Tug of War 68.4

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome back the stars of the evening, the contestants for Miss Charming Beauty!" The host, smiling wider than ever, cried out, making the audience even more excited. "It's indisputable that all the girls were incredible tonight, pulling out a great show for all of us. However, as everyone knows, only one of them can be crowned the winner, and the jury has reached a decision!" he added dramatically, further increasing the tension.

Standing on the stage, Tiffany looked around nervously, and her eyes rested on the other candidates. There were about twenty young women around her, and most (if not all) of them looked decidedly stunning and glamorous. She thought she had no real chance of winning the contest. Sure, the audience had enthusiastically applauded her, but that was just because they wanted to encourage and show their support for the first trans girl to ever take part in the contest. There was no way they were truly thinking that she could win...

Oh my gosh, why am I, like, even thinking about it, anyway? It's not like I care about winning this stupid contest... right?

Deep down, however, Tiffany knew she wasn't exactly being honest with herself. Perhaps she had got a little too immersed in the character during the evening, but the fact was that the idea of being crowned Miss Charming Beauty seemed somehow appealing to her – which was a scary realization, to say the least.

"Let's start announcing the results then, shall we? So, the third place goes to..."

Please say my name, please say my name, Tiffany wished fervently. Since she was sure that winning was out of the question, a third place would be an honorable position.

"Michelle Anderson!" the man announced, and Tiffany sighed, frustrated. Still, she did her best to applaud the brunette girl, feeling more and more like a professional beauty pageant contestant.

"And now, the second place..."

Come on... Just say Tiffany Foster, she begged inside her mind once again, feeling that this was her last chance...

"...Sophia Thompson!" the host exclaimed, and this time Tiffany barely managed to hide her disappointment. Mustering all her willpower, she finally was able to smile and applaud the ginger girl who headed to the center of the stage.

That's it, she told herself. But this is better this way, Tiffany... You know you totally were getting carried away by all this madness... like, a lot! It's time to focus on what's real, girl.

"...and now, ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the big winner of the night" the host continued, but Tiffany was no longer paying attention. "I think it is relevant to mention that this candidate received the highest score from all the judges in the three phases of the contest... an undisputed victory, indeed! So, without further ado, the new Miss Charming Beauty is... Tiffany Foster!"

Since Tiffany's mind was wandering at that moment, she didn't immediately realize what was going on. Just when everyone turned towards her did she start to connect the dots...

"What? I won? Oh my gosh, did I really win?!" she cried out, bewildered.

Wasting no time, the host came closed and handed a bouquet of flowers to Tiffany, who still seemed too shocked to react. And there was yet another surprise for her...

"Now I'd like to call to the stage the winner of last year's competition. Please welcome Alyssa Taylor!"

Alyssa then took the stage, wearing a splendid gala gown, as well. "I told you that you could win, didn't I?" she said, hugging her friend, and, unless Tiffany was mistaken, the girl had tears in her eyes.

"Oh my gosh, is this, like, really happening? I mean... all the contestants were so beautiful and..."

"None of them were prettier than you, silly... Not to mention your presentation at the talent show... Girl, you definitively are a fantastic singer. I think you have a career ahead of you! So, are you happy?"

"Umm... Kind of, I guess..."

"Ti-Ti?" Alyssa raised her eyebrows.

"Ah, fine! I can't fool you, right? I don't know exactly why... I mean, this is totally insane... But I am, like, soo thrilled that I won!"

"I knew it! I knew all along... Now it's time for me to give you this" she said, placing the Miss Charming Beauty sash around Tiffany's body. "And also this" she added, putting the crown on her friend's head.

"Oh, Lyss... you know you would have won the contest yet again if you had competed, right?"

"Probably... but trust me, getting rid of all this stuff is a relief to me. Now I have a better idea of what is really important to me, honey, and you helped me to see it."

"Me?!"

"Exactly! You're a very inspiring girl, even if you are, like, so slow sometimes. Now enough talk. The audience is waiting for your speech."

"S-speech ?! I don't have a speech!"

"What are you talking about, Ti-Ti? I told you over and over again times to have a speech ready!"

"I was certain sure that I had, like, no chance of winning, okay?"

