# chapters

path: 111211132112222212222221221111
author_id: seuzz
title: A Coup in the Coop
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You don't have long to wait before Kendra comes out. She leans against the side of her car, studying her cell phone, for a long minute or two before she gets in and drives off.<br/>
<br/>
Then Kelsey and the other girl move to their cars. The one drives off, but Kelsey is still sitting in her sporty BMW convertible when Steve Patterson comes loping out, to climb into a sedan and drive away. Kelsey lingers for a few minutes longer, then she also drives off.<br/>
<br/>
As far as you can tell, that leaves Chelsea alone inside the school.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Aw, fuck it,</i> you decide. <i>If I don't try now, I'll get myself good and killed in the morning.</i> You slam Dane's car into drive and rocket over to park next to the sole remaining vehicle by the gym.<br/>
<br/>
The gym door is still unlocked, and you peer inside. The place appears to be empty. Where's Chelsea? Either in the girls' changing room or (more likely) up in the loft where the spoiled kids like her get to hang out. The fabled "fuck room." You decide to try there first.<br/>
<br/>
The slap of your footfalls on the hardwood floor echos as you scamper over to the semi-hidden staircase in the corner that leads up to the loft. The steps creak beneath your tread as you climb toward the loft. The stairs terminate in a short, narrow landing in front of a scarred wooden door. You fumble at the knob and find it locked. You rap on it, and unzip the bag you've clutched to your chest.<br/>
<br/>
There's the muffled sound of movement within, and footsteps. A voice sounds on the other side of the door: "Who is it?"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Shit.</i> "Yeah, it's me, Chels," you improvise in a voice deeper than usual. You dip your hand into the bag, and grasp the mask.<br/>
<br/>
There's a hesitation. Then the lock scratches as a deadbolt shoots back. The door creaks open a crack—<br/>
<br/>
You throw yourself against it while tearing the mask from out of the bag. Chelsea grunts and falls back. You crowd in close, forcing the mask to her face. She bangs up against a massive wooden box and slides to the floor in a heap. You stand over her, looking down.<br/>
<br/>
And yet somehow it comes as a surprise to find that you're not holding the mask anymore. It all happened in such a flurry that you didn't even notice it going into her.<br/>
<br/>
Rapidly you glance around to orient yourself. The "fuck room" turns out to be a slightly airier and better lit version of the elementary school basement. The ceiling crowds close above your head, and it is supported every few yards by some roughly hewn support beams and pillars, but it well-lit and ventilated by the windows that run along under the gym's eaves. The spaces are crowded in with discarded gym equipment—pommel horses, uneven bars, busted trampolines—and wooden crates, like the kind Chelsea is slumped against. A space has been cleared out in the middle, under one of the support pillars, and the floor covered over with old gym mats. There's some open cardboard boxes, and a dorm-size refrigerator.<br/>
<br/>
Only after you've glanced over the room does it occur to you how stupid you were to assault Chelsea like that. What if she hadn't been alone?<br/>
<br/>
You shut and lock the door, and pull Chelsea by her ankles over onto one of the gym mats, there to give her a long, greedy look over.<br/>
<br/>
So this is the girl who got you into all this trouble. She's a mess. Her skirt has flown up over her hips and her sweater is twisted halfway around. Her golden hair is a tangled mane of curls. Her neck and her limbs are crooked, like those of a rag doll flung carelessly into a corner.<br/>
<br/>
But <i>my God</i> is she inviting!<br/>
<br/>
Her thighs and calves, wrapped tight in a golden hose, are firm and muscled, and her feet inside the tiny white sneakers are nubile. Her prodigious bust rises and falls as she huffs and chuffs unconsciously, and even in her swoon her brow and cheeks are taut and clear. That mess of tangled hair is just begging to be brushed out with caressing fingers.<br/>
<br/>
And beneath her blown-up skirt are a pair of tight, white panties.<br/>
<br/>
You can't resist the urge to wedge your hand there. Her body heat radiates through the cotton.<br/>
<br/>
Yes, yes, this is giving you a raging hard-on, but you've got work to do. You have to get her out of her clothes—and get yourself out of a mask—before she wakes up.<br/>
<br/>
And before anyone comes up here and catches you.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You start on Chelsea, hauling off her sneakers and skirt; pulling her upright to pull off her sweater and bra; lifting her leg by leg to peel off the hose. It all goes into a jumbled pile, topped—like a cherry—by the dainty panties. (Your eye greedily goes to her secret place. It is flushed and ripe and smooth.) Over her you drop a set of Dane's clothes, which you brought packed in the bag, so that you don't have to change more clothes than necessary. Then you flop down with your back to one of the support pillars and grab your face. <i>1 ... 2 ... 3 ... Secret words, secret words, secret words ...</i> And pull!<br/>
<br/>
The world shrinks into a bright dot swallowed by an obliterating darkness as you fight the urge to faint away. And maybe you succeed, for you are numbly aware of putting out a hand to catch yourself as you topple to one side. Or maybe you do pass out, for after shaking the wooziness from your head, you look over to see a blue mask balanced atop Chelsea's face. You grimace as you lean over to snatch it up, and your elbows nearly go out from under you; you just catch yourself before falling face-first into her belly. Your breathing, even in your own ears, sounds as labored as an old-fashioned steam locomotive as you gingerly peel the mask off Chelsea's face, disclosing the sleeping girl beneath. You gulp and hold your breath as she swallows, then feel around—eyes locked on her face—for Dane's mask. It almost slips from your trembling fingers as you thrust it at Chelsea. Then it vanishes as it hits her.<br/>
<br/>
The hairy and very masculine Dane Matthias materializes where Chelsea had been.<br/>
<br/>
Your eyes still locked on your unconscious companion, you clamber unsteadily to your feet and look around for your gear. Chelsea's mask goes into your supply bag, along with her purse (which was resting atop the dorm refrigerator) and the cell phone that was lying on one of the mats. You grab up her clothes in an armful, and tiptoe across the creaking floorboards to the door. You give the new Dane Matthias one last, fearful glance as you back out of the loft, and shut the door on him.<br/>
<br/>
You fight the urge to run down the stairs—<i>quietly, quietly, man,</i> you tell yourself—and not until you're at the bottom do you sprint like a son of a bitch for the side door. You throw yourself outside into the sunlight and gallop for the parking lot. That must be Chelsea's car—a two-door, cherry-red Honda subcompact—parked next to Dane's, but not until you've fumbled the keys from her purse and hit the remote unlock do you confirm it. You jam yourself inside it—the space between the driver's seat and the wheel is way too short and narrow for you, but you don't waste time adjusting it—twist the key in the ignition, and rocket backward away from the school. Then, hurling it into drive, you race across the lot and back toward town, hardly even bothering to watch for traffic as you whip onto Borman Avenue. Your heart is pounding hard as you shoot across the river; and, strange to say, you feel a lot more panicked now that you are away from school than you felt when you were making the actual heist! <i>Almost clear,</i> you find yourself fretting. <i>But still time for a massive screw-up!</i><br/>
<br/>
Once across the river and into town proper, you scout for a hiding place to park and finish the transformation. That had been part of your plan, too, but you'd neglected to scope out a changing spot first, and now you have to improvise. You wind up in the narrow employee parking lot behind the Mellon Village Shopping Center, parked by the big, green trash dumpster. Only after you've shut the motor off and given the scene a long, slow, look around to confirm there's no one loitering in sight, do you let yourself start to unwind. Your muscles and joints ache all over, and black dots swarm in front of your eyes as the accumulated stress starts to boil away inside your skull.<br/>
<br/>
Your hands are shaking hard as you dig inside your bag—wouldn't it be fucking perfect if you forgot something?—and you nearly make a mess of it while coating the inner surface of Chelsea's mask with the sealant. The whole time your eyes nearly bulge from your head at the way that Chelsea's name—CHELSEA COURTNEY COOPER—seems to float over the inside of the mask, just above the metal strip you glued there.<br/>
<br/>
At last you finish coating the mask, and blow it dry, and pack the tub of sealant and the brush away. Distractedly, you even try to tidy up Chelsea's of clothes before making the final move, and you make sure the car doors are locked. Your breath is coming in great, painful gasps as you lift the mask with both hands, and hold it just before your face.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Here goes,</i> you think. <i>I'm about to turn myself into Chelsea Cooper.</i> But your brain is so frazzled by adrenaline that it hardly registers, even as you lift the mask to your face.<br/>
<br/>
Again, everything goes dark.</span></div></div>


path: 1112111321122222122222212211111
author_id: seuzz
title: Are You There, Chelsea? It's Me, Will Prescott!
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span><i>Oof. Headache,</i> you murmur to yourself. <i>Stupid headache.</i> Your brain wires are too tangled up think any more coherently than that.<br/>
<br/>
With a grimace you pry your eyes open. Not that it does much good. Your hair has fallen into your face. With a groan and a grunt you push it back and lift your face. Your head wobbles, like it's trying to fall off your neck.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Oh, God, what the fuck?</i> you wonder as you peer around. <i>How did I fall asleep sitting up? And what am I doing in my car? Why am I—?</i><br/>
<br/>
You gasp and jump in your seat, banging your crown against the roof. You're naked from the neck down!<br/>
<br/>
You gulp and swallow and spin your seat, looking around and trying to spot where you are and who's spying on you and playing this sick, sick prank. You find you're parked next to a green commercial dumpster—<i>Oh! Ick!</i>—with the nose of your car pressed against a blank brick wall. You're in a narrow commercial parking lot, likely behind a strip center or something. There's other cars around, but no people.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Oh, Jesus! Gordon! You ass!</i> you squeal to yourself. This is <i>exactly</i> the kind of stupid shit prank he'd try playing!<br/>
<br/>
Your clothes are piled up in the passenger seat, and you whimper as you paw through them, looking for your underthings. <i>Oh, Jesus!</i> If someone comes along and finds you like this—frantically you hike your legs through your panties and hoist them up around your butt—you will <i>fucking kill</i> whatever shit-for-brains did this to you! Probably it was Steve and Jason. Those two asswipes are always—<br/>
<br/>
You pause as you are wrapping your bra around you. Steve and Jason. <i>I was just with them at the school.</i> You resume dressing, distractedly. <i>They couldn't have done this. They've even been, like, halfway decent recently, what with Gordon sailing off the deep end into whatever and wherever his brain is now.</i> You were just with them and with Kendra and Gloria because you all were talking to that dipshit pot-smoker Dane Matthias about—<br/>
<br/>
Dane Matthias. You pause again, this time with your fuzzy white sweater only halfway down around your boobs. <i>Why the fuck does that name make me want to scream and retch? Aside from the obvious reasons.</i> You've pulled down the sweater and are picking up your hose when you remember.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Dane Matthias came and banged on the loft door after the others left, and then he came barging inside and he hit me in the face with—!</i><br/>
<br/>
Your fingers go numb. There's a memory there, somewhere, struggling to get out. <i>Don't force it, Chelsea,</i> you tell yourself as you slowly pull the golden hose on. <i>Just let it come. You'll remember. He came barging in, a horrible grin on his face, and he pushed something at me, and—<br/>
<br/>
And now I'm here.</i><br/>
<br/>
You glance around again, fearfully. Dane hangs out with a really bad crowd. If they're around— If he brought you and them all out here so they could—<br/>
<br/>
You scramble for the door lock. It's already locked, but you don't relax even after looking in the back seat for— For— <i>Ulp!</i><br/>
<br/>
Well, whoever brought you out here, at least they left you in the driver's seat <i>and</i> they left the key in the ignition. Your hand is trembling as you start it, and you zip out from behind the strip center and onto a main boulevard without even bothering to put on your skirt or your shoes. You're trembling all over as steer down— Okay, it looks like you're on Borman Avenue. Where can you go that's safe? Not back to the school! Okay, home is the best choice. But you can't pull up at your house half undressed this way.<br/>
<br/>
You hook a right onto Thirtieth Street and sail past the city government buildings—paranoid the whole time that a cop will stop you—steering in the vague direction of home, until, lacking any other choice, you pull behind another strip center—the South Creek Shopping Center—to finish dressing.<br/>
<br/>
It's weird that you feel guilty as you finish fumbling your skirt around your waist.<br/>
<br/>
It's not until you're reaching for your shoes that you notice the tan, canvas book bag in the passenger seat. It was under your clothes, but you only glanced at it in your rush to get dressed. But now you give it a direct look.<br/>
<br/>
It stirs a memory. Something to do with Dane ... or with somebody else. You open it up and look inside. There's a Rubbermaid container containing something white and gooey, and a paint brush that's sticky with the stuff. You put it back in the bag, frown, and—<br/>
<br/>
<i>Oh God.</i> It's like being slammed in the back of the head with a sledgehammer.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You pace beside the car, shaking out your clothes and hair and getting everything tucked and straightened out. The clothes feel good—tight hose on your legs, scrumptious sneakers on your feet; the skirt and floppy sweater; the bra to lift and support your awesome chest jugs. You take out your cell phone and turn the camera on yourself, to admire the bright eyes and the little pug nose, the glossy lips and the tousled, golden hair. <i>It was totally worth that thirty-minute freakout,</i> you tell yourself, <i>to get to where I am now!</i><br/>
<br/>
Even now, having recovered your sense of self, you are feeling a little ill and shaky from the effects of that emotional storm. Waking up naked, with no notion of how you got that way, was bad enough. But then came the recovery of your own memories. It was like someone vomiting up black sludge in the back of your skull, and it rose and rose and overwhelmed you, leaving you gasping and wanting to faint. <i>Oh God, I'm not Chelsea Cooper, my real name is Will Prescott!</i> The thought filled your brain and drowned your personality, then overflowed and gushed down your spine and into your shoulders, spreading under your skin like a tarry oil slick, until it had filled your insides with another presence—another body. And then—<br/>
<br/>
<i>Mmm. I'm Will Prescott,</i> you groaned with an aching pleasure. <i>And I'm finally inside Chelsea Cooper's body! Oh God!</i> You grabbed fistfuls of hair and lifted your face and moaned. <i>I've got her body and everything else! I can </i>be<i> her! I </i>am<i> her!</i><br/>
<br/>
You squirmed and shifted in the car seat, trying to work yourself into every crevice, every capillary, every nerve and muscle fiber, of the body of Chelsea Cooper, making it your own. You wormed into every fold of her brain, wrapping your own thoughts around hers and making them yours. <i>Oh God, I'm not me anymore!</i> you squealed to yourself with delicious horror. <i>I'm a girl called Chelsea Cooper. And no one can ever say I'm not!</i><br/>
<br/>
That's when you climbed out of the car to finish putting yourself together. Straightening the seams of your hose and twisting your skirt and sweater to get them settled right. Tucking your feet into the new sneakers and tying them tight. Pushing your hair around until it settled into a comfortable heap around your ears and shoulders. Then you stretched all over and jogged in place until your new muscles had completely warmed up.<br/>
<br/>
You study your face in the cell phone. It still looks blotchy and a little cracked from the stress of the afternoon—it's nearly three o'clock—and you need to repair your makeup. You squint at the back of the strip center. There will be restrooms inside one of the stores, but they'll be nasty little places with harsh neon lights and funny smells. <i>Eww!</i> So you prop the phone on the roof of your car, pull out your purse, and make what repairs you can with a powder brush and a little gloss. Then you put everything away and climb back in the car.<br/>
<br/>
It fits around you a lot better now, the seat exactly far enough from the wheel and pedals. You turn the motor over, and drive back out onto Thirtieth.<br/>
<br/>
<i>I was heading "home,"</i> you recall with a frown. Funny, then, that you took Thirtieth, which dead-ends into South Creek Park, instead of Twentieth, which is Chelsea's usual route back to her house. You idly wonder if, unconsciously, your original personality wasn't trying to steer you back to your own house.<br/>
<br/>
You take Orlando to Twentieth, then turn south. You've every intention of returning to Chelsea's house—there's no place for you to be—but as you approach the intersection with Albion, where you will make a left, you slow down.<br/>
<br/>
Turn left on Albion, and you'll go to your new home, where your new parents and your new brother and your new bedroom and new life and friends await. Turning right, though, will take you back to Acheson, and to the community center. <br/>
<br/>
<i>I should tell Caleb what I've done,</i> you think.<br/>
<br/>
Well, yes. Obviously! But you don't have to do that right away. You can wait until tomorrow, at school. Make it a big surprise when <i>Chelsea Cooper</i> of all people comes bounding up to him, to tell him ...<br/>
<br/>
<i>To tell him I heard he's a math whiz, and ask if we can get together tonight at the library so he can help me with my homework! 'I'll totally make it worth your while!'"</i></span></div></div>


path: 11121113211222221222222122111111
author_id: seuzz
title: Guess Who!
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>It would probably be more fun to surprise Caleb at school tomorrow with your new body and identity. But you just can't stand to wait.<br/>
<br/>
So you make a fast dart across two lanes of traffic and hang a sharp right at the light, to head back into Acheson. A horn blares at you, but you flip them off with a manicured middle finger.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You head for the elementary school, with the plan of texting Caleb to come out and meet you once you're there. But his car is already parked by the basement door. You primp a little, and give yourself a smug smile in the rearview mirror, before getting out.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey!" you call after pushing open the basement door. The floor below is dimly lit, and seemingly deserted. "Anyone here? Hello?" Silence. "Caleb? Dude?" You descend the creaking stairs. "Hey, come out, man! I won't bite." You can't help tittering. "Unless you beg!"<br/>
<br/>
A shadow detaches itself from behind a bookcase at your elbow, and you jump back with a start. "Jesus!" you gasp.<br/>
<br/>
It's Caleb. He's wielding a two-by-four like a baseball bat, and his eyes are wide and staring in a face that's pale and grimy. He says nothing, and his breath comes in rasping gasps.<br/>
<br/>
"Caleb!" you squeal. "What are you doing? Come on, it's me! Will?" You splay your tiny hand across your giant bosom. "Do you like?" You bounce on the balls of your feet. "I'm Chelsea!"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb's eyes widen, and he swallows.<br/>
<br/>
Then he explodes.<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus Fuck, man!" he yells, and flings the two-by-four away with a clatter and crash. "The <i>fuck!</i> Do you <i>think!</i> You're <i>doing?</i>" he screams.<br/>
<br/>
But it's not like Caleb Johansson could freak out Chelsea Cooper!<br/>
<br/>
"Pff, chill, man," you retort. "I got me a new disguise! I—"<br/>
<br/>
"I can see that!" he yells. "And you went out? You <i>fucking went out</i> and got <i>clothes</i> to go with it?" His cry ends in a strangled shriek.<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't go out and get nothing! They <i>came</i> with her, dude! I got the face and I got the clothes, and now I'm her!"<br/>
<br/>
There's a feverish light in Caleb's eye. "They <i>came</i> with her?" he echoes. "I didn't get no fucking clothes off her when I made the mask, man! Where the fuck did you get—?" He looks you up and down. "How did you even know how to put on a bra?"<br/>
<br/>
You roll your eyes. "I know because of the doohickey you made. I just got back from— I switched places with her, man! I texted her and met up with her— Pff, that was nearly a disaster! But I switched out with her, got the Danester's mask on her, so <i>she</i> can fight of Chen if he comes looking to break her kneecaps. It's all good. It's all perfect. <i>I'm</i> all perfect!" You twirl in place so that your skirt flies off. "Don't you think?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb stares, his lips working silently. The he bursts past you and overleaps the big conference table, to tackle a lopsided set of cabinets leaning against a far wall. He searches through them, and finally turns around with a mask in his hand. He peers at it, turning it this way and that in the gloom, studying its surface.<br/>
<br/>
He looks up at you with a frown. "This is the mask I made of Chelsea," he says. "Where did you get—?" He points at you, and his brow creases with suspicion.<br/>
<br/>
"The one I'm wearing? Oh, Jesus." You take the long way around the conference table, to meet up with him on the other side, and yank the mask from his hands. You study the highlights that gleam and run over its surface, until you are able to make out the ghostly face of Chelsea Cooper—the face you're wearing now—inside it.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, fuck me stupid. Fuck me stupider!" you gasp. "I forgot you made one of her already! Christ. I was up, like, half the night last night making a new one to use. And I also used one of the new doohickeys that you made." You glance around. "It works perfectly, by the way. Fuck me, when I woke up after putting it on, I spent like half an hour freaking out because I thought I really was Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
"So you got another mask of her? And you got her clothes?" Caleb asks. His brow is still troubled. "So what did you do with <i>her?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"I told you, I popped Dane's mask onto her. Like we popped mine onto Gordon, and Gordon's onto— She's <i>Dane,</i> now, man. And <i>I</i> get to be—!"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb makes a strangled <i>Eep</i>-like noise and runs for the stairs. "Did you leave Dane's phone with her?" he shouts back.<br/>
<br/>
"Yes. I switched everything with him! I needed her phone but I didn't need his, and—"<br/>
<br/>
"Did you get my text before you made this lunk-headed, broken-brained, shit-stupid <i>switch?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"The fuck?" you gasp. "What's your problem? You just jealous I—?"<br/>
<br/>
"<i>Did you get my text?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"No! What text?"<br/>
<br/>
Even from all the way across the basement, you can see that Caleb has turned very white.<br/>
<br/>
"The text I sent you, like twenty minutes ago, asking you to meet me here!"<br/>
<br/>
You feel the blood drain from your own face. But even then the penny doesn't quite drop.<br/>
<br/>
"Dude," you breathe, "if Chelsea gets that text and comes out here—"<br/>
<br/>
"What makes you think she's not already on her way?"<br/>
<br/>
It's like your feet are bolted to the floor. You can't lift them, and your knees are locked so that you can only wobble and sway in place.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb peers out the door. "I heard you coming, and I thought it was ... well ... <i>you.</i> But as Dane. Then I saw it was someone else's car, so I hid and—"<br/>
<br/>
"What are we waiting here for?" you shriek, and the shock of the scream loosens your feet from the floor. "We have to get out of here! I mean, I know she's going to see me at school tomorrow! But if she finds me out here—!"<br/>
<br/>
You elbow Caleb in the gut as you bolt up the stairs. He runs after you. "Does Chelsea have the key to the basement?" he yells.<br/>
<br/>
<i>"What?"</i><br/>
<br/>
"Do <i>you</i> have your key to the basement? Or did you leave it with ... Dane?"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Shit!</i> "I think he's got it! <i>She's</i> got it! Dude, what are you <i>doing?</i>" He's run back down into the basement. "We have to get out of here!"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb's head pops up. "I have to clean this place out, in case he comes snooping! You get out of here! Meet me at ... um ..."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll meet you at your place!" you holler, and jump into your car. The key bounces off the ignition as you frantically try jamming it in.<br/>
<br/>
And yet (Chelsea's) force of habit will prevail, and you'll carefully buckle yourself in before throwing the car into reverse and racing back onto the street.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You and Caleb wind up down the street, in the deserted parking lot of Schulyer Middle School, which you attended and which your brother attends. There seems little chance of the two of you being spotted together, but still you huddle low in the passenger seat of Caleb's car, with your face averted from the window, as you talk. Caleb is pissed that you made this switch without talking to him first. <br/>
<br/>
Which pisses <i>you</i> off. "I don't need your permission to do shit!" you tell him. "It's my book, it's my stuff. It's my freaking life that Chen wants to end, so if I see a chance to—"<br/>
<br/>
"It's <i>Dane's</i> life he wants to end," Caleb retorts.<br/>
<br/>
"And I was Dane! Now Chelsea is Dane! And it serves her right. She's the one that got me into this mess, by sicking her psycho boyfriend on me—"<br/>
<br/>
"You told me you lipped off to her."<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck you! Actually, now that I think about it, it's <i>your</i> fault all this happened, when you slapped that mask onto Gordon! If you're feeling so sorry for Chelsea—"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not feeling sorry for Chelsea!"<br/>
<br/>
"—we can go find her and <i>you and her</i> can switch places! Serve you both right if <i>you</i> got massacred by Chen and <i>she</i> got to spend the rest of her life being a goofy, cheese-faced dork!"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb turns very pink, and looks away.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, if that's what you think of me, Will," he starts to say.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, shut up! Just don't tell me what I should and shouldn't be doing. I told you, it's my life and it's my magical shit, you're just helping. And if it's that 'cheese-faced' thing I just said, it just popped into my head." You realize you have folded your arms across your chest, and have crossed your legs in very dainty way as well. "It's something <i>Chelsea</i> would have said."<br/>
<br/>
"And now <i>you're</i> Chelsea," Caleb says in a very wooden tone of voice. "How long for?"<br/>
<br/>
"Until Chen calms down, at least."<br/>
<br/>
"And how will you know when <i>that</i> is?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm counting on <i>you</i> to let me know. You're the one who's going to be hanging out with Dane."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, <i>fuck!</i> What makes you think—"<br/>
<br/>
"You texted him, right? He's gonna think— <i>Chelsea</i> is gonna think you and him are buds."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll tell him I butt-texted the wrong person."<br/>
<br/>
But a little later, when "Dane" replies to Caleb's text with the note <i>I'm here where r u?</i> Caleb gives in with a groan and agrees to go meet him.<br/>
<br/>
"You owe me big time," he growls as you get of his car. "At the very least, I'm gonna wanna see your tits!"<br/>
<br/>
You give him a tight smile and a wave, and climb into your car for the drive to your new home.</span></div></div>


path: 111211132112222212222221221111111
author_id: seuzz
title: At Play with Chelsea Cooper
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>The rest of the day is weirdly empty and anticlimactic after the excitement of the morning. You return to a beautiful house in the leafy southeastern part of the city—not far from where your aunt and uncle and cousin Umeko live, actually—where your new father is napping in the living room while a gross brother (this one older, in college) slouches on a love seat watching a ball game on his cell phone. Your new mother, like your old one, is knitting, but she gives you a bright smile as you come in.<br/>
<br/>
Upstairs, you throw yourself onto your bed with your cell phone, to start catching up on texts and social media posts that you've been ignoring. It's some time before you look up to glance over a bedroom that is both very new to you and very familiar. It's done up in peach tones, with fluffy curtains at the window and a four-poster bed where—you shudder with a mix of disgust and delight—Chelsea has let her brutish boyfriend finger-bang her into muffled orgasms while the family downstairs watched TV. There are stuffed dolls on the chest of drawers, and an ornate vanity table with mirror (a bequest from a deceased relative) on the far wall, next to the door to the private bath.<br/>
<br/>
In the meantime, there's those texts and posts to consider. Most of them are from Kendra and Gloria, your two "loyal" lieutenants who gather all the gossip for you at school. They want to know if you believe that Dane was telling the truth about Gordon getting into some "bad shit." Kendra says she believes it; Gloria is far more skeptical. Both tiptoe around the obvious question: Is goofball Gordon someone that you want to continue dating? Particularly in light of the social posts they direct you to, where you find photos of Gordon in strange living rooms, splayed out with a dopey grin on his face and stringy, party-hearty skanks like Brianna Gould and Rebecca Sykes perched on his lap, making kissy faces at the camera. In most of the shots, Gordon has a doobie hanging out of the corner of his mouth.<br/>
<br/>
Part of you delights in your handiwork. Another part—a part you picked up from Chelsea—is both furious and mortified. Kendra comes closest to stating the obvious course of action when, after linking to one photo in which a girl with green hair seems to be giving  Gordon a blow-job while your red-faced boyfriend goes cross-eyed with delight, she says, <i>Ur going to kill him rite?</i> To that you reply: <i>Not ur business kendra.</i><br/>
<br/>
Steve and Jason are more circumspect. In fact, there's no messages at all from Steve. This is hardly a surprise, since he and Chelsea loathe each other to their bones' marrows, and she asked him to come to the gym today (and he came out) only because they have a mutual interest in seeing that Gordon gets clean and sober. Chelsea and Jason, if possible, hate each other even more, but Jason is oily through and through, and has hit you with a couple of texts promising to "look into things for you, Chels" as a follow up to Dane's interrogation.<br/>
<br/>
There's also some needy and tiresome texts from Meghan Farris. She's planning to throw a big party in two weeks, and she is desperate to confirm that you will be there.<br/>
<br/>
But you really don't want to deal with anyone and anything. It's just too boring when set next to the excitement of what you've done. So you text Kendra and Gloria, telling them that you've got to shut down for the afternoon to "detox," then turn your phone off. You pop your head out to the head of the stairs to shout down that you'll be in the bathtub. Then you lock yourself behind two sets of doors and disrobe.<br/>
<br/>
Good as it felt to get into Chelsea's clothes this afternoon, it feels even better to get out of them, and after dropping them in the hamper—and turning on the bath water, which you spike with some oils and salts—you scratch and rub yourself all over and turn to the big mirror over the sink. The girl in it smiles back at you dreamily.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Oh, look at you, Chelsea,</i> you murmur to yourself as you twist this way and that, admiring your firm bosoms and hard buttocks. You go up on tiptoe to give yourself a better view. <i>Is there another girl at school half as sexy as you? I don't think so!</i><br/>
<br/>
And it's all natural, too. Oh, you've heard rumors of rumors that circulate at school, that your nose isn't real and neither are your boobs, that you've had implants here and nips and tuck there. Rumors you've repaid by spreading much more likely stories about Cindy Vredenburg and Kelsey Blankenship (and Kendra and Gloria, who need keeping in their place). But no, not one bit of Chelsea has been touched with a knife or a needle! All that she's done to give herself that sculpted tummy with the scoop where the shallow navel rests ...<br/>
<br/>
And the bowl-like hips with the velvety lips ...<br/>
<br/>
And the hard, strong thighs and calves ...<br/>
<br/>
... has been to work at shaping and toning them. Aerobics every day, and step-masters, and a few weights. As for the giant jugs with their rosy tips ...<br/>
<br/>
And the dainty fingers and niblet-like toes ...<br/>
<br/>
The firm chin and the button nose and the tumbling locks of golden hair ...<br/>
<br/>
... Well, those she was born with. Every one of them the product of kindly nature and good genes, well-tended by healthy eating and good exercise.<br/>
<br/>
You gasp, and bury your face in your fingertips to muffle the sudden gale of laughter.<br/>
<br/>
<i>No, actually, it's all a fake,</i> you reflect as you grin wickedly at your reflection through your fingers. <i>If people really knew what I looked like under this thing ...</i> You snort so hard that a booger shoots halfway out your nose.<br/>
<br/>
You wipe it away, then use the toilet. Wiping your frontside down, afterward, is a new experience for both you and Chelsea. New for you because ... dur! New for Chelsea because you take a gasping pleasure in rubbing the paper over a piece of fleshy real estate you've long fantasized over.<br/>
<br/>
Then into the hot, steamy tub, to linger and rub yourself inside and out with velvety fingertips. The climax you bring yourself to is a gentle one—a lovely simmer that bubbles over rather than explodes—but it leaves you relaxed all over, so that afterward you fall into a hazy doze that lasts until the water has turned tepid. It's with a groan—and a sense that you'd probably need a Swedish massage or something to get all the stress of the day worked out—that you clamber from the tub, and it's tiring work to dry yourself off. After that, you decide to make an early night of it and dress again in flannel pajamas. Sunday nights are usually "leftover night" at the Coopers, and when dinnertime comes you pad downstairs to improvise yourself a low-calorie Italian meat sauce over some low-carb pasta. You take it upstairs to eat so you don't have to deal with your grubby brother.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Great job today, guys!" you exclaim at the end of cheerleader practice the next morning. "Well, as good a job as we can expect," you add, and dismiss the other girls with a clap of the hands even as they exchange sulky looks.<br/>
<br/>
Everyone is sweaty and disheveled from the workout you put them through—not just tumbling routines, but also a fifteen minute jog around the inside of the gym. Eva Garner's hair, which hangs in loose, blonde curls like yours, is sopping and looks like it's going to slide off the top of her head, and sweat stains splotch the tops of Lin Pol's and Yumi Saito's leotards.<br/>
<br/>
So you're ending class ten minutes early so everyone—yourself included—can get a quick shower before the final bell rings. You take the nozzle farthest in the back, so that you can watch all the other other girls—<br/>
<br/>
The sexiest girls at Westside. Except for Michelle Estrich, who's just kind of <i>Ehh.</i><br/>
<br/>
—soap and lather and rinse themselves down.<br/>
<br/>
Then, after a quick dry-off, it's into a simple ensemble of flannel shorts, floppy t-shirt, and sandals. You knew you were going to work the squad hard today—no reason not to get your new life and job off on the wrong foot!—and came prepared. Inside, you titter while watching Lin and Kendra and Gloria wrapping their still-damp bodies up inside some tight, sleeveless blouses and clinging legging.<br/>
<br/>
It's mean of you, you know. But one reason <i>Chelsea Cooper</i> is the hottest girl at school is because she always looks better than anyone else. And one reason she always looks better than anyone else is because she can set it up so her nine closest rivals—okay, eight closest rivals, not counting Michelle <i>"Ehh"</i> Estrich—look like they came to school wearing the wrong set of clothes.<br/>
<br/>
Also, it's revenge. You heard Lin and Yumi murmuring about <i>Gordon</i> and <i>this weekend</i> and <i>Can we give Chelsea some of what he's been smoking,</i> and it really pissed you off, though you pretended not to hear.<br/>
<br/>
Maybe Gordon's heard the talk, too. Because when you swing into E wing after second period, to head for French, you see him—<br/>
<br/>
Giant lummox that he is, he's unmissable with his head bobbing above everyone else's.<br/>
<br/>
—loitering in front of Mr. Rodriguez's classroom. You turn on your heel and stalk the other way. The last thing you want is Dane Matthias, in Gordon Black's body, trying to slobber all over you.<br/>
<br/>
Then you stop. Maybe you should go see what he has to say.<br/>
<br/>
But you'd rather skip. You can go hang out in the library with Eva Garner. Who isn't your favorite person, but at least pretends to be polite around you. You can talk about—<br/>
<br/>
<i>Ooh!</i> You grin with anticipation. <i>I can talk to her about Caleb! And the date she had with him on Saturday! That'd be brilliant!</i></span></div></div>


path: 1112111321122222122222212211111111
author_id: seuzz
title: Boyfriends Who Are Bad for You
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Hanging out with "Gordon" would be too weird. First of all, he's not acting like Gordon. And second of all, you would know why he's not acting like Gordon.<br/>
<br/>
Besides, "girl talk" with Eva in the school library sounds a lot more fun!<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Oh my God!" you sigh as you throw yourself into the chair beside Eva. You heft your backpack onto the table—right on top of her books.<br/>
<br/>
Not that she was doing any studying. She was leaning back in her chair, closely studying her cell phone as you came sailing into the library.<br/>
<br/>
"Have you ever had one of those days, Eva," you ask, "where it isn't even noon and you're still ready to kill everyone?" You make a face at a boy at the next table who is openly staring at you.<br/>
<br/>
"Who do you want to kill today, Chelsea?" Eva asks. She slips her cell phone into her pocket.<br/>
<br/>
"<i>Everyone.</i> Oh, not you!" You lay a hand on her arm. "You were <i>great</i> at practice today. So much better than usual." <i>Damn, that came out wrong,</i> you think. "But if everyone was like you were today, always, I wouldn't have so much stress in my life. You know?"<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh." Eva shoves your pack off her books. "I've got some studying I have to do before next period."<br/>
<br/>
"So do I, so don't mind me. I'm only skipping French. So, like, oo-la-la-di-dah!" You take your phone from your bag. "Oh, by the way, how was your date with Caleb this weekend?"<br/>
<br/>
You ask it as casually as you can, with your eyes locked on the cell phone screen. But it was  the big reason you came in here. You want to probe Eva about that date you had with her Saturday, under Caleb's mask.<br/>
<br/>
"It wasn't a 'date,' Chelsea," Eva says in a pinched voice. "We just got together to, you know, hang out."<br/>
<br/>
You look up and give her a long, open-mouthed stare. Eva was really defensive with you—with Chelsea—about Caleb the last time that Chelsea asked about him. <i>Look, if I want to go out with a guy, that's my business,</i> is what she'd said. Now she's claiming that she's not going out with him.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't understand, Eva," you reply. "I thought you liked the guy."<br/>
<br/>
"I do like him! But as a friend—"<br/>
<br/>
"That's not what you were telling me last time."<br/>
<br/>
Eva turns pink. "What was I telling you last time?"<br/>
<br/>
"Only about how much you liked him. How perfect he was for you. That he was everything that you wanted in a—"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't think that's what I said!" <br/>
<br/>
"Tch! Well, that's what you were saying, even if it wasn't in those words." You turn back to your phone. "But if you've changed your mind—"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, what do you care?"<br/>
<br/>
"I care about <i>you!</i>" You lay your phone aside and turn a face, eyes brimming with tearful concern, onto Eva. "I want you to find someone who'll make you happy! And if that guy— What was his name?"<br/>
<br/>
"Caleb." Eva grinds the name out through gritted teeth.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, if he makes you happy, if he's everywhere you want to be— Well, you need to look out for yourself and listen to your heart."<br/>
<br/>
You pick your phone back up again. Eva says nothing, but only hunches in her chair.<br/>
<br/>
And then— Because some part of you just can't leave things alone—<br/>
<br/>
You say, "Of course, I also have responsibilities. I have to think of the squad."<br/>
<br/>
Eva makes a noise halfway between a snort and a bark. "What does the squad have to do with—?"<br/>
<br/>
"Tch! Don't be so dense, Eva!" You know what you're going to blurt out next, but somehow you are helpless to stop it. "We're supposed to set a tone and a standard around here, and if you're dating a goblin-faced—"<br/>
<br/>
Oh, you can't believe you said it, but you did. You just called Caleb "goblin-faced."<br/>
<br/>
Because that's the picture that pops into your mind's eye when thinking with Chelsea's brain. Caleb as a big-eared, pop-eyed, fish-lipped, funny-haired troll.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, think of it from <i>his</i> point of view," you tell Eva. You snuggle up close to her, as though to share a tender confidence, but she shrinks from you. "He would <i>love</i> to go out with you. He's <i>dying</i> to go out with you. And why not? You're one of the most special girls in school! You and Jessica. And it's not just on account of you being on the squad! You've just got everything a guy could want! In fact, I just don't get why you or Jessica haven't landed someone special yet!"<br/>
<br/>
Except you know perfectly well why they haven't. <i>I'm sure you'd look darling carrying his child around,</i> she'd told Jessica a few weeks ago, when she mentioned that she was going to a movie with the football player Liam Walker. <i>But you can't do backflips when you've got a belly the size of a basketball.</i> For Chelsea, there's zero distance between flirting and getting knocked up—or at least that's what she implies every time she hears that some girl or another on the squad is getting serious about a guy. It's like she's batting away any guy who gets close to a squad mate.<br/>
<br/>
"But here's the thing," you continue, and tuck your arm conspiratorially into Eva's. "You start going out with this guy Caleb, and everyone's gonna know you're on the market. And they're not going to stand for it, Eva, they're just not going to stand for it! Seeing you with— Now, don't get me wrong, I'm sure he's got a great personality and is really smart. You wouldn't set yourself up with a loser. But no one else looking at him is going to see those very special qualities you love him for—"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Stop it, Will!</i> you try telling yourself. But stopping Chelsea's tongue once it gets going is like trying to lasso a bus.<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, Steve for one I <i>know</i> wouldn't stand for it!" you helplessly gabble. "He cares for you too, Eva! He looks out for you, though you don't know it! You should give him a chance!" (You shudder all over. There's a reason Chelsea would want to put Eva and Steve together, and it has nothing to do with them being a good match.) "And someone like Steve would look at your new boyfriend, and— Well— I don't want it to sound like a threat or anything. But I know Steve, and I know what he'd do. He'd take your boyfriend out behind the portables and explain to him that he really needs to find someplace else to park his pecker. And if Steve doesn't do it, someone else will."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, God! Chelsea!" Eva flies back from you with a look of disgust. "How can you—?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm just telling you what would happen, Eva! I wouldn't like it any more than you would. Where are you going?" Eva has started closing her books and putting them away. "Eva!"<br/>
<br/>
But Eva, her facing flushing hard, ignores you as she stomps from the library.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Psshh! Well, that was a cock-up,</i> you think.<br/>
<br/>
And yet, it doesn't bother you nearly as much as you thought it would. Maybe because the part of you that is Chelsea is secretly pleased to have pissed Eva off.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Chelsea, you really are a mean-spirited bitch,</i> you tell yourself.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You can tell that all the eyes are on you at lunch, from the moment you stride up to the "alpha table" in the midst of the cafeteria. It has to do with the way they dart around, not settling on you, but never straying far from you, either.<br/>
<br/>
But it's not because they're admiring you, as they usually are. It's all on account of those stupid pictures that got posted this weekend. Gordon at that party with those skanks. Everyone wants to see how you handle things with him at lunch.<br/>
<br/>
Except he's not at lunch today. The truth is, he's been skipping lunch a lot since ... Well, since the <i>switch,</i> even if Chelsea doesn't know that's the reason for it. He's hung out at some other tables, or just gone off to eat behind the school somewhere. Chelsea has been cold-shouldering him.<br/>
<br/>
But maybe there was a different reason for his absence today. Because even as you're settling in at the table, Dalton Douglas—one of the creepy football players that Gordon and Steve allow to hang out with them—comes oiling his way to the table, to deposit a tray of food before you. "Oh, that's so sweet of you!" you cry, and blow him a tiny kiss. He blushes—and darts a quick glance at Patterson.<br/>
<br/>
You chatter through the rest of lunch, with your friends and squad mates—Kendra and Gloria and Maria Vasquez; Dalton and Steve and Jason; Seth Javits and Cindy Vredenburg—as though nothing is wrong.<br/>
<br/>
But from their muted conversation, you can tell they are all squirming with embarrassment on your behalf. Pretty soon it becomes intolerable, and it's with a breath of relief you escape to fifth period: Marriage &amp; Family Life.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The last period of the day is a study hall, which you take with Gloria and Kendra in the library. It's an hour during which you get a daily report from them about what the gossip at school is, and how to handle it.<br/>
<br/>
Today you don't need a report. You know exactly what the talk has been about. "Well, how bad is it?" you bluntly ask after you're all settled around a library table.<br/>
<br/>
Kendra and Gloria look at each other. "How bad is what?" Kendra delicately asks you.<br/>
<br/>
"Cut the bullshit, Kendra. What am I going to do about Gordon?" You give them both a very direct frown.<br/>
<br/>
Kendra's eyes drop. She looks pained.<br/>
<br/>
But Gloria returns your stare with a bold one of her own. "Dump his ass," she says.</span></div></div>


