Princess For Hire: The Second Semester Part 11 (The End)

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Princess For Hire: The Second Semester
By Melanie E.

Part 11: A Princess Goes Home

This part is dedicated to the memory of Wren Phoenix, Edeyn Blackeney, and Stanman. All three were very supportive of the story, and I'm incredibly sorry that they are not here to celebrate its completion with us.

-31-

The last day before a major break starts is always a hectic one. What do you take with you? What do you leave?

For me, that question had another layer: do I pack for Becky, or for Beck?

It was the day before spring break, and there were no classes for the day, since Kingston Academy wanted to make sure every one of us students had time to prepare for being gone. When I had first come to the school I had figured on spending most of my breaks except for summer vacation on campus, to save money and because I just wasn't sure exactly how good a relationship I would have with my dad after how long we had been separated from one another. Thanks to being a Princess, though, a lot of opportunities had opened up to me. Sarah had offered to let me hang out with her over the break, but I opted instead to pay for plane tickets out of my own pocket to visit my dad. There was a limit on how many days the program would pay you for dressing as a Princess per week, I had been a little let down to find out (though not surprised,) but even at that I had made plenty of money to afford the round trip.

I had offered to pay for Dad a ticket to come get me, but he insisted on taking care of at least that.

I'd had the tickets for a couple of weeks, but like any teenager I'd waited until the last minute to start any packing for the week and a half I'd be gone. Now it was less than three hours before Dad would arrive to pick me up, and I had... nothing.

Why nothing?

Being a Princess full-time had so far worked wonders for my school life. Without the issue of whether I was a guy or a girl getting in the way I was having a lot easier time dealing with all my fellow students, and for the first time I could remember my wardrobe consisted of more than just hand-me-downs that were a good three sizes too big for me.

Of course, almost all of those clothes were girl's clothes, and that was only where my problems began.

Jeans and tee shirts I could probably get by with either way, Beck or Becky, but I'd been spending so much time in Princess-mode that even the girly options for those were in short supply. Plus, it was starting to warm up, and warmer weather meant shorts, which I had none of at all. I could sacrifice my two pairs of boy's jeans to the god of cutoffs – they were frayed and ragged enough that if anything it would make them look better – but that was only a stop-gap measure. I could buy clothes when I got to my dad's, too, and that was the option I was looking at the most.

But boy's clothes, or girl's clothes?

It was all such a confusing mess, and no small part of that was the constant battle inside my own head to understand why I let the clothes matter in the first place.

Frustrated, I left my still-empty duffel bag on my bed and slipped on a pair of shoes. Maybe a walk would do me some good.

Walking around campus I couldn't help but admire the new life spring was bringing to the surface all around me. After months of cold weather, brown grass and even browner trees, the fresh buds sprouting from everything were a sight to behold. There were dogwoods spotted throughout the campus grounds, in lots of different colors, and the gardeners had already started preparing flower beds and trimming bushes. Even the sight of the second dorm hall's half-finished construction off in the distance did little to detract from what was a beautiful place to walk around and lose yourself in, and it wasn't long before I found my thoughts drifting away from the confusion and problems with my situation and, instead, on to some of the good things.

It was nice to have friends. Sarah, of course, Leslie too, and even Ruby. There were the rest of the princesses, too, and all of us had a special connection that the rest of the students didn't – couldn't – understand. Even Stew had warmed up to me more since the whole GSA thing, and I had been surprised to see him walking around the other day holding hands with a guy who looked suspiciously like Jules' escort to the alumni banquet so many weeks ago. I didn't see Bobby much, but every time I did he made sure to talk to me a little, so I was pretty sure that we were cool again after everything that happened with Andrew.

Andrew.

As much as things between me and Andrew still continued to confuse me, I had to admit that I liked him. A lot. If you had told me at the start of the year that I would have a boyfriend, or that I'd actually be upset by the idea of not seeing him over spring break, then... okay, I probably wouldn't have laughed in your face or anything, but it would have been a really hard sell. Now, though....

I'd had plenty of time over the last couple of weeks to think about Jules' warning about not breaking Andrew's heart. I knew he had his brother's best interest in mind, but the more I thought about it the more it pissed me off. For one thing, it was none of Jules' business, and for another, he seemed to think that boy or girl me mattered. Just to prove it didn't, I did something I never thought I'd have the nerve to do.

I straight up asked Andrew.

Sure, he had said when we had started “pretend” dating that it didn't matter to him, but having him say it again, with full conviction, had been a relief. What's more, I believed him, and more than that, I knew in my heart of hearts that it wouldn't make a difference to me either.

