The Flower Girl

My Part In The Wedding

I knew turning up at their house this late would be rude, but I’d known Jess and Kevin for years. This Saturday, the two of them are finally getting bloody married! Being the person that introduced them, I felt like I had a part in the love they’ve found in each other.

I’m sure the two of them can offer me a comfy bed for the night. They owe me at least that!

Approaching the door, I quickly flatten down my disheveled hair. I really didn’t want them knowing I’d been sleeping in my car the last few nights. They’d only worry and I don’t want to mess anything up for them.

I planned to make myself useful in some way. So useful in fact, they’d beg for me to stay! I’m sure there’s probably a tone of balloons to blow up or wedding favors to sort. Ethier way, I can’t spend another night in my car. I think my back is about to break. Sometimes it sucks to be over six feet tall.

Knocking firmly on the door, I put on a big smile. As the door creaks open, Jess pears around the door.

“Steven…?” She questions as she fully opens the door and gives me a smile.

“Oh hey, Jess!” I reply back, putting a foot into the doorway. “I’ve come to offer my services and help out with the wedding plans!”

As Jess steps aside, I walk past her giving a silly wide grin. As she closes the door behind her, I take off my jacket and hang it on a nearby coat hook.

“Come in….,” Jess sarcastically grumbles, as I finish hanging my jacket. “Y’know, you should really call ahead.”

Reaching out and placing a hand gently on her shoulder, I give her the biggest smirk.

“Naaah…..,” I answer back. “We are like family….no?”

Tilting her head to onside, she throws me quiet the unimpressed face.

“Steven,” she lectures. “You and Kevin aren’t students anymore. We are about to be a married couple. There are boundaries.”

Slowly taking my hand away from her shoulder and allowing it to fall to my side, I allow my shoulders to sag.

“Kevins my best friend,” I softly reply. “I know things are going to be different, but what kind of best friend would I be if I didn’t offer to help out.”

Stepping closer to me, Jess gives me a much softer friendlier look. Comforting me, she gently places a hand on my side.

“It’s hard huh?” She asks. “Not being the best man or even an usher at your best friend's wedding.”

Dropping my head, I let out a long sigh. It did suck. It sucked big time!

“Kevin wanted to have you as the best man,” she continues, now touching my chin and lifting my head. “He’s unfortunately bound by family tradition. You know his brothers take those roles. Don’t make it harder for him. He already feels awful about it.”

As she lifts my gaze, our eyes meet. She looks at me with complete understanding. She’s a firecracker normally, but Jess really does have a heart of gold. She’s perfect for Kevin and that does make me very happy.

“Can I at least help with something tonight?” I ask as we share a moment together.

With a waft of her long brown hair, Jess lets go of my chin and smirks.

“Sure slugger!” she says with a chuckle. “We’re just folding paper cranes at the moment. We need one thousand for the wedding. You can help!”

“Cranes..?” I ask with excitement as she leads me into the family room. “I’m guna fold the crap out of them there cranes!”

As we make our way into the family room, Jess continues walking into the nearby kitchen. Before she leaves, she points Kevin out to me. No surprise, Kevin is vegging on the sofa. As the TV blares out, he’s not watching, but concentrating on something in his hands.

“Hey dude,” I greet him, as I help myself to the armchair facing the sofa.

Looking up for a moment, Kevin grits his teeth with frustration.

“Steve,” he moans at me, in greeting back. “You any good at doing these dam paper cranes..!?”

Looking down at the coffee table, a box full of cranes and instructions on how to fold them sit out on view. I take one from the box and hold it between my fingers.

“Not really….,” I comment, as I lean over to read the folding instructions. “Will give it ago, but why are you doing this?”

With a roll of his eyes and a huff, Kevin stops and slumps in the chair.

“Y’know…,” he replies, giving me a secret nod in Jess’s direction.

I knew what he was getting at, but I still looked over in Jess’s direction. Lucky for me, She was standing behind the kitchen counters and talking with someone on the phone. She wasn’t listening in.

“Jess’s idea…?” I ask with a chuckle.

“Yup,” he whispers in reply. “She’s into all this mumbo jumbo.”