path: 11121113211222221222222122111111111
author_id: seuzz
title: The Bust Up
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span><i>Dump his ass,</i> Gloria has advised you. <i>Dump Gordon to the curb with the rest of the garbage.</i><br/>
<br/>
You nod thoughtfully at the suggestion, as though it is one you've already been entertaining. You glance around the library. It's mostly empty, but your eye settles on one kid a few tables over. He's got reddish-brown hair and wears thick, black-rimmed glasses. <i>Philip Fairfax,</i> the name comes to you. <i>Science nerd. Made it to Washington or someplace like that for a science fair back in middle school.</i> Quiet, sober, smart, and not bad looking. Not bad looking at all.<br/>
<br/>
<i>If Eva wants to date a freaking rocket scientist,</i> you find yourself thinking, <i>she should be dating him instead of—</i><br/>
<br/>
You dismiss the idle thought with a shake of your head.<br/>
<br/>
"Is it that bad?" you ask Gloria. "You think it's really that bad?"<br/>
<br/>
Gloria gives Kendra a sidelong look, and returns you a tiny shrug.<br/>
<br/>
"Tell me what you fucking think, Gloria," you snarl.<br/>
<br/>
But it's Kendra who pipes up. "It'll look like you couldn't handle him, Chelsea," she says.<br/>
<br/>
"He's hurting the squad," Gloria insists. "He hasn't been to practice in— Forever."<br/>
<br/>
"So he's hurting the school," you reflect. "If Steve explained to him—"<br/>
<br/>
"I think Steve's already explained to him."<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, <i>really</i> explained to him," you say. "<i>Really</i> explained to him," you repeat, giving "really" the heaviest emphasis you can. "Has Steve <i>really</i> explained it to him?"<br/>
<br/>
Gloria flushes. She can tell you're not just asking about what Steve has said to Gordon. You're asking what Steve has said to her during their pillow talk up in the loft. So to show how serious you are, you put the same question, with the same subtext, to Kendra: "Kendra, last time you talked to Steve, did he tell you that he had <i>really</i> explained to Gordon how much he's hurting the school?"<br/>
<br/>
Kendra gives you a beady look. "We're all worried about Gordon," she says.<br/>
<br/>
Gloria jumps back in: "Maybe if <i>you</i> told Steve that he should <i>really explain it</i> to Gordon," she says.<br/>
<br/>
You glare at her. "Maybe we should all have a talk with Steve," you retort. "In each our own way." You feel your nostrils flare as you suck in and release a deep breath. "After practice today. You stick around while I have a quick word with Steve. Oh," you add, "have either of you seen Dane Matthias around today?" They both shake their heads. "Well, keep an eye out for him. I want to know if he's hanging around Gordon or anyone else. Maybe Steve should have another little talk with that peckerwood. Explain to him—<i>really explain to him</i>—how much he's fucked things up for lots of people with his selfish bullshit."<br/>
<br/>
Then you dismiss the topic, and turn to the matter of Meghan Farris's party, and whether and how many people from your crowd should show up to it, and for how long.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You and Kendra and Gloria watch the boys' basketball squad at practice after school. Usually it's Gordon and Steve running things. Since last Wednesday, though, it's just been Steve. Gordon is nowhere to be seen.<br/>
<br/>
After Patterson ends practice, he follows the other guys into the changing room to shower and change. You tell Kendra and Gloria to catch him before he leaves, to tell him that you want to see him up in the loft. "And stick around after that," you tell them.<br/>
<br/>
Steve lets you cool your heels upstairs for a good twenty minutes before he joins you, looking fresh and clean in a set of track pants and a floppy t-shirt. At six-foot-six, he towers more than a head over you, and his gray eyes are cold as icebergs as he regards you from the doorway of the loft. "If this is about Gordon getting sucked off at a couple of different parties last weekend," he starts to say.<br/>
<br/>
"This is about the squad, Steve," you snap. "It's about the school. It's about whether we're going to State this year. About whether <i>you're</i> going to State. You need to clean him up."<br/>
<br/>
Steve shrugs. "He's stressed out about something. Give him a couple of days."<br/>
<br/>
"You need to talk to him, Steve."<br/>
<br/>
"I have talked to him. He says he's got some heavy shit on his mind."<br/>
<br/>
"You need to <i>explain things</i> to him, Steve. <i>Really. Explain things.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
A little of the color drains from Steve's face. He glances around. "I did explain that we need him back to—"<br/>
<br/>
"<i>Really. Explain. Things.</i>" You put as much steel into the words as you can.<br/>
<br/>
Patterson sighs. "Gordon's not someone you can <i>really explain things</i> to, Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
"Do you mean that <i>you</i> can't explain them to him? <i>Really</i> explain them?"<br/>
<br/>
A cold fire flares in his eyes. "Maybe <i>you</i> should try explaining to him."<br/>
<br/>
"If I do explain things to him, Steve, it will be to explain that we're not seeing each other any more."<br/>
<br/>
Patterson looks like he's been slapped. "What?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm serious, Steve. You need to explain that to Gordon. I won't. After this weekend—"<br/>
<br/>
And all at once, emotions you didn't realize you'd been bottling up come boiling out. You burst into tears, hysterics, and a cyclonic fury all at once.<br/>
<br/>
"God <i>damn</i> him, that <i>fucker!</i>" you yell. "Did you <i>see</i> those pictures, Steve? Did you <i>see those motherfucking pictures?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
Patterson pales, and actually takes a step back.<br/>
<br/>
"You were at lunch today," you rant, "you were at <i>motherfucking lunch!</i> Did you—? You're the one that told Dalton to bring me my tray, didn't you? <i>Didn't you!</i> Fuck you, Steve, do you know how that looked? Did you <i>plan</i> it that way? Oh, you son of a bitch! Did you set it up? Did you <i>tell</i> Gordon he needed a break? Did you <i>take</i> him to that party? Did you <i> him up with those whore?</i> Were you <i>trying</i> to break us up?!"<br/>
<br/>
"Chelsea—"<br/>
<br/>
"God <i>damn</i> you, Steve! Because it worked! I'm fucking done with him! <i>Done with him!</i>" You scream so loud it feels like something has torn loose inside your brain "You two can go fuck each other for all I care! You're so fucking queer for him anyway! You and Jason both! You've always fucking hated me because he was <i>my</i> boyfriend instead of yours! You've always wanted to fuck him yourself, ever since you hooked up with each other! But I got in the way! Because <i>I'm</i> the one he wanted to stick his goddamned dick in and not you! Well, now you and Gordon can go off and fuck each other! Fuck each other blind! Never mind the skanks and whores and hanger-onners like you set him up with this weekend! You can do it out in the open!"<br/>
<br/>
Patterson grins at you, like a shark. He's pissed. But you can also tell that he's scared.<br/>
<br/>
"Because I'm bigger than you are, Steve! I <i>give a fuck</i> about this school, and the programs, and the basketball squad! And State! I'll give him up if that's what I have to do, if that's what you want! Go tell Gordon that it worked!" You savagely kick one of the big wooden crates. "Go tell him I broke up with him, and now the two of you are free to spend all your afternoons and weekends up here, fucking each other queer, and he can go back to practicing again! That'll fix things! You and him can— <i>Will you get the fuck out of here?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
You can hardly see straight through the tears that blur your vision, but you manage to lay hold of a discarded beer can that's perched atop the fridge, and hurl it at Patterson. He actually ducks. Then when you scream at him again, he backs out of the loft and slams the door.<br/>
<br/>
You hurl yourself onto one of the mats and howl yourself into a frenzy, weeping and banging the floor with your fists. <i>Those fuckers! THOSE FUCKERS!</i><br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It's getting on toward dinner time, and you really should be heading home. But you've had a very satisfying hour in the loft, alone with your thoughts and your fingers and your pussy. Wow, it felt good, throwing that tantrum! For a couple of solid minutes you cried a massive jag. Then you rolled onto your back, and it all shut off. You giggled and put your hand down the front of your shorts and pushed your way into a place that was suddenly very hot and wet and aching for company. <i>Oh, Chelsea,</i> you groaned to yourself. <i>When you get mad it is such a turn on!</i> No wonder "make up sex" with Gordon after a fight is one of her favorite things ever!<br/>
<br/>
Except that won't be happening again.<br/>
<br/>
After wiping your eyes down and repairing your make up, you go home for dinner, where you are very cheerful and giggly, and give no clue that anything happened at school today. Then, up in your room, you field the texts and phone calls that you were expecting. To Gordon, you explain that you're now broken up and he can stop seeing you, following you, eating with you, and texting you. To Steve, you explain that yes, you and Gordon are now broken up, and that it's up to him to "fix anything else that needs fixing." With Kendra and Gloria you spend a few hours talking by Skype on how to announce and spin the break up.<br/>
<br/>
And you ignore the texts from Caleb, asking you to call or text.<br/>
<br/>
Not until the next morning, after you have woken up, does it start to sink in, the immensity of what you've just done.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Oh my God, I just broke up with the most eligible guy in school! I need a boyfriend—I'm the head cheerleader, for fuck's sake!<br/>
<br/>
What am I going to do?</i></span></div></div>


path: 111211132112222212222221221111111111
author_id: seuzz
title: Hangover from a Life Change
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You feel numb all over as you drive yourself to school on Tuesday morning. Part of it is the wind, which is raw and blustery. (There's a cold front coming through, and thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon.) But mostly it's a dreadful sense that you've fucked things up for yourself yesterday with that hyper-emotional explosion up in the loft. The helpless, hopeless thought keeps running through your head: <i>I dumped my boyfriend. What the fuck am I going to do now?</i><br/>
<br/>
It does help, at least a little, that you are able to step back and look at the situation, inside and out, from the perspective of a guy who is only pretending to be Chelsea Cooper. Half of her reaction, you can tell, is genuine grief at the end of a relationship. Chelsea needs a boyfriend. She needs to be loved and adored and cradled and cooed over. She needs to have someone she can cuddle with and make baby-talk with. Someone she can wrap around herself like a warm rug.<br/>
<br/>
Someone she can fuck.<br/>
<br/>
Gordon was all those things, but he was also more. He was the king of the basketball court, the ace athlete, the biggest and baddest jock in the school. There was no one else at Westside who is even remotely as desirable as he was.<br/>
<br/>
And she had him. Chelsea had snagged him and held him and made him dance at the end of her line. What did that make her, who had trapped and muzzled and tamed the biggest and sexiest beast at Westside? It put her at least two levels above anyone who might have come in second place behind her.<br/>
<br/>
And now what have you done? You've thrown it away. One of the things that made Chelsea such a desirable impersonation.<br/>
<br/>
Well, you remind yourself with a sigh, it's not like there was much of a choice. Gordon was bound to fall off the top of the chart once it became clear that he wasn't the man he had been before, that something in him had broken for good and all time. Best to get out in front of it, so that it looks like Gordon broke down because you dumped him, not that you dumped him because he had broken down. Besides, what he did last weekend—those pictures!—was unforgivable. Everyone's sympathy will surely be with you!<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
And, sure enough, when you arrive at school you find that Kendra and Gloria have done the minimal preparations necessary. You make a show of putting on a very brave face during cheerleading practice, and you run it in a very business-like fashion, with none of the snark and back-biting that Chelsea usually lashes her squad mates with. (But you're not particularly gracious or supportive, either.) The other girls reciprocate by giving you lots of quiet, sympathetic looks. To your surprise, Cindy Vredenburg—the arch-bitch who is always scheming behind your back—comes up to you at your locker afterward. She rubs her arm as she says, "I'm really sorry about you and Gordon, Chelsea. I know you had a really great thing together, and it was—" She bites her lip. "It was a really shitty thing he did. And stupid, throwing away it away like that."<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks, Cindy," you reply. You hope it comes out polite, but you feel a cold place in your heart. "You and Seth have a really great thing too. I hope you <i>really explain</i> to him that he doesn't <i>ever</i> want to fuck things up the way Gordon did."<br/>
<br/>
Cindy visibly winces, but forces a smile before backing away.<br/>
<br/>
You approach your third-period French class with a feeling of dread. Gordon likes to meet you out front of it, because third-period is his study hall and he is always badgering Chelsea to skip and hang out with him up in the loft. The new Gordon wouldn't know that, but the new Gordon seems to be skipping all of his classes, so you half expect to see him outside Mr. Rodriguez's room again, like you saw him yesterday.<br/>
<br/>
But it's Steve Patterson loitering there instead, reading his phone.<br/>
<br/>
"About time you showed up," he snaps. "I wanna talk to you at lunch."<br/>
<br/>
"I talk to you at lunch everyday, Steve," you retort. "It's one of the things that gives me indigestion."<br/>
<br/>
"No, not in the cafeteria. Up in the loft."<br/>
<br/>
Your eyebrows arch. "You only have one thing on your mind when you're up in the loft, Steve. I'll tell Kendra you've got the itch again, if that's—"<br/>
<br/>
"It's about your ex-," he flares. "And if you don't want to go upstairs, at least meet me in the gym." He brushes past, knocking you three steps back, as he stalks away.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Giant prick,</i> you mutter at his back.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It turns out he wants your key to the loft back.<br/>
<br/>
That's the first thing out of his mouth when you meet him at the start of fourth period, at the foot of the staircase leading up to the loft. "I took Gordon's key from him," he explains. "He's off the VIP list. Which means you're off the list too."<br/>
<br/>
"What?" you exclaim. "Bullshit!"<br/>
<br/>
He leans over you. "You want to come up to the loft? You have to buy a ticket. Gordon was your ticket, but you tore that one up. Now you get in the same way Kendra and Gloria do."<br/>
<br/>
There's no gloating in his voice, which is as frigid as a slurry of ice. You can tell he wants you to beg, so that he can have the pleasure of telling you to go fuck yourself.<br/>
<br/>
But you ignore his implication, and just ask, "What happened that Gordon doesn't have a key anymore?"<br/>
<br/>
"I told you, I took it. He's off the squad. He says he's not coming to practice anymore. I'll give him a week to sober up. Then I tell Coach Brooks we need to replace him." He glares icicles into you. "You wanna keep your key to the loft? Then you need to explain to Gordon how he can get his key back. I'll give <i>you</i> until the end of the week, too."<br/>
<br/>
Again, he shoves his way past, almost knocking you on your ass. <br/>
<br/>
You seethe to yourself. There's no fucking way Steve would ever treat you like this if you were still going with Gordon!<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Caleb wants to talk to you about Dane—he texts you even before school is out, asking you to meet—but you're pre-empted by the Danester himself.<br/>
<br/>
You're on your way out to the parking lot—no reason to stay after school and watch basketball practice now!—when a smelly, pajama-clad figure wheels out of the crowd and bumps into you. "I wanna talk to you!" Dane Matthias hisses.<br/>
<br/>
"Eww!" you exclaim, and jump back. "Get away from me, you freak!"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not the freak, you—!" His eyes are feverish, and he shows you his teeth. "What are you gonna do? You broke up with—! <i>I wanna talk!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
You should probably just brush on past him. Even if he chased you, there's plenty of other guys around, any of them eager (you'd bet) to jump in and play white knight to save you from this pest.<br/>
<br/>
But you give in to a deeper, nastier temptation. The temptation to pull the real Chelsea aside and gloat over her fate.<br/>
<br/>
So you give him a look-over, then sniff. "Okay, you can walk me out to my car," you tell him. "But keep behind me. We're <i>not</i> together."<br/>
<br/>
Dane bristles, but falls in behind you.<br/>
<br/>
You bypass your car to walk to a distant corner of the parking lot, where you can have a bit of privacy while still being visible, in case "Dane" loses control of himself. "Well," you demand after coming to a stop.<br/>
<br/>
He puts his finger in your face. "I don't know who you are—"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm Chelsea Cooper," you snap back. "Who the fuck do you think I am?"<br/>
<br/>
His tousled hair almost stands on end. "I'm Chelsea Cooper!" he snarls. "You know that!"<br/>
<br/>
You laugh. "Funny! You don't look anything like me!"<br/>
<br/>
A wild light flames in his eyes.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know what you did to me! But you're going to change it back!"<br/>
<br/>
"Make me!" you sneer. "Yes, I know who you are, <i>Chelsea.</i> And I'm the one who did it, and don't you think for a moment you don't deserve it!"<br/>
<br/>
He raises claw-like hands. "You fix things, you—"<br/>
<br/>
"You want me to scream, Dane, do you <i>want me to scream?</i> How will that look? What do you think will happen to you? Get used to it, <i>Dane,</i> get used to answering to that name. Because that's who you are now. You're Dane Matthias. And I—" You toss your hair. "I am Chelsea Cooper."<br/>
<br/>
He howls. So loud and sudden you have to take a step back.<br/>
<br/>
"You know what they're going to do me?" he yelps. "They're gonna send me away! Tomorrow! To another school! Outta town, outta state! You gotta fix things!"<br/>
<br/>
"Where are they sending you?" you ask. His exclamation has genuinely taken you aback.<br/>
<br/>
"Just fix things!" he pleads. "Put things back! Whatever— What did I do to you? Who are you? How can I—? What can I do for you to make you change it back?"<br/>
<br/>
Tears pour from his eyes.</span></div></div>


path: 1112111321122222122222212211111111112
author_id: seuzz
title: The Exit of One Chelsea ...
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Dane" looks so miserable that almost you yield to Chelsea's pleading.<br/>
<br/>
But then you remember what she did to you—sending her psycho-bully boyfriend to tear you a new one, all because you had the freaking nerve to stand up for your friend Caleb—and how that sent you spiraling into this mess of swapped identities.<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck you, Chelsea," you sneer back, letting your instincts take control of your tongue. "Go fuck yourself. You didn't deserve to have <i>this.</i>" You thrust your—her—boobs out at "Dane." "Or I guess maybe you did. But you didn't use them for good. You used them to fuck people up. That's all you did with your life, Chelsea, you spun people up and you fucked them up. You were a selfish, psychotic bitch!"<br/>
<br/>
Dane's eyes widen with horror.<br/>
<br/>
"So you lose. You forfeit! <i>I'm</i> Chelsea Cooper now, and never mind who I was before! I'm Chelsea Cooper, and I'm the one who—" You snap your fingers in his face. "I'm the one who decides who's up and who's down, who's in and who's out!"<br/>
<br/>
You settle back on your heels.<br/>
<br/>
"And you're out, <i>Dane.</i> You're out and you're down and you're yesterday's news. Good riddance to smelly rubbish. Phew!" You wave your hand in front of your nose. "So go off and get fucked! I get to be Chelsea Cooper now! And I'll tell you one other thing! I'm going to be a better Chelsea Cooper than <i>you</i> ever were!"<br/>
<br/>
You turn on your heel and march away.<br/>
<br/>
But a hand grabs your arm from behind.<br/>
<br/>
Bad move. You wheel, and with hard kick to his balls you fell Dane Matthias. There's not much padding in the front of those flannel pajama bottoms to lessen such a blow.<br/>
<br/>
You sneer down at him as he hunches, writhing, on the asphalt. But you've said your peace, so after picking up and discarding several possible parting taunts, you just wheel back around and march for your car.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"You don't want to go out with Eva," you're explaining to Caleb. "You wouldn't last two days after—"<br/>
<br/>
Your phone chimes with an incoming text, and you glance at the screen, and at the name you were about to mention. <i>Speak of the spawn of Satan,</i> you muse to yourself.<br/>
<br/>
You're in the old elementary basement, where an unhappy Caleb has been poring over the next spell in the old spell book. It wasn't about that, though, that he wanted to meet. It was to warn you that "Dane" wanted to see you, and to tell you that he was being sent out of town.<br/>
<br/>
But that's old news now, as you explained to him while sipping on the Jamba Juice you picked up on the way over. You can't help giggling as you recount the confrontation. "Get this," you said, "I told him that I was going to be a better Chelsea Cooper than she ever was!"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb didn't look very amused, though. He looked positively cramped, and demanded to know what it was that you told Eva on Monday about her and him.<br/>
<br/>
"Pfeh, like you were even interested in her," you airily retorted. "I kept trying to set you two up, you know, and you kept weaseling out. What makes you such a limp-dick, anyway?" You were about to give him the same speech you gave Eva, about how Caleb would find himself getting stomped by the alphas in school if he tried going out with Eva. And that's when the text from Steve shot onto your phone.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Dane matthias just tried talking to me psychotic brake or something. U need to go home and stay safe from him chelsea.</i><br/>
<br/>
"Oh, that's so sweet of you to worry about me, Steve," you coo at the phone. "You giant, dribbling cum-pump." You show him the text when Caleb asks what you're gabbling about. "I guess Dane cornered him after practice, tried telling him 'I'm the real Chelsea Cooper, the other one's a fake!' God! I bet that was a scream!" You laugh.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb looks serious. "Maybe you better head home," he says. "Lock yourself in. If she's desperate."<br/>
<br/>
"She won't find me here."<br/>
<br/>
"She knows about this place," Caleb reminds you.<br/>
<br/>
"That was <i>your</i> fault," you retort.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, if you'd told me what you were doing—!"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, shut your squeak hole. I can go, if you want. If you don't want to spend time with <i>this.</i>" You leap to your feet, and stretch and thrust provocatively. Caleb's eyes bulge, and he swallows. "That's what I thought."<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus, man," he mutters. "Okay, if you think you can stay safe—"<br/>
<br/>
"It's just till tomorrow, right? Didn't you say Dane was getting put on a plane first thing in the morning?"<br/>
<br/>
"Unless he bugs out during the night. He might do that, you know. <i>She</i> might do that," he corrects himself. His manner turns very grave. "You know, what if he— What if she ... <i>offs</i> herself? She might be pretty desperate!"<br/>
<br/>
"Then she'll have put herself out of my misery!" you retort. Caleb doesn't laugh, and in truth you feel pretty ghastly. It's a grim thought he's spoken. "I'm sure she won't," you assure him. "I don't think Chelsea's the kind to give up like that. I think I'd know!" Again, you don't raise a smile. "She'll be fine, dude," you assure him. "It'll probably do her good, getting out of town. Around here, she's stuck having to be 'the Danester'. Wherever she winds up, you know, she can be ... whoever or however she wants to be!"<br/>
<br/>
"But now you can't switch back with her."<br/>
<br/>
"Like I was going to."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb's eyebrows go up. "You're going to be Chelsea Cooper? Forever? From now on?"<br/>
<br/>
You suddenly feel very aggrieved.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, why not?" you hotly demand. "Why <i>the hell</i> not? She has it good! Had it good! Now <i>I've</i> got it good! I know what she's got, and I can appreciate it a hell of a lot more than she could! Like I told her, I can be a better Chelsea Cooper than she could!"<br/>
<br/>
"You right about that, Will," Caleb says in a very sober tone of voice. "I don't think even Chelsea could be as good a cunt as you're being now."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Fucker!</i> You scramble around, looking for something to hurl at him. Luckily for him, probably, you don't.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, you just watch and see what I can do with this body and this brain, buster!" you sneer at him. "Chelsea's got the school all wrapped up like— Like—! Oh, just go fuck yourself!" You wheel and run up the stairs. The tears are starting dribble out even before you reach your car.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Your mom notices your mood when you get home, and even though you try hiding in your room, she comes knocking at your bedroom door after dinner to ask if you're alright.<br/>
<br/>
Mrs. Cooper is a small, compact woman, like her daughter, with similar proportions and the same tendency toward demented cheerfulness when in a good mood, and stormy anger when in a bad one. She was also a cheerleader in high school, and has plainly channeled a lot of her still smoldering ambition into her daughter's own cheerleading career. If only she didn't <i>hover</i> and <i>helicopter ...</i><br/>
<br/>
You tell her that you had a fight with Gordon—which is true enough. She clucks sympathetically and asks for details, which you brush away, and she assures you that it will all work out alright. "That boy just adores you, you know," she says.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Yes he does,</i> you reflect after she's gone downstairs to finish cleaning up from supper. And you have to wonder: Now that you've broken up with one "Gordon Black," might the other one—the real one—come sniffing around?<br/>
<br/>
Or would he have the intelligence to realize that there's no way that his old girlfriend would look twice at—snort!—Will Prescott?<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You've got other preoccupations, though. You're sore and smarting from what Caleb said, about how you're being a bigger cunt than Chelsea ever was. <i>That's not true!</i> you assure yourself. <i>If I'm acting like a cunt it's only because I'm in character! I'm doing </i>exactly<i> what Chelsea would have done!</i><br/>
<br/>
Which leads to the moody thought: <i>Then I really am no better than her.</i><br/>
<br/>
So you're in no mood to deal with Kendra and Gloria, even though their texts to you are full of gossip about whether you're going to get back together with Gordon, and who you might start going with if you don't, and which guys are preening and positioning themselves for a chance with you. You tell them you're still too upset about the breakup to deal with it—but you ask them to keep you informed anyway.<br/>
<br/>
<i>I told "Dane" I was going to be a better "Chelsea Cooper" than she ever was,</i> you reflect as you brush your teeth (and study yourself in the mirror). What you meant, of course, was that you were going to be better <i>at</i> being Chelsea Cooper than the original. But now you realize there's a different possible spin on the words.<br/>
<br/>
<i>I could be a better girl than she was,</i> you mull as you primp in the mirror. <i>I could take all this—</i>God!<i>—all the things that go with this body and these brains, and I could use them to make the school better. Nicer. Instead of being such a selfish scrunt, I could be a real benefactor.<br/>
<br/>
Like, I could actually </i>help<i> Meghan Farris.</i><br/>
<br/>
Her upcoming party was the subject of the last text Gloria sent before you said you were signing off for the night: <i>I think we should totally ditch her show. Get others to ditch it. Teach her what her place really is at school.</i><br/>
<br/>
Chelsea—<i>that snobby cunt</i>—would squeal with delight at the idea. Shouldn't you be better than that?</span></div></div>


path: 11121113211222221222222122111111111121
author_id: seuzz
title: ... And the Entrance of a Better One
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Oh, that's great, Yumi!" you squeal as the girl comes out of a triple somersault with a twist. "I think you're finally getting the hang of it!"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Oh! Ack!</i> You flinch as Yumi gives you a look. <i>That came out exactly wrong.</i> "What I meant was—" you stammer. "Oh, never mind. That was awesome, that's what I meant!" You cover your face with your hands and take several deep breaths before you pass out from the stress of being nice.<br/>
<br/>
It would be too much to say that you woke this morning—this Wednesday, this "pivot of the week"—feeling like "a new girl." But there was a smile on your lips and a song in your heart as you got ready for school. <i>Today's the first of October!</i> you marveled as you tore a new sheet off the calendar. <i>The first day of the rest of my new life!<br/>
<br/>
My new life being a new Chelsea Cooper!</i><br/>
<br/>
You're not sure what mental alchemy transmuted your purposes last night as you slept. You sincerely hope it wasn't only a desire to spite Caleb by showing that you <i>are so</i> better than Chelsea! But as you showered and dressed and primped in the mirror, turning this way and that to admire the slinky peach blouse and the tight-fitting distressed jeans that you'd chosen to wear today, you wrapped yourself just as tightly in a new determination. <i>This is an awesome body! And this is an awesome girl! And I know I can be </i>just awesome<i> as her!</i><br/>
<br/>
After you end practice—extra early, so the girls can have extra time to get ready for classes—you gather them all in a circle.<br/>
<br/>
"Listen," you tell them, "I want you to know I've been doing some really hard thinking these last few days. Some real soul-searching. This is for all of us going to be our last year at Westside. Our last year—" You sniffle a little. "In high school! And I know we all want it to be awesome. That, you know, is how come I've been pushing everyone so hard."<br/>
<br/>
There are stony looks all around. Except from Maria, the space cadet, who is staring off into nothingness.<br/>
<br/>
"But I also realized that I've been too much of a— Uh. Well, what my grandmother would call a 'Negative Nelly'. I've been <i>pushing</i> you all, but I haven't been <i>supporting</i> you. And you know the first principle of the cheerleader pyramid!" You scrunch your face up into a smile you hope doesn't look too demented. "The support at the bottom is ten times more important than the star at the top!"<br/>
<br/>
To your memory, no one has ever said anything remotely that cheesy and stupid.<br/>
<br/>
"So I want you all to know that I really do support you. I'm fighting for you. And if I fight too hard sometimes— Well, uh—" You don't know how to finish that sentence. "Well, just come and talk to me. My locker door is always open!"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Oh, sweet Jesus,</i> you think. <i>Maybe I should have written this out and practiced it first!</i><br/>
<br/>
The expressions around the circle—Cindy Vredenburg, Yumi Saito, Lin Pol, the Garner sisters; Kendra and Gloria and Maria; and Michelle Estrich—vary from the sullenly hostile (Yumi) to the bewildered (Kendra) to the blankly incredulous (Cindy). Only Maria seems unfazed. But then, Maria probably hasn't been listening since you said "Good morning" to her at the start of class.<br/>
<br/>
Well, after everything that Chelsea has ever done to terrorize her squad mates, you can't expect them to tumble all over you like kitten and puppies with love and gratitude. <i>This is going to be a month at least of rebuilding,</i> you tell yourself through gritted teeth as you lead everyone back to the changing room. <i>Rebuilding trust, rebuilding friendship, rebuilding camaraderie, rebuilding the roster—</i><br/>
<br/>
You wince at the thought. <i>I still need to get rid of Michelle. She's just not hacking it. And how will </i>that<i> look after the speech I just gave?</i><br/>
<br/>
Even worse: <i>It might give Cindy the opening she needs to take over the squad!<br/>
<br/>
Down, girl!</i> you chide yourself. <i>Don't be paranoid. Just because you've always had the knives out for her doesn't mean she's got them out for you.</i><br/>
<br/>
Except you know that she does. Kendra and Gloria have brought you plenty of well-substantiated rumor to the effect that Cindy still harbors hot and thirsty ambitions to displace you as the captain of the squad.<br/>
<br/>
You sigh as you start to disrobe—so distracted that you forget to look around to secretly ogle the other girls. <i>A month of rebuilding,</i> you repeat to yourself. <i>Rebuilding trust, rebuilding friendship, rebuilding camaraderie ...</i><br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You're going to flunk French for Reading Knowledge if you keep skipping. But you're so anxious to get the new month off to the right start that you duck it anyway to look for Eva again in the school library. She goes very white when she looks up from her phone to see you bearing down on her. She thrusts the phone into her bag and zips it up. <br/>
<br/>
<i>So I guess my ears should be burning.</i> That's what you come very close to snapping at her, for she could hardly make it more obvious that you were the subject of a text exchange. But you force a smile to your face.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey," you chirp as you settle in next her. (Today, you are careful to set your bag under the table instead of dropping it atop her things.) "So, how did my little speech go over this morning? You know, about us all pulling together, and—?"<br/>
<br/>
It's very hard to form the next few words. It's like Chelsea's throat is incapable of molding them. "And me being a better team captain."<br/>
<br/>
"Um." Eva's eyes wander in their sockets. "Went fine. I guess."<br/>
<br/>
"Because I'm really serious about it. Oh God." You cover your face, and sniffle a little into your fingers. "This whole thing with Gordon. It's really made me take stock of things!"<br/>
<br/>
You peep out from between your fingers. Eva is looking at you like you're a crazy person.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, I'm serious," you continue, and drop your hands into your lap. "It's made me take stock of the squad. My friends. My school work. Boys." You pause. "The right kind of guy for me. And the right kind of guy for—" You gulp. "My friends."<br/>
<br/>
Eva's expression goes very tight.<br/>
<br/>
"I've been thinking about how hard I came down on you and Caleb," you say. "The <i>idea</i> of you and Caleb, I mean. God, I was such a scrunt about that! If you and him— Please tell me, Eva, that you won't pay any attention to what I said! I'm so sorry about it!"<br/>
<br/>
Eva makes a face. "It's okay, Chelsea. There wasn't going to be anything between us anyway."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Why, you lying, two-faced succubus!</i> you think. <i>I knock myself out on a couple of dates with you, and you play nice, and then you turn around and tell Chelsea that—!</i><br/>
<br/>
You force a pale smile onto your face. "Well, that's— Actually, I'm kind of sorry to hear that."<br/>
<br/>
A panicked look comes onto Eva's face.<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, it's up to you. I can't run your life. God, after the mess I made of things, you'd be totally right to slap me in the face!" <i>But please don't!</i> "But I was thinking—"<br/>
<br/>
You glance around, then cozy up to Eva. She pulls away, like you're a giant, hairy spider.<br/>
<br/>
"It seems to me," you murmur, "that there's altogether too many jockstraps hanging around us. You know. The varsity guys just seem to think that we're made for them!"<br/>
<br/>
It's a bizarre remark. Chelsea was dating Gordon, and Cindy is dating Seth Javits. Otherwise, except for Kendra and Gloria, who take turns sucking off Steve so that he'll be nice to Chelsea, none of the cheerleaders have a boyfriend.<br/>
<br/>
"I think it would just be nice," you primly conclude, "if some of us were dating guys with giant, throbbing brains instead of giant, throbbing dicks. You know, someone like your friend Caleb."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Oh, ouch. There I go again! Implying that Caleb hasn't got a dick.</i><br/>
<br/>
"He's just a friend," Eva says. Now she sounds annoyed.<br/>
<br/>
"I know, Eva! But you know, there are other guys who fit the bill. Guys like—"<br/>
<br/>
You don't know why you're babbling this way, except to compensate for Monday. But you glance past Eva, at the table where Philip Fairfax is frowning into a math book. "Like him," you whisper to her.<br/>
<br/>
"Like who?"<br/>
<br/>
"Shh! Don't look. Philip. Fairfax." You giggle. "Don't you think he's adorable?" What's left of the color in Eva's face goes draining away. "And you've got a perfect excuse to ask him out, get him to notice you. I mean, you're never going to pass Calculus if you don't get some tutoring!"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Christ!</i> And there you go, putting your foot in your mouth again ...<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Patterson wants to meet you in front of the loft again before lunch. He's waiting, and he snaps his fingers at you while you're still approaching. "The key, Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
"You gave me to the end of the week!"<br/>
<br/>
"Gordon's not coming back, and even if he does, he's not bringing you with him." His snaps his fingers again. "The key."<br/>
<br/>
You glare. "I don't have it with me!" you lie.<br/>
<br/>
His eyes freeze. He leans over you.<br/>
<br/>
"If you don't hand it over first thing in the morning, I am going to Coach Brooks. You <i>don't</i> want <i>him</i> asking you for it."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Bastard,</i> you fume as you march away. <i>It's pointless trying to make this shit hole a better place with fuckers like Steve running it!</i><br/>
<br/>
The sequel to the thought almost trips you up: <i>Maybe I could get rid of him—of all the other assholes!—the same way I got rid of Chelsea!</i><br/>
<br/>
<b>Reminder:</b> Two polls are currently running. You can find links to them on"<a href="https://www.Writing.Com/main/books/item_id/2156493-The-Book-of-Masks-Homepage" target="_top" title='A hub for the "Book of Masks" universe.'>The Book of Masks Homepage</a>" <a href="https://www.Writing.Com/main/books/item_id/2156493-The-Book-of-Masks-Homepage" target="_blank" title='A hub for the "Book of Masks" universe.'><img border="0" height="12" loading="lazy" onmouseout="$(this).css('opacity', '.4');" onmouseover="$(this).css('opacity', '1');" src="https://www.Writing.Com/nw.gif" style="opacity:.4;" width="12"/></a>.</span></div></div>


path: 111211132112222212222221221111111111211
author_id: seuzz
title: Scheming Big
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span><i>I'm only one girl,</i> you find yourself thinking as you scurry off to your next class, head down. <i>And this school is so totally fucked up that not even Chelsea Cooper has a prayer of fixing it by herself!</i><br/>
<br/>
You find yourself casting beady-eyed glances at the other students as you push your way through the crowded hallways. Chelsea has made a mess of her own corner of the school, and that would be hard enough to fix. But she has no influence over the alpha bullies like Steve Patterson, Jason Lynch, and Seth Javits, still less the scummier bullies like The Molester or David Kirkham.<br/>
<br/>
Then there's all the drugs flowing through the school, fucking people up and making them miserable, and how can the head cheerleader do anything about dealers and pushers like Gary Chen? The football team is a total mess, on account of all <i>they</i> want to do is drink beer and smoke dope, and you know from Gordon and Steve that one of the footballers' own, Erik Carstairs, is the one pushing it on his teammates.<br/>
<br/>
All you can do by yourself is make the cheerleading squad a happier place. But anything else in your power—like putting up posters talking up "school spirit"—would just look silly, and make you look silly too.<br/>
<br/>
But you've got more power than that. You've got the power of magical masks and disguises, of virtual body-swapping. If a new "Chelsea Cooper" can clean up her part of the school, then a new Steve Patterson, a new David Kirkham, a new Gary Chen and a new Erik Carstairs ...<br/>
<br/>
New people everywhere!<br/>
<br/>
Could clean up their corners. <br/>
<br/>
And in back of it all, pulling strings, giving the orders, masterminding the whole scheme ...<br/>
<br/>
Well, there's only one candidate for <i>that</i> job!<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Oh, God, I hadn't thought about that, and thanks for reminding me!" you exclaim. Kendra only arches an eyebrow in reply.<br/>
<br/>
It's the last period of the day, and you're sitting with your lieutenants in the library for the daily conference. Kendra has just asked who you will be going with to Meghan Farris's party. Of course, the unspoken question behind her spoken question was, <i>If we're really going to do this, Chelsea, if we're really going to support Meghan by all going to her party and getting others to go too—</i>hork, gag, vomit<i>—you're going to have to show up with a guy on your arm. So are you going to get yourself a boyfriend in the next ten days, or are we going to give up on going to her dumb party?</i><br/>
<br/>
Yeah, that's a lot of meaning to pack into a skeptical look and the obvious question, "So who are you going to go to Meghan's party with?"<br/>
<br/>
But you are dead-set on throwing all of Chelsea's considerable social weight behind Meghan. Sure, she's wet and needy and desperate, a C-ranked girl at school who plays at the D-level because she's a walking charisma deficit, and it's ludicrous that she's trying to loft herself to the A level with this party she wants to throw.<br/>
<br/>
But you're the "good Chelsea" now, and "good Chelsea" is generous and supportive to a fault. So you shot down Kendra's idea of ignoring the party completely, to tell her that not only will all of you be going, but you're going to put the screws to all the other A-listers at school to show up as well. <i>It's her senior year!</i> you told the aghast Kendra and Gloria, <i>and she needs at least one good thing to go right for her!</i><br/>
<br/>
And deep underneath, maybe the real Chelsea would agree with you, for reasons of her own: <i>If I can get half the school to show up to—bleh!—Meghan Farris's party, that would just show how much cred I've got!</i><br/>
<br/>
But Kendra is right, and now you're stuck. You <i>can't possibly</i> show up at Meghan's without a new boyfriend. So you need to find one and find one fast.<br/>
<br/>
For the moment though you ignore the question, and instead prattle on making lists of who needs to be <i>talked to</i> to make sure they show up at Meghan's, and who will do the <i>talking to</i> them. But in the back of your mind you run through possible candidates to replace Gordon. There's no one else even remotely in the old Gordon's league. He has to be a jock, one of the team captains, on one of the popular teams, and it has to be a team in decent shape, one that is plausibly going to State. So that rules out the football team, which will win one of its games this season only if the other team shows up even drunker and more stoned than them. The baseball and lacrosse teams aren't sexy. And Marc Garner, who captains the soccer team, is both going steady with another girl and is Eva and Jessica's brother, which would be weird. And no way would you make a play for Laurent Delacroix of the wrestling squad, who has a reputation for being a total man-whore.<br/>
<br/>
And why weren't you even thinking of this earlier? You must have been totally preoccupied with the "good" you're planning to do Meghan, in order to forget that you would need to show up at her place with a new boyfriend. Or—and this thought makes you go sideways with the regret you still can't shake—maybe it's because you just unconsciously assumed that you'd be going with <i>Gordon.</i> Like of course you would be going with him!<br/>
<br/>
Maybe you could change him back to normal? But with a different person "under his hood," so to speak?<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
But you are broken up with him, and he is off the basketball squad now. So there's no reason to hang out in the gym after school and watch practice. It would just give Steve another chance to gloat at you.<br/>
<br/>
Besides, you've got business to talk over with Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
"So, dude," you say to him as you perch on one of the work tables down in the community center basement. "Who are we going to switch <i>you</i> with?" You twinkle at him over the diet soda you picked up from McDonald's on the way over.<br/>
<br/>
He doesn't react, not even to blink. After a moment's pause, during which you grin raffishly at him, he says, "What are we talking about?"<br/>
<br/>
"I got <i>me</i> a new identity. Whose are we going to get for you?"<br/>
<br/>
He sighs and rolls his eyes. "You're getting too much into this, Will—"<br/>
<br/>
"Damn right I am. And you want in on it too, right?"<br/>
<br/>
One of his eyes twitches. "Let me try on Chelsea's mask for a few days?"<br/>
<br/>
You grunt. "You've got a spare mask of her if you really want to play with her jugs. I'm talking about a permanent switch for you."<br/>
<br/>
"What makes you think I—?"<br/>
<br/>
"For the good of the school!"<br/>
<br/>
"What?" he says. For the first time, it seems like you've really got his attention.<br/>
<br/>
"It's a plan I came up, got it all worked out and everything." You fiddle with the straw in your drink. "The school's a shithouse, you know. Well, we're going to clean it up."<br/>
<br/>
"What?" he repeats.<br/>
<br/>
You smile tightly at him, and launch into a summary of your plan.<br/>
<br/>
"It's on account of what you said to me yesterday, about being as big a cunt as Chelsea ever was. I decided you were right, I was being a cunt, so I'm going to start doing all the stuff Chelsea could have done but didn't. Being a <i>better person.</i>" You clumsily hook some quotes in the air while juggling the cup. "Chelsea would never do the stuff I got planned, because she was a bitch. But there's all the other bitches and assholes at the school. I figure we can turn them to good too. If we do to them what we did to Chelsea." You grin and slurp down some soda. "Switch good guys in for the bad guys."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb stares at you for a very long time without twitching a muscle. He doesn't even sway on his feet. It's almost like he's been flash-frozen. But you just return his stare with a smug smile of your own.<br/>
<br/>
Finally, he says, "Are you out of your fucking mind?"<br/>
<br/>
The smile falls off your face. "What's crazy about—?"<br/>
<br/>
"The whole idea! You're—! What, you're going to <i>switch people around?</i> Who? Who are you going to—?"<br/>
<br/>
"The assholes and the bitches! The bullies and the cunts! All the fuckers you and me—"<br/>
<br/>
"Who are you going to switch in for them?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, you for a start."<br/>
<br/>
"<i>Me?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure! That's why I asked, who do you want to switch with?"<br/>
<br/>
His face lengthens. "Aren't you kind of presuming that I <i>want</i> to—?"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't you?"<br/>
<br/>
"What makes you think I do?"<br/>
<br/>
You give him a pitying look. "Dude. Look at your life. I mean, no offense," you stammer as Caleb's face turns a mix of green and pink. "But I'm in such a better place now. You could be too. And you'd be doing other people good too! Because we'd put you in for—"<br/>
<br/>
"Who?" he demands. "Who are these bitches and whores and cunts and—?"<br/>
<br/>
"You know who! The usual suspects. The Molester and—"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, <i>fuck me!</i> Like I want to change places with <i>him!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"So there's lots of others. There's Steve Patterson for a start!" You feel yourself starting to bluster. "That fucker! Or, um—" Unfortunately, you can only think off the top of your head of scumsuckers like The Molester or Gary Chen.<br/>
<br/>
"What about girls?" Caleb demands. "Someone with tits. What about Cindy?"<br/>
<br/>
"Vredenburg?" You pause. "Cindy's not—"<br/>
<br/>
Or is she? She can be a bitch. And your place on the squad would be more secure if an ally like Caleb were impersonating her.<br/>
<br/>
"Or what about Kelsey Blankenship?" he says.<br/>
<br/>
You shiver with loathing. Kelsey is a stuck-up rich girl who makes you feel like bugs beneath her sandals. She could definitely stand a personality upgrade.<span class="O"></span></span></div></div>