I was no longer embarrassed to say that, whether it made either one of us gay, straight, bi, or something else entirely, I liked Andrew. Not “liked him like a boy likes another boy” or “liked him like a girl likes a boy,” if there's even a difference. I liked him, full stop. I liked walking around with him, arm in arm, or arms around each other's waists. I liked his laugh, I liked his personality, I liked the smell of the cologne he always wore, even if he tried to claim he didn't.

I liked kissing him.

Even with nobody else around thinking about kissing Andrew caused a blush to rise in my cheeks. Sure, we had done it a few times here and there before I went and punched him, but the ones since we got back together, since I'd finally started to realize how much I cared for him, had been so much... more.

I'd miss Sarah over spring break. She was becoming more and more like a sister to me, and had pretty much taken over Leslie's job as Princess big sister too. I'd miss Leslie and the others, too. But, I'd miss Andrew more than any of them.

If spring break was messing with me this badly, I had no idea how I'd handle summer vacation when THAT rolled around.

“Becky? Miss Henderson, there you are!” I heard someone calling to me from down the path behind me.

“Mr. Cooper? What's wrong?”

“Nothing, nothing. The headmaster asked me to fetch you from your dorm, but when you weren't there some of the other students told me you were out here taking a walk. Shouldn't you be packing young lady?”

“Umm, yeah. I just needed some air.”

“Ah. Well, if you could head to Mr. Uchiha's office before you leave he would like to have a word with you. And might I say you look very nice today,” Mr. Cooper said with a kind smile, reminding me why he was one of my favorite teachers.

I couldn't help but laugh. “Thank you, sir. I'll head there straight away.”

“Good girl.”

Mr. Cooper turned around and started heading back down the path the way he had come, leaving me to find my own way to Mr. Uchiha's office, wondering all the way what it could be he wanted to talk to me about.

-32-

Mr. Uchiha's secretary was nowhere to be found when I reached his office, doubtless already off to enjoy the school's spring break in their own way, but the headmaster's inner office door was wide open, and I could hear him typing away at a keyboard inside.

“Mr. Uchiha?”

“Miss Henderson! Please, do come in.”

The last time I had been in Mr. Uchiha's office he had been stressed and frazzled, and even though I had been trying to find an opportunity to talk to him again since the incident with Professor Swift the two of us had never seemed to catch each other at a good time. Now, though, I could instantly see how much more relaxed Mr. Uchiha was than the last time we had talked, and he gave me a happy smile as soon as I stepped through his door.

“I'm glad you made it. I've been meaning to talk to you for some time. How are your classes going?”

“Good,” I said, taking one of the seats across from his desk and sinking into its softness. “I was expecting more trouble, to be honest.”

“Your records show you're maintaining a 3.8 average. I'm very proud of that, as is your father. He's been calling the school every couple of weeks to keep up with what's going on with you. You should be proud to have such a caring father.”

“Thank you, sir,” I said, unable to keep a grin from spreading across my face at the news. We'd talked to each other at least once a week since Christmas break, but I had been unaware he had been calling the school too.

“How has your extra study period been? I have a temporary replacement coming in after spring break until the Professor returns, but I'm sure you and your classmates haven't suffered too much in the class's absence?”

I started to shake my head, then froze. Had he just said what I thought he had said? “Professor Swift is returning?”

Mr. Uchiha nodded. “I understand there have been rumors circulating that he has quit. Given his reputation with the student body at the moment and the uncertain nature of his return I thought it prudent not to argue. He is, in fact, on a temporary leave of absence. With any luck he will be back at the beginning of next year a changed man, and it's all thanks to you.” Mr. Uchiha was smiling at me, obviously happy with the outcome of our bit of sneakiness, though I was still confused.

“I thought I'd driven him off,” I admitted, keeping my eyes pointed down toward the floor.

“No, you didn't drive him off, though you did embarrass him.”

“Oh. Umm... sorry?”

Mr. Uchiha laughed, shaking his head. “Don't be. I have confidence in the professor's ability to teach, but he most certainly needed to be taken down a peg or two. With any luck he will return with a better outlook on life. For now our sister school has agreed to lend us one of their teachers to fill his place.”

Now I was even more confused. “Sister school?”

“Of course! Silver Valley Academy for Girls. Didn't you know?”

“I had no idea, sir.”

He nodded. “Most students don't, though I expect that to change in a couple of years when we start an exchange program of sorts. No worries, bringing in female students will have no effect on the Princess program, unless it's to strengthen it.”

