# chapters

path: 11222112121112212111111121111
author_id: seuzz
title: Another You
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Maybe you should wait until you're inside Jenny before deciding about Gordon," you say, playing for time. "He can't expect to know who to swap with. If he even wants to swap," you add, and give the golem a meaningful look.<br/>
<br/>
"That's a good point," Chelsea says. "Put her down." Gordon complies. "Should we get her undressed?"<br/>
<br/>
"It doesn't matter." From your bag you take the mask you'd made of Chelsea before school; it already has a golem shell inside it, and--possibly against your better judgment--it's made to be Chelsea's slave. "It won't do anything to the clothes if we put this thing directly on her. You should get undressed, though. It'll save time."<br/>
<br/>
"That's right," Chelsea says with a grin. "We don't want to keep my friends waiting." She kicks off her shoes and quickly pulls off the rest of her things. "I don't suppose <i>you</i> have any ideas for who Gordon could be. Well, probably you do. You hang out with them enough."<br/>
<br/>
"Are you going to be this sarcastic when-- Oh, never mind." Jenny herself is sarcastic enough; you should prepare for industrial-strength sarcasm when it's Chelsea operating her controls. <br/>
<br/>
The mask reappears on Jenny's face with a glow; Chelsea snatches it up, but you grab it from her. "I have to finish it up," you say. "In the meantime--" You put Chelsea's mask onto Jenny, and a moment later a second Chelsea Cooper sits up. You retreat from the horror.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh!" Chelsea gasps. "Check it out, Gordon. <i>Two</i> of me! Make you twice as excited?" You can't help glancing up as you take the sealant from your bag, and see that Gordon indeed is getting an erection. "Maybe we <i>don't</i> have to go down just yet?" Chelsea adds coquettishly. "Spend the rest of lunchtime here?"<br/>
<br/>
"I wanna talk to you, Chelsea," you growl as you unscrew the jar of sealant. "I want your undivided attention, too. Just tell your doppelganger to get dressed."<br/>
<br/>
"Alright," Chelsea grumbles. "But I want to talk to--" She giggles. "To me first. She has to do what I say, right?" You nod. "Good." She takes her double by the hand and leads her over a corner, where they start to whisper.<br/>
<br/>
You hope it's about nothing worse than cheerleader squad business, and chew on the inside of your cheek. It amazes--and discomfits--you at how bossy Chelsea has become even after you thought you'd defeated her so thoroughly.<br/>
<br/>
"If you're done plotting with yourself," you call after a minute, "I'm ready for you."<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea bounds over as best she can with her cast-encumbered ankle and takes the mask. "I just have to put it on, right?" she asks. "Well, here goes, then." She sits down on the mat. But she can't resist making one final crack before putting the mask on. "She's so skinny."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Trouble is, I've got no <i>meat</i> back there," Jenny says. "Otherwise--" She pulls her jeans down a little, so that a little bit of the top of her panties shows, then has to pull them back up. "Some hip-huggers would work. I could pull it off." She frowns and twists, looking at herself in the mirror in the corner of the loft. "I mean, I <i>say</i> I can't, but I <i>know</i> I can. Now I do." She pulls up the front of her t-shirt, to just above her navel. "And a shirt that only comes down to here? I'm skinny, but it looks good here." She rubs the tight concave of her tummy. "You'd like it, wouldn't you, Gordon?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'll like you no matter what you look like," Gordon says emotionlessly. <br/>
<br/>
"What's gotten <i>into</i> you lately," Jenny says querulously. "I thought you'd be all excited to have a new girl to fuck. And it wouldn't be cheating. Not technically. I'm definitely getting some new clothes, though."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't want to change things overnight, Jenny," you say, putting a little emphasis on the name. "People might notice."<br/>
<br/>
"That's the idea," she grins. "Still, I haven't got any money. Yo, Chelsea, lemme have your credit card." She snaps her fingers, and her clone hurries over. "You've got more money than brains," she mutters, then gasps. "Oh wow, that felt good to say."<br/>
<br/>
The bell rings. "You're going to be late," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"Like I-- Oh, right, I'm a <i>good</i> girl now. I'm never tardy. Gonna get an A on that quiz, too." She tosses her head back and pulls her long, brown hair into a ponytail. "Chelsea, I want you to sit next to me and try cheating off me. Be clumsy about it, so you'll get caught. <i>That'll</i> be something fun to laugh about with James and Carson."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You don't share next period with her, but you do share it with Yumi. "Where were you at lunch," she asks; and she's bright-eyed and chipper, the way Yumi is supposed to be. "I looked for you in the cafeteria, and then outside."<br/>
<br/>
"I had a private lunch with Jenny," you reply. You don't expand.<br/>
<br/>
But you're still surprised at Yumi's frozen reaction. "Oh," she says, and turns abruptly around.<br/>
<br/>
You'd not told her about putting Chelsea in for Jenny, and you don't intend to. But you wonder if she's just put two and two together on her own. You'll have to keep an eye on them, to see how Yumi acts around her friend.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The rest of the day passes without incident, and even Kendra seems calmer, though she doesn't talk to you much. Your dad's been home with a bad case of the flu for the past few days, giving you the use of his car, and after school you drive out to Blackwell's. You need to consult the book, to see if you can come up with some way of managing Gordon if Chelsea insists upon switching him into a new identity.<br/>
<br/>
You look at the next spell, and execute it, though it doesn't look terribly useful: It just makes a special kind of nail that you can use to permanently bond a mask or some other item onto a person or golem. But no one can get your mask off of you anyway, and you've got it set up so that your various "partners" can't get out of their own masks without your help, so you set it aside. The spell afterward is much more complicated, and after studying it you decide it won't help you either, so you return to the earlier spells.<br/>
<br/>
And that's where you find the solution. You go up into Blackwell's workroom and retrieve the <i>anima</i> band you had made.<br/>
<br/>
It's a tricky, dangerous thing: It's just a metal band, superficially similar to the bands that copy a person's mind, but it doesn't just copy their minds. It also copies their sense of identity. If someone put on <i>this</i> anima band, for instance, they wouldn't just get your memories and aptitudes, they'd actually become convinced that they <i>were</i> you. They'd feel like they were Will Prescott, and had been swapped into a new body. The only trouble is that they wouldn't be a golem, and wouldn't be under your control.<br/>
<br/>
But as long as they thought they were you, and actually thought the way you thought ...<br/>
<br/>
You call Gordon and order him over. While you wait, you go into a bedroom and disrobe long enough to copy your latest memories into the anima band.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Yeah," Gordon drawls, and stretches. "I guess I was getting kinda tired of being Cindy all the time."<br/>
<br/>
"Were we," you ask with faint irony.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I guess one of us was," he says. An open leer forms on his face. "I'm kind of glad <i>you</i> weren't getting tired of it, though. Whaddaya say? It'd be a great joke if we cheated on her."<br/>
<br/>
Gordon Black is big. It's not just that he's six and half feet tall. It's that he's still perfectly proportioned even at that height, so that his chest and arms and legs--and everything else about him, you're sure--aren't just big, they are <i>massive.</i> "You were supposed to talk Steve into hooking up with me again," you gently chide him.<br/>
<br/>
"I did. Or, I mean, <i>Gordon</i> did. But Steve-o--" He shrugs. "He believes in makin' 'em beg for more." He steps forward. "You don't gotta make <i>me</i> beg, dude."<br/>
<br/>
"You want back in Cindy?" You put your arms around his torso.<br/>
<br/>
"In the worst way." He sweeps you up with sudden force, and you hang on tightly as he carries you up the stairs into one of the spare bedrooms. You don't fully release him, even after he's laid you onto the bed. He leans over you, and pulls off his shorts and t-shirt; you rub his bare, smooth back, and gasp as a log-like cock drops onto you. "Oh yeah," he says throatily. "I can make Chelsea scream with this thing."<br/>
<br/>
"We could make her scream if we let her see this." You wriggle out of your own shorts and panties, and pull your shirt up and off. "But I'll scream for both of us." You part your legs, and suck long and hungrily on your lips as he slides in. And there's just more and more of him to take in.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Mm," you say, and clamber back on top to bite on one of his lips. "Would you dump Chelsea for <i>me?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"If we got rid of Chelsea, I wouldn't have to choose," he grunts. His eyes are closed; he's spent himself twice already, and he hardly broke a sweat doing so. "Why don't we?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's more fun like this, isn't it?" You rake fingers through his hair. "Like she's having fun with Jenny. Secret torture."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, fuck," he suddenly barks. "I forgot about--" He sighs. "She definitely wants me to switch."<br/>
<br/>
"I know. That's why I put a little bit of me into you."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but she wants me switching into one of Jenny's friends." He makes a face. "We should talk her into switching me into Steve instead. Then we could be together."<br/>
<br/>
"No you couldn't. Steve and Jenny?" You laugh.<br/>
<br/>
"I meant Chelsea and me. Steve could seduce her."<br/>
<br/>
"Then you and <i>me</i> couldn't be together."<br/>
<br/>
"Sure we could."</span></div></div>


path: 112221121211122121111111211112
author_id: seuzz
title: Chelsea's Plans
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Well, we can talk to her about it," you say. "Or you can. But if Chelsea insists on having her way, we should go along with it. I think she's already a little suspicious about Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
"I should try making her life hard," your alter ego grunts. "She makes <i>mine</i> hard enough."<br/>
<br/>
"Bet she makes you hard enough where it counts, though," you grumble. <br/>
<br/>
"There <i>are</i> compensations." Gordon raises his head. "Did I just hear that asshole coming back?"<br/>
<br/>
You get up with a sigh and slide back into your clothes. "We shoulda done it in his bed," you say. "That thing probably hasn't seen any action since-- Probably never." Gordon sniggers.<br/>
<br/>
Blackwell is in the library with a brooding expression, and his eyes flick between the two of you. "Ah, my acolyte," he says ambiguously. "I haven't completed any more masks for you, despite putting in every available hour. Note the bags under my eyes? Even a poor golem likes to sleep."<br/>
<br/>
"Why don't you use a power buffer," Gordon asks. You and Blackwell look at him in surprise, and he blinks. "Well, if a cheap rag will polish up one of those things, why can't a rag attached to a machine do the same thing, but faster?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"It's worth trying," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"I haven't got a--" Blackwell starts to say, then grimaces. "Another expense."<br/>
<br/>
"Buy one," Gordon says, and the golem tilts his head deferentially even before you give him a nod of your own.<br/>
<br/>
"I guess Chelsea's been too busy with her new friends to call you," you say as you and Gordon leave. "You should probably call <i>her.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm supposed to go through the fake," Gordon says as he checks his own phone. "It was kind of nice not having to call her every other hour just to tell her I love her, but--" He dials up the fake Chelsea and gives her a message about talking to the real one. He listens for a bit as she talks, and listens some more, and his face gets longer and longer and more and more pained as she just keeps going. "I'll take care of it," he finally says, and hangs up. He gives you a look as he puts the phone a way. "We needed to do something about Kendra and Jason anyway, right?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh yeah." You'd forgotten that Kendra wanted him out of her hair.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, Kendra's been complaining to Chelsea about it too. And now that there's a <i>fake</i> Chelsea with nothing better to do, <i>she</i> wants it taken care of."<br/>
<br/>
"What are you going to do?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sit on him and punch him until he promises to leave her alone."<br/>
<br/>
"One of us gets to have all the fun."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Well, when <i>can</i> you have it ready?" Jenny's tone is waspish.<br/>
<br/>
"These things take time, Chelsea," you snap back. You cradle the phone with one hand and hunt-and-peck at the keyboard, typing in a Facebook post about how <i>awesome</i> Yumi Saito has been on the squad, and how she makes you feel so <i>jealous</i> of her talents. "I might have a new mask ready tomorrow. It depends."<br/>
<br/>
"On what?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, normally it takes a couple of days to get one done, but Gordon had an idea this afternoon for making it go faster--"<br/>
<br/>
"What were you doing with Gordon?" <br/>
<br/>
You kick yourself for mentioning him. "We were talking about what we were going to do with him. You know, he has opinions too."<br/>
<br/>
"He's <i>my</i> boyfriend, Cindy," Jenny says. "I don't care who I look like. And it's for <i>us</i> to decide!"<br/>
<br/>
"That's what I told him, Chelsea. But he called me--" You really shouldn't put the blame on your new alter ego, but you figure that "Gordon Black" is used to it by now. "And while I was telling him what I'm telling you now, about how these things take time, he had an idea for making it go faster. So we have to see if it works. If it does--"<br/>
<br/>
"Because I know <i>exactly</i> where to put him. It's going to be <i>awesome.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Is <i>he</i> going to think it's awesome? Who is it?"<br/>
<br/>
"Never you mind. You'll see."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, if I'm going to set it up--"<br/>
<br/>
"You don't have to. They're <i>my</i> friends, you know. Buncha losers that they are." She snickers. "Oh, but we have a lot of fun. Chelsea Cooper is so stupid, et cetera et cetera. I wish I knew how-- Oh, but that's another reason to switch Gordon with <i>him.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"With <i>who?</i>" You finalize the Facebook post, and then start working on one about Kendra.<br/>
<br/>
"I told you never mind. You've got <i>your</i> projects, and I've got mine. We are <i>partners,</i> right?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes," you say, seizing this unexpected opening. "But I'm in charge, and I want to know what you're thinking about doing."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, maybe I haven't totally decided yet," she says. "If it's going to be awhile before the new mask is ready, I should think about it."<br/>
<br/>
"Do that. But tell me before--"<br/>
<br/>
"Call me as soon as it's ready," she chirps. "Oops, I gotta go. Yumi's here, and we got a study session."<br/>
<br/>
"On a <i>Friday night?</i>" you exclaim, but the line's already dead.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Have you talked to Sophia lately?" Your words come out in short gasps, for you and Kendra have been jogging around the school track for almost twenty minutes, and you're starting to feel the strain.<br/>
<br/>
She doesn't reply, so you glance over at her. She's wearing a bright, almost ecstatic expression. She's in a skimpy shirt and skimpier shorts, and you can almost picture this descendent of Kenyan immigrants racing like a gazelle across the savannah. You ask her again.<br/>
<br/>
"Huh? Oh. Not really. We don't cross paths much." Her eyes go out of focus again. "You?"<br/>
<br/>
"I've said hi to her a few times in the halls. She hasn't really talked back." You pause to give Kendra--who is still really Sophia's best friend, Gracie--a chance to reply, but she just keeps jogging. "I guess she's still recovering."<br/>
<br/>
"I guess."<br/>
<br/>
It's a cool Saturday afternoon, but the sun is bright. You'd be jogging here at the school anyway, but you've an extra excuse. Blackwell called you early to say that he had <i>three</i> masks done for you, thanks to the power buffer, and you'd picked them up. But Jenny, when you'd called her, had said she couldn't get together with you until much later. So you'd called Kendra to set up this jog. <br/>
<br/>
"Oh, I talked to someone. About Jason," you say after you've made another circuit. You drop down to a walk, hands on your hips, and Kendra more reluctantly drops down with you. "He shouldn't give you any more trouble."<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks."<br/>
<br/>
You make another quarter circuit. "You've been real quiet lately, Gracie," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"What do you mean?" There's a gasp in her reply, and it doesn't sound like she's catching her breath.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, we haven't talked much. Except at practice." She'd even been reluctant to meet you for this run, and you'd had to tell her you wanted to talk.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, well, there's not much to talk about. I mean, plans all kind of changed suddenly, didn't they? And <i>you</i> told me to just hang loose."<br/>
<br/>
"How's Chelsea been treating you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Chelsea?" she squeals, and now there <i>is</i> panic in her eyes. "Normal, I guess. Just grouchy. You really put her in her place."<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh. So, what has she been--"<br/>
<br/>
"Is that your phone?" she interrupts. <br/>
<br/>
It is your ringtone, and with a sigh you jog over to where you'd laid your stuff. It's Jenny. "We're on our way over now," she says. "We'll be up in the fuck room, so bring the--"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm already at the school," you say. "And I've got the--"<br/>
<br/>
"See you in a few, then."<br/>
<br/>
You roll your eyes as you hang up. "That was Jenny Ashton," you tell Kendra, who has now joined you and is bending over to take a bottle of water from her bag. "We're supposed to meet up." She freezes. "I know you're not a fan of hers--"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I'll let you two do ... whatever." She shoves the bottle back into her gym bag, swings it onto her shoulder, and sprints off. "Thanks, Cindy," she calls over her shoulder. "I'll catch up to you later!"<br/>
<br/>
You have to frown. As you'd said, Kendra Saunders and Jenny Ashton are not friends, but Kendra is definitely the alpha of the pair. <i>So why would Kendra--or Gracie-being-Kendra--take off like a zebra that's just spotted a lion at the mention of her name?</i> You're the only one who knows that Jenny is really Chelsea in disguise.<br/>
<br/>
Right?<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You duck down behind a crate at the sound of creaking stairs. The door opens. "H'lo?" a deep voice calls.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, it's <i>you.</i>" You pop up and motion Gordon to get inside. "Are you alone?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah. Are we the first ones here?" He closes the door. "I got a call about ten minutes ago--"<br/>
<br/>
"Me too. Who's she bringing up?"<br/>
<br/>
"She didn't tell you?" He rolls his eyes. "Oh, it's a pip."<br/>
<br/>
"<i>Who?</i>" By this point you wouldn't be surprised if it were Principal Sagansky.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, you'll see. It's not a big deal, really. Just-- Feh."<br/>
<br/>
"Why is everyone being so mysterious about it?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because you're cute when you get all bothered, Cindy,"  he grins. "If we got a few minutes, how about we--" He snaps the elastic top of his shorts.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't be--" But he raises a warning finger, then steps back behind the door. You duck down too.<br/>
<br/>
Still, almost a minute passes before the door opens again.<br/>
<br/>
"This is a bad idea," a male voice says. "If Black and them are up here--"<br/>
<br/>
And then there's a scrambling sound. "What if I was up here?" Gordon asks.<br/>
<br/>
You pop your head up. Jenny is grinning at Gordon, who has Carson Ioeger in a headlock.<br/>
<br/>
He was right. It's not a big deal. So why was Chelsea being so mysterious about it?</span></div></div>


path: 1122211212111221211111112111122
author_id: seuzz
title: Burning Down Their Clubhouse
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Oh, there you are, Cindy," Jenny says, looking over her shoulder at you. "You got the thing?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah." You step over and hand her the mask. "Hi Carson," you say, as though it's perfectly natural to run into him in the jock-exclusive fuck room with him locked in Gordon Black's arms.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey Cindy," he says, also playing it cool. "Hey Gordon," he adds.<br/>
<br/>
Jenny looks at him, and you wait for her to launch into another wicked-sounding spiel, like she had with Jenny. She seems to ponder various things she might say, before settling on a very simple thing indeed: "Oh, fuck it. Bye Carson. See you on the other side." She pushes the mask onto his face. "So, what do you think, Gordon?"<br/>
<br/>
"I think he's a fucking twig." Gordon throws the unconscious Ioeger onto a gym mat. "Jenny put up a bigger fight."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but <i>he</i> didn't think you were going to molest him." Jenny kneels next to him. "Leave that to me."<br/>
<br/>
"Barf," Gordon says. "Better get him undressed. We can't put my mask on him while he's wearing <i>those</i> things."<br/>
<br/>
Jenny looks up with a frown. "Don't you have to make one first?"<br/>
<br/>
"That's right, Gordon," you say, and take out the mask you'd already made of him. "Go lay down over there and put it on."<br/>
<br/>
"But-- Oh, that's right," he says after looking between you and Jenny. He retreats a safe distance, squats on the floor, and puts it on.<br/>
<br/>
"So you settled on Carson," you say as you join Jenny, to help her in tugging off Carson's shoes and socks. "Why?"<br/>
<br/>
"He's friends with Jenny. Duh."<br/>
<br/>
"James would be a more logical choice, right? I mean, he's totally got that crush on, well, <i>you.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"That's why I <i>didn't</i> pick James," she says with a smile. She undoes Carson's belt and pulls his pants down, exposing some red briefs. (You'd not peg Carson as the type to wear <i>those.</i>) "And why I picked this one."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't get it."<br/>
<br/>
"You have no <i>head</i> for these things, Cindy," Jenny says. "James and Carson are best friends. James is totally hot for me. Carson couldn't care less. So when Jenny and <i>Carson</i> hook up and start totally hanging on each other's lips--"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh God, Chelsea, you <i>wouldn't</i> do that to them."<br/>
<br/>
"Watch me." She peels down his underwear, and catches her breath. "Would you look at that? He's always bragging about the size of his cock, but I figured he was just exaggerating, like all boys do." You have to blink as well. It's a nice sausage, and even flaccid falls a considerable way down the inside of his thigh. "Mm. I guess that'll be another benefit. Gordon won't be able to complain about <i>that.</i> And I won't either, since he knows how to--"<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up before I gag. So you're going to screw them up like that?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm going to bust up their little clubhouse real good. Then I'm going to burn it down." She grins at you. "Gordon says you want to get back together with Steve. What about getting together with Paul Davis instead?"<br/>
<br/>
"Paul? He's all into Yumi."<br/>
<br/>
"Tell him it'll make her jealous."<br/>
<br/>
You hear a grunt from the other side of the loft: That'll be the golem-version of Gordon, trying to get your attention. "I'll be right back," you say, and scramble over to him. He gives you a puzzled, panicked look just before you pull the mask back out of him; his head falls back onto the hardwood floor with a "thonk." "The head cheerleader can't be dating <i>Paul Davis,</i>" you say as you scramble back over to Jenny. "Steve Patterson, maybe--"<br/>
<br/>
"You could get back together with Seth."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm totally over him. Watch it, here comes that mask again." Carson's features vanish beneath the re-emerging mask, and you peel it off. "Now just shut up while I get these things finished up. We can talk about boyfriends later." <br/>
<br/>
You return to where your bag is hidden and take out the jar of sealant. Gordon's mask doesn't need any more work, of course; and since it is sealed with your hair, Gordon's replacement will continue to obey you. But your head spins as you seal up Carson's mask. Chelsea's plans make sense to you now, and it vexes you to see how neatly she is escaping your own. By putting her into Jenny, you'd intended her to gain an appreciation of what it was like to be an outsider. But since you'd not told her that, you really don't have any standing to complain about the way she's planning to fuck them up.<br/>
<br/>
She probably thinks you're really weak, too, since you're not fucking up anyone else after having botched your plan to replace <i>her.</i> Spitefully, you think about replacing her <i>now</i>: she's all alone up here, and in a minute she'll be alone with you, your own psychological twin, and a hulking brute who is under your control.<br/>
<br/>
But there will be time enough for that later. Reluctantly, you have to face an unpleasant fact: You are actually somewhat fascinated by her schemes, and want to see just how far she'll go.<br/>
<br/>
"That mask of Gordon," she calls. "It's going to make a golem thing, right, like you did with me? Who's it going to obey?"<br/>
<br/>
"It'll obey Gordon," you call back. (Only sort of a lie, since Gordon and you are now <i>like that.</i>) You lay aside Carson's mask and pretend to concentrate on Gordon's.<br/>
<br/>
"Can't you make it so it will obey me?"<br/>
<br/>
You look back at her. "That wouldn't be fair to Gordon, would it?"<br/>
<br/>
"I guess you're right," she says quickly. "Forget I said anything." But she can't leave well enough alone. "It's just that-- He's such a lunkhead. And he's been arguing with me all the time. It's gonna be bad enough having him bitching about being inside Ioeger here. If I could at least tell the other one to shut up--"<br/>
<br/>
"It wouldn't be fair to Gordon," you repeat.<br/>
<br/>
"But he's not really part of our little team, right, Cindy?" You flinch as you feel her sidle up to her. "I mean, it's a <i>coven,</i> right? And that means it's girls only."<br/>
<br/>
"Too late," you say, casting the brush aside. "It's already sealed up, and I can't change it now."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh. Okay then. Forget I said anything." But even as she looks back over at Gordon, she clutches your arm, and her fingernails dig into your flesh. "But you leave him alone. The real one is going to be with me. And the fake one is going to be with the fake me." She slowly turns back to you, and her eyes glitter like ice. "Understand?"<br/>
<br/>
"You can't threaten me, Chelsea," you calmly reply. "But I'll respect you. If <i>you</i> respect <i>me.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Of course I do, Cindy," she says. Her psychotic expression is totally out of place on Jenny Ashton's face.<br/>
<br/>
You pull away from her. "Let's get your fake boyfriend in circulation before Carson wakes up."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The new Carson Ioeger gets shakily to his feet. He's tall, though not nearly as tall as Gordon Black, who is under the form. But at six foot one, he still peers down at you from a considerable height.<br/>
<br/>
He's lanky, with skinny shanks and thighs and long, bony feet. Skinny arms with long hands and fingers that twitch and flex nervously. One hand goes to his chest, to rub and fluff the little tuft of hair there. The other hand goes down to cradle the cock contemplatively. And the face--<br/>
<br/>
It's as bony as the rest of him: a sharp, jutting jaw and chin which connects to prominent cheekbones via slightly sunken cheeks. A long nose and prominent brow that lowers over narrow, darting eyes. His hair, which is a dirty blonde, is brushed straight back from his forehead, but it's long, and curls back behind his ears and down to the top of his neck. The strands weave in and out from each other in loose curls, but they're flattened and unhealthy looking, for he typically keeps his hair bound down by a dirty bandana. <br/>
<br/>
His smiles tightly, sharply, and steps up to Jenny. "So, as long as we're up here, Mizz Ashton, you wanna make some noise? If Black and them--"<br/>
<br/>
Jenny laughs, and you look away. But then Carson suddenly wheels around and looks all about the loft with a deep frown. His eyes search over the ceiling and the walls and the-- He darts over to a ventilation grill and squats next to it, peering at it. He fiddles with the lever, and jams at it with the heel of his hand until it closes with a shuddering groan.<br/>
<br/>
"What are you--?" Jenny starts, but the still naked Carson runs over to the door. <br/>
<br/>
"Fuck," he mutters. "Black, you're with me!" He runs out the room, and the Gordon golem, after a fractional hesitation, runs after. You and Jenny exchange an astonished glance and tumble after. But the boys have disappeared by the time you're onto the gym floor. You can only look around and wonder where the fire was.<br/>
<br/>
A few minutes pass, and Carson reappears, coming out of the boys' locker room, looking much calmer. Golem-Gordon trails behind. "What was all that about?" Jenny asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Just closing a loophole. Tell you about it later. So, where were we? Oh yeah." He puts his arms around Jenny. "You were about to molest me."<br/>
<br/>
Jenny giggles, and catches your eye. "Or we could all hang out."<br/>
<br/>
"We can do that on Monday," you say. "You two can discover that you really like each other without me."<br/>
<br/>
"We should figure out someone for <i>you</i> to be, Cindy," Jenny says. Her eyes flash. "It's fun being other people."<br/>
<br/>
"I like being myself."<br/>
<br/>
"Of course you do. Oh, but there really aren't any other girls in our group, are there, Carson? Just me--poor James. And Yumi. Poor Paul. Well, Lisa Yarborough hung out with us a little over the summer." Jenny's eyes glitter. "What about Lisa Yarborough, Cindy?"</span></div></div>


path: 11222112121112212111111121111222
author_id: seuzz
title: The Dateless Life of a Witch
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"I'll see you guys on Monday," you say, and turn around to go back up the loft.<br/>
<br/>
Your heart feels like a block of solid ice as you put your stuff back together. <i>What the hell made Chelsea refer to Lisa Yarborough?</i> Lisa didn't even hang out that much with Jenny and her friends over the summer. There were only a few times when she was with them, and that was only because she was hanging out with <i>you.</i><br/>
<br/>
Hanging out with you--Will Prescott--because you were dating at the time.<br/>
<br/>
Or <i>not</i> dating, as she'd cruelly told you just after school started again.<br/>
<br/>
It's been a long time since you've thought about Lisa. She's someone from your old life, before you bought a magic book and got in a fight with a black magician and wound up disappearing because it was the only way to destroy that magician. You've barely thought about your old life since taking over the position of Cindy Vredenburg--<br/>
<br/>
And now that you <i>are</i> thinking about it--<br/>
<br/>
<i>God damn it, it's like no one has even noticed that Will Prescott has disappeared!</i><br/>
<br/>
Well, you knew you were basically a nobody, one of the invisible people at the school. But it's got to hurt a little--even inside your new and now very familiar life--to realize that no one aside from your own family is likely to have noticed your disappearance.<br/>
<br/>
If Gordon Black or Cameron Huber or Geoff Mansfield--or Chelsea Cooper or Kim Walsh or Lisa Yarborough (or Cindy Vredenburg)--had vanished without a trace, it would be like the sinking of Atlantis. Will Prescott disappears, and it's just a small rock, lost in the trackless ocean, slipping beneath the waves.<br/>
<br/>
Speaking of trackless wastes: You look around to find you're back out in the parking lot, not even close to your car. What <i>are</i> you doing, except getting away from Chelsea and Gordon?<br/>
<br/>
You could go find Steve, beg him to give you something pleasant to concentrate on.<br/>
<br/>
Instead, you go find Lin Pol.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I need a boyfriend, Lin," you sigh. You're sitting in her back yard, and you lay back on the grass while she leans over her cell phone, texting. <br/>
<br/>
"Why don't you try getting back together with Seth?" she mutters<br/>
<br/>
"He dumped me."<br/>
<br/>
"That was because of Chelsea. <i>You're</i> squad captain now."<br/>
<br/>
"But she's still got Gordon, and he's the one that put the screw to Seth to dump me. And he went along with it. Snake."<br/>
<br/>
"You're still squad captain. How hard can it be to get a boyfriend?"<br/>
<br/>
"Plenty. There are expectations, you know."<br/>
<br/>
"With <i>Chelsea</i> there were expectations. Find yourself a nice little nerd, show everyone it's a new game."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't wanna nerd. I wanna hot, hot hunk."<br/>
<br/>
"There's enough of <i>them</i> around. Or are you standards that high?"<br/>
<br/>
"I wanna show <i>Chelsea,</i>" you say with no little venom. "He has to impress <i>her.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
Lin rolls her eyes and gives you a look. "That's a <i>bad</i> way to go about getting a boyfriend, Cindy. What's he going to think when you're always looking over your shoulder to see if Chelsea is noticing?"<br/>
<br/>
"I know," you sigh. "And if I'm going to impress Chelsea there's only one guy to go for, and that's Steve."<br/>
<br/>
"And you already tried that, didn't you?" she says in a carefully neutral tone. "How did <i>that</i> work out for you?"<br/>
<br/>
"And how did it work out for <i>you?</i>" you retort. "You've been with him."<br/>
<br/>
"I told Yumi to shoot me if I ever I talked about trying to hook up with him again, that's how it worked out for me. She's got six bullets in her gun, you know. She could save number four for you."<br/>
<br/>
"Who would number two and three be for?"<br/>
<br/>
"Eva and Jessica."<br/>
<br/>
"Really. So what do <i>you</i> do when you're feeling lonely? How come <i>you</i> haven't got a guy?"<br/>
<br/>
"How come none of us do? Except for Chelsea?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm squad captain now," you say, turning her own logic on her. You sit up and scoot closer to her. "Who do you want, Lin?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, I've been seeing a couple of guys. Real quiet like. Want me to set you up with one?"<br/>
<br/>
"Quiet like?"<br/>
<br/>
"Can't. These guys would definitely brag about banging the captain of the squad."<br/>
<br/>
You groan. "You're the one who said to find a nice nerd."<br/>
<br/>
"These guys aren't nerds. People would pay attention to what <i>they</i> said."<br/>
<br/>
"Who are they?" Now you're intrigued.<br/>
<br/>
Lin looks at you, and her thumbs hover over the iPhone. "Well, there's a couple of possibilities," she says slowly. "There's slumming. And there's fraternizing with the enemy."<br/>
<br/>
"Oo!" A shiver goes through you, delicious and fearful all at once. "Tell me who."<br/>
<br/>
She regards you thoughtfully. "No. You have to go with me."<br/>
<br/>
"Why? Just tell me--"<br/>
<br/>
"It's not that I don't trust you, Cindy," she says. "But if you're going to tell people who I sometimes hang out with, I want to be able to tell people that you were hanging out with them too."<br/>
<br/>
Your gasp turns into a squeal. "You think that I'd-- Well, maybe <i>you</i> just want to tell people that <i>I</i> was hanging out with them."<br/>
<br/>
"If I wanted that, I'd just trick you into going with me. But if you want to have some fun, you'd ask me to <i>take</i> you."<br/>
<br/>
"But I want to know what I'm getting myself into. Oh, but you said they'd <i>brag.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"You don't have to do anything with them. Just hang out." She leans in with a wicked grin. "But that would be bad enough for your reputation, so you'd keep your mouth shut about <i>me.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't believe you," you sniff. "I think you're making it up, to make yourself sound like a bad girl."<br/>
<br/>
"Suit yourself, if that's what you think," she shrugs, and turns back to her phone.<br/>
<br/>
You stare at her narrowly. Lin isn't a "bad girl," you're sure of that. So it can't be that bad. Can it? Who could she--? "Oh, tell me!" you cry out, and grasp at her arm.<br/>
<br/>
She pulls away without looking at you. "It's Saturday. If you want some Saturday night fun--"<br/>
<br/>
"I'd have to get ready," you say, and jump to your feet. "Come find me at my house at ... six?"<br/>
<br/>
"Pfft. Nothing's happening at six. Make it nine."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll be ready!" You scamper off without saying goodbye.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Getting ready" means making a stop by Blackwell's. Even if it isn't "bad," you still want to be careful about your reputation. But if Lin's not going to be careful about hers ...<br/>
<br/>
Blackwell is watching TV--a football game, of all things--when you arrive, and he barely glances at you. "Back so soon?" he mutters vaguely from the sofa.<br/>
<br/>
"I missed you too. The hours apart seem like days."<br/>
<br/>
He turns at your words and peers nearsightedly at you. "Ah. I thought you were the other one again."<br/>
<br/>
"Other one? What are you talking about?"<br/>
<br/>
"You make my head hurt. Always a different face with you."<br/>
<br/>
"Who was here?" You begin to feel the faint stirrings of alarm.<br/>
<br/>
"Young man. Tall, skinny. I thought it was you."<br/>
<br/>
Carson. You'll have to ask your alter ego what he was doing at the house. At the moment, though: "Don't let just anybody in," you order him.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't. I assumed everything was on the up and up. I'll have more masks for you later."<br/>
<br/>
Gordon/Carson must have ordered them, but you'll have to double check on that. "I need some knockout drops."<br/>
<br/>
"Check the bathroom." He turns back to the TV.<br/>
<br/>
You're tempted to jerk the golem's leash, but he's odious, and the less you have to do with him the happier you feel. You get what you want and leave without speaking any further with the professor.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"You're not allergic, are you, Lin?" you ask. You crinkle your nose and sniff at her glass. "I mean, it's just orange juice."<br/>
<br/>
She looks up at you palely from the foot of the bed, where she is hunched over. "This isn't an allergy, Cindy," she groans. Probably she doesn't mean to sound so irritable, but she is also looking very ill.<br/>
<br/>
"And it just hit you? Maybe you're coming down with a bug?"<br/>
<br/>
She clutches her stomach. "All I know is-- Ooh! Give me a minute."<br/>
<br/>
"You can't go to a party like that. We can do it some other time. Can you get home? You're not going to faint again, are you?"<br/>
<br/>
"I think I'll be okay." She gets unsteadily to her feet. Gently you guide her out of the house and to her car. The mix you put in her drink shouldn't be enough to cause her any real grief; the effects are already beginning to fade; but they should linger enough to make her think twice about heading out any place.<br/>
<br/>
Which is just what you want. After she's gone you get in your own car, adjust your loosely draped sweater and skirt, and flick a hand across your face, passing through Chelsea's and Gloria's faces before landing on Lin's--a small coup you'd scored after she'd collapsed on your bed only twenty minutes ago.<br/>
<br/>
It's dark, so you can't check out your face in the mirror, but you pull back and finger your long, dark hair. So where was Miss Pol planning on taking you?<br/>
<br/>
Your heart beats wildly, and you grin. Justin Roth and Maize Tsosie and Perry Small? Really? That would be a wild scene. Or maybe not. Just a dark house and low music and some drugs and complicated sex acts.<br/>
<br/>
Or ... "fraternizing with the enemy" indeed. Basketball players. <i>Eastman High</i> basketball players.</span></div></div>


path: 112221121211122121111111211112222
author_id: seuzz
title: Fraternizing With the Enemy
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>The door is opened by tall guy with short, dirty-blonde hair. "Lin!" he exclaims with a crooked grin. "Glad you decided to come!"<br/>
<br/>
"You couldn't keep me away." You return his hug and stroke his back. "How ya doin', Conor?"<br/>
<br/>
"Better for seeing you." His mouth curls up in a half smile as he shuts the door behind you. "You come to scope out the new guys?"<br/>
<br/>
"Old, new. I'm not particular." You trace a fingertip down his spine. "Are you still available?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, don't ask me that," he groans.<br/>
<br/>
"You've got a new sweetie!" you exclaim. "Who?"<br/>
<br/>
"You wouldn't know her, and she's not here."<br/>
<br/>
"Then she's not good enough for you."<br/>
<br/>
He bites his lower lip and rolls his eyes. "Come on, let's go in. Alyssa will wanna know you're here."<br/>
<br/>
Makes sense: It's the house of Alyssa Randal, the captain of the Eastman cheerleading squad. Will Prescott, of course, doesn't know her. You're inside Lin's head now, and have no good memory of whether Cindy knows her. But Lin-- "She probably felt it the moment I stepped inside," you say. "Oh God, I'm so jealous."<br/>
<br/>
"Of what?"<br/>
<br/>
But you're out of the foyer now and into a living room that pulses with low music; various athletes and cheerleaders and other good-looking and popular Eastman types are arranged in corners, sitting on chairs and sofas, or standing and leaning against the furniture. You quickly spot some of Conor's fellow basketball players: Brett Dutoit, Scott Bridges, Derek Linwood, and Jordan Reynolds. Some cheerleaders: Kyra DaSilva, Leslie Keys, Ann Sibley. A mix of male and female varsity players: Peter Robins (soccer), Cooper Black (baseball), Kevin McIlroy (football); Hannah Chamberlain (girls' basketball). Brett and Derek turn as you come in, and their eyes light up. Kyra also smiles, though her expression is a little more restrained. "Lin!" "Lin!" "Lin!" Your name explodes across the room.<br/>
<br/>
"She's mine, all mine!" Conor jokes as he drapes a long arm around your shoulder and guides you through the middle of the room. <br/>
<br/>
"Until Joe sees her," Derek  laughs.<br/>
<br/>
"Or until his new girl shows up," you say. You crinkle your nose and look up at Conor, who is turning pink. "He already told me he-- Where's this new girl he says he's got?"<br/>
<br/>
"Tasha? Hey Hannah, where's Tasha?"<br/>
<br/>
"She's coming. I should give her a call." Hannah takes out her phone and moves off into a corner. Jordan, you notice, frowns tightly and hangs back, not following her. Vaguely you wonder if they are still together, have gotten back together, or are in the midst of separating again.<br/>
<br/>
"And where's <i>your</i> girl, Derek?" you dimple. "It would be too much to hope that you and-- Um--"<br/>
<br/>
"Susie." Now it's Derek's turn to smile tightly. "She's in the kitchen. Lemme take you in. I wanna see what happens."<br/>
<br/>
"I was just teasing," you protest, and lightly pinch his tummy. "Mostly. I don't wanna cause any trouble between you two."<br/>
<br/>
"No trouble," he says, and pulls you away from Conor, putting his own arm around you. "She's not the jealous type. And I wasn't talking about <i>her.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Not the jealous type.</i> Mostly you feel relief at the disclaimer, but you also feel a sense of disappointment. <i>So that one night with Derek really was just a one-time thing ...</i><br/>
<br/>
He leads you through a dining room, where you greet and are greeted by a few more people you know, and then into the kitchen. It's crowded, but you can take in the familiar faces at a glance.<br/>
<br/>
At the center, naturally, is Alyssa Randal, and you can hear her voice even before you step through the doorway. She's a big girl, strong, and her dark eyes flash masterfully over her bold, African-American features. She's concentrating on Kyle Lakewood, the captain of the Eastman boys' soccer team; he gazes back at her with placid bemusement, his hand around the waist of Jenny Taylor, the captain of the girls' soccer team. Susie Maitland is off to the side, and as she turns at your entrance you feel Derek's arm drop from your shoulder. <i>Maybe she's more jealous than he insists.</i> <br/>
<br/>
Over the top of Alyssa's head you see the summer-brown, elfin features of Ian Carpenter, the captain of the boys' basketball team: he's listening to Alyssa with obvious delight. Next to him is a tall, dark-haired boy you've never seen. His gaze settles upon you, and when you look into his eyes you feel as though you've been impaled by a keen and piercing intelligence. He holds your eye for only a moment; and as he looks away you have the impression that you've been dissected, sorted, and cataloged.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, that's bullshit, Alyssa," a strong, bright voice interrupts her. The speaker is hidden behind Kyle and Jenny. "Everyone knows turkeys come from Turkey. My dad says that's how come they're called turkeys. Duh."<br/>
<br/>
"Dad also told you the Easter Rabbit was Santa Claus in a bunny suit," the dark-haired kid says scornfully.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, so?"<br/>
<br/>
"So he knows you're totally gullible, Joe."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, well," the unseen Joe sputters hotly. "He told me you're my <i>brother</i> and not a space alien, so who's totally gullible now?"<br/>
<br/>
Alyssa's expression acquires a very pained cast; probably that's the reason she looks relieved when she glances over and does a double-take at you. "Lin!" she says, and her gasp has the air of small but genuine relief. "I thought I heard them calling you!" She pulls you over into a not-insincere embrace. You smile at Kyle and Jenny and Ian, who smile back, and you now smile at the dark-haired kid. His smile in return is thin but not devoid of warmth. "I don't think you've met Frank," Alyssa says. "This is Frank Durras and his brother Joe. They're new at school."<br/>
<br/>
Your eye travels to the hitherto unseen Joe, and you are startled by the contrast between him and his brother. Where Frank is dark and a little pale, Joe has a golden tan and eyes that peep out merrily from under shaggy blonde hair. A hard gleam appears in them when he sees you. "<i>Ni hao,</i>" he exclaims.<br/>
<br/>
Frank shoves him. "Don't be a jerk." <br/>
<br/>
"Just saying howdy," Joe retorts, and shoves him back.<br/>
<br/>
As though Lin's mind is seeping deeper into you, you feel a coolness spreading over your face. "You speak Chinese?" you skeptically ask.<br/>
<br/>
"No he doesn't," Frank says. "He just watches preschool shows. They only let him out of fourth grade when he started to shave."<br/>
<br/>
"I skipped a grade, Frank," Joe says hotly.<br/>
<br/>
"It's not called 'skipping' when they send you <i>back</i>."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll send <i>you</i> back to where you came from!" Joe howls. He leaps at his brother, and though he's shorter than Frank he gets him in a quick headlock.<br/>
<br/>
"Stop it, Joe!" Alyssa barks, and Joe releases his brother. "Find some other game to play."<br/>
<br/>
"Be my playdate?" Joe says, wheeling on you eagerly. "Play at being my date? Make it a date for real?"<br/>
<br/>
"She just got here," Alyssa retorts, and takes your arm in hers. "I'm gonna show her around. Sit on them till I get back," she tells Ian.<br/>
<br/>
She leads you out another doorway and into something like a den. It's crowded as well, but instead of introducing you she just takes you through a sliding glass door and out onto a patio. Figures are huddled at one end, but she pulls you to the opposite corner. Only then does she release you and turn with a quizzical smile. "I wasn't expecting you here tonight, Lin."<br/>
<br/>
"I had my choice of parties, but you throw the best ones, Alyssa," you say, and actually mean it.<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks." Her eyes narrow over her smile. "You scoping out the new guys?"<br/>
<br/>
"That's what Conor asked. Are they supposed to be famous or something? I hadn't heard anything about them."<br/>
<br/>
"You hadn't?" she asks with faint skepticism. "My, my. Is Chelsea's intelligence network falling down on the job?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not spying for Chelsea," you say, and feel yourself redden.<br/>
<br/>
"So you're spying on your own account? Please tell me that's exactly what you're doing here."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not spying, period. I came looking for a good time."<br/>
<br/>
"That's what I was afraid of." She sighs. "Look, I really do like you, Lin. I wish you were over at Eastman with us. But--" She takes you by the wrist, and her grip is like iron as she pulls you close. "Derek has a girlfriend and Conor has a girlfriend and Timothy has a girlfriend. Jonathan and Shawn aren't here, or I'd tell you the same thing about them. I've been cleaning up after you, and I'm tired of it."<br/>
<br/>
"What about Jordan? And Ian?" you ask with light insolence.<br/>
<br/>
Her eyes glint in the darkness. "Tell yourself you're interested in the two new guys." She releases your arm.<br/>
<br/>
You refrain from rubbing your wrist. "It sounds like you're inviting me to dive into a briar patch."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not as clever as Chelsea Cooper, but I'm clever enough," she says. She squeezes your arm again, but much more lightly. "Try to have fun anyway. But I don't want to find any locked doors."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You carefully slide off him and fall back into the seat. He snorts and takes a deep breath.<br/>
<br/>
You'd had to coax him out to your car, like a shy puppy, and even after you began kissing him all over it took him a minute to relax. But then he went after you like a starving man after a feast. He'd worn himself out twice before he could bring <i>you</i> to climax. He presses his hands against his temples, and then fumbles at the buttons on his jeans.<br/>
<br/>
Scott Bridges is far from the best-looking guy on the Eastman basketball team, but he's unattached, and you took Alyssa's warnings <i>that</i> seriously, at least. And now that you've got him alone, in the dark, in a circumstance where he wouldn't wonder about losing consciousness? You hadn't planned on turning this outing into an intelligence foray, but he is available.</span></div></div>