path: 1112111321122222122222212211111111112111
author_id: seuzz
title: One Half of a Half-Baked Plan
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Caleb is right to call out Cindy Vredenburg and Kelsey Blankenship as two of the people at school who need to be "fixed" with a body-swap. "Oh, they're on the list," you assure him. "But I think we should start with Steve—"<br/>
<br/>
"How come?" he interrupts. "Also, hold it." He raises a finger. "Explain to me from the start exactly what you want to do."<br/>
<br/>
"Feh! I told you! We swap people around. The dicks and the cunts at the school get replaced with people who, you know, aren't dicks and cunts. Like I swapped with Chelsea. Don't give me that look!"<br/>
<br/>
"How many of these swaps are you planning to make?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, um, well, at least three. Steve and Kelsey and Cindy. But also, we should do something about the Molester, don't you think? And, um—"<br/>
<br/>
"And how many people are you planning to bring into this? Will, how many people are you planning to tell about these masks and what they can do?"<br/>
<br/>
You blink. Because, in fact, it hadn't occurred to you that you'd have to tell anyone anything.<br/>
<br/>
You cross your arms as Caleb starts ticking off reasons it would be dangerous to tell anyone else—"Except, like, maybe one or two people that we <i>really trust</i>"—about the masks. But you're only half listening, and instead are trying to reassure yourself that you wouldn't even have to tell anyone.<br/>
<br/>
You finally interrupt him to make your argument. "Do we even have to tell anyone about this stuff? Can't we just, you know, make the switches?"<br/>
<br/>
His jaw drops. "What?"<br/>
<br/>
"Like we did with me and Gordon. Then with me and Dane. And me and Chelsea. We just do a switch without telling either of them what's going on."<br/>
<br/>
"But <i>you</i> knew what was going on."<br/>
<br/>
"So in this case we don't tell either of them. We just switch, like, um, someone and Kelsey—"<br/>
<br/>
"Who?" Caleb's eyebrows rise so high they almost meet his hairline. "Who are you going to—?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know! Yet! Someone!"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, you sure as fuck better figure out—"<br/>
<br/>
"I will! But we'll just grab both of them, Kelsey and this other person, and we switch them. And then—"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, then what? Just let them do their new thing?"<br/>
<br/>
You make a face at him. "Well, no."<br/>
<br/>
"Because how are they supposed to follow your brilliant plan if they <i>don't know what the plan is?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"I was getting to that! We do the switch, and Kelsey fucks right off in her new body, but we, you and me, we pull the new Kelsey aside, and we explain—"<br/>
<br/>
"About the masks?"<br/>
<br/>
"No. We don't explain how we did it, we just explain <i>that</i> we did it. And that we did it for a purpose, and what the purpose is. That they're the new Kelsey and they need to not be so much of a scrunt."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb looks less convinced than ever. "And they'll just do that."<br/>
<br/>
"We tell them— Look, they're gonna want to stay on as Kelsey—"<br/>
<br/>
"You sure about that?"<br/>
<br/>
"Why wouldn't they? That rich bitch. They're gonna want her car and house and clothes and everything. And if they don't do what we say, if they don't agree to the plan, we tell them we'll just switch them back and find someone else to give Kelsey's stuff to!"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb still looks skeptical. "Gonna have to be a real special kind of person to go along with it."<br/>
<br/>
"We'll figure it out. But we need to start with Steve—"<br/>
<br/>
"How come?"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Because he kicked me out of the loft and if that gets around it'll kill a bunch of my cred.</i> But aloud you say, "Because he's one of the biggest dicks in the school. And because if we get him, we get the loft—the fuck room, you know—and that's the perfect place to pull off these body heists."<br/>
<br/>
"Doesn't Chelsea have a key to the loft?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes," you lie. "But we don't want Steve barging in. Besides, we'll need some muscle for some of the switches we need to make."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb glances over his shoulder, and you follow his glance over to a side table, where the grimoire is lying open. "Yeah, we could use some muscle," he muses. Then he turns back to you. "What happens to Steve?"<br/>
<br/>
"You mean the real guy? Well, if you and him switch, then he winds up—"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, he winds up being me. But he doesn't know anything about me. Like, about who I am, or my life, or anything."<br/>
<br/>
"I guess not. So?"<br/>
<br/>
"So he'll fuck up my life."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, Gordon doesn't know anything about <i>my</i> life, and he's stuck being me now."<br/>
<br/>
"And look how he's fucked it up. And look how Dane fucked up Gordon's life and you fucked up Dane's life, and—"<br/>
<br/>
"Wait, Gordon is fucking up my life? What's he doing? No, wait, never mind!" You stop Caleb from answering with an upraised palm. "I don't give a shit any more. I'm Chelsea now, so I don't care about my old meat bag."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I might care about mine."<br/>
<br/>
"Why? If it's not going to be yours anymore."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb bites his lip, and it's a long moment before he replies. "Because," he says when he speaks again, "it's not just <i>my</i> life that could get fucked up. With you it's different, you've got a mom <i>and</i> and a dad, and they're all doing okay. But it's just me and my mom, and if whoever takes over for me fucks things up, well—"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh. Okay." You find yourself swallowing with sympathy. "I didn't think of that."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I think I should stay where I am. In fact, that's a pretty good reason not do <i>any</i> of this. Because if you stick a bastard like Patterson in where he doesn't know what to do, he could fuck up lots of people without even meaning to."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You and Caleb spend a lot more time talking about it, but neither of you can get the other to budge. You suggest giving both people in the body-swap the memories of the other, like you've got Chelsea's, so they can both adapt. Caleb admits that will work, but points out that you can't give <i>his</i> memories to someone like Steve, or else he'll know all about the masks, and how they work, and everything else that's going on. So he says he won't switch with anyone, but you stubbornly insist on your plan, and for making Patterson your first victim. "And how are you going to pull off a switch?" Caleb demands.<br/>
<br/>
"I'll think of something," you snarl, for all this arguing has made you peevish. "You just be ready to help!"<br/>
<br/>
At home, you're silent and sulky all through dinner, and afterward you ignore both your homework and your social media as you chew over the problem you've set yourself. It's still a problem when you wake the next morning, but sleep has clarified your thinking. You and Steve don't like each other, but it shouldn't be too hard to get him alone someplace where you can jump him. All you have to do is tell him you want to talk about Gordon.<br/>
<br/>
You also need to figure out who to swap in for Steve if not Caleb. As you dress—in tight shorts that show off your thighs, and a loose, cool sleeveless top; the weather is calling for unseasonably warm temperatures today—you let your imagination play over various candidates.<br/>
<br/>
Naturally, it reaches first for people you know. Keith Tilley is of course the first guy you consider for the role. You and he and Caleb traditionally make up a kind of three-man gang of losers and victims, and in the back of your mind you've been feeling a little guilty about leaving him out of the shenanigans that you and Caleb have got caught up in. But it's been complicated enough without him, and there might be a lot of drama if, at this late date, you revealed to him what you and Caleb have been getting up to without him.<br/>
<br/>
The other obvious candidate is Carson Ioeger, who has made it his special mission for the last year or so to torment the school's jocks, particularly the basketball squad, and especially Gordon and Steve and Seth Javits. Patterson would be justly punished if he got swapped into the body of a lanky, funny-looking dork like Carson, and Carson would almost certainly be keen to help you out with your plan. But he'd be hard to manage, you sense, because he's got nerd-alpha tendencies of his own; and if he brought his best friend James Lamont in on the scheme, the two of them would probably try taking the whole thing over from you.<br/>
<br/>
So you let your imagination wander farther afield. <br/>
<br/>
Still, it's a short chain of associations that takes you from one smart nerd, like Carson, to another: Philip Fairfax, the guy you briefly tried setting Eva up with. He's no friend of yours (or of Chelsea's, naturally), and you know <i>of</i> him more than you know him. But he doesn't seem like a very strong personality, and you feel confident that you could manage him from behind Chelsea's face.<br/>
<br/>
You're still sunk deeply in your thoughts—pulling up names and just as quickly discarding them—when you arrive at school. That's when you add another wild possibility to your list: Stephanie Wyatt, who is loping along toward the gym, her head bent over her cell phone, as you get out of your car. You pause to regard her. Stephanie is on the girls' basketball squad, and is frighteningly intense about it. She might be too hard to manage if you tried <i>managing</i> her. But the girls' team resents the boys' team and all the attention they receive, so she might like the switch, if only as a kind of revenge against Steve.<br/>
<br/>
Otherwise, you sense, you will have to look down in the lower classes—on the JV basketball squad, maybe—for candidates.<span class="O"></span></span></div></div>


path: 11121113211222221222222122111111111121113
author_id: seuzz
title: Possible Boyfriends for Me and Thee
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span><i>Second period. Interior Design.</i> You've just settled into your desk when you turn around to give Kendra a meaningful look. "I'm going to the restroom," you say as you push yourself to your feet. She quickly follows you out the classroom door.<br/>
<br/>
The girls' restroom is mostly empty, but it's crowded enough that you don't talk but concentrate on touching up your makeup and moistening your lips to a luscious shine. <i>Jesus, I'm sexy,</i> you congratulate yourself as you tweak and settle some of your golden locks, and your nipples are rock hard as you watch yourself, in the mirror, putting your stuff away. Kendra, who has been equally silent and concentrated on her own reflection, also starts packing up.<br/>
<br/>
By this time the restroom is empty enough you feel you can talk. "Do you know some guy named Philip Fairfax?" you ask Kendra in a distracted tone, as though the name is a pesky mosquito that's been buzzing in your ear.<br/>
<br/>
Kendra thinks a moment, then allows that the name's familiar. "Should I know who he is?" you ask as you continue to study your face in the mirror for any remaining flaws in your makeup.<br/>
<br/>
"No. He's just an AV nerd."<br/>
<br/>
"AV?" you cry. "Oh my <i>God!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Why are you asking?"<br/>
<br/>
You roll your eyes and loose a theatrical sigh, then lean in to whisper the confidence. "Eva Garner is having orgasms over him." You arch your eyebrows. "Seriously."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh my God," Kendra murmurs.<br/>
<br/>
"I know, right? <i>Tch!</i>" You straighten out the seams in your top. "I think someone needs to have a talk with him, before Eva does. So he doesn't get any <i>ideas</i> about her."<br/>
<br/>
"I can handle it," Kendra assures you. A slight smirk pops onto her lips.<br/>
<br/>
<i>I bet you'd love to,</i> you think. <i>Ritual humiliation of science geeks is the kind of thing that gives </i>you<i> orgasms!</i><br/>
<br/>
But, aloud, you sigh, "Well, maybe I should have a look at the guy first. I mean, who knows? Maybe they <i>would</i> make a cute couple."<br/>
<br/>
You and Kendra hold each other's gaze in the mirrors. One of her eyebrows goes up. Your own lips twitch, and the two of you fall against each other, sniggering.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
So, yes, you'll meet with Philip Fairfax, but Kendra will be the one to find him and set it up —making appointments is totally beneath you—and she reports to you at lunch that he will be waiting for you in the parking lot tomorrow afternoon at 5:15, which is the time that you told her to give him.<br/>
<br/>
So that's one-half of the scheme set up. As for the other half ...<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"You <i>know</i> I'd help you out with this stuff," you tell Caleb that afternoon, "except I got so many other things to do."<br/>
<br/>
"Mmph," he replies.<br/>
<br/>
"You don't <i>know</i> how busy I am these days. Besides this stuff, I'm practically having to plan Meghan Farris's party for her."<br/>
<br/>
"Mmph."<br/>
<br/>
"And do you <i>know</i> how much work that is?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb lifts his face from between your thighs. His cheeks and forehead are cherry red with blushing lust.<br/>
<br/>
"Will you stop saying 'No', man? It's a boner killer."<br/>
<br/>
You're sitting back on one of the tables in the elementary school basement, totally naked, with your legs splayed so your best friend can "paint your front porch" with his tongue. It's the price you had to pay to get him to help out with a scheme he's still not sold on.<br/>
<br/>
It started shortly after you arrived at the basement after school. He was there, waiting and looking hot and angry, and he got hotter and angrier when you asked if he wouldn't mind making up two new masks and two new memory strips, to use on Steve and Philip. <i>Sure,</i> he snarled, <i>if you show me your tits.</i><br/>
<br/>
You were so pleased to have so easily ensnared Fairfax that you found you didn't mind the gibe, so with a shrug you tore off your top and dropped your bra. Caleb dropped his jaw. He looked so funny that you couldn't help giggling, and you upped the stakes by shuffling up close to him, rosy breasts pointing like artillery shells, and inviting him to touch them. "Gordon liked to kiss and suck on the tips," you cooed.<br/>
<br/>
He turned a little green at that, and was very tentative about fingering them, and he trembled visibly as he bent to put his mouth to them. He slobbered, which wasn't nice, but you encouraged him by gently clasping the back of his head and tickling the back of his neck with your fingertips. But it was very nice—nicer than fondling them yourself—and you couldn't hold back the tiniest gasp when his teeth touched your nipple and gave it just the perfect little squeeze. When he mumbled a sloppy <i>Sorry</i>, you tittered and asked if he'd like to do "a little more."<br/>
<br/>
It should be gross, letting your dorky best friend go down on you, but the grossness is actually turning out to be a turn-on. Chelsea is a huge snob, and though she is able to appreciate <i>lots</i> of Westside athletes from a distance, Gordon was the only one she'd ever consider letting touch her. So you got a transgressive thrill after wriggling out of your shorts and panties, and laying back with your legs splayed, to invite Caleb in to taste the fruits that only one other guy has ever nibbled at. <i>Chelsea would </i>never<i> go for this,</i> you gloated as little gasps of pleasure bobbed and gurgled in the back of your throat. <i>She would hate this.</i> You giggled. <i>But I'm Chelsea now and she has to put up with it. And you know what? This is good. I like this!</i> You arch your back as Caleb's tongue worms deeper into you. <i>Because I'm not just fucking over that cunt, I'm fucking over her ex-boyfriend!</i><br/>
<br/>
Still, Caleb isn't good enough to get you to a climax, and even as his muffled gurgles and groans grow louder, you settle back to amuse yourself by prattling at him, and digging at his tight, curly hair with your fingernails. "You like this, man?" you murmur. "Ten minutes of this for every hour you work on a mask. Deal?"<br/>
<br/>
"Mmph," he says, having pushed his face back into you again.<br/>
<br/>
"And if you get it all done by tomorrow afternoon, I'll give you a thirty minute bonus."<br/>
<br/>
He lifts his face. "You let me do anything else with you?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not touching your cock."<br/>
<br/>
He grunts, and dips back in again. You ask, "So will you have the stuff ready by tomorrow?" He nods.<br/>
<br/>
You sigh and settle back and even get a little drowsy. <i>It's so great,</i> you muse, <i>having a body I can use to get anything I want.</i><br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Friday brings clouds, light rain, and cooler temperatures, but you dress out in tight shorts and a midriff-baring top. You feel ripe, fresh, and juicy, and the sidelong looks you get in all your classes—some of them pretty blatant—tell you that the boys would agree. Are you getting ogled longer and harder than usual, or are you just more conscious of it, now that you're broken up with Gordon? Even Christian Padilla, who's gay, gives you a long, thoughtful look up and down during second period.<br/>
<br/>
<i>I wonder who will be the first guy with balls enough to ask me out?</i> you wonder. It being Friday, someone is bound to ask. You will be seriously insulted if no one does.<br/>
<br/>
It's sixth period, though—an AP English class—before you are finally propositioned, and it surprises you who it turns out to be.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey Chelsea!" You turn at the call, to find Anthony Kirk giving you a very direct look. "You got plans this weekend?"<br/>
<br/>
You give him a thoughtful stare. Anthony is one of the AP assholes who hangs around Kelsey Blankenship and Geoff Mansfield—Geoff, in fact, is sitting in the desk right behind him—and he's a snot like the rest of them. You're not actually decided whether he's worse or better than the rest of that gang, because even though he's never actually sneered at you that you can recall, that's only because he seems never even to have looked at you. So it seems characteristically arrogant of him to think he can proposition Chelsea right after a break up.<br/>
<br/>
After a long moment you realize you're still wearing the sunglasses you donned while taking a brisk walk outside after lunch, and pull them down to the tip of your nose. "Do you?" you ask, giving the question just enough contempt to be noticeable without it being rude.<br/>
<br/>
"Just gonna play some golf at the country club tomorrow or Sunday," he says, and glances sidelong at Mansfield. "We're looking for a fourth."<br/>
<br/>
Does he really think you play golf? Probably not. Almost certainly he thinks you'll be impressed by "country club", and the implication that he can just casually get you into it as a guest.<br/>
<br/>
You don't want to totally shoot him down, even though a game of golf is just about the last thing you'd be up for. So— "Let me know if you can't find anyone else," you sniff. "In case by some miracle I'm still free," you add as you turn around.<br/>
<br/>
It was just a little thing, Kirk's trying a come on, but you find it gnawing at you the rest of the day. You haven't been able to come up with a plausible jockstrap to replace Gordon as a boyfriend—no one else can measure up to him—but now it occurs to you that maybe you should go to the other extreme. Maybe instead of big, strong and stupid, you should be dating rich, snobbish, and Princeton-bound?<br/>
<br/>
Not Anthony Kirk, though. Just by asking about this weekend, he's pushed you too hard. But what if, instead, you dated someone who had <i>replaced</i> him—and so was easy to manage?<br/>
<br/>
Like Caleb. Anthony might be a snob, but he wouldn't fuck up Caleb's life like Caleb is worried about.<span class="O"></span></span></div></div>


path: 111211132112222212222221221111111111211132
author_id: seuzz
title: The Jock and the Nerd
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>There's the germ of a good idea in there—switching Caleb and Anthony—but you've already got a plan in motion, and it seems best to concentrate on that, particularly as (per your instructions) Caleb has already prepped the groundwork.<br/>
<br/>
So, after the final bell rings, you send Gloria and Kendra into the gym to watch basketball practice—it would be too mortifying for you to attend, but the squad needs representation—while you wait in the library, lazily working on your nails and catching up on some of the social media shit you've been putting off. A lot of this involves taking Meghan Farris in hand, and sending lots of notes around to goad various prominent girls (like Catherine Muskov) into promising to attend. You have to wince a little at the bullying tone that creeps into your missives—<i>You don't want to be </i>that girl<i> who doesn't show up</i> is a phrase that slips in more than once—but pulling Meghan uphill is a pretty hard job.<br/>
<br/>
But by a quarter after five, post-school practices are breaking up, and after a lazy stop in the girls' room and at your locker you mosey on over to the gym. The floor is clear of asshole basketball players, so there's no one to watch as you squat and retrieve from under the bleachers the bag that Caleb left for you.<br/>
<br/>
Outside, there's still a few girls loitering on the tennis courts, but you ignore them to stand by the gym wall and squint into the student parking lot. Halfway across it sits a white Nissan, and standing beside it is Philip Fairfax, his face bent toward his phone. You snort to yourself and saunter out to meet him.<br/>
<br/>
He spots you and gives a little start, but he says nothing until you are almost atop him. "Hey," you say. "Can I get you to move your car up next to the gym, right next to mine? I need your help moving some stuff, and I don't want to hike it all the way out here."<br/>
<br/>
Philip blinks at the strange request, but clambers into his car. There's a pause as he watches to see what you'll do, then precedes you back to the gym when you turn and sashay back the way you came. "Leave the keys in the ignition," you tell him when you've caught up to him again, "and can I get you to clean out your back seat?"<br/>
<br/>
Philip has to climb halfway inside his car to get at the junk he has piled up there, and once he's in this vulnerable position you move around to the other side and climb halfway in to join him. He gives you only a brief glance before lowering his eyes—he's either bashful or daunted—so he doesn't see the mask you are balancing in a free hand. You are about to smush it into him when you realize—<br/>
<br/>
"Hey," you say, and he pauses again. "Can I see your glasses a minute?" When he only blinks you reach up and twitch them off his face. He blinks again, and his eyes go out of focus.<br/>
<br/>
They are classic nerd glasses, but then he's a classic nerd. They have heavy black frames, and without them his whole face seems to go out of focus: the laser-like focus of his gaze disappears, replaced with a vacant stare and a slack expression. How clearly can he see you? Not clearly enough. Or maybe he's just too stunned by your company to react before you lift the mask and push it into his face. His head snaps back, and then he pitches face-first onto the pile of books he was in the act of stacking up.<br/>
<br/>
You cross back around to the other side, push his legs up into the car, and shut the door. His feet poke up, the toes resting against the window. Then you wave to the occupant of the one other car parked in the lot before sprinting back into the gym.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
With Philip you had to be subtle. There's no time for subtlety with Steve. You listen at the loft door for a moment, then pound a fist against it, as though trying to punch your way through the wood. When it opens you spring inside, climb up Steve's chest like a monkey up a wall, and smash the second mask into his face. Patterson stumbles back a step, then folds up and falls to the floor.<br/>
<br/>
You double-check that the loft is empty, then set to work stripping him of his clothes. Luckily, he's changed into loose sweats and a muscle shirt, so you don't have turn him over or lift him up to get them off. Then comes the hard part—seizing him by the ankles and tugging him out of the loft and onto the landing.<br/>
<br/>
You've got him halfway out when his phone chimes. You pause, and when his phone goes off again you spring over to where it's fallen. It's a text from Kendra, asking <i>u stlil there?</i> You cuss to yourself, because a quick glance at the rest of the conversation shows that she and Steve were making plans to get together. You answer her on Steve's behalf with a <i>brb,</i> then yank out your phone and with trembling fingers shoot Kendra a text of your own: <i>Come over my house asap pls thx!</i> You have no intention of actually meeting her there, but you're gratified when she replies that she will. She then texts Steve to tell him that she has to meet up with you instead. (But you feel your brow blackening when you see the "vomit" emoji she appended to her note.)<br/>
<br/>
A few minutes later, you've managed to haul the naked Steve Patterson to the bottom of the stairs, and you fold him up inside a corner of the half-hidden stairwell where he won't be visible from the rest of the gym. You tap your foot impatiently until the mask reappears on his face. Gingerly you lift it off and run back out the gym.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb is leaning up against your car, blowing into the interior of a mask. With a scowl he thrusts at you it and the bundle of clothes he pulled off Fairfax. You give him Steve's mask in exchange, then run back into the gym, to kneel over Steve and gently settle the mask onto him. The change is too quick to register. Where the tall, lanky, hairy Steve Patterson had been curled up, there is now the smooth and milky-white form of Philip Fairfax. You drop the clothes at the sleeper's feet, then with bursting heart make another dash for the gym door.<br/>
<br/>
Now Caleb is waiting for you with crossed arms. "I want an hour with you," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"We can talk now."<br/>
<br/>
"Not to talk. For—" He makes a fist and slides a rigid finger in and out of it.<br/>
<br/>
"Ew. I only promised you thirty minutes."<br/>
<br/>
"I want another thirty for—" He nods his chin at your car. You peek into the back seat  and spot Fairfax sprawled inside it. "You know how hard that was, pulling him out of his car into yours?" He rubs his lower back. "I think I strained something."<br/>
<br/>
"Cry me a river. I had to haul Steve downstairs from the loft. But don't worry," you add with an airy wave of the hand. I'll make it up to you. But first we need to get out of here. Here." You toss Patterson's car keys to Caleb. "Meet me behind the strip center across from the McDonald's." Caleb is still scowling as you climb into your car, but he's on your tail as you pull out onto Borman Avenue.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
He parks Steve's car next to you after you're at the strip center, but he goes into the CVS instead of waiting around. Philip's eyes are closed, but he is stirring and softly grunting to himself when you drop Steve's mask onto him. Then you shut the door and lean back against your car to wait for him to wake up again. You use the time to relax and get your heart rate back down, and to text Kendra a <i>nvr mind sorry</i> and a smiley-face emoji.<br/>
<br/>
You can't stop yourself from glancing back into the car to keep an eye on the new Steve, but it's ten minutes before you can smile into the face of a bewildered basketball player. He stares back at you with a haggard and sickly expression, but doesn't move when you open the door and lean in to chirp, "How are you doing there, Steve?"<br/>
<br/>
His brow furrows. "What's going on?"<br/>
<br/>
"Give it a minute, Steve," you tell him, "and I'll tell you all about it. Oh." You push a pile of clothes at him.<br/>
<br/>
He looks at them, then plucks up one of the tennis shoes. "This isn't mine," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"Sure it is, Steve."<br/>
<br/>
His brow darkens. "And why do you keep calling me that?"<span class="O"></span></span></div></div>


path: 1112111321122222122222212211111111112111321
author_id: seuzz
title: The Puzzled Partner
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span><i>Why do you keep calling me 'Steve'?</i> the new Steve Patterson wants to know.<br/>
<br/>
You feel the smile freeze onto the front of your face. After an awkward moment, you push the rest of his clothes toward him.<br/>
<br/>
"Here," you tell him. "Just put these on. You'll feel a lot better. Then we'll talk."<br/>
<br/>
He seems to realize for the first time that he's naked, and his hands drop to his crotch. You wink at him, then close the car door on him.<br/>
<br/>
You go back to studying the screen of your cell phone, but your mind is elsewhere. <i>When I woke up in Chelsea's mask,</i> you recall to yourself, <i>I thought I was her, and it took me a while to remember everything else.</i> But Philip Fairfax is acting like he doesn't know he's now Steve Patterson. <i>Well,</i> you try to assure yourself, <i>maybe it works different with different people.</i><br/>
<br/>
He isn't long in emerging, crawling out of your car and stepping tentatively onto the parking lot asphalt, as though it's covered in glass shards. He frowns with bewilderment and something like anger, and as he sways on his feet he lifts his hand to study it. It's big, with long, crooked fingers.<br/>
<br/>
"How do you feel?" you ask. A cold jacket of anxiety is wrapped around your own heart.<br/>
<br/>
"What's wrong with me?" he asks. "What happened? I—"<br/>
<br/>
"Here." You turn on the camera in your phone, and hold it out to him. "Have a look at yourself."<br/>
<br/>
An expression of fear crawls over his face as he takes it from you, and stares into the screen. His brow remains furrowed, but fear pops into his eyes, and his lips curl back to show strong, hard teeth. "This isn't me," he whispers, and gently touches his cheek.<br/>
<br/>
"It is now," you tell him. "You know whose face it is, don't you? I mean, you recognize it, right?"<br/>
<br/>
The grin he returns you is ghastly, but he says nothing.<br/>
<br/>
"It's Steve Patterson's," you say for him. "It's his face. And his body. But now they're <i>yours.</i> Everything that was his is yours." You glance back meaningfully at his car, which is parked next to yours, but he just keeps staring at you.<br/>
<br/>
You expected him to be shocked, but you didn't expect him to freeze up so hard. "Philip," you tell him in a gentle voice. "Yes, I know who you used to be. You were Philip Fairfax. You still are, I guess. Remember, I set it up so you'd meet up with me after school? Remember that?" you prod him when he just stares at you. Finally, he nods.<br/>
<br/>
"Right. You were Philip Fairfax. But I changed that." You titter. "I guess I'm a little bit of a witch."<br/>
<br/>
His lips twitch, and his eyes harden.<br/>
<br/>
"But never mind. You don't have to know how it worked. You'll want to know <i>why,</i> though. Why I changed you. And why—" You touch his chest with light fingertips. "Why it was <i>you</i> I picked."<br/>
<br/>
He swallows hard, glances around the cramped parking lot behind the strip center, and nods.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
He listens with an intensity that's a little frightening, as though he's trying to drill more information out of you than you're willing to give. And what you're willing to give is little enough.<br/>
<br/>
"It's a body swap, Philip," you tell him. "I body-swapped you and Steve Patterson. He's back up at the school now, with your clothes and your car and your phone, and your glasses and everything. After he's finished freaking out, I guess he'll go back to you house and start doing the kind of things that you'd do. Because what else is he going to do? It doesn't matter about him. He's the victim, and I don't have anything to say to him. <i>You're</i> the one I'm interested in."<br/>
<br/>
"Why?" the new Steve croaks.<br/>
<br/>
Because you're part of the plan."<br/>
<br/>
"What plan?" Now he actually sounds scared.<br/>
<br/>
"To fix the school. You know what a shit house Westside is. I mean, I assume you've noticed." He makes no reply. "It's full of shitty people. People like Steve. You've noticed that, right? What an asshole he is?"<br/>
<br/>
A furtive look crawls onto his face, but he makes no reply.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I'm changing that. I'm recasting the roles. Steve is, like, 'star jock' at the school. But he's an asshole. So I recast the role." You poke him in the chest. "Now <i>you're</i> Steve. You're the 'star jock.' But you're <i>not</i> going to be an asshole. Right?"<br/>
<br/>
He looks puzzled. "I'm not?"<br/>
<br/>
"Are you? Are you an asshole, Philip? I don't think you are," you tell him when he doesn't answer. "Everything I hear, you're a really nice guy. Really smart and sweet and nice. I wish Steve was smart and sweet and nice. He wasn't, though. But now he will be. Because <i>you're</i> going to be him."<br/>
<br/>
Steve rubs his forehead, as though trying to wipe away a headache. "I don't understand," he murmurs.<br/>
<br/>
"What's to understand?" you retort, and you're starting to feel a little impatient. Philip Fairfax is supposed to be some kind of genius, so why isn't he getting it? "I switched you and Steve. You're him now. You've got everything he's got. Everyone is going to think that you're him. You'd like that, wouldn't you? Being a big guy at Westside, running the basketball squad, having all the girls chasing you. Oh my God, all the pussy you're going to be getting! And the only price you have to pay for it," you add as he pales, "is that you have to be a nice guy. All you have to do is not be an asshole, the way Steve was."<br/>
<br/>
Maybe it's all starting to penetrate, because his gaze goes distant, and turns thoughtful. Still, his brow furrows. "You said something about a plan?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's the plan I just told you, to get rid of the assholes and put nice people in instead. You're the first. There's going to be others. And I'll need your help." <br/>
<br/>
You settle your hands on his hips, and a shiver runs through him. "I want us to be partners," you breathe at him.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Eventually he gets the confidence to ask you for details about the plan—like, who else is going to be replaced—but mostly he wants to know how the "body swap" got pulled off. "I'll tell you about that later," you promise him. "After you've gotten used to things." He also wants to know why and how you came up with this plan, and again with a simpering smile you tell him you'll explain that later on too.<br/>
<br/>
Eventually, he blurts out an objection. "I understand that I look like the guy,"  he says, raising his hands and studying his fingers. "But I don't understand how I'll be able to impersonate him."<br/>
<br/>
"Why not?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because I don't know anything about him," he says. "I don't know where he lives, who his friends are, which classes he's got. Except for the ones we have together. I don't know anything about his family!"<br/>
<br/>
You give him a reassuring smile, even though his protests worry you. "Give it a little time," you tell him, though you're wondering why he hasn't gotten Steve's memories yet. "Drive around town and try to relax. Check out his social media," you add when his phone, which has been chiming all this time in the back seat of your car, goes off again. "Things will start shaking loose."<br/>
<br/>
He looks dubious, and is very slow to crawl into his car. Even then, he sits behind the wheel for a very long time, staring down at his phone with a look of intense concentration. And he gives you a very peevish look as he backs out of the parking space.<br/>
<br/>
After he's gone you let out a long, deep sigh, and text Caleb to tell him he can rejoin you now.<br/>
<br/>
"Finally," he grouses a minute later as he comes around the corner. "The looks I was getting, I could tell they thought I was a shoplifter!" He scratches under a pit, and grimaces. "So what now?"<br/>
<br/>
"We wait until we hear back from Philip."<br/>
<br/>
"Cool. I know how we can kill the time." He leans in to kiss your neck.<br/>
<br/>
"Ungh!" You push him away. "Later. We really shouldn't be seen together."<br/>
<br/>
"No one'll see us if we go back to the clubhouse."<br/>
<br/>
He leans in again, and you let him get a taste of you while you figure out what you want to do next.<br/>
<br/>
It bothers you that Philip is being so slow to pick up Steve's memories and whatnot, and it also bothers you that he was acting distant and close-mouthed with you. It gives you a sneaking suspicion that he might go off and try to find the real Steve, and the last thing you need is two guys, one with Steve Patterson's brain and the other with Steve Patterson's body, ganging up against you. So, now that Philip is out of your sight, you find yourself thinking that maybe you should go pick him up again and keep him close.<br/>
<br/>
In fact, you're just about ready to text him and call him back when Caleb murmurs in your ear.<br/>
<br/>
"You know," he says, "we've got that extra mask of Chelsea back at the clubhouse. I could put it on, and we could—"<br/>
<br/>
He doesn't finish the suggestion. He doesn't have to. The thought he's shared is like a shot of hot steam right up through your core, wetting you all the way through.<span class="O"></span></span></div></div>


path: 11121113211222221222222122111111111121113212
author_id: seuzz
title: Adding a Third
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>It leaves you flushed and limp with desire: the thought of putting your (Chelsea's) pillowy lips to her (another Chelsea's) pillowy pussy. Stroking and squeezing and gripping another girl with a body just as delicious as yours. Burying your face in the same golden curls that tumble about your shoulders, but which tumble about hers.<br/>
<br/>
Your breath is coming in quick gasps as you press hungry fingers into Caleb's back and pull him close.<br/>
<br/>
But at the same time you stiffen with resistance.<br/>
<br/>
"We can do that later," you groan. "Tomorrow, when we have more time."<br/>
<br/>
"We got time now." Caleb's mouth is muffled in the crook of your neck, and his breath is hot against your skin. "Hours and hours. Got till midnight."<br/>
<br/>
"We got all day tomorrow."<br/>
<br/>
"<i>And</i> all day tomorrow," he agrees. "All day Sunday. We can eat each other out till Monday morning."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Oh God!</i> You almost faint with desire.<br/>
<br/>
But firmly you push at him until he steps back.<br/>
<br/>
"But not tonight, not now," you insist as you shove your hair off your flushed and sweating brow. "I've got things to do."<br/>
<br/>
"What things?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
Then his mouth twists into an ugly snarl.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, I get it," he says. "Chelsea things. Popular girl things. Things where <i>I'm</i> not welcome, where <i>I'll—</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"No! Well, okay, yes. But— Tomorrow! I promise, tomorrow. We'll—"<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck off, man." Caleb wheels toward his car.<br/>
<br/>
"Caleb! Don't be like this!" You throw your arm around his waist. Dimly it comes back to you that Chelsea often had to plead with Gordon this way when he got moody and tried stalking off. "You know I want to go off with you! God," you groan, "if you only knew how much—" You gulp as the desire rises again, like a gaping, many-toothed shark, to swallow you whole. "But I'm not even going off to do Chelsea things. I just think— I'm worried about Philip is all. Almost as soon as he left, I was thinking I shouldn't have let him go off by himself."<br/>
<br/>
"So you wanna hang out with <i>Patterson</i> instead."<br/>
<br/>
"No! I just need to keep an eye on him. It's <i>work,</i> basically." <i>Speaking of which ...</i> "Have you looked at the next spell in the book?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb shrugs. "Oh yeah. Pff. Simple stuff."<br/>
<br/>
"Can you work on it tonight?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure. Like I say, it's simple. I just gotta go out to the cemetery and dig up a couple of metric tons of dirt."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
He's exaggerating, but after he explains what the next spell requires—a couple of hundred pounds of dirt taken from a graveyard, plus a lot of explosive chemicals—you see a way of making both you and him happy. Caleb rears back when you suggest getting Philip, with his new, very strong body, to help out, but he reluctantly agrees when you point out the alternative: he would have to dig up and transport all that dirt by himself.<br/>
<br/>
Besides, if the new spell calls for the equivalent of "rocket fuel," who better to help than a budding rocket scientist like Philip Fairfax?<br/>
<br/>
The downside, which bothers you at least as much as it bothers Caleb, is that it more or less involves sharing technical secrets with someone who you originally intended only to be a puppet. Almost as though you're bringing him into partnership.<br/>
<br/>
That's even the way you pitch it when you call the new Steve at the old one's number.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, it's Chelsea again," you chirp when he answers with a wariness that's obvious even over the phone. "Listen, I've been doing some thinking, and I want us to hang out tonight. Tell you a little more about what's going on." You wrinkle your nose at Caleb, who is listening. "I want to bring you out to meet my secret partner. We'll start by getting an early supper and taking it back to our secret headquarters," you continue, "and plan from there. Trust me, you'll love it."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb sniffs after you've hung up. "You're not gonna try getting us into a three-way with you, are you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't be gross."<br/>
<br/>
"'Cos even if I'm in the other Chelsea mask—"<br/>
<br/>
"Do <i>you</i> want get into a three-way with him? Because it sounds to me like you're trying to get something like that going, except without making it sound like it's idea."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb gives you a beady glance. "Is that you or Chelsea talking? And are you being nasty or just scary perceptive?"<br/>
<br/>
"Wait, maybe you <i>do</i> want to be in a three-way with Steve?"<br/>
<br/>
"Ngh. Maybe I just want him watching." Caleb hunches up and avoids your eye.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, let's just see what happens. Okay? But come on, let's get out to the clubhouse and get things cleaned up."<br/>
<br/>
{center)* * * * *</span></div><br/>
Steve, as per the arrangement, arrives at the old school with a supper he picked up at a supermarket: cold cuts and side dishes from the deli for him and Caleb, and a packaged chef salad for you. He wears an uncharacteristically worried expression as he treads slowly down into the dim basement. "How'd you get into this place?" he wants to know. And: "You're gonna get caught," he warns.<br/>
<br/>
Philip is also surprised to see Caleb, who of course he knows from school, and bluntly asks if he's "really" him. Caleb grunts an affirmative. "I'm not into the, uh, body switching," he says, and taps his forehead. "Can't let anyone know what I know, can't share what I've got upstairs about this stuff."<br/>
<br/>
"Caleb's in charge," you gush. "He's the mastermind. He's the one who knows how it all works!"<br/>
<br/>
You sense, rather than see, the sidelong look of surprise that Caleb gives you.<br/>
<br/>
"Really?" Steve says.<br/>
<br/>
"Caleb," you order, "show Philip the book. Explain it all to him."<br/>
<br/>
So you settle around one of the dusty, dented conference tables with the grimoire, and Caleb goes patiently through it, spell by spell, explaining what each one does, and lets Philip use his cell phone to double-check Caleb's translations and explanations of the text against the Latin originals. He gets very intense, and pulls at his lip thoughtfully as he soaks it all up, and asks a lot of probing questions that you and Caleb haven't thought to ask yourselves. (Like, "Can you make and wear a mask of an animal?" and "What happens if you mix a male and female form inside a single mask?") Caleb is forced to admit that you and he have been moving through the book by trial and error, moving on to the next spells without doing a lot of experimenting on the old ones—a confession that Fairfax seems unhappy with.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb also says nothing about the misadventures you've had along the way, and each time he comes close to dropping your real name, you nudge him under the table. But Philip is too sharp not to make some connections and deductions.<br/>
<br/>
"Gordon Black," he says before Caleb has even gotten to the new spell, and the help that you want from him out at the cemetery. He looks between the two of you before settling his gaze upon Caleb. "Did you guys do something to him?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb stiffens. "Yes," he admits. "That was a, um, experiment that didn't go right. We didn't know how to fix it."<br/>
<br/>
"We?" Steve's eyes shift to you, and for the first time his voice and his icy gray eyes harden like the real Patterson's do.<br/>
<br/>
"Gordon was being a butt," you jump in before Caleb can start spilling secrets you'd still like to keep. "We just had the masks then, didn't have the, um, memory thingies. So we used two masks to, um, switch Gordon with someone else. To teach him a lesson."<br/>
<br/>
"Who did you switch him with?"<br/>
<br/>
"Dane Matthias," you blurt out before you can stop yourself. "That's how come Gordon's been so, um—"<br/>
<br/>
"Right." Patterson's gaze goes distant. "And Dane, didn't I hear—? Didn't he get sent away to some school out of state?"<br/>
<br/>
"Mm-hm." Actually, you're not a hundred percent certain of that. Chelsea told you she was being sent away, but you've been too busy your new scheme to do a follow up confirming that she's out of the way. "So we can't fix that thing. Anyway, that's how I— I mean, <i>we</i>—" You elbow Caleb in the ribs. "How we came up with the plan for <i>you.</i> And for some other people." You titter.<br/>
<br/>
Steve compresses his lips till they disappear, then asks Caleb to continue where he left off.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The explanations last until after dusk has fallen, with a lot of the time taken up with Caleb and Philip talking about the next spell. It sounds dangerous, and Philip particularly sounds skeptical, even a little scared. It calls for mixing up the graveyard earth with a lot of volatile chemicals, then setting it all on fire, and Fairfax refuses to help out unless the spell is performed out in the country someplace, rather than inside the basement. And then he also refuses to help you dig up the dirt. His manner is very cold and stiff when he suddenly gets up and leaves.<br/>
<br/>
You and Caleb exchange worried glances, and you hurry after him. He's already outside by the time you catch up. "What's wrong?" you ask as you grab him by the elbow.<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing's wrong," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"But you won't help out."<br/>
<br/>
"This is your project," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"It could be yours too. That's why we wanted to tell you about it." He says nothing. "Please don't act like you're a victim or something."<br/>
<br/>
He's silent for a long moment. Then he says, "You said you wanted to do this with other people. Who?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, um." You take a deep breath. "Cindy Vredenburg. Kelsey Blankenship. They're a couple of cunts I'd like to ... improve."<br/>
<br/>
"Like you want to improve Steve Patterson. But who are you going to switch them with? Who are the guys, like me, that you are going to—?"<br/>
<br/>
"I haven't decided yet?"<br/>
<br/>
There's another silence. Then: "I have some friends."<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh?"<br/>
<br/>
"If you invite them in," he says, "then I'll help. But you have to invite them in <i>before.</i> You can't ... ambush them like you ambushed me."<span class="O"></span></div>


