Who Said That Three is a Crowd?

by

Samantha Michelle Davies

 

Part 1 – The Fashion Show

It was with a feeling of both nervous anticipation & a certain amount of dread that I entered a London Hotel in late June for an event that I hoped might change my life. If it didn't then I was going probably be plastered over every tabloid comic in the country.

The invitation I carried in my slightly sweaty hand was for a show of Clothes that had been designed and made by the students of an internationally famous College Of Art & Design who, would be graduating this year. I don't normally attend such functions but the college uses it as a way of sending the new graduates off into the big bad world with some money behind them. There were lots of 'Corporate Suits' attending the event and I didn't look any different. The invitation said 'White Tie' so that was the uniform. Here were a hundred of so 'Penguins' doing their bit for their company. I could tell that many were not going to enjoy it but there were others who would get a kick out of ogling the Fashion Models who would be parading the students designs. I was here for purely personal reasons.

The format of the show was pretty standard. Models paraded the designer's finals pieces in front of the ogling penguins. Bids were submitted in sealed envelopes for the various dresses & outfits that would be opened during the last part of the evening. All the money raised would go straight to the winning designers. In the past former students like Ms S McCartney had gone onto great things so for a few here was a chance to obtain an 'Original' at knock down process. The price would include a fitting for our loved one in the outfit that had been purchased which, I was reliably told the bit the Students hated the most.

I was seated at a table for 8 pretty close to the stage. Two of the students showing their wares were seated at the table to give their accompanying fashion ignoramuses a commentary of the items on display and, if possible stop too much business talk from dominating the evening.

I found the way to my allotted table. The two students allocated to sit at my table were already there and from their demeanor, they looked like they would have rather been sipping pints of Special in the local Young's Pub than being amongst us 'Penguins'. They did not seem to have made much effort to dress up for the event. There were name cards at each place setting. I discovered that the one sitting next to me was called TJ and was dressed in what I assumed was traditional Grunge. A black T-shirt with an ankle length black skirt, long un-brushed Died Black Hair, two silver nose rings along with heavy black & white makeup completed the anti fashion look. The only bit of colour was a pair of Sparkly Purple DM's on her feet.

The other student was called Judy. She was dressed in a shirt and skirt that were decorated with green camouflage print. This did go well with her auburn hair that was well below the shoulders in length. Of the two, she appeared the more outgoing as she was in conversation with another of the table's occupants whilst TJ on the other hand did not want to engage in much conversation at all.

It was TJ who fascinated me however in that her posture was very erect. Someone who is doing something they don't want to do would normally show it in the way they held their body. Her back was military straight. Not a curve in sight. This puzzled no, fascinated me, as it was so out of character with the rest of her appearance.

After a pretty ordinary meal, the evening progressed with the fashion show. The designers were not identified by name but by number. I liked the work of number 16. Those designs were in my opinion the best on show that evening. Nearly as good was the work of No 9. At the end of the show I left the table and deposited my bids. There were a lot of people putting in bids for various garments. Many were saying things like 'She would look really good in that' where in reality the size 10 dress would look just ghastly on their size 18 partner/wife that they would never get worn at all. Such is life!

The event continued with some pretty dire cabaret while the results of the bidding sorted out backstage. A special prize would go to the designer who had attracted the most bids. TJ seemed to get a bit excited at this part of the proceedings. This was a clear change from her very laid back and could not careless attitude earlier to one of rapt attention. This was where real cash would get into the hands of the designers possibly for the first time in their working lives.

As the winning bids were announced the tension in the room noticeably increased. TJ sat on the edge of her seat. One of my bids for the work in No 9 was successful. Judy gave a cry of success. Interesting but not totally unsurprising to me at least.

The second of my bids was also successful. This time it was for Number 16. TJ gave a small reaction of pleasure. How cute. I had bought items from both the students at my table. Finally, the last of my bids was also successful. This was for a delightful evening gown. Strapless naturally, of full length and skirt in a deep red organza. Gorgeous. Even more so because there was a very special lady I knew who could wear such a dress with aplomb.

TJ got the special award for the highest bid. I identified myself as the winning bidder when she returned to her seat after collecting her award. All she would say was "I look forward to fitting it to your wife. I am sure she deserved such a dress". I did not get the chance to say that I was not married before she turned her back on me. Ok, she wants my money but not my attention I said to myself.