path: 1122211212111221211111112111122222
author_id: seuzz
title: A Terrible Revelation
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Despite the party, you feel itchy and grumpy when you get up the next morning. Oh, sure, Lin Pol got laid, but you're back home in Cindy Vredenburg's house and body, and <i>she's</i> been without company since Steve decided to make a play for Kelsey Blankenship. In the shower you briefly switch back over to Lin's form--<i>Oh, now that's what relaxation feels like</i>--but the contrast leaves you feeling all the worse after changing back into Cindy.<br/>
<br/>
It's a lazy Sunday morning, and the excitement to come doesn't start to unfold until one o'clock, when your phone rings. Alyssa Randal is on the other end, and for a moment your heart skips. <i>Did you fuck up somewhere and let her see you changing from Lin back into Cindy?</i> Oh, but that's absurd. You hope.<br/>
<br/>
Cindy and Alyssa are such vague acquaintances that Alyssa has to introduce herself as your "counterpart" at Eastman. "I've got a situation I want to talk to you about," she says. "Can we get together?"<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I can't really tell my friends and teammates what to do in their private lives," you tell Alyssa, and jab the straw a few times into the frozen yogurt smoothie. <br/>
<br/>
"If one of my girls was going over to Westside and fucking around with the basketball team, I'd put a stop to it," Alyssa retorts.<br/>
<br/>
"If one of your girls was fucking around with our guys, she'd be lucky to make it back out with most of her fingers," you retort. "That might be one reason Lin's prowling around Eastman." You sigh. "Your guys are a lot nicer than ours."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't send your problems over to us. I never said anything before, because I figured Chelsea was actually encouraging it. But I've heard really good things about <i>you,</i> Cindy--"<br/>
<br/>
"From who?" The question comes out sharper than you'd intended.<br/>
<br/>
"From lots of people," she says mildly. "I was hoping--"<br/>
<br/>
"If Chelsea was encouraging it before, she might still be doing it." You look around. A new strip center has opened, and you're sitting in the small park-like area next to it, by the new yogurt shop. You make a mental note to make it a semi-regular thing. "I can talk to Lin, tell her it's not appreciated over there--"<br/>
<br/>
"She already knows it's not appreciated."<br/>
<br/>
"Or tell her it's not necessary. If it is Chelsea encouraging it." Given the history between Lin and Chelsea, you know it's Lin--except for last night--all the way.<br/>
<br/>
Alyssa sucks on her yogurt. "Since she's not your squad captain anymore, maybe <i>I</i> should talk to her too."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll talk to her," you say, for an idea has come to you. "You don't want to have to deal with her." Alyssa snorts derisively. But you're firm. "I'm glad you came to me," you say. "I'm sure <i>we</i> can be friends."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"You just try minding your own business, Alyssa," you sneer. You pace the bathroom in a tight circle, and as you pass the mirror Chelsea Cooper smirks back at you. "If you can't keep it under control over there, don't come crying to me."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not asking any favors," Alyssa yells back through the phone. "I'm telling you that if you want trouble--"<br/>
<br/>
"Like I'd lose any sleep over anything you might do. And anyway, I don't know what you're talking about with Lin."<br/>
<br/>
"Put Cindy back on," Alyssa says.<br/>
<br/>
You flick through a couple of faces until you're back to Cindy. "Hang on," you tell her, and put the phone to your chest. You let her wait for nearly a full minute before putting it back to your ear. "Well, that didn't go well. I'm sorry. She just grabbed my phone when I started talking to her about you."<br/>
<br/>
"Is she still there?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, she stormed off. Or I threw her out. Six of one. Um, she said something about someone named 'Susie.' Does that mean anything to you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Susie Maitland?" Alyssa gasps. You grunt an affirmative. "What about her?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just something about what Susie has told her. Is she a friend of yours? Maybe <i>she's</i> the one that--"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh God, if it is--" Alyssa fumes. "Well, maybe it was worth talking to her anyway, then. Thanks for trying, Cindy."<br/>
<br/>
After you hang up you switch back into Chelsea again, briefly, so you can enjoy the glow. Yes, Susie Maitland has been feeding information to Chelsea on the sly. Not much, and not very important, but it's a definite leak from Eastman. If you can't control Chelsea and her schemes against Jenny, you can at least help Alyssa roll up Chelsea's Eastman-side intelligence network.<br/>
<br/>
In fact, you're enjoying the glow so much that your hand goes down to your crotch. The Chelsea inside the mask hadn't gotten action from Gordon for awhile before you made that copy. As long as you're screwing around with her, you might as well screw around <i>as</i> her. So you put a call in to golem-Gordon.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You're lounging on the pads in the fuck room when you hear footfalls on the stairs, and put on your sexiest and most inviting face. Your expression craters, though, when the door opens. Jenny and Yumi gape when they see you. "What are you doing here?" Jenny squeals with distaste. "Is Gordon on his way over? Answer me," she shouts when you don't reply.<br/>
<br/>
The penny drops: She thinks you're the golem-Chelsea that has Jenny under the mask. "Yes. I called him and--"<br/>
<br/>
"Ew," Yumi gasps. "You mean these things actually have urges?"<br/>
<br/>
"The way I hear, they're supposed to be perfect copies of us," Jenny says. You freeze at that. Chelsea and Gloria aren't supposed to know that the other is a fake. Your wonderment receives confirmation in her next statement: "God only knows what <i>your</i> replacement is getting up to, Gloria."<br/>
<br/>
"She's welcome to it, whatever it is," Yumi says. "Has Carson--Gordon, I mean--God, names are confusing--found out anything more?"<br/>
<br/>
"No. He says we have to be careful. It makes sense," Jenny grumbles. "If Will's not in this alone, if he has any more people involved, it'll be Caleb and Keith. What are you doing over there?" she asks you sharply.<br/>
<br/>
"Just trying to get dressed," you gasp, for in shock you'd reared back and hit your head on a very low rafter. "Before Gordon--my Gordon--gets here."<br/>
<br/>
"Like it matters. So," she continues, turning back to Yumi. And then she does a double-take at you. "Where the hell did you get those things?"<br/>
<br/>
They're Cindy's clothes. "Thrift shop?" you say. "I wanted something new, but I figured you wouldn't want me spending any--"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't wanna see myself going around in crap like that either. Throw them away when you get home." She sighs deeply and turns back to Yumi. "So, anyway, Gordon says that if we start asking, like, these really awkward questions about Will and what happened to him, his friends might warn him."<br/>
<br/>
"What do you think he did with the real Cindy?" Yumi asks in a voice so low you can barely hear it. "I mean, he swapped <i>us</i> around, but he didn't swap <i>her</i> into someone? And <i>he</i> just disappeared instead of making up a fake version of himself?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't even want to think about he might have done to her," Jenny shudders. "I wasn't her biggest fan, but even <i>she</i> doesn't-- I mean, to have a <i>total pervert</i> running around inside her body, pretending to be her? And that's not just me, Chelsea Cooper, saying that."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm going to meet Gordon downstairs," you gasp out. Your head is reeling as you dart for the door.<br/>
<br/>
"Keep your mouth shut about what you heard," Jenny calls after you.<br/>
<br/>
You race into the girls' changing room and quickly call golem-Gordon and send him back home. Then you collapse against a locker.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea knows it's you--Will Prescott--pulling the strings, not Cindy! So does Gloria. <i>How did they figure it out?</i> It couldn't have been Gordon who told them, could it? Your own psychological twin? Why would he? <br/>
<br/>
You have to stick close to them. Not as "Chelsea" or "Gloria"; you can't as Cindy. That leaves Lin. You drum your fingers on a locker, and then stop as the sound echoes. You can switch faces, but Chelsea would recognize these clothes. Lin's locker is nearby. You quickly switch faces and twirl the lock open. Thank God! She has an extra set of clothes stashed here, and you change into them. After that, you sneak out of the gym and circle the long way around the school, so they won't see you walking from the school into the parking lot. You can loiter there and pretend to have run into them when they come out. Or run into "Carson" if he joins them.<br/>
<br/>
Carson. Gordon. The Gordon who thinks he's really Will Prescott.<br/>
<br/>
Does he really think that? Or has the "Gordon" side of his personality warped the "Will Prescott" side? Your heart hammers with anger and fear. You can't bring yourself to quite believe that "you" would have betrayed yourself. But is that what he's counting on? Since it's Gordon's real body, the "Will Prescott" riding around inside his brain would never be discovered. So why not have Gordon's body <i>and</i> Chelsea as an ally <i>and</i> control of the magic--and get it all by getting rid of <i>you--</i>the real Will Prescott?<br/>
<br/>
Would <i>you</i> do that to yourself?<br/>
<br/>
You try distracting yourself from these horrible thoughts by wondering who else knows it's really you. There's only you and Chelsea and Gordon and Gracie and ... Morgana? Could she have figured it out? Seems unlikely. Sophia?<br/>
<br/>
You groan as it hits you. When you put Gloria's face into this mask, you took it all off in front of Sophia's golem, letting it see the real you. And when Sophia put that mask of herself back on, she would have "remembered" seeing you--Will Prescott--taking off Cindy's mask. So maybe that's where the leak was.<br/>
<br/>
But Sophia wanted out of your scheme. Why would she have told Chelsea what she saw?<br/>
<br/>
You'll have to confront one of them.</span></div></div>


path: 11222112121112212111111121111222222
author_id: seuzz
title: Some Real Names for Some Fake Faces
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You're turning back to your car so you can go find Sophia when you hear voices, and look over to see Jenny and Yumi coming out of the gym. The former squeals loudly when she sees you, and waves. You know it must be totally insincere, but armed as she is with Jenny's personality, Chelsea can pull it off. "What are you doing here?" she asks as they come up.<br/>
<br/>
"Looking for a little fun," you say, and rub your arm. <i>What is your excuse? No time to invent one on the fly.</i> "And I almost had some. Chelsea came charging out a few minutes ago. Said something nasty and took off."<br/>
<br/>
Jenny gives Yumi a smug look. "Trouble with big, dumb and stupid, wanna bet?" She looks back at you, and you can see the glimmer of a thought forming. "You're not here on a date, are you, Lin?"<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up, Jenny," Yumi say. She steps over beside you. "Lin wouldn't be-- You're not, are you?" she asks with genuine concern. "Because you told me to shoot you if--"<br/>
<br/>
"I know what I told you, and--" You cut off your hot retort. Confirming their suspicions would at least be an explanation for being here. "Well, okay, you're not packing heat right now, are you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, Lin!" Yumi groans.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, he called me, and I said yes, and I've been waiting here for, like, twenty minutes, but--"<br/>
<br/>
"He set you up, Lin," Jenny declares, and puts her hand on her hip. "They're all going to have a good laugh about it. That's probably what Chelsea was doing up here, so she could see it for herself. So if anybody says anything about it, you'll know it wasn't us. I mean, it wouldn't be <i>us</i> talking about it, would it, Yumi?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh God, no!" Yumi exclaims.<br/>
<br/>
But of course it will be. Chelsea--directly, as Jenny, or indirectly through her own golem--will see to that: <i>Lin was trying to get it on with Steve Patterson.</i> You smile tightly, and with a sinking feeling recognize that for the second time in as many days you may have put a torpedo into Lin's reputation. "But what are you guys doing up here?"<br/>
<br/>
"We were supposed to meet Carson and James for a game of doubles," Jenny says. "But James just called and cancelled, so--" She stops abruptly, and a queer light comes into her eye. "So we were gonna go meet up with Carson someplace." <br/>
<br/>
You feel, rather than see, Yumi shift a little, as though she's been surprised by Jenny's statement. <br/>
<br/>
"You wanna come with us?" Jenny continues. "I bet we could have a lot of fun teasing him." That actually fits in with your own preferences quite nicely, so you nod. "Great! Where's your car?"<br/>
<br/>
"I, uh, had someone drop me off. I thought I'd be getting a ride home."<br/>
<br/>
"Sounds like <i>someone</i> gave you a ride, for sure."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Lots of people seem to be giving lots of people rides,</i> you silently observe to yourself.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You force yourself to relax in the back seat of Jenny's car. The two girls in the front are full of laughter, and Jenny cranks up a hard rock station on the radio. It's so loud that you can't make out Jenny's words when she calls someone on her phone.<br/>
<br/>
But maybe you don't have to eavesdrop. "Where are we going?" you ask after she's hung up.<br/>
<br/>
"I told Carson to meet us out by Farm Road."<br/>
<br/>
"The river?" you exclaim.<br/>
<br/>
"Sure!" She grins at you in the rearview mirror. "I told you we were gonna have some fun with Carson. What could be more fun than-- Hey, think we should call Paul, too?" She laughs at Yumi.<br/>
<br/>
The latter turns a pained expression on her. "You don't know what it's like, Jenny. I mean, Paul's a really nice guy, but I'm just not--" She stops and grimaces.<br/>
<br/>
"I know exactly what it's like," Jenny retorts. "I've got <i>James.</i>" Again, you catch her looking at you in the rearview mirror.<br/>
<br/>
So that's what this is about, you glumly realize. She's not going to wait for Monday. She's going to give Lin a full preview of the new Jenny-Carson romance. And that's why you're heading toward the river: the prime make out point for high school students.<br/>
<br/>
"James is cute," you say, and fold your arms. You don't know what good these protests will do. "He's smart and he's funny--"<br/>
<br/>
"If smart and funny is your thing, Lin, what were you doing looking for Patterson up at the school?"<br/>
<br/>
"Would <i>you</i> do it with Steve?" you retort.<br/>
<br/>
"That's not funny, Lin," Yumi says, and turns all the way around. "Steve's a creep, and if he ever did it with Jenny--"<br/>
<br/>
"Why can't there be a guy who has it all?" you say, trying to forestall a turn in the conversation that will put everyone in a bad mood. "If they're smart they're dorky, and if they're funny they're immature, and if they're rich they're arrogant and if they're sexy they're assholes."<br/>
<br/>
"Who's smart and dorky?" Jenny asks with a laugh.<br/>
<br/>
"Philip Fairfax," you instantly reply.<br/>
<br/>
"Funny and immature?"<br/>
<br/>
"Dane Matthias."<br/>
<br/>
"Rich and arrogant?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, take your fucking pick."<br/>
<br/>
Jenny laughs. "Sexy assholes?"<br/>
<br/>
"Steve. Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
"Really," Jenny says. "Wouldn't Chelsea like to hear you talking about her boyfriend that way!"<br/>
<br/>
"Chelsea's not God on Her throne. She's not even captain of the squad anymore. Cindy is, thank God." You might as well irritate the imposter behind the wheel as much as she is irritating you.<br/>
<br/>
But she just keeps in character: "I know, it's so hilarious I haven't stopped laughing yet!"<br/>
<br/>
You glance out the side window and do a double-take: you've just passed the entrance to the street that leads to Blackwell's. Oh, but that makes sense; his place isn't far from Farm Road or your intended destination.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Who's that with Carson?" Yumi asks. You crane your neck to have a look as Jenny slowly pulls up. You can see Carson Ioeger's junker of a car, and there's a white truck next to it. Carson himself is leaning against the trunk of his car, arms folded. Two guys are standing in front of him.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh my God!" you gasp. It's those two new Eastman guys: Frank and Joe.<br/>
<br/>
"Cool, dates for all of us!" Jenny laughs as she parks next to them. "Oh, but according to you, Lin, they'll turn out to be assholes, so I call dibs on Carson."<br/>
<br/>
Three faces turn as you and your friends pile out. Frank frowns; Joe smiles; Carson looks stricken. Jenny calls out a greeting and bounds up to Carson, grabbing his arm.<br/>
<br/>
"Who are your friends?" Joe asks Carson, and pokes him lightly. <br/>
<br/>
A shudder passes through Carson. "Chelsea Cooper,"  he says, and his face twists up. "Gloria Rea. Oh, and Lin Pol." He relaxes a little at your name, even as Jenny and Yumi freeze.<br/>
<br/>
You can only stare. Yumi takes a step back. Jenny recovers first. "That's us!" she laughs. "Cheerleaders all."<br/>
<br/>
"You remember Lin from last night, Joe," Frank says. His eyes gleam as he adds something you can't catch.<br/>
<br/>
"I sure do!" Joe exclaims, and bounds over to you. "Dibs!" He gently tucks his arm into yours. "I wanted to talk to you, but you got away from me. But you're not going to be so lucky now." Without quite realizing what's happening, you find yourself being led away from the rest of the group.<br/>
<br/>
"Hi, um, Joe, wasn't it?" you stammer as you walk.<br/>
<br/>
"That's right!" He sounds genuinely pleased that you'd not forgotten his name. "Lemme guess. You went off with Scott because Alyssa warned you about me." He bites on his smile.<br/>
<br/>
"She said something about you." You glance back. Frank is leaning over the others, his arms folded. As you watch, you see him reach past Carson and take something out of a bag by Ioeger's elbow. It glows bluely. <i>Christ! He had a mask with him.</i> And Frank is being very bold about laying hold of it.<br/>
<br/>
"Your friends are cute," Joe says. "But Chelsea doesn't look like a cheerleader, and Gloria doesn't look Hispanic."<br/>
<br/>
"I guess he was joking around," you say. "That's Jenny Ashton and Yumi Saito."<br/>
<br/>
"Funny that Prescott only got <i>your</i> name right."<br/>
<br/>
"Prescott?" You swing around to stare at Joe; his eyes dance with an intelligent mischief.<br/>
<br/>
"Your other friend."<br/>
<br/>
"That's-- That's Carson Ioeger."<br/>
<br/>
"He's a jokester, is he? Introduced himself to us as Will Prescott." His eyes narrow as you swallow. "What's wrong?"<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing. I mean, you're right, he's always pranking people--"<br/>
<br/>
"But he couldn't come up with an alias for <i>you.</i>" He looks very shrewd for a moment before relaxing. "I'm glad."<br/>
<br/>
"You are?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure. I like to know people by their real names. Especially girls. Makes it easier to get a second date if I know who to call. But you and me'd have to have a first date first. Obviously. So, can we? Have a first date? Now?"<br/>
<br/>
"You move kind of fast, don't you? What did I say?" you ask, for he's barked out a laugh.<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing, you just made a funny without realizing it. So, is this now a date?"<br/>
<br/>
"What about your brother? And my friends?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, they can have fun without us. Frank's real good at entertaining people."<br/>
<br/>
"How did you run into Carson?"<br/>
<br/>
"He was visiting someone close by here. We saw him coming out and said to ourselves, Hey, I bet he'd be fun to hang out with." He shrugs. "We were bored. So we followed him here."<br/>
<br/>
They saw him at Blackwell's? What were they doing there?<br/>
<br/>
You almost got Scott into your mask the other night. You could try the same strategy, and get Joe here into it.</span></div></div>


path: 112221121211122121111112
author_id: seuzz
title: The New Chelsea
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Out in the car you take out your cell phone and call Gloria's house. "Hey Mom, jjust calling to check in. I'm out with friends. Is there anything I need to know or pick up while I'm out." Mrs. Rea is in her cups, and her words are slurred and most unintelligible. Which is fine with you, as it means you can say almost anything safely. "Oh, right. Um, I guess I'll see you then." You hang up, and Gordon looks at you quizzically. "At least we know what they're up to," you say. "Apparently, I called only a little while ago, saying I'd be home in an hour or so. They're not wasting any time grabbing ahold of my life."<br/>
<br/>
"So we catch them out at your place." It's a statement, not a question.<br/>
<br/>
"I guess." You put the car in gear and drive off. "But, you know, it would be really weird and bad if two of me showed up out there." You drum your fingers on the steering wheel and hop a stop sign. "They don't know that you know what's going on. So how about this? You go out there and wait for the fake me to show up. Pretend you're just looking for me, and when the fake me shows up, get them to go with you someplace. I know, tell them that Chelsea wants to talk to them. Take them over to her place. I'll be waiting there with Chelsea, and we'll force them to take the mask off there."<br/>
<br/>
Gordon mulls this--you have the sense he's looking for the possible double-cross--but he can't find a flaw in the suggestion, and agrees. You drive out to Chelsea's and drop him off so he can collect his car. "Give me a call when they show up," you remind him. "Anything you want me to tell Chelsea?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just to keep calm. Is Morgana gonna be able to hex me?"<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno. Maybe you'll just have to pretend you're still in love with her." He makes a retching sound. "I know. I'm really sorry about this." If he accepts your apology, he doesn't say so.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Once you've got Gordon off, you shift into Cindy's form and call Morgana. "So, where are you guys? Not still at the school, are you?"<br/>
<br/>
"They kicked us out almost an hour ago," Morgana says, sounding peevish. "We're at The Flying Saucer, and we really need to talk."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm on my way. Stay put."<br/>
<br/>
It's not far, and both Morgana and Gloria stare up at you grimly as you slide into the booth next to them. "So, are we all caught up," pretending not to notice the tense atmosphere. "Are you ready to take over Chelsea's life, Morgana?"<br/>
<br/>
"This is just too weird," she says. "What made you think I'd want to give up my life?" She looks very cross. "I know it probably doesn't impress <i>you,</i> Cindy," she says. And then adds, "If that's who you really are."<br/>
<br/>
"The thing is," you say, ignoring the gibe, "is that it's the only way to get you away from Gordon. Or, you know, to really appreciate him." You draw Chelsea's mask from your bag. "She's wild about him, you know, and you'd have her personality to fall back on."<br/>
<br/>
"I wouldn't like him, no matter what."<br/>
<br/>
"Couldn't she just let Gordon go?" Gloria asks. "They're mostly broken up now."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, there are some complications. Would <i>you</i> be willing to take over for Chelsea, and let Morgana be Gloria? I think you basically said you wanted to change your situation, Sophia."<br/>
<br/>
"Why do I have to be someone else?" Morgana insists. "Find some other way of fixing things with Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
"Someone has already taken over for you," you say, giving up on all the secrecy. They stare at you, and you begin to describe the mess that you are all in.<br/>
<br/>
It's a long and tedious explanation, full of interruptions and backfill and repeated explanations. Twenty minutes later you are all out of sorts with each other, but the two of them are mostly caught up.<br/>
<br/>
"You're done a really nice job of fucking things up," Gloria snaps. "Maybe we should just put everyone back where they were."<br/>
<br/>
"That's not going to happen," you say firmly. "Besides, there would be Chelsea and Gordon to deal with. Like I say, they know everything that's going on now--and yeah, I'll admit I got too cute with them. But they're not just going to let it go. Would you really feel safe letting Gloria and Chelsea and Gordon just go? They wouldn't forgive us, and you know the kind of temper they have."<br/>
<br/>
"We'd just blame it on you," Gloria says. "And Morgana is totally innocent anyway."<br/>
<br/>
"You wanna try being friends with them, and take me down?" you say, tilting your chin. "You can try." Neither one says anything, and their faces are hard; but you can also tell neither one likes the idea of trying to fight you. "No, we're in this together, and we're all friends. We need to help each other. And if neither of you wants to take over for Chelsea, we can find someone who will. Gracie, maybe. And there are some other girls you guys can take over for." You let them mull the thought. "But we need to settle Chelsea's hash tonight. Like, right now." You check the clock on your cell phone. "Gordon's probably getting really impatient."<br/>
<br/>
There's silence for a moment. Then Gloria sighs. "Alright. So what do we do?"<br/>
<br/>
"We pretend that we've rescued Chelsea. Morgana--the fake Morgana, back at her house? It'll turn out that she's gone crazy." They stare at you, so you speak more plainly with a sigh. "We leave Chelsea where she is, so naturally she'll insist that she's the real Chelsea. But no one will believe her, because of course <i>someone</i> else is going to show up as Chelsea, and that person will be totally convincing. Because whoever wears this mask--" You tap the mask you'd made of Chelsea. "They'll have all her memories and personality and everything." You look between them. "So which one of you gets to be her?"<br/>
<br/>
They look at you, and look at each other, and then Morgana reaches for the mask. "I'll do it. If she's going to me, you know. I wanna make sure no one messes with her too much."<br/>
<br/>
"Fair enough." You pull Chelsea's clothes from the bag and hand them to Morgana. "Go change now."<br/>
<br/>
Gloria turns a frigid shoulder to you while Morgana is changing, and only grunts at your attempts to make conversation. And when Morgana reappears--dressed out as Chelsea--she is also convincingly pissed at you. "God, you have no idea how much I hate you right now," she seethes.<br/>
<br/>
"That's fine. Use it with Gordon. But the story has to be that I didn't know about the double-cross of Gloria, and that I helped rescue you. Gloria," you say, turning to her as you stand. "You'll tell Gordon that you ran into me and the fake Gloria when you went back to Morgana's, and that between us we forced Morgana to give up her scheme. Also, she went totally bonkers afterward."<br/>
<br/>
"Cunt," the new Chelsea Cooper mutters.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
She runs--as best she can on her bad ankle--into Gordon's arms as soon as she is inside the Reas's house. "Oh Gordon," she sobs, holding him tightly. "It was so awful." He looks at her in a daze, and more darkly at you and Gloria. The latter folds her arms and grimly rattles out the details you've coached her with.<br/>
<br/>
"Keep it quiet out there!" Mrs. Rea shouts from the back, and Gloria nudges everyone into following her outside.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, Chelsea, I'm really sorry about all this," you say. "I didn't-- Well, I guess I'm glad you found out about all this and stopped it. It was really stupid--"<br/>
<br/>
"Just shut up," she screams. "You ruined my life, you fucking bitch." She sobs hard. "I'll never forgive you!"<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, Chelsea, that's enough," Gloria says. "We fixed everything. Mostly, I guess." She shoots you a hooded glance.<br/>
<br/>
"Come on, I'll take you home," Gordon says. He hasn't said anything to you or Gloria the whole time, and he leads his girlfriend to his car.<br/>
<br/>
"She's doing a first-rate Chelsea impersonation," you murmur quietly to Gloria after they're gone.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know how much of it is impersonation," she says. "I think she means most of it."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, she can't say or do anything," you say. "She can't take the mask off, and she can't tell Gordon or anyone else the truth. And we can handle her, just as much as we could handle the real Chelsea, if it were her."<br/>
<br/>
"This has been all fucked up," Gloria says. "I'm sick of it. Can you let me go back to being myself? I promise I won't say anything."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't have to promise," you say. "I trust you. But do you really want to go back to being Sophia?"<br/>
<br/>
"It wasn't much of a life, but at least it was boring. And it was mine."<br/>
<br/>
You cast a speculative glance in her direction. If she's unhappy, then you really have no choice but to do something about it. But you don't have to let her go. You could put a golem shell inside the Gloria mask and put it back onto her. Then she'd be your slave. But maybe that'd be too cruel. You could also grant her wish, and set a golemized "Gloria" mask back onto the real Gloria.</span></div></div>


path: 1122211212111221211112
author_id: seuzz
title: Operation Paranoia
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>About an hour later Gloria calls you. "My God, was she ever freaked," she says. "What did you say to her?"<br/>
<br/>
"She wasn't here long," you reply. "She bugged out almost as soon as I talked about 'replacing' her with Morgana."<br/>
<br/>
"You actually went that far," she gasps. "No wonder she was almost hysterical."<br/>
<br/>
"Did you get Morgana's mask back from her? We can't have her showing it to anyone."<br/>
<br/>
"Yes. It took some convincing, and I had to remind her that I basically stole it from you. Did you know she pinched a second one?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but she can't do anything with it. It's just a hunk of porcelain. So are you back in her good graces?"<br/>
<br/>
"I can't tell. I guess so. She says she wants me to get more evidence so she can go to the police. What do you want me to do?"<br/>
<br/>
"Let her stew for a few days. I also said that we'd probably have to replace some people close to her. If she starts pushing you hard, maybe we'll have to pretend that <i>you</i> got replaced."<br/>
<br/>
"Are you really going to replace her?"<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe, maybe not. Like I say, let's see how she's doing in a few days."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Gloria must not have been exaggerating about Chelsea's panic, because she doesn't even show up at school the next day. (Which doesn't stop Kelsey and her gang from claiming their new spots at the alpha table.) Kendra says she hasn't heard from her, and when you ask Maria, she just shrugs. "Well, if you talk to her, tell her I was asking about her," you dimple. Maria just nods vacantly. <br/>
<br/>
Gordon isn't around either, a fact you don't realize until you see Morgana just after lunch. "Did it work?" she asks you bluntly. "That mold you made," she adds when you look at her blankly.<br/>
<br/>
"I haven't tried anything with it yet."<br/>
<br/>
She looks disappointed. "I was hoping you'd done something, and that's why--"<br/>
<br/>
The penny drops. "Oh, is Gordon not around?"<br/>
<br/>
She shakes her head in relief. "And thank God." She clutches your arm. "He's killing my popularity." You stifle a laugh at the thought of Morgana being "popular," but you know what she means. "No one wants to hang around me because of him. He's getting really scary."<br/>
<br/>
"We'll get together tomorrow and work on it," you reassure her. "By the way, have you thought any more about what I asked you? About friends of yours who might want to, you know." You lean in close "Be other people?" you whisper.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know what you mean by that," she says vexedly. "Although right about now I know <i>I</i> wish I was someone else. Don't care who, either," she adds, glancing around.<br/>
<br/>
You're not surprised to find that Morgana is just about primed to make a switch--you just have to introduce the idea to her and tell her it's the only way out of her predicament. But you're more surprised when you discover that your two associates are almost as unhappy as she is.<br/>
<br/>
The revelations come that evening, when Kendra and Gloria show up at your house. "We need to talk about what's going on," the latter tells you, looking very serious. You usher them upstairs, where they sit stiffly side by side on the bed while you relax against your desk.<br/>
<br/>
"I hope you're having fun," Kendra says. "All of this has been your idea--or, I dunno, maybe it's been Morgana's." They both purse their lips at the mention of Morgana's name. "But it's really been going to shit for us."<br/>
<br/>
You look between them and shrug lightly. "We're turning the school upside down. It was never going to be pretty."<br/>
<br/>
"No one will talk to me anymore," Kendra says, frowning. "No, it's worse than that. They're all rude to me."<br/>
<br/>
"And why do you think that is?" She folds her arms and crosses her legs, closes her eyes, and shrugs. "I bet I can tell you. It's because Kendra is a malicious little sneak who pries into everyone's business and bullies anyone that Chelsea tells her to bully." Her eyes snap open, and there's a hard light in them. "And now that Chelsea is starting to go down, everyone is feeling free to kick you around like they've always wanted to."<br/>
<br/>
"But Chelsea isn't going down," she snaps back. "She's got Kelsey and them in her hip pocket. And they're the worst ones. Brooke called me the 'N word' to my face today. The 'N word' and the 'C word,' both together."<br/>
<br/>
That does surprise you, in multiple ways. Brooke isn't just an upper-middle-class princess, she's a professor's daughter. "They're not going to let you bully them," you say simply. "If you want to get along with her new clique, you'll have to change your spots."<br/>
<br/>
She bites her lip. "Look, I let you turn me into Kendra because ... Well, because I thought she was popular and powerful. She isn't either one anymore."<br/>
<br/>
"And she's not likely to be," Gloria says, jumping in. "Not after you get through dealing with Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
"That was always part of the plan, though maybe I didn't tell you that at the time," you reply, and they both look startled. "If you don't like being Kendra anymore, you can stop being her any time you want." Kendra gets a pinched look. "And that doesn't mean you have to go back to being Gracie McGraw," you add. "We can find you somebody else. One of the <i>new</i> queens of the school."<br/>
<br/>
Kendra gets a thoughtful look and relaxes a little. "Does the same go for me," Gloria asks.<br/>
<br/>
"What's going on with Chelsea," you ask her. "Have you talked to her?"<br/>
<br/>
"I called her this afternoon, but she wouldn't talk much. She did ask if you'd been talking to Maria." You smile to yourself. "She also asked me a lot of weird, personal questions. I think she was checking up to see if I was, you know, who I said I was." You snicker to yourself at the thought of Sophia, pretending to be Gloria, convincing Chelsea that she's the real deal. "I think Gordon was with her, but I'm not sure."<br/>
<br/>
You fold your arms and frown thoughtfully. "I should've planted some suspicions about the boys while I was at it," you murmur.<br/>
<br/>
"If you could get rid of Lynch, I'd really appreciate it," Kendra says. "That's another reason I don't want to be Kendra anymore."<br/>
<br/>
"Hasn't he gotten tired of your saying 'no' yet?" She makes a face and says nothing. "Oh my God, you slept with him, didn't you? Again!"<br/>
<br/>
She flushes. "I'm trying to find my fun where I can."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, alright, you girls have made your point. Kendra and Gloria still have their uses for us--" You point at each in turn. "At least until we're sure Chelsea has been put down. So just hang tight a few more days. Keep your eyes open for someone else you might want to be."<br/>
<br/>
They both nod, though they still don't look very happy, and start to rise. Gloria pauses at your door, though. "Is Morgana really part of the ... the coven?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"You don't have to deal with her if you don't like her," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I told you that Gordon was with Chelsea when I called her, and she was talking pretty freely in front of him. She seems to think Morgana put a hex on him or something. Did she?"<br/>
<br/>
"He's been put under some kind of influence," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, he probably knows it now. Along with that mask and replacing business. Would that hex stop him from ... from hurting her?" You blink, and she nods grimly. "If she's not part of the coven, well, what the fuck, you know. But maybe you should warn her to be careful around him."<br/>
<br/>
After they're gone, you kick yourself for not seeing the danger that could result from putting Chelsea and Gordon on their guard. Chelsea is just a bitch, but Gordon has a temper and probably wouldn't shrink from violence. And he is very big and very strong, and probably doesn't realize how much damage he could do to someone.<br/>
<br/>
Well, tomorrow is Saturday, and as long as you can keep Morgana away from anyplace Gordon or Chelsea might find her, she will be safe. But you'd best find her a new life before Monday. But where?</span></div></div>


path: 112221121211122121112
author_id: seuzz
title: The Chameleon
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"No, she's just an unwitting pawn," you reply. "I'm just using her to screw up Chelsea and Gordon. So, are they busted up or not?"<br/>
<br/>
"I said, I'll have to ask Maria. Listen, I need to go--"<br/>
<br/>
"I need to get together with Chelsea." If Chelsea won't break off with Gordon, you'll have to take more direct action, using that new spell. Kendra's breath is heavy and impatient as you quickly think. "I need some of your clothes. Can you loan me some?"<br/>
<br/>
"I really shouldn't be seen with you, not without Chelsea's say-so."<br/>
<br/>
"Fine. Pass them to Lin tomorrow. I'll collect them from her. Are you going to be getting together with Chelsea tomorrow after school?"<br/>
<br/>
"Probably. But I really do need to--"<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, go. But tell Chelsea you need to talk to her. At her house. Just the two of you. But meet me in the girl's locker room after school. Bye!"<br/>
<br/>
You dance around excitedly for a bit afterward. <i>This is going to be fun!</i><br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Lin looks at you quizzically the next day after cheerleader practice when she passes along a grocery bag containing one of Kendra's ensembles. "I thought you and Kendra weren't speaking to each other."<br/>
<br/>
"We're not," you say, thinking quickly. "That's how come she gave her stuff to you to give to me." You roll your eyes as you glance inside the bag. "Ungrateful bitch. I bought these for her, and she was <i>soooo</i> grateful when I did. But now-- Pfft!"<br/>
<br/>
Lin grimaces. "I dunno. If it was me, I'd hate to see her parading around in something <i>I'd</i> bought for her."<br/>
<br/>
Yumi peeks around your elbow into the bag. "You bought those for her?" she says in surprise. "I remember those things. She told me her grandmother bought them. Made all kinds of catty comments about them."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, that's Kendra for you," you say crossly. "Lies about things <i>and</i> is vicious about them."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, don't be too hard on her," Lin says. "Have you noticed the way Kelsey and them are treating her? Hello, like, being racist much?"<br/>
<br/>
"What do you mean?" you ask gleefully.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, just saying tasteless things," Lin sniffs. "Talking about how much they hate rap music, things like that."<br/>
<br/>
"I hate rap music too, but that doesn't <i>me</i> racist."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but it's the way they say it. You know, like being all ostentatious and stuff."<br/>
<br/>
"What have you heard about this party that Megan Farris is supposed to be giving?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"That it's supposed to be big. Are you going to try getting a date to it?"<br/>
<br/>
"I haven't been invited."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh." Lin turns a little pink. "Sorry."<br/>
<br/>
"That doesn't mean I won't go. Can they really not invite the captain of the cheerleader squad?"<br/>
<br/>
"With that bunch?" Yumi says. "I'd wonder if they really would anyway."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I'll worry about it later. Come on, I want to stop by Willinger's class on the way to second period. See if Gordon is still cruising Morgana Hollis." The other two giggle along with you.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The short answer is: Yes, he is. The long answer is: Yes, he is, and during almost all of her classes. And people are definitely noticing. As you push through the hallways after lunch you hear a nasally voice rising in song over the din: "That old black magic has me in its spell, that old black magic that you weave so well!" Charles Hartlein, drama club president, passes by, grinning widely. He winks at you, and you turn to watch as he nudges Brooke Galloway in the ribs. She turns with shining eyes and laughs along with him. <i>Well. If Chelsea knew one of her new crew members was laughing at her boyfriend's discomfiture ...</i> You laugh to yourself, but you've other things to accomplish.<br/>
<br/>
Gracie McGraw is at her locker, as you'd hoped, and you draw her aside. "Can you skip your next class?" you ask. "Or be late to it? Kendra needs to talk to you."<br/>
<br/>
"Really?" She looks confused. "I haven't seen her since--"<br/>
<br/>
You cut her off and just tug her along. It's a bluff, and you hope the golem won't be recalcitrant. It's only a short trip over to one of the girls' bathrooms, and you spend a few minutes brushing up until the tardy bell has rung, ignoring your nervous companion, until the last of the stragglers has departed. Then you gently push her into one of the stalls and close the door behind her. "I need to prep you for the meeting."<br/>
<br/>
Gracie flinches a little as you reach up to her face, but she doesn't fight as you grip her brow and tug the mask off. The unconscious Kendra Saunders slumps onto the toilet, and then you rip your own mask from your face, fighting waves of disorientation to stay awake. The interior of your own mask is already prepped, and you slip it onto your victim's face. It doesn't take long to copy her, and then you put Cindy's mask back on and place Gracie's face back onto Kendra. She wakes with a start. "Okay, all done," you tell her as she looks around with a comically confused expression on her face. "She's been and gone," you tell her. "Don't worry about it. You can go now." She gives you a dirty look as she leaves.<br/>
<br/>
After she's gone, you brush your hand over your brow while making a complicated motion with your fingers. You grow briefly dizzy and then step back out into the bathroom. Kendra Saunders' delicate features stare back at you from one of the mirrors. You primp a little and smile to yourself, and then with another brush of your fingers change your image back to Cindy's. Yes, the new spell--which lets you switch faces without switching masks--will be <i>very</i> useful.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Hst!" Kendra peeks around the corner from the shower stalls. "This is a really bad idea, but here I am."<br/>
<br/>
"Good. Thanks for coming. Now get out of those clothes." She stares, but you give her a look that sets her in motion while you pull out the bag of her extra clothes. "I need the ones you're wearing, so you'll need these."<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus, you could have just told me to bring the extra set. I had to get really snippy with Lin when she asked me why I was passing clothes along to you."<br/>
<br/>
"I gave her a story, so don't sweat it," you say as you start pulling off your own clothes. "Once you're changed, you'll have to hide out here for an hour or so, till I get back. That's why you're here."<br/>
<br/>
"What are you going to do?"<br/>
<br/>
"Get together with Chelsea." With a sweep of your hand you change yourself into her duplicate. "Like my look?"<br/>
<br/>
She squeals in shock. "How--?"<br/>
<br/>
"Never mind. It's just for the afternoon, so I can get close to Chelsea. What did you tell her you needed to talk to her about?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just stuff." She stares. "Can you change me into--"<br/>
<br/>
"No. Not right now. And I wish you'd told her <i>something</i>, because all of the memories I've got now are really out of date. But I guess I'll wing it."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Luckily, it doesn't take long to get changed into her clothes, or out to her car, or over to Chelsea's. Miss Cooper is in a bad mood, and so you don't waste time before knocking her out with some of the knockout powder you'd picked up at Blackwell's on your way over to her place. While she's out, and your mask is adding her image to Cindy's and Kendra's, you rifle through her closet and pull out one of her t-shirts and a jeans skirt. You also lift one of her pairs of pink canvas tennis shoes, stuffing it and the other items into Cindy's bag. Then it's back to being Kendra.<br/>
<br/>
Her unexpected nap has left her in an even nastier mood, and you use that as an excuse to cut off the visit, telling her huffily that you'll talk to her about Brooke and Kelsey and Charles Hartlein when she's in a better temper. <i>That</i> catches her attention, but you brush off her apology.<br/>
<br/>
Once you're away from her house you stop off at a bookstore just long enough to duck into the restroom and change into Chelsea. Her ill temper hits you hard--<i>fucking Gordon, what the </i>hell<i> is wrong with him?</i>--but you quickly master it and regard your situation coolly. You really should get back to Kendra: the two of you could go find Kelsey and the others and you, as Chelsea, could make a huge scene with them. But you also recognize that Chelsea is deeply concerned about Gordon. She has been frigid around him, but she's beginning to think that maybe she needs to connect with him, make some kind of groveling apology to him. Obviously he's just trying to fuck with her head, but she's beginning to think she needs to do something to bring him back to her. If you're going to bust them up now, you'd better strike immediately.</span></div></div>


