Dressed for Doubles

"Please, please, please just do this for me!" Lily begged, practically bouncing in place. "I’ll do your chores for the rest of the year! I’ll—I’ll even do your math homework!"

Noah rubbed his temples. His sister was desperate. Her doubles partner had twisted her ankle the day before the district tournament, and with every other girl already paired up, Lily had somehow decided he was her best option.

Noah thought for a moment before shaking his head. “I would, but there’s no way I’d pass as a girl.”

Lily’s face lit up. “Oh, that’ll be easy. Thank you so much for doing this!”

"Wait, I didn’t agree—" he started, but Lily was already dragging him toward her room. He sighed, barely putting up a fight.

Before anything else, she handed him a razor and pointed to the bathroom. With a sigh, he did as he was told, emerging a few minutes later with smooth legs and arms, trying not to think about how weird it felt.

Now seated at her vanity, Noah flinched as she tweezed his brows with ruthless precision.

“Hold still!” she huffed, tilting his face up. “You want them to look neat, right?”

“No,” he muttered. “I want them to look unplucked.”

Lily ignored him, continuing to pluck away before finally moving on to his hair, straightening it until it was sleek and smooth. Satisfied, she pulled it back into a ponytail.

Then came the makeup. She started with a light layer of concealer, blending it carefully to even out his complexion. A touch of powder set it in place before she moved on to blush, dusting a soft pink across his cheeks. Next came the eyes—just a little neutral eyeshadow to add depth, followed by a coat of mascara that made his lashes look way longer than he was comfortable with. Finally, she used a soft, natural lip color, just enough to enhance his features without standing out.

By the time she was done, the face staring back at him in the mirror wasn’t just passable—it was convincing.

Lily handed him a pair of panties. “Put these on.”

His face burned as he stepped into them, the soft fabric feeling all wrong. Before he could say anything, she tossed him a sports bra.

“Next.”

He sighed, pulling it over his shoulders and adjusting the straps. The slight padding pressed against his chest, making him shift uncomfortably.

Then she held out the final piece: a crisp white tennis dress.

His stomach twisted as he pulled it on, the snug fit making the transformation feel alarmingly real. Smoothly shaven legs, matching white sneakers, a dainty little necklace Lily insisted on—every detail was perfect.

When they arrived at the courts, Noah kept his head down, hoping no one would take a second look at him. But as they walked past other players warming up, something unsettling happened—nothing. No double takes, no whispers, no odd looks. Just a sea of girls in matching skirts and ponytails, chatting and stretching like he was one of them.

Even when they checked in, the tournament official barely glanced at him before handing over their court assignment, and it wasn’t until he caught his reflection in a nearby window—standing among the other players—that the weight of it settled in. He looked just like every other girl there.

The real shock? They won. Every single match, one after another, until somehow, they were holding the trophy.

Lily was over the moon, hugging him and squealing as their names were announced. Noah just exhaled, relieved it was finally over.

Until their coach walked up, grinning.

“Great job, girls! Get ready—you’re going to regionals next weekend!”

Noah’s stomach dropped. Lily turned to him, way too excited.

He swallowed hard.

What had he just gotten himself into?