggled.  “She said she wanted ‘her hero’ to be her crutch or something like that.”

“Oh man, this is gold,” Reggie said, writing everything down.  “Yeah I knew someone hurt her ankle, but I just assumed you were one of that team’s trainers.”

Alex giggled.  “Us blondes all start to look alike,” she teased, getting a laugh out of Alicia and Reggie, as they started walking back toward the seniors’ area.

After Reggie thoroughly embarrassed Alex again by recounting her heroism, which got a huge cheer and applause from the dozen and a half, or so, girls present, Alex managed to pull free from the locker room, heading back to get herself measured.

“There you are,” Gwen said.  “I was beginning to think we needed to send a search party,” she teased.

“Sorry,” Alex said sheepishly.  “Reggie wanted to interview me for the high school paper.”

Gwen giggled.  “Oh, I know.  I’m just teasing.  She actually asked for my permission to publish it, as if I was going to say no.  I did ask her to get your permission first though.”

“She’s also letting me get a photo of her while she’s being measured,” Reggie spoke up.  She had a big, professional looking camera in her hand now, the strap wrapped around her wrist and hand securely.  “My friend Destiny’s doing a human interest spread for the yearbook centerfold.  I might let her borrow a copy.”

“Wow, Alex, you’re going to be a centerfold,” Emily giggled.

“A wha?” Alex asked, as she raised her arms per the older woman’s instructions.  The older woman laughed at that.

“You’re bad,”: she said to Emily, who just giggled.

“You know,” Emily said, “Na na nana na na...”

“Oh my God,” Alex groaned, laughing too.  “Sorry, I don’t own any magical pink sweaters,” she shot back dryly, but giggled too, as Reggie snapped a photo.  She was so distracted by the color commentary, she completely forgot to specify which type of uniform she wanted, even when the seamstress commented on it.

“Okay, I’ve got you down for the full set, long sleeve, short sleeve, and sleeveless since you’ll likely be on the senior varsity team next year as well.  We can always let it out a little if necessary.”

“We are overdue for some growth,” Alicia giggled, the joke soaring right over Alex’s head.

“You guys want a ride home?” Reggie asked as Alex and Alicia re-enmerrged from the locker room a second time.

“Liberty’s picking me up,” Megyn said, “But thank you.”

“Sure, I’ll catch a ride,” Emily said.

“Us too,” Alicia and Alex said, causing Emily to giggle again.

“God,” Reggie laughed, “Sometimes I wish I had a twin sister.  Do you guys ever, like, prank your teachers?”

“Not intentionally,” Alex laughed.  “Although I do get an annoying number of notes from boys addressed to Alicia.”

“Better you than me sis,” Alicia laughed.  “I just trash them.  When do boys start to catch up tog girls in maturity again?”

“Somewhere around 28 I think,” Reggie said dryly as she walked them out to her car, a mid-2000s Ford F-150 pickup with a vanity ‘CHEER’ license plate.

“Sweet ride,” Alex said, following Reggie to the driver’s side to hop in the back.

“Thanks!” Reggie said, climbing up into the driver’s seat.  “You know I never used to like big trucks, but after learning to drive in one, driving my mom’s Focus just feels weird.”

“I’ll settle for ‘anything that runs’,” Emily laughed, as she joined Alex in back.