Looking back at him nervously, I lean in to whisper back. “I’ve heard she practice’s witchcraft. Is that true?”

Kevin then quickly checks Jess is not looking and gives me a nod in confirmation. I give him a wide smile and slide back into my chair.

“Don’t worry,” he says, waving his hand. “She’s not into turning people into frogs or anything.”

Picking up the box of cranes, he leans it in my direction so I can see just how many fill the box.

“It’s good luck,” he tells me, as I look in wonderment at the sheer amount of folded paper littering the box. “It’s said, one thousand paper cranes will bring the marrying couple good luck.”

“Oooh,” I reply, nodding my head in understanding.

Pointing at a stack of small colored paper squares, Kevin returns to folding the crane in his hand.

“Please help,” he commands.

“Sure…,” I answer, “At least this way, I’m part of your wedding,” I continue with subconscious frustration in my tone.  

With that last comment a little more snarky than I meant, Kevin looks up at me unimpressed. I could see him slowly judging me and getting angry at the same time.

“Dude….,” he groans. “I thought we’d had this conversation.

Rubbing his forehead, Kevin looks up to the ceiling and sighs.

“I am really sorry,” he continues. “You know how it had to be. I asked if you could be an extra usher, but my family was quite clear and insistent that I don’t.

Surrendering with raised hands, I nod my head.

“I know,” I answer with understanding. “I-I’m just a little disappointed. Things have been pretty rough recently, I’m sorry for saying anything.”

Lowering his head, Kevin’s expression looks serious.

“How have things been since you lost your mom?” He delicately asks. “She was your only family, right?”

Not wanting those feelings too well up inside me, I look away from Kevin's gaze. He didn’t want to see me cry and nor did I want them to see it. Rubbing my chin, I look up to the ceiling and take a deep breath in.

“It’s getting better,” I lie to him, hoping to shut down the conversation.

Getting up from his chair and leaning over the coffee table, Kevin extends a hand and playfully slaps me on the knee.

“If you need us,” he says, holding his hand on my knee in comfort. “All you need do is ask.”

“Thanks…du”

“Ah….Crap!” Jess yells, interrupting me.

Slamming her phone onto the counter, we both give her a worried look. As she stamps into the living room from the kitchen, Kevin gives me a very concerned look.

“What's wrong, sweety?” Kevin inquires, as Jess throws herself onto the sofa next to him, in a big huff. “Who was that on the phone?”

“It’s ruined!” Jess sobs, as she throws her face into Kevin's chest.

As her face thuds against his chest, Kevin looks at me with wide eyes. I didn’t know how to help. The best I can do is shake my head at him. She’s not my wife to be!

“Jess….?” He then says softly, lifting her from his chest, by her shoulders. “Tell me what's wrong, we may be able to help.”

As their eyes meet, Kevin gives her a comforting smile. “Hello there,” he says with a giggle.

Wiping away the tears from her face, Jess then throws herself back and with folded arms. Slumping into the sofa, she lets out a groan.

“They're not coming!” she exclaims, with another huff.

Placing his hand onto her knee, Kevin leans in towards her.  “Who’s not coming?” he questions, as he wipes away a tear from her cheek.

I watch as Jess’s eyes stare daggers at Kevin. She had that look about her. Like she wanted to punch the next person who spoke. Not even I’m that stupid to speak up right now.

“Jenny and her daughter Sophia!” Jess growls and thumps a fist against the knee Kevin wasn’t touching.

Her anger makes Kevin flinch backward.

“That means we don’t have a flower girl!” she cries. “How can we have the ceremony now!?”

“Do we really need one?” Kevin questions, and immediately regrets his decision.

The daggers in her eyes quickly turn to sharpened swords. I had to hold back the laughter at Kevin's stupidity. Rookie mistake!

“Of course we bloody need one!” she screams and pushes Kevin back. “The flower girl was a vital part of it all! Now it’s ruined. We don’t have anyone else!”

Like that, Kevin slumps back onto the sofa dejected. I could see the fear in his eyes.

Being his best friend, I knew I had to say or do something to take the heat from him. I think a part of me wanted to show him what a great best man I would have been.

