Cousin Amy 12

Chapter 12: Conversations

Over the next few days, Scott delved deeper into Amy’s past. Every waking moment was dedicated to mastering the details of her life - a monumental task that bordered on obsession but was essential for the plan to succeed. He began with a deep dive into her social media presence, reviewing every picture and video with a detective’s precision. The nuances of her behaviour, her style of interaction, and even her body language were jotted down for analysis.

The more Scott investigated, the more he began to notice patterns. For example: Amy never simply smiled for pictures; her trademark was a confident pout, a small but defining detail that he practised in the mirror repeatedly. Her posture was another characteristic he adopted; she always stood with her back straight, exuding a sense of pride and self-assuredness. Furthermore, her interactions with her friends revealed a playful, flirtatious side that came out in jests and teases, something Scott found challenging yet crucial to emulate.

To convert these observations into habits, Scott changed his daily routine to mirror Amy’s. He wore the highest heels from her collection, pushing his endurance and balance to their limits. Her apartment became his catwalk - each step a calculated mimicry of her poised, elegant stride. His voice was another area of constant practice, finally reaching a higher, more feminine pitch that he could maintain throughout the day.

Jessica, while supportive, couldn’t hide her discomfort as she watched Scott morph into his girly-girl cousin like something out of a horror movie. However, despite this, she played a supportive role in his transformation. She was his coach and critic, correcting his mistakes, fine-tuning his expressions, and drilling him on the details of Amy’s life. She quizzed him on the names of places Amy had visited, the dates she was there, and the people she was with, ensuring that no detail was too small to escape Scott's notice.

It had been a gruelling few days of overcoming obstacles for Scott, however, the most difficult part, something that had initially seemed impossible, was interacting with Amy's friends. Known collectively as "The Pink Panthers," a nickname born from a university party incident where they all coincidentally wore pink, these women had formed an inseparable bond that extended well beyond their college days.

Jennifer, known simply as Jen, was the first of the group Scott had unwittingly encountered at the nail salon. As the self-appointed queen bee, Jen's leadership was undisputed, her fashion sense setting the tone for the group's many stylized outings. She often took the lead in planning their gatherings, making sure they were always the centre of attention wherever they went.

Emily, or Em as she was affectionately known, was Amy's best friend and confidante. With a friendship spanning over fifteen years, her calm and elegant demeanour perfectly balanced Amy's vibrant personality. Working in a beauty salon, Emily was the group's go-to for all things beauty-related, her expertise keeping them all looking flawless.

Stacy, referred to as Stace, brought a creative flair to the party. Known for her DIY fashion projects, she infused a unique and whimsical style into their activities, often creating accessories or décor for group activities.

Lastly, Hannah, or Han, was the thrill-seeker of the group. Her love for adventure and luxury often led them to new and exciting escapades. Her recent organization of a glamping trip for the group, complete with gourmet picnic and spa treatments, was the last time all five girls were together.

After a full day of research, Scott tentatively started interacting with the girls via their lively group chat. The challenge was compounded by the group’s preference for voice messages instead of text, requiring Scott to master Amy’s vocal nuances. He had painstakingly listened to her past recordings multiple times, practising her intonations and phrasing until he felt confident enough to respond. With a nervous flutter in his stomach, Scott recorded his first message, a light-hearted apology for his absence, and sent it into the ether of their chat. The three-minute wait for a reply felt like an eternity, but finally, Emily's voice came through, chiding him playfully before warmly welcoming him back into the fold.

This successful exchange marked a turning point, with Scott quickly integrated into their ongoing conversations. Now, lying on his front on Amy’s bed, he wore a set of pink satin shorts and a matching zip-up top from Amy’s wardrobe, feeling strangely at ease in the soft, feminine garments. He was deeply engrossed in the chat about the upcoming party. Carefully pressing the speaker button with his elongated nails, he brought the phone to his ear just in time to hear Jen’s teasing voice. “Just wait till you lot get a look at Aimes’ new hair, you’re going to die,” she exclaimed.

(See image 24)

The chat erupted with curiosity. “New hair! What did you do?” Emily’s voice rang out, full of surprise.