path: 1122211212111221211121
author_id: seuzz
title: Reign of Terror
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You call Kendra. "You still at the school?"<br/>
<br/>
"Where else would I be?" she says in a slightly waspish tone. "I feel really goofy hanging out in the library with all the losers."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I'll be there in a few minutes to rescue you. Wait for me in the girls' room in B wing."<br/>
<br/>
"Are you all right? You sound ... funny."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll show you when I get out there. It's gonna be brilliant." You hang up, switch back into Cindy's form, and hurry on your way.<br/>
<br/>
Kendra eyes you quizzically after you arrive, but you just push her into one of the stalls with the order to disrobe. You take the next stall and change out of her clothes and into Chelsea's. They're a little too small for you, until you shift into your latest acquisition. Kendra does a double-take and squeals when you emerge with a smug look on your face. "Tell me how much you like me, Kendra," you say. "You're such a suck up."<br/>
<br/>
She makes a face. "What are you, drunk?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, just getting into character." You frown at your reflection: under the harsh light Chelsea's face has kind of blotchy appearance, probably from worry about Gordon and her deteriorating social position. "Tch, I wish you weren't so dark, Kendra. I could use a little makeup. But I don't want to go out in <i>blackface.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"God, what is <i>wrong</i> with you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just letting Chelsea's inner voice out. We're going to see Kelsey, and I'm going to be a royal terror."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh." Understanding breaks across her face, and she grins. "So, what do you really think about Kelsey and them?"<br/>
<br/>
You sniff and adjust the t-shirt to better accent your new boobs and twist the skirt around; the little red heart just above the hem is perfectly darling. "I wish I had their money. It sucks being <i>poor.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"What are you talking about? You've got that house, that swimming pool--"<br/>
<br/>
"You don't know what it's like, Kendra," you retort hotly. "I can't give a decent party, and my mom won't buy me <i>half</i> the clothes I need. Sometimes, like, I have to wear the same outfit, and it's only been two weeks since I put it on. I'm sure <i>you've</i> noticed." You pull your hair back, giving your face a tight look. You wince at it, but decide to leave it, as it gives the wanted effect of severity and unhappiness. "Meanwhile, <i>they've</i> got, like, <i>sacks</i> of it laying around. Well, they're just going to have to share." You purse your mouth. "I need better grades too. You know what Ms. Carmine wrote on my last English essay? 'Use better synonyms.' What am I, a fucking thesaurus?"<br/>
<br/>
"They have those online, you know."<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up. Oh, have you got your laptop here? I'll should update Facebook." She starts to unsling her satchel from her shoulder. "Not now, you idiot."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, his is gonna be a lot of fun," she mutters.<br/>
<br/>
"Isn't it?" you giggle, and lightly grasp her elbow. "Give me a few hours like this, and <i>no one</i> will be speaking to Chelsea." You turn and breeze out of the restroom.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Kelsey looks at you with surprise when her mother has called her down to meet you in the living room. "What a great house," you say with tinny enthusiasm. "Didn't I tell you it would be great, Kendra? Didn't I? Kelsey, honey, you've got <i>nothing</i> to be ashamed of."<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't think I did," she says in a bemused tone as she descends the stairs. Kendra takes a few steps away from you and turns to study the room.<br/>
<br/>
"Then why the--" You catch yourself and give Mrs. Blankenship a sidelong glance. "Why haven't you ever had me out here?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, um, we just never--"<br/>
<br/>
"Ooh!" you squeal, and point to a vase. "Is that genuine? Is it, like, a Ming thing-a-ma-thingy?"<br/>
<br/>
"I think it's just a vase." Kelsey and her mother exchange a veiled glance.<br/>
<br/>
"I know you don't like showing off. That's probably why you dress so--" You give her a critical glance. "So tastefully."<br/>
<br/>
"Mmm." Mrs. Blankenship grunts. "I'll just leave you girls to talk about whatever you need to talk about." Kelsey licks her lips as she watches her mother depart the room.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know why you're letting Megan throw a party instead of you. In fact--" You pull out your phone, then frown at it before putting it away. "Kendra, let me borrow your phone. I'm just gonna call Megan, tell her I've changed my mind about where that party should be. <i>You</i> should be the one throwing it, Kelsey."<br/>
<br/>
"It's nice that you think that, Chelsea," she sputters. "But-- I mean, I'm flattered, but--"<br/>
<br/>
"But what?" you frown.<br/>
<br/>
There's silence for a moment, and then Kendra speaks in a small voice. "Chelsea, you can't just <i>volunteer</i> her."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not volunteering her," you exclaim, putting as much heat into it as you can so your face will turn red. "But if you're going to have any kind of social position, Kelsey--" You gasp, and then harden your expression. "You're not embarrassed by me and my friends, are you?"<br/>
<br/>
"No! What makes you--"<br/>
<br/>
"I know Steve and Gordon have a reputation for making trouble, and if you've got anything valuable you'd better put it away or they'll try making three-point shots with it. But--" You put your hands on your hips and advance very close on her. "If you don't want us at your house that's your business. Though I can't say it makes me feel very welcome." She turns red. "But look here, if you want to be part of the group, if you want people to like you, you're going to have to show some hospitality."<br/>
<br/>
"I want to give a party at some point, Chelsea," she says in a low growl. "But let me set the date and the rules."<br/>
<br/>
Your eyes narrow. "You don't have to give a party if you don't want to. Ever. But there are other ways of showing your friendship."<br/>
<br/>
She swallows warily. "Like?"<br/>
<br/>
You hold her eye, and then smile broadly. "We should go on a shopping expedition this weekend. I need something really new and smart for Megan's party. Thing is, I've already blown my allowance for this month and next, so you'd have to carry me. You wouldn't mind, would you?" Her eyes widen, but she says nothing. "Good. It'll be our little secret." You pluck at her blouse meaningfully. "I know you wouldn't want anyone else thinking you were, like, trying to bribe me into liking you. I'll call you later to set up the details."<br/>
<br/>
Kelsey is looking thoroughly stricken by this point, and as you turn to take in the house with a final gloating glance you see that Kendra too is thoroughly embarrassed. "Oh, one more thing," you add, snapping your fingers; you'd almost forgotten <i>piece de resistance.</i> "Do you have a copy of the essay you wrote for Carmine? The one that's due on Monday?"<br/>
<br/>
"I haven't started it yet," she says numbly.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, when you finish, can you send me a copy? Because I want to look over it. She doesn't like my essays, and I want to use yours as a model. You better get it done early, because I'm gonna send you a copy of mine before we turn it in. You'll want to change yours around, in case Carmine gets suspicious about us working together." <i>That</i> causes her to nearly choke. "Well, I think that takes care of everything I wanted to talk to you about." You quickly swing away toward the entrance, and turn to give Kendra an impatient glance. "Well, what are you waiting for? Hurry up. I thought you Kenyans were supposed to be fast on the savannah." <br/>
<br/>
She hurries after you, but at the door you stop her. "You need to use the bathroom before we go," you say in a low voice. "When you're back in, apologize to Kelsey, but tell her that if she really wants me as a friend, she'll have to play along. <i>Everyone</i> has to prove their worth before I let them in."<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus!" is all she says, and returns. You go on out to the car, where you sit, idly buffing your nails and reflecting with great satisfaction about the scene you've made. "Well, what did she say?" you ask when she's back.<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing much. What could she say? But she's pissed."<br/>
<br/>
"Good. That's the point, right?"<br/>
<br/>
"I guess. Still--" She takes a deep breath. "What's gonna happen when she sees the real Chelsea tomorrow?"<br/>
<br/>
"Probably nothing. Oh, she'll tell Megan and Brooke and them. She's already on the phone, I'm sure. But she won't say anything to Chelsea. She just won't talk to her, and Chelsea will discover that that party's been cancelled, and that none of them want anything to do with her."<br/>
<br/>
"But what am I supposed to say if Kelsey <i>does</i> talk about it? I mean, do I back her up? Chelsea will think I'm lying. And if I back up Chelsea, if I say I don't know what Kelsey's talking about--"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't be such a whiner, Kendra." She shoots you an angry look, so you squeeze her shoulder sympathetically. "If you're really worried, you know--" You switch over to Kendra's face. "I can take over for you, deal with whatever comes up. Maybe you would want a vacation anyway?"<br/>
<br/>
"And where would I go?" she asks guardedly.<br/>
<br/>
"There are places to hide," you say breezily.</span></div></div>


path: 11222112121112212112
author_id: seuzz
title: The Wrecking Crew
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Your phone has been buzzing quite often all this time, though you've ignored it, and after finishing up you check to find several messages from Gloria. "What's up?" you ask when you call her back. <br/>
<br/>
"Chelsea's kicked me out," she says tonelessly. "I ran into her and the others in front of the gym, and she told me to get lost. I could kill Brooke."<br/>
<br/>
"What about Kendra?"<br/>
<br/>
"She was there too, and she was the worst." There's a pinched tone to her voice. "She called me a liar and a cunt and two-faced bitch."<br/>
<br/>
"You're shitting me," you exclaim. "She said that? She's got to be play-acting."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, that's what she told me when she called to apologize. But it still fucking hurt."<br/>
<br/>
"We should get together tonight, just to show that we're all still friends."<br/>
<br/>
"She says we can't. She has to cut us off, in case Chelsea is suspicious of her."<br/>
<br/>
You make a face, and then a movement by Morgana catches your eye. "You at home? I'll stop by anyway. I got someone here I want to introduce to you."<br/>
<br/>
You can feel the twinkle in your eye as you hang up and turn to your companion. "I've got another stop to make before heading home. You free for the afternoon? I'll show you what I mean about 'where you'd be going'."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Morgana stares in the mirror and lightly touches her face. "I look just like her," she says in a very quiet voice.<br/>
<br/>
"You sound just like her, too," you reply. "You can even think and act just like her, if you concentrate."<br/>
<br/>
She sucks on her lips, and her face tightens. You smile to yourself: <i>Yes, Gloria Rea's personality is now coming to the fore.</i> There's a hard light in Morgana's eye as she ponders her new reflection. "Black isn't really my color, is it?" She glances over at Sophia Wilson, who is still dressed as Gloria and watching all this rather wanly. "If I put those clothes on, no one would know it wasn't me. I mean, no one would know it wasn't--"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't get hung up on pronouns," you laugh softly. "But you're right. Gloria hasn't been herself for a few days. <i>Sophia</i> has been her."<br/>
<br/>
"And you say that the real Gloria has been--"<br/>
<br/>
"Playing the part of Sophia. And she doesn't realize it, which makes it totally safe."<br/>
<br/>
Morgana's eyes gleam. "Could I stay like this? For tonight, I mean?"<br/>
<br/>
You glance over at Sophia. "Fine with me," she mutters. You're not sure how to take her tone: Does she really want to escape from Gloria, or does she just resent being ripped from Gloria by a newbie?<br/>
<br/>
"I might say yes," you reply, "but who would go home as you?" Morgana frowns thoughtfully. "I'm making a new mask, just for you," you say. "As soon as it's done--just a day or two--we can talk about giving you a new life. Maybe Gloria's. Maybe someone else's."<br/>
<br/>
Morgana's gaze drifts over your shoulder. "Gloria's not having a lot of fun right now, is she?" Her nostrils flare. "Those new girls that Chelsea's hanging out with." Her eyes grow very cold--she looks exactly like Gloria now. "They've always been a lot of stuck-up types."<br/>
<br/>
Again you glance back at Sophia, who shrugs. Is your new acolyte giving voice to Gloria's opinion, or her own? "We could do something about them," you say. "Of course, it would involve <i>becoming</i> them."<br/>
<br/>
Morgana's eyes glint, and Sophia also perks up. "Megan's always throwing her family's money around," the latter says. <br/>
<br/>
"Kelsey, too," Morgana says. "There's a lot of money in her dad's car dealerships."<br/>
<br/>
"And after graduation?" You smile. "You're a smart girl, Morgana. With your brains and Kelsey's grades and transcripts and money. You'd be cinch to get into Harvard." She bites back a grin, but you need to bring her back to Earth. "So I guess that's the plan. Let's get you back to yourself in the meantime." You reach for her face, but she draws back.<br/>
<br/>
"You asked about friends of mine," she reminds you. "People who might want to be 'someone else'."<br/>
<br/>
"Now you know what I meant. Think very carefully, though." You arch your eyebrows. "We can't just let anyone in. They have to be people we could trust."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't think you have to worry," she replies. "I know who to talk to."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The next day you discover that Chelsea hasn't wasted any time in replacing Gloria; in fact, with her position on the cheerleader squad so shaky, it's apparent she is desperate to shore up her position. And so at lunch you find that the table seats normally occupied by Gloria and Kendra and yourself (and Lin and Yumi and others that Chelsea has tolerated) are filled by Kelsey Blankenship and Brooke Galloway and Megan Farris and Deanna Showalter and others of the goody-goody AP class. They look a little uneasy at their new position at the alpha table, and glance around with ill-disguised nervousness to make sure that others have noticed their sudden elevation. Normally, the sight of this crew sitting in your and your friends' spots would piss you off, but the knowledge that they won't be occupying these seats--that they won't even be occupying their own lives--for much longer leaves you serene. "What's the good word," you ask nonchalantly as you drop down to perch on a corner of Deanna's seat, pushing her to the side. She gives you a very dirty look.<br/>
<br/>
"No one invited you to join us," Chelsea says bluntly, and her chin tilts. She follows it with a mischievous glance to the side, where you see Kelsey seating next to Steve, with his arm draped casually around her shoulder. He ignores you, but she darts you a quick, smug look.<br/>
<br/>
"I thought I heard something about a party," you reply, ignoring Chelsea's outburst. "Megan, you were saying something about it? You're giving one?"<br/>
<br/>
Megan freezes and looks away from you. "No one's inviting you to that either," Deanna says loudly, and tries shoving you off the stool. "Are they, Chelsea?" she adds, more uncertainly.<br/>
<br/>
"That's up to Megan," your nemesis says grandly. "You don't want Cindy there, do you?"<br/>
<br/>
Megan says nothing--to her credit, blatant rudeness is not part of her character. "Well, like Chelsea says, it's up to you," you say, and stand. "But I'm willing to bet that I get an invitation, and that Megan will be the one to give it to me." Your eye falls on Deanna. "I'll need a ride. Give me one?"<br/>
<br/>
"When pigs fly," she sneers.<br/>
<br/>
"You'll change your mind," you say. "A lot of things about you will change," you add softly to yourself as you stride away.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"This is really sick," Sarah McDonald says. Her pale and puffy face is splotched with red spots, not all of which are incipient or retreating zits. She looks up at Wendy Silbert--who at the moment is impersonating Gloria Rea--with obvious loathing. <br/>
<br/>
"You wouldn't say that if you were the one wearing it," Wendy retorts. She runs her hands down the sides of her body. "Sure as hell beats dieting."<br/>
<br/>
"I wouldn't be that cunt if you paid me."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't have to be," Morgana says. "Wouldn't you like to get back at Kelsey? Remember middle school?"<br/>
<br/>
Sarah winces. Lotte Linde leans in from the corner of the bed where she's perching. "If anyone's going to be Kelsey, it's me. My dad used to work for her dad, until he got fired."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't even get along with your dad," Sarah says hotly. "But it's sick. We shouldn't be talking about it, let alone doing it."<br/>
<br/>
"Sarah's probably right," Wendy sighs, and starts tugging at her face fruitlessly. "I've never stolen anything before. And this is, like, really super stealing."<br/>
<br/>
You turn your back on the three girls' pinched and fearful faces and cast a hooded look at Sophia, who looks very out of place sitting back on Gloria's bed. She rolls her eyes in exasperation. Morgana shrivels under your glance. <br/>
<br/>
Your secret is now in the hands of three reluctant, improperly vetted recruits. Sure, you could force them into some new lives--they can't get out of the masks once you've got them inside--and hope they come around. But you'd rather convince them of their own will; and that would take some find tap-dancing, and maybe more.</span></div></div>


path: 112221121211122121121
author_id: seuzz
title: The New Masks
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"No one has to say yes right away," you interject, looking around the group with a tight smile. "You wanna take a new life for a test drive first? That can be arranged."<br/>
<br/>
"I told you, I'm not putting on <i>that</i> thing," Sarah says crossly, pointing to Wendy.<br/>
<br/>
"Then whose face would you like to try on? Kelsey's?" <br/>
<br/>
Sarah's lips disappear. <br/>
<br/>
"I said I wanted Kelsey," Lotte snaps. <br/>
<br/>
"You can take turns. At least we know there's a demand for her," you add in a mutter. With a quiet sigh pick up one of the blank masks you'd gotten from Blackwell's that afternoon and hold it out to Lotte. "First, I'll need you to put this on."<br/>
<br/>
She rears back. "How come?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because someone has to take your place, eventually. But don't worry. You'll be the only one wearing it. At least, until it comes time to put Kelsey or whoever inside it."<br/>
<br/>
Lotte takes mask, so gingerly it slips through her fingers and plops into her lap. The other stare at her intently as she picks it back up again, and then with a deep breath presses it to her face. It vanishes into her and she falls back senseless onto the bed.<br/>
<br/>
"What happened?" Wendy squeals.<br/>
<br/>
"It's copying her. And while she's out, let's talk about Sarah and Kelsey." You turn to Sarah. "Why do you want to be Kelsey?"<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't say I did," she replied through gritted teeth.<br/>
<br/>
"You said you didn't want to be Gloria. You didn't say you don't want to be Kelsey."<br/>
<br/>
"Tell her about Peter Martin," Wendy says. Sarah whips around to glare at her, but Wendy just snickers. "He was a guy she was sweet on back in ninth grade. Kelsey got in the way."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know this guy," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"He moved away a few years ago," Wendy says. "Her great lost love."<br/>
<br/>
Sarah swears a blistering oath. You shrug lightly. "Well, you can't use Kelsey to get him back. But let's think about what you <i>could</i> do with her. There's Steve Patterson. She seems to have hooked up with him lately."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not-- Oh, Jesus," Sarah exclaims. "Is that what all this about? Getting laid?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's a nice benefit. You wouldn't have to worry about getting knocked up, or catching anything. These things are like full-body prophylactics."<br/>
<br/>
"Whoa!" Wendy exclaims. Her eyes widen, and her hands travel down her stomach to frame her crotch. "I know what <i>I'd</i> be doing with this body in that case."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, if it's not sex or boyfriends," you continue, ignoring the heavy breathing coming from Wendy, "what is it that you'd want from Kelsey? Her money? Her social position?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know why you're making so much trouble, Sarah," Morgana interjects. She leans forward to talk quickly and intently at her friend. "For as long as I can remember you've talked about how much you hate those bitches in the AP class."<br/>
<br/>
"That doesn't mean I want to <i>be</i> one of them."<br/>
<br/>
"You've talked about how you want what they want. The clothes and the attention and the parties and the friends." She puts her hand on Sarah's knee. "You'd have that. And you'd have <i>us</i> there, next to you."<br/>
<br/>
"It's a lot of fun being someone else," you say, and pace about the room on light, soft feet. "You've got their talents along with your own. You can ride on their achievements. You can take advantage of their gifts. You can even improve them." You hug yourself tightly, and thrill at the feeling of lithe arms squeezing your large, sensitive breasts. "So many people don't take advantage of what they've got. They don't see themselves for what they are. When you step into their lives, you bring your own perspective, and can correct their flaws. And being <i>inside</i> them, while still being <i>yourself</i> ..." You shake your hair so that it falls across your shoulder and over your face. "If you've ever been shy, if you've never liked being stared at or judged--" You shrug and laugh softly. "It's like hiding in plain sight. No one knows it isn't the other person. No one knows it's really you." You take a lock of hair and roll it around in your fingers; your eyes twinkle as you glance slowly from face to face. "You can flirt and tease and mock and humiliate; you fuck people up; and they will never know it's <i>you</i> doing it to them."<br/>
<br/>
No one says anything until there's a groan from the bed, and a very groggy Lotte sits up, the mask slipping onto the coverlet. "Christ, I feel like I got punched in the face," she whines.<br/>
<br/>
"Shake it off. You'll be okay." You take up another blank mask and hold it out to Sarah. "You don't want to take over Kelsey's life? That's fine. You can take it for just one night. There's a party coming up. Do you think you'll be invited? Because she will."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"You talked like someone who's worn a mask," Sophia says after the others have gone to pick up some food, leaving the two of you alone in Morgana's bedroom. She pauses. "Or someone who is wearing one."<br/>
<br/>
You purse your lips as you concentrate on the masks: one of Morgana, one of Lotte, one of Wendy, and (finally, after lots of hesitation) one of Sarah. Lightly you brush the varnish into the interior of each one, returning them to their original blank-white color. "Oh, I've worn a mask," you say. "I know what it's like." You lift Lotte's mask and blow it dry. "It taught me to appreciate what I've got, and to work with it."<br/>
<br/>
"Whose face did you wear, and how long?"<br/>
<br/>
"No one very special, and not for long. Probably you don't even know them. I was still learning how they work."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't you want one for yourself?"<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe eventually." You look up at her. "What about you? You want me to do this special number on Gloria's mask when Wendy gets back?"<br/>
<br/>
"What are you doing?"<br/>
<br/>
"Giving them a special treatment. A regular mask can only hold one image. With this stuff--" You gesture at the pot containing the varnish. "You can put two or three or even more images into a mask. Then you can switch between bodies without having to change out of masks. So--" You take up a blank mind band and begin to attach it to the inside of Sarah's mask. "We put this mask onto Kelsey. When it comes off, Sarah can put it on and then switch back and forth between her own face and Kelsey's. That's how she'll be able to 'take Kelsey for a test drive' without going through that ridiculous business like we did in the dressing room."<br/>
<br/>
"How will we get the mask onto Kelsey?"<br/>
<br/>
"We'll figure something out. First, though, we need to figure out who gets Kelsey's face. Lotte or Sarah?" You nudge her playfully. "Or you? Wendy is really into being Gloria."<br/>
<br/>
Sophia makes a face; and as she holds it her expression turns thoughtful. "She's welcome to it if she wants. She'll just use it to sleep with the football team."<br/>
<br/>
"You could do much more with her. Why haven't you?" You are actually paying close attention to what she says, even though you are concentrating on the masks.<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno. I guess I've been doing your work for you."<br/>
<br/>
"That's gonna change real soon. Gloria can't spy on Chelsea anymore, and once we've got these new girls in for Kelsey and them, they can be her friends. It's a much different group. I bet Gloria could blossom around them."<br/>
<br/>
"You're still just trying to take Chelsea down," she says in an accusing tone.<br/>
<br/>
"And I've just about done it. After that, I don't care what you or the other girls do." You look up at her. "So think about it. In a week or so it's gonna be a new scene. Where would you like to fit into it?"<br/>
<br/>
She doesn't return your gaze, and her shoulders twitch rather than shrug.<br/>
<br/>
You turn your attention back to the masks, but you're thinking. She's a good girl, with brains and sense--it's one of the reasons she has gone to the edge of arguing with you. She'd make a very sensible Kelsey. But you wonder if it wouldn't be better if she stayed as Gloria, despite whatever problems she has in her life. It might make her happier if she had a challenge to rise to.</span></div></div>


path: 1122211212111221211211
author_id: seuzz
title: The First Victim
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Well, nothing is going to be set yet," you say as you put the finishing touches onto the masks. "I'll let you think about it." Voices from the hallway tell you that the others are back. "I'll tell Wendy she needs to be someone else, at least for a little while."<br/>
<br/>
Wendy accepts with good grace the news that she won't be taking over for Gloria Rea any time soon, and gives the mask back to Sophia, who doesn't put it on right away. Instead, she plops onto the floor with the others as they spread out the burgers and fries and onion rings and other junk they got on the food run.<br/>
<br/>
"So, we're going to make a copy of Kelsey, at least," you say as they chow down hungrily. "Brooke, Deanna, probably Megan. Anyone else in that group?"<br/>
<br/>
"Rachel Burton?" Lotte suggests.<br/>
<br/>
"Is she really part of that group?" Wendy counters.<br/>
<br/>
"She takes a bunch of classes with them," Lotte replies. "There's Amanda Ferguson. She's a total bitch."<br/>
<br/>
"Is that what we're doing? Replacing 'bitches'?" Sarah asks grumpily.<br/>
<br/>
"She's plugged in to shit," Wendy says. "And Ricky Golia is a real cutie. He's going places, too. Did you hear he got a job working for Senator Whatsisname this summer?"<br/>
<br/>
"If we're going for up-and-comers, how about Lisa Yarborough?" Lotte says. "She's got Geoff Mansfield breathing all over her."<br/>
<br/>
"Lisa definitely isn't part of Kelsey's group," you say. You are startled at how mention of your ex-girlfriend stirs up your defensive instincts. They're <i>not</i> going to touch her. "But Amanda would fit in with them, even if she's not part of their circle right now."<br/>
<br/>
"How are we going to get close to them?" Wendy asks, and points at the masks with a french fry. "Don't we, like,  need to get these masks onto them, to copy them like they copied us?"<br/>
<br/>
"Can you guys get close to any of them?" you ask. "Me and Gloria can't."<br/>
<br/>
"Rachel Burton," Lotte says again. "I'm in debate with her, and she talks to them, at least."<br/>
<br/>
"How about you call her, then?" You nudge Lotte with your toe as she stops in mid-chew. "No time like the present. Tell her you've got homework problems or something."<br/>
<br/>
Lotte slowly swallows and puts her hamburger down. She glances uneasily around the group and at the masks before taking her phone out.<br/>
<br/>
"What's wrong?" you ask as she just sits there.<br/>
<br/>
"I have to think of what to say to her," she says peevishly. You stare at her until she ducks her head and dials.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You're touching up your makeup in the restroom the next morning when Rachel comes in; you watch her slyly out of the corner of your eye as she sets her own kit down on the sink with a grumbling sigh. "I really don't appreciate what you guys did to me last night," she growls.<br/>
<br/>
"We didn't do anything to you, Rachel," you quietly reply. "You just had a fainting spell, that's all."<br/>
<br/>
"I never have fainting spells," she retorts as she puts her lipstick to her mouth. "And that's a weird group you're hanging out with."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not 'hanging out' with them. We just got together to study."<br/>
<br/>
"Right," she says. "You and Morgana are just 'study buddies.' Everyone's noticed, Cindy, and they're talking about it."<br/>
<br/>
"So let them talk. You can talk, too, even though you never struck me as the gossipy type."<br/>
<br/>
Her makeup crinkles badly as she gives you a pinched look. "I'll leave that kind of thing to Gloria. She's <i>so</i> your bitch now."<br/>
<br/>
"And you can think whatever you want, too. Just keep out of my way." You gather up your stuff and exit the bathroom. As you glance around, you do a double-take: Rachel Burton--the girl you just left--is only a few yards away, talking and laughing with Geoff Mansfield. Your heart skips: Lotte, against your explicit warnings, is playing around with the mask at school. <br/>
<br/>
As you stand rooted to the spot, someone jostles you. "I'll keep out of your way if you keep out of mine," a voice says. You wheel: Lotte grins at you. "Pretty good, huh?"<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus!" you exclaim. "I told you to be careful with that thing."<br/>
<br/>
She just shrugs. "Had to use it to make a date with Brooke. I'm meeting her at the library this afternoon."<br/>
<br/>
"And what if Brooke talks to Rachel?" You jerk your head over to where the real girl is standing, then grip Lotte by the arm and pull her to the side. "You should've waiting till after school and called her."<br/>
<br/>
"And what if Brooke was <i>with</i> Rachel when I called?" she retorts. "We <i>have</i> to take some chances."<br/>
<br/>
"You just keep your other face hidden." You brush your bangs away from your forehead meaningfully. "Call me when you're on your way to the library. I'll bring Wendy's mask along."<br/>
<br/>
Her face darkens. "So you're saving Kelsey for Sarah."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not saving anyone for anyone. After Brooke it'll be Deanna or Megan or ... I don't know. Whoever is easiest to get."<br/>
<br/>
Lotte just snorts. "Whatever. I'll give you a call."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Your mood is not improved when Sarah corners you on the way to the parking lot. "Need a ride?"<br/>
<br/>
"Lucy's picking me up," you say. <br/>
<br/>
"Well, what are you doing this afternoon? I need to talk to you about a new member."<br/>
<br/>
That catches your attention. "I think we've got enough. And, anyway, I thought you weren't totally on board with us.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, maybe she could take my place. Anyway, I've already talked to her. She's basically in."<br/>
<br/>
You gape. "You already <i>told</i> someone else?"<br/>
<br/>
"The subject just came up," she says unhappily.<br/>
<br/>
"How does the topic of--" You catch yourself and drop your voice. "How does the topic of body-swapping just 'come up'?"<br/>
<br/>
"You'd be surprised. But I told her I'd talk to you about it. Morgana cleared it."<br/>
<br/>
You snort, and make a mental note to remind Morgana that <i>you</i> are in charge. "And who is it?" you ask, dreading the answer.<br/>
<br/>
"Maggie Crenshaw."<br/>
<br/>
You start. "The softball player?" Sarah nods. "And why is she interested in changing places?" Maggie is pretty and athletic.<br/>
<br/>
"She was complaining about the girls' teams not getting any attention and respect. She wants to be on one of the boys' teams."<br/>
<br/>
You stagger back a step. "So what did you tell her?" you ask faintly.<br/>
<br/>
"That there were ways. Look, maybe it wouldn't fit into your plans anyway--"<br/>
<br/>
"<i>Who does she want to be?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Jason Lynch."<br/>
<br/>
You close your eyes and the world reels. "That really <i>doesn't</i> fit in with my plans," you say slowly.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, she knows all about us now." Sarah shrugs uncertainly. <br/>
<br/>
"I'm busy this afternoon," you finally say. "And I'd have to think about it." Sarah opens her mouth to speak, but you preempt her. "Just string her along for a day or two. I have to go now. I suddenly have a massive headache." Abruptly, you turn on your heel and leave her behind.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Are you back with us?" you ask Wendy. She straightens up and gives her head a quick shake. "How many fingers am I holding up?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm okay," she says impatiently. "Just a little dizzy is all."<br/>
<br/>
"All right." You glance around to make sure you are not being observed. You and Wendy and Lotte are in the municipal library, back in the stacks, and well hidden from view. "Now that we've got rid of Brooke, let's see if we can bring her back. Crook up your hand like this." Wendy awkwardly mimics the odd position of your right hand. "Now move it around like this." She follows your motion. "Now do the same thing, but this time press your fingertips against your forehead."<br/>
<br/>
She complies, but nothing happens. Patiently, you lead her through the steps two more times, and on the third try are reward as her visage briefly blurs. And now Brooke Galloway--long face; big, serious eyes; brunette hair--is standing before you. "Excellent," you murmur. "And what's your name, sweetheart?"<br/>
<br/>
Her eyes widen. "I'm Brooke Galloway." A little smile appears on her face. She pulls at a strand of hair. "Yeah, I'm definitely Brooke."<br/>
<br/>
A motion catches your attention, and glance over in time to see a similar blur replace Lotte with Rachel Burton. "Not much of a study session, was it?" she smirks.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, it had its benefits," Brooke replies with a smirk of her own. "But I couldn't wait to get away." She giggles. "I said I had to help my mother, but I'm meeting a boy."<br/>
<br/>
"Who?" Rachel asks breathlessly.<br/>
<br/>
"Drew Donaldson."<br/>
<br/>
"That college guy we met at the party?" Rachel squeals. "In the bomber jacket?" Brooke nods, and the two grab hands and jump in place excitedly.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, that's enough," you interrupt. "Brooke, can you get us to Kelsey or Deanna or someone?"<br/>
<br/>
"Pick your poison," she replies. "The real Brooke'll be tied up all evening with tall, dark, and broad-chested.<br/>
<br/>
You should take advantage of Brooke's preoccupation. But you also have Maggie to deal with.</span></div></div>


path: 11222112121112212112111
author_id: seuzz
title: Witches and Bitches Three
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"We need to get Megan, if we're going to be certain of getting into that party." You say this not just for the benefit of the others, but because you're thinking aloud. "Is that doable?" You look over at Brooke/Wendy.<br/>
<br/>
"Totally," she shrugs, then makes a little face. "Although, really, Megan just does whatever we tell her to."<br/>
<br/>
"Who's 'we'?" you ask as you lead them out of the stacks. <br/>
<br/>
"Kelsey and Deanna and ... me." <br/>
<br/>
She sounds a little uncertain with that last pronoun, and you cast a skeptical glance over your shoulder. "Meaning, Kelsey and Deanna make the decisions, and you back them up."<br/>
<br/>
"It's not like that," she protests. "They make the best decisions is all."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, give it up, Brooke," Rachel/Lotte says. "I've watched you with them. You don't say anything until you see what they're going to say."<br/>
<br/>
Brooke looks a little hurt, then grabs at her pants as they start to slip down. "You want to change at my place," you offer. "Those clothes are a little big for you." Wendy was not a "small" girl, and Brooke is built like a broomstick. "We need to stop there anyway."<br/>
<br/>
"It's okay," Brooke says. "It's kind of nice to have my 'fat pants' falling off," she adds in a muttered aside.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Actually, the wardrobe problems are enough of an issue that she does change at your house; it's a little aggravating to see that even your clothes are a little too large for Brooke. (On the other hand, her boobs are nothing to brag about.) "Your parents are really nice," Rachel says as you leave the house. "I don't guess they know about, uh ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Of course they don't, and I'll kill you if you breathe a word about it to them."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, I never would," Rachel says hastily. "I just mean, well ... I was wondering how ... you ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Yes?"<br/>
<br/>
"Never mind, it's none of my business."<br/>
<br/>
"Does Lucy know anything about this?" Brooke asks, seemingly oblivious to the cul-de-sac that her friend has just hastily backed out of.<br/>
<br/>
"No."<br/>
<br/>
"Huh. She just seems like she'd be a natural at something like ... all this."<br/>
<br/>
"Why? Because she's such a bitch?"<br/>
<br/>
Brooke says something in reply, but you're not paying attention, because you've just shocked yourself with what you've just said. <br/>
<br/>
<i>You only got into this business because you wound up rescuing Lucy from Aubrey Blackwell; and after erasing her memory and disposing of the magician, you took over the life of her sister because you were sentimental enough to want to stay close to her. But since then, being immersed in Cindy's own life and personality, and being subject to Lucy's, has left you reflexively acting and speaking as Cindy would. It's a little creepy, actually; the life of Will Prescott seems very far away and very long ago. Cindy's life is now the only one you know.</i><br/>
<br/>
"I'm sorry, what did you say," you ask, jerking yourself back into the present.<br/>
<br/>
"I only said this is a nice car," Rachel says from the back seat.<br/>
<br/>
"I like mine better," says Brooke, who is driving.<br/>
<br/>
"Isn't <i>this</i> your car," Rachel says playfully. "You're not <i>Brooke</i> yet."<br/>
<br/>
"I look just like her," Brooke says primly.<br/>
<br/>
"When are we going to make the switches," Rachel asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Later," you say. "Maybe at Megan's party. Wouldn't that be fun?"<br/>
<br/>
"But as long as we're collecting these masks, couldn't we just replace them now?" Brooke asks plaintively.<br/>
<br/>
"You want to be Brooke?" you ask. "Because right now I'm just letting you guys test things out. You can swap masks around, see who catches your fancy."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe we <i>can</i> wait," Rachel says. "It's a big step to make."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Yes it is,</i> you think to yourself. You wonder if these girls will fall as easily into their new lives as you've fallen into Cindy's--and whether they will come to miss their old lives.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You wait in the car, trying not to feel nervous, as your confederates disappear into Megan's house. It would seem odd if they showed up in the company of Cindy Vredenburg--it could lead to perplexed conversations at school, if Megan mentioned it to the real Brooke and Rachel--so they have gone into the house alone with Sarah's mask, to get a copy on their own. You don't have a lot of confidence in the girls, but try to reassure yourself that if <i>you</i> can get a mask onto and off a victim, surely they can. Nonetheless, you drum fingers nervously as you wait.<br/>
<br/>
And then, ten minutes later, you curse to yourself as they reappear, with Megan in their company, and advance on the car. <i>What the fuck?</i><br/>
<br/>
"We need you to do it," Brooke says as she gets in behind the wheel.<br/>
<br/>
"Why? What's going on? Can't you two--?"<br/>
<br/>
The back door opens. "Get in the back, Cindy," Brooke says roughly. "Let Megan take the front seat." Something cold touches your fingertips: the mask.<br/>
<br/>
You bite back a bad word and look back at Megan, who has taken the seat behind you. "Hi Megan," you say with sweet poison. "Switch with me?"<br/>
<br/>
"You don't have to," she starts meekly, but you've already opened the door. She also gets out, and edges past you like a mouse trying to get past a vengeful cat. You glare at Rachel, but it's dark in the back seat, and you can't even see if she's looking at you.<br/>
<br/>
"We just want Cindy to understand that she's not welcome at the party," Brooke says in that snobby tone that you've heard her use when she's trying to impress people. "And it would sound better if it came from <i>you,</i> Megan."<br/>
<br/>
Megan is silent. Then her head shifts a little. "Cindy," she says in a very weak voice.<br/>
<br/>
"You don't have to say anything, Megan," you snort. "I know what this is all about." You reach up around the headrest and press the mask onto her face. The shadow of her head bobbles and slumps. "Christ," you mutter, "can't you two handle your own dirty work?"<br/>
<br/>
"We couldn't just jump her inside," Brooke says, still in that snide voice. "Her parents were there, and she wasn't taking us up into her bedroom."<br/>
<br/>
"It's gonna be a hell of a thing if she mentions this to anyone at school."<br/>
<br/>
"She won't," Brooke says, and you can picture the look of contempt on her face. "I've had these little talks with her before."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, aren't <i>you</i> the perfect little enforcer. Jesus, and I thought Gloria and Kendra could be crude."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, it <i>worked,</i> didn't it?" Rachel says sulkily. "I mean, here we are."<br/>
<br/>
"You mean here <i>you</i> are." You open your door. "You explain her fainting fit to her when she comes to. When you're done, pick me up at the end of the street." You slam the door shut and stalk off down the sidewalk.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Brooke and Rachel are suitably muted when you rejoin them, and will only say that it "worked out." "Megan knows not to make waves," Brooke says.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, how about we see if you can pull it off with Kelsey," you retort.<br/>
<br/>
"We're going after Kelsey now?" Rachel blurts out.<br/>
<br/>
"We might as well get as many as we can," you reply as you pull the jar of sealant from your bag so you can seal up the "Megan" layer of Sarah's mask. "We'll put her in Sarah's mask too."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't you have another mask you can put it in?" Brooke asks.<br/>
<br/>
"What's wrong with Sarah's mask?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, she's not really on board with this scheme, is she?"<br/>
<br/>
"Is that why you're giving her Kelsey? So she'll play along?" Rachel chimes in.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not giving anybody to anybody," you say. "Christ, remember what I told you earlier? Anyway, if she's not on board, why is she recruiting new members?"<br/>
<br/>
The question is met with silence. "Who says she is?" Brooke asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Didn't she tell you she was talking to Maggie Crenshaw?"<br/>
<br/>
"No."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, she did talk to her, and now I have to figure out how to handle her <i>and</i> Maggie. What do you know about Maggie anyway?"<br/>
<br/>
"She's not really a friend of ours," Brooke says. "Of any of us. Of me or ... Brooke." You wonder if the "me" she first mentioned was really "Brooke" before she caught herself. "So would Maggie get to be Kelsey?"<br/>
<br/>
"Apparently she wants to be Jason Lynch."<br/>
<br/>
"Jason?!" "She wants to be a guy?" Their expostulations are simultaneous.<br/>
<br/>
"I know. Gross, isn't it?"<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't know we could choose to be guys," Rachel says.<br/>
<br/>
You turn to look at her. "Are you saying <i>you'd</i> be a guy?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, no," she says hotly. "I mean-- It would have to be the right guy. Someone ... cute."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh?" you lilt. "And who is 'cute'?"<br/>
<br/>
"Never mind," she says.<br/>
<br/>
"Laurent Delacroix?"<br/>
<br/>
"I said 'never mind'!"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, I know," you laugh. "Anthony Kirk!"<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up!"<br/>
<br/>
"Look, can we figure out where we're going?" Brooke says plaintively. "<i>Are</i> we going to Kelsey's?"<br/>
<br/>
Your anger has cooled somewhat, so you're less inclined to press your will upon them, especially as you've seen that Kelsey is still going to be a sore spot with the group. "Can you get us into Deanna's? Maybe Amanda's?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yikes, Amanda is scary," Brooke says. "I want to be wearing Kelsey's or Deanna's face before I walk into <i>that.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
That means it's Kelsey or Deanna as your next target.</span></div></div>


