MTU: Hard To Look At - Chapter 15 (Patreon)

I was in the stairwell at school when a voice behind me said, “Excuse me, do you have a moment?”

I stopped on the landing and turned around, face to face with Ross Perry. He was on the last step of the downward stairs. As I said, “Yes?” he stepped up onto the landing and I had to look up to look him in the eye. Ross was on the basketball team mostly because he was about seven feet tall. He was the only person in school taller than me.

“Medusa, right? I was wondering if we could go out for donuts and coffee on Saturday together.”

“Just the two of us?”

“Yeah, like a date. You like guys, right? I wasn't sure. I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.”

“I don't know what to say.”

“I'd prefer, 'Yes'. If you're busy Saturday we can pick another day. Or you can say, 'No'. I just thought you might enjoy my company.”

“Okay. You aren’t put off by these? Or that I use to be a guy?”

“No, and no. I dig the snakes. And I'm sure you having once been a guy is more a thing for you than it is for me.”

“You have no idea.”

“If you aren't willing to go, for any reason, just say so, I can take it.”

“No, I think I should go. A donuts and coffee date sounds like fun. Maybe eleven o'clock?”

“Sounds good. I'll pick you up and take us to a shop around eleven.”

“Okay. It's a date. I'll send you my address.”

“Sounds good.” He smiled and walked away.

Melody was beside herself when I mentioned the date at lunch. “Ross Perry. Oh Em Gee. He’s so tall. You have to wear heels on this date.”

“Heels? On a donuts and coffee date?” Tess said. “That might make her seem desperate.”

“Ross is taller than our giantess friend by several inches. Heels are almost necessary,” Stacy said.

“You should wear that aubergine sun dress,” Melody said.

“That's purple, by the way,” Tess said.

“I sculpt and draw. I know more than eight colors.”

“No need to be snippy.”

“I am a bit moody.”

“Is it that time of the month again?”

“Yes, third time starting Monday if I'm regular.”

* * *

Elliot and Marie were happy for me.

“Are the fashion police driving you nuts about what to wear?” Marie said.

“Yes. Apparently I have an aubergine dress that will look fabulous.”

“That should be a good color for your coppery and green skin.”

“Yeah, I've taken art classes. It rarely comes up with sculpting, but I know a thing or two about color. I'm just not use to applying it to clothes.”

They made other plans for Friday so I could get a good night's sleep before my date.

Saturday could not arrive fast enough. I woke at seven and had breakfast with Mom. She didn’t mention the date, thankfully. After breakfast, I showered and painted my nails. I put on the dress Melody suggested. It was shoulderless, with a half sleeve on the upper arms only. I spend nearly an hour trying to decide how I should shade my eyes. I went with a palette that I found pleasing containing a blend of dark green and light purple. I used my usual dark green lipstick. I tied a few purple bows around the necks of the four longest hairsnakes. Three of them liked how they looked and the fourth I could tell was just tolerating it. I had started calling that one Dirk at some point. It fit him. And, yes, he was definitely a masculine hairsnake.

I buckled the tops of my black heels. They were taller than the ones I usually wore, just over five inches. I would still be shorted than Ross with them on. I had checked the contents of my clutch twice when the doorbell rang. I heard Mom shout she was getting it as I left my room.

“Medusa should be down in a moment,” I heard her say as I descended the stairs.

He was wearing jeans. I felt a bit over dressed. But, then I saw he was wearing a polo shirt so he was a little dressed up compared to a T-shirt.

“You look amazing, Medusa. I should have worn my khakis.”

“You look fine,” my mother said. “Have fun, you two.”

As we walked to his car, he said, “I love the heels. It's amazing that I don't have to look down to see your eyes.”

“I understand. I tower over a lot of people myself.”

He held the door to his car open for me. And closed it after I was seated in the passenger seat. After he got in, I said, “Where are we going?”

“Ever heard of Guilt Free Desserts?”

“Who hasn't? Is that where we're going? It's, like, on the far side of Spiral.”