path: 1112111321122222122222212212
author_id: seuzz
title: A Date with Lots of Talk About Dating
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>It's a crazy idea--trapping Chelsea Cooper in Dane Matthias's mask, the way you've trapped Dane inside Gordon Black's, and Gordon inside a mask of you. <br/>
<br/>
In fact, it's so crazy that--<br/>
<br/>
That it couldn't possibly work.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Oh well.</i> You lay under a desk, grip the side of your face, and pull.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Wow, <i>you</i> clean up nice," Eva says as you lead her out the door.<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks. So do you," you retort. She stops cold at that, but you grin and nudge her, and so she laughs.<br/>
<br/>
Eva always looks nice, but she seems a little more spiffed up tonight. There's nothing especially fancy about her dress: It vaguely recalls a sailor suit, being white with a thick blue stripe around the hem, and with two wide blue strips running up the side of the blouse. But an air of freshness lingers about her: sea salt and ozone and lavender, maybe. <br/>
<br/>
If you were on a date with her as yourself--rather than impersonating Caleb--you'd probably fumble about spasmodically.  But just as you found it easy to relax when you had coffee with her earlier in the week, you find it easy and natural to open the car door for her, and to set the climate controls so that it's neither too hot nor cold, to ask her if she's hungry--<br/>
<br/>
And to tell her, as you pull into the street, "You know, if I'm paying for this meal by myself, we're gonna be swinging by the BargainMart to pick up some Pop-Tarts."<br/>
<br/>
She double-takes at that. "Oh. Well, I wasn't expecting you to, you know, actually, uh--"<br/>
<br/>
"You're offering to help pay?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well-- I guess so."<br/>
<br/>
You laugh. "Okay, I'm not actually serious about the cold Pop-Tarts for dinner," you say. "And I can pay for it all if we go to Besandwitched and not someplace really expensive."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, that's fine," she says, though her tone is a little uncertain, as though she's not sure there's not some joke hiding behind your words. "That's actually about what I was expecting. But you know, I can pay for my own--"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not gonna let you do that," you say firmly. "I've got enough to pay for us both."<br/>
<br/>
"But from the way you were talking--"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, that was just me talking. Underpromising and overperforming. I bet Besandwitched sounds pretty good compared to cold Pop-Tarts."<br/>
<br/>
She nods, but you can tell this wasn't the best opening gambit to play with her.<br/>
<br/>
But what does it matter? She's on a date with Caleb, not with you.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Besandwitched--or "Pentagrams on Rye," as some of your friends like to call it--is actually a pretty decent place to eat, despite having the cheesiest décor in town. It's a soup, salad and sandwich shop of good but inexpensive quality close to the university. Its main claim to fame, though, is its being decorated heavily with occult motifs. So you and Eva find yourselves seated by a wall that has an unnervingly immense, man-faced moon gazing down at you, as though it's trying to peer over your shoulders at the menu.<br/>
<br/>
After placing your orders, you rest your elbow on the table and your chin in your hand. "So Will told me you almost backed out of our date tonight."<br/>
<br/>
"No I didn't," she says indignantly.<br/>
<br/>
"Then I guess he was exaggerating. Well, he always is. He said he overheard Chelsea putting the screws to you about me."<br/>
<br/>
She rolls her eyes. "He didn't overhear anything, he invited himself to sit at our table in the library. And I don't care what Chelsea says--"<br/>
<br/>
"I wish you did. I wish you felt <i>massive</i> pressure to break our date, but you held firm, because you really wanted to go out with me."<br/>
<br/>
She smiles, but not warmly, at that. "Chelsea can make all the noise she wants, but she can't tell me what to do."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm glad to hear it." You pause. "Did you hear that Chelsea set Gordon on him? On Will, I mean."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, Gordon!" she exclaims, and her eyes light up. "No, I didn't hear about that. But oh my God, have you been hearing about what's going on with him?"<br/>
<br/>
It annoys you to see her change the subject like that--you wanted to hear what else she might say about you--but this sounds fun, so you raise your eyebrows in a querying way. And so she tells you the gossip.<br/>
<br/>
It's all very fragmented, but the gist of it is that Gordon Black has been acting like he's hopped up on goofballs: laughing and smiling and joking--Gordon <i>never</i> laughs or smiles or jokes, that you have ever seen--and ditching all his usual friends for new ones. "In the cafeteria yesterday, get this, he was sitting with Christian Knouse and those guys. And it looked like they were all having fun!"<br/>
<br/>
"So? Doesn't Gordon have fun? I mean, usually?"<br/>
<br/>
"Not like this, and not with guys like Christian Knouse. He's usually just grumpy, sits around not talking. Jessica says he's like one of those big, frowny Easter Island statues. But yesterday--" She covers her face with her hands and laughs. "Well, it all started with Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
"Doesn't it usually?"<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, I don't guess you know, since I never see you in the cafeteria or anything, but he always brings Chelsea her food over to her, because she's sitting at the table lording it over the rest of us. But yesterday, he sits down with his tray and hasn't got anything for her, and he starts talking to the guys, and Chelsea just stares at him hard, and finally says 'Oh, I guess I'm getting my own lunch today,' because she's this totally passive-aggressive bitch when she wants to be. 'Oh, I guess I'm getting my own lunch today.' And Gordon says--" She bites her lower lip and grips the edge of the table. "He says, 'Hey, when you get your tray, can you bring me another chocolate milk?' and goes right back to talking to the other guys."<br/>
<br/>
"I thought you said he ate with Christian and them."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, because of <i>that!</i> Chelsea started screaming at him, and he just stared at her, and his eyes got bigger and bigger, and then he said, 'Man, this is freaky!' or something like that, and she started hitting him in the shoulder. And he didn't get mad or anything, he just looked over her head and said, 'Hey, there's Christian, I gotta talk to him and those guys'." And he gets up and leaves."<br/>
<br/>
"What did Chelsea do?"<br/>
<br/>
"After she picked her jaw up off the floor, she stormed out without eating. But I guess it worked out or something." Her expression fades to one of disappointment. "We all saw them after school, heading out to the parking lot early, and they were holding each other real close." Now her expression turns shrewd. "It makes me wonder if there's something else going on there, and if Chelsea isn't wondering the same thing."<br/>
<br/>
"Like what?" you ask, though you can only summon up a fraction of the interest Eva is showing.<br/>
<br/>
She gives you an appraising gaze, like she's not sure you're smart enough to understand what she's going to say next. Evidently, she decides you are, or that she can dumb it down enough for you, for she leans forward to speak very quietly.<br/>
<br/>
"You know, they've been going together for a long time, and Gordon's never been happy around her. And I don't blame him. She's horribly high-maintenance, always demanding he do all this shit without being told to do it, and to do it perfectly. Like, did you know she expects him to give her little presents without knowing that she wants them? There was this one weekend, where they were going to a party--" <br/>
<br/>
There follows a tedious anecdote about a string bracelet, an omnivorous puppy, and a cataclysmic argument at Maria Vasquez's house after the first got eaten by the second. "I heard they actually broke up over it, for almost an hour," she concludes. "But I don't believe it. I think that if he ever does break up with her, it'll be the happiest day of his life, and Chelsea knows it, and that's why she's was acting real affectionate with him after school."<br/>
<br/>
You say nothing for a moment, then confess you've no idea what any of what she said means.<br/>
<br/>
"I mean," she says, "that if Gordon finds another girl, she won't be as awful as Chelsea is, and that'll make him happy. And that's such a rare emotion for him it'll blow his mind, leave him acting like he's high or something. Which is how he's been acting, you know." Eva tries to look very wise.<br/>
<br/>
"So you've been telling me."<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh. He's high and he's happy and he doesn't give a shit what Chelsea says or does to him. Like he's basically cut his ties to her. And I think that's what she's afraid of."<br/>
<br/>
"And this is what you and your friends have been talking about?"<br/>
<br/>
She blinks. "Well, not <i>yet,</i> we haven't. It's only just occurred to me." She gets a faraway look in her eye, then focuses back on you. She smiles. "You're so easy to talk to, Caleb, and so <i>smart.</i>" She grabs and squeezes your hand.<br/>
<br/>
So you let her do the rest of the talking through dinner, and afterward, and that seems to leave her very happy, though it leaves you rather more exhausted than excited, even after she lets you kiss her again in the car as you're dropping her off.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"There you are!" Caleb exclaims when you open the basement door. "The fuck has been keeping you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Your date," you retort. "And what are you doing here? I stopped by your house but Dane's car wasn't there. It was only a hunch I'd find you here instead."<br/>
<br/>
"I'da called, but you have my phone. Give it back. And get out of that mask. We've got a test to make."<br/>
<br/>
"What kind of test?"<br/>
<br/>
He picks up one of those metal strips from the table and hands it to you.<br/>
<br/>
Blue letters seem to float above its surface, over the runes: CALEB JACOB JOHANSSON.</span></div></div>


path: 11121113211222221222222122121
author_id: seuzz
title: Of Two Minds
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Blue letters seem to float above the gleaming surface of the metal strip: CALEB JACOB JOHANSSON. "Dude, how'd you get it to do this?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"It's the spell," Caleb retorts. "This is what it made."<br/>
<br/>
"So what does it do? Did you use it to turn the page in the book?"<br/>
<br/>
"Naturally." His expression is smug, then turns a little guarded. "There's just a single sentence on the other side. It translates as 'To know the mind of another'."<br/>
<br/>
You stare at him. "You mean, like, mind-reading?"<br/>
<br/>
"Or mind copying. Think about it, the masks only copy the person's appearance, but if you really want to impersonate them you have to know everything they know."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, fuck, you don't have to tell me <i>that.</i>" Your knees go a little weak, and you lean against the side of the work bench. "The whole freaking week woulda been about ten times easier if-- Aw, <i>Christ!</i> Why couldn't we have <i>waited</i> until we had that spell cracked before we started fucking around?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb's eyes widen. "The fuck is your problem? Did something happen on that date?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, I'm just talking about all this shit with Gordon and Dane. If I'd known what to--"<br/>
<br/>
"Look, will you stop obsessing about that?" Caleb says. "Besides, we gotta test this thing first, make sure it works the way I think it will."<br/>
<br/>
"But if it does, I gotta use it to get out of this mess I'm in."<br/>
<br/>
"Sure," he sighs. "But for right now--" He chews on the inside of his cheek. "Look, I'm gonna have to trust you with, you know, getting inside my head, maybe. You gotta put that thing on." He points at the strip you're holding.<br/>
<br/>
"Why me, why am I the guinea pig?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm the fucking guinea pig here, Prescott! You'll be reading my mind! Anyway, it's not like <i>I</i> can use it."<br/>
<br/>
"Why not?"<br/>
<br/>
He blinks, and his tone turns extravagantly patient. "Because how would I know if I was reading my own mind?"<br/>
<br/>
You mimic his tone. "Are you saying you can't read your own mind now?"<br/>
<br/>
He quivers. "Will you just put that thing onto your forehead? No, wait, take the mask off first."<br/>
<br/>
"How come?"<br/>
<br/>
"Why are you so full of shit and questions tonight? I wanna see if the dingus works by itself, or if it needs a mask too."<br/>
<br/>
"If you're acting like the fucking scientist, that definitely makes me the fucking guinea pig," you grumble, but stretch out on the table. Caleb does the honors of ripping your false face from your true one.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You emerge from an acrid blackness, and with a groan you grind the heel of your hand into your eye. You sit up on your elbows and blink stupidly at Caleb, who is standing near you, watching you carefully. "Okay, Gandalf," you sigh. "Where's that thingamafuck?"<br/>
<br/>
His brow crinkles. "I already put it on you. I figured I could go ahead--"<br/>
<br/>
You gasp, then lunge for him, but yank your hand back at the last minute. <br/>
<br/>
You blink.<br/>
<br/>
Yes, you pulled your hand back, but it was like a reflex, like when you pull it away from a hot surface. A little thought is blinking in the back of your head: <i>Dude, this is too weird.</i><br/>
<br/>
As you stare at Caleb, that sense of weirdness grows. Your skin crawls, for you've the extremely vivid impression that you're in a wrong place. It's a feeling like you got once when you were ten, when you and your family were visiting relatives in the mountains, and you'd gone wandering around in the woods, not paying any attention to where you were walking. In the nick of time you'd stopped at the sound of something in the bushes behind, and when you'd turned back around, you'd found yourself not three feet from the edge of a deep precipice, into which you might have fallen. The thought had rung clearly in your head: <i>I shouldn't be here, I should be someplace back over there.</i><br/>
<br/>
A very similar thought is banging away in your head now. You draw away from Caleb, but the sense of dislocation only grows. Now the thought becomes <i>I should be over there,</i> where "there" is the spot Caleb is standing.<br/>
<br/>
Your friend's expression is growing alarmed in a way probably proportional to your own.<br/>
<br/>
A wave of dizziness washes over you, and you hunch over with your head in your hands. A tremble passes through you, and your gorge rises. <i>A presence is coming, a cold and clammy presence.</i> It's behind you, but you don't turn, for with a shudder you feel it in the back of your head. It spreads over your scalp and down the back of your neck and spine and through your limbs, like smoothly dripping, gelatinous slime. The nausea increases as it invades your gut, and your temples throb, like with an ice cream headache, as it covers your head and ripples down your face.<br/>
<br/>
A hard shudder passes through you, rattling your teeth; then your nerves and gut and spirits settle. The invasive feeling withdraws to a tiny point in the center of your skull, where it burns briefly and winks out, but not before illuminating the second soul that now coats the inside of your original soul.<br/>
<br/>
You keep your face covered and your eyes shut as you listen to this second soul. It doesn't speak, not exactly, but you could put its thoughts and emotions into words if if you wanted to:<br/>
<br/>
<i>My name is Caleb, and I swear by holy fucking Jesus this had better work.</i><br/>
<br/>
You lower your hands and raise your face to gaze back calmly at--<br/>
<br/>
At yourself. At a guy who looks like yourself. Well, if you want to be fucking technical, it isn't yourself, it's Caleb, because he's Caleb and you're Will. But that face is also yours--<br/>
<br/>
<i>No, hang on a moment.</i> You raise your hands and regard your palms and flex your fingers. <i>Will Prescott's fingers.</i> They seem both natural and alien, at the same time.<br/>
<br/>
Just as Caleb's would be, if you got into that mask of him. If you did, you bet you could pass for him exactly.<br/>
<br/>
A wicked smile twists beneath the muscles of your face, and both Will and Caleb agree it would be an awesome thing to try out, especially without explaining things to the guy who's staring at you. "Where's that mask?" you ask, and fumble around for it.<br/>
<br/>
"Why do you--?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because like I told you," you say with exaggerated patience, "I wanna see if it and the dingleberry can work together." You spot the mask at the other end of the table, and stretch to grasp it. "Now watch closely while I do this, in case--"<br/>
<br/>
"You didn't say-- Who do you think you are?" Caleb demands, and his voice is shrill.<br/>
<br/>
"Just let me get this thing on," you say unwisely, "and I'll be Caleb Johansson." You press the mask to your face.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You wake again, this time with a feeling of alert anticipation. Of course you know why that is. You're eager to see if the experiment came off. You sit up and raise your hands.<br/>
<br/>
You are briefly, very disappointed, for they are your own. You look up sharply at Caleb, who is huddled at the far end of the basement with his face in a shadow. "Hey, why the fuck did you--?"<br/>
<br/>
You catch yourself, and do a double-take at your hands. They're your hands, sure. Then you grin. <i>Sure, they're your hands. Caleb's hands.</i><br/>
<br/>
"Hey, what are you hiding over there for," you call as you hop off the table. You look around until you spot the full-length mirror, and strut over to it. You check yourself out, making a few characteristic faces. They come very naturally, and with your own memories you recognize them as perfectly like those you're used to seeing on his funny-looking puss. "This is so freaking awesome," you exult. "I'm you! Inside and out!"<br/>
<br/>
A shadow looms behind you, and Caleb appears behind your shoulder. He looks more than a little scared. "Come on," you tell him. "Why are you looking so freaked out?"<br/>
<br/>
"Um, because this is more than a little freaky?" he says.<br/>
<br/>
"Wasn't it freaky when it was just the mask?" you say, and tuck and settle the shirt a little while admiring yourself in the mirror.<br/>
<br/>
"That was just a mask," he says. "You couldn't have passed yourself off as me."<br/>
<br/>
"I was totally passing myself off as you," you retort. "No one was spotting the difference. But I get what you mean." You pull again at the cuffs of your shirt, and roll your shoulders a little. "There's all this stuff inside, like--" Your lips twitch. "Like that secret crush you've got on Jenny Ashton--"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb jerks back in surprise.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't worry about it," you say. "Like I said, I totally understand. Of course I do, look at me." You grin at your reflection.<br/>
<br/>
"If you're so sympathetic," Caleb says in very tight voice, "you wouldn't act nearly as geeked out as you are."<br/>
<br/>
"Dude, if I was seriously trying to act like you, by being all freaked out and stuff, that would be even worse, wouldn't it? I mean, come on. I know who I am, I'm not gonna try taking over your life. That's why I think this is cool."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb hunches his shoulder, but looks a little mollified by your words.<br/>
<br/>
"So, you wanna stay here tonight while I go home in your place?" you ask. "Or I can stay here while you go home. Either way, one of us can start working on the next spell. You were just about to start that, I know."<br/>
<br/>
"You're not going home as Dane?"<br/>
<br/>
"Pfft, no. With Chen after him?"<br/>
<br/>
But then: Doesn't this give you a way to save yourself from Chen?</span></div></div>


path: 111211132112222212222221221211
author_id: rugal
title: Becoming Unconnected
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Yeah, you have a mask and a band and you can become someone else. Someone who can get you far, far away from anything involved with Dane, Chen, hardcore drug dealers... all of that. You're actually working yourself up into a paranoid mess just thinking about it. Well, you need to stop that. You can't have yourself jumping at shadows. You just need to stay calm and realize that shadows can't kill you... or can they? You shake the thought out. Still you need to get into a better place and that means getting far away from anything to do with drug dealing as you can. That doesn't mean you're going to catch the first bus out of Saratoga Falls but that does mean you need a new identity and one not obviously connected to you, Dane, Chen or anything. No stoners, nobody who seems like they'd partake even a tiny bit.<br/>
<br/>
But you're stumped and so you plop yourself onto the ground.<br/>
<br/>
"I think I'm just gonna stay here for the night," you grumble. "I can't go back to Dane's, who knows what the fuck I'll find. Maybe the wrong end of a baseball bat or something."<br/>
<br/>
"Your shit's all here, right," Caleb asks and you nod. "Well that's good for now but what are you going to do? You can't stay here forever and become Basement Boy. People are probably going to come looking for Dane if he doesn't show up after a few days."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll think of something, I don't know," you say in a tired manner. "You wanna stay?"<br/>
<br/>
"Hell no, camping out in this shit hole is near the bottom of my list of things to do." he states defiantly. "No, I'm gonna head home and get some sleep myself. In my nice safe home in my nice comfy bed."<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck you," you reply and flip him the bird.<br/>
<br/>
At that point Caleb tosses something to you and it clangs on the floor. You pick it up to see one of the mind bands and look back at Caleb quizzically. "Fair's fair," he replies. "You've been digging around in my head so I'm gonna go spelunking in yours. Just take the band off and we'll be good to go."<br/>
<br/>
You sigh at that. You don't want him, or anyone, in your head but he's right about it being fair. Besides, your nerves are frayed so maybe this'll put you out. With little trepidation, you raise your hands to your face, recite the magic words and pull the mask off feeling a small measure of relief, for once, as the sweet, sweet darkness takes over.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Yo, dickhead! Wakey wakey!"<br/>
<br/>
You're roused out of your slumber by Caleb's voice. A light has managed to creep into the basement through the slightly open door but nothing too bright which leads you to believe that it's still early, a theory confirmed when your phone tells you it's a little after seven. "You're here early," you say through a yawn as Caleb shoves a bagel and coffee towards you. "Thoughtful too. Did my mom replace you or something," you ask jokingly.<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck off, I didn't want to leave you here by yourself for so long. I'm surprised I didn't find you cowering in a corner," he says with a mix of his usual acerbicness and friendly ribbing.<br/>
<br/>
"So is that all you came by for," you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Well no, I was just feeling restless I guess," he states while rummaging around. He grabs the book and a pad and pencil you've been keeping down here while going over the spells. "This too, I just want to see what else there is. I took a run through your mind so I know you're looking to get someone else so I figured that there has to be a way in here to show how to combine the bands and mask."<br/>
<br/>
Now nearly fully awake you scarf down the bagel and begin drinking the coffee as the two of you get to work on the book. Nothing new is really needed as most of what it's asking for in materials is stuff you've been using already. You get to mixing it the way the book tells you and once that's done place the bowl that holds the concoction onto the sigil and your finger around three times. A small flash of light emerges from the bowl and lifting it off the page automatically turns. You work to translate the Latin and realize that Caleb's instincts were right. What you've just created is a kind of magic paste that would allow you attach one of the brain bands to the inside of a mask.<br/>
<br/>
The benefits of being able to do that are obvious. Attach it, shove a mask on someone and you've killed two birds with one stone. Put the new mask on and you're that person in body and mind. You wouldn't even need to be a particularly good actor either. The upshot is this makes getting a new identity much easier. Unfortunately for whoever you switch with you don't have Dane's brain but you figure that'll be their problem, not yours, and that they'll learn--as you did---the need to shape up and how to do it.<br/>
<br/>
Excitedly you get to work on a new mask; the process of which is becoming second nature at this point. You're thankful that Caleb had the idea to use a car buffer because it makes the job go by so much faster, no longer having to wipe it with a cloth for a day or two to get results.<br/>
<br/>
By the time you finish it's mid-morning, maybe a little after nine-thirty, and you've now got a mask waiting to be used in your acquisition of a new home. You then gather up Dane's mask and clothing as well and shove it all into a discarded bag that was used when purchasing supplies.<br/>
<br/>
"So, you want to go house hunting with me," you ask.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb just shakes his head. "Can't, I've got some stuff mom wants me to do around the house first," he says. "If you want we can go looking this afternoon."<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno, maybe," you shrug. "But I don't want this death sentence hanging over me so I think I'm going to start my search early."<br/>
<br/>
The two of you agree to go your separate ways for now, but not before Caleb forces you to keep him up to date on where you are.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Westside is not really on your way any place, but you wind up driving it past it as you wander around town trying to figure out what to do. You notice some activity on one of the practice fields, so you pull into the parking lot to see what's up.<br/>
<br/>
It's the girl's soccer team, and you get out for a better look. You don't see the coach around but you've heard through the grapevine that Anita Nuevo, the team captain, likes to run an unofficial practice on weekend mornings when nobody is at school. Coach Puente, you guess, must trust her enough to give her a key and you can probably see why: you've never heard of Anita getting into any trouble or being involved with any of the social hierarchy drama. She seems to, you'd guess, focus on her studies and her team over any of the petty shit. Well that's good, having a good head on her shoulders isn't bad.<br/>
<br/>
You think she'd make a good home but the problem is how do you get her? You never really had an interaction with her before and no way would you be able to get her alone.<br/>
<br/>
As you chew over the problem, you are briefly distracted by a shout from the nearby bleachers. A couple of guys—sophomores, probably—in shorts and muscle shirts are lounging there, watching the soccer practice. "Way to go, Evie!" one of them shouts in a jeering tone.<br/>
<br/>
You look back at the field. One girl, a well-built blonde you've seen around but whose name you don't know, is berating another, much smaller girl who is hanging her head and staring at the ground. There's a gathering of other team members around the commotion and Anita steps in to break it up. She puts an arm around the second girl, says something to her, and the second girl heads to the sideline while Anita begins admonishing the first.<br/>
<br/>
This second girl though holds your interest as she gathers her stuff and leaves the field, heading in the direction of the locker room. You don't know who this girl is, you've never seen her before and couldn't pick her out of a crowd.<br/>
<br/>
She's perfect.<br/>
<br/>
Creepy as it may be you follow her as quietly as possible until she gets to the gym on her way to the locker room. You watch through the door and once you see her enter the locker room you grab the blank mask out of the bag, enter the gym and take a position by the locker room. Within a few minutes she's exiting and barely has time to take notice of you before the mask is shoved on her face; you make sure to catch her as she goes limp.<br/>
<br/>
You take note that she's tiny: maybe a hair above five foot even if that. Her face is heart-shaped and wavy dark brown hair, pushed back by a cloth hair band, stops at the middle of her neckline. She's small-chested though not flat and slightly on the skinny side. Undressing her, since you'll be needing her clothes, you see a girl that is just starting to develop some vague muscle toning though nothing noticeable unless you're actively looking. Once the mask comes, you grab Dane's and shove it onto her as well as toss Dane's clothes, in a pile, on her as she transforms. Not wanting to see that you gather up her clothes and purse and dash out of the gym and into one of the nearby bathrooms. Inside you hold the girl's mask up and see a name.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Evelyn Sonia Cummings</i><br/>
<br/>
Going into a stall you strip out of your own clothes and put the mask to your face.</span></div></div>


path: 1112111321122222122222212212111
author_id: rugal
title: All About Evie
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You take one last look at Evie Cummings and there's a sense of unfamiliarity there and it's not just coming from you.<br/>
<br/>
Most of this is new to Evie as well as she only just started athletics in her freshman year. That was done at the behest of Melanie Heath, Evie's best friend going back to middle school, as the two of them wanted something a bit more out of their high school lives having previously been rather plain and dorky. Needing some bodies, the soccer team took them and they were dumped on the freshman squad. Melanie actually showed quite a bit of surprising talent while Evie had to work much harder in comparison. Then Melanie moved to the other side of town late in the year and transferred to Eastman and that might have been it for Evie's soccer aspirations.<br/>
<br/>
Then Marc Garner came along.<br/>
<br/>
She saw him, handsome and smart and witty, and was instantly smitten. Getting his attention, getting him to notice her, was all the motivation she needed. She changed her style, put in the exercise, worked that much harder on the practice field as she moved up to the JV squad. She has yet to catch the attention of Marc but she did manage to come onto Anita's radar. Anita, if nothing else, appreciates hard work. <i>"You've got great hustle, Evie!"</i> she'd said encouragingly and from then on she seemed to take a shine to the girl. Evie wasn't the best player yet, she'd tell her, but she had the biggest heart and while skills can be taught heart is innate. If she'd keep up the effort, Anita would be more than willing to teach her the skills. If she could improve and become a good player, then Marc would have to recognize her for sure.<br/>
<br/>
Sadly this seemed to earn the wrath of Hannah Westrick, an Eastman transfer whose talent Coach Puente took a liking to as she quickly displaced Bonny Trask as the squad's number two much to the chagrin of Anita and... well, everyone. None moreso than the JV squad who she runs ragged during pre-varsity practice and intra-squad practices on the weekends. But no one on the squad does she single out like she does Evie. She doesn't know if Hannah, Marc's girlfriend, knows about her crush or if she just sees Evie as an easy target but she seems to make it a point to go after her. She'll tackle a little harder, kick the ball a little harder and harps on her for her mistakes a little more.<br/>
<br/>
That's what you saw a few minutes ago on the practice field. Evie made some kind of dumb mistake and Hannah got on her about it moreso than usual. Anita stepped in to calm things down and told Evie she could just head home while she took care of Hannah. That's what she was on her way to do before you...<br/>
<br/>
You come out of your reminiscence and run a hand over your cheek. Evie's nobody who stands out. She's a normal girl with a crush on a handsome guy who wants to be a little more popular. She has her friends and enemies, just like any other girl. You feel slightly bad about throwing the real girl into the situation you did but these qualities are what make her a perfect getaway. She's clean cut, nobody who would be involved in drugs. She's a few grades down so she'd stay out of the notice of Gary Chen. She's an athlete, not anyone who could be tied to Will Prescott. She's as unconnected as you can get.<br/>
<br/>
So you triple check that everything is in place, grab your purse and head out of the bathroom and into your new life.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
You head out into the parking lot to your car; not a particularly fancy one as it's a few years old, something Evie's parents had gotten her for her birthday, but it's what it represents to the girl that's important: growth. It represents a maturity and a freedom born from that maturity. A greater level of trust from her parents. The ability to begin doing things that she wants to do without needing the permission of her parents. In fact, Evie had planned on hanging out with some friends later today so you plan on keeping that appointment.<br/>
<br/>
First, though, you head to your new home.<br/>
<br/>
"You're back early," your mother, Evie's step-mom really though she's been married to Evie's father for so long that it's easier for Evie to think of her as her mother, says from the kitchen as she washes the post-breakfast dishes.<br/>
<br/>
"Anita decided to call practice early because something came up," you lie, "so I'm going to hang around here for a bit."<br/>
<br/>
"Are you going to be around for lunch," she asks, "because I plan on making some sandwiches."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm actually going to meet Mel and Lindsay and them for lunch," you tell her. "Is dad here?"<br/>
<br/>
"He had to run in to work for an hour or two since they needed him to help with some network and system updates," she replies.<br/>
<br/>
You feel a bit of disappointment at that because Evie's father has the instincts to realize when she's feeling down and knows how to pick her up. But it's not a big deal so you give Mrs. Cummings some acknowledgment and head up to your room. It takes longer than you'd think to get there: Evie's parents work for the city, her father is the head of IT for the city government and her step-mother is the city manager so she's fairly well off. But her parents have always instilled a work ethic in her and have never been ones to grossly flaunt their money the way some families like the Blankenships do.<br/>
<br/>
You close the door behind you and take in the room. Unsurprisingly it's fairly girly but you are surprised to see some things like video game consoles, anime posters and anime figurines scattered around. Well as you learned earlier she was fairly dorky up until high school and you guess that even with all the change she hasn't given up on all of her previous interests. That feels nice, you think, since that means there will be a least a little familiarity there.<br/>
<br/>
You decide to get a better look at who you are and head over to the full length mirror propped up one of the corners. Again, kind of cute you think. You run a hand through her thick, wavy brown hair and thick eyebrows that, while not remotely unattractive, work to give her something of a shy, mousy appearance. As you're looking, her thoughts begin to peak through.<br/>
<br/>
<i>I wish my ass was bigger. My boobs too. I'm barely a B-cup while Hannah's got nice big ones. Maybe if mine were bigger, Marc would...</i><br/>
<br/>
You can feel yourself getting worked up at that thought. The girl has it bad for him so you head away from the mirror and decide to tell Caleb where you are. You take your phone out and give a cutesy smile while flashing a V-sign close to your face and take a picture. Thankfully you've got Caleb's number memorized so you decide to send the picture to him. A response comes a few minutes later.<br/>
<br/>
<i>who's this?<br/>
<br/>
me<br/>
<br/>
me who?<br/>
<br/>
will</i><br/>
<br/>
That's followed almost immediately by a phone call as some peppy pop song goes off. "Hello," you answer and notice the girl's voice is higher pitched than you'd have expected.<br/>
<br/>
"Is that really you, Will," Caleb asks, not wasting any time.<br/>
<br/>
"No, I'm just a girl who's been stalking you because I'm too shy to confess my feelings," you say while rolling your eyes at nobody in particular. "Yes, it's me you dummy."<br/>
<br/>
"Did you get her at the school or something?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, there was a shot so I took it."<br/>
<br/>
"Who is she, anyway," he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"You know anyone named Evie Cummings," you ask him which gets a negative response. "She's a sophomore on the JV soccer team."<br/>
<br/>
"A fucking <i>sophomore</i>," he exclaims in surprise. "Do <i>you</i> know her or something? I was expecting you to try and go for Mansfield or Javits or somebody like that."<br/>
<br/>
"It was a crime of opportunity," you explain. "But it worked out probably better than them since she has no connection at all to me or Dane or anyone unless you call having the hots for Marc Garner a connection."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh god, I'm not going to have to see you hanging around if things go well with Eva am I?"<br/>
<br/>
"He's got a girlfriend," you say as you let some of Evie's disappointment slip through. "This girl doesn't really like her much. She's kind of a bitch. She is buddies, kind of, with Anita Nuevo though."<br/>
<br/>
"Well poor you," Caleb says. "Life's gonna be so hard as an athlete surrounded by pretty girls in peak physical condition."<br/>
<br/>
Though he's obviously being sarcastic you can feel a pang of envy from Evie's mind towards the other, more athletic and physically fit girls. It'll might be tough trying to go it alone as you wouldn't really have much of an opportunity to hang around Caleb. Or would you? You wonder if you could get Caleb to join in with you. Getting one of the girl's friends or even teammates wouldn't be hard, you think, and you imagine that Caleb would relish in the opportunity of being surrounded by attractive girls.<br/>
<br/>
But he also seems fairly content to hang around as he is or, if he did take another home, he'd want to be playing with an attractive girl from the perspective of a handsome guy--like Marc--than as a girl himself. So you wonder if it'd even be worth bringing it up.</span></div></div>


path: 11121113211222221222222122121112
author_id: rugal
title: New and Old Friends and Faces
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Well hey, I know how much you'd love to be surrounded by that," you tease him before deciding not to bring up the possibility of a switch. "Maybe I'll get you some pictures or something."<br/>
<br/>
"What about letting me touch your tits," he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, okay buddy you've negotiated yourself out of those. I'll just tell you how great it is instead," you continue teasing.<br/>
<br/>
"Well I plan on taking a detour under a different face at some point," he says. "If this stuff with Eva doesn't work maybe I'll grab Marc. His girlfriend hot?"<br/>
<br/>
"Attractive enough," you say. "You'd tell me if you moved under there, right?"<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe, maybe not. How bad does this girl have it for him anyway?"<br/>
<br/>
Real bad is what you'd say and in all honesty she probably wouldn't care if it was somebody else under his face. But you don't want Caleb to know that so you play it off a bit. "It's nothing beyond a little crush," you tell him. "There's other guys too. Be glad I didn't decide to take Eva."<br/>
<br/>
"You were seriously considering..." he trails off, "Low blow, man."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm just getting you back for that," you tell him. "The idea of having you inside of me is nasty."<br/>
<br/>
"So you'd be willing to get railed by Marc?"<br/>
<br/>
"I--I don't know," you say as you cloak yourself in Evie's persona. "I've never even... ohmygod! You're so <i>gross</i>!"<br/>
<br/>
"When did you turn into such a girl," Caleb snorts.<br/>
<br/>
"When do you think? I've got lunch with friends anyway so I'll talk to you later or something."<br/>
<br/>
With that you end the call and know that you're going to need to shower before you go out for lunch so you decide it's for the best to just keep Evie's personality at the forefront, letting it guide your actions. It proves to be a wise decision as you feel the warm water run over you and know that you're sorely tempted to check out your new body further. But for Evie this wouldn't be the time for such actions so she's able to temper any desire you might have and you're able to go through the shower without incident.<br/>
<br/>
Afterwards you take the time left until lunch studying for Mr. Fernandez's class and then watching a bit of TV. Once noon hits though you barely have time to say bye to Mrs. Cummings or Evie's father, who's coming in around the same time, before you're at the door.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"So she just bitched you out right in front of everyone like that," asks Paulina Nowak while you take a sip of some water.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't even remember what happened, I think I messed up a pass or something and she just really got on me," you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
"I can tell you that Jenny's not losing sleep over Hannah going to you guys," Melanie tells you. "From what she's said Hannah was... assertive I think is the way she'd put it if she wanted to be diplomatic."<br/>
<br/>
Melanie tucks a piece of honey-colored hair behind her ear and you can't help but notice Evie's own jealousy. The past year has been kind to her as she's started getting in shape, grown a couple of inches and started filling out more and her blue eyes seem to have locked her face into a state of perpetual amusement. She's on the prettier end of the spectrum and a far cry from the somewhat dumpy girl she was in middle school, she even started going out with a nice-looking guy from Eastman's JV team.<br/>
<br/>
"It's just dumb, I don't know why you put up with it," Lindsay adds.<br/>
<br/>
She'd been with Evie and Melanie on the freshman soccer team but by the end of the years knew that it wasn't her thing. This year she's been more focused on drama and acting which is something she's more passionate about. She's also the sister of Ms. Cho who was your English teacher last year which she's somewhat resentful of as it sometimes causes people to think she has things a little easier.<br/>
<br/>
"Do you have to even wonder why," Paulina teases while making kissy noises.<br/>
<br/>
Paulina and her family immigrated from Poland when she was nine which leaves her with a slight, though largely faded, accent. She's the tallest of all of you and still growing. As a result she plays on the girls' JV basketball team where she does pretty well for herself; there's talk that if she plays well this year she'll be moved up to varsity next year. Her parents own Nowak's Authentic Euro Deli where you're eating lunch.<br/>
<br/>
"It's not that," you insist while blushing. "Well okay, not exclusively that. Anita's been helping me out a lot with practice and personal training and stuff. I figure if she has my back I can deal with Hannah even if it gets hard to some times."<br/>
<br/>
Lindsay takes her glasses off and holds them up to a light and squints. "That's it," she asks as she wipes them with a cloth, "Because I'm pretty sure you can do that stuff on your own without having to deal with all the crap that comes from sports."<br/>
<br/>
"It's not that bad," Paulina tells her. "I've heard Almida can be a problem but we never interact with her. Usually it's Kristy or Nia if one of the varsity members comes down to help us and they're pretty nice."<br/>
<br/>
"I think it's just Hannah," Melanie adds. "She caused a lot of problems for Jenny last year too."<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh, have you even heard about what goes with the football team? Or the cheerleaders," Lindsay asks.<br/>
<br/>
"How would <i>you</i> know any of that," you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Because Charles Hartlein is in the drama program too," she replies. While nobody in your group has ever interacted with him, Charles is a notoriously flamboyant and outgoing gossip hound; notorious enough that even people at your level are aware of him. "I mean okay, so he doesn't talk to <i>me</i> specifically but I'm able to overhear things all the same."<br/>
<br/>
"What kind of things?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well I mean that's not what's important," she states. "What <i>is</i> important is that I know some of the other cheerleaders don't seem to like Chelsea Cooper because I always overhear Charles saying how such and such leaked something to him or to someone else who got it back to him. That whole world just seems like everyone out to get one another, Evie so I don't know why you need to get caught up in it. You don't even need it if you want a boyfriend; there's Andy you know?"<br/>
<br/>
She's referring to Andy Jensen, another friend of Evie's who she shares a few classes with and makes no secret of his crush on her. He's not a bad looking guy or anything but... "Well, I mean, I know but he's my friend and, like, what if it doesn't work out," you say. "I don't want to ruin that."<br/>
<br/>
In actuality it's more like she doesn't want to settle. For Evie, trying to get Marc isn't just about wanting a handsome guy, it's about proving she can get one. Proving to herself how far she's come along. Still you yourself can't help but feel a bit bad for Andy at that thought. Is that what Lisa was doing with you? Settling until someone better came along?<br/>
<br/>
That thought has killed your mood and you're a lot quieter for the rest of lunch. Once it ends you head home and spend the rest of the day not doing much of anything, a little bit of extra studying for the most part, until the evening. You eat dinner and then head out to Evie's part-time job at the Burger Palace. It's not anything you nor her enjoy but her parents aren't going to allow her to sit around either so you're able to suck it up and get through your shift. By the time you're home you're exhausted from the day's events and stresses so you do a bit of light reading before going to bed around eleven.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
At school you listen intently to Mr. Henderson's lecture and work fairly efficiently at the assignments you're given. Evie's a smart girl, you realize, and unlike yourself actually seems to apply herself to get results. She's picked up on the French you're learning fairly quickly which makes this a case where it's easier to assume her persona more fully and let it run things than merely playing her role. Most of the rest of her classes shouldn't be much of a problem, even the AP ones, but languages? You have a hard enough time managing the little bit of Latin you picked up.<br/>
<br/>
It also becomes easier to do that because that's one of the classes Andy shares with her and your own feelings on the matter might cause you to take a bit of pity on him and, right now, you're not here to be the Evie you think she should be but the Evie that she actually is so it's far easier to keep things on a simply platonic level that way.<br/>
<br/>
Once class lets out, you head to your locker and put away your French books while grabbing what you'd need for Ms. Duggan's food prep class. As you're heading over towards A-wing, however, something catches your eye. It's the confused, shaggy-haired form of Dane Matthias. He's standing there with his head down, looking at a piece of paper. He seems to find what he's looking for as he looks back up and when he does you're surprised to see a nice shiner on his left eye. You're suddenly hit by a thought: did the real Evie, the one under the mask of Dane Matthias, run into Chen? Is that where that came from? Or was it just some kind of simple accident that caused it?<br/>
<br/>
He scans around a bit and then he notices you. Or at least you think he does. You freeze up, unsure of what to do. If he has noticed you, he's going to march over and probably demand his life back. It could create a scene but more than that your own self-preservation instincts are kicking in. You <i>can't</i> give her back her life because where would that put you? You should probably try and disappear before he can do anything.<br/>
<br/>
But would that be right? You don't want to tell anyone else about the book but maybe you should talk, if nothing else to fill him in on what's expected of Dane Matthias. But that could just make things worse as well because you do not plan on giving up Evie to go back to Dane. </span></div></div>


