A Prom Princess is Born (6/7)

Gabriella sat cross-legged on her bed, carefully dragging the tiny brush of pastel pink polish over her nails. Her movements were slow, methodical—anything to keep from smudging the fresh coat of color. The scent of acetone mixed with the faint floral perfume lingering in the air, another reminder of just how much had changed.

The sharp click-click-click of heels on the hardwood made Gabriella pause, her brush hovering over her freshly painted nails. She glanced up just as Sarah stepped into the room, eyes bright with excitement. “I have good news,” she announced.

Gabriella’s breath caught. Good news? For the first time in months, a flicker of hope sparked in her chest. Was this it? Had Sarah finally come to her senses? Maybe—just maybe—she was about to say that Gabriella could go back to being Greg. Back to being a man. Back to being her husband. She sat up a little straighter, careful not to smudge her freshly painted nails, barely daring to breathe as she waited for Sarah to continue.

“I’ve taken care of everything,” Sarah continued smoothly. “You’re all set for school.”

For a moment, the words didn’t register. Then, a slow, creeping dread crawled up Gabriella’s spine. “…Set for school?” she echoed weakly.

“That’s right,” Sarah confirmed cheerfully. “You’re officially enrolled at Melissa’s school. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Gabriella’s jaw dropped. Her lips parted, but no words came out at first, just a strangled, breathless sound of disbelief. “That’s not possible, Mom,” she finally managed, shaking her head. “I’m— I’m a man! I already graduated high school!”

Sarah merely patted her head affectionately, fingers smoothing over her carefully styled locks. “Well, not anymore,” she replied, her voice sweet but firm. “I was able to get all your legal documents changed through… certain means. As far as the world is concerned, you’ve always been Gabriella—Melissa’s little sister.”

Gabriella blinked rapidly, trying to process the words, but nothing made sense. “L-Little sister?” she echoed dumbly.

“Mm-hmm!” Sarah beamed. “You’ll be a junior—a year behind Melissa.”

Her stomach twisted violently. “M-Mom… you can’t do this,” she whimpered, lower lip trembling into a pout.

Sarah simply arched a knowing brow. “It’s already done, sweetheart. Everything is official—there’s no going back now.” She tilted her head, a playful smirk curving her lips. “Not that you’d want to. It hasn’t exactly been a secret how much you’ve been enjoying yourself lately.”

Gabriella’s cheeks burned. She knew exactly what Sarah was referring to—Ryan. The dates. The kisses. The way she had melted against him time and time again, her painted lashes fluttering as his hands pulled her closer. No matter how much she told herself it was just an act, she had kept falling into the role, letting herself be held, letting herself feel it. But that didn’t mean she had enjoyed it… did it?

She opened her mouth to argue, to insist that this wasn’t fair, that she wasn’t really Gabriella, that she couldn’t be Gabriella—but Sarah was already turning away, her heels clicking lightly as she left the room.

Gabriella barely remembered getting dressed. It had all felt like a blur—Melissa giggling as she helped pick out the perfect look, Sarah giving an approving nod, and then, before she knew it, she was stepping outside, the cool morning air brushing against her skin.

The crisp autumn breeze kissed her cheeks as she followed Melissa down the tree-lined sidewalk, the golden hues of fall casting a warm glow over the path ahead. Leaves crunched beneath her feet, the soft sway of her mustard-yellow plaid skirt brushing against her thighs with every step, the pleats shifting effortlessly with her movements. A delicate silver chain draped across the fabric, catching the morning light with each motion.

The fitted black sweater hugged Gabriella’s slender frame, the ribbed fabric clinging just enough to emphasize the soft curves she wasn’t supposed to have. Beneath it, the gentle compression of her bra was an ever-present reminder of the role she had been molded into. Her sheer black tights only enhanced the feminine elegance of the look, their delicate sheen making her legs seem longer, leaner. A sleek black crossbody purse rested against her hip, and in her hair, a dainty black ribbon tied back a portion of her golden locks, allowing the rest to cascade in soft, effortless waves over her shoulders.

Her manicured fingers clutched the purse strap tightly as she walked, her thoughts spiraling. This was real. This was her life now. Gabriella. Melissa’s younger sister. A high school junior.

She swallowed hard, trying to push the thought away. At least the school didn’t allow heels, she told herself. If it had, she knew Mom would have her strutting along in stilettos right now.

Before she could stop herself, she pictured it—teetering slightly in a pair of tall, sexy heels, her steps slow and careful as she clung to Ryan’s arm for support. Her fingers would curl around his sleeve as they walked down the hallway together, her grip tightening every time her balance wavered.

Maybe heels wouldn’t be so bad…

She gave a quick shake of her head. What am I thinking? Maybe Mom was right. Maybe I do enjoy this…

“Come on, little sis,” Melissa teased, glancing over her shoulder with a smirk. “We’ll be late if you don’t hurry.”

Gabriella snapped out of her daze, her painted lashes fluttering as she quickened her pace.