# chapters

path: 1112312221221121211112
author_id: seuzz
title: Some Mind-Altering Possibilities
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"I know it's not exactly a democracy here," you say brightly to the other three. "But I think it'd be a lot nicer if we all just kind of talked about things, out in the open. Like you know, if you have any ideas about what we should do next. Whatever your opinion, I'd like to hear it." You punctuate this shiny speech with a cheery nod.<br/>
<br/>
Gordon looks at you queerly. Jeremy and Eva look at each other and back at you uncertainly.  "Should we bring Jessica out here too," Eva asks sullenly. "Does she get a vote?"<br/>
<br/>
"Eva, honey," you reply sweetly. "I'm being very nice, a hell of a lot nicer than I was going to be only fifteen minutes ago. Be my friend."<br/>
<br/>
Eva blinks and suddenly looks very thoughtful and attentive.<br/>
<br/>
"If you're asking about who your next victim should be, I'd still vote for Seth," Jeremy says. He glances back up at Gordon, who stands behind him.<br/>
<br/>
You turn to Gordon. "What do you think?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's a thought," he says. "But I was going to convert Patterson, tomorrow probably, and we've already got Richards. I'm not sure we need another basketball player."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know if you want another cheerleader, but Yumi Saito is someone to keep an eye on," Eva says. You and Gordon swing your heads toward her in surprise. Her eyes are very bright and her tone eager. "I don't know if you know it, but she's always dishing dirt on us with that other crowd of hers."<br/>
<br/>
"Who's 'us'?" you ask her guardedly, though you know the answer.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, on you, I guess," Eva replies. "You know how she's always passing on shit about Jenny Ashton and her friends? Well, she's doing the same thing in reverse. She's really two-faced."<br/>
<br/>
Having just vacated Eva, you know all about Yumi's duplicity, though you'd paid it no mind.<br/>
<br/>
"Why are you telling me this?"<br/>
<br/>
She looks hurt. "Loyalty, I guess," she says. "Being a friend?"<br/>
<br/>
You and Gordon exchange glances. "Suppose we didn't want any more cheerleaders," you ask Eva. "Who do you think we should recruit?"<br/>
<br/>
She thinks a bit, and then her eyes light up. "Kim Walsh? She's student council president and everyone likes and trusts her. I mean, if you're looking for people with influence. Or how about Meghan Farris? She seems like she's really ambitious to make a social splash. She's planning on giving a big party in a few weeks, you know." <br/>
<br/>
This too is old news to you—they are names you'd toyed with while inside Eva herself—but the golem's sudden eagerness to volunteer new victims takes you by surprise. <br/>
<br/>
"Those are really good ideas," you tell her, grabbing her hand and giving it an affectionate squeeze. "Right now, though, this is all I want you to do. Defend me to all your friends. Talk about how nice this meeting was and how I was so sweet. Stick up for me in all the arguments. Can you do that?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure!" she exclaims. The two of you stand and hug each other tightly. "I'm so glad we had this talk, Chelsea," she says. Soon after, you send her and Jeremy on their way.<br/>
<br/>
"That was pretty fucking wild," Caleb says after they're gone. "Way for her to turn on a dime."<br/>
<br/>
"I think it was because I told her to be my friend," you say. "Golems have to do what you say. But to have that kind of attitude change. Yeah, wild."<br/>
<br/>
"I wonder if you could give someone a total psychological makeover," Caleb says.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't think it'd be a good idea to find out," you reply. "Maybe with the right, uh, test subject we could experiment. But the idea now is to turn people into puppets, right?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure," he says. But he stares thoughtfully into the distance.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The Eva-golem is as good as her word, even to the point of getting into a harsh argument with her own sister at practice the next day. "Jessica" is still trying to make trouble for you, and Eva rounds on her energetically. The confrontation is so unnerving that you even step in yourself to stop it. Afterward you ostentatiously take Eva aside to show yourself thanking her, and you make a point of telling your own toadies—Kendra Saunders, Gloria Rea, and Maria Vasquez—that you think you must have misjudged Eva for all these years. To your annoyance, they are subdued. Jealousy?<br/>
<br/>
Whatever incipient drama is brewing there, though, is driven into the background by the pre-lunch explosion between Jason Lynch and Charles Hartlein: the captain of the baseball team and the president of the drama club. Naturally, it's the subject of conversation at the AAA table at lunch time, where Chelsea and Gordon hold court.<br/>
<br/>
"Takes big balls to call Jason a fag to his face," Dalton Douglas laughs.<br/>
<br/>
"Not so much," Gordon retorts. "Patterson calls him a fag all the time." That gets a laugh and even a half-smile from Patterson himself.<br/>
<br/>
"Is that why Jason's not here?" you ask, looking around with a frown.<br/>
<br/>
"Sagansky hauled him away," Seth Javits says. "He was close by when it happened. Saw Lynch knock the cocksucker to the ground."<br/>
<br/>
"Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen," Lin Pol says quietly. <br/>
<br/>
"What do you mean," you ask her.<br/>
<br/>
She shrugs a shoulder. "Gay-baiting or something like that."<br/>
<br/>
"That doesn't make any sense," Gordon snaps.<br/>
<br/>
"If Jason punched Charles because he's gay—"<br/>
<br/>
"Faggot started it," Seth says. "<i>He's</i> the one that called Lynch a homo."<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't say it was right," the miserable Lin replies. "I guess a ... a homo can call another guy a homo and it can't be gay-baiting because, you know, the guy who said it is himself gay."<br/>
<br/>
"Too many queers in this school," Seth says, his eyes smoldering.<br/>
<br/>
"Who do you know who's queer, Javits?" Douglas demands. "I mean, besides Hartlein and you and Richards?"<br/>
<br/>
Seth's lips twitch, but he has the good sense to look over at Gordon for permission to respond. Gordon looks over his tablemates' heads at the lunch line. "Douglas," he says casually, "I'm in the mood for a creampuff. Take your shirt off and go get me some dessert."<br/>
<br/>
Douglas sinks low in his seat, and conversation lapses for a while. Which is fine with you, because wheels have been spinning in your head.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The sequel comes after lunch when Kim Walsh catches you in hallways and pulls you aside.<br/>
<br/>
"I guess you heard about Jason Lynch and Charles Hartlein," she says. She looks very nervous, even after you nod your head. "The thing is, Chelsea, Sagansky's really pissed off about it. About lots of things that Jason's been in the middle of." She shifts from foot to foot and won't look you in the face. "You and Gordon, you have some influence over him, and it would be kind of nice if—"<br/>
<br/>
"Believe it or not, we're on the same page," you tell her quietly. "What Jason did was totally uncalled for, and I told Gordon too." It's all a lie, but a convenient one. For her part, Kim looks startled. "You don't have to say anything more. I'll see that it gets taken care of." <br/>
<br/>
Kim's expression combines relief, astonishment, and ghastly fear; no one likes to hear Chelsea say that something will be "taken care of." But she stammers out her gratitude.<br/>
<br/>
"Can you do one thing for me, really important?" you ask her. "Tell Charles I want to talk to him tonight. My house, at five-thirty."<br/>
<br/>
"What for?" she asks you guardedly.<br/>
<br/>
"My own apologies," you say. "To talk to him about the whole thing. Make sure he knows that I take it seriously. And I do take it seriously." Kim's affirmative reply is tentative, but you're sure she can persuade Hartlein to make the requested visit.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"You're sure Jason is gay?"<br/>
<br/>
Hartlein rolls his eyes. "He can fool himself but he can't fool me. You can tell he's totally in love your boyfriend, for a start."<br/>
<br/>
You glance over at Gordon; he shifts uneasily on the bed. Beside him, Patterson snorts. "I always thought there was something funny about the guy."<br/>
<br/>
"Alright, we're done here," you tell Hartlein. "But I want a report from you every day, about what you've heard or seen. Anything that's interesting." He gives you an impudent little Nazi salute, which you ignore. "Also, I want a big report on all the really dirty stuff you know about. Like who else at the school is gay or anything like that."<br/>
<br/>
"There's a club of cross-dressers," he smirks. "Some pretty surprising people."<br/>
<br/>
"Excellent," you smile. "Set up a new email account for yourself, something without your name. I don't want anyone knowing you're emailing me stuff." When he repeats the salute you toy briefly with changing his attitude like you changed Eva's, but hold back. At your wave of dismissal he exits, his shoulders angled insolently.<br/>
<br/>
"Glad he's <i>your</i> bitch," Gordon says. "I like mine better." Playfully he strokes Patterson's thigh. Steve makes a face but keeps still.<br/>
<br/>
"He'll be awesome as a spy," you reflect aloud. "He'll know who we should recruit over on the seamier side. But I'm wondering if we should do more with him?"<br/>
<br/>
"Like what?"<br/>
<br/>
You don't answer. The day's drama has got you thinking that Westside really is gay-unfriendly. That doesn't bother you per se ... but the mischievous side wonders how much fun it would be if you tried making it very gay friendly instead.</span></div></div>


path: 111231222122112121112
author_id: seuzz
title: The Seduction of Steve Patterson
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Sorry, but you're squicked out by the thought of being Gordon's girlfriend, even if it really is Caleb. Or are you squicked out by the thought of being Caleb's girlfriend, even though he's pretending to be Gordon? Probably both.<br/>
<br/>
So you tell him you'll take Patterson as soon as he can arrange it.<br/>
<br/>
"Might have to wait for the weekend," he says. "Maybe tomorrow night. Some time when Lynch isn't around." Whenever. You wish him goodnight, and return to the car.<br/>
<br/>
It's a spooky drive home with the two golems--Richards at the wheel and Jessica in the back. Neither talks much, except for cryptic, pregnant-sounding remarks to each other about the passing scene. Your own ability to converse soon dries up. Both are under Caleb's control, not yours, and a horrible thought comes to you: <i>Did he ever tell them </i>not<i> to kill and dismember me?</i> Jeremy has been dismayingly passive ever since he and Eva started seeing each other, but his mulishness seems worse since his conversion. (Or is it your imagination?) And why isn't Jessica, usually a chatty Cathy, jabbering away from the back seat? You turn to ask her something--anything that comes to mind--while stopped at an intersection,and a bar of light falls across her eyes in a way that makes you think "crazed sex-kitten serial killer."<br/>
<br/>
Outside the house, after Jeremy drops you off, you ask her, "Are you pissed at me and Caleb?"<br/>
<br/>
She turns, her face stiff. Then she puts her arm in yours. "Why would I be pissed at you," she squeals girlishly. "You're my twin sister and best friend, aren't you? You'd never do anything to hurt me." She keeps on this way, holding you tightly by her side, all the way into the house and up the stairs, releasing you only at the door to your bedroom, where she wishes you happy dreams and a good sleep.<br/>
<br/>
Yeah, you lock your bedroom door after she's gone.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You're desperate to get the move made after that, but you don't call or text Caleb--it might cause him complications with Chelsea if she intercepted a message. So imagine your surprise in third-period study hall when Kendra shows up with Maria--Chelsea's dearest friend--in tow.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, I've been meaning to ask you," Kendra says after some strained chit-chat, "about you and Jeremy." Her tone is veiled in a way that is meant to sound off-hand but is clearly rehearsed. "Are you, like, really serious about him?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know," you temporize. "He's fun to be with. And he's cute."<br/>
<br/>
"He's really sweet," Kendra enthusiastically agrees. "I know people think he's kind of dumb, and he's far from the best guy on the team. But I think it's nice to have a guy who's so ... nice. Right, Maria?"<br/>
<br/>
Maria Vasquez, whose skull makes whistling noises when the wind blows, retrieves her attention from the aether. "Nice guys are really nice," she says somewhat gnomically. <br/>
<br/>
"But?" you ask, lifting an eyebrow.<br/>
<br/>
"No 'but'," Kendra says. "I'm so glad to hear you're happy settling for him."<br/>
<br/>
"Settling?" Even for Kendra, this conversation lacks subtlety.<br/>
<br/>
"You are really cute, Eva," she says, leaning close. "Don't undersell yourself. You should aim higher than you think possible. It might surprise you who you can snag."<br/>
<br/>
"Think how Chelsea got Gordon," Maria says. She goes back to humming to herself as Kendra's eyes freeze.<br/>
<br/>
If you were planning to stay as Eva, you'd handle this conversation very carefully. Instead, you toss caution to the wind. "Like who?" you say, leaning in eagerly.<br/>
<br/>
Kendra's fine mouth spreads so wide you'd swear you can see all thirty-two of her teeth blazing whitely. "No one's ever nailed Steve down in a relationship," she whispers.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, he wouldn't be interested in me! Not even for a little bit," you gasp.<br/>
<br/>
"Go talk to Gordon," Kendra quietly urges you. "When Steve's around, I mean. Watch him. You'll see! Isn't that right, Maria?"<br/>
<br/>
The latter frowns as though she's been asked to construct a formula describing a trajectory that could take two lovers to the dark side of the Moon. "'Nice' doesn't begin to describe Steve," she finally observes.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Hope you don't mind that I hustled your boyfriend away," Gordon says when you approach him on the gym floor after practice. You glance at Jeremy's retreating back, and then turn back up to Gordon: six-and-a-half feet of arrogant muscle staring stonily down at you. "But maybe he'll thank me later. Yo, Steve!" He hurls the ball he's been palming at his friend, who's a few dozen feet away and ostentatiously not paying any attention to you.<br/>
<br/>
"So what's up?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Richards, maybe. He's goin' places. If he turns out to be a team player. Certain perks come with it, you know." He jerks his head at the bleachers behind. "Ever been up there?" The fuck room? You shake your head. "Neither's he. That could change."<br/>
<br/>
"Nice to know."<br/>
<br/>
He folds his arms and claps his biceps in his hands. "Come up tomorrow, around six. Me and Steve'll give you a tour. If you like what you see, tell your guy. Give him an incentive to be a team player."<br/>
<br/>
"I think he's already a team player," you smile, "but I'll be there."<br/>
<br/>
You're not the least bit surprised when an hour later a text from Gordon appears on your phone: "Bring the shit."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"So, whaddaya think?" Gordon asks the next day as you look around the storage loft. "Pretty sweet?"<br/>
<br/>
"Nice," you say. Actually it's a tangled mess of gym mats, boxes, and discarded bottles, cans, and pizza boxes. It stinks too, and you can easily identify each element in the perfume. "I thought Steve was supposed to be here."<br/>
<br/>
"Someone call?" Patterson's head pop out from around a beam. He's next to a dorm refrigerator.<br/>
<br/>
"You pick up some brews?" Gordon calls. "Hurl me one." He easily catches the can, cracks it open, and swallows thirstily. "Be a good hostess and show Eva around," he says. "I gotta call Chels with the hourly alert that I still love her." Her trudges from the room, closing the door behind him.<br/>
<br/>
Steve saunters over. He's relatively well-dressed, in knee-length jeans shorts, a polo shirt, and gray canvas sneakers. "You look good up here. Cheers."<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks." You drink; Eva hates beer, and to his amusement you choke it down. "It's nice finally getting to come up here. I'd like to be up here more often."<br/>
<br/>
"That can be arranged," Patterson says. His cold gray eyes haven't left your face the whole time. "Me and Gordon like sharing our shit. Shows we're grateful for the ... little favors people do for us."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll tell Jeremy."<br/>
<br/>
"Richards will never see the inside of this place," Steve says bluntly. You wheel in surprise. "He's a fuck up and laughingstock. We keep him around as comedy relief." His lip curls in half a smile. "Kinda shocked I say that?"<br/>
<br/>
"Kind of, yeah."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, he got one thing right, and I respect him for it. He made me notice <i>you.</i>" He brushes one of your bangs away with a fingertip.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Fucking reptile. He had your twin sister up here. Or maybe he doesn't remember.</i> "That's flattering," is all you say.<br/>
<br/>
"I wanna see you up here more often too," he says. "Chelsea's up here all the time, but she's a cunt. She tries getting us to clean it up, but we just laugh at her. For you, though ... You got any redecorating tips?"<br/>
<br/>
You can't believe he thinks this line will actually work ... unless he's thinking he can play on Eva's jealousy of Chelsea to convince his victim she could usurp her spot. Whatever his strategy, you don't want to wait to see it play out. "I'd tell the guys to ditch their clothes," you say. "I like naked jocks."<br/>
<br/>
He starts and then guffaws. He sets his drink aside, and with an arrogant smirk pulls off his shirt and undershirt, and then his shorts. He's already got an erection, and it's a pretty impressive one. "Like this," he jokes. "Classical statuary?"<br/>
<br/>
"As long as it's stiff. You'll want to lie down. I'm gonna take my sweet time showing you a good one."<br/>
<br/>
He plops onto one of the mats. You straddle him and lean in for a kiss. He's prepared himself well--his mouth is minty-fresh!--and he chases you hungrily and deeply upward even when you try to withdraw. <br/>
<br/>
"Hang on, tiger," you say, pulling back. "Gordon told me to come prepared. I got a toy you'll like." He raises his eyebrows questioningly as you grab your purse and pull out the second of your blank masks. "Hope you're not claustrophobic." He eyes it queerly but doesn't resist as you drop it onto his face, where it disappears.<br/>
<br/>
You've got Eva's mask off and half painted when you turn at a noise to find Gordon looking down at you. "That'd make a nice picture," he jokes quietly as he fishes out his cell phone. "Will Prescott going down on Steve Patterson. But I won't do that to you." You grunt. "Seriously, though, he'll make a nice catch. I wouldn't mind having him."<br/>
<br/>
"Deal was I get him, I thought."<br/>
<br/>
"Deals can change." He sucks on the inside of his cheek. "Trade ya. Black <i>and</i> Chelsea for Steve's carcass."</span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121211121
author_id: seuzz
title: The Recruiting of Jason Lynch
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"If it means so much to you," you shrug. <i>Would make things easier for me with Chelsea,</i> you add silently.<br/>
<br/>
He drops cross-legged to the floor and pulls the mask off. <i>That was stupid,</i> you wince as he flops to the side and loses consciousness. You shove the golemizing kit over next to him and grab up the Gordon mask. You slap at Caleb, hoping to wake him before Patterson comes to, then drop your new persona onto your face ...<br/>
<br/>
At least you wake quickly, and roll onto your side. Patterson is sitting up, blinking stupidly. He is staring at Caleb, who hunches over his work and ignores everything else. Patterson glances back you, dark bafflement clouding his face; then his eyes widen. You look down too, and curse silently: you're still in Eva's bra and panties. "The fuck is going on," Patterson asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, man, that stuff is wild!" you exclaim, thinking quickly. "Hope you were gentle with me," you add, winking at Patterson as you struggle out of the bra.<br/>
<br/>
His jaw drops. "What--" He shakes his head sharply. "You guys slip me some shit or something?"<br/>
<br/>
You guffaw. "You don't remember? Jesus, you must be a pussy. How's the new batch coming?" you call over to Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
"Just got to light it," he says. He hunkers down further.<br/>
<br/>
"Hah, seemed like a good idea at the time," you grin at Patterson as you wriggle out of the last of Eva's things. "But I hope no one took pictures."<br/>
<br/>
Patterson swallows. "Huh. Yeah, I-- I guess it was fun," he says uncertainly. "We doin' it again?"<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck yeah," you exclaim. "This time, try to keep your eyes open."<br/>
<br/>
He stands as you do, picking up the mask by his side as he does. "Where's Eva?" He looks down at the mask, seeming to see it for the first time. He frowns as he turns it over, and jerks a little in surprise. His name floats on the side of the mask.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, our own personalized shit." You nod at Caleb. "I told you that fucker's a wiz. Here, lemme see it." Numbly, he hands his mask over to you. "You got the next one ready?" you call to Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
He holds it up. "When you are."<br/>
<br/>
"Set it down. Catch." You toss him the Patterson mask. "I think Steverino here lost the last hour. Show him again how it works." A half smile appears on Caleb's face. He lays back and covers his face with the new mask.<br/>
<br/>
Patterson creeps close to him, and you shadow him, clapping a friendly arm around his neck. You feel him tense as the mask vanishes into Caleb, and then, idiotically, he asks "How come he's wearing your clothes?" You don't answer.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb's form flows and lengthens, though not in any way you could measure with a ruler. All his features run together, and then they flow apart again in a new pattern. He looks very liquid for a moment. And then there's a second Steve Patterson lying on the floor. <br/>
<br/>
"Fuckin' radical, huh," you whisper in Pattersons' ear, and he jumps. "Give him a nudge. See what he does." He shifts a little in your embrace, then pushes at Caleb's foot. When nothing happens, he gives him a harder kick.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb's eyes spring open; he looks about in confusion for a moment, then locks eyes with the original Patterson. He stares up at him for a moment and then, without shifting his eyes, carefully climbs to his feet. He unbends to his new, full height, and stares into the face of the original with cold, frank interest.<br/>
<br/>
Patterson tries to step back, but you brace him. "What is this," he says, and you smile at the quaver in his voice. <br/>
<br/>
"It's you," you reply. "Don't you see the resemblance?" You nod at Caleb. "Show him the other one."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb bends slowly to retrieve the Eva mask from the floor. As he steps toward Patterson you step behind the ballplayer and bring your arms up swiftly to put him in a headlock. "He'll be taking your place now, cocksucker," you gloat quietly in his ear. "Just like I replaced Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
Patterson twists violently, but you've too tight a hold, and Caleb is too swift. Patterson starts to shudder violently even before you release him, and it's Eva Garner who hits the floor.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You pace the loft, hands locked behind your neck. You're back in Gordon's clothes; a bemused Patterson sits naked on the gym mat with a naked Eva curled in his arm. "I don't know what's so hard about this," he says. "You should remember every part of the scheme."<br/>
<br/>
You glare. "Don't be a prick. It's not that simple." You bang the side of your head with the heel of your hand; maybe it will dislodge a memory. "I remember everything Gordon said and did while you were inside him, but I don't remember what he was thinking. What <i>you</i> were thinking." You pause. "The fuck <i>were</i> you thinking?"<br/>
<br/>
He rolls his eyes. "Chelsea's been bitching about Eva and Jeremy. Don't ask me why. I told her yesterday I could bust them up if we got Eva up here with Steve. Take some compromising pictures. Patterson was hot for the idea, naturally, for his own reasons. Which I happen now to share." He kisses Eva's shoulder.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I remember that much, just from the conversations you had." You rub your face. "So that's how you were going to get me up here for the switch with Patterson."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah. So what don't you understand?"<br/>
<br/>
"Why we have to go through with it now. Why we need the pictures of you and her, doin' it?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because I'm fucking horny and I want to fuck this bitch and I want some pictures afterwards I can jerk off to."<br/>
<br/>
"Do I get a vote?" Eva asks in a tone that clearly conveys how she'd cast it.<br/>
<br/>
"No," you and Patterson say in unison. "Besides," he adds, "you need something to give to Chelsea. You-- or I-- Or Gordon, or someone, told her in that phone call that it was going down."<br/>
<br/>
"I was gonna take care of Chelsea tonight," you mutter.<br/>
<br/>
"I can't believe you won't do me this favor," he exclaims.<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't say I wouldn't. I just wanna understand why."<br/>
<br/>
He groans. "Is it you or is it Black? Can't be Black, because he wasn't that thick when <i>I</i> was running him. If we're gonna do this can we do it? The suspense is killing my boner."<br/>
<br/>
You take out the cell phone while Patterson turns his full attention on Eva. Before you can get started, though, you're distracted by footsteps. The door opens and Jason Lynch appears. <br/>
<br/>
His eyes pop as he takes in the scene: the naked Patterson and Eva, you with a cell phone turned to use as a camera. He chortles. "Oh, man, sorry, had no idea what was up. Don't mind me, I'll just be over here in the corner. Unless, you know, you need an extra."<br/>
<br/>
You and Patterson glance at each other. The latter must have given Eva a surreptitious prod, for she suddenly stands. "I'm not doing this if he's here." She curtly snatches up her clothes. <br/>
<br/>
"Way to fuck things up, Lynch," you snap. "I told you to keep the fuck out today." You stalk over to the supply bag and rummage the third mask out of it.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, Jesus, I didn't-- Oh, fuck me," he gasps. That's all he has time to say before you smash the mask onto his face.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"This wasn't what I was planning," Patterson says.<br/>
<br/>
"You should have left me a memo," you retort over your shoulder. He's painting the inside of the mask while you kneel on Lynch, keeping him pinned to the floor. The latter is surprisingly docile, even though he's awake. "I'm not a fucking mind reader."<br/>
<br/>
"We oughta be, with these things," Patterson replies mildly. "Too late to mention it now, but I was thinking of promoting Javits." He pauses, and lighter flicks. "Patterson was thinking of promoting Richards." <br/>
<br/>
"Lynch's always been a good enforcer. Haven't you, fuckhead?" You glare down at him.<br/>
<br/>
He sucks on his upper lip and tries to shrug, even though your knees are pressed firmly against his shoulders. "I've always been a team player, Gordon. Whatever you want from me."<br/>
<br/>
"I want you to be less of a dumbass. You've really fucked things up, you know that?" He smiles weakly and apologetically.<br/>
<br/>
"Here." Patterson hands you the mask. "Won't make him smarter," he says as you drop it onto Lynch's surprised face. "Fuck, it probably won't make him <i>anything</i>."<br/>
<br/>
"At least we won't have to be careful what we say in front of him." You look down at Lynch, whose eyes are open again. "You got anything to say for yourself, you dickless wonder?"<br/>
<br/>
He grins and shrugs again. "Sorry I busted in?"<br/>
<br/>
You grunt and get off him, but don't help him to his feet. He bounces up lightly anyway and looks around cheerfully. "So, what's going on? You guys have been up to something besides cock polishing."<br/>
<br/>
Patterson shrugs at your querying glance, and you turn back to Lynch. "We're taking over the school," you tell him bluntly, and jab him in the forehead. "Just like we did with you."<br/>
<br/>
His eyes widen, and he grins. "Whoa. Cool! Who's our next recruit?"<br/>
<br/>
Your reply catches in your throat; you didn't expect him to be chipper about it. From behind you, Patterson speaks. "We're gonna bring Javits up here." Lynch nods excitedly.<br/>
<br/>
But you turn. "Why him? I thought we were spreading out. You know, 'key people'."<br/>
<br/>
"He's not 'key'?"<br/>
<br/>
"We don't need him, not with Lynch and Richards. Unless--" You tilt your head back and stare at the ceiling before lowering them to peer at Patterson. "Unless we let Tilley join the real power circle."</span></div></div>


path: 11123122212211212111211
author_id: seuzz
title: Keith Makes It Three
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"That idiot?" the Patterson-disguised Caleb snorts.<br/>
<br/>
"He's no more an idiot than you or me," you retort. "And we can always put him inside someone with a compensating brain. That rules you out, Lynch," you say over your shoulder.<br/>
<br/>
"Rules out Richards, too," Patterson says.<br/>
<br/>
But you're still staring at Lynch. "Oh, fuck. And that was our last mask we put on dipshit here. I can't get Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
"So we'll wait a few days," your friend says. "We'll get supplies tomorrow, start working on a new batch of masks this weekend. Come on, snap those pics. Eva, back over here!" he calls roughly to the cheerleader.<br/>
<br/>
"No reason to use our own money," you muse as you take out the cell phone again. "Lynch, how much cash can you come up with?"<br/>
<br/>
"A hundred or so," he says with puppyish enthusiasm.<br/>
<br/>
"Bring all you got tomorrow," you say. "Borrow as much as you can from your folks, and put the screws on any assholes you think owe you money." Lynch chortles in a nasty way, and then you tell him to get out.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb is disappointed when you cut off the photo session after a half-dozen pictures, but is mollified when you order Eva to stay with him until he gets "tired." "Like that's gonna happen," he grins. "I'll have to call Jessica up here after I wear this one out."<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head as you trudge out the door. But your cock is already stirring at the thought of getting together with Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Pretty nice, huh?" you say, and sidle up closer to her. You're both sitting on the edge of her bed as she examines the photos you've sent to her phone. You knead the base of her neck.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't get any ideas," she says in a curt tone. "I know you got off while taking these."<br/>
<br/>
"Then you shouldn't have asked me to-- Oh, fuck, Chels!" She's gotten off the bed and, head still bent, moved over to the chair by her desk. "What are you going to do with them?"<br/>
<br/>
"None of your business," she snaps. "They're just insurance." She flicks a finger across the screen and peers closely at it. "There's only one where you can really see Eva's face."<br/>
<br/>
"But you can see lots of the rest of her." You lean forward and drag the rolling chair close. "Come on, tell me what you're up to," you murmur, leaning in close to her face. "It makes me horny when I hear you plotting."<br/>
<br/>
"Everything, including afternoon and evening thundershowers, make you horny," she retorts. But she looks up, and there's a glint behind her otherwise hooded eyes. "You'd do anything for me, wouldn't you, Gordon?"<br/>
<br/>
"For you or to you," you reply, and gently take her head between your hands.<br/>
<br/>
She lets you kiss her, but pulls away when you introduce your tongue into the situation. "Just as long as you know who's boss," she says, but smiles.<br/>
<br/>
You sigh and fall back onto the bed. (Well, most of you does. Your cock rises and rises and rises.) "Insurance, huh? I guess that means you're not planning on busting Eva and Richards up immediately."<br/>
<br/>
"Jeremy has nothing to do with it. Just Eva." She returns to the phone. "She oughta do something about those tan lines."<br/>
<br/>
"Glad to hear you're not ogling Steve-o. And I'm glad you're not thinking of queering things with Richards. He's a moron, but there's no harm in him. And I wouldn't want to have to deal with Javits."<br/>
<br/>
"What does Seth have to do with it?" <br/>
<br/>
Her tone isn't casual, so you glance up at her. "'Cos him and Richards are, like, fuck buddies. And I'm thinking of promoting Javits."<br/>
<br/>
"To what?" Now her tone <i>is</i> sharp.<br/>
<br/>
"You keep bugging me about Lynch. I'm thinking of kicking him outta the loft, giving his privileges to Javits." The silence is glacial, so you look up again. She is staring hard at you. "What's wrong?"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't you fucking dare," she hisses.<br/>
<br/>
"What?" you repeat. "He's a team player. And you and Steve don't like Lynch."<br/>
<br/>
"Jason isn't dating Cindy. Seth is." You stare at her stupidly, then groan. "I don't care if Seth is giving you blow jobs. Actually," she adds, "that would be awesome, and I'd love pictures of him sucking you off. But as long as he's dating that cunt, you keep him <i>down.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
You jump off the bed with an oath and kick savagely at nothing. "I don't tell you how to run your team, Chels, so don't tell me how to run mine!"<br/>
<br/>
She starts to say something sharp, then catches herself and closes her eyes. She takes a deep breath, and when she opens them again she is frowning and making big eyes at you. "It's for your own good, Gordon," she says in a wounded tone. "If Seth is as good as you keep saying he is, it could be trouble for you. Especially if he's dating a girl like--"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I get it," you growl. "You just don't want another power couple."<br/>
<br/>
"We're the only power couple," she says. "I know you don't like thinking about things like that, so I do the thinking for both of us." Her smile turns sharp. "Now, if you actually want to promote Seth, it wouldn't be a bad idea. <i>If</i> he and Cindy weren't dating."<br/>
<br/>
"You want photos of Cindy?"<br/>
<br/>
Her eyes narrow. "I'm sure you could <i>talk</i> him into giving her up."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It's not a matter of talking Javits into breaking up with Cindy. He would do whatever you wanted, once you got him converted. And if you put Keith inside him? Losing Cindy shouldn't be a deal-breaker for him.<br/>
<br/>
The next day, after early morning practice, you and Patterson make a point of steering past the lockers where your replacements and Keith hang out. Sure enough, they're there. You jostle Tilley, and when he turns, you wheel on him. "You hassling me, little man," you growl at him, and pin him to his locker with a strong arm. He pales and shakes his head. "I think you were. Hey Steve, get a load of this asshole."<br/>
<br/>
"He's not worth it," Patterson says.<br/>
<br/>
"And I say he is. You got plans after school, asshole?" You lean down and glare at Keith. He mumbles inaudibly. "Yeah, you do," you gloat. "You wanna get off light, you'll be inside the gym at four. You wanna get your ass <i>and</i> your face kicked in, you'll be someplace else. Got me?" He swallows, and you shove him hard before releasing him. "These your friends?" You turn to Prescott and Johansson, who are watching with terrified expressions. "You two." You lean in close. "Make sure your idiot pal shows up, or <i>you'll</i> take his medicine too."<br/>
<br/>
"You're really getting into this," Patterson says quietly after you enter your first-period class with him.<br/>
<br/>
"Just having fun," you mutter. "We'll all have a good laugh about it afterward."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
But Keith doesn't look like he's in the mood to laugh when you see him lurking by the far wall of the gym near the end of after-school practice. He's hunched up, like he's trying to make himself invisible even as he makes his presence known to you. When you release the team, you saunter over to him. You're actually disappointed he was such a pussy as to show up.<br/>
<br/>
You're not the only one who's noticed him: Seth Javits follows. "Lookin' for a boyfriend, Tilley?" he jeers. "Someone to take away the lonely feeling you've got in your pussy?"<br/>
<br/>
"You know this guy?" you ask Seth. He grins and nods his head. "Trouble-maker, huh? He was giving me attitude this morning. Weren't you, asshole?" Keith licks his lips, and looks like he's about to drop a load into his pants. "I said, <i>weren't you?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," he bleats.<br/>
<br/>
You hold his eye, then turn to Javits and jerk your head. "Okay, this ain't any of your business. Beat it." He frowns, but retreats when you frown back. "This way, Tilley," you say. You grip him by the shoulder and push him forward to the stairs leading to the fuck room. <br/>
<br/>
Lynch is outside the door, and grins at your approach. "Another contributor?" he laughs. "I took up a collection like you said. Got almost two hundred."<br/>
<br/>
"Nice," you say as you take the wad of bills from him. "I'll be in touch this weekend. Make yourself scarce now." His eyes flick between you and Tilley, then he squeezes past.<br/>
<br/>
You lead Keith into the fuck room and close the door. He stands in a corner, looking miserable. But you ignore him and raid the fridge for a beer. Eventually he speaks. "Can we get this over with? I have a job I have to get to."<br/>
<br/>
"Gutsy, asking for an ass kicking," you say. "But that's not what you're here for." The door opens and Patterson comes in. "Hey Steve," you say. "Show Tilley what you've got under your face."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Keith stares down into Gordon's mask. "Fuck. You were just like him."<br/>
<br/>
"Perfect in every detail, huh?" You grin. "You can have Javits next week, after we get some new ones made up. We're saving him for you."<br/>
<br/>
"And the Will and Caleb I was hanging out with today?"<br/>
<br/>
"Fakes," says Caleb, also disencumbered of his mask. "We'll make up one of you, too, so you won't, uh, disappear."<br/>
<br/>
Keith swallows, but his eyes are excited. You let him linger in the moment, then reach out to take the mask back. "You're late for work, aren't you?"<br/>
<br/>
"But I don't have to go in," he says. "Not if-- You know--"<br/>
<br/>
"I guess not. Still, I need to get dressed back up again."<br/>
<br/>
But he doesn't release the mask. "Look, can I go home as Gordon tonight? Just to get a feel for what it's like?"</span></div></div>


path: 111231222122112121112112
author_id: seuzz
title: Gordon's Life
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"And who will go home as you?" you ask skeptically. "And what am I supposed to do?"<br/>
<br/>
"Can't you stay up here?" he asks. "I mean, you can keep the key to this place."<br/>
<br/>
"It's just easiest to keep things as they are," you say, and pluck the mask from his reluctant grasp. "You'll have Javits soon enough."<br/>
<br/>
"When?"<br/>
<br/>
You look over at Caleb. "Lynch gave me two hundred. That's enough for supplies."<br/>
<br/>
"More than enough," he agrees. "I collected almost that much off Richards and the girls. We can make the masks this weekend--"<br/>
<br/>
"We can make them tonight," you say firmly, "then pass them out to the golems to polish up over the weekend. Ride 'em hard, and we can have 'em by Monday, you think?"<br/>
<br/>
"Monday?" Keith gasps, and his eyes shine.<br/>
<br/>
"By afternoon practice," you say. "We'll work your ass off on the court."<br/>
<br/>
Tilley bobs up and down excitedly, then leaps to his feet and practically skips from the room.<br/>
<br/>
"How do you wanna divide the work," you ask Caleb when he's gone. "Pick up supplies, or make a run back to the elementary school?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'll score the shit for us," he says, then lays back and raises Patterson's mask over his face. "See you on the other side." You lay back yourself and slide Gordon's mask back on.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
But after Caleb is gone you decide you don't need to run out to the school yourself, and call up the various golems and order them to bring all the supplies you've left at the Garners and the elementary school over to the gym. You've got some thinking to do. <br/>
<br/>
You actually had come close to granting Keith's request. Last night wasn't pleasant, and you now have first-hand experience with the kind of thing that led Caleb into swapping Gordon for Steve. The word "hard ass" doesn't even begin to describe Gordon's dad. He hasn't been physically abusive for a few years, but he knows how to push his son's buttons, and Gordon--and now you--dread his presence, for there's no telling what will set him off into a black rage. Last night it was a pile of dirty dishes, and he'd screamed for almost five minutes, his face black with anger, at what was only a very small pile. Mornings are also fraught. He insists on Gordon's taking breakfast at the same time as him, and you'd eaten very quietly, trying not to catch his eye or slurp the cereal as he read the paper. You'd washed up carefully and snuck from the kitchenette. There had been a terrible moment as you'd been about to leave for school when he'd looked up at you with a frown, but he'd said nothing. Either he was storing up trouble for later, or he was just bothered by another "dumbass editorial" in the paper.<br/>
<br/>
You pace restlessly for about ten minutes, trying to anticipate what might be waiting for you at home. It's Friday. You can go over to Chelsea's, but she's been frigid and distracted lately. For lack of anything else to do, you give in to Gordon's own instincts and go over to the other side of the gym to work hard on the weights. The strain isn't relaxing, but it's a safe and productive way to work out aggression and anger. No wonder he is so strong in addition to being tall.<br/>
<br/>
You've been at it about twenty minutes when a soft thumping from the side door tells you someone wants in. With a scowl you descend to the floor and open it. It was Eva knocking, and Prescott, looking very frightened, is there too. You gesture them in and lead them up to the fuck room. They set their burdens down and wait as you unpack them. Prescott's backpack is a mess. "Christ," you snort. "You guys just throw it all together? I can't tell what half of this shit is."<br/>
<br/>
"It's the way you left it," he says resentfully.<br/>
<br/>
"I oughta fuck you up." He bites his lip; you sigh and shake your head, trying to squeeze the frustration out of your system. There's no reason to take it out on this dumb thing, and being angry at your twin feels wrong. "It's okay," you say hoarsely. "I'll get it sorted out. How was your day?" He shrugs and avoids your eye. "You did a good job with Tilley." He shrugs again.<br/>
<br/>
Your arm twitches; you have the strong, sudden desire to punch him, hard. This was you? <i>Moron. Insect. Loser.</i> Hiding down in the cracks of the school, too weak and scared to make something of himself. You want to beat some sense and courage into him. "Why don't you--" you start, but your voice cracks. It's useless. "Why don't you just go fuck off." He hops, and scurries from the room.<br/>
<br/>
Eva is looking at you from under her brows. She is so small, so soft, with all the right kinds of things sticking out in ways that beg to be cupped and fondled. "You looked really good with Steve yesterday," you murmur. She just blinks.<br/>
<br/>
You sink to your knees and take her breasts in your hands. They are large and firm. You lift them and lean in to gently kiss and suck at them through the fabric of her t-shirt. Gordon has had girls other than Chelsea, but not many, and not Eva. Your cock rises as you nuzzle her. She would do whatever you asked, whenever you asked, and keep it totally secret. You'll have Chelsea under your control soon enough. It wouldn't matter what you did with Eva here and now.<br/>
<br/>
But you can't quite bring yourself to go through with it. You tell yourself it's because Caleb will be back soon, and it would be embarrassing to be caught <i>in flagrante.</i> Except it wouldn't matter to him. He did it with her yesterday, almost in front of you. Maybe it's knowing she's a fake that ruins it for you. It's so much more fun dominating a girl than a golem.<br/>
<br/>
You rise again, slap her appreciatively on the ass, and send her on her way.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"How are things with your dad?" Caleb/Patterson asks the next day. You're up in the loft again, and he's lounging on one of the mats in a patch of sunlight, looking spent. No wonder: You'd found him with Jessica when you'd arrived, and he'd apparently done it long enough and often enough that he didn't resent it when you asked him to get rid of her.<br/>
<br/>
"Stable." You swirl the contents of the half-empty beer can. "You could play golf in our back yard, I cut it so nice this morning." You drain the beer in a series of great gulps. "Fucker didn't say anything, so I know it was perfect."<br/>
<br/>
"There's something very Zen about a well-trimmed lawn," he says. "Something relaxing about raking up the clippings."<br/>
<br/>
"You can come out and be Zen at my place all you want," you retort. "I was at it for two hours, and spent another thirty minutes going over it again so I didn't miss anything."<br/>
<br/>
"Nice attention to detail," he says, still relaxing. "You should offer to shave Chelsea's pussy for her. Carefully. Gently. Lick it slowly when you're done to make sure you haven't missed any tiny bits of stubble." He opens a single eye when you don't say anything. "You can kick me in the balls if you want."<br/>
<br/>
"It's alright. It's a nice fantasy, but I don't know how I'd suggest it to her."<br/>
<br/>
"She's a psycho. I've told you before." He snickers. "Listen to me. I--Steven Perceval Patterson--have told you many times that you should get yourself a cuntectomy. But have you ever listened to me--Steven Perceval Patterson? No. And yet I--Steven Perceval Patterson--"<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, I get it, asshole. You're really getting off on being-- Is that cocksucker's middle name really Perceval?"<br/>
<br/>
"You mean, Is <i>my</i> middle name--"<br/>
<br/>
"I <i>am</i> gonna kick you in the balls in a minute."<br/>
<br/>
He sniggers again. "I know, I told you it was 'Brian,' but I lied. 'Percy,' fuck. They called me 'Steve Pussy Patterson' in middle school, so--"<br/>
<br/>
"I knew you in eighth grade." <i>Now </i>you're<i> falling into the 'I really am this person' patter.</i><br/>
<br/>
"It was back in seventh. Over summer I hit that growth spurt, and they knew better when the first day of class came around." He laughs again. "You were a fucking little girl when you showed up--"<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up. Anyway, we got Huber and them straightened out now."<br/>
<br/>
Actually "straightened out" isn't quite right. More like "got things set up so no one hassles anyone else." There's no overlap between the basketball teams and any other sports teams--you and Patterson have seen to that.<br/>
<br/>
You frown. Gordon's posse is basically him and Patterson and bunch of douchebag hangers-on. Huber's group is far larger. And they all seem to hang out and fun together. If they won more games than they lost-- Well, exclusitivity is its own reward, and having a small club--you and Patterson and Chelsea--makes it more alluring, you intuitively realize.<br/>
<br/>
Your reverie is interrupted by a soft knock at the door. "Yeah," you gruffly call. It opens, and Keith Tilley pokes his head around the edge. "About time you showed up," you say, and gesture him in.<br/>
<br/>
He grins and blinks as he enters. "How are things going?"<br/>
<br/>
"Masks are being made," Patterson grunts. "Keep your cock down."<br/>
<br/>
"Hard to do when Cindy Vredenburg's gonna be waiting for me."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh yeah, that reminds me," you snap your fingers. "They have to break up. That's the price for promoting Javits. And you, I guess."<br/>
<br/>
Keith and Steve both frown at each you. "What do you mean," the former bluntly asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Chelsea's decision," you shrug. "Social scene bullshit."<br/>
<br/>
"That'll change when you've got Chelsea," Patterson says.</span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121211121122
author_id: seuzz
title: Gordon, Alone
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Well, maybe I don't want it to change," you say irritably. Chelsea had pissed you off when she told you a break up was the price for elevating Javits. But now that you're on the verge of acquiring her, you have the sense that maybe it's best to follow her advice.<br/>
<br/>
"What's the big deal?" Patterson asks.<br/>
<br/>
"It's a power couple thing, I guess," you say. "Javits is good. I mean, you know that. He's fast and he can nail a shot. You need to stop passing the ball to the fucker, or his stats will start passing yours." Patterson raises an eyebrow. "Chels feels threatened by Cindy, so if you put her with a rising hotshot like Javits--"<br/>
<br/>
"So how come there can't be two power couples?" Patterson demands. "We'll all be on the same team. Tilley can add Cindy, and then she and Chelsea can be best friends."<br/>
<br/>
"It's not--" You start. "Look, throw me a bone here. It's not like you're half of a power couple--"<br/>
<br/>
"And I'm not likely to be," he laughs. "Not when I've got a Grand Tour of Patterson's old cunnies I wanna revisit." He shifts on the mat so his cock can unfold. "And <i>we're</i> friends."<br/>
<br/>
"Because we're not rivals. I mean, <i>fuck.</i> If I didn't have the hottest piece of ass sucking my cock--"<br/>
<br/>
"You'd still be team captain."<br/>
<br/>
"I'd be a big fucking jerk. I run this shithole--" Again, Patterson's eyebrow goes up. "--and you help me run it. But it's me at the top, with Chelsea, and no one else close. What else have I got, except a fucking bastard of a ... a father." You stumble over a word that shouldn't be hateful, and turn to glare at Tilley. "I wanna keep what's mine. I need compensations."<br/>
<br/>
There's silence for a moment. Then Patterson speaks again. "This doesn't sound like the Gordon Black I know," he says quietly.<br/>
<br/>
"And you're not exactly Steven Perceval Patterson," you retort. "But you got an easy life to slip into."<br/>
<br/>
Patterson's jaw briefly clenches. "Aw, fuck it," he mutters. "Tilley, you get Javits on Monday, and then we'll settle it about Cindy."<br/>
<br/>
"No, it's settled now." You feel your face turning hot. "Tilley gets Javits and he busts up with Cindy. Or he gets Javits and he stays in the minors. Or he doesn't get Javits at all."<br/>
<br/>
Silence again descends. Then Keith speaks, softly, in a hurt tone. "Look, if you guys don't want me, I guess I can fuck off." He turns to the door.<br/>
<br/>
"Keith, it's not like--" Patterson starts, but Keith is gone. Your friend leaps to his feet. He glares at the door, then turns and shoves you hard. "You're such an asshole."<br/>
<br/>
You shove him back so hard he bounces off a crate. "If I'm gonna keep this face, this is the way things are gonna be!"<br/>
<br/>
Patterson's gray eyes glitter with cold fury. For an instant it looks like he'll spring on you. But he strides to the door instead. "Fine. You wanna be the motherfucking big man, be the motherfucking big man." He slams the door hard behind him.<br/>
<br/>
You almost liquefy with rage. You grasp the edges of a large crate--a thing you couldn't budge in your real form, and which Gordon himself can barely lift--and hurl it against a pile of junk ,which collapses with a great crash. Incoherent noises form in your throat and emerge in a choking roar. You feel your eyes bulging as you stride about, barely holding in check the desire to break your hands by punching cinderblock walls.<br/>
<br/>
The problem is that Caleb is right, sort of. And you're right too, sort of. The real horror--what has got you so excited--is the way Gordon's unacknowledged self-knowledge intersects with your own appreciation of his psyche. Your own mind is like a mirror throwing up his reflection, and you can feel his anger and fear as his own mind grasps it. No, you weren't talking like Gordon, because he would never say the things you blurted out. But they're true, and in the avalanche of self-confession you understand him a lot better.<br/>
<br/>
People don't like him, and he knows they don't. He can't make himself popular, either, not with so much anger and impatience and aggression boiling away just below the surface. He can demand respect and fear, and with his domination of the basketball court he can even win admiration from the sports-addled masses. Chelsea is like a trophy. But if he had any rivals, any serious rivals, he'd just be a bully. Like the Molester.<br/>
<br/>
You--and he--don't even understand why Patterson puts up with him. And now maybe you've pissed him--or Caleb, but isn't it basically the same person?--off.<br/>
<br/>
You look around the loft. You did weights earlier, and there's nothing to do up here alone. <br/>
<br/>
Alone. You don't feel like seeing Chelsea, who's the original cause of today's blow up. So you pull out your phone and call Jason.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Man, you're tense," Lynch says as he kneads your shoulders and upper back. "You need, like, a steam bath or something. Maybe a chiropractor." <br/>
<br/>
"You're doing fine," you mumble. Your chin is pressed to your chest as you sit cross-legged with Jason behind you. He's Caleb's slave, but he's still instantly willing to do Gordon's bidding. His thumbs press deeply down between your backbone and shoulder blades. <br/>
<br/>
"Where's Patterson?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Him and me had a fight," you grumble.<br/>
<br/>
"Really? What about? You know, you can always tell me what's up." His tone is eager, and since it's perfectly safe to tell him anything ... <br/>
<br/>
It comes pouring out of you. The fight about the masks and the plans and who to convert and what to do about them. In only one area are you circumspect: Since it would feel odd to tell Jason Lynch about people with your names, it's all couched in terms of "I" and "me" and "Patterson." Tilley doesn't appear at all.<br/>
<br/>
As you talk, you wind up shirtless and face down on the mat, with him straddling you and pressing his hands into your back. When you're done you start asking him questions. "What do you do when you're not hanging around with us? I mean, who do you hang out with?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, Maize and those guys. If girls aren't available." He giggles.<br/>
<br/>
"What are they like?"<br/>
<br/>
"Girls?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, Tsosie and them. Fucker."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, you know. They're okay. I just do stupid stuff with them."<br/>
<br/>
"But you like them? They like you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure. I guess. I like it better being with you."<br/>
<br/>
"How come?"<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno," he mumbles. "It's just cooler being with you."<br/>
<br/>
"What about Huber or Delacroix or those guys?"<br/>
<br/>
"Those faggots?" His laugh is nasty. "Nah."<br/>
<br/>
"Anyone else?"<br/>
<br/>
His hands slide down to the small of your back. "Sometimes I get together at the tennis courts with Anthony Kirk."<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't know you play tennis."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, well, Kirk's sister is cute."<br/>
<br/>
You grunt and relax and let your mind wander. You (and Gordon) only know vaguely of various pods of people, or of stereotypes: the AP people, the bohemians, the ... other little groups of people who hang out together.<br/>
<br/>
Lynch slides off as you turn over. "Call around, see if you can sniff out any parties you and me can crash tonight," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"Really?" He seems genuinely excited, and his face falls only fractionally when you add, "You don't have to do it here. Call me later when you've found someplace."<br/>
<br/>
You call up Eva with the same instructions after he's gone. Maybe this can help make up for the fight with Caleb: snooping around to see if you can spot some possible acquisitions. You'd know a lot more after getting Chelsea, but that won't be until Monday at the earliest, and you need something to do in the meantime.<br/>
<br/>
Still, you need to call Chelsea--it's been almost two hours, and she likes her boyfriend to check in periodically. There's a small chance she might be ... agreeable ... to a tumble, so you let her know that you're alone up in the fuck room and won't be expecting any visitors. She surely gets the hint, but just as resolutely ignores it, saying that she's hanging out at the mall with Lin and Yumi and some of their friends. Her hint that <i>you</i> should join <i>her</i> is as obvious as your hint to her, but if she can ignore you then you can ignore her. She gets a little abrasive at your pretended thickness, and you quickly hang up. Monday can't come soon enough.<br/>
<br/>
Instead, you make a quick trip home. Your dad--a patrolman--will be on duty, so there's no chance of running into him as you dash in quickly to pick up homework. Going to the municipal library--ugh. But maybe there's a social scene up there.<br/>
<br/>
Turns out there isn't, and you're left to page listlessly through textbooks and assignments. You could do them pretty easily, but Gordon's own impatience and foggy incomprehension gets in the way, and you just slouch over them.<br/>
<br/>
Jason and Eva both call around six, within five minutes of each other, with news of the same party at Catherine Muskov's house. Jason can get you in because he can tag along with "Maize" Tsosie. You tell him you'll meet him at his place around eight.<br/>
<br/>
An hour later, you make another trip home to change into something nice: jeans, loafers, tight white t-shirt, and letterman jacket. But as you get back in your car, your phone rings. It's Patterson's number: "I'm sorry I got pissed at you," he says gruffly and without preamble to your "What?" "But we need to get together and talk."</span></div></div>