“It's only twenty-five minutes away. Is that too far? I thought we could talk on the way there. We could just go to an Apollos.”

“No, that's fine. I've always wanted to try Guilt Free.”

He drove us to the crosstown highway. “So, I'm not sure about Twisted etiquette. Do I ask you about your twist early on a first date or late or do I save it for a future date?”

“I have no idea if there is such etiquette.”

“I wouldn't know. No one in my family is Twisted. I'm a natural mutant.”

“People must assume you're Twisted all the time.”

“Yep. They also want to know what my trick is. Other than a high percentage at the free throw line, I don't have anything close to a trick.”

“Were you always into b-ball?”

“Not initially. When I had my first big growth spurt in sixth grade, it felt like everybody was telling me I should be a basketball player. So, naturally I resisted the idea. I hadn’t been especially athletic before that. My cousin Archie convinced me to try it and gave me a few lessons in dribbling and stuff. I still can't say I'm into basketball. I don't watch pro or college games much. Are you into sports?”

“No. I was a bit too nerdy before this.”

“Doesn't matter. What are you now?”

“I wish I knew.”

“You will. You should come to one our games. See if you like it more with someone you're rooting for.”

“When is your next game?”

“Monday. We have a home game against North. We usually beat them. Though, who knows if they are any good this year.”

“I'm free Monday afternoon. I'll stop by if I can.”

“That's great. If all goes well, we can go somewhere after the game. And if today goes well.”

I just smiled.

“So, what's it like?”

“What's what like?”

“Any of it. Twisting? Being a girl? Being a mythic character? I'd like to hear anything about all those things you would be willing to share. Or I can continue talking about myself.”

“No, it's my turn,” I said. “Both my parents are Twisted so I always knew I would Twist. I have not spent a lot of time dwelling on being a girl. My father drilled into me not to get to attached to the old me and I guess that advice worked.”

“You don't miss being a guy?”

“Every time I sit down to pee.” We both laughed. “But, that's not important. I don't enjoy my periods any more or less than any other woman.”

“So, the rumors that moron Tommy says about what your packing under that dress are false? Good to know.”

“Yeah, about two weeks after my twist I was officially initiated into the sisterhood. Would you have asked me out if you thought he was right?”

“Probably. I'm not expecting to see under your dress.”

“Ever?”

“Expecting. If things go well, after some time together, who knows?”

“Okay. The gorgon thing was, of course, a complete surprise, as is the nature of my twists.”

“Ironic, too.”

“I can see that now. My friend Elliot's been great. He's helped hone the control of my trick by getting petrified by me far too often.”

“What's that like?”

“For him or for me?”

“Either. Both.”

“It's easy for me. I have two eyelids. When I open the inner eyelids, my trick activates. It's literally no big deal for me. For him? He says it's mostly boring. If nothing is happening, you barely notice the time passing, people say.”

“Elliot. I’m not sure which of your old friends that is. Is he the one dating Marie Applebottom?”

“Yes, they’re dating.”

“She doesn't mind that Elliot hangs out with you?”

“She wants to be there, too. Don't tell anyone. But, she actually likes being petrified.”

“She likes being bored?”

“I don't know why.”

“Do you have more friends now that you've twisted?”

“I think I do. The old me had a reputation for being a nerd. These days, only people like Tommy treat me like they treated Gordon.”

The conversation drifted into a discussion of the various clicks around school. Soon, we arrived at the bakery. There were people standing in line out the door and down past two neighboring stores. There were saw horses with Spiral police department logos placed to indicate where people should stand. Luckily, Ross found a parking spot not too far from the entrance. We got out and walked to the end of the line.

We got more than a few stares. Some of them were for Ross but most of them were for me. It was a little disconcerting to be stared at by so many people. I hadnt spent a lot of time out in public.

“You're popular here. You’re a stunning beauty, no doubt.”

“Yes. No other reason I might be stared at would make sense.”