I also identified myself to Judy as the purchaser of her dress. She was taken buy surprise in that I had succeeded in purchasing the dresses of both the students who were sitting at my table.

"It was no surprise to me" I remarked.

"How's that then" demanded Judy.

"I have my spies. They gave me some good information about who was worth watching out for tonight" I replied touching the side of my nose in an "all-knowing" manner.

"Who is you spy?" said TJ.

"I can't divulge my secrets. But you will have seen at least one of them around the college in the past week or two. That's all I can say on the subject". I changed the subject to the food that was served during the evening. We agreed that it was dire.

The evening eventually broke up. As I was leaving the hotel where the event had been staged, I noticed TJ trying to get a cab. She had obviously decided to treat herself now that she had some cash rather than getting the tube or bus to her home. It was raining the sort of steady penetrating drizzle that only ever seems to occur in the British Isles. I went over and offered her a lift home.

"You are not going in my direction" was all she could retort.

"How do you know until you tell me where you live?" I countered.

At that point Judy came out of the hotel.

"Having trouble getting a cab to Edgware then TJ" she asked.

"Damm you Judy. You have just told this twerp where I live" she responded.

"Edgware, That's on my way out of London. Now that Judy knows that I am offering you a lift home you won't think that I am some man eating tiger or a twerp"

"Go On TJ. He had spent a lot of money on you tonight. This is the least you can do"

"Oh. Very well lets go." She said resigned to the fact that both Judy and I were not going to take no for an answer.

I said to Judy "I sorry I can't offer you a lift as well, as I'm driving a two seater".

"That's ok Mike, I live South of the River." She replied with a nice smile on her face. I felt that I had got a bit of a rapport going with Judy.

"Lets get on with it then. I haven't got all night to stand around here," exclaimed TJ.

Conveniently, one of the Hotel Staff drove up in my car. Judy looked impressed. I opened the door for TJ. She grabbed the door and slammed it shut saying

"I am perfectly capable of getting into a car by myself thank you very much…"

The drive up the A5 to Edgeware was noticeable by the silence. She only spoke to give me directions. I tried to make conversation about the show and what she was going to do after graduation. I got the big brush off. She uttered quotes like

"Mind your F*****G business. After tonight, we will never see each other again so what do you care about me".

I was actually attracted to her in a strange sort of way. I tried to make an appointment to get the dresses fitted. All she would say was to get my loving wife contact the college. They would handle the fitting appointments but I had to be quick about it as the term was ending in less that two weeks and she had lots of things to do. I assured her that I would see to it that the appointments were made the following morning.

We arrived at her home. It was a nondescript terraced house in Edgeware close to the end of the Tube line. She tried to open the door to the car. I was driving a 1966 British Racing Green Aston Martin DB5 (Yes, just like James Bond in Goldfinger). This is a classic car but it has its little foibles. This one had been built with a sticking passenger door. The problem had never been able to be solved so the previous owner and I just had to live with it.

I hurriedly got out and ran around the car to open the door for her. I had parked the car so that there was a gap of about 15 inches between the car and the kerb. As she got out she tripped over the kerb. I put my arm out to steady her. I got hold of her waist and stopped her from falling on the floor. She immediately wriggled from my grip shouting, "Pervert. Let go of me…"

What was that I felt under her baggy clothes? I could not place exactly what it was. My deliberations were cut short by a sharp kick in the shins.

I said my goodnights and got in my car and drove the 65 miles home in deep thought about the evening and the events that had taken place. A plan started to form in my mind.

Home for me was a secluded Georgian Country House in North Oxfordshire. It was about 10 miles from the ancient market town of Banbury but you would need an Ordinance Survey map to find it.

I was quite thoughtful during my drive home. What had I touched when I put my arm around her waist to stop her from falling over? I was so engrossed that I almost missed my turning off the M40 motorway.

The next morning I called the college to arrange for a fitting appointment for the dresses. I gave the name Freddy Thompson as the name of the person who would be attending the fitting. The date was for the following Friday afternoon.

The day of the fitting arrived and I got myself ready and drove down to London. I was lucky in that I was able to secure a parking spot right outside the college door for the Aston. The gatekeeper seemed to have a soft spot for classic British Sports cars. I was sure that if I had turned up in a Ford Escort then I would have been given very short shrift indeed but then appearances are everything aren't they?