path: 112221121211122121121112
author_id: seuzz
title: The Deepening Plot
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Maybe we shouldn't try pushing our luck," you tell Brooke. "Just take me home. We'll get you changed back." <br/>
<br/>
Maybe they're relieved, because neither girl argues. On the other hand, they still seem vexed over possible team assignments. "You said something about us testing out different people," Rachel says. "I don't get how that's supposed to work."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, we keep putting faces inside your masks, until we get copies of all the people you might replace. Then we get together and switch the masks around, and everyone takes a turn being a different girl." You shrug. "Then we compare notes. Play rock paper scissors if there's argument. Or figure out a schedule for sharing."<br/>
<br/>
"But these masks also have <i>our</i> faces in them," Brooke says uncertainly. "Like, mine. Wendy's." She seems to say her own name with distaste.<br/>
<br/>
"So? You worried about invasion of privacy? You don't take each other's masks home or anything. I know a place we can hang out where we can spend a whole weekend if we want."<br/>
<br/>
"How many people are we going test out?" Rachel asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, there's you girls--Rachel and Brooke. Megan." You rub Sarah's mask. "Kelsey and Deanna. Amanda. I know she's scary, but that's what would make her a good catch. Maybe Kim Walsh."<br/>
<br/>
"I like Kim," Rachel says.<br/>
<br/>
"Everyone does. Like with Amanda, that's what would make her a good recruit."<br/>
<br/>
"That's, like, seven people," Brooke says. "And there's only five of us."<br/>
<br/>
"Four," you correct her. "You two and Sarah and Morgana. I'm not changing places."<br/>
<br/>
"And maybe not even Sarah," Brooke says. "Maggie might join, I guess, but if she wants-- Oh my God," she giggles again.<br/>
<br/>
"So we pick the best three. Or four, if Sarah stays in."<br/>
<br/>
"But where are we going to put the extra faces, the extra copies we'll be making to test?" Rachel says. "You've already got extra faces in my mask and Wendy's--"<br/>
<br/>
"We can put more than two faces inside a mask," you reply. "We can put in as many as we want. In fact--" An idea has occurred to you. "When you come in, take your masks off so I can set them up to take some more faces. If the two of you can get it together, you can trap some additional targets. Like, get Kim alone, get your mask onto her."<br/>
<br/>
"It's kind of scary," Rachel says. "I mean, you're good at jumping people, but you've always got us with you."<br/>
<br/>
"So work together." Their insecurities are making you tired. "Like, you guys do yourself up as Rachel and Brooke, then take Kim off alone. Have Morgana's mask with you. You get it onto and off Kim. Rachel and Brooke will take the blame if anything goes wrong."<br/>
<br/>
There's silence for a moment, and then Brooke chirps, "Oh, that's cool! That'll work!"<br/>
<br/>
You roll your eyes. "I'm so glad you think so." <br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It takes you about forty minutes to get their masks sealed up with a new layer and new mind bands placed, and you send them home with Morgana's mask as well, in case an opportunity to use it arises. "After you get a new face in there," you tell them before they leave, "bring it back to me, so I can put another layer in."<br/>
<br/>
"Can we use it before we bring it to you?" Wendy asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Sure. It doesn't need the new layer for you to use the latest face. It just needs a new layer to take a different face."<br/>
<br/>
It's late by the time they leave, but Lucy is home, and after your earlier reflections you decide to try connecting with her on a sisterly basis. But she's in one of her moods, and she quickly puts you out of sorts as well, and you just go to bed.<br/>
<br/>
As you lay in bed--a slim form gently enfolded by soft fabrics--you find yourself thinking about how your colleagues are collecting all the benefits of the mask. Well, you're benefiting too, but indirectly, as the queen of the coven. Still, your peculiar state--a boy under a mask of the girl who's supposedly running this conspiracy--means you're not getting a similar chance to try on different faces. It would take a little work to set up, but maybe you could contrive to join them in the fun. If you had a second mask, you could use it to capture images of Kelsey and Amanda and Deanna when you get those same images for one of your girls.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
If there are any repercussions for the real Megan and Brooke and Rachel after last night's shenanigans, they're not apparent to you as you draw up to their gaggle in the library before classes. They ignore you, and turn only when you speak. "Hi Deanna, got a moment," you say. She looks up at you with veiled disdain. "Have you ever thought about joining the cheerleader squad?"<br/>
<br/>
She blinks, and the other girls look at each other with startled eyes. "No," Deanna says.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, what with Chelsea's accident, we're short a girl. Would you be interested in joining?"<br/>
<br/>
"Um ... Not really," she says, and purses her lips.<br/>
<br/>
"Actually, that would make it perfect," you say. "See, to be totally honest, I don't want a permanent new member. I mean, what would Chelsea say if she heard I was trying to replace her?" Your laugh is very forced; the others also look amused, though not in a way that suggests they are amused by the exact same idea. "So, just while she's out, it would be nice to have a temporary replacement. I thought of you because, you know, she's been hanging around with you guys, so I figured she'd be cool with you doing this favor for her."<br/>
<br/>
"Have you talked to Chelsea about it?" Kelsey asks. Her tone jabs like a very blunt spear.<br/>
<br/>
"Not yet. I didn't think there was a point if you said no."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I'll think about it."<br/>
<br/>
"In that case, I will mention it to her. The sooner you decide, though, the better." You give her a warm smile, and turn away. Gales of laughter break out after you're gone. That's okay; the final joke will be on them.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You have a brief run in with your ex-boyfriend just before fifth period. You're squeezing through the halls when you hear his voice, and turn to find him pressing Keith Tilley up against his locker. It's not an unusual sight: Seth has persecuted Keith ever since middle school, but it is a shock (paradoxically) to find yourself regarding it numbly: Cindy never particularly cared about Seth's bullying ways. Maybe that's how come Will Prescott's psychology takes control, and you step over and put a hand on his shoulder. "Getting some exercise, Seth," you ask coolly.<br/>
<br/>
His eyes widen as he looks back at you. He looks over at Keith, and tightens his arm around the hapless Tilley's neck. "Just talking to a friend."<br/>
<br/>
"Is that what it is?" And then you catch Keith's eye.<br/>
<br/>
He's staring at you. More specifically, he's staring at your boobs. He swallows.<br/>
<br/>
Instantly, your concern for him vanishes. "Just checking," you say, and disappear back into the crowd.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
That chance encounter still preys on you, though, so you're startled when Deanna materializes at your locker when the final bell rings. "Give me a tryout," she says.<br/>
<br/>
You happily agree and lead her to the gym, where to your discomfort you find Chelsea waiting. She hobbles after as you lead Deanna into the changing room. "You should borrow my uniform, so we can get the full effect," you say. This would be the perfect opportunity to get a copy of Deanna into Sarah's mask, except for Chelsea's presence. The latter says nothing, though, and just smirks as Deanna changes, and then limps outside with the two of you, past the practicing basketball squad. <br/>
<br/>
Deanna doesn't show much natural grace on the grass, and she has little gymnastic ability, and she doesn't even fill out the uniform very well. But Chelsea pours on the praise. This puzzles you until you realize she's using your own scheme to ingratiate herself even further into Kelsey's group. You're tempted to let the tryout go on, so as to strain Chelsea's already feeble powers of encouragement, but soon cut it short. Luckily, Chelsea decides not to follow the two of you back into the changing room, and as Deanna is bending over to tie her own shoes you get the mask onto her. You cluck over her fainting spell after she recovers, but tell her that she's in.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Can you seal it up for me?" Lotte asks breathlessly as soon as she's inside your bedroom. She holds out her mask.<br/>
<br/>
"Got someone, huh? I'm impressed," you say. "It's not Kelsey, is it?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, just someone I got on my own," she says, and won't let go of the mask even after you've grasped the other edge. "I had a chance this afternoon after school, and I ... grabbed it." She turns very red.<br/>
<br/>
"Sure, just let me-- You have to let go of it." You tug again.<br/>
<br/>
"Um ... Can you seal it up without turning it over?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm a cheerleader, not an acrobat." You yank hard, and step back as it comes away in your hands.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay," she says, and hangs her head. "Just don't laugh or anything."<br/>
<br/>
<i>This is cute,</i> you think, <i>but why is she so--</i> You gulp as you turn the mask over: ROBERT GEOFFREY PRESCOTT. It's your brother: Will Prescott's brother.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 1122211212111221211211122
author_id: seuzz
title: Play Ball!
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"I don't even recognize the name," you say faintly over the roaring in your ears. "Let me just get the stuff." Dimly you're aware that you're feet don't want to work.<br/>
<br/>
"He's a friend of my brother's," Lotte says. "He was--"<br/>
<br/>
"It's none of my business." You can't seem to see clearly, for you're staring inside the dresser drawer and not seeing the special varnish. "He's someone you're ... thinking about ... replacing?" <i>Oh, there's the stuff.</i> You fumble at the jar.<br/>
<br/>
"No. I mean, not really ..."<br/>
<br/>
"What is he, a freshman?"<br/>
<br/>
"He's in middle school."<br/>
<br/>
"Then he's off limits. He can't possibly help us."<br/>
<br/>
"I guess not. I guess I was just practicing, you know, getting people."<br/>
<br/>
"You guess?" you say sharply, and then kick yourself. This is a horrifying conversation, and you don't know what is worse: getting answers or not getting them. Either way, you fill the ensuing silence with your own voice. "Okay, we'll put it down as an experiment. Just be careful. It'll look weird if you flick past his face while wearing a dress." You finish layering the varnish in, which has the gratifying effect of obliterating Robert's name. You turn and hand it back to her with a tight smile. <br/>
<br/>
Lotte is looking crushed. "I don't want you to think I'm a pervert or anything," she says in a small voice.<br/>
<br/>
"Lotte, honey, I don't want to think about it at all. I'm going to forget all about it. There are ways of doing that, you know." She does not look reassured, and with mumbled thanks leaves.<br/>
<br/>
And though you don't erase your memories of the afternoon's events, you do put them firmly behind you. Almost certainly you've scared Lotte off from doing anything that would worry you.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It's Friday evening: eight days until Megan's party, and you spend the night getting in touch with your various acolytes. Your first call is to Gloria, to see how she's holding up. "Maintaining," she says.<br/>
<br/>
"Is that all? Details, girl."<br/>
<br/>
"No details. Everyone is treating me like shit, and not just Chelsea and her crew."<br/>
<br/>
"I noticed at practice. But what's this about everyone else?"<br/>
<br/>
"I think they still think I'm Chelsea's spy. No one wants to talk to me. Except some of the guys." She pauses. "Chris Ratliff has been kind of sweet."<br/>
<br/>
"Encourage him. We should start making guys like him the new 'popular crowd'." She says nothing. "You know, you don't have to stick it out as Gloria. We're scoping out lots of possibilities."<br/>
<br/>
She asks after some names, and grunts over them. "I suppose the new girls have been laying claims."<br/>
<br/>
"You get precedence," you promise. <br/>
<br/>
"Maybe I'll wait and see who the final candidates are," she says. You leave her with that gnomic comment.<br/>
<br/>
After that, it's Kendra: "You are making <i>waves,</i>" she gasps.<br/>
<br/>
"You heard about Deanna's tryout?"<br/>
<br/>
"Was she really as bad as Chelsea says she was?"<br/>
<br/>
"Chelsea thought she was terrific."<br/>
<br/>
"That's not what she was telling me and Maria," Kendra giggles. <br/>
<br/>
"Well, keep it under your coiffure. It'll be a useful tidbit to let slip after we need a reason to bust up their friendship."<br/>
<br/>
"Like it's a real thing," Kendra says. "I can tell Kelsey and her friends are all rolling their eyes behind Chelsea's back."<br/>
<br/>
"Nice. Say, is it my imagination or has Jason Lynch been paying extra special attention to you lately?"<br/>
<br/>
"Ugh," she says. "Chelsea keeps telling me to be nice to him, too."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, what would you say to conceiving a 'thing' for him?"<br/>
<br/>
"Are you serious?" she cries.<br/>
<br/>
"I have to talk to Maggie Crenshaw," you tell her, and explain about Maggie's looming involvement with the team. "So, you see," you wind up, "it might be useful if you and Jason became an item."<br/>
<br/>
"Can't you put her in for Steve?"<br/>
<br/>
"I have the impression it has to be a baseball player."<br/>
<br/>
"Thing is, you know, Jason is really unpopular with Chelsea. She can't stand him."<br/>
<br/>
"At least she and I agree on one thing. Oh, wait, I've heard she also doesn't like cauliflower."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, since they're already so cold toward each other, I just don't see the advantages of bringing Jason in."<br/>
<br/>
You drum your fingers on the desk. "Well, if Jason and Chelsea got in a fight, and then you went off to be Jason's girlfriend ..." It's grasping at straws, and maybe you don't really mean it, so you cut yourself off.<br/>
<br/>
"I'll do whatever you need me to do, Cindy," Kendra says mournfully.<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno, maybe the thing with Maggie will be a non-starter. I just wanted to give you a head's up."<br/>
<br/>
And then you make the call you've been dreading.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"She's just asleep," you explain to Maggie, who is regarding the unconscious Sarah with a slightly aghast expression. "It kind of knocks you out."<br/>
<br/>
She gives you a slightly fearful glance: one that seems to mix apprehension about what is happening with apprehension about <i>you.</i> You try to smile back reassuringly.<br/>
<br/>
Maybe she thinks it's a trick, for she creeps up close to Sarah--who is sprawled on her own bed--and gingerly pokes her in the cheek. "Yes, it really did go into her," you softly say. Again, Maggie gives you a hooded look.<br/>
<br/>
You don't know her that well, except by reputation as the closest thing to a "star player" that the third-rate girls' softball team has. She's tall and leggy and has sheets of blonde hair. She could be pretty, except for the slightly protuberant eyes and a tendency to let her mouth hang open. She still sports a very nice summer-time tan.<br/>
<br/>
The poke may have hastened Sarah's awakening, for her eyes flutter open even as Maggie is straightening back up. She sits up and blinks, and then looks down over her breasts to her hands and feet. She frowns. "I thought you said the mask would turn me into Deanna."<br/>
<br/>
"It has two images in it, Sarah," you explain. "Yours and Deanna's. If you want to switch--" You take her hand in yours and press it into the claw-like shape prescribed by the spell. "Now, move it around like this." You show her, and let her practice a few times. "Now put your hand up to your forehead--"<br/>
<br/>
She executes the move, and for an instant she looks like she's standing under a waterfall as her features melt and run. And then it's Deanna Showalter sitting on Sarah McDonald's bed.<br/>
<br/>
Sarah's head jerks back; and Maggie takes three big steps backward and crashes against the wall. "I told you to keep a grip," you gently chide her before turning back to Sarah. You sit on the bed next to her and lean in. "Are you in there, Sarah?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes," she says thickly, and her brow crinkles darkly. She stares at you, and then her features smooth out, though without losing any of their suspicion. "Deanna is in here too." A glint comes into her eyes. "Or maybe I should say that Sarah is in here with <i>me.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
She looks just like Deanna, even down to that maliciously amused expression. "But who's in charge," you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"I am, and I know how to keep a secret, Cindy," she says. Her eyes shift, and you follow them to see Maggie leaning in as though examining a cobra. "Boo," Sarah says playfully.<br/>
<br/>
Maggie doesn't flinch, but her nostrils flare. You hold your breath as she stares and stares and stares ... And then she straightens up. "If you can do that for me and Jason, you can count me in," she says smartly.<br/>
<br/>
It's your turn to blink. "Just like that?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just like that. How do we get rid of the original?"<br/>
<br/>
"Through non-fatal means," you hastily assure her.<br/>
<br/>
"Make 'em fatal for all I care," she shrugs. "But how do I balance my life and his?" You explain about golems, and she nods curtly. "When can we do it?"<br/>
<br/>
This is all going very fast, and you stutter that you'll have to see. Again she nods. There's some small talk, and then with a triumphant gleam in her eye she departs.<br/>
<br/>
You catch your breath afterwards, and look over to find Sarah--still as Deanna--staring gnomically at you. "You like being Deanna?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"I've been kind of a bitch," she says, and for a moment you're not sure if it is the Sarah or the Deanna side that's talking. "But I'll join up with you <i>if</i> you let me name my position."<br/>
<br/>
"And what's that?" Your heart sinks. "Kelsey?"<br/>
<br/>
"Jason's girlfriend."<br/>
<br/>
"Jason hasn't got a-- Ohhhh." You try to mask your surprise. "You have a thing for Jason?"<br/>
<br/>
"Jason?" she echoes. "No. Not unless or until--" Her eyes flick over at the door that Maggie shut behind her.<br/>
<br/>
A very audible click goes off in your head. "I see," you say slowly.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not a dyke," Sarah says hotly--an amusing thing for the Deanna dead-ringer to say. "I like ... boys. And if Maggie is going to be a ... boy ..." Her jaw clenches. "Don't judge me."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not judging anyone," you say lightly. "I'm glad you told me. I want to make you happy. Of course, we'll have to find out Maggie's inclinations, after she's got Jason--"<br/>
<br/>
"Can't you make her pick a certain girlfriend?"<br/>
<br/>
Well, Kendra is a possibility.</span></div></div>


path: 11222112121112212112111221
author_id: seuzz
title: An Adventure at the Mall
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Everyone gets to be happy," you tell Sarah. "That includes Maggie. So let's just see what makes her happy after the switch." An irate voice calls from outside. "Better change back," you say, and Sarah clumsily fumbles a hand in front of her face. "I'll see myself out. But keep your phone on."<br/>
<br/>
You pass Mrs. McDonald in the hall; she frowns at you and mutters, "I thought you'd gone. Sarah!" You beat a hasty retreat.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
What you'd told Sarah was true enough: Maggie should pick her own "girlfriend," if she is so inclined. But you didn't add the more pressing thought: Cindy has long suspected that there is something peculiar about Jason's relationship with Gordon, though Gordon seems oblivious to the extraordinary devotion that Lynch shows toward him. There are lots of other little cues that she has picked up on--the neat clothes, the evidence of careful primping, the skill at making wounding remarks--none of which decisively suggest anything, but which collectively create a very subtle but unmistakable <i>impression.</i> You also find it revealing that Chelsea can't stand Jason: as though she suspects that he is her <i>rival</i> in some sense. Jason has never been known to really date anyone--a fact easily explained by his psychotic bullying--but if he is just not that interested in girls ... Well, if Maggie gets inside his skin, would the new hybrid be any more interested?<br/>
<br/>
Better to string Sarah along.<br/>
<br/>
When you call her later that evening you firmly avoid the earlier subject, and ask her to hide someplace and switch back into Deanna. After she's gotten herself locked in the bathroom, you ask her about any plans Deanna and her friends have for the weekend.<br/>
<br/>
"We're supposed together at Megan's tomorrow around lunchtime to talk about the party," she says. <br/>
<br/>
"Is Amanda part of 'we'?"<br/>
<br/>
"She's invited to the party, but she's not helping to plan it."<br/>
<br/>
"Do you have any idea what she might be doing tomorrow?"<br/>
<br/>
"Not a clue. Unless we all-- they all go up to the mall. She might show up for that kind of expedition."<br/>
<br/>
"Huh. That might be worthwhile for all of us," you muse. "Tell your mom you'll be busy tomorrow from eleven o'clock until you don't know when."<br/>
<br/>
"I wish <i>you'd</i> tell her," Sarah grumbles. Even "Deanna" sounds daunted by Mrs. McDonald.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You double-check the alarm before going to bed, and are rewarded with an early wake up. After doing your early-morning workout you borrow your dad's car and drive out to Blackwell's. He's still in his dressing gown when he opens the door with an oily smile. "It's been such a long time, my dear," he says. "Is your sister with you by any chance?"<br/>
<br/>
"You've been dying for the chance to make that wisecrack, haven't you?" you retort as you push past him. "Get dressed. I need to make six more masks, and <i>you</i> need to go out and get supplies."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm well ahead of you," he says, and you turn in surprise. "I thought you might be in the market for some more supplies, so I bought a large stock some days ago."<br/>
<br/>
"You might have told me." <br/>
<br/>
"There are limits even to <i>my</i> servile devotion," he murmurs with a satirical bow. "They are upstairs. You've only to put them together."<br/>
<br/>
"And for you to polish. I need six, and you have six days to get them all done." His face falls in horror. "I'll get started so <i>you</i> can get started."<br/>
<br/>
"Will you be needing six or only five?" he asks as he follows you up the main staircase. "There was <i>one</i> blank left in this house, which I have dutifully polished over the last week."<br/>
<br/>
"Aubrey, you have least half a boy scout buried under all that fat. Don't let him escape. You just bought yourself an extra day." Again, he bows.<br/>
<br/>
He disappears into his bedroom to dress while you go up to the third-floor workroom, where you spend the better part of ninety minutes making five new masks. Back downstairs you have Blackwell prop himself up on the sofa, and you pull the mask off him. Cindy Vredenburg--the original--appears. <br/>
<br/>
You pause, wondering what she would think if she could see all that you have done in and for her life. Would she be pleased or appalled? Grateful or horrified if you offered to give it to her in its current state? Of course, you are wearing a copy of her own head, but it's hard to gauge what she would think from that, for you've been using her brain to think your own thoughts. You wince at the thought that maybe you've tarnished and polluted her own personality.<br/>
<br/>
Before you can grow morbid, you put the blank mask to her face. It will, of course, only copy her memories up to the point that you replaced her, but you've got your own memories to guide you over those gaps. Then, after putting Blackwell's face back onto Cindy, you retreat into one of the unused bedrooms, for you're shy enough that you don't want even the fake Blackwell to see you in your "natural" state when you take off the old Cindy mask. Into it you put a layer of the "chameleon" varnish, and put it in your purse. You then don the new mask of Cindy.<br/>
<br/>
You feel great satisfaction as you leave: Five masks are now being constructed, for the permanent switches involving Lotte, Wendy, Sarah, Morgana, and Maggie. You have a fully charged Cindy mask with a chameleon layer, into which you can now add an image for your own use. Now if only the rest of the day goes according to plan ...<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
By eleven thirty you're all at the mall food court. "Time to go shopping," you chirp.<br/>
<br/>
They look at each other in bemusement. "Really," Lotte says. "Don't get me wrong, um, but--"<br/>
<br/>
"Not for <i>you,</i>" you chortle. "For your <i>other selves.</i> You got your masks like I told you? Then go find a changing room, switch your faces, and then look for an outfit that goes with that face."<br/>
<br/>
No one says anything for a few seconds, and then an excited "Wooo!" goes up, and they all scamper away. "Call me when you find something," you say as you hurry along after them. "You'll have to pay me back, but today it's going on my credit card." That elicits another "Woooo!"<br/>
<br/>
Except from Morgana, who hasn't got an alternate face in her mask. You grasp her by the hand. "Don't worry, I'm not shopping either. I'll hang out with you."<br/>
<br/>
"Why haven't you got one for me yet?" she says.<br/>
<br/>
"With luck, we'll get you Kelsey today."<br/>
<br/>
"For real?" Her eyes nearly pop.<br/>
<br/>
"No, just a copy. But that'll be fun."<br/>
<br/>
The promise makes her amiable, and her amiability makes you amiable until Deanna and Brooke exit their dressing rooms. Then the third door opens, and Robert Prescott sticks his head out.<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus!" you explode. His eyes go wide as you leap at him. "I told you to keep that thing turned off!"<br/>
<br/>
"I just didn't get it changed all the way when I heard--" You push him hard back into the changing stall. He trips, falls backwards, puts his hand out to break his fall, and-- "Aaaooooogghhhhhh!" His howl of pain--a familiar sound that comes rushing back to you--bounces off the walls. He holds his hand up, and it dangles limply.<br/>
<br/>
"You're not hurt," you say roughly. "Change back."<br/>
<br/>
"But this is the hand I use," he protests, holding out the twisted flipper. He tries clenching it, but gives up with a whimper.<br/>
<br/>
"Use your other hand." That one can't seem to get it, and your own attempts to flip the mask are equally fruitless. "Then you'll just have hide here until your hand feels better."<br/>
<br/>
"I can't sit here like this!" he exclaims. Yes, he's in a dress.<br/>
<br/>
Cursing, you stomp back into the clothing store's main floor and grab up a pair of pants and a t-shirt and toss them into the changing room. "Stay out of sight!" you order.<br/>
<br/>
Morgana looks at you palely as you join her out front again, and you shake your head at her inquiries. She tries making small talk, but you're not in the mood. <i>Stupid Lotte. Why did she even try to get him? Why did </i>he<i> have to be the one who was available to be gotten?</i> You glare into the store: having gotten tired of hiding, Lotte/Robert has slunk out and is furtively looking through the racks of clothes.<br/>
<br/>
Twenty minutes later Deanna summons you to a different store to pay for some jeans and a top, and when that's done Brooke calls you to another store. As you stride back over to Lotte, you see behind her that Robert has left the safety of the store ... and is leaning against a wall talking to a kid his own age: one of Robert's friends, probably!<br/>
<br/>
You are volcanic with anger as you approach. "What part of 'stay hidden' don't you understand?" He turns toward you and does a double take--but there is no recognition, let alone guilt in his eyes. You blink. At that moment another familiar voice calls his name, and with a perplexed backward glance at you, he dashes off to join Martha Prescott: his mother, and yours.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Crap. The real Robert is also at the mall.</i> Now you'll just have to go rip Lotte's mask off her before the doppelgangers meet up.<br/>
<br/>
But then your eye falls on his erstwhile friend, who is brazenly looking you up and down with a grin. You don't recognize him, but you are seized with the urge to grab a copy of him, as the nearest connection to your old life that you can get.</span></div></div>


path: 112221121211122121121112211
author_id: seuzz
title: Face-Flipping Follies
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You don't much like the looks of this kid: He's dressed in baggy, shapeless clothes and has kind of a stoned expression, and you <i>really</i>| don't like the frank way he's staring you up and down.  Maybe it's because he's being so crude that you get pissed, and almost before you know it you've drawn out your chameleon mask and jammed it onto his surprised face.<br/>
<br/>
Luckily, he's been leaning against one of those walls that covers up a couple of vacant store fronts, and there's little foot traffic and no one around as he slides down to the floor. It's still an exposed empty space, though, so you kneel down in front of him to shield the sight as best you can, and prop his legs up so that it will hopefully look like you're just having a fairly intense conversation with a kid who is slumped on the floor. Still, you are highly conscious of it when footsteps approach and retreat.<br/>
<br/>
When the mask reappears you scoop it up and walk quickly away, again passing the puzzled Morgana and returning to the store where Lotte is. You eye the figure up and down to confirm that it is the disguised girl and not your brother again, then beckon her back to the changing stall. "How's the hand?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm thinking it might be busted."<br/>
<br/>
"Then we're just going to have to take the mask off you. Robert--the real Robert--is around. We shoulda done that to start with."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm really sorry, Cindy." You shoot her a sour glance, and do a double take: Lotte, in the guise of your own brother, is openly staring down the front of your blouse. "My face is up here," you say through gritted teeth.<br/>
<br/>
A gasp: "I didn't mean--!"<br/>
<br/>
"That thing is bad news all around." You grab the sides of his face with both hands and yank before you remind yourself you're only supposed to grasp the brow gently. You mutter the words and pull, and Lotte falls back onto the bench. You drop the mask with a ringing blow next to her and exit, shaking your head.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Sarah and Wendy--as themselves but in their new clothes--have joined you and Morgana at the corner of the food court when Lotte reappears. "I think my hand is okay now, Cindy," she says, and waves it about. "It feels totally fine. Can we--?"<br/>
<br/>
"We'll check it out later. You guys want something to eat? My treat, again."<br/>
<br/>
"What's with all the sudden generosity?" Sarah asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Haven't I been generous up to this point?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, I didn't mean you-- Well, you haven't been <i>buying</i> us stuff," Sarah says lamely. <br/>
<br/>
"Like I think I said, you guys will pay me back. Kelsey and Megan definitely have more money than me. But we need to kill at least an hour, and we might as well eat."<br/>
<br/>
"What are we waiting for?" Wendy asks.<br/>
<br/>
"You'll know it when you see it," you reply. Sarah's eyes narrow, and she grunts with a knowing suspicion.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
And your hunch pays off a little after one when Kelsey, Deanna, Brooke, Amanda Ferguson, and Megan breeze into the mall. They enter the food court but do not approach any of the shops, contenting themselves with standing in a little knot while chatting and laughing. They're not far away--certainly they can see you and your friends--but they make no sign of recognition. Instead, they jabber and they point and they even seem to argue a little, and then with smiles divide into two groups: Kelsey and Deanna going off in one direction, and Brooke, Megan, and Amanda going in the other. "That's our cue," you say, rising but motioning the other girls to stay seated. You step into the middle of the mall and watch both groups of retreating girls, until you spot the stores they've gone into.<br/>
<br/>
"Sarah, Wendy, go step into that corner over there and change into Megan and Brooke. And here, take this with you." You press Morgana's mask into Wendy's hands. One of you get Deanna away from Kelsey, and the other of you get that mask onto Kelsey. Once you've got it back, beat it back into the changing stall, or at least out of sight, and switch back to yourselves and come back here. I'll try to keep the others distracted so they don't interrupt you." Wendy and Sarah exchange excited glances, and do as you direct.<br/>
<br/>
"What about us," Lotte asks, gesturing at herself and Morgana.<br/>
<br/>
"You'll come with me." You stand close to Lotte, shielding her face from any passersby, and put the mask back onto her. Again, Robert appears. He grimaces as he raises his crippled hand to his forehead, and the first two attempts are futile, but the third time is the charm, and Lotte's own face briefly reappears before shifting over to Rachel. You gesture her and Morgana to follow you.<br/>
<br/>
Your targets are in a Western-themed clothing store, whose layout is the kind with lots of high circular racks clogging the floor space. You smile and greet the group cheerily; they are more subdued, especially Brooke, whose face falls when she sees Rachel. "I thought you were on a date," she says with an ugly bluntness.<br/>
<br/>
Your disguised confederate freezes, and to your consternation looks over at you for guidance. "Oh my God, Rachel, don't tell me I ruined something for you," you quickly improvise.<br/>
<br/>
There's a moment's awkward silence, and then Amanda speaks. "You probably saved her," she says acidly. "Apparently she can't tell <i>anyone</i> no."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Well, this is unfortunate.</i> You hope Sarah and Wendy haven't walked into an equivalent surprise. "Well, here we are," you say lamely, then pretend to spot something on the other side of the store. "Oh, Amanda, you have to come look at this," you say, and hustle her away from the others. It's not your preferred tack, as Rachel/Lotte has the mask you intend for Amanda, but it's a first step toward separating the group. You snatch up a frock and hold it against Amanda's chest. "I think this would be perfect for you."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh God, Cindy, just say what you want to say to me."<br/>
<br/>
You bite your lip. "I <i>didn't</i> ruin anything, did I?" you ask in a small voice.<br/>
<br/>
"Not yet, but the afternoon is young, and you've got <i>talent.</i>" She glances back at the others, and you follow her gaze. Brooke has an ugly look on her face and appears to be talking with quiet fury to a stricken Rachel. Megan shifts on her feet, then hurries over to join you and Amanda. But then her eyes meet yours, and she stops in her tracks.<br/>
<br/>
You beckon her over. "Actually, you're the person I wanted to talk to," you say. Amanda's head swivels between you and her, and then she strides back over to where Brooke and Rachel are. Brooke sees her coming, and disengages to stomp over to join you and Megan. You don't know why it all happened, but the separation tactic seems to have worked. "Megan," you continue desperately, "I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry for what happened the other night. Um--" You suddenly realize this is the wrong subject matter, for Megan is giving Brooke a shifty-eyed glance: As far as Megan remembers, it was Brooke who caused that awful scene in the car, and you wonder what has been said (to everyone's confusion) about it since. "Anyway, I just want us all to be friends. Or, at least, friendly."<br/>
<br/>
"Thank you, Cindy," she says quietly. "It's nice to know that <i>some</i> people can be mature after the fact." If this is a veiled thrust at Brooke, the latter doesn't pick up on it.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, let's look and see what we can find," you say brightly, trying to hold the girls' attention, for behind their back, only two dozen yards away, Rachel has mugged Amanda from behind with a mask, and the two of them have sunk out of sight. You babble with only bare coherence about this and that while the others listen with stony acquiescence. Your heart hammers in your chest the whole time, but Rachel and Morgana reappear a few minutes later, and after catching your eye they dash for the exit. "I think Amanda just scared those guys away," you say, minding the abrupt non sequitur less than you should, because it gives you an excuse to vamoose. You shove the dress your holding back onto a rack and practically run out the door after them.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Whatever has transpired between the real Brooke and the real Rachel is still a mystery afterward, though Lotte tells you Brooke was horribly angry. Wendy and Sarah also had a quasi-farcical experience, but it was a funnier and less fraught affair. You're just glad that it's over with. "No more copying," you gasp. "I can't go through with that kind of thing again."<br/>
<br/>
Lotte at least laughs. "Oh come on, you had the easiest job of it!"<br/>
<br/>
"We'll get together tomorrow to go over what we've got," you continue, and give them Blackwell's address. "Then we'll figure out if we move early, or if we wait for the party."<br/>
<br/>
"Do it at the party?" Wendy cries. "That'll be even crazier!"<br/>
<br/>
"More fun, you mean," Lotte chortles.<br/>
<br/>
You dismiss them, but Sarah lingers after the others have gone. "What about Maggie?" she bluntly asks. <br/>
<br/>
"We'll talk tomorrow," you repeat. Your nerves really are still jangling, and you don't want to think about pulling off another substitution real soon. You wave her a firm goodbye and get in your car.<br/>
<br/>
On the drive back, though, your mind keeps going back to the copy of Robert's friend. Things seem to be well in hand: tomorrow's meeting should be just pro forma. Maybe you can risk taking the next week off by stepping into that friend's life for a few days. You and Robert always fight, but today's run in with him forces you to recognize that you really do miss him--and your own family.</span></div></div>


path: 1122211212111221211211122112
author_id: seuzz
title: The Backwards Age
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>The next day's meeting could have degenerated into a hen party--full of gossip and bickering and creepy playacting as the masks and go on and come off and change and shift--but you're under a self-imposed deadline, so you run it briskly. The final list of targets and assignments: Lotte gets Deanna; Wendy gets Amanda. Morgana is unhappy with Megan, but is mostly placated when you pull her aside--under the pretext of getting drinks from the kitchen--and tell her that Sarah's assignment as Kelsey might not be permanent, and if it isn't, Kelsey's mask will go to her. You tell Sarah the same thing: "If you want to be close to Maggie, you'll have to wait until she's got Jason. Kelsey might not be her choice as a companion." Sarah dutifully nods.<br/>
<br/>
You end by telling them that nothing will happen until the day before the party at the earliest, and that they just need to wait. "And there better not be any crises this week," you warn them. "Because I won't be there to solve them."<br/>
<br/>
"Where are you going?" Morgana asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Deep undercover. That's all you need to know. Cindy Vredenburg will still be at school, but it won't be me. She'll be a fake, and she won't be able to help you. In fact, she's going to ignore you, for the most part." The girls all look at each other. "If something really important comes up, she can get a message to me. But try not to do anything that makes you have to." There are murmurs of agreement, but they are disquieted ones, and you briefly consider changing your mind.<br/>
<br/>
But you don't.<br/>
<br/>
It's one-thirty by the time the others leave, which gives you between thirty minutes and an hour (maybe) to make your intended substitution. Upstairs you change into sweatpants, a loose t-shirt, and ratty running shoes, then run your hand across your face to double-check that the clothes still fit. The world grows slightly larger as Casey Sennik's face materializes in the bathroom mirror.<br/>
<br/>
It's not an unhandsome face, but it is an unhappy one, with heavy, drooping eyelids and small, soft bags under the eyes; brown hair curls behind the ears, and you have to push the floppy bangs onto either side of your forehead with a clumsy hand. This is not actually the best persona to use to "visit" your brother, you discovered yesterday when you tried it out. Casey is not one of Robert's friends; rather, he is one of his persecutors. But it'll have to do. You change back over to Cindy, and go down to the car.<br/>
<br/>
It's a thirty minute drive out to the Suffolk Wilderness, the nature preserve where you are likely to find your quarry. Mr. Quincy is running an extra-credit nature hike for his eighth grade science class, but has made it mandatory for the low-scoring troublemakers, a class of student that emphatically includes Casey. There is a good chance that Casey will duck it anyway, but it's the best gamble you can take.<br/>
<br/>
It's a big area, and after twenty minutes of hiking in you're beginning to doubt that even middle school boys would be making enough noise for you to locate them. But then you round a bend and find a stocky red-headed kid with lots of freckles, bending over a bush and sketching it into a notebook. He does a double-take and stands up as you approach. "Hey, are you out here with friends?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Huh? Oh, uh, sort of. Class trip."<br/>
<br/>
"On a Sunday?"<br/>
<br/>
"Extra credit." He is staring openly at you. "We're, uh, sketching interesting things we--" His arm jerks as he points to the bush. "We find."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I won't be here long enough for you to sketch me," you say with a smile. "Where are all your friends?"<br/>
<br/>
"Around." He swallows.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Great. That will either be a boon--finding Casey alone--or a bane if you can't find him at all.</i> You feel the red-head's eyes on your ass as you climb further up the path.<br/>
<br/>
More voices, and peering around a copse you see more boys and one girl, but not Casey. Following a hunch, you veer off the path and plunge down a steep slope until you reach a trough. <i>Target acquired.</i> He's sitting by himself on a felled tree, staring off at nothing. He turns at your footsteps, and like the other kid does a double take. He has even better reason to.<br/>
<br/>
"Hi, remember me from yesterday? At the mall?" You smile lazily at him; he only stares back with open-mouthed astonishment. "I took something from you." Still he stares, with a little more wariness, but neither flinches nor stands as you draw up directly in front of  him. "I came to trade you something in return." You bend over at the waist, letting your shirt drop down so he can stare directly at the full glory of Cindy Vredenburg's boobs, which dangle (from his perspective) directly below her angelic face.<br/>
<br/>
"What--?" His voice catches and breaks. "What-- What did you take?" He swallows.<br/>
<br/>
"Your face." You sweep a hand across your brow.<br/>
<br/>
His eyes are like mirrors, reflecting shock, astonishment and horror as Cindy's face changes into his own. You smash the other mask into him.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
From behind a large bush you watch as Cindy Vredenburg--in sweat pants and t-shirt--clambers back up the hill, and pull on your new clothes. Casey no longer has a child's body, but it's barely hitting puberty, and only the peach fuzz on his cheek, and the underarm and crotch hair, show that the changes have begun. His clothes--hand-me-downs--are also several sizes too large for him, and they accent the impression of a kid trying to impersonate a high school student: baggy cargo pants; a long t-shirt; another, impossibly big shirt whose hem falls halfway down your thighs and whose unbuttoned cuffs almost reach your fingertips. You top the sloppy ensemble with a ball cap that you turn backwards and press down after pushing your hair out of the way. Then it's back up the hill, pants bagging under your knees and cuffs catching under your heels.<br/>
<br/>
You avoid the sound of voices, though, and strike off into a clearing where you see Shane Bish leaning against a boulder. You twitch your fingers at him as you approach, and with a grimace he hands you a cigarette from his pocket. You expertly flick the lighter at its tip, suck a quick breath, and join him in propping up the rock.<br/>
<br/>
"You should cut down on those," Shane says peevishly. "My dad's gonna start missing them."<br/>
<br/>
"And what'll you do if he catches you stealing them, blame it on me?" You inhale deeply and flick off the burning ash.<br/>
<br/>
"I won't be able to get you any more, that's what'll happen."<br/>
<br/>
"It'll suck to be you, then. I won't be your friend." You look over at him: mashed up face under long, greasy bangs; freckles so dark they are almost black; chapped lips. "You're too ugly to hang out with." You look past his darkening expression and shade your eyes: a figure in a white pullover sweatshirt is picking its way along the path toward you.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, well," Shane sneers back, "you dress like a circus clown."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll remember you said that. Hey Milky!" you shout at the approaching figure. "If you wanna sketch some pansies, they're off that way, behind you."<br/>
<br/>
Jeff Mielke--the collar of whose dress shirt pokes up over the top of his pullover--glances at you and then looks down. He flushes, which makes his freckles stand out but his pallid copper eyebrows vanish. "Mr. Quincy says to come on, we're going up higher," he says. <br/>
<br/>
You take another drag on the cigarette, then brandish Shane's notepad. "I need to sketch some plant life. Show me your bush."<br/>
<br/>
Mielke winces and turns away. You leap after him and throw your arm around his shoulder--a bit of a stretch, since he's taller than you. He flinches, but keeps walking. "I'm just giving you shit, don't take it personal. D'jou know your eyebrows disappear when you get embarrassed? You should get some mascara from your sister, darken 'em up. You can bedazzle your vajayjay while you're at it." You pat his shoulder.<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up," he mutters.<br/>
<br/>
"I told you, I'm just givin' ya shit. Here, I'll share my cigarette with you." You take a huge drag, then shove the filtered end to his lips while blowing a cloud of smoke all over his head.<br/>
<br/>
"Fucker!" he gasps and jumps away, waving his hands all around. His wounded eyes are very wide as he coughs and glares at you. <br/>
<br/>
"Now Quincy will think you've been smoking too, so you better not fucking say anything about this." You point to the cigarette. "Hell, you might as well have a drag." You hold it out to him.<br/>
<br/>
"Just leave me alone," he shouts, and slaps the cigarette from your hand. You chuckle as you pick it up, and pluck the loose bits of dirt and grass from the filtered tip. You wet your finger and thumb and pinch the lit end. "Shit," you hiss. Your brother can put out a cigarette without flinching, but you've not had the practice yet. You pocket it for later.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, that was funny," Shane grins as you return. "What a fucking pussy."<br/>
<br/>
"Takes one to know one," you squeak. "That's what he'd say." You stand over Shane, who is still slouching. "Gimme your hat."<br/>
<br/>
"How come?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just cause."<br/>
<br/>
Shane grimaces and slowly hands it to you. You undo your belt, slide it through the hole at the back of the cap, and buckle up again, leaving Bish's cap hanging near your crotch. Let's see if he's brave enough to demand it back when the field trip is over.</span></div></div>


path: 11222112121112212112111221121
author_id: seuzz
title: Still Life with Jerk
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Okay Casey, let's see what you sketched," Mr. Quincy says wearily as you and Shane trudge up to the group.<br/>
<br/>
You look down into the palms of your empty hands. "Aw, shit, I musta left my pad back down there." You cock your head back down the hill.<br/>
<br/>
He lowers his chin and lifts an eyebrow. "And how did you manage that?"<br/>
<br/>
"I had to take a dump." You clutch your gut and make a grunting noise. "So I put it down. What," you add as his expression darkens and the others exchange veiled grins. "Bears do it."<br/>
<br/>
Quincy's jaw tightens. "Go get it and then come find us up the trail. Come on, guys." Mielke and McFarlin--the red-headed kid--and the others follow after, talking in low voices and casting quick glances back at you. Shane holds back, but at a sharp word from Quincy walks more slowly after.<br/>
<br/>
You snigger to yourself and go back down the hill. You hunt around the log where you found Casey and finally locate a pencil and notebook. Of course, it's blank.<br/>
<br/>
You light the cigarette again and suck at it. Casey's own memories and resentments press in on you, but they are balanced by your own suddenly vivid memories of what it is like to be in middle school. When you were in eighth grade you were much more like Jeff Mielke and his friends--a good kid, a reasonable kid, and a kid half-scared out of his wits by the trash students like Casey. And yet being inside Casey while having an outside perspective leaves you feeling sympathetic to him.<br/>
<br/>
You tap ash and absent-mindedly pluck at the voluminous t-shirt. His personality had hit almost at the moment you'd put the mask on for the first time, and you'd flinched back from the reflection. <i> Stupid babyface. You look like a stupid fucking kid. Short like one, too.</i> Andrew is almost a head taller than you, and Stivale looks like a high school senior already. Even fucking Mielke looks like he should be in high school. And your brother's in the army ...<br/>
<br/>
So you work out with Colin's old weight set and wear his old clothes, even though your mother complains, and none of it stops people from thinking you're still in sixth grade. Aunt Heather even gave you a fucking Lego set for your last birthday. Meanwhile you're exactly the right height so that when you're looking straight ahead while pushing through the halls at Schuyler Middle School you can see nothing except the girls' breasts.<br/>
<br/>
You groan and sit back on that log. Your peter is doing it again, and it's really got a sting in it as it snaps up smartly. You tug at the loose folds of the pants so it won't get pinched, and the soft friction as your underwear rubs along it only excites it further, and it throbs with a soft, almost malicious longing. You don't need to take a shit, but you're all alone out here, so maybe you could take it out and ...<br/>
<br/>
You gnash your teeth and grab up the notebook. Fuck Quincy. You'll just pretend you couldn't find your note pad and then you couldn't find <i>him,</i> so you went back to the van. Your cock bobs and bends with discomfort as you scramble back up the hill, but eventually settles down. But you still curse softly to yourself all the way down the path. Back at the van you sit and with trembling fingers carefully sketch in the notepad, but the bushes you draw have nothing to do with plant life, and you devote almost as much attention to the thighs and abdomens and bellybuttons and asses that surround them as to the tufted patches themselves.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Quincy had just glared at you when he and the troop showed up down in the parking area. He wasn't surprised to find you there, since he'd sent Mielke on ahead to check on your whereabouts; but Jeff had just popped his head around the bend of the path long enough to confirm your presence at the van before running back like a good teacher's pet. In the back seat of the van, on the drive to the school, you'd sat with Shane and showed him your notebook, and the two of you had snickered.<br/>
<br/>
In the parking lot, though, Quincy had dismissed the others while ordering you to stay. "Let's see that notebook," he'd said in a heavy growl. You'd shrugged and handed it over, and stared up at him with an insolent truculence. His eyes had gotten very pinched when he saw the first page.<br/>
<br/>
But then they softened and grew thoughtful. He is still flipping through it now, and you feel your lips twitch with malicious amusement. Maybe <i>he's</i> getting stiff, and wondering which of his girl students have features answering to what you've sketched. You'd certainly relied a great deal on how you imagine Nicole and Sara and Erica and many others look underneath their panties.<br/>
<br/>
He sucks on his lower lip thoughtfully. "You actually have a good eye for anatomy, Casey," he says. "These are quite good."<br/>
<br/>
"I look at a lot of pictures," you say in a dully insolent tone.<br/>
<br/>
"I can tell," he dryly replies. "Are you in art class?"<br/>
<br/>
"No."<br/>
<br/>
"Do you like to draw?"<br/>
<br/>
"No."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't like to draw this?" He turns the notebook around and taps at your fantasy of a naked Stephanie McLean, drawn from the neck down to the knees, recumbent upon a stump with a fat tree limb protruding between her spread-eagled legs.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, <i>yeah,</i>" you say dismissively.<br/>
<br/>
"I'll tell you what I'll do," he says. "You flunked this assignment, but I'll loan you some books on anatomy. I'll mark some pages. If you copy those into a new notebook, I'll give you ten percent extra credit. You can also sketch some of <i>these</i> things among them. That way you can get some practice and it won't <i>look</i> like porn."<br/>
<br/>
"Pff." You take the notebook back. Then you shrug thoughtfully. "Yeah, okay." You're not going to let the fucker think you're impressed with his generosity. <br/>
<br/>
At the rack you disentangle your bike, then slide Shane's hat onto the handle bars next to the other trophies: the sunglasses taken from Shawn Sellers, and the baseball glove taken from Robert Prescott. You finger the latter thoughtfully. It used to be yours, and he never told you he'd lost it to a bully. <br/>
<br/>
You pull on your fingerless gloves, then straddle the bike and rocket into the street.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Andrew glances from the laptop to glare down at your notebook. "If I wanna look at that stuff I'll look at the real thing," he sneers. He pushes it away.<br/>
<br/>
"It's real," you retort. You tap the page. "That's Erica." He gives you a look and returns to typing at the keyboard. You lick a fingertip and waggle it in the air. "Drawn from life," you boast. "Gimme a dollar and I'll let you touch it."<br/>
<br/>
"Bullshit. When did you ever--" He frowns at the screen, then types some more. "Put that away."<br/>
<br/>
"Quincy liked it. He was, like, oh my God!" You gasp dully and roll your eyeballs back in their sockets. "He's gonna give me some pictures, let me sketch them for him."<br/>
<br/>
"I'd just take the pictures."<br/>
<br/>
"But he's gonna give me extra credit."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, well, I don't <i>need</i> extra credit."<br/>
<br/>
It's true, and hot resentment flares in you. Andrew is smart, and barely has to work to get good grades, which leaves him free to slack off and be cool and hang out with you and Shane and Michael Stivale. "Get Stephanie to come over and take her clothes off and I'll sketch <i>her</i> for you," you say softly. He blinks and turns slowly toward you. You return his stare while flipping the page. "That's the way I picture her," you continue, and his eyes flick down to the headless form and the stump. "Let's find out if I guessed right."<br/>
<br/>
He holds your eye, then pushes back from the desk and stands. You scramble to your feet and stare back, even though you have to tilt your chin sharply to meet his gaze. His eyebrows lower: it's the look he gives assholes like Mielke just before demolishing them in one of Mrs. Simmons' lightning rounds of "fact off" in social studies class. In a blur of speed he strikes at your chest, but you're ready, and grab his arms and pull him toward you in a grapple. Pressed together, you twist and grunt, straining for advantage. But he defeats you with his height, toppling you back onto the bed. He punches you hard in the stomach and then sits on you. "If you <i>ever</i> say anything like that again--" he growls.<br/>
<br/>
"Alright, pax," you gasp. "You made your point." He gets off and returns to his chair; you sit up. "But don't tell me you haven't wondered." Without turning, he flips you off. "What are you writing, anyway?"<br/>
<br/>
"A story for that contest."<br/>
<br/>
"Write me a story and I'll draw it," you say. "We'll make a comic book."<br/>
<br/>
"Write your own story," he snaps. "See Jane. See Jane take her shirt off. Jane has big boobs."<br/>
<br/>
Now anger <i>does</i> flare in you. You yearn to show this asshole: Show him up <i>and</i> make him respect you. It's like a stab in the gut: He's smarter than you, and he's stronger, and he's popular, and he's got a girlfriend already ... And god damn it you do like him.<br/>
<br/>
Well, you're working on a story too. You have the sudden urge to go home and do some work on it.</span></div></div>


