Trap = A derogatory term used to refer to people who are crossdressing, usually of the male to female variety, where the man in question looks so much like a woman or girl that they're mistaken for being a woman or girl until the 'big reveal' of the gender of the man, usually by revealing a big ehh... member from under a skirt. This is a horrible way to refer to people or to use in stories, and I don't like it. But that doesn't mean that you don't sometimes run into the term, usually in explicit manga or anime. It's even worse when it's applied to people who are transgender, because it invalidates their whole being and their problems. I hate the word, it feels wrong.

After we won the cosplay competition, I didn't know where to go next, my head still spinning. I just didn't know what to do when I stood on that stage, I didn't want to talk, too scared that my voice would break the illusion, and then they wanted us to kiss... I was mortified. Luckily, Izzy was able to save the day, and in a very cute way too. She probably has more experience in that department than I have, this is my first time cosplaying like this.

"Let's go." Izzy grins, still holding my hand. "I really want to go outside now, I need fresh air." Then she looks at me. "Are you okay?"

I nod. "Just a little... overwhelmed." I try to smile.

Izzy nods, smiling at me. "We need drinks and probably some sugar." She tugs on my arm. "But let's get outside first, we can figure things out from there."

"True." I walk after her. "It's not like we have to be places now the competition is over."

"Right?" Izzy nods, her eyes shining. "We can relax now."

I feel that someone is staring at us. "Did you hear that?" A low voice a little off sneers. "Trap. Like, real life trap. Broken dream here, you know? Can't the cute girls be actually girls?"

"Oh. God. That's a guy?" Another voice joins in.

Izzy stills, then she turns around slowly.

"Yeah. Like... No wonder Sakura didn't want to kiss that." The first voice is at it again.

When I look at Izzy, her eyes are flaring. Uh, oh. "Izzy?" I'm not sure that's such a good idea... We're not allowed to fight in here and she seems ready to draw blood.

"Wait here a moment." She flashes me a smile that I don't really trust.

"Izzy?" I try to keep holding her hand, but she's moving too quick.

She stands in front of the guys, who are way taller than she is, even in her heels. I'm not sure this is going to end well. I look around, trying to find any of her friends, but I don't spot anyone.

"What did you say about Aoi?" She puts her hands on her hips, glaring at them.

"Nothing. Just... You know... He's that." The first guy doesn't look so sure anymore, and there are people stopping around us, looking on.

"He's what? Dressed up as Aoi and winner of the cosplay contest?" She cocks her head and I feel how others are stepping in closer.

"He's got a... thing." The second guy now frowns. "And he's dressed in a skirt."

"So?" Izzy looks back at me, her eyes going over me, almost like she's looking at me from their perspective, making shivers go down my spine. Then she looks back at the guys. "He looks good in a skirt, and him just winning the contest means that a lot of people think that he looks good as Aoi."

"But..." There is something in Izzy that makes the guys back away a little.

"If you're so small minded... maybe you shouldn't be coming here. If you're so superficial, this place isn't for you." Izzy stares them down.

"Not really, no." Two girls step next to Izzy, hooking their arms through Izzy's, standing between me and the guys. "Small-minded thinking is not welcome here."

I didn't know what to expect. But definitely not this. I take a deep breath, suddenly feeling a lot safer and protected here.

And maybe I'm feeling even a little... more... for Izzy right now.

I step behind Izzy, putting my hand on her shoulder. "Yeah. If you can't accept people for who they are or what they do, this is not your place." Being surrounded by people who get that gives me courage.

"I'd scram, if I were you." Ruby's low voice comes from behind us. "Izzy can be pretty violent when it comes to bigots and bullies." He steps next to me and grins, winking. Where did he come from? Was he there the whole time?

"Weirdos." One of the guys grumbles, but then they're off anyway, pushing their way through the crowd that has gathered around us.

Cheers break out again and I look around, not really believing what just happened. Did this really just happen?

Wow.

That was... Wow.

***

After the incident with the guys earlier, nothing really big happened anymore. We were asked to do a couple more photos with people and during dinner time, we actually did a photo shoot with one of Izzy's friends, Justin. That was really fun and I never expected how much I'd enjoy it. We got some great shots of us doing some of the poses from Magical Princess Club and then also some sweet pictures. It surprised me how much I really look like Aoi, how girly I look. After dinner, we quickly went to our rooms to freshen up, before we came down again for the evening ball.

Two of the big rooms where they did panels during the day have been converted into a single ballroom, and there is already loud music going on. It's easy to spot Izzy and Jason, as they're dancing at the edge of the dance floor, both totally engrossed in the music and just joking with each other. They're fun to watch.

"Let's go over to them." Mya smiles, guiding me to the edge of the floor where Izzy and Jason are dancing and I spot Ruby and some of the others. They're all here, some have changed into different outfits, but most of the cosplayers haven't. Izzy and I are still dressed as Sakura and Aoi.

