Jon and Zoe arrived at school to a block-party atmosphere mixed with a little bit of Halloween and a bizarre Spirit Week theme. Students were milling around all over the front lawn, with only maybe 20 to 30 percent of them looking relatively normal or comfortable in their clothing. A few girls and guys were gathered here and there, pulling on their shirts or pants or skirts or dresses or whatever and gesturing at them, seemingly dressed entirely in line with their social stature and gender, and just showing off something they found in their closet that morning. Sarah McMillan was flitting about, showing a black leather skirt and tight red top underneath a blazer - more professional than she would ever wear, but an outfit that Jon had seen his teacher Mrs. Kline wear a number of times.
Then there were the kids maybe another 20 percent, who were clearly dressed outside their normal status. Zoe, uncomfortable in pink, was clearly included in this grouping. Jon saw his friend Pete, one of the skinniest guys imaginable, clad in a varsity football jersey. A guy he knew played football looked like a greaser. A heavyset girl had a knit cardigan that made her look like a grandmother. Another guy was wearing a child's t-shirt and overalls sized up for a teenager. Tiffany looked like she had raided a random mom's tracksuit collection and found a combination that fit her perfectly.
Another grouping were just... dressed weird, regardless of gender. One girl was struggling to move in a suit of armor. A senior girl was dressed like a 1950s housewife. One guy seemed to be wearing a bedazzled figure skating costume, skates and all. One freshman looked like he had borrowed a complete firefighter's gear, resized for him.
And then everyone else, nearly half the kids, had clearly gotten a closet on the other side of the gender spectrum. Steve wore a pleated white skirt with a pink sweater, makeup done to perfection, looking very much like he'd dressed himself with Sarah's closet. Biff was wearing a conservative black dress and heels, looking like he was just missing a clipboard to be able to manage an office. One of the math teachers was tugging at his blouse as he walked inside the school, trying to pull the collar up to reveal less of his flat chest. One of the girls Jon knew was on the cheerleading team was dressed in a t-shirt and jeans in cuts that were clearly meant for men.
People saw him as he walked towards the building, and the reception was far more engaging than anything he'd attempted to cultivate in all his years in the school system. Trying to stay out of the spotlight? Not anymore, apparently.
"Jon!" he heard Sarah yell! "God, you look so good! How do you pull this off every year!" She was gushing in a friendliness he wasn't used to from her.
"Seriously," Tiffany confirmed. "You should really expand your closet the rest of the year, too. Trust me, we'll find reasons for you to have cocktail dresses and heels like this. Come on, get in here!" She wrapped her arm around Jon's waist while Sarah held up her phone for a selfie.
The feeling was the same with everyone he came to. More pictures, more approval, more group laughter. People Jon would never have interacted with were now treating him like a friend, or at bare minimum, with enthusiastic decency. He saw it reflected throughout other students, too - anyone who felt embarrassed or awkward with their clothing for the day were being supported and reassured by others. It was a high school experience that was unlike anything he'd known over the past few years. It was... nice.
And then he turned and saw Karyn. She was looking him up and down with a half-smile, nodding with approval, and flashes of hunger in her narrowed eyes. Her arms were crossed over a basketball jersey, with baggy cargo shorts to go with it. As promised, she wore a backwards baseball cap, with her new long blonde hair flowing from behind.
"You... look incredible," Karyn's smile grew wider, as she moved in close, putting one hand behind Jon's back and pulling him in tight. She was a few inches shorter than Jon, even shorter with him in heels, but it was clear to him immediately who was in charge of their power dynamic. "I'm lucky I was able to find a compression shirt in my closet to keep these breasts under control, but you... oh, this definitely suits you, Jon." And she reached up and pulled him in for a kiss.
I made a SINGLE WISH yesterday. How much did EVERYTHING change because of it?! Jon thought. And Jesus Christ, am I SWOONING?
"Attention! Attention!" Loud claps and shouts caused everyone to turn. There, standing at the entrance of the school, was Mr. Henderson, the principal, dressed in a black leotard, tutu, and ballet shoes. "I know it's October 1st, and I am sincerely glad you all are as supportive a student body as any school could have, but I should remind you that we are still a school and classes start in five minutes. Let's go, everyone, time to get inside. Now." He was smiling but his tone left nothing to be argued with. A few students took a few last group pictures but everyone began moving towards the doors.
"I still don't understand everything that's happening," Jon whispered to Karyn, even as he could feel himself steadily walking along beside her, heels click-clacking along the hallway tile.
"I'll fill in any missing details at lunch. See you then, gorgeous." Karyn gave Jon's butt a squeeze and headed off to her locker.
Jon hurried to his first class, pausing briefly by the door at the sight of his classmates all dressed incorrectly to his memory, and his teacher standing by the board in a waitress's attire. Lunch can't come soon enough, he thought.