path: 11123122212211212111211221
author_id: seuzz
title: Alone in a Crowd
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"I got plans," you say. "We'll meet tomorrow up in the lounge."<br/>
<br/>
"I want to meet tonight. I don't want things getting weird between us."<br/>
<br/>
"Things aren't going to get weird between us, <i>Caleb,</i>" you say. It was nice of him to apologize, but you're already feeling irritated all over again. "They're not going to get weird unless you make them weird."<br/>
<br/>
"Avoiding things isn't going to make them go away," he says, sounding irritated in his turn.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not avoiding things!" You want to throw the phone out the car window. "I'm going out on business. We'll have lots of things to talk about tomorrow, and we can talk about your shit then."<br/>
<br/>
"It's <i>your</i> shit we need to talk about!"<br/>
<br/>
"Call me tomorrow. Or just show up at the fuck room. Or don't. I don't give a fuck." You slam the phone into the other car seat.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Shep "Maize" Tsosie leans indolently against the side of his car as you pull up. He's dressed up nice--you're glad you changed--in dark jeans and boots and a striped shirt that suggests without being identical to a baseball jersey. His long, dark hair is pulled back in a ponytail, and for once his scalp is exposed instead of being hidden under a ball cap. He gazes at you from mica-like eyes, and only a nasty crop of zits on his left cheek disfigures his lean features. <br/>
<br/>
"Maize," you call in a deep voice as you get out of your car. "So where's Lynch?"<br/>
<br/>
"Up primping, I guess," he says, ignoring the high five you offer him. "I hear he's your date for the party."<br/>
<br/>
You feel your eyes flicker. <i>Sass and bullshit,</i> as Gordon's dad might say. You know you should have set the evening up through Eva instead. But that would have gotten back to Chelsea, and even two days of screaming fury would be too much for your nerves. But: "Lucky Jason," is all you say. "He only has to <i>ask</i> to suck my cock."<br/>
<br/>
Tsosie snickers. "Well, just remember, you said it, not me." You and he both turn at the sound of a door slamming, and Jason hurries up, grinning madly. He's actually in a sports coat--how nice is this party supposed to be?--and his jeans look ironed. Not a hair is out of place on his head and-- "Fuck, are you wearing perfume?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Just a body spray," he says, looking a little taken back at your words. "It's a hen party, you wanna look nice." You roll your eyes.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It's not a hen party, exactly, but it has been organized by girls, so there's no alcohol. You make a face at the punches and colas, but take one. There's a big cake, and you take the largest slice and stuff most of it into your mouth before wandering out into the living room.<br/>
<br/>
Catherine Muskov is on the cross-country team, and most of her friends and acquaintances are athletes too, so you recognize most of the people there. Catherine's own teammates are represented by Fred Hilldown and Anthony Kirk. Naturally, you know Almida Jones, the captain of the girls' basketball team, and her teammate Kristy Suffolk. Swim team? Check: Nathan Cruz, Jamie Bornholm, and Christine Coolidge. The girls' soccer team: Anita Nuevo and Bonny Trask. The ones with boyfriends have their boyfriends along too, of course: Michael Allen with Catherine; Ethan Nieves with Anita; Eli Anders with Bonny. <br/>
<br/>
Michael's presence explains why the baseball team is heavily represented as well. Aside from Jason and Maize, there's Antonio Sanchez, Joe Ysleta (and his girlfriend, Victoria Rodriguez), and Noah Baker. <br/>
<br/>
There are some surprises, too, the chief of which are Yumi Saito and Lin Pol. <i>Shit. If they say anything to Chelsea about your being here ...</i><br/>
<br/>
But Catherine has caught sight of you. "Hey Gordon," she says in a cool tone as she approaches. "You're a surprise." She peers around you. "Is Chelsea here too?"<br/>
<br/>
"She was busy," you mumble around the cake in your mouth. "Too busy for me, too."<br/>
<br/>
"Mmm. I guess you must've come with Jason." You bridle a little, but her smile is tight, so she's probably not making the same joke Maize had. "Well, help yourself to the stuff in the kitchen." You heavily swallow the cake as she moves off.<br/>
<br/>
You look around, and then slide over to where Ethan and Eli are. They nod at your greeting, then return to their conversation. They're talking about a camping trip.<br/>
<br/>
"We've hit all the places up around Suffolk," Ethan says with a pained expression. "Come on, think of someplace new."<br/>
<br/>
"There's still those old caves up there," Eli says.<br/>
<br/>
"The old mines? They're off limits, you know that."<br/>
<br/>
"You a pussy, Nieves," you interrupt.<br/>
<br/>
He looks up at you, flintily. "Have you been in them, Black?"<br/>
<br/>
"Gordon's got better caves to explore." That's Jason, sidling up with a grin.<br/>
<br/>
They ignore him. "If I wanna go spelunking, I'll go up to those caverns in the Cathcarts," Ethan continues. "I want someplace we can do some hiking, rock climbing. Maybe a little hunting."<br/>
<br/>
"So how about the Cathcarts, then?" Eli says. He turns to Bonny, whose waist he's embracing. "You up for a weekend trip out there?"<br/>
<br/>
"If we hit the Cathcarts we should take Roth with us. He knows that area," Ethan says before Bonny can reply.<br/>
<br/>
Eli grumbles in the back of his throat. "Dude's too hardcore. He'll take us twenty miles in, then drop some acid and forget how to get us back out."<br/>
<br/>
They go on this way, never speaking to you or acknowledging your presence. You feel your temper rising at the way they ignore you, but abandon them before you can say something regrettable.<br/>
<br/>
The swimmers have moved onto the back porch, and since you're feeling warm you join them. "I can't do next Saturday," Christine is saying. "I'm helping the debate team out with their car wash."<br/>
<br/>
"You gonna be in your swimsuit?" Karl Hennepin asks. She nods. "Nice."<br/>
<br/>
"Me too," says Jamie. "Most of us are."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe I can come too," Nathan says in a hopeful tone. "That's a good excuse."<br/>
<br/>
Eyes flick around. "It's the girls they want in their swimsuits," Jamie says softly. Nathan turns pink.<br/>
<br/>
"Resolved," Karl says with a laugh. "Sexual exploitation in the pursuit of school fundraising is no vice."<br/>
<br/>
You suppress the urge to knock that stupid hat off his head. "Where's this car wash going to be," you ask instead. "Is Andrea gonna be there?"<br/>
<br/>
Silence, and only hooded glances in your direction. So Nathan speaks again. "Come on, someone tell me who I can hang out with. I'm gonna have to fake the flu to get out of helping Ricky and Amanda. I already killed off my grandmother to get out of it last time."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe Joe has a hot air balloon meet you can volunteer for," Christine says. She leans around you to shout into the house. "Joe, what are you doing Saturday?" Before he can answer, Karl pulls her back and whispers in her ear. She turns very red. "Oh, right. Never mind!" she calls back to Joe. You turn to look, and find Ysleta staring back with an oddly stricken expression.<br/>
<br/>
The rest of party continues in this unsatisfactory way, with everyone else making you feel at best only tolerated and at worst distinctly unwelcome. You bail early, jerking your elbow away from Jason when he tries to restrain you.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Caleb, still dressed out as Patterson, is waiting for you at the school on Sunday afternoon, and Tilley is with him. You're feeling calmer though, for you've had the night and morning to think. But you pre-empt them, lest Caleb feel the need to lecture you. "Tell me more about this 'key players' idea we're supposed to be working on," you say as you cross to the fridge.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb sucks on his lips. "I thought it was obvious. We occupy a central group--Gordon and Steve and their posse, I guess--and then send spider webs through the rest of the school."<br/>
<br/>
You nod as you suck on a beer. "Gonna be hard to share that central group, though."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb's cheek twitches. "Only if one of us decides to be grabby."<br/>
<br/>
"Look, if you wanna keep Javits down," Keith says, then falters. "Or make him ... me ... break up with Cindy ... Oh, fuck." He writhes in place. Clearly he's trying to be cooperative, but doesn't like the place you're trying to put him.<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe we don't need a central group," you say, segueing to what you've been thinking. "It's a big school, and we--" You gesture at yourself and at Caleb. "We run damn little of it."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb looks puzzled. "What are you saying?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm suggesting we each take a different corner. A core group of three or four people. Like, one of us takes Gordon and Chelsea and Steve and Jason. You don't need more than that to dominate the basketball team and cheerleaders and all the people that hang on to them. The other two take over the football team. Or the AP fuckers. Or, I dunno, the fucking chess club."<br/>
<br/>
"Those aren't the only key people," Caleb protests.<br/>
<br/>
"I know that. But those are, like, power centers. After that we take over extra key people, scattered around." Caleb leans back, a thoughtful expression on his face. "That way we avoid this fighting like we've been having."<br/>
<br/>
Keith looks dubious, but Caleb shrugs lightly. "That's possible," he says. "But who gets the fuck room and people who own it?"</span></div></div>


path: 111231222122112121112112211
author_id: seuzz
title: A New Plan
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"I want it," you say bluntly. "It's my idea, if we go with it."<br/>
<br/>
"Does that mean I don't get Javits?" Keith says.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't whine, Tilley," you snap. "You can still have him. You can keep Cindy, too. Javits just doesn't get promoted. You'll have compensations elsewhere."<br/>
<br/>
"I have to give up Steve?" Caleb asks.<br/>
<br/>
You nod. "Lynch, too. We'll have to make a new mask for him, since you already made him your slave. But we've got six new masks coming in tomorrow or Tuesday. Or, I dunno, keep him for the time being. You guys use the new masks to get yourselves set up. Wait until we've all got equal numbers, and then we'll all expand."<br/>
<br/>
"What about Chelsea?"<br/>
<br/>
"Wait until the expansion," you shrug. "She should be the first of the new pack, since she's got the school pretty well wired already."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb digs into Patterson's backpack and pulls out a notebook and mechanical pencil. "So, who have we got?" he says. "I've got Jessica and Jeremy. Myself. My old Caleb carcass, I mean."<br/>
<br/>
You grunt and grin. "'Cept you don't. Remember, your duplicate is my slave?" He frowns. "You can have him back, though. I don't want the cocksucker." He flips you off. "We'll have to use one of the new masks there, destroy that old one."<br/>
<br/>
"Okay," he sighs. "So I'll have Jessica and Jeremy and Caleb. That'll cost us one new mask, leaving us five. I still have Jason for the time being, so that's four for me. Who do you have?"<br/>
<br/>
"I have Gordon. Eva. Prescott. Give me Steve-o, and I'll also have four." You glance at Keith. "Tilley will have himself and Javits. Get two more for him, so we're all equal. That'll cost us four new masks, leaving one extra."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb scribbles. "We'll use that one on Jason. That drops me to three and raises you to five, zeroes out the new supply." More scribbling. "We'll get six new masks, at least, by Friday. I get two and Keith gets one, so we're all equal again with five each. That leaves three extras, one more for each of us, giving us each six total." He looks up. "Yours will go on Chelsea, I guess. Can you wait that long?" You shrug. "Alright, and since you're being so smart, who do you think Keith and me should take for our 'core groups'?"<br/>
<br/>
"Other sports teams. Cameron Huber, for a start. You can take him. Or do you want him, Tilley?"<br/>
<br/>
Keith hesitates, and Caleb leaps in. "I'll take him. Keith can start with Javits. That'll give him a better position to choose from."<br/>
<br/>
You talk a bit more about possibilities, but nothing definite gets decided, and the three of you go down to the gym proper for a little basketball. It's terribly ill-matched, of course, even though you try to keep it pleasant and restrained. Tilley plays on Patterson's side, but natural rivalry, and Keith's own ineptitude, mean he's quickly sidelined, and then it's just you and Patterson, playing brutally and foully. It only ends when Keith, trying to insert himself, comes between you and the basket, and for his trouble gets knocked almost six feet through the air to hit the floor hard. You're terribly apologetic, and he suffers nothing worse than some bad bruises, but it seems wisest to cut the session short. At least you're all on good terms again.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
After you all leave the gym, you realize it's been several hours since you've called Chelsea. After so much delay, she'll take a mere phone call very badly, so you drive out to her house.<br/>
<br/>
"Hi, pumpkin," she calls out as she bounds down the stairs. She stops at the landing and leans over the banister with a grin. The blood in your arteries freezes. She only calls you things like "pumpkin" when she is furious at you, and even at this distance you can see the crazed light in her eyes. "What have you been up to this afternoon?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just tossing a ball around with Steve and--" Keith's name would sound very odd coming from Gordon Black's mouth. "An' another guy. Time got away from me, and then I realized I hadn't seen you yet today. So ..."<br/>
<br/>
"I haven't seen you all weekend." Her grins widens--a feat of facial musculature you would have thought impossible before seeing it happen. "Whatdja do last night?"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Shit. Shit shit shit shit shit fuck piss ass fuck shit. That's what it's about.</i> "I hung out with Lynch yesterday afternoon, and wound up at a party he heard about from Maize Tsosie." You carefully shrug. "It was lame."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, I don't think any party you'd wind up at could be lame," she says. "Where was it?"<br/>
<br/>
There's no point in being anything but honest. "Catherine Muskov's. It was lame," you repeat.<br/>
<br/>
"And how did Catherine look?" Chelsea's smile, without altering in size, manages to grow very sharp.<br/>
<br/>
"She's a cross-country runner. She's skinny as a rail."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, that's right," Chelsea says, and the magma starts to crack through the frigid surface of her voice. "<i>She</i> doesn't have to diet. <i>She</i> doesn't have to exercise--"<br/>
<br/>
"She runs a dozen miles a day!"<br/>
<br/>
"<i>She</i> doesn't have to do aerobics whether she's sick or busy, in order keep a figure--like <i>I</i> do!"<br/>
<br/>
"She hasn't got anything to grab onto, like you do, eith-- Oh, crap, I don't mean--"<br/>
<br/>
But it's too late. Chelsea's face seems to fracture as it turns various shades of red and green and yellow and white in lots of different places. "No fat on her, huh? While I've got it by the fistful!" She clutches a boob in one hand and a buttock in the other. "Who else was out there?!"<br/>
<br/>
You hold up your hands. "You know what," you say with preternatural calmness. "I'm not even gonna talk about it. You know who was out there because the people who told you about it were there. I'll talk to you tomorrow at school."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't you fu-- ffff-- ffffff--- <i>dare</i> walk out on me, you-- You--!" You've just time to see her mother peek around the corner from the next room before you're in the foyer and out the door.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It would be just your luck if a blow up with Chelsea were followed by a blow up at home. Luckily, Dad must have got tied up at the station, so you're able to make a quick circuit of the outside of the house to see if anything needs straightening or fixing, and make a quick circuit of the inside, too, to put away any item or mess that could plausibly be laid on your shoulders. (Mom is away on one of her periodic, extended trips to her sister's, which you're old enough now to realize is her escape from the harsh home life.) You'd like to hide in your room, avoiding dear old dad altogether, but that's just as often as bad as being caught in the open by him.<br/>
<br/>
So you're sitting at the dining room table, diligently doing homework, when the door opens and he comes in. He glances at you briefly and appraisingly, then disappears through the living room into the bedroom. He emerges some twenty minutes later, out of uniform and in loose jeans and a t-shirt. He is shorter than you, but still very big and powerful. "A little late getting to the books, aren't you," he says dryly as he opens the refrigerator.<br/>
<br/>
"It's not due till Friday, actually," you lie. But it's an English essay, so it's a plausible falsehood. "Steve had to cut our afternoon practice short, so I thought I'd get a head start."<br/>
<br/>
He pours himself some juice, then comes to look over your shoulder. You stiffen as he flips the pages of the textbook for a closer look. He grunts. "Something wrong with the TV?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sir?"<br/>
<br/>
"The games."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh. Well, I thought it'd be better if I--"<br/>
<br/>
"If it's not due till Friday, you don't have to buckle down over it. I'll order a pizza and you can go pick it up."<br/>
<br/>
He's never nice, but he can sometimes be decent.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
As expected, new masks start to roll in on Monday. The Prescott and Johansson golems try passing theirs directly to you, but you jerk away and just growl "Eva and Jessica" at them. You don't need to be seen socializing with insects.<br/>
<br/>
But you should have growled "Jeremy" at them. Because when Eva plucks your shoulder and draws you to her locker, and you open your bag and start transferring masks, you look up to see Chelsea and Gloria and Kendra at the other end of the hall. At this distance it is very hard to read Chelsea's expression, but you can tell she's looking at you.<br/>
<br/>
You just turn and go off the other way, on the chance that she wasn't paying attention or didn't see who you were with. Besides, you need to get them up to the fuck room. Second period will be starting soon, and students are already filing into the gym, but you ignore them as you mount the stairs and unlock the door. Inside, you unzip your backpack and start setting out masks. The creak of the stairs warns you that someone is coming, but you assume it will be Patterson or Lynch. Only when the footsteps stop behind you, but no one speaks, do you turn.<br/>
<br/>
It's Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
She's leaning against the door, eyes glowing. "Well, we're at school," she says, her voice tight with strain. "Shall we continue that conversation you ran out on?"<br/>
<br/>
Something inside you snaps. You'd promised the six new masks to your confederates. But how could they be mad if you used one to take out this cunt who keeps making you miserable--and whose conversion would be of immense help in taking over the school?</span></div></div>


path: 111231222122112121112112212
author_id: imaj
title: It Came True...
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“I want it,” you say bluntly.<br/>
<br/>
“Is that Will Prescott speaking,” asks Caleb smoothly.  “Or Gordon Black?”<br/>
<br/>
The question hits you like a low blow and you feel your anger rising instinctively.  Caleb is right though:  It’s Black’s anger that’s welling up from the pit of your stomach.  Black’s anxieties and insecurities that drive the desire to hold onto the Fuck <br/>
Room.  Feeling tired, you reach up and tear away his mask from your face.  Shaking, Black’s outsized clothes drooping loosely from your smaller frame, you sag to the floor and let the mask go.<br/>
<br/>
“Fuck this shit,” you mutter unsteadily.<br/>
<br/>
“Be careful what you wish for,” says Keith quietly.  “For it might come true.”<br/>
<br/>
“The fuck Tilley,” splutters Caleb, exasperated.<br/>
<br/>
“He’s right,” you say eventually.  “I’m like the dog that caught the car:  Now what the fuck do I do?”<br/>
<br/>
“So what are you saying then,” asks Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
“Black’s life isn’t everything I thought it would be?  That I don’t want it anymore?  I’d rather be someone else,” you rattle off in quick succession, surprising yourself with the conviction of your answers.<br/>
<br/>
“I should never have offered you Black,” says Caleb apologetically.  He shakes his head slowly.  “I knew the crap it’d put you through and I went ahead and did it anyway.”<br/>
<br/>
“I see why now,” you respond with a touch of bitterness.<br/>
<br/>
“Maybe you’d enjoy Chelsea more,” suggests Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
“I have the feeling,” you begin pessimistically.  “That she has issues all of her own.”<br/>
<br/>
“True that,” says Caleb, evidently skimming through Patterson’s memories.<br/>
<br/>
“It’s ok for you, you’ve got the…  the…”<br/>
<br/>
“Pussy parade,” offers Keith, grinning idiotically.<br/>
<br/>
“Yeah smartass, the pussy parade,” says Caleb, he’s grinning though.  He’s probably still skimming through Patterson’s memories.<br/>
<br/>
“Look,” you explain.  “You take it all:  The Fuck Room, Patterson, Black, Lynch and Richards.  Me and Keith will go take over some other corner of the school.  Each.”<br/>
<br/>
“And Eva and Jessica,” asks Caleb hungrily.<br/>
<br/>
“We’ll split the cheerleader’s evenly.  When we have the masks.  First thing we need to do is get me and Keith into our new places.”<br/>
<br/>
“I don’t get to be Javits,” whines Keith.<br/>
<br/>
“Not unless you really want to,” says Caleb, spreading his hands.  “But do you really want to?  The shit he has to put up with from Black, well I’ll just say that Gordon liked spreading it around.”<br/>
<br/>
“I see,” responds Keith thoughtfully.  “I guess it could be like a game then.  All these cliques struggling against each other, never realising that their leaders all part of the same syndicate.”<br/>
<br/>
“You read too many comic books Tilley,” says Caleb gruffly, slipping back into his Patterson persona.  “But that would keep the peons in check.”<br/>
<br/>
“Why stay in Westside,” you say.  The thought bubbles out of nowhere and escapes your lips before you can consider it fully.<br/>
<br/>
“What,” say Caleb and Keith in unison.<br/>
<br/>
“Well it turns out the top is just as crappy as the bottom, so why even stay here,” you ask, giving the notion more thought.  “It just seems…  Well <i>unambitious</i> staying here when the masks could let us go anywhere.”<br/>
<br/>
Everyone is silent for a minute as they mull it over.<br/>
<br/>
“It’s a big step,” say’s Keith eventually.  “I guess we could look at the options.”<br/>
<br/>
“Or we could just chill here for a while,” says Caleb irritably.  “We don’t need to aim for world domination just yet.”<br/>
<br/>
“Well you would say that, wouldn’t you,” mugs Keith.  “What with the pussy parade and everything.”</span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121211122
author_id: seuzz
title: The Unmaking of Jason Lynch
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You regard him evenly: and an odd experience it is to face Gordon Black without flinching. "Jeremy said something about Gordon having issues. What's up?"<br/>
<br/>
He makes a face. "Home life. Dad's a psycho cocksucker. It doesn't help having Chelsea playing him like a yo-yo." He grimaces. "I wasn't joking about having to call her up and wish her a Merry Seven O'Clock and a Happy Seven-Fifteen." He shakes his head. "Sympathy for the devil is a fucking hard feeling to swallow."<br/>
<br/>
You grunt. "We're taking care of Chelsea. Can we take care of dear old dad the same way?"<br/>
<br/>
He shrugs. "Seems kind of a waste in his case." He hesitates, then shakes his head. "Never mind. I can handle it."<br/>
<br/>
He still seems uncertain, but you reflect that if the tension gets too bad he'll have other bodies he can escape into. "I'll be here for you." Just then the mask materializes on Steve's face. "First, though, can you sit on him for me? I'm not finished here."<br/>
<br/>
He pushes you aside and plops onto Steve, locking him onto the ground by resting his knees on the latter's shoulders. You only listen to the voices as you concentrate on finishing up the mask.<br/>
<br/>
Steve (muffled): "Eva, honey, what are you doing?" He listens. "Get off me or take this thing off my face."<br/>
<br/>
Gordon: "Eva had to split. I'm filling in for her."<br/>
<br/>
A lengthy pause. "Ha, you're riot. Get off."<br/>
<br/>
"Can't do that, buddy. We got plans for you."<br/>
<br/>
"We? You and that cunt?"<br/>
<br/>
"Which cunt?"<br/>
<br/>
A pause. "The cunny you've got in your shorts, you dickless fuckhead."<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry, Jason's not here."<br/>
<br/>
There's the sound of heavy breathing, and the floorboards creak. You flick a lighter to the inside of the mask.<br/>
<br/>
"This better be the set up to an early birthday present, Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
"It is. Just not for you." The flames dance.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm getting really pissed off now."<br/>
<br/>
"In a moment you'll be fine with it."<br/>
<br/>
The flames wink out and you crawl over to the boys. Gordon flicks the mask away and Steve blinks up at you. His brow furrows: clearly he doesn't recognize you. "Hey, you stud," you chirp in a falsetto. "That was a great kiss we shared. Teach me how you do it?" His eyes bug out, but you cover them with the mask. Eva's ghostly features blaze out briefly before they vanish into his face ...<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Close your eyes all the way. Turn your head. No, the other way." You follow Gordon's instructions. "Eva, look down a little so I can get your face." She shifts, resting her cheek on your left pectoral. There's a click. "Okay, now one of you two naked, just laying next to each other."<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck," you murmur. Your cock, thrust deeply up Eva's pussy, throbs with suppressed urgency, but she raises up and it slips out of her.<br/>
<br/>
Gordon lowers the cell phone with a frown. "That ain't post-coital, dude." <br/>
<br/>
"Speak for yourself," you chortle. "I'm ready to go again within minutes. Anyway, when did a dumbass like you learn a fancy word like 'post-coital'?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yo' momma taught it to me after I fell asleep inside her," he growls. He studies the phone. "Well, that's three, and the last one'll sell it."<br/>
<br/>
"Good. Send it to Chelsea and fuck on outta here. I got business to finish." You run a finger down Eva's bare back.<br/>
<br/>
"We just need the photos, not the act."<br/>
<br/>
"We don't need either," you retort. "So Chelsea gets her blackmail pics. We're gonna get <i>her</i> soon."<br/>
<br/>
"They might be useful. I think she's got something long-range and complicated in mind."<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus, can you pick 'em. Oh, I forgot. She was your first."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm gonna bust your fucking head open if you don't shut your piehole, Patterson," he shouts, turning crimson in the face. <br/>
<br/>
"<i>There's</i> the Gordon Black I know," you exclaim. "Okay, sweetie, you can go home now." You leer at Eva. "Gordon and I are gonna suck each other off."<br/>
<br/>
Gordon ignores you as he concentrates on the phone. As Eva dresses, turning this way and that as she draws starched fabrics on, your cock rises and falls appreciatively. After she totters out, you rake your fingers through your chest hair and prop your head up on an arm. You yawn. "I'm bored and horny. Can we get a real girl up here?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just get dressed."<br/>
<br/>
You grunt but don't move. The loft is still warm in the early evening sun, and the air is still. The stench that offended you as Eva now seems very masculine. You glance down and around your still swollen cock at your feet. They seem very far away. Patterson is almost six-six, taller even than Gordon, though a little rangier. You lift your knee and rest your forearm on it. Vaguely you wonder where that beer got off to.<br/>
<br/>
There's a noise from down below, and you and Gordon glance at each other. Is Eva coming back? But when the door opens—<br/>
<br/>
"Oh man, looks like I'm late for the fun," Jason Lynch grins. "Or is it just getting started? You look happy to see me, Patterson."<br/>
<br/>
"I thought I told you to keep the fuck away," Gordon growls.<br/>
<br/>
"You were serious?" Jason asks with faux surprise. "Well, I can see now why you wanted your privacy. We got anything to drink?"<br/>
<br/>
He starts to the fridge but Gordon blocks him. Lynch is short even by normal standards, almost a foot shorter than Black, and though he's strong and stocky the basketball captain leans over him like a mountain over a foothill. "You don't realize it, Lynch, but this is strike three."<br/>
<br/>
You sit up with a grunt and clamber over to the bag that has the third mask, but you stop at a word from Gordon. He shakes his head slightly and looks back down Lynch.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm sick of your shit, Lynch," he says quietly. "Sick of your shit and sick of you."<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, okay, I'm sorry I busted in," Lynch says uncertainly. He shrugs.<br/>
<br/>
"You're not welcome here anymore," Gordon says. "All the shit you brought up here? Confiscated."<br/>
<br/>
You get to your feet and sweep up your shorts. Jason looks over at you nervously as you put them on. "I don't— Yeah, sure, if you want me to make myself scarce for a few days, I will."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't get it. This isn't discipline. It's not punishment. You're out."<br/>
<br/>
You slap your shirt onto your shoulder and stride over to stand next to Gordon, hands on hips. The terrifying Jason Lynch looks very small as you stare down at him. "No, I don't get it," he protests.<br/>
<br/>
"We're sending you back to the minors," you say with a shadow of a smile.<br/>
<br/>
He licks his lips. "How long?"<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head and turn away. "Gordon--!" Jason says, and you hear a crack and hard thump behind you. You pull your shirt on and look around for socks and shoes. "Jethuth," Jason mutters. You find them and pull them on. The floorboards creak behind you, and there's the sound of another blow. You stretch your arms high in the air and palm the ceiling, pushing it to test your muscles. Something scrapes and scuttles along the floor behind you.<br/>
<br/>
"Has he figured it out yet?" you call irritably. The door closes and you glance back. Gordon smirks, but there is anger in his eyes. "Kind of a sudden decision, isn't it? I thought he were gonna convert him."<br/>
<br/>
"I spent last night thinking about it," he says. He takes a few heavy steps, then kicks a box, hard. "There's only room for three up here, and I want Javits as the third. Besides, it feels good kicking Lynch down."<br/>
<br/>
"Why Javits?"<br/>
<br/>
"For Tilley's sake."<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck him. What's Tilley ever done for us?"<br/>
<br/>
He glares darkly at you. "Don't be an asshole. I've had my fill of cunts and assholes today. Javits gets a mask, and I don't see any point on wasting more masks than we need to."<br/>
<br/>
"If you don't want to waste masks, promote Richards up here. That'd be the smart play."<br/>
<br/>
"After today's photo shoot?" he asks incredulously. "How would that look?"<br/>
<br/>
"Like gold." You find your beer and take a swig while eyeing Gordon meaningfully. "He dumps Eva," you explain. "He has to. But he joins us up here. What better way to prove his team spirit than by choosing the company of the cocksucker who nailed his girlfriend and the motherfucker who set him up?" You belch. "We also show how we reward loyalty. You pay our price—hand over your pussy privileges—and you get a key to the kingdom."<br/>
<br/>
His eyes narrow, gleaming with admiration and loathing. "You think all that through just now?"<br/>
<br/>
You snicker. "Been in the back of my mind since ... Well, since you told me about your and Chelsea's plan to deal with Eva. Wasn't sure it would work until ... Well, until just a little while ago." You grin. "Now I know we don't have to worry about Richards not playing along."</span></div></div>