path: 112221121211122121121112211212
author_id: seuzz
title: Faces Beneath Faces
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You pluck up your cap from where it's fallen and carefully return it to your head, then clasp your hands around your knees. "So, is Stephanie coming over?"<br/>
<br/>
"I said shut up."<br/>
<br/>
"Nah, I mean, is she coming over?"<br/>
<br/>
He types and types, then asks, "Why?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just wondering." You wipe your nose on a drooping sleeve. "You're really lucky, you know," you say quietly.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not lucky. I'm good."<br/>
<br/>
"And what am I?"<br/>
<br/>
"You're an asshole." Type type type. "A lotta the girls think you're cute, but you're an asshole. You'll never get lucky until you stop being one."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm just myself," you shrug.<br/>
<br/>
"You think you're bragging?"<br/>
<br/>
"Come on, lemme see what you're writing. I bet it's dirty." You bounce off the bed but he pushes you away. "Where did you even get an idea for a story?" you sneer.<br/>
<br/>
"From reading. If you read anything you'd get ideas too."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, fuck this. I came over because I wanted to do something, but--" He turns back to the laptop. "Fuck you." You linger a moment at the door, but he says nothing, and you rather lamely stomp out of the room, swearing under your breath. You give his mother--a short, fat, cheery soul--a nod of acknowledgement as she chirps out a "Goodbye, Casey!" and stalk out the door. You wheel your bike over to outside Andrew's window. "Hey, am I gonna see you tomorrow?" you yell. No answer. "Hey, I said, am I gonna see you tomorrow," you holler in an even louder voice. <br/>
<br/>
The window goes up and Andrew sticks his head out. "What are you yelling about?" he says peevishly.<br/>
<br/>
"I said, am I going to see you tomorrow."<br/>
<br/>
"It's a school day. Of course I will."<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, are we gonna hang out and stuff?"<br/>
<br/>
"Ye-ahh!" he says impatiently, as though you've just asked if he got an A on that last test.<br/>
<br/>
"Just checking." His head disappears and you mount the bike and steer off toward home. Andrew was a little more brusque than usual today, but apparently he was just distracted by that story.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Oh, there's my buddy," you say as you pull into your front yard. Sam, your old black lab, struggles to his feet and hobbles over, his lame hips wobbling painfully. He is almost blind, and his tail quivers rather than wags. But he whines joyfully as you bend over and caress his ears and kiss the top of his head. You let your bike drop with a clatter onto the front sidewalk and sit on the grass, and he tries clambering into your lap, the way he has done for as long as you can remember.<br/>
<br/>
You stroke and pet and hug him, and nuzzle his ear as you whisper promises to take him down to the park where he can run and chase squirrels and birds and balls and play with his old pals--most of whom are now dead and incinerated. "And then you'll chase me down the street and we'll go over to Shane's, and we'll play badminton. You remember badminton, right, boy? And we'll slap the shuttlecock up in the air and you'll jump up and you'll catch it, and we'll have to chase you to get it back. Because you're <i>such</i> a good boy." He whimpers a little because you've squeezed him a little too hard. "We'll do all that tomorrow after school, I promise. So you just dream about it tonight, and it will be even better when we do it tomorrow." Of course, he doesn't understand a word of what you're saying, but you like to pretend he does, and that he enjoys dreaming of the promised fun as much as he enjoyed doing it back when he could. It makes it easier for you, too, to bear the specter of his impending mortality. One of these days he won't rise when you pull into the yard; or maybe he won't be in the yard at all.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm back!" you yell as you go in the side door.<br/>
<br/>
"How was the nature walk," your mom asks from the dining room table, where she is carefully distilling her various essential oils and lotions. Your dad glances up from the Sunday paper.<br/>
<br/>
"It was okay. Mr. Quincy gave me some <i>extra</i> extra credit to go with <i>that</i> extra credit."<br/>
<br/>
"Good," your dad says. "Any chance we might see a B on the report card this semester?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, let's not get carried away," you mutter as you pass into the kitchen.<br/>
<br/>
"Can I see what you drew?" your mother asks.<br/>
<br/>
You snap your fingers--a difficult trick given that you're still wearing your gloves. "I went over to Andrew's afterwards," you say as you open the refrigerator. "I forgot my notebook over there." Lucky you did.<br/>
<br/>
"We're going out for dinner," your mom says. "So just have an orange or--" She looks up to find you crunching down hard on an apple. She smiles faintly.<br/>
<br/>
If they ever get a call from the guidance office about your behavior at school, she'll have a heart attack.<br/>
<br/>
Back in your room you open a window and drop the half-eaten core into the flower bed, then take a bag of corn chips from your dresser. You open a browser, set it to "Private Browsing" and open email. Nothing from your brother, the cocksucker. You open the saved email that has all your secret links, then hunch over the keyboard and put one hand between your legs as you click on them one by one. If you're going to give Quincy some "extra" sketches, you'll want to give him the best from your private cache. <br/>
<br/>
You end up in the bathroom with your pants around your ankles. After carefully cleaning yourself up, you squeeze some more lotion into your palms and make an ostentatious and utterly gratuitous appearance in the dining room so your mother can see you rubbing it into your putatively dry and chapped hands. "You wouldn't need to use quite so much if you didn't wear those gloves all the time," she says.<br/>
<br/>
"Let him use as much as he needs," your dad says quietly. You pause fractionally before continuing restlessly around the table so you can snatch up the comics. He doesn't look up at you.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Dinner--at a steakhouse--is good, though you're disappointed that you get a waiter instead of one of the waitresses. Then it's back home, where you start to slip a DVD into your laptop. You pause. Casey left a huge stack of homework for Sunday night, plainly with the intention of not doing it, or of not doing much of it, or of doing only a half-assed job on it. It's easy shit, too: Eighth-grade math and science and English. It wouldn't take you any time at all to do; you could certainly do it better than he could, and probably while still bending most of your attention onto that movie.<br/>
<br/>
Instead you pick up your cell phone and call Jeff Mielke. Of course, he sounds very cautious when he answers--but he knows better than to ignore your call. "Yo, man," you say with quiet menace. "You got your math homework done?"<br/>
<br/>
Pause. "No."<br/>
<br/>
"Bullshit. What are the answers?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not gonna give you the answers," he says in a whine.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm gonna see you tomorrow. You wanna give me the answers then?"<br/>
<br/>
He breathes heavily into the phone. "You have to show your work, you know. You can't just write down the answers."<br/>
<br/>
"I know how to do this shit," you retort. "I just don't know how to do it good. Gimme the answers. I can fake the rest."<br/>
<br/>
You can hear the agony in his silence. "Okay, just a minute." You've got your own paper out and the book open, and you tap the pencil impatiently until he returns. "Ready?" He starts reading off numbers, which you copy down. You glance at the problems as you do so, and smirk to see that he is mixing in lots of wrong answers among the correct ones. But you say nothing.<br/>
<br/>
"Great, thanks. Now where's your English? I gotta buncha bullshit adjectives and adverbs I have to underline." After that, it's on to science. Mielke hates sharing so many classes with you.<br/>
<br/>
When you're done you copy it all out again while watching that movie, and this time you write down all the correct answers. Tomorrow you'll demand to see his homework before school, and he'll shit himself when he sees that your answers match his: give him a good scare into thinking that either he's crazy and he accidentally gave you the right answers, or that most of his answers are also wrong.<br/>
<br/>
It's the kind of trick that Casey would like to pull on him, but isn't good enough academically to accomplish; and yet no part of you feels any real satisfaction at it. Casey himself, you can tell, mostly hates Mielke because he's such a wuss. There isn't, in fact, much difference between Jeff and Andrew, except that the latter has confidence and force of character. As for Casey and Robert Prescott ...<br/>
<br/>
You groan softly and settle back in the chair: It's a topic you've been darting away from every time it floated before you. Robert isn't even a wuss. He's a nobody. He's friends with Jeff (and others) but hardly makes an impression, and when Casey deigns to shove him around it's only because he's a convenient stand-in for someone else. Probably Robert doesn't even realize that.<br/>
<br/>
Robert, Casey, Andrew, Jeff, Shane ... Maybe it's only because of where you are; or maybe it's because you now so vividly remember what it was like being a boy in middle school, but their affairs seem much more important than all that silliness with Cindy and her girls. Back at Westside you're only taking people down. At Schuyler, you could actually help them before they got themselves too fucked up.</span></div></div>


path: 1122211212111221211211122112121
author_id: seuzz
title: A Fraternal Reunion--Of Sorts
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Sunday was your day to give full rein to Casey's personality; on Monday you keep his worst instincts throttled back. Even during first period P.E., when normally you'd be raising welts on Mielke's thighs during dodge ball, you content yourself with pounding on Shane and Michael Stivale and your other friends. In second period science and third period math and fourth period English you only wink with veiled malice at Jeff as you turn in your homework. And in fifth period history you ignore Robert Prescott entirely. Before sixth period, at your locker: "Hey Stephanie, did Andrew tell you I drew a picture of you?" you ask. She looks at you with bemusement; Andrew reaches around her to shove you hard.<br/>
<br/>
After school, at the bike rack: "Can I have my hat back," Shane asks. <br/>
<br/>
"Your dad's an optometrist, he can afford to buy you another one." You get on your bike without looking at him.<br/>
<br/>
Your parents won't be expecting you home for an hour or more, so you don't feel the need to call them as you pedal off in the opposite direction from your house, then take a short cut through an undeveloped bit of woodland, to emerge only a mile or so from Aubrey Blackwell's. Casey's a little prick, but even from his mask you pick up the qualms he would feel as that very sinister villa looms into view. Blackwell's car is out front, as you'd expected it to be. "Need your lawn mown, mister," you insolently ask when its owner opens the door.<br/>
<br/>
"We seem to be regressing," he answers with malicious amusement. "Is this current look the result of an accident, or are you seeking a 'do over' on your misspent youth?"<br/>
<br/>
"I should regress you, fucker," you sneer as you push past. Casey's personality is close enough that you hunch defensively as you peer into the library. "How are those masks coming?"<br/>
<br/>
"Two are completed, to the detriment of my responsibilities as a grader of tests."<br/>
<br/>
"Throw 'em down the stairs, give an A to the ones that go the farthest." What a hateful place. "Get those masks, and lemme use your phone."<br/>
<br/>
"Aw, mommy and daddy won't buy you one for your own?"<br/>
<br/>
You turn to glare--a reaction somewhat less effective for your being so much shorter and less massive than him. But he's still your slave, so with a mock bow he accedes, and retreats up the stairs. You move into the kitchen and use the landline. <br/>
<br/>
"Hey Cindy," you say, and your voice cracks and your peter bobs upward as a vision of her--sheets of platinum hair, lovely breasts, firm legs--materializes in your mind's eye. "This is Blackwell's number, you know, so you know who I am."<br/>
<br/>
"You little twerp," she says. "Why did you stick me with--"<br/>
<br/>
"What's wrong?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, nothing. Just those stupid girls flipping their faces all around at school."<br/>
<br/>
"Anything happen?"<br/>
<br/>
"No," she whines. "But they don't take me seriously. Not since-- Well ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, whatever. I don't give a shit anymore." You close your eyes and try to shut out the vision of Cindy. <i>Man, Andrew and them would be so jealous if you showed up with her as your girlfriend.</i> "Tell 'em nothing's gonna happen til after the party, but keep everything under control until then. Something's come up."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, <i>that's</i> gonna go over well."<br/>
<br/>
"It'll have to do. Just remind 'em that if anyone figures out about doubles and masks, their asses are grasses." She groans--a sound that makes you think of that pedestal-like neck, and you have to bite down hard on your pleather-sheathed finger to keep from ordering her over to relieve Casey of a virginity that's already burdensome. "That's all I gotta say, I have to go." You almost drop the phone, your fingers are twitching so hard.<br/>
<br/>
"Am I to infer--"<br/>
<br/>
You wheel at the voice and punch hard. Blackwell gives a great "Oof!" and bends as you bury your fist in his gut. "Don't sneak up on me, asshole," you snarl. You're shaking hard.<br/>
<br/>
"Your masks, young master," he gasps. He hands them over, and retreats a safe distance.<br/>
<br/>
"Sealant, numbnuts," you snarl.<br/>
<br/>
"Do I have to remind you that, as a golem--"<br/>
<br/>
"Fine, leave everything to me, why don't you." You push past him--and he retreats further as you go past. "And get a carton of cigarettes the next time you're at the store," you call as you take the stairs three at a time. You could definitely use one now.<br/>
<br/>
It takes longer than usual to make up the sealant, because you keep fumbling at the ingredients. But at last you're done, and tuck everything into your backpack. "Fuck you," you reply to Blackwell's sarcastic "Fare thee well, barefoot boy with cheek of tan," and take off.<br/>
<br/>
Now comes the hard part. You will need a confederate at Schuyler Middle School, and there's only one you can trust.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Hey Prescott, wanna hang out," you say when he materializes in the doorway. You try thinking of Andrew, and how you'd treat him if you were asking this question of him, but it still comes out with veiled hostility. <br/>
<br/>
Robert can't hide his distaste. "I got stuff I hafta do," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"Like what," you snort derisively, then catch yourself. "Come on, just, like, thirty minutes. Seriously, like--" You swallow; this is very hard for both you and Casey to say to Robert. "Like friends."<br/>
<br/>
He turns back into the house, and with a desperate voice calls, "Can I go out for a little while?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure, honey," your mom calls back. He grimaces as he turns back to you, and then freezes as he catches your own expression. You stare back, and then realize you must have turned very pale at the sound of your own mother's voice: Words and tones you've not heard in a very long time. You stumble back, and try shrugging it off.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, I got something for you. Well, to give back," you say as you lead him over to your bike, which is laying on its side. You pull his glove off the handlebars and hand it to him. His movements are stiff as he takes it. "Thanks for letting me borrow it."<br/>
<br/>
He seems to hold it as if it's a dead raccoon. "If you wanna keep borrowing it," he starts to say.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't be a pussy," you snarl. Again, you have to catch yourself. "It, uh, it used to be your brother's, right?" you say in a softer voice. His eyes get a very wide and wounded look. You pluck at your t-shirt, and resettle the cap on your head. "I got lots of <i>my</i> brother's stuff too, you know. I'd be really pissed if-- Well, if some asshole took 'em from me. Thanks for not being pissed at me, okay?" He nods numbly, and then looks around, as though expecting Shane and Andrew to jump out and start jeering at him. "You got an old school around here, right?" you say as you gesture at the street. "Let's go hang out there. I got a lotta stuff I wanna say to you."<br/>
<br/>
It's a silent--and for you a torture-racked--walk to the old elementary school a few blocks away. All the words you'd tried rehearsing since last night seem to have deserted you. When you get to the playground you lean against the monkey bars. "So, uh, someone told me about your brother," you say. "I'm sorry."<br/>
<br/>
His eyes, without narrowing, grow very shifty, and he looks all around; fucking middle school paranoia. "Thanks," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"What--" Your voice cracks. "What are your parents doing?"<br/>
<br/>
"Talking to the police, I guess," he says. His shoulders jerk rather than shrug. "It's kind of a mystery, you know."<br/>
<br/>
"What <i>do</i> they know?" You try thinking of Casey's brother, and how he would feel if-- <i>Whoa. Yeah, there's the lump you should be getting in your throat if you wanted to feel sympathy.</i> "Whadja say?" you ask him; you'd been distracted by the oddity of it all: that you're having to use Casey's instincts to fake emotions about <i>your</i> presumed disappearance.<br/>
<br/>
"I said, they don't. He just-- He just went out one day and didn't come back. They found his truck, but ..." He trails off.<br/>
<br/>
"How are <i>you</i> feeling?"<br/>
<br/>
He stares at a spot about ten thousand miles on the other side of your shoulder for a very long time. When he stirs, it's to lift his eyes and look into yours. For a few seconds it looks he's going to say something very honest, maybe even painful. And then he seems to remember who he's talking to, and a veil drops over his features. "I'm holding up," he grunts.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Fucker.</i> And you don't know who the epithet is directed at: Robert for being such a suspicious pussy, or Casey, for giving him so many good reasons for being a suspicious pussy.<br/>
<br/>
You feel your own expression darken, and Robert turns a little pale, and glances around nervously. "This is really, uh, nice of you--" he says, and his voice trembles. He kicks at the grass with the toe of his right foot, and puts his hands in his pockets.<br/>
<br/>
"I wanna help you," you say, and he flinches as you drop a heavy hand on his shoulder. "I wanna help you, because if <i>my</i> fucking brother went out and got himself fucking lost ..." Fire runs along your nerves. This is turning out to be about ten times harder than you'd dreaded in your most pessimistic moments. You grab him and pull him close. "If you came up to me and said you were sorry about my brother, I'd punch you in your fucking nuts. But I'm an asshole. I'm a big enough asshole for two. I'm two assholes, in fact."<br/>
<br/>
Well, this is it: Do you tell him who you really are? Or do you just repeat the whole "Cindy" farce, but this time as Casey?</span></div></div>


path: 11222112121112212112111221121211
author_id: seuzz
title: Brotherly Confessions
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Look, I said I had something to tell you, and it's not just that I'm sorry," you stammer. "I'm sorry enough for two people. I <i>am</i> two people, and at least one of them <i>is</i> really sorry."<br/>
<br/>
Now fear is fighting confusion for possession Robert's face.<br/>
<br/>
"What if I told you I know what happened to your brother?"<br/>
<br/>
"You already told me you knew," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, if I told you I know where he went. Where he is."<br/>
<br/>
Now his expression is completely unreadable, because there are so many emotions crowded onto it.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, your brother--Will, I know that's his name--he went of to a bookstore, off to Arnholm's Bookstore, okay? He met a guy there, a professor at the university. He was a real bad man. I don't mean he was an asshole. I mean, he was <i>bad.</i>" You lay both hands on Robert's shoulders. "After he left the bookstore, he went out to the professor's house, because he thought there was something wrong out there. Things the professor said. He found a girl there. The professor was keeping her as a prisoner. And your brother-- Well, he decided he wanted to be a hero or something, and he rescued her. But they couldn't go to the police, because the professor, he was all into black magic and stuff, so--"<br/>
<br/>
Robert slaps your hands away, and stares at you with loathing. "You're such a fucking prick, Casey. I thought maybe you were really, like, sympathetic or something--" He tenses, and you realize he is only a tiny brain spasm away from punching you.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, fuck it," you cry, and throw yourself on him. You know how he fights, but Casey is smaller than you were; on the other hand, he is a much better fighter. You wrestle Robert to the ground and sit on him. He snarls inarticulately, and strains, eyes bulging, to throw you off.<br/>
<br/>
"Listen, what I'm trying to tell you, <i>Robert,</i> is that it's <i>me! I'm your brother!</i>" You run your hand across your forehead, and the world briefly distends. When it settles again, you find that Casey's clothes fit much you much better.<br/>
<br/>
Robert's eyes go very wide: so wide you have a brief, comically horrifying vision of them popping out of their sockets like synchronized jack-in-the-boxes. He yelps, and you have to clap your hands over his mouth.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I don't want you touching it," you say as he reaches for the mask. "At least, not yet."<br/>
<br/>
You're sitting by the school, backs against the wall. You have the mask in your hands; he has just reached out to take it. It's a good thing that a mask treated to hold multiple images doesn't knock you out--it only makes you a little woozy--when you take it off, or else you'd probably have woken to find yourself alone.<br/>
<br/>
Robert looks dazed, as though he's been kicked hard in the head; and in a sense he has. Even now, you can tell, he's not entirely sure it really is you. <br/>
<br/>
Clearly, he also doesn't even know what questions to ask, so you give him the whole story, very slowly: Meeting Blackwell; going to his house; rescuing Lucy; going into hiding while trying to figure out how to stop the evil magician. "I could take you out there and show you his house," you say. "But it's a really long bike ride."<br/>
<br/>
"So why didn't you come back after you ... after you beat this guy?" Robert asks. There is an enormous amount of pain in his voice.<br/>
<br/>
You shift uncomfortably. "I'd been gone a long time by that point," you say lamely. "I didn't think I could go back. Mom and Dad would kill me."<br/>
<br/>
"Mom and Dad already think you're <i>dead!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"And dad hates it when I prove him wrong. He'd fix it so he wasn't."<br/>
<br/>
"So you're just going to ..." He struggles over the words. "You're being an asshole!"<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe, but I'm a <i>live</i> asshole."<br/>
<br/>
He groans and leans back. He looks at you with deep pain in his eyes, and then frowns. "Have you been-- Been--" He points at your clothes. "All this time?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, only since yesterday. I've, uh, been pretending to be other people since then."<br/>
<br/>
He pales. "What happened to the real Casey?"<br/>
<br/>
"He's okay. He's happy. Or he would be, if he knew where he is." Robert blinks. "Look, it's complicated--" You draw a deep breath. "But I guess I better explain, since I'm gonna ask you if you wanna come in on it with me."<br/>
<br/>
Since you've already explained about the masks, it doesn't take long to explain about the golem shells and where to put people like Casey. When you're done Robert runs his hands through his hair. "So, you see," you conclude. "I can put you in for someone else. And we can make a mask of you, and put that person under it. That way <i>you</i> don't disappear, like I did."<br/>
<br/>
"But why do you want to do this?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know," you admit, and shrug. "Except maybe I feel guilty because I wasn't helping you out or anything. I mean, suddenly I'm remembering what it was like being in middle school. I knew guys like Casey."<br/>
<br/>
"But how does it help me?" he asks. "<i>Being</i> someone else is-- Well, it's just <i>being</i> them. Right?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, the thing is, it's like you pick things up from them. You learn about them." You tug on your ear. "I'm not gonna tell you where I was or what I was doing, but--" You look off over your shoulder. "The person I was being-- To be honest, I don't think it would have occurred to me to come back and help you, except this person was someone who-- Who kind of likes to rearrange things?" <i>Yes, almost as soon as you had stepped in for Cindy you were full of schemes for changing the school around; to your (her) advantage, it's true, but it was still something you feel like you picked up from her.</i> "Look, I played Casey for about twenty-four hours. I know why he's the way he is. He's actually not <i>bad.</i>" You give Robert a light shove. "If you <i>knew</i> how to be more like some of his friends--like Andrew--" Robert's eyebrows lower. "If you knew how to be like them, guys like Casey wouldn't be nearly as rough on you. And by <i>being</i> them for a little while you'd learn better how to act like them when you went back to being yourself."<br/>
<br/>
Robert lowers his chin and stares at the ground. "You're saying I'm not good enough as <i>myself?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"You're thirteen years old. I'm not sure you're <i>anybody</i> yet." He looks even more wounded. "You know, if you put on Casey's mask, you might <i>see</i> what I'm talking about. You know why he dresses like this?" You tug at your shirt. "He's got a big brother too, older than me. He's in the army, and Casey just <i>worships</i> him. He wants to <i>be</i> like him, and he's <i>trying</i> to be. But no one takes him seriously. That's why he acts so tough." You fall silent for a bit. "I'm not asking you to sympathize with him or anything," you say. "But if you pretended to be other people, and picked up some of the stuff from them-- It's like you'd wind up with lots of material you could use to help you figure out--"<br/>
<br/>
"No, I think I get it," he says. You rather doubt he does, because you're not entirely sure you understand what you're trying to say. Again, he plucks at the mask you're holding, and this time you let him have it. He stares down into it. "But I bet it's all garbagy inside his head."<br/>
<br/>
You smile wryly. "Well, there <i>is</i> a lot of garbage, but I bet a lot of it would be familiar. There was a lot of garbage inside <i>my</i> head when I was in the eighth grade." You shrug weakly. "There still is, maybe."<br/>
<br/>
"Why can't you just stay as Casey, but be like my friend and stuff?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because I don't want to be Casey for the rest of my life, or even for the rest of the year. He has to come back. And when he comes back he'll be just like he was before. Only confused. And it would fuck things up for you and other people if Casey was nice for a while, and then suddenly was back to being himself."<br/>
<br/>
"So it's not going to change anything at the school," Robert mutters. "Not for real."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, you know, we could do the same thing with Casey. We could bring him back but put him under someone's mask." You step gingerly over the looming precipice. "We could let him be you while you're being him. That way he'd learn what it's like to--" You take a deep breath. "To be on the other end."<br/>
<br/>
Robert gasps. "That's horrible. He'd totally ruin my life."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe not if we told him he had to behave, or he'd be stuck as you."<br/>
<br/>
Robert rolls his eyes. "Stuck as me. You sure make it sound like a punishment."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, we don't have to do that. But it would be easier for when things go back to normal."<br/>
<br/>
Robert weighs the mask in his hand, then picks up the baseball glove and weighs it in the other. "Well, you know, I still want to be with you." His lips twist. "You know, you've said a lot of shit to me, about people being 'stuck' as me, and how I'm not good enough and shit." You wince and let slip a soft groan. "So you totally deserve when I say I can't believe I want you to still be around." The eye he turns on you is satirical--though barely so. "But I do. So yeah, let's do this."<br/>
<br/>
You can make a switch now--Robert for Casey and you for Robert. That would let you see your parents again. But Robert probably wouldn't like the invasion of privacy. But he wouldn't like the alternative. Because if you're going to switch him with someone else, you will want that person to be a part of this club too. And that person is going to have to be someone Robert doesn't exactly like.</span></div></div>


path: 11222112121112212112111221122
author_id: rugal
title: New Hiding Places
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Being Casey is not a pleasant experience as far as your concerned. You've been a bit of a jerk at times under these masks but never to the level of asshole this kid can be. Not the outright malicious bullying. You know that deep down he's not irredeemable, not like some of the dicks at Westside, but you're also not sure you want to continue playing the role of the bully. You could change but being Casey permanently is not something you plan on doing so what would be the point? Plus a sudden change would quite obviously make people suspicious which would defeat the entire purpose of wearing these masks. And besides, if you approach Robert who's to say he's not just going to run away or even listen to you? Casey's his bully, after all, so any encounter would put him on edge.<br/>
<br/>
Of course you need to think too and collecting your thoughts is going to be a pain to do around a bunch of other kids while Quincy rambles on about every dumb plant or squirrel or bird. You need to get away from him and the rest of the group but you can't just run off. It's something Casey would do but you'd like to think you're slightly more responsible than that, although that assertion could be called into question by your actions up to this point, so you think it's better to try and make up an excuse to get out of having to complete this.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, Mr. Quincy?" you call out as you catch up to the rest of the group.<br/>
<br/>
He stops and turns back to face you, an slightly irritated look on his face. "Yes Casey?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"I need to go back to the van." you state as you place a hand to your stomach, "I really haven't been feeling good."<br/>
<br/>
"Casey," he replies with a role of his eyes, an excuse he's heard too much from too many students, "I don't think you're sick."<br/>
<br/>
"No, it's true!" you exclaim clutching your stomach, "My stomach's been bothering me all day and I think--OHH!--I think I'm gonna... gonna... hur--" you're interrupted as Casey's lunch for the day comes up the wrong way; a little skill Casey taught himself in times where he really had to convince people of whatever imaginary illness.<br/>
<br/>
You hear lots of OOHs and EWWs as Mr. Quincy backs everyone up. "Alright, Casey, you go back to the van. And I'll need one of you," he turns back to the group of kids, "to go back with him and keep an eye on him. You'll get your extra credit for that." Nicole Lim, a girl who's a bit of an overachiever at times, volunteers almost instantly and is sent back with you.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"That was really gross." Nicole states making a face, her Filipino features scrunching up in a way that Casey would find cute.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah well I'm not gonna walk through some gay-ass forest." you reply nonchalantly.<br/>
<br/>
Nicole snickers a little but quickly catches herself, "You really shouldn't call things gay like that." she admonishes you, "It's really insulting."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't mean it's GAY, I mean it's gay. Like stupid." you assert with the flawless logic of Casey's 14-year-old brain.<br/>
<br/>
"But that's what I mean!" Nicole shoots back.<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck, Nikki!" you whine, you notice that she's still giving you a rather stern look, "Fine! I won't call things gay, you happy?" you grumble. That seems to perk her right back up and the two of you continue chatting as you head back to the van. Once you arrive back you speak up once more. "Hey, i brought a big-ass bag of chips. Never got them out of the van though. Think you can get them out?" you ask her.<br/>
<br/>
"Why me?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Because places like this you never know who could roll up on you." you explain, "You're gonna need me to keep look out." As she heads off to the van you hang back and when you're sure she's not going to be looking back at you you remove the mask.<br/>
<br/>
It takes all of your willpower not to pass out and once the dizziness has passed you walk up behind her. Just in time as it looks like she's found the chips. Nicole turns around and gasps in surprise as she sees you as, well, you. Very quickly you remove her glasses and shove the mask onto her face. Once it reappears you quickly grab it and put it back on fighting once more to stay awake. Once it's back on you make the swiping motion and are instantly transformed into a copy of Nicole. You notice your vision's blurry and grab her glasses that you placed onto the van's bumper. It's a weird feeling being so small you notice. You've been girls before but never one this short; maybe she'll hit a growth spurt but she's well under 5'0", a good two or three inches and you're practically swimming in Casey's clothes. One quick thought of hers jumps right out at you, "Oh so THAT'S why..." you immediately notice the real Nicole stirring and quickly return back to Casey's form.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh God, Casey...?" she starts as you grab her and hand her glasses back to her.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, don't worry. You fainted when that guy showed up. Don't worry though, I punched him right in his dick and sent him running off like the creep he is." you explain while flexing a (quite small) muscle. Nicole, for her part, seems to buy it and is incredibly grateful as she quickly embraces you in a hug. It's all you can take to keep your own dick under control. Although being her hero and knowing what you now know about her... "Hey, don't worry about it." you smile, "Although if you're feeling scared you can come over to my place once we get back."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You give yourself a once over in the old free-standing mirror as you fix the barrettes in your hair and place said hair behind your ears. It was a little bit of effort getting into your new identity as Nicole Lim. First you called up Blackwell and told him you were sending Cindy over so if he had a blank mask to give it to her as well as sealant, a ziplock bag of dirt, and a bit of sleep powder. Then it was a call to Cindy telling her to come over to Casey's but stop by Blackwell's first to get the supplies. After seeing her car pull up you ran out and directed her towards what USED to be the attached shed but had long ago been converted into a makeshift room for your older brother and then a guest room when he left. You removed her mask and shoved the new blank onto Casey before putting Cindy's mask back onto him and sending her away.<br/>
<br/>
Then you had to sneak a match from your parents' room in order to golemize the Casey mask. Once Nicole arrived you were back in the room/shed where you hit her with the powder, removed her clothes, and shoved the Casey mask on her. One swipe and change of clothes later and here you were. You quickly filled Casey in on what had happened on the nature walk so he would be able to at least get the basics down about it the next day and then you told him you'd see him tomorrow before biking back to Nicole's house.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You arrive at school the next morning and quickly head off to the locker room to dress out for your first class: P.E. Thankfully it's a "free day" and you're just set up in the gym with all of the basketball goals lowered; in other words Coach Larson couldn't be bothered to come up with anything to do today so it gives you a chance to basically do whatever. You spend a while engaging in banal conversation with a few of Nicole's friends, Molly Danvers and Angela Weber, until you notice something out of the corner of your eye. No not something, someONE.<br/>
<br/>
Fuck! You had completely blocked out that Nicole shares this class with Robert. You decided to take this little detour in order to have some chances to talk to him and see how things were going with him and your family because you hadn't seen them in forever and you know that they must be freaking out. But at the same time what DO you say? Approach him as one of his classmates? That might seem strange: Nicole and Robert have talked a few times but never for any extended length of time. At best they could be described as acquaintances and he always seemed to be nervous the few times they did talk. Do you pull him aside privately and just tell him you're really his "deceased" older brother masquerading as a middle school girl? He'd think you were a lunatic then word would get around school and this girl's life could be ruined by nasty rumors.<br/>
<br/>
Maybe it's best not to jump the gun, give it some time and more thought, and just stick with your friends for the time being.</span></div></div>


path: 1122211212111221211212
author_id: seuzz
title: Spies on Spies
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"You look like you could stand a change," you tell Sophia. "And Wendy is <i>really</i> into being Gloria." You raise your eyebrows. "You willing to give her up?"<br/>
<br/>
"Fine with me. Do I go back to being myself?"<br/>
<br/>
"Let me think about it." You talk a little more about Gloria and why Sophia is unhappy--it's not just the change in Gloria's social standing, but an unhappy home life--until Morgana and the others return with food. Conversation then turns to how to get close to Kelsey and the others so that you can copy their faces into the new masks. You finally settle on using Rachel Burton--who is on the debate team with Lotte--as a bridge. The first half of the session ends with Lotte and Sarah going home, but you ask Wendy to stay.<br/>
<br/>
"Sophia is willing to turn Gloria over to you," you say, and Wendy's eyes widen with delight. But who are we going to put in for you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Can't we just put Wendy's mask onto the real Gloria?" Morgana asks. "Like you put Sophia's mask on her?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'd have to fix up Wendy's mask for a permanent change. No, someone is going to have to take over for Wendy temporarily."<br/>
<br/>
"I can do it," Sophia offers. "I could use a boring life for change."<br/>
<br/>
Wendy gives her a look, then shakes her head. "I'm not sure I like someone getting inside my head."<br/>
<br/>
"It's going to have to be someone."<br/>
<br/>
There's silence for a moment, then Morgana raises her hand. "Would you have a problem with <i>me</i> being you?"<br/>
<br/>
Wendy still hesitates before nodding. "I guess that'd be okay. No offense, Sophia, but Morgana is a friend."<br/>
<br/>
"So I take over for Morgana?" Sophia says. "This is making me dizzy."<br/>
<br/>
"Sounds like a plan" you say. "Wendy will become Gloria--" You hand the Gloria mask to her. "Morgana will become Wendy, and Sophia will become Morgana. Just remember, this is only until we everyone set up as Kelsey and Brooke and them."<br/>
<br/>
The girls spend the next ten minutes changing into each other's clothes, and then you hand the masks around, showing Sophia and Morgana how to make the complicated gesture that switches faces. "Don't change except when we're all together," you caution them after they are set up. "You don't want to accidentally give the game away. In fact--" A sudden thought comes to you, and you smile mischievously. "Let's make this a test run for impersonating other people. Let's not tell Sarah and Lotte about this change."<br/>
<br/>
"Why not?" the new Wendy asks.<br/>
<br/>
"To practice impersonating other people. You've got everything that will let you imitate them perfectly. Be them, totally, all the time, without tipping your hand to anyone else."<br/>
<br/>
But after Gloria and Wendy have left, you linger with the new Morgana. "I still want <i>you</i> to more or less be yourself around me, Sophia," you tell her. "I'm a little worried about Sarah. Keep an eye on her for me, will you?"<br/>
<br/>
"You still want me to be a spy," your acolyte says unhappily.<br/>
<br/>
"Not a spy," you protest. "She just seems like she's not sold on this. She might not say anything to me, but if she says something to you, I'd like to know about it."<br/>
<br/>
"I think she'll be okay," she says stubbornly. "She's just having moral qualms. You put her in Kelsey or someone, and she'll forget all about it. I-- Morgana picked her because she <i>knows</i> she's unhappy."<br/>
<br/>
"Okay then. If you're right, you won't have to act like a spy, will you?"<br/>
<br/>
Morgana makes a face, but doesn't argue.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
But maybe she's right, because she catches up to you the next day at school with a startling bit of news. "Are you willing to add another girl to the group?" <br/>
<br/>
"I think we've got enough," you say cautiously. "Why?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because Sarah has already recruited someone."<br/>
<br/>
"<i>What?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Sarah got to talking to Maggie Crenshaw, and apparently she told her all about our plans. Maggie wants in."<br/>
<br/>
"Christ, I never pegged Sarah for being a blabbermouth, but I don't know her that well."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I don't know the full story, because I was in a hurry. Also--" She looks around furtively. "Gordon was breathing down my neck at the time. God, now I really understand why Morgana was so desperate to get away from him. That hex you put on him--" She shudders.<br/>
<br/>
"Never mind him. Text Sarah to come find me after school."<br/>
<br/>
"Aren't you getting together with Lotte? You know, with her and Rachel for that switch?"<br/>
<br/>
You groan. "It's not a switch, but I'd forgotten we need to copy her. Is that 'study date' all set up?" She nods, and you both jump as the bell rings. "Okay, tell Sarah that she needs to come along with us, and we'll talk about this new recruit business."<br/>
<br/>
You rush off, and too late do you wonder if you made your meaning clear to Morgana.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
And apparently you didn't, because Sarah and Maggie Crenshaw are both waiting for you at the municipal library when you arrive. Maggie--who is the closest thing to a "star player" on the third-rate girls' softball team--regards you will ill-disguised suspicion, but she listens very closely as you talk to Sarah.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, we've got some business here that doesn't really concern you," you say. "So if you two wanna go find a table--"<br/>
<br/>
"I thought you were gonna show Maggie what all this is about," Sarah protests.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, what have you told her?"<br/>
<br/>
"About the masks. About how we can switch with people."<br/>
<br/>
With Maggie there you can't tear into Sarah as you'd like to. "And how did the topic come up? This is all, you know, supposed to be a secret."<br/>
<br/>
"We just got to talking this morning," Sarah says defensively. She nudges Maggie. "Tell her what you said."<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't say anything," Maggie sniffs. "I just said, you know, I was sick of the boys' team getting all the attention, and that I wished I was on their team."<br/>
<br/>
"Then we can't really help you," you snap.<br/>
<br/>
"You mean girls can only switch with girls?"<br/>
<br/>
You blink. "You want to switch with a boy?"<br/>
<br/>
"If it will put me on the boys' baseball team."<br/>
<br/>
This is a twist. But before you can say anything, you catch sight of Lotte and Morgana coming in with Rachel Burton. "Look, you two go join them when they land somewhere," you say, pointing to the new arrivals. "I'll be along in a few minutes, and you can see what it looks like. Just don't shriek or make a scene, okay?" You give Maggie a meaningful look, but she just snorts.<br/>
<br/>
You go off around a corner to gather up your wits. You'll almost certainly have to give Maggie what she wants--whatever that is--but maybe it will be worth it if it nails Sarah in place as a voluntary recruit. Certainly, you'd rather have both her and Maggie on the inside if the alternative is both of them on the outside, where you'd have to deal with them more forcibly. <br/>
<br/>
After a few moments, when you've seen that the party is well settled at a table in the corner, you come up softly from an angle where Rachel can't see you. "Guess who?" you say, and press Lotte's mask onto her face. She slumps as the mask disappears inside her. Your movement was so quick and unexpected that Maggie can only stare. <br/>
<br/>
"The hard part is getting a mask onto them," you say to her. "I'll want to be there to make sure you don't screw up." Maggie only cocks her head quizzically.<br/>
<br/>
"What is going on?" Lotte demands, looking around with a confused expression on her face.<br/>
<br/>
"Maggie wants into the club," you explain. "We're giving her a demonstration."<br/>
<br/>
"Of what, I dunno," Maggie says. "What's wrong with Rachel? What did you do to her?"<br/>
<br/>
"You didn't see the mask go on?" She shakes her head. "Well, just keep quiet after she wakes up."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
When Rachel does recover herself you coo apologetically over her "fainting spell," then beat a retreat; Sarah and Maggie follow, leaving Lotte and Morgana to carry on as best they can with Rachel. You lead the other two off to a hidden corner. "Okay, you see this mask?" you say to Maggie. "It has a copy of Rachel inside it. Everything that is her--her body, her mind, her memories, everything. Anyone who wears it will be able to imitate her perfectly."<br/>
<br/>
"I told you they did it with Gloria Rea," Sarah says, but Maggie continues to look skeptical.<br/>
<br/>
"Here, sit down and put it on," you tell Sarah, and with less reluctance than you'd expect she complies. Her form wavers, and then Rachel Burton appears in the chair. Maggie gasps and jumps back. You shake Sarah by the shoulder. "Come on, honey, wake up. We can't leave you like this very long." <br/>
<br/>
With a deep breath, Sarah opens her eyes, and looks around with a confused expression. Then her eyes clear, and she turns a triumphant face up to Maggie. "What did I tell you?" She holds out her hands and regards them with amusement. "Rachel Burton, inside and out. It even took me a minute to remember who I really am."<br/>
<br/>
"We can get people out of the way, too," you say. "We can pop a different kind of mask onto Rachel, turning her into Sarah. And unlike Sarah here, the real Rachel would completely forget who she really was. Leaving Sarah free to step into Rachel's life."<br/>
<br/>
Maggie has turned very white, and she drops into a chair. "This is pretty heavy," she says. "But--" She chews on her lower lip. "Yeah, I could go for something like this. I know exactly who, too." You raise an eyebrow. "Jason Lynch," she says.</span></div></div>