"Elliot! Mya!" Ruby waves for us. "Come here, you have to save me."

"From what?" But as soon as I reach them, someone grabs my hand and Izzy is grinning at me, already slightly tugging on my arm.

"From her." Ruby laughs. "She's been wanting to dance with everyone since this started."

"Right." I grin right back at Izzy.

"Can I have this dance?" Izzy curtsies.

"Just this one?" I take her other hand too. "I'm not sure you understand the challenge."

"I don't?" Izzy steps closer, her eyes shining, laughing.

"Oh, no." I slide my hand down to her waist and pull her a little closer, our dresses bunching up between us. "You have no idea. You see, I don't do just one dance. Did nobody explain that to you?"

Izzy grins. "They must have forgotten." She wraps her arms around my neck.

"Are you up for it?" I love watching her laugh.

"I guess we'll find out." She starts moving, almost pulling me along, until I step in line with her movements.

I wrap my arms around her waist better. She's so slim, I'm still surprised that she's not wearing a corset under the dress. Sakura's dress is tighter than Aoi's, and I don't think I'd have been able to pull it off without a corset or something.

Izzy lets out a ringing laugh, so happy. Just so excited. I can't help but laugh too.

I let go a little of her, and she lets her arms slip from around my neck. Then I twirl her, and her dress flares out to the sides, showing the layers and layers of underskirts she's wearing, then she spins right back into my arms and I catch her, still moving to the music as I hold her close.

Her eyes sparkle as she flashes me a mischievous grin. "Now your turn."

"What?" I let out a little squeak as she grabs my arm, but I still automatically follow her guide, not able, or not wanting, to stop her.

The world spins for a couple of moments, until I'm back in Izzy's arms. I don't think I've been this giddy without any alcohol, or anything, else before, just drunk on life or something. No matter how cheesy that sounds. Every moment at Izzy's side is a surprise and makes me so happy.

Before she can spin me again, I make sure to hold both my arms around her waist, and we spin together, round and round. Izzy's giggling is keeping me going as I'm not stopping.

Somewhere, I realise that people are staring at us, taking pictures. It must be quite the sight. Sakura and Aoi just twirling around the place, laughing, having fun. If we didn't want our pictures taken, we probably shouldn't have dressed up in such flashy cosplay.

I think the spinning is getting to a point where things are getting a little less fun, though. My stomach is starting to object, just like my head.

When we pass by some abandoned chairs, I stop us and let us both fall onto the chairs. I can't stop my laughter, the feeling still bubbling up inside me, my cheeks aching from constantly smiling. This is crazy.

Izzy is taking deep breaths, still grinning, then she looks my way. "You weren't kidding."

"No, not really." I wink at her. Once I start something, it's hard to make me stop. That's the advantage, or disadvantage, of being me.

"You're crazy. In a good way." She shakes her head, reaching out and touching my hand for a moment. "I demand another dance later."

"Later? Not now?" I grin.

"No." Izzy pulls a face, puffing out some breaths. "I need to recover first." She makes a great display of acting how tired she is.

Then Jason appears at our side. "You may be the first person who can actually exhaust her." He kneels down next to Izzy, looking up at her. "Yep, first one."

Izzy glares at him. "It's just because I already danced with everyone else before he came in." Then she looks my way. "I still want that other dance later."

"Will do." I nod, taking a deep breath and standing up. "You want something to drink?"

Izzy nods. "Just a Coke or something." She smiles.

"Or something. Will do." Then I look at Jason. "You?"

"No thanks. I just had some." He stands up, looking around.

"Okay." I go over to the bar and get a coke and a Sprite. Then I try to find Mya, maybe she'll want something to drink too, but I see her laughing with Kevin not too far off, already holding a drink. Nothing to worry about there, then. She really seems to enjoy herself, maybe even more than she normally does with our other friends.

When I turn back to Izzy, I see her have a serious conversation with Jason, she looks... vulnerable. That's the right word. She looks vulnerable right now and I don't know how to respond to it. She's been looking so strong today, filled with so much confidence, but to watch her like this now... I don't know, it feels strange.

When her eyes go over to me, I realise that I'm actually the cause of her looking like that, and that hurts. I don't want her to look like that. I don't want her to ever look like that.

I smile her way and she flashes me a smile back, pulling a mask into place which I can now recognise for what it is. No.

I go back over to her, handing her the cup with Coke. "Feeling up for another dance yet?" I just want to make her laugh again, I want to see her smile again.

She shakes her head a little. "Just a few more moments. First the drink." She takes a sip, and I can't help but keep watching her. She's changed, somewhere between us dancing together and me getting us a drink, something changed.

When I try to catch Jason's eyes, I remember his warning. His warning not to hurt her, his warning that things haven't always been easy for Izzy, aren't always easy for her.

How can I help? How can I make her smile again? Why is this so hard?

What happened? Why did she suddenly turn like this?

Why?