As we approached the end of the line, the couple we were going to stand behind turned toward us. The guy said, “Those things are alive?”

“The snakes? Yes.”

“Can I touch one?”

“I wouldn't advise it. They are venomous.”

He was about to reach out but put his hand down after that.

“I apologize for Gerry's forwardness,” the woman said. “He has personal boundary issues.”

“I’m sure the visually Twisted get asked similar things all the time,” Gerry said, failing to defend himself.

“Why do you think my date is Twisted?” Ross said.

“Well, obviously… um, she… just look at her.”

“So, you judge people and pigeon hole them based on looks.”

“I didn’t… I…” Gerry looked like he wanted to storm off.

The woman with him said, “Just shut your mouth, Gerry. Thanks for that. He needed it.” Gerry turned to argue with her. She took Gerry to the end of the line putting a few people between us.

When we reached the doorway of the shop, we could see several display cases filled with pastries. There were still five or six people in front of us. The room smelled even better than the scent that had been spilling out the door.

A little boy sitting with his mother by the entrance looked at me and said, “You’re tall.”

“Am I tall?” Ross said.

“You both are.”

“Don’t bother the nice people,” his mother said.

“Why do you have hair, Mommy?” he said. “Snakes would be so much cooler.”

I leaned down. “Do you want to touch one of my snakes?”

“Yes, Yes.”

“What do you say, Jeremy?”

“May I please touch one of your snakes?”

“Only if you promise not to pull on it.”

“I promise.”

I had one of the long snake float down toward him. “Cup it in your hand and pet it with the other hand.”

He held out his hand and the snake nestled in it. He stroked the back of the snake. “What’s its name?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “What do you call your arm?”

“Arms don’t have names.”

“They don’t?”

“I call my right arm Priscilla.”

“I think its name is Foggy.”

“We have to move forward,” Ross said.

“Maybe, it is. Say goodbye to Foggy.”

“Bye, Foggy,” he said. “Before you go, can we take a picture together?”

“Sure.” I crouched down and his mother got her phone out.

“Say cheese danish.”

She took the pic and Ross handed her his phone. “Can you take one of us?”

“Sure, stand together.” She snapped a pic.

“Have a nice day.”

We stepped away from the table and closer to the counter.

“Lovely boy,” Ross said.

“Jeremy. I’ll never forget the first man to ask to touch my snakes nicely.”

“No one’s ever asked before?”

“No one’s ever asked nicely.”

“I’ll remember that.”

We purchased a dozen pastries intending to bring some of them home. We found a seat in the shop and ate one pastry each while drinking coffee.

“These are divine,” he said.

They were amazing, to a point. I found them lacking in some way I could not pinpoint.

“Is there something wrong?” Ross said. How was he so empathetic?

“No, I think my sense of taste is off.”

“That happens, doesn’t it?”

“I hadn’t noticed it before. I also haven’t had many pastries since my twist. They’re great. Don’t worry about that. I just think I expected them to be even better than they are.”

“I suppose that is a problem the bakery sometimes deals with.”

We got back in the car and started the drive back to our part of town. Ross made small talk about the scenery. It was nice to engage with him without it feeling like we were interrogating one another. At some point, I blurted out, “Have you dated a lot of girls?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’ve dated two other women. The first one was just one date. We had nothing in common. The second one took three dates to figure out we had nothing in common. Why do you ask?”

“This is my first date.”

“You hadn’t dated before…?”

“No. I never had enough nerve to ask anyone.”

“Well, I hope we’re doing okay at the moment.” After an awkward silence, he said. “What do you do with your time?”

“I sculpt. I make clay sculptures.”

“That’s cool. Kind of ironic.”

“Tell me about it. I recently did a bust of Marie Applebottom. It came out quite well.”

“I’d love to see it. I wish I were artistic. My sister is. She can draw anything. But she never finishes any of her stuff.”

“Finishing is important,” I said. He allowed me to prattle on about the sculpting process and how I got into it.

