All's fair in love and war

chapter 1 - Evelynn

London, England 1938

"GEORGE HANKS, ANNA Morrison, John Raymond, Peter Hughs." The Principal of OMS calls up each individual student and presents them with a certificate.

I walk up toward the Principal as the crowds of families and other students watch. "Congratulations Peter," he says.

"Thank You," I say, smiling and shake his hand before taking the certificate and walk back into the crowd of students. OMS is the Oxford School of Medicine, I became a doctor today and I've gone to lengths that no one else would dream of going to so I was able to do so.

"Dorothy Blake, Diane Lipton, Michael Smith, Sophia Anderson," the Principal continues to call up the students.

"Your turn," I say. Sophia walks up to collect her certificate and comes back into the crowd and stands beside me. She has blonde wavy hair which is pinned up at the back and she wears a yellow flower print dress, which comes just below her knees, the dress is completed with a white collar and a white thin belt just above her waist.

"Are you going to the graduation party tonight?" I ask and she nods.

"I am, are you?" Sophia asks as she smiles.

"I would love to but I'm busy tonight," I say. "Inner me is going to a party with a childhood friend."

"Why inner you? Does outer you have other arrangements?" she asks and lets out a small laugh.

"Peter, can I talk to you for a moment, I have something to show you?" my professor asks.

"Something like that! I'll see you later Sophia," I say as I walk toward my professor.

"Bye."

+++

I return home and walk into my bedroom. I open my wardrobe on one side women's clothing; on the other side men's clothing. I reach for a blue dress which comes just below my knees and the sleeves come between my shoulder and elbow and flows from the waist down. I walk towards the bathroom taking my dress with me, I hang it on the bathroom door and close it. I remove my wig and my brunette hair falls down just below my shoulders.

I walked into the bathroom as Peter and I return as Evelynn. I was ten-eleven years old when I decided that I wanted to be a doctor. There was only one problem with my job choice. Men are doctors and the woman are nurses. However, nursing was never something I wanted to do, Sophia was always the nurse when we were younger; caring for people is just in her nature, it's something she has done since we were both children. I was always the decision maker and I knew that whilst the nurses took care of the patients I wanted to decide what was going to happen to the patient if they need surgery and to be able to make it happen I became Peter by day and Evelynn by night.

There is only one person other than myself that knows I live the life of two people, and that person is Sophia. I can trust her to keep my secret.

+++

I arrive at the cafe and Sophia is sat down tapping her fingers against the table, she use to do that when we were children and when she's bored.

"Evelynn," she says and the tapping stops.

"Sophia," I say and she smiles.

"So," she whispers. "What did the professor want?"

"He says there is an opening at the hospital for a surgical doctor."

"Are you going to apply for the position?" she asks, her eyes widening.

"I don't know, what if someone realises I'm not really." I pause. "A guy."

"Evelynn," she says with a stern voice. "You've wanted this since you were 10. You wanted something that you couldn't have and you found a way to get it, don't back out now, apply for the job."

"You know you're a little bossy right?" I say as I let out a small laugh and Sophia nods.

"Yes, I know."

We leave the cafe after having something to eat and head to the town hall for the graduation party. I'll be going as Sophia's friend Evelynn instead of the grad student Peter. We arrive outside the town hall; there are so many students here that have graduated today. If I'm going to get the surgical position at the hospital I am best to apply for it sooner rather than later.

+++

"Hello dolls." A tall guy with dark hair half smiles towards myself and Sophia. "How about I buy you sweet patooties a drink?"

"Aw, no, but thank you for the offer," Sophia says as she grabs my arm and pulls me into the town hall. If I was to have answered the tall guy offering us drinks it would have been me hitting him in the face.

"You know I could have just decked him," I say and she rolls her eyes.

"Now why would I have wanted you to do that?" she asks me with a sarcastic sound to her voice.

"I never said you did, but I wanted to." I laugh and Sophia joins in.

We make our way toward the back of the town hall where John and Anna stand. I know them both well but I have to remember that right now I'm not somebody they know.

"Hey Doll, have you seen Peter tonight?" Anna asks and I feel my eyes widen.

"No, he told me earlier today he has previous arrangements," says Sophia.

"That's a shame. He's a right cracker. I can't have a conversation with him without it ending in my stomach aching from laughing so hard," John says and I try not to smile at the comment.

"Sorry, how rude of us, we didn't introduce ourselves. I'm Anna and this is John."

"You have a familiar face. Have I met you before now?" John says and I quickly shake my head.

"No. I don't think so," I say as I panic slightly. What if he recognises my face because he knows Peter so well. I don't think anyone in this room would understand why I have been pretending to be male. They'll be offended by me, because I am able to do the same job as men.

"Oh, you must just have one of those faces," he smiles.

"Yeah, one of those faces," I say as I put on a fake laugh. I need to move away from John. I'm worried if I stay next to him for too long he'll realise I am Peter.

"I'm so sure I know you from somewhere. What school did you go to?" John continues to ask questions insisting that he knows who I am. Every inch of me feels on edge I just want to shout "yes I am Peter" but I know that will cause more damage than it would good.

"That's it," he shouts and I feel my eyes widen again. "You look like Peter!" I freeze.

The words "you look like Peter" flash through my head. My jaw drops a little. I need to leave. I need to do something. I've forgotten how to walk, how can I leave now? Wait, what the hell am I thinking. I've forgotten how to walk? Seriously, pull yourself together Evelynn. You've wanted this since you were ten. No backing out now, no backing out. I open my mouth about to respond.

"She's Peter's second cousin, and you can't tell a female they look like a guy, John," Sophia says. I feel a sigh of relief pass through my body, I knew I could count on her.

"It's okay, Peter has a pretty feminine face." I laugh and the others join in. That was a close call.

A few hours pass and people begin to leave. "I am beyond tired," Sophia says yawning. "I need my bed."

"I couldn't agree more," John says. "It's been lovely meeting you Evelynn."

"And you," I say. "Bye Anna."

"Bye dolls," Anna says and I smile as she gives me a quick hug before I leave to go outside and phone a cab, soon after I have made the call Sophia walks out with John and Anna. It's so cold, I really wish I had bought a coat with me.

We're outside for about 15 minutes before the cab turns up, at first I was shivering at the penetrating cold, but now I'm use to it and can barely notice. I climb into the cab and leave.