path: 11123122212211212112
author_id: seuzz
title: Chelsea Keeps It Real
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"It's fun being a girl," you reply, "but I want a hot girlfriend, not <i>be</i> one."<br/>
<br/>
"Gordon Black it is for you, then," Caleb grins. "We shouldn't have sent Jeremy home. We had the night to plot with him."<br/>
<br/>
"You're still down a golem on me," you point out. "In these bodies you and me are pretty close to Chelsea. We can get her for you, and then we can get Gordon easy."<br/>
<br/>
"It's fun being a girl, but I'm not sure I want a boyfriend," he replies, tossing your own <i>mot</i> back at you.<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't say you had to <i>be</i> her. We'll just make her <i>your</i> puppet."<br/>
<br/>
That cheers him up. "Leave it to me," he says. "I know how to get to her."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
And so the next day at practice Jessica Garner is a royal terror. She argues with Chelsea; she backtalks her; she refuses to follow directions; she mocks the captain's suggestions. When practice is over, Chelsea stalks away in a rage. "That's your cue," Jessica tells you quietly as the queen and her entourage sweep off toward the locker room. "Tell her you want to talk to her privately. After school I'll have the stuff ready for you to take over to her house."<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea doesn't look at you when you sidle up to her at her changing locker. "Can you and me get together after school to talk? It's kind of important."<br/>
<br/>
"Is your sister having another abortion?" Chelsea sneers without looking over at you. "That's the only excuse she could have, and I still wouldn't put up with it."<br/>
<br/>
"She's trying to help you, Chelsea," you say, lowering your voice to a whisper. "There's stuff going on with the team that you don't know about. She's trying to divert it."<br/>
<br/>
She turns to stare at you. If there's one thing that can get Chelsea's attention it's the promise of gossip; and if there's one thing that will make her interested in listening to another person, it's gossip about anything that could threaten her position.<br/>
<br/>
"Listen, I can't say anything now—" There's nothing you could say, there being no substance to your insinuations "—but if can talk to you over at your house ... You need to be on your guard, and Jessica is trying to make you <i>see</i> that."<br/>
<br/>
Her eyes are wide but hard. "Five-thirty," she says. "This better not be a lot of bullshit."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"What happened?" she says, sitting up. She frowns and looks around, disoriented. "I thought for a moment—" Her eyes settle on you, and narrow. "Did you punch me in the face, you little bitch?"<br/>
<br/>
You open your mouth to reply, but then stop, baffled by the golem's hostile behavior. Chelsea leaps from the bed and hurries over to her bedroom mirror, where she scans her face closely. She turns to glare at you. "You grabbed me and then—" She bites her lip, trying to contain her fury.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, just calm down, Chelsea," you tell her firmly.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't talk to me like that, you cunt," she retorts. Her cheeks are pale. "If you tried—" Her small, compact frame starts to quiver. "The fuck are you and your cunt sister up to?"<br/>
<br/>
"Look, just shut up a moment."<br/>
<br/>
Her lips peel back. "Get out of my house! Oh, you are in so much trouble! By the time I'm through with you and your sister and your brother not even those cocksucking priests at the Catholic school will let you in!"<br/>
<br/>
And then she charges you, fists swinging. You throw up in your hands in defense, but she just grabs and gouges at you. Only when you flee her bedroom and then the house do you feel safe.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Did you fuck up the mask?" Caleb asks in horror after you get home and tell him what happened. His eyes—Jessica's eyes—are wide with fear.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't think so," you say, though you feel so ghastly that you can't be sure. You run through the steps in your mind, but it's all just a blur. It was a blur at the time, of course, for you had to get the varnish on and the hair in and the mask lit and extinguished in the brief time between when you could remove the mask from Chelsea's face and before she could wake again. Maybe you did miss a crucial step.<br/>
<br/>
"Our lives aren't going to be worth living if Chelsea is still herself," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"You mean Eva and Jessica's lives won't be worth living," you point out. "We can find ourselves a new position. Look at the bright side."<br/>
<br/>
"We can't run away from this," he says. "She's got a mask on her and we'll have to get it off. Sooner rather than later."<br/>
<br/>
"That's doable if we can get Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
"I talked to Jeremy while you were over at Chelsea's. He says he can't get us close to Gordon. He's not tight enough with Black."<br/>
<br/>
"There's got to be other ways."<br/>
<br/>
"Not using Eva and Jessica. Ten to one we go in tomorrow and discover we've been kicked off the squad. Million to one."<br/>
<br/>
"Coach Tesla might have something to say about that," you say, grasping at straws.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb makes a face. "I'm not wasting a mask on that old bag."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The next morning no one will talk to you before practice. The other girls huddle in discrete knots before practice, and then Coach Tesla, who never appears, comes out of her office long enough to summon you and Jessica inside.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea is there, arms folded and glaring grimly. Her expression is nasty and triumphant as she looks at you. Then her eyes shift to Jessica—and she turns very pale.<br/>
<br/>
"We've got a little problem, girls," Coach Tesla says solemnly. "Chelsea says something happened last night at her house, that she and Eva got in a fight."<br/>
<br/>
"We didn't get in a fight," you protest. "She just fainted, and then when she came to she thought I'd done something to her."<br/>
<br/>
"You <i>did</i> do something to me," she exclaims, but her voice quavers. She looks everywhere but at you and Jessica.<br/>
<br/>
"We went up to her room is all," you insist. "I turned around to say something, and then she gasped or something and fell back on her bed. I tried reviving her, you know, rubbing her face and her wrists, and then when she woke up again I guess she thought I was ... I dunno ..."<br/>
<br/>
The coach looks between you and Chelsea, and sighs. "Okay, I'm going to leave you girls alone to talk about it. I'll take charge of practice until you get it sorted out." She gives everyone a very serious look and then leaves.<br/>
<br/>
"Chelsea, I don't know what you think happened—" you start.<br/>
<br/>
"I know exactly what happened!" she shrieks, but her voice is ragged and her face pale. She swallows, but doesn't continue.<br/>
<br/>
"Tell us what happened," Jessica says.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea's eyes seem to roll back in her head, and for a moment you think she's going to pass out. But she shakes herself. When she speaks again her voice is quiet. "I took Eva up to my bedroom. When we got there, she turned around and shoved ... something ... at my face. When I came to again, I attacked her."<br/>
<br/>
"Who did you tell this to?" Jessica asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Gordon, Kendra, Gloria, and Maria," she says, hurrying breathlessly through the list.<br/>
<br/>
"What did they say?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't have to answer <i>your</i> questions, bitch!" she spits.<br/>
<br/>
You and Jessica stare at her and then at each other. Then Jessica, hardly hiding the tremble in her own voice, asks, "Do you have to answer <i>my</i> questions?"<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea nods her head furiously and bursts into tears.<br/>
<br/>
Jessica lets out a huge sigh then leans against the coach's desk. She starts laughing and hiccupping.<br/>
<br/>
"It's because she's <i>my</i> golem," she finally gasps. "You numbnuts, of course she's not going to be <i>your</i> slave. Chelsea," she says, "if I told you go out there and tell everyone you were a dyke and that you were in love with Coach Tesla, would you do it?"<br/>
<br/>
"You wouldn't," she moans, and rocks on her feet.<br/>
<br/>
"No, I wouldn't do that to you," Jessica says, and catches Chelsea up in her arms. "Just as long as I know that you would, it's okay."<br/>
<br/>
You rub your eyes with the heels of your hands. It makes sense now, in a horrible sort of way. You are so used to thinking of you and Caleb as sharing control of your slaves that it never occurred to you that a Caleb-enslaved Chelsea-golem wouldn't obey you. In fact, the golem would have continued to act just like Chelsea, until it met up with its master.<br/>
<br/>
"So what were you going to do?" you ask it. "Besides kick us off the team?" She shoots you a hostile look, but Jessica nudges her.<br/>
<br/>
"I told everyone you made a pass at me and that I fought you off," she says. "That's what I told Kendra and Gloria." <i>Great, it'll be all over the school by now.</i> "I told Gordon you started hitting me and stuff."<br/>
<br/>
"Can you fix it?" Jessica asks her. "Tell everyone you made a mistake?"<br/>
<br/>
Her eyes widen in horror. "It'd ruin me. I can't tell people I <i>lied!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"People already think you're a liar," she retorts, and Chelsea flinches. "Just tell them—"<br/>
<br/>
"Hang on," you interrupt. "We don't have to fix it. So Eva and Jessica come a cropper. Tough shit, they're only pawns. You can switch into Chelsea herself or someone else. And she's a good girl, she'll get us Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
Jessica leans against the desk, and a gleam comes into her eyes. "Or we use the scandal to our own advantage. If Chelsea gets caught making a pass at another girl, it could topple the whole school hierarchy!"<br/>
<br/>
* Use the scandal to topple Chelsea's gang (non-canonical): "<a href="https://www.Writing.Com/main/interactive-story/item_id/2236945/action/view/chapter_map/111231222122112121122" target="_top" title="Interactive Story Chapter in Item # 2236945">School for Scandal</a>" <a href="https://www.Writing.Com/main/interactive-story/item_id/2236945/action/view/chapter_map/111231222122112121122" target="_blank" title="Open in new window."><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: 111231222122112121121
author_id: seuzz
title: The Swimmer
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"We wanted to run the school, right?" you ask. Caleb nods. "We can't do that if we topple the ruling clique. Anyway, Chelsea still has to take orders from us." The head cheerleader shoots you a waspish look, but at a glance from Caleb she nods unhappily. "So nothing's really changed. Except that Eva and Jessica are off the cheerleader squad."<br/>
<br/>
"I guess you're right," Caleb grumbles. <br/>
<br/>
"You can still switch into her," you point out.<br/>
<br/>
"I'll have to do it after school," he says. "I'll get Gordon, too."<br/>
<br/>
"That's the spirit," you say. "Come on, let's go tell Coach Tesla we're off the team."<br/>
<br/>
Still, there's a despondency to your tread as you exit the office, leaving Chelsea behind. Coach Tesla and the other girls turn as you approach. "We can't stay on the squad," Jessica tells the coach.  "Chelsea's ... Well, it just wouldn't work."<br/>
<br/>
"I understand," she says grimly. "I'm sorry, girls. Maria, back in formation!" she calls as he returns to business. You give a little wave to your friends, but no one returns it: Chelsea has appeared in the meantime, with a gloating expression on her face.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Jeremy catches you after first period, to tell you that he received an ultimatum of his own from Black and Patterson: he's to stop seeing you. "Well, that's just peachy." you bitterly reply. "Are you relieved or upset?"<br/>
<br/>
"It wasn't really working between us, was it?"<br/>
<br/>
"I guess not. But we'll be in touch one way or another."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I getcha," he says sullenly. "Your friend will be, at any rate."<br/>
<br/>
Despite Eva's catastrophe, you feel disconnected from it all. Maybe that shouldn't be a surprise. After all, it's Eva's persona, not you, that has suffered the reversal; and you even have to kind of admire how thoroughly Chelsea has practiced her vindictiveness. It's the kind of power that you and Caleb sought to grasp. However terrifying it is to be on the receiving end, you don't forget that, ultimately, it's you and he that hold the lever. This setback--which isn't even really a defeat--was just a cock up on your part.<br/>
<br/>
But you have to play the part of the wronged Eva Garner, and you do your best. You sulk in the back of your classes, arms crossed, glaring at nothing, pretending that you are fighting back tears. Maybe Chelsea's reach is that long, or maybe your performance just drives everyone away, but no one comforts you or talks to you.<br/>
<br/>
At lunch force of habit almost leads you to the cafeteria, but you catch yourself before making that fatal error. For that you have to thank a knot of losers--guys in hoodies and pants drooping off their hips and crotches--smirking at you near the entrance. "Hey Eva," one of them calls. "Lookin' for company? Hang with us, we can find a girl for you." Abruptly you turn on your heel and exit another door. <br/>
<br/>
Somehow you wind up in the gym: lunch, oddly, is the one time it is almost sure to be empty of jocks and their bitches. You skirt the basketball floor, where a bunch of freshmen and sophomores are playing under the eye of the assistant coach. The upper deck is where the weight machines are, and you might run into someone there. You go out the other side, then on an impulse duck into the gym annex, which contains extra practice spaces as well as the school swimming pool.<br/>
<br/>
It stinks of chlorine, but it is very cool, and the slap of the water in the pool is calming. You walk slowly around the edge of the pool, head bent in thought. In a few hours, if Caleb handles it right, you and he will have your own fists inside the gloves that wield the whip: him in Chelsea and you in Gordon Black. It is a comforting thought, though somewhat tempered by your keen awareness of what it's like to feel the tip of that lash. <br/>
<br/>
A dark shape bobs to the surface of the pool, and you start. Andrea Varnsworth smiles up at you. "Got your suit?" she asks. "Come on in, the water's fine."<br/>
<br/>
You blink, then shake your head. She shrugs and pulls herself onto the lip of the pool; water cascades off her shoulders and bosoms and hips and long, long legs. Despite wearing Eva's form, you swallow hard.<br/>
<br/>
She seems to have caught your glance, for she smiles again. "Hand me my towel?" She nods at a bundle a few feet away, and you totter over to retrieve it. She sits on the edge of the pool, feet dangling in the water. "Dry me off?"<br/>
<br/>
You swallow again. Andrea is the dark mare of the school: cool and sexy and insouciant and famously unattached to anyone. She keeps to herself and watches everyone. Eva has never talked to her; you yourself, naturally, have never had the nerve. And yet here she is, asking you to ... touch her.<br/>
<br/>
Gingerly you pat her down. "You'll have to be rougher than that," she says. "And I'll never get dry if you don't do something about my hair." You take her long, dark hair in the folds of cloth and tousle it.<br/>
<br/>
"Why weren't you wearing a cap?" you ask, and your voice catches.<br/>
<br/>
"I wasn't practicing, just relaxing. I like being wet. Don't you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Um." You're glad you don't have any chewing gum in your mouth, or you might have swallowed it.<br/>
<br/>
"So I hear you made a pass at Chelsea Cooper last night."<br/>
<br/>
You almost drop the towel. "That's not true," you say with some little emotion. "She just ... misunderstood something I did."<br/>
<br/>
She laughs lightly. "Life is full of misunderstandings. That's what makes it interesting. Nothing fun would happen if people didn't ... misunderstand each other. Or themselves."<br/>
<br/>
"She just fainted was all. I was trying to revive her."<br/>
<br/>
"Hard to misunderstand something like that unless you tried mouth-to-mouth on her."<br/>
<br/>
"Would you please stop it, Andrea?" you say. "You're the first person today who's even talked to me."<br/>
<br/>
"But you do want to talk about it, don't you?" She turns. Her gaze is warm but veiled. "I just broached the subject because you couldn't find a way to."<br/>
<br/>
"It was just a stupid mistake," you say firmly, but wretchedly aware of how tinny your insistences sound. "That's all I want to tell everyone."<br/>
<br/>
"And now you've told someone. I'll say something too, and I hope you won't misunderstand me." Her lips twitch. "I could've told you not to get into that kind of a misunderstanding with Chelsea Cooper."<br/>
<br/>
You fumble the towel. Your mind has suddenly turned into an adding machine and with a click-click-click a column of numbers that you never knew belonged together have suddenly resolved themselves into a very interesting sum. Andrea, for all her beauty, is firmly on the margins of Westside social life; and yet she towers over it as something unattainable. Chelsea does not tolerate even the semblance of rivalry from others, and yet she has never, to your knowledge, done anything to try cutting Andrea down to size.<br/>
<br/>
"I never thought to ask you if I should," is all you say as an odd picture, of Andrea and Chelsea, cocked revolvers to each other's foreheads, appears in your mind.<br/>
<br/>
"Until last night," Andrea says with a laugh. "Sit down."<br/>
<br/>
Awkwardly you lower yourself by her side and she turns to you. Her hair hangs like thick seaweed around her narrow, oval face. You expect her to speak, but instead she leans in and kisses you. Her lips taste of chlorine, naturally, but her mouth has a spiciness, like cinnamon or cloves or nutmeg. Her kiss is gentle but firm, and she sucks you into herself rather than burrowing into you. You're breathing raggedly when she breaks it off.<br/>
<br/>
"I like that," she says. "Chelsea has no taste if she doesn't. But then, her tastes run toward that ox. Or so she's convinced herself."<br/>
<br/>
"My tastes-- I mean, I don't-- I'm not--" <br/>
<br/>
"You're not?" Her tone is light, holding no disappointment. "That's too bad. I like you. I like all the girls on the squad. But Chelsea likes to keep the fluffy ones all to herself. She wants to be a fluffy one, too, but she's like me, hard as redwood inside."<br/>
<br/>
"Cedar," you blurt out, finally placing what the taste of her mouth reminds you of. You could be wrong, though, but you don't dare try to confirm the hypothesis with another kiss. Andrea looks at you curiously. "Nothing," you mutter.<br/>
<br/>
"Hmm." She draws back and drinks you in slowly, from your knees to your hips to your boobs to your lips to your eyes. "You're a funny one, Eva. I really wouldn't have pegged you as one to suffer from a ... misunderstanding. But have I misunderstood you?"<br/>
<br/>
You told Caleb you wanted a squad of boys as your team players because you wanted a hot girlfriend. And so you can't quite bring yourself to agree with Andrea that she has misunderstood you.<br/>
<br/>
"What are you doing tonight?" she asks.</span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121211211
author_id: seuzz
title: Two Triangles
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"While you've been moping around like the saddest girl in the world, <i>I've</i> been getting things done," Jessica says as she flounces up to your locker at the end of the day. You look at her from under your eyelashes. "Jeremy's meeting us at our place after school," she continues, leaning in to talk to you a low voice. "I'll be going over to Chelsea's as him. Chelsea will get Gordon out there with the excuse that they all need to talk. Do you want to wait in the car, or have me bring Gordon's stuff back to the house so you can change there?"<br/>
<br/>
"Umm, do I have to be involved in this at all?" you ask. "Can you just, you know, get Gordon's mask made and put it back on him? That's all we need, is to get a mask on him."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't want to actually switch?" she asks. "I figured you were dying to get out of Eva."<br/>
<br/>
"I have a date tonight, and it has to be Eva who shows up."<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't figure it would be <i>Prescott</i> who had to show up," he acidly replies. "Who is it with?"<br/>
<br/>
"Andrea Varnsworth," you mouth.<br/>
<br/>
Her mouth drops.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, yeah," she says =. "You definitely wouldn't be going as Prescott, would you. What's the story?"<br/>
<br/>
You tell him about your encounter with the swimmer at lunch. "You wouldn't ask me to not be there, would you, dude?"<br/>
<br/>
She ignores your rhetorical question, and leans back and lets her eyes roll toward the ceiling. "Andrea Varnsworth. Man, what I wouldn't give to have a slice of her."<br/>
<br/>
A sharp feeling of possessiveness sweeps over you. "She's mine," you snarl. "All mine!"<br/>
<br/>
"You said you wanted guys for your team!"<br/>
<br/>
"I said I wanted girlfriends. I didn't figure on there being a twist in the tail."<br/>
<br/>
"Shhh. Keep your voice down. Now look." Jessica puts an arm around your shoulder and grips you. "You're going to want to keep her, right? There's only one way to do that."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't patronize me. She likes 'em fluffy, and Eva is fluffy."<br/>
<br/>
"But you wanna be in control, and Eva isn't the controlling type." Her grip tightens. "I can give you just as good a time with her," she says, her voice deepening to a growl. "<i>As</i> her."<br/>
<br/>
"You'd claim Chelsea <i>and</i> Andrea?"<br/>
<br/>
"I was gonna let you have Black <i>and</i> Patterson."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm suddenly less interested in them."<br/>
<br/>
"You're gonna let a girl come between us?"<br/>
<br/>
"Dude," you protest.<br/>
<br/>
"No, I get it," she says, leaning back again. "I guess I shoulda seen it coming. This kind of power, these kinds of possibilities ... Yeah, it was actually kind of predictable."<br/>
<br/>
You sigh. "Are you saying you'd <i>be</i> my girlfriend?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'd be <i>Andrea</i> for you," she replies. "I bet her hands feel real good running up and down her body when she's drying herself off."<br/>
<br/>
"You didn't answer my question. Look, let's just see how it plays out tonight," you say, trying to postpone the quarrel. "Maybe it'll be weird. Can you handle Gordon by yourself?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," she says unhappily. "But you <i>will</i> take our last blank along tonight. You get me? This could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"My mom's working late," Andrea says as she lets you in. She steps lightly back into the house without beckoning you to follow. "Did you eat yet?"<br/>
<br/>
"Uh-uh." It's a small house in one of the pokier parts of town. The living room is spare to the point of being Spartan, with only a futon in one corner, a desk and chair in the other, and a bookcase in between. There's no TV, only an old-style boom box and a stack of CDs, and a laptop on the desk.<br/>
<br/>
Andrea disappears through a wide doorway at the other side of the living space. "Kitchen's in here," she calls. "I was making myself a Greek salad."<br/>
<br/>
"Sounds yummy." You follow her. The kitchen is also small, but warm. The air of hippiedom continues with some ugly 70s-style prints on the wall. "What does your mom do?"<br/>
<br/>
"She's a waitress. Kind of a hand-to-mouth existence in some ways, but it means she can take months off at a time. She took me to Australia when I was twelve for a whole summer."<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't think waitresses made that much."<br/>
<br/>
"They do at Ristorante Locarno." You let out a low whistle. "Yeah," she smiles. "Twenty, twenty-five percent on a bill for twelve people on entrees that start at fifty dollars? Look in that drawer next to you." You open it; it's stuffed with twenties. "She's co-manager, too. Been there forever, and everyone loves her. When I was little I thought it normal to play Monopoly with real money, not the funny colored stuff."<br/>
<br/>
"And you live <i>here?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
She gives you a look.<br/>
<br/>
"No one ever got rich <i>spending</i> money on junk. Anyway," she adds, turning back to the wooden bowl of vegetables, "I sometimes help out, so I've got some spending money of my own."<br/>
<br/>
"I worked at Taco Bell over the summer," you say, miserably aware of how pathetic that sounds.<br/>
<br/>
"That's great," she says. "Never been in one myself. How's the food?"<br/>
<br/>
"Cheap."<br/>
<br/>
"Come over on Saturday, and I'll fix you something Bolivian."<br/>
<br/>
"Are you for real?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not a hippie, if that's what you're asking." There's the sound of the front door opening. "Oh, there's the other guest. He called just before you arrived, invited himself over. But you'll like him."<br/>
<br/>
You have a sinking dread of who it will turn out to be, and peer around the corner. The reality is even worse.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, aren't you cute," Charles Hartlein chortles when  he sees you. "Come on out and lemme take a look at you."<br/>
<br/>
You look back at Andrea, but she just smiles privately to herself. You go back into the living room.<br/>
<br/>
Hartlein is casually dressed as ever in that way of his that combines neatness and slovenliness: a thin white t-shirt emblazoned with Mickey Mouse's face and name, cargo shorts, running shoes, and a watch on a leather wristband. His hair and beard are trimmed neatly. <br/>
<br/>
Something about the shirt catches your eye: it doesn't say "Mickey Mouse," it says "Maikey Mouse." He catches your stare and glances down, then grins. "Yeah, brilliant, isn't it? A friend of mine bought it from a street vendor in Seoul. Wanna bet Disney didn't get any royalties? Drea, is it rabbit food again?" he calls. "I wore my rodent shirt 'cos I was sure it would be." She says something inaudible and he passes into the kitchen. There's a shriek and some nasally laughter and then more banter. You sit on the futon, feeling out of your depth.<br/>
<br/>
Dinner, when it comes, is thinner than you're used to, but tasty. "I'll show you the garden on Saturday," Andrea says. You girls sit cross-legged on the floor while Charles takes the futon. Andrea tries paying attention to you, but Charles dominates the conversation with a lot of snark and allusions whose meaning escapes you. When you're all finished, he crosses his legs at the knee and ankle, lights a cigarette and peers at you through the smoke. <br/>
<br/>
"She's a doll, Drea," he says. "I can't wait to show her around. There are <i>so</i> many people who will get a kick out of her."<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't win her at the carnival," Andrea says.<br/>
<br/>
He sniggers. "But she is a prize. You'll fit right in," he says, his eyes shifting back to you. "As soon as we get you loosened up."<br/>
<br/>
You feel yourself stiffen. Hanging out with Andrea is one thing. But if this cocksucker is going to be lurking around, and if he thinks--<br/>
<br/>
"So what happened between you and Chelsea?" he asks bluntly. "Were you drunk? Was she? I bet she's into her daddy's Scotch every night."<br/>
<br/>
"How about some music?" Andrea asks. She leaps to her feet and puts a CD into the player. A jazzy Latin number fills the air, and she pulls you up to dance. You are awkward and uncomfortable, especially in front of Charles, who just grins at the two of you like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. When you're done, he grinds out his second cigarette.<br/>
<br/>
"We'll have to do something about one of her left feet," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm tired now," Andrea says, and it's like the lights have snapped out. "Both of you can go now." She disappears into the kitchen.<br/>
<br/>
Charles chuckles and stands. "I'll walk you to your car," he says, and goes to the door. "It was dreamy, Drea, but it always is when you and me get together!" He goes out the front door.<br/>
<br/>
You're left stranded in the living room, unsure what to do. Anger mounts inside you as you hike your purse onto your shoulder, and the weight reminds you that there is a mask inside it. If things are going to work out between you and Andrea--and you desperately want them to--you have the distinct impression you are going to have to do something about this very queer friendship between Charles and Andrea.<br/>
<br/>
* Copy Charles Hartlein (non-canonical): "<a href="https://www.Writing.Com/main/interactive-story/item_id/2236945/action/view/chapter_map/11123122212211212112112" target="_top" title="Interactive Story Chapter in Item # 2236945">Oh, the Drama!</a>" <a href="https://www.Writing.Com/main/interactive-story/item_id/2236945/action/view/chapter_map/11123122212211212112112" target="_blank" title="Open in new window."><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: 11123122212211212112111
author_id: imaj
title: Copy Andrea Varnsworth
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You stalk out the house angrily, finding Hartlein leaning nonchalantly against a wall outside.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't let Drea throw you," he says kindly. "She takes getting used to."<br/>
<br/>
"If you say so. But did I do something wrong?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, that's just her being her." He folds his arms. "Don't let her intimidate you. She's not as cool on the inside as she pretends to be on the outside."<br/>
<br/>
“So are you saying I should go back in,” you ask accusingly.  “Maybe it would be a bit easier if you weren’t there.”<br/>
<br/>
“If you say so,” he smirks irritatingly. “I’ll just go wait in my car, shall I?”<br/>
<br/>
You stare daggers at him as he saunters away, not sure if he’s trying to help you or mocking you.  Probably both.  Still, it can’t hurt to try again, and you don’t want to return to Caleb empty handed tomorrow.  You rap your knuckle against the door sharply and wait.  After a few moments, it opens a crack.<br/>
<br/>
“I forgot something,” you say to Andrea.  It’s the truth, in a way.<br/>
<br/>
Andrea opens the door wider and rests her hands on her hips.  She eyes you warily for a second before asking “What?”<br/>
<br/>
“This,” you reply, leaning in and kissing her gently on the lips.  <br/>
<br/>
She is unresponsive at first, surprised even.  Then she starts kissing back forcefully, hungrily exploring your mouth with her tongue.  You break off momentarily to squeal as Andrea snakes her hands behind you to grasp your shapely Eva butt.<br/>
<br/>
You kiss her again as she drags you back inside, closing the door behind you with her foot.  For a moment, you think you hear someone chuckling outside.  Then you definitely hear the sound of a car starting up and driving off.  You disentangle yourself from Andrea and look round.<br/>
<br/>
“I’m sorry about Charles,” says Andrea, her voice has much more warmth in it now.  “Sometimes he just invites himself over, I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.”<br/>
<br/>
“It’s just,” you begin, feigning nervousness.  “Well, this is all new for me.”<br/>
<br/>
“Eva,” tuts Andrea, “I don’t think you’ve been nervous on a date in a long time.”<br/>
<br/>
“You know what I mean,” you say, blushing brightly.  You’ve put Eva’s personality to the side because you realise a remark like that might spur the real deal to violence.  Instead you continue.  “I don’t normally go on dates where some guy’s cackling away on the side lines like a demented uncle.”<br/>
<br/>
“You’ve got me alone now, what are you going to do with me” asks Andrea archly.  She spins away and starts leading you by the hand back to the living room.<br/>
<br/>
You’re suddenly aware of the weight of the blank mask in Eva’s purse.  What do you want to do with Andrea?  She’s facing away from you, alone in the house with her guard lowered.  It would be so simple to slip the mask on her and wear her face as your own for a while.<br/>
<br/>
So that’s what you do.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">****</div><br/>
<br/>
“Mirror,” you say curtly to the sullen faced Eva.<br/>
<br/>
She gives you a dark look before fishing through her purse for a compact mirror.  She hands it to you wordlessly, but there’s no mistaking the rage in her eyes.<br/>
<br/>
You ignore her and flip the mirror open, admiring your new look.  The long, oval face, framed perfectly by the lustrous dark hair.  The beautiful Andrea Varnsworth stares back at you, but the goofy expression on her face is pure Will Prescott.  You close your eyes and centre your thoughts for a second, letting the mask of Andrea’s personality settle across you.<br/>
<br/>
You inspect yourself again when you open your eyes.  Perfect.  And there’s some interesting little memories of your new self and Chelsea Cooper that Caleb might be interested in later.  Right now there’s a more important matter to deal with.<br/>
<br/>
“Well,” you say to the fake Eva as you hand her back the mirror.  “You’re standing there looking like you’re ready to explode.  Tell me what the problem is.”<br/>
<br/>
“You’ve fucked up my life you faggot,” she screeches, clearly holding back tears.  “I’m off the cheerleading team, my friends have stopped talking to me and if that wasn’t enough you’re going to turn me into a lez.”<br/>
<br/>
“And you haven’t said anything till now?”<br/>
<br/>
“What good would it do,” she says bitterly.<br/>
<br/>
“You have to do whatever I say,” you gloat.<br/>
<br/>
“I know.”<br/>
<br/>
“If I told you to want me?  That you were fed up trying to cover up your true feelings with a string of meaningless relationships?  That you wanted to admit your true feelings to everyone else?”<br/>
<br/>
“Don’t,” she pleads.  “Please just fucking don’t”<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
“What about now,” giggles Eva.  “How about here?”<br/>
<br/>
It’s the main hall of the school, and at five to nine in the morning it’s a very public place.  Students are milling about, chatting, emptying their bag into their lockers and lots of other little tasks that need to be done before the bell goes.  <br/>
<br/>
Most of them are ignoring you.  Chelsea Cooper, or it could be a Chelsea masked Caleb by now, is staring a little too intently at you whilst her flunkies Gloria and Kendra talk to her.  The realisation that Chelsea knows about Andrea floats into your mind.  Something like this is exactly the sort of thing that Chelsea, or at least the real Chelsea, would worry about.<br/>
<br/>
“Come on Drea,” she whispers into your ear.<br/>
<br/>
You are a bit worried you may have gone too far with Eva’s “reprogramming”.  She was sweet and attentive enough last night.  Eventually.  Now she’s intent on outing herself in front of the entire school.<br/>
<br/>
“Are you going to kiss me or not,” asks Eva so quietly that you barely hear it yourself.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 11123122212211212112112
author_id: seuzz
title: Oh, the Drama!
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Charles, wait up," you call, hurrying after him. "Can we talk?"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't let Drea throw you," he says kindly. "She takes getting used to."<br/>
<br/>
"If you say so. But did I do something wrong?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, that's just her being her." He leans against the car. "Don't let her intimidate you. She's not as cool on the inside as she pretends to be on the outside."<br/>
<br/>
"There's something else," you say. He waits. you reach past to open the passenger door to his car. "About her and ... me."<br/>
<br/>
It's dark, but you can see the amused expression on his face. "There's lots of places I can be, but no place I have to go. I can talk for a bit." He goes around to the driver's side as you get into his car.<br/>
<br/>
"So, you're wondering if this is something you really want to do, right?" he says with quiet confidence after you're both settled. "You're a cheerleader--or were--and you're supposed to have one of the jocks for a boyfriend. What's up with you and Richards, if I may ask."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know what's going on with us," you confess, choosing not to mention the forced break up. "I thought I liked being with him. I mean, I do. But ... I don't know how happy he is with me."<br/>
<br/>
"He's got jockstrap itch," he sniffs. You fumble in your bag for the mask as he talks. "Gordon's got Chelsea, so he thinks he's supposed to have a cheerleader. But Patterson plays the field, so he thinks maybe he should do that too. No offense, but you're not in Chelsea's league, so he's not sure if he should take you as his girl or treat you like--"<br/>
<br/>
"Can I show you something? Sorry, I shouldn't interrupt." <br/>
<br/>
"No, it's okay. I'm being bitchy, and Drea would tell me to shut up if she were here. What's that?" You've got the mask out.<br/>
<br/>
"It's-- Well, let me show you." You lean toward him, the mask poised. He pulls back. "Just hold still. It's kind of a magic trick." He stiffens as you press the mask toward him, and at the last minute he tries to block it going onto his face, but it's too late. He slumps in his seat.<br/>
<br/>
It's too dark to take a chance on golemizing the mask in the car, so you pull open your clothes so you won't tear them and pull Eva's mask off. It takes a moment to adjust your eyes to the darkness again--you're not even sure you're awake--and push her mask onto Hartlein after his mask drops into his lap. Eva's replacement quickly stirs, and you hush her into silence while you seal up Hartlein's mask with the portable kit. You settle back and try to relax as you put it on.<br/>
<br/>
Again, the dark of sleep only lightens a little when you wake, and you have the vivid impression that Hartlein is close. Instinctively you twist to look around, then realize that he is only inside you--because you are inside him. You snicker softly to yourself as you pat the flat bra.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, Eva, you can get out of those clothes," you tell her. "You're stretching my shirt all out of shape." It takes a certain amount of work in the close quarters, but inside five minutes you have his "rodent shirt" and shorts and shoes on. "Drea's gonna be wondering what we're up to if she looks out her window, so you better beat it," you tell her as she is still buttoning her blouse.<br/>
<br/>
"Any messages to pass on?"<br/>
<br/>
"No," you sigh. "I'll call Caleb myself. He's not gonna be happy, but he can suck me off." She opens the car door and you push her out as you scoot over behind the wheel. "Don't cause him any problems, okay? Work with him, do what he asks. I'll be in touch."<br/>
<br/>
After she's gone you look back at Andrea's house. You toy briefly with going back inside to talk to her, but there's not much point. You take out your new cell phone.<br/>
<br/>
"Is this the divine Chelsea Cooper," you chirp when she picks up. "Chuckie Hartlein here. I'm looking for Caleb Johannson. Be a dear and put him on."<br/>
<br/>
"What makes you think that loser is with me?" she says.<br/>
<br/>
"Who do you think you're talking to, Chelsea," you retort. "I know everything, and I mean everything. I know you've had him inside you. I bet he's still there, <i>Caleb.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
There's a pause. "Will?" she says. "What the fuck?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, Drea didn't trust herself to be alone with me. I couldn't get to her, so I had to settle for Hartlein instead. Which is fine, it'll all work out."<br/>
<br/>
"They may both be gay, but they're not equivalent," Caleb snorts.<br/>
<br/>
"Keep your panties on, Chels. Right now I'm not that interested in seeing you outside them. I'm just calling to tell you where I am and that I'll hook up with you tomorrow."<br/>
<br/>
"You're not coming over now? What, you have a <i>date</i> you're late for?"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't get bitchy with me, you whore, you're totally outclassed. Yes, I have suddenly acquired a social life, but don't get all steamy thinking about what I'll be getting up to, or I <i>will</i> share details when I see you again."<br/>
<br/>
"Christ, this is a side I never knew you had. You were never this much in character when you were being Eva."<br/>
<br/>
"I knew it would piss you off, so I'm playing it up. But I'm going now, there's a penis party I'm late to. Catch you tomorrow." You turn the phone off and toss it into the passenger seat.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The "penis party" is actually just a small get-together at Tim Gerrard's house, and you doubt there will be anyone there you could remotely hook up with. Nor does the improvised guest roster surprise you with any possibilities--every one of them is straight. But all the faces are friendly and there are cheerful greetings as you bustle in.<br/>
<br/>
Still, your heart does a little flip to see that your ex-, Lisa, and her new boyfriend are in attendance, sitting close to each other on a sofa. <br/>
<br/>
"Who's in charge of the music, your mother?" You cluck your tongue at Tim. "I knew I should have brought my collection along."<br/>
<br/>
"I got copies of most of your stuff," Tim retorts. "Flip through the playlist, find something."<br/>
<br/>
"It'll only be cheap knockoffs. Mine come with pixie dust. Well, let's make the best of it. Dance with me, Brooke," you tell another girl, drawing her to her feet. "That'll make the music sound better than it actually is."<br/>
<br/>
"I thought you'd be with Adrian," Geoff calls as you start to get busy. "Or is he showing up later?"<br/>
<br/>
"I haven't talked to him," you reply over your shoulder. "Lisa, darling, what happened between you and Prescott? You're still dating below your station, and at least <i>he</i> had the grace to act like you were totally out of his league."<br/>
<br/>
"I still see him around," she says. <i>Oh, you're such a liar,</i> you snarl to yourself. "I'm just seeing more of Geoff."<br/>
<br/>
"And just how much of Geoff have you been seeing?" you scoff. "If those pants and shirt sleeves were any longer, Mansfield, you'd be wearing a burqa. I trust you're showing her <i>some</i> skin."<br/>
<br/>
"Stop undressing me with your eyes." His reply is mild, but his movements are stiff as he crosses his legs. "We're just at the hanging out stage."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't remember seeing Lisa and Prescott hanging out at places like these." You twirl and shake your ass. "Maybe you were seeing more of<i>him,</i> Lisa, back before you were seeing so little of Mansfield?"<br/>
<br/>
Lisa's upper lip disappears. Geoff is the one who replies, though. "Can you picture Prescott at a party like this?" he laughs.<br/>
<br/>
"Sure I can," you say. "But I'm a creative type and can imagine lots of incredible things. Here, watch this." You break off the dance and leap over to Sean Mitchell, who is sitting on a chair nearby. "Let's show them our ventriloquist act," you say as you perch on his knee. He grins and runs his hand up the back of your shirt. His strong hand feels good as he spreads it between your shoulder blades.<br/>
<br/>
Mitchell may be built like a wrestler, but he's in the drama club and on the staff of the creative writing journal; he's not much of an actor, but the two of you have a good rapport and are pretty good at improvising together, as with this little act you invented off the cuff only a few days ago. You pretend to slump, and then sit up rigidly, twisting your head stiffly around while a rictus plays on your face. "So, what have you been up to, Gabbo?" Sean inquires.<br/>
<br/>
"Giving myself a woody while I was in my box," you chirp in a shrill falsetto. <br/>
<br/>
"That's right, you <i>are</i> anatomically correct," he says in reproving tone. He reaches around in the manner of a ventriloquist to straighten your shirt. "But I've warned you about that kind of fun. You'll get splinters in your hand."<br/>
<br/>
"You're just still sore because I gave you splinters up your ass. "<br/>
<br/>
"No, I know that just means you love me."<br/>
<br/>
"I wish you'd tell that to Gordon Black. I think he's still carrying splinters <i>and</i> a grudge."<br/>
<br/>
"How <i>was</i> your date with the basketball captain?" He sets his cap on your head.<br/>
<br/>
"It was going great, until he turned on the light and discovered it was me and not Jason Lynch."<br/>
<br/>
"You should have just pretended to be a baseball bat."<br/>
<br/>
"I was too big. Maybe if I'd pretended to be a toothpick. That's about Jason's size."<br/>
<br/>
You continue in this vein, with mounting ribaldry; there are appreciative laughs all around. Gordon and his posse aren't popular with this group.<br/>
<br/>
But though you twist your head this way and that, your eye is never far from Lisa. Hartlein isn't close to her, but you're pretty sure you could fuck up her relationship with Geoff if you put Hartlein's mind to it,</span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121211212
author_id: seuzz
title: The New Royals
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>The urge to dump Caleb for Andrea is almost overpowering, but you know your friend is counting on you. (Or are you just terrified?) "Can I take a raincheck?" you squeak.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't hand out rainchecks," she says.<br/>
<br/>
"I'd like to get together with you," you stammer. "But I have a ... a prior commitment."<br/>
<br/>
"The girl no one will talk to has a full social calendar?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's family. Can you be, like, a little understanding?" Instantly you regret your tone.<br/>
<br/>
"Sure I can," she replies. "I'm sure we'll bump into each other. You did a good job with the towel." She slips back into the pool, and vanishes under the surface without leaving a ripple.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"You let <i>Andrea Varnsworth get away?!</i>" Caleb's eyes nearly bug out of Jessica's face when you tell her after school.<br/>
<br/>
"You and me had plans," you say, feeling miserable.<br/>
<br/>
"Plans can always change. We have ultimate flexibility with these things. Improvise, you dickhead. Excuse me. Improvise, <i>you cunt!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
His acting out aggravates you. "If we have 'ultimate flexibility' we can pick her up later," you retort. <br/>
<br/>
"But we could have had her <i>now,</i>" Caleb glares.<br/>
<br/>
"If you're so hot for her, why didn't you think of taking her before, when we were making up a list?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because she's not a power player. We were concentrating on power players. Now I can't concentrate on anything except her!"<br/>
<br/>
"So get your focus back. Remember Chelsea. She's waiting for us, right?"<br/>
<br/>
"And you say she and Andrea bumped boobies once."<br/>
<br/>
"No! I just got the impression— Stop that!" you hiss as Caleb closes his eyes and groans with lust in his voice. "How can you be so hot for everyone?"<br/>
<br/>
"Easily! Okay, maybe we don't want to <i>be</i> Chelsea and Gordon," he murmurs through unmoving lips. "We could be somebody else. Anybody else. I mentioned it before. Puppet masters pulling the strings from the shadows. Andrea Varnsworth, pulling the strings from the shadows."<br/>
<br/>
"So how are we as puppet masters going to keep close to Chelsea and Gordon? We gotta think things through."<br/>
<br/>
His lips disappear. "I fucking hate it when you're being the logical one. Okay, we still do the plan. Then we figure out some way we can get Chelsea and Andrea together"--You rub the bridge of your nose wearily--"so it's plausible they would hang out. You figure out who you can bring in to be Gordon's pal. Someone close to Andrea, obviously."<br/>
<br/>
"But we'll have to get Andrea before we can figure that out."<br/>
<br/>
"See how neatly it all locks together?" You resist the urge to punch your twin sister in the kisser. "Also, we plot out our key acquisitions."<br/>
<br/>
You know when you're licked.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"No, I'm not comfortable back here," you snarl. "It stinks and something is jabbing me in the shoulder." You reach around and pull an old busted pen out of the place where the seat cushions meet. You toss it into the floorboard with the old fast food bags, plastic bottles, and wrappers.<br/>
<br/>
"No dissing the Richardsmobile," Caleb says. He's wearing Jeremy's face now--the real Jeremy is back at the Garners' house, safely ensconced under Jessica Garner's face--and peers darkly at you from the driver's seat; you're in the back of Richards' cramped little two-door economy compact. "Pull the blanket over you."<br/>
<br/>
"Why? It'll get Richards in good with Black if he sees you've got me hog-tied in your back seat." You are out of Eva's mask--completely naked, even--although it and her clothes are tucked inside your embrace.<br/>
<br/>
"Never mind. Hand me Eva's stuff. I hope you didn't dribble cum on it."<br/>
<br/>
"One question before you go, Jeremy," you ask as you hand up her mask and clothes. "Did you ever love me?"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't ask fucked up questions." He tosses the blanket over your head, obscuring the middle finger you flip him. The car groans as he steps out, and the door slams shut.<br/>
<br/>
Time passes slowly. The car clicks and pops and makes strange sounds. Something rustles down in the floorboard. Probably it's just paper crinkling, but it's filthy enough you can imagine roaches living in Jeremy's car. Or rats.<br/>
<br/>
A car arrives--Gordon's?--and you hear voices; then a car starts and leaves. You hope it isn't Caleb and Gordon and Chelsea taking off on some errand that can't wait.<br/>
<br/>
And then footsteps approach and the door opens. Caleb speaks in his regular voice. "Got the stuff," he says, and you flip the blanket off. Though evening is well and truly settled, you recognize Caleb, divested of all masks but wearing clothes that are several sizes too big for him. He tosses a bundle at you. "Chelsea's folks headed out for dinner but her brother's around. Better change out here." He climbs into the driver's side seat.<br/>
<br/>
You let the clothes fall to the floorboards and study the mask. The ghostly reflection of Gordon Black's face is too dim to make out, but his name blazes quite clearly on the inner surface. You run your fingers along its inside. Even though you have been pretending to be another person for several days now already, what you're about to do seems very unreal ...<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You wake with a grunt to find your frame, which as Will Prescott barely fit inside the back seat of Richards' car, now bent very badly, and you have to twist hard to sit up; when you do, you bang your head on the roof of the car. Caleb looks back at you out of the corner of his eye. With a spasm of irritation you grab him from behind, pinning him in the crook against the head rest. "Gimme one reason I shouldn't snap your neck, you little shit," you growl.<br/>
<br/>
He gasps for air and then relaxes instead of fighting. "Because Chelsea won't give you head if I don't tell her to," he croaks.<br/>
<br/>
"Pfaw!" You let him go and shove the back of his seat. "Truer than you fucking know. Where's my shit?" You pull it off the floorboards: purple athletic shorts, a sleeveless gray workout shirt, running shoes, and ball cap.<br/>
<br/>
"You sure got in character in a hurry," Caleb says quietly. "That is <i>you</i>, isn't it?"<br/>
<br/>
"You'd be dead now if it wasn't," you say as you pull on underwear. "I'm just pissed cuz I can't fucking <i>move</i> back here. God damn it!" You've bumped your head again.<br/>
<br/>
Eventually you get the clothes sorted out, though you wait until you're out of the car before you pull on the cap. You turn it brim backwards and use the drivers' side mirror to check that you've got your short bangs pulled out through the back the way you--Gordon Black--like it. You give yourself a quick grin, then give Caleb a backhanded slap to the chest that almost knocks him over. The world looks very far away from your new elevation, and you put a little bow in your stride as you swagger up to the front door.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb directs you to an upstairs bathroom where you find a naked Jeremy Richards--the transformed Gordon Black--squatting glumly in the tub. Caleb starts disrobing and handing his clothes over to Jeremy, and you wander into the bedroom. Eva Garner--the transformed Chelsea Cooper--sits on the edge of the bed. She starts to stand, but you smoothly push her back onto the bed, wedge her legs open with your knee and shove your tongue into her mouth. She grunts, but the implicit order from her master--you--is too strong, and she kisses back. When you're done you pull back and wipe away traces of saliva from your lower lip with your middle finger. "I'm fucking ashamed of you, Eva. I thought you were better than that. I thought <i>I</i> was better that when I was, you know--" <br/>
<br/>
She folds her arms. "Is this what it's gonna be like? You taking me on the side when Chelsea doesn't put out?"<br/>
<br/>
"Nah. Just wanted to see what it'd be like. B'sides, fightin' with Chelsea is half the fun. Speaking of which, where is her stuff?"<br/>
<br/>
The answer comes a few minutes later, when a morose Jeremy Richards and a prim Chelsea Cooper enter the bedroom from the bathroom. "Who'd have guessed this morning that we'd all be standing here like this now?" Chelsea says with chipper glee. She grasps your arm in both of her small hands. "You have anything you wanna say, honey?" She looks up at you. <br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, get the fuck outta here," you tell the two golems. They hang their heads and depart. Afterwards you snort a little laugh, and Chelsea gives you a querying glance. "Oh, I was just thinking. That's Black under Jeremy's face, and Chelsea under Eva's. And you know what happened this morning right? We told them they couldn't see each other any more."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You sit in the chair, foot on the bed, while Caleb massages your calf. Talk has been muted as you're lost in your own thoughts. Finally: "I could use a tutor," you grunt.<br/>
<br/>
"I have to pick two new cheerleaders at tryouts," she answers. "That makes the most sense."<br/>
<br/>
"We still have to puppetize some key people."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll pick up mask supplies tomorrow," she replies.</span></div></div>


path: 11123122212211212112121
author_id: rugal
title: New Masks, New Lives
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"So have you got an idea of who you're putting on the squad?" you ask Caleb, the two of you watching Coach Tesla yell out drills. It's all a show of course, that hag Tesla is Coach in title only: Chelsea is the one that makes most of the decisions, she's the one who everyone defers to. Being the "best" doesn't guarantee a spot on the squad after all, it's all politics.<br/>
<br/>
"I've got it narrowed down to a few," she says, her eyes never moving from the potential recruits, "Cassie Harper, Yvette Moore, Fatima Zahedi,"<br/>
<br/>
"Why them?" you ask turning away from the girls towards Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
She turns to face you as well, "They have their uses," she replies, "Cassie's cute and perky, really lovable. Yvette's mom has breast cancer so she generates sympathy. Fatima's popular in the more underground sections of the school ladder: the artists, indie music kids, potheads, general weirdos,"<br/>
<br/>
"I get it," you say turning back towards the field, "It's kind of sly: they all would reflect greatly on Chelsea. All that's happened to her AND giving spots to the 'lesser' girls... it makes her look better."<br/>
<br/>
"Makes ME look better, you mean," Caleb replies.<br/>
<br/>
"About that..," you begin trailing off. "I don't know. I'm not having fun at home. You know about his dad. He had another episode last night." You suppress a shudder as you recall the black rage Gordon's father fell into at the sight of the dirty dishes in the sink.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb turns you to around so you're staring directly at each other, "I thought getting Chelsea and Gordon was the whole plan," she says, a bit of a peeved tone in her voice. "And now you're saying you want out?"<br/>
<br/>
"Of Gordon, yeah." You notice the very Chelsea-esque glare Caleb is giving you and begin pleading your case, "Look like I said yesterday we don't NEED to be Gordon or Chelsea to control them. We can be others and run things from the shadows and these other people can have their uses too," You look back at the field, "Like take Fatima: put her on the cheerleading squad and Chelsea looks good. Grab a mask of her and we can stay close together on the squad and we've got an in for the underground,"<br/>
<br/>
"Is that who you'd rather be? Fatima?" Caleb asks turning back to the field as well. After a moment of silence she speaks up again, "I'll add her to the squad then. You said you were giving Eva a break from dealing with the 'Chelsea shit' so you've got her getting masks ready, right?" ahs asks. When you answer an affirmative she continues, "Alright so take the day as Gordon and then tomorrow morning meet me in the locker room and bring the masks. I'll call Fatima in and we can grab her then,"<br/>
<br/>
You look at Caleb and give a smile, "Thanks," you say before adding, "It would've been weird havin' to fuck my best friend anyway,"<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"I seriously can't believe you're wearing that," Sienna Goldman tells you the next day at lunch. She's referring, of course, to Fatima Zahedi's brand new cheerleading outfit.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, well... Chelsea said that it's like a thing new members have to do," you explain, "Get accepted onto the team, get their uniforms, wear their uniforms as an like a flashing sign saying 'Hey look at me! I'm on the team!'"<br/>
<br/>
"I think..," comes the voice of Andrea Varnsworth as she plops down between the two of you, "she means that she's surprised you'd even go out for the squad. Much less get picked. Isn't that right Sienna?" she says, ruffling Sienna's short, boyish dirty blonde hair. Sienna jerks away and glares at Andrea. Being on the shorter side and conscious of her height she tends to hate it when Andrea does things that make her feel more... kiddy, is the word you're probably looking for.<br/>
<br/>
"Nice to see you too, Andrea," she replies before turning to look back at you, "But she's right Fatima, don't take it the wrong way but me and Drea have known you forever. You've never been the cheerleading type,"<br/>
<br/>
It hits that you're sitting right next to Andrea Varnsworth again and the same feelings you got a few days ago at the pool return. You're able to push them aside however. "Well, I didn't think you were the cheerleader type either, Andrea," you shoot back, "Yvette told me at the tryouts yesterday that she heard from Charles who heard from Emmy Keller that you were talking to Eva Garner yesterday. Since when did YOU hang around with the cheerleaders, huh?"<br/>
<br/>
Andrea looks at you, a bit taken aback by what you've just said. A smile then crosses her face, "You've got me there, Tima... or you WOULD'VE. Eva and Jessica aren't on the team anymore, remember? Otherwise you wouldn't be wearing that silly get-up right now,"<br/>
<br/>
"Look Fatima," Sienna says trying to bring things back, "we just don't want you getting mixed up in all of their political bullshit. It'd really suck if you got on that cunt's bad side,"<br/>
<br/>
"But just think, Sienna," Andrea chimes in, "We've got someone on the inside now. Our own little mole who could keep us abreast of everything Chelsea's up to," she then turns to you, staring at you straight in the eye, "You'd do that for us, wouldn't you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Andrea, what the fuck?" asks Sienna, the incredulous tone clear as a bell, "She's our friend. We can't just... just USE her like that now that she's on the team,"<br/>
<br/>
You look from Andrea to Sienna and back again. Andrea's face is warm and soft, her eyes not pleading but confident; as if she could convince you to jump off a bridge with nothing but that look. You're feeling a bit flustered inside once again. "Sienna it's..," you sigh, "Look, I'll be fine alright? I might not have your fire, Sienna, but I'm not going to put up with Chelsea's crap. And yeah I've got no problem feeding you guys info," you explain.<br/>
<br/>
The rest of lunch continues normally although you find yourself once more drawn to Andrea. She's an intoxicating creature from her gorgeous looks to her soft voice to her personality that instantly puts you at ease and makes you feel comfortable no matter what. After about twenty minutes the bell rings, hugs and goodbyes are exchanged and the three of you head off to your next classes but not before you wonder if maybe you should do something with Andrea. Something radical.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
You head out to the lockerroom after school. Caleb had sent you a text from Chelsea's phone saying "have nu girl 4 squad. meet in lckrrm," right after lunch. You arrive to see Chelsea standing there with Cassie Harper. "Oooh, hey Fatima!" she says smiling and swishing the skirt of her cheerleading outfit, "Don't I look, like, so cute in this!"<br/>
<br/>
You smile at Cassie and tell her you'll be a minute as you pull "Chelsea" aside. "You chose Cassie?" you say to her, your voice betraying a hint of irritation.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I did," Caleb replies, "She's cute, likable and kind of gossipy so having her under our thumb couldn't hurt," she answers, "Why, do you have a problem with Cassie?"<br/>
<br/>
"No it's just..," you look back at Cassie and smile before turning back to Caleb, "I think she had like some kind of crush on me. I dunno, it just feels weird,"<br/>
<br/>
"Shit, no way!" Caleb replies smirking, "And you never, like, tried anything?"<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up," you glare, "Look I've been thinking about something. Remember what I said about Andrea Varnsworth a few days ago?" you ask, continuing when Caleb nods, "Well it turns out her and Fatima and Sienna Goldman all grew up together. They're, like, total BFFs. And being around her... I dunno," You pause and take a deep breath before continuing, "I want to bring her in on the plan,"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb just stares at you before peering over your shoulder at Cassie, "Cassie, please give Fatima and me a couple of minutes. We have some things we need to get straightened out about what being on the team will entail," she calls out before looking back at you. "You want to do what?"<br/>
<br/>
"Bring in Andrea Varnsworth,"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb just shakes her head, "What the hell... if you want Andrea so bad why not just grab her on a mask?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Because..," you start, shifting nervously, "It just wouldn't be the same,"<br/>
<br/>
"You're like a lovestruck puppy," states Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, it's Andrea Varnsworth and she's just..," you pause trying to think of what to say, "You haven't been around her but she's just... she's so smart and engaging. And I think she'd be agreeable to our plan. I mean do you know what her first reaction was to learning Fatima was on the cheerleading squad? She wanted her to act as a mole for the underground circle,"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb just stares at you, however. It's a longshot you know but the opportunity to spend more time around Andrea... maybe Caleb's right. Maybe you ARE a lovestruck puppy but this is a chance you can't really pass up.</span></div></div>