“Do you really make new sculptures all the time?”

“Not really. Other than the bust of Marie and one piece, I haven’t done much sculpting at all recently.”

“Why?”

“I’ve been spending time learning how to control my trick.”

“Turning Elliot and Marie into statues.”

“Yes.”

“How long have you and Elliot been friends?”

“Since we were toddlers, I think. I use to worry I’d have a big personality change when I twisted and we wouldn’t remain friends. But, if anything, it seems we’re closer than before.”

“I wish I had a friend like that.”

“Who do you hang out with?”

“Mostly guys on the team.”

The car turned onto my street and he parked in front of my house.

“I had a lovely time,” he said.

“So did I.”

We both got out of the car and he walked me up to the front door. He handed me one of the boxes from the pasty store.

“This is for you and your family.”

“Thanks. Would you like to see my studio slash garage?”

“I would.”

I led him away from the front door to the breezeway between the house and the garage. I opened the door to the garage and turned on the light.

“Sorry about the mess. But, then, it’s always something of a mess. That part over there is Mom and Dad’s stuff. The studio is this section here.”

“Are those cloth covered things on the shelf your pieces?”

“Yes. This was the one I did before my twist.” I uncovered the bust with my face.

“It looks just like you. Except for the hair.”

“I know. I never thought it was finished. Now I know it was the hair.”

“Are you going to fix it?”

“No, I like to think this is what I would look like with hair.”

“Do you miss your hair?”

“No. I’ve gotten too use to these guys floating around my head.”

“They do give you a striking presence.”

After he had given the bust a close look, he ended up standing right next to me. I could smell his scent over the pervading scent of clay in the room. He was looking me in the eyes and I could tell my snakes were checking him out as well.

He leaned forward. I tilted my head back and closed my eyes. His lips touched mine. His hands were touching my upper and lower back, pulling me into the kiss. My arms were useless. They just hung out to the side for the first few seconds of the kiss. Then, they wrapped around him.

The door to the breezeway opened and Ross and I were suddenly three feet apart. “I’m sorry,” Mom said. “I saw the car and was wondering where you two were.”

“I was just showing him the bust I made that looks like me,” I said, pointing at the shelf.

“It’s an uncanny likeness,” Ross said.

“I’ll get out of you hair... snakes,” Mom said awkwardly and left.

Ross and I stared at each other for a moment before laughing.

“Was she more embarrassed than we were?” I said.

“Let’s say she was. It was a beautiful kiss.”

“It was.”

“I should probably go.”

“Maybe we could do something after school Monday,” I said.

“After my game Monday,” he said.

“Right. I’ll be there.”

We kissed once more for who knows how long before he left. I brought the pastries into the house. Mom and Dad were in the kitchen.

“Someone had a good date,” she said.

“He is so nice. No, not just nice. Considerate.” I told them about the encounter with Gerry.

“He sounds very thoughtful,” Mom said. “I’ve been putting this off until you felt comfortable with yourself. But, we need to schedule an appointment.”

“For what?”

“You need to see a gynecologist.”

“Um…”

“I know you don’t want to think about this. But, delaying it will only make it seem scarier.”

“Okay. But, not Monday. I’m seeing Ross after school.”

“Okay, dear.”

* * *

Elliot called me Sunday night. “Hey, how’s it going?” He said.

“You and Marie have been spending a lot of time together.”

“Yes. I heard you had a good time Saturday.”

“From who?”

“Ross posted online.”

“Oh, the pic Ross had that woman take.” I looked up his social and found the photo.

“You two look so tall. That guy next to Ross is like more than a head shorter than both of you.”

“I was in heels. Ross is really tall.”

“You both were really smiley in this pic. Was the whole date smiley?”

“We had a good time. Ross is very thoughtful.”

“Yeah? I’ve never really spoken to him. Marie thought you two looked great in the photo. So, second date?”

“We’re going to do something after his game Monday afternoon.”

“I’m so happy for you.”