path: 111211132112222212222221221211122
author_id: rugal
title: Somewhat Righting Your Wrongs
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You decide that running away would be the cowardly thing to do. Protecting your newly acquired home is important but you don't feel like you can just ignore the person who it belonged to either. Besides, if she is getting into problems with Chen you'll need to give the former girl an idea of what she's getting herself into and what she needs to do. That's a rich sentiment, though, considering you're were you are now because you couldn't deal with it.<br/>
<br/>
Your thought that he might have noticed you is confirmed when he locks eyes and begins heading in your direction. You're locked into your decision now so you stand your ground. As soon as he's within a reasonable distance you hear a voice that, with one word, is a mixture of anger, confusion and fear. "You--" is all he's able to say.<br/>
<br/>
You grab him by the arm. "Yes, me," you say as you pull him with you into the quiet walkway between the locker corridor and the library. "I know what you're going to want to talk abut but we can't really do it out in the open like that."<br/>
<br/>
"Why," he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Because I needed to get out," you answer.<br/>
<br/>
"Why me? What did I do to you," he sounds much more pleading, almost on the verge of tears.<br/>
<br/>
"Opportunity," you say simply. "I didn't target you but I needed out of there fast. You were the first person I came across."<br/>
<br/>
"Is this... is this who you are," he gestures towards himself. "Are you this guy?"<br/>
<br/>
You pause for a second at that. You weren't Dane, not really, of course but neither do you want to expose your true identity. "In the same way you are," you say. "I was trapped there too for a few days."<br/>
<br/>
"You were...?" She stops and looks down, "It's so awful! I... I only know who I am because I..."<br/>
<br/>
"Is this hard," you ask, "If you don't want to get into--"<br/>
<br/>
"Of course it's hard," he exclaims--damn near shouts actually--before calming down, "but I... I have to. Because I need to know. I need to know what's going on and who you are."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm... I'm you," you tell him.<br/>
<br/>
"No you're not," his voice rises again, "You're just--"<br/>
<br/>
"Just someone who looks, sounds, thinks and acts like you," you say sternly. "Whoever I am under here doesn't matter. You've never heard of me so you'd get nothing out of it. I could be a guy or a girl, a student or a teacher. So it's easier to think of me as Evie Cummings for right now."<br/>
<br/>
He looks shaken by that but seems to be able to calm himself if only a little. "So how did this happen," he asks quietly.<br/>
<br/>
"It was... a book," you say trying to figure out how best to tell it. "It was something a friend and I found that claimed to be magic. We thought it was ridiculous but we were able to use these masks. We used them to become each other and had some fun like that but I wound up getting caught in this spiral of having to jump around to save myself. I wound up where you are by accident and that's when I found out how his life is. The things he's involved in. It was too dangerous."<br/>
<br/>
"So you just stole my life," he asks incredulously, "and shoved me in it instead?!"<br/>
<br/>
"I told you, it wasn't intentional," you tell his. You then point out his eye, "So how'd that happen?"<br/>
<br/>
"It was..." he pauses at that and looks down. "There was this guy. He ran into me, I don't remember his name. I think he was Asian or something? But he seemed angry at me or at least at whoever this person is supposed to be. He said a lot of nasty stuff, cussed me out, then when I said I didn't remember he decided to... to 'help' me remember."<br/>
<br/>
"By beating you up," you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"And drilling it in what 'I' was supposed to be doing and where 'I' lived," he says. "I just... are you going to give me my life back?"<br/>
<br/>
You give a pause at that. "I want to, but I can't go back to there either," you say. "But if I can't find something I want to help you out. I'm sorry about this, I really screwed up and wasn't thinking things through but I want to make it right somehow. So I'm going to try to find something that works for both of us."<br/>
<br/>
"I just want my life back," he replies despondently. "But if you say you can help me... then fine. How do we do this?"<br/>
<br/>
"I have to talk to someone," you tell him. "I'll look around for opportunities too. Can you meet me out by the portables after school?"<br/>
<br/>
That gets a tentative but affirmative response and the two of you separate to head to your classes. You're left feeling like complete garbage by the time you walk into Duggan's class and have a hard time concentrating the entire period. Evie's a nice girl and you, through your own thoughtlessness, have wronged her by dropping her into a horrible situation. As you're sitting there in class you resolve to rectify that.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
For much of the rest of the day you let Evie's persona take the lead as most of the classes are, to be blunt, nothing you're particularly excited for given the circumstances. As well, subsuming yourself in her personality means you don't have to let your mind wander. Duggan's class is nothing but if you spaced out in Fernandez's class that might be a bigger problem. Likewise it doesn't help that of Evie's main group of friends you only share one class--Goretsky's AP English II--with Paulina and none with Lindsay. Likewise you're forced to eat lunch with some of Evie's other, and to be honest less interesting, friends as Paulina and Lindsay both share a different lunch.<br/>
<br/>
You are a bit grateful that she only shares one other class--Carr's AP Biology--with Andy. Not that you hate him or anything but because it lessens an otherwise awkward situation.<br/>
<br/>
Soccer practice is much the same. Without Hannah there to needle you, you're able to perform rather well. It's enough that even the rather haughty captain of the JV squad, Luz Rosario, and her more taciturn co-captain, Becca Daly, acknowledge the improvement in their own ways. That makes you feel good as it Evie's getting better after only a little bit of mentoring from Anita by the end of the year she may be good enough for JV captain as Luz and Becca, both juniors, move up to varsity.<br/>
<br/>
Your good mood is slightly dashed however when, on the way to your next class, you manage to spot Hannah with her arm around Marc as she gives him a small peck on the cheek. You're not sure if you're imagining things but you get the feeling she sees you and gives you a rather taunting look too but you brush that off as likely your own mind playing tricks on you.<br/>
<br/>
But that encounter, such as it was, does give you an idea so you make a point to text Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
<i>caleb its will<br/>
do u have any mask<br/>
<br/>
like 1 or 2<br/>
<br/>
r they w/ u<br/>
<br/>
at the school<br/>
<br/>
ok<br/>
r u gonna b there after school<br/>
<br/>
probably<br/>
<br/>
im gonna stop by<br/>
i need 1</i><br/>
<br/>
You've finally gotten an idea for a swap. You're not sure how you can pull it off though due to differing schedules and a lack of friendly relations. You admittedly stumbled into getting Evie after all. But it's still a win-win situation you think if you can pull it off: get a mask of Hannah. With that you could step in for her, give Evie her life back and throw Hannah into Dane's. The experience you have with Hannah doesn't paint a particularly pleasant picture and if she's as scheming as you (or Evie) believe then she could adjust much better than a Evie ever could.<br/>
<br/>
It would also act as another favor to her because as Hannah you could break up with Marc and try to arrange it in such a way that Evie is around in a roundabout way of trying to set them up. It's the least you could do for her after all. As an added bonus, if Hannah's causing trouble for Anita that'd immediately nip that right in the bud.<br/>
<br/>
But then you think to the life you've been living for the last few days.<br/>
<br/>
It's a bit boring to be frank but if you're being honest with yourself then after what you saw of Dane's life, or Gordon's or your life since finding the book, boring might not be so bad. Evie's life is rather relaxing and it's comforting not having to look over your shoulder to see which psychopath is going to be on your ass at any given moment. There's also the luxury.<br/>
<br/>
You should give the girl her life back but... you didn't explicitly promise to; only that you'd help her out. That's when an alternate idea hits you: when you make the mask of Hannah why not give it to Evie instead? Switch her with Hannah and her life seemingly improves itself in every way. She'd get the body she'd want, she'd be one of the top soccer players, she could do away with any schemes against Anita on Hannah's part... and she'd have Marc. It might not be in the way she'd have originally envisioned but she'd have him all the same.<br/>
<br/>
So you weigh your options through the final two periods and once you've come to a decision you head out to the portables and wait for Evie to make her way out there so you can inform her of your decision.</span></div></div>


path: 1112111321122222122222212212111221
author_id: rugal
title: The Back-Up
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You let the thought roll around over and over in your head as you pace around, both out of impatience and worry: the portables are the hang out of stoners, those skipping class and others of mostly low reputation and someone like Evie undoubtedly looks massively out of place in this area. You don't see anyone around and you're thankful for that, partly because Evie's own fears prey on you and you worry about what might happen if someone spots you.<br/>
<br/>
More than that, you don't want anyone spotting yourself and Dane because if they do that can get back to Chen and that leaves you right back where you've started except now you've dragged Evie into this mess as well, far more than you already have as it'll be the girl proper caught up in everything; something that won't be fixed by just giving her back her life.<br/>
<br/>
You're not sure how long it is as your nervous impatience continues to grow but finally Dane, or the person in his mask, arrives. By this point, however, you've decided that hanging around the portables to talk all of this out is not ideal so you tell him to wait. You text Caleb's phone and ask him if he's coming out to the hideout. He said he hadn't decided and you ask him if he can hold off on coming out for today as you have some important business you need to take care of.<br/>
<br/>
He complains about that and you simply reply that you're meeting with the real Evie. That seems to shut him up and he acquiesces to your request.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"It's so dingy," Evie, now back to herself but still in Dane's clothes, comments as she looks around the basement.<br/>
<br/>
"That's what makes it a good hideout though," you tell her. "Who'd want to come down here?"<br/>
<br/>
From there you launch into the truth about what's been going on. You tell her of the book and what you and your friend found it could do. How you felt dragged along by things as your own life was uprooted and you'd ended up as Dane. How Dane's life began taking you down a road you did not want keep going down for, well, reasons that Evie herself saw. How you'd grabbed her only in a panic to get away from that road. You then tell her who you really are and she seems very surprised at that. Not that she knows who you are, just that it would be a senior guy under her face.<br/>
<br/>
"So I'm sorry, Evie. I really am," you say as you hang your head. "I didn't mean to drag you into all of this crap."<br/>
<br/>
"But you did. You're kind of an idiot," she replies and you can't help but feel a bit of a sting at those words. "But I guess I would be too if I'd ended up in a similar situation. So... I accept your apology. Now can I please have my life back?"<br/>
<br/>
That's when you begin shuffling your nervously. "I actually... I wanted to do something to make it up to you," you tell her. This elicits a curious reaction from her. "I wanted to get a mask of Hannah and... and give it to you. Hannah becomes Dane and..."<br/>
<br/>
"I become Hannah," she replies though it's more of a question than a statement.<br/>
<br/>
"I thought it would teach her a lesson because of all the grief she gives you," you tell her. "Hannah could probably make things work for herself no matter where she ended up. But at the same time I have your head right here in mine and I know how you feel so I figured this could also, you know, allow you to be with Marc."<br/>
<br/>
Evie's eyes go wide at that as she considers just what that would mean. You can tell what she's thinking. Marc Garner, the boy who's been occupying her thoughts since freshman year, would finally be her's. That's why it's a surprise when she finally does speak. There's a hesitation in her eyes that gives way to a firm resolve. That firm resolve is echoed in her voice.<br/>
<br/>
"No," she says simply. "I just want my life back."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
With that option completely dashed Evie and yourself begin planning what, exactly, you'll be doing. You come up with one plan and discard it, another and discard that too. On and on until finally you at least partially hit one that works for both of you. Evie wants her life back as soon as possible but you're not going back to Dane's life for even a minute. The solution you both, eventually, agree to is to get another identity for you. This means that you'd be stuck in the basement until some time tomorrow afternoon when she comes back after school with the mask. The problem there comes from the fact that the both of you have worries if she even can get one. Not that you think she's incompetent or anything, far from it, but this is stuff all outside what she's used to.<br/>
<br/>
So that leads to a compromise. She'll go home tonight and you'll be in the basement. You won't have anything to do really but you figure it's the least that you can do. In exchange she'll come by tomorrow morning and switch out: you'll go to school in her place to get the mask while she hangs around the basement. Not wanting her to spend all day completely miserable you tell her to hang onto her phone since you won't really have use for it and if anyone does ask you'll just say you forgot it at home. It's not an ideal situation and you feel bad for sticking her down her but she seems more relieved that she'll no longer have to be Dane.<br/>
<br/>
Now that you have everything set for that the really tricky part arrives. You begin tossing out names that Evie would find acceptable. The varsity soccer girls are out: Anita's already helping her and Hannah's closest friend on the squad, Tara Weston, bullies Evie worse than Hannah probably in an attempt to impress Hannah. That gives you a brief flash of Jason Lynch, Gordon's sniggering toady, though Tara is much more pleasant to look at. The rest of the members are non-factors.<br/>
<br/>
That turns to the JV squad. Again nothing doing there. Luz has Evie's back and by extension so do Becca and the rest of the team. Some, you and Evie suspect, are merely keeping up appearances to not get on Luz's bad side but most of them seem genuine and either way none of them are causing problems for her.<br/>
<br/>
So what about Evie's girl friends? She shuts that down before you can even utter their names. She's almost as quick when you start suggesting guy friends like Andy Jensen and Bhodi Weaver.<br/>
<br/>
There's other assorted girls and guys but neither of you are sure what benefit there would be to an Eric Hines or Alexandria Hull or even that you'd want to subject them to Dane's life. But that allows inspiration to strike Evie. There's still nerves but now that she's in, she's in, and Evie, smart as a whip, hits upon a good idea. You were going to target Hannah both to help Evie and teach her a lesson.<br/>
<br/>
But while the Hannah idea has fallen through you can take that same reasoning for selecting Hannah and point it towards someone else. Someone who causes trouble for Evie or her group and who might do well for a lesson in humility. After more debating you've finally narrowed it down to three groups or more broadly three groups.<br/>
<br/>
First is Andrew Webb. Andrew is a teammate of Bhodi's on the boy's JV soccer team though to call them teammates implies a sense of camaraderie that doesn't exist. Andrew, from how Bhodi describes him, is a wannabe leader who sees himself as the team's unofficial captain. He constantly tries to take control of practice and combined with an inflated self-image makes him a pain in the ass for everyone. This extends to some of Evie's other friends; Paulina shares a class with him and can't stand him. But he's athletic and fairly handsome so girls like him anyway.<br/>
<br/>
The next is Leslie Osborne. She's one of the academic overachievers of the sophomore class along with Laura Serrano. Both of them are joined at the hip and tend to take a haughty attitude with anyone not in their clique of which they're at the top. But where Laura generally feigns being above caring about anyone outside of their group, Leslie is her opposite. Many a time have Evie and Lindsay been on the receiving end of her barbs, verbal jabs and disapproving scowls.<br/>
<br/>
The final option you've decided on is Lucy Gibbon. She holds something of an antisocial attitude and spends her days cutting classes when she feels like it and running with a posse of other girls that are rumored to get up to all sorts of unpleasant business. This has actually made her an intimidating presence among the sophomores and even the guys tend to avoid her; as the story goes Aaron Riggs tried hassling her last year and got his lights knocked out for his trouble. Despite that various sports teams have tried recruiting her and Paulina especially, likely at her coach's insistence because they share first period, has been persistent if unsuccessful.<br/>
<br/>
Your hope is that you can get one of the three though, in all honesty, anyone from their groups would do.</span></div></div>


path: 11121113211222221222222122121112213
author_id: rugal
title: The Delinquent Girl
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>In debating those choices with Evie you're struck by her motivation for considering them not being entirely self-serving: Andrew deals with one of Bhodi's biggest frustrations. Lucy has never bothered Evie but she's worried about what might happen to Paulina if Paulina keeps the recruitment campaign. With Leslie, both Evie and Lindsay get crap from her but Evie knows that it gets under the skin of Lindsay far more than it does her. In each case it's less about how the change would benefit herself and more about how it would benefit her friends.<br/>
<br/>
There's a dedication to them that you actually find admirable. Evie's a very nice girl and while you feel even worse about shoving her in a terrible situation like that but it also strengthens your resolve to get her back to normal. It's why you eventually settle on Lucy as your target. Andrew might be annoying and Leslie might be a bitch but if Lucy's as bad as everyone seems to think then Paulina might very well be putting herself at physical risk.<br/>
<br/>
It doesn't take much convincing on your part as Evie agrees with you one hundred percent. While she still has reservations, far more than you do, about doing something like this to anyone the ability to minimize the chance of her friend getting hurt far outweighs them. Besides, she reasons, that if anyone could survive under those conditions it's someone as tough as Lucy.<br/>
<br/>
So it's on that agreement that the two of you shake to finalize things. By tomorrow afternoon Evie will finally be back fully in her life and you'll be living the life of Lucy Gibbon. With everything set you then strip out to pass the clothes you've been wearing along to her. You're reluctant to do it at first but Evie waves off any worries. It's just her body and it's nothing she hasn't seen countless times. Besides, she'd rather see it than see <i>you</i> naked.<br/>
<br/>
You ask what she wants done with her mask since you're not sure, being magical and all, if they can really be destroyed. With a shrug she tells you to hang onto it. She doesn't want Caleb (or your friend as she merely calls him) to have it while she has no use for it. You then ask her if she's worried about <i>you</i> using it. She gives it a moment of thought but just shrugs at that. It's not like you'd get much use out of it aside from messing around and seeing as you've probably already done that anyway there's not much she can do though, she pleads, for the love of god keep any of that to yourself as ignorance, for her, is bliss even though you insist nothing of the sort happened.<br/>
<br/>
Once the two of you have confirmed, re-confirmed and re-re-confirmed that this is what you're doing and the way it'll be done you point Evie to her bag and keys on the table and she's gone.<br/>
<br/>
You flip on whatever dingy lighting exists in the basement and head up the stairs to make sure the door is locked. You make sure Dane's mask is on the table as well as the blank and mind band Caleb had stored down her. You then sit around for you're not sure how long to reflect a bit on what's happened. But very quickly you grow bored; at least Evie will have her phone. You don't even have that.<br/>
<br/>
What you do have however is the body of Evie Cummings. You've gone out of your way to treat it with respect and courtesy but, well, Evie said she didn't care right? Just don't tell her was her one rule. So you don't have to tell her and besides you have to pass time somehow. So you sit back against a pile of supplies and, with a deep breath, allow yourself to really enjoy being Evie.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
You awaken to the sound of loud knocking, really more like banging, on the door. You groan as your eyes adjust and you work your way into a standing position as you're feeling quite sore. You had no sleeping bag of any sort and only whatever dusty old padding you were able to drag out as well as wearing Dane's musty clothes to keep warm so to say you didn't sleep well is an understatement. Slowly you trudge your way up the stairs, unlock the door and push it open.<br/>
<br/>
Evie's there of course and eyes you intensely. You realize it's the first time that she's seen the face of the person who tried to steal her's. "So that's you," she asks as her gaze finally softens and she walks past you down the stairs. "If you hadn't told me you were a senior I'd think you were a sophomore."<br/>
<br/>
"I get that a lot," you reply.<br/>
<br/>
You walk silently behind her down the stairs until you reach the bottom and you see her place a plastic shopping bag onto the table. "What's that for," you finally ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Change of clothes," she says matter of factly. "Just some work out stuff. I'm not going to be sitting down here naked like you and maybe I can get some running or something done in a little bit." She then gets ready to take her shirt off but suddenly stops and pulls it back down. "Hey, can you," you she starts. "Like, turn around or something?"<br/>
<br/>
"Turn around?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," she replies. "I'd just feel more comfortable if you did."<br/>
<br/>
"I've seen you naked before you know," you say mostly teasingly but quickly decide that's bad. "But sure," you add as you grab Evie's mask off of the table, "I'll just throw this on. You'll probably be done changing by the time I'm back."<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks," she replies gratefully. "I know you have but that's, like, a magic copy of me or something. That's not <i>me</i> me."<br/>
<br/>
So you take a seat once more against the stack of boxes and supplies and put Evie's mask to your face. You come to some time later wearing Evie's body once more but still wearing Dane's clothes. Evie's finished changing so quickly you gather up what she had come wearing and put it on. Dane's clothes you fold up and throw his mask on top. You take the blank and the mind band and put both of those in Evie's bag.<br/>
<br/>
You then exchange goodbyes with her, apologize once more and assure her it'll all be over in the afternoon before heading out. You arrive at school far earlier than Evie normally does and the parking lot is still fairly empty save for the cars of those who need to be there early. Well and the beat-up junker that belongs to Dane. Evie had rode back to the hideout with you in her car and left Dane's at the school so you make it a point of parking alongside of it.<br/>
<br/>
You then hang around in the car reviewing Evie's things and listening to some radio until it gets closer to the first bell and you can go on in.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
School passes for you much the same way it had yesterday. Once again you allow yourself to sink into Evie's persona for the first half of the day as her classes go by in dull tedium. Once lunch rolls around you allow yourself to take a little bit more control just to keep your mind alert. You allow yourself to engage a little more with the three girls Evie shares lunch with.<br/>
<br/>
Samantha Fletcher is a farm girl in appearance who spends summers working on her aunt and uncle's farm just outside of town. Though her personality is much more deferential and she more prefers to pursue her artistic side as she has no desire to enter the family business as a career.<br/>
<br/>
Zoe Koch, meanwhile, is her opposite; energetic and scatterbrained as if she some times can't quite keep up with all of her own thoughts. Her chipmunk cheeks give her a cute appearance with eyes that squint as if she's constantly on the look out for something in the distance.<br/>
<br/>
Carly Schmidt, meanwhile, is aiming to join the cheerleaders next year. Like Chelsea she's very blonde and very pretty but their personalities could not be any more opposite bubbly in personality and warm in disposition.<br/>
<br/>
It's as you're taking in each of these girls that you notice her: tall with dark, wild hair and a gaze as hard as steel. Her dark pants are billowy over her boots. Her dark shirt, ratty and sleeveless, hangs loosely exposing well toned arms. Lucy Gibbon says nothing as she walks by you and doesn't need to. She has an aura about her that makes you want to instantly run in the opposite direction. She's flanked by a couple of other girls. None of them are anyone you'd want to meet in a dark alley.<br/>
<br/>
She's on your mind for the rest of the day as you go back into auto-pilot mode. But though you're not taking an active role you're still observing and it's in Evie's eighth period class that your eyes settle on one of her classmates. Miki Quinn, who everyone just calls Mickie, is one of the girls that you saw with Lucy at lunch. She's shorter, especially compared to Lucy and her hair, styled in two thick pigtails reminiscent of the girl from that superhero movie you'd seen not too long ago, is currently dyed a bright blue.<br/>
<br/>
Evie's never said a word to her but she is part of Lucy's group so maybe you can think of an excuse to get her to take you to Lucy. The problem is getting the mask on her from there because you'll have to get her alone and if you mess up you're likely in big trouble. You had decided with Evie that even if you weren't able to get any of the three that at least getting someone from their group would be good.<br/>
<br/>
So maybe the safer option would be to see if you can grab Mickie instead.</span></div></div>


path: 111211132112222212222221221211122131
author_id: rugal
title: The Boss Girl
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You're not sure what it is you should do. You don't know which would be the better option. Would grabbing one of Lucy's flunkies really help you with Paulina compared to grabbing the girl herself? But then is grabbing Lucy actually a possibility? Have you, in an effort to make things up to Evie, possibly bitten off far more than you can chew? You let these questions tumble back and forth in your head through the rest of eighth period. Once the bell rings you take a deep breath and decide to approach Mickie.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey," you greet her in as friendly a voice as possible before she can get to the door. She ignores you and walks out the door. You follow her and call out to her again but still there's no reaction. Finally, in frustration, you call out one more time but reach out to grab her shoulder.<br/>
<br/>
"What," she grunts as she turns and knocks your hand off. Her face isn't one of anger though but the same expression that rests somewhere between disinterest and annoyance as if she has better things to do and you're keeping her from doing them.<br/>
<br/>
"I need to talk to Lucy," you tell her. "About Paulina," you quickly add.<br/>
<br/>
"About who?" Her voice matches her face. She'd rather be anywhere else than talking to someone like you.<br/>
<br/>
"The girl that's been trying to get her to join the basketball team."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, the annoying girl," she replies with a bit of realization. "You don't just barge in and demand to meet Lucy because she has a lot of shit she needs to deal with. Tell me what you want to tell her and I'll tell her for you and if she thinks it's worth her time <i>then</i> she'll talk to you."<br/>
<br/>
She begins to walk away but you follow her pleading your case. She seems to be having none of it and, in fact, seems to be actively ignoring you as she walks out the doors and turns to head towards the portable. She's about a quarter of the way there when she finally stops and turns to you.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, I told you you what was going to happen," she says in clear frustration, "so either do it or fuck off because you're getting on my nerves."<br/>
<br/>
"Who's getting on your nerves?"<br/>
<br/>
The voice is unmistakeably a girl's but there's an authoritative quality to it that makes the both of you freeze up. Standing behind Mickie is the towering figure of Lucy. You want to take off the other way fearing that you've made a mistake. Mickie, however, doesn't seem to miss a beat.<br/>
<br/>
"It's this chick," she says in exasperation. "She's demanding to talk to you and won't fucking leave me alone about it."<br/>
<br/>
"You told her the rules," Lucy asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah of course," Mickie replies, "but she keeps insisting that she talk to you personally about that girl from the basketball team."<br/>
<br/>
Lucy's gaze, stern and hard, turns towards you. "Do you know her," she finally asks.<br/>
<br/>
"She's, uh, she's one of my best friends," you reply nervously.<br/>
<br/>
She continues to stare at you but, to your surprise, you think you see a softening in her look as she looks back at Mickie. "I'll talk to her," she says to the surprise of both of you. "Tell the other girls to take off. I have some other things I have to take care of anyway," she tells her.<br/>
<br/>
"Lucy," exclaims Mickie in shock.<br/>
<br/>
"Just tell them," Lucy says. She doesn't yell but she doesn't need to. Mickie simply nods and heads off to the portables. Lucy looks back at you and you're not sure if you can read her expression. "I'm guessing you don't want to talk here," she says.<br/>
<br/>
"Y-yeah," you reply nervously, "can we talk by my car?"<br/>
<br/>
Lucy simply nods and it's the odd sight of the intimidating Lucy Gibbon and the mousy Evie Cummings walking through the halls of the school and out towards the parking lot.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"You wanted to talk about that girl," Lucy asks once you've gotten to your car.<br/>
<br/>
"Paulina," you tell her as you unlock your car. You check the back seat to make sure Dane's stuff is still there and then check your bag to grab the mind band which you'll use first. It's smaller and easier to hide so maybe you'd have a better chance of getting that on her.<br/>
<br/>
"Right, she seems like a nice girl," she replies.<br/>
<br/>
"She is," you say nervously but firmly. "That's why I don't want you to hold it against her. The recruiting I mean."<br/>
<br/>
"Why would I," she asks and it sounds like genuine confusion in her voice. "I get why she'd want me on the team."<br/>
<br/>
"Well I don't think it's her," you say as you emerge from the car. You place the band in your right hand. "I think it's the coaches. So I don't want you to, you know, take it out on her."<br/>
<br/>
"Take it out on her," she says and you can see a look of genuine shock on her face. "Is that what this was about," she asks and you noticed more pained look on her face. "I like that you have her back like that but I wouldn't take it out on her."<br/>
<br/>
That causes your own double take. "I," you pause, "I don't want to sound rude but you've got a reputation..."<br/>
<br/>
That look stays on Lucy's face. "I know but," she sighs, "but I wouldn't, okay?"<br/>
<br/>
This has taken a rather surprising turn but you think this might help you. Lucy looks distracted now so this might be your best opportunity to get the band on her. So very quickly you spring forward and extend your left hand. Lucy, however, picks up on this instantly and grabs your wrist.<br/>
<br/>
"What's going on," she asks in surprise.<br/>
<br/>
Lucy's quick alright but not quick enough in this case. The left hand was to take her attention so you can swing your right around and slap the band on her forehead. Her grip on your wrist loosens and she collapses to the ground. You let yourself feel good about this. You had your doubts but it looks like you're going to get that mask after all. You go back to Dane's stuff in the back seat and fish his keys out of his pants, unlock the door to his car and toss the keys on the passenger seat. You then wait for the band to emerge and slap the blank mask on her.<br/>
<br/>
Evie's not the strongest around so it takes some effort to get the unconscious Lucy up and into the driver's seat of Dane's car. You grab Dane's mask and then work to get Lucy's own clothing off, a dangerous and not at all easy task given there are still some cars around. You're able to finish just as the mask emerges and very quickly you get Dane's mask on her. You grab his clothes and toss those onto the passenger seat as well then as quickly as possible you're in Evie's car and out of the parking lot.<br/>
<br/>
When you hit a red light you take a look at the stuff in the other seat. You'll have to seal everything and finish it back at the hideout but you can see Lucy's image faintly on the mask. On the mind band, in blue letters, floats a name: <i>LUCILLA AURELIA GIBBON</i>.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"I'm going to need you to drive me back over to the school," you tell Evie as you put the ratty t-shirt on on. "Lucy's truck is over there."<br/>
<br/>
Evie can only nod as she looks at you in amazement. It's not hard to see why either. Lucy is tall, around the same height as Paulina, but while Paulina has a more delicate look to her Lucy has a natural swimmer's build, lean and tightly muscled. That explains why Coach Gossett and Andrea have been pushing for her to join the swim team almost as hard as the basketball team's been pushed on her. Lucy has no interest in sports right now however as other things pre-occupy her time.<br/>
<br/>
Besides she takes boxing classes down at the community center, that's all the sport she needs.<br/>
<br/>
Yeah on a physical level being Lucy Gibbon feels great. You feel strong and tough like you could take on anyone in the school, boy or girl, short of Gordon. You feel like you might have to as well as Lucy gets in more than her share of scraps though almost always emerging out on top. You wonder why anyone would mess with someone like her and it's through a cursory glance of her mind that you're surprised by the answer.<br/>
<br/>
Once you're fully acclimated you head out of the basement, lock up behind you and head back to the school where Evie drops you off. There you see the lone car in the parking lot, an older truck that reminds you a lot of the one you normally drive.<br/>
<br/>
"So, um, is this it," Evie asks as you're ready to get in. You look over at her and give her a quizzical look. "Now that you're Lucy, I mean, is that it? You're just going to go be her and everything goes to... to normal, I guess, where we have to be careful around you?"<br/>
<br/>
You're shocked by that. Does Evie want you to hang around? And while you're shocked, Lucy feels wounded. Evie's scared of her, a lot of people are, but Lucy would never... "If you want me to hang around with you I'll do it. Lucy would do it," you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
That causes a look of surprise on her face. "So I guess that means Paulina's not in any danger," she asks.<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head. "Nuh uh. She never was," you tell her. "I think you have Lucy all wrong."<br/>
<br/>
"What do you mean by all wrong," she asks.<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head. "Look, today's been exhausting alright? If you want to talk we can do it tomorrow but I'm feeling pretty worn out and I just kind of want to get home," you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
Evie accepts this as you hop into the truck and turn the ignition. You say goodbye to her and head out onto Borman. While it was an excuse, it wasn't a lie. You really are feeling worn out and do want to get home. But when talking to Mickie, Lucy had mentioned she had some "other things" to do as well. Well that "other thing" is meeting up with a former member of her gang and you think you should keep that meeting.<br/>
<br/>
Because that former member is Paulina Nowak.</span></div></div>


path: 1112111321122222122222212212111221311
author_id: rugal
title: Back in the Day
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Lucy Gibbon's had her gang of girls since the seventh grade. For most of that time they never had a name nor had Lucy felt like they ever needed one. Some people, derisively, called them Lucy's Lesbos though those people usually ended up on their backs and swearing they'd never use it again. It wasn't until last year that the name Furies was finally settled on. It was cheesy and dumb and Lucy herself didn't care for it but a lot of the newer members said they'd needed a name so a name they now had.<br/>
<br/>
Lucy can remember the formation clear as day. Swimming has always been one of the sports both Eastman and Westside had prided themselves, second only to basketball, on so naturally Schuyler has a swimming team to. Lucy, a natural athlete, had been a member of both teams and was practically their crown jewel. The only problem is that not everyone was happy with that.<br/>
<br/>
Enter Madison Crawford. Madison was number two on the swim team but had always gunned for Lucy's spot. However, while Lucy had always viewed it as a simple rivalry Madison's resentment grew. It only got worse when a new girl joined the team. She wasn't as good as the other swimmers but was earnest and hard working. Lucy took her under her wing and worked with her daily. Madison absolutely hated the girl however and saw her as a weak link dragging the entire team down with her.<br/>
<br/>
The bullying started quickly. Simple insults at practice blew up into full on harassment outside of it. Some times it was Madison, some times she'd get other members of the team to join in. It was during one school day when Lucy had been going over some things with the girl inbetween class. The girl wasn't watching where she was going and accidentally tripped Madison who was furious. Lucy tried to defuse the situation but nothing could calm it. Madison began shoving the girl and that's when Lucy finally stepped in. One punch laid Madison out.<br/>
<br/>
Madison's parents got angry. There were threats to sue the school, the girl's family, Lucy's family... anyone who they felt was even the tiniest bit responsible for what happened to their precious daughter. Instead, to save face, Lucy and the girl were thrown off of the swim team and Lucy was also kicked off of the basketball team for good measure. Her sports career pretty much done and never having much of an interest in the academic side of school, Lucy fell into bad habits. Smoking, cutting class, petty robbery and vandalism.<br/>
<br/>
Among most of the rest of the students she was just a thug. Someone who'd ruined her chance in a heated moment and was suffering the consequences of her actions. But Lucy didn't care; she'd did the right thing and would continue doing the right thing. Girls that were being bullied, girls she saw as headed down worse paths than she was. She did what she could to help them. Her group became a small gang. They'd do things outside the rules but Lucy did what she could to keep them in line and provide a place of belonging for the girls in the school who felt like they had no choice.<br/>
<br/>
They were her team now and they became as devoted to her as she was to them. Through all of it two people remained the most loyal. One was Mickie Quinn, the girl Lucy had tried to save from Madison's bullying. The other was a foreign girl. She had been here for a few years but never quite fit in: too gawky, too foreign, too different.<br/>
<br/>
As you park the truck in the parking lot of the Starbucks where Lucy had agreed to meet Paulina there's one emotion that bubbles up in Lucy's psyche: pride. Not for herself but for Paulina. It's nice to see, Lucy's thoughts echo, that she's finally been able to find her own thing.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"You showed up," Paulina says with a demure smile as you take a seat across from her. "I was kind of expecting you not to."<br/>
<br/>
Paulina had been one of the first people that was recruited into Lucy's gang though recruiting makes it seem like a more active thing than it was. There were some girls that had been messing with her outside of school and Lucy stepped in. The fight, as usual, was nothing though Lucy would have plenty of run ins with the group's leader Leslie, the same Leslie that you and Evie had considered replacing, throughout the rest of middle school.<br/>
<br/>
Lucy had asked Paulina about it. Paulina broke down in tears; every day she got it, if not from Leslie and her group then from other students. She'd been here for close to four years and was still treated as the weird foreign girl. That act had helped turn things around though and in the group's informal hierarchy Paulina was more or less on equal footing with Mickie though unlike Mickie and a lot of the members she kept her affiliation more low key.<br/>
<br/>
It was early in ninth grade that Paulina had met Evie, though Lucy didn't know it was Evie specifically, and started growing into herself physically. Through Evie she'd met the rest of her friends and slowly drifted away from the gang before severing ties completely though with no hard feelings on Lucy's part.<br/>
<br/>
"It's been a while since we hung out, just the two of us," you tell her. "Besides you sounded serious about me joining this morning."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm always serious about you joining," she replies. "You're not the pariah you were."<br/>
<br/>
"I know that," you mutter. "The swim team's been going after me pretty hard too but I've got no place there. Not while Madison's part of it."<br/>
<br/>
"All the more reason to join us then," she says.<br/>
<br/>
You grunt dismissively in that as you lean back in your chair. "Can't, I've told you that a thousand times. I've got a duty to the girls," you tell her. "Basketball is your group. You've got a few ex-members on the team anyway."<br/>
<br/>
"Because you sent them my way," she says with a sly look. "Or so they've told me anyway. But that's why I want you on the team too. It's related to those girls. One of them anyway."<br/>
<br/>
You sit up straight at that. "They're not causing any trouble are they," you ask. Your expression is deathly serious.<br/>
<br/>
"Not them specifically," Paulina says while shaking her head. "But one of them, Karen Beecher? Dylan's been giving her trouble."<br/>
<br/>
"What, like stalking," you ask. "He can't get over his girl ending it with him?"<br/>
<br/>
"Not that, at least I not totally that," she answers. "She told me he's been bragging about dealing weed to people down in the sophomore and freshman classes and that he wants her to get back with him so they can do it together. From what she's said he's very insistent on it."<br/>
<br/>
Your lip curls at that. Dylan Riley is a member of the JV soccer team and Karen's ex-boyfriend. He was always very bad for her as his wannabe gangbanger mentality gets him in over his head and often times got her dragged along with him. But Karen comes from a troubled home and has always been the type to get easily attached so it took Lucy a long time to finally pry her away from him and put her on the right path. So if he's skulking around...<br/>
<br/>
"Ugh, fuck," you mutter as you place your head in your hands. "Karen's not going to do it is she? She should be above that shit."<br/>
<br/>
"I honestly don't know," Paulina says with genuine worry. "I hope not but he's been talking big. Apparently he's been telling her he's getting his stuff from a guy who's looking to expand down here. I'm worried that if she says no he'll just continue hassling the other girls."<br/>
<br/>
"And putting them all at risk for whatever would come," you sigh. "But a little shit like Dylan shouldn't give you any trouble. I told you, those are your girls and you should be able to handle it."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm a year removed from that stuff," Paulina shifts nervously. "That's not my thing anymore. It's not like Evie and them know about it either and I want to keep it that way."<br/>
<br/>
"So you'll feel better if I'm there to make sure things don't get out of hand," you state.<br/>
<br/>
Paulina screws her face up. "I've gotten so soft. I feel pretty ashamed of it," she groans.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't. Going soft's a good thing," you reassure her. "I wish all the girls would go soft. But I guess even when you do that doesn't mean shit. So if you want my help in dealing with Dylan then it's dealt with."<br/>
<br/>
"So you'll join," Paulina asks. Her voice and expression are hopeful.<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't say that," you say as you lower your eyes to shy away from the potential awkwardness of her giving you either the hopeful puppy look or the crestfallen puppy look. "But let me think it over and you'll have your answer in first period."</span></div></div>