"Oh, Ti-Ti, I don't know what to do with you... You have to improvise something then. Any speech will be okay. The public loves you, anyway. Just remember to thank me... just kidding, dear... or maybe not."

Despite being taken by surprise, Tiffany managed to deliver an inspiring speech, thanking everyone who had helped her along the way, and telling people to believe in their dreams. "It often seems that we are born with a script to act out, and anyone who dares to deviate from it is, like, harshly punished. But I would like each of you to understand that you can be whoever you want. Everyone deserves to be happy, and you can't let prejudice and discrimination get in your way. We totally need to fight for a better world" she finished, sounding a lot like the idealistic guy she used to be, and being applauded for a long time by the majority of the audience.

----------

Back in the dressing room, Tiffany was effusively welcome by Kate and the other girls, all of them ecstatic about her victory. But none of them were as excited as Susan, though, who seemed to have never been happier in her entire life.

"Oh my god, this is terrific!" she cried out, hugging Tiffany so tightly that the girl almost ran out of breath. "I knew you could do this, sweet doll. I always had faith in you! Could you girls leave us alone for a moment, please?" she asked, turning to Kate and the others. "I promise it will only take a minute. I just want to have a quick chat with my dear daughter."

After the girls left, Susan hugged Tiffany once again, unable to contain her delight. "How are you feeling, princess?"

"Umm... it's weird, Mom..." Tiffany started, looking down. "I can't deny that it was, like, kinda nice winning the contest. But I don't know... You, better than anyone, know that I never wanted any of this. I was just an ordinary guy, who had never thought of being a girl, but look at me now."

"I am looking, honey, and all I can see is a gorgeous young woman, who just won a beauty contest. Surely even you can see that now, princess. You're meant to be Tiffany... forever."

"F-forever?!" Tiffany stammered, getting anxious. "B-but I..."

"Stop fighting it, doll" Susan interrupted her stepdaughter, stroking her long hair. "You just admitted that you had fun tonight, being an ultra girly pageant contestant. It’s true that, contrary to what people think, you didn’t start living as Tiffany because you’ve always dreamed of being a girl. That was all about that silly game with your father, trying to piss him off. This is the official version of the story, at least... Perhaps you've manipulated me into helping you in your 'reluctant feminization' because you were too embarrassed to admit the truth about yourself, huh?"

"W-what?! I would never..."

"In any case, this is all past now. The important thing is to think about your future, and I can picture you being very successful in many beauty contests, even national ones, at the same time that you do many modeling jobs. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Getting all dolled up and wearing fancy dresses and heels every single day of your life?" Susan asked, with her eyes shining, and Tiffany gasped. Would that really be her fate? Living like a Barbie doll for the rest of her life?

"We can discuss the details later" Susan continued. "I'm sure you're dying to celebrate your victory with your friends, and I need to make a call to check something about your dad. It's a shame he didn't attend the contest. I'll have a little chat with him about it. Richard is also going to face some big changes soon, anyway..."

Susan then opened the door, and spotted Martin, who was walking towards the dressing room. "Oh, here you are, young man! Come in. You were fantastic on stage, too! Such a lovely number! You can keep Tiffany company. I see you guys in a minute."

Upon seeing Martin, all worries disappeared from Tiffany's mind, and she flipped back into her girly persona. "Oh, Martin! Can you believe we did that?" she cried out, throwing herself into his arms. "I don't know about you, but I totally loved the presentation! It seems like people liked our song a lot, too, and..." she suddenly stopped talking, realizing how serious the guy looked. "Is there something wrong, Martin?"

In response, Martin gently disengaged himself from her arms, and started pacing around the room. "I... I know everything" he simply said.

"I'm not sure I am following you, Martin."

"Don't you get it? I don't think Susan noticed it, but I heard everything!" he then dropped to his knees in front of Tiffany, and for a crazy moment the girl thought he was going to propose to her. "I beg you to forgive me!"

"Martin, w-what..."

"Now I know that you were telling me the truth when you said you've never wanted to be a woman, and started doing it just to piss your father off. I was a horrible friend... I didn't believe you, my best buddy since forever! But I will redeem myself. I swear!"

"And what does that mean exactly?"

"What else? I'll help you to be Timothy again... man."