“How?” I asked, now genuinely curious.

“The Princesses will be our first exchange students, only for a few weeks. In exchange, they will send over a handful of their Princes for us to host during the same time.”

“Princes. You mean....”

“You didn't think we could truly promote equality and acceptance just with one side of the gender divide, did you?” He asked. I started to ask another question, but Mr. Uchiha waved me off and said nothing more, but gave me a knowing look.

-33-

I returned to my room, going over my new knowledge of the inner workings of Kingston in my head and still not being able to straighten any of it out. The fact that Kingston had a sister school just for girls made me wonder why Sarah had never transferred there, until it occurred to me that if I hadn't known about it it was entirely possible that Sarah didn't, either. I had my hand on the knob of my own door when I changed my mind and went down one more doorway, knocking on Sarah's door instead.

“The door's open,” she said, and when she saw me open the door Sarah immediately rushed over and wrapped me in a hug. “Becky! You sure you don't want to just skip visiting your dad and come home with me?” She asked wth a puppy-dog pout that only months ago would have broken my will almost immediately. I had since grown immune to the look, though, perhaps from over-exposure.

“Hah! I think not. This'll be the first time I've ever seen my dad's place, and I'm looking forward to it.”

“Alright then. But if you change your mind....”

“You're on my speed dial,” I told her with a grin, giving her another quick squeeze. “That's not why I came over here, though.”

“Ulterior motives, huh? Spill.”

“Did you know Kingston had a sister school?”

Sarah nodded, turning back to her own packing. “Yep. Silver Valley. Doesn't everyone?”

“I didn't.”

“Oh. And now you're wondering...” she trailed off, obviously slightly uncomfortable.

“Umm, yeah. Why didn't you transfer?”

Sarah sighed, turning around and plopping down on top of a pile of clothes and giving me a wary look. “Promise you won't laugh at me?”

“Of course!” I said without a pause, holding my pinky out to her as a reminder of Thanksgiving break. She smiled at that and linked pinkies with me. When she let go she fell back on her bed with another sigh.

“It's too far away. They don't go into Persistence on their breaks, because they're on the other side of the state, so it would be harder for me to see my family, a LOT harder. Plus, silly as it is, Kingston Academy looks better on your transcripts, despite both schools scoring nearly identically on most tests. Besides, Leslie's here,” she admitted with a blush, and I had to giggle at her.

“Okay, I was just curious.”

“Why?” She asked, sitting back up. “You thinking about transferring next semester?” Her voice had a note of worry in it.

“What? No! I only just found out about the school, and I was curious. And why would I transfer anyway?”

Sarah shrugged, but gave me a look that clearly said I should know why.

“Sarah....”

“Becky, I know what you're about to say. You're not like me. You're right. But.”

“But what?” I asked, honestly curious about what she was about to say.

“But... I think you might be. Eventually. Maybe. I don't know,” she groaned, collapsing back on the bed again. “Just... if you are, promise you won't leave me alone here, alright?”

I shook my head, laughing. “You're the one who's graduating next year, not me.”

“True!” She said with a giggle.

I left Sarah alone after that, heading back to my own room to contemplate my luggage again.

Okay, so I wasn't the only one confused by everything going on. I didn't know about what Sarah had said, about me maybe not being like her now but that changing in the future.

I mean, how could I change who I was?

Then again... would it really be a change?

Thinking back over everything that had happened since arriving at the school, I realized that things had been adding up to prove to me that I wasn't stuck having to be either a boy or girl. Sure, everyone thought I was a girl, but if I had been too worried about that a hair cut and some acting lessons could have stopped it. Instead, I'd stuck with the argument that no matter how I was dressed I was the same person.

Was that person a guy or a girl?

Did it really matter?

A grin began to spread across my face as I started packing with a sense of determination.

No, I didn't have an answer to any of my questions. I'd only been doing the whole girl thing for a few months, after all. What I did have was the opportunity to decide, an opportunity most people never had.

Regardless of what I chose, I had friends. I had a boyfriend who liked me. Sure, we might drift apart, but that wouldn't be because of me choosing to be a boy or a girl. I had a job that paid me well for doing next to nothing most of the time, and I had a school I was growing to love.

Would I be a boy next year? A girl? What about in the long run? I had no idea. I knew about what would happen when spring break was over – I was already committed there – but as to the rest of my life, that was a long way away. Why should I rush a decision?

“I'll find out soon enough,” I said out loud, zipping up my duffel bag and dropping it next to my knapsack at the foot of the bed.