path: 111231222122112121122
author_id: seuzz
title: School for Scandal
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Chelsea turns green, but you grin. "Viva la Revolucion!"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb starts to pace. "We'll need a really spectacular setting," he mutters. "Some place where Chelsea won't be able to hide or contain the damage."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm standing right here, you know," Chelsea fumes.<br/>
<br/>
"You'll have to keep an eye on her, work with her, make sure she plays the part," you point out. "You can't do that as Jessica. You'll need a new identity."<br/>
<br/>
"Who do you hang out with most?" Caleb asks Chelsea. "You know, girlfriends you plot with, share secrets with?"<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea licks her lips. "Kendra and Gloria, mostly," she reluctantly accedes. <br/>
<br/>
"What about Maria?"<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea rubs her arm. "We're just, you know, friends."<br/>
<br/>
Your eyes narrow. "What kind of 'friends'?"<br/>
<br/>
She turns red. "Not like <i>that,</i>" she spits.<br/>
<br/>
"I like the idea of being Kendra," Caleb says. "Get her over to your house today. Just her, no one else. I'll be there, waiting with you." Chelsea nods unhappily, and he turns to you. "Maybe we can get Gordon for you later tonight, too."<br/>
<br/>
"Is he still worth taking?" You nod your chin at the sullen Chelsea. "I don't think she's going to be very affectionate if <i>I'm</i> running him."<br/>
<br/>
"Stop thinking with your cock. He'll have to be one of the linchpins of the plan."<br/>
<br/>
"I might be more useful someplace else."<br/>
<br/>
"True." He frowns, then turns at a sound. "Well, we don't have to settle things right away. Kendra might have better ideas. We should wrap this up before it starts to look weird. Weirder."<br/>
<br/>
He gives some last-minute instructions to Chelsea on how to play the next scene, and then sends her out to the gym. A few minutes later Coach Tesla comes in, looking very grave. "I wish you could have gotten it worked out," she says grimly.<br/>
<br/>
Almost too late you remember to look upset. Fortunately, Caleb has fallen quickly back into character. "It's alright, Ms. Tesla," she says, and sniffs back hard. "Eva didn't do anything wrong, but it's pretty clear we can't work with Chelsea any more."<br/>
<br/>
The coach nods, and gives each of you a hug—a little too lingeringly for your taste—and sends you on your way. No one on the gym floor so much as waves at you at you depart.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
After first period, Jeremy catches you at the locker you share with Jessica. "The fuck is going on," he mutters. "Black and Patterson cornered me at practice, told me I had to break up with you. And they weren't nice about it."<br/>
<br/>
You and Jessica haul him outside to a side corner. "Okay, we're broken up now," you tell him. "I'm not sure we were ever together, but we're through."<br/>
<br/>
"So it's true, you're going with Chelsea now," he says satirically.<br/>
<br/>
"Never mind all that," Jessica tells him, taking charge. "It's all part of the plan. You just keep sucking up to Black and his crew. Do whatever they ask. Brag about how you dumped Eva's ass." <br/>
<br/>
"Jesus," you murmur.<br/>
<br/>
"Keep your phone on and wait for orders from me," she continues to Jeremy. "Now get back to them like a good little bitch."<br/>
<br/>
He clucks his tongue. "Too bad. Woulda been nice having a three-way with you and Chels," he leers. "Or just watchin' you." He lopes off.<br/>
<br/>
You roll your eyes in exasperation, and catch Jessica giving you a funny look. "You don't look very broken up for a girl who's just been dumped over a bit of shitty gossip," she says.<br/>
<br/>
It's true. Your playacting leaves a lot to be desired. "I don't really feel broken up about it," you confess.<br/>
<br/>
"Then maybe you better get off school property," she says. "I'll tell everyone you broke down and ran away. Go do something productive for us, like making up some new masks. And for God's sake, try to get in character."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
And yet you find it very hard to. Knowing that it's all a lie makes it hard to care; and since Eva's consciousness is so intertwined with your own you can't even let <i>her</i> out to play the part. You wonder if that's going to make it hard for the fake Eva to pull off the charade when you're outside of her and inside another mask.<br/>
<br/>
You drive the girls' car home—which is empty, what with everyone working or at school—and golemize Eva's mask with your own hair, and then drive around town picking up supplies for some new masks. But you don't feel like making any, so you take all the supplies, including the two blank masks, and wind up at the mall at the food court. You're sitting there, eyes and mind all unfocussed, when you feel someone lightly tugging your hair. You look around, and suppress a shudder. It's Jason Lynch.<br/>
<br/>
The captain of the baseball team is one of the school's true psychos, a bully that even the other bullies steer clear of, though his all-American, sandy-haired and blue-eyed look do a good job of hiding his sick character. He is Gordon Black's chief toady, and unofficially number 3 in the alpha-jock hierarchy. Jokes about his being "lower than number 2" circulate slyly behind his back.<br/>
<br/>
"What are you doing here," you snap at him, and look away.<br/>
<br/>
"Looking for you," he sniggers. "I heard you ran out on classes. I asked myself, 'Where would a girl like Eva go when she's feeling miserable.' The answer was 'Shopping'!"<br/>
<br/>
"Go fuck yourself."<br/>
<br/>
He laughs again, but drops into the chair across from you and leans forward. His grin would be friendly and reassuring if his eyes didn't glint with ill-suppressed malice. "Don't be such a bitch. I came out here to be your friend."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't need any friends."<br/>
<br/>
"I think you need all the friends you can get, girlie. Chelsea's doing a real number on you."<br/>
<br/>
"I said to go fuck yourself."<br/>
<br/>
"'Course, I don't believe a word of it. No way you made a pass at her."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm glad you believe me," you sneer.<br/>
<br/>
"It's true. Chelsea ain't even that good looking, if you ask me. I made me a spreadsheet ranking all the top girls at Westside, once, and even on the cheerleader squad she comes in only two spots from the bottom."<br/>
<br/>
"Who's under her?" you ask, despite yourself.<br/>
<br/>
"Gordon, usually," he giggles. "Oh, you mean on the squad?" He makes a light shrug. "Mongoloids don't appeal to me."<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck you."<br/>
<br/>
"Sure thing, little darlin'," he says. "I'd love to get it on with you."<br/>
<br/>
You stare. "Did you just—" And then you feel his hand on your calf, lightly stroking it. His grin is manic, his eyes intense. Does he actually think--?!<br/>
<br/>
"So Chelsea forced Richards to dump you," he says softly. "Best thing she coulda done for you. Gordon knew it was a bullshit thing to do. He only did it because Chelsea forced him, and besides, Richards is a nobody. Me, I'm a player. How'd you like to get back at Chelsea by trading <i>up.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"She'd just force Gordon to make you dump me. Anyway, you just wanna get in my panties."<br/>
<br/>
"Of course I do," he retorts. "Wanted to for a long time. But Chelsea shot her wad with Richards. She couldn't do anything about <i>us,</i> at least not right away. Gordon's a pussy, but he's not going to bust up another romance on her orders.<br/>
<br/>
"Besides," he adds, leaning closer. "We got a lot in common. Both of us <i>hate</i> Chelsea Cooper. Fucking you would be like fucking her, and that would be <i>hot.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
As disgusting as his approach is, you reflect, you <i>were</i> looking for an acquisition in the neighborhood of Gordon Black, and Jason is trying to make it very easy for you to pull off a switch. </span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121211221
author_id: seuzz
title: Lynch Pinned
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You force a smile to your face. "I just got dumped by a basketball player," you reply. "Maybe I <i>am</i> in the mood for a rebound."<br/>
<br/>
He grins and stands, and you scoop up the spoils of your expedition to join him. He sidles up close as you walk out the mall. "So, whatcha got?" he asks, looking down at your bags. "Anything you might wanna try on for me? Some scanties?"<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe I'll show you when we're a little less dressed," you reply. He snickers.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
He drives you out to the river, where he hardly waits before peeling off his shirt, exposing a smooth, well-muscled torso. "Shoes and socks too," you order as you undo your own blouse. "I got a thing for sexy feet." He laughs as he complies, and soon he's down to nothing but his red briefs. <br/>
<br/>
But he's surprisingly tentative as he kisses you, resting his hands on your hips as you straddle him. But he's quick to slip a hand down the back of your panties and slide his fingers between your buttocks.<br/>
<br/>
"You like it like that, huh?" you smile. "Hang on, I'll show you that thing I was telling you about." You rummage through your bags until you find one of the blank masks. "You've heard of gasping, right?" You cradle the mask in your hands, close to his face.<br/>
<br/>
His smile fades a bit. "I, uh, I ain't really into, you know, that kind of thing."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't have a choice." He has no chance of blocking you: The mask is only inches from his face, and his hand is still down the back of your panties. On him it goes.<br/>
<br/>
But you have to move fast while he's unconscious, so you clamber off him and rip the mask from your own face, trying hard not to pass out. Your head is pounding as you drag yourself out of your faint, terrified at what will happen if he finds you, naked but for Eva's panties, in his truck with him. Indeed, when his mask reappears, it slips from his face and falls hard onto his crotch. He grunts and his eyes flutter.<br/>
<br/>
You use more violence cramming the second mask onto his face than the first. More gently, you sweep the new mask onto your own.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
When you open your eyes again, Eva is huddled by the steering wheel, knees up by her chin, gasping and sniffing and trying very hard not to cry. You shake your head to clear it--Lynch's voice rages briefly in your head before it fades to silence. "Holy shit, girlie, but you pack a punch," you giggle. You settle back to catch your breath.<br/>
<br/>
You'd expected to appear inside a guy erupting with erotic desire, but you don't feel much of anything. Eva certainly doesn't look very enticing at the moment. Casting back into your new memories, you're not surprised to learn that Lynch wasn't at all sincere about taking Eva on as a girlfriend. He was just looking to score, and even then only as a bragging point to share with Gordon Black and Steve Patterson. <br/>
<br/>
"Okay, come on, I need my underwear back," you tell her brusquely. You wriggle out of her silk panties as she more slowly divests herself of Jason's briefs. You make a face as you take them from her--putting on Lynch's unclean underwear is a lot less enticing than putting on Eva's--but they actually feel pretty good once they're on, tight and well-fitting. You quickly get into the rest of his stuff: ankle socks, heavy jeans, polo shirt. You glance at the time as you snap on the metal bracelet watch: you'll have just about enough time to get her back to her car at the mall and yourself back to school for the last two periods. Which will work, because you've an idea.<br/>
<br/>
"Text Jessica after you get home," you tell Eva as you sort through the crap in her bag. "Tell her you ran into me at the mall, and that I'm the guy to talk to if she's got any plans. I'm leaving this with you." You show her the last of the blank masks you'd made up, then transfer the rest of your new prizes to Lynch's own backpack, dropping his books onto the floorboards. <br/>
<br/>
Not that you intend to dirty your own hands with a lot of grotty mask-making. That's why you've got golems.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You shake your head at the sight: can't those idiots keep out of trouble for two days?<br/>
<br/>
You'd expected to find Prescott and/or Johannson and/or Tilley behind C-wing on their way to the last class of the day. And here are two of them. But The Molester is with them too. He's got Prescott cornered; Tilley lingers nearby, trying to keep out Brown's eye line without fully abandoning his friend. No one sees you as you approach. You kick Lester in the back of the knee, causing him to drop Prescott and nearly fall to the ground himself. He leaps up with a snarl, but stops short when he sees who it is. <br/>
<br/>
"Just bustin' your chops, Brown," you grin. "Keepin' the scum in line? Who we got here?" You eye Prescott and Tilley as though you've never seen them before.<br/>
<br/>
Lester looks around shiftily. "Just some guys who gave me attitude. You know." Odd how even the worst bullies will never openly admit to it when they're caught plying their trade.<br/>
<br/>
"They don't look like assholes," you observe while giving your own doppelganger a keen glance. The Chelsea-golem somehow recognized Caleb, though she had no idea her master would be disguised as Jessica; and it seems to you that "Will Prescott" is similarly aware of who you are. "Learn your lesson?" You jerk your chin at Prescott, and he nods.<br/>
<br/>
"Good." You glance up slyly at Brown, who grimaces, before returning your gaze to Prescott. "Seems to me I've saved you from a beating. Gotta name, have you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Will Prescott," he mumbles.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, Will Prescott, I think you owe me." You drop your backpack at his feet. "Pick it up." Slowly, he accedes. You grin at him. "Do my homework. All of it." His eyes go wide. "I want perfect scores, or I mark the errors on your balls. Got it?"<br/>
<br/>
He swallows, nods, and picks up the pack, jerking a little because the mask supplies are even heavier than the books they've replaced. Tilley sidles up. "I can help with some of it," he says, reaching for the backpack.<br/>
<br/>
You shove him hard against the wall and fix your coldest glare on him. "Do I know you?" you softly demand. Tilley shakes his head. "Do you <i>want</i> me to know you?" He licks his lips and shakes his head again. "I will count to five, and then I will ask for your name, and without waiting for an answer I will beat the shit out of you and force you to write your name in your own excrement. If you'd prefer <i>not</i> to introduce yourself, I suggest you make yourself scarce. One ... two ... three ... four ..."<br/>
<br/>
He bolts--an act of craven self-preservation that makes you want to chase him and pulp his face. But you just laugh. Turning back to Prescott you jam a finger at his face. "I will send you instructions later. Until then you can fuck off." He scrambles off after Tilley.<br/>
<br/>
The Molester looks discomfited after Prescott has disappeared. "That's how you fix attitude, Brown." You clench your jaw and hold his eye meaningfully. "First lesson's free. After that I start giving <i>you</i> homework." You nudge him hard as you brush past.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
During last period you fire off a text message to Prescott, telling him to grab Johannson and take him and the backpack to the elementary school basement and wait for you there. After class you saunter over to the gym, where you plan to do weights on the upper deck while watching the basketball team practice below. It's Lynch's favorite part of the day, and you soak in his excited anticipation of lifting heavy objects while watching Black and Patterson and the others do their on-court workout.<br/>
<br/>
But Jessica intercepts you."How's your sister doin'?" you laugh at her.<br/>
<br/>
"She sounds like shit, you shit," she retorts. "I wanna talk to you." She leads you around to a spot between the gym and the parking lot, where she glares hard at you while you just grin back.<br/>
<br/>
"Nice work this afternoon," she says guardedly. "You have fun?"<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck yeah," you exclaim. "I ran into Lester Brown and Prescott a little while ago, gave 'em some business." With relish you start a detailed recital of how you humiliated them both, but Caleb cuts you short.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm meeting Kendra at Chelsea's in half an hour. Coming with?"<br/>
<br/>
"I was gonna do weights," you reply. "Then meet up with Prescott and Johannson at the club house. Get the new shit ready for them to polish. Then maybe fuck 'em over a little."<br/>
<br/>
"You can have fun later," Caleb says. "I wanna talk to you after I've got Kendra."<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck, can't you and Chelsea can handle the chocolate princess?"<br/>
<br/>
She opens her mouth to retort, but at that moment Cindy Vredenburg and Lin Pol materialize, and swerve to join the two of you. They concentrate on Jessica, asking about Eva, while only giving you shifty-eyed glances.<br/>
<br/>
Clearly Caleb wants you along at Chelsea's. But you do feel your time would be better spent getting the golems to work. This would be the perfect chance to slip away from your partner before he can argue.</span></div></div>


path: 11123122212211212112212
author_id: seuzz
title: An Afternoon in the Life of Jason Lynch
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Well, I'll catch you girls later. See you 'round, Jessica. See if I can pick me up a matched set." You wink at her, which only makes her frown all the deeper. You feel the eyes of the three girls on you as you saunter back to the gym.<br/>
<br/>
There's usually a couple of other guys working the weights after school, but when you arrive after changing into your workout clothes you find you have the machines all to yourself. The weights feel good--heavy, massive and satisfying--as you lift and push and pull and grunt and strain, tearing your muscles into bigger and bulkier shapes. From down below, on the gym floor, come the shouts and calls of the basketball players practicing, and the squeak of their shoes on the polished floorboards. You set yourself up with some free weights near the edge of the upper floor so you can curl while watching. There are a couple of girls sitting on the opposite of the gym--including Lin Pol and Michelle Estrich (two of the cheerleaders)--but you watch the team. Your eye rests mostly on Gordon. He's not the tallest--Steve Patterson is at least half a head taller--but he is certainly the biggest, with powerful arms and shoulders and a big chest resting atop trunk-like legs. He barks and growls orders at the other players but puts himself to even greater feats of endurance and athleticism, and his short dark hair is quickly plastered by heavy sweat, and a dark stain spreads down the front of his jersey. He's a magnificent beast--arrogant, forceful, and powerful--and you hungrily anticipate making his body your personal possession. You concentrate on him so much, in fact, that you don't notice you've acquired company on the machines until you hear a heavy clank behind you.<br/>
<br/>
It's Sean Mitchell, one of the wrestlers, and you turn to watch as he works the leg press. He's another fine specimen of masculinity, with the limbs of a well-trained wrestler beneath a round head topped with a short shock of gingerish-blonde hair; his complexion mixes pink and white in sharp relief as he strains against the weights. <br/>
<br/>
"C'mon, Mitchell, you can work heavier shit than that," you call out to him. His eyes briefly rise to lock with yours, and then he returns his attention to the weights. "What kind of faggot are you trying to be?"<br/>
<br/>
"I know what I'm doing," he grunts as he rises and crosses over to the bench press, where  he changes out the big weights you'd been using for slightly smaller ones. You wait until he's on the bench and has lifted the bar before going over to take up a spotter's position. He pushes them up and down easily.<br/>
<br/>
"Tollefson know you're slacking," you demand. "Those were my weights you changed out. How fucked up is it that you're lifting lighter stuff?"<br/>
<br/>
His face strains but he says nothing. You drop your hands onto the bar as it comes up, but instead of guiding it you subtly press down on it, keeping him from pushing it all the way up. He  clenches his eyes shut against the unexpected resistance, and his arms begin to tremble as you push down harder. Then his eyes snap open and he glares at you. You grin back.<br/>
<br/>
The moment hangs, and then you release and pull the bar back so that it slides up and into the cradle. "Fuck you, Lynch," Mitchell barks, swinging around to sit up. "The fuck do you think you're doing?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just helpin' out," you giggle. "You need a real workout, buddy. Don't be a pussy."<br/>
<br/>
"What do you know about pussy, you faggot," he snarls.<br/>
<br/>
Something seems to click inside your head, and the world goes out of focus; your smile tightens into a rictus. But then everything comes back clearly. Mitchell isn't the strongest guy on the team, but he is big, and he knows all the wrestling moves. Much as you'd like to pound his face into raw meat, you know it's wiser to play the moment a different way.<br/>
<br/>
"What do <i>you</i> know about pussy," you giggle back. "Your grandmother's doesn't count. As for what I know about pussy--" You turn your ballcap brim backward. "Just talk to one of the Garner twins. I'm real popular with 'em this afternoon. Which is more than you'll ever be."<br/>
<br/>
His eyes gleam madly, and he tenses. You can tell he's making the same calculation you'd made only a few seconds ago--the odds on his being able to take you. But he too apparently chooses discretion. "Funny, everyone's got you pegged as an ass, man."<br/>
<br/>
You blink, and it takes you a moment to work out the veiled implication. "Oh, that's good," you chortle. "I'll have to remember that." You're suddenly aware of silence from the floor below. "Well, fuck, man, if you don't want my help just say so. I got better people to hang out with." You swagger over to the stairs and down from the loft.<br/>
<br/>
The team has already filed into the changing room, and you follow to change out with them. A brief hope flares that Gordon will hit the showers, so that you can join him, but he just changes into a fresh jersey and sponges the perspiration from his head. "Nice job today, Gordon," you say as you squeeze past him to your locker. <br/>
<br/>
"I'm surprised you can see over the railing," Patterson says from behind you, and you turn to come face-to-chest with Gordon's best friend. <br/>
<br/>
You raise your eyes to snicker at him. "Just gimme some stilts," you shrug. Patterson snorts and turns back to his own locker.<br/>
<br/>
You try making some more talk with Gordon, trash-talking their archrivals at Eastman High, but he just ignores you. That doesn't stop you from tailing along as he and Patterson exit and mount the stairs to the loft that they've set up as a private space. "So what's on the agenda for this afternoon," you ask. "Porn and beer, or is Chelsea showing up later?"<br/>
<br/>
"Me and Steve got some talking to do," he says brusquely as he unlocks the door.<br/>
<br/>
"'s'Fine," you reply. "Just gimme a magazine. I can wait."<br/>
<br/>
Gordon swings his backpack around and jams it into your chest. "Do my homework."<br/>
<br/>
"Sure thing. I got someone covering mine," you grin. "Some asshole I ran into earlier today. Oh shit," you laugh. "What if I can't remember his name?" <br/>
<br/>
You start to follow him into the room, but he turns to block you. "Fuck off, Lynch. Take it to the library."<br/>
<br/>
"Come on, Gordon, don't be like this."<br/>
<br/>
"And I said to fuck off." He slams the door in your face.<br/>
<br/>
Your smile freezes in place. <i>What the fuck is eating at him? If you could get him to talk about it with you instead of that jerkface Patterson--</i><br/>
<br/>
You shake your head to clear it. Lynch's feelings of disappointment tell you that this isn't atypical behavior by Gordon, but you are surprised at how despondent it leaves Jason feeling. Well, you've got other places you are supposed to be. You hoist Gordon's backpack to your shoulders and trudge out into the parking lot.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Okay, you homos," you call as you enter the school basement. "Stop polishing each other's cocks. You're gonna get you some masks to polish instead."<br/>
<br/>
The two golems--Will Prescott and Caleb Johansson--glare at you, but you ignore them as you get to work. Prescott has set the materials out for you, and you briskly copy out the necessary sigil and fire off a couple of masks. At a gesture, your double reluctantly picks up a mask, but Caleb just folds his arms. "I don't gotta do what you say," he says bluntly.<br/>
<br/>
"Ooh, brave words from the twig," you sneer. In a trice of quick steps you're over at him, grabbing him and bending him over so his face is at your crotch. "I like this. You know where your original is, right, Johansson? A little sweet talk from yours truly, and I'll have him sucking my cock like a good little whore. You can give me a preview." He twists but you grip him tightly until he stops struggling, then pound him hard on the back, dropping him to his knees. "You wanna fuck with me, or earn your keep?" With a cough and choke he scuttles backwards over to his friend--who is very white--and falls to the floor. With a blistering expression he pulls over a mask and starts to rub it with a cloth.<br/>
<br/>
"I can tell you're gonna need close supervision," you say softly. "Luckily, I got nothin' else to do this afternoon." You wander over to the corner of the basement, where the big mirror is standing, and stare at yourself with a smile. Sandy hair, ruddy cheeks, blue eyes that blaze with gleeful malice, strong white teeth. You fold your arms and press them inside your pits, cupping strong pectorals. Your cock stirs appreciatively, and on an impulse you pull your shirt off so you can admire your sculpted torso. Baby fat in the belly hides the strong abs you know are there, but no amount of dieting or exercise can expunge it. Your dad is quite stout, and your eyes narrow at the thought that you'll also turn into a porker at some point. But for now, you're nicely tricked out. You turn your leg: nice calves, too.<br/>
<br/>
A muttered laugh from behind saves you from further self-embarrassment, and you turn just in time to see Prescott and Johansson ducking their heads and hiding their smiles. But before you can give them a deserved thrashing your cell phone rings. "Yeah," you snarl into it.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't 'yeah' me, you cocksucker," Jessica snaps. "Thanks to you, Cindy and Lin wound up over at Chelsea's, and I wasn't able to get Kendra." She sighs. "I suppose we can use the mask to get Gordon instead."<br/>
<br/>
The thought of having a three-way with Gordon and Chelsea flashes into your mind. "You have the kit there with you? The golemization stuff, I mean?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah." She sounds unhappy. Maybe you'd better tell her to save the mask to use on Kendra tomorrow.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 111231222122112121122121
author_id: seuzz
title: A Bit of Self Discovery
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Okay, I'll be out there lickety-split. Wait about ten minutes, then have Chelsea call Gordon." You put the phone back in your pocket and sweep your shirt back on. "Have fun, you faggots," you chortle at the two golems. "I know I will."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Chelsea gives you a dirty look when you show up, which you return. You can't stand the sight of her; Gordon is totally wasting himself on her; first step toward cleaning up the school will be to break them up. "Gordon on his way over?" you ask. She nods. "Wait for him downstairs. Don't tell him we're up here, just bring him up." She looks at Jessica, who nods, and with a sigh Chelsea exits her bedroom.<br/>
<br/>
"I got the stuff set up," Caleb says, nodding toward Chelsea's desk. "Let's get Jason's mask ready." You hesitate, and she gives you a queer look. "What's wrong?"<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing," you say. "Just thinking through how we're gonna do this. We got enough to coat two masks? Good, we'll coat his mask too."<br/>
<br/>
"How come? Aren't you going to switch into him?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure, but we should golemize his as long as we have the chance, in case I need to switch back out of him at some point." She shrugs, and you hop onto the bed and put your hand to your brow.<br/>
<br/>
You wake, groggily, what seems like hours later. Something seems wrong, but you can't put your finger on it. You look down, and it takes you a few seconds to realize that you're still wearing Lynch's body. "What happened?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb turns from the desk where he's sitting. "About time. You were <i>out</i>."<br/>
<br/>
"Did you get the mask done?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, and back on you while you were still asleep. Kinda weird. I was gonna start slapping you if you didn't come out of it in a few minutes."<br/>
<br/>
You sit up, and the last of the cobwebs clear from your head. "Well, come on, let's give Chelsea her instructions."<br/>
<br/>
"What instructions?" Caleb asks, and scrambles after as you sweep out the door.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea is downstairs in the family room with her dad, and scowls as you peer around the corner and gesture her to come out. "You know that mask Jessica brought over?" you say in a low voice. "Keep it handy, near the bed. Take Gordon up and get him on the bed. Make out with him. Then, when you have a chance, get it on him. Then come find us."<br/>
<br/>
"I thought we were gonna jump him," Caleb frowns.<br/>
<br/>
"Neater this way. Less chance of a screw up."<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea looks at Caleb, and the latter nods. You send her back into the family room to wait for Gordon while you and Caleb go into the kitchen to lean against the central island. You talk about this and that for a few minutes; then the doorbell rings and Chelsea appears briefly in the doorway on her way to answer it. There are voices and a little squeal, and then footsteps on the stairs. You go back to talking--Caleb is curious about your day--until there's more footsteps, and a rather pale Chelsea appears. The two of you follow her upstairs, to find Gordon splayed on the bed.<br/>
<br/>
"Grab the kit," you tell Caleb. "I'll get the mask when it comes out of him. We'll finish it up in the bathroom."<br/>
<br/>
"What happens when he wakes up?" She nods at Gordon.<br/>
<br/>
"Chelsea will keep him entertained. Won't you, darlin'?" You wink at her.<br/>
<br/>
"Bite me," she snarls.<br/>
<br/>
A glow from Gordon's face interrupts the incipient repartee, and you gently lift it from him and lead Caleb back out and into the upstairs guest bath, where you huddle around the sink. You drop some of your hair--which Caleb got off you while you were passed out--into the bowl with the other ingredients, fire it over the sigil, and paint it into mask. "Lookin' good," you gloat as you hold it up; Gordon's ghostly face floats in its glowing surface.<br/>
<br/>
"You gonna put it on?"<br/>
<br/>
"Naw, just slap it back on him. Come on." You tiptoe back to Chelsea's room and softly open the door. You can only see Gordon's legs; Chelsea is on top of him, her face buried in his. You lay a hand on her shoulder and gently pull her back. "Can I interrupt?" you grin.<br/>
<br/>
Gordon stares up at you. "Lynch?" he only has time to say before you drop the mask on him. It sinks into him almost instantly. His expression hardly changes. "What the--" He puts his hand to his face and rubs it, then turns to give you a puzzled glance. "The fuck did you do?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just gave you a little tweak. Let's see if it worked. Who's my bitch, Gordon? You are, right?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm your bitch," Gordon says tonelessly, and the color rises into his face.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, Gordon, I'm so sorry," Chelsea squeals. "But they made me help them."<br/>
<br/>
"That's right," you grin. "Both of you gotta do what we say. You need Chelsea any more tonight?" you ask Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
"Why?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just wanna take 'em out, get in a little trouble."<br/>
<br/>
"Like what?"<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing bad. Just tell Chelsea to play along with me."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb gives Chelsea some vague orders, and you lead your two acquisitions out of her house.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
They take Gordon's VW Bug to the school while you drive out in your truck. Dusk has crept into the sky, and the gym is dark and spooky as you walk across the open space to the stairs mounting up to the "fuck room." "You call Patterson, tell him to keep away?" you ask Gordon. He nods truculently. "Good. He's not invited. Not yet."<br/>
<br/>
The loft is dark, but there's more than enough light to see by. You drag out a gym mat and spread it on the floor. "What are you planning," Gordon asks darkly.<br/>
<br/>
"I kinda cut in on your fun back at Chelsea's," you say. "I wanna make it up to you. You can pick up here where you left off there."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh God, he wants to <i>watch</i>," Chelsea moans. <br/>
<br/>
You just tap the mat with your foot, and with a sigh Gordon sits down; with more reluctance, Chelsea sits in his lap; they loosely drape their limbs about each other. "Oh, come on, you guys," you cry. "Put a little more enthusiasm into it." Chelsea just sits like a lump, but Gordon grips her tightly and begins to kiss her cheek and chin and throat hungrily.<br/>
<br/>
Your excitement mounts as you drop down behind him and massage his neck and shoulders--his big, round shoulders. "Fucker, what are you up to back there," he growls in a muffled voice."<br/>
<br/>
"Just gettin' you relaxed. Man, you're tense. Here, let's get your shirt off you." You pull it up and over his head, exposing his strong back. You run your palms up and down it. It's so tense, so powerful. You strip off your own shirt then sit up on your knees so you can press your chest against him. You wrap your arms around him, wedging them between him and Chelsea. Your breath comes in short gasps as you bury your face in his hair, which smells sharp: the sweetness of shampoo and the salt of dried sweat. You snuffle into his scalp, sucking up the aroma, then lean around to nuzzle at his ear--<br/>
<br/>
Your eyes blink open and you freeze. Gordon also isn't moving, and you look out of one open eye to see Chelsea gazing at you critically. You are suddenly very conscious of your position.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh. Fuck." You release Gordon and fall back onto your ass. You're staring at him as he turns to give you a veiled look over his shoulder. "I just figured it out, Gordon," you say numbly. "I'm gay."<br/>
<br/>
"I knew it!" Chelsea shrieks.<br/>
<br/>
Gordon just stares at you. "Is that what all this is about?"<br/>
<br/>
You jump to your feet and pace the loft, pressing your hands to your head. It all makes sense now. But you've been inside Lynch--pretty deep inside him. So how come you only now realized it?<br/>
<br/>
<i>Because he doesn't know it,</i> the thought comes to you. <i>Except now he knows it.</i><br/>
<br/>
"So, do you need me now," Chelsea asks waspishly. "Or can I leave you alone with your boy toy?"<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up, Chels," Gordon says.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, shut your mouth," you echo. "This is pretty heavy shit." She just slouches and pouts.<br/>
<br/>
It's an interesting revelation. Is it important? You tug at your lip with one hand and hug your bare chest with your other. You glance at Gordon. The easiest thing to do would be to switch out of Lynch and into him--just sweep the evening's events under the rug. In fact, given what you now about Lynch, you could probably release the original. His feelings for Gordon are such that Black has him pretty firmly under his thumb, and you'd have him under your thumb if you were Gordon. Caleb would never have to know about the embarrassing stuff that just happened--<br/>
<br/>
No, Chelsea would tell him. And if he ever switched into Chelsea, he would know. You should confer with him anyway, however mortifying it would be. Of course, the fucker will never let you live it down.<br/>
<br/>
You pause in mid-pace. Still, maybe there are ways of turning this discovery to your advantage. Your plan has been to unsettle the school and its dynamics. If one of the top jock-bullies came out of the closet, and if Gordon and them backed him up, made it clear that they were going to support their brave, gay friend ...<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121211221212
author_id: seuzz
title: A Gay Conversation
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You jab a finger at the other two. "Not one word about what happened tonight, from either of you." <br/>
<br/>
"Fuck, you think I want this getting spread around?" Gordon mutters.<br/>
<br/>
But Chelsea is smiling maliciously. "Glad we're on the same page, Gordon," you say. "Now tell your girlfriend you want her keeping quiet, too."<br/>
<br/>
Gordon turns to Chelsea. You can't see his expression, but her face twists and her eyes falls. "Alright. Lips sealed." She mimes locking her lips. Still, you'll have to get Caleb to reinforce it.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, the two of you can stay here, have fun. I gotta go see someone."<br/>
<br/>
"Hartlein?" Chelsea giggles smugly. You shove her in the shoulder as you pass on your way to the door. <br/>
<br/>
You dial Jessica's number, and Caleb agrees to meet you at Starbucks in an hour. In the meantime, you drive around aimlessly before finally stopping at a bookstore to get some coffee. Unconsciously your eye wanders over to the exercise section of the magazine rack, but you turn away with a jerk. Lynch hasn't even got any porn at his place, just muscle magazines. The guy is deeply unhappy, though he doesn't know it. He's trapped in a cul-de-sac whose exit he won't acknowledge. You pull at your nose. What if--<br/>
<br/>
No, it's a crazy thought. Still, you keep returning to it as you sip your coffee. <br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I got some really juicy gossip," you say, leaning forward across the table. <br/>
<br/>
"Oh God," Caleb groans. "I really don't want to hear about whatever you did with Gordon and Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, you're gonna have to. But first, you gotta promise not to make any smart comments. This is about Jason, not about me."<br/>
<br/>
"I've been having a hard time telling the difference," she sniffs.<br/>
<br/>
"See, that's the kind of thing I mean. Yeah, I been really into him today. If I hadn't, I wouldna found out what I found out." Her eyes narrow. "It's kind of funny, y'know," you continue. "These masks, they give you all the stuff the real person's got. Including all the stuff that's unconscious. Or subconscious. Stuff you don't realize until you find yourself <i>acting</i> on it."<br/>
<br/>
"Where is this going?" she demands.<br/>
<br/>
You lean forward to talk in a near whisper. "Jason Lynch is gay."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb stares. "And how were you 'acting,' Will, that you discovered this fact about him?"<br/>
<br/>
Your eyes narrow. "I told you, man, no smart comments."<br/>
<br/>
"That wasn't a 'smart' comment. I'm totally serious. What happened?"<br/>
<br/>
You shift uncomfortably. Maybe it would be easier if Caleb <i>were</i> just to snark at you. Then you could pass the insinuations off as a joke. "I made a pass at Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb's eyebrow lifts fractionally.<br/>
<br/>
"I took 'em back to the fuck room. For a three-way, you know. Chelsea's hot. But it was Gordon I got my hands all over."<br/>
<br/>
"Is that all?"<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up. No cocks were involved."<br/>
<br/>
"That's not what I meant. I mean, is this the sum total of what makes you think Lynch is gay? I mean, you didn't know it as soon as you put the mask on?"<br/>
<br/>
"<i>He</i> doesn't know it." She snorts. "No, seriously. If you knew everything I know about him, now--" You jab at the table emphatically. "Guy hasn't got porn at his house. Well, no girlie magazines. But lots of fitness shit. He likes watching Gordon and them practice. He stares at 'em. He's totally Gordon's bitch, does whatever he wants, pants after him. I was just following his instincts, and I was totally acting like Gordon's girlfriend. Kept trying to think of ways of making him happy, kept thinking about him, kept trying to--"<br/>
<br/>
She waves her hand dismissively. "I think you're projecting. Like, you've got these issues and you're just projecting them onto Lynch because--"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not gay, you cocksucker," you snarl through gritted teeth. "You don't believe me, <i>you</i> put this fucking thing on and see what it's like inside here. I think that's how come he's such a psycho. He's acting out because he can't acknowledge who or what he is."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh God, now you're an amateur psychologist, and you haven't even got a mask of one."<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck you." You lean back. "I knew this was a bad idea, coming to you with this."<br/>
<br/>
"And what did you want me to do about it? If you think it's Lynch who's gay--" You mutter an oath "--then switch out of him. You've got Gordon. Unless you're worried that Lynch will be looking at you funny after you've switched, and worried that you'll start looking at <i>him</i> funny."<br/>
<br/>
"The point is, what if we let him out of the closet? Or force him out? Make him confess his real orientation?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb blinks. "Have him go around telling people that he's gay? They'll crucify him," Caleb snorts. "Which would be kinda fun, I admit--"<br/>
<br/>
"But what if they don't? What if they all rally around him? Gordon and Chelsea and the Garners and the other people we replace? What if they decide that it's cool and acceptable?"<br/>
<br/>
She tugs her ear thoughtfully. "It would be totally out of character for them--"<br/>
<br/>
"You're talking about changing the dynamics of the school. That would really change them."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb says nothing for a long time. "I like it," she says thoughtfully. "Especially if we marry it with our plans for Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, now <i>you'll</i> have to explain <i>that.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, what if <i>she's</i> the only one who doesn't go along with it? Homophobia is, like, really politically incorrect. If she tries destroying him, but everyone else--"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, okay. I see. Yeah." Your eyes light up. "That's good. But I've got another idea. One that's really crazy. You'll never go for it, but--" You chew on the inside of your cheek a bit before plunging on. "We let Lynch out. We don't make him part of our little club, exactly, but we show him the masks and how they work."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb gasps. "Are you nuts?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just hear me out. He doesn't have to know it's us, not Will Prescott and Caleb Johansson, who's behind it all. We pretend to be Gordon and Patterson--after we've got him, of course. But we let Lynch out, tell him we know that he's gay, and offer to help him live out his real sexuality safely." <br/>
<br/>
Caleb frowns. <br/>
<br/>
"Look, maybe I'm just feeling sorry for the guy. I mean, being him, I've got some sympathy. Jason Lynch, maybe, can't come out of the closet. But suppose we give him the mask of someone who <i>can</i> be openly gay. That way, he can switch back and forth between being himself and being someone who can act the way he really wants to act. Give him a second, safe life."<br/>
<br/>
She looks dubious. "That still sounds really dangerous. I mean, even if he didn't freak out-- Like, I'm still not convinced from what you've said that he really is gay. And even if you're right, that he's just in denial, he'll still react badly, probably, insist that he's not gay. But even if all that works, how can we set it up? Where and when and how would we let him out? How would we explain things? And giving him a mask, showing him how they work--"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, we don't teach him how to make them, that's obvious," you retort. "We just give him one, and show him how to take it on and off."<br/>
<br/>
"I still wouldn't like him knowing that there are fakes running around. What if he got paranoid, and tried taking a mask off of Gordon or someone? Those magic words work on any mask, you know. Besides," Caleb continues, filling your silence with another objection, "I don't see how this idea would fit in with our other plans."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I did say it was a crazy idea," you admit.<br/>
<br/>
"Damn straight. No, if you wanna fix his life, let's just let fix the fake Jason's life."<br/>
<br/>
Officially, you concede he is right, and you return to your respective homes. The parents aren't happy that you're late--you've missed dinner without calling--but Lynch, for all his faults as a human being, is a dutiful and obedient son, and you're able to smooth out the small crisis by being properly apologetic and making plausible excuses, and you quickly and efficiently get through your overdue chores. Then it's into the bedroom to do homework--both your own and the set that Gordon had given to you. But all the time you're trying to figure out a way around Caleb's objections to your "crazy" scheme. Maybe you are just being very sympathetic to Lynch's plight. Or maybe you are just keen on solving it as an intellectual puzzle. <br/>
<br/>
Who could Jason become? Not Charles Hartlein, the drama club president, who <i>is</i> out of the closet. Jason may be gay, but he's not fruity. Adrian Semple, who rather proudly wears his disinclination to draw distinctions between different kinds of sexual behavior?  Well, he's not fruity, but he's a scruffy bohemian type.<br/>
<br/>
The problem, you decide as you slide between the sheets after putting out the lights, is that you don't know the school underbelly well enough: not as yourself, and certainly not as Jason. Caleb has said that the two of you need to get some pawns in place. Hartlein isn't plausible as a candidate for Jason to take over, but you'd likely have to replace him anyway, as a node in your web of intrigue. Once you've done that, he could probably give you better guidance on where Jason might be put.<br/>
<br/>
You wince at the thought of going to Caleb and telling him that you want Hartlein as your next victim; dude pretty clearly suspects it's <i>you</i> who have unacknowledged "issues." Maybe you should just drop the mad scheme.</span></div></div>