Pulling a smirking face, I try to break the tension by telling a joke. “I wanna be part of your wedding. Can I be the flower girl?”

Kevin's reaction tells me all I need to know. He instantly starts shaking his head in disbelief. I think he knew I was about to get swung at by his fiancé. Still, I was taking it for the team!

“That’s brilliant!” Jess unexpectedly yells out with a heavy clap of her hands. “Would you really do that for us, Steve!?”

My jaw almost dropped to the floor. I looked at Kevin, who was also completely gobsmacked.

“Jess darling…,” Kevin mutters cautiously. “I think he might have been joking. How can Steven be a flower girl?”

With me nodding in agreement to Kevin's statement, I soon realize Jess hasn’t stopped staring at me. I could feel her burning a hole right through me.

“Did you really mean it?” Jess asks, leaning in towards me with a hopeful look in her eyes. “You wanted to be part of the wedding and everything!”

Leaning back from her, like she’s gone crazy, I pull a wry smile.

“Well, I mean I do want to be part of your wedding yeah……b-bu”

With another clap on her hands, interrupting me mid-sentence, she gives me the widest smile I’ve ever seen.

“That’s amazing Steven!” she cheers and gently bounces in her seat. “Wow, I never thought you’d be man enough to do anything quite like this!”

With real concern, I give Kevin a sharp look.

“Sweety,” Kevin says trying to calm her down. “I think Steven was jo….”

Interrupting once again, Jess jumps from her seat. It was lovely to see her so excited, but both me and Kevin knew it was all going to come crashing down. I’d be the ugliest flower girl ever. More like the flower ogre!

“You live alone….right!?” Jess instantly stops to interrogate me.

“Ummm,” I mummer, not wanting the truth about my homelessness to come out. “Yeah…sure…alone.”

Clearly satisfied with my answer, Jess just wonders off, nodding her head. Confused by what's happening, I shrug my shoulders at Kevin.

“Sweety..?” Kevin calls out to Jess, obviously confused himself. “What does Stevens's housing arrangements have anything to do with us now not having a flower girl for the wedding?”

Jess, now head deep into a large kitchen cupboard, turns back to face us with a grin.

“Well,” she says as her grin becomes wider. “A  nine-year-old is not going to be able to live alone now, are they?”

“Hunny…?” Kevin moans desperately to understand and clearly getting a little embarrassed.

As Kevin rushes over to his wife, Jess pulls out a dirty-looking bottle from the cupboard. The sort of bottle you’d expect to see in a Harry Potter movie. Holding up the bottle to both of us, she glides back into the living room. Poor Kevin can only stumble behind her as he tries to keep up.

“That settles it then,” she says smiling directly at me. “You can stay with us until the wedding. Is that ok with you?”

Stoked that I’d got my invitation to stay, I give myself a mental high five. Still, I wasn’t quite sure how I’d pulled it off. My flower girl joke was exactly that, a joke. Still, I guess amusing them both is better than sleeping in the car.

“Yeah, that’s fine” I answer nonchalantly.

“Great!” Jess exclaims, thrusting the dirty bottle into my hands. “I mean, you wouldn’t have had a choice. A nine-year-old girl can’t fend for herself.”

Taking hold of the dirty bottle, it feels almost slimy to touch. Rolling it in my hands, I read the label.

“Claochlu potion,” I read out loud. “What's this for?” I ask.

Before Jess can answer, Kevin pops up from behind her. Pushing in between us, he gives Jess a stern look.

“I know what you're suggesting and you can’t be serious!?” he states passionately, waving his hands. “We can’t ask him to do this. I don’t even think he knows what you are capable of!”

Still holding the bottle in my hands, I look up at Jess. She’s peering around Kevin and giving me a smile. As Kevin steps aside, they both gaze into my eyes.

“Steven,” Jess says calmly. “Drinking that potion will allow you to be part of the wedding. If you drink it, you will transform into a nine-year-old girl for exactly seven days.”

Rolling the bottle back and forwards in my hands, I look at them both and want to laugh. I wanted to believe she was joking, but their serious expressions made me think what she was telling me was true.

