"Luckily, I was able to get to my apartment without any of my neighbors seeing me"

I love the idea that Gilly is ashamed to be seen without her braces and headgear!

I never though how funny that line is!

Gilly’s Journey, Chapter 7
By: NapaCaster
 
Well, I'm not going to lie; the weekend was pretty tough. By the time I was ready for bed Friday night, my spacers were downright painful. A gin and tonic, mostly gin with a splash of tonic, helped me get to sleep. Waking up Saturday, I was in a lot of pain, but the pain reminded me of what the future holds, and that is wearing braces and headgear for real. Things got a little better on Sunday, and by this morning I'm feeling pretty good, with only a slight feeling of pressure on my teeth. I also got caught up on my accounting work, getting the quarterly taxes out for my clients. 
 
To keep myself distracted, I wore my back and leg braces, and I'm still wearing them today. Of course, I take off my leg braces to sleep; the night I fell asleep after pleasureing myself led to my shoes soiling my sheets. However, I have been wearing my Milwaukee brace for 23 hours a day, only taking it off to shower and do the exercises I have seen girls with scoliosis doing on YouTube. I really miss my fake braces and headgear, and my mouth feels funny without them. This morning I tried wearing my braces that are on the clear retainers, but due to my spacers, they don't fit anymore. Bummer. 
 
After breakfast, there was a knock at my door. I knew it must be the courier with the script that the studio was sending over. I slowly got up from the couch, let my braces lock my knees, and crutched to the door. I looked through the peephole, and it was indeed the courier. When I opened the door, the young man standing there dropped the box he was holding and just stared at me with his mouth open. I guess he didn't expect to see a little five-foot-tall blonde wearing a back brace and leg braces standing there on crutches in a tank top and a short skirt with my nerdy glasses for filming on my face. I didn't mind, as he couldn't conceal the fact that he found my appearance, well, let's say, exciting. 
 
The young man regained his composure and picked up the box, and he tried to hand it to me. I decided to have some fun with him, and with a smile, I said, "Can't you see I'm crippled? Please come inside and put everything on the table for me." His face was bright red, and as he came inside, he hustled out without ever saying a word. I simply said, "Thanks!" as he hustled down the hallway to the elevator. As you can see, I have a bit of a mischievous and fiery side to me.
 
Over the next few days, I read my script and looked over the screenplay and the general outline for the season. The storyline is compelling and revolves around my character's life as a social outcast and how it affects not only me but also my family. Generally, things end happily, but there are ongoing struggles written into the story. There is a lot about coping with bullying, accepting that it happens, learning to live with it, and becoming a better person because of it. It's kind of the story of my teenage years, minus the glasses and braces. I won't bore you with the details; you can watch me on TV.
 
 
******
 
Finally, it's Wednedsay... Braces Day! I had received a text from Sally yesterday afternoon telling me to be at the clinic at one in the afternoon. This gave me the chance to take my time getting ready, and I waited until the last minute to shower and get dressed. I wanted to maximize my time wearing my back and leg braces. I brushed and flossed my teeth, showered, and got dressed. After lounging around the house for the last few days, I was excited to dress up and go out. I chose a rather tight-fitting light pink dress and a pair of white wedge sandals. I put my hair up in a bun, knowing that in a few hours I'll once again be wearing headgear. At home, I have been wearing my 'work' glasses since the lenses are larger and give a better field of view. However, when I go out, I wear the rimless pair that I chose; they are so stylish and sophisticated-looking and make me look much more mature than my big, nerdy work glasses.
 
I arrived right on time at Robbins Orthodontics, with my heart pounding and a sense of euphoria. Here I am, moments away from getting braces, not only for my role but to actually fix some imperfections in my smile. I'm so excited! When I entered the waiting room, Sally was there in all her braced glory, comforting a woman who looked to be a few years older than me. The woman had metal braces like Sally's and what I'll be getting, but she was also wearing some really far-out-looking embroidery on her face, and it looked like she had been crying. The thing on her face had a padded pink piece of plastic that rested on her forehead and a cupped part resting on her chin. They were connected together by a wire framework that ran down both sides of her face with a cross piece and rubber bands running into her mouth. I heard Sally saying, "You will do fine, dear, and you will get used to it. You only need to wear it sixteen hours a day and all the time on weekends. Protraction is essential for your treatment." The woman looked at me, then at Sally, and said with an extremely pronounced lisp, "I know I'll get used to it, just like I did with my expanders and tongue crib. Braces have been such a painful ordeal, but I know I need them." I went to check in with the receptionist while Sally continued to talk to the woman for whom I felt so bad, but I longed to wear such an obtrusive appliance on my face. I wonder what I would look like wearing one with my glasses, too.
 
When Sally finished talking to the woman, she asked me to follow her to an exam room. On the way, I asked what the appliance the woman was wearing was called and what it did. Sally explained that it is called reverse-pull headgear or an orthodontic facemask, and it does the opposite of what my headgear will do. This made me even more curious about orthodontics; I think I need to do some reading online. I really don't know anything about orthodontics except that I love how I look and feel with braces. 
 
Once in the exam room, Sally helped me take my place in the seat of honor, and she removed my spacers. I had gotten used to them, but when Sally removed them, my teeth began to ache a little bit, but I didn't' say anything; I know there is pain and discomfort with orthodontic work. Then, Sally carefully cleaned and polished all my teeth. Once that process was done, I got up and rinsed my mouth. As I was returning to the chair, Dr. Joe entered the room. He was jovial and upbeat, like he was when I first met him last week. Joe explained what the game plan was for the afternoon, and he said that he would start by placing my bands, which I would be getting a few more of than patients usually get.
 
I didn't know what bands were, so Joe showed me one. It is what it sounds like: a metal band that fits around a tooth with a place for the archwire to go. Then he showed me a second type of band that has a little tube for the facebow of my headgear to fit into. It's exciting to think all of this is going into my mouth and will be there for years, and I cannot remove it like I could with my theatrical braces.
 
The banding process got underway, starting with my upper teeth. As each band was fitted to my teeth, Joe had me bite down on some sort of tool that forced the band onto my tooth. Then, I guess to be sure they didn't come loose, he used a special light to activate cement, securing the bands to my teeth. One by one, my bands were fitted on my upper teeth. As Joe worked, I counted how many bands were being placed, and I got to six before he said my upper arch was done. I had my wisdom teeth taken out years ago, so I think that with six bands in place, only the front four upper teeth will be getting brackets.
 
