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MidReal Story
Girl Crush
Scenario:Patrick gets a summer job at Disney World, but through a series of mishaps he accidentally gets cast to play Princess Belle. At first Patrick finds the whole situation strange, but soon he falls in love with the role of Princess. Patrick begins to let his female identity spill into his normal life, and begins to call himself Paige in his personal life. Liz, Patrick’s roommate, helps Patrick embrace his feminine side, but also starts to develop feelings.
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Patrick
He is a recent college graduate struggling to find purpose in life. He is adventurous,selfconscious,and hopeful. Working at Disney World,he gets cast as Princess Belle against his will,discovering a newfound love for the role. Patrick thrives as a woman,finding confidence and freedom in character. Outside Disney,he navigates unexpected romantic developments with Liz,his roommate and colleague,while grappling with identity and societal expectations through a transformative summer.
Diana
She is a fellow cast member at Disney World playing Cinderella. She is outgoing,friendly,and confident. Diana becomes a supportive figure for Patrick during his time at the park. Her welcoming nature and expertise in navigating the world of character acting at Disney help Patrick settle into his role as Princess Belle. Diana's friendship provides Patrick with an essential sense of belonging and camaraderie while he finds his footing in this new world.
Gretchen
She is a strict supervisor at Disney World responsible for casting and operations. She is authoritative,demanding,and nononsense. Gretchen casts Patrick into the role of Princess Belle against his will,though her actions inadvertently trigger a transformative experience for him. Her rigidity contrasts the freedom Patrick finds in his new persona,serving as both the catalyst and challenge driving his selfdiscovery throughout the summer.
It was the smell of grease, sugar, and desperation that finally woke me from my post-graduation stupor.
Three months earlier, I’d received my degree in communications with a minor in theater arts.
Three months earlier, I’d also promised myself that I wouldn’t end up like all the other seniors I knew, stuck in a dead-end job just for the sake of having something to do for the summer.
But here I was, wearing a bright orange vest and a name tag that read PATRICK, scooping chocolate ice cream into cones for sunburned tourists.
This was not the plan.
And neither was working at Disney World.
Or getting cast as Princess Belle.
Or finding myself wishing on a star that I could stay in character for the rest of my life.
None of that was in the original plan, but sometimes life had other ideas.
And sometimes those ideas were so strange, so wonderful, and totally unexplainable that all you could do was go along for the ride.
In the cramped dressing room, Diana helps me maneuver the layers of Belle’s iconic yellow gown.
My hands tremble as she shows me how to secure the corset, each tug making my waist smaller and my feminine silhouette more pronounced.
The heavy fabric rustles with every movement, and I catch glimpses of myself in the mirror—unrecognizable.
The wig is the final piece of the puzzle, a cascade of golden curls that Diana carefully pins into place.
I watch in awe as she transforms my reflection.
When she finishes, I hardly recognize myself.
The makeup is the last touch: foundation to even out my skin tone, blush to give my cheeks a soft glow, and mascara to lengthen my lashes.
I’m surprised by how natural it feels, how right.
Standing before the full-length mirror, I can’t stop staring at my reflection.
Back in my apartment after my first day as Belle, I can’t bring myself to remove the makeup.
My fingers trace the curve where the corset reshaped my waist.
In the bathroom, I discover Diana slipped some of her spare makeup into my bag.
Curious, I try recreating what she did earlier.
The foundation smooths my skin, and the mascara makes my eyes pop.
I rummage through Liz’s closet and find one of her bras that I secretly borrowed.
My hands shake while fastening it, the straps digging into my shoulders but feeling reassuring.
When I slide on the silky panties I bought yesterday, my breath catches.
After practicing my makeup in the bathroom mirror, I settle onto my bed.
The afternoon sun streams through the window, casting a warm glow over everything.
I flip through a fashion magazine, studying the poses and expressions of the models.
Stretching out languidly, I feel the silk of the panties against my skin.
Before I can move, I hear keys jingling in the front door.
Liz is home hours earlier than usual from her shift at the park.
She freezes in my doorway, grocery bags dangling from her hands as our eyes meet.
A slow smile spreads across her face, and she simply says, "You look beautiful."
Still wearing the silk panties and the bra I borrowed from her, I hesitate before stepping aside to let her into my room.
She sets down the grocery bags and walks straight to my closet, opening the door and pulling out the few feminine pieces I’ve managed to collect.
There’s a floral skirt from the thrift store, a lace-trimmed camisole that I found on sale, and a simple white blouse that I bought on a whim.
My hands shake slightly as I touch the fabrics, feeling the softness against my fingertips.
"You should try these on," Liz says, her voice filled with encouragement.
I nod, taking a deep breath.
Liz suggests I try on some of her clothes too.
She disappears into her room and returns with an armful of dresses.
"Here, let’s start with this one," she says, holding up a flowy blue sundress.
I watch as she unzips the back and helps me step into it.
Her fingers are gentle as she adjusts the straps over my shoulders and zips it up again.
When she steps back to look at me, there’s something in her eyes that goes beyond friendly appreciation. "You look amazing," she whispers, her voice filled with sincerity.
I twirl experimentally in front of the mirror, watching as the skirt floats around my legs.
After changing into the sundress, Liz leads me to her art studio corner of the apartment.
Her photography equipment is set up in a neat corner, and she begins pulling out her Nikon camera.
"I’ve wanted to capture this moment for a while," she admits, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
She explains that lighting can completely transform a person, and she wants to play with that concept.
I watch as she moves around the room, adjusting the bedroom lamps to create a soft, ethereal glow.
"Maybe we can try some poses," she suggests, her eyes sparkling with creativity.
My heart races as I realize what she’s implying.
She wants to take photos of me wearing the lingerie I bought yesterday.
I’m both thrilled and terrified at the idea.
Liz notices my hesitation and comes over to reassure me.
"It’s all about celebrating this new side of you," she says softly, her hand brushing against my shoulder.
"Trust me, it will be beautiful."
I nod slowly, letting her lead me back to my room.
She pulls back the covers on my bed and motions for me to lie down. "Like this," she says, demonstrating a pose on my bed.
She lies sideways, one shoulder exposed and the other covered by the sheets.
Her hair falls across her face in soft waves.
"See how the light catches you?" she asks, pointing at the way the lamp casts a warm glow on her skin.
I mimic her pose, feeling the sheets cool against my skin.
Liz adjusts the lamp slightly, then steps back to admire the effect.
"You’re a natural," she says with a grin, snapping the first photo.