For the first time all year, it was a liberating phrase instead of a confusing one.

(End of Part 11)

(The End of Princess For Hire: The Second Semester)

---

Welp, that's all folks! I hope everyone is happy with the way the story turned out. I know a lot of people were hoping for an ending that defined who Beck/y would be for the rest of their life, but really, s/he's fourteen years old, going on fifteen. There's all the time in the world to come to a decision, and no better place to take the chance to learn what that decision should be than Kingston Academy.

Now that the base story is complete, be sure to give me overall opinions about events in the comments. I read every comment, even if I don't respond to every one, and I have taken user response into consideration up to this point, and will take it even further as I work on editing the story for e-publication.

Also, now that the story is complete, I'm seriously considering opening the universe to other writers. Kingston Academy is ripe for the expansion of the current cast, or even the creation of new students! Since I started writing the story every student at the school would have graduated by now, so if anyone wishes to start working on an incoming class of 2014/2015, just let me know if you're interested! Plus, with the inclusion of the sister school in the mix now (I had the idea, and I just had to add it, sorry!) that opens the gates for even more adventures!

This has been quite a journey, hasn't it?

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Comments

pfh

I have enjoyed this story very much. I am glad to see a wonderful conclusion and will be looking forward to more. keep the good work.
robert

001.JPG

Yes, quite a journey, thanks

Podracer's picture

I hope you enjoyed getting the words out just as much as we liked reading them Rasufelle. The why-do-I-have-to-decide view has been interesting, and at least Beck is happy with this ending even if you think some of the world might not be ;) And it's a positive view; I was fearing the worst after your earlier comment..

"Reach for the sun."

Your story was great .. thanks so much

I enjoyed the story and am sorry to see it end. Keep on keeping on with more more more. Huggs, Jan

I suppose

Angharad's picture

I'll have to do some more of my version of it, just quite when is the problem.

Angharad

Very nice!

Beck(y)‘s decision there seems quite sound, even being a non-decision. I notice you never answered the question of what to pack, so I guess that's something for us to wonder on until next season, if you ever decide to write that. And how father will react to Beck(y), obviously. And the professor's return seems not that strange to me, given what we know.

I assumed

Based on Beck/y's comments that she/he was gender fluid. Something that makes a lot of sense really but honestly it doesn't matter. What matter is that the kid is happy :D

I know who I am, I am me, and I like me ^^
Transgender, Gamer, Little, Princess, Therian and proud :D

I'm happy people haven't gotten upset with the ending.

I know a lot of people on here were really hoping for Beck/y to make a decision by the end of the year, and I'll admit my own tastes usually go that way too, but that wasn't the story I was wanting to tell. As fantastical as some -- okay, quite a few -- elements of PFH are, I wanted to at least keep the CHARACTERS real, and Beck/y's personality simply didn't lend itself to making a snap decision when there was no need.

The kid has three more years at Kingston in which to decide who s/he is. Why not take advantage of it?

Other than a couple of short pieces I have planned for the official e-book release, I'm not writing the next few years of Beck/y's journey, though. The point of the story was to follow the character coming into their own, and they've managed that: no matter which choice they make, boy or girl, Beck/y knows who s/he is inside, and is happy with that person. Really, isn't that all that matters?

I dunno, maybe I'm just crazy. I hope I get some more response over the next couple of days to this: I realize I'm just being impatient, but given the way people reacted back when I was posting this story regularly I was expecting more. Then again, if I had to wait so long for a story to complete, I'd likely be reticent to get back into it too :)

Thanks everyone who has already commented. I really appreciate all the positive response. New commenters, don't be afraid to be critical, too! It'll help me work on the for-print version!

Melanie E.

Glad you returned to this story

I was away for a bit, and missed all the latest chapters. I've just gone back to see what happened, and, Melanie, it was worth the wait.

It's an interesting situation, and I really enjoyed the story.

Kaleigh

Good outcome

Jemima Tychonaut's picture

Beck/y is far too complex an individual to wrap up her gender identity so quickly. For now, we know she'll finish out the year with Sarah as Becky but after that... that is the journey s/he needs to complete. Whatever the outcome, this chapter ends consistently with the character. I was a little worried after your comments about endings that you might rush a decision on us but reassured to see you haven't. I should have trusted you not to disappoint!

Thank you for an enjoyable series. :D



"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

I'll be looking

forward to the sequel. thanks for the story. I was looking for dad's reaction though. good job

Sequel?!

Not gonna happen. Other than a couple of short adventures for the pubbed version, this is the end of my journey with Sarah, Becky, and the rest of the gang.