path: 11121113211222221222222122121112213112
author_id: rugal
title: The Solo(ish) Act
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"I thought I'd find you here," says a voice from behind you.<br/>
<br/>
You ignore it.<br/>
<br/>
You're down at the community center grunting as you give the heavy bag hard shot after hard shot. Simple jab repetitions have long given way to harder punches. You throw a few shots, bob, throw another, slip as the bag comes back and throw a quick uppercut. More bobbing, slipping and fancy footwork. More jabs and crosses, quick one-two combos. Eventually, feeling yourself hit your limit, you give one last big punch and call it a day.<br/>
<br/>
"What do you think" you finally say after taking a moment to catch your breath. "Add a little muay thai training in there?"<br/>
<br/>
"The thought never crossed my mind. But you'd know that wouldn't you," the voice replies. It's a voice you easily recognize.<br/>
<br/>
"So I'm guessing you've got everything worked you," you ask as you turn to see Dane Matthias. You'd expect a harder, more frustrated look from him but his face is surprisingly neutral.<br/>
<br/>
"To an extent," he calmly replies as he walks up to you. He gets close and you tense up as you get ready for the possibility of having to lay him out at any second. But he simply looks you up and down, examining and scrutinizing every detail before, seemingly satisfied, he backs off. "Pretty amazing," he says. "If my head wasn't on straight I'd have been fooled myself."<br/>
<br/>
"Paulina never suspected anything was up," you tell him.<br/>
<br/>
"Paulina," he thinks. "Last thing I remember before waking up like this is talking to one of her friends. So is that who you are?"<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe," you reply in as dull a tone as possible.<br/>
<br/>
"Alright so are you this asshole," she asks gesturing at herself.<br/>
<br/>
There's a tone of familiarity in the way she says "asshole" that takes you by surprise. "What if I am," you challenge.<br/>
<br/>
He eyes you for a moment and once again you instinctively tense up. But he lets out a small laugh and shakes his head. "It doesn't matter I guess. I don't know who you are but you must be an even bigger fuck up if you think being the county's biggest fuck up is an improvement," she says.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah probably," you say in a rather defeated manner. "I fuck up and each fuck up is worse than the previous one and somehow I got myself right back where I started."<br/>
<br/>
"You implied you talked to Paulina so I'm guessing it's related to that," he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Karen's love life is causing problems for the team," you respond.<br/>
<br/>
Dane's eyes go wide at that. "Karen," he asks in a shocked, almost stupefied manner. But the look disappears and he looks at you with a renewed seriousness. "You and I are going to have a talk. You're going to tell me exactly what the fuck is even happening. Everything. From the very beginning. We clear?"<br/>
<br/>
Even if it's Lucy running things Dane should, in no manner, be a physical match for you. But you don't want to get on his bad side so you simply give an affirmative. "Crystal," you answer.<br/>
<br/>
"Good. Hochstetter Park, then," he informs you as he walks off. "I'll see you there <i>Lucilla</i>."<br/>
<br/>
Once he's out of sight you turn and give a final little parting shot to the heavy bag. Lucy really, really hates her proper name.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"Son of a bitch," Dane curses loudly in frustration. "I told her to stay as far away from him as possible. Fucking Karen, god dammit!"<br/>
<br/>
"It's not like she's the one seeking him out though," you say as you're leaned against a tree. "She's not exactly hard to find. Especially playing on a team."<br/>
<br/>
"I know, I know. But," he paces nervously and finally stomps a foot. "It's bullshit! I worked so hard to get her away from him and that piece of shit is going to go and ruin everything for her."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe, maybe not," you say calmly. "I've got your instincts but just to hear it from you what does your gut tell you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Probably that she wouldn't do anything," he says after a moment's thought. "But I don't know for sure."<br/>
<br/>
"You should probably trust your instincts then," you reassure him.<br/>
<br/>
"What about <i>your</i> instincts," he shoots back. "You gonna join up with Paulina?"<br/>
<br/>
"What would you do," you respond turning the question back on him.<br/>
<br/>
"No," he answers. It's a firm response delivered with no hesitation. "I know she'd feel better but she doesn't need me fucking around on her team. She wants to keep her past and her present separate and I want to respect that. It's too much shit if I'm there."<br/>
<br/>
"And that's what I'm gonna tell her. It's gonna disappoint her but..."<br/>
<br/>
"She'll understand," Dane finishes your thought. "But you're not giving up on it right?"<br/>
<br/>
"Not unless you want me to," you tell him. "If you wanna take it up then be my guest. I'll hop somewhere else."<br/>
<br/>
"To who, one of my girls," she asks derisively. "You've fucked up enough from what you told me. You nearly ruined Evie's life because you're a fucking idiot coward and I'll be damned if I let you ruin anyone else's." He then approaches you and this time does get in your face. His gaze is hard and deathly serious. "Jump around though. Doesn't matter if it's one of my girls or Mickie or whoever. Do it and when I find you you'll wish it was Black who'd gotten his hands on you."<br/>
<br/>
You don't need her mind to tell you that the former Lucy means everything she just said. "I agree with you," you finally tell him. "But you're fine where you are?"<br/>
<br/>
"I can handle it," he replies. "More importantly if I put you back here you're gonna run and we already established what happens if you do."<br/>
<br/>
"So I got myself into this mess and I'm the one who's going to have to clean it up," you muse.<br/>
<br/>
"More or less but," he pauses and shifts a bit. "This involves Karen and Paulina. Lexi and Johanna too if Riley wants to be persistent. They're not part of the gang anymore but I'm not abandoning them so you're doing it with my help."<br/>
<br/>
Alexis Greer and Johanna Bergstrom are the other ex-members who made their way over to the girl's JV basketball team.<br/>
<br/>
"Couldn't be happier then," you say with actual relief. Even if you can perfectly pull off being Lucy the real deal radiates that commanding presence even under the mask of Dane Matthias and it's far better to keep her as an ally than running and risking making her an enemy.<br/>
<br/>
"Glad to hear it," he replies though his voice doesn't imply it. "So does your dipshit buddy know where you are?"<br/>
<br/>
"Soon enough," you simply reply.<br/>
<br/>
He grunts at that. "Once we get this shit with Riley squared away we'll pay him a visit and put everything back to normal." The glare he shoots you says as much as the follow up sentence. "Don't need either of you, or anyone, messing around with this garbage."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
Your walk through the halls of Westside high can't help but give you a big head. Flanked by Mickie and a few other girls it's like the parting of the Red Sea as people clear out of your way. Being Gordon had that same kind of effect. It's easy to see how a bully develops or how one might get that reputation. Power's a very intoxicating thing and you can't help but benignly milk it for all it's worth.<br/>
<br/>
As you turn left to head to C-wing Evie crosses your path. She looks at you, her face frozen as if she's forgotten who's under Lucy's face, but you give her just the slightest smile, her face lights up and she hurries on.<br/>
<br/>
Once you reach Kowalski's room you take your usual seat next to Paulina. She's giving you a hopeful look. So hopeful, in fact, that it's going to feel bad to dash her hopes.<br/>
<br/>
"No," you say before she can even greet you. "I thought about it, really thought about it, and decided it's not gonna work."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh," is all she can pathetically mutter as her face falls.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm still gonna help you, Paulina. I promised you that much," you say reassuringly as you try to ease the blow. "I'm just gonna do it my own way. Besides it's gonna cause too many problems if I'm on the team and I'd rather not mess with what you have going on."<br/>
<br/>
She grumbles at that but seems to accept it. However she leans in close and her voice is much lower. "If you're going to do anything then you need to do it fast," she tells you.<br/>
<br/>
"Something happen?"<br/>
<br/>
Paulina looks downwards. "I talked to Karen last night. I guess Dylan showed up as she was leaving the gym. He talked her up real big and told her how much he'd changed," she says.<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck," you mutter.<br/>
<br/>
"I guess he flashed her some cash too to show that he was serious about, you know, his activities," she says. "He says he wants to treat her out to a nice little dinner or something tomorrow."<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck fuck fuck fuck," you continue to mutter. "She's not going to accept is she?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know, she was going back and forth," Paulina says. "Please, if you see her at all talk to her. She'll listen to you."<br/>
<br/>
It'd be the easiest thing to do of course. While Lucy's rarely there she does share Biology with Karen so telling her to meet with you later wouldn't be hard. But Lucy's emotions are boiling over at hearing that and, by extension, so are your own. She's fired up and wants to deal with the little slimeball directly and you very much want to give her the chance to let loose.</span></div></div>


path: 111211132112222212222221221211122131122
author_id: rugal
title: Not as I Do
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You while away the rest of the period in abject boredom with only occasional asides to Paulina. Math's never been your thing and even when Lucy put in more than the bare minimum effort towards school it was never her's either. The boredom you feel allows the flames of Lucy's anger towards Dylan to be stoked. It builds greater and greater, each time you think of him it's like feeding it more gasoline and dry brush. Larger and more intense it grows with each tick of the clock, each drum of your fingers and each pointless word spilled from Kowalski's mouth.<br/>
<br/>
God it's so interminable! Is it ever going to end? How much can one person talk about things that will be so useless to most of the people sitting in the room? For Lucy Gibbon this is Hell; an eternity spent sitting at a cramped desk listening to a teacher's inane prattling about the Pythagorean theorem.<br/>
<br/>
It grows larger and more intense, dancing wildly as that simple spark becomes an uncontrolled inferno, When the bell finally rings you practically jump out of your seat and out the door. You make a beeline towards the athletic side of the school. People take a look at you and practically dive out of the way and combined with your pace you reach the gym in record time. Just in time, actually, to see Dylan exiting the gym, laughing and whooping with some of the other losers from the JV soccer team.<br/>
<br/>
"Riley," you roar as you charge him. He barely has time to react before you grab him by the shirt collar. "We're having a conversation," you snarl to him practically breathing fire in his face. "Now!"<br/>
<br/>
You drag him back inside the now cleared out gym and into one of the locker rooms before you swing him around back first into a wall. "The fuck do you think you're doing," you practically scream. You hold his collar in your left and lean in as close as possible to his face as you can get without biting it off.<br/>
<br/>
"L-Let go," he struggles around. For an athlete Dylan isn't the most muscular guy around so it's more like ineffective flailing than anything that will truly get him loose.<br/>
<br/>
"Wrong answer," you tell him. He gasps as you land a blow to his flank. "Try again."<br/>
<br/>
"I s-seriously don't know what you're... what you're talking about you psychotic bi--"<br/>
<br/>
Another shot right in the bread basket leaves him doubled over as you release him. You let him pathetically gasp for a minute before you smack the dumb baseball cap off of his head, grab him by his dopey shaggy hair and pull his head back until you're eye level. "One more chance Riley," you say in a voice that's the type of calm that only comes out when someone is well and truly pissed beyond a reasonable measure. "Why are you suddenly harassing Karen," you ask him. "Tell me or so help me god it'll take dental records to recognize you."<br/>
<br/>
"Because I wanna..." he gasps, "I wanna... get back with... with her."<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck you," you say as you give him a hard smack across the face. "You're walking around here flashing girls money like you're some kinda hard ass. Bragging like you're fucking Scarface or some bullshit."<br/>
<br/>
"The hell did you hear that," he asks now having mostly regained the ability to breathe properly.<br/>
<br/>
"Are you retarded," you scoff. "My girls see shit and tell me. Or I see shit. Take your pick, I don't care. I got Karen away from you for a good fucking reason and here you come waving your dick around in front of her so she can get caught up in your shit."<br/>
<br/>
"Dylan!"<br/>
<br/>
It's a soft velvety voice that cries out. A girl, sleight of frame with light skin that'd probably mark her as white, features that would mark her as black and a mass of hair in dark brown curls bursts in, kneels down and throws her arms around him.<br/>
<br/>
"What the hell are you doing Karen," you demand.<br/>
<br/>
She looks at you, her face is innocent but conceals a surprising fierceness that's now being directed at you. "What does it look like," she asks in return. "What are <i>you</i> doing Lucy," she demands.<br/>
<br/>
"Trying to save you from yourself I guess," you shoot back. "You can't seriously tell me you're giving him another chance."<br/>
<br/>
"You're not my boss. We don't run together anymore," she glares at you. "So stop trying to control my life! I can take care of myself!" With that she helps Dylan to his fee and begins walking off with him. "C'mon baby, let's go," she says to him. As they walk off she glares back at you. "I'd be happy to see you tomorrow."<br/>
<br/>
You hang around for a minute wondering if you'd gotten the attention of any of the staff but feeling it's safe you let out one frustrated cry, and leave behind one now dented locker, and decide to dip out to the portables.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"What the fuck were you even thinking," Dane yells at you as you hang around Hochstetter Park that afternoon.<br/>
<br/>
"I was thinking that Mickie did such a good job yesterday that she can handle running things with the gang today too," you say much to your companion's annoyance.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't try this shit with me, Prescott," he says as he paces back and forth. "Keep fucking up and I'll rip that book from your friend's hands, beat the both of you with it and shove you back into Matthias. I'll tell your buddy Gordon where you are too. I figure he'd wanna see you again."<br/>
<br/>
"Look, I wasn't trying to make things worse," you say defensively.<br/>
<br/>
"But you did," he replies.<br/>
<br/>
"I only did what you'd do," you say before adding, "what you <i>wanted</i> to do."<br/>
<br/>
"That's the entire fucking problem," he grumbles. "What I would do and what I should do are two entirely different things. I wouldn't be in the sorry state I am if I did what I should do."<br/>
<br/>
"Talking wouldn't have done anything anyway," you tell her. "I think her mind was made up as soon as she saw him yesterday. This just lets her justify her mistake."<br/>
<br/>
"God dammit but you're probably right," he groans.<br/>
<br/>
"So you really think she's in that big of trouble," you ask.<br/>
<br/>
He shakes his head. "I don't even fucking know," he admits. "Maybe it's a one time thing and she snaps back to her senses. Riley's such a fucking dipshit though and he thinks he's going to get in good with all of the other hoods vying for position here. One date could be enough to run her."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah but her mind was made up," you tell him, "so how are you going to stop her from even going on that date?"<br/>
<br/>
"How am I..." he trails off as he once again begins pacing back and forth. "Ugh, god I hate this but I can't think of anything else."<br/>
<br/>
"You got something?"<br/>
<br/>
"Kind of but I hate myself for even thinking it," he replies. "Basically Karen's going on that date tomorrow."<br/>
<br/>
"The fuck," you exclaim as you spring forward from the tree you were leaning against. "We're in this mess to make sure she doesn't."<br/>
<br/>
"No, we're in this mess because you're a stupid fucking idiot," he retorts. "But I wanna know just what the fuck is going on with Riley. Not like he could just flash money around last week so obviously he's hooked up with someone."<br/>
<br/>
"You wanna know who."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, obviously, and I wanna shut that shit down," he says. "Because like Paulina said if it's not Karen it's one of the other girls. If it's not Riley then it's someone else. Probably lots of other people. So yeah I wanna know just who he's getting his shit from."<br/>
<br/>
"Chen probably," you tell her. "Guy's supplying like half the school."<br/>
<br/>
"Chen's hassled my girls a lot," Dane states. "Tried to get them to push his shit. Tried to get <i>me</i> to push his shit. He's dangerous and if he is then he needs to be dealt with."<br/>
<br/>
"And how do we do that," you ask.<br/>
<br/>
He looks at you and his lip curls. "Karen Beecher's going on a date with Dylan," he tells you. "Well, <i>a</i> Karen Beecher is. She'll act as my eyes and see what she can find about how big his operation in the school is."<br/>
<br/>
"A Karen Beecher," you ask before realization dawns on you. "Wait a fucking minute, you were railing on me for this shit and now--"<br/>
<br/>
"Now I'm playing with the hand I was dealt," he replies. "I'll tell Karen what's what, well you will. Put her under my mask because I sure as shit am not giving her Matthias' life and you go in her place and see what you can find. Besides, you know more about this mask shit than I do."<br/>
<br/>
And she just finished yelling at you about doing as she does. But a promise is a promise even if you're on something resembling your third or fourth layer of extant promises.</span></div></div>


path: 1112111321122222122222212212111221311221
author_id: rugal
title: Rekindled Relationships
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Fine," you tell her with more than a little bit of satisfaction though you try your best to temper that.<br/>
<br/>
It's not that you like the idea of switching int yet another person and you certainly can't help feel more than a little bit of dread at the fact that you've essentially been running in a circle, having tried to escape Chen and likely ending right back where you began. But it's that line about you knowing more about the masks than she does.that gives you that feeling. The idea that Lucy, that anyone, needs you is a nice feeling.<br/>
<br/>
Plus much like Lucy wouldn't abandon the girls under her charge you have no plans on abandoning her or Paulina or anyone. She's right in that having Chen supplying everyone at every grade level would be a bad, bad thing. Though it wouldn't be reflected socially Chen would quite possibly be the single biggest power in the entire school and compared to that people like Chelsea or Gordon or Patterson are practically saintly.<br/>
<br/>
"But if we do this we don't really need to waste any time," you add.<br/>
<br/>
"You mean pull the switch off right now," Dane asks in surprise.<br/>
<br/>
"When are we going to get the chance tomorrow," you say. You begin walking towards the direction of Lucy's truck. "We'd really only have a shot right as school lets out and there's no guarantee we'd be able to get to her before Riley does."<br/>
<br/>
There's a worried expression on his face as he slides into the passenger seat. "I really don't like this," he says quietly. "I seriously thought things had picked up for her; for all of them. It was all three of them that came up to me over the summer and said they wanted out."<br/>
<br/>
"You weren't pissed though," you ask as you pull out onto the road though it's not much of a question of course.<br/>
<br/>
"Course not," he answers."I'm trying to give these girls some kinda place to belong to and let 'em build up some strength. Real strength, not that physical shit that I need. If they feel like they're strong enough to leave then I'm not gonna try and argue. Not seriously argue anyway. Karen especially; she came in and she was like the shyest girl I'd ever seen so when she tells me she's gonna be starting in the Drama classes this year and was looking to play a sport I felt so fucking proud of her." A small laugh escapes his lips. "It's dumb but when I was at home that night I just started crying."<br/>
<br/>
"Happy or sad?"<br/>
<br/>
"Both," he says and even without her thoughts you wouldn't be surprised. "Leaning more on the happier side of things though it was still sad seeing her go. It always is."<br/>
<br/>
"You sound like a mother watching her kids move out."<br/>
<br/>
Another laugh, bigger this time. "That's probably what it'd feel like," he replies.<br/>
<br/>
"I'd say you have strength despite what you think," you say with as much genuine sincerity as you can muster. "Don't roll your eyes, it takes a lot of effort and character to do what you're doing."<br/>
<br/>
"We're still a gang of thugs at heart."<br/>
<br/>
"You guys any bigger thugs than Chen or his buddies? Or Gordon and his? Chelsea and her's," you ask. "You're just more up front and you're not making the school a worse place with what you're doing. I'd argue that you're probably having the opposite effect."<br/>
<br/>
There's a long silence that follows after that.<br/>
<br/>
"You ever think about accepting the invitations," you finally ask. "From the coaches I mean."<br/>
<br/>
"Only every day," he says in a bit of a wistful tone. "I liked basketball, I really like boxing but swimming..." There's a long pause. "The shock you get when you first dive in, gliding through the water, having to exert and strain every muscle I have to shave off even a fraction of a second. I love that. I <i>miss</i> that."<br/>
<br/>
"So why not accept?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm just going to bring trouble to any team I join. I've got my rep and people are always going to try to test it," he says. "Besides basketball is Paulina's thing and as long as Madison's on the swim team I don't have a place there. She'd pull her shit all over again."<br/>
<br/>
"You know that for sure," you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"I mean I guess I don't," he admits. "But the only thing that's going to really change you, when you're up on your high horse, is someone coming by and dropkicking you off of it and as far as I can see she's still sitting pretty up there. You know all the answers already, why even bother asking me this shit?<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know it the way you know it," you respond. "If you want to know what it was like shooting at the Japanese in nineteen forty-three you can read a book but it'd probably be better to ask your grandpa you know?"<br/>
<br/>
Another long silence follows as neither of you are sure how to proceed from there. Dane's the first to speak however. "God you're a fucking dork, Prescott," he says as he stares unblinkingly out of the window and though it's an insult there's no venom in the words.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
It takes a little while to get there as first you have to text Caleb and wait for him to come out to the school where, after much bitching (ineffectual as it may be when you quite literally twist his arm a bit to show of your strength), he emerges with another mask and band. You question how he was able to make a new one so fast and he sarcastically replies he's the Flash.<br/>
<br/>
Karen lives a little past 30th Street, close to Caleb actually and you find that thought vaguely amusing, so when your dealing with Caleb is done it still takes you a little bit longer than you'd anticipated to get to her place. Once there you park the truck just off the street and head out solo; Karen doesn't know who Dane Matthias is so he can't go marching up to her front door. You ring the doorbell and are greeted by the surprised but smiling face of Karen's aunt.<br/>
<br/>
"Lucy," she greets you, "it's been a while since you've come around."<br/>
<br/>
"Nice to see you too Mrs. Sowell," you return the greeting. "Is Karen around at all?"<br/>
<br/>
"She's in her room. You can go up if you'd like," she says.<br/>
<br/>
You thank her, give a simple greeting to her husband as you pass the living room and head up the stares. The door's closed so you give a knock. Karen is even more surprised to see you than her aunt was. "What are you doing here," she asks and there's still a hostility in her voice though it's died down much since this morning.<br/>
<br/>
"I wanna talk to you about everything," you tell her, "just clear the air and make sure there's no bad blood. Come down to Starbucks with me?"<br/>
<br/>
She hesitates for a moment but finally agrees. She tells her aunt she's going out with you for some coffee and that she'll be back within the hour. As you head out to the truck she's surprised to see Dane sitting there in the passenger seat as she approaches the door. She only has just enough time to be more surprised when he reaches forward and places a mask on her face.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"This is just so freaky," Lucy states as she opens and closes a fist in amazement. "And that was you this morning, some senior guy, that beat up Dylan?"<br/>
<br/>
"As we already told you," you respond. In contrast to the rougher and harsher edge of Lucy's voice, Karen's is softer and you like the way it almost playfully dances in your ears.<br/>
<br/>
"You don't mind doing this though, do you," asks Dane.<br/>
<br/>
"It's fine," Lucy replies though there's an uncharacteristic nervousness in the way it's said. "I was so shocked by what happened. I mean I heard the commotion as I was coming out of Wilkes's class but I wasn't really expecting to see it so I let my emotions get the better of me. So I'm sorry about that," she says before looking over at you. "You too. You're roped into doing this because of my mistake."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't beat yourself up," you shake your head and you have to mentally admit that you like the way the curls bounce when you do. "It was my mistake in the first place that even made this a thing."<br/>
<br/>
"I really did start regretting it almost immediately," she says. "I knew Lucy was only looking out for me but even then... and to think he's involved with someone as dangerous as Gary Chen..."<br/>
<br/>
"Like Prescott said, don't beat yourself up. Maybe it turns out to be a blessing in disguise if all goes well," Dane reassures her.<br/>
<br/>
You never did reach Starbucks instead opting to drive the shorter distance over to South Creek Park where the swap was made and the three of you have been sitting in the bed of Lucy's truck. You'd brought Karen up to speed on what was going on and what you'd planned to do and to your surprise seemed to accept that there were magic masks that let you become others, how could she not after seeing it first hand, and that you'd be taking her place on her date with Dylan.<br/>
<br/>
She's not exactly comfortable with the idea but at the same time feels guilty about accepting the date in the first place. She'd known as soon as the words escaped her mouth that it was a bad idea and has been fretting about it all day. So this gets her out of it and you're more than willing to relieve the burden of worry from her.<br/>
<br/>
Eventually you're dropped back off at the home of Karen's aunt and uncle, Marian and Jay Sowell, her father's sister and brother-in-law. Karen originally lived in the seedier part of town seemingly trapped in the volatile relationship and lives her parents led. Her mother an alcoholic and her father with a violent temper, arguments were a near daily occurrence in the Beecher home and often times would escalate from verbal to physical.<br/>
<br/>
It was earlier this year, after one particularly bad incident, that Karen was placed across town in the care of her aunt and uncle. For the last ten months their home has been her home. For the next few days it will be yours.</span></div></div>


path: 11121113211222221222222122121112213112211
author_id: rugal
title: Relationship Woes
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You wake up in a bed that's about as soft as you've ever slept in covered in a room that's about as clean as you've ever seen one. Posters and other assorted decorations cover the walls, a nice vanity sits in one corner, a study desk against another wall and a small drawer next to your bed.<br/>
<br/>
Displayed prominently on that small drawer are three pictures: one taken about five years ago during a trip to Disneyland that Karen took with her aunt, uncle and older cousin; the long since graduated cousin whose room she now occupies. There's also one with herself, Lucy, Mickie and a few other members of the gang; her clothes, looking so ratty and dull, are contrasted by a bright smile. Lastly is one taken just a few weeks ago of the girl's JV basketball team. Karen's kneeling at the front, a little off center, and sandwiched between Johanna and Lexi.<br/>
<br/>
The three of them were always closest to one another in the group due to entering the same time and it was at the same time, at Lexi's suggestion, that they left.<br/>
<br/>
As you get dressed you notice the complete absence of any pictures of her parents. It's not that Karen hates her parents from what you're able to dig up but she doesn't love them either. She was always closer with her aunt and uncle anyway and would spend extended time with them when situations meant staying at home wasn't really a possibility. You suppose that it's hard to love parents who just never really seemed to feel like parents and while there was always the typical father-son tensions with your dad you never truly felt like he wasn't always looking out for you even if, in the heat of an upset rant, you might have felt as much in the moment.<br/>
<br/>
Once you're dressed you head downstairs into the kitchen. "Morning auntie," you say as you grab an English muffin, cut it open and pop it in the toaster.<br/>
<br/>
"Good morning yourself," she responds. "You sleep well? I know things must have been... exciting if you were spending the evening with Lucy."<br/>
<br/>
Marian Sowell, despite the pleasantness shown to you last night, is well aware of Lucy's own reputation. It's only the insistence of her niece and the fact Lucy's always been on her "best behavior" that's stopped her from outright forbidding Karen to see her. However that didn't stop her from insisting that Karen focus on her grades and building a better life for herself which played no small part in her gradual distancing from, and eventual decision to leave, the group.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh nothing happened, don't worry," you tell her. "She just came by to check up on me and offer a little bit of encouragement."<br/>
<br/>
"Encouragement for what, dear?"<br/>
<br/>
Now you begin shifting around uncomfortably and you can feel your cheeks begin to get a bit hotter. "I just have a date tonight," you say before quickly adding. "I-it's nothing serious! Just some boy from one of my classes. It's not a real date but he wanted to get something to eat with me after school and I'd have felt bad if I said no."<br/>
<br/>
A lie, of course, because if Karen told her aunt that she was going on a date with Dylan Riley she'd have likely flipped her lid. She dislikes him almost as much as Lucy does.<br/>
<br/>
"Just remember that I don't want you staying out too late," she tells you.<br/>
<br/>
You promise that you won't be gone long as your English muffin pops out of the toaster. You put a bit of jelly on it and eat as fast as you can so you can get back up to the room and finish getting ready until your ride arrives. Once you get the text you jump up, say goodbye to Karen's aunt and hop into the backseat of Lexi's car.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"You're still going through with it," Johanna asks as you try to catch your breath during a break in practice.<br/>
<br/>
"I guess," you reply with glum resignation. "I don't want to but I don't really have any kind of a choice. I let my mouth get in front of my brain."<br/>
<br/>
"You can just stand him up," Lexi tells you and Karen knows her well enough to know that, despite the playful tone she's completely serious.<br/>
<br/>
"I can't stand him up," you tell her. "It'll just make him worse if I do."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe you can just tank the date then," she shrugs, "like just act so bad he'll want nothing to do with you."<br/>
<br/>
"Just because that's worked for you doesn't mean it's going to work for anyone else," Johanna tells her. "What if he doesn't buy it?"<br/>
<br/>
"She can just dazzle him with her acting," replies Lexi.<br/>
<br/>
"I only just started so I don't think that'd work," you sigh as you place your head into your hands. "I'm just going to have to go through with it then say it didn't work or something like that."<br/>
<br/>
"See stuff like this is why I don't date," Lexi says as she plays with a lock of auburn hair that hangs in front of her eyes. "Ugh, I should really cut this. I don't know why I thought growing it out would be a good idea."<br/>
<br/>
"Because you thought Paulina would like it long," Johanna teasingly replies. "Which is also why you don't date."<br/>
<br/>
"It's a choice," Lexi insists.<br/>
<br/>
"I agree," Johanna states, " for example you choose to get crushes on straight girls and because of that you don't date."<br/>
<br/>
You giggle at that because it's true in a way. Lexi, unlike a lot of others, was never really an outcast per se but thought Lucy was awesome and was pretty instantly smitten. When Karen, Lexi and Johanna left and Lucy suggested they join the JV basketball team it took approximately one look at Paulina for Lexi to push in that direction.<br/>
<br/>
"Like you're one to talk," Lexi shoots back.<br/>
<br/>
"At least I didn't know Jeff was gay beforehand," she responds referring to an incident a few weeks ago where she thought one of her classmates, Jeff Doyle, was cute and completely misread the situation. Though she tries to play it off cool, as she does most everything, she felt embarrassed by it all the same. "Why don't you go after Tana? She's gay."<br/>
<br/>
Tana Huston is one of the main members of the team and one of the candidates, along with Paulina, to move up to varsity next year.<br/>
<br/>
"Too dykey," Lexi replies.<br/>
<br/>
"Probably because she's a dyke," Johanna retorts.<br/>
<br/>
"I know and that's the problem," Lexi moans. "I like girls that are at least a little feminine, it's not my fault they're all straight."<br/>
<br/>
"What about that girl from your second period," you ask her.<br/>
<br/>
"Jelena," she responds. "I mean she's nice but she's a senior so I'd have no chance anyway. Junior's my ceiling. God, it'd be so much easier if you guys were gay."<br/>
<br/>
"I'd become celibate before I'd date you so I don't think that would work," Johanna says.<br/>
<br/>
"You'd date me right," Lexi asks turning to you. "Karen please get over the whole straight phase."<br/>
<br/>
You laugh a little harder at that. Lexi's a girl cute in appearance with a spitfire personality who always seems to simultaneously take nothing seriously while taking it very seriously. "I'm swearing off guys forever after this so you'll have me all to yourself," you joke.<br/>
<br/>
"You enable her way too much," Johanna says, rolling her eyes as a now mollified Lexi sticks her tongue out at her.<br/>
<br/>
Practice is soon enough back in business and while your own problems were largely lost in the flow of conversation you don't feel too bad as it's put you in a better mood and hopefully more able to deal with what's to come.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
<i>I can't deal with this!!!</i><br/>
<br/>
You're holed up in the bathroom at Balducci's and furiously texting Lucy, and Dane by extension who's with her, about the frustration you're feeling at this "date" with Dylan. For a relative nobody he's something of a preening jackass and you really, really wish that you could re-enact yesterday's little "talk" with him. Instead you feign interest as he tells you about how he's crushing it on the JV soccer team and how he's tight with Gary Chen from the varsity squad.<br/>
<br/>
That pretty much confirms any suspicions you had about where he's getting his supply from and you relay that Lucy.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Ur just gonna have to tuff it out</i>, comes the reply text. Probably Dane typing it or at least a summation of his thoughts via Lucy.<br/>
<br/>
<i>But he's such a choad</i><br/>
<br/>
Even with Karen's issues at the time and Dylan being her first boyfriend you're still mystified in what she ever saw in him and Karen herself probably is too. They really couldn't be any more opposite. So it's with something approaching horror that you read the next set of texts as they come in, these ones definitely from Dane.<br/>
<br/>
<i>If he's w/ Chen then we need more info</i>, comes the first. A feeling of dread in your stomach forms and nearly bursts out in the form of vomit when you read it.<br/>
<br/>
<i>You have to keep seeing him.</i></span></div></div>


path: 111211132112222212222221221211122131122111
author_id: rugal
title: With Grim Determination
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>This is a joke right? Well of course it's not you quickly realize. Lucy Gibbon, whether as herself or someone else, isn't exactly humorless but she's not one for dumb jokes and fucking with people either. Besides it was a possibility when the subject was first broached yesterday anyway and it was something you agreed to although now you're wondering why? You can go see Caleb, get another mask and make another jump whether it's into another sophomore, a senior, hell even a freshman or someone not connected to Westside.<br/>
<br/>
You've been running on two emotions the last few days in all reality: fear and guilt. Fear of Gary Chen put you in this situation in the first place. Fear of pissing off Lucy is always in the back of your mind. Guilt of what you did to Evie caused you to agree to replace Lucy. Guilt regarding your actions driving Karen back to Dylan are why you're here now.<br/>
<br/>
But there's something else in there too. There's a determination. Lucy was right when she stated that this was your mess to clean up and you're now bound and determined to set everything right and seeing what you can do to mess up Chen's little business would certainly go a long way towards that. So it's with that determination that you suck up your reservations and shoot a text back to Lucy or Dane or whoever it is that's manning the phone now. It's with that determination that you subsume yourself as thoroughly as possible in the role of Karen Beecher to try and put what little bit of acting she's learned to good use.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm back," you say cheerily as you take your seat.<br/>
<br/>
"You had to pretty bad I guess because you took your damn time," Dylan muses.<br/>
<br/>
You want to puke. If discussing your bathroom habits is his way of trying to flirt... but you suck it up. "No I was just texting Lucy," you tell him and instantly his face falls.<br/>
<br/>
"So what, that bitch gonna come in here and try to sucker punch me again," he asks incredulously. "That's why she got me, ya know. Like that and I ain't gonna hit no girl even if she a dyke bitch."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't ruin it, Dylan. She's still my friend," you tell him seriously. "I was just telling her that I was having a very... interesting time with you."<br/>
<br/>
"Interesting? Guess that's good 'cause it mean you aint' bored," Dylan says proudly.<br/>
<br/>
You want to roll your eyes but need to maintain the charade. "Yeah, I was just telling her about how you've changed and you're really on the ball with your... business," you tell him as you stroke his ego. You hope to god it's the only thing of his you'll have to stroke.<br/>
<br/>
"You know it," he says with a douchey expression plastered on his face. "See, I told ya I'm in with Chen. I'mma be rollin' in green."<br/>
<br/>
He laughs a little at his dumb little double entendre and you, still having to play the part of "impressed ex", feign amusement at his "clever" wordplay. The conversation continues as you put down your second slice of the evening and though you find it harder and harder to put in fake interest towards him and his now trite conversations regarding the JV soccer squad and other stuff he doesn't seem to pick up on it. He's way too absorbed in telling you about what a great job he's doing.<br/>
<br/>
Once you've paid (well, he's paid since he wants to show off) you steel yourself as you head out to his car. You ask him to drop you off at the Mellon Village Shopping Center as you're going to meet Johanna and Lexi at a place there to hang out with them a bit. It's a half-lie as you'll be meeting Lucy and Dane there and you send a text out to Lucy's phone to inform them that you're on your way. Once there you tell Dylan that you're going to wait in one of the stores for them to arrive.<br/>
<br/>
"But I really enjoyed myself tonight," you tell him with as much fake sincerity as you can muster. "So maybe we can get together again? I'll text you when I want to hang out okay?"<br/>
<br/>
You seal it with a quick kiss on the cheek and you wish the vomit would come back. But it doesn't so it's a simple exchange of goodbyes and you standing around waiting for your accomplices to arrive and wondering if there's any mouthwash left back at Karen's place.<br/>
<br/>
At least the pizza was good though.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"Karen, please get better taste in guys," you beg Lucy as the three of you sit at a table in Starbucks.<br/>
<br/>
"You made your bed," Dane states as he takes a sip of his coffee.<br/>
<br/>
"No I'm telling her for her own sake," you grumble before turning back to Lucy. "Hell get with Lexi! I'll support you the whole way? Wouldn't that be a good match for her, Lucy?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh god," Lucy groans. "Lexi pulled the 'woe is me why are all the pretty girls into penises' routine didn't she?"<br/>
<br/>
"What's this about Lexi," Dane asks.<br/>
<br/>
"She's depressed because she's never going to be able to sleep with you or Paulina," Lucy tells him.<br/>
<br/>
"Wait with me," he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"She was really into you," you tell him. "That's pretty much the reason she joined in the first place."<br/>
<br/>
"You seriously didn't know," Lucy asks. "It wasn't really a secret."<br/>
<br/>
"I guess I just don't pay attention to romance shit," he replies uncomfortably. "Yours was the exception. I just don't really think about it."<br/>
<br/>
"You ever have a boyfriend," you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"You were in my head so you tell me," he responds but you just tell him you don't remember anything. "God, I shouldn't be this embarrassed about it but no," he admits. "I was always too involved in my teams and then after everything went to shit boys kind of avoided me."<br/>
<br/>
"You ever think about it," you ask. There's no response and you figure that it's probably a sore point and best not to bring it up so you decide to change tracks. "So how long do we keep this up," you ask. "I mean I'm sure Karen will want her life back and you want yours and I'll... figure something out."<br/>
<br/>
Both Dane and Lucy look at one another both unsure as to the answer. "We'll keep it up for as long as it takes," Dane finally responds.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay so then how are we taking down Chen," you counter. "We can get Riley away from him but it's not like he can't find someone else to sell to the sophomores and freshmen. Not to mention whoever he's got in the higher grades."<br/>
<br/>
"Look, we'll figure it out," he replies testily. "We give it a while and we'll get a clearer picture."<br/>
<br/>
"And you're fine with this," you ask Karen.<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno," she shifts. "I guess. We need to do something."<br/>
<br/>
"Well we're gonna need to figure it out soon," you warn them. "Because the longer we're doing this and the deeper we get the harder it's going to be to go back. Trust me on this."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
Friday passes by in a fairly uneventful manner. Karen's aunt asks you how everything went in the morning and you tell her that it was nice but that you haven't decided if you're going to see him again yet. You get to do a short acting exercise in first period, a small romantic scene with Luis Figueroa and there's a small thrill that goes through you as Karen finds him to be an attractive and fairly charming guy.<br/>
<br/>
The rest of the day passes without incident and you don't even hear much from Dylan or your accomplices. Even Lexi and Johanna are relatively more subdued during practice. As you're leaving school however you pass by Chen and a chill runs down your spine as he locks eyes with you and gives you a smile. You're not sure if it's just because you're a nice looking girl and he's a (probably) horny guy or if Dylan's made him aware of who you are but you don't like it all the same.<br/>
<br/>
Saturday comes and you decide that you're going to try and go on another "date" with Dylan to try and wrangle some info out of him so you send him a text and set it up for him to pick you up from the park at two. You then text Evie figuring it'd be good to give her an update on where you are which eventually just devolves into general chatting and then full on venting from her when she decides to call and give you a run down on how much of a bitch she thinks Hannah is.<br/>
<br/>
Once that conversation's done you still have some time to kill though. Talking to Evie has made you realize that it's been even longer since you've really had any contact with Caleb. You haven't kept up with the book at all--you haven't been able to--and you're interested to see if he's made any progress. Plus, like Evie, it'd probably be a good idea to fill him in on what's going.</span></div></div>


path: 1112111321122222122222212212111221311221112
author_id: rugal
title: A Day of Dates and Robots
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span><i>hey its will. can u pick me up from south creek?</i><br/>
<br/>
That's the text you send to Caleb after deciding that catching up on what he's been doing is a good way to kill time and hopefully give you things to think about when you're not actually getting any info about Chen out of Dylan.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Will who?</i><br/>
<br/>
You groan at that; fifty years from now and he'll be as obstinate as ever. Probably worse. <i>prescott who do u think?</i><br/>
<br/>
<i>I guess. You're not that girl anymore so I don't know what you look like though.</i><br/>
<br/>
You snap a quick picture and send it his way. The response, a positive one, is quick in coming. You tell Karen's aunt and uncle that you're going to be meeting some friends up at the park and hanging out from there and assure them that you'll be back by dinner. Thankfully it's not too long a distance from Karen's to the park so even walking it doesn't take you long to arrive. You're relieved to see Caleb's car there as well by the time you get there since it means no waiting around.<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe you have it good down there," Caleb says once he sees you. "Cute girls, not having to worry about the drama of all the crap going on up here..."<br/>
<br/>
"What kind of drama," you ask him.<br/>
<br/>
"Chelsea's been real pissed at quote-unquote Gordon and it's been filtering down to the rest of the cheerleaders which means Eva and Jessica have been really irritable," he tells you.<br/>
<br/>
"So same old," you reply flippantly. "What about the real Gordon? Christ I can only imagine what he's doing."<br/>
<br/>
"Not much of anything really. He's mostly kept to himself, kept a low profile, kept quiet, hasn't really whined," he says with a grin. "I think I like him better than the real you."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah fuck you too," you shoot back. "So have you been getting along in the book?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah I've found some stuff," he says and you notice his demeanor change at that. "It's kinda, I don't know... freaky."<br/>
<br/>
"Can I see it?"<br/>
<br/>
"Can you... you want to see it," he asks nervously.<br/>
<br/>
"No I want to smell it. What do you think," you reply with a hint of very mild irritation. <br/>
<br/>
"Ugh yeah but it's so... weird," he says before sighing. "But I guess there's not really any harm in letting you see it. Just, you know, don't tell anyone. Even that girl. I don't think they'd like it."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"Jesus Christ on a pogo stick," you exclaim as you watch Evie, a very nude Evie, strut around the basement, rub herself, pose sexily... generally engage in very un-Evie like actions. "This feels really wrong. Hit the off switch or something," you tell Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb walks up to her and pulls at her face. The mask of Evie--you'd apparently left it down here by mistake when you were switching out into Lucy--comes off leaving only a gray person-shaped statue standing in her place.<br/>
<br/>
"Like I said, I'd started it Tuesday and it only just finished this morning," he tells you. "It wasn't expensive but it sure as shit was a pain lugging all that dirt around."<br/>
<br/>
"So like you put the mask on it and it comes to life," you say in amazement.<br/>
<br/>
"Right and because I used my hair in it, it has to do whatever I tell it."<br/>
<br/>
"It has to," you trail off and then look at him in a mixture of shock and horror. "Oh my god please don't tell me you used her mask and did... ugh, I don't even want to know what you did with it."<br/>
<br/>
"I argued with myself," he sighs. "I used my mask on it to test it. I just figured you wouldn't want to see <i>me</i> naked though it'd be a sight I assure you. Though if you want to take her mask with you..."<br/>
<br/>
"Nah, keep it," you say as you place it on the table. "I don't really have any need for it now. Just... don't use it on the robot or if you do don't tell me and holy fuck do <i>not</i> tell Evie." You sigh as you pull one of the ratty old chairs from out of a pile of supplies and take a seat. "God but I could use something like that. Just send it to do what I have to do instead of doing it myself.<br/>
<br/>
"What <i>is</i> going on," Caleb asks. "You still haven't told me who this girl is or what you've been up to."<br/>
<br/>
"Karen Beecher, she's on the girl's JV team," you say and let out another sigh. "It's a long story. You know who Lucy Gibbon is," you ask and that earns a shake of the head. "Tall girl, has some kind of all-girl thug gang that follows her around."<br/>
<br/>
"Now that you say it I might've seen something like that a few times," he replies. "Sounds hot though, like those old seventies Japanese flicks I've told you about."<br/>
<br/>
If there's one thing, outside of his obstinancy, that you doubt will ever change with Caleb it's his love of pretty much any and all porn he can get his hands on.<br/>
<br/>
"It's not really anything like that. Anyway, Evie wanted me to be her in order to protect one of her friends who she thought Lucy had beef with. Then it turns out the girl's actually worried about one of the girl's on her team so I'm roped into helping <i>her</i>. Then some other crap happened and, long story short, I'm stuck as this girl for the time being pretending to date her ex because reasons."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb is silent for a long time but eventually the facde falls, his face begins to crack and he goes into a full blown laughing fit. "So you sucked his dick yet," he asks as he wipes tears from his eyes once he's finally recovered.<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck off," you tell him. "This is serious alright? The douche is dealing pot to the sophomores and freshmen using his position on the JV squad to give himself some legitimacy I assume. He's getting his stuff from and working for Chen so Lucy and Karen, the real ones, want to deal with that but Lucy doesn't want Karen around him so guess who gets to play her role?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb's face pales at that and he goes deathly silent. "Fuck," is all he can finally mutter.<br/>
<br/>
"What's got you spooked?"<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing," he shakes his head, "It's just... Chen. Damn man. You were trying to get away from him right? It's like out of the frying pan and all of that."<br/>
<br/>
"Tell me about it," you say. "I've actually got another fake date with the little weasel today; he's supposed to pick me up from the park at two and I'm really not looking forward to it."<br/>
<br/>
"Well it's around one thirty," Caleb says quietly, "so I might as well give you a ride back."<br/>
<br/>
So it's piling back into his car as he drives you back up to South Creek though he does have one last thing to say before he leaves.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, Chen is... well, you know," he tells you. "I guess I don't have to tell you but seriously, Will, be careful. Who knows what he's actually capable of?"<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
Panda Garden is probably the most popular of the various Chinese restaurants in town. Though you honestly can't tell the difference between it and Lotus House and the couple of others that are around (seriously, it seems like there's a new Chinese place every couple of blocks) a lot of people seem to swear by it. That's partly why Dylan's taken you there for lunch but also because, as he bragged, it's owned by the aunt and uncle of his new best friend and Chen's friends get treated well.<br/>
<br/>
You made sure to text that info to Karen and Lucy and Lucy herself texted back not long after saying she'd be on her way. She told you that her parents were spending the weekend out of town visiting her aunt and uncle so Karen will hang around her place and she'll be coming herself as herself to stake things out and on the off chance anything goes down; she'd feel much better handling things on her own than having to put Karen in that predicament.<br/>
<br/>
As you eat your orange chicken and lo mein you feel unsettled. You're practically in Chen's house, here's Dylan bragging about how buddy buddy he supposedly is with the guy and because of it that paranoia is starting to sink in. You know you shouldn't do it because you need to string him along for info. You know you shouldn't give a shit about what happens. But something, maybe it's something deep in the back of Karen's mind, causes you to step in as he's talking.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, Dylan, it's great that you've got all of this stuff going for you but do you ever stop to think about it," you ask him. "I mean really think about it."<br/>
<br/>
"I mean yeah," he says. "I think about how I've got shit made now. That's what you mean right?"<br/>
<br/>
"Not that," you tell him and add a bit of frustration to your voice. "Like I mean think about what you're doing. Like the risk involved in running around and doing this. You could get hurt or, you know, worse! Besides, I've heard things... about Gary."<br/>
<br/>
"Things like what," he challenges you.<br/>
<br/>
"Not anything specific," you tell him. "When I was still with Lucy though he wanted us to deal stuff for him and, I don't know, Lucy and some of the other girls told me he's real bad news."<br/>
<br/>
"Bad news, huh," comes a voice from the entrance to the restaurant behind you.<br/>
<br/>
You don't have to do it, you'd know the voice anywhere, but out of instinct you turn your head and there he is: making his way over to the table is Gary Chen.</span></div></div>


