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Author Topic: Story: Hailey  (Read 3169 times)

Offline blueblur1997

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Story: Hailey
« on: 21. October 2022, 08:33:46 AM »
Author's note: this is the first story I've ever written. Please feel free to criticize it and I'll try to improve it before I post more parts. Now onto the story.

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Chapter 1

Hi! My name’s Hailey Grutton. I’m a 20-year-old Junior and I wear braces. Yes, you read that right. I’m a brace face. And I never thought I would say that.

I grew up in Ashford, NC. My parents weren’t the most well-to-do family in our area. We weren’t exactly poor, but we weren’t rich, either. My dad is an over-the-road truck driver and my mom works as a teacher at the local middle school. I have a younger brother and a younger sister. Brandon is 17 and Michaela is 15. Our parents always taught us to excel at everything we do. They also encouraged us to do something extracurricular. My brother’s love has always been baseball, and Michaela’s love has always been field hockey. Me…my love has been softball. My parents always encouraged our athletic endeavors. You could imagine my shock when I was being recruited by the coach I most wanted to play for at the school I wanted to play at most…newly D1 minted San Mateo State and coach Cammy Navarro. The fact also that the school was the whole way across the country wasn’t lost on me, either.

But, back to the reason I was recruited to play at San Mateo State. I excelled at playing softball, and I also excelled at academics as well. In softball, I was voted player of the week three different times during my final season, and I graduated from the local high school as a valedictorian.

My parents weren’t happy that I decided to go to school the whole way across the country from them. The main reason I decided to go to San Mateo State was that they had one of the best softball programs in the country, which could help me play softball professionally as a catcher. I also really liked their journalism program, as I wanted to become either a writer or a broadcaster. Finally, I just fell in love with the community and the area surrounding where I would be studying. There was just so much to do compared to back home. My parents supported my decision when they saw I wasn’t going to back down from my decision. Besides, I had a scholarship meaning
My schooling is going to be totally paid for.

So, in early August, I moved from North Carolina to Southern California. I just wanted to be able to get settled in and comfortable with my new surroundings and my new roommates before orientation and classes began. When I arrived at campus, I got to my room and met my roommates. My roommate was a cute, little Japanese girl named Ayako. I’m a really tall girl, at 6 feet (ca. 183 cm) tall. But Ayako seemed like a midget next to me at nearly 5 feet (ca. 152 cm) tall. Ayako warmly welcomed me to campus and when she smiled, I noticed a glimpse of metal coming from her mouth. Once we got introductions done, she helped me move my stuff that I had shipped ahead of me once summer softball season ended. After Ayako helped me move my stuff in and showed me around our dorm room, she introduced me to our floor mates. In talking to Ayako, I was enthralled by the glimpses of metal I would see on her teeth. “What is that on your teeth, Ayako? Are those braces?” I ask.

“Yeah, I got braces put on. I figured why not since I am majoring to be an orthodontist.” she replied.

“How long have you had them?” I asked.

“I’ve only had them for a few months. I’m supposed to get them off a few months before I graduate next school year.” she said.

We sat and talked throughout the evening, laughing at each other's jokes. However, talk about my own orthodontia would begin soon enough.


Offline Braceface2015

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Re: Story: Hailey
« Reply #1 on: 21. October 2022, 09:25:45 AM »
I'll be the first one to comment.

Your spelling is good, the flow is nice and you have an interesting start to the story.

I do have one suggestion. When your characters are talking, have the conversation separated so that we can see who is talking a little bit easier.



Once we got introductions done, she helped me move the stuff that I had shipped ahead of me once summer softball season ended. After Ayako helped me move my stuff in and showed me around our dorm room, she introduced me to our floor mates. In talking to Ayako, I was enthralled by the glimpses of metal I would see on her teeth. "What is that on your teeth, Ayako? Are those braces?" I ask.

"Yeah, I got braces put on. I figured why not since I am majoring to be an orthodontist," she replied.