The process was repeated on my lower teeth, also with six bands being used. At this point, Joe removed the suction device from my mouth and let me get a drink of water. I explored the bands with my tongue, feeling the smooth metal on one side and the roughness on my cheeks on the other. They feel bulkier against my cheeks than my other braces did, and I can also feel the ones on my canines rubbing against my lips. I looked in the mirror and smiled, and I was shocked by how much metal was showing. I have a wide smile, and the bands on my canines were very obvious, and I thought they looked great.
 
I once again sat down in the chair, and Joe, with Sally's help, placed large brackets on my unbanded teeth, using the special light to cure the cement. Everything felt really rough against my lips and cheeks, but I think once the wires are placed, they will feel smoother. Joe now began to fit the wires and secure them with tiny, bright pink elastic bands that matched the color of my headgear. My speculation was correct. Once the wires were placed and secured, everything felt much smoother and more comfortable, but there was now pressure on my teeth that my theatrical braces didn't exert since they were designed not to move my teeth at all.
 
Joe said that there were only two things left to do: place my tongue tamers and fit my facebow. With the secution device in my mouth, I couldn't ask what tongue tamers were, and we hadn't discussed them in the rush to get me into braces. I saw Joe pick up these tiny pieces of metal that looked a lot like brackets, but they had little spurs on them. He proceeded to bond them not to the front of any of my teeth but to the backside of my four upper front teeth. As he worked, he explained they were a last-minute addition to help with my tongue thrusting and also to give me just the right lisp for my role. I remember Martha mentioning tongue thrust when I did speech therapy and how it can cause an overbite. With everything installed, Joe removed the suction device and once again let me get up, rinse my mouth, and get a drink.
 
Once the suction thing was out of my mouth, I began to feel around with my tongue, and it immediately found my tongue tamers. They were not too sharp, but it was definitely uncomfortable to push against them with my tongue. I rinsed my mouth and took a drink. Swallowign was difficult as my tongue would press against my tongue tamers. Joe asked how everything felt, and I replied, "It all feels great, Joe. There is a little pressure, and... Oh... This lisp! I sound so adorable, don't I, Sally, and I'm easy to understand, too!" Sally replied, "You sound lovely, dear. I think your lisp is perfect for your role. It's definitely there, but not too strong to make it difficult for me to understand you. It's perfect!"
 
I sat back down in the chair to get my facebow fitted, which only took a few minutes. Then, since the straps to my original headgear had been misplaced during the tragedy of my applause breaking, Sally got me a new set of hot pink straps. I asked if there were other colors, and she said yes. "What colors do you want, Gilly?" asked Sally. I got really excited, thinking of matching my headgear to my outfits, and said, "One of each, please." Sally put a set of each color in a bag and handed a light pink set that matched my dress to Joe. As she gave me the bag, she smiled and said, "Courtsey of Bill-Jack Productions."
 
Joe fitted the light pink straps around my head, with them fitting perfectly around my bun. connected them to my facebow and told me which number hole to use to apply the right tension. I could feel the headgear and archwires pulling on my teeth. It was a bit uncomfortable, but in a pleasant way, if you can understand that. Joe told me to wear my headgear with at least the cervical strap for sixteen hours a day. I asked if I could wear it more, and he said that was fine, and when my teeth were in their proper positions, he would adjust my headgear to make it inactive so I could continue wearing it for my role. After asking if I had any questions, he told me to have a great afternoon and to call if there were any problems. I thanked him as he left, and then Sally explained some things about caring for my braces and my teeth while wearing them.
 
As Sally was seeing me out, she asked if I was free the next evening. I didn't know how to take her invitation, and I became nervous and began to blush. Was she asking me out on a date? I didn't say anything, then Sally said, "My husband is out of town on business, and I wanted to try the new Thai restaurant across town. He doesn't like Thai food, and I hate eating out alone. That reassured me, and I smiled wide and said with my new, cute lisp, "Of course I'll join you. I have wanted to try it myself. See you at six?" to which Sally replied, "See ya then!"
 

What a nice and intelligently written story!

Gilly’s Journey, Chapter 9
By: NapaCaster
 
After our very interesting conversation last night, Sally and I enjoyed our meal together. We talked a lot about our unique feelings, giving me much more self-confidence and self-esteem. Our meal was really good, too, and we plan to have a girls night out at least once a month there, but we know we need to make reservations. But, thankfully, last night we had time to talk, and Sally was bold enough to bring up the topic that she did.
 
Today, I decided to take a break from anything work-related and just relax and wear my back and leg braces along with my combination headgear and glasses, the latter being constant, comforting, and pleasure-bringing companions. After getting my laptop out and making myself comfortable in my recliner with a cold drink, I began to research orthodontics. There were websites for people with braces, giving hints, tips, and support for those undergoing treatment. There were a myriad of websites that sold orthodotic supplies to doctors. The articles that I really enjoyed were those from medical journals that outlined various treatments and procedures.
 
Some of these treatments involved really complicated appliances, and there was this one thing where they screwed a metal frame into someone's head and used it to move the bones in their face. It looked so intense and painful, but the people wearing them didn't seem to be feeling any discomfort. I even watched a few videos of people undergoing this treatment, and they seemed to be happy and upbeat. Then there were the people who had jaw surgery and were wired shut to heal. That also looked really intense, but I watched videos of people that were wired shut, and they all seemed to be coping well, with most living normal lives a few weeks after getting wired shut. It was all very exciting to see and read about, and I found myself becoming aroused at times looking at the pictures and watching the videos.
 
What really took me off guard was a website for people who love braces, both wearing them and seeing others wearing them. This was no support website like the first ones I found; this was, well, a fetish website. There were people discussing their fake braces who shared pictures of themselves. Others were undergoing actual treatment, but they were enjoying it way too much, like I'm enjoying treatment. Some people even obtained brackets and put their spouses in braces and headgear themselves, just for the erotic pleasure of it. I spent a lot of time on that site and even signed up for a membership. After making my first post, sharing my story, it got many replies welcoming me to the community and a few asking for pictures, which I posted. I even posted a video so people could hear my cute little lisp, too.
 
After looking at orthodotnic websites, I decided to put 'orthopedic braces' into the search engine. This brought up a lot of websites of brace suppliers and support groups for people with various disabilities and chronic conditions. The sites of the manufacturers and custom orthotic shops were what I enjoyed the most. I learned of a thing called a halo brace, which has a metal ring screwed into the skull to support a broken neck with a thick plastic jacket around the body. I began to fantasize about wearing a halo brace while having my jaw wired shut and wearing my leg braces. An intense wave of pleasure came over me, and well, simply, my thoughts brought me to... You know...
 