path: 11121113211222221222222122121112213112211121
author_id: rugal
title: The Boss and the Barbarian
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"This your girl Riley," asks Chen as he strides up to the side of the table. The expression he wears is one of joviality but the tone of his voice projects a mood very much the opposite.<br/>
<br/>
Chen's not the tallest guy around and he's not the most muscular either (though being a member of the soccer team he's no slob) but he carries himself in such a way that his presence dwarfs others and even the likes of Gordon, Steve Patterson or Seth Javits would give pause before thinking of getting on his bad side.<br/>
<br/>
But Dylan seems as oblivious to the mood of his "friend" as he does most other things. "Damn right," he says with a proud casualness that clashes with the icy mood that's fallen over the table. "Told ya shorty was fine as hell," he grins.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, she's cute," Chen says dismissively only giving you quick but cold side-eyed glance. "It also sounds like she has a problem with me."<br/>
<br/>
"Nah, man, she ain't got no problem right," Dylan says thoughtlessly putting the ball in your court.<br/>
<br/>
"R-right," you reply nervously for Chen scares Karen as much as he scares you. "I was just talking about... the lifestyle you know? Like you always hear the stories about how getting involved in this ends. Sorry if it seemed like I was talking about you specifically, I just don't want to see Dylan get hurt."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, man, she just worried 'bout me," he adds. "Like you ain't gonna let nothin' happen to me 'cause we tight and all but it's still cute right?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, she seems really loyal," Chen says casting another cold glance at you. "Loyalty's really important so I want to talk with you about that. Outside."<br/>
<br/>
Your eyes go wide as you don't like the sound of that at all.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey Aunt Sue," Chen calls out, "That food ready yet?"<br/>
<br/>
"Give me fifteen minutes," replies who you presume to be Chen's aunt: a short, broad-faced woman who manages to look simultaneously plain and pretty and looks anywhere between her mid-thirties and mid-forties.<br/>
<br/>
"Just enough time for us to have our talk," Chen says with a smile.<br/>
<br/>
If there's any threat in the tone then Dylan doesn't pick up on it. "Aight, yeah we can talk," he says before flashing you another grin. "I'mma be right back so don't worry."<br/>
<br/>
You sit there in stunned silence for you're not sure how long. Seconds turn into minutes; how many minutes? You couldn't say. But you feel yourself getting increasingly antsy as you wait for them to come back. But it's been... five minutes? Seven? Eight? They're not back. You're getting antsier. Why are you so antsy? Are you actually worried about Dylan Riley? That's ridiculous, yet you're feeling increasingly anxious.<br/>
<br/>
Finally you can't take it anymore and in a huff you stand up, thank the owners for the meal and head outside.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
You don't see either Chen or Dylan when you exit but you do hear some voices though you're having a hard time pinning down where.<br/>
<br/>
"Whoa, hey there you're looking a little distressed," says a guy heading towards either you or the entrance of the restaurant. He's tall, tan and handsome with a mop of blonde hair. "You need help with anything?"<br/>
<br/>
"Leave her alone," says another guy. This one a little more stereotypically jockish with dark hair to match a dark, brooding expression. "She's obviously not in any mood to be bothered by <i>you</i>."<br/>
<br/>
"She's obviously in trouble so I want to do the heroic thing and help her," replies the blonde.<br/>
<br/>
"She doesn't need the kind of help you'd want to provide," says the dark-haired young man with a shake of his head.<br/>
<br/>
"Um, well, if you guys <i>can</i> help me," you say as you interrupt their squabbling. "Sorry, but I was here with my boyfriend but he left to talk with another guy and I'm... I'm kind of worried about him."<br/>
<br/>
"If it's too just two guys having a conversation..." the blonde trails off before having a bit of a eureka moment. "Oh! So I'm guessing this guy your friend went off with he's not much of a nice guy is he? Maybe the guy in question is Asian with a nasty looking scowl?"<br/>
<br/>
"That's... yes," you exclaim in surprise. "How did you--"<br/>
<br/>
"We actually saw them coming out as we were getting out of our truck," states the dark-haired one. "I think I saw them go around into that little alley."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh my god, thank you guys so much," you say excitedly. You're about ready to take off in that direction when you hear a voice calling out to you and turn to see Lucy jogging up to you from her own truck.<br/>
<br/>
"Karen, there you are," she says as she slows her pace. "I saw Riley and Chen coming out and I figured that'd be a good time for us to get out of here." It's then that she notices the other two guys standing and gives them a queer look. "Who are you," she asks suspiciously.<br/>
<br/>
"Just some guys that saw Dylan and Chen and were telling me about it," you say. "Look, who cares, I have to get over there."<br/>
<br/>
"And do what," Lucy asks. "It's Riley, who cares?"<br/>
<br/>
"I do," you exclaim, "Or I don't but... it's Chen!"<br/>
<br/>
With that you take off in the direction of the alley which is about two stores down that separates the two main buildings of the shopping complex that Panda Garden sits in.<br/>
<br/>
"Goddamn it Karen," Lucy eventually grumbles as she gives chase.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"Dylan," you cry out as you turn the corner to see him flat on his butt against a wall, bruises covering his face and what's either a busted lip or nose... probably both. Instinctively you run in put yourself down inbetween him and Chen. You're not sure why. Karen expressed reservations about getting back with Dylan while you can't stand him.<br/>
<br/>
But maybe it's because for as much as an annoying little turd as Dylan Riley that's <i>all</i> that he is. Even he doesn't deserve a beating at the hands of Gary Chen.<br/>
<br/>
"What, you come here to give your boyfriend his balls," Chen sneers. "You're fucking pathetic Riley. I bring you in for one reason and instead of doing that you're bragging like an asshole and trying to get your dick wet with your cunt of an ex."<br/>
<br/>
You give a cry as Chen shoves you to the side and places his foot, hard, on Dylan's balls.<br/>
<br/>
"You've got yourself a choice Riley," he says in a tone that's ice cold, "oh don't act like this is hurting you there ain't anything there to hurt. Either you make something of yourself and stop worrying about this bitch or you keep chasing her like the weeping vagina you are and I make life real hard for you." He then turns that cold gaze on you and you find yourself frozen. "Either way she's not gonna be around to fuck things up for you, I'll make sure of it."<br/>
<br/>
You shrink back and find yourself actually cowering. It's not even Karen's fear of Chen that's driving you but your own. All of this effort in trying to get away from Chen, to stay out of his orbit and yet here you are having done a full circle. You're starting to doubt you even can get away from him. It seems no matter where you go eventually your path will cross Chen's. It makes you want to laugh at the absurdity of it; it's like one of those shitty old cartoons where the characters would walk and have a conversation but the background would just loop back around every couple of seconds.<br/>
<br/>
But you're, right now at least, a girl. Would even Chen be that low enough as to physically harm some sophomore girl who's done nothing to him? You have a feeling that you're going to find out very soon but miraculously a voice cuts through air bringing everything to a dead halt.<br/>
<br/>
"Chen!"<br/>
<br/>
Yourself and Chen -- Dylan is half-out at this point -- only have time to just start turning your heads before a fist flies in and smashes him on the jaw. Chen stumbles a few steps down the alley and you quickly try to make a break for it feeling at least nominally bad about leaving Dylan laying in a heap.<br/>
<br/>
"The fuck," Chen starts but then stops himself once he gets a good look at who decked him.<br/>
<br/>
If looks could kill then Chen would be a dead man already but you half believe that he might just end up in the ground soon enough anyway because Lucy Gibbon, though not some slobbering bestial madwoman, looks furious.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh it's you; the dyke bitch," Chen says as he rubs his jaw. "Popped me pretty good there but a sucker punch is a sucker punch. You're fucking dead."<br/>
<br/>
Chen throws a punch but compared to Lucy it's sloppy and amateurish. Effortlessly she moves her head to avoid it and, with her right hand, delivers blow to his gut that staggers him. Chen tries to get his guard up as she throws some quick jabs but she's able to pop him once or twice. Now pissed he throws a wild punch that Lucy, with a quick backstep, avoids leaving him stumbling. Very quickly she throws an uppercut that nails him right on the chin and Chen is stumbling backwards before falling square on his ass.<br/>
<br/>
He picks himself back up and you're half-expecting him to futilely continue but there's an unsteadiness as he stands and in a daze he simply pushes past the both of you. "You'll get yours," he mutters before more loudly declaring, "I'll see your ass tonight Riley. We're gonna talk man-to-man."</span></div></div>


path: 111211132112222212222221221211122131122111211
author_id: rugal
title: A Respite
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Yourself and Lucy, though mainly Lucy, stand vigil in the alley until Dylan gets his bearings. Once he's up you walk him to his car and if he sees Lucy there he doesn't acknowledge her. You ask him if he's alright but he blows off your concern for his physical well being. Seemingly having all of his faculties with him he says that he'll talk to you later when you tell him you're getting a ride home and leaves. Your heart is still ready to burst from your chest and you still feel hyped up as you look over at Lucy who insists you head back to her place.<br/>
<br/>
"That was..." you trail off in amazement. It takes a minute or two but the adrenaline finally dies down by the time you reach the truck and you can form slightly more coherent thoughts again. "That was awesome, holy crap," you exclaim as you practically leap on her and wrap her tightly in a friendly hug. You realize what you're doing though and sheepishly back off. "Sorry," you mumble.<br/>
<br/>
"No it's... I understand. It's fine," she says calmly.<br/>
<br/>
"She's so right though," comes a cheery voice accompanied by some clapping. It's the blonde guy and his dark-haired friend from earlier. "I'd hug you myself but I would not want to be on the receiving end of that uppercut," says the blonde.<br/>
<br/>
Lucy, possibly still hopped up on adrenaline herself, takes a guarded stance which the blonde seems to recognize.<br/>
<br/>
"Whoa, we're totally not here to throw down," he insists.<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry to just kind of burst in on you like this," the dark-haired young man says in a more measured tone. "We saw you two take off and thought that we should follow in case there was any trouble."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah but you had it handled," says the blonde. "That was pretty great too the way you yelled the guy's name before you decked him. Real dramatic. I dig it."<br/>
<br/>
Lucy's stance continues to remain guarded, maybe even moreso. "Glad you liked it," she says. "Now if you don't tell me who you are you're gonna get a personal demonstration."<br/>
<br/>
"Hey like I said we are not your enemies," the blonde states as he backs off just a bit.<br/>
<br/>
"I apologize if we've put you on edge," says the serious-faced one. "My name is Frank and this lunkhead is my brother Joe."<br/>
<br/>
Brothers? Maybe they're adopted or something because you can't see even a trace of similarity between them.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, sorry," says the blonde, Joe, with a smile that you're not quite sure is either genuinely friendly or a bad act. "You guys don't go to Eastman do you," he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Westside," you reply cautiously.<br/>
<br/>
"Westside," exclaims Joe. "See, Frank, I told you! It had to be Westside," he says as he points at Lucy, "because a girl like here would stick out at Eastman right?"<br/>
<br/>
"You're probably right," Frank says before realizing he's made an error. "Not that I'm trying to be rude," he says to her, "you're just very unique."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, um, thanks," Lucy says quietly as she relaxes her stance, "I think."<br/>
<br/>
"Do you train formally," he asks, "because that was too slick otherwise."<br/>
<br/>
"Huh," Lucy responds apparently dumbfounded, "I don't know. I just take boxing classes at the community center."<br/>
<br/>
"Really? I didn't even know they had that sort of stuff up there..."<br/>
<br/>
"You'll have to excuse him," Joe says as he pulls you aside, "he's a total meat head. Get him started on a topic like that and he'll never shut up. So, that was your boyfriend?"<br/>
<br/>
"Kind of, I think," you say in an unsure voice. "It's complicated. He <i>was</i> my boyfriend but then we broke up but he wanted to get back with me and I kind of did it to... to shut him up I guess. But even if he's annoying..."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I totally understand you. What was up with that other guy anyway," he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"That's Gary Chen, he's on the soccer team," you tell him and you're not really sure why. Maybe you just want to get this stress off of your chest to someone, anyone. "But he's also dealing pot at the school. Or more like he's dealing pot to other guys who deal it at the school," you say. "Dylan was one of his guys since he's on the JV team but I think he only just got brought in because Gary wasn't happy at all with him and kind of overheard me worrying."<br/>
<br/>
"Wow, man that's rough, uh, sorry I never got your name did I?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's Karen," you tell him.<br/>
<br/>
"Ah, Karen! Yeah, nice name," he says a little more cheerfully. "Yeah I can't imagine something like that happening at Eastman. That's wild."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm just ready for it all to be over," you sigh.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, look, you get involved with people like that..." Joe fumbles around in his pocket. "Hey can I see your phone real quick? Sorry, I just need to look something up and it seems like I forgot mine."<br/>
<br/>
Without even really thinking you pull out the phone that sticks out of your back pocket and hand it over to him. Joe taps around on it for a moment or two before handing it back. It's on the contact list and right above Johanna's name you see it: Joe Durras and when you tap it, naturally, you see his own number. Wait, is he really trying to hit on you?<br/>
<br/>
"I know what you're thinking and while you're certainly my type it's not that at all," he says defensively; your thoughts were probably written all over your face. "I can only imagine how bad it can get if that's the kind of stuff you're dealing with so if you feel like you need help don't hesitate."<br/>
<br/>
"Can you keep it in your pants for an hour," Frank stats as he walks by Joe and gives him a brotherly wallop to the back of the head. "We never even got that Chinese you said you were craving."<br/>
<br/>
You head over to Lucy and jump in her truck and you notice a somewhat distracted demeanor from her. "You alright," you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, it's nothing just..." She sighs but it's not a frustrated sounding one. "It was nice talking to somebody about that kind of stuff, he seemed really into the idea of doing it."<br/>
<br/>
She passes you a slip of paper and on it is simply the name, Frank, and a phone number.<br/>
<br/>
"He was really interested in taking some classes and said to give him a call next time I go up there."<br/>
<br/>
Her demeanor has taken a massive one-eighty from earlier. There's little hints there, that sort of dopey smile you've seen on people far too often for instance, and though you want to broach the subject you figure it's best to just hang back and let her have her moment.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
The rest of Saturday passes without much of note aside from filling Karen in on the situation. With her parents not coming back until tomorrow afternoon Lucy decides she's going to take the opportunity to do what she hasn't done in a few days and sleep under her own roof.<br/>
<br/>
On Sunday, however, it's back to what's become your normal routine. Karen, back under Lucy's mask, takes her place to do some business with Lucy's group when Mickie sends a text which is why you get a call from Lucy's home phone asking you to come over to her place if you can. Lexi and Johanna are doing things today so you won't have any luck getting to hang out with them though Lexi is at least able to give you a ride over to Lucy's.<br/>
<br/>
You feel like bringing up yesterday but discretion is certainly the better part of valor so once again you don't even make the faintest attempt to purse the subject. Instead it's a lot of time spent debating just what you're going to do, especially once you receive a series of text's from Dylan.<br/>
<br/>
<i>talked 2 chen last nite<br/>
he said me or u<br/>
sry babe but i think this is it<br/>
it aint gonna work with us i can feel that<br/>
so g'bye 4 now</i><br/>
<br/>
"So that's it," Lucy asks in amazement once you show her the texts. "He put all that effort into getting Karen back just to break up a few days later? God, he's such a pussy."<br/>
<br/>
"This also complicates what we were trying to do," you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
"I know, I know! That too," she exclaims in frustration. "But I don't wanna give up on this yet either. We can't let Chen continue to do what he's doing and it's like... he's right <i>there</i>. You know how good I felt to knock him on his ass like that? And we can do that again and take his fucking empire down with him but now..."<br/>
<br/>
She jumps up and begins pacing around the room seemingly lost in deep thought. "Win him back," she finally says much to your confusion. "Exactly what I said. Riley's an idiot, just try and get back in with him. He'd probably do it if you press hard."<br/>
<br/>
"You seriously think it'd work," you ask her.<br/>
<br/>
"Probably," she says and sounds far more sure than that word would imply. "If it were you," she gives you a look, "yeah, you've been putting your neck out there for this. If you tried, really tried, I don't think you'd fuck it up."<br/>
<br/>
Wait, does she have faith in you? She certainly has done a complete one-eight and you briefly wonder if that's not Caleb or even Evie under their own Lucy mask.  But that's obviously not the case. Even still, as much as you want to take Chen down, you're not sure if you want to keep pressing it in this manner. Maybe it'd be better to just stop, take a step back and see what happens. Besides Karen would probably like to have her life back.</span></div></div>


path: 1112111321122222122222212212111222
author_id: rugal
title: Putting a Piece Back Into Place
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You let the thought roll around over and over in your head as you pace around, both out of impatience and worry: the portables are the hang out of stoners, those skipping class and others of mostly low reputation and someone like Evie undoubtedly looks massively out of place in this area. You don't see anyone around and you're thankful for that, partly because Evie's own fears prey on you and you worry about what might happen if someone spots you.<br/>
<br/>
More than that, you don't want anyone spotting yourself and Dane because if they do that can get back to Chen and that leaves you right back where you've started except now you've dragged Evie into this mess as well, far more than you already have as it'll be the girl proper caught up in everything; something that won't be fixed by just giving her back her life.<br/>
<br/>
For that's what you've decided to do. The more you thought, the more you realized that you couldn't just tell Evie you were going to take over her life and then offer Hannah''s as a consolation. Would she want that? Well the benefits are obvious but you feel a strong desire in her as well; one of self-improvement and a desire to be noticed. Sure she could get with the boy who causes her heart to jump from her chest but he wouldn't be getting with <i>her</i> would he? It'd be deceptive, he'd be getting with Evie because he thinks that she's his <i>real</i> girlfriend. There's a stab in your chest at that and something about it feels all too familiar.<br/>
<br/>
That's how you've felt too, right? About Lisa? Sure there's the initial thrill of getting together with her as Mansfield but then what? You have to keep up the charade. She's loving you because you're Geoff Mansfield, not because you're Will Prescott. It's a similarity you and this girl share, one of many you realize.<br/>
<br/>
Oh sure, you're exactly alike but there are bits there that stop and give you pause. The desire to be noticed and gain acceptance, especially by the one you're head over heels for, is one. The desire to be something more, to cast off the chains of the dorkiness that have held you own, is another. There's the interest in things like video games, something she hasn't quite grown out of and can't quite bring herself to do away with. There's the close friendship she shares with a few people, some of whom--Lindsay is the first thought--she doesn't always seek eye to eye with but who she does trust but the awkwardness she feels in most other settings and even around her own friends.<br/>
<br/>
It's not just your brother she reminds you of: it's yourself. Or some sort of combination thereof. You can't really abandon her or throw her to the wolves. You can't just steal her life. There's a feeling you get when you think about it. It's the same feeling you'd get if Caleb or Gordon or somebody tried to steal your life or Robert's. Maybe it's from being able to peer so deeply into her thoughts and her heart that you feel such a strong bond to a girl that you didn't even know existed twenty-four hours ago. There's a quality there that makes you think of her like a little sister and you'd know that if she were your sister you would feel very protective.<br/>
<br/>
So it's with those thoughts being allowed to stew all day that you've come to the decision to let Evie take her own life back.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"So that's really about it," you tell Evie once she's arrived. "After talking I just had a long time to think and I realized that... that I <i>wasn't</i> thinking."<br/>
<br/>
You'd just finished giving her the truth about everything. The in-depth version even. You'd explained exactly what you'd stumbled into with the book and where events, seemingly beyond your control, had taken you. What you'd found as Dane that so terrified you into wanting out, something Evie herself had somewhat run into. You'd even brought up your real name and while she was surprised that you were a guy, and a senior at that, like you'd expected that didn't bring up anything in her beyond that.<br/>
<br/>
"So I want to apologize," you say, "for everything. Your life is nice and comfortable and... and it's <i>yours</i> so you deserve to have it back. I'm sorry for everything I put you through."<br/>
<br/>
She's silent for a long time. A serious look that looks completely foreign on Dane's face is present. But finally, slowly, there's a nod. "I understand," she says. "I think I would've done the same thing if I'd found something like that and I guess you <i>were</i> kind of dragged along. But that doesn't make what you did to me right. I guess I'm lucky I only have this black eye."<br/>
<br/>
"I know," you hang your head. "I screwed up and it was completely thoughtless."<br/>
<br/>
"But..." She lets it hang and you're not sure if she's stringing you along or trying to decide for herself what to say next. Finally, however, she does speak. "But I accept your apology," she tells you. "Just switch back with me and we can go back to what we were doing before."<br/>
<br/>
That stings and you can't help feeling like you were rejected. Still, you press on. "I know you're going to hate me for this but would you be able to stay for one more day," you ask her. "We can get you back tomorrow but there's a few things I have to do to be able to set it up."<br/>
<br/>
You can see a look of disappointment and maybe a bit of fear and anger fall over her face which you quickly try to correct.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, I screwed you over big time and I want to make it right," you tell her. "So what I plan on doing is getting another mask and stepping in for them because I can't go back to being Dane."<br/>
<br/>
"But you'll let someone else take," she gestures at herself, "take this?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'd let Hannah Westrick take it," you say and she gets a look of surprise on her face. "You can go back to being Evie Cummings again and I'll step in for her."<br/>
<br/>
"Why would you do that," she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Because I want to make it up to you," you tell her, "and I want to help you. If I'm Hannah, then that fixes everything. Your biggest problem is dealt with, you and 'Hannah' can become friendly. If you're hanging around her, you know what that means right?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't..." She stops herself and grimaces, "No but <u>you</u> know right? You're there in my head."<br/>
<br/>
"Trust me, I was in a similar situation before all of this stuff went down and I don't want to see the same thing happen to you," you tell her. "You're too nice a girl to end up in that pit."<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks," she says quietly, "but what about the real Hannah? You're just going to throw her into this guy's life?"<br/>
<br/>
"Hannah can take care of herself," you say. "Would you really be upset if she was brought down a peg?"<br/>
<br/>
"I wouldn't but..." she trails off but catches herself. "No, you're right. You can... <i>we</i> can give it a shot and see what happens. But if we do this I'm not spending another day here."<br/>
<br/>
You grimace at that, "I can't go home though, somebody's already got that locked up, and I'm not going back there either," you tell her. "Besides, I'm going to need your mask to get Hannah tomorrow and I need to think of how to do it."<br/>
<br/>
"You said you stayed overnight where you have this stuff stored, right," she asks. "So stay there. I've got the practice clothes I wore Sunday in a locker so you can come to school as me wearing those and just get her before first period or something."<br/>
<br/>
You're surprised that she'd have good enough instincts to catch on so fast and come up with an idea so quickly and maybe in that respect is a part where you differ from her. But you agree so you make a beeline to the locker room where you get changed into the t-shirt, shorts and shoes she had been wearing the day you grabbed her. You come out and hand her clothes to her. She emerges from the locker room a few minutes later looking fairly relieved as she hands you Dane's clothes, mask and keys.<br/>
<br/>
You get her number and agree to text her once the swap is done. Then it's the strange sight of Evie Cummings driving in Dane's beat-up old car as you head to the elementary school.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
Caleb does a double take when you walk into the basement. "Damn, she <i>is</i> cute," he says with a smile. "This is your new home?"<br/>
<br/>
"You already saw it on Sunday," you tell him. "And not for long. I ran into the real girl and gave her back her life."<br/>
<br/>
"So you're going back to Dane," he asks.<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head, "No way. I'm staying here overnight then I'm grabbing my <i>new</i> new home tomorrow morning."<br/>
<br/>
"So who is it?"<br/>
<br/>
"You know a Hannah Westrick? Co-captain on the soccer team?"<br/>
<br/>
That ears a negative response from him. "So if you're not going to be this girl anymore, mind if I take her mask home with me," he follows up.<br/>
<br/>
"What? No way," you exclaim, "I'm gonna need her face to get Hannah tomorrow that's why I'm wearing her practice uniform. Evie's already back in her life."<br/>
<br/>
"I wasn't talking about tonight," he says with a grin. "I mean more like once you've done the switch with this chick from the soccer team, send this girl's mask my way. You won't really have a need for it anymore."<br/>
<br/>
It dawns on you exactly why he's asking for it. What would be the harm in giving it to him, you wonder? He's right in that you'll have no use for Evie's mask once the switch is made and if he wants to play with himself under it then what's the issue? But something hits you and you can't help but feel a bit of revulsion at the idea of taking Evie, even though it's not really her, and doing whatever he wants to her body. It's that protective feeling coming back once more and you're suddenly reluctant to give the mask to him.</span></div></div>


path: 11121113211222221222222122121112222
author_id: rugal
title: Into the Mind of Caleb; Into the Body of Hannah
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>The feeling of protectiveness over Evie is very strong. Violating and enjoying her is something you couldn't even bring yourself to do when you were under her mask and now you'd allow Caleb access to her body? That feeling wins out and you decide no way, no how, never ever. "Sorry," you reply shaking your head, "but I can't."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh come the fuck on," he replies with exasperation heavy in his voice. "You've been bouncing around and what have I gotten? Jack shit."<br/>
<br/>
"You have masks get some girls of your own."<br/>
<br/>
"I <i>was</i>," he whines. "Brooke was looking really nice today and you know how she thinks I'm funny so I thought I'd make a play at getting her."<br/>
<br/>
"Brooke? Since when did she find <i>you</i> funny," you snort.<br/>
<br/>
"Since I was helping her out in a few classes last year," he says defensively.<br/>
<br/>
"Must not have been good help then," you grin.<br/>
<br/>
"Laugh it up, Prescott," he grumbles. "I've been giving her some help in Muniz's too."<br/>
<br/>
"Alright, fine, so why get a mask of her? Why not ask her out?"<br/>
<br/>
"Why don't I," he asks in surprise. "I don't know..."<br/>
<br/>
"Does she have a boyfriend or something?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, no. At least I don't think she does," he says. "It's just..."<br/>
<br/>
"Just what," you ask, placing your hands on your hips. "Are you that intent on trying to get with Eva? Or do you think Cindy is going to magically leave Seth to get with you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I mean, it's fucking Eva," he exclaims but then falls quiet.<br/>
<br/>
"And Eva's great and all but it's not like Brooke is bad," you tell him. "Oh no, she's an eight and not a ten! How horrible! You need to stop having these unrealistic standards."<br/>
<br/>
"Well if you're so interested in Brooke's love life why don't you give me this girl's mask," he points at you and then himself, "and you take my mask. Then <i>you</i> can date her until you're bored."<br/>
<br/>
For a moment you're tempted to tell him "fine".<br/>
<br/>
Brooke Galloway is not a thin girl but neither is she fat or even chubby. She's a girl with meat on her but in a way that fits together very nicely with arms shaped by the repetitive, daily swinging of a tennis racket. Her chest, ass, thighs, stomach... all would make nice handholds as she's on top of you, her sparkling green eyes staring into your eyes, her thick auburn hair falling loosely around your faces as her large lips smash hungrily against your own. Her voice, sweet as honey, whispering softly into your ear to fuck her long but gently, for you can't imagine a girl like Brooke wanting it rough, and moaning and whimpering in ecstasy.<br/>
<br/>
Oh yes, if Caleb is telling the truth then you would very much want to trade places with him to experience a girl like Brooke whether that meant from Caleb's body or from her own.<br/>
<br/>
But that would be under normal circumstances and sadly these are not normal circumstances. You made a promise to Evie and it's one you intend to keep. So you give a defiant shake of your head. "Look, I'm not giving you the mask okay," you tell him.<br/>
<br/>
"You're not even going to need it once you're this Hannah girl," he protests, however it's mostly falling on deaf ears.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know that," you tell him. "I mean maybe Evie decides she wants to try out Hannah's life. I'd need her mask in that case so I can't have it hanging around with you."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah but how likely is..." Caleb stops and throws up his hands in defeat. "You know what, fine. Don't give it to me and take the one mask I have left. But if you're going to do that then I want you to make up another mask and when you've switched I want you to get me a soccer hottie. Anita or Bonny or one of the JV girls or whoever. I just want a mask by tomorrow."<br/>
<br/>
"Are you that desperate to play with a pair of tits," you smirk and then move as he tosses one of the rags that you'd been previously using to polish masks at your head.<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck you, just do it or I'll risk an ass kicking to tell Chen where you are."<br/>
<br/>
You look at him in shock; he wouldn't, would he? No, probably not you realize and the shock quickly fades. But you figure it's best to appease him for now so you make a promise to him that by tomorrow or Wednesday you'll get a mask of someone from the soccer team for him.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
Caleb and yourself the rest of the afternoon looking at the next spell in the book, translating and deciphering its meaning and once you do you both give up on advancing for the time being. The next spell calls for a couple of things: hair from the spell caster, dirt and igniting agent. You're supposed to place the hair on the dirt, pour on the igniting agent and light the entire thing. When it goes out you light it again. It's a process you would need to repeat, wait for it to go out then reignite it, until it no longer lights up. The problems, however, are two-fold.<br/>
<br/>
First, the book doesn't specify how long it'll burn A few minutes? Hours? Days? It doesn't tell you how many times you'd need to re-light it either. So you're supposed to let a pile of dirt burn in a basement for an indeterminate amount of time until it no longer catches fire and that strikes the both of you as wildly dangerous.<br/>
<br/>
Second, to call it a "pile" is putting it lightly. The book is asking for what would amount to creating a small hill in the basement, hundreds of pounds of dirt would be needed for the spell. Beyond that, there's the creepiness of it specifying that the dirt come from a graveyard. While it wouldn't be hard to run to the cemetery at night to grab dirt it would be tiring and time consuming, not to mention the unease you'd feel hanging around such a place. To do it you'd need a truck or van and some extra help. You could always go to the former Gordon Black but you know he'd kill you so that doesn't seem a viable option at the moment.<br/>
<br/>
The both of you decide to wait a while and try and work things out to get this done. For now, however, it's evening so Caleb decides it's time to get home before is mother starts to worry. The sleeping bag and other things are still down here so you say your goodbyes and soon it's only yourself in the cool, dank basement. You decide to get started on the mask for Caleb and head over to the material but stop as you find something... a mask! Not a blank one either, the blank is sitting on the other end of the table, but a sealed one. You wonder if Caleb did manage to get one but your look reveals it to be his own mask. Did he just forget it down here? Probably.<br/>
<br/>
You're about to set it back down but curiosity gets to you. He seemed awfully agitated when you brought up asking out Brooke and you wonder why? It's like snooping through a diary and you can't resist the temptation so you strip out of Evie's clothes, then her mask, then place Caleb's too your face.<br/>
<br/>
You awake to the sensation of being your best friend once more. You want to know what the deal with Brooke was so once you've adjusted you decide to dive deep into his mind until you find that little door marked "Brooke Galloway" and enter.<br/>
<br/>
The memories are there before you and once you've begun sorting them, you find that Caleb actually was telling the truth. Math and science have never been strong suits for Brooke so Caleb had started tutoring her in both last year. While she realized she was unable to hack the science at the AP level and dropped down to biology this year, she's been pushing in the math department so Caleb has often been helping her in class, and even one or two times in the library, with the subject matter. She does laugh at his little jokes, and it is a sweet laugh you note, and you realize that he finds talking to her comfortable and easy.<br/>
<br/>
But there's something else too you notice in them. The way that Brooke encourages his wit or his smarts. The way she listens attentively when he's talking even if it's not about the class work. There's the little smiles she flashes towards him as she tucks a bit of hair behind her ears. You are almost certain she's interested in him but why does he not make a move? Surely he's not that oblivious.<br/>
<br/>
And it's because of Kelsey and Amanda and Mansfield and Golia and all of the other pricks at the top of the AP group. They would make his life hell if he tried anything. He's not good enough for her, they'd say. After the way Chelsea talked to Eva about their little "date" you don't find those fears unfounded either.<br/>
<br/>
So having found your answer, you take the mask off and get back to work finishing the mask. But you decide to offer him more help than just getting a soccer player's tits to fondle. Hannah hanging around Evie will help her, maybe her hanging around Caleb will make him a little more palatable as well.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
<i>its me<br/>
i'm in</i><br/>
<br/>
You fire the text Evie and then make a note of how good your body feels. Strong and muscly in all of the right places, you feel like you could crush Caleb's head between your thighs, a prominent chest that feels good to touch. A large amount of hair, usually braided back but that you're keeping loose due to time constraints.<br/>
<br/>
Hannah Westrick will make a nice home and getting her had been easy. You'd come up, as Evie, to Anita and Hannah asked to talk to Hannah quietly to clear the air. Then it'd just been a case of slapping the blank mask onto her, throwing Dane's mask on and waiting around for her to get dressed and leave before placing her own mask on your face.<br/>
<br/>
<i>oh, ok cool!<br/>
can we meet after school then?</i><br/>
<br/>
That's the reply Evie sends back. Hannah does have an appointment after school to grab some food with Marc. You can work quickly to introduce a wedge into the relationship by blowing it off to hang out with Evie but you wonder if taking it slow and getting a feel for things, playing it normal for the moment, might be for the best.</span></div></div>


path: 111211132112222212222221221211122222
author_id: rugal
title: Team Introductions
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span><i>sry cant<br/>
hav 2 meet sum ppl<br/>
need 2 adjust 1st<br/>
<br/>
oh<br/>
well can we meet tomorrow<br/>
<br/>
yea of course!<br/>
we can connect :)<br/>
<br/>
ok<br/>
i'll see u tomorrow<br/>
<br/>
count on it<br/>
luv ya girl ;)<br/>
<br/>
.....<br/>
weird</i><br/>
<br/>
You want to laugh at that. You'd imagine she would find it weird to see Hannah send her messages like that. Even weirder knowing who's playing the part of Hannah. But it is a style that Hannah often affects in text or on social media and you've found it very easy to slide right into the roles that you've been playing. Briefly you wonder if there's something about that you should look into but you brush it off. If the bands give you direct access to the person's mind, then of course you shouldn't have any problem just stepping into the role of Evie Cummings or Hannah Westrick.<br/>
<br/>
So you brush any of those thoughts off and head to Mr. Rodriguez's class. You're probably a good ten minutes late but it's such a nothing class, especially for Hannah who takes two other high level language classes, that nobody bats an eye as you slip in and into your usual seat in the back, two of Hannah's teammates sitting around her.<br/>
<br/>
To her left is Dominique Hughes, leggy with warm caramel skin and dark hair in tight curls. She's the striker, the team's main goal scorer, and her strong legs are able to deliver powerful kicks that serve her well in that role. As the winger, Hannah's role is to create opportunities to allow Dominique to score and the two have developed a strong rapport due to it. It's a rapport that is sometimes put to the test however as Dominique is also one of Anita's good friends and will, more often than not, jump to her defense when her and Hannah butt heads.<br/>
<br/>
In front of her is Tara Weston, the goalkeeper. Graced with a toned body and with reactions, she's like a brick wall and is very, very good at what she does able to stop most anything that comes her way. Her body is contrasted by her soft face, soft blonde hair and soft voice. She's Hannah's best friend on the squad, being the first to approach her when she joined. There are strong rumors about her, however, ones that she's done her best to debunk and ones Hannah's paid no mind to.<br/>
<br/>
"I saw Evie skulking around at practice," Tara snickers.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, she wanted to talk to me about Sunday," you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
Tara rolls her eyes, "I can only imagine. Did she at least apologize for being a fuck up?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, kinda," you tell her. "We set things straight between us."<br/>
<br/>
"The only thing to really set straight is that she doesn't have any business on the field," she huffs.<br/>
<br/>
"That's not really fair," Dominique interjects. "At least she's trying. There's a couple of girls on the JV team who don't seem to give a crap."<br/>
<br/>
"You sound like Anita," you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, for real. She's kind of stupid to think she can actually shape someone like that," Tara says.<br/>
<br/>
Dominique just shrugs. "All I'm saying is that I'd rather have someone putting in the effort than dogging it," she states.<br/>
<br/>
"Well I kind of agree with you," you tell her much to Tara's shock. "I agreed to help her out with training and shit."<br/>
<br/>
"So you and Anita are <i>both</i> going to be helping her out," Tara asks in surprise. "Christ, I don't get it. An Olympian couldn't teach her anything, she's hopeless."<br/>
<br/>
You flash her a smirk. "Don't think I'm doing this for Evie's benefit or Anita's," you tell her, "If I'm able to make her into a competent player how will that make me look?"<br/>
<br/>
"So you're just going along with it to try and knock down Anita," Dominique states.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, so what," you ask her. "I'm not looking to kick Anita off of the team or anything, I just want the team to be the absolute best it's going to be and if that means me captaining it instead of her then that's how it should be."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
You plan on spending the rest of the day acclimating to Hannah's life and you're surprised that she's a lot sharper than you'd have expected: statistics, a lot of AP language classes and zoology, none of which are jokes. A glimpse into her mind reveals that she shares a few of those classes with some other teammates. Statistics is shared with Anita, though the two of you sit on opposite sides of the room. Mrs. Kohl's German class contains Katrina Schwarz, one of the defenders. Tara is there again in zoology along with Becca from the JV team.<br/>
<br/>
And there's lunch. Anita and Dominique and some of the others have fourth lunch; so does Marc and you can feel a longing from Hannah regarding that as she generally doesn't have much of an opportunity to see him during school hours. But Tara and Katrina are there, Hannah's mind tells you, and so are Gabriela Costa and Dani Sumner. Some times others from the boys team join you but for Hannah this is her usual lunch time group. That's why you're surprised when Luz, the captain of the JV squad, approaches you before you have a chance to get to the table.<br/>
<br/>
"So you talked with Evie this morning," she asks not long after you've entered the cafeteria.<br/>
<br/>
"Why's everyone so interested in that," you ask with annoyance. "Yeah, I did. What's it to you?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm captain so everything," she replies defiantly.<br/>
<br/>
"You're queen of the kiddie table, Luz, so it doesn't mean as much as you think," you sneer at her.<br/>
<br/>
She holds your eye seemingly expecting you to flinch. You don't but neither does she as you try and turn it back on her. Luz is a lot of things--athletic, beautiful, haughty--but a coward isn't one of them so it'll take more than a few tough glares to get her to back down.<br/>
<br/>
"I have things, about Evie, that I need to talk to you about but I don't need you meddling around with my team either," she states. "It's my squad and I'll do things my way without you butting in."<br/>
<br/>
"But you'd let Anita butt in, right? Of course you would," you smirk. Luz is Anita's cousin and as such, for all of her bluster, will still defer to her in matters regarding the squad. If Luz wasn't so good you'd half-expect that's the reason she's likely getting the captain spot on the varsity team next year once Anita graduates.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, we need to talk but I want to do it in private," she says. "I need to check some things in peace and quiet anyway so if you've actually got any shred of integrity then you can find me there. We need to work this out and the sooner it's done the better."<br/>
<br/>
With that she walks out of the cafeteria. You can feel your blood boiling, Hannah and Luz don't like each other that much is certain, but you're able to temper it for the time being. However you've barely walked ten steps when you hear someone call out to you.<br/>
<br/>
"What," you growl as you move to see Tara. "God, sorry. I'm worked up right now."<br/>
<br/>
"I bet, I saw you and Luz just now. What was that about," she asks.<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head. "Nothing, she just wants to talk in private. Some shit about Evie and her team," you tell her. "You know, being her usual pleasant self."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh god, I can only imagine," Tara sympathetically coos, "But that's kind of why I want to borrow you for myself too. We need to set things regarding that mouse straight."<br/>
<br/>
"Mouse," you ask eying her oddly.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, yeah because she's... small and annoying and... GOD! Whatever, you know what I mean right?"<br/>
<br/>
You laugh a little, "I'm fucking with you Tara. You need to stop getting so worked up all the time."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," she says softly, "yeah. You're right. But I still want to talk to you about this as well and what you said Hartford's earlier. So forget about Luz and just come with me because I think you're making a big mistake."<br/>
<br/>
"What if I want to forget about both of you," you ask, "and just eat my lunch in peace?" Tara makes a face at that and you sigh, "But neither of you are going to let me, are you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Right, so let's get this all corrected," she says as she starts to walk towards the door. You stop her however.<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't say I was going with <i>you</i> did I," you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
There's a look of confusion on Tara's face, like a despondent little puppy dog, and you start to wonder if there's some truth to the rumors. As Hannah's heard it she'd been caught at a party last year with Joelle Morgan, a member of the team who'd graduated at the end of the year and now plays for a college out of state. Tara's long decried it and stated it was due to being drunk and as someone who's been in that situation more than once Hannah is certainly sympathetic.<br/>
<br/>
The veracity of the rumors are not really what's important though. What is important is that mask you'd made up last night that's sitting in your bag. Caleb had demanded, threatened you really, into getting him a mask of a soccer player for him to have fun with and you figure if you'll have any kind of chance now's the time to take it. Just go off with Tara, slip the mask on her and you're good to go.<br/>
<br/>
But do you have to go off with Tara? You can always talk to her after school, calling or texting her when you're done with Marc if she really needs to "set things straight" with you so badly. Luz isn't someone Hannah is usually alone with however and she's absolutely stunning. Get a mask of <i>her</i> and that would more than make it up to Caleb for getting under his skin yesterday.</span></div></div>