"How long have you had them?" I asked.

"I've only had them for a few months. I'm supposed to get them off a few months before I graduate next school year," she said. We sat and talked throughout the evening, laughing at each other's jokes.




I also like to let the writers know that I have added their stories to TheArchive.

Offline blueblur1997

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Re: Story: Hailey
« Reply #2 on: 21. October 2022, 15:58:14 PM »
I'll be the first one to comment.

Your spelling is good, the flow is nice and you have an interesting start to the story.

I do have one suggestion. When your characters are talking, have the conversation separated so that we can see who is talking a little bit easier.



Once we got introductions done, she helped me move the stuff that I had shipped ahead of me once summer softball season ended. After Ayako helped me move my stuff in and showed me around our dorm room, she introduced me to our floor mates. In talking to Ayako, I was enthralled by the glimpses of metal I would see on her teeth. "What is that on your teeth, Ayako? Are those braces?" I ask.

"Yeah, I got braces put on. I figured why not since I am majoring to be an orthodontist," she replied.

"How long have you had them?" I asked.

"I've only had them for a few months. I'm supposed to get them off a few months before I graduate next school year," she said. We sat and talked throughout the evening, laughing at each other's jokes.




I also like to let the writers know that I have added their stories to TheArchive.

Thank you so much for this. I'm going to keep this in mind and I'm going to edit the other parts I have written before posting anymore of the story. I also edited the previous part to show what you were saying about.

Offline blueblur1997

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Re: Story: Hailey
« Reply #3 on: 21. October 2022, 16:21:58 PM »
Chapter 2

Quite a few weeks pass, and I’m used to stuff going on around campus. I’ve been getting used to my classes and my professors, as well as just what's being expected of me as a college student. Plus, Ayako and I have settled in as roommates, becoming the best of friends. We try to go to breakfast and other meals together with our other floor mates, and we try to do stuff together with the other girls on our floor. I’ve also noticed that a few of the other girls have started getting braces put on as well.

I had thought about getting braces. My parents couldn’t afford to get me braces while I was in high school. I don’t know if my younger siblings will be getting them or not… I just know they couldn’t afford them for me. While I was seeing some of our other floor mates getting them, I couldn’t help but get a bit jealous of them, since they’d be fixing their teeth and their issues, and I’d be forced to continue to deal with my own issues with my teeth. One day in mid-October, I was looking at my teeth in a handheld mirror, thinking I was being inconspicuous about doing so. Ayako broke me out of my daydream that I was checking my own braces to see if I had food or something stuck in them. I remember so many girls checking their braces for food and other stuff stuck in them in small, handheld mirrors or the mirrors from their compacts, or even using their cameras on their cellphones. I longed to know the feeling.

“What’s wrong, Hailey-chan?” Ayako asked. I was kinda startled because I was off in my own little world looking at my teeth wishing I had braces.

“N-nothing. Just looking at my teeth.” I replied. I didn’t want to tell her I longed for the day I could have braces of my own, but I was too chicken to do so. Not only that, but I wish I could be like her and have them, even though she had two more years of schooling on me.

“I’ve noticed you trying to look at my braces, Hailey-chan. Let me look at your teeth, and maybe I can help you get braces of your own.” Ayako said. I thought she was kidding me at first. I decided to let her look at my mouth. She did a cursory inspection of my teeth and gave me her kinda educated guess on what she thought was up with my teeth.

“Looks like, to me, you could use some braces yourself, Hailey-chan. I could help you get a set for yourself if you’d be interested.” Inside, I was giddy as all get out that I could get a set of braces of my own. Outside, however, I was staying as stone-faced as I could possibly be.

” I don't know.” I said. “Aren’t they really expensive to get? Ayako looked at me, smiling.

“I have my classes down at the dental sciences building a few blocks away in a great big building near the historical sciences building. We do dental care in that building as well as other dental related courses and dental related schooling. We could take care of your crooked smile for either free since you're a student, or even at a low cost.”