It's taken me 5 years just to complete the freshman year. It would probably take me 20 to finish another book. No, I'm not even gonna consider that, sorry.

If anyone else contacts me interested in the Kingston Academy universe? Maybe then you can read more. But as for me, I'm done.

Melanie E.

Really good story

Thank you for finishing this story. I really enjoyed it. I liked that Becky is real.
Hugs, Wendy Marie

Wendy Marie

Excellent

Muffy21c's picture

I am new here, but your story prompted me to join. I enjoyed the story very much. I was rooting for Becky to win. Perhaps you will consider a sequel to this story at a later time. Your writing style is engaging for me and I had a hard time putting it down once I started.

Welcome! And I'm glad you enjoyed the story!

While there are no plans to continue Becky's journey at this time, I have taken a couple of inquiries about other authors writing stories from the grounds of Kingston Academy, and I may just write the occasional side- or short story myself! A lot of people seem to want me to follow Becky's journey the rest of the way through school, though, and that is simply not going to happen. After the events of the first year Becky gets what every good literary character deserves: freedom from the restrictions of having to listen to the author, and suffer at the hands of her muse.

Beck/y goes on to lead a long, fulfilling life. What happens in that life isn't the story I was setting out to tell, nor is the end of Beck/y's journey my business to share. Rather, it is up to the readers to look at Beck/y's story, and figure out for themselves what decision the character makes in the long run.

Whatever that decision, one thing is for certain: it was the right one.

Melanie E.

Awesome Series!

I just finished both books, having just discovered them a few days ago...

I really enjoyed the whole series. It IS too bad that there won't be any stories of the last two years, but I know how hard it gets to keep something like this going.

So, well done!!!

Hugs!
Shauna

Thank you for reading!

A lot of people seem to be a little down that there won't be more books in the series covering the last three years, but hopefully the occasional short story will suffice, as well as the bonus stories in the print version when I get it ready.

If you're REALLY interested, though there is the possibility of more books from the annals of the Kingston Academy Princess Program! Just, not by me. Angharad's Princess For Hire: The British Kid has been on hiatus at least as long as The Second Semester was, but was fun to read, and I've got another VERY talented author who I've been talking to about adding her own spin to the series....

Melanie E.

"Beck-y"

Hypatia Littlewings's picture

Good story!

Hey nothin wrong with some where in between.

>i< ..::

I really enjoyed this series,

And am a little saddened not to hear from Becky again. I suspect she will decide to transition, though maybe not. Being a volunteer for the local LGBT alliance have met a few gender fluid people, one whom I consider a good friend. I don't understand it, but then I don't understand myself either. All I know is the dysphoria got worse as I got older and I finally had to transition or die at age 55.

The one character I feel is left unfinished is Prof. Stone. I suspect he will decide to transition, but then again, not everyone has the full need. Still, he is in a job that would likely support such a decision. I would dearly love to see how that story plays out.

All I know is this story left a mark, one that will last. Not many do, but those that burrow that deeply into my soul give me a lot of food for thought. Please, keep em coming.

I am glad I waited until the story was finished to read it. It was unintentional, I had a lot of time to kill with an upper respiratory infection. It would have driven me nuts waiting for the next section. :)

Thanks, Melanie.

I somehow missed this series earlier, and only found it when you posted the Kingston Academy Shorts. So, I went back and read it all this past week or so. At least, that way, I didn't have long waits between chapters!

I really enjoyed the story. Even that parts you apologized for were actually very good. You have an amazing talent.

I agree, though, that Beck's story is really complete, as fun as further adventures would be. We know that Beck won't break Andrew's heart, since they are fine with each other no matter how Beck presents.

Again, thank you for the fine stories. Now to read Angharad's British version.

Thank YOU for the comment!

I'm glad to see you enjoyed the story!

Indeed, continuing Beck's story would be a bear, because there really isn't much else that's Beck-centric I could do that wouldn't, to me, feel like it was unduly punishing a character who has done me well.

Melanie E.

Cute

I like this series. It is cute and sweet without being too fluffy or angsty.

Okay, I just need to know,

Okay, I just need to know, what did she pack to visit dad. And dad can help out with a few things.

Hugs, Karen

Great Story

jennifer breanna's picture

This was a really enjoyable story. I checked out the anime Princess Princess as well and as much as I enjoyed the Anime, your story was better. Although as with the anime I would love to see a sequel/revisit. I'm afraid I do get attached to enjoyable characters. Thank you for sharing this story with us.

Jenni