I was shown into the students work area. This was a semi private workroom where the students could work on their creations without the risk of them being copied by other less talented students.

I was shown into the area that Judy used. "Hello, my mane is Judy" she greeted me. She gave me a long lingering look. "I take it you have come about the Cocktail dress that was purchased on Monday"

"Yes. That is correct. Pleased to meet you Judy" I said smiling.

She stopped looked very hard at me again. I got the deep stare. I smiled at her.

"I know you from somewhere!" She exclaimed. I got a long hard stare. Then a grin appeared.

"Oh my God! Mike! Is that you? I did not recognize you dressed like that." .

"I would have never of guessed until you smiled. I saw that smile many times on Monday evening" She added.

"Let me take a proper look at you"

She wandered around me giving what can only be called the "Judy over" This is definitely more than a "once over" She was missing nothing.

"You make an extremely convincing woman," she concluded.

"Thank you Judy. That is a nice compliment. You have a very sharp eye indeed. Lets get down to business". I replied smiling.

"Do you have any objections to me wearing your dress?" I enquired.

"It's your dress now after all, but I think it will look very good on you!" came her considered reply.

"Does it matter that I am not what I seem?" I pressed further.

She paused.

"No Mike I think what you do with your life is your own business. However I am actually glad that this will get worn. You are going to wear it won't you?"

"Yes I will wear it. Why don't you have dinner with me wearing your creation?" I saw light at the end of the Tunnel.

"Hold on Soldier or whatever you are…" and she burst out laughing.

"I can't help laughing at the absurdity of this scene" she explained.

I gave her a puzzled look.

"Why?" I asked.

"Here we are, a fabulous looking Tranny trying to get a date with a known lesbian!"

I giggled.

"Well what about my offer then! You can be the butch one if you like"

"I think I shall pass on the most generous offer but I'm the feminine one. I don't do BUTCH!"

We both laughed at how easy we seemed to get on together without really trying.

I felt that I had made a breakthrough.

She straightened up and said "I think we had better get back to the reason you came here. Shouldn't we?"

"Yes lets to that before I kiss you!" I replied.

She gave me a wicked look. I just grinned back. I could not help it I was pretty smitten with her already.

She held up the dress still wrapped in its plastic cover.

"I think this will fit you without too much alteration. It should just need a slight change to the waist. However, this dress needs proper heels not those flats that the model wore on Monday. Have you got some heels with you?" Judy enquired.

I opened the bag I was carrying and pulled out a pair of shoes.

"Yes. These 4-inch court shoes should go with it well. I don't like driving in them though"

"Ok, lets get started. Go behind that screen and take that trouser suit off," she instructed.

I slipped the heels on and presented my self. I was wearing a black Corset with matching lacy bra and panties and fully fashioned black 10 denier stockings.

"Very nice choice of undies but why the corset. From what I saw on Monday you are pretty slim anyway" was the only comment Judy would make.

We proceeded with the fitting. A few small changes were all that was required. While Judy was completing them, I relayed the events during the trip to Edgeware and the trip over the kerbstone of the previous Monday evening. My version of events was very different from that told to her by TJ but she said that was only to be expected.

The altered dress was a great fit. I felt that it would be a useful addition to my wardrobe. As I was putting on the Trouser Suit again Judy whispered in my ear.

"From what I saw on Monday and that you were the only one there to buy two items from one designer, ergo, I think you also fancy TJ"

I smiled. Before I could say anything, she went on "She could do with a non-threatening relationship. I don't want her to get hurt again. Please go very carefully. She had a long-term boyfriend who was cheating on her all the time. When she found out he got nasty and hurt her pretty hard. As a result she sort of makes out that she now hates all men. Someone like you could be very good for her."

"Thanks for the info. I will try to handle her carefully. I hope that she does not see through my disguise" I replied.

"You know I could get used to you Mike/Freddie!"

"Freddie please." I replied.

"I must say, I do prefer Freddie but it is an unusual name for a woman?" She inquired.

"It's short for Frederica. It was my Grandmothers name."

"Freddie it is then" She said with a beaming smile and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. I must have lit up like a traffic light. Thank god for makeup.

With that we parted and I went in search of TJ. I was not expecting things to go so well with her.

Continued in Part 2

  

  

  

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