path: 11123122212211212112212121
author_id: seuzz
title: New Teammates
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You pass a mostly sleepless night tossing and turning, trying to figure out a way to bring Jason out of the closet. You don't come up with any good ideas.<br/>
<br/>
You do get a pleasant surprise the next morning at your locker just after first period when the Prescott golem sidles up furtively to you. "Hey, I got some stuff," he mutters, and pulls open his backpack: inside, you can see two blank masks, gleaming. "You sounded like you really wanted these quick, so Caleb and me worked all night."<br/>
<br/>
"Awesome." You press him close to the lockers so no one can see as you quickly transfer the masks to your own bag. "We'll have some more work for you in a day or two." He groans.<br/>
<br/>
Probably you should share one of them with your fellow conspirator--he will still be aiming for Kendra--but it sounds like he's basically on board with your scheme to make Jason's homosexuality public, so you decide to just make your own play with them. You hurry around to Gordon's next class and lean next to him: "Meet me at the break room at lunch. Just you and me."<br/>
<br/>
"Fucker," he growls. "I can't believe you wanna replay of last night."<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up. Just be there. We gotta get some stuff set up."<br/>
<br/>
From there you go find Jessica and lift the golemization kit off her--Caleb raises his eyebrows but makes no inquiries. After that: You're so preoccupied with the afternoon to come that you totally forget to bully anyone, and don't even say anything when one of the sophomores trips over your feet in the hallway.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Gordon has an ugly expression on his face as he mounts the stairs to the fuck room, where you're pacing as you wait. "You gonna buy me dinner, at least, when all this is over? I'm missing lunch."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm getting you a friend," you retort as he unlocks the door. "And no, not a friend of Dorothy," you add, forestalling his obvious retort.<br/>
<br/>
Inside the fuck room--which is still disarranged from last night--you set out one of the blank masks, the golemization sigil, and the stuff from the kit, which luckily already contains a good number of hair clippings from you and Caleb both, neatly bagged and labeled against mix ups. (Silently, you mutter your gratitude that the fucker has an anal-compulsive streak.) After mixing up the slurry, you nod at Gordon. "Text Patterson. Tell him to come up here. Alone. Once he's inside the door, grab him and hold him until I get that mask onto his face.<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus!" The enslaved Gordon pales as he fumbles at his cell phone. Apparently he has to argue with his best friend, because he has to send a couple of texts before he finally puts the phone away. "Okay, he's on his way. I wish I understood what all this was about," he adds darkly.<br/>
<br/>
"You will, soon enough." Even if you wind up leaving Jason where he is--under Eva's mask--you've no intention of playing his part when it's time for the big reveal, and plan to run it from inside Gordon.<br/>
<br/>
The two of you exchange a glance at the sound of footsteps on the stairs, and Gordon wedges himself by the door. Patterson hasn't a chance to say even one word before Black grips him from behind, and you charge him with the mask. Both basketball players fall to the floor, and you direct Gordon to sit on him while you finish the transformation.<br/>
<br/>
"So what are you doing," Gordon asks after several minutes of silence. <br/>
<br/>
You don't answer until you get the last of the goop inside the mask, and drop it onto Steve's face. "I told you, making you a friend. We're all friends now, ain't we, Steverino," you jeer as Patterson's eyes snap open. "He's a slave now, just like you, Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
"The fuck are you talking about," Steve asks. His face tenses.<br/>
<br/>
You gape. "You have to do what I say," you insist to him.<br/>
<br/>
"Fucking hell," he retorts. "Let me up, Gordon, so I can wax the floor with this fucker's face."<br/>
<br/>
Gordon doesn't move, just looks at you with a quizzical expression, and you wheel back at the golemization kit. Those hairs-- You frown at the bag that has your name on it. <i>Christ!</i> That color, the little curls: It's Caleb's. That's <i>twice</i> now. "Keep him pinned," you order Gordon, and whip out your own cell phone and call Jessica directly.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I guess all's well that ends well," you grumble. Gordon and Steve are both standing resentfully nearby; Black is stoic, but Patterson is glaring at you, and it took a harsh word from Caleb to make him stand still.<br/>
<br/>
"Like hell," Caleb explodes. "That mask was for Kendra."<br/>
<br/>
"We'll still get her," you reply. "And now we've got the fuck room secured. We got a second mask, too--"<br/>
<br/>
"Good."<br/>
<br/>
"But I got plans for it. Our friends here will bring Hartein up, and--"<br/>
<br/>
"What?! <i>Hartlein?</i>" Caleb's very pretty face turns several shades of red and white. Gordon rubs his forehead with his knuckles.<br/>
<br/>
"It's for Jason, for his coming out party. Hartlein will know best how to handle it, and besides--" You sputter to a halt at Caleb's glare. "And besides, we'll make sure to use <i>my</i> shit in his mask, so don't worry."<br/>
<br/>
"That's hardly the point! We're supposed to be working togeth--"<br/>
<br/>
"What coming out party?" Patterson blurts out.<br/>
<br/>
"Jason's gay," Gordon says, matter of factly.<br/>
<br/>
"I told you to keep your mouth shut about that!" You round on him.<br/>
<br/>
"What, I thought after what you did to Patterson we were all on the same side!"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't. Tell. Anyone!" Gordon sighs, and you avoid Steve's very amused stare. "Will you tell that asshole over there that the same goes for him," you ask Caleb. "And tell Chelsea to keep it mum, too."<br/>
<br/>
"Chelsea knows?" Steve laughs. "It'll be all over school by the end of the day."<br/>
<br/>
"You really haven't thought this through, have you?" Caleb says.<br/>
<br/>
"If you hadn't got the names on those baggies wrong--!" The two of you yell at each other until Gordon raises his hand and steps between you.<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno why I'm bothering,"  he says. "'Cos I like it when girls fight, but will the two of you calm down?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb turns a chilly shoulder on you. "Do whatever you like," he says as he steps for the door. "But I get the next two masks. No, the next <i>three</i> masks." He exits before you can reply.<br/>
<br/>
That leaves you with Gordon and Steve. "Alright, you two go find Hartlein. Skip class if you have to. Just hustle him up here." Gordon nods, but Steve says nothing. "Come on, Patterson," you cajole him. "You wanna see that homo fucked up, right? Like I fucked you up?" Steve glances at Gordon, and shrugs.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Jason's gay." The words sound very sour as they come from your mouth. But then, Gordon Black--whose face you are now wearing--feels very sour about the revelation. <br/>
<br/>
"Are you sure it's <i>Jason</i> that's gay?" Hartlein sneers back. "Isn't it Gordon over there?" He nods his chin at Jason, who, yes, now has Gordon under the mask.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but he doesn't know what's going on." You jab Harlein's in his chicken chest with a big finger. "You don't even know for sure who's under <i>your</i> face." In fact, Hartlein is wearing a mask of himself--just as Chelsea and Steve are wearing their own enslaved faces--but he can't know that for sure, and looks a little uncomfortable. "And everything you see and hear in this room, you don't say a word about it to <i>anyone.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Does that include Will Prescott?" he smirks. "He's the one who's actually gay, isn't he?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I let you see that--" you could hardly stop him from watching as you switched from Jason's mask and into Gordon's. "But it's totally Jason who's a faggot. I'm just helping him out."<br/>
<br/>
"Funny way to be a friend."<br/>
<br/>
"I thought you'd be happy to find out Jason's playing on the same team as you."<br/>
<br/>
"Lynch isn't a credit to <i>anyone</i>'s team." He folds his arms. "So, are you gonna make us hook up, or some shit like that?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, I just need your advice. He's gonna come out, and I wanna know how you think we should handle it."<br/>
<br/>
"Have Sagansky call a public assembly. That'd be fun." He quails a little under your frown. "Jesus, he should just tell people who are friends. If he has any that aren't fakes."<br/>
<br/>
"Should he have a boyfriend?"<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno. Is there anyone you fancy," he asks Lynch. Jason shoots you a veiled glance. "Oooh! Kinkier and kinkier!"<br/>
<br/>
"You must know some guys who'd like a stud like Jason."<br/>
<br/>
"A stud? Yes. Jason? Eh. But if he wants to explore the underground a little--" Hartlein rolls his tongue inside his cheek, and Lynch flushes. "But, uh, can't <i>you</i> set him up with someone? I don't know how this shit works, but--"<br/>
<br/>
You chew on your lip. Maybe that would be the fastest way: Find another jock and "change" his orientation. But Caleb wants the next batch of masks for himself ...</span></div></div>


path: 111231222122112121122121212
author_id: seuzz
title: The Snoop Strategem
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Using the power of the masks to <i>turn</i> someone gay-- No, that's not an option. But then you remember how you discovered Jason's orientation: by getting inside him. If you could similarly get inside lots of other people, snoop around ... It's a big school, and if statistics are to be believed, there must be dozens of guys who secretly share Jason's orientation. Making masks would take forever, but luckily there is another way.<br/>
<br/>
You curtly dismiss Hartlein and Lynch, and spend the rest of the period making a work space in one of the corners of the loft. Then, after classes and basketball practice, you drive out to the elementary school and pack up all the remaining mask-making material and transfer it to the high school. You call Caleb as you work, telling him where you are and asking him to meet you at the fuck room. To your surprise, it's Chelsea who shows up. "Heard 'fuck room' and thought it meant a little action, huh?" you tease.<br/>
<br/>
"She was being a bitch and I decided to straighten her out," Caleb replies. She sniffs pertly as she looks around. "The place looks better."<br/>
<br/>
You look her over. She's dressed in a tight, powder-blue sweater and a short skirt that tightly hugs her hips and brushes against strong legs that plumply fill out white stockings and taper down to little white sneakers. She catches your stare; and since she's so short and Gordon is so tall, she can hardly miss the rising tent in your shorts. "What?" she asks narrowly.<br/>
<br/>
You groan. "You're cock-blocking me. I switch into Gordon, so you switch into Chelsea. It's like you're <i>trying</i> to stop me from scoring."<br/>
<br/>
"You'll have lots of chances later. This is to make it easier to talk."<br/>
<br/>
"I guess," you sigh. "Anyway, you got any money on you? I'm tapped out, and we need more supplies."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm ahead of you. We made a shopping trip." She drops her pink backpack to the floor and digs out a few plastic bags full of new supplies. "Enough for three masks. Remember, those are mine."<br/>
<br/>
"Whatever. How about you get Kelsey or one of those rich bitches. God!" You straighten up. "I bet she can suck a cock. She's got the mouth for it."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe I'll let you have one of those new masks, if you promise to use it on someone who isn't a disgusting pig."<br/>
<br/>
You leer at your friend briefly, then start putting away the supplies. "First, though, I wanna make up a bunch of mind bands. Like, a couple of dozen. So, I still need some cash."<br/>
<br/>
"What for?"<br/>
<br/>
"Use 'em on people. I figure we can get copies of their brains without getting their faces, and then use the bands to see who would be good conquests."<br/>
<br/>
"I've already got a list. Kelsey's definitely on it. So is Hartlein, if you're still feeling faggoty."<br/>
<br/>
"I already got him, this afternoon. I told you." She snorts. "But the bands are also to help us deal with Jason. I wanna use them to find out who else is gay. That way we can set him up with a boyfriend."<br/>
<br/>
She gives you a funny look. "What's wrong with giving him Hartlein to play with?"<br/>
<br/>
"It'd be out of character. I'm hoping we find someone on one of the sports teams. It'd be easier if more than one jock came out of the closet."<br/>
<br/>
"I guess that makes sense." She frowns thoughtfully, which is an adorable look on Chelsea's face, since hard thought is usually beyond her. "So, the idea is that we snoop through lots of brains, find a couple of prospects, and then-- What?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not sure yet." You're still playing with the idea of freeing Jason and giving him a second identity, but don't want to say anything about it. "It depends on who we find."<br/>
<br/>
"You wanna tackle each of them up here?" She looks dubious.<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head. "We'll have a party. With lots of underage drinking." You grin. "That'll cover up all the people passing out as we put the mind bands on them." Her eyes light up. "Yeah, and between you, me, Lynch and Patterson, it shouldn't take a lot of time to get mental copies of all our victims." She nods. "But right now, let's get those new masks made up for you, and get them over to the golems to polish."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You settle on having the party at Jeremy's house: His parents will be out of town on Saturday night, so you'll be able to get the mind bands filled soon. The tedious part is getting all the bands made--the runes takes forever to do--and it takes all of your free time, even with Caleb's help. Fortunately, with you playing Gordon and him playing Chelsea, you can spend all of your time together.<br/>
<br/>
"How are things on the team going," she asks you on Thursday night. You're up in her bedroom, quietly tapping symbols into some metal bands. <br/>
<br/>
"Okay, I guess. Patterson's being kind of a dick. He keeps arguing with me. Like, today--" You launch into a long story having to do with a disagreement about some drills. Either Caleb is listening very carefully, or he's paying no attention at all, for he says nothing; usually, Chelsea would cut short one of Gordon's soliloquies with an impatient sigh and a change of subject back to herself. "You might need to talk to him for me. You know his family is moving, right? He even dropped a hint that he might take advantage of that fact to transfer to Eastman."<br/>
<br/>
"That wouldn't be good," she says. "I should switch into him. I should do that for the party, anyway."<br/>
<br/>
"You could switch tonight." You rub and squeeze her calf. "It's been nearly a week since I gave Chelsea a boner to chew on."<br/>
<br/>
"Go see Jason. All this is supposed to be for making <i>him</i> happy." She shakes her head.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, if you don't like this idea--" You feel Gordon's natural anger rising inside you.<br/>
<br/>
"No, it's a good idea. That's why I'm helping you. And it's why I'm not switching until it's time for the party. If I let you go at Chelsea, we'll never get these things done."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, maybe I <i>will</i> have a session with Jason. But the one that's inside Eva. I can do that, now that the fuck room is all ours. And you won't get jealous, will you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Pfft. Why can't you jack off at home?"<br/>
<br/>
"'Cos if my dad catches me--" You wince at Gordon's memory of being caught a couple of years ago while beating his meat in the shower. <br/>
<br/>
"Mmm," she says in a distracted tone as she lifts the metal band and scrutinizes it carefully. "Okay, here's another one. What's that make, eleven?"<br/>
<br/>
"Twelve." You toss your own band over to the little bag that holds the other items. You wrench a crick from your neck. "Mother of fucking pearl, everything feels tight. Come on, lemme just finger your pussy."<br/>
<br/>
She slaps your hand away. "Just get Eva tomorrow."<br/>
<br/>
"That's tomorrow!"<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck it." She takes out her cell phone. "We've got those new masks done. I'll get you Kendra tonight. I know you have a thing for her. You've done her before."<br/>
<br/>
"Who says," you shout, momentarily forgetting not to channel Gordon.<br/>
<br/>
She gives you a pitying look. "Please. She told me about it afterward. I pretended not to believe her."<br/>
<br/>
"She was lying! She-- Okay, she wasn't. But how did she know? She was blindfolded."<br/>
<br/>
"Like she couldn't tell the difference between you and Patterson. She knew it wasn't Patterson who took her the third time--"<br/>
<br/>
"Second."<br/>
<br/>
"Whatever. And who else was gonna be up in the fuck room with Steve? Not Lynch. Is he as tiny as everyone says?"<br/>
<br/>
"Tinier," you chortle. "But, damn." You suck on the inside of your cheek. "Did she say how it was? Who was better, me or Steve?"<br/>
<br/>
"She didn't go into details." She's still got the phone in her hand. "So, you want me to call her, get her out here?"<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121211221212122
author_id: seuzz
title: The Party
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Nah, that's okay," you say. "And let's wait until after the party before you go getting anyone new."<br/>
<br/>
"How come? We could get some at the party. Bunches of people will be showing up."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but we should get into these new mind bands first. Might give us some better ideas about who to get."<br/>
<br/>
"I told you, I've already got a list. The three K's: Kendra, Kelsey, and Kim Walsh."<br/>
<br/>
"Whadda we need Kim for?"<br/>
<br/>
"Hello? Student council president and all-around buttinski. If you can have Hartlein feeding you information-- Have you talked to him since?" You shake your head. "Sounds like a wasted mask."<br/>
<br/>
"He's for when the whole gay thing starts going down."<br/>
<br/>
"Alright. And if we're not gonna take Kendra tonight, I guess there's no point in not waiting till after the party." She puts the phone away. "You wanna try to get another pair of bands done tonight?"<br/>
<br/>
You look at the clock: it's nearly ten-thirty. "I better get home." You slide off the bed, and stretch up to your full height to peer down at her. "How about you switch into Patterson tomorrow afternoon?"<br/>
<br/>
"No Eva?"<br/>
<br/>
"We should keep things normal. And Eva doesn't do it for me the way--" You lean over, pinning her to the bed, and press a strong kiss into her mouth. She tries pulling away, and then gives in with some hungry tongue action of her own. "You sure you don't wanna ride the Gordon Black rocket?" you murmur.<br/>
<br/>
"Mm-hmm," she says, and pushes you away. "But if it makes you feel better, Chelsea's been missing him too. You'll have fun tomorrow."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
But even though Caleb is true to his promise and switches into Patterson that afternoon, you're trapped at home by Gordon's dad, who is in one of his black rages and keeps you home all afternoon and evening, even confiscating the cell phone you can't call one of you golems out and effect an escape. You are able to complete another mind band, though, so you and Caleb have fourteen of them prepared when you get together at Richards an hour before the party. All your golems are there too, so that it will be covered by Jessica and Eva Garner, Jason Lynch, Steve Patterson (the disguised Caleb), and of course Richards himself. You give each of them a pair of mind bands and a list of preferred targets, and tell them what to do. "Get them alone," you direct them. "In a bedroom or a dark corner outside. Make sure they've had something to drink and have a beer or something else with them. Slip one of these onto their foreheads, like this." You press a metal strip to Lynch's forehead. You're slightly alarmed when he sinks to the floor, his eyes going in and out of focus as the band hisses softly on his forehead without going in. But he recovers quickly after you take the strip from him. "After you get someone, give the band to me or Steve, and go tell the others who it was, so we don't get any duplicates by accident."<br/>
<br/>
Seth and Cindy Vredenburg show up first, quickly followed by the rest of the basketball team. Most of the partygoers show up in the company of their teammates. The football squad is represented by Cameron Huber, Marcus Johnson, Ethan Nieves, and Nathan and Kevin Hall; the baseball team by Michael Allen, Noah Baker, Joseph Stewart, Antonio Sanchez, Luke Richardson, and Shep Tsosie; the wrestling contingent includes Laurent Delacroix, Devin Haney, and Sean Mitchell. Mitchell is the first victim, actually: Lynch sidles up to you only fifteen minutes after you'd let him in and slips a band to you. "Be funny if that pussy's the guy you're looking for," he chortles. You glance over at a doorway, where Mitchell stands rather unsteadily on his feet with a vaguely perplexed look on his face.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb also moves quickly, muttering the names "Huber" and "Tsosie" in your ear as he passes you in the kitchen. Even Eva surprises you by tucking a band into your front pocket and murmuring "Devin Haney."<br/>
<br/>
They leave you feeling a little bit like a slacker. The trouble is that you keep looking at candidates and deciding there is no way they could be gay. Too many of them are plainly very interested in the cheerleaders that Chelsea has so thoughtfully forced into attending, or they're just too stolid and Neanderthal to seem even a little "queer." You have to remind yourself that there's no necessary correlation between appearance and orientation, as the case of Lynch himself demonstrates.<br/>
<br/>
"Yo, Laurent." You finally settle on one of the wrestlers, and summon him away from his little group with a jerk of your head. Delacroix has dark hair cut in a brush cut and a deep tan--it doesn't take much sun to bring out his mixed Quebecois-Algonquin ancestry--and a smooth manner with the girls that has never settled firmly on one as a girlfriend. He's also a bit of a clothes horse, you console yourself: at the moment he's dressed in a white silk shirt with muted silvery threads, casually unbuttoned low enough to show the edge of the tattoo he sports on his right pectoral. He lopes over with a curl of the lip and a glint in his eye; you have the strong impression he doesn't much like you. <br/>
<br/>
"Come on, lemme freshen your drink," you say, but lead him away from the kitchen and the keg it contains, back into one of the bedrooms. <br/>
<br/>
"You got, like, a private keg back here," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"Something private," you reply. You frown at the sight of Lin Pol and Kyle Sanders in the corner. She's giggling while he tucks a finger under her chin. "Hey, take it outside and scare the horses, why doncha," you growl.<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus, give us some privacy, Gordon," Sanders retorts.<br/>
<br/>
"You wanna do extra laps on Monday?" you ask meaningfully. "Lin, Chelsea says you're getting fat."<br/>
<br/>
"Fucker," Lin says. She glares at you, then stomps from the room. Sanders follows, shooting you a dark look as he passes.<br/>
<br/>
"Not cool, Black," Laurent says. <br/>
<br/>
"Cocksucker's on thin ice as it is. He doesn't get any of this stuff." You bend down and open a cabinet, drawing out a bottle of something smooth and brown that you'd secreted there earlier. You pour a little into a tumbler and hand it to him. <br/>
<br/>
He sniffs at it, smiles, and knocks it back with an easy swallow. "Nice."<br/>
<br/>
"Have another. And if you want a winning team, there's still room and time."<br/>
<br/>
He just grunts, but steps over to the cabinet. As he bends, you step behind him and catch in the forehead with a mind band. He sags, and you let him down easily. While he's out, you close the bedroom door. After the band comes out of him, you shake him awake. "You okay there, Delacroix? Stuff can hit kinda hard, can't it?"<br/>
<br/>
"Ungh." He shakes his head to clear it. "It felt like--" He glances at you, then shakes his head again. "Maybe I'll just stick to the beer."<br/>
<br/>
"Plenty of it, if that's what you want. And think about what I said." You leave him brooding.<br/>
<br/>
The same trick gets you Nathan Hall, and after that you take a band from Jessica, who's not having any luck getting anyone. You get it onto Luke Bennett--another basketball player--when you and Caleb start bullying him, hustling him outside into a dark patch in the back yard, where your friend holds him pinned while you slap the band onto him. While he's out, to make it look good, you take off his pants and drape them over the branch of a nearby tree. <br/>
<br/>
The party goes on until a little after midnight, even though all the bands have been accounted for by ten-thirty. You celebrate your success by surrendering to Gordon's impulses, ramping up the drinking, getting into a fistfight with Marcus Johnson, and carrying Chelsea outside and into the vegetable garden, where you trample the tomato vines until you get her pinned against the back wall. You pull down her panties and hike her skirt up and give her a quick, lubricating rub with your finger before undoing your own jeans and lifting her onto your cock. She gasps and trembles and hangs on for dear life as you thrust and grind and explode inside her. "All better," she asks in a weak voice when you're done. You don't answer, just squeeze her inside your strong arms and bury your face in her hair, weeping openly with pleasure.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"So what are we looking for," Caleb asks. It's Sunday afternoon, and the two of you, disencumbered of your masks, are sitting up in the fuck room. Down in the gym, golems of Black, Patterson, Richards, and Lynch are guarding the door while pretending to play some two-on-two ball.<br/>
<br/>
"Porn, probably," you reply. "Fantasies. Like, who did they fantasize about last night when they jerked off. If something seems promising, dig deeper."<br/>
<br/>
"Ycchhh. You owe me big time for agreeing to help out with this." With finicky distaste he picks up a band and presses it to his forehead. You do likewise.<br/>
<br/>
It's actually hard, grinding work, because it is disorienting to drop deeply into and then wrench yourself out of another person's mind. After the third band you have to take a break, and just droop limply, trying to recover your strength. Luckily, before you have to put on a fourth band, Caleb raises his hand. "Tummler," he says matter of factly. His face tightens slightly. "That's your guy."<br/>
<br/>
"Tummler?" You gape. "He's, like, totally-- Are you sure?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, and so is he. He's even been talking to the guidance counselors."<br/>
<br/>
You let out a low whistle. "And he's on the basketball team, too. Perfect guy to come out, then, with Gordon and Steve there to cover his ass. So to speak."</span></div></div>


path: 111231222122112121122122
author_id: seuzz
title: In Character
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Nah, we'll just save it for Kendra tomorrow. I'll talk to you then." You hang up and slowly draw your shirt back on. "Can I trust you dipshits to get this stuff done?" you ask the golems.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," the Prescott golem says. <br/>
<br/>
The other one says nothing, and you stride over to confront him with hands on your hips. He just stares down at his mask, working slowly. You grab him by the throat and force his head up. "You gonna have that finished by tomorrow?"<br/>
<br/>
"Gimme a fucking break," he says. "Even if I stay up all night--"<br/>
<br/>
"We need it." You tighten your grip, then shove him hard against the junk along the wall. "I will fuck you up if you don't have it done tomorrow afternoon." You jab a finger in Prescott's face. "And if he's not finished, I'll fuck you up too." After giving them both a hard glare, you stride from the basement.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Lynch is a sadist at school, but at home he's all "Yes'ms" and "Yessirs," and you quickly get through his chores. Dinner is pleasant and your parents ask about your day. You describe it with polite relish, emphasizing such good works as lending a sympathetic ear to a girl who got dumped and saving a couple of classmates from a bully. Afterward complete both your and Gordon's homework in Lynch's small, neat handwriting. As bedtime approaches you feel the need to relax, so you do a few easy curls with the free weight set and then let your mind wander to lustier corners. Where's the porn? <i>Shit, you haven't got any.</i> You frown. What kind of psycho is Lynch that he hasn't got some nudie magazines, even hidden away? Well, there's the stack of health and fitness magazines he keeps in his lower dresser drawer. You flip through the well-thumbed issues, grunting appreciatively over the pictures of beefy guys in tight shirts and shorts, then stop with a blink. Lynch is an exercise fanatic, and he knows all this stuff backwards and forwards; why does he keep these magazines--<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head and return to the desktop computer, flipping open bookmarked sites and recent browser histories. Nothing really excites you, and after setting it to "private browsing" you search out some of your own favorite sites, but none of them stir you as much as you'd like. Maybe it's because your cock just doesn't make a very tall tentpole, even fully aroused.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You wake early for your regular jog, then head off for school, to meet up with the baseball team in the fields behind the track. Lynch is much more of a pro around them, and indulges none of his worst antics, so everyone treats him with friendly--if slightly wary--respect. "Where'd you bust out to yesterday?" Shep Tsosie asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Following a girl," you grin. "You know, give her a shoulder to cry on, shit like that."<br/>
<br/>
Shep--"Maize" since grade school, on account of his Native American stock--pulls back his long black hair and resettles his cap. "Well, Gelding noticed, gave the class extra homework. Shit not on the schedule."<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck! Why didn't you call and tell me?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because I skipped, too. You're not the only one who chases girls." He spits into the dirt. "I only found out this morning when Brophy called."<br/>
<br/>
"And why was he fucking late with the news?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because he's an asshole?" Maize chews the inside of his cheek meaningfully.<br/>
<br/>
"Looks like I got business with him, then," you say. Maize won't dirty his hands, but he knows you, and will wind you up when he wants something done about someone. "Sean Mitchell, too," you mutter.<br/>
<br/>
"What's with Sean? He's a good guy."<br/>
<br/>
"Ain't nothin' wrong with Sean, 'cept he's a pussy."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, that's your business." Maize trudges out to join the others by home plate. The next thirty minutes is taken up with throwing and hitting balls. But your concentration is elsewhere.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Brophy Maddox is a nobody, a sneaky little weasel who hangs around Lester Brown and sneers at his victims, and he's an idiot, too. If he'd only kept his mouth shut about Gelding's extra assignments you'd not think to have a grudge against him. But he had to gloat to Maize ahead of time. So you track him down second period. All uncomprehending, he just looks up from his desk as you saunter in with a friendly expression. "Hey, got a minute, Maddox?" You cock your head toward the door. From a few seats away Jessica--Caleb--watches closely; Eva, in the next desk, turns away.<br/>
<br/>
Brophy follows you into the hall, which is where you seize his head in the crook of your arm, kick his feet from under him, and drag him by the neck into the closest boys' room; student scatter like pigeons from your path. In the restroom you hurl him to the floor; guys at the urinals--mostly nerds and AP types--swivel to gawp. "Eyes over here, everyone," you call loudly. "What do we do with human shit?"<br/>
<br/>
No one says anything, and most turn away. <br/>
<br/>
"Oy!" you shout. "I said, What do we-- You, Fairfax!" A tall kid jumps, and peers furtively back over his hunched shoulders. "look at me before I stuff you inside that urinal." Hastily, he shoves his cock back inside his pants and turns, holding the front of his trousers together because he can't work the zipper with his trembling hands. A dark stain appears at his crotch. "I asked, What do we do with human shit?"<br/>
<br/>
"Feed it to Eastman students?" a voice squeaks. You turn to give the speaker a dire glance that says you've made a note of his face and will be paying him a visit later. He turns very crimson.<br/>
<br/>
"Since none of you Einsteins can come up with the answer, I'll give it to you. You flush it down the toilet." You glower down at Brophy, who's been watching you with an open mouth from the floor. "Into a toilet stall, you shit." He only sits there, until you take a threatening step toward him, and then he scrambles back across the filthy floor; you chase him all the way until he's inside a stall. "Now put your head in the commode." Again, he doesn't react until you bend over him; and then he rolls over, hugs the sides of the toilet, and gingerly drops his face into the bowl. "Grab the handle." He flounders and flaps his hand until it comes to rest on the metal rod. "Full immersion. Past the ears. Then flush." He hesitates only a moment, and complies. The water gushes and swirls. "Again," you say after the bowl has refilled. "Again," you order a third time.<br/>
<br/>
You leave him to flop weakly by the toilet and turn back to the rest of the students, who are staring at the ground. "This is how we keep the school clean. Notice--" You hold up your hands and waggle your fingers "--I didn't even touch it. That's because human shit is disgusting. I don't wanna see anyone touching that <i>shit</i> in the corner." No one moves or looks up. "Thank you for your attention." With a warm glow of satisfaction you exit the restroom.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
As good as it feels to have dealt with Maddox, it does nothing to prepare you for Gelding's fourth-period class, so after second you hurry around to the locker of Brent Pruitt, one of the brainiacs in Gelding's class. There <i>are</i> a few of them in school you keep on good terms with, on the principle that some sheep need to be shorn instead of slaughtered, and Pruitt is one. "I hear the cock-cutter gave us extra work yesterday," you say in a low voice. He glances at you guardedly, and nods. "Lemme peek at yours, I'll get it back to you right after third." He digs through his bag and hands you a couple of papers. "Love ya, man," you say, clapping his shoulder and hurrying off to the library.<br/>
<br/>
But you've just gotten started copying it when Jessica comes in. "The fuck did you do to Brophy?" <br/>
<br/>
"Weasel had it coming," you say brusquely, not looking up from your work. "Go away. I gotta get this shit done this period."<br/>
<br/>
"You're getting too much in character," she says in a low voice, bending close. "The plan was to clean up the school, not turn ourselves into the worst people in it."<br/>
<br/>
"Just keeping undercover until we get all those 'pieces' in place."<br/>
<br/>
"Were you being 'undercover' yesterday afternoon, at the clubhouse?" You look up sharply. "Yeah, I heard about that. You think the guys weren't going to keep their mouth shut after what you did to them?"<br/>
<br/>
"Gimme a fucking break. I was just funnin' with 'em. They knew that."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't like this kind of 'fun' you're having, Will," she says. <br/>
<br/>
You flush. "Bet you're having fun playing with those." You point at her tits. "Well, I'm having fun the best way I know how, as Jason. You'd do the same."<br/>
<br/>
"You think so? Let's put it to a test. We'll get Kendra this afternoon. You switch into her, and I'll take over for Jason, for the rest of today and tomorrow."<br/>
<br/>
You clench your jaw. Fucking Caleb is being a prim little busybody, just like Jessica. Can't he see that, or is he too busy being self-righteous? Switch? Fuck, yeah, then he'll see. But then you remember that Sean needs dealing with. That won't happen until you have Gordon--it'll need two of you--and you'll want to be inside Jason when that goes down.</span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121211222
author_id: seuzz
title: A Disappearing Act
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Maybe revenge sex turns you on, but it turns <i>me</i> off," you tell him coldly as you stand and pick up your things.<br/>
<br/>
He leans back. "You're going to make yourself <i>real</i> unpopular, Eva," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"And that's strike three," you retort. You flip him off as you walk away.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You kill the rest of the afternoon inside a movie theater. It's a bad show, and it irks you that you have to wait until the final credits are rolling before your phone vibrates. "Where'd you hide the fucking stuff?" Caleb asks without so much as a hello.<br/>
<br/>
"I've got it with me," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, how am I supposed to get a mask onto Kendra if you've got it all with you?"<br/>
<br/>
Yikes. "I'm sorry, I guess I wasn't thinking. How do we want me to get it to you?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm at home, so get your ass over here. Chelsea's supposed to be by in ten minutes to pick me up."<br/>
<br/>
"How about you meet me where I am? I'm across the street from Nirdlinger's, we can meet there."<br/>
<br/>
"I can't risk being seen with Chelsea in public."<br/>
<br/>
"No, hang on, I've got an idea," you say. Something that has been working in the back of your mind all during the movie has popped to the fore. "Just come out to Nirdlinger's. Have Chelsea drop you off in the parking lot and then send her into the store to hide in one of the changing rooms. I'll meet you out front to talk."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb swears a very un-Jessica-like blue streak, but finally gives in.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I can't take being Eva anymore," you tell him as you slowly walk through the parking lot. Far away, you see Chelsea disappearing into the department store. You tell about your encounter with Lynch. "It's good fodder for playacting, but a little too intense for my taste."<br/>
<br/>
"You should have taken Lynch," Caleb says. "He'd have been useful."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't know that. And once you're inside Kendra you'll probably have different ideas. But I can't wait for you to figure out a new place for me."<br/>
<br/>
"Do <i>you</i> want to take Kendra?"<br/>
<br/>
"I can't control Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
"You could go back to being yourself, I guess," he says cautiously. "Until everything is set."<br/>
<br/>
"Actually, I was thinking pulling off an even bigger disappearing act." You outline your idea to him.<br/>
<br/>
"Are you nuts?" he says when you're done. "I need you around, to bounce ideas off of!"<br/>
<br/>
"You wouldn't be able to do that after you switched into Kendra, not with me as Eva."<br/>
<br/>
"I could stay as Jessica."<br/>
<br/>
"You need to keep close to Chelsea. And besides, I think I need a break." You take a deep breath. "I told you that I don't have the motivation to play things like Eva, but I think her head's screwing with me behind the scenes. I'm feeling funny. I should go into cold storage for awhile."<br/>
<br/>
"You might come out worse," he grumbles. "And you're taking an awful risk."<br/>
<br/>
"The only risk is that you might not let me out," you tease. Finally, he agrees to your idea.<br/>
<br/>
Inside the store you find the changing room that has Chelsea in it, and the three of you squeeze in. You start to undress, and Caleb orders Chelsea to do the same. She's vastly reluctant, but naturally complies. When you're disrobed, you pull the Eva mask from your face, slumping into brief darkness. When you open your eyes again, it's to find Chelsea shrunk back in horror into the corner of the room. Caleb--who is still dressed Jessica--smiles satirically. "You should have heard what she had to say when she saw who you really were," he chortles. Chelsea only shudders elaborately. <br/>
<br/>
"Don't be so shy, Chels," you smirk, and your masculine voice sounds very strange and rough in your ears after being Eva for so many days. "We're about to get even closer." But she won't let you touch her, and Caleb has to be the one to take the mask off her. As soon as it's away, he puts the other mask on her. Eva instantly appears. You don't want to see what happens next, though, so you put the Chelsea mask to your face ...<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You wake with a gasp and look around wildly. Your head throbs and you put your hands to it. "Welcome back to reality," a throaty voice says.<br/>
<br/>
You turn and have to sit up to get a good look at the speaker. It's Kendra Saunders. She smiles. Those strong, dazzling white teeth look beautiful in her sculpted Nubian face. You start as she cups your face in her hands. "You look like shit," she says, "but I could still almost kiss you. <i>Almost,</i> dude."<br/>
<br/>
"Where are we," you groan.<br/>
<br/>
"My house. Well, Kendra's, but I've been here for about a week now, so I'm having a real easy time thinking of it as mine." She pulls her auburn-dyed hair back and resets the hair band. "You have a nice rest?"<br/>
<br/>
You blink your eyes hard a couple of times. "I don't remember a damn thing. Feels like I've been out for ... fuck, well, longer than a week."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, while you get your head cleared, how about you get these clothes folded." She indicates a pile of things that you recognize as Chelsea's. "I'll be back in a moment with your new wardrobe. A new face, too." She winks as she exits.<br/>
<br/>
You look around as you pick up and casually fold Chelsea's sleeveless sweater and Capri pants. Wryly, you wish you could remember what it was like to be inside them, but being inside Chelsea meant being unconscious. Of course, that was part of your plan--to check out by hiding under one of Caleb's golems until he had a good situation for you. Idly, you wonder what has happened in the past week. You'll soon find out, of course. <br/>
<br/>
The bathroom is tastefully decorated, though the scarlets and blacks and pictures of East African women in elaborate head scarfs are rather too exotic for your taste; you like decor that can help you relax while sitting on the chamber pot. Well, maybe this is what the Saunders family finds relaxing. You jump a little as the door opens again to admit Kendra. "The new you," she says, and sets on the sink top a neatly folded pile of clothes topped with loafers and a mask.<br/>
<br/>
You were never one to rip open your Christmas presents early, so you ignore the mask to study the clothes, wondering if you can deduce their owner. The shirt is white, but it's a heavy cloth, Levi-style thing. The jeans are Levis too. You hold them to your own waist. They are about your size, so it's not a basketball player.<br/>
<br/>
Okay, time to take your new identity out of the box. Or, in this case, put yourself inside it ...<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Your head is much clearer after you open your eyes than it was when you closed them. You wonder if you actually took a short nap after putting the mask on, because you even feel refreshed. Also, Kendra is sitting beside you, smiling down beguilingly. <br/>
<br/>
"You cunning wench," you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
"Surprised by my choice?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Not the kind of guy I was expecting."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll explain it to you later." She leans over and kisses you. God, she tastes good, but you've sense enough not to press things or to chase her when she retreats again. You doubt Caleb is being other than a dick and a cocktease. Definitely the latter, though, for the kiss has teased your cock to life.<br/>
<br/>
"I guess I'd better get dressed," you say. "And you'd better get out. Your mom'll wonder what you're doing in here with me."<br/>
<br/>
"She ran down to the store while you were out, but I'll wait for you in the bedroom." She stands. "Don't be long. We've got a lot to talk about."<br/>
<br/>
You stand and look in the mirror. Anthony Kirk looks back. Well-shaped guy with presentable muscles and torso and a friendly face with perhaps a too-sharp chin; thick brown hair cropped close to the scalp. Smart guy, heading to an Ivy League university probably: his grades and his family's money--dad's a doctor--almost guarantee entrance someplace good. You're thoughtful as you pull on his clothes, letting your memories go back to the past week. You smile crookedly. Did Caleb really think Anthony would be so immune to Kendra's charms that he had to take nearly five days of flirting before asking him out to her house for the exchange? Anthony's exterior may be respectable, but she'd only have to crook a finger and he'd jump her bones.<br/>
<br/>
"So we're still a threesome," you softly remark on entering her bedroom, where Kendra sits on the bed with a very sulky looking Chelsea. "Thanks for the ride, Chelsea. Did we have fun?"<br/>
<br/>
"Go fuck yourself."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, she's been a joy, let me tell you," Kendra says. "Only knowing you were in her kept me from slapping her. Repeatedly."<br/>
<br/>
"What's the new disposition?" you ask as you sit down backwards on the chair at Kendra's desk and lean against the back rest.<br/>
<br/>
"Hartlein's playing for us now," she says. "He's one of your players, in fact. I got some hair off you the other day. You didn't wake up while I had the mask off you."<br/>
<br/>
"Why him?"<br/>
<br/>
"He's got a nasty mind." True. "I thought about surprising you with <i>him,</i>" she adds with a giggle. "But I also wanted Anthony, and thought I'd give you the choice after we had both."<br/>
<br/>
"Nice of you not to sandbag me," you say. "Waking up to find yourself gay would be a hell of a thing."<br/>
<br/>
"He's on his way over now," she says meaningfully. "His opinions might be more useful if <i>you</i> were the ones giving them."</span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121212
author_id: seuzz
title: A Day with a Golem
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span><i>Mmmmm. Tempting. But--</i> "Until we get a new clubhouse, we should keep our stuff here," you say. "I'd feel safer if one of us kept an eye on things."<br/>
<br/>
"It'll only be a day or two," Caleb says. <br/>
<br/>
"Things can always go wrong, and they usually do when you're involved," you retort. "Seriously, though, we'd have to leave our own duplicates in charge. And if we could do something stupid, how likely are they?"<br/>
<br/>
"Good point," he allows. The mask reappears on Jessica's face; Caleb grabs it and falls onto his back. "But first things first. Take care of sleeping beauty for me, will ya? I'll be making myself some boobies." He places the mask on his face.<br/>
<br/>
You drop the mask of Caleb onto the still-sleeping Jessica, and the transformation is almost instantaneous. The new Caleb sits bolt upright and looks around wildly; the Eva golem rolls her eyes and turns away with a snicker. "Anything happen?" Caleb's replacement asks cautiously.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, you moved about ten inches to the right and had a sex change," you reply. He follows your eyes to Caleb, whose form is distorting and shifting. A moment later Jessica appears, though still dressed in Caleb's clothes.<br/>
<br/>
While waiting for Caleb to wake, you wander over to the Jeremy golem, which is reclining against an old desk. "Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" you mutter.<br/>
<br/>
"Because you guys are morons and you're going to fuck up," he replies.<br/>
<br/>
"Are you going to be this way when we let you out to replace the real Richards," you ask. "You know, a dick?"<br/>
<br/>
"You want your duplicates acting like the originals, don't you?" Before you can answer him, you turn at a shriek and a smack. Jessica is now glaring at the Caleb golem, who has his palm against his cheek. Apparently the fake Caleb was as interested in Jessica's boobies as the real one is.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Everyone splits up shortly afterward. The Jeremy mask comes off the golem; Caleb's golem goes to his house. Caleb-as-Jessica runs out to get some cash for you, then goes home with Eva. You drive around town picking up supplies for some varnish and a new set of masks. It's getting dark by the time you're done, so you really only have time at the clubhouse to golemize the interior of the Jeremy Richards mask; you'll take it to school tomorrow and pass it along to the real Caleb. As you watch the mask burn, you idly wonder why no one ever used these spells to take over the world. Naturally, that leads to the paranoid thought that maybe they already have, and that their minions will come looking for you and the book. Or maybe there is some aspect to the golem spell that prevents them from being used this way. You glare at the book, whose torn page prevents you from getting any further into it, and wonder what kind of trouble you may be getting into.<br/>
<br/>
Beyond the highly immoral trouble of kidnapping and replacing some of your classmates with doppelgangers.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
But whatever doubts you feel about your ethics evaporate the next morning when Keith appears at school before class. To hoots and whistles and jeers he walks up to the main doors while holding his jeans tucked neatly under his arm. At least his long shirt hides his tidy whiteys; on the other hand, the lack of anything resembling pants makes him look even more humiliatingly naked. On the sidewalk Seth Javits--Keith's bete noir--smirks as his victim makes this pantsless perp walk.<br/>
<br/>
You avoid compounding his humiliation, by not talking about it. (Nor do you mention it to Caleb when you see him at Jessica's locker and pass along the golemized Jeremy mask.) Instead, you try to make him feel better by keeping close to him all day, laughing at his jokes and sharing as many of yours as you can muster.<br/>
<br/>
This is actually hard to pull off, because you are also trying to keep a close eye on Caleb's replacement. Relations had worsened between it and Caleb after the matter of who would get to touch Jessica's breasts, until you had to step in and force the golem to back down. That and the warning (from Richards' golem, no less) about how stupid your replacements might be leads you to keep a watchful eye on him at all times, and to stick close. And yet you have a hard time finding things to say to him; knowing that the Caleb you're hanging around is a fake, you find yourself unnerved and tongue-tied in his presence. For its part, it tries acting like the real Caleb, making sarcastic asides about various school "celebrities" and remarking on the quality of various bosoms, but soon it too seems baffled by your morbid attentions. Finally, while sitting outside eating lunch with you and Tilley, it explodes.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, I'm not going fuck your shit up, dude," he suddenly shouts after you fail to answer one of his gibes. "So you can stop following me around and staring at me like I'ma  fucking perp and you're a narc!"<br/>
<br/>
You rear back, and Keith stares with bread and baloney hanging out his mouth. "The fuck is with you two?" he asks in a voice that sounds all the dumber for being muffled by sandwich meats.<br/>
<br/>
Well that's just great: Caleb's idiot golem had to lose his shit in front of Tilley. You shove him. He glances at Keith, and then shoves you back. Soon you are rolling on the grass, unmindful of the hollers as other students start to notice. Before it can become a real brawl, though, Keith forces the two of you apart. "Okay, seriously, what is going on?" he demands.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb hesitates, looking uncertainly at you, then blurts out: "We're just working on a project and he thinks I'm going to fuck it up."<br/>
<br/>
"And you just about did!" you shout, then catch yourself. If you're not careful, <i>you</i> will be the one to give everything away. You stab a finger at the golem. "Not one word, to Tilley or anyone else. Not one word about you know what."  You stalk away.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
But you have to give the fake Caleb this much credit; he had the sense to find you afterward. True, it was at clubhouse, and it had an unexpected sequel, but at least he apologized. Sort of.<br/>
<br/>
You were sitting on the floor of the school basement, having just golemized your own mask, when he came in. "Thought I'd find you here," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"You coulda called and asked where I was."<br/>
<br/>
"Wasn't sure you wanted to talk to me."<br/>
<br/>
"Not sure I do, but probably I should. What's up?"<br/>
<br/>
He runs his hand through his short, tightly curled hair. "I'm sorry I lost my temper in front of Tilley. I almost blew the whole thing up, didn't I?"<br/>
<br/>
"As long as you didn't tell him afterward what was up, it's all cool. Did you?"<br/>
<br/>
He shakes his head emphatically. "He kept bugging me, and I finally told him to fuck off." He looks around the room and starts pulling at stuff. "I like Tilley. He cares about people, even if he's stupid and uses that weird soap that makes him smell funny."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I'm sorry I kept treating you weird. But I know Caleb, and ... Well, don't take this the wrong way, but I'm not sure this book makes copies that are <i>smarter</i> than the originals."<br/>
<br/>
He smiles wanly, and you can tell the joke doesn't amuse. "I should be doubly insulted, as Caleb and as a golem. It sucks, you know."<br/>
<br/>
"Being a fake?" He nods. "Why?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, how'd you feel if you knew <i>you</i> were a fake? And if the real you--and his friends--having fun while leaving all the shitty work to you?" You follow his glance to the molds you've lined up for making some new masks. "Gonna be a hell of a lot of fun polishing those things up for you."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but you're not real," you reply. "How can it feel fun or not fun if you're not real?"<br/>
<br/>
"If I'm not feeling real not-fun ... or whatever ... Well, then I'm suffering one hell of an illusion."<br/>
<br/>
You peer at it closely. "That's what you <i>would</i> say, right, if you were only pretending to be a real person. There's nothing inside you. It's all just clever imitation on the outside. Including saying things like 'I'm not having fun'."<br/>
<br/>
He rolls his eyes. "Yeah, I've seen that old 'Star Trek' episode too, every one of the dozen times they made it. Didn't know you were a Data-hater."<br/>
<br/>
You puzzle briefly over the confusion of "Data-hater" and "data hater," and are about to reply, but then the door opens again. This time it's Tilley.<br/>
<br/>
"There you are." His eyes widen. "Both of you. Jesus, Caleb, didn't you see me honking and flashing my lights at you?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb turns white and shoots you a terrified glance. "When?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just now. I saw you driving along and tried to flag you down. Followed you over but didn't see where you went. Then I remembered this old place of ours. Still the same, huh?" He looks around, and catches sight of the work you have spread before you. "What's this," he asks, stepping forward. "Is this that project you were fighting about at school?"</span></div></div>