After I regained my composure and rested for a while, I got back on the computer to check my email before going to take a cold shower. Just as I was getting ready to close the browser, a link caught my eye. I clicked on it, and it took me to an orthopedic brace message board. It was not like the first ones I found that offered support; it was like the orthodontic one I found and signed up for. It was for those with the same unique feeling I have towards orthopedic braces.
 
Then, on the same site, I found sections about orthodontic braces, wheelchairs, amputees, and the most interesting casts. I've never worn a cast before, and I loved seeing the people wearing them, especially men wearing big, brightly colored casts. Needless to say, I spent many hours browsing the posts, engrossed by what I was reading and seeing. When I finally took a break, it was dark outside and well past dinner time. I signed up for this board, too, but didn't post anything. I finally got around to checking my email, and then I ordered a pizza. It will arrive in about 45 minutes, giving me time to take a shower.
 
I got up and crutched to the bedroom and removed my leg and back braces, along with my headgear and glasses, leaving me with extremely blurry vision. I went to the bathroom and took a shower, leaving the task of brushing my teeth until after I had eaten. After my shower, I got back into all my braces, put my headgear and glasses back on, tied up my hair, and finally put on my robe. I was crutching to the living room just as the doorbell rang; it was the pizza guy. I crutched to the door and opened it. Seeing that I was on crutches with my body immobilized by leather and steel, she asked, "Shall I come in and put your pizza on the table for you?" I said, "Please do," and motioned to my small dining table. As she was leaving, she looked me up and down as I rummaged in my purse to give her a tip, and I thanked her as she left with a smile and blush on her face.
 
I enjoyed my pizza with a bottle of Firestone 805 beer, which cut the spice of the pepperoni perfectly. Of course, I can't tilt my head back to drink from the bottle directly when wearing my Milwaukee brace, so I enjoyed my beer with a straw. After my meal, I put the leftovers in the fridge, grabbed another beer, and went to watch TV. Scanning through the channels, something caught my eye, and that something was me! They were showing the film, which was the reason I had my Milwaukee brace to enjoy. It was the one where I played a teenager with scoliosis. It was a lot of fun to watch myself on the screen, and to remember the feeling I had the day I got fitted with my brace—a brace that was only for the film but also brought me great pleasure, too. 
 
After the movie was over, I went in and brushed my teeth, then went to the bedroom and removed my KAFOs for the night. I got in bed, placed my glasses on the nightstand, and fell asleep, enjoying the comforting confinement of my Milwaukee brace and headgear.
 
******
 
I didn't set the alarm clock to wake me up this morning, so I slept until about nine. I have to be at the studio at three this afternoon for our final pre-filming meeting and a catered dinner. Evidently, Bill and Jack like to celebrate the beginning of a season of filming just as much as the ending of a successful season. I got up and put on my glasses and leg braces, then went to the kitchen, made coffee, and read the news on my computer. I wasn't hungry, but I wanted to get some fresh air, and there is a park only a block from my apartment. I crutched back to my bedroom and began to take off my back and leg braces. Then I thought, Hell, who cares if anyone sees me like this? I'll just use the excuse that I'm getting into character for a role. I put on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt over my Milwaukee brace, crutched out of my apartment, and made my way to the elevator. 
 
I didn't meet anyone on my way out, and I crutched to the park, enjoying the fresh morning air. I passed a few people in the park, and we exchanged smiles and friendly greetings. Then I made my way back home, feeling refreshed and confident. I am beginning to really enjoy wearing my orthopedic braces in public. I just love the way people look at me with curiosity.
 
When I got home, I ate the leftover pizza from last night and then began to get ready for this afternoon. It was the usual routine of cleaning my teeth, which were a bit sore from chewing pizza. I showered, dried my hair, and put it up in a bun, a look that I really like; it makes me look more mature. I chose a vibrant blue skirt and jacket, blue high-heeled pumps with ankle straps, a white blouse, and blue combination headgear straps. I got dressed, applied a bit of makeup, and looked at myself in the mirror wearing my smart-looking outfit. Damn, I look good; my headgear and glasses really set off my sparkling metallic smile and cute face!
 
******
 
On the way to the studio, I stopped to take care of a few errands and arrived a bit early. Bill and Jack were outside smoking, but not bickering as usual. They were very happy to see me and immediately asked what was done about my bad lisp. Speaking very clearly, yet with a very noticeable lisp, with my real braces and tongue tamers, I explained everything. They were highly impressed that I chose to undergo actual orthodontic treatment to make myself more convincing on film. I played up the fact the fact that my teeth were really sore just to make them feel a bit sorry for me, too. The guys loved how I sounded, and they liked how, when I smiled wide, some of the bands on my teeth showed. They thought they would be even better on camera than my old fake braces.
 
Their only concern was my headgear; they asked why it wasn't hot pink like I am supposed to wear on film. I explained that since my braces and headgear are now real, I have to wear my headgear all the time, so I got different colors to match my outfits but have hot pink to wear on camera. That satisfied their concern, and little did they know that I had been wearing my fake braces and headgear all the time anyway, simply for my enjoyment. I then put on my 'work' glasses with their thick, black frames and struck a few poses. The guys were highly impressed with how I looked. I put my nice glasses back on and put the black monstrosities back in my handbag, and we went inside. Bill and Jack wanted to introduce me to their wives and a few cast and production crew members I had not yet met.
 
The first people I met were Bill's and Jack's wives, who are identical twins. Bill is married to Bailey, and Jack to Hailey. They are beautiful women, standing no taller than me. Both were wearing identical black dresses and very high-heeled sandals. Their hair was in fancy braids, and they both wore glasses with thick frames like mine for work. I noticed how much their faces look like mine, and we all have the same petite build. The only difference between the two was that Bailey's glasses were blue and Hailey's were red. They both had the most beautiful, bright, white, and perfect smiles, too. I remember the guys mentioning the ladies having braces in school; that must account for their prefect smiles. 
 
I really hit it off with Bailey and Hailey and wanted to chat with them more, but Bill and Jack wanted to introduce me to some other people that I would be working with that I had yet to meet. Those introductions went well, and I don't think there is anyone here that I don't like, and everyone seems to like me. The production crew works together all the time, and they get along great. Several of the other actors have worked together multiple times for Bill-Jack Productions. I'm the only newcomer, and I think I'm fitting in well. 
 