“Y-you….,” I say stumbling on my words. “You actually want me to be the f-flower girl?”

Jess nods with a wide grin. Kevin shakes his head and sighs.

“Can this really happen?” I ask in amazement. “If I drink this, I will become a little girl?”

“Yeah,” Jess answer back quickly, egging me on to drink it.

No way in hell would I agree to transform into a little girl. I couldn’t think of anything worse! The long hair, the frilly dresses. Don’t get me started on losing my manhood. As I go to scream no, at the top of my voice, I find a part of my brain thinking differently.

I look down at the bottle and start weighing up the facts.

As much as being a girl wouldn’t be ideal, it’s only for seven days. That’s seven days of being fed and having a roof over my head. That’s also seven days of not worrying about my own life! Being part of the wedding, now that’s the cherry on top and these guys would forever owe me one!

“You’ll let me stay here?” I ask Jess directly as I pull the cork from the bottle.

With widening eyes, she nods. “Yeah silly! If you’re a little girl, we will have to look after you!”

Raising the bottle to my lips, I could smell the almost off milk aroma radiating from it. Looking Jess dead in the eye, I stop just shy from my lips.

“So just to be clear,” I say, wanting to clarify the deal. “If I drink this stuff, you will let me stay. No matter what happens?”

“Wait!” Jess screams and throws her arms out. “I forgot to tell you the most important part!”

Lowering the bottle, I let out a sigh of relief. The smell was really starting to make me gag.

“What is it?” I ask impatiently.

“When you drink that down,” she replies, pretending to drink the bottle. “You must want and wish to become a nine-year-old girl!”

“Sure sure….,” I reply back, not really believing any of this to be true. I just knew if I got this stuff down. The deal was I could stay.

Bring the bottle back to my lips, I allow the putrid-tasting liquid to flow into my mouth. The texture was something like custard, but the taste was like nothing I’d ever experienced. As I struggled to swallow it down, I could feel my gag reflect flaring up.

Forcing my way through, almost like downing a beer, I manage to get the entire bottle into my body. Thinking about myself as a little girl the entire time, I lower the bottle and wipe the excess from my lips.

“That was……,” I say, then let out a horrible tasting burp. “Absolutely disgusting!”

Waving away the smelly burp, Kevin looks at me in disbelief.

“Steven,” he says with a sigh. “I can’t believe you just drank that.”

Putting the bottle to one side, I give him a playful smile. “I’d do anything for you bro,” I say triumphantly.

Without giving Kevin a second to reply to me, Jess had already grabbed my hand and started pulling me through the house. It was almost like I was a ticking bomb, ready to explode. Struggling to keep up with her, she pushes me into the downstairs toilet. Slamming the door behind me, I’m left bemused as to what's going on.

“Jess..?” I question through the closed door. “Why..?”

Jess says something to me back, but my concentration is broken by the immensely strange feelings scratching away at my body. It felt like a thousand needles poking me at once. Each and every inch of my skin felt like it was on fire.

“Argh!” I cry out as my stomach churns. “Is this supposed to hurt so bad!”

Once again, Jess says something to me through the door, but I’m unable to concentrate on what she’s saying.

Folding over with the pain, I feel my body shrinking and contracting. As the stomach pain faded, I felt like a black hole had formed at the center of my body. My entire being felt like it was being crushed by the black hole at my center. Being pushed and pulled into the middle of my body.

“F-F-Fuck!” I scream as my shrinking legs give way underneath me.

Now laying on the floor, I couldn’t help but wish for this experience to end. What was in the drink!? She’s gone and poisoned me!

The next thing I know, the sensations intensify. Unforutatlaly for me, it’s localized to a particular area. It was like going through puberty at a million miles an hour but in complete reverse. I felt my balls shrink and absorb back into my body. I felt my manhood shrivel and creep inside of me. It left me completely mortified!

Screaming out as loud as I could, I felt my deep voice get higher and higher. It was like someone was adjusting the pitch of my voice. Continuing to turn the dial until I was letting out the girliest scream of my life.

My screaming was only stopped by the feeling of hair bursting from my head. As I lay on the floor, it felt like someone had thrown a towel over me. Soon my vision was completely covered by strands of lush hair.