path: 11222112121112212112121
author_id: seuzz
title: Switching Pitchers
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Though she'd already said something about getting onto the boys' baseball team, you are still astonished. "You want to switch with a <i>guy</i>?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's not like <i>that</i>," Maggie exclaims, bridling. "I told you, I'm sick of being on a third-string team that doesn't get any attention or support. I'm better than that. And if I were Lynch ..."<br/>
<br/>
Well, put like that, it does make some kind of twisted sense. Still, although it makes total sense to you that guy might want to inhabit a girl's body--and for a brief moment you are very conscious of your breasts--it still seems very odd to think of a girl inside a guy's body.<br/>
<br/>
"It might be kind of hard to--" you start, and then stop. Jason has been pursuing Kendra. "Okay, yeah, I can get you inside Jason. Maggie's eyes widen slightly. "The thing is, you have to understand that we're not running a body-swapping service. We've got a plan, and you have to be on board with it."<br/>
<br/>
Her eyes narrow. "What plan?"<br/>
<br/>
"We're tired of Chelsea and them running the school. We're taking them down one by one, from the inside. In some cases, literally." Maggie purses her lips and gets a far-away look in her eye. "That's why I'm willing to help you with Jason. He's tight with Gordon Black, so it would be useful if he were secretly one of us."<br/>
<br/>
"And what do you mean by 'taking them down'?"<br/>
<br/>
"Cutting off Chelsea, for one thing. Change out her friends so they're not really her friends. Get some of the influential people to stop following her lead. Put ourselves in a new group and put that new group at the top of the pyramid." You hold her eye, steadily. "So, are you on board with this?"<br/>
<br/>
She rubs her shoulder. "It's kind of a big step," she stammers. "Really, I'd have to think about it."<br/>
<br/>
"Of course. But don't tell anyone. This isn't a joke." She swallows. "If you have any questions, talk to Morgana." Since it's Sophia who is currently inhabiting Morgana's life, that should give you a hidden but direct link to Maggie.<br/>
<br/>
You've been concentrating so intently on Maggie that you've forgotten about Sarah, still standing by your side and wearing Rachel's face. "Okay, let's get out of that before someone sees you. Better sit down." She squats onto the floor, and with a muttered incantation you remove the mask, and she falls backwards in a swoon. You ignore her as you turn to Maggie. "I've got some other business to take care of, but I'll get things set up for you. Just say the word, and I should be able get you into Jason almost instantly."<br/>
<br/>
Her eyes fall. You have serious doubts about this new wrinkle to the plan, but you'd rather have her on the inside than on the outside, given what she knows. A little firm nudging should goad her into acting on your offer.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
After sending Maggie and Sarah on their way, you linger in the library until the other group breaks up. Rachel leaves, but Lotte and Morgana come find you. "That was fucking intense," Lotte says. "Did you get her?"<br/>
<br/>
"Mm-hmm. Wanna see?" At a gesture, they follow you into the restroom, and in a stall you put the mask onto Lotte. "If this is gonna work," you tell Morgana while Lotte is still passed out on the toilet, "we're gonna need to get Rachel out of the way, at least long enough for her temp to get close to someone else."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm already on it," Morgana replies. "I arranged for her to come over to my house tomorrow afternoon. I can keep her distracted while, uh--" She points at the unconscious Lotte, who except for her clothes is a perfect replica of Rachel. "While <i>she</i> goes off to one of her friend's houses."<br/>
<br/>
"Perfect." Your mind rushes through the possibilities, but you've not settled on a particular course of action before "Rachel" revives. "So, how are you feeling?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm okay," she says, sounding a little groggy. "A little confused. The last thing I remember is being with you and Maggie Crenshaw." She frowns, and a queer look comes into her eyes. "Jason Lynch? Really?"<br/>
<br/>
"What?" Morgana asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing," you interrupt. "A side project. The point is," you continue, turning back to Lotte. "Can you get over to someone's house tomorrow? Kelsey's? Brooke's?"<br/>
<br/>
"I can get together with Brooke easy enough." She looks over at Morgana. "Are we doing it over at your place?"<br/>
<br/>
"Better make it Brooke's," you answer for her. "Would it be awkward if I showed up with you?"<br/>
<br/>
"A little, maybe. But I can come up with an excuse. And I'd rather have you along anyway."<br/>
<br/>
"Good. Now, let me show you something." You take her hand and show her how to crook her fingers, and also rehearse the magic words. Then you show her how to draw her face across her forehead, and Rachel disappears, to be replaced by Lotte again. "Now you're yourself again. Don't switch faces until you meet up with me tomorrow. It would be bad if there were two Rachels running around."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I think I have a solution to your Jason problem," you tell Kendra later that night when you call her. "But you'll have to humor him for a bit." You outline the plan.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, God," she moans. "Do I have to? I can't stand that creep."<br/>
<br/>
"Just remember what you're doing to him." That cheers her up.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
But the next day is fraught with complications. They start when Maggie corners you after third. "Okay, I've decided I'm in," she hisses. <br/>
<br/>
"You sound emotional," you observe.<br/>
<br/>
"I am. I talked to Jason this morning, asked him if he could put in some kind of word with the coach about giving us girls more attention and stuff. Cocksucker just laughed at me. So, can we get him today?" Her mouth is very tight.<br/>
<br/>
"I've got other plans to take care of."<br/>
<br/>
But then Morgana tells you that Rachel canceled their afternoon get-together, which leaves you scrambling to tell Lotte that you'll have to hold off on dealing with Brooke.<br/>
<br/>
"I already talked to her," she says, turning pale. <br/>
<br/>
"How--?"<br/>
<br/>
"I used Rachel's face. The real one wasn't around, so I thought--"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, Christ, I <i>told</i> you-- Never mind." You master your desire to throttle the unfortunate girl. "You'll just have to-- No, leave well enough alone."<br/>
<br/>
"I could do the same trick, and cancel the meeting."<br/>
<br/>
"No, just leave it alone. They might be a little confused, but it's better than if you get caught." You tap your foot. "Well, that frees me up for that side project," you mutter, and ignore the inquiring look she gives you.<br/>
<br/>
Since you can't be seen talking to Kendra, you text her, telling her to set up that afternoon date with Jason, if she can. Her reply is succinct: "Yuck but OK." <br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"This would look good on you," you say, holding up a blouse to Maggie. She crinkles her face. "What? A little mannish."<br/>
<br/>
"Very funny." She nudges you. "Look who just came in." You glance over your shoulder, to spot Jason and Kendra coming through the front door of Nordlinger's. You ostentatiously wave to the duo.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey Cindy," Jason says with a leer as he and Kendra come up. "Haven't seen you around in a while. How's the new job?"<br/>
<br/>
"Can't complain."<br/>
<br/>
"No one can, 'cept Chelsea," he sniggers. "Life's gotta be a lot happier for everyone, huh?"<br/>
<br/>
You ignore the comment. "And what are you doing here?"<br/>
<br/>
"Helpin' Kendra shop. She promised to show me some nice things." He snickers again.<br/>
<br/>
"I'll just start looking around," Kendra says, and quickly separates from the group. Jason doesn't follow, just stays behind with you and Maggie grinning.<br/>
<br/>
"You know," you say, seizing the opportunity. "You could do the same. Pick out some new stuff, model it for us. You have three attentive girls."<br/>
<br/>
His grin widens, and such is his conceit that he totally ignores Kendra, even seems to forget about her as he goes off to search for some outfits. Not wanting to delay things, you follow, and press first choices upon him. He seems a little put out by the way you bully him along, but finally agrees to try on one of the shirts you've pulled off a rack.<br/>
<br/>
"You know, I was serious about life on the squad being nicer with Chelsea sidelined," he says as you follow him back to the changing rooms. "She's a bitch."<br/>
<br/>
"I thought you all were friends, you and Gordon and her."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, there's me and Gordon, and there's him and her. But the three of us?" He shrugs, and cocks a lascivious eye at you. "You gonna follow me in while I change?"<br/>
<br/>
"As a matter of fact, I was," you say, and push him into the changing room. He just grins like an idiot--until you smash a blank mask onto his face.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Fuck yeah," Jason gloats. He grips a bicep. "Man, the speed I can get off with this thing." Something catches his eye, and he glances to the side with a grin. "Lookin' good there, Kendra."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't be disgusting." She makes a face.<br/>
<br/>
"Keep it under control," you concur. "Remember, we're partners now."<br/>
<br/>
"Just keepin' in character," he giggles--a loathsome sound. "Yeah, I can help you guys. Want some gossip? I got loads."<br/>
<br/>
It sounds promising, but your phone rings. It's Morgana. "Rachel changed her mind again," she sighs. "She says she's free."</span></div></div>


path: 112221121211122121122
author_id: seuzz
title: Dates with a Stranger
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You put on your sweetest disposition. "I don't want to force anybody into making a switch. I mean, it is, literally, a life-changing experience." You smile broadly. "Maybe the thing to do is to <i>borrow</i> a life for a day or two. You can borrow each other's." You point to Sarah and Lotte and Morgana and Wendy in turn. "You're all friends. You wouldn't mind letting each other into your lives for a day or two would you? Lotte can be Morgana, and Morgana can be Sarah, and Sarah can be Wendy, and Wendy can be Lotte. How would that be?"<br/>
<br/>
"Can one of us be you?" Sarah asks bluntly. <br/>
<br/>
You shake your head. "You can try putting a mask on me, but it won't copy. So no, no one can be me."<br/>
<br/>
"That's convenient," Sarah sneers. "How come it won't work on you?"<br/>
<br/>
"It just can't. It's one of the things about being the mistress of the magic. And no, it's not convenient. I can wear a mask of someone else, but I can't take over their life permanently by getting them out of the way, the way Sophia got Gloria out of the way." You nod at your friend. "If I could, I would have already disappeared into-- Well, someone else."<br/>
<br/>
Sarah mutters, but lets the argument drop. <br/>
<br/>
"So, are you willing to share your lives?" There are hesitant looks all around, but--as you'd anticipated--no one wants to imply that they don't trust their friends. "Alright then." You pass out a mask to each of the new recruits. "Put these on, and then you'll go home as each other."<br/>
<br/>
It takes almost an hour of work--doing the copying, sealing the masks, putting them onto the new girls, and changing out clothes--and when you're done there doesn't appear  to have been much of a change: It's still Morgana and Lotte and Wendy and Sarah, though the new Lotte is much more muted than her original, and the new Sarah is much more pliant. It amuses to see that none of the girls will look each other in the eye, and there's a certain stiffness as Wendy and Sarah (in reality Sarah and Morgana, respectively) leave to share a ride home. "Think you can handle Gordon Black?" you ask Morgana (really Lotte) afterward.<br/>
<br/>
She rolls her tongue around in her cheek. "I guess." She cocks her head. "A love hex, huh? Not fun being on the receiving end."<br/>
<br/>
"It's only for a day or two. Gloria, you ready to go?"<br/>
<br/>
Sophia--now returned to the form of Gloria--detaches herself from the wall and follows you out the door and to her car. "Was that on the level, about not being able to copy yourself?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes. It's more complicated than I made it sound, but basically, yeah."<br/>
<br/>
"I've been wondering why you didn't take advantage of these things."<br/>
<br/>
"I bet you've been wondering lots of things. But don't worry about them. You wanna stick around as Gloria? Wendy would be willing to take over for you, I bet."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll talk to her." She pauses in mid-step. "Who is she now, again?"<br/>
<br/>
You yourself pause, and giggle. "Actually, I've forgotten. Not that it matters much. They'll let us know."<br/>
<br/>
"Sarah isn't going to go for it."<br/>
<br/>
"We'll see. She's inside Wendy right now--I remember that much, because I wanted her there. Wendy was interested in making a trade, and maybe the attitude will rub off on Sarah."<br/>
<br/>
She grunts dubiously. <br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You don't know Morgana's group that well, so you're not sure what passes for "normal" behavior from them, but you watch them carefully as best you can the next day. Wendy and Sarah are in your second period class, but they sit on the opposite side of the room; they talk only very quietly and briefly to each other. And if the four of them get together at lunch, it's in a corner of the school that you can't find. But you bump into Morgana in the hallway between fourth and fifth period. She's shaken Gordon, so you are able to ask her how it's going.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, I guess," she shrugs. "Kinda boring. But no one is treating me like anything is wrong. Except, of course, for my 'boyfriend'." <br/>
<br/>
Before you can make a comment, though, she freezes and grabs your arm. You follow her gaze, and spot Lotte at a locker talking to a boy. It takes you a moment to remember that the girl by your side is actually Lotte, and that she is reacting to the sight of herself.<br/>
<br/>
The other Lotte is gazing up at the boy with rapt attention, smiling and laughing easily. It's a nice expression: Lotte is short, with long, dark hair that falls in loose curls to her shoulders, and her large, expressive eyes dance merrily. She's clearly enjoying the guy's company. "Who is she with?" you mutter to your companion.<br/>
<br/>
"Sean Owens. The fuck does she think she's doing?" As she speaks, her grip on your arm tightens, for Lotte has reached out and plucked at his shirt. <br/>
<br/>
"Is he a friend of yours?" you ask, but she doesn't answer.<br/>
<br/>
Sean says something that sets Lotte to laughing again, and then he moves off; she turns to watch his retreating back. When she turns again, her eye falls on you and Morgana, and her smile sharpens. She dances up to you. <br/>
<br/>
"You owe me big time," she murmurs to Morgana. "I just set you up on a date with Sean." With a twinkle, she disappears into the crowd.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, is that someone you're sweet on?" you chortle. "That was nice of her."<br/>
<br/>
"That bitch," Morgana says with barely suppressed fury. "She knows how I feel about him."<br/>
<br/>
"What, you actually don't like him?"<br/>
<br/>
"I <i>do</i>!" she exclaims. "I just-- I just never-- I can't go through with it!"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, then she <i>did</i> do you a favor."<br/>
<br/>
"And she didn't do it for me," Morgana spits. "<i>She</i> likes him too!"<br/>
<br/>
"Are you sure?" you gasp. "Because that was really--"<br/>
<br/>
"It was Wendy, I know. She's got a thing for Sean too! Oh, I could kill her!"<br/>
<br/>
"It's not like it's going to matter in a few days." You pull her to the side. "Don't forget where you guys are going to be before that date can happen."<br/>
<br/>
But Morgana is trembling, and her breath comes in quick starts. "But if she <i>has</i> set up a date--" She wheels and presses in close on you. "Can you get her out of the way?" she eagerly asks in a whisper. "If we're going to be, you know--" She twitches her shoulders. "Can you do her first?"<br/>
<br/>
"I can do <i>you</i> first," you say. "Whoever I put you in, I'm sure you can use your new face to get this Sean guy interested in you."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't care." She wheels around, to stare malignly at the many-faced crowd. "Just set it up so Wendy and Sean won't be together."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
However you slice it, her request fits in with your plans, so directly after school you swing into action, inviting Megan Farris over to your house. She's the most weak-willed of the bunch, so she seems unlikely to resist your blandishments, and she doesn't disappoint. Still, she sounds reluctant, and her demeanor is downcast when she shows up on your doorstep. "So, what did you want to talk about?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, just stuff," you lightly say as you lead her back to the bedroom. "How are the preparations for the party going?"<br/>
<br/>
She stops cold and looks around uncomfortably. "Okay. Look, I know Kelsey and them are being unfriendly, but you know you are invited."<br/>
<br/>
"I wasn't going to crash it or anything," you mildly rebuke her. "But it sounds like a pretty big thing, and I'd like to help however I can. If that means staying away ..." You gently tug at her, and pull her into the bedroom.<br/>
<br/>
She is still disconsolate. "I really don't understand all the ... all the <i>politics</i> that seem to be going on. I don't like it."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, that's just Chelsea playing her games. Wait here, I'll get us something to drink, and we'll just talk."<br/>
<br/>
You're gone and back in just a few minutes with two tall glasses of ice tea--hers has something special of Blackwell's mixed in it. "You're moving up in the world, Megan," you say, and raise your glass. "Here's to your new position."<br/>
<br/>
She sips, and then as she wobbles you catch the glass before it can fall as she topples back onto the bed. You're well-stocked with masks, and it doesn't take long to copy her. The knock-out drops will keep  her unconscious for a good long time. Certainly long enough to get her replacement out to your house. But who will it be? Lotte or Wendy?<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 1122211212111221211221
author_id: seuzz
title: Megan Changes Her Mind ... and Much Else
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"I think I'm on a date," Morgana moans as she answers the phone.<br/>
<br/>
You stifle a laugh. "Shake him. Tell him it's a family emergency."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm at home."<br/>
<br/>
A guffaw escapes despite your best effort. "Well, tell him it's someone else's family." You listen closely, but can't make out the muttered conversation between Morgana and Gordon Black, except that neither one sounds happy. Finally, she comes back on. "Where do I meet you?" <br/>
<br/>
"My house. Oh, and where is the real Morgana?"<br/>
<br/>
"Beats me."<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, whose body?"<br/>
<br/>
"Um ... Sarah? I think?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sounds right. Call her and pick her up. Don't take 'no' for an answer. Tell her she'll regret it otherwise."<br/>
<br/>
The mask has reappeared by the time you hang up, and you regard the unconscious Megan Farris as you wait impatiently for your two acolytes to show up. Megan's acquisition will be a giant step toward getting the other targets. The problem is that, being rather plain and a bit of a wet blanket, she won't be anyone's idea of a great catch. She only has her family's money going for her.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Morgana and Sarah stare quietly at the prone Megan after they arrive. "This is your new home, Lotte," you say, gesturing at the girl. <br/>
<br/>
She makes a face. "I wanted Kelsey."<br/>
<br/>
"There'll be time later to make final assignments. Right now I just need you out of your clothes. Morgana, I need you out of your mask." She flinches as you reach for her face. "This won't hurt. Just sit down, because you're probably going to faint again."<br/>
<br/>
Lotte watches curiously as you pull at her friend's face, and as she topples back unconscious next to Megan. You pick up a pair of scissors and snip off some of her hair, and then settle Sarah's mask back on her face. "What are you doing?" Lotte asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Finishing up a spell," you murmur as you drop the lock into the waiting vessel and set it by the open window. "Now I need Morgana's mask off of you."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't understand," she whines.<br/>
<br/>
"You don't have to," you retort. "I'll explain afterward. But Sleeping Beauty won't be out forever, and I need to get things ready." With a plop, she falls back next to the other two girls after you've ripped Morgana's mask off of her.<br/>
<br/>
The fake Sarah sits up with a groan just as you start to apply the sealant to the inside of Morgana's mask. "What happened?" She looks around. "Wait, I thought you took that mask off me." She touches herself gingerly.<br/>
<br/>
"It was for just a moment. I needed a bit of your hair." You brush the inside of the mask quickly and lightly, then blow it dry. "There. Now we'll have a new Morgana." You set it onto Megan's face; it might be your imagination, but you think you see her stirring just as the mask goes on.<br/>
<br/>
Sarah bites her lip as her replacement stirs and sits up. "What the fuck-- I thought I--" She cocks her head and looks at you suspiciously.<br/>
<br/>
You pat her hand. "Don't worry about it, sweetheart. Just tell us your name."<br/>
<br/>
She blinks. "I'm Sand-- Morgana Hollis. Except I--"<br/>
<br/>
"Except what?"<br/>
<br/>
"I thought--" She stirs uneasily, then points at Lotte. "Wasn't-- I was--"<br/>
<br/>
"It's not important. The important thing is that you're Morgana Hollis, and you are going to act just like Morgana Hollis. Oh, and you see this girl here?" You point to Sarah, and an odd look passes over the golem's face. "She's your master, isn't she? You have to do whatever she says. Isn't that right?"<br/>
<br/>
The golem ducks her head. "I guess so," she says unhappily.<br/>
<br/>
"Wait, what do you mean by 'master'?" Sarah asks.<br/>
<br/>
"This is a golem," you patiently explain. "A fake. It looks and acts just like you. But golems need masters, and you--you, Morgana, not Sarah--are its master. It will recognize you as its master no matter what <i>you</i> look like. That's why I needed your hair to make it. I assume you don't want it being the slave of anyone but you?"<br/>
<br/>
She looks puzzled for a moment, and then understanding and relief break across her face. "Oh, I get it. Yeah."<br/>
<br/>
"And now you've escaped from Gordon. We'll get you a new position real soon, but now you don't have to worry about him. The next step," you continue, "is for you to tell it to get undressed. The new Megan--" You nod at Lotte. "--is going to need her clothes."<br/>
<br/>
Morgana gives the order, and the golem starts to disrobe.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"So, am I invited to the party," you ask with a trace of mischief in your voice.<br/>
<br/>
Megan glances back from the mirror, which she has been studying as she brushes her hair back. "Huh? Oh, yeah, sure. Of course." She pauses. "Kelsey and them will be pissed."<br/>
<br/>
"No they won't. Because it's gonna be our friends inside of them." She looks at you in surprise, and then a half smile appears on her face. "And you're going to get them for us, aren't you?"<br/>
<br/>
She purses her lips and looks over your shoulder. "I'm supposed to get together with them tomorrow at the house, to go over the plans," she says softly. She shifts from one foot to the other. "Am I supposed to, like, get copies of them?"<br/>
<br/>
"Do you think you can handle it?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know. It all seems kind of complicated."<br/>
<br/>
"Can't you be out there with her, do it yourself?" Sarah asks.<br/>
<br/>
"They won't like seeing Cindy there," Megan says.<br/>
<br/>
"What time is the meeting?"<br/>
<br/>
"Noon. We're supposed to eat while talking about plans."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, get Kelsey out there earlier. Eleven or so. We can switch her out while she's there alone. After we've got her, we can spend the weekend mopping up the others at our leisure."<br/>
<br/>
"Who gets to be Kelsey?" Megan asks with narrowed eyes.<br/>
<br/>
Again with the who-gets-to-be-Kelsey business. "Doesn't matter, it's temporary until everyone has been replaced. Or you guys will take turns."<br/>
<br/>
"I still want her," Lotte insists.<br/>
<br/>
"I think I'll have to give her to Sarah, at least at first. The real Sarah," you say as Morgana-Sarah frowns. "I'll need you out there too," you tell the latter. "Because we'll have to put Sarah's mask on Kelsey."<br/>
<br/>
"Can't--? Oh, never mind," Sarah says, shaking her head. "I'm totally confused, but I'll go along with it."<br/>
<br/>
"Good. Because remember, I have your best interests at heart."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
But Sarah, when you call her, is reluctant to play along. "This has been interesting, and even kind of fun," she says. "But it's totally wrong."<br/>
<br/>
"What do you mean?"<br/>
<br/>
"What I said before. It's like stealing. It <i>is</i> stealing, and it's stealing everything a person has."<br/>
<br/>
"But you didn't have a problem with taking over for Wendy."<br/>
<br/>
"That's different. This is just a swap. But stealing Kelsey's life--" She grunts. "I don't want to be part of it." You sit on the bed and try to keep from breathing heavily into the phone. She must sense your frustration and anger, for she adds, with a bit of a quaver in her voice. "Look, I won't tell anyone about what you're doing--"<br/>
<br/>
"No one would believe you if you did," you snap back. "But you won't switch, even for Kelsey?"<br/>
<br/>
"No," she says in a small voice.<br/>
<br/>
"But if I found someone who would switch with you voluntarily? That would be okay?"<br/>
<br/>
"And who would that be?" she asks peevishly.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't shortchange yourself. But I don't know who. I'm just trying to figure out your limits."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, maybe I should just make your life easy and say 'No one, no way, no how.' Give me my own life back."<br/>
<br/>
You drum your fingers. There are ways of forcing her into making a switch. You could, for instance, just stick her under a golemized mask, but you don't want to waste any of your own limited golem-making resources on keeping this girl under your thumb.<br/>
<br/>
As your eye travels the room, it falls on the drawer where you keep some of your supplies. <i>That anima band,</i> you remember. You'd had to make it in order to unlock the spell that lets you make chameleon masks, but you'd had no use for the item itself. Until now?<br/>
<br/>
"Look, just show up at Megan's house tomorrow at around ten thirty," you say. "We'll talk about it then."<br/>
<br/>
"You're not going to change my mind," she says stiffly.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, at least give me a chance," you sigh.<br/>
<br/>
After you hang up you take out the <i>anima</i> band and study it. It copies a person's essence, and this one has a copy of your own. Putting it on someone will give them the illusion that they are actually you--if you put it on Sarah, she will act and think just as you would if you were stuck in her body. And with a grim smile you know that you'd be quite eager to escape Sarah's body for Kelsey's. Or even Megan's.</span></div></div>


path: 11222112121112212112212
author_id: seuzz
title: Catching Kelsey
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"We're all set," Megan says the next morning--a Saturday--as she lets you in. Her eyes are bright, but there is a slight shadow of trouble around them. "I was worried you were gonna be late."<br/>
<br/>
"I had to stop at your old house, to see Wendy," you explain. "Do you still want to get her away from Sean? Their date is set for tonight."<br/>
<br/>
She shrugs her shoulders. "Like you said, it doesn't really matter, now that I'm here. Though I did call him specially last night to give him a personal invitation." She giggles.<br/>
<br/>
"Ah, I thought you still might be really pissed off about that. You look a little distracted. Is there trouble with the family?"<br/>
<br/>
"They don't suspect a thing. I'm such a <i>good</i> daughter," she snickers. "Though after this party we'll have to see how long that reputation lasts. If Patterson and them are going to show up--"<br/>
<br/>
"So what's the problem?"<br/>
<br/>
"Huh? No problem, really, now that you're here. I was just worried because Kelsey likes to show up early to these things. And Sarah always runs late. Oh, did you get ahold of her?"<br/>
<br/>
"Which one?"<br/>
<br/>
"Both." She grimaces. "You know, the real one's gonna want Kelsey, or she's not going to want to play."<br/>
<br/>
"She doesn't want to play anyway." Megan looks startled, and you tell her about the conversation last night. "So you've got Kelsey for yourself."<br/>
<br/>
"That's awesome. But what are we going to do about her? I mean, if she starts talking--"<br/>
<br/>
"I've got an idea for keeping her happy. As for Kelsey--" You take out a small vial. "Go pour a couple of drinks, and dump this into hers. Take her up to your bedroom before she drinks it."<br/>
<br/>
Megan peers at the vial as she takes it. "Did you use this on me-- I mean--"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, it'll keep her knocked out. Where can I hide out in the meantime?"<br/>
<br/>
"We've got a small family room in the back."<br/>
<br/>
She leads you through the house, which without being gigantic and ostentatious is certainly much larger than the average McMansion. "What does your dad do again?"<br/>
<br/>
"Real estate." She makes a face. "It's the most boring thing you can imagine, but at least he has the sense not to talk about it."<br/>
<br/>
While you're relaxing in the small, cozy family room Morgana--still dressed out as Sarah--arrives. "Megan tells me we're gonna have problems with Sarah," she says. "I coulda told you that."<br/>
<br/>
"I wish you had. Why didn't you?"<br/>
<br/>
"I wasn't totally sure. These things--" She brushes her face. "I have a hard time telling what it is I'm feeling and what the real person is feeling."<br/>
<br/>
"So, are you having doubts about the project?"<br/>
<br/>
She nods. "But then I just remember Gordon is waiting for me back in my old life. But what about Sarah?"<br/>
<br/>
"Give her a new life. One that doesn't belong to someone else. She has problems with her old one?"<br/>
<br/>
She shrugs. "Mother is divorced, and there's not a lot of money. Older brother, who's a loser working at a gas station. And who's going to date her?"<br/>
<br/>
"She just needs a touch up." You reach out and playfully brush at her face. "A nip, a tuck, a lift, a lot of fake documents. She'll need help from Megan's family, or Kelsey's, but they'll give it to her." She cocks an eyebrow. "There are ways," you say enigmatically.<br/>
<br/>
She starts to speak, but you hush her at the sound of the doorbell; it is followed by cheerful voices that you recognize as Megan's and Kelsey's. You and Sarah sit quietly until they disappear upstairs; nearly ten minutes pass before Megan appears again. "All set."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The switch upstairs goes off in much the same way as the previous night's switch, but with a few extra movies: Lotte takes off Megan's mask and Morgana takes off Sarah's; then Lotte puts on the new Kelsey mask while Morgana takes over as Megan. Sarah--disguised as Wendy--arrives late, as Lotte had predicted. You golemize Wendy's mask with the bit of Wendy's hair you'd picked up, and it goes on to Kelsey. You send the golem home so as to get it out of the way. "So, is everyone happy," you ask, looking around. "Lotte is now Kelsey, and Sarah, you've got your old life back." You glance at Megan. "You happy over there, Morgana?"<br/>
<br/>
"For the time being, I guess," she says.<br/>
<br/>
"We really should do something about your wardrobe," Kelsey says. She reaches out to brush at Megan's hair. "If we darkened your color up a bit, I've got a couple of sweaters that would look really good on you."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, bite me," Megan mutters. "I only put up with you because our mothers are best friends."<br/>
<br/>
"The feeling is mutual," Kelsey says acidly. "With all your money, I don't know why you can't buy a sense a style."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I'm really wishing I was part of this group," Sarah says sarcastically. <br/>
<br/>
"Now girls, remember who you're supposed to be. They usually don't talk like this to each other, do they?"<br/>
<br/>
Megan closes  her eyes and takes a deep breath; Kelsey gives herself a good shake. "Mmm," the latter grunts. "Just have to get deeper inside the bitch." She turns to give you a narrow look. "You know, Cindy, you're a lot nicer than Chelsea. It's too bad <i>she's</i> the one who's, like, Miss Popularity."<br/>
<br/>
"That won't last long, will it?" you reply. "I mean, now that we're all on the same side."<br/>
<br/>
"I guess not," Kelsey says lazily. But there's something behind her tone that suggests she'd just as soon that <i>you</i> weren't "Miss Popularity" either. "Anyway, you better scram before the others show up."<br/>
<br/>
"Sarah and me'll go in a minute. First, though, we should figure out who to take next. Brooke? Deanna?"<br/>
<br/>
"I can get together with Brooke this afternoon, if you wanna show up," she replies. "Give you a call?"<br/>
<br/>
"Do that. Sarah, give me a ride?" Your reluctant recruit detaches herself from the wall where she's been watching with ill-disguised distaste all this time. "We can talk on the way back to your house."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I told you you're not going to change my mind," she says on the drive back. <br/>
<br/>
"You could've stepped in for Kelsey back there, but maybe it's easier this way. I do have an idea for you."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't think I wanna hear it."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, listen anyway. You're driving, and you can't jump out of the car." You take a mask from your bag. "Look, these things can copy people, but they can do more than that. They can make new people, too."<br/>
<br/>
"What do you mean?"<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, you can use them to copy a person, but you can't wear them until you seal them up. But if you put them onto other people--like two or three or ten or twenty people--before you seal it up, you don't get two or three or ten copies of people. You get one copy that looks kind of like each one." She gives you a sidelong glance of puzzlement. "So, say we put this mask onto Kelsey, and then before we sealed it we put it onto Brooke. Then when we sealed it and you put it on, you wouldn't look like Kelsey and you wouldn't look like Brooke. You'd look like someone who was halfway between them. A new person who only <i>resembled</i> them."<br/>
<br/>
"And what good would that do?"<br/>
<br/>
"You said you didn't want to steal someone's life. Well, with that kind of mask, you wouldn't be stealing someone's life. You'd be inventing a new one. You'd be a <i>new</i> person. Would that be alright?"<br/>
<br/>
She doesn't answer.<br/>
<br/>
"And we don't have to kidnap anyone in order to put in a replacement for you. There are ways of making a golem using just dirt and stuff. We could put a mask of you onto that golem, and it would take your place while you became this new person."<br/>
<br/>
"But--" she starts. "If it's a new person-- I mean, where would I live? Wouldn't I need, like, a driver's license and stuff like that?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes. It would be hard and would take some time, but we could fake you up some documents. People do it all the time without using magic, though the magic would make it easier for us to do it."<br/>
<br/>
She says nothing.<br/>
<br/>
"Think about it," you continue. "A new look, a new body. A body that combines the best features of lots of really attractive girls. Maybe she'd be a college student--you'd need to be independent, since it would be hard to fake up a family for you. You wouldn't have to deal with bullshit high school stuff anymore. Get a new start, with a new life."<br/>
<br/>
She chews her lip. "I'd miss my mom ..."<br/>
<br/>
"You could switch back and forth. Let the new girl live her life, keeping it warm, while you were back to being yourself. When you got sick of that, you could switch back."<br/>
<br/>
She sucks on her lips, and her eyes narrow and harden. She hesitates, and then she blurts out the last thing you expect from her: "Or I could just become Chelsea Cooper."<br/>
<br/>
You almost leap from your seat in surprise. "What did you say?"<br/>
<br/>
"You heard Kelsey--Lotte--back there. If I was Chelsea I'd have it all."<br/>
<br/>
"But that would be 'stealing', wouldn't it?"<br/>
<br/>
"Only for a year. Let me be her for the rest of the year, Cindy, and I'll play your game. Then we can let her out."</span></div></div>


path: 112221121211122121122121
author_id: seuzz
title: The Chelsea Gambit
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Sarah's request really doesn't fit in with your plans, but if this is the only way to keep Sarah on the team ...<br/>
<br/>
You call Kelsey. "Is Chelsea supposed to show up for the powwow?" She grunts a negative. "Well, when you're done, invite her out to your house."<br/>
<br/>
"What's going on?"<br/>
<br/>
"Never mind. Remember who's in charge." You hear Kelsey mutter something under her breath. "Look, you want to tame Chelsea? Then play along without making a fuss." You snap your phone off.<br/>
<br/>
"So it's set up, just like that?" Sarah asks. There's a hollowness to her voice.<br/>
<br/>
"No, it's not all set up," you retort. "Now you have to take me back to my place. We've got some prep work to do."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Sarah watches closely as you add some her hair to the magic mix and coat the inside of her mask. "What's that?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"It's the stuff that will make Chelsea disappear," you reply. "We'll put this mask of you on her, and she'll disappear. She won't remember who she is. She'll think she's you, and will completely take your place." Sarah bites her lip. "Are you sure you want to do that to her?"<br/>
<br/>
"Are you saying I have a shit life," Sarah asks. "Because I do."<br/>
<br/>
"But you'll only give it up  if you get Chelsea's life in trade, huh? Well, everyone has their price, I guess." Sarah turns away. "And you get a dividend. She'll be your slave. She'll have to do everything you say."<br/>
<br/>
"She was a real bitch to me back in middle school, you know," Sarah says with sudden emotion.<br/>
<br/>
"Is that what this is about? Revenge?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know." Sarah paces the room distractedly. "Maybe a little. But I told you I want what she has."<br/>
<br/>
"She's lost a lot of it, you know. She's not the captain of the cheerleader squad anymore. And Gordon is chasing Morgana." You suppress a snicker.<br/>
<br/>
"I can do without that asshole. She can have anyone she wants."<br/>
<br/>
"So what are you going to do when you have her?"<br/>
<br/>
"We'll see," she shrugs. "Let me get into her life, and I'll see what I want."<br/>
<br/>
It's not an answer you want to hear. You can guess what Chelsea wants.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Half an hour before Chelsea is due at Kelsey's, you have Sarah drop you off at your new confederate's house, then send her off to wait until you've got the switch arranged. There's a triumphal gleam in Kelsey's eye as she greets you. "It's going to be such an excellent party," she says smugly. <br/>
<br/>
"Because I'm going to be there, or because I'm not?"<br/>
<br/>
"Of course you're invited, Cindy. I wouldn't want to miss seeing you and Chelsea mix it up. Or are we supposed to uninvite her?"<br/>
<br/>
"You won't be able to keep her away. But maybe we should let the new Chelsea decide if she's going or not."<br/>
<br/>
"You're replacing her, huh?" Kelsey casts a sideways glance at you as she leads you into her bedroom. It's very large and airy--you could do a somersault in the space between her desk and bed. "Are you taking her for yourself?"<br/>
<br/>
"No. Sarah will be stepping in for her."<br/>
<br/>
Kelsey freezes. "And how did she swing that prize?"<br/>
<br/>
"It was her price for continuing to play."<br/>
<br/>
"Screw her. Fat little--"<br/>
<br/>
"I thought you were friends."<br/>
<br/>
She sniffs. "Yeah, I guess. But maybe I'm wishing I'd held my breath until you gave <i>me</i> Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
"You got Kelsey." You look around. "And it looks like a good trade."<br/>
<br/>
"Sure. As long as Sarah remembers her new friends. And her old ones."<br/>
<br/>
You ignore the small headache that is forming between your eyes. "One step at a time. Look, when Chelsea gets here, tell her that you're trying to play peacemaker between her and me. Then go downstairs and get us some refreshments." You press another vial of knockout potion into her hand. "Put this in her glass."<br/>
<br/>
You talk a little more, about the plans for the party--Kelsey wants to get an up-and-coming amateur band from Eastman High to provide the entertainment--and then Kelsey's mom calls from downstairs with news that there's a new visitor. You wait in the bedroom while Kelsey goes down to fetch your nemesis.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea has a pinched expression on her face when she appears in the bedroom door, but she tries hiding it by scrunching up her face cheerfully. "Hey Cindy," she says. "Kelsey says she was just telling you about the party. Are you going to try going?"<br/>
<br/>
"There's no 'try' about it."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, are you at least going to get a date?"<br/>
<br/>
"Are you?"<br/>
<br/>
Her eyes freeze. In the silence, Kelsey mutters something about getting refreshments, and ducks out. When she's gone, Chelsea hobbles over to the bed and sits, crossing her arms and fixing you with a fierce glance. "I don't know who you're trying to impress, unless it's your sister. And you won't impress her until you've slept with half the jocks."<br/>
<br/>
Mention of Lucy causes something to flare inside you. Suddenly, you don't care if it's not part of you plan--you want Chelsea out of the way. You fold your arms and stalk over to the window. "Kelsey's trying to get us to be friends."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm willing to be friends. But you have to give me something."<br/>
<br/>
"What?"<br/>
<br/>
"I've got a list. I'll let you know. You just play nice to me when Kelsey gets back."<br/>
<br/>
Silence falls until Kelsey returns, carefully carrying three glasses. She gives the first to Chelsea and shoots you a hooded glance. You take a second glance and raise it. "Here's to all of us playing for the same team."<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea snickers and takes a sip. She fixes you with a grin-- And then her eyes turn glassy and she topples backwards.<br/>
<br/>
"My bedspread!" Kelsey exclaims as Chelsea's drink spills all over it.<br/>
<br/>
"You mop it up while I take care of her," you snap. You pull a blank mask from your bag and drop it onto Chelsea's face. Kelsey scurries from the room while you hover over Chelsea. As she lays there, a flush spreads over her face, making it curdle into red and white blotches, before it gradually fades. Kelsey returns with a hand towel, and you let her to mutter over the mess while you pull out some of the extra clothes you'd picked up at Sarah's. When the mask reappears on Chelsea's face, you push it off and set Sarah's mask onto your rival. "And now," you sigh as you take out your phone, "we get her replacement out here."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Chelsea's eyes flutter open and focus on the ceiling. Her lips purse. She blinks.<br/>
<br/>
"What's your name, sweetheart," you ask as you lean over her.<br/>
<br/>
She glances over at you, and recognition settles in her eyes; a faint smile appears. "You know who I am," she replies. "I should claw your eyes out for being a bitch, but I guess I do owe you." She sits up, and winces as she tries shifting her foot. A hiss escapes from between her teeth. "And you <i>did</i> arrange my little accident, didn't you? Bitch rhymes with witch, after all."<br/>
<br/>
"Settling in nicely, I see," you say. "How do you like your new home?"<br/>
<br/>
"Hmm," she purrs. Gingerly, she reaches up to grasp and settle her naked breasts, then runs her palms down her taut stomach to her hips and thighs. "Mmm. So this is what it's like having ... this kind of body. Did you have fun undressing me?"<br/>
<br/>
"You undressed yourself, remember?" You catch Kelsey shooting you a worried glance, but you ignore it. You point to the pile at Chelsea's side. "Come on, there's your stuff. You can get dressed."<br/>
<br/>
But she just bundles it under her arm and then on one foot hops over the floor-length mirror Kelsey has hanging on her bedroom door. "Chelsea Cooper, as I live and breath," she murmurs, turning her head this way and that as her curly blond hair swings this way and that. She nibbles on her thumb and dimples a grin. She drops the bundle but snags her panties and starts to pull them on, her gaze still locked on her reflection. "What happened to Sarah?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sent her home. I figured you could give me a ride."<br/>
<br/>
"Of course, Cindy. We're-- Oh yeah, that was your toast, wasn't it? Us being on the same team?" She laughs. "I see what you did there."<br/>
<br/>
"No blank spots, I see."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, I remember everything. Now, about that list--" You catch your breath; she notices, and her smile tightens. "I want to be cheerleader captain again. Now."<br/>
<br/>
"Wait a minute! Your ankle--"<br/>
<br/>
She wheels, frowning deeply, and tears spring into her eyes. "But it's one of the things I want!" she whines. "Chelsea is captain of the cheerleader team! She has to be!"<br/>
<br/>
You draw a deep breath. "Yeah. Um--"<br/>
<br/>
"Good!" The tears vanish as quickly as they'd appeared. "You can be vice captain. Or assistant captain, or something, even after I'm back on my feet. Now, how about a little privacy?" She turns back to the mirror.<br/>
<br/>
You bite your lip, but Kelsey gestures you to follow her out. In the hallway, once the door is closed, she pulls you close. "This isn't going to work. Five minutes, and she's already out of control."<br/>
<br/>
You suddenly remember your earlier idea of using a golemized mask to control Sarah. Maybe you could control this new Chelsea. You still don't want to waste any of your own influence, but--<br/>
<br/>
A new thought strikes you: Maybe you could use the hair from one of your allies--someone you could bully and influence--and through them keep Chelsea on a leash. </span></div></div>


path: 1122211212111221211221212
author_id: seuzz
title: The Charming Miss Cooper
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You shake your head. "She's just feeling her oats. Give her a little while to get used to it. And I've got a back up plan, just in case." You brush a lock of hair behind your ear. "In the meantime, we need to figure out where to put Wendy."<br/>
<br/>
Kelsey blinks. "That's right. She's pretending to be me, the old me, isn't she? Trying to get a date with Sean."<br/>
<br/>
"We can get her out of there. Who's the best person in your circle to give to her?"<br/>
<br/>
She makes a face. "Someone with a boyfriend. Not that I'm still interested in Sean."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh? Got your eye on someone else?"<br/>
<br/>
Her expression turns shifty. "Well, if we're all friends, Chelsea can help me nail things down with Steve Patterson."<br/>
<br/>
You snort. "I doubt even Chelsea can swing that, especially with her and Gordon being--" You stop. "I wonder what she's going to do about him," you muse.<br/>
<br/>
"Try to get him back, right? I mean, you can lift that hex, can't you?"<br/>
<br/>
You shrug. "I guess it's not important. We should all talk about what comes next. She'll probably have her own ideas about who to recruit."<br/>
<br/>
"You're not going to let her boss you around, right?" Kelsey presses her lips together grimly.<br/>
<br/>
You look at her, and it occurs to you that maybe it's not a bad thing having Sarah running Chelsea so hard. It means you can use the rivalries to balance yourself in the leadership. "No, I'm not going to let her boss me around. You'll help out, right?" Kelsey just cocks an eyebrow. <br/>
<br/>
The bedroom door opens, and Chelsea sticks her head out. "Are we going to talk about the party? Because I've definitely got some ideas--"<br/>
<br/>
"First, we need to talk about Wendy," you say. <br/>
<br/>
She frowns at your interruption, and then her eyes glint. "Oh yeah. We've got a few more people who need improving, don't we?"<br/>
<br/>
She limps backwards as you push past her back into the bedroom. You can't help noticing, as you pass, that the zipper on her tight flannel top is pulled down low, exposing quite a bit of cleavage. "Wendy, for one," you say as you settle on the bed. "There's also Sophia. She wants a new home, and I've been putting her off while concentrating on you guys."<br/>
<br/>
"Sophia?" The frown reappears on Chelsea's face, and then realization dawns. "Oh, that's right. <i>Gloria.</i>" She sucks in a sharp breath. "I forgot you put a <i>spy</i> on me--"<br/>
<br/>
"On <i>Chelsea</i>," you snap. Sarah's pitch-perfect imitation is beginning to unnerve you a little. "I wish you'd remember who really are."<br/>
<br/>
She smiles lazily. "Sure. But as I was saying it was a neat trick, putting one of your fakes in so close to-- To Chelsea." Her smile turns sharp. "I found her out, though. Too bad Gloria's life sucks so much. Crazy grandmother and all that." She rolls her eyes.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not gonna tell you again to stop it. Point is, you know she wants out. So that's two people we need to find homes for. Where can we put them?"<br/>
<br/>
"Brooke or Deanna," Kelsey says toneless, returning the two most obvious choices.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea clucks her tongue. "Brooke's a nice girl, but isn't she a little ...? Oh, you know what I mean, Kelsey."<br/>
<br/>
"No, I don't think I do," Kelsey says stiffly.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, she just kind of <i>fades out,</i> even when you're looking at her. I can't imagine Wendy would be happy with <i>her.</i>" She sniggers. "She's a snitch, too. Gloria could tell you about that, couldn't she?" She leers at you from the corner of her eye.<br/>
<br/>
"How about Kendra?" Kelsey ripostes. "Or Maria?"<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea's nostrils flare slightly. "I guess they're possibilities. But Maria is a scatterbrain, and Kendra--"<br/>
<br/>
Actually, Kendra is being impersonated by Gracie McGraw--a confederate you've not told anyone about, and at the moment it seems like a good idea not to. "Sarah's got Chelsea's crew under control, right?" Chelsea looks prim. "So, we need to think about who we need to <i>put</i> under control."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll have to think about it," Chelsea says. She suddenly jumps and grabs for the phone in her pocket. "Ooh, a text message!" she squeals. You and Kelsey exchange exasperated glances.<br/>
<br/>
"I can push Brooke around," Kelsey says. "Deanna sometimes has her own ideas." She leans back. "What about some of the girls on the athletic teams? They have their own little clique."<br/>
<br/>
True. Before you can reply, though, Chelsea grabs your wrist. "If you wanna ride, come on. I hafta go." She pulls you up. "I'll talk to you later about my party ideas," she says to Kelsey. "Don't do anything until you hear from me." White spots show in Kelsey's cheek, but you give up and follow Chelsea down the stairs and out the front.<br/>
<br/>
You both climb into Chelsea's little white car, but her sense of hurry vanishes as she adjusts the rear view mirror and touches up her makeup. "If this is going to work out, <i>Sarah,</i> you're going to have to be less bossy. Remember, you're on a <i>team</i> now."<br/>
<br/>
"I have to stay in character," she retorts, and turns the key in the ignition. The radio blares to life--a techno beat. She giggles. "I don't even like this crap, but now I do!" she chirps, and bops her head in time to the beat. She carefully checks her blind spot, and pulls daintily onto the deserted street.<br/>
<br/>
"There's staying in character, and there's being too much in character. Save the Chelsea act for when you're with other people."<br/>
<br/>
She smiles. "I know. I'll be good, I promise." She squeezes your knee. "I haven't thanked you yet, I know. I'm so grateful for this." She sniffs, but she's still dancing in place as she drives. "Isn't this just the cutest car?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's darling," you say dryly. "But where's the fire? We were just talking about--"<br/>
<br/>
"I know," she interrupts. "No emergency, I just wanted out of there. It really should be just the two of us planning things, right?"<br/>
<br/>
You give up. "Alright, so what's your hot idea?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I was thinking-- No one wants to be Gloria, right? I mean, she's got that great figure and all, but once you get inside her, you know--" She sticks her finger in her mouth like she's gagging. "But I was just thinking about that stuff you put inside my mask. The mask of-- of Sarah." You notice how she stumbles over her old name. "Now, what if you put some of my hair--" She twirls some of her golden tresses "--inside Gloria's mask, then she'd be under my control. That way we'd keep her, you know, where she could be useful."<br/>
<br/>
"I wouldn't do that to Sophia."<br/>
<br/>
"Give me a little credit. We put Sophia somewhere else. In Deanna, say. Then we put Deanna under Gloria's mask, but she's under my control. Problem solved."<br/>
<br/>
Your stomach clenches a little at the ease with which she's lit on a solution, and at the way it rebounds to her benefit. Worse, you can't come up with an obvious objection. "I guess that would work," you lamely say.<br/>
<br/>
"Good." She thrusts her purse into your lap. "I have some pinking shears in there. Get them out so I can snip off a bit."<br/>
<br/>
Actually, you'd have to use Sarah's own hair, but you let her misapprehension go uncorrected, at least for the moment. When she stops at a light, you hand her the scissors and she delicately snips off a thin strand. She smiles brightly as she hands it to you. "You know, we could use this to get control of lots of other people. Like, say, we get masks of Maria and Kendra. Put the masks under my control, and then put the masks on the other ones. Maria's onto Kendra and Kendra's onto Maria."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but you've already got them under your thumb, don't you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Of course. I'm just using them as an example. We should use them on-- Oooh!" Her eyes really light up. "The guys! Gordon and Steve!" She turns to you, her eyes shining congenially. "You know, you can have Seth back, if you want. I wouldn't mind."<br/>
<br/>
How gracious of her. "I'm over him," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"Then how about Gordon?" Her expression turns sly.<br/>
<br/>
"You're not taking him back?"<br/>
<br/>
"He needs to be taken down a peg. Oh, I don't mean--"<br/>
<br/>
"I know what you mean. Palm him off on the 'assistant captain' of the cheerleading squad."<br/>
<br/>
She looks genuinely hurt. "He'd be a real catch for you, Cindy," she says. <br/>
<br/>
"I'll get my own boyfriend when I'm ready."<br/>
<br/>
"Whatever. Shall we go find Gloria?" She points down a side street as the light turns green. Behind her, a car honks. She flips a bird over her shoulder and doesn't budge.<br/>
<br/>
"Just go already. We need to find a new place for Sophia first, anyway."<br/>
<br/>
She leaps into the intersection. "Then let's go to my place. We can conference."<br/>
<br/>
"Just take me home. Put together some ideas and text them to me." She shrugs and complies.<br/>
<br/>
Later that evening, you find that she's friended you on Facebook and put up a glowing note about what a great girl you are. You decide you don't know which is worse: being Chelsea Cooper's friend or being her enemy.<br/>
<br/>
Not long after, Kendra calls. "What is up with Chelsea?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"You saw the Facebook thing, huh?" You fall silent, thinking furiously. You'd dearly like to leave Gracie where she is, as a spy on Sarah-Chelsea. But you doubt she'd like being the one secret member of the club. Maybe you should offer to move her, along with Sophia.</span></div></div>