Bill and Jack then called everyone together to make a few announcements and to find out if any of us had any questions before we start filming next week. There were a few technical questions brought up, but none directly related to the actors. I couldn't wait for the guys to shut up; I wanted to go talk with Bailey and Hailey; they seem like nice people and I might get some insight into their husbands that might help me with my work.
 
Finally, I got my chance to sit down and chat with Bailey and Hailey. It really struck me how much I looked like them—only I'm younger and don't have the pretty streaks of gray in my hair. We talked, and we learned that we have something in common—we are all accountants. The ladies do all the books for the studio and handle payroll, and I explained my work for several small businesses in town. That really brought us close together, and we chatted about a lot of things. Finally, the topic of my braces, headgear, and glasses came up. They asked if they were just for my role or if I really needed them. I explained everything to them about wearing contacts that blur my vision, so I need thick glasses that show up well on camera.
 
Then the subject of my braces came up, and I explained the entire ordeal with the fakes that didn't work out and how I simply chose to get braces for real. Of course, I never mentioned how much I enjoy wearing glasses, braces, and headgear, but I made it clear that I don't mind it one bit. I get the sense that they could tell that I do, in fact, really enjoy my new accessories by the way they looked at me, then at each other, and smiled. It was at that point that the ladies began to tell me about their years of wearing braces. They got them when they were sixteen and wore them all through college and into their working lives, a total of eight years. Bailey then said, "Let us show you something, follow me."
 
They led me out, and we walked to the office about 300 yards away. I had been there to meet with Bill when I got hired, but Bailey took me to her and Hailey's office. There, she got a photo album off the shelf and showed me many pictures of her and her sister wearing their glasses, braces, and headgear. The ladies recounted stories and laughed a lot when telling them. I was engrossed in the pictures, taking in how the ladies looked when they were young, with bands on all their teeth, combination headgear, and glasses with thick, black frames.
 
Bill and Jack have me looking just like their wives when they were young!
 
 

Gilly’s Journey, Chapter 11
By: NapaCaster
 
I just had to call Sally this morning and tell her all about my encounter with Marc last night. I told her how there was something about him that really attracted me, despite his boyish looks and acne. Sally prodded me a bit, and I finally admitted that it was his braces and headgear that really drew my attention, along with her personality. He could be so assertive, despite sounding quite childish with his lisp, yet he was also very shy, and it was easy to make him blush. However, he did have the will to make the first move by giving me his number, and the way Marc took my arm and walked me to my care melted my heart. I've never been treated like that before. 
 
Still, I didn't know if I wanted to give Marc a call. I haven't had any relationships that last more than a few dates. The issue is always my extremely youthful looks and my high pitched voice. Either I call things off because I get those creepy vibes that the guy is too into ladies that look young and might be into actual underage girls, which is unfortunately how I look. Or the guy gets creeped out by the way people look at us in public. A thirty-year-old guy kissing what looks like a teenage girl on the lips and patting her ass is not a good look. Sally and I talked at length, and she is well aware of my dating problems. However, with Marc having the same curse as I do, Sally encouraged me to give him a call. She even offered for her and her husband to go on a double date if that made me feel more comfortable and that they were both free Friday evening; Ron's bowling was cancelled due to the lanes getting new pinsetting machines.
 
So, after our conversation, I made the big call to Marc. It went to voice mail, probably because he didn't recognize the number, and I left this simple message: "Hi Marc, This is Gilly Anderton; we met last night. Please give me a call; my number is on your screen." 
 
Within thirty seconds, my phone was ringing; it was the number I had just called. I had a bit of a hard time understanding Marc; his lisp seemed much worse than it was last night, and I could hear him slurping back saliva. He asked me to give him a moment, and I heard some rustling sounds in the background. Then he spoke again, with the same lisp as last night. He must wear some removable appliance that he took out of his mouth, but I said nothing. We chatted for a few minutes, and then I finally asked him, "So Marc, do you want to go out for dinner Friday evening?" There was a long pause, and I know his face was turning bright red, and he finally replied, "Yes... Yes, Gilly. I would like that very much. Thank you."
 
We then talked about our favorite foods, and we have a lot in common in that department. Not knowing where Marc is in orthodontic treatment, I didn't know if he had trouble eating with his appliances or if his teeth are painful right now. From watching him speak last night, I know there is a lot going on in his mouth, so I suggested Italian food at the really upscale restaurant at the hotel downtown. Marc liked the idea and said how much he likes getting dressed formally, and I told him that I also like getting dressed up for a night out. I'm still feeling nervous and a little scared to go on a date; it's been well over a year since I was on a date. I recalled Sally's offer of a double date and asked Marc if he would mind if it was a double date with my friend Sally and her husband. Marc hesitated for a moment, then agreed it was a good idea; he is probably a bit nervous, too. 
 
It was at this point, I became a bit bold and asked if I could pick him up for our date. Once again, Marc hesitated, and he said with a laugh, "Only if you drive your really cool old car... With the top down, of course!" I said, "It's my only car, Marc. Text me your address, and we'll pick you up at six." The 'we'll pick you up' made it clear that Sally and Ron would be with me. In an excited voice, with a stronger lisp and a little bit of higher pitch, Marc replied, "I... I can't wait! See you then, Gilly." We said goodbye, and then I called Sally to let her know the date was on.
 
The rest of the weekend was my usual weekend: wearing my leg and back braces, doing my accounting, going over my lines for the next week, and sneaking out to crutch around the park in my braces. One thing that I couldn't get out of my mind was the image of Marc's cute face. I don't know what it is, but I kind of like his boyish looks. I guess maybe I'm as creepy as some of the guys I have gone out with in the past. But I like his personality, too, given what little I have seen of it. Assertive, but also so shy, and the way he blushes—it's so cute. Oh, and he seems so smart, too. From what I have read, orthodontic training is quite complex and intense; there is a lot to know, and each case is unique. I think he will make a great doctor—caring, yet firm.
 
******
 
Well, I enjoyed my braced weekend as usual, but it is off to reality this morning. When I got to the studio, I had to tell the girls all about my encounter with Marc while they got me ready for the day's filming. Maggie and Jenna offered to stay late and do my makeup and hair on Friday evening, before my date. All week, as the girls were getting me ready each morning, we discussed my outfit, makeup, and hair for my big date. I really want to impress Marc, and I know the girls will have me looking my best. They are excited to make me look sexy and mature instead of young and nerdy.
 