I smiled. I thought about it for a minute or two and said, “maybe not at this time. But I am looking for a dentist to clean my teeth and stuff.”

“Well, if you do reconsider seeing the orthodontist, let me know, and I can get you in. Maybe I can help work on your teeth.” Ayako said, laying a business card down on my desk.

I looked up at her, “thank you, Ayako. I’ll keep that in mind.” I picked up the card and placed it in a drawer in my desk where I did work. Little did I know how much I would end up needing the orthodontist.

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Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is on the shorter side. I really wanted to separate Hailey's pre-braces time from when she actually gets braces. Trust me, next chapter, Hailey's mouth gets her into more than she bargained for.

Offline kelly-Marie

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Re: Story: Hailey
« Reply #4 on: 21. October 2022, 17:40:23 PM »
I like this story its got a good start  it will be exciting to see what braces Hailey gets and what happens to her

Offline Blockbraced

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Re: Story: Hailey
« Reply #5 on: 21. October 2022, 17:43:27 PM »
This story is already extremely well written and paced - I am excited to see what comes later!

Offline bracessd

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Re: Story: Hailey
« Reply #6 on: 21. October 2022, 17:46:12 PM »
Great start @blueblur1997 . I'm looking forward to where this is headed...hopefully she get's to be "experimented on" with different appliances!

Offline blueblur1997

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Re: Story: Hailey
« Reply #7 on: 22. October 2022, 06:35:52 AM »
Chapter 3

After the talk I had with Ayako, I pushed the whole braces thing to the back of my mind. I had known from my previous dentist I had back home in North Carolina, that I required braces to fix issues I had with jaw pain and my teeth causing me to have some really nasty, almost migraine-like headaches. I was also told that I have lots of crowding issues as well as a lot of placement issues. Not only that, but I would get these toothaches and headaches throughout my middle and high school days. But, I hadn’t had an episode in months…and I liked it that way. But, I knew my luck would eventually run out. I had a visit with one of the dentists in the dental building. I automatically fell in love with Dr. Britt Kelly. She was great, even though she lectured me about my need for braces and recommended I see Dr. Rie Kusomaru.

I had had issues with pain since I came to San Mateo State…but my issues were minor, so I could sweep them under the rug. We were in the lead up to Thanksgiving when I was sitting up doing my math homework because I wanted to do some catching up before we had to hand our homework in before we took midterms. I was sitting down, concentrating on what I needed to do in my Geometry homework, when my jaw pain started coming in. I knew I was clenching my teeth due to stress from doing this work because I hated doing math homework. By the time I was finishing up, I was getting a full-blown headache. I knew I needed to lay down and rest. So I did.

I woke up about two hours later, and I felt as bad as I did when I laid down. In fact, I felt worse than I did when I laid down earlier. My head felt like it was in a vice. So, I popped some Motrin and decided that I wanted to head down to the athletic center and hit some softballs. But after I decided that, my stomach betrayed me and decided to feel all unhappy with me like I ate something I shouldn’t have and all I ate was some pizza down at the common five hours before. So, I decided to lay down again. I fell asleep again after covering back up on account of the chill coming in through the ocean breeze since we’re so close to the Pacific Ocean. The next morning, Friday, I woke up and felt awful. My head actually felt like it was going to explode, along with my jaws and teeth feeling really painful. My roommate came into the room and saw I was in so much pain. “Hailey-chan, you look miserable.” she said.

“I feel like someone beat me up so bad, Ayako. I tried taking Motrin, but it's doing absolutely nothing.” I said.

“Stay here and let me call in and see what we can do to work you in.” Ayako said. I saw Ayako get her cellphone dug out and make a phone call, talking to someone in Japanese. Thankfully, it was early in the morning when this happened. A few minutes later, Ayako came jogging back into the room.