path: 11123122212211212121
author_id: seuzz
title: Convincing Keith
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You really ought to consult with Caleb before telling Keith what you are doing. But you're also seized by the sudden conviction that things would be better with a third guy involved. At the very least, in case of disagreements, two could outvote one. <br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, it's our conquer the world project," you casually reply. The Caleb-golem's eyes nearly bug out as you scoop up the book and hand it to Keith;  "I found this thing at Arnholm's. It looked like fun, so Caleb and I have been going through it."<br/>
<br/>
Keith flips idly through the first few pages and grunts over the Latin. "You can read this crap?"<br/>
<br/>
"An online translator can. It's a book about making magical masks. You know, the kind that let you disguise yourself as other people."<br/>
<br/>
Keith eyebrows arch, so you start to describe it, chapter by chapter: how each spell works and what you can do with them. His interest waxes as you continue, and he exclaims over the devious little tricks that you and Caleb have already tried or thought about trying.<br/>
<br/>
"This is awesome," he says when you're just about through. "You could get in a hell of a lot of trouble with this kind of shit, but"—he nudges Caleb, who is looking quite ill by this point—"it'd be totally worth it, huh? So what game is it for?" He looks back at you with a credulous expression. "D&amp;D module? Something for GURPS?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's not a game," you reply as casually as you can muster. "It's totally real and totally on the level. Caleb and me have done each of these spells already." You point to the new masks. "We're getting ready to do some more."<br/>
<br/>
Keith laughs. "Well, it ought to be in a game. I should go get some of my old campaign manuals, see if we could fit this stuff here into one."<br/>
<br/>
This would be a prime spot to back off and let your secret remain. That seems to be the golem's opinion, because it mouths "Shut up!" at you. But something about Keith's skepticism after your patient exposition angers you. You smile tightly. "Want proof? Here."<br/>
<br/>
You take the mask you made of yourself over to the golem, which is standing rock-still in the corner. You glance mischievously over your shoulder at Keith as you put the mask to its face. For a moment Tilley only blinks—and then he stands up very straight and his eyes get very wide.<br/>
<br/>
For there are now two Will Prescotts in the room. Your naked twin gives himself a little shake, and then cocks his head at the sight of Keith. "Oh, hey Keith, didn't see you there. So it's three of us now." He looks at you. "I was thinking it might be a good idea to bring Tilley in on this."<br/>
<br/>
"Cut the bullshit," you retort. "The thought never even crossed your mind. Anyway, Keith hasn't been officially enrolled yet. I'm just giving him a demonstration. He doesn't believe any of it's real."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, really?" Your golem grins hard at Keith, who pales and backs away. Your golem advances on him slowly, grinning all the way. He's soon got Keith pressed against an old wardrobe. His eyes roll desperately, and he shoots a pleading glance at you. He gives a small yelp when your doppelganger very quietly says, "Boo."<br/>
<br/>
"Alright, alright, that's enough," you tell your double, who lopes back over to your side with a chuckle. "This is one of those golems I was telling you about. He looks like me and acts like me—which is a hell of a lot creepier than you might think—and he can go out and take my place if I want to disappear without, you know, actually disappearing. It's one of those masks. I copied my image and brain into it, and put it on that pile of earth I told you about."<br/>
<br/>
Keith steps forward cautiously, staring hard at the other Will. He gets very close, and starts to look between your face and its. You double puts his arm around your shoulder and brings his face close to yours; you wriggle out and push him away. <br/>
<br/>
Keith licks his lips. "He really does look just like you. I mean, exactly."<br/>
<br/>
"Of course."<br/>
<br/>
Keith points. "And if me or Caleb put that mask on ... We could go out and pretend to be you?" <br/>
<br/>
"Well, theoretically. This one actually has some of that goop I told you about. If you put it on, you'd be trapped inside it. I could make a copy of you, then hide you inside this guy"—you jerk your thumb at the other Prescott —"and then go out and take <i>your</i> place." Keith turns white and takes a step backward. "Not that I'd do it," you hastily add.<br/>
<br/>
Keith looks back over at Caleb. "And you're on board with this, Johansson?" His voice is a whinny.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't ask my opinion," Caleb replies. "I'm just like mud man over there. Total fake."<br/>
<br/>
Now Keith does begin to look wildly around. "Don't fuck with me, man—" he starts. <br/>
<br/>
"Keep your shirt on, Keith," you jump in before things go too far. "Yeah, that's another golem. But Caleb is still around. He's out pretending to be someone else. In fact, I'm expecting him to call or come by some time this evening."<br/>
<br/>
Keith gapes. "Who—?"<br/>
<br/>
"Jessica Garner."<br/>
<br/>
Keith stares, and then he bends double, almost as though trying to catch his dropping jaw. "Caleb is out pretending to be Jessica Garner?" You nod. "And where's Jessica?" <br/>
<br/>
"The real one? Under the fake Caleb face," you reply, nodding your chin. "Just like I described it to you. We copied her, hid her under a fake Caleb, and Caleb is going around pretending to be her. Look." He backpedals rapidly as you brush past him to the Caleb golem, who prepares for the unmasking by scrambling onto a desk and leaning against the wall. You put your hand to its face, mutter the words, and pull. An instant later the sleeping Jessica appears, slouching over a little. "If you wanna look, hurry up," you irritably tell Tilley, who is advancing very cautiously on you and her. "I have to get this back on her before she wakes up." <br/>
<br/>
He hurries over and looks her up and down. Then he points to her and says, idiotically, "That's Jessica Garner."<br/>
<br/>
"I told you." You put the mask back on, and Caleb reappears. <br/>
<br/>
Keith sinks back to the ground and clutches his face in his hands. "What the hell are you guys planning?"<br/>
<br/>
You hold your hands out in a shrug. "Like you said. To get in a hell of a lot of trouble that is totally worth it."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Oh my God," Keith moans as he cups his breasts. His breath comes in short gasps. "I always wanted to fondle Jessica, but I never thought I'd do it from inside her."<br/>
<br/>
"Stop being gross and put 'em away," Caleb snaps.<br/>
<br/>
"You had your fun with them last night," Keith retorts. "I know all about the fun you had. You pervert."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb crimsons as he turns to you. "You sure he can handle this?" he murmurs.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, like <i>we</i> didn't freak out when we got ahold of Eva."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb shrugs. "I guess." But he shoots his own twin a keen-eyed glance. "But I can't believe <i>you</i> voted to let him in."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, do I start getting a vote now?" the golem asks.<br/>
<br/>
"No," you and Caleb say in unison. <br/>
<br/>
It looks crushed and turns to Jeremy. "You could totally kick their asses," it says to him.<br/>
<br/>
"Not allowed to," he says, crossing his arms.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, did you have any trouble getting the mask onto Richards?" In the excitement that followed Jessica and Jeremy's unheralded appearance at the clubhouse, you'd forgotten to ask Caleb about his day.<br/>
<br/>
"Nah. Big goof just followed Eva to where I could jump him. He's been a total dick about it, too." Caleb glares at Richards, who glares back. "He wouldn't come, and I had to threaten him, remind him that he had to obey you and that you'd make him hurt himself if he didn't cooperate."<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus!" You suddenly remember your earlier conversation with Caleb's own golem, and you feel a shock of sympathy for the fake Richards.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," Caleb says. "We're going to start using <i>my</i> hair in the next couple of golems we make. I don't want fake-Jeremy and fake-me ambushing me or anything."<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
"We should balance things out, then," you agree. You do a quick calculation on your fingers. "That's, what, four fakes we've made? And I put that stuff, using my hair, in all of them. We should make the next eight be under your control and Keith's."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb's eyebrows shoot up. "We were going for Chelsea and Black and Patterson next. You'd be okay with not taking one of them?"<br/>
<br/>
"Hrm." You tug an ear. "Maybe we could revarnish the masks we already have," you say. "Or make up new copies of some of them, give them to you and Keith. You probably want control of your own sphincter over there." You jerk your head at the Caleb golem.<br/>
<br/>
"That's a point," Caleb allows, "but it'd also be a waste of materials. It's also take time."<br/>
<br/>
"I vote for whatever Prescott votes for," Keith says. You swivel in surprise. He is still concentrating on his bosom, but apparently he <i>has</i> been paying attention.<br/>
<br/>
* Replace old masks with new (non-canonical): "<a href="https://www.Writing.Com/main/interactive-story/item_id/2236945/action/view/chapter_map/111231222122112121211" target="_top" title="Interactive Story Chapter in Item # 2236945">New Golems for Old</a>" <a href="https://www.Writing.Com/main/interactive-story/item_id/2236945/action/view/chapter_map/111231222122112121211" target="_blank" title="Open in new window."><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: 111231222122112121211
author_id: seuzz
title: New Golems for Old
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You grab a notebook and quickly jot down the names of people you have replaced already or have masks for: that would be you, Caleb and Keith; Eva, Jessica, and Jeremy. "That's two each if we redistribute," you ponder. "So if I keep control of my own mask and one more, that's only two we'd need to redo.<br/>
<br/>
"And we've got three blank masks," Caleb points out. "Alright, so how do we distribute these things? We should each have control of our own replacements, so that's Prescott for you, me for me, and shithead for fuckwad over there."<br/>
<br/>
"Fuckwad calls dibs on Jessica," Keith says, not looking up from his naked Jessica body.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb starts to retort, but stops. "That'd work," he reflects. "Did you golemize Eva's mask?" he asks you. "Then I could take her," he says when you shake your head. "She's only under your control because--"<br/>
<br/>
"No, I think I'll keep Eva," you interrupt. "Got my own reasons," you add loudly. "Ixnay on the Evaway olemgay, aytardgay," you mutter to Caleb. <br/>
<br/>
"Oooooh-kay," he says. "So, that means I take over responsibility for Jeremy."<br/>
<br/>
His golem snickers and nudges Jeremy. "Hear that? We're gonna be family!"<br/>
<br/>
Jeremy grabs him in a headlock. "Thanks, Dad!" he calls sarcastically to Caleb. "I always wanted a kid brother to kick around."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
And so things come to pass: new masks are made of Caleb and Jeremy and golemized to Caleb's control; Keith gets a new mask, along with a Jessica mask newly golemized to his control. You make two new masks, which are given to Caleb's and Keith's replacements to polish. After Caleb and Keith leave--in Jeremy's and Jessica's bodies, respectively--you call Eva. "You have access to a car?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, mine and Jessica's. She went out with Jeremy earlier." She gets a whine in her voice. "I guess it has to do with you guys' business, but it seems kind of weird--"<br/>
<br/>
"Never mind that, it's all okay. Just get over to the old elementary school." You want to get the Eva mask off the original, golemized Eva and onto the regular golem. Granted, you'd be happier to have the real Eva hidden under a mask someplace rather than stashed in the school basement, but it's more important, you deem, that she be gotten far from Keith. Though he seems like a happy addition to the team, he might freak out if he discovered what you and Caleb have done to her.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb must have had the same thought, for he calls you up not long afterward. "I just dropped Keith off," he says in Richards' gruff baritone. "Eva wasn't home, but if you don't want Sir Snoopsalot taking that mask off her and finding--"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm already on it." You tell him she's on her way over to the clubhouse. "Look, I know you think adding Keith was a bad idea--"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't think it was a bad idea," he protests. "I just ..." He trails off. "Well, I don't know how to end that sentence. I don't know what I think."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, you think it was a <i>bad idea.</i> And yeah, we're gonna have to keep him pinned between us, outvoted on things. But I think he'll add a good perspective."<br/>
<br/>
"The retard perspective, maybe. 'Oooh, I want Jessica's boobies! Look, I'm touching Jessica's boobies!' That's more or less a quote from when we were in the car, by the way."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, c'mon. Who was the guy who snuck out early and <i>got</i> a copy of Jessica because he wanted to play with her boobies?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know, but it wasn't me. It was <i>Eva's</i> boobies <i>I</i> was after. Alright, alright, I know what you mean," he says, forestalling your interruption. "Christ, I guess I'm just ... Well, he bugs me sometimes."<br/>
<br/>
"Me too. Which is another reason to bring him into the club. Give him someone else to play and we won't have <i>Tilley</i> to deal with any more."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Maybe you're happier for having had Keith join your club, or maybe you're just more comfortable with the golems, but you're more relaxed the next day, even though <i>both</i> of the friends you are hanging out with are fakes. You're so much more comfortable, in fact, that at lunch you apologize to Caleb's golem for your behavior yesterday. He gives you a funny look. "What are you talking about?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yesterday, when I was treating you like you were--" It dawns on you. "Oh, right. That was ... the other ... golem ... I was hanging out with."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, him." Caleb makes a face. "That was fucked up last night. Fucking jerk. I hope I'm not like that." He catches you looking at him curiously. "What?"<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing. Just kinda funny hearing one Caleb golem complaining about another."<br/>
<br/>
He blinks. "Who says I'm a golem?" Behind him, Keith's replacement snickers.<br/>
<br/>
"Of course you're a golem--"<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck you. I'm the real Caleb Johansson, dipshit, and can prove it on your balls if you ask me to."<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh," you say dryly. "I wonder what Richards would say to that."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't give a fuck what-- Alright, you got me. I'll have to think of better lies in the future."<br/>
<br/>
You sigh. "I liked the first Johansson golem better."<br/>
<br/>
"What did you do with him?"<br/>
<br/>
"The mask? Hid it away with the--" You glance at Keith's golem. "With the other golem."<br/>
<br/>
"Makes sense," he nods. "That way you can take it out when you're feeling lonely. Suck his cock, let him take you up the ass. Even break out the old Richards' mask for a three-way, pretend it's Johansson-as-Richards and his golem gettin' it on with you."<br/>
<br/>
You take his abuse, bemused. "Wow, you are exactly as disgusting as your original."<br/>
<br/>
"You want disgusting? Watch this." He leans over and tries to kiss Tilley's doppelganger. The latter laughingly pushes him away , reproving him as a queer.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You get together that night again with Caleb and Keith--Jeremy and Jessica, that is. As you make up some new mind-bands, you plot and plan. The argument goes around and around before settling on three definite acquisitions: Gordon Black, Steve Patterson, and Chelsea Cooper.<br/>
<br/>
After that it's a matter of figuring out who gets what, but that too leads to a lot discussion. It would seem fairest that they be shared equally, an argument made by Caleb. "Those are the three top people," he says. "Gordon and Patterson run the male side of things and Chelsea the female side. Let's just parcel 'em out." But Keith makes a counterpoint: "Sure, split 'em up," he says, "if the guy taking Chelsea doesn't mind one of the other of us playing boyfriend. I'm gonna want pussy privileges if I'm Gordon." <br/>
<br/>
It's left to Caleb to come up with a solution. <br/>
<br/>
"We'll bid for them," he says as he takes out a notebook and some pencils from the backpack he's fetched down. You are momentarily amused to see the dopey Jeremy Richards taking such a commanding position. "Each of us gets six points," he says after a long moment's thought, "and we spend them on who we want, in any combination. So," he says for illustration, "if you really want Chelsea bad, you bid six points for her—"<br/>
<br/>
"Six points for Chelsea!" Keith blurts out.<br/>
<br/>
"Not yet, dipshit! You'll spend 'em secretly." He looks at you. "I guess we know what fuckbrain here is going to spend his shit on. But you can bid for more than one. I was going to say," he continues with a glower at Keith, "that you can also split them. Like, say, four points for Chelsea and two points for Patterson."<br/>
<br/>
"Why would—?"<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up. Do you get the idea?"<br/>
<br/>
"I guess," Keith says sullenly.<br/>
<br/>
"Right. Whoever spends the most on a person gets the mask."<br/>
<br/>
"What happens if there's a tie?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Then there's a do-over. An auction. A <i>silent</i> auction," he says, glaring at Keith again.<br/>
<br/>
You take a slip of paper and pencil. After some thought, you write down "Gordon: 3, Chelsea: 3." You're persuaded by Keith's argument that one person should have both Gordon and Chelsea. Not until after you've handed your bid to Caleb does a ghastly possibility occur to you: What if he spends 6 points on Steve, and Keith spends 6 on Gordon? Then you'd be stuck with—<br/>
<br/>
"Three for Gordon and three for Chelsea," Caleb says, reading off your slip. Your heart goes into your throat. "And three for Gordon and three for Chelsea," he says, reading another slip. You and Keith exchange startled glances. "And I know what I bid," he says with a smile as he shows around the third slip. "Four for Patterson, two for Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
"So what now?" Keith asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I get Patterson, and you guys get to bid against each other again."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't bid for anything?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb scratches his head. "You know, I guess I still got those two points I bid for Gordon. Yeah, we'll do it this way! Total do-over." He crumples up the bids and drops them to the floor. "We each have ten points to bid for Gordon, Steve and Chelsea. Any points you don't spend on them get saved to use on the next set of acquisitions. On, you know, the football players or the cheerleaders or the drama club."<br/>
<br/>
"Drama club?" says Keith. "Why would we—"<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up."<br/>
<br/>
"What if we spend all our points on Gordon or Chelsea or some combo of them?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Then you don't have any points to spend on the next round. If you really want Gordon, spend all your points on him. But then you don't get any more masks, and me and Keith pick up three, four, five more apiece."<br/>
<br/>
"That's not fair! That's not equal!"<br/>
<br/>
"It is if you really want Gordon or whoever that bad."<br/>
<br/>
You see his point, so you acquiesce. But it makes the bidding a lot harder. You have to think not only about this round, but the follow up.</span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121212111
author_id: seuzz
title: Life Amongst the Golems
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span><br/>
"I'll take Kim," you say. "I can get her without you guys' help. Also, if we take her first, we can start getting a better idea of who else in the school we should pick up."<br/>
<br/>
"I thought we'd be taking, like, all the jocks and cheerleaders," Keith says. That leads Caleb to describing (again; can't Keith pay attention for more than ten seconds to anything?) your plan for acquiring key people who will let you run the school while making a minimal number of replacements. <br/>
<br/>
After that, it's Caleb's turn to pick, and naturally he grabs Gordon and Chelsea. Keith groans again. "That leaves Patterson and Lynch for me," he says. "Which is okay, I guess--"<br/>
<br/>
"You want Chelsea? Take her," Caleb says.<br/>
<br/>
"No thank you," Keith quickly says, remembering his earlier objection to being inside Chelsea when someone else has Gordon. "I can be happy with the other two."<br/>
<br/>
"Except you can only have one of them," you point out. "Remember, we said that each of us gets to have one of those four, and I need one of yours."<br/>
<br/>
"So you're taking Patterson away from me?" Keith turns red<br/>
<br/>
"You take which one you want," you say impatiently. "Give me Lynch and you can pick out the next two we grab." Now it's Caleb's turn to object, but you silence him with a look. "Take Patterson, if that's your preference," you reiterate to Keith. "Then you get the next two. I'll even give you <i>my</i> next choice, so you can have three of the next four <i>plus</i> Patterson."<br/>
<br/>
That cheers him up. "Yeah, I don't want that psycho Lynch. And if I can pick the next one now, I say we take Javits."<br/>
<br/>
"You would, but he's not even a key player," Caleb grumbles.<br/>
<br/>
"He could be," you retort. "Dude, don't make a scene."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You break up for the night soon after, but Caleb calls you later. "What happened to us outvoting Keith?"<br/>
<br/>
"No one outvoted no one. I made a side trade on my own. Let it go."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, don't let him bully you."<br/>
<br/>
"Keith couldn't bully a kitten."<br/>
<br/>
"No, but he could whine it to death, especially dressed out like Jessica. You know what will happen, don't you? He'll get the people he wants--Javits and Cindy, probably--and then he'll insist that we stop. I don't think he's totally on board with our plan."<br/>
<br/>
"Let's see what happens before we start predicting what he'll do. And if he does what you say, well ..." You grimace as you listen to Caleb breathing into the phone. "Well, we could keep going without telling him, and what he doesn't know won't hurt him. It's not like he'd trip onto a secret replacement accidentally. What would he do, go around trying to rip people's faces off?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, let's just keep coordinating between ourselves," he grumbles.<br/>
<br/>
"And you stop trying to thwart him. As long as he doesn't interfere with us, don't get in his way."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The next day you meet Caleb and Keith's replacements in the parking lot, where they show you the product of two days' and two nights' unrelenting labor: newly polished masks. Their faces are drawn and their eyes bruised, and they only grumble monosyllabically when you praise their work. You keep one mask  for yourself, order them to pass the other on to Jeremy or Jessica, and go looking for Kim.<br/>
<br/>
You find her at her locker, talking with a girl you don't recognize. To your surprise, she quickly shoos her away to concentrate on you. "Have time to talk to me after school?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"About what," she asks keenly.<br/>
<br/>
"Girl trouble?" you ask tentatively. You've nothing really to talk to her about, and hope the vague excuse works. Again, you are surprised at how quickly she agrees. Still, you are only able to secure a coffee date, which seems too public to do you much good.<br/>
<br/>
A clue about her interest in you comes from a surprising quarter: Caleb's golem. "Kim stopped me after second period," he tells you later that day at his locker. "She asked if there's something going on between you and Lisa."<br/>
<br/>
The return of your ex- to your consciousness jolts you. "No, and that's been the problem, hasn't it?" you snarl.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't get started with me. The other Johannson only pretends to give a shit, and pretending to pretend to give a shit is too much pretending for even a poor golem like me," he retorts. "But I think she was wondering if you're still pining for her."<br/>
<br/>
"Hmph. I only mentioned 'girl trouble' to her. Why does it piss me off that everyone thinks Lisa's the only girl I could be having trouble with?"<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe because you're too dense to notice you could be having trouble with Cassie Harper if you were halfway competent at having trouble with girls. Anyway, I got the impression she was wondering if you were still interested in Lisa because it might not still be an unrequited thing."<br/>
<br/>
"Wait, what was that about Cassie Harper?"<br/>
<br/>
"Haven't you noticed the way she laughs at everything you say, including 'Hi' and 'Can I borrow a pencil'?"<br/>
<br/>
"She laughs at everything anybody says. She's got a giggle reflex. Wait, did you say Lisa might still be interested in me?"<br/>
<br/>
He punches his locker door. "Will you get in temporal phase with the rest of the universe? It's like talking to a guy who's teleported into the present from five seconds in the past. Who do you want to hear about?"<br/>
<br/>
"I wanna hear about Lisa."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know anything about Lisa. But she had that look when she asked about you and her, like she wanted the answer to be 'yes' because she could play matchmaker between you guys."<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head. "Dude, I can't follow your pronouns."<br/>
<br/>
"You couldn't follow an elephant in an open field if you tied one end of a rope to its tail and the other end to your ankle." The bells rings. "Now I'm late for class, and I don't want you following <i>me.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You arrive at the coffee shop early get two cups to go, so that when Kim's car appears you can corner her in the lot. "Hope you don't mind," you say after she rolls down her window, "but I got stuff to go." You hold up the cardboard holder containing the cups. "I thought we could head over to a park or something."<br/>
<br/>
"That's a great idea," she enthuses. "You got something in the sack?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, a couple of snacks. I didn't know what you'd want. Here, lemme show you." You kneel down next to the car door and take the blank mask out. She has no time to react before you press it on her face. And with her car wedged between two SUVs, she's practically invisible to passersby. <br/>
<br/>
You hop around to the passenger's side and slide in; you don't fully disrobe her, but you unbutton and unzip the more binding items, like pants and blouse. And so when the mask reappears, you can drop the mask of yourself onto her, and the physical changes don't damage her clothes.<br/>
<br/>
The golem put its hands to the bra. "Nice to see it went off like we planned," it mutters, and quickly begins to undress. You do likewise. Once naked, you put Kim's mask to your face. When you wake, the new Prescott is looking you over in bemusement.<br/>
<br/>
"What's wrong?" You pale.<br/>
<br/>
"Kim really pads her bra out, doesn't she?"<br/>
<br/>
You glance down. Yeesh, yeah, they're pretty small. "Well, this isn't about being sexy. It's about putting the student council president to work for us."<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh. Speaking of which, why is she interested in us and Lisa?"<br/>
<br/>
You stop in the middle of pulling on Kim's panties. Nothing really comes immediately to mind. Slowly you resume dressing while rifling through her memories. She thought you and Lisa looked good together, was genuinely surprised when you broke up, never gave you much thought after that ...<br/>
<br/>
You're in the middle of buttoning the blouse when it emerges. It's not you, it's Geoff. You're grimly amused to see that Kim also hasn't a high opinion of Lisa's new beau, and that Lisa herself has made veiled comments suggesting the first blush of love has faded. Just yesterday, in fact, she had spoken warmly of the summer months she spent with you.<br/>
<br/>
"So is this gonna be a big Kim secret, or are you going to share?" the golem demands.<br/>
<br/>
"What does it matter to you," you snap. Then you catch yourself as you glimpse its face: suppressed shock and disappointment. "I'm sorry," you say, giving his arm a very Kim-like squeeze. "There isn't much to say. Just Kim being a busybody."<br/>
<br/>
He continues to look disappointed--but now more at the news than in you--and you finish pulling on Kim's shoes. You could make your new acquisition immediately useful--in selfish ways--by finding Lisa and fanning the flames of her disillusionment with Mansfield. But you should probably stay loose and available; Caleb and Keith should be calling soon with news about Chelsea and Gordon.</span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121212112
author_id: seuzz
title: Keith Makes a Discovery and a Request
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"I'll take Chelsea," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"Alright," Caleb says. "Then I'll take Black and ..."<br/>
<br/>
Keith closes his eyes and clasps his hands. "Please pick Patterson."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb grimaces. "Okay, Patterson."<br/>
<br/>
Keith's face falls. "Reverse psychology, pffft. What a crock of shit," he mutters.<br/>
<br/>
"Then take Patterson and I'll take Lynch," Caleb shouts. "Jesus!"<br/>
<br/>
"Okay then," Keith smiles. "Patterson and Kim it is for me. Do I get to pick the third now? I vote for Javits."<br/>
<br/>
"He's not even a key player," Caleb objects.<br/>
<br/>
"What does that mean?" Keith asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Will you let it go," you tell Caleb. "Let him have Javits if it'll make him happy. Maybe Chelsea will think it's a good idea."<br/>
<br/>
"Speaking of Chelsea, how are we gonna get her," Caleb asks, and continues without waiting for a reply. "I think it'd be better if you played Eva tomorrow. That way you and me can work together at getting her."<br/>
<br/>
"Should I try to get Kim by myself," Keith asks.<br/>
<br/>
You and Caleb share a skeptical glance, and then you shrug. "Just make sure you do the swap in a private place."<br/>
<br/>
"And don't fuck up," Caleb growls. You nudge him.<br/>
<br/>
Shortly afterward, your threesome breaks up. Caleb-as-Jeremy drives you back to the Garners, where you swap into Eva and send the golem back out again wearing your own face.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Three new masks are ready the next morning--the Jessica golem even woke you at four in the morning to give you the one she'd been working on; the cunt clearly took grim satisfaction in interrupting your beauty sleep--and so you're well armed for taking Chelsea Cooper and maybe even Gordon Black, if you can get to them.<br/>
<br/>
Approaching Chelsea is always a ticklish proposition, but she's in a good mood, especially at lunch, where she relaxes in Gordon's embrace at the head cafeteria table, laughing and smiling with everyone. You're sitting next to her with Jeremy's arm draped around your shoulders when you lean over to ask if you and he can come over after school to talk. "It's about us," you say in a low voice, rolling your eyes back toward Richards.<br/>
<br/>
She gives you a regally appraising glance, then nods. "You two look good together," she chirps. "I don't think I've told you that."<br/>
<br/>
"It's about time Richards got interested in girls," Gordon laughs. Jeremy's arm twitches, and for a moment you're afraid Caleb has ruined the approach by making a face, but Chelsea just nods again and sets five-thirty as the time for the audience.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
She even greets you herself at the door, dressed down in a sweatshirt and cutoffs. "Gordon will be along later," she says, "but I could tell you wanted this to be private." She takes your arm in hers as she leads you through the house to the stairs; Jeremy trails behind. "So what's on your mind?"<br/>
<br/>
You temporize; you only have to get her alone and behind a closed door, and anyway, the obvious subject would be difficult to introduce. "Well, we were just talking about how we really did, you know, like each other, and wanted to be together. But we were also thinking about, well ... There was that business last year with Kendra and Nathan Cruz."<br/>
<br/>
You feel Chelsea's arm tighten; you've been too blunt. "I don't know what that has to do with anything," she says coolly. Then: "Oh my God!" she exclaims and stops to turn on you with a horrified expression. "You don't think I had anything to do with <i>that</i>, do you?"<br/>
<br/>
It's an open secret that Chelsea forced them to break up. "Well, that's kind of the point," you blush. "It was such a weird thing with them, and some people were saying that, um--"<br/>
<br/>
She frowns. "Who's been saying what?" You look abashed, and she takes you firmly in hand into her bedroom. Once there she puts her hands to her hips. "I don't like people talking about me behind my back, so if you've something you want to confess, Eva--"<br/>
<br/>
Behind her, Jeremy closes the door with a click; she doesn't notice. And then he grabs her from behind and lifts her into the air. She gasps and squeals.<br/>
<br/>
"Chelsea, you're a cunt and a bitch," you say firmly as you set your bag on the bed and open it. "But we don't care. Not as long as you're <i>our</i> cunt and bitch." You take out a mask and slam it onto her face.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"So, Gordon'll be along later," you chirp, twirling to admire yourself in Chelsea's mirror. The cutoffs nicely accent your thighs, and the sloppy sweatshirt feels good as it tightly hugs your bosom. "Better move your car."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb puts his arms around you and nuzzles your neck. "Do I get to muss you up now, or do I gotta wait?" You giggle. Behind you, Eva Garner turns away from the sight of her boyfriend flirting with the head cheerleader. Her phone rings, and she fumbles it from her bag.<br/>
<br/>
"He sometimes shows up unannounced," you sigh. "Let's not fuck it up." But Caleb just squeezes you tighter.<br/>
<br/>
"Uh, guys," Eva says. "I think this call is for one of you."<br/>
<br/>
You frown and take the phone from her. It's Kim Walsh. "Um," Kim starts uncertainly after you ask what's up. "I'm trying to find ... Will Prescott? Or Caleb Johannson?"<br/>
<br/>
You bite back the urge to tell her to call them at their homes, but it's clearly Keith looking for help. "Yes, Keith, what is it?" you say, pinching the bridge of your button nose.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh. Hey. Yeah, um, I'm out at the clubhouse. I got Kim alright. I mean, obviously, because I'm calling you on her phone and from inside her body--"<br/>
<br/>
"Get to the point."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I was looking around here. I wasn't snooping, I was just making sure we got all our supplies together, and--" Your blood chills. "Well, I found something. It looks like a statue of Eva Garner. But it's breathing."<br/>
<br/>
"Just stay right there," you hiss. "Don't touch anything. We'll be right over."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb frowns in alarm as you slap the phone shut, hurl it at Eva's head, and snatch up Chelsea's jacket. "It's dipshit," you snarl. "He's at the school and he found Eva. You know, the golem we made."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You charge at Tilley, hissing and spitting. "The fuck were snooping around for," you shout. "I oughta kick you in the balls. In fact--" You knee him in the groin, and he bends double and collapses on the ground.<br/>
<br/>
And then you notice Kim standing over in the corner. She is very white under her freckles. She raises a timid hand. "Um, Will?" she says in a small voice. "I think you meant that for me?"<br/>
<br/>
But you've got it out of your system, so you just sigh and shake your head. "Okay, Tilley. Or should I call you Kim? You found Eva?"<br/>
<br/>
He nods and turns his head toward the corner where you have her stashed. You look at Caleb, who folds his arms and glowers down from Jeremy Richards' commanding heights. <br/>
<br/>
"Yes, that's Eva," you say. "One of our little experiments that went wrong." With vast reluctance you describe what happened, reminding him that you described that particular spell to him on the night you brought him into the conspiracy. You expect horror and shrieks, but Keith, though still pale, only nods along.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay," he says in Kim's small voice. "I was just afraid something got fucked up somewhere."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, it did," you sigh. "But not the way you were probably thinking. By the way, congratulations on getting Kim without a hitch."<br/>
<br/>
"It was without a hitch, wasn't it, Tilley?" Caleb asks meaningfully.<br/>
<br/>
He nods vigorously. "I remembered what you said about doing it someplace private, and this seemed like the best spot. Anyway, after that, like I said, I started looking around to make sure we had all our stuff together, and ..." He shrugs.<br/>
<br/>
"Are you okay with it? What we did to Eva?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, sure, I guess." He cocks his head. "Kind of a neat trick, actually." He looks thoughtful. You're about to say something to Caleb about it all working out when Tilley surprises you with what he says next. "You think we could do the same thing to Javits?"<br/>
<br/>
You swing your head back in his direction. "What?!"<br/>
<br/>
"I guess it's not necessary, with these masks and everything," he says hurriedly, "but ..." He trails off, but when speaks again it is with volcanic fury. "That asshole has it coming! I mean, I don't just want to replace him, I want to <i>kill</i> him! Turning him into a rock would almost balance the scales. Almost." He catches his breath. "Also, I'd feel a lot better if we could be sure he wasn't coming out again."<br/>
<br/>
It's a bloodthirsty request, all the more so because Chelsea's instincts tell you that Javits isn't even worth acquiring as a pawn. But if it'll make Keith happy ...</span></div></div>


path: 11123122212211212121121
author_id: seuzz
title: Agree to turn Javits into a golem
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"That's pretty hardcore, dude," you say. <br/>
<br/>
Maybe Keith is taking advantage of Kim's persona, or maybe he's just unintentionally channeling it, but he flashes sad, puppy-dog eyes at you. "You could get him real easy, you know," he says, nodding at Caleb. "Jeremy and him are, like, best friends."<br/>
<br/>
You look at Caleb; the latter returns a guarded look, and you can tell he's holding his breath. Maybe he's remembering your request not to "thwart" Keith; or maybe he thinks you're ordering him to play along. But before you can say anything, he takes out his cell phone.  His call to Seth is brief and cryptic, but successful. "He'll be over in thirty minutes or so," he reports. "Let's get the stuff ready."<br/>
<br/>
It doesn't take long, as you've got the supplies organized for the eventual move from the basement to the Black-Patterson-Lynch "fuck room." Caleb says nothing and neither do you, not with Keith nearby, helping. You're not keen on the idea, and you can tell Caleb isn't either, but the machinery has been set in motion. <br/>
<br/>
Seth, when he arrives, takes in the odd company in the basement with bemusement: Jeremy Richards, Chelsea Cooper, and Kim Walsh. "So, what's up? What is this place?"<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea would have nothing to say, and you're relieved when Caleb takes the lead. "Kim called me, said she was having car trouble. Chelsea tagged along. We saw the door was open down here, checked it out. Chelsea suggested it might make a good hangout for some of us."<br/>
<br/>
You take the cue. "Gordon and Steve have that room back at the school," you say, putting on Chelsea's flashiest, most insincere smile. "I just said it might make a good backup place. You guys deserve a place of your own."<br/>
<br/>
"Not sure Cindy would like it," Seth says. "What does Eva say? I saw her out in the car, but she just ignored me."<br/>
<br/>
"She didn't like it," Jeremy says. Your phone vibrates, but you ignore it.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, there's your answer," Seth says. "Come on, this place is a dump, and it's trespassing."<br/>
<br/>
Jeremy edges up to Seth; reading the signal, you fish out the last of the new masks. Jeremy grabs Seth from behind, like he did with Chelsea. But instead of running over with the mask, you turn to Kim. "You wanted this," you tell her, holding out the mask. "You do it."<br/>
<br/>
But she hangs back. She is pale, and has been watching Seth will ill-disguised fear. "What the fuck, dude," Seth grunts behind you.<br/>
<br/>
"If you're not willing to do this, you don't belong in the club," you hiss at Kim. She starts, and stares at you. Seth begins to strain and thrash at Jeremy. You thrust the mask back out at Kim.<br/>
<br/>
And then she takes it, but so tentatively it almost falls from her hands. Still she pauses. And then she rushes over to the encumbered Seth. He rears back, his face red and his mouth straining into a rictus. Kim fumbles, but finally gets it onto his face. He arches his back and then goes limp.<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus, I'm sorry," Keith gasps. He tries helping Caleb pull the recumbent Javits over to one of the tables, but he just pushes him away. Keith swallows. "It just ... I'm still so scared of him. I mean, I got Kim without fucking it up ..." He trails off.<br/>
<br/>
"It's okay," you say, releasing your breath. "You came through."<br/>
<br/>
"If you girls will stop fapping around," Caleb growls, "I need help getting his shit off him so we can finish prepping him."<br/>
<br/>
It's the work of only a minute to get his loose workout clothes off Javits, and then you sprinkle the golem-making mix over him. When the mask reappears you take it off and hand the matches to Keith "Finish what you started."<br/>
<br/>
"And don't fuck up again," Caleb adds. Keith quickly and firmly strikes the match and sets it to the mix. The flash makes you all duck, and then you watch with guilty fascination until the flames go out. Seth is now sheathed in a gray golem skin, and lays perfectly still. <br/>
<br/>
"You gonna wear him home," you ask Keith. "We can put the Kim mask on him without golemizing it if you want."<br/>
<br/>
He hesitates, then shakes his head. "This is all I wanted. He can be an asshole without me playing the part. Besides, you wanted Kim to help you plot, and that's easier if I'm inside her."<br/>
<br/>
And so you drop the Javits mask onto the transformed golem. His eyes spring open, and he sits up to glare. "The fuck is--" His eyes fall on Kim, and he freezes--for, of course, you used Keith's hair in the golem mix. Seth swallows. "The fuck is going on."<br/>
<br/>
"Show him who you really are," you nudge Keith. "Show him his new master."<br/>
<br/>
Keith remains rigid for a moment, and then disrobes; Seth watches, fascinated. Then Keith pulls his mask off, and Javits sucks in his breath. "This is really fucked up, even for you, Tilley," he says. <br/>
<br/>
"No, <i>you're</i> fucked up," Keith shouts with sudden vehemence. "You are so fucked." He strides up to glare nose to nose to the ballplayer. He pulls his fist back and punches Javits hard in the stomach, but Seth only grunts. Keith isn't strong, and Javits has the finest six-pack in the school. Keith turns away, trembling.<br/>
<br/>
Your phone has continued to vibrate all this time, and now that things are finally reaching a conclusion, you answer it. "Where <i>are</i> you, girl?" Gordon asks.<br/>
<br/>
"I had to run an errand with Jeremy and Eva, sweetie. Are you at the house?" He grunts an affirmative. "Well, if you don't mind waiting a little longer, I'll make it up to you." His grunt this time is a little more enthusiastic.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I hope you enjoy your new playmate," you tell Keith with a brittle smile. "I'm going to have to keep Gordon happy and entertained until we can get some new masks ready."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb scoops up one of the new but unpolished masks you made up the other night and tosses it to Keith. "I'll take Chelsea back to her place. You show Seth how to polish up one of these puppies. Lock up when you leave."<br/>
<br/>
It's a quiet drive back. You can tell Caleb is upset that he won't get to take Black.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"How's Seth working out for you," you ask Gordon later that evening. You're on your bed, nestled in his arms. "Is he doing better for you guys?"<br/>
<br/>
He shrugs. "Probably best on the team. 'cept for me and Patterson, of course."<br/>
<br/>
"Does he do what you say? I mean, he's not a troublemaker, is he? Don't touch me there," you add, a little more coolly.<br/>
<br/>
"He's cocky and not as good as he thinks he is, but he works. He's pretty good about keeping dumbass Richards up to snuff. Means I don't have to ride him so hard. Why?"<br/>
<br/>
"No reason. Sounds like he's a good match for Cindy."<br/>
<br/>
"Is she still giving you trouble?" He nuzzles you, and his hands dip again.<br/>
<br/>
"Off and on. I said don't touch me there. My folks are home and I don't want you getting me excited."<br/>
<br/>
He snerks. "I can talk to him about Cindy, if you want me to."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't want to interfere with you and the team."<br/>
<br/>
"But it won't stop you," he mumbles.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Awesome.</i> You push his hands off your body and turn to stare coldly at him. "What does that mean," you frown.<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing," he starts, but you make sure it's too late, and spin his casual aside into a fight that drives him from the house. Finally you have some peace.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Walk and talk with me, Kim?" you ask when you find her in the hallway the next day. She pales, but you smile. "Don't worry, I've forgiven you," you grandly inform her. She falls in beside you.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not sure what to do about that friend you made," you tell her. "I can tell from how he acted yesterday that he's going to be a handful. Either you need to take direct control of him--you know what I mean--or I'll have to do something about him."<br/>
<br/>
"Like what?"<br/>
<br/>
"Like bust him down. Humiliate him. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"<br/>
<br/>
"It has to be one or the other?" she asks unhappily. "Things can't just continue like they have been?"<br/>
<br/>
You turn on her. "I don't understand you, Kim," you say quietly. "If you just wanted things to go on like before, what was the point of yesterday?"<br/>
<br/>
"I got what I wanted."<br/>
<br/>
"But it doesn't serve any purpose. These things have to serve a purpose. I see two possible outcomes, and I'm asking which you'd prefer."<br/>
<br/>
She stops and hangs her head. "I don't really want the first one, and I don't see the point of the second."<br/>
<br/>
"Then you'll have to trust me that there is one. I have certain responsibilities, but I'm willing to ask your advice."<br/>
<br/>
She flushes. "I suppose you can do what you like."</span></div></div>