******
 
We were lucky on Friday, and filming wrapped up early, with only a few scenes shot after lunch. This gave ample time for the girls to get me ready, and we had the added bonus of still being on the clock; we are guaranteed hours each day. I chose to wear a very pretty, deep purple velvet dress for my date. It was custom made for me as a prom dress for a role I played last year. I got to keep it as a memento, and tonight is the perfect night to wear it. It's ankle-length with long sleeves, a high split up the left side, and a rather low cut front and back. The first thing the girls did for me was a quick matte purple mani-pedi, and my toes would be on display with the platform stiletto sandals I'd be wearing. 
 
Then, I took off my headgear, and Jenna got to work on my hair. She braided my hair in the front, so it looked like I was wearing a crown of braids, and she braided it around the back into a bun. However, she left my hair smooth where the frontmost strap of my headgear would go, and my bun would fit between that strap and the back one. My cervical strap would be fully visible from behind, too. Jenna also let a few wisps of hair hang loose on the left side by my eye. She worked so quickly, and when she was done, I put on my black headgear and looked in the mirror. I don't think my hair has ever looked this sexy and sophisticated. I was in awe!
 
Now, I took off my glasses, and Maggie got to work with my makeup. With my contacts in, I couldn't see what she was doing in the mirror. I just let her work and do what we had planned, and in short order, she was handing me my stylish, rimless glasses. I put them on and couldn't believe how I looked. My lips were a deep matte purple, and Maggie had done my eyes in a purple smokey eye look. She had also emphasized the few lines around my mouth, eyes, and nose, giving me a much more mature look with a few wrinkles. Between my hair and makeup, I was simply amazed. Not only did I look beautiful, but I looked my age, maybe even a few years older. I wanted to cry, but I had to hold back my emotions; I didn't want to ruin Maggie's beautiful work.
 
The girls then helped me get into my purple dress and put on my very high-heeled paltform sandals, which showed off my cute little toes perfectly. A few final touches to my makeup and hair, and Maggie and Jenna deemed that I looked perfect for my date. I went and stood before the full-length mirror and took a look at myself in my outfit. The shiny black leather straps of my sandals and the black nylon straps of my headgear were the perfect contrast to the matte purple of my dress, nails, and makeup. The sparkle of my braces and headgear, along with light glinting off my glasses, drew attention to my face. I once again had to hold back tears as I thanked Maggie and Jenna with gentle and careful hugs.
 
We made our way out to the main sound stage area, where most of the crew was still there. They were just hanging out and bullshitting, likely waiting for catering to bring supper. In order to keep noise down on set, high heels are forbidden unless one of the actresses is wearing them. So, the sound of my rather loud heels clicking on the floor drew everyone's attention, and all eyes were on me. The room went silent. No one, other than Bill and Jack, had seen me in anything other than comfortable street clothes or my frumpy and nerdy outfits from the wardrobe department. 
 
The compliments began to flow, and the entire gang was impressed with my beauty and poise. When I come to work, I start getting into character right away, standing with poor posture and dragging my feet when I walk. Now, I am my real self, and everyone was taken aback by my appearance and confidence. One of the props guys, who is an excellent still photographer and takes pictures for the production scrapbook, asked me to pose for a photo session, which I happily did. He got great shots of me, and the lighting was perfect to make my braces and headgear really stand out. If this job doesn't go well for the long run, I have some great photos for my portfolio.
 
I finally needed to get on my way to pick up Sally and Ron, then Marc. I said goodbye to Maggie and Jenna, who wished me the best of luck with Marc, and I was on my way. 
 
Soon, I was at Sally's house, and I went inside to chat with them for a few minutes. Sally was in a beautiful black dress, with her braces and headgear adding to her allure. She likes to wear brightly colored headgear, often with the color of her nails matching. Tonight was no exception, with her headgear and nails both an eye-catching red. Ron was in a suit, also looking very sharp. I was getting really nervous about the evening, and my friends calmed my nerves with their kind and loving words. We all got in my car, with my friends in the back seat and the top down, and headed over to pick up Marc.
 
I pulled up in front of Marc's house. It's in an older neighborhood within walking distance of the orthodontic and dental school he is attending. I got out of my car, walked up to the door, and knocked. Moments later, a man in shorts and a t-shirt with a bottle of beer in his hand opened the door. The man just stood there and looked me up and down, not saying a word. I was a bit creeped out, and if Ron was not in the car watching, I would have been scared! I cleared my throat, and with my lispy and squeky voice, I said, "Im Gillian Anderton, Marc's date."
 
"Uh.... Oh... Yeah, your Marc's date. Ok." The man said, still leering at me, "I'll get him." The man closed the door, but not all the way, and I heard him yell, "Yo, Marc! Your girl is here, and you are completely wrong about her. She's not cute at all, like you said; she's drop-dead gorgeous, you sly fox!"
 
A moment later, Marc opened the door, and he looked amazing. He was in a tuxedo with a bow tie, and his hair was perfectly styled and looked so handsome. He was wearing his headgear, and his acne seemed to have cleared up quite a bit. No, Marc wasn't just handsome; he was sexy—sexy as hell. We just stood for a moment without saying a word, with our knees weak and our mouths slightly agape in awe. It was then that I noticed something just behind Marc's front teeth, sort of a wire cage or something. Me being me and saying what is on my mind, I said, "What's that thing in your mouth, Marc?"
 
Blushing, and speaking with an extreme lisp, Marc replied, "Aw schit! my thungue kwib." as he reached for his mouth. I took his hands and said, "Leave it in, Marc. You sound so cute with it in; your lisp is adorable." Now, Marc really turned red, but he left the appliacne in his mouth and lispfully said, " Thell we go, Ghilly?" I nodded, and Marc gently took my arm and walked me to the car, just as he had done last night. The only difference is that he took a seat on the passenger side, and the four of us were off to what I hope will be a wonderful evening.

A quick note. This was supposed to only be a few chapters, but it has got away from me. I'm currently at 21 and trying like hell to wrap things up with a happy ending, which will come. Sorry if there is too much non-orthodontic stuff going on, it only gets worse, but it keeps me motivated and moving forward.


Gilly’s Journey, Chapter 13
By: NapaCaster
 
As Marc and I sat on the bed in the bedroom set that has become as familiar as my own bedroom at home, we reminisced about the night we met. 
 
