Saturday morning finally came. Arthur picked Andy up at 9 am in the limo. They drove down to Rodeo Drive where they met Traci and she showed him the red designer ball gown that she was going to wear and took him to an exclusive men's shop where they found him a matching formal shirt to match her gown with a white jacket and slacks accented by matching kerchief and cummerbund. Black dress shoes were added add an expense that blew Andy away but was nothing to Tracy who just had it added to her account.

       Their next stop was a salon where Traci had Andy's skin treated so that all of the pimples were popped and covered with the right kind of makeup to give Andy the complexion of a ruddy, outdoor man. Finally, his hair was cut in the latest style with Mary carved on one temple and Crouch on the other. Traci knew that there would be no mistaking her for Traci Montrose with that touch.

       Their last stop was at a woman's hair salon where she got her hair dyed jet black, changed her eye color with contacts from blue to startling green. Fully prepared to go to the prom, they stopped at a little elite restaurant where Traci went totally unnoticed by the staff or the clientele, assuring her that her disguise would work.

       Their waiter was curious about the carvings on Andy's head, and it was explained that they were going to his prom and that it was her name carved on his temples. This caused a bit of flurry among the staff as they all came by, looked and giggled. None of them, while Traci had been in this place before, noticed that it was her, just some high school beauty from the San Fernando Valley going to a prom.

       They arrived early to avoid making an entrance. Their limo was nothing special because many prom goers arrived in limousines. But when some of his classmates saw him with this beauty and his makeover, they got curious, Andy had to explain to them. His explanation, “She's a rich cousin of mine from the Valley,” usually worked. But some of his friends in her fan club he knew came around and whispered in his ear, “Isn't that Traci Montrose? I know you're in her fan club, big-time. Is it?”

       Although Andy vehemently denied, they saw students talking to one another and pointing their way, rudely, while they sat listening to the music, watching the pageantry or danced, very close, on the dance floor.

       They consummated the evening with a nude swim in her infinity pool and more sex than any of the other prom goers probably, ever got.

       While heading home, Traci confessed…

       “Andy, you know I love you. It's an attraction that I never thought I would have to someone so much younger. But, I was you when I was your age, so my empathy turned into love. However, my addiction needs variety. And I've already started to seek out other young men in my fan club. I want to relieve their sexual urges without consequences, like I have with you… My very first.”

       Her eyes glistened over as she said that and kissed Andy gently on his lips.

       “I will date you again, very soon, and in the near future, more. But, I'm feeling such strong feelings for you, I should probably end our relationship eventually. I can't say when right now.” She was crying openly on his shoulder.

       Strange feelings ran through Andy's mind. He loved her madly, but couldn't say it like she could to him. He could only agree with her and cry with her. When he got home, his tears had streaked his makeup. When his mother saw, she was upset. Especially about his hair!

       “Andy, what happened? Did that girl dump you? I knew she would. She looked too good for you. I knew it…”

       “Oh, Mom! It wasn't that, we were both crying because we can't go on dating with our situations. Me, still in high school and her with a heavy obligation to her studio and acting jobs. We are okay between us… More than okay.”   

       “What's that name on your head?”

       “That's Traci's real name. She had to disguise herself so we could go to the prom without a lot of commotion. Almost made me laugh, talking like a Valley Girl acting so well.”

       Andy's mother began crying herself and hugged him, so happy that her struggling son had such a wonderful relationship going.

###

       When Andy returned to school for that last month everything had changed. Girls that had never even looked his way started saying, “Hi,” as they passed him in the hall and often joined him at lunch in the cafeteria with jealous stares at other girls. When he explained that he was going steady with Mary from Valley High, they still offered him to come to their parties and he did, tempted to date some of them, but didn't. Only making them more aggressive when he denied them.

       That summer, while working for a local contractor to earn money for college, a wonderful thing happened. Andy got a growth spurt and his muscles filled out nicely from all the physical activity required in construction. His stomach muscles flattened and even developed a bit of a six-pack with all that lifting.

       Best of all, all that sun gave him a deep tan and lightened his hair. And, his pimples disappeared along with much of his shyness with women. Andy was becoming a man.

       After finishing his senior year and going out for track. Andy occasionally dated some girls while still having dates with Traci. While those girls enjoyed a bit of necking and foreplay that encouraged a couple of them to try to snag him in marriage, he told them he was going to college and couldn't until he was able to support a wife and children in the expensive California lifestyle. Some understood, some didn't. Some cried when he denied them.

       Andy's dates with Traci faded as he entered college at UCLA majoring in sustainable landscape engineering, something with good job opportunities in California. After four years, he graduated and joined a major landscaping firm with plans to start his own as soon as he saved up enough money after paying off his college loans.

###

       When Traci Montrose reached 33 with two Oscars and many acclaimed roles, she had run through all of her hopeless young male fans and started seeking something less as her internal time clock told her that her time for motherhood was slipping away. She had frozen eggs at the time of her cancer surgery, but wanted a father figure for any child that she would have in vitro. She thought about marriage and thought of Andy.

       Andy had just moved into an apartment, finally free financially from having to stay with his parents while going to college. Starting to save money for a down payment on a house… very expensive in California.

       He often thought about Traci. It'd been about three years since they had a date and their calls and texting had even disappeared as she went off on remote movie sites and he got into his college studies and activities.

       And then, he got a call. 

       “Hi, this is Traci, have you got time for a date where we can talk? I've got something important to ask you. You aren't tied up are you? We haven't dated in a long time and I really miss you.”

       “That's strange, I was just thinking about you and why we hadn't dated for so long. Engineering studies can be pretty stressful and I haven't even dated much. You know, you spoiled me. I can't seem to find any woman that would come anywhere close to you.”

       “Believe me, Andy I'm feeling the same way about you. But listen, I have to go… When can we get together?”

       The next night, Andy saw that familiar, but much newer, limousine pull up and, an older, but still grandfatherly, Arthur, greet him. They were off for the weekend to a bed-and-breakfast up the coast. Andy had his bag packed and Arthur put it in the trunk.

       Inside, Andy found Traci more beautiful than ever. They kissed before he sat down next to her and cuddled up to her warmth once again.

       They talked a lot, and made love overlooking the Pacific during that weekend and sealed the deal. They were going to get married and have children. Of course, there was a lot of internet fervor over her being a cougar and capturing the young man that she would throw away as soon as he wore out or stepped out on her, but that was not the case.

       With his sperm and her eggs, she was able to carry, to full term, first a boy, and then, a girl. Andy's landscaping firm grew and prospered while they balanced parenthood with his and her hectic acting career. The jury is not yet out, but women live longer, in the scheme of things, so they may grow closer together as they age… But who knows what the future brings. Only love lingers to the end.

Copyright 2024 © Ronald W. Hull

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