36-SCHOOLING IN SKIRTS

it rang. She picked it up. "Hello? ... Just a minute." She giggled and handed it to me. "It's J.J.”

000

I grabbed the phone. "Hi, J.J.!... Yes, this is Danni Yes, I meant what I said ... No, really... O.K., this Friday night ... 7:30... Sure, see you in school tomorrow... 'Bye." As I hung up the phone, I noticed that Susan and Kathy had been whispering to each other during my entire conversation.

000

"I see I was right about you, Danni," my big sister said. "Susan says this 'J.J.' is one of the cutest boys on campus!" "Well, he kind of reminds me of me I started to explain, then stopped as I realized that the explanation would only back up my sister's reasons for making me a girl in the first place. And I was feeling even worse than ever about that at the moment. My skirt seemed shorter than ever covering my thighs, which themselves seemed much softer and smoother.

"It was love at first sight," Susan told Kathy, matter-of factly. I just glared at her. She giggled. "No, really, Kathy. J.J. really does have a crush on Danni. He better not ever find out she's a boy!"

The thought of THAT happening made me suddenly weak, and I dropped into a chair. "See what you've gotten me into, Kathy? First it was a Halloween costume, then you got rid of my clothes and made me keep dressing this way

now not only do I have to masquerade at school as something I'm not, I seem to have acquired a boyfriend, too!" I looked up at her, tears starting to form in my eyes. "Why have you done this to me?"

"Danni, we've been through this before. No more 'tomboy' look. I'm sure going on a date won't be as traumatic as you think. For that matter, I'm sure boys haven't changed THAT much since I went to high school." She headed down the hall towards her room.

Susan nodded. "Don't worry, Danni. At least your secret's still safe. You're so cute and feminine. Don't worry about J.J. I'll teach you how to keep guys from taking advantage of you. You'll have fun ... trust me!"

CONTEMPORARY TV FICTION 37

CHAPTER SEVEN

The next day at school, J.J. was not only talking to me every chance he got, he seemed to be more confident in general. Chris told me after lunch that he'd been bragging about his new girlfriend, and that some of the guys were. actually jealous that he'd snagged "that cute new blonde". Deep down inside, I wanted to tell him the truth, but now that my agreeing to go out with him had given him the strength to stand up for himself, I knew what my revelation would do to him. No, even if it meant REALLY being his girlfriend, I couldn't do that.

•

Chris was becoming very upset about the lack of a boyfriend. She was somewhat annoyed that my date with J.J. conflicted with what had been "girls' night at the movies". She complained to me: "First it was Susan and her boyfriend, now you're bailing out on me, too has the whole WORLD got a date on Friday nights?"

000

"Come on, Chris," I answered. "You were there when J.J. asked me to dance ... can't you have a little sympathy for the guy?"

"Why? He asked YOU, not me."

"Maybe he prefers blondes." I gave her a sideways hug. "I'm just kidding. It's just this one Friday night, Chris. I promise if he asks me again, I'll make him take me out on a Saturday. O.K.?"

000

"I don't want you to give up your new boyfriend for me

"Chris, you don't understand. J.J.'s just a sweet guy that no one's ever taken seriously. If going out with him once in a while will give him a little self-confidence, then why shouldn't I?" I hugged her again. "But I'm not going to abandon one of the best friends I ever had!"

She turned and looked at me with a strange expression on her face. "You're a different kind of girl, Danni. Not like the other friends I've had."