"You know, Gilly, that night you walked into the wine shop, I really did think you were a kid—a kid in a bad disguise. It wasn't until you started talking to Mr. Wilkinson that I realized you were an adult." Marc, with a laugh, continued, "You looked like the homliest girl I had ever seen."
 
Laughing, I replied, "I came directly from work and didn't change into my street clothes, though I wouldn't have looked much older wearing shorts, a T-shirt, and Birkenstocks."
 
"I liked your fiesty personality. If it wasn't for me thinking you were a kid, I would have asked you out right away, even with the way you looked." Marc said it with a smile, his braces sparkling.
 
Smiling, I replied, "I thought you were so cute when you yelled at me; assertive yet shy." Now, Looking more serious, I said, "Oh, I must apologize; I should not have commented on... um, your skin condition. I'm so sorry. That must have been really hurtful. Please accept my apology."
 
Marc hugged me and said, "Don't worry about it, Gilly. For some reason, it's gotten a lot better this week. Oh, I loved how you went outside and came back in so we could re-introduce ourselves and give us a fresh start. That was some quick thinking."
 
"Thanks. We both got a bit out of hand, and let's hope that was our first and last argument, Marc." I said, holding Marc's hand.
 
Marc then said that he didn't know what to expect when I came to pick him up for our date last night. He said he began to see through the makeup, nerdy glasses, and frumpy clothing and knew that I was beautiful. However, when he saw me last night, he couldn't believe how good I looked. Marc said he fell in love with my feisty personality, not knowing what I actually looked like. I told Marc how impressed I was with his look last night and how great he looks in his kilt, not to mention his strong build, loving and kind personality, intelligence, and great sense of style. Our talking once again turned to kissing and cuddling, and we decided that we were the hottest new couple in town.
 
******
 
Over the next couple of weeks, Marc and I spent as much time together as possible. However, with my filming schedule, accounting work, and his schooling, which includes a late study group on Fridays, we don't get to see each other much. We do talk on the phone every night, and I'm happy to have Friday free for dinner with Sally. Marc and I do spend weekends together, but the only problem is that it takes time away from me wearing my KAFOs and Milwaukee brace. I wear them at night, but I miss wearing them all weekend, and I feel my stress and anxiety levels building. I guess wearing my braces is like other people drinking too much or smoking pot; it is just comforting, but I can't bring myself to tell Marc of this peculiar pastime.
 
Oh, something else that has gone on is that I had my eyes examined. You remember that the doctor said I had the beginnings of cataracts from being in an oxygen chamber as a premature newborn and recommended frequent checks? Well, he said things looked OK—only minor changes to my cataracts—and checked my eyes without my contacts in. My vision had changed, and he recommended that I actually get real glasses to wear when not using my glasses over contacts. I told him I always do the GOC thing, so he simply gave me a new prescription for both my contacts and glasses. I did get another pair of glasses for when I'm not working. These have square plastic frames that are dark purple, my favorite color. They are quite stylish and have an air of mature sophistication, something of great importance to me. 
 
******
 
This week has sure been a roller coaster of emotions. All of us at work have been speculating about whether our employment will continue. The show has been airing on the DuMont network twice a week for three months now, and all the reviews are raving and the ratings are the highest ever for a new program. However, Bill has not heard anything back from the network about whether they desire to continue production. That all changed on Monday afternoon.
 
These days, Bill spends most of his time in the office, but he is always at the studio on Monday morning to go over what we will be filming this week. This last Monday was the first day that Bill missed, and we all noticed the limousine parked at the office when we came into work this morning; we all speculated it was a representative from the network. 
 
After our lunch break, Bill came in with another man, whom he introduced as Allen DuMont. We all knew who he was, and we took it as a good sign that he was here. Bill asked us to gather around and said that Mr. Dumont had something to tell us:
 
"First, I want to thank you for your hard work. It has paid off for my network, going from the bottom in the ratings to higher than any new program has ever gone. With success like that, the only thing to do is move forward. Bill and I have been in negotiations for the last several weeks, and we signed a contract this morning. It calls for the continuation of the series, keeping the eight-month on and four-month off work schedule for the next six years. So, when you wrap up for this season, you have four months off with pay as your contact stipulates, and if any of you desire, and I hope all of you do, there are contracts in the office for you to sign for six more years of work on this wonderful program. After that, we might choose to continue production with Gilly's character living her life after college. Thank you all for your hard work, and your new contracts will reward you very well."
 
Well, there was no more filming on Monday; we all went to the office and looked over our new contracts and contacted our agents, sending them copies to review. Basically, we are locked into exclusive contacts with Bill-Jack Productions, but that's OK. It guarantees at least six years of work, and the financial reward is stellar. This is my big break!
 
That night, I met Marc for dinner, something we don't do on weeknights. However, I didn't tell him why I wanted to get together, and I couldn't tell him that his girlfriend is officially a television star over the phone. When I texted him, Marc said he had some good news to share with me, so I was doubly excited to see him.
 
Marc came straight from a late class and wasn't wearing his removable tongue crib. That's because he had it replaced with a fixed one. It was more visible than his old one, but he didn't lisp nearly as badly. I told him how sexy it looked and that I loved his new, easier-to-understand voice. He blushed and said he just got it this morning and really likes wearing it. I told Marc that I was jealous and wished I had one, too. He said he thought I would look cute with the little wire cage behind my front teeth, and I agreed.
 
Still keeping calm and not mentioning why I suggested dinner, Marc said with a smile, "I have some big news, honey. It's about my future."
 
"Oh, what is that, Marc?" I asked, also with a smile.
 
"I talked to Dr. Robbins today, and he agreed to hire me to work in his clinic as soon as I graduate. In only a month, I'll be working as an orthodontist." Marc said it with great excitement in his voice.
 
"Oh, that's wonderful. You really impressed Sally with your knowledge and deep interest in your profession. She told me she put in a good word for her." With that, I took off my headgear and gave Marc a kiss on the cheek.
 
Marc then said with a curious look, "We never go out on weeknights; what's up?"
 
I took Marc's hand, and with a smile, I said, "I have big news about my future, too, Marc. Today, I signed a six-year contract to continue my role at Bill-Jack Productions. It will take my character all the way through college and into her professional life. You're dating a television star now, Marc! There's something else, too. I plan to buy a house and get out of that apartment building; a nice, quite little house in the country."
 
At that point, we hugged and cried, with everyone in the diner staring at us. Marc said how lucky we are, and I said it was not luck; it was hard work finally paying off. 
 