path: 111231222122112121211211
author_id: seuzz
title: A Little Bully Bashing
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Kendra Saunders is lingering nearby, so you can't speak any more plainly. You nail Kendra to the floor with a glare, then take Kim by the elbow and drag her outside to a corner between the main building and one of the wings. "Look," you tell her bluntly, "Seth got in a fight with Jeremy this morning and gave him a black eye. He's out of control. You need to step into him and straighten him out. It doesn't have to be permanent or anything. Just fix him from the inside,"<br/>
<br/>
Kim sighs unhappily. "I think I can straighten him out--"<br/>
<br/>
"Good," you say. "Make the change tonight. Make yourself up some notes this afternoon about who we should replace next, then switch over to Seth and hook up with Jeremy. We'll meet up later." You leave her fuming silently.<br/>
<br/>
Afterward you go looking for Caleb. He's not at Jeremy's locker, so you send him a text: "Get w/ me &amp; Seth/Keith l8tr." <br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You meet Gordon at the locker you share with him just before lunch, and surprise him with an ass rub. "Some guys were looking at me last period," you tell him as you squeeze next to him to change out books.<br/>
<br/>
"Who?" His voice is sharp.<br/>
<br/>
"Just some guys. You know. They made me feel sexy." He says nothing. "I pretended it was you," you add softly, "and started to get really wet."<br/>
<br/>
He looks down at you, and rubs your shoulder with his broad, strong hand. <br/>
<br/>
"That feels so good," you say, rubbing up against him. "I'm sorry about yesterday."<br/>
<br/>
"You told me that in the car this morning."<br/>
<br/>
"I really mean it this time." You look up hungrily into his face. "Sometimes I think about other guys, what it would be like to be with them." His eyes narrow. "I get really excited. And then suddenly it's not them I'm thinking about. It's you. And then--" You groan and hug him tightly. "You make me feel so happy. Do I make you feel happy?"<br/>
<br/>
"When you're like this, I'm <i>really</i> happy."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't let's ever fight again," you mew, and rub your face against his chest. He ducks his head and buries his face in your hair. You grip his torso; his back is so strong, and his shoulders are so powerful, and his arms are like bands of iron. "If I told you who was looking at me, would you go break their faces?" you whisper in his ear. "It would make me even happier."<br/>
<br/>
"It'd make me happier too," he growls. "I'll fucking break them in two."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh God," you gasp. Your whole body thrills. "I wanna watch when you do. I really want you to do this for me. It was Lester Brown." Gordon's body tenses. "Go get Steve. Tell me when you're going to do it so I can watch."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll do it now," he says, releasing you. "We'll take him out behind the portables."<br/>
<br/>
Your nostrils flare and you feel flushed with excitement as you watch him go, pushing through the crowds like a great battleship pushing through a compliant sea. It's not so much the anticipation of seeing the Molester getting a well-deserved comeuppance, you reflect as you go off down another hallway toward the exits. It's the thrill of being able to manipulate the school's top alpha male into doing your bidding. It's a very Chelsea-like feeling, but it's one you completely share. And a little smile plays over your face as you think about how Gordon has no idea who is really getting him to play out this little revenge ploy.<br/>
<br/>
Your wait by the portables lasts almost ten minutes before you hear voices heralding the arrival of Gordon, his best friend Steve, and the unfortunate Molester. You sidle around a corner and watch from a distance, leaning against the rough wooden frame of the building. The Molester's back is to you, and Gordon and Steve face you; both see you, but neither acknowledges your presence. They are too distant, and speaking too softly, for you to make out the words. But the tone is unmistakable. The Molester is whining; Gordon is rough, angry. Lester twists miserably on the balls of his feet; Gordon glares down at him with hands on his hips. Lester stares at the ground; Gordon says something; there is a fractional pause, and Steve's hand shoots out to grasp Lester by the short hairs at the top of his head, and forces him to look up. Gordon slaps him--not hard, but sharply. Lester does nothing. Gordon slaps him again. Lester again does nothing. Gordon mutters something, and Steve releases Brown.<br/>
<br/>
And then Gordon unzips the fly of his jeans. Brown blocks your view, but you can tell Gordon has taken out his cock. He says something, and Pozniak takes a step back. Steve steps forward, grabs him by the shoulder, and pulls him back close. Again, Gordon speaks. Steve steps around, to stand behind the Molester. His hands behind his back, he leans around and whispers in Lester's ear; that, or he's kissing him. Then, with a brief backward glance at you, Patterson steps away from the Molester, so that your view is again unimpeded.<br/>
<br/>
Brown's hands fumble, and then stretch toward Gordon's crotch. Whoa. Your eyes lock with Gordon's, and he smirks. You stroke the top of your bosom and twitch your skirt, and throw your head back in a gasp. Gordon's smirk widens into an appreciative leer.<br/>
<br/>
This continues for a full minute, at least. And then Gordon smashes his fist against the side of Brown's face, driving him to the ground, and you finally get to see Gordon's cock, engorged and standing at rigid attention. He towers over the Molester, jabbing at him at him with finger. Now his voice carries. "Remember who's got the bigger dick, Brown. You look at Chelsea again, and I'll make you touch it again. But it won't be with your hands." Lester lays still on the ground. Gordon looks back up at you, his expression hungry, then zips himself up again. He and Patterson stalk away. <br/>
<br/>
You hug yourself, letting the shudders vibrate through your body, and return to the building by a path of your own.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
And what was the point of all that? Preparation for meeting Seth, you suppose, which happens after fifth period, when he and Jeremy, rolling through the halls, sweep you up with a squeal and a laugh and take you outside. "You make that switch," you ask Javits. He nods, and you look at him closely. His eyes are twinkling, but you have the impression that Keith is just playing the part: something in the way he stands with his hands on his hips, not looking directly at you.<br/>
<br/>
"Let's try to get Gordon this afternoon," you say. I'll be down in the gym. You corner him, say you want to talk. I'll suggest the fuck room."<br/>
<br/>
"He doesn't let anybody up there except his crew," Caleb points out.<br/>
<br/>
"Which is why <i>I'll</i> be the one to suggest it," you repeat. "Don't be so much like Richards."<br/>
<br/>
"Make sure you get Black, and I won't have to be," he retorts.<br/>
<br/>
"Then I'll see you later. I want to talk to Seth." Caleb flicks a gleaming eye between the two of you, then saunters off.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm sorry I was so rough earlier," you tell Keith as you walk slowly across the quad. "But it was for the best."<br/>
<br/>
"If you say so."<br/>
<br/>
"But you don't much like <i>being</i> Seth?" He shrugs. "You'd rather have him under your thumb, wouldn't you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Something like that."<br/>
<br/>
"I think I understand. I made Gordon do something really horrible to someone else earlier today. It was nice. Having him in love with me, I can get him to do those things."<br/>
<br/>
"I was starting to get that kind of control over him last night," Keith says after a lengthy pause. "Before you made me switch."<br/>
<br/>
"Were you getting him to fall in love with you?" you ask. You mean it as a tease, but Keith is very quiet. "Why, I think you were."<br/>
<br/>
"It's not a gay thing," Keith protests, then looks hastily around, to make sure no one overheard. "It's just, I dunno," he continues more quietly. "He's been my persecutor for years. Making him my protector, my ... well, my <i>lover</i>-- There's just something really ... <i>awesome</i> about the idea."<br/>
<br/>
You give him a sidelong glance. He wants Seth as a boyfriend, the way you (as Chelsea) can have Gordon wrapped around your finger? The best way of arranging that is to put him inside Seth's girlfriend, Cindy Vredenburg. Cindy has not crossed your mind as a potential victim--she'd be of no obvious utility. You are also loathe to make the suggestion yourself. But even just making the suggestion might show Keith how much you appreciate his feelings.</span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121212112111
author_id: seuzz
title: A Disaster
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"What would you say to taking over Cindy's life," you ask. He looks startled. "That would get you what you say you want, wouldn't it?"<br/>
<br/>
He chews his lip. "I thought you wanted me inside Javits. To keep him under control."<br/>
<br/>
"It doesn't have to be permanent," you say. "Just long enough to straighten him out, keep him from causing problems. After that, you've got all your choices again."<br/>
<br/>
He grunts noncommittally--maybe because he doesn't want to leap at the offer; or maybe because he doesn't like the idea; or maybe because he doesn't like that it's your idea. "It's something to think about," is all he will concede.<br/>
<br/>
"You've got time. We'll try to get Gordon and Steve this afternoon. After that, we'll have to wait for the golems to bring us more masks." Your walk has led you back around to the main doors by this point. "I'll see you at practice after school."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Getting Gordon alone proves more ticklish than you'd anticipated, though. He's not alone with Seth and Jeremy when they come out of the locker room after practice: Patterson is with them. Black is stone-faced, but his facade cracks a little when he sees you. "Hey," he calls. "You had me fucking up on the court all during practice. I couldn't stop looking at you."<br/>
<br/>
"And what are you going to do during the games, when I'm <i>really</i> showing off," you dimple. You do a forward handspring and tumble up to his feet. He grabs hold of you and lifts you up, and you clasp him under his shoulders and hold him tight. <br/>
<br/>
"We really would like to talk," Jeremy says in a low voice to Gordon.<br/>
<br/>
He sighs. "Can you hang loose a little longer," he asks you. "These guys are busting my balls about something."<br/>
<br/>
"How about we all go upstairs," you murmur, and kiss the side of his neck. "We can all hang out up there. It'll be nice."<br/>
<br/>
"That's not-- Uhng." He groans as you grip his hips with your strong legs and nibble at his ear. "Yeah, okay, but you're gonna have to cool it a little." He drops you to the floor, but you walk along with your arms around each other as he turns to the stairs, beckoning the others to follow.<br/>
<br/>
"Is Steve invited," you ask. You've noticed he's also following.<br/>
<br/>
They all stop, and Gordon and Seth and Jeremy all look at each other. Patterson's brow darkens. "It's kind of sensitive," Seth says. "I'd kinda rather it were just the three of us. The more people, the more, uh--"<br/>
<br/>
"<i>I</i> have to be there," you say archly. "Otherwise it's not a party."<br/>
<br/>
Gordon takes a deep breath. "I'll call you later, bro," he says to Patterson. "Just let me get rid of these cocksuckers first."<br/>
<br/>
"Whatever you say, Gordon," Steve shrugs. He stands in place, watching narrowly, as the rest of you mount the stairs.<br/>
<br/>
Up in the fuck room, Gordon turns on your friends with a frown. "Okay, what is this about," he demands. Jeremy unslings his kit from his shoulder and glances at you and Seth. You grip Gordon's hand firmly in your own, and keep a tight hold as Seth steps behind Gordon and grabs him from behind. Gordon twists; Jeremy kicks the door shut as he pulls a mask from kit and rushes it onto Gordon's face. You try scrambling away, but are pulled down as Black topples to the floor.<br/>
<br/>
"Lock the door," you call out as you disentangle yourself and sit up, and Keith leaps over to secure it. Caleb drops to the floor, and topples over as he pulls Jeremy's face from his. You scoop up the fallen mask and sit on Gordon's chest, watching for the mask inside him to reappear. It seems to take forever.<br/>
<br/>
"Should we try taking Patterson while we're at it?" Keith asks. <br/>
<br/>
"You have the other mask?" you ask. Keith nods. "Then yeah, let's do it." <br/>
<br/>
Keith steps over to Jeremy's kit, just missing Caleb's head with his foot as Caleb sits up, blinking. "Be right back," Keith says, dashing for the door.<br/>
<br/>
"Wait, what are you-- Fuck!" But Keith is already gone.<br/>
<br/>
"What's going on?" Caleb asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Keith is gonna fuck things up," you snarl. "Quick, get out of sight. Patterson's coming." Caleb's jaw drops, and, scooping Jeremy's loose clothes about his rail-thin frame, scampers back to hide among some crates. <br/>
<br/>
Footsteps sound on the stairs. At that moment the mask reappears on Gordon's face, and you push it off and jam the Jeremy mask (thankfully golemized) down onto it. You then leap off him and whirl around breathless, just in time to see the door open and Patterson step in.<br/>
<br/>
He takes one look around--at the prostrate Richards, at the disordered kits, and at your expression of wide-eyed terror--and stops dead. "What's going on?" he demands. "Gordon?"<br/>
<br/>
Your eyes meet those of Seth, who is peering around Patterson's shoulder. There's a moment of suspense, then Keith grabs Steve just as he had grabbed Gordon. Your own instincts--disastrously--take over, and you leap at him, pressing the mask in your hands to his face. Down he goes ...<br/>
<br/>
"Well, that was a fucking mess!" you shout at Keith. "What the hell were you thinking, just running down there before we got Gordon secure?"<br/>
<br/>
"I thought you said to go get him!" he shouts back.<br/>
<br/>
"I said we'd <i>get</i> him. Like, <i>afterwards,</i> you fuckhead!"<br/>
<br/>
"Then you should have <i>said</i> that!" His face turns purple.<br/>
<br/>
"Is it okay to come out now?" Caleb calls. His head pops up. <br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I guess," you reply. You look down at the Richards golem, who is just sitting there stupidly. "How are <i>you</i> doing?"<br/>
<br/>
He raises his hands defensively. "Hey, leave me out of this." He looks around. "I don't even work here."<br/>
<br/>
"So what's the deal," Caleb asks as he trots around. He still has Richard's pants on, holding them up with one hand as the cuffs drag on the floor. You explain as rationally as you can what happened, nudging the prostrate Patterson with your foot. "But it's all good, right?" he asks when you're done. "No harm, no foul, and we got a copy of Patterson while we were at it."<br/>
<br/>
"Whatever," you grumble. And then your eye falls on the mask that Keith is holding. A hole opens in your stomach. You look down at your own hands. You fumble around, trying to reenact the farce. <i>Fuck.</i><br/>
<br/>
"Where's Gordon's mask," Caleb asks. A mask reappears on Patterson's face. You swallow really hard, and point at it. Your two friends stare.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb moves first, sweeping up the new mask and frowning at it. You snap your fingers at Keith, and take the mask from him: it is blank. And so, before Patterson can wake again, you put it onto his face. "Get out of Seth," you order Keith. "We're gonna need his face."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Jeremy's and Seth's replacements are gone, and now it is just you and Keith and Caleb sitting up in the fuck room. You are still wearing Chelsea's form; Keith is dressed out as Steve Patterson. Caleb is himself, though. He holds a mask and ponders it.<br/>
<br/>
"The band says 'Gordon Black'," he says. "The face--"<br/>
<br/>
"The face isn't anybody we know," you sigh. The ghostly image in the mask is hard to make out, but it is clear enough that you can see it doesn't look like either Patterson or Black. It's a composite. "I'm so sorry, guys," you say, burying your face in your hands. <br/>
<br/>
"We can fix it when we get some more masks," Caleb says. "We've got replacements in for everyone except Gordon." He pulls his lip. "How are we gonna handle that?"<br/>
<br/>
"He sometimes disappears for a day or two, just to get away from his dad," you say. "He hides out with Patterson, right?" you ask Keith. The latter nods. "Okay, then he can supposedly drop out of sight until we get a new copy made. You're going to have to go back to being yourself in the meantime, though," you tell Caleb. He makes a face.<br/>
<br/>
"Sucks wasting a mask," Keith grumbles.<br/>
<br/>
"Who says we wasted it?" Caleb says. He looks very thoughtful. "We could use it to make a new person. How would that be?" He sits up, becoming excited. "Listen to this. We get a bunch of good-looking guys inside the mask, seal it up, introduce it as a new student."<br/>
<br/>
"But he wouldn't be a somebody," you point out.<br/>
<br/>
"Make it a little side project," Caleb says. "This could be fun."<br/>
<br/>
Keith perks up. "So who do we get? Other guys in the school?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, let's use it on guys at Eastman," Caleb says. "Half a dozen, maybe. That way it doesn't look too much like people already here at Westside."<br/>
<br/>
"Or how about the college," you counter-suggest. "They'd be even better athletes, and that's the kind of guy we're talking about, right?"</span></div></div>


path: 111231222122112121211212
author_id: seuzz
title: The Two Faces of Seth Javits
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"I'm not going to tell <i>you</i> what to do," you tell Kim primly. "So I'm going to have to knock <i>him</i> off his perch."<br/>
<br/>
"Look, can't you just give him a chance," she says desperately. "I can handle it. Tell me what you want or need from him."<br/>
<br/>
You regard her coolly. "Let's get together tonight. We need to talk anyway. Tomorrow will be a big day." She nods, and slinks off into the crowd of students.<br/>
<br/>
You turn to Kendra Saunders, who has been lurking nearby. "And why are <i>you</i> skulking around," you demand. You've been aware of her presence for some time, which is why you've been on your best Chelsea-like behavior. "You're getting on my nerves." You stalk off without waiting for an answer.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"He's still scared of the cocksucker," Caleb growls. He leans on the table, one hand cupped around his left eye. "He won't stand up to Javits, even though he can now."<br/>
<br/>
"He really gave you a shiner, didn't he?" you commiserate. "Lemme see." Caleb removes his hand. The skin around his eye is an ugly red and black. "What did Gordon and Steve say?"<br/>
<br/>
"They just pulled him off me. Sent him to the showers and wanted to know what <i>I'd</i> done."<br/>
<br/>
"What <i>did</i> you do?"<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing! I was trying to be cool with him, acting normal. I mean, I'm supposed to be his best friend, so I'm acting the part at practice. He starts calling me names under his breath, and when I call him on it he swings at me." He glares darkly at you. "What did Gordon say to <i>you</i> about it?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, he was laughing." You make a face. "'So Javits finally took a swing at Richards today'," you say, huskily mimicking Gordon's baritone. "'Richards went down like a pussy'."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb leans back and glares around. You're sitting in a hidden corner of the municipal library, supposedly for a study session, but really waiting for Keith to show up so you can decide on the next round of acquisitions. Of course, the three main alpha males--Gordon Black, Steve Patterson, and Jason Lynch--will be the main targets. After that ...?<br/>
<br/>
"Well," you say with a sigh after Caleb has said nothing for awhile, "if the golems get even one new mask done tonight we can move you into Gordon's slot tomorrow, and then you can throw Javits off the team." <br/>
<br/>
It was the fight between Jeremy and Seth that occasioned your own confrontation with Tilley. The discovery that Javits' replacement is so unmanageable has given you and Caleb serious pause. The Garner twins at least are passive though not very helpful; your own replacements, as near as you can tell, are being stupid but cheerful. Maybe it has to do with the way that you got Javits. You let Keith gloat over him, and in front of his "best friend," Jeremy, no less; so if golems are supposed to imitate their originals, it shouldn't be a surprise that the fake Javits should hold a grudge against Richards. And since Caleb has no direct influence or control over him, he can't force the fake Javits to back down. This could lead to further problems if similar issues crop up with other replacements.<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe that's how come no one ever used golems to take over the world," you murmur aloud. Caleb gives you a curious look. "Oh, just thinking out loud," you explain. "Maybe golems are just too hard to control. I've been wondering why previous owners of the book never used it to take over the world."<br/>
<br/>
"If we can't even use it to take over a school I'm going to be pissed," Caleb says.<br/>
<br/>
At that moment Kim appears, but she's not alone.<br/>
<br/>
Javits is with her. You and Caleb both freeze. You look over at Kim and hope she can read the text message in your eyes: "r u nuts?"<br/>
<br/>
But Keith looks very smug. "You have something to say to Jeremy, Seth?"<br/>
<br/>
Javits grins brightly at Jeremy and holds out his hand. "Sorry about this morning, bro. I was being a dick. Hope I didn't hurt you too bad."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb stares, and then slowly reaches out to take Seth's hand; the latter gives it a manly shake and then sits opposite him. He looks at you. "Hey, Chels. God, you're looking sexy."<br/>
<br/>
You feel your cheeks turn pink and look up at Keith. "Oh, that's nothing," he says. He sits next to Seth. "Got anything to say to me?"<br/>
<br/>
Seth bites his lip, smiles boyishly, and shakes his head. "Like to kiss you all over, though," he says. He leans in and kisses your friend, warmly at first and then with greater passion. Keith, working Kim's lips, responds in kind, and soon they are caressing and giggling and kissing shamelessly. They break it off with a laugh only when Caleb threatens to fetch a fire extinguisher.<br/>
<br/>
You look between them keenly. "You two switched masks, didn't you?" You point at Seth. "Tilley, that's you."<br/>
<br/>
Seth laughs, but Kim shakes her head. "No, I'm still here. I just figured out how to work him." You and Caleb continue to stare, so she explains.<br/>
<br/>
"They have to do what we say, right," she says. "So, last night I made him starting polishing that mask, and he's doing it, but he's cussing me the whole time, telling me what he'd do to me if he could. Really scary stuff, too. So I break down and say 'Can't you be nice to me?' And he says, 'Why should I?' and I just lose it and say 'Just be nice to me!' And it's like I flipped a switch. He stops saying all that stuff and starts asking me about my day and what I like and even says nice things about me. And then I <i>really</i> freak out and ask him what this new shit is. And gets this wounded look, like I kicked a puppy, and says he's just trying to be nice to me.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I send him home after that, and I go home too. But I started thinking. If we can tell them what to do, maybe that also includes how to act and even how to think. So this morning, after we talked--" She nods at you "--I got together with him and started telling him how he had to act and what to think and feel. And it all took. I told him he had to apologize to Jeremy and that he had to be nice to Chelsea. And then to <i>really</i> test it out, I told him he had to be in love with me, that he wanted <i>me</i> to be his girlfriend. And, well--" Shee brushes Seth's hand off her shoulder, for the golem has started stroking her again. "I guess if I don't change his mind for him again, I guess we're gonna start going out together."<br/>
<br/>
Your mouth is hanging open by this point. "Are you--" you start, but Caleb kicks you under the table. "Are you sure?" you weakly say, redirecting your query at the last minute.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, I don't know," Keith says. "I guess I'm just joking around with him. He'd have to break up with Cindy, too."<br/>
<br/>
"This is interesting," Caleb jumps in before you can speak. "But ... Are you sure you've got a handle on him? I mean, you said it was like flipping a switch, but I'm not sure these things come with switches."<br/>
<br/>
"But look at him," Keith protests. "He's totally normal."<br/>
<br/>
"Javits was never totally normal," Caleb starts. <br/>
<br/>
"Fuck you, I can still kick your ass," Seth laughs.<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, there might be all kinds of wires getting crossed inside his head," Caleb continues, ignoring the interruption. "He might suffer a psychotic break at some point."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, the point right now is that I've got control over him again," Keith says. He looks at you. "So there's no reason to do what you were talking about doing."<br/>
<br/>
"If it does work, it would be really good news," you tell Caleb cautiously. "We were worried about, um, how other, you know, people would act."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, about that," Seth says eagerly. "Who's next on the list?" He cocks his head and grins. "I assume Black is the next guy you'll replace."<br/>
<br/>
"You told him about the plan?!" Caleb exclaims.<br/>
<br/>
"He saw what happened last night," Keith retorts. "He can put two and two together. He knows what we're up to. And he's totally cool with it, right?" He turns to Seth.<br/>
<br/>
"Sure I am," Seth says. There is no guile in his eye.<br/>
<br/>
"Can you send him home?" you ask. "I'm still not comfortable talking about this in front of him. No, scratch that, let's just break things up now. I need to think about it."<br/>
<br/>
Keith starts to protest, but you and Caleb are already gathering your stuff. But you linger long enough to let Keith and Seth disappear. They have their arms wrapped around each other.<br/>
<br/>
"That is the creepiest, most fucked up thing I've ever seen," Caleb says. "And I'm not talking about Keith making out with that asshole, though that's a very close second."<br/>
<br/>
"It would solve a lot of problems," you point out. "Although--" You look up at him. "When you exit Jeremy, he's gonna remember everything that got said. How's he going to act?"<br/>
<br/>
"He'll do what we say," Caleb says. Then he looks thoughtful. "Now I'm starting to sound like Tilley."<br/>
<br/>
"Exactly. It might be better if we tested Seth's loyalty before we started assuming all our replacements can be managed so neatly."<br/>
<br/>
"How do we do that?"<br/>
<br/>
"You're Jeremy at the moment. You could stay as him, test Seth out."<br/>
<br/>
"But he knows I'm a fake."<br/>
<br/>
"Then one of us should secretly switch into Cindy. See if he goes through with breaking up with her, how he acts around her."<br/>
<br/>
"Then we'd just have another tricky golem to watch out for," Caleb objects. "If I switch, that leaves Jeremy needing watching. If you switch, well, that leaves Chelsea exposed. And she's <i>definitely</i> not one I'd trust.</span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121212112122
author_id: seuzz
title: Rolling Out the Replacements, Part 1
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You and Caleb talk a little more, but finally only conclude that there's nothing to be done but hope for the best. You'll be more careful about handling the new crop of replacements, but you'll also try testing out Keith's technique. Maybe you're worrying about nothing. <br/>
<br/>
You spend the rest of the night preparing for the next morning.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You're nervous and jumpy but excited the next day as you wait for Gordon to finish pre-class practice. He'd tried bugging you last night, but you'd put him off and spent the evening texting with Chelsea's friends while also texting ideas for coordinating the day's activities with Caleb and Keith. All should be in readiness.<br/>
<br/>
You look over eagerly as the gym doors slam open and the crowd of ballplayers gushes forth. Gordon and Steve take up the rear, and they swing over to greet you. You grab Black around the midriff and stare up hungrily into his face. "How was your workout?" you ask, stroking and kneading him.<br/>
<br/>
"Fun," he says. "I pity Eastman. We're gonna fuck 'em hard in our first game."<br/>
<br/>
"If anyone can fuck 'em hard, you can." You reach up to drag his head down close to yours. "I missed you last night. Skip second period," you whisper in his ear. "Fuck <i>me</i> hard. You know where."<br/>
<br/>
He growls and squeezes you close, and you squeal as he lifts you up so he can nuzzle your neck without bending over. You clutch him and gasp in delight, and peer over his shoulder to beam at Patterson. Steve rolls his tongue in his cheek, grins, and looks away.<br/>
<br/>
"Give me the key," you whisper to Black. "I'll break cheerleader practice early and get things set up." He complies, and you skip off excitedly to the girls' changing room to get ready.<br/>
<br/>
Practice drags by slowly, and so near the end you pull Eva aside. "Pick a fight with Cindy," you murmur to her. "Make it nasty. I'll back you up." She nods dutifully and falls back into line. A few minutes later, one of Maria's routines is interrupted by shouts and squeals, and everyone looks over to see Eva and Cindy Vredenburg pushing and slapping at each other. Eva even grabs her rival's hair, and the two fall to the floor.<br/>
<br/>
"What is going on?" you shout as Kendra and Gloria pull the girls apart.<br/>
<br/>
"She started it," Eva spits. "She pushed me."<br/>
<br/>
"You pushed <i>me,</i> you bitch," Cindy sputters. "I was just standing here and you shoved me."<br/>
<br/>
"You got in my space! You're such a cow you can't even help it."<br/>
<br/>
"Both of you stop it," you shout. "Eva, Cindy, is this about your boyfriends?" You cock a meaningful eyebrow. Eva flushes, and Cindy gasps. "I know they got in a fight yesterday, but I don't want you two bringing their problems onto our team." They both start to protest, but you silence them with a raised hand. "Alright, you've managed to <i>ruin</i> the rest of practice, so everyone can go in now and change. Eva, I'll talk to you first. Gloria, can you stay here a moment?" The two girls remain behind while the others slowly file back to the changing room. Cindy glares back darkly at Eva, and then at you.<br/>
<br/>
After they are gone you take Gloria in close and walk her slowly toward the changing room. "Go talk to Cindy. Tell her I saw the whole thing and I know it was Eva's fault, but I don't want to blow things up in front of the team. Tell her everything's cool with her and I'll talk to her later just to make sure she understands that. Okay?" Gloria nods and skips off; you return to Eva.<br/>
<br/>
"That was brilliant," you tell her in a low voice and squeeze her arm appreciatively. "Things will be a little tough for you for a day, but I'll make it up to you." Eva nods and relaxes. "Come with me. I have another job for you."<br/>
<br/>
You lead her up to the "fuck room"--the storage loft over and behind the bleachers--and fumble open the door. Inside, you lead her into a hidden corner behind some boxes and bid her undress. Then you twitch the mask off her, revealing the first golem you and Caleb had made. You fold up the clothes and then turn your attention to the rest of the loft. You start by rearranging the dirty gym mats--so disgusting you can barely bring yourself to touch them--and then bring in the bag that you'd earlier set discreetly outside the room. You set up a few candles and some incense, and spread a thin cotton sheet over the mats; under one corner you hide the Eva-golem mask. None of this is to Gordon's taste, but it will distract him. You then sit down and take out your cell phone. You send a brief text message to Jeremy--the signal that everything is ready--and lay back and open up some of the dirtier pictures of Chelsea and Gordon that she has on her phone.<br/>
<br/>
Black isn't long in appearing, and he turns a little pink at the sight of what you've set up. "Kind of a fancy spread for a mid-morning fuck, isn't it?"<br/>
<br/>
"It'll have to be a quickie, but that doesn't mean it can't be special," you dimple. "Come here, tiger." He drops to floor and prowls over to you in imitation of a jungle cat. You giggle as he clambers atop you, pinning you down and gnawing at your neck and bosom.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, screw the foreplay," you gasp. "I could barely get through practice I wanted you so bad." He just growls in his throat and pinches your thigh. You squeal and kick at him. "Come on, I want to do this at least twice before third period."<br/>
<br/>
He raises up, whistles, and flops back onto his back. You climb on top of him, unbutton his jeans, and pull his rising cock free from his briefs. You massage it with your open palm, and groan. "I'm getting wet just touching it. Mmm. Hang on a moment, though. Close your eyes."<br/>
<br/>
"Gotta surprise for me?"<br/>
<br/>
"Kind of. Come on, close them. No peeking." You start to fish out the mask, but you catch him cheating. "Mm-mm. Shut them tight, baby." He sighs, screws them up. You drop the mask onto him; he tenses momentarily, then goes limp. <br/>
<br/>
Where he had been, Eva appears a moment later. "Finish changing," you order, stepping off her. "Your clothes are over in the corner." You send another message to Jeremy, who according to plan is lurking down in the boys' locker room. Not thirty seconds later there's a soft knock at the door, and you let him in. He hands you his backpack and quickly crosses over to the mat, where Gordon's mask and clothes are spread out. While he changes you unload the booty from his pack: more blank masks and magical mix in neatly labeled bags. You call softly to Eva, and she steps out, buttoning her blouse. "Go to class. If anyone asks, tell them we had a nice little talk, nothing too dramatic, and everything is fine between us." She nods dutifully and departs.<br/>
<br/>
You turn at the sound of a groan, to see the new Gordon Black sits up, blinking. But you ignore him and sweep up the remnants of Jeremy Richards and take them to the golem. After he is in place, you hand him his clothes and lead him out into the main loft. Caleb is just pulling on his shirt and glances up. "Everything on track?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Like clockwork," you grin. "Sorry I had to cut our session short."<br/>
<br/>
"You'll make it up to me," he winks. "Yo, Richards," he calls. "Front and center." Jeremy steps forward and Gordon stares at him bluntly. "We're going to be making some replacements." He holds a finger in the golem's face speaks firmly. "You like that, and you want to help."<br/>
<br/>
Jeremy's eyes shift from him to you and back, and he smirks. "Sure thing." He folds his arms and throws his head back. "Who's next?"<br/>
<br/>
"You have Lynch this hour, right?" Jeremy nods. "Get dressed and go find him," Caleb says. "Tell him I want to see him in the fuck room. Now."<br/>
<br/>
Richards gives a little salute and bends to pick up his jeans. You have a sudden thought: You'd improvised that fight between Eva and Cindy, and Seth's girlfriend will be expecting a message from you. Instead of taking Lynch next, you could have Jeremy send up Cindy instead. By shifting into her you could secretly get close to Javits' clone and keep an eye on him, as you and Caleb had discussed.</span></div></div>