path: 1112111321122222122222212212111222222
author_id: rugal
title: Time to Right the Ship
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You decide that Tara can wait. She's nice and all but Luz is so much nicer and if you'd be making it up to Caleb with Tara, then you'd be making it up five times with Luz. Besides, you're curious about why she wants to talk to you. There has to be something more going on you think because if it was simply to tell you to stop butting in on "her team" then she wouldn't need to take it somewhere private. If it's something more than that then you'd certainly like to know.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, we can talk any time right," you ask Tara in as comforting a tone as you can manage.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh my god, you're actually going to talk to <i>her</i>," she asks back as her eyes go wide.<br/>
<br/>
You try to keep the same tone and let her down as gently as possible. "If she came to me to talk in private then it has to be for something important," you tell her. "If it is, then I can't really blow her off. I can see her trying to get me in trouble with Anita or something."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I get it," she replies, her voice taking a crestfallen tone.<br/>
<br/>
You're starting to <i>really</i> strongly suspect the rumors now. Or maybe she's just clingy. Either way you want to comfort her, just place an arm around her and say some nice words. Words that would, hopefully, lead to a passionate embrace with your hand running along her very nice (for Hannah has seen them plenty) abs as she giggles in her sweet, soft voice while you kiss her neck. Fuck, maybe you <i>should</i> blow off Luz and get a mask of Tara instead. Caleb would be more than willing to play that little fantasy out with you, especially if Tara actually is a dyke.<br/>
<br/>
But you shake the thought away. You didn't become Hannah Westrick for your own personal desires but to help set things right for Evie. So if Evie's captain wants to talk to you about Evie, then you best go talk to her about Evie.<br/>
<br/>
"I'll see you again in seventh and we can hash everything out after school, okay," you tell her in as positive a tone as you can muster without sounding overly fake.<br/>
<br/>
That seems to soothe her, at least somewhat, for she nods and gives you a positive response. "Yeah, sure," she says a little brighter. "We can go up to Starbucks after school. There's this dopey guy that works there who, like, thinks he's suuuuch a Casanova. Like he'll hook me and other girls up on drinks or give us discounts or something like he's doing us a favor; like I'd blow him or something as thanks," she says with a laugh. "God, could you even imagine? Sucking a dick like that is just... eugh!"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, sure, we'll meet up there," you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
"Great! It's a date, then," she says happily before heading over to your usual table.<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head as you exit the cafeteria. Either she's a dyke or she just phrases things in a very unfortunate manner and you could go either way on which is which. You're more confused about her than you were before you'd even talked to her.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"Hey Luz," you call out to her as you enter the walkway. She ignores you so you call out again. "Luz," you exclaim, practically yelling. Again that gets no response. "Hey I'm talking to you <i>chocho</i>," you call out.<br/>
<br/>
This finally seems to get her attention and she looks at you with contempt. "Fuck you too, cunt," she greets you. "The fuck is your problem?"<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno, maybe I don't like it when people invite me out to talk and then ignore me," you shoot back.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah? And maybe I don't like being interrupted when I'm trying to finish up a conversation," she says.<br/>
<br/>
"So what do you want," you say as you cross your arms in frustration. "You wanted to talk about Evie, right? So let's talk."<br/>
<br/>
"So what were you doing going around to <i>my</i> team to fuck with <i>my</i> players on Sunday," she asks.<br/>
<br/>
You give a little small, defiant laugh at that. "You were there. Maybe you should tell <i>your</i> players to stop being fuck ups."<br/>
<br/>
"Kind of funny how that only happens when you're around, 'cause they do fine otherwise," she retorts. "Even Evie was better yesterday."<br/>
<br/>
"So did you call me out here just to bitch," you ask.<br/>
<br/>
Her expression hardens. "No, but I heard you were talking to her this morning. Shit gets around after all," she says, "So I don't need you trying to butt into my team's affairs. You might think you can pull that nosy shit with Anita but not with me."<br/>
<br/>
"Get over yourself, Luz," you say while rolling your eyes. "She came to me. She wanted to apologize for being a fuck up. I accepted her apology and agreed to help her stop being so fucking useless."<br/>
<br/>
"Is that so? Well that's good because it saves me from even having to ask it."<br/>
<br/>
"Ask what?"<br/>
<br/>
Her look becomes more serious and less challenging to you. "Coach wants Anita and me to start getting rid of some, if any, dead weight," she explains. "Unfortunately, our little ratón is on that list."<br/>
<br/>
"What's so unfortunate about that," you ask her. "If she sucks then she sucks. Dead weight needs to be cut loose." Mentally you cringe at that. You know you need to stay reasonably in character but you don't want to talk about Evie like that.<br/>
<br/>
"Because I like her, alright," she fires back. "She could be better but she goes out there and tries harder than anyone else. That's more than I can say for some of the people on my team, or yours for that matter. But heart'll only count for so much and if she doesn't show improvement, then that's it."<br/>
<br/>
You can feel the Hannah part of you thinking "good riddance" at that but you yourself take a bit more control. "Well I'm teaching her so she'll have to improve," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"So's Anita. You think you can do a better job than her?"<br/>
<br/>
"<i>Think</i>," you snort. "I don't think anything. I know I can."<br/>
<br/>
Luz lets out a tiny, smug laugh at that. "You better hope so because it's your ass on the line too if she doesn't," she tells you.<br/>
<br/>
"My ass," you exclaim in astonishment. "Why the fuck would I be in trouble if she doesn't improve."<br/>
<br/>
"Because Anita thinks that it's your antagonizing of her that's preventing her from actually growing," she states. "You've got her walking on egg shells all the time. Anita thinks you're causing a problem. I do too. So the two of us and Bonny talked to coach about it."<br/>
<br/>
"Like that matters," you reply, "coach likes me."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, maybe. For now," she says. "But he likes winning more and he hates drama so if you're causing a lot of shit then he's gonna stop liking you real quick."<br/>
<br/>
You hold her eye for a moment trying to gauge what exactly she's implying. You have an idea but you'd rather hear it from Luz herself. "What's that supposed to mean," you ask.<br/>
<br/>
Luz gets a nice little smirk plastered on her face. "Lemme spell it out for you, Hannah: if Evie goes, you go," she states, "So you better hope that you're not all talk."<br/>
<br/>
That gets your blood boiling once more. You wouldn't even need to force Hannah to want to help Evie, at this point she'll do it all on her own just to prove a point. "All talk," you snarl. "If I say I'm going to do something then I <i>am</i> going to do it. An iron-fucking-clad guarantee. So yeah, I'll help Evie. I'll make her the best goddamn player on the squad and then you and Bonny and your cousin can kiss my ass."<br/>
<br/>
That smirk doesn't move from Luz's face. "Glad to hear it," she says. "Guess I'll tell Anita that you're on board."<br/>
<br/>
She goes back down to your phone and a combination of the opportunity presenting itself and Hannah's emotions running hot causes you to practically tear the blank mask out of your bag and jam it right onto Luz's face. You feel eternally grateful that this walkway is far less heavily trafficked. You're not sure why, maybe the lack of bathrooms, but nobody uses it that often so you're able to wait the entire time for the mask to finish, grab it and head off before Luz has even recovered.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
You've still got a little time left in lunch but you spend it away from the cafeteria in thought. Hannah's little display against Evie on Sunday may very well have sealed both of their fates. You're not sure how far along would be seen as improvement for her or how long you actually have, probably until November when the practice stops being practice and starts being prep for the season that starts in December, but you know that if you're going to work on her in order to save both of your asses then you're going to need to do it now.<br/>
<br/>
But you're not sure how much time you'll have to put in either. Anita's the best and if she can't improve Evie at an acceptable rate then what can you hope to do? Will Anita <i>and</i> Hannah be enough? Luz is there too and she may be even better than Anita. Who else would need to help her? Dominique? Bonny? The four of you are the best players on the varsity squad discounting Tara as Evie doesn't play goalie nor would she have the strength or reactions to. Do you really need to devote a sixth of the team to helping one person just because the two squad captains like her?<br/>
<br/>
But a thought occurs to you. You wouldn't need to do that, necessarily, would you? You can stop by the school before you meet Marc and swipe a mind band. Just slap it on Dominique or Bonny or Anita or hell even Marc himself then give it to Evie and she'll have improved with no effort or doubt required on your part.<br/>
<br/>
But there's a part of you, the part that's Hannah Westrick, that's rejecting that. Hannah's pride is strong and you can tell it doesn't like the idea of cheating like that. No, it wants to do it the old fashioned way so Hannah can prove herself right, prove Luz and Anita wrong and rub their faces in it.</span></div></div>


path: 11121113211222221222222122121112222221
author_id: rugal
title: The Right Mindset
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You decide that you don't want to risk either Evie or yourself getting booted from the team and while it would feed Hannah's ego tremendously to improve Evie the natural way, you don't feel like you have the time to take it slow. The time frame and expectations given were so vague that you don't need to be paranoid about when the hammer drops.<br/>
<br/>
But why are you so worried about your place, Hannah's place, on the team? How long are you going to actually be her for? A few weeks? A few months? Until she starts getting old and gray and you decide to trade up for a new model? Can the body these masks give you even age? Your head is spinning right now trying to make sense of it so it's best not to worry about it right now. Just do your thing and take it one step at a time. That's the best way to do things and your next step is to contact Evie.<br/>
<br/>
<i>hey girl!!!!!!<br/>
change of plans<br/>
i wanna talk after school</i><br/>
<br/>
You send the texts out. You don't expect an immediate response as there's still a few minutes left for the period and she's undoubtedly going to be in class. So you keep the phone out and do some internet and social media browsing until the bell rings. A minute or so later you hear your phone buzz and see a message pop up.<br/>
<br/>
<i>o so u have time for me?<br/>
wut happened<br/>
<br/>
not all day just a few mins<br/>
sumthin important came up<br/>
&amp; we need to talk<br/>
<br/>
important like wut?<br/>
<br/>
about ur team<br/>
i need to run sumthin by u<br/>
is dat cool?<br/>
<br/>
ok<br/>
i can c u @ the entrance<br/>
<br/>
gr8!!!!!! :D<br/>
c ya then ;)</i><br/>
<br/>
You put the phone away and head off towards Henderson's French class and allow yourself to go on auto-pilot. It's easy to draw on Hannah's mind to get yourself through her classes but after that conversation with Luz you're going to need a bit of a break and it's easier to just sit back and bring her personality more to the forefront to get through the rest of the day. When zoology comes along Tara is quite eager know what the conversation with Luz was about. She has a feeling that it was bad just by your general demeanor and offers herself as a sympathetic ear when you confirm that, yes, it was bad. For your part, however, you don't offer her much more than that. You promise to tell her all about it later but for now you need a little bit of time to cool down and drag yourself out of the funk it's put you in.<br/>
<br/>
Becca, Luz's best friend and number two on the JV squad, sits a couple of rows over and you on a couple of occasions give her the stink eye. For the most part she can't see you though you're pretty sure she catches you at least once. If she does she doesn't say anything when she walks by you after class lets out though when does she ever? Getting more than six words out of her is like pulling teeth and with her quiet nature and steely gaze she comes off as rather cold.<br/>
<br/>
English is nothing much either. Though Hannah actually enjoys much of the old works she doesn't much care for the actual class itself and finds Mr. Montague to be a bore. It's a shame Hagerman doesn't teach the class instead. Young, handsome, sharp, probably poetic too. The kind of guy someone like Tim Gerard wishes he could be. So you power through the class until school finally lets out.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
You're a little bit closer to the school entrance than Evie so you have to wait a couple of impatient minutes before she finally shows up. Lindsay must have wanted to catch up to her about something because the two are chatting as they exit the building. They don't seem to notice you so you decide to call out. "Hey Evie," you exclaim as you walk up to her.<br/>
<br/>
"Uh, what do <i>you</i> want," Lindsay asks as she does nothing to hide her disgust.<br/>
<br/>
It's a look that maybe is goofier than she intends it to be. Lindsay isn't a bad looking girl really. There's some padding to her in some nice places like her legs, wrapped tightly in jeans, and what shape her upper body might have is hidden by a loose-fitting sweatshirt though from your time as Evie you know there's not much there yet; she's shaped almost like a partially deflated Lin Pol. Her face stands out: her nose is small and turns up in a way that's rather cute. Her cheeks are puffy in a way that you find adorable as well as it gives her a cherubic appearance. Of course that face is covered by glasses which could stand to be a more fashionable variety and hair that hangs loosely in bangs and a ponytail around her head with no volume.<br/>
<br/>
With a bit of a makeover and care devoted to her appearance she would look much nicer even having not filled out yet. But her personality seems to lack the capacity to care about what she probably deems as something "trivial" so your thoughts turn from what she could be to what she is. And to Hannah, what she <i>is</i> is a pest.<br/>
<br/>
"Nobody asked you, hobbit," you tell her. "But if you have to know know I need to talk to Evie for a minute."<br/>
<br/>
"Why? Just to run her down some more," Lindsay challenges. "Besides, she's my ride."<br/>
<br/>
Evie, however, plays it diplomatically. "I'll be back in a minute or two Lindsay, okay," she reassures her friend. The pair of you talk away a bit until there are few people around. "So what'd you need to speak to me about," she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"I talked to Luz at lunch," you tell her. "Her and Anita are pissed about what happened on Sunday between you and Hannah."<br/>
<br/>
"Well that wasn't my fault," she declares defensively.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I know, but that's more on Hannah... on me, now, I guess," you say. "Coach wants dead weight to get cut loose at some point and if you don't start showing improvement then you're gone."<br/>
<br/>
Evie's eyes go wide, "What? But... I <i>try</i>! I try so hard!"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I know, but it is what it is," you state. "But this comes back onto me too. Because they think it's Hannah's fault you're not progressing like you should and if you don't get to a point where they feel comfortable with you on the team then I'm gone too."<br/>
<br/>
You can see how that hits her like a ton of bricks. "But... you were supposed to help me," she exclaims, "That's the entire reason you..."<br/>
<br/>
"I know," you state as you put an arm around her, "and I intend to. After getting Hannah this morning I've been telling people I agreed to start helping you improve. And I am, but not solely due to practice."<br/>
<br/>
"How are you..."<br/>
<br/>
You cut her off once more. "Part of what lets you impersonate people with these things is a band attached to the inside that copies the mind," you say. "I told you that already. So what I intend to do is grab one of those bands and smack it on someone. Get it on Anita or Bonny or Dominique or someone and give it to you."<br/>
<br/>
"That's..." she trails off. "You'd want <i>me</i> to have one of those? I'd have to put it on and I'd have Anita's brain in there too? Wouldn't that be, I dunno, really confusing? And weird and kind of like invasion of privacy and whatever?"<br/>
<br/>
"You have to sort things out at first but once you do it's not confusing at all," you tell her. "So if you have Anita's brain then you have her skills. You could play like her or you'd know how to play in a way that'd suit you because you'd have her knowledge. So what do you say?"<br/>
<br/>
Evie bites her lip and god is it adorable. "I don't... it's just so weird," she says. "But... no. I don't want to get kicked off. So... I guess... I guess I'll try it," she finally says. "But if I don't like it then I can stop right?"<br/>
<br/>
"Absolutely," you smile at her. "Then we'll have to do things the old fashioned way. Either way your stock is gonna shoot way up."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
After talking with Evie and getting her to agree to your plan, you send her back to Lindsay and head to your own car so you can drive back to the school. Before you pulled out of the parking lot you texted Caleb and told him to meet you there so you could drop off the mask. You don't tell him it's Luz, he probably doesn't know who she is anyway, but you figure he'll find the surprise pleasant enough. That should put you back in his good graces and make it easy to get him to go with your attempts at making him more palatable to the snobbish set as a romantic partner for Brooke or Eva or whoever.<br/>
<br/>
More importantly, however, you need to pick up one of the blank mind bands. You're still undecided who you should use it on. Getting Anita or Bonny might be difficult. Dominique would be a little easier. Gabriela plays up front like Evie does and wouldn't be too hard. But you're struck by an idea. You'd mentioned the name before but why not Marc?<br/>
<br/>
Marc's one of the best players on the boys' squad so she'd definitely improve with his mind. And there's the bonus of knowing how he'd think, his likes and dislikes, all of that. He would be an open book for Evie once she got the hang of leafing through it. You could get him easily too. You're meeting him up at Balducci's for a slice of pizza and you hope that can lead to a little alone time. You could then easily hit him with the band and give that to Evie.<br/>
<br/>
But you're also a bit put off by that. Evie found the idea of using Anita's brain weird enough. She'd probably be even more weirded out at having Marc's brain in her head and may reject it outright. Hannah's mind, as well, is repulsed by the idea. Maybe it's better to just pass up the easy option.</span></div></div>


path: 111211132112222212222221221211122222211
author_id: rugal
title: The Right Brain for the Right Person
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You're unsure of what to do. Getting Marc would be so easy but what if Evie rejects it? What if it fucks her up too much? You're leaning towards using it just because of the ease factor however but you decide that maybe having a little bit of insurance wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. You pull Hannah's quaint little Hyundai into an open parking space, of which there are many at the abandoned school, and head towards what's now become your base of operations. "Anyone here," you call out as you walk through the door and descend down the stairs.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I'm--who," Caleb states once he realizes it's not your voice and then does a double once he sees you. "Is that... that's you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes, me. I'm Hannah Westrick," you say with an air of superiority. "You probably know me under other names though."<br/>
<br/>
"Man, does everyone on the soccer team looks like that," he whistles.<br/>
<br/>
You pull the mask of Luz from your bag. "I dunno. Put that on and you tell me," you say as you hand it to him.<br/>
<br/>
He glances at it and turns it over, trying to get a sense of the image. "Luz Rosario," he asks as he reads the name, "Never heard of her."<br/>
<br/>
"She's the captain of the JV team."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh god," he says with a bit of disappointment. You decide to lift his spirits.<br/>
<br/>
"She's Anita's cousin," you tell him.<br/>
<br/>
That seems to do the job. "Oh god," he exclaims perking up. "Anita's the one soccer player I <i>do</i> know so hopefully good genes run in the family."<br/>
<br/>
"She's better than Anita," you tell him and you are telling the truth. Anita's a nice looking girl but her jawline is just a little too prominent for your liking while Luz is up there with the Chelseas, Glorias and Marias of the school.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh jesus fuck," he replies and sounds like he can barely hold in his excitement.<br/>
<br/>
"You're gonna have plenty of time for that so don't make me throw up before I get together with Marc," you tell him. That gets a look of confusion so you quickly add, "Eva's brother. Hannah's his girlfriend."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh fuck, so you're going to be taking it up the pussy from him," Caleb guffaws.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not thrilled about it but I figure it'll help you out too," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"Help me out how?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because if I'm hanging around him and indicate that I know you, I can put in good words for you," you tell him. "Maybe help you straighten yourself up a little bit too, improve your look some. If I can start getting you in good with me and Marc and people like that then you'll probably start to be seen as acceptable enough for Eva or Brooke or whatever girl in that upper strata you want to get with without Chelsea or Kelsey or whoever trying squash it."<br/>
<br/>
"That's... that's nice and all, sure, I guess," he says. "But what makes you think that's what's going on."<br/>
<br/>
"Your mask, dude. You left it down here yesterday and I put it on out of curiosity."<br/>
<br/>
That seems to rile him up a bit. "You went snooping around in my head," he asks with a bit of an offended tone.<br/>
<br/>
"I wasn't trying to learn your dark secrets or weird fetishes or whatever. But you got so worked up about Brooke that I wanted to know what was going on there," you tell him. "So you have that fear that it's those snobs who would fuck anything up for you and I guess you're kind of right considering I'm where I am now because Chelsea thought you weren't good enough for Eva. Eva seemed to enjoy the date, even if it was me playing you, and Brooke is one hundred percent interested going by those memories. I just want to help you out."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb grunts but doesn't seem to blow up at you like you'd expect. Maybe the mask really was a good enough peace offering. "Well, if you want to help that's nice and all but how do you know it'll work," he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't," you shrug, "but what's the harm? Beats keeping yourself from girls who are being pressured into not getting with you."<br/>
<br/>
He's quiet about that and looks to be in serious thought, then a grin breaks out on his face. "So you want to have a little fun when I put this mask on," he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"I told you, I can't. I have an appointment to keep," you tell him. "I just came to drop that off and grab some things."<br/>
<br/>
You grab two mind bands, the things are so easy to make that Caleb had made more than plenty, and shove them into your purse. This earns an odd look from Caleb. "I'm going to use one on Marc later," you tell him. "It's a lot to explain but the short of it is that Evie needs to get better at soccer. Marc's good at soccer. I get Marc's brain and give it to her, Evie is good at soccer. Plus she'll know everything about him which might make it easier for her to get with him."<br/>
<br/>
"Get with... I thought you said this chick you are now was dating Marc?"<br/>
<br/>
"She is, but I want to help Evie and that includes getting her hooked up with Marc."<br/>
<br/>
"So how long are you going to be her," Caleb asks.<br/>
<br/>
You give a shrug and tell him you'll talk to him later as you walk up the stairs.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
Marc Garner is as handsome as Hannah's and Evie's minds have seen him. He's tall but not overly tall, well-muscled but lean. His hair is close cropped but stylish and not just a formless buzz cut. You can see some of Eva and Jessica in his face, they are triplets after all, and it makes you wonder how the parents must look to produce such good-looking children.<br/>
<br/>
His personality is something of a mixed bag for you however. While eating and conversing you find that he's smart and has a very wry sense of humor. But there's something off about it, that under all of that is a guy who is mostly straight laced. He might go to a party but he won't actually party it up. For someone like Hannah, who's seen her share of wild times, that can be a bit frustrating.<br/>
<br/>
And he just won't make a move. Hannah's not at all been subtle about wanting to advance past making out and heavy petting even if it just means some oral or a hand job or something but he hasn't gone for it yet. Either he's nervous or has something stopping him or he's just that oblivious. But he's a nice guy and he knows how to make Hannah feel good with a few words and you can tell that she's not just with him because of his looks and for all his seeming inaction to advance things to the next level, he does have a confidence and swagger that Hannah--and other girls it seems--finds irresistible.<br/>
<br/>
Once you've finished eating and paid you go out to where your cars are parked, both next to one another, and give your goodbyes. You heavily hint, all but outright say really, that it would be nice if the two of you could go somewhere a little more intimate right now but again, he's either too timid to take the hint or too oblivious to see it so instead you just kiss him nice and long and as you do you reach into your bag, pull out the mind band and place it on his forehead. He slumps but Hannah's just strong enough to where you're able to catch him before he falls all the way, open the car door and place him in the seat.<br/>
<br/>
You hang around for the length of time it takes the band to finish, much shorter than the mask really, and when he comes to you express worry over what happened and give him a quick peck on the cheek before jumping in your car and heading home.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"Oh god, that's so weird!"<br/>
<br/>
Evie's voice comes out as a high-pitched squeak at your suggestion that she use the band of Marc.<br/>
<br/>
"It is but I did it because of convenience," you tell her. "Just in the right place at the right time."<br/>
<br/>
"But he's a <u>guy</u>," she exclaims and you feel like you can actually hear her getting red, "and he'll be in my head!"<br/>
<br/>
"More like you'll be in his," you state. "Plus you'll have everything about him available to you. Just think of that. You'll know what he likes and dislikes, what he finds nice in a girl..."<br/>
<br/>
"I'd know so much about him," she says in astonishment. That quickly fades however. "No! No that's just... it's so... so... eugh! It was weird enough at the thought of having another girl in my head but having another guy in there... that's just too much. I'm sorry. I know you're trying to help but I'm sorry."<br/>
<br/>
"That's fine, Evie, don't apologize. It was a gamble anyway," you tell her. "I've got more of those things. I can try and get you one of the girls tomorrow."<br/>
<br/>
You chat with her for a few minutes before ending the call. Then it's another hour spent chatting with Tara. First it's about the team and like you'd expected she's pissed about that. She seems ready to want to fight with Luz and Anita and Bonny and you have to pull her back from the ledge. After that it's about various random topics of no consequence before you end the night with some homework and then getting ready for bed.<br/>
<br/>
As you're laying there trying to go to sleep you think of what a failure that planning was. You're not surprised Evie rejected the band with Marc's mind copied onto it, it <i>was</i> a bold gamble like you'd told her, but that's one band wasted and Caleb won't be happy about that. Or is it? Evie rejected the band but maybe you could pawn it off on Caleb. You want to help him so maybe letting him have access to the mind and personality of a guy like Marc Garner will do just that? It'd also help him learn more abut Eva if he was so inclined to continue pursuing her.<br/>
<br/>
But he may just reject it too. Maybe it's better to just chalk the thing up as a failure, toss it somewhere in the basement and just forget anything with that band happened.</span></div></div>


path: 1112111321122222122222212212111222222111
author_id: rugal
title: Changing Some Minds
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>When you wake up the next morning you take a good long time getting ready to go to school. You especially take a little longer than normal in the shower where you allow the heat and steam to work in relieving tension in your muscles and enjoy the warm water cascading down your body. After finishing up, you take a little extra while to primp before eating breakfast, a simple plate of egg whites on toast as you make a protein shake to take with you. You're then out the door not really any later than Hannah normally would be.<br/>
<br/>
On the way you decide that the best course of action is to just give the band to Caleb and try again. It's better than letting it go to waste although, of course, who knows if Caleb actually does use it. You don't have time to stop by the school to see if he's there so you take out your phone and call him up.<br/>
<br/>
"Shit, it's early. What do you want," he yawns. One thing you've always noted about Caleb is that he's not a morning person and takes a while to get going.<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing much," you tell him, "I managed to get that band on Marc."<br/>
<br/>
"Well that's super and all but I don't know why you needed to tell me," he grumbles. "Weren't you giving it to that girl?"<br/>
<br/>
"I <i>was</i>, yeah," you say, "but the problem is that she didn't really react well to it. She really wasn't into the idea of having a guy's brain in there with her, even if it was Marc's."<br/>
<br/>
"Well no shit, doofus, I could've told you that."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, well, you didn't and now I'm stuck with a Marc Garner brain band and the person I was going to give it to doesn't want it."<br/>
<br/>
You curse as you come to a red light; Saratoga Falls isn't a large city or major city but that doesn't prevent morning traffic from being anything other than a pain in the ass much as it would be anywhere else. You can hear Caleb snickering on the other end. "Yeah, laugh it up," you tell him, "and you won't be getting this gift I was wanting to give you."<br/>
<br/>
"Unless you're showing me your tits or blowing me then I don't think I really want any gift you've got," he states; you can hear hum chuckle a little more after that.<br/>
<br/>
"Almost as good as my tits," you reply. "I was going to give you Marc's band."<br/>
<br/>
"Marc's... the one you just made," he asks. "So because you couldn't give it to that girl you're just going to pawn it off on me instead?"<br/>
<br/>
"That's the idea."<br/>
<br/>
He groans some at that. "Why the fuck do you think I'd want Marc Garner's brain rattling around in my head anymore than she'd want it rattling around in hers," he asks. His tone of voice is rather incredulous, almost like he feels insulted.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, because I said I wanted to help you out. Marc's got the wit and confidence that girls like. He's slow on the uptake with other things that you probably won't be but for everything else he'll get you to where you need to be," you tell him before teasingly adding, "Plus maybe he'll get you a sense of style."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, hilarious," he mutters.<br/>
<br/>
"Well think of it like this as well: he'll obviously know Eva better than you do," you tell him.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't think he knows every detail about her," Caleb counters.<br/>
<br/>
"No shit," you fire back, "but he probably knows enough to give you a better idea about her and allow yourself to be more confident around her. Think of it like an Eva Garner study guide or something."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, okay, fine," he replies after a period of silence. "I'll take the thing from you today and give it a shot."<br/>
<br/>
"Great," you exclaim. "If I see you around school I'll try and hand it off otherwise I'll stop by the basement if you're there."<br/>
<br/>
"Sure, whatever," he grumbles.<br/>
<br/>
"Why are you acting all pissy? Was that mask not good enough," you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, sure it was fine," he replies absentmindedly.<br/>
<br/>
In annoyance you tell him that you'll see him later and quickly hang up the phone. He wanted you to get him a mask of a girl so you did it and you're giving him a band of a guy who will allow him to know more about a girl that he likes. Is he going to be that ungrateful about the entire thing? You don't want to dwell on it so you try to put it out of your mind as you continue on to school.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
Practice goes about the same as it usually does from what Hannah's mind tells you. The stretches and basic exercises and running before practicing drills, formations and any multitude of situations that Anita or Hannah can think of until everything is basically committed to muscle memory and you can run through the plays and scenarios in your sleep. Once that's done, the second half is devoted to scrimmages. There's about twenty members on the squad so the first half is usually the starters against the back ups just to get everyone warmed up. After you've beaten the back ups (which is the typical result) you then split in half: five starters and five back ups to a team.<br/>
<br/>
As Hannah's risen, the games have changed in tone. Though played seriously there was still a level of looseness to them. But as Hannah has gained more prominence they've become more competitive. Hannah is nothing if note prideful and her ego is such that she wouldn't want to lose even a practice game. She's firmly of the belief that if you're doing something you put in everything you have or don't try at all so she'll expect nothing from the best but herself. This has filtered out to the rest of the team and the scrimmages are contested in a manner almost close to an actual game.<br/>
<br/>
You're playing up front with Gabriela and Mikaela Bowers, one of the back-ups, while Dani has been brought forward as an extra attacker. She usually plays in the center alongside Anita but she's one of the quickest people on the team so when coach wants wants more aggression and her talent is second only to Anita herself who mainly works to facilitate opportunities on both ends. As the ball crosses midfield, Dani's able to get around Anita and makes a dash. However if she has a flaw it's that she can get bad cases of tunnel vision and can some times miss out on what's going on around her.<br/>
<br/>
This is exactly what happens as she doesn't see Phoebe Beauchamp, another defender, slide in for a tackle. She tries to stop and change direction but it's too late and Phoebe's foot manages to hit both the ball and Dani's leg. The combination of already odd movement and Phoebe's foot ramming into her causes Dani's leg to twist around good and she cries out in pain as she falls to the ground and grabs at her knee. The scrimmage immediately stops and everyone rushes over to her.<br/>
<br/>
"Goddamnit Phoebe what the fuck is your problem," you yell at her before kneeling down next to Dani. "How bad does it feel," you ask and that just gets a response that you can't really interpret.<br/>
<br/>
"I-I was just going for a tackle," the poor girl sputters, "I didn't mean..."<br/>
<br/>
"Intention doesn't mean shit, Phoebe! If her knee's fucked... if anything's torn..."<br/>
<br/>
You can feel a white hot rage burning in you and it's Coach Puente who steps in. "Back off of her Hannah, mistakes happen," he says, "I want you and Anita to take Dani up to the nurse's office."<br/>
<br/>
Not really feeling like you can argue in this situation you comply and drape one of her arms over your shoulder while Anita does the same on the opposite side and you begin walking off the field. It's a strange and kind of sad site, you think. Dani's not the strongest member of the varsity squad but she's the scrappiest and toughest so seeing her in immense pain as she gingerly limps with you off the field and towards the locker room to grab your stuff is a confusing and unsettling sight.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"So how bad is it," Anita asks after the two of you walk into the nurse's office.<br/>
<br/>
Coach Puente dropped by wanting to make sure someone checked on Dani once Nurse Schaffer finished taking a look, really just wrapping it up and giving her an ice pack, and gave you excused absences for your second period classes. Anita and yourself had been waiting rather impatiently for everything to finish. Nothing was spoken but you knew that both of you were hoping it wasn't anything bad.<br/>
<br/>
"Dunno, you know Schaffer's not worth half the money they pay her," Dani says in a strained voice. The pain is still obviously intense for her.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, like, nothing's torn is it," you ask and that earns another unsure response.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't <i>think</i> so," she replies, "Because I'm pretty sure I'd be in a whole lot worse shape. Probably a sprain or something but my mom's gonna be here in about a half hour so we can get it looked at up at the hospital."<br/>
<br/>
"God, this sucks so much," you say sympathetically, "I'm sorry that Phoebe's such a... a fuck up."<br/>
<br/>
"It wasn't Phoebe's fault," Anita says.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, shit happens," Dani states. "I stepped wrong. She didn't help but my knee was probably gonna get messed up anyway."<br/>
<br/>
Anita looks at you with a rather stern but not altogether angry expression. "We really need to work some things out," she tells you. "We can meet up at my place after school if you want. Just text me."<br/>
<br/>
You give a noncommittal response to that. Tara had given you grief when you'd talked to her last night, and again this morning, about missing your meeting with her so you promised to make it up to her and you don't feel like you should blow her off twice in a row. Anita takes her leave and you decide to stay with Dani until her mother comes and she seems rather relieved and happy at that.<br/>
<br/>
Schaffer's out of the room right now and you're struck by the fact you should still have that band in your bag. You could very easily use it on Dani if you wanted to, especially if you don't want to blow off Tara.</span></div></div>


path: 1112111321122222122222212212112
author_id: seuzz
title: The Sophomore Candidates
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>But that doesn't mean you're going to stay this way for very long. Your heart is pounding as you walk out to the parking lot. <i>Fucking nerves, that what it is.</i> And for good reason. You're wrapped up in another person's skin, wearing her clothes, about to drive home to face her parents. You're a brand-new person.<br/>
<br/>
And you grabbed her in a hurry, having no idea what you were in for. A random assault is no way to pick a new place to spend the rest of your life in.<br/>
<br/>
Not that there is anything obviously wrong with where you've ended up. Your racing pulse calms a little after you're inside Evie's car, settled into the driver's seat, and buckled in. You take a deep breath and grip the wheel, then turn the rear-view mirror to study yourself. <br/>
<br/>
No, you're not at all bad-looking. Your brown eyes widen as you gaze into them, trying to see the girl you are imitating. She is not unfamiliar.<br/>
<br/>
She's a sophomore, glad to be out of the freshman class. (As you were.) A conscientious student without being a brainiac about it. (As you imagine yourself to be, whatever your dad yells at you about your study habits.) Someone with a few good, close friends and a wider network of friendly acquaintances. (A bigger net than you cast, but Evie's not a social butterfly.) Someone who got tired of being dorky, and wants to reshape herself into a more popular form.<br/>
<br/>
That pulls a frown out of you. You remember that feeling from being a sophomore. You remember looking around at the guys who were molding themselves into strong and confident forms. Athletes like Laurent Delacroix and Reece Palendech; rich dicks like Geoff Mansfield and Anthony Kirk. Even Gordon Black didn't start off as a hulking monster.<br/>
<br/>
You soon gave up. But now you're back to a spot where you had been, with a chance for a do-over, a chance to take something raw and transform it.<br/>
<br/>
And then there's the final ambition, that one that makes Evie's heart -- your heart, now -- leap like a startled deer every time she thinks of it. It's another feeling you know so well, though with a different pulse and with a different melody.<br/>
<br/>
 It's the yearning to merge her heart with the heart of special someone.<br/>
<br/>
You know who she wants, and you can't help trembling a little when you think about it. It's a delicious tremble, even if you don't feel any real sympathy for it. But it helps you see Evie's face more clearly, somehow, as though by seeing her secret desire you see better the person who has that desire. <br/>
<br/>
You've been sitting here too long already -- Evie herself might come wandering out at any moment. You put the image of Marc Garner -- captain of the boys' varsity soccer squad -- out of your mind and start the car.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
At home, you plop down onto your new bed. Her bedroom overlaps in surprising ways with yours. It's frillier and pinker, and a lot tidier, too. But Evie also has video game consoles -- sweet! -- and anime posters and figurines scattered about, remnants of the middle-school personality she's trying to slough off.<br/>
<br/>
But no matter how long you stare at the room with Evie's eyes and memories, it never becomes fully familiar. You still have the feeling of being a stranger who is only sitting on her bed. You stretch out and stare at the ceiling, and cup your breasts. (A nice feeling!) You take a couple of deep breaths, then fall into a frown.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Nope. You are going to move somewhere else.</i><br/>
<br/>
You wonder why it is that you can't just settle into a life like Evie's, that is so obviously free of disadvantages. Is it something to do with the masks? Are you always going to feel like an imposter, no matter what mask you put on? Are you just going to keep popping from one mask to another -- from Gordon to Dane to Evie to someone else and then to other people?<br/>
<br/>
Or is it because you jammed yourself into this life without warning? Would it have made a difference if you'd looked at someone else and said, "Yeah, that's who I'll be?"<br/>
<br/>
But who would you be, if not Evie?<br/>
<br/>
Well, you'll stay in the sophomore class, that much you quickly decide. You made this random leap to get as far as possible from Chen. And though there's no way that he could trace you to Evie Cummings, you'd prefer to make another leap into one of her friends or acquaintances instead of back toward to where you'd been before.<br/>
<br/>
One by one, you bring up and contemplate each of her friends and acquaintances, both male and female. But you make no decisions, not yet. Evie is supposed to be meeting some friends for lunch, and you'll keep that appointment. You want a good, long, hard look at them, in person, before making any decisions.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I think it's just Hannah," says Melanie. "She caused a lot of problems for Jenny last year too."<br/>
<br/>
That's Melanie Heath, Evie's best friend from middle school on. It's you and her and Lindsay Cho and Paulina Nowak having lunch. You let yourself go on autopilot after sitting down with them, and after the drama on the soccer field this morning, Evie's autopilot brought up the topic of Hannah Westrick, the girl who reamed Evie out. She was at Eastman until last year, and Melanie's point is that she made trouble there, too.<br/>
<br/>
But everyone's got drama to gossip about, even if it has nothing to do with them. "How would <i>you</i> know any of that," you demand of Lindsay when she instantly tries changing the topic to the cheerleading squad. <br/>
<br/>
"Because Charles Hartlein is in the drama program too. I mean, he doesn't talk to <i>me</i> specifically but I'm able to overhear things all the same."<br/>
<br/>
"What kind of things?" The words that come out of your mouth feel like they belong to someone else.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I mean, that's not what's important. What <i>is</i> important is that -- "<br/>
<br/>
And her words fade in your ears before reaching your brain. You're concentrating on her, as though constructing a file:<br/>
<br/>
* Cho, Lindsay. Korean-American. Underdeveloped and undercooked. Certainly no competition for Yumi Saito or Lin Pol in the "gorgeous Asian-American" sweepstakes. Her glasses don't particularly flatter her, either.<br/>
<br/>
" -- you want a boyfriend. There's Andy, you know?"<br/>
<br/>
Mention of Andy Jensen, a friend who doesn't bother to hide his crush on Evie, snaps you back to the present, at least long enough to stammer something about not wanting to "ruin" a friendship with him.<br/>
<br/>
"Then find someone else," says Paulina. She grins as she bites on her straw. "As long as it's not 'Teh Body'." She giggles.<br/>
<br/>
* Nowak, Paulina. Polish-American, moved to the United States when she was nine. Still has a trace of an accent. Tall, plays on the girls' JV basketball squad, even though she looks like she's delicate as china. Except in the eyes, which project a strong, amused confidence. Her brunette hair falls to her shoulders. Probably has an interesting life. Maybe <i>too</i> interesting, since her family comes from a foreign country. They own Nowak's Authentic Euro Deli, where you are eating.<br/>
<br/>
You're still concentrating on Paulina as the conversation comes back into focus. The topic is boys, naturally. But because you're still looking at Paulina, admiring what is admirable in her while still feeling a deep reserve, you make another connection.<br/>
<br/>
* Weaver, Bhodi. A.k.a., "Teh Body." Indian-American. Mother from Mumbai, father an American businessman who brought her back to the states. Tall and well-proportioned, plays boys' JV soccer. A little gawky, and his head still seems stuck in his freshman year, maybe even his eighth-grade year, because he is incredibly awkward around girls, and easily crimsons when they talk to him. Which they like to, because he has dark, handsome Indo-European features under floppy black hair that falls over his ears and down the back of his neck. He's Andy's best friend, too, which would make it easy to get to him, if you wanted to put yourself under a mask of him. And the advantages of that would be? Paulina, who is very pretty, and who has a huge crush on him.<br/>
<br/>
You're mostly silent the rest of lunch. Before driving home, you stand outside next to your car and let Melanie tell you not to worry about Hannah Westrick, that none of what goes on with the soccer team is your problem, it's hers. You nod along, while memorizing Melanie's face.<br/>
<br/>
* Heath, Melanie. Evie's best friend. Talked her into going out for soccer their freshman year. Moved late last year and now attends Eastman High. She's gotten into shape a lot faster than Evie has, becoming tall and filled out in the places that count while losing all the dumpiness she had in middle school. It's made her confident, too. Evie's actually jealous, especially of her long, honey-colored hair and her amused blue eyes. She's even got a boyfriend who plays for the Eastman's JV soccer team.<br/>
<br/>
She'd be a very attractive candidate even if she went to Westside. But the fact that she attends Eastman -- maximal distance from Chen while still being in the same town, at a school with a much better reputation than Westside -- really makes her look good to you.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
So those are the kids you have lunch with, and are uppermost in your mind. But they are not the only candidates. There's at least one more, though you contemplate him mostly out of resentment and anger -- Evie's resentment and anger.<br/>
<br/>
* Andrew Webb. The kid who jeered at Evie just before Anita sent her to the shadows. A real jerk, but a big guy in the sophomore class. Swapping with him would come with a dividend: cutting him down by putting him in Evie's place. </span></div></div>