“Get up and get ready. You have an appointment in the orthodontic wing of the dental building.” Ayako said grinning. Her brackets with purple rubber bands showing. I got up and got dressed in a pair of black leggings and a plaid skirt. I also wore an anime shirt with Japanese writing on it. About half an hour after getting up and ready, I was leaving our dorm room with Ayako in tow. We took the bus from the bus stop in front of our dorm building and got to the dental sciences building within a matter of ten or so minutes. I followed Ayako to the orthodontics wing of the building and they had an absolutely gorgeous atrium with all kinds of foliating plants and a huge saltwater fish tank in the middle of the waiting room. I followed Ayako to the receptionist desk as she told the girls she had someone who was having a dental emergency and needed to be seen as of Dr. Kusomaru.

Ayako sat me down with the necessary paperwork for me to fill out as she went back to the back room to get to her classes and what she needed to do in the clinic. Fifteen minutes later I was called back to one of the treatment rooms. I was greeted by Dr. Kusomaru, Ayako, and an assistant named Trina. Trina was a beautiful girl who was really tall and played on the women’s national championship basketball team. Trina put a set of cheek separators in my mouth as Dr. Kusomaru and Ayako dug around in my mouth looking at everything going on in there. After digging around in there, Dr. Kusomaru told Trina to make a scan of my mouth so she could study it. But before Trina started, the doctor turned to me “Hailey, you need braces, badly. I’m suspecting you have TMJ issues as well as crowding and other issues with your teeth. So I’m going to have Trina make scans of your teeth and we’re going to take x-rays so I can see what we have to work with.”
The doctor and Ayako left and Trina got to work making her scans. After about ten to fifteen minutes, Trina completed her work and we went to the x-ray room and she had me stand in front of a few machines as they took x-rays of my teeth. It was cool seeing as the x-rays discovered and showed off my nose piercing that I got as a student here and my parents have no idea I have it, yet. It was cool they could just scan my teeth compared to just doing molds of my teeth. After a few minutes, the orthodontist and Ayako came walking back into the room.

“Hailey, I’m not going to sugar coat what I’m about to say. You need braces – badly. You are getting a lot of structural damage in your jaw. You have severe TMJ. And you have a pretty bad overbite. What I want to do is I want to put brackets on you along with a Herbst appliance and expanders on both the top and bottom jaws. I think we can avoid jaw surgery if this works. I also want to try something experimental with your expanders where there is a small motor inside the plastic plate that will gently move the expanders every couple of days. Our lab will start on making the appliances as soon as I send them the molds. I would like to get started on everything right away. You’ll need spacers installed to make room for your expanders and herbst, though” Dr. Kusomaru said. I nodded my head.

“That sounds good, doc. I’m ready to get started but am worried about how to pay for everything.” I said.

“Well, the school is going to cover at least 90% of the costs and they might cover everything.” Dr. Kusomaru said. I signed all of the consent forms and everything.
“Excellent. You will not regret this. By the time you're in your senior year, you will have the smile of your dreams.” the doctor said. Dr. Kusomura and Trina inserted metal spacers in between my molars to make room for my appliances. Once satisfied by the placement of the metal spacers which are supposed to work faster than rubber spacers.

“Go grab something to eat and the lab should have everything done in about two hours.” Dr. Kusomaru said. I got up out of the chair and headed out of the building and decided to grab something to eat since it was almost 10 in the morning. I went and grabbed something to eat at The Common on campus and then headed off to the dental clinic after heading to the Student Bookstore to grab a couple of shirts and a hoodie.

After returning to the Dental Clinic, I walked in and checked in with the receptionist. After going to sit down, I looked at my cell phone and saw it was 11:40 in the morning. So, I had plenty of time before going in and getting my braces put on. Shortly after I sat down in the waiting area, Ayako came out and sat with me. “Are you nervous to get braces, Hailey-chan?” Ayako asked.

“I’m scared witless.” I replied.

“What scares you about getting braces, Hailey-chan?” Ayako asks.