As the pain receded, I knew my body was different. I could feel the emptiness between my legs. I could feel the weight of long hair on my head. My body felt light. It felt fragile. I felt very small. My clothes covered me like a blanket.

“Steven..!?” Jess cries on the other side of the door. “Has it finished!?”

No words leave my body, just a quiet high-pitched squeak.

That’s when I see the door burst open. Jess stands over me, looking very concerned. I look up at her and she seems like she’s grown massive in those few minutes. In fact, everything seems massive. The ceiling now looks a million miles away.

“Kevin!” Jess shouts behind her. “Can you go get one of my small t-shirts?”

With her attention now on me, she starts rummaging to free me from my now-massive clothing Pulling me free of my old shirt, she’s able to pick me up with no fuss. Her hands felt gigantic on my sides. It was almost like she was a giant compared.

“Jess….?” I say with a girly whine. “I feel funny.”

As she allowed my feet to touch the floor, I look down at myself for the first time. Having to brush strands of hair from my eyes, my body is completely transformed. Running my small hands down my baby smooth skin, I reach between my legs. My eyes grow wide ` panic, as nothing is to be found.

“Oh Hunny,” Jess says with a comforting tone, brushing hair behind my ear. “Kevin’s just getting you one of my shirts to wear until we can get some more fitting clothes.”

“Am…am I really a girl now?” I ask, with childish and girly innocence.

Grabbing my hand tight, Jess kneels in front of me and looks into my eyes.

“Yeah,” she says softly. “It’s going to be hard for maybe a day or two, but you will soon get used to the change.”.

As I stare into her eyes, I could feel tears welling in mine.

“I’m not a man anymore…!?” I whine as I lose control of my emotions. “Change me back!”

That’s when Kevin appears behind Jess, pink feminine t-shirt in hand. I instantly feel super embarrassed as my friend see’s me like I am for the first time.

“Don’t look at me!” I scream out, tears now streaming from my eyes.

“Shit!” Kevin yells and points. “Is that really Steven!?”

Trying my best to hide, I start to panic. I’m completely naked with hair cascading down my back. My brain felt like it wanted to explode.

“Kevin!” Jess shouts, with fury, pointing in his direction. “Go and sit down. This is going to be a massive change for him and he’s doing it for us!”

Trying my best to hide, I don’t see Kevin storm off, but I hear his stomps of frustration. A second later, I felt clothes being forced over my head. Throwing my arms out, Jess soon has me overpowered and my arms up into the sleeves.

Her pink shirt was massive on me. It was like a dress, falling all the way past my knees. Still, It was comforting not to be naked anymore.

“Come here!” Jess says, pulling me towards her with little resistance from me.

Now feeling completely emasculated, wearing Jess’s shirt that smelt faintly of her perfume, she embraces me tight like I’m the tiniest little person.

Still sobbing, I bury my head into her shoulder.

“You're taking this really well!” Jess says gently, stroking my long hair. “I’m here for you. Any questions about being a girl, don’t hesitate to ask.”

As lovely as that sentiment was, I hated hearing it. It just reinforced the facts about what I’d given up and what I’ve become.

Pulling away from her embrace, I stand in front of her. She’s still kneeling on the floor to be at my height.

“I think I need a stiff drink,” I say, wiping the tears from my face.

Giving me a wide smile, Jess tilts her head to one side. Not answering, she pulls her cell from her pocket and snaps a quick picture of me. A little annoyed, I’m super curious as she turns the phone to show me. Standing in the picture is the cutest little girl. A cute button face with long brown hair.

“This is me,” I say, touching the phone.

“Sure is!” Jess says, sliding the phone away. “Can you see why I can’t let you have any alcohol?”

“Cos I’m a kid..?” I reply, happy that I knew the answer.

“That’s right sweety,” she continues with a wide smile.

Reaching behind me, she places her hand gently on my head.  “You wanna have a hot chocolate?” she asks, standing up and holding her hand out for me to hold.

Reaching up for her large hand, she grasps me tight. Leading me back into the family room, she picks me up off the floor and rests me gently on the sofa. Sitting up, my legs splay out in front of me, not long enough to make it to the floor.