path: 11222112121112212112212121
author_id: seuzz
title: The World Turned Right Side Up Again
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Chelsea's undergone a bit of a personality change," you reply. "Have you talked to Gloria recently? Sophia, I mean?"<br/>
<br/>
"Not really. I'm supposed to be staying away from her, remember?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I've brought some new people into the coven. We're switching them into Kelsey and her friends. One of them has taken over Chelsea's life."<br/>
<br/>
"But I thought the whole point was to take Chelsea down!" she gasps. She pauses for a moment. "Does that mean she's going to be ... less Chelsea-like?"<br/>
<br/>
"I doubt it," you admit. "She insists on staying in character."<br/>
<br/>
"Who is it? Really?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sarah McDonald." Kendra gasps again. "Listen, I really don't want to get into it," you continue. "Here's the thing. Since Chelsea--the new Chelsea--is part of the group, do you want to change positions? Leave Kendra?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know," she says slowly. "How is this change going to, like, change our plans?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, for a start, Chelsea is going to be team captain again."<br/>
<br/>
"You're kidding." She sounds genuinely aghast. "And things are going to be ... like they were before?" <br/>
<br/>
"More or less, I think. I'm supposed to be 'assistant captain.' And she's not going to take Gordon back. Get this, she suggested <i>I</i> take him as my new boyfriend."<br/>
<br/>
"Yikes. What has she got planned for me?"<br/>
<br/>
"She doesn't know Kendra is a fake." You take a deep breath. "You could stay as Kendra. That would be ... convenient. If only you and me--and Sophia, I guess--knew who you were. You could keep an eye on the new Chelsea for us."<br/>
<br/>
There's a long pause. "This really kind of changes things, you know," she says in a small voice.<br/>
<br/>
"I know. If you want to change, it's fine with me."<br/>
<br/>
"So, who's available? Who's in the group, and who are the targets?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, Sarah is in for Chelsea. Lotte Linde? I got her Kelsey Blankenship this afternoon. Morgana Hollis is now Megan Farris. Deanna Showalter is a possibility, maybe for Wendy Silbert."<br/>
<br/>
"What about Sophia? Is she staying as Gloria?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, she needs a new spot too."<br/>
<br/>
There's another long pause. "Well, you know," she says when she speaks again, "I don't really know Sarah and Morgana and them. I guess I don't mind not being part of the group. I could be someone else, secretly. But not as Kendra. That wouldn't be fun."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, think about who you'd  like to change with. You've really been a big help, and I'll get you anyone. Until then, don't tell anyone where you are."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Monday comes, and when you show up to cheerleader practice you find that Chelsea has already moved to reclaim her spot. Coach Tesla calls you into her office, and you find Chelsea sitting in front of her desk, smiling brightly, and bouncing her good leg up and down. "Chelsea tells me she wants to be team captain again," Coach Tesla says gravely.<br/>
<br/>
"It's alright, Ms. Tesla ," you say quickly. "I've already talked to Chelsea about it. I'll be assistant captain, or something."<br/>
<br/>
She looks at you closely, and you can tell she has serious doubts. But she just shrugs. Chelsea hops up and gives you a big hug. "It'll be awesome, Ms. Tesla ," she says. "Cindy has done such a great job while I've been out, and until I'm totally on my feet again she can run things on the floor." Coach Tesla just nods tightly and sends the two of you out.<br/>
<br/>
The others have begun to gather, and when all the girls are in place Chelsea hobbles over, smiling. "Guess who's team captain again," she says. Lin and Yumi shoot horrified looks at you, and then rapidly recompose their features. "But Cindy is going to be my assistant, so you all do exactly what she says," Chelsea continues. "I'll just be watching for the next week or two." She nods, and then walks awkwardly over to the bleachers and plops down. <br/>
<br/>
You're deeply conscious for the next forty minutes that she's watching.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"So, is Chelsea really running things now," Gloria asks you at your locker after practice. She leans back and gazes imperiously at the crowded halls.<br/>
<br/>
"You heard her. She's team captain again."<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, is she running the other team? The one that has Morgana and Wendy and--"<br/>
<br/>
You swing around in surprise. "Why? What makes you think she's running that team? She told you--"<br/>
<br/>
"About the switchoff Saturday? Yeah. You saw when she pulled me out of practice and sat me down on the bench with her for ten minutes? She said she had a new position for me."<br/>
<br/>
"What kind of position?"<br/>
<br/>
"Kim Walsh."<br/>
<br/>
"What?" You look around in confusion, and then realization breaks. "Oh, you don't mean she told you--" Gloria nods. "God damn it! She's not running things."<br/>
<br/>
"She said she talked to you about it."<br/>
<br/>
"She told me--" You lower your voice and lean in close to Gloria. "She sent me some ideas, for where you and Wendy might go. Kim was one of her suggestions."<br/>
<br/>
"I could go with Kim," she says tonelessly.<br/>
<br/>
"You have a say in it," you insist through gritted teeth. "No one tells you where you have to go."<br/>
<br/>
She looks around the hallway, her huge breasts straining against the tight t-shirt. "I'd miss the attention I get being-- like this." She seems to muse to herself. "If I could switch out during the day, being who I am at school and ... someone else outside of school ..."<br/>
<br/>
"Did she make any other suggestions?"<br/>
<br/>
"No. She told me it was Kim." You swear silently to yourself. "Who else is on her list?"<br/>
<br/>
"If you want attention, there's Andrea Varnsworth. Or Yumi Saito. Deanna Showalter has also been suggested."<br/>
<br/>
"So what do I tell her in the meantime?"<br/>
<br/>
"Tell her you had to talk to me, of course."<br/>
<br/>
She nods curtly. "I liked it better when it was just the three of us," she says, and steps into the churning crowd.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You'd like to have it out with Chelsea, but you stop in bemusement as you charge into the cafeteria at lunch. The usual social geography has completely changed.<br/>
<br/>
Typically, of course, Chelsea would be holding court with Gordon at the main table, surrounded by his goon squad and hers. But today she's at a side table, surrounded by a mostly new group. Kendra is still by her side, and Maria isn't far off, but the rest of the table is peopled by Kelsey's group (Kelsey, Megan, Deanna, and Brooke) and members of the football and wrestling teams: Laurent Delacroix, Chris Ratliff, Sean Mitchell, Ethan Nieves, Cameron Huber, and Devin Haney. They are loud and happy, and Chelsea's shrill laugh rises above the others'.<br/>
<br/>
That leaves Steve Patterson and Jason Lynch to anchor the traditional alpha table. Cheerleaders are represented by Gloria and the Garner twins and some of the juniors and sophomores wannabes who have taken advantage of empty spaces to try moving up; other spaces are occupied by other members of the basketball squad. The girls at the table seem to be silent; the boys are very loud, but you notice perturbed looks on their faces, and several of them keep glancing over at Chelsea's table. And Gordon is over with Morgana and her zombies. He's ignoring them, though, and staring openly at Chelsea. As you watch, Laurent lightly rubs Chelsea's shoulder; she squirms pleasurably and leans in briefly against him. That's enough to get Gordon to rise and start crossing the floor.<br/>
<br/>
You quickly intercept him. "Let it go, Gordon," you say in a low voice as you step in front of him. He stops and looks down at you, uncomprehendingly. "What do you expect, after the way you've been treating her?" He glares at you, then looks up to glare over at Chelsea; his nostrils and upper lip twitch, and his face flushes. Abruptly, he turns on his heel, returns to his seat by Morgana, and grabs up his backpack. He strides out of the cafeteria, and given the direction he turns you can tell he's heading to the gym.<br/>
<br/>
You're not sure why you intervened; it would have served Chelsea right to be on the receiving end of a bad scene. Maybe you were only moved by instinct, a sense that this was not the time or place for such a confrontation. Inchoate ideas bubble through your brain. Gordon could be useful, in some fashion, you sense; but he has to be kept in check until you see more clearly how to turn his displeasure and confusion to your advantage.</span></div></div>


path: 112221121211122122
author_id: seuzz
title: The Weird Desires of Certain Cheerleaders
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"That's the latest with me," you sigh. "Will it be enough for Chelsea?"<br/>
<br/>
Kendra breathes softly into the phone. "I guess it'll do," she finally says. "Can't you tell me something about you and Morgana? Chelsea is <i>definitely</i> interested in that."<br/>
<br/>
"If something happens there, I'll save the news for you," you promise. "But I still haven't decided anything."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, <i>she'd</i> be into the whole magic thing, obviously," Kendra says. "I mean, if you're still looking for people to join."<br/>
<br/>
"I haven't decided yet," you repeat. "What's going on with Chelsea and Gordon?"<br/>
<br/>
"You saw them at lunch. Chelsea isn't letting Gordon touch her."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but <i>why?</i> He broke up me and Seth. Shouldn't he be the golden boy?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know," Kendra says unhappily. "Gordon is <i>not</i> a subject she talks about with me and Gloria. Maria might know."<br/>
<br/>
"I can't talk to Maria. Can you?"<br/>
<br/>
Kendra grunts a negative. "She's not into the whole gossip thing. I don't know what she's into. I ask her stuff and she just comes back with-- Why don't dogs eat people's hands and feet?"<br/>
<br/>
"Beg pardon?"<br/>
<br/>
"That's what I said. I asked her once about ... well, about you and Seth, and she just looked at me and said, 'Why don't dogs eat people's hands and feet?'"<br/>
<br/>
You blanch. "I knew she had strange stuff going through her head, but I never guessed she'd have stuff like that!"<br/>
<br/>
"I know! But you're wondering if Chelsea and Gordon are gonna bust up, amiright? Because they <i>aren't.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, it would be easier to arrange a bust up if we knew what they were fighting about."<br/>
<br/>
"Why don't you just slip him a love potion? You don't wanna just break them up, Cindy," she adds in a knowing tone. "The captain of the basketball team and the head cheerleader <i>have</i> to be dating. That's what Chelsea thinks."<br/>
<br/>
"And I'm head cheerleader, I know." A picture of Gordon forms in your head, and you have to shake your head. "I'm not into Gordon, and anyway, I wanna punish him as much as Chelsea. You don't think it would be <i>punishment</i> to be my boyfriend, do you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Ohmigod, I didn't mean--"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, stop it, I was just teasing. But look, even though it would be pretty sweet to take him away from Chelsea, love potions just don't work the way they're advertised." You've got the "Timor Omnes" open before you, and have been sighing over it. "I'd have to swap someone in for him, like I swapped you in for Kendra."<br/>
<br/>
"So swap some guy in for him. There's gotta be lots who--"<br/>
<br/>
"This is a girls-only club," you snap. "Can you think of any girls who'd want to be a guy, let alone a lunk-headed slab of muscle like Gordon?" You and she both lapse into giggles.<br/>
<br/>
But Gloria doesn't laugh when you wind up making the same point to her. "I dunno, Cindy," she says. "There might be."<br/>
<br/>
"Like who?" Her statement leaves you feeling dumbfounded.<br/>
<br/>
"Well," she says slowly. "I think I might. I mean, <i>I</i> wouldn't. Gloria might. Or might have been."<br/>
<br/>
"Really?! Why?"<br/>
<br/>
There's a long pause, during which you put an arm across your bosom. You can easily believe that a guy would want to switch with a girl. They're so soft, and they have so many amazing bits to touch and fondle and hold and admire. Guys ... Well, guys have that one bit, and it's fun to play with, but would girls really want to trade all they've got for that one little thing? It's kind of a turn-off, actually. And guys are hairy and their shape is weird, and it's so easy for them to be too fat or too skinny or too gross--<br/>
<br/>
"Power," Gloria finally says, and you have to ask her to say it again as her voice jerks you out of your reverie. "It's a man's world, Cindy," she says. "Even Chelsea gets what she wants by manipulating Gordon. If you're a guy, you can get it directly.<br/>
<br/>
"And there's the whole staring thing," she adds, warming to her subject. "I used to be so jealous of Chelsea and Gloria and-- and you ... because all the guys paid so much attention to you. And it's fun being Gloria and having guys staring, don't get me wrong. But it can be creepy, too. Because almost all of them are guys I am <i>not</i> interested in. And it's not fun having girls staring at you either, because you know they're sizing you up. If you're a guy, you don't have other guys staring at you that way, and there's nothing scary about it when a girl stares at you."<br/>
<br/>
You remember what it was like when you were Will Prescott, and some of the cheerleaders--and some of the AP girls--would give you those dirty looks. You throttle the urge to explain to Sophia just how horrible it can be for a guy to have certain girls--especially the desirable ones--stare at you like you're a worm. But all you say is, "I guess I hadn't thought of it that way. But, uh, you're saying <i>you</i> don't want to switch from being Gloria to being a, uh--"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh God, no!" she cries. "I mean, I like the cute ones." She pauses. "I wish Laurent would ask me out. But being one? Ewww. They're hairy and they come in these weird shapes, like they're too fat or too skinny or--"<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, okay," you interrupt before the part of you that is still very masculine can take offense. "So, who do you think might be interested in making that kind of swap?"<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You try hard not to frown at her. After all, you did invite her over, because you did think it worth following up on Gloria's suggestion. Gloria herself is standing off to the side, and you can't stop from giving your teammate a skeptical glance. Then it's back to your guest. "Are you happy being a cheerleader, Michelle?"<br/>
<br/>
Michelle Estrich--the only cheerleader who is actually unpopular; the only cheerleader who doesn't run around with any social crowd; the only cheerleader who isn't on the team because she is pretty, or athletic, or Chelsea's pet (now that you think of it, why <i>is</i> she on the cheerleader squad?)--blinks slowly. Almost everything she does is slow, as if she deliberates ahead of time before doing anything. "You're squad captain now, Cindy," she says quietly. "So if you want me to quit--"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, it's not that," you interrupt her. "I'm just asking if-- Did Gloria tell you what I wanted to talk to you about?" Michelle and Gloria both shake their heads. You look up at the ceiling. <i>This is going to be tricky.</i> "Well, I guess you could say that I'm thinking of asking you to join a different kind of team."<br/>
<br/>
"You want me to switch teams?" she asks in a puzzled tone.<br/>
<br/>
You stifle a laugh at the unintended double meaning. "Um ... Sort of." Michelle's frown deepens with bewilderment, and you take a deep breath while thinking quickly. You really wish that Gloria had broached the subject, because it's a hard idea to pitch. Of course, that's certainly why Gloria said nothing to her. Come to think of it, you wonder how Gloria knows so much about--knows anything about--Michelle.<br/>
<br/>
Your guest has begun to shift impatiently before you finally settle on a demonstration. "It's a kind of a secret society," you say as you grope under the bed for a blank mask. "I'm gonna have to ask you to take a little initiation before I can even describe it."<br/>
<br/>
Michelle winces, but she's a brave girl, and isn't to be scared off as easily as Missy had been. She gives the mask a cursory look. "What's this?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just hold it in front of your face, and repeat I after me. 'I, my name, swear on my life--"<br/>
<br/>
"I, my name, swear on my life."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, Jesus." Her impertinence gives you an excuse to punch the mask. She falls back, hitting her head, as it latches onto the front of her skull.<br/>
<br/>
"What are you doing?" Gloria gasps.<br/>
<br/>
"I can't explain things to her, I'm going to show her," you say. "She'd better be on board with this. Besides hearing about the masks, she'll know you've been hanging around with me."<br/>
<br/>
"She doesn't like Chelsea," Gloria says. "She's scared of her. I sometimes talk to her about stuff."<br/>
<br/>
"Like what?" The answer is long but allusive, and you don't pay much attention. When the mask comes out of Michelle, you quickly and deftly seal it up, then push Gloria into your walk-in closet. "Sit," you order. "I'm taking Gloria off you. You'll put Michelle on." Fortunately, she doesn't argue.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The two Michelles regard each other with hooded expressions; so identical are they that only their wardrobes distinguish them. "You're saying she can imitate me perfectly?" the real Michelle says in a tone whose seeming boredom can't hide an edge.<br/>
<br/>
"Perfectly," says the other in the same tone.<br/>
<br/>
"And you can be someone else," you say. <br/>
<br/>
"Like who?"<br/>
<br/>
"If you join our coven, you have to take orders."<br/>
<br/>
"I said, like who?" The real Michelle's eyes flick over at her double, for it was her double who spoke.<br/>
<br/>
You take a deep breath. "Gordon Black?"<br/>
<br/>
She blinks slowly.<br/>
<br/>
And blinks slowly again.<br/>
<br/>
"And what would I have to do?"</span></div></div>


path: 1122211212111221222
author_id: seuzz
title: Michelle Picks a New Home
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"We're taking Chelsea down," you say. The real Michelle raises an eyebrow fractionally. You fold your arms and begin to pace about the bedroom. "We're breaking her little goon squad from within. My becoming cheerleader captain was the first step. Gloria is on my side now" --you want to sidestep the fact that Gloria is a fake, at least for the moment-- "and Kendra ... Well, Kendra is not herself." You smile meaningfully.<br/>
<br/>
A little color rises in Michelle's cheeks. "What do you mean? What happened to her?"<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing bad. She asleep someplace. But someone else is using a mask, like the one that, uh, Gloria put on, to impersonate her." Michelle's eyes fall, and she rubs her arm. "So, Chelsea is no longer cheerleader captain, and her friends are now secretly her enemies. But she needs to suffer a break up. As long as she's dating Gordon, she can still act like she's queen of the school. On the other hand, if <i>I</i> was dating Gordon ..." You sit on the bed and smile lazily.<br/>
<br/>
Michelle looks around the room, avoiding everyone's eyes, and sucks on her upper lip. "So, you're saying you want me to impersonate Gordon, then break up with Chelsea, and start going out with you."<br/>
<br/>
"Yes, I think that's more or less exactly what I said."<br/>
<br/>
"And what happens to Gordon?"<br/>
<br/>
"He goes to sleep. Like Kendra. What we do is, we put him under that mask that Gloria is wearing. But we put a special thing in it so that he goes to sleep. But the new Michelle doesn't go to sleep. She keeps walking around, talking to her friends, doing her homework and living with her family, and no one can tell the difference. And she has to do what you say, but she will be your slave."<br/>
<br/>
Michelle crosses her arms and stares at the floor. She starts to rock back and forth, and you can tell that she is feeling very awkward, but is too nervous to sit down. "Do I have to be Gordon?" she says quietly.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, no," you admit. "I'll let you pick whoever you want. Except, I will want it to be someone who will be useful in taking down Chelsea. You want to see Chelsea taken down a few notches, don't you? I've been a lot nicer to you than she was, right?" Michelle murmurs an affirmative and shrugs. "So who would you like to be?"<br/>
<br/>
She doesn't answer for a good long time, and you avoid looking at Gloria, lest Michelle catch an exchange of glances and misinterpret them. You watch her closely. She is clearly weighing lots of options, but which ones? Is she trying to figure out who she would like to replace? Is she trying to figure out if she can safely reject your offer? Is she trying to figure out if she can fight you? <br/>
<br/>
Finally, you ask Gloria to step back into the closet and "change back." "Lemme guess, you didn't want to talk in front of yourself," you say to Michelle.<br/>
<br/>
"No, it wasn't that," she says. "Though it was very weird." She shivers a little. "But ..."<br/>
<br/>
"But?" This is getting very aggravating.<br/>
<br/>
"But I think I know some other people who would be better or happier as Gordon," she says in a rush.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Hmmm.</i> Either she is temporizing, or-- "This is a coven, Michelle, so it's girls only."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, these would be girls," she says hurriedly. "Yeah, I can think of a couple of girls who would be really good as Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
"Really." This is a surprise. "Who are they?"<br/>
<br/>
"You don't know them. Well, I don't think you do. They go to school at Eastman. I knew them in middle school."<br/>
<br/>
"Are you still friends with them?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh yeah. They're my best friends, in fact." She makes a face. "I don't like Westside. I wish I could transfer."<br/>
<br/>
"We could arrange that," you say softly. "Come here, sit down next to me." She gets very stiff, but lurches over to drop down by your side. You put an arm around her and rub her shoulder and back. "Look, I know this is kind of a mind-blowing thing I've shown you. It's pretty scary. And I can bet you've been wondering what would happen if you said you didn't want to join this coven." <br/>
<br/>
Michelle tries very hard to keep her features even, but you can see the pinch of fear behind her eyes.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't want you being afraid of me, Michelle. Even if you say 'No' to me, I'm not going to do anything to you. In fact, I'll do something <i>for</i> you. I'm glad you mentioned Eastman. If you say 'No,' I'll help you transfer to Eastman, by putting you in for someone over there. I'd do that for you, because I like you and want you to be happy."<br/>
<br/>
Michelle bites her lip and looks away. Her shoulders twitch and hunch awkwardly. But you can tell that she is thawing, that your generous offer is having its intended effect.<br/>
<br/>
You brush her hair lightly. "So, what do you want, Michelle? Do you want to join the coven? Do you want to transfer to Eastman? Do you want me to just leave you alone? It's entirely up to you."<br/>
<br/>
Her breathing becomes heavy, even a little labored. "I don't want to be Gordon," she finally blurts out. "But I'll join your ... your coven. Just not as Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
"He is kind of gross, isn't he?" you laugh.<br/>
<br/>
"Cameron Huber."<br/>
<br/>
Just as abruptly, you stop laughing. "I'm sorry, did you say you want to be Cameron Huber? The quarterback?" She nods her head furiously, and blushes deeply. "Alright," you reply in a reassuring voice, covering over as much of your shock and amusement as you can. "I'm not sure how useful he might be to our plans--"<br/>
<br/>
"I can date Chelsea after Gordon has dumped her," Michelle replies with no little heat. "I can date her, and then I can dump her, and tell everyone that she's a psychotic bitch. That'll help you, won't it?"<br/>
<br/>
Your jaw drops, and your eyes go wide as you contemplate what kind of earthquake that would set off. To be dumped not just once but twice, in quick succession: What a shock to Chelsea! "And you say you have friends who might be interested in taking over for Gordon?" She nods. <br/>
<br/>
The door to the closet opens, and a rather groggy looking Gloria emerges, pushing her hair out of her face. You put your arm around Michelle's shoulders and look up at your confederate. "Gloria," you say. "I really like the way Michelle thinks."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
If anyone at Westside deserves the epithets "hairy" and "weirdly shaped," it would be Cameron Huber. Not that he unattractive (as Cindy's own sexual instincts tell you). But it is very easy to look at him and believe that only <i>some</i> men descended from the apes, while the rest (including Cameron) remained suspended somewhere in the trees. <br/>
<br/>
There is, for instance, the matter of his hairiness: the mats that blanket his calves and shins (and thighs, presumably) and forearms and chest. You've not seen him out of a shirt, but he's got to be furry all up and down his back as well. There's the perpetual three-day beard that extends past his jawline to his neck, and past his ears to merge seamlessly with the close-cropped auburn hair. As for his shape: He is very big, and seems to have muscles hanging off him. His legs give the impression of bow-leggedness because of the thickness of his calves; his shoulders are like watermelons. He isn't fat, you would say, but his torso, which looks very low-slung when he's in long shorts, looks like a barrel set onto legs rather than a pedestal sloping down to his waist. His hands and fingers are thick and strong.<br/>
<br/>
But he's a nice guy, always smiling, hazel eyes always twinkling, and when he talks it's in a low, grinding baritone that sounds like it's imparting friendly and truthful confidences. If Gloria is right, and that a girl like Michelle would like a male home because it is strong and safe and powerful, then (you have to admit) Cameron would be a good home. He has a physique that no one would fuck with, but his personality is protective and nurturing. <br/>
<br/>
"Hi Cameron," you say the next day (a Friday), and lean in to rest your back upon the locker next to his. You raise a foot and rest it on the lower locker door, showing off your thigh and knee, and press your books up under your bosom. You flash your biggest mega-wattage smile at him.<br/>
<br/>
"Cindy," he says, smiling, and looks you up and down casually but fully. <br/>
<br/>
"When are we going to put on a routine specially for you and the football team?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Next game, right?" he asks, sounding puzzled.<br/>
<br/>
"No, I mean in private. Like, just the team, and just us?"<br/>
<br/>
His smile tightens a little. "I dunno. I didn't know you wanted to."<br/>
<br/>
"I do. Very much." You get a little breathy. "I have get to class. But I'm having a little party--just a very little one--tonight, at my house. If you came over at six, we could talk about it."<br/>
<br/>
"Sure," he says carefully. "If Anne's invited too."<br/>
<br/>
"Of course. See you tonight!" You move back into the crowd, but keep your head turned to stare back at him.<br/>
<br/>
Once you're out of sight, you send the text message ("Let's talk about Lin") to Kendra and Gloria. That's the signal for stage two: Keeping Anne Starkey--Cameron's girlfriend--distracted tonight so that Cameron will show up alone. It's also the signal that Gloria can now safely dish to Chelsea that she saw you coming on to Anne's boyfriend.<br/>
<br/>
There's only one more thing you have to decide before tonight: Whether to let Michelle have a golem of herself, or whether to briefly take over her life so you can investigate these "friends" at Eastman yourself.</span></div></div>


path: 11222112121112212222
author_id: seuzz
title: A New Quarterback
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Six-fifteen. He's a little late, but he's finally here. "Come on in, Cameron," you smile brightly.<br/>
<br/>
His own smile is wide but a little tight around the eyes. "Where's everyone else? I don't think I'm early."<br/>
<br/>
"No. Everyone else is just fashionably late. Michelle is here, though. Where's Anne?"<br/>
<br/>
"She got tied up. She'll be along in a bit."<br/>
<br/>
You usher him inside and introduce him to your parents. It's a short intro, for you've warned your dad not to try making sports talk. (He looks like he's about to burst, and quickly retreats into the dining room after you shoot him a warning glance.) "Actually," you say, turning to Cameron. "You are a <i>little</i> bit early. We're doing it in the back yard, but there's a table up in my room that I need help bringing down."<br/>
<br/>
He nods and follows you up the stairs. "Were you guys going to show off some routines or anything?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"No. Being outside keeps us out of my parents' hair. Or the other way around," you laugh. You draw him into the bedroom. "It's that desk over there that I need moved."<br/>
<br/>
He walks over to it, grabbing it by the edge and giving it a little tug. It lifts easily.<br/>
<br/>
And while his hands are busy and his face is turned, you draw up behind and slip the blank mask onto his face. He falls backward, and you're barely able to step aside as two hundred-plus pounds of muscle crash to the ground. <br/>
<br/>
You close the door and sit on the bed and hum tunelessly to yourself, waiting for the mask to reappear. Michelle's mask is already made up, and you've already sealed it with a golem shell that puts it under your control. <br/>
<br/>
You jump a little when there's a knock at your door. "Yes?" you call uncertainly.<br/>
<br/>
"Is everything okay?" Michelle's voice is muffled by the closed door.<br/>
<br/>
"Everything's fine. Just wait in the bathroom until I knock. Get yourself ready." You grimace as silence falls. She's been nervous all afternoon, and you hope she calms down once the switch is completed.<br/>
<br/>
Cameron's face glows, and the mask reappears. You sweep it up, and set Michelle's mask onto Cameron. He seems to go out of focus, and shrinks, and almost an instant later it's Michelle sprawled on the floor, and nearly falling out of Cameron's too-large shirt and jeans. She opens her eyes with a light groan and looks up at you. <br/>
<br/>
"There you are," you smile. "Now, you have to do what I say, don't you, honey?" She nods guardedly. "Good. But you also want to obey Cameron Huber. You like Cameron, don't you?" She gets a guilty look and turns a little pink. "I thought so. So, anything he asks you to do, you will also do. But don't tell him about you and me."<br/>
<br/>
"Okay," the golem says. "But it's not really going to be Cameron, is it? It's going to be ... me. Michelle, right?"<br/>
<br/>
"You're a smart girl. Yes. But she's going to look like Cameron, so just do what she says." The golem nods again. "Now, you need to slip out of those clothes."<br/>
<br/>
It only takes the golem a few seconds to do so, and she folds up his clothes very neatly while you busy yourself sealing up Cameron's mask. You then take them across the hall to the bathroom and lightly knock. The door opens a crack, and you slip the pile in to Michelle; she gives you her own clothes in exchange. "Meet us downstairs," you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
You briefly return to your bedroom to give the golem Michelle's clothes, then go down into the kitchen, where you collect a plate of sandwiches and some drinks and take them into the backyard. You set them down on the patio table and sit, crossing your legs, waiting patiently.<br/>
<br/>
It seems like forever, and with some slight irritation you wonder what the new Michelle and the new Cameron are up to. The fact that they are together when they do appear is rather suggestive, but they're not holding hands or anything, and you don't say anything except, "You look really nice, Cameron."<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks. I dressed up a little because, you know--" He shrugs. "Girls like that."<br/>
<br/>
"Does Anne think I was coming on to you?"<br/>
<br/>
He looks a little puzzled. "I kinda thought you were," he admits. "I didn't say anything to <i>her</i>, though."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, Kendra and Gloria are at her house right now, telling her that's exactly what I was doing."<br/>
<br/>
His eyes cloud. "That's gonna be fun, when I see her again."<br/>
<br/>
"Isn't it? I bet you can work it up into a first-class fight if you try. You are gonna try, aren't you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Why would I?"<br/>
<br/>
"You're going to break up with her, aren't you? So you can go out with Chelsea?"<br/>
<br/>
He resettles the cap on his head thoughtfully. "Yeah, that makes sense."<br/>
<br/>
"Of course it does. Don't break up with her right away, though. But make tonight a sore spot."<br/>
<br/>
"What do I tell her? Is there actually a party?"<br/>
<br/>
"No." You pick up a sandwich and nosh lightly on it. "It's just the three of us, until the sandwiches are gone. You should call her, and tell her there wasn't a party. Don't tell her <i>why</i> there wasn't a party. That'll make her nice and suspicious."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't mind her being mad at you?" His eyes widen. <br/>
<br/>
"I don't care what Anne thinks. She's a nobody. You can do <i>so</i> much better than her. And you will. If you want."<br/>
<br/>
He crosses his arms. "I don't know what I want," he admits.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, think about it," you smile. "You've got lots of time to make up your mind. But maybe you should spend the weekend, and the start of next week, getting used to your new situation."<br/>
<br/>
You talk a little more, about Chelsea and Gordon and how fucked up the school is, and then send him on his way. You take golem-Michelle aside briefly, though, and tell her to come out to the house on Saturday afternoon. After that, you send Gloria a text, telling her it's okay to release Anne. You hear later that she is spitting mad, but like you told Michelle/Cameron, you don't care.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Fuck," Marcy Hickerson snaps. She's bent over her cell phone, but she turns so that she's facing the table with the rest of you. "Don't look, but Karter's across the street."<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing wrong with <i>looking</i> at Karter," Daniella Rorie sniggers. "I look at him all the time."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't want him over here," Marcy retorts.<br/>
<br/>
"Why? You afraid you'll wind up taking off your panties and giving them to him?" Daniella teases.<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up," Marcy and Elissa Schindler say in unison.<br/>
<br/>
You glance in the direction Marcy seems to have indicated. The four of you--Marcy, Daniella, Elissa, and you (a.k.a., Michelle Estrich, this Saturday afternoon) are seated on the patio outside The Flying Saucer. It's a nice day for a coffee and conversation, but now there's a new distraction: a blonde-haired ragamuffin on the other side of the street, sauntering along carelessly. Even at a distance you can tell he's very good-looking. The half-dozen bracelets on Daniella's wrist clang loudly as she raises her hand and whistles loudly. "Adam! Hey Adam!"<br/>
<br/>
"I'll fucking kill you," Marcy snarls. She whips the leather hat off her head and whaps Daniella good and hard with it.<br/>
<br/>
"So tell him to fuck off when he gets here," Daniella grins. "I'll go with him so he'll have a shoulder to cry on."<br/>
<br/>
The kid turns and jerks his chin in greeting, then darts gracefully into the street, weaving around the lightly streaming cars. "Who is this guy?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"We've told you about him," Marcy snaps. "It's Karter."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm gonna get something to eat," Elissa says, rising. "And I'm gonna spend a <i>long</i> time picking it out." She disappears into the shop.<br/>
<br/>
Karter's hands are in his pockets as he steps onto the sidewalk. "Marcy, Daniella," he says coolly, and his eyes gleam as they settle on you. "Michelle." You have to blink, because you don't remember seeing him before. "Where did Elissa go?"<br/>
<br/>
"She disappeared," Marcy growls. "You should too."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I think I'll go find her." Marcy chokes as he goes into the coffee shop proper.<br/>
<br/>
"How does he know me?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"He knows everyone," Daniella says. "We probably pointed you out to him before. Talk to him when he comes back. He's fun."<br/>
<br/>
"Sound like he's more interested in Elissa."<br/>
<br/>
"He likes a challenge," Marcy says. "Elissa thought he was fun, until she put out for him." She hisses through her teeth. "And after what he did to her, he's going to try for an encore. Because he likes a challenge."<br/>
<br/>
"I'd let him do me and drop me," Daniella shrugs. "I don't care."<br/>
<br/>
"That's why he'll never do you," Marcy retorts. "He doesn't care, but he likes it when others do."<br/>
<br/>
"Sounds like someone should teach him a lesson," you observe.<br/>
<br/>
"He can't learn anything."<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, turnabout is fair play. Do to him what he does to others."<br/>
<br/>
"I told you, he doesn't care," Marcy snorts.<br/>
<br/>
"I told you about my friend Cindy Vredenburg, right?" you say. "I bet she should teach him. She's a little bit of a witch."<br/>
<br/>
Your segue--which you're still improvising--is cut short when Karter and Elissa return. But that's okay. You've already decided that Michelle's instincts about these girls were right. The tricky part, though, is introducing them to the idea of switching into a Westside student. But the appearance of this Eastman student, whom they despise, gives you the idea for introducing it in a roundabout way.</span></div></div>


path: 112221121211122122221
author_id: seuzz
title: Don Juans and Don Juanitas
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>For just about the first time since putting on Michelle's mask this afternoon, you're happy to stifle yourself behind her slow and deliberate demeanor: It gives you an excuse to lean back and study Adam Karter and the girls without needing to keep up.<br/>
<br/>
Marcy is the volcanic one: short and round, with dark hair trimmed into bangs. She has a nice set of boobs, but she keeps them hidden under a floppy t-shirt. Her face is flat, and her mica-like eyes glitter with intelligence. She keeps jabbing her gaze at Karter like they are flint and he is dry tinder.<br/>
<br/>
Daniella is the stylish one, if "style" consists of bracelets, pendants and nose studs. She is tall and slim, a build she accents with a sleeveless blouse and long hair that ends closer to her elbows than her shoulders. Her face is always crinkling up into smiles that pinch her eyes shut behind narrow glasses.<br/>
<br/>
Elissa reminds you vaguely of Sophia before she became Gloria: large of bosom and hip, wrapped in fabrics that betray an alarmingly high ratio of plastic to natural fibers. She's blonde, but it's a blonde that manages to look both pale and dirty, and her hair has little body even as it falls in curls around her ears. She has a bovine expression, one that now resembles a cow that is being goaded into impatience.<br/>
<br/>
And that would be because of Adam Karter. "You look good, Elissa," he says with warm sincerity. He looks around the table. "Doesn't she look good?"<br/>
<br/>
Elissa is very pink in the face, but it's the pink of pallor, not flattered embarrassment, and even over the traffic you can hear her breathing heavily as her friends struggle with how to answer Karter's question. His eyebrows go up a little at the silence. "She looks the same as she always did," Marcy snaps. "If you paid any attention you'd see there's no change."<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't say she looked better, I said she looked good," he retorts. He cups his chin in his hand and leans in toward Elissa, who draws back. "You <i>do</i> look good."<br/>
<br/>
"How do <i>I</i> look?" Daniella asks, and her face crinkles up.<br/>
<br/>
"You look good. Michelle looks good," he says, giving you a sidelong glance. "Marcy looks like she's going to hit on me. Ow!" he adds as Michelle slaps him hard on the arm. "I said 'Hit on'!"<br/>
<br/>
"I know what you said," she yells, and hits him again.<br/>
<br/>
He winces and grasps his bicep. "You just want an excuse to kiss it and make it better. I'm joking!" he yells as she actually comes out of her chair. Instantly he relaxes and turns his bright blue eyes onto her. "Though if you really wanna kick my ass, meet behind C wing during fourth period on Monday."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll kick your ass now! Go away!"<br/>
<br/>
"Make it an appointment, and I will."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll make an appointment with you," Daniella laughs. Something brushes past your leg, and Daniella makes a little jump as Marcy kicks her.<br/>
<br/>
But Karter looks at you. "You go to Westside, right, Michelle?" You nod. "You're a cheerleader?" You nod again. "You have friends who are cheerleaders?" His smile keeps growing wider.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm best friends with the captain of the team," you say. "She'd like you. And she just broke up with her boyfriend."<br/>
<br/>
Karter gets a look like someone just set a very thick and expensive steak down in front of him. Marcy has the look of a vegan who's had the same thing set in front of her. "What did you ever do this girl?" she demands.<br/>
<br/>
"I'll make you an appointment with her," you say, ignoring Marcy as you get up and hitch the purse onto your shoulder. "Tonight?" Karter stares, then jerks his head up and down in a nod.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Michelle told me all about this guy," you say dismissively. You're back to being Cindy--and it feels good--and are coolly surveying Marcy, Daniella, and Elissa, who are standing in your bedroom. The Michelle-golem is also here, but sitting by itself in a corner. "More to the point, she told me about <i>you guys.</i>" Marcy looks over shiftily at her friends, but they are concentrating on you. "So you wanna teach this guy a lesson? I can help."<br/>
<br/>
"I doubt you know what you're getting into," Marcy grumbles as you turn to your dresser and take out three blank masks. "And he's on his way over now." She shoots a dirty look at Michelle, who still has her cell phone out. <br/>
<br/>
"I know what I'm doing. <i>He</i> has no idea what he's in for. But we'd better hurry. I need the three of you to put these on." You hand each of them a mask. "Better sit down on the bed first."<br/>
<br/>
"What are they?" Daniella asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Just sit down and put them to your faces."<br/>
<br/>
They shift uneasily. Only when you raise an eyebrow at Marcy, which causes her to flush and plop heavily onto the foot of your bed, do they comply. Three pairs of hands go up, and an instant later three girls fall backwards onto your bed.<br/>
<br/>
"You didn't give them any warning," golem-Michelle says.<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't give <i>you</i> any warning either, and it worked out." You take out a small pot of sealant and a brush. "How about you go downstairs and get us all something to drink?"<br/>
<br/>
She's back five minutes later, and a minute or two after that the masks start to reappear. You carefully collect them and start to seal them. You're halfway through Elissa's when the girls start to stir. "The fuck," Daniella mutters and rubs her eyes. Marcy sits bolt upright, a dark expression clouding her face.<br/>
<br/>
"Which one of you would you say has the happiest life?" You continue to stroke sealant into the mask.<br/>
<br/>
"What does that have to do with--?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just answer." No one says anything, and a glance up shows that they are all three now regarding you with suspicion and bafflement. "Alright," you sigh. "It sounds like Elissa had the worst experience with him, so we'll turn him into her."<br/>
<br/>
You smile privately to yourself into the ensuing silence. Then: "What did you say?" That's Elissa, speaking for the first time.<br/>
<br/>
"I said, you had the worst experience with him, so we'll show him what it's like to be you. We're going to turn him into you." You hold up the mask. But before you can speak you hear your mother call from downstairs. You wink at the girls, and go out to the top of the stairs. <br/>
<br/>
Karter, looking a little flushed, as though from exercise, is standing there with his hands on his hips. His eyes brighten as they light on you. "Hey, are you Cindy?" he calls.<br/>
<br/>
"I sure am," you smile. "You must be Adam. Come on up!" He sprints over, and you withdraw, leading him back down the hallway to your bedroom. He starts a little when he sees the other four girls, then breaks into an insolent grin. "I like the way you've decorated the place," he laughs.<br/>
<br/>
"Mmm," you say. "You've got something on your face." He's quick, and tries darting out of the way, but your hand follows easily enough, and he sags against the closed door as the mask disappears into him.<br/>
<br/>
"What did you do to him?" Marcy gasps.<br/>
<br/>
"Same thing I did to you guys. A little preparation for the switch. As I was saying," you continue as you pick Elissa's mask back up and finish sealing it. "This is a copy of Elissa. It holds everything that makes her into her. A copy of her body, and of her memories, and of her habits and talents. Anyone who puts on this mask will turn into a perfect duplicate of her." Elissa is now looking a little stricken--and the others are looking incredulous--but you press on. "We're going to put it onto Adam, or whatever his name is, and turn him into her. Then he'll know what it's like to be on the other end of a fucking over."<br/>
<br/>
There's a long silence, and then Marcy snorts. "Okay, I don't know who you are or what this bullshit is--"<br/>
<br/>
"It's not bullshit, Marcy," you say. "Is it, Michelle?" Three heads turn to look at their friend, who shakes her head slowly. "If you'll just give me a minute while we're waiting for things to finish up."<br/>
<br/>
The girls draw away from you and huddle around Michelle, speaking in low, harsh voices. You ignore them until the mask drops off Karter's face and into his lap. "Okay, gather round and watch," you say. After a pause, the three Eastman girls gather close. Elissa's mask doesn't have a golem shell inside it, so Adam remains asleep even after you drop the mask onto him. His ragged clothes look very bad on her. You look up triumphantly at your guests. <br/>
<br/>
Three pairs of hands go to three different mouths. "Oh my God!" Daniella cries. Her eyes are filled with terror as they turn on you.<br/>
<br/>
"I told you I could turn him into Elissa," you gloat. "And I did." <br/>
<br/>
Elissa's legs buckle, and she sits on the bed. Her breath is labored. "What-- What--" she points in horror. "If he's me ... What happens to <i>me?</i>" she whines.<br/>
<br/>
"You get to be someone else," you reply. "All three of you do. I want you on my team." You flick your gaze across their faces. "You get replaced, like Elissa is getting replaced. But you get to replace other people. The first order of business--" You hold up Karter's mask and smile like a game show hostess. "Is who gets to be the new Adam Karter?"<br/>
<br/>
You weren't sure what to expect, but you didn't expect what happens next. Marcy snatches the mask from you, then Daniella snatches it from her, and then with yells and snarls they fall into a tug of war over it.</span></div></div>