“I think it's the whole process of getting them. I mean my molars are sore from those spacers that were inserted between my teeth. But I think it's the whole process of getting them. The idea that I'll be ugly after getting them installed on my teeth. My mouth hurting afterward and not being able to talk or eat.” I replied. Ayako smiled her braced smile.

“I assure you, you won't look ugly. It doesn’t hurt to get them put on. The most you’ll feel during the process of getting them is pressure. The pain comes afterward and that doesn’t last long. I assure you that the spacers you have are the worst your braces are going to hurt. For you, it's going to be really awkward after getting them just because you’re going to have a bunch of stuff in your mouth that has never been there before.” Ayako replied. I raised my head and looked at her.
“Besides, I’ll be there to help you get used to your new braces. That I can assure you.” I smiled at Ayako because I know she means what she says. I wasn’t prepared for what came next. “C’mon, Hailey-chan! Let’s start a new chapter in your life. Your braces chapter.” Ayako and I got up and started walking toward the treatment area.

We walked past the reception area to one of the installation rooms. Ayako patted on the chair so I would sit down. I sat down and got comfortable before everything began. Shortly after, Dr Kusomura and Trina walked in along with Ayako already being there. Dr. Kusomura and I made small talk while Ayako and Trina prepared the metal tray with tools and stuff for my own braces installation. Once Ayako and Trina got everything out, the installation began.

Dr. Kusomura and Ayako walked out while Trina started cleaning and prepping my teeth. After she scrubbed them with toothpaste, I got up and rinsed my mouth and flossed my teeth for the last time sans braces. When I sat back down, Trina started prepping my teeth with foul tasting chemicals. “The stuff I’m brushing on your teeth is going to help prepare them for Dr. Kusomura to place your brackets.” Trina explained while she worked on prepping my teeth. She got done prepping them and went to get the doctor and Ayako.

I sat there thinking “what in the world am I doing” while I was waiting for everyone to arrive. Once the doctor, Ayako and Trina arrived back. The installation began. Ayako began by removing the metal spacers from between my teeth. It felt so good to finally have no more spring between my teeth. I hear the orthodontist ask Trina for a band. I feel it being fitted to my molar. Once they find out which size fits, they pull the band off and put dental concrete on it and set the band on my tooth. They do this for all my remaining molars. It’s explained to me that each of the bands that were put on my molars, have headgear tubes on it because that’s all they had at the time. Next I hear the orthodontist ask Trina for the cap and expander for my herbst appliance. They fitted it on my other molars to ensure fit. Once fit was confirmed, it was removed from my mouth, cement put in the caps, and then refitted into my mouth. I feel the caps being wedged onto my teeth and the cement take hold. Then the orthodontist asks for trays which have my brackets embedded in silicone to be put on my teeth. I see the orthodontist put glue on each bracket and that whole setup is put on my teeth. Next a bright, blue light is being shown on my teeth and I can feel the glue harden making the brackets irremovable. The orthodontist removes the silicone and my cheek retractors and I’m free to feel brackets and caps with my tongue which is a totally foriegn feeling in my mouth. Next, the orthodontist applies the pistons on my caps to connect my herbst appliance. I feel her pull my lip away and start screwing the piston into place and as she works around my mouth to put everything together. She tells the assistant what size wire to put into place on my brackets and then I’m asked to choose one or two colors to put on my brackets. I pick black and pink. The orthodontist starts threading the wire through my brackets and the assistant starts applying the colors. I can feel the pressure start to build in my mouth as each band is placed on my brackets. My mouth feels so weird right now. The orthodontist tells me that I’m supposed to have these on for the next three years and I’m supposed to come in every six weeks to have my wires changed out. She then tells the assistant to show me how to take care of my new braces. Trina shows me how to brush my teeth and how to care for my new accessories. She then hands me a goodie bag full of stuff I need for taking care of my new braces. I will make my next appointment for six weeks. I walked out of the orthodontic wing of the dental clinic and made my way to the bathroom. When I walked into the ladies bathroom, I did my business, washed my hands, and looked in the mirror since I didn’t get a chance to look at them in the clinic. I stood there, stone faced and then smiled. I could see the brackets that now adorned every tooth and the wire that now showed just how crooked my teeth really were. As I looked in the mirror, I started crying. Crying because I saw myself as ugly and no one would want to date me. But I was crying because I was happy. Happy I’m finally taking a step to better my oral health and to have a better smile than I ever did before. I walked out of the dental sciences building and headed back to the bus stop and headed back to the apartment.