“Kevin!” Jess shouts once more, as she stands up and walks towards him. “Can you go to the shop and pick up some stuff?”

Appearing like a flash, I watch Kevin anxiously nod.

“What do we need?” he asks, not wanting to get in trouble with his fiancé.

“We need to get Steven some clothes,” Jess says, grabbing a nearby pen and scribbling on the back of an opened envelope. “Some underwear, some tights, some socks, some days dresses, and some pajamas.”

“Right!” Kevins says, taking hold of the list. “Just any style?”

“Just get what they have!” Jess replies. “Oh, check the sizes. You want years eight to nine years.”

As Kevin grabs his jacket and heads for the door, Jess comes back over to me and kneels in front of me. I could barely believe this was happening. If it wasn’t for my tiny legs and feet poking out of the end of one of Jess’s shirts, I wouldn’t believe it was real.

“Steven,” she says with a smile. “Do you want to pick a more appropriate name?”

Awkwardly brushing hair from my eyes, I give Jess a blank look.

“Choose myself a girl's name?” I ask, bouncing my feet with excitement.

“Yeah!” Jess replies with the same enthusiasm. “I like the name, Emily. Would you like that name?”

“I do! I yell back, with a big smile on my face.

“Emily it is then!” Jess replies as her face becomes one of curiosity. “I wasn’t expecting you to instantly like the name Emily…?”

“It was my mom's name,” I reply, looking bashfully down at the big heart design on the front of my t-shirt.

Placing her hand on my head once more, Jess giggles. “I’m sure you are going to make a great Emily!” she says.

“Yeah…..?” I answer with little confidence. “I’m not feeling good about myself right now. I have no idea about being a girl.”

I hoped that I didn’t seem too excited by the prospect of being called Emily. It was funny that she suggested that name. With my mom no longer with us, it was fitting that I’d carry her name for the time being. It actually made me feel pretty good. With this change, I felt much closer to her than I’d ever had before. And that’s not just because I’m now sporting the same gender.

Running her hand down my face and bopping me gently on my nose, Jess giggles.

“Look,” she says as her smile becomes a little more serious. “I will teach you about being a little girl. You don’t have to worry. All I need you to do is be a good girl and listen…ok?”

“What if….I let you both down and mess up?” I reply as I feel the tears welling up once more.

“No way!” Jess says throwing her hands into the air. “A little cutie like you could never do any wrong!”

“Oh ok!” I cheer. “Can I have that hot chocolate now?”

“Sure Stev….,” she says with a pause. “Sure Emily. It’s the least I can do to thank you for this!”

“Thanks!” I cheer, with such youthful feminity in my voice. “Do you want me to fold some cranes now?”

Sitting forward, the shirt I’m wearing as a dress gets caught. It reveals to me how young my body has become. Frowning, I try to ignore it and focus on the instructions for folding the cranes.

Having to stretch and reach across the coffee table, which now seemed absolutely massive to me, I grab hold of some paper and start folding away.

“Thanks, Emily,” Jess cheers as she comes back into the room and places a hot chocolate in front of me. “Just be careful Hunny, It’s going to be hot!”

Taking a second to look up from my folding, I give Jess a sour look.

“I may look like a nine-year-old,” I moan. “Please try not to treat me like one.”

“Okay!” Jess says, rolling her eyes. “You are going to have to get used to it though. It’s going to ponytails and dresses for you for the next few days!”

With a childish Huff, I look away.

“This is going to suck…,” I groan.

Kneeling down in front of the coffee table, Jess reaches for a fresh paper square.

“Don’t worry, being a girl is not so bad” she says concentrating on folding. “We are certainly going to owe you big time after this. You really are a great friend. I don’t think Kevin would have transformed for you.”

“You don’t think so?” I ask, pulling my t-shirt down to cover my legs.

Lifting her face to give me a wide smile, Jess giggles.

“Probably not,” she says playfully shaking her head. “Maybe when you get married, we can discuss him being your flower girl?”

With a devious grin, I look back down at my attempt to fold a paper crane. I was deffo going to hold her to that thought. I just hope I don’t get stuck like this!