path: 11123122212211212121121222
author_id: seuzz
title: Rolling Out the Replacements, Part 2
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>No, it's too late to improvise. You'd have to explain things to Caleb, and that would take too long. Instead you busy yourself with getting ready for the next exchange.<br/>
<br/>
"You wanna golemize Gordon's mask, have it ready to put on Lynch when he shows up?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb stretches, brushing the low ceiling with his fingertips while keeping his feet planted firmly on the floor. "Nah, we'll just golemize his mask after it comes off him. Put it right back on." He grins wolfishly. "I'm not giving up the chance to have some fun with <i>you</i> while I'm wearing Black."<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing says I can't have a fling with Jason," you smile back.<br/>
<br/>
"His cock's too small for you," Caleb retorts. "Seriously, it must be a medical condition. His cock, I mean, not your cunny." He flexes and sighs. "I'll just sit on him if he comes around too soon. Gonna be trickier getting Patterson. Probably have to wait till after school, but Lynch can help. Keith, too. That reminds me, you heard anything back from him about what he's gonna do with Javits?"<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't have a chance to talk to him this morning. I haven't even seen him. How was Seth at practice."<br/>
<br/>
"Hundred percent. All 'yessirs' and good attitude. I'd call it creepy, but--" He cocks his head. "Gordon didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. I guess it's okay. Maybe Tilley's trick actually worked."<br/>
<br/>
"Now <i>that's</i> creepy," you tease. "Giving Tilley credit for anything." <br/>
<br/>
"Don't goad me, wench," he grumbles good-naturedly. "I know how to make you scream." You hold each other's eyes, but he breaks off first with a shrug. "Oh, fuck me," he sighs. "And I wish you would. Make sure you leave Chelsea in a good mood. I want my first time as Gordon to be long and memorable and <i>soon.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Who says I'm leaving Chelsea?" You're not in a mood to let him off the hook he's sat on.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, aren't you? You're down on golems." He ticks off on his fingers: "After taking Lynch, I'll have him, Gordon, Jeremy and Jessica on my team. That's four. Keith'll have Javits, Kim, Patterson. You'll have Eva and Jeremy. You'll need to pick up two."<br/>
<br/>
"I have ideas, but I won't need to switch into them. Better for me to stay close to you and Keith."<br/>
<br/>
Before he can ask after your plan, the door opens and Lynch peeks around. "You decent, Gordon?"<br/>
<br/>
"Get your fucking ass in here, Lynch. Now." Gordon's face turns beet red and he stabs a finger at the floor. The shift from Caleb's persona to Gordon's is instantaneous.<br/>
<br/>
Jason steps in uncertainly. His arms hang loosely as he walks over to Black. "Yeah?"<br/>
<br/>
"Take a good look around, you miserable little shit. You see anything wrong up here?"<br/>
<br/>
Lynch runs a tongue over his bottom lip and glances at you. You grimace back. He turns slowly and looks around. "Ummm ..." he says. "Someone's been trying to decorate it like a French whorehouse?"<br/>
<br/>
Gordon's face blackens even as he shows the whites of his eyes. He jabs a finger at the sheet-wrapped mat. "On your ass, Lynch. I got something to say to you."<br/>
<br/>
Jason slowly drops to the mat to sit cross-legged but Gordon savagely kicks them out straight. As Jason stares up palely, he shoves the unlucky baseball player in the chest with one foot until he falls back on his elbows. Gordon then straddles him, planting one foot on either side of his hips. <br/>
<br/>
"We only let team players up here, Lynch," he says coldly. "Team players. So when I say jump, you palm the ceiling without asking how high. When I tell you to fuck yourself, you whip out your cock, grab the back of your thighs, and suck it. That's what you signed up for, and that's what you're rewarded for. You like the rewards?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, sure, Gordon," Jason quavers. "I've-- I've done--"<br/>
<br/>
"You've only given fifty percent, Lynch. No, not even that. You've <i>sucked</i> fifty percent out of the rest of us." Gordon drops heavily to his knees, pinning Lynch down. "Let me show you what it means to give a hundred percent. Chelsea, gimme the dingus." Without looking over, he holds out a hand and snaps his fingers. You give him the mask, and he presses it to Jason's face.<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus, Caleb," you gasp after Lynch has lost consciousness. "After what happened with Javits, you think it's a good idea to treat him like this?"<br/>
<br/>
"You don't know Lynch," Caleb snorts. "He lives to be humiliated. This'll cement it."<br/>
<br/>
"I hope you know what you're doing." You hurry over to lock the door again.<br/>
<br/>
A few minutes later Caleb hands you the new mask to be golemized while he continues to hunch over Lynch. You concentrate on your work, but can't help lending an ear when you hear Lynch speak again.<br/>
<br/>
"Christ, Gordon, what is this?" he asks petulantly.<br/>
<br/>
"Just keep still," Gordon says quietly. "I told you, we're making you a real team player. You'll like that, won't you?"<br/>
<br/>
"I thought I already was a team player." <br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, you <i>thought</i> you were. This'll be the real deal." You light the match and set it to the mask.<br/>
<br/>
Lynch is quiet for a few moments, but his voice is even quieter when he speaks again. "Gordon," he says, "if this is, like, a sex thing ... Well, I understand. I'm cool."<br/>
<br/>
"Are you?"<br/>
<br/>
Another pause. "Does Chelsea have to be here?"<br/>
<br/>
"You want it just you and me?" Lynch says nothing, but you suspect he has nodded his head. "Chels?" Gordon says. "You mind stepping out for a bit?"<br/>
<br/>
"If you want me to," you reply. "You'll want this, first." You nudge him in the back with the just-completed mask. He takes it. <br/>
<br/>
"Put this on," Gordon says to his victim, and then stands up. Jason is still for a moment, and then he opens his eyes again. <br/>
<br/>
"Is that it," Lynch asks.<br/>
<br/>
"You disappointed?" Gordon asks, and Lynch glances at you and then back up at Black.<br/>
<br/>
"I'll leave the two of you alone," you say. "I gotta change for classes."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Jason seem happy when you see him at lunch. Indeed, whatever happened after you left seems to have left him ecstatic. He hangs on Gordon's every word, laughing and joking and all but hanging off him like a puppy. For his part, Gordon treats him in an indulgent but offhand manner, reserving most of his attention to others while caressing you.<br/>
<br/>
You're also watching Seth and Cindy, though, and notice a definite coolness between them. Cindy keeps watching him and snuggling up to him, but he draws back, though without being impolite. It reminds you that you need to talk to Keith. "I gotta find Kim," you say before lunch is half over.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't be that way," Gordon says, trying to hold you back. "You're the only girl for me."<br/>
<br/>
"The only girl but not the only <i>one,</i>" you say. "I'll be back before your eye can wander."<br/>
<br/>
You find Kim a few tables over, deep in conversation with a knot of other students. "Can I have a few minutes of your time?" you ask her sweetly. She looks up at you guilelessly, then excuses herself. "Are you serious about what you were talking about last night?" you ask casually as you walk toward the cafeteria door. "I mean, about landing a certain guy?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not sure," she says. "Why?" You tell her what you've noticed with Cindy and Seth. "Maybe he took what I said too seriously," she says. "Do you want me to fix it?"<br/>
<br/>
"We're going to try to replace Patterson this afternoon," you quietly reply. "Were you going to stay where you are, or move into his place?"<br/>
<br/>
"I hadn't thought about it," she confesses. "I've been thinking about the others on the list."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, if you move, that puts you and me and Gordon close together. If you stay where you are, though, I should probably move to where I can hang out with you and Gordon both without raising eyebrows. Kendra's been noticing our little conferences."<br/>
<br/>
"There's not a lot of overlap between Gordon and me," she points out.<br/>
<br/>
"No there isn't. Cindy is the only one I can think of who can hang out with both Kim Walsh and Gordon Cooper. That's why I'm asking about what's going on--or what's going to happen--between her and Seth. If they break up, that would maker her less ... useful ... as a place to stay."<br/>
<br/>
She thinks a bit. "There's Jeremy. He hangs with Seth and Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
"Jeremy belongs to Caleb. We'd have to redo a mask." <br/>
<br/>
She thinks for a long time, and then sighs. "I don't know. What will make life easier for you? Taking Cindy, or having me move into Patterson?"<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 111231222122112121211212221
author_id: seuzz
title: Rolling Out the Replacements, Part 3
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"You can always move back into Kim later, if you're heart is really set on it," you say. "But for the next few days, it'd be a lot more convenient to have you on hand in Steve."<br/>
<br/>
"Okay. How is that going to work?"<br/>
<br/>
"We'll try taking him this afternoon. Can you hang around until then?"<br/>
<br/>
"I have to work at four-thirty."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm sure that won't be a problem. Meet me at the gym right after last period."<br/>
<br/>
You both return to the cafeteria, where you plead with Gordon to follow you out for a little "fun." He hugs you tightly on the way out, and you murmur together, planning the afternoon<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Jason is already positioned outside the fuck room door when you get there, and he nods meaningfully at you. "Gordon tells me it's Patterson's turn," he says as you unlock the door and lead him in. "What do you need me to do?"<br/>
<br/>
"Kim Walsh will be here in a few minutes," you tell him. "Be attentive to her. You know, like you're up there trying to get it on with her. But don't push it too hard. She's not interested in you."<br/>
<br/>
"That's fine," he says. "I know how to play it."<br/>
<br/>
"I bet you do. What <i>was</i> that thing between you and my boyfriend this morning?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, you know, just a little male bonding. It wasn't gay or anything."<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh. Well just <i>pretend</i> you're interested in Kim, but don't expect anything from her."<br/>
<br/>
You're pleased to see that the room has been returned to his usual appearance, with all your stuff hidden away, but you dig out one mask and set in behind a box where it will be easy to get while still being hidden from view. You then leave Jason alone while you go out to wait for Keith. He's not long in showing up, and Javits is with him, but at a word from you Keith sends Javits back down to change out for after-school practice. You send Keith into the fuck room with the warning about what will be waiting for him. You then go back down onto the gym floor to await Gordon.<br/>
<br/>
In knots of two or three the basketball players start to trickle in; Gordon and Steve are among the last to appear. "Honey, can I have the key to the break room?" you whine to Gordon, tugging at his shirt and belt. "I wanna wait for you up there."<br/>
<br/>
"Damn it girl, you're gonna wear me out," he laughs as Steve snorts softly to himself. "At least, I hope you're gonna try." He digs into his pockets, and then frowns. "Fuck, I don't got 'em. You have 'em?" You shake your head. He snaps his finger. "Dammit, I gave 'em to Lynch to lock up 'cos I was late to class." He nudges Patterson in the ribs. "Got yours? Let my 'ho in for me?"<br/>
<br/>
Patterson fishes into his pockets and hands you his key, and gives no sign that he's going to lead you up there. This isn't going to plan, and you have to think quickly. "Did you say Jason has your key?" you ask Gordon with a frown. "Because when I tried the door, I thought I heard noises."<br/>
<br/>
Gordon glances at Patterson. "Lynch didn't clear his schedule with me," he says, his eyes narrowing. "If that fucker is taking liberties-- Come on." He trots over to the stairs, dragging the surprised Patterson in his wake. You follow at a discreet distance. From the bottom of the stairs you see Gordon pound hard on the door. "Lynch! Are you in there?" An inaudible reply comes from within. "Well, open up, cocksucker. I wanna word with you." He turns to Patterson and swears.<br/>
<br/>
The door opens, but Gordon doesn't wait and kicks it all the way in. There's a shout and then Black and Patterson are inside. You run up behind, to find Lynch on the floor while Gordon towers over him. "I didn't give you permission to use the room this afternoon. Who've you--? Oh, hey, Kim. Sorry about this. Chelsea?" He shouts over his shoulder. "Can you come rescue the student council president?"<br/>
<br/>
Kim is pale and trying to get her blouse back on. While you help her out Gordon continues ranting at Lynch, then turns to Patterson. "Steve, pick up this asshole and hold him while I beat some respect into him."<br/>
<br/>
"It's okay, Gordon," Steve says. "You don't have to do this."<br/>
<br/>
"And I say I do. I gave him my key to this place on trust and look what he did. Chelsea might need a ride home some night, and what'll he do then?"<br/>
<br/>
"Gordon, honest, I didn't--" Jason starts to protest, but Gordon silences him with a finger. With an audible sigh, Steve pulls Lynch to his feet, and then locks his arms under his hapless friend's armpits and puts him in a headlock. "Oh, Jesus," Lynch moans.<br/>
<br/>
"Hang on," Gordon says, looking around. He catches your eye, and you nod at the crate where the mask is hidden. Black strides over to pick it up. "Yeah, this'll work," he says in a greasy voice. And because Patterson is locked up with Lynch, he can't even react before Gordon has slapped the mask onto his face. He and Lynch both topple backwards onto the gym mat. <br/>
<br/>
Gordon helps Lynch up and claps him on the back. "Perfect," he tells him. "Sorry you didn't get to do the honors."<br/>
<br/>
"'S'okay, Gordon," Lynch says cheerfully. "Wish I could seen his face, though." He laughs. "I wonder if he shit himself."<br/>
<br/>
"Wouldna had time. How 'bout you close that door," Gordon says to you. "Keith, get outta that thing. Is it ready to use on Patterson?" Keith nods as he starts to undo the blouse again. "Fuckin' A," Gordon says. He checks his watch. "In five minutes we'll be changed men down in the changing room."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
After practice, you and your two fellow maskateers relax up the storage area. "Fuck, I like our new headquarters," the freshly showered Gordon Black says, relaxing on the mat. "I like what we can do here. <i>All</i> the stuff we can do here."<br/>
<br/>
"You and Prescott gonna break it in after I leave," Patterson sardonically asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't fuck with me, Tilley," Caleb growls. "Not after that gay stuff you were getting up to with Javits." You decline to needle Caleb about his own ... Well, actually, you're <i>not</i> entirely sure what he got up to this morning with Lynch's replacement.<br/>
<br/>
"We have three masks still on hand," you say, changing the subject. "Caleb did the math, and it comes to me needing to add two more people and Caleb one more, and then we'll all be even. After that, we'll need another set of masks and then we can do another round of replacements."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," Caleb says lazily. "So who are the candidates?"<br/>
<br/>
Keith reaches over to grab the folded piece of paper that he'd had Kim leave behind. He pretends to peer at it uncertainly. "Faggots and bitches," he says. "I don't envy you your choices."<br/>
<br/>
"Names, fuckhead," Caleb orders.<br/>
<br/>
"Charles Hartlein, Kelsey Blankenship, Morgana Hollis, Scott Bickelmeier, Danielle Davis, Tim Gerrard, Katie Byrd," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"Hartlein?" Caleb shakes his head. "Fuck."<br/>
<br/>
"I had him on my list," you say. "I'm sure he knows a hell of a lot of stuff that goes on that we don't."<br/>
<br/>
"That we don't wanna know," Caleb retorts.<br/>
<br/>
"That <i>no one</i> wants getting spread around, which is what makes him perfect," you reply with a smile. Caleb grants your point with a grunt. "I also had Scott down. We need a contact on the football team."<br/>
<br/>
"Who did you have in mind?" Keith asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Let's map out the areas we want," you say, digging out a piece of paper and pen. "Football players. Some of those rich kids who are bound for the Ivies. C-level bullies like the Molester. Skanks. Brainiacs. Druggies. Social wannabes. Now, who fits in more than one category?"<br/>
<br/>
"Meghan Farris is a rich wannabe," Keith says. "Gary Chen's a druggie <i>and</i> a C-level bully." He pulls on his lip. "Gerrard is a brainiac who hangs with skanks and probably does drugs. He'd be a three-fer."<br/>
<br/>
"For skanks I want a girl. Vicky Rodriguez? Molly Shaw?"<br/>
<br/>
"Victoria, I <i>think,</i>" Keith says. He frowns. "Damn, all the stuff I knew as Kim is slipping away. That's why I shoulda stayed in her."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, you and Javits' cock," Caleb says. Keith tenses and makes a face. "Well, I only get one new guy, so I also get first pick." He grins at you. "Hartlein's gonna be one of yours, if he's so important, 'cos <i>I</i> ain't pickin' him."<br/>
<br/>
"Alright, fine. Who's your pick?" You scribble down a few more names on Kim's list and hand it to him.<br/>
<br/>
He studies it for a good long while, and you also mull your picks. "Kelsey," he says at last. "Smart, pretty, and rich. Beats you in two outta three categories," he winks at you.<br/>
<br/>
"Sounds like you'll be getting tonight's blow job from Jason," you say brightly." He laughs. "I will take Hartlein, he's as much a linchpin as Kim." You chew on your lip as you mull your second choice.<br/>
<br/>
You need someone who can spy out the lower ranks. Victoria Rodriguez is probably the most connected there, but you have the impression that she's also pretty limited. Gary Chen wouldn't be as plugged in to the grapevine, but he also moves pretty freely about.</span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121212112122211
author_id: seuzz
title: Three in One Blow
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"I can help with Kelsey," Keith says. He scratches the inside of his thigh. "She'll like it if I ask her out on a second date."<br/>
<br/>
"When did you go out with Kelsey?" Caleb demands.<br/>
<br/>
"The other night. Had her right up here."<br/>
<br/>
"No fucking way. Why didn't you tell me?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't tell you everything," Keith retorts. "Guess that'll have to change, though." He pulls a little notebook out of Patterson's kit. "Kelsey Blankenship, Faith Becker," he starts to read.<br/>
<br/>
"Dude, you can brag later," you interrupt. "Just get Kelsey for us. I can get Victoria directly. I'll invite her out to my house." You reflect. "I should probably use Eva and Jessica with Hartlein. Him and Chelsea don't get along."<br/>
<br/>
"Naturally," Caleb smirks. "You're both bitches."<br/>
<br/>
You start to retort, but are distracted by Keith, who has whipped out his cell phone. "What are you doing?"<br/>
<br/>
"Calling Kelsey," he says. "I got no other plans."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't honestly think you can--" you start, but Keith raises his hand and speaks into the phone.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey Kelsey, it's Steve," he says gruffly. "What are you up to?" He listens. "I was just thinking about you. Wanna get together?" He listens again, and shrugs to himself. "No, I had fun, thought you did too. But I was thinking, I dunno, maybe coffee and a piece of cake someplace. No, sure, I could go for rabbit food." He rolls his eyes. "Just to talk. We didn't talk a lot, but I liked it when we did. I wanna talk to you some more." You exchange amazed glances with Caleb. "Okay, pick you up in ... Well, how long will it take you? Okay, pick you up then." He claps the phone shut and smiles. <br/>
<br/>
"Who are you and what have you done with the real Steve Patterson," Caleb asks sarcastically.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Sure enough, the next day you spot Patterson between classes with Kelsey; you catch his eye, and he winks knowingly as you pass. Kelsey, though being very shy and demure, is acting quite smitten around him--probably at Caleb's direction--but Steve is playing it cool with her. <br/>
<br/>
You should get together with her, but your first business is getting Hartlein and Victoria. For the former you have baited a very tasty hook. "Find Charles Hartlein tomorrow," you'd told Eva the night before. "Tell him you want advice on how to handle your teammates on the squad. Tell him that you're having real problems with me, and that you want to unburden yourself. Invite him over to your place after supper."<br/>
<br/>
With Victoria you've chosen a more direct approach. Last night you'd talked to Kendra and Gloria, your most loyal lieutenants, and asked them for everything they knew about your target. They haven't much, except that she's seeing Joe Ysleta. You decide to use that as your excuse, and tell them that you want to talk to Victoria during your third period study hall. <br/>
<br/>
She doesn't look happy when she shows up. "I heard you wanted to talk to me," she says without sitting. "I have a test this period and I can't skip."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, okay," you reply, mixing equal measures of sugar and steel. "I just wanted to talk to you about Joe. I've been hearing some interesting things." You let the tidbit dangle; she stares and bites her lip. But you just smile. "Can you come over to my place this evening after school? We could do each others' hair. You could stand to change your look." Having planted that little seed of paranoia, you dismiss her.<br/>
<br/>
So it promises to be a busy evening, and you gird yourself by relaxing against Gordon's strong torso every chance you can get.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You borrow Lynch for the afternoon and he waits with you up in your bedroom, bouncing a baseball off his bicep as you prepare. "Why aren't we using the fuck room?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"I haven't got a key," you reply, "and I didn't think to ask Gordon. Why don't you have a key?"<br/>
<br/>
"Gordon said I didn't need one. Said I wasn't with enough girls to justify it."<br/>
<br/>
"Why <i>don't</i> you have a girlfriend?"<br/>
<br/>
"They all seem scared of me or somethin'." Bounce bounce bounce.<br/>
<br/>
"You can be charming when you're not being psychotic. Haven't you had any girls?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure, plenty. But you know, I kinda lose interest after the first time." He winks at you.<br/>
<br/>
"We could get you one. Victoria, maybe."<br/>
<br/>
"That's okay," he says, looking a little uncomfortable. "I like the way things are now, how they're going. How come you guys aren't replacing more guys on the basketball or football teams?" he adds in a sudden blurt.<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe later," you reply brusquely. Out the window you see a car pull up, and Victoria gets out. "She's here. You know what to do."<br/>
<br/>
You greet her downstairs, then lead her up to the bedroom, where Lynch surprises her in a bear hug. The rest follows quickly, as you put the mask on her, strip off Chelsea's clothes, and pull the mask from your face. Jason stares at you curiously as you stagger up from your quick nap and hobble over to put Chelsea's golemized mask on Victoria. The new Chelsea then changes out of her clothes while you golemize Victoria's mask and don it.<br/>
<br/>
"Your hair really is a mess," Chelsea says afterwards.<br/>
<br/>
"Bite me, Miss Cooper," you mutter, but she's right. After squeezing Victoria's ample but sexy frame back into her jeans skirt and sleeveless blouse and boots, you'd turned to getting the hair arranged with the small arsenal of barrettes, clips and ties that Victoria affects. It takes nearly fifteen minutes, and it still looks like a bird's nest. You sigh over it and then spend a further five minutes getting her bracelets and bangles on. Chelsea isn't a natural beauty, but next to the armored Victoria she's practically an earth mother. <br/>
<br/>
Still, it's necessary, for it's not a good idea to surprise Hartlein in Chelsea's form ...<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
He's already at the Garners' when you arrive, and looks up with a smirk as you walk into Eva's bedroom. "Oh, hi there, Victoria," he says meaningfully. "What did Chelsea have to say to you? We've just been talking about her."<br/>
<br/>
You ignore the question--while making a note to have a sharp word with Kendra about talking about business after you're back inside Chelsea--and sling your purse onto the bed. You nod at Eva and Jessica as you pull out the mask, and they jump Hartlein.<br/>
<br/>
But things almost instantly go wrong. Though taken by surprise, he's still quick-thinking and keeps to his feet while fending them off. You jump at him with the mask, but he blocks you with a kneethat sends you flying back on your ass; the mask bounces away. "The fuck is this," he shouts. Eva tries grabbing him again, but her instincts are for fighting girls, and her hand slides over his scalp without getting a handle on his hair. But Jessica gets her arms around his neck, and uses her weight to drag him into a kneeling position. You scramble to retrieve the mask and turn to him again. He tries pushing you away, but his arm is pinned between his body and Eva's. Finally you get the mask on him and he slumps.<br/>
<br/>
And there are noises from downstairs: the girls' brother, Marc, or their parents. "Quick, get him out of sight," you order, and they drag him into the walk-in closet, shutting you and him inside. You hear a knock at the door, and hold your breath as they answer. There are voices, and then the door closes again. Silence.<br/>
<br/>
Well, you're alone with Hartlein, and he will be too much handle; no time to golemize Victoria's mask, and you curse yourself for not golemizing it at Chelsea's. You'll have to replace him yourself. <br/>
<br/>
Maybe you are getting accustomed to getting in and out of masks, but this time you manage to take off Victoria's face without passing out, though it feels like a hundred hands are tearing at you, trying to drag you into unconsciousness. When the mask reappears on Hartlein's face, you push it off and put Victoria's on him. Only then do you grasp your scalp, which is afire with pain, and gingerly start pulling her clips and barrettes out of your too-short hair. Then it's on with Hartlein's visage. This time you give yourself over to brief oblivion.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Good thing I'm gay and not a cross-dresser," you muse as you look in the mirror; you have to clutch Victoria's skirt to keep it from sliding off Hartlein's slim hips. You snap your fingers at Victoria. "Off with 'em, girlfriend. You're too fat for my things." She struggles out of the shorts she's still wearing.<br/>
<br/>
"You're not going out like that, are you," Jessica asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Just for the night," you reply, slipping off the billowy blouse and bra. "Too much excitement up here to linger. Besides, I'm supposed to hook up with Semple."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't want to put these on after <i>you've</i> been in them," Victoria says with obvious distaste. She holds her panties between forefinger and thumb.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, honeypie, if you only knew what your boyfriend was getting up to with your wardrobe," you smirk. "I've seen the pictures, and he could give <i>you</i> makeup tips."<br/>
<br/>
"What are you saying?" she says, startled. You just return a nasty laugh.<br/>
<br/>
Maybe you won't hit Semple's, though. If Caleb wants to explore Gordon's sexuality, Hartlein is just the guy to lead an expedition. At the very least, it would be fun seeing the look on his face when you show up at his house.</span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121212112122212
author_id: seuzz
title: A Threesome
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"I need a guy, and not just a faggot. Gary Chen for me."<br/>
<br/>
"How are you going to get to him," Keith asks. "For that matter, how are you going to get to Hartlein?"<br/>
<br/>
"I could get Lynch to drag him up here," Caleb smirks. "That could be fun."<br/>
<br/>
You make a face, then turn thoughtful. "Actually, that's an idea. Not for Hartlein, for Chen. How many keys are there to this place?"<br/>
<br/>
"Patterson and me each have one. Coach has a third."<br/>
<br/>
"Make another, lend it to Jason. Have him invite Chen up. We'll be waiting. Same drill as we did with our others."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll just lend him mine," Caleb says. "Shit, we can do it tonight." He takes out his cell phone, then pauses as Keith do the same. "The fuck are you doing?"<br/>
<br/>
"Calling Kelsey. Bet I can get her out here too." He dials a number.<br/>
<br/>
"You're full of shit, Patterson."<br/>
<br/>
"Suck cock, Black. I had her up here the other night."<br/>
<br/>
"The fuck? You didn't tell me that."<br/>
<br/>
"What I don't tell you could almost fill the football stadium. I can tell you Kelsey's not a virgin. Bet she lost it with-- Oh hey, Kelsey. This is Steve. What's up?"<br/>
<br/>
You listen with bemusement as Tilley sweet talks Kelsey into meeting later for a date; Caleb also listens, even as he orders Lynch to find Chen and bring him out to the fuck room. "Make it sound like you've got a girl waiting for him," he says distractedly at the end, then shuts the phone to stare at Keith. "That was the smoothest line of shit I've ever heard," he marvels. "I feel like I don't know you anymore."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Lynch calls back thirty minutes later with the bad news that Chen is nowhere to be found, so you decide to turn Patterson's rendezvous into a double date. Kelsey looks more than a little surprised to see you and Gordon along with Patterson, but you greet her warmly and steer her away from Steve, giving the impression that the meeting will mostly be about the two of you.<br/>
<br/>
Kelsey is not the most beautiful girl in school, but she has dark, wavy hair and pale blue eyes. She was a fat thing in elementary school and middle school--you knew her back then--but she has slimmed down considerably, and though she is still full-figured she wears it well. She is also academically talented and marked for a significant post-graduate career, since her father, who owns the largest chain of car dealerships in the city, is quite wealthy. So she also dresses well.<br/>
<br/>
You've met at the Milagro Beanfield Warehouse, one of the more intimate little coffee shops, and you dominate talk in the back booth by pestering her about her life and plans. She seems dazed  and uncomfortable as the center of attention. Gordon may have his arm around your shoulder, but he's concentrating on her; Patterson also affects a polite and deferential interest. Coffee and smoothies come and are consumed; talk broadens; you relax and let Steve pick up the slack. After thirty minutes, though, you announce you have to freshen up, and with a glance invite Kelsey along. She follows.<br/>
<br/>
"You are one lucky girl," you marvel to her as you primp in the mirror. "Steve is <i>totally</i> into you. I've never seen anything like it."<br/>
<br/>
"It's kind of intimidating," she confesses. She fishes a lipstick out of her purse and regards her face uncertainly.<br/>
<br/>
"Listen, I hope you don't mind me being frank, but you don't know what a rare thing this is. Steve doesn't ask for second dates very often, and never this soon."<br/>
<br/>
She almost drops the lipstick. "Yeah?" she quavers.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't get the wrong impression. He wasn't bragging about the other night. We knew he had a date with you, but he and Gordon almost got in a fight when Gordon was teasing him about it afterward. He <i>really</i> liked being with you."<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh," she says, and seems to wilt.<br/>
<br/>
"Here, let me help you." You step behind her and pull a mask out of your purse, then reach around to put it to her face, and she falls back against you. The weight is too much, and you both topple to the floor. You wince as you hit your head on the wall.<br/>
<br/>
After struggling out from under her, you step out long enough to summon Keith in with a wave. Inside, you lock the door and he pulls her into the toilet stall and holds her tightly in his lap; you take the mask when it falls from her face and take it to the sink to golemize it. While applying the varnish, you hear voices from the stall: Kelsey speaking muzzily while Patterson speaks more soothingly. Kelsey's voice becomes sharper as you light the mask, and then she goes silent. After you've got the mask ready, you return to the stall, to find that Patterson has clapped a firm hand over her mouth. She stares at you with fear in her eyes. <br/>
<br/>
"I'm sorry, Kelsey," you say, cocking your head. "It's not really Steve who's interested in you. It's Gordon. And it's not even really Gordon, if you wanna be technical about it." Keith removes his hand, and you press the mask back onto her face.<br/>
<br/>
You then lead her back out to the booth and the three of you resume questioning her, though this time the questions are more personal, more pointed, and also encompass many of the intimate details about those in her circle. As illuminating as it is, it's cut short when Gordon's phone ring. "Yeah, what?" he asks the caller brusquely, then frown. "Okay, keep him busy for thirty minutes, then take him out to the fuck room." He claps it shut and stands. "Chen showed up at Lynch's. We should roll."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The three of you are standing in a semi-circle in the fuck room when the door opens; Chen's brow darkens as he pauses on the threshold. Behind him, Lynch giggles and pushes him in. Black grabs him in an unbreakable bear hug, and Patterson slaps a mask onto him. After it reappears, they hold him firmly while you golemize it; after it's back on him, they release him, and he stands insolently at attention while you give him his orders. His mica-like eyes glitter with malice as he takes in his instructions.<br/>
<br/>
"So who do you want me to get for you?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"No one right away," you admit. "Charles Hartlein is next on the list."<br/>
<br/>
"That faggot?" He spits on the floor. "I can get him for you. I was supposed to meet up at Semple's place tonight, little party. Ten to one Hartlein shows up. Him and Semple are queer for each other."<br/>
<br/>
You and your confederates glance around. "Let's make it a trifecta," you say. "Just let me take care of Chelsea's mask."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
An hour later you pull up at the Semples' ranch-style house out in the country. You give yourself a once over in the rearview mirror, pulling your thin, gray ski cap down low to your brows--the better to hide the vicious acne outbreak that disfigures your forehead--and adjust your heavy workshirt and the low-cut tee beneath it. Then you step out and swagger up to the front door.<br/>
<br/>
Adrian lets you in with a nod; his folks are away for a four-day weekend, and already he reeks of weed. "Getcha anything?" he offers, and gestures at a cooler. You crack open a beer, take a long guzzle, and belch appreciatively. "Come on downstairs, join the group."<br/>
<br/>
In the basement are Justin Roth, Katie Byrd, Andrea Varnsworth, Tim Gerrard, Zach Reynolds, Scott Bickelmeier, Jamie Lockerbie, and a couple of others you don't recognize--probably from Eastman. Hartlein is in the middle, rendering it a veritable Who's Who of the Westside underground.<br/>
<br/>
The music is a low techno beat, hypnotic, and several joints are going around. Hartlein contents himself with tobacco, though, and holds forth shrilly.<br/>
<br/>
There's not much chance of getting him alone immediately, so you perch on the sofa arm and relax next to Justin. He's talking with one of the strangers, a tall, dark-haired guy, about a shared fascination with compound bows, but you don't pay much attention. Instead, you fasten indirectly on Hartlein.<br/>
<br/>
The drama club president is the very picture of a certain stereotype: thin, high-strung, chatty, insolent. He sneers good-naturedly at everyone and everything, much to the delight of one of the strangers, a blonde guy, who guffaws at everything he says. He finally rounds on the kid. "Do I <i>amuse</i> you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Give it up, Tommy," Adrian teases. "You're not going to intimidate Durras." He strokes Hartlein's cheek, but the latter brushes him away and goes into a sulk. Still, he continues to surreptitiously eye the Eastman student, even after the latter has turned his keen attention to Katie.<br/>
<br/>
So you're not surprised at what he says when you bump into him later upstairs at the cooler. "I fucking hate ballplayers," he sneers. "Especially the ones with really firm asses."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't bitch to me about 'em," you growl.<br/>
<br/>
He rounds on you with a piercing glance. "I notice you've been watching me all night," he says. "Don't lie about it either." His gaze narrows. "At least <i>someone</i> thinks I'm sexy."<br/>
<br/>
You hold his gaze. This ought to be the point where you punch him in the face. Instead, you pluck at his shirt. "You got a hard on, Hartlein? Me too. We could help each other." You trudge over to the front door and stare back. He tilts his chin to peer down his nose at you, then follows.<br/>
<br/>
Out in the car you pin him to the passenger seat without foreplay to put the last mask on him. Now the problem is keeping him still while you finish the spell. Easiest thing to do is replace him with Chen--whose mask is already golemized--while you step into his skin. But that wasn't part of your original plan.</span></div></div>


path: 111231222122112121211212222
author_id: seuzz
title: A Side-step into Cindy
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>After Jeremy has gone, you turn to Caleb. "I think I'm going use one of the new masks to step into Cindy."<br/>
<br/>
He raises his eyebrows. "You mean like we talked about earlier? Jeremy seemed to take the orders okay."<br/>
<br/>
"You were inside Jeremy for awhile. You might have rewired him from the inside without knowing that's what you were doing. I still want to keep an eye on Javits."<br/>
<br/>
"So should we actually go through with replacing Lynch and Patterson? If you think the golems could be trouble--"<br/>
<br/>
"Lynch is already on his way. Just try not to screw with him."<br/>
<br/>
He scratches his ear. "You managed to get Gordon without screwing with him," he muses. "Fucker didn't even notice anything. Here," he says with sudden conviction. "Head off Lynch long enough that I can fix up Gordon's mask. That way I can get it on Lynch real fast. I'll take over as Jason, make sure he's 'rewired' according to spec."<br/>
<br/>
Sounds like a good idea, so he goes off to a corner to remove the mask while you position yourself outside the fuck room door--closing it behind you. You only have to wait a few minutes before Lynch shows up. He pauses at the foot of the stairs. "Hey Chels," he calls warily. "What's up?"<br/>
<br/>
"Gordon's on the warpath," you caution him. "Be careful when you go in there."<br/>
<br/>
"What's up?" His cheeks pale.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know. He saw something while we were up there and flipped out, started cursing you. Have you been up to something?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't even have a key," he protests. "I'm only up there when the other guys are up there." <br/>
<br/>
"Well, whatever it is ... Look, is everything okay between you and Gordon?"<br/>
<br/>
"Fine, I think. Maybe Patterson's been saying stuff." He chews the inside of his cheek, and his eyes narrow.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I don't know what's going on, but--"<br/>
<br/>
"Is Jason here yet?" Gordon's voice reverberates through the door. <br/>
<br/>
You flip the latch and push the door open. "Just do whatever he asks," you tell Lynch as he slowly walks past.<br/>
<br/>
Gordon has a mask out. He eyes Jason coolly, then holds it out. "Put this on," he orders.<br/>
<br/>
Lynch takes it and looks at it curiously. "What is it?"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't ask stupid questions. Just put it to your face."<br/>
<br/>
Lynch glances at you, then complies. He falls over like a felled tree, into Gordon's arms. You close the door. Caleb sits next to the stricken athlete . "See you on the other side," he says as he puts his hand to his brow.<br/>
<br/>
As Caleb swoons, you busy yourself pulling off Jason's clothes. He's built like a fireplug, short and compact, and you gasp a little to see how small his cock is. Poor Caleb ...<br/>
<br/>
Your friend sits up with a start. "How are we doing?"<br/>
<br/>
"Mask is still working on him. Were you listening through the door while I was talking to him?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, thought it a good idea to know how you were handling him. Why would Gordon be pissed at him?"<br/>
<br/>
"Not a clue. But he bitches about Lynch constantly. You know that."<br/>
<br/>
"He's a cocksucker, that's all I know. Huh, here it comes. That was fast." He snatches up the mask and you drop Gordon's face onto Jason's. Your new boyfriend instantly blinks his eyes open, and you hold your breath.<br/>
<br/>
"What happened," he asked.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't you remember?" you cautiously ask.<br/>
<br/>
He looks puzzledly between you and the still-unconscious Lynch. "Something about ... I forget, but this looks gay."<br/>
<br/>
"Just get dressed, honey. Jason will wake up in a minute or two."<br/>
<br/>
Gordon dresses slowly, and then catches his breath as Caleb sits up. "You're going to have to explain things to me," he hazards as he looks nervously between you and Jason.<br/>
<br/>
You exchange glances with Caleb; the latter sucks on his lip. "Look, don't worry about it Gordon. Everything's cool. Right?" Gordon nods slowly. "Okay then. You know <i>I'm</i> in charge of our little group now, right?"<br/>
<br/>
"If you say so," Gordon says, looking unhappy.<br/>
<br/>
"Then that's all you have to know. I'll be giving you orders later. For right now, just remember that, but go on like nothing has changed. I gotta talk to Chelsea. Wait for us outside."<br/>
<br/>
After he's gone, Caleb looks at you. "He seems okay."<br/>
<br/>
"He says he doesn't remember what happened."<br/>
<br/>
"I wasn't in him long. Maybe ... Well, I don't know. I'll stick close, keep an eye on him."<br/>
<br/>
"Keep an eye on Chelsea, too. Give me your key to the room and go find Cindy, tell her I'm supposed to talk to her up here." He tosses you the key and steps out to take charge of Gordon.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Okay, Chelsea," you say to your old persona as you cinch your belt tight and smooth down your skirt. "You have anything you want to get off your chest?"<br/>
<br/>
She regards you evenly, but without evident hostility. She thinks a bit. Then she nods. "You're taking over the school. You're going to replace Patterson next." She cocks her head. "I don't know the rest of your plans, but I remember talking about things with ... with other people while ... while you were ... inside me." She licks her lips and trails off.<br/>
<br/>
"Is that a problem?"<br/>
<br/>
She continues to stare. "You're a real bastard, Will Prescott," she finally says with a shadow of a smile. "But I don't have a problem." A glint comes into her eyes. "Yeah, I can help."<br/>
<br/>
"Good. Keep an eye on Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
"He's already been replaced," she points out. "Along with Jason and Jeremy and Seth. Kim Walsh, too. The Garners?"<br/>
<br/>
"Also impostors," you confess. "Who else should we replace?"<br/>
<br/>
She thinks a bit. "Charles Hartlein," she says. "There are some skanks that could also be useful, but I don't know for sure who."<br/>
<br/>
"Talk to Kendra and Gloria. See if they can give you ideas." She nods enthusiastically. "Also, what do you think about Seth and Kim? Should he break up with Cindy?"<br/>
<br/>
"It'll really screw with Cindy," she says. Her eyes gleam. "The bitch would have it coming."<br/>
<br/>
"I love you too. Now, I think we're done. Go out, be yourself. You know how." She smirks. "But call me tonight, tell me everything you've heard, any ideas you've had."<br/>
<br/>
She surprises you with a hug. "This is, like, so awesome," she whispers hungrily in your ear. You shudder as she departs, hips swinging.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Seth is cool to you the rest of the day--Keith's continuing influence, no doubt--but you affect not to notice. You'd half expected--half feared--he would have things to say about what's going on, but aside from not being terribly affectionate he doesn't seem much different from the real Seth Javits. You don't know whether to be pleased or disturbed when he declines to suggest post-school plans with you. Instead, you arrange for another "study session" at the municipal library with your confederates.<br/>
<br/>
Keith is surprised to find Cindy waiting when he shows up in Caleb's company. "Toldja it was gonna be a surprise," Caleb chortles as he sits down. He flips Jason's ball cap backwards as leans back in his chair with his hands tucked under his armpits. "Betcha got a lot to talk about."<br/>
<br/>
"Does this mean Seth and Cindy will still be going together," Keith asks bluntly.<br/>
<br/>
"It doesn't mean anything, yet," you reply. "This isn't about them or you. This is about us keeping an eye on Seth after that mindscrew you put him through."<br/>
<br/>
"Is he acting weird?" Keith sounds defensive. "What about the other golems. Gordon? Chelsea? Shouldn't you be worried about them?"<br/>
<br/>
"We are, a little," you admit. "But we figure Chelsea is safe because I'd been running her for awhile." You describe your conversation with your old persona. "We also handled Gordon carefully."<br/>
<br/>
"He seemed totally normal with me," Caleb says. <br/>
<br/>
"So what's the deal?" Keith asks.<br/>
<br/>
"We just wanna see how Seth acts when he thinks he's with friends, when he thinks he's with people who haven't been replaced."<br/>
<br/>
"I can get together with him tomorrow," Caleb observes carelessly. "From what you say, Chelsea will be watching him."<br/>
<br/>
"So, you'll be wanting to keep Seth close to you too," Keith says. He seems cross, and for the umpteenth time you wonder how come Tilley is suddenly so keen on the bully who so tormented him.<br/>
<br/>
"Probably," you confess. "Although ..." It occurs to you that maybe the real test would be to see how Seth would react if Keith ordered him to break up with his girlfriend. If he is only pretending to be friendly, it might drive him into giving himself away, maybe by making a secret confession to Cindy--and hence to <i>you.</i></span></div></div>


path: 1112312221221121212112122222
author_id: seuzz
title: The Break Up
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"No, I take it all back," you say. "Have him break up with Cindy."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb drops the chair to the floor hard and leans forward to stare at you with Lynch's piercing eyes. Even Keith looks startled. You explain your reasons, but they still look skeptical.<br/>
<br/>
"Fucking risky play," Caleb says. "He might take it out on Cindy, I mean, if everything isn't on the up and up with him."<br/>
<br/>
"Cindy's the last person he'll expect isn't who she seems. And I'll make sure he thinks she's the real deal." Cindy's mind is close enough to your own that you can already feel the horror that a break up would cause her.<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno, Will," Keith says. "Maybe I'm being selfish. Maybe we should leave well enough alone."<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head, though you appreciate his concern. "It's the perfect test. If this doesn't break him, it means he's safe."<br/>
<br/>
"But if it <i>does</i> break him--" Caleb starts.<br/>
<br/>
"We have him surrounded. Cindy, Gordon, Jason, Jeremy. He won't be able to do anything. Wait until you've replaced Steve. That'll make everything completely safe. Speaking of which, can you guys handle Steve?"<br/>
<br/>
"I got Black and Richards for back up," Caleb says. "But it'd be better if Keith stuck close by, to handle him after the switch." He sniggers. "Maybe you could try seducing him. That'd be one way to get him up to the fuck room." Keith makes a face.<br/>
<br/>
"Take care of Patterson when you can," you suggest. "Then give Seth the order to break up with me. Don't tell me ahead of time, though. It'll help me stay in character if it's a surprise."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, Cindy," Keith says, lapsing into Kim persona and grabbing your hand. Tears spring into his eyes. "I'm so sorry it had to happen this way. I didn't mean to--" He breaks off, and sniffs miserably.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, go munch carpet, Kim," you glower. The moment hangs in the air, and then you all start to snicker.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You gasp and draw back. Seth grimaces and looks away, staring over your shoulder. His hands are on his hips, and he works his jaw.<br/>
<br/>
It's the next day, just after school. You'd gone over to the gym, to meet up with Seth. He'd only grunted when you met him outside the locker room, touching him affectionately and cooing, and hadn't put his arm around you as he led outside, where, between the gym and the parking lot, he'd sprung his surprise on you. Nor had he been gentle.<br/>
<br/>
"This isn't funny, Seth," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not joking. It's not working between us."<br/>
<br/>
"I thought it was." Your lower lip trembles, and you try to embrace him, but he brushes you off. "If you want to slow things down, I guess I'd be okay with it," you sniff.<br/>
<br/>
"No slow down. Just stop."<br/>
<br/>
"What is it? What did I do?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's not you. It's--" He shrugs. "It's not me, either. It's just one of those things."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, can't you explain?"<br/>
<br/>
"There's nothing to explain," he protests. "I just don't ... feel the same way."<br/>
<br/>
Tears spring into your eyes. "But we were so close. I mean, I did ... everything you asked." Your voice cracks, since neither you nor Cindy's persona want to mention some of the things she let him do with her and to her.<br/>
<br/>
"We had fun, I guess," he says in a dead voice. "I guess we just-- I guess we just worked things out. Like a fire."<br/>
<br/>
"Isn't there just a little bit of a fire still, between us?" You gasp back tears. "Oh God, Seth, can't you tell me <i>anything?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"There's nothing tell. Look, I gotta go--"<br/>
<br/>
"Is there another girl? Is that it?" Your voice becomes hard and ragged. That catches his attention, and he meets your eye briefly, then looks away. He shifts on his feet and stares at the ground. "There <i>is!</i> Who is it?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's not really your business," he says sharply.<br/>
<br/>
"If ... If you want to-- I mean, if you want us to not be exclusive, I'd be okay with that."<br/>
<br/>
"That wouldn't work."<br/>
<br/>
"Is that what <i>she</i> said? That it had to be just her? I'll <i>share</i> you, Seth, I'll <i>prove</i> I'm just as good, that I'm <i>better</i> than her."<br/>
<br/>
"That's not what's going on. That's not what's happening."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, can you tell me what <i>is</i> going on? This isn't like you, Seth. This isn't like you at all. Something's happened."<br/>
<br/>
A queer little half smile shows up on his face, and he snorts softly to himself. But his glance is cold when he looks back up at you. "I guess you didn't know me. This is who I am. I'll see you around." Abruptly he turns and stalks off.<br/>
<br/>
Dazed, you turn back toward the gym. You've taken not six steps back toward it when Jason's face peers around the corner. "Pretty intense," he grins.<br/>
<br/>
"You knew all about it, didn't you, you son of a bitch," you hiss at him.<br/>
<br/>
"Of course I did," he chortles, and resettles his cap on his head. "So what's the verdict?"<br/>
<br/>
You look over your shoulder at Javits, who has reached his car by this point. "He didn't let anything slip," you murmur quietly. "I gave him every chance to tell me it was all a sham, that he still loved me, that he didn't want to break up. He was cold. Just cut it off." You flash a tight, malicious smile. "He's solid. Whatever Keith did, I think it worked."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
So, you are secretly pleased the way things have turned out. Still, you have to play the part of the angry, despairing ex-girlfriend, so you call up some friends and tell them what happened. Within an hour, Lin Pol and Yumi Saito are at the Vredenburg house, commiserating with you and your grief.<br/>
<br/>
"It's Chelsea's doing," Lin says grimly. "I bet anything she's behind it."<br/>
<br/>
You say nothing, but your ears prick up: Lin has struck too close to the truth for comfort. But you leave it to Yumi to ask, "What do you mean?"<br/>
<br/>
"You remember how she forced Kendra to break up with Nathan last year. It's the same thing, but she got Gordon to do her dirty work this time around."<br/>
<br/>
"So Chelsea's the only one who gets to have a boyfriend?" you shriek, and hurl a pillow against the wall.<br/>
<br/>
"That's pretty paranoid, Lin," Yumi says. "Even Chelsea's not that selfish."<br/>
<br/>
"I bet the Kendra thing was just a dry run for this," Lin says. She shrugs. "Well, she wanted Kendra all to herself, and that was to test Kendra. But I bet she's been wanting to bust up you and Seth for a long time."<br/>
<br/>
"How come?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because you're a threat. You're the only other girl on the squad who could be captain. I mean, to be totally honest about it, you shouldn't have kept reminding people that Lucy was squad captain when she was in school." Lucy is Cindy's older sister, now at the local college, where she is still a cheerleader. "And you were dating another basketball player, like she is dating Gordon. Seth is good, so it's like you were dating a Gordon clone."<br/>
<br/>
"They're both bastards," you fume. "Cocksucking bastards."<br/>
<br/>
"And now he's dumped you, which ... Well, it doesn't make you look good. You're not nearly as much of a threat to her."<br/>
<br/>
Yumi folds her arms and glares. "That's a really cold and cynical way of looking at things, Lin," she says.<br/>
<br/>
The two girls start to argue and discuss the finer aspects of your humiliation, but you stop paying attention. Chelsea's memories have long since faded from your consciousness, but what Lin says does fit in with the prevailing impression you have of Chelsea and the way she thinks. Of course, what happened to Cindy has nothing to do with Chelsea, but you feel the gears starting to turn in your head.<br/>
<br/>
The others sense the change in your mood, and suggest taking you out to forget your troubles. You demur, and they decide just to leave. On the way out, though, Yumi takes you aside. "Don't pay attention to what Lin said," she says. "Maybe she believes that shit, but that's not the reason she told you that stuff. She's just trying to get you mad so you won't be so broken up."<br/>
<br/>
"No, I get it," you say wanly. "I don't mind." Yumi hugs you.<br/>
<br/>
After she's gone, though, you do some hard thinking. It's true that Cindy has (or had) an enviable position in the school, and she could have one still, if you used her as the nucleus for a rival "royal court." Of course, you and Caleb and Keith already have control of the ruling clique ...<br/>
<br/>
But a rival clique, also under your control, would be a convenient way of dominating the school still more deeply.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 11123122212211212121121222221
author_id: seuzz
title: Life After Seth
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You wake the next morning with a feeling of dread, which even a long, hot, soapy shower in Cindy's lithe and firm body can't dispel. (Though, naturally, you do your best by rubbing and squeezing every flank, curve and crevice of her body.) Only as you are putting on makeup and studying your pale cheeks and bruised eyes do you recognize what it is: Cindy is dreading going to practice, not wanting to face the other girls. You yourself are rather wrung out from the drama yesterday, and are tempted to skip. But you force yourself to go. <br/>
<br/>
Cheslea's eyes brim over with grief and concern when she sees you. "Oh, Cindy," she cries, and hurries up to hug you. "I heard what happened. Seth had no business doing that to you.<br/>
<br/>
You take her outburst woodenly, and mutely thank her for her concern. Kendra and Gloria, her two chief flunkies, watch you with guarded curiosity; it appears they don't quite know how to act, which suggests that Chelsea's replacement--improvising on its own--has given them no orders on what to say or do. Lin rolls her eyes, Yumi frowns, and the Garner twins exchange whispers.<br/>
<br/>
The sight of the latter reminds you that you'd left them out of your calculations, but you say nothing to them, curious to know what (if anything) they do. Eva--the twin you have under your control--sidles up during practice. "Is anything going on I should know about?"<br/>
<br/>
"I haven't decided yet," you murmur back. "Thanks for asking, but just hang loose. Pass the word to Jessica." Eva nods without looking at you, and continues to linger by your side, as though she has just drifted into position.<br/>
<br/>
You feel stares and whispers at you as you go through the hallways afterward, but maybe it's just your overactive imagination. And then you see Kim and Seth.<br/>
<br/>
They're moving through the main hallway. Seth has his arm around Kim, pushing people out of the way as he goes, to Kim's evident embarrassment. Your eyes meet. Kim stares a moment, then whispers something to Seth. He frowns but nods, releases her, and goes on ahead. Kim comes up to you.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey," she says softly. "Um, I was kind of thinking that, like, we should get together at some point?"<br/>
<br/>
You stare her down coldly. "Yes, maybe we should," you say in a loud voice. "There's lots of things to talk about. Like the position you'll be assuming. Or maybe I should say, the positions that <i>Seth</i> will be asking you to assume."<br/>
<br/>
Red spots show in her cheeks. "You don't have to be such a bitch about it," she whispers.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not being a bitch, Kim," you retort. "It's just that, as you say, we should get together and talk." You brush past, jogging hard at her, and the backpack slips from her shoulder. "I'll give you a call."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
At Yumi's suggestion, you hang out for lunch with her and her other set of friends out on the quad: Carson Ioeger, Paul Davis, James Lamont, and Jenny Ashton. It's a group you vaguely knew in your previous life, and it's actually kind of fun being with them. They are sweet and goofy and not at all serious, and their cynical, joking observations about life amongst the A-listers remind you of the kind of talk you used to share with Caleb and Keith. They don't baby you, either.<br/>
<br/>
"They play dirty up there, don't they," Carson observes. "You gonna go into exile? Back in old France, they had country chateaus they could retire to."<br/>
<br/>
"Stop showing off," James says. "We're all sick of hearing about that A plus you got for that extra credit history report."<br/>
<br/>
"What do you mean?" you ask, confused.<br/>
<br/>
"Carson's sucking up to Mr. Hartford again," James said. "Did this fucking ten-page paper on life back in France when they still had kings."<br/>
<br/>
"She's not asking about <i>that,</i> you moron," Carson acidly retorts. "But I did get an A plus on it. Have you ever gotten an A plus from Hartford?" There are groans all around. "Yumi told us Lin's theory," Carson explains to you. "It makes sense to me."<br/>
<br/>
"Someone oughta cut off Chelsea's head," you grouse.<br/>
<br/>
"Just like Marie Antoinette!" Carson cries, and Paul rips up a tuft of grass and throws it at him.<br/>
<br/>
"It's bullshit," Yumi says. "Gloria asked me what I thought was going on. Chelsea's just as surprised as everyone else, so she's got her goons snooping around. She's a cunt, but she's not guilty of <i>everything</i> bad that happens around here."<br/>
<br/>
"So who <i>is</i> guilty?" James asks sardonically.<br/>
<br/>
"The Spanish Inquisition," says Carson firmly.<br/>
<br/>
"I wasn't expecting the Spanish Inquisition," Paul says.<br/>
<br/>
"<i>Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!</i>" Carson cries to appreciative chuckles all around.<br/>
<br/>
"We could use a good conspiracy," you say, to your own surprise as well as everyone else's. "I don't know what I meant by that," you stutter, trying to cover your unwitting near-confession.<br/>
<br/>
"No, I like it," Carson says fiercely. "A counter-revolution! Chelsea is a Bourbon! You can be the Orleanists!" James leaps on him, throttling him into submission.<br/>
<br/>
"Problem is, there's no one to really rival Chelsea and her gang," says Jenny, who has been quiet and thoughtful all this time.<br/>
<br/>
"There's the football team," James says. <br/>
<br/>
"The football team sucks," says Carson, who is sitting up again. "Seriously, it's like they're all smoking dope before their games. I wanted them to dominate our senior year, and they all just stand there going 'Huh' when the other teams get the ball."<br/>
<br/>
"Black's gonna take us to the state championship," James says.<br/>
<br/>
"And that's the problem," Carson retorts. "That's how come him and his gang get to rule the roost. Because they're <i>winners.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"The fuck makes you cocksuckers think you know what you're talking about?" a familiar voice says from above and behind you. You turn to find Jason Lynch staring down with malign amusement at your group. ""The fuck are you hanging around these guys for," he asks you.<br/>
<br/>
"Because they're fun," you retort.<br/>
<br/>
"Really?" He nods at Carson, who has turned very quiet. "Say something funny, asshole."<br/>
<br/>
Carson lowers his head. "Hnee!" he says stonily.<br/>
<br/>
Silence throbs. "You retards aren't even worth fucking with," Jason says. "Come on, Cindy." He nudges you in the small of your back with this toe.<br/>
<br/>
You brood a moment, then leap to your feet and stalk past him. He says something to the group after you leave, but you don't wait around to hear what. You keep walking until you're around a corner, then pause.<br/>
<br/>
Jason catches up a few moments later, starting when he bumps into you. "What do you want," you ask brusquely.<br/>
<br/>
"A shrubbery!" he chortles gleefully, and laughs nastily. "Jesus, you think you're so goddamn clever until you're on the other side, and then you realize you were just pathetic."<br/>
<br/>
"I was having fun," you say stiffly.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I could tell, but I wanted to talk. You ran into Kim earlier?"<br/>
<br/>
"She have a problem with me? It was just role-playing."<br/>
<br/>
"Pretty damn good, from what I heard. I'll tell her." He puts his hands on his hips and looks around. "We recruited Hartlein last night," he says through a frozen grin.<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus, that was fast," you say. Then you frown. "Who made that decision?"<br/>
<br/>
"Me and Keith. We got together with the rest of the alphas, had a talk with Chelsea. Girl's, like, <i>keen</i> on it all. It's creepy."<br/>
<br/>
"So is that where Keith is? Inside Hartlein?"<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck, no," Caleb exclaims. "He's where he was. But that gives him and me three each. Four if you count our own replacements. You need one more, and then we'll be even. Who do you want?"<br/>
<br/>
"I told Keith we'd get together to talk. Didn't he mention that part of our conversation?"<br/>
<br/>
"He wasn't sure what you meant. Tonight?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah. Let's make it your place. Less chance of running into anyone who'd wonder about me and Kim getting together."<br/>
<br/>
"Good. I like the idea of a three-way." He pinches your breast and chortles.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
But it's not just the three of you: Caleb arranges for Chelsea and the newly golemized Charles Hartlein to be along too. It's a bitchy conversation all the way around.<br/>
<br/>
Everyone likes your idea of setting up a rival "court," though, and a consensus forms that an "underground" court organized around hipsters could serve as a nucleus. The argument is over what role Cindy could play. Hartlein daringly suggests that you replace Andrea Varnsworth, the sexy but aloof swim team member, and put her in a Sapphic relationship with Cindy, using that to give publicity to a recruited set of bohemian players.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea herself counters with the suggestion that Cindy take up with a college student. "There's nothing I could do about that," she argues, and you can tell it grates on her to admit as much.<br/>
<br/>
"How would I do that?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Same way you got the other guys here," she says, rolling her eyes. "Or do you mean, how could you meet one?" You concede your uncertainty with a shrug. "Jesus, can't you use your sister?"<br/>
<br/>
Of course: Lucy still lives at home. You could slip into her place, and use her to capture a sexy collegian as Cindy's new beau. <br/>
</span></div></div>