path: 1122211212111221222211
author_id: seuzz
title: Goosing the Gander
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Okay, that's enough, don't break it!" you yell, and Marcy and Daniella freeze, each one grasping an edge of Karter's mask. "I think Elissa should be the one to wear it."<br/>
<br/>
"Me?" Elissa squeaks, but you concentrate on the other two.<br/>
<br/>
"He's gonna wake up here pretty soon. Get him undressed. He's not gonna want to help us when he's up."<br/>
<br/>
Marcy and Daniella both blanch, but you give them a hard look, and they drop down to gingerly start divesting the new Elissa of Karter's cutoffs and sleeveless sweat shirt. You draw Elissa aside. "You seem like a level-headed girl," you tell her quietly. "You won't do anything crazy to Adam. And because he looks like you now, you'll probably be nicer to him than your friends would be." She licks her lips. "This isn't about revenge. It's just about teaching him a lesson." She looks very thoughtful for a moment, then nods. "Okay, come with me."<br/>
<br/>
You gesture to golem-Michelle as you collect Karter's clothes from Marcy. The new Elissa is groaning softly as you nudge her out of the way and lead Elissa and Michelle back into the hallway. "You can go now," you tell the golem. "Keep your phone charged." She nods and descends the stairs. You pull Elissa into the bathroom. "After we get this mask sealed up, you'll be able to do imitate him perfectly. Are you going to be comfortable with that?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's going to be a little strange."<br/>
<br/>
You give her a piercing glance as you take out Karter's mask to seal it up. "Why did you sleep with him," you quietly ask as you scrape the brush across the inside of the mask. <br/>
<br/>
She is crimson, and shrugs weakly. "He's cute. And he said really nice things to me." She shrugs again. "I was having some ... problems at home. He listened to me. And ... Well, you don't know him."<br/>
<br/>
"Tell me about him, then. Start taking your clothes off, too."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, he's actually pretty popular," she says as she slowly unbuttons her blouse. "He's gone out with lots of girls." Her voice grows very weak. "It made me feel good to think he ... he was interested ... in me."<br/>
<br/>
"You're going to have his head inside yours. You'll be able to act like him. <i>Are</i> you going to act like him?"<br/>
<br/>
"Should I?"<br/>
<br/>
"Do you want to?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know," she says miserably.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, try to keep your head on straight. This isn't going to be forever, unless you want it to be." You talk to her a little more, telling her what you'll be telling the transformed Karter. "So, you know," you conclude. "Try not to screw up his life. And don't give him a reason to screw up yours." You exchange the completed mask for her clothes, and give her a reassuring smile. "If you want to see him before you go, just come into the bedroom. If not, just stay here until I come get you. Either way, stick around."<br/>
<br/>
Your heart is beating hard as you open your bedroom door, for you wonder what you'll find inside. Again, it's not quite the scene you'd prepared you for, but it's still rather scary.<br/>
<br/>
Elissa Schindler--the transformed Adam Karter--is sitting at the head of your bed, legs drawn up, with a terrified expression on her face. Marcy is sitting in the chair at your desk, and Daniella is sitting at the foot of the bed. Both of them are leaning forward and pressing shark-like grins at their "friend." Elissa doesn't look any happier at your appearance.<br/>
<br/>
"So you're awake," you say coolly. "And what's your name, sweetheart?"<br/>
<br/>
The whites show in her eyes. "My name," she says through gritted teeth, "is Adam Karter."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't look like any Adam Karter I know," you retort. "Come on, there's another name in there with you. What is it?"<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck you."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I hope you remember it soon. Because that's the name people are going to be calling you. Here are your clothes." You toss them to her.<br/>
<br/>
"My name is Adam Karter," she insists.<br/>
<br/>
"And who would believe you if you told them that?"<br/>
<br/>
"Lots of people!"<br/>
<br/>
"They'd think you're crazy, Elissa. Do you want people thinking you're crazy?" <br/>
<br/>
Her reply seems to catch in her throat, and when she speaks again there's a tremble in her voice. "Who are you? What's going on?"<br/>
<br/>
"Think of it as a fairy tale," you smile. "I'm the witch, and you're the wicked prince who's been transformed so he can learn his lesson. You are going to try to learn your lesson, aren't you? So you can be changed back?" She says nothing, but her nostrils flare. "Well, you'll have lots of time to think about it. But you'll want to think about what I say next very carefully."<br/>
<br/>
You have the attention of all three girls as you continue. "You don't have to live this new life forever. Or even for very long. And I've made it very easy for you. You can slip into this new life very easily. You can act just like Elissa, if you try, and it'll be a lot easier if you do. And resist the temptation to mess it up. Because you might have to live with the consequences."<br/>
<br/>
"And we'll be there to help you out," Marcy gloats.<br/>
<br/>
"No you won't," you say with studied casualness.<br/>
<br/>
"People will miss me!" Elissa exclaims.<br/>
<br/>
"No they won't. Adam Karter will still be around. He'll probably be interested in you." Elissa sucks in a sharp breath.<br/>
<br/>
"And what about me and Marcy?" Daniella asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Your friend's in the bathroom," you reply. "How about you go find her. I'll stay here with ... Elissa ... while she dresses."<br/>
<br/>
Daniella and Marcy exchange glances, then slowly exit the room. <br/>
<br/>
"Go on, get dressed," you repeat. "Did Elissa drive herself here?" She nods slowly as she picks up her bra, letting it dangle distastefully between thumb and forefinger. "Good. When you're done, you can leave."<br/>
<br/>
You lean against the dresser, watching with arms crossed, as she dresses. She moves very slowly, but habits quickly assert themselves, and she snaps buttons and pulls zippers expertly. When she's done, she pulls her lank hair back and looks you up and down. "Is that all?"<br/>
<br/>
"For a little while. Maybe a long while." You point to the door. You steel yourself as she draws near, but she doesn't do anything except exit. You count to fifteen, to give her lots of time to get out of the house, and then return to the bathroom.<br/>
<br/>
Adam Karter--the transformed Elissa--is still naked, but he's sitting hunched on the toilet. He looks almost as scared as his erstwhile alter ego. "Are you alright?" you ask him carefully.<br/>
<br/>
"I think so," he says. "Fuckin' weird."<br/>
<br/>
"He's got an erection," Daniella says mirthfully.<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up." Karter clasps his hands tightly.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't blame him," you laugh. "He's locked in a bathroom with three sexy girls." He flinches a little as you brush his cheek. It's still bronzed from the summer sun, and downed with a little peach fuzz; a few stiff hairs stand out on his chin. "And he looks very kissable." Daniella giggles.<br/>
<br/>
Karter pulls away from you. "Is ... he ... gone?"<br/>
<br/>
"<i>She,</i> Adam," you correct him. "Is <i>Elissa</i> gone? Yes."<br/>
<br/>
"But he ... she ... knows who she ... he ... really is, right? Like I do?" His face pales a little more.<br/>
<br/>
"Of course. That's the point."<br/>
<br/>
"He'll fuck up my life. He's an asshole."<br/>
<br/>
"I had a little talk with him. If he fucks up your life, he'll have to live with the consequences."<br/>
<br/>
"You mean I'm stuck like this too?"<br/>
<br/>
"Is it really that bad being Adam Karter?"<br/>
<br/>
He makes a face. "He's got problems."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, try not to have too much sympathy for the devil. If it gets to be too much, we can do something about it."<br/>
<br/>
"You guys will be there for me, won't you?" he asks, looking up at Daniella and Marcy.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh yeah!" Daniella exclaims, and tousles his wiry blonde hair roughly. He pushes her away.<br/>
<br/>
"I told you that you <i>won't</i> be there," you remind them. "I did something for you. I've arranged it so that Adam Karter learns a lesson." Karter snorts. "But now Daniella and Marcy have to pay my price."<br/>
<br/>
"What kind of a price," Marcy asks. She's been watching you carefully, and her voice is a rasp.<br/>
<br/>
"You girls have to switch with two other people. People that I get to name."<br/>
<br/>
"Who?"<br/>
<br/>
"You know Westside? You know Gordon Black?" Both girls shake their heads, but Karter's eyebrows twitch in surprise. "He's the captain of the basketball team. He's the big man on campus. Physically and socially. And just so you know what you're getting into, he's going to be my boyfriend."<br/>
<br/>
You let your meaning sink in, and Daniella and Marcy both seem to shrink a little. The muscles in Karter's cheek tighten. "This is bullshit," he snorts. "You guys don't have to do this for me. Get Elissa--" He swallows at the ease with which he just referred to himself in the third person. "Get Adam back here. Switch us back."<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up," Marcy says. "It's worth it." She turns a level gaze on you. "I'll do it."<br/>
<br/>
"I was hoping you'd say that," you reply. "I think you'd be a good match for Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
"What about me?" Daniella asks.<br/>
<br/>
You're not sure. Steve Patterson would be the natural place to put her. But maybe you should spread your net a little wider.</span></div></div>


path: 11222112121112212222112
author_id: seuzz
title: Two Boys Plus Two Girls Equals ... Trouble?
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You muse for a few moments. "I'll think we'll decide that later," you say. "Let's get Gordon for Marcy. She can get an idea for where Daniella might go. I need someone to be Gordon, but I'd like to leave you guys as much choice as I can. Yeah," you say more firmly as they exchange glances. "We'll let Marcy figure it out after the switch."<br/>
<br/>
"How long will that take?" Daniella asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, we can probably get Gordon tomorrow, tomorrow night. Maybe a day or two after that?" There are muted nods, but they seem to like the idea. "Okay, let's let Adam get dressed. Meet us downstairs," you tell him.<br/>
<br/>
The girls are quiet as they follow you down into the living room, where they mostly leave it to you to sustain the light chatter. There's a tenseness, though, and both girls become suddenly alert as Adam appears at the foot of the stairs. He freezes as three pairs of eyes turn on him. "What?" he asks guardedly.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, nothing," Daniella says mischievously. She advances on him and gives him a playful pinch on the shoulder. He flinches a little.<br/>
<br/>
"Let's take it outside," you say, for you've just glimpsed your mom through the opening into the dining room. <br/>
<br/>
A battered bicycle is laying on its side in the driveway, and Adam clumsily picks it up. Elissa's mousiness is beginning to grate on you. "You need to be this guy, Elissa," you tell her quietly. "I know it's very weird, but you've got all his memories and his personality and everything else right there inside you. You need to use them."<br/>
<br/>
He stares at you with eyebrows slightly arched and mouth slightly open. Then he lets the bike drop and steps up to you. He grasps you lightly by both elbows and gazes down speculatively into your face. "Yeah?" he says, and the note in his voice combines amusement and a trace of menace. "Prove you want me acting in character."<br/>
<br/>
Your face tightens, and he smiles, biting on his lower lip, then leans in and takes your lips in his. You grimace, but he pushes in, and presses his tongue against your teeth. You stiffen but don't react until he releases one of your elbows and lightly tweaks one of your nipples. You pull back, gasping a little, then shove him as hard as you can. He only takes half a step backward and grins rakishly. "You're hot, Cindy," he says. "Hot and you've got claws. If you were at Eastman--" He steps forward again, but stops when you give him another shove. He laughs.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, fuck me," he gasps. "And that's an invitation." He flicks an eyebrow, then steps around to pick up his bike again. "You wanna ride, Daniella? I think you do." He pats the handlebars.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, this getting weird," she replies.<br/>
<br/>
"I wish you bitches would make up your minds." He climbs onto the bike, and slowly guides it in a loose circle around your trio, smirking all the while. "We could have a lot of fun, the four of us being who we are, and knowing who we are." Before you can tell him to get lost he stands on the pedals, gives them a powerful kick, and rockets off into the street without a backward look.<br/>
<br/>
"You sure you can't get me someone tonight?" Daniella says nervously. You don't blame her; Elissa's behavior has unnerved you slightly as well.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Hey Kendra," Gordon says in a numbly surprised tone after he's opened the door. "Gloria." He blinks hard. "Cindy?"<br/>
<br/>
"We need to talk," Kendra says, using her patented "we need to talk" tone of voice.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah?" he says, and his brow crinkles.<br/>
<br/>
"About you and Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
All expression drains from his face, and his eyes flick across the faces of you and your confederates. The impression that he is carved from a slab of granite is only emphasized by his long but powerful torso. The top of your head maybe could reach the bottom of his neck; and he's standing at the top of three stairs while you are standing at the bottom. But he looks hunted and cornered. He has a strong but rather inexpressive face punctured by narrow eyes, and yet it's not hard to read the thoughts behind it. Kendra and Gloria, Chelsea's two chief goons: their purposes are plain. But why are you--Chelsea's great rival--also here? He shifts uneasily, and without taking his eyes off you turns his head slightly. "I'm gonna go out for awhile," he calls into the house. The inarticulate reply is muffled as he steps down and closes the door behind him.<br/>
<br/>
Damn. You'd hoped to do it inside. The Black residence is a small house, and the front yard is exposed to the rest of the neighborhood; you also don't like that there is a police cruiser in the driveway. "Let's take a drive," you say.<br/>
<br/>
Footsteps clatter on the concrete behind you as you lead the group down to Gloria's car. You move to the door to the passenger-side backseat and gesture Kendra to take the other side; you gesture Gordon to take the front seat as Gloria goes around to the driver's side. You glance back meaningfully at Marcy, parked in her own car a few yards away on the street.<br/>
<br/>
"What's going on with you and Morgana?" Kendra asks as Gloria starts the car and pulls into the street.<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno what you mean," he grunts.<br/>
<br/>
"Bullshit. You've been hanging out with her, totally ignoring Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
"Takin' a break," he mutters. "She takes breaks from me all the time." You draw the blank mask from your purse.<br/>
<br/>
"But why Morgana?" Kendra asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, who should I take a break with? You?" You have to drop the mask below the seat as he turns to glare at your friend. "I dunno. Maybe I'm just trying to make Chelsea and you guys stop taking me for granted."<br/>
<br/>
This exercise in self-deception is quite interesting, but you've got business to finish, so when he turns back around you reach around the headrest and press the mask to his face. "Take us to that supermarket we passed," you order Gloria. "We'll finish the swap there." You lean back and let yourself relax after checking the back window to see that Marcy is following okay.<br/>
<br/>
It's actually a very simple exchange; the hardest part was making sure that Kendra could get away to join the expedition. After Gloria parks in a dark corner of the parking lot you nudge Kendra. "Go get Marcy, send her over here. You can keep her seat warm."<br/>
<br/>
Marcy is breathing heavily as she gets in, but she's forward enough that she leans in and cranes her neck so she can get a look at Gordon; but it's probably too dark, and he is slumped too far over, to permit a good look. "Get undressed," you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
She's still peeling when Gloria hands Gordon's mask back to you; you give her Marcy's mask in exchange. A moment later the figure in the seat in front shifts and looks around; Marcy's profile shows itself as the figure turns and locks eyes with her original. Two girls take sharp breaths.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay Marcy, you know who you are and what's going on," you say in a carefully neutral tone. "You need to pull off those clothes, and you don't need your original to tell you. But you'll do what she says, won't you?" Two Marcies look at you with slight fear in their eyes, and then the one in the front seat pulls off a t-shirt. There is a long silence while you busy yourself sealing up Gordon's mask.<br/>
<br/>
Clothes move from front seat to back and vice versa. The Marcy in the back seat twists to cover herself even as she takes the mask from you. She looks down into it for a moment, then turns it over and carefully puts it to her face. The back seat suddenly gets much more crowded, and you grasp the figure by the neck to keep it from forcing its head through the roof of the car; it falls to the side, and an instant later an unconscious Gordon Black is laying his face against your breast.<br/>
<br/>
You start at this possibly predictable but entirely unexpected development. Gingerly you put an arm around his shoulders and cradle his cheek with your free hand. He breaths softly. His cheek is rough with eight o'clock whiskers, and his short hair slips between your fingertips. <i>It's going to be like this, much of the time, pretty soon,</i> you suddenly reflect: This muscle head is going to be your boyfriend.<br/>
<br/>
"Having fun," Gloria asks. Marcy turns around to get a look.<br/>
<br/>
"Never mind," you say, and can't stop yourself from blushing. "Marcy, you can go home now. Send Kendra back." The golem dutifully gets out of the car.<br/>
<br/>
You rub Gordon's cheek, stroking him back to life. He grunts and sits up. "Oh God," he gasps softly, and clumsily raises his hands. He flexes his fingers and shifts in his seat. "Oh God."<br/>
<br/>
"A little weird?" you lightly tease. <br/>
<br/>
He glances and you does a double take. Then his head twists as he turns to look down at his crotch. "Holy fuck!" Even in the dark you can see the shaft starting to rise. He rests his palms on the roof of the car, and raises himself as though trying to stand. "Oh Jesus! Fucking God!" Still his cock keeps going up. Something between a gasp and a growl erupts from his throat. He strains, and then pounds the roof of the car--hard--with a palm. "This. Is. Fucking. <i>Awesome!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
No, this is rather frightening. It may also be an excuse to duck over to Eastman, with the excuse that Elissa/Adam needs watching.</span></div></div>


path: 112221121211122122221121
author_id: seuzz
title: The New Boyfriend
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You shrink back as Gordon turns to you. He plucks at your hair and teases it between his fingers.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay," your voice comes out in a squeak. "This is nice, but what about Morgana?" <br/>
<br/>
"Huh? What about her?" He continues teasing at your hair. Then he frowns. "Yeah, what about her? The fuck is going on there?"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't you know?"<br/>
<br/>
"All I know is--" He blinks, hard, as though trying to bring the world into focus. "It was like--"<br/>
<br/>
"Were you in love with her?"<br/>
<br/>
"No."<br/>
<br/>
"Was it like you hated everything, and you were completely uncomfortable, except when you were around her?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," he says heavily. "Now that you mention it."<br/>
<br/>
"Still have those feelings?" You suspect you know what the answer will be, but want confirmation.<br/>
<br/>
But not in the form it arrives in. He leans over and pins you with a knee and throws a huge arm in front of you, blocking any chance of escape. He pushes his face into yours and breathes heavily. "You are ... the sexiest ..." He struggles for words, and his hot breath puffs unevenly into your face.<br/>
<br/>
"Is that Gordon talking or Marcy?"<br/>
<br/>
His breath continues to come heavily. "It's Gordon," he finally says, and sits back. You watch in some alarm as his mouth opens and his lips peel back; it's like something is forcing its way up his throat and out his mouth. He cocks his head to side, hard, and there's a cracking sound from his neck. He grunts and suddenly relaxes. "Okay, that's better," he says in a much calmer tone of voice. "I didn't know boys had those kinds of chemicals going through them."<br/>
<br/>
You swallow, hard. No wonder Chelsea is a bitch: she has to be. You had no idea it was going to be this hard to manage Gordon, even with a girl inside him. <br/>
<br/>
"What is going on with Morgana," he asks, and it almost sounds like Marcy talking. "Is she part of this group?"<br/>
<br/>
"No. She's nobody. I just put a hex on Gordon so he'd be fascinated with her. But it doesn't work on you, since you're only disguised as him." He grunts. "But Cameron Huber is part of the club."<br/>
<br/>
"Huber?" Gordon laughs. "A pussy like him, yeah."<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, he's got a girl inside him, like Gordon has a girl inside <i>him.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Whoa! When did this happen?"<br/>
<br/>
"A couple of days ago. It's Michelle."<br/>
<br/>
Gordon's jaw drops. "Michelle is inside Huber?" He claps his hands and barks. "That's gotta be fun. But wait, when did--"<br/>
<br/>
"Like I said, a few days ago. That wasn't Michelle who saw you yesterday. It was a fake. But she recommended you, and that's why her double brought you out."<br/>
<br/>
Gordon's eyes go very wide. "That was a-- Jesus!" He lets out a low whistle. "I guess I don't have to worry about my, uh, replacement fucking up. Michelle was perfect."<br/>
<br/>
"Just like you'll be a perfect Gordon tomorrow. When we spring it on everyone that now you're <i>my</i> boyfriend."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Hey Chels, how 'bout you scoot over?" Gordon says. Chelsea glances back briefly, then shifts over onto the next stool at the cafeteria table. But all eyes on the other side of the table are on you and Gordon as he sits, and as you sit between him and Chelsea. He drapes an arm around your shoulder, then pulls you in for a hungry kiss. You hug him back, but even in the depths of the kiss listen carefully.<br/>
<br/>
There is absolute silence for nearly a minute. Then there's the crash of cutlery, and the table creaks. Chelsea, you know without looking, has risen and run off.<br/>
<br/>
But Gordon keeps kissing you, until you give a little grunt. But even after he releases you, he keeps looking down at you with crinkled eyes.<br/>
<br/>
You dimple back, then look around the table. You don't stare; you try to make it appear that you're only running your gaze along the back wall. But of course you are gauging the reaction to this revolution. Everyone is staring with mouths hanging open. Even Kendra and Gloria, primed for this moment, are staring. The girls are concentrating on you, but the guys keep glancing over at Gordon, who for his part ignores them, and tackles his lunch with gusto.<br/>
<br/>
Maria Vasquez--Chelsea's best friend--is the first to move. Her expression isn't unfriendly, but it is grave as she gazes at you; you have the impression that she isn't angry with you, only ... hurt? She rises from the table, but she doesn't run; she only walks steadily after her friend. Kendra quickly dashes after her. Gloria gives a small smile, and takes a sip of her milk while turning to look off into the distance. The other cheerleaders seem to shrink back.<br/>
<br/>
As for the boys: Jason is the first to find his voice. "Way to go, Gordon," he snickers.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey Steve, you get those notes for Walberg's pop quiz," Gordon asks. He shifts his fork into his left hand and puts his right arm around you.<br/>
<br/>
Steve stares. "Huh? Oh, yeah. Yeah." <br/>
<br/>
"Well can I see them or do I gotta wait til after the quiz, find out where I fucked up?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," Steve repeats distractedly, then with a jerk of his shoulders pulls his backpack into his lap. Slowly he unzips it and draws out a piece of paper.<br/>
<br/>
"Are they any good?" Gordon asks as he takes it with his free hand. He chews thoughtfully as he looks it over.<br/>
<br/>
"I got 'em off Brewer."<br/>
<br/>
"God damn gold standard." He studies the paper. "Who the fuck is Madison?"<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck if I know. Fuck if I know anything," Steve mutters and bends over his own lunch.<br/>
<br/>
"Cindy," Lin asks in a careful tone. "Where were you last night? I tried calling."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Bullshit.</i> "I must have missed you. I had the phone turned off. I was busy."<br/>
<br/>
"Doing what?" Her voice lilts lightly.<br/>
<br/>
"Hanging out."<br/>
<br/>
"Wanna tell us about it?" Her eyes flick off to the side, meaningfully.<br/>
<br/>
"There's nothing to tell," you reply, and slide your own arm around Gordon. He smacks at a mouthful of food, gazes down at you, swallows, and gives you another deep kiss.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Lin and Yumi and the Garners still corner you, of course, later in the day. "Oh, that whole Morgana thing," you laugh, rolling your eyes. "That was so obviously a desperate cry for attention on his part." You shrug. "It was just so easy to step in and give him what he wants when Chelsea wouldn't."<br/>
<br/>
"He's just using you," Lin says. "If Morgana didn't work on Chelsea, <i>you</i> will." You smile privately to yourself as she continues. "She'll get him all worked up over it, and win him back--"<br/>
<br/>
"She never lost him, Cindy," Yumi interrupts. "He's still just stringing her long. He'll make her grovel."<br/>
<br/>
"And then he'll dump you and go back to her, and together they'll just rip you up," says Lin.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I suppose she can try," you allow. "But we made a real connection. He told me all kinds of things about Chelsea last night, and I think I got him to see just how bad she was for him--"<br/>
<br/>
"He's always known she's bad for him," Jessica Garner says. "But he can't help himself. And he'll feel horribly guilty after she's back with him--"<br/>
<br/>
"But we made a <i>connection,</i>" you insist. You don't know why you're arguing with them, since you know so much better than them. Maybe their cynical certainty just pisses you off. "The way he looked at me after I told him what he needed and how I could give it to him--"<br/>
<br/>
"What can you give him, Cindy?" Eva asks bluntly.<br/>
<br/>
The question causes you stutter, because obviously you <i>don't</i> have anything to give--except Gordon's life to Marcy--and you <i>didn't</i> have a long talk with him about such things. "I can give him love," you finally stammer out, "and not just, you know, the head cheerleader's body to boink."<br/>
<br/>
"But you <i>are</i> giving him <i>that,</i> aren't you, Cindy?" Lin says with a cynical tone so broad you'd need a ferry to cross it.<br/>
<br/>
You hold out your palm. "Place your bets, ladies. A hundred bucks says that a month from now Gordon and me are still together, and Chelsea is ... well, if she's actually dating anyone it's someone practically invisible."<br/>
<br/>
No one, of course, takes you up on it--not because they believe you, but because they disbelieve you so deeply that they don't want to take your money. But you treat their sighs and demurrals as a victory, and sweep triumphantly away.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"So what did the guys have to say?" you ask Gordon. You're in the driveway at your house, and he's dribbling a basketball and looking vaguely vexed because there's no hoop to shoot it through. "Steve and them."<br/>
<br/>
He guffaws. "Steve-o? He's totally on board. He's been trying to get me and Chels--" He shakes his head a little, and laughs. "Break us up for years. He can't believe it, but he likes it. Lynch, too."<br/>
<br/>
"She's going to try to get you back." Lin and the girls were totally right about that. He snorts derisively. "Maybe you should go back to her."<br/>
<br/>
The ball slips from his hand. "Say <i>what?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Not permanently. But she'll come crawling back to you. You could make her beg, then bang her and bang her hard. But the next day, come back to me, like the whole thing never happened. Drive her <i>nuts.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
He sucks on his teeth, and tosses the ball from hand to hand. "I think you underestimate her. It would probably be safest just to cut her off."</span></div></div>


path: 1122211212111221222211212
author_id: seuzz
title: The Friends of Gordon Black
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Your new boyfriend has Gordon's instincts about Chelsea, and Marcy's own feminine intuition, so it seems best to take her advice. "Maybe I am getting carried away. We can leave it to Cameron to fuck her up."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, what's the deal with Cameron and Michelle," he says, and bounces the ball off his bicep. "You weren't real clear on that."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, my original idea was that she'd take over as Gordon. But she wanted to be Cameron."<br/>
<br/>
Gordon looks off into the distance and bounces the ball slowly; he's very good, and executes some nifty hand-to-hand moves while seeming to pay no attention to what he's doing. "That makes sense, knowing Michelle," he says. "She wouldn't like being Gordon anyway."<br/>
<br/>
"You're having fun."<br/>
<br/>
He balances the ball on the palm of his hand. "Well, he's an alpha and I'm an alpha. And this is like, you know, what alphas like." He makes a face. "No one would let me get away with shit back when I was a girl. You have to be like <i>Chelsea</i> if you're going to be like that." His eyes fall onto you. "Or like you."<br/>
<br/>
"That sounds like an insult."<br/>
<br/>
"I just like being honest. Why don't you turn yourself into a guy too? You can be Steve."<br/>
<br/>
"I like being myself," you say, and twinge at the irony of what you've said. "What about putting Daniella in for Steve? We could get that done tonight."<br/>
<br/>
He snickers. "Yeah, but I dunno that Steve would be a good match for her."<br/>
<br/>
"What <i>are</i> Gordon's relationships like?" The topic of Steve has reminded you of some of the puzzlement you've felt about Gordon and his friends. "Why are him and Steve friends?"<br/>
<br/>
"They've been friends since middle school. They didn't like each other at first. Steve was kind of a dick. He still is. Fucking arrogant is what he is. He's smart, one smart fucker. He doesn't need to go getting answers from guys like Brewer." His brow darkens. "He only does that shit so he can help Gordon out."<br/>
<br/>
"So why are they friends?"<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno. They just are. Just buddies." He shrugs. "You know Huber used to be a bully in middle school? He used to give Gordon a lot of shit, until Gordon got big. But Steve came in before that, and backed him up. The real mystery is how come Steve puts up with Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I'm not doing this to solve mysteries. Oh, but what about Jason Lynch?"<br/>
<br/>
"What about him?"<br/>
<br/>
"What's the deal between him and Gordon?" Gordon shrugs. "Jason is, like, really devoted to him." You're choosing your words carefully.<br/>
<br/>
Gordon chews on the inside of a cheek. "Well, I guess you'd have to find out from Jason. But he's like a pet, I guess. He does everything Gordon says. He's always trying to butter him, show off for him. I don't think Gordon really gives a shit about him one way or another. Steve can't stand him, though."<br/>
<br/>
You stare, and then break out laughing. "So, Steve can't stand Chelsea or Jason. I don't think Chelsea likes Jason."<br/>
<br/>
"She hates him. Jason hates her, too. I can tell, even though he never really said anything."<br/>
<br/>
"So who in your whole group does like each other?"<br/>
<br/>
"Gordon and Steve. They're the only two. Though even there, I think it's more like they've got a bond. Gordon is jealous as hell of Steve. Fucker's gonna go off to college, get a great job, get rich, turn into a smug asshole with lots of money." He dribbles the ball hard and fast. "Gordon's got the high school side all sewed up, but I'll wanna switch into Steve when it comes time to graduate."<br/>
<br/>
"That's long-range planning. At the moment, let's just figure out where to put Daniella."<br/>
<br/>
Unfortunately, only a minute or two later you have to step out of the driveway as your dad pulls in. He's grinning widely as he gets out, and shakes Gordon's hand hard. You roll your eyes. He's such an athletic booster, and a suck up to boot. Your boyfriend can only get away by claiming he has to go. There's a brief, awkward moment as, in full sight of your dad, he twitches at your hand, then clasps your fingers and bends over to give you a quick smooch. Then it's back to his classic VW Bug.<br/>
<br/>
Your dad says nothing, to your immense relief, except to praise the prowess of the Westside basketball team's captain: "They're taking the state championship this year for sure," he exults.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You call Cameron after supper. "So, I started bringing some of your friends from Eastman over," you lilt.<br/>
<br/>
"I kinda guessed," he grunts. "I heard it was quite a scene with you and Gordon. Who is it?"<br/>
<br/>
"Marcy. Didn't she tell you?"<br/>
<br/>
"I haven't talked to her. Him. Did you tell her about me?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah. We'll probably get together tonight, do some talking. Are you free?"<br/>
<br/>
"I can get away. Marcy's a good match for Gordon," he adds, laughing dryly. "Gonna be interesting, for all of us."<br/>
<br/>
Given what Marcy told you about the past relationship between Gordon and Cameron, and your own sense of Marcy's personality and how she's interacting with Gordon's, you have to agree. "I still need to bring Daniella over," you say. "You have any ideas about where she might go?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'll have to think about it," he says after a pause. "What about Elissa?"<br/>
<br/>
"She's still over at Eastman. I put her in for a guy named ... Adam? Karter, I think?"<br/>
<br/>
"Huh. Yeah, I've heard a little about him. How come she's not coming over here?"<br/>
<br/>
"It was the price I paid to get the other two to switch. How's Anne?"<br/>
<br/>
"She's okay. Cameron is head over heels for her, you know. Gonna make a break up hard to pull off. Are we still doing what we were planning? Me and Chelsea?" You tell him that's still on, and then the conversation falls into an awkward suspension. "The football team is all kinds of messed up, you know," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"I've heard rumors. Can you handle it?"<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno. I guess I have to."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe that's something we can talk about," you say, and the conversation ends soon after. <br/>
<br/>
You hang onto the phone, though, willing it to ring with either Kendra or Gloria on the other end. It doesn't, which fills you with a certain amount of disquiet.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You end up calling Morgana instead. "Good news," you chirp. "I took care of your Gordon problem for you."<br/>
<br/>
"Really," she says, sounding skeptical. "Then how come he called me a little while ago, wanting to get together?"<br/>
<br/>
You almost drop the phone. "Really?" you squeak. "What did he say?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just 'how about we get together'?"<br/>
<br/>
"What did you say?"<br/>
<br/>
"I told him I had to wash my hair. That's what you're supposed to say, isn't it?"<br/>
<br/>
Your jaw works soundlessly as you try to work through what might be going on. "Maybe he just wants to tell you that he's not going to be seeing you anymore."<br/>
<br/>
"He doesn't seem like the sensitive type."<br/>
<br/>
"People can change," you mutter.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, and isn't he into <i>you</i> now? That's what I heard."<br/>
<br/>
"News travels fast. You're not jealous, are you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Please. I feel <i>sorry</i> for you," she says in a tone that conveys almost precisely the exact opposite sentiment--that you're getting exactly what you deserve, and getting it good and hard, too. "But that's what all this was about, wasn't it? You getting Gordon for yourself?"<br/>
<br/>
"You <i>do</i> sound jealous."<br/>
<br/>
"I just don't like being used, Cindy. I don't care if you <i>are</i> a witch."<br/>
<br/>
Her bravery leaves you feeling a little flustered--it was kind of a shit thing to do to her. "Well, maybe I can make it up to you. I gotta go, I got another call coming in." The other line is beeping--maybe Kendra or Gloria? "But call me later and tell me what he said to you."<br/>
<br/>
"If you wanna manage my business--" she starts, but you cut her off.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey Cindy," a low male voice says in answer to your "Hello." "This is Steve."<br/>
<br/>
"Hi Steve," you say, trying to sound pleased, even though this is another surprise. "What's up?"<br/>
<br/>
"Is Gordon there?"<br/>
<br/>
"No he isn't. Have you tried calling him?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not looking for him. I just wanna make sure he's not with you."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't have a problem with him being with me, do you?"<br/>
<br/>
"I haven't decided yet," he says, and there's menace in his tone. "I guess I wanted to hear <i>your</i> side about all this before I made up my mind."<br/>
<br/>
You're tempted to tell him it's none of his business--what can he do? But it seems best to keep it polite. "I don't think there's anything to tell," you reply. "Whatever he's told you--"<br/>
<br/>
"He hasn't told me shit," he says, and now he really does sound angry. "So if I can't get it out of him, I'm gonna get it out of <i>you.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
You grip the phone, trying to master your own temper. "Would you prefer he was still with Chelsea?" you challenge him.<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe I'd prefer he wasn't with either of you. He's not a fucking basketball the two of you can bounce back and forth. If you're playing some kind of fucking game with Chelsea--" He leaves the implication hanging.<br/>
<br/>
"Gordon and me made a connection," you say, reaching back for the same lame excuse you offered Lin and the others.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, how about we get together and discuss the nature of this ... connection," he says, and his tone, already cool, drops below freezing.<br/>
<br/>
You'd rather get together with Gordon and Cameron.</span></div></div>


path: 11222112121112212222112122
author_id: seuzz
title: Fights and Reconciliations
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Fucker."<br/>
<br/>
"Asshole."<br/>
<br/>
You're in the Hubers' back yard, and Gordon and Cameron are circling each other warily, sizing each other up. "You're a pussy for not going out for football," Cameron says.<br/>
<br/>
"Why would I wanna hang out with a buncha stoners?" Gordon mimes taking a hit on a joint. "You're all fucked up over there."<br/>
<br/>
This was not the way you imagined it going when you hung up on Steve and called Gordon and Cameron to set this meeting up. But then, the ride out wasn't the way you'd imagined it either. Gordon had picked you up, and you'd hesitated about asking him if he'd called Morgana about "getting together." <i>Don't make a scene like a jealous girlfriend,</i> you'd found yourself thinking to your own intense dismay. And after firmly deciding not to say anything, you'd found yourself thinking, <i>Don't be a passive-aggressive bitch, like a jealous girlfriend.</i> He must have felt something in the air, because he'd asked you several times if something was wrong, and you'd just put it down to "nerves" about putting Gordon and Cameron face to face with each other. He didn't seem to believe it.<br/>
<br/>
And now you're holding your breath. This has gotta be role-playing, but how far are they gonna go with it?<br/>
<br/>
They continue to circle each other, exchanging insults and accusations. "You got serious discipline problems," Gordon says, tilting his chin.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, and you'd know. Douglas is the biggest one."<br/>
<br/>
"So why don't you kick his ass?" Gordon spreads his hands like it's an invitation to try kicking <i>his</i> ass.<br/>
<br/>
Cameron's teeth gleam. "Why don't <i>you</i> kick his ass instead of letting it shine that stool next to you every day at lunch?"<br/>
<br/>
"'Cos I like watching you suffer. Pussy." <br/>
<br/>
Cameron grins slyly. "But what if I asked you real nice to take care of him for me?" he asks softly.<br/>
<br/>
Gordon seems to roll the question around in his mouth. "Why don't you try saying 'please'?"<br/>
<br/>
Another moment of suspense. "Please?"<br/>
<br/>
"Consider it done."<br/>
<br/>
Gordon reaches out to grasp Cameron by the elbow, but Cameron pulls away. "I didn't say 'please', you cocksucker," he laughs. "I was just asking if that's really what I had to say."<br/>
<br/>
"Bastard." Gordon mimes throwing a punch at Cameron's stomach, but doesn't follow through on it. You breathe a sigh of relief as they loosely clutch at each other's elbows in a way that's almost fighting but not quite.<br/>
<br/>
Gordon turns to you, looking down hungrily with his hands on his hips. "So, Cindy here tells me you're gonna take over Chelsea-wrangling duties, for a little while anyway."<br/>
<br/>
"Anything I need to know about dealing with her?" Cameron asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Keep your guard up." Gordon holds one fist close to his face, and then strikes at Cameron's cheek with his other. Cameron slaps it away, and grabs Gordon. They tussle, but it's not a hard fight, and it ends with a mutual, unspoken decision to separate. "You'll have fun. She's a bundle." He sucks on his upper lip and gives a ragged sigh; the front of his shorts start to distend.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, it's nice to see you guys making up," you say with light sarcasm. "Now, what about Daniella?" She <i>also</i> called, and sounded impatient.<br/>
<br/>
The two guys look at each other. "Maybe Patterson," Cameron suggests. You silently groan.<br/>
<br/>
Gordon shakes his head. "She'd want someone cute. You know the thing she has for Karter."<br/>
<br/>
"Actually I don't. What about Laurent Delacroix?"<br/>
<br/>
Gordon grunts thoughtfully, then turns to you. "What do you say, boss? Where could she be useful?"<br/>
<br/>
"I just want to take Chelsea down, and we're pretty close to that anyway." You regard him thoughtfully. "What about Gordon?" you say cautiously. He blinks and frowns. "Let her have him, Marcy, and you could pick out anyone else you wanted for yourself."<br/>
<br/>
He grunts a negative. "I like it here." He folds his arms, and picks at a scab, then looks over at Cameron. "Top dog and all that." Cameron just grimaces.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I don't have any strong intuitions," you say. "Maybe we could find her a new place over at Eastman?"<br/>
<br/>
"You say you're almost done taking Chelsea down, but you're underestimating her," Cameron says.<br/>
<br/>
"Fuckin' A, bro," Gordon agrees. "You're gonna have to watch your back," he tells you. "Me too. Her and Kendra and Gloria--"<br/>
<br/>
"Kendra and Gloria are on our team," Cameron says, sounding a little puzzled. He looks between you and Gordon as the latter looks up sharply. "Didn't you tell him?"<br/>
<br/>
"I hadn't gotten around to it. Yeah, Gloria and Kendra are also, uh--" You wave your hand in front of your face.<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus," Gordon gasps. "How many have you <i>got?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"I think I've told you all of them now," you say. "You and Michelle. Two other girls--neither of you know them--are in for Kendra and Gloria. The only other swap is the one between Elissa and that other guy. Adam."<br/>
<br/>
Gordon grunts. "Well still, even with Kendra and Gloria, you can't count Chelsea out. Maybe you should save Daniella for after she strikes back at you."<br/>
<br/>
"Daniella wants something <i>now.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"So give her a temporary home."<br/>
<br/>
"And if she moves, I have to let that person out again. It could be weird."<br/>
<br/>
"And it isn't weird now," Cameron chuckles.<br/>
<br/>
Nothing gets decided, except that Gordon and Cameron will stop hurling hatchets at each other in public.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Why didn't you tell me about Kendra and Gloria?" Gordon asks as you drive away from Cameron's.<br/>
<br/>
"The subject didn't come up, and we had other things to talk about." You pause. "Why didn't you tell me you called Morgana tonight?"<br/>
<br/>
His head jerks as he looks over at you. "The subject didn't come up, and we had other things to talk about," he retorts.<br/>
<br/>
You cluck your tongue. "I'm not mad," you say in a tone that even you realize sounds like you're very mad. "But you don't have any business with her any more, so I was just wondering how come you wanted to get together with her."<br/>
<br/>
"There's nothing wrong with Morgana," he says. "She reminds me of some of the people I knew back at Eastman."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, you have <i>Gordon's</i> reputation to think about now."<br/>
<br/>
"<i>You</i> weren't thinking about this reputation when you put that hex on him," he retorts.<br/>
<br/>
"No, because he wasn't part of any plan at the time. Now he is. He's part of the team. <i>You're</i> part of the team."<br/>
<br/>
"And I'm supposed to get permission from you before I can talk to anyone?" He slams his palm on the steering wheel, and the car lurches a little to the side. "Jesus!"<br/>
<br/>
"You know--! Oh, never mind."<br/>
<br/>
"What?"<br/>
<br/>
You take a deep breath; a little hard to do, since you suddenly realize you've got your arms crossed tightly against your chest. "You know what it would look it if it got out that you were still hanging around with her."<br/>
<br/>
"No, Cindy, I don't. Why don't you take out your fucking cell phone, snap a picture, and show me?"<br/>
<br/>
Tears of anger--and surprise at your own anger--claw at the back of your eyeballs. "It would look you weren't really going with me. It would look you were still just trying to make Chelsea jealous."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, it's nice to see I've made <i>you</i> jealous," he snarls. He suddenly jerks the wheel, and cars honk as he does a hard, fast U-turn in the middle of the street.<br/>
<br/>
"What are you doing?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm taking you home."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, where were we--" You look out of the car for the first real time since you'd gotten in. <i>Oh. You were on your way up to the high school, it looks like. Of course. The fuck room.</i> "You don't have to take me home."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I think I want to."<br/>
<br/>
You look at him with tears blearing your eyes. You reach over and rub his arm. "No, we can go ... up to the school ..."<br/>
<br/>
"You're acting like Chelsea, you know," he snaps.<br/>
<br/>
You sniff: that really stung. "I'm sorry," you say in a small voice. "I don't mean to."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, maybe you can't help it," he says, sounding a little mollified. "Something about ... girls like you." He snorts. "You'd think I'd be a little more sympathetic, seeing who--what--I really am."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't think I'm really like that," you say, biting back a grimly amused smile--for of course you're not the girl he thinks you are. You're not even the girl he thinks is the girl he thinks you are. "I don't know what came over me. It's not jealousy, really. I mean, not to offend you or anything, but I'm not in love with Gordon."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, he doesn't much love anyone either," he grumbles. "And if we're talking about <i>me</i>-- Well ..."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't have to be in love with me, Marcy," you laugh softly. "It's okay." He says nothing. And then you have to ask: "What about Morgana? Are you in love with her?"<br/>
<br/>
"No," he says, and sounds firm about it. "I think I'm just really sympathetic to her. Girls like her, and her friends." His lips tighten grimly. "You know, you've got this whole anti-Chelsea thing going. Why don't you have a 'pro-somebody' program instead? Or do you? A 'pro-Cindy' program?"<br/>
<br/>
You flinch as though struck. Maybe you should think really hard about changing this game.<br/>
<br/>
Or maybe you should resign it.</span></div></div>