Scott hesitated and thought carefully about his reply before pressing the record button. “You know. Just Fancied a change. New hair, new me after rehab and all that,” he confidently answered in Amy's upbeat tone.

Almost immediately, Stacy chimed in, demanding a picture. So, after a deep breath that he hoped would steady his shaking hands, Scott snapped a selfie. The photo, showing not only his new hairstyle, but his face, made him pause – It was a make-or-break moment, and he knew it. Taking another deep breath, he hit send.

The response was instantaneous. Emily's voice was a mix of shock and concern. “No way! Who butchered your hair like that? And why didn’t you come to me?”

Scott's initial reaction was a sigh of relief. All of Amy’s closest friends had seen the picture, and none seemed to suspect anything was amiss. “Sorry, Em. I was away and just kind of had the urge. You know you’ll always be my number one stylist,” he replied smoothly, channelling Amy’s voice perfectly. His response was calculated, knowing well that Amy had never trusted anyone but Emily with her hair all her adult life.

“Well, in that case, come over the day of the party, and I’ll work my magic on you. I mean, when was the last time you got a fresh tan? You’re looking pasty as, girl,” Emily shot back in a playful tone that masked her slight irritation.

“Ooh, yes, please. Makeover day at the salon,” chimed in Hannah eagerly.

Damn, Scott thought, the last thing he wanted was to spend even more time under the close scrutiny of the girls that day. Yet, what could he say? With his long-nailed finger pressing the microphone button firmly, he channelled his inner Amy once more. “Try and stop me, bi-atch. I’m expecting the works.” No sooner had the message sent did he realize the stupidity of his reply. His glossy pink lips fell open in shock - why had he just said that?

Shaking off his disbelief, Scott slipped his feet into a pair of 5-inch pink stiletto pumps that sat by the side of the bed and strutted off into the living room to find Jessica. His mind raced as he walked; each step in those towering heels, usually a challenge, had become automatic as his mind was consumed with other pressing thoughts.

Scott entered the living room, his tall heels clicking loudly on the hardwood floor. Finding Jessica engrossed in her phone on the sofa, he noticed her expression shift to one of discomfort and perhaps even disgust as she looked up - a reflection of the strange times they were living through. Tottering over, Scott eased himself down on the opposite side of the sofa with the practised grace of Amy herself. “I think I’ve messed up,” he announced, his tone sombre but still in character as Jessica set her phone aside with a heavy sigh.

Jessica's face twisted into a look of maternal disapproval, as if she were speaking to the teenage daughter she never asked for rather than her partner. “What happened?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Scott, extending his phone towards her, described the conversation he’d just had, and the salon visit he had inadvertently agreed to, even playing some of the exchanged messages. Jessica listened intently, her expression unreadable, before responding with a chilling calmness. “So go,” she said coldly. “What difference does it make now?”

Stunned, Scott's makeup-covered face fell, his expression mirroring that of a wounded animal. “What do you mean by that?” he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

(See image 25)

“Are you serious, Scott?” Jessica snapped, irritated by his continued use of his perfected feminine voice. “Tomorrow’s the clinic appointment, and we haven’t even discussed it. I thought we were going to see how things went and talk about it further. But it seems you’ve decided to go ahead without consulting me?”

Scott paused, digesting her words. “I thought that was the plan,” he replied, genuinely surprised. “I’m doing this for us.”

Jessica’s face contorted with anger before she managed to mask it with a forced smile. “Yes, of course. The plan! For us! My mistake,” she conceded as she glanced over at her boyfriend's unmanly chest, seeing two glued-on breast forms. The seams gave them away as faux, however, she knew after tomorrow, it would be a different story. “Well, it looks like you’ve really stuck your foot in it with your friends. But look on the bright side. A makeover will be a great bonding experience at the start of the day.”

“You seem awfully calm about this,” Scott replied, sounding confused.

“You seem to have everything under control,” Jessica assured him with a hollow cheerfulness. “Now, why don’t you go back to your room and tell your friends how much you're looking forward to some pampering while I take for a walk outside?”

“Uhm... Okay,” Scott agreed, his voice faint and uneasy as he watched Jessica rise from her seat. The distance between them felt more profound than ever as she walked away, leaving Scott to ponder the widening gap in their relationship and if anything could be done to fix it.