When I got home, I was exhausted, happy, excited, and nervous all at the same time. I quickly cleaned my teeth, took a shower, but on my Milwaukee brace, I went to bed.
 
The next morning, something had gone wrong with my alarm clock, and I woke up very late. Late enough that I just had time to put on a pair of shorts, a T-shirt, and sandals—my usual comfy clothes I wear to and from work. I had just enough time to get in the car and drive to the studio, and since I'm so used to wearing my Milwaukee brace, I forgot to take it off. I was half way to work before I realized I was wearing. No problem, I thought; I'll just find a secluded place on the back lot to take it off and stow it in the trunk of my car.
 
I got waived through the gate since everyone recognized my car and blonde hair blowing in the wind. I drove down the main road by the soundstage I work on, and just as I was about to pass by, Bill and Jack came outside, bickering as usual. When they saw I was beginning to pass by, Bill waved me over. Shit! I couldn't just drive past them, and I couldn't make up a story about my brace being for some other role since I signed an exclusive contract with them the day before. I pulled into my parking spot and stiffly got out of my car. They watched my rigid movements as they lit up their cigarettes and stopped arguing.
 
I confidently walked up to them, said good morning, and opened the door to walk inside with them staring at me in silence in my pink headgear, nerdy black glasses, and Milwaukee brace clearly outlined under my shirt, with the occipital pads and throat mold in full view.
 
"You wear a Milwaukee brace, Gilly? I never knew that." Bill said with a smile.
 
Jack then says, "Our girls wore them back in high school and college, too," referring to their twin sister wives, Bailey and Hailey.
 
With confidence and complete honesty, I replied, "Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. It provides me with the comfort and support that I need at times. I was just in a hurry and figured that I would take it off here when wardrobe dresses me."
 
The two men just looked at each other and smiled, and I made my way inside to my dressing room. I tried to quickly remove my Milwaukee brace before anyone else saw me, but Jenna and Maggie did see me, but they never said anything.
 
During lunch break, we were interrupted by the fire alarm going off. The studio fire department showed up, and it was determined that the system had malfunctioned. The system was disabled, and a security guard put on fire watch. This gave me an idea about how I would get out of here tonight with my Milwaukee brace on. 
 
After we wrapped for the day, I went to my dressing room and got out of my ugly pink dress and stupid-looking pink sandals. I removed my makeup, tied up my hair, and put my Milwaukee brace on, then my street clothes. Cracking my door open, I looked to see if anyone was around, and the coast was clear. I rushed out of my dressing room and snuck out the fire exit since the alarm system was disabled. I got in my car and high-tailed it home!
 
Once home, I needed to relax and calm my nerves. I took a cool shower, then put on not only my Milwaukee brace that caused me such trouble today, but also my KAFOs. Even though I wasn't going out, I put on my new pair of purple framed glasses and my purple headgear. I wanted to look cute if I saw my reflection. In just my robe, I went to the kitchen and fixed a G&T—light on the T, heavy on the G, with a good squeeze of lime. Then, I got my braced body comfortable in my recliner, turned on the TV, and did something I had never done before: I watched myself on TV.
 
I was glad the day was over and there would be no more excitement or surprises. I'll call for a pizza later and enjoy a quiet evening alone, comforted by my orthopedic braces, the metal in my mouth, my facebow between my lips with the attached straps around my head, and my glasses resting comfortably on my nose.
 
However, that would not be the case...
 

Gilly’s Journey, Chapter 15
By: NapaCaster
 
After Marc left for home to get ready, I went to my bedroom. I laid on the bed naked in my Milwaukee brace while running my tongue around inside my mouth, enjoying the feeling of my braces. I wondered what the big appliance that Marc showed was like to wear and became extremely aroused. I reached for my nightstand drawer, retrieved an item, and satisfied my needs. I laid there and relaxed, and I thought about how well everything had worked out in the last twelve hours. Marc now knows about my peculiar interest; he accepts it, and I think he's actually into it, too.
 
Finally, I got up, took off my Milwaukee brace, and headed to the bathroom for a hot shower and some aspirin. I have quite a headache still. I took off my headgear and brushed my teeth. Then I cleaned my glasses and set them aside while I showered. The shower was very refreshing and made me feel quite a bit better; I can't be drinking like I was last night. I dried and brushed my long hair, put my glasses on, and went to get dressed. 
 
I picked out a nice dress to wear, perfect for the warm weather. It's a simple sleeveless number, rather short and flowing, with a blue pailsley print. I then put on my KAFOs and Milwaukee brace, then my dress. Blue headgear, with the cervical strap under my hair and the other two straps on top, completed my look; I wore no makeup. This will be the first time Marc has ever seen my face au naturel. I crutched to the mirror, and I looked wonderful. Even without the age-intensifying makeup and enhancing bra I usually wear when going out, I didn't look as young as I usually do. It's the thick glasses that do it, I think.
 
Marc soon arrived wearing a plain brown kilt, Doc Marten sandals, and a T-shirt from a concert he recently attended. Of course, he had his high-pull headgear on. Once again, I noticed that Marc's skin has really begun to clear up; he had barely any marks on his face. He looked great, and we looked the same age, too. I decided to leave my crutches at home. I can walk without them, but I'm a bit off balance, and I prefer something to support me; Marc's strong arm will suffice.
 
We walked arm in arm to the elevator, then across the garage to my car. Since I can't drive wearing my leg braces, Marc helped me into the passenger's seat, and I gave him the keys. I explained how to put the top down, then how to start a car with a carburetor. The Slant Six came to life, and Marc looked for the gear selector, not realizing the transmission uses push buttons. I laughed, and I explained things, including the importance of using the parking break; these transmissions only have a neutral button, no park.
 
Marc enjoyed driving my car, and we traveled to a neighboring town so no one would see me in my braces. Our first stop was the shopping mall. I wanted cute, but classy things I could wear on casual dates with Marc. I let him pick things out, and I liked his selections. Of course we got a lot of looks: two people wearing orthodontic braces with compliacted headgear, plus me braced from head to toe, always using Marc for support. We enjoyed their attention and did a lot of smiling, showing our sexy orthodontic work.
 