I got back to the apartment and sifted through the stuff I got from the orthodontists office. Stuff like flosses, wax, electric toothbrush, water flosser, disclosing tablets, and other things. So, I knew I needed to go to the store and pick some stuff up. So, I contacted an Uber and went to our local department store. I went directly to their drug section and bought some Motrin and Acetaminophen. I also picked up some mouthwash, little Christmas tree brushes, and some other stuff I needed. I wanted to get ahead of the pain as much as I could. I grabbed some other soft foods and a few other things and headed back to the dorms. I really didn’t feel much pain until I was ready to go to bed around 11 pm that night. At that time, my teeth were throbbing but it wasn't too bad overall.

Offline blueblur1997

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Re: Story: Hailey
« Reply #8 on: 22. October 2022, 16:10:14 PM »
Chapter 4: Epilogue

It’s now spring of my junior year of college. I knew it would be somewhere around the time I graduated as to when I would lose the brackets that are now on my teeth and would wear a permanent retainer and have hawley retainers put into my mouth to keep everything looking okay. I found out that boys liked me having braces but, even though I am attracted to boys, I ended up with a girlfriend who I love very much. Maddie came to school under the same circumstances I did. Difference being she came to San Mateo State from being in Maine. Which made her move all the more unusual. I ended up switching majors shortly after getting braces. I decided I wanted to become an orthodontist as well and I became fascinated by braces as well. I want to be able to go back home to North Carolina and help people see a better side of themselves.

As for my parents…they hated my braces at first. But I told them they are a part of me now and I can’t see myself without them. They didn’t like that I came home with new piercings and tattoos. They really didn’t like it when I came home with a girlfriend. Maddie and I will have been in a relationship for a little more than a year when we go to my parents for Christmas break.

As for my braces. I absolutely love them. They are the best thing that has happened to me. They’ve raised my confidence so much and I just love having them. I was kinda depressed when they removed my herbst and expander as I came to love them as well. It just seems great having all this metal in my mouth. I know I’ll be depressed when the day comes for me to finally be done with my braces.
Chapter 4: Epilogue

It’s now spring of my junior year of college. I knew it would be somewhere around the time I graduated as to when I would lose the brackets that are now on my teeth and would wear a permanent retainer and have hawley retainers put into my mouth to keep everything looking okay. I found out that boys liked me having braces but, even though I am attracted to boys, I ended up with a girlfriend who I love very much. Maddie came to school under the same circumstances I did. Difference being she came to San Mateo State from being in Maine. Which made her move all the more unusual. I ended up switching majors shortly after getting braces. I decided I wanted to become an orthodontist as well and I became fascinated by braces as well. I want to be able to go back home to North Carolina and help people see a better side of themselves.

As for my parents…they hated my braces at first. But I told them they are a part of me now and I can’t see myself without them. They didn’t like that I came home with new piercings and tattoos. They really didn’t like it when I came home with a girlfriend. Maddie and I will have been in a relationship for a little more than a year when we go to my parents for Christmas break.

As for my braces. I absolutely love them. They are the best thing that has happened to me. They’ve raised my confidence so much and I just love having them. I was kinda depressed when they removed my herbst and expander as I came to love them as well. It just seems great having all this metal in my mouth. I know I’ll be depressed when the day comes for me to finally be done with my braces.

Thanks for coming with me!

Offline Sparky

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Re: Story: Hailey
« Reply #9 on: 22. October 2022, 16:27:15 PM »
Oops, you pasted the main part of the text twice there....