Chapter Seven: Nightime Routine

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The boys had settled into Aaron's room, which had quickly become their default hangout spot. It was cozy enough to fit all of them, though the presence of their new uniforms still served as a constant reminder of the strange new reality they were now living.

For most of the afternoon, they distracted themselves with jokes and conversation, doing their best to ignore the awkwardness of their situation. It helped, for a while at least. They talked about everything except the uniforms, and even managed to laugh at a few old stories from home. Aaron, as always, led the charge in keeping the mood light, and the others followed suit.

By the time the girls knocked on the door to tell them it was time for dinner, they'd managed to push most of their worries to the back of their minds.

"Time for the grand tour of Crestwood's fine dining," Sophie said with a grin, popping her head into Aaron's room.

The boys stood up, groaning half-heartedly but also curious. Lunch had been decent, but the thought of more food wasn't exactly a bad thing. They followed their mentors to the dining hall, their heels clicking in unison, though they were growing used to the sound.

To their surprise, dinner was even better than lunch. The food was varied and delicious—grilled chicken, pasta, fresh salads, and even a dessert table that caught Marcus's eye immediately. They sat with their mentors again, and this time, the girls seemed more interested in getting to know them.

"So," Olivia asked as she twirled her pasta around her fork, "how are you boys adjusting to everything so far?"

Dylan shrugged, glancing at the others before answering. "It's... different, that's for sure."

"That's an understatement," Aaron muttered, though his usual bravado was missing. "This whole skirt thing is still kinda weird."

Sophie laughed softly. "You'll get used to it. Trust me, we all did when we first arrived here."

"Yeah, but you're girls," Marcus pointed out, though not in a confrontational way. "You're... supposed to wear stuff like this."

"And now you are, too," Hannah added with a smile. "You'll be surprised how quickly you adjust. Crestwood has a way of making this feel like the new normal."

The conversation flowed from there, with the girls asking more about the boys' lives before Crestwood. It was strange how normal it all started to feel. Sitting in the dining hall, chatting about their favorite movies or what sports they used to play, it was almost like they weren't all dressed in skirts and heels. Almost.

After dinner, they headed back to the dorms together, the cool evening air settling over the campus. The boys walked alongside their mentors, trying not to think too much about the fact that they'd be repeating this routine every day for the foreseeable future.

As they reached their hallway, Emily turned to the group with a smile. "There's something else you should know before bed."

Dylan raised an eyebrow. "What now?"

"Pajamas," Emily said simply. "There's a standard set everyone wears here at Crestwood, and you'll find them in the communal washroom."

"Communal?" Kyle asked, glancing around nervously.

"Relax," Olivia reassured him. "Each hallway has its own bathroom. This one's just for the eight of us."

They led the group down the hallway to a door at the end. When Emily pushed it open, the boys were greeted by a large, spotless washroom, complete with rows of sinks, mirrors, individual showers, and neatly folded towels and pajamas on a shelf near the entrance.

"Each night, you're expected to shower and meet the minimum hygiene requirements," Emily continued. "There will always be clean towels and a fresh set of pajamas for you here."

Marcus frowned, glancing at the girls. "What do you mean by hygiene requirements?"

Hannah smiled sweetly, though there was an underlying firmness in her voice. "The basics. Hair washed, body clean, teeth brushed, legs and armpits shaved, eyebrows plucked."

Aaron stopped in his tracks. "Wait, hold up. Shaved legs? You're serious?"

Olivia nodded, her expression matter-of-fact. "Of course. You're in skirts now, remember? Hairy legs are kind of hard to hide in those."

"Yeah, no kidding," Marcus muttered under his breath.

"You'll get used to it," Sophie added with a wink. "Besides, there are consequences for not following the rules."

Aaron groaned but didn't argue further. He, like the others, knew they didn't have much of a choice.

The girls ushered them further into the washroom, showing them the rows of products lined neatly in each shower stall—florally-scented soaps, shampoos, and even bottles of lotion. Everything smelled sweet, delicate, and... well, very unlike anything the boys would have chosen themselves.

"Now go ahead and pick a shower," Emily said, gesturing toward the stalls. "We'll give you some privacy, but remember—minimum hygiene requirements."

Grumbling to themselves, the boys each claimed a shower. As they stepped inside and began their new hygiene regime, they quickly realized just how different everything was going to be. The florally soaps were strong, clinging to their skin with every wash. And shaving... that was a whole new level of awkwardness. But they managed.

When they finished and stepped out of the showers, clean towels were waiting for them, along with their new pajamas—a delicate green camisole and matching shorts. The fabric was soft, almost too soft, and the boys hesitated for a moment before changing into them.

"This is ridiculous," Aaron muttered as he adjusted the camisole. "I look like I'm about to go to a slumber party."

Marcus smirked. "Well, at least you don't have to shave your legs again for a while."

Dylan sighed, pulling on the shorts. "Let's just get through this."

Once they were dressed, the girls returned, and Sophie immediately noticed something was off. "Boys, you look... adorable," she said with a mischievous grin. "But there's still one thing left."

Aaron looked confused. "What now?"

Hannah held up a pair of tweezers. "Eyebrows. You didn't forget, did you?"

The boys exchanged uneasy glances.

"You can't be serious," Aaron said, eyeing the tweezers like they were a weapon.

"Oh, we are," Olivia replied, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Now come on, let's make this quick. You'll thank us later."

Reluctantly, the boys allowed their mentors to pluck their eyebrows. It wasn't pleasant, but by this point, they'd stopped expecting anything at Crestwood to be pleasant.

After a few minutes, the ordeal was over, and Emily stepped back, admiring their work. "Look at that. You all look so cute in your matching pajamas and perfectly groomed brows."

Dylan groaned. "This can't get any worse."

But even as they grumbled, there was a sense of resignation settling in. This was their life now, at least for the next semester.

When they finally returned to their rooms and crawled into bed, Dylan couldn't help but feel the soft fabric of the camisole against his skin, the freshly shaved legs under the covers. It was all so strange, so new, and so far from anything he'd ever imagined.

As he drifted off to sleep, he wondered what other surprises Crestwood had in store for them. Whatever it was, he knew one thing for sure: nothing was going to be normal again.

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