We had lunch, and I think Marc enjoyed watching me eat while sitting rigidly in my back brace. After we ate, we found a family restroom to clean our teeth. Then we drove to a park with a local history museum and had a great time there. The girl working at the gift shop was wearing metal braces, but she had no lisp or headgear. I asked about her braces, and she enjoyed talking about them, saying they would be off in a few months after five years, and she thinks she will really miss them. Marc and I said that we both feel the same way about our braces and loathe the day they are removed. As we were leaving, the girl said, "Hey, you look like that girl in that new hit soap opera. I heard she lives around here, but you can't be her; you're handicapped." I simply smiled my metallic smile, and Marc and I made our way out.
 
We had dinner together, then Marc took me home. We chatted a little bit more, then made out, with a bit more intimate carassing than ever before. I wanted Marc, and I could tell he wanted me, but neither of us are quite ready. This is the first real relationship for either of us, and we don't want to move too fast.
 
******
 
I decided that with all that has happened this week, it was best if I came clean and told Sally of my love of more than just my glasses, braces, and headgear. She read me like a book when it came to my love of orthodontics; I wonder if I have given any tells of my other interests. We had originally planned to meet at her house tonight, but instead we are meeting at my apartment instead. I want to be in the same familiar, comfortable surroundings I was in when Marc discovered my secret. 
 
When Sally arrived, she had two bottles of wine and her overnight bag. It's not unusual for me to stay at her place if I have a bit too much to drink, so it was natural for her to plan to spend the night with me. As usual, she told me about anything out of the ordinary that happened at her job. I love hearing about complicated and intrusive orthodontic treatments and how the patient initially copes with their situation. I was intrigued by the story she told of a young woman who has a disorder that causes her joints to dislocate easily, including her She has had it wired shut for many months, waiting for approval for an experimental surgery. She comes in once a month to be unwired and have her teeth cleaned. I felt sorry for her, and I was also intensely jealous.
 
Sally is a devoted viewer of the program I star in, and she always likes to hear the behind-the-scenes gossip. One thing that Sally pointed out is how my lisp is much less intense now than it was in the beginning. I didn't think so, and Sally tuned the TV to my program. I recorded myself on my phone and then compared how I sound now to how I sounded on TV. I definitely have more of a lisp on TV in the scenes we filmed over six months ago. That also got me thinking about the gaps and rotation in my teeth that have increased since beginning treatment.
 
"So, Sally, can we do something to give me my lisp back?" I inquired.
 
"Sure, the easiest thing is to remove your tongue tamers and install a tongue crib like Marc wears. That will give you a very noticeable lisp without being too much. Later on, if you get used to that tongue crib, you can get a larger one like I wear." Sally explains my options.
 
"How about the gaps that have formed between my front teeth and the rotation of my canines? Is there a way to hold them in their current positions for a while, like how your appliances don't move your teeth anymore?" I very much like my gappy smile, which only seems to be getting what a normal person would call worse.
 
"Sure, Gilly. That's no problem either. We have a machine that bends up archwires to perfectly match a scan of your teeth. Then we heat treat the wires, and they become very stiff and unyeilding; they will simply hold your teeth in their current positions. Then, when you want to resume active treatment, we just swap in regular archwires." Sally smiles at me, knowing how much I love my gappy smile. 
 
Ever since Sally arrived, and despite the wine, I have been nervous, but I am trying to hide it. There was a pause in the conversation as we watched me on TV. When a commercial came on, Sally turned to me and simply asked, "What's up, Gilly? There's something on your mind, isn't there, honey?"
 
In a shakey voice, I said, "There is something on my mind, and I don't know how to explain it to you." Sally then looked very concerned, moved closer to me on the couch, and put her arm around me, saying, "It's not Marc, is it? I hope everything is OK."
 
Smiling and feeling a bit more upbeat thinking of how Marc accepted my peculiar interest, I said, "Everything is wonderful with Marc. We are closer than ever, and we love each other very much."
 
Sally looked relieved and said, "Spill the beans, girl. Tell me what's going on." 
 
"How about I just show you? Bill, Jack, Jenna, and Maggie have seen some of it, and Marc has seen all of it." I then got up and went to my bedroom and put on my KAFOs and Milwaukee brace, then returned to the living room on crutches. Sally didn't seem shocked or surprised at all and said, "Joe and I thought you must wear a Milwaukee brace by the way your teeth are moving; it's not uncommon for a scoliosis brace to cause dental issues with the pressure they exert on the chin." Sally then got a curious look on her face and said, "But when you initially presented in our clinic, you just had an overbite and a slight rotation of a few teeth. You weren't wearing a brace then, were you? And the leg braces and crutches; you're not a pretender, are you?"
 
Sally had it all figured out, and I explained my entire story. How my leg and back braces were from roles that I played in the past. How I used to wear them on occasion, but I started to wear them more and more after I got my current role. I explained the intense pleasure and comfort I get from wearing them, along with my orthodontia and glasses. Then I told her about accidentally going to work in my Milwaukee brace since I'm so at home wearing it. Then I told her about Marc's surprise visit, how accepting he was, and how shocked I was when he said my braces were alluring. Finally, I told her about Marc asking me to wear my KAFOs and Milwaukee brace for a day out together.
 
After I told my story, Sally looked at me, smiled, and said, "Just like Marc told you, if you are happy, I am happy for you. I am a woman wearing metal braces, a large tongue crib, upper and lower palate expanders, and combination headgear while only needing them for emotional reasons; who am I to judge? Oh, and Marc's right about something else; you do look quite alluring and exotic in your braces; it's an excellent look, and I'm jealous!"
 
Since we finished the second bottle of wine during our conversation and didn't get around to cooking dinner, we ordered some Chinese food to be delivered. After dinner, we sat down to talk some more before bedtime, with Sally making a very interesting suggestion for an addition to my orthodontic treatment.
 
******
 
The final week of production for this season is upon us. Everything has gone so smoothly; Bill and Jack sure know how to run an efficient operation while making every day fun and enjoyable. This is the best job I have ever had, and it will continue for many years, too. 
 
On Wednesday, with nothing much for me to do, Bill asked me to go to the office; Bailey and Hailey wanted to talk with me. As I made my way to the office, I wondered what it was all about. I also wondered why they have been spending so much time in the studio the last few weeks. It's all very strange.

I'm glad you are enjoying it and the positive feedback is wonderful.

Every few days I'll post one. Same goes with Leigh and Joel. There are 32 chapters in this story and Leigh and Joel are at 219 and counting. Gilly will be joining that story in chapter 220 if all goes to plan.

With so many people writing great stories right now, it's easy to overload people with all this excellent reading material. I can't ever remember so many long stories being shared all at the same time.