# chapters

path: 11124111152
author_id: rugal
id: ZR6T6D2B7
title: Passed Around Like a Cheap Slut
chapter_content:
<div><div style="padding:0px;margin:0px;"></div><div> <span>"Hell no!" you loudly exclaim to the surprise of everybody, including yourself. You had no idea you could be that emphatic. "Abso-fucking-lutely not."<br/>
<br/>
"Wha?" the fake Jenny replies, her face stretching into confusion before narrowing into annoyance. "Why not?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because you don't know what you're doing," you shoot back.<br/>
<br/>
"Correction: <i>we</i> don't know what we're doing," Caleb diplomatically interjects. "We can't really have one of us running around as a fake Jenny."<br/>
<br/>
"The fuck we can't," Not-Jenny says with an ugly sneer.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, we can't," you say. "Because what if we run into somebody that Jenny knows?"<br/>
<br/>
"Tha's the whole point, duh!" she shoots back.<br/>
<br/>
"No, it's not," states Caleb. "Listen, going out as some fake person is one thing and okay, you look like Jenny. But can you <i>act</i> like her and think like her? Because if you can't and you run into someone who knows her, then they'll know that you're not her and then we'll really be in deep shit."<br/>
<br/>
"Pfft! Fuck I care about that?" she asks defiantly.<br/>
<br/>
"You <i>should</i> care," Caleb says more forcefully, "because when they find out you're not Jenny they're going to want to know who this impostor is and we're not going to bail you out because it'll be <i>your</i> fault because <i>you</i> decided to just go for a night on the town as her twin."<br/>
<br/>
"And you know," you add, "when Jenny finds she'll be pissed and want to see whoever tried to pass themselves off as her ripped limb from limb."<br/>
<br/>
"She don't scare me," Not-Jenny says.<br/>
<br/>
You and Caleb glance at each other and can tell that you're both thinking the same thing. But you're the first to voice it. "Maybe she doesn't but she's friends with Cindy. All she has to do is complain to her and then Cindy can complain to her boyriend and if Javits finds out that it was you..."<br/>
<br/>
She's silent for a moment before letting out a frustrated grunt. "Fine, we'll figure somethin' else out," she says.<br/>
<br/>
"We'll try and work on the next spell," Caleb says, "because maybe it's got something that'll let us do a better job of fooling people."<br/>
<br/>
"You have any money left over from your last check?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Sure, why?" she replies.<br/>
<br/>
"Because we need supplies," you state, "and you're buying."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Oh god! Oh yes! Yeah, that's it! Give it to me, oh goooood! That's it Keith, oh yeah you really... really..."<br/>
<br/>
Jenny's voice cuts into your thoughts as you inscribe the runes needed onto the material you have. The stuff you'd bought made a thin, flexible, silver band although you're not sure yet what the band does. But you've got enough material left over so you got to work on creating another one. But they're not completed and ready to be used because it seems like onto the bands themselves you have to carve more runes which looks to be more time consuming.<br/>
<br/>
But Keith, back inside of Jenny's mask after the three of you ventured out to grab the stuff you needed, hasn't done a thing beyond fondling and fingering himself and being very, very loud. You realize that there's no way that you're going to be able to actually inscribe the runes onto the band like this and so you finally lose your patience.<br/>
<br/>
"The fuck is your problem!?" you snap at Not-Jenny.<br/>
<br/>
"It's... aah... your fault... ooooh!" she moans. "Maybe if... if... oh god, oh god, oooooh goooood!"<br/>
<br/>
You watch her thrash as she orgasms and then lays there, panting and breathing heavily. You also realize that actually looking at what was going on was a mistake because even though you know that she's a fake, even though you know that under her face is really your friend Keith, the sight Jenny Ashton, nude and masturbating, is giving you a boner.<br/>
<br/>
"Holy fuck," she says inbetween breaths, "ya'll don't know what you're missin'. Oh my god." You and Caleb can only look at each other as she pushes herself up. "So how 'bout it?" she asks as she looks at you with a goofy, lopsided grin. "You want a turn?"<br/>
<br/>
"The fuck are you—" you start in disbelief, "I'm not gonna fuck you, man!"<br/>
<br/>
"No, you retard! I'm talkin' 'bout wearin' this mask. You gotta fuckin' experience it dude!"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure, okay," Caleb says in breathless confusion. "But just... put some fucking clothes on. I don't want the sight of your dick traumatizing me when you take that thing off."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Holy fucking shit!" you gasp as you grab your chest.<br/>
<br/>
Seeing these tits when Keith had the mask was one thing and Caleb letting you grab them was another thing entirely. But having them yourself, knowing that these are Jenny's tits, that they are the real thing belonging to the real girl and that you have them and everything else about her, is an almost indescribable thrill. With your free hand you reach into your underwear and want to gasp. With Jenny's fingers, you're feeling the hairs of her bush and with her fingers... you let out a loud noise. It's her cunt. But you pull pack and don't probe any deeper.<br/>
<br/>
You're standing around in only a t-shirt and boxers—your shorts having been kicked off as they wouldn't stay up—and you feel like it gives off the impression that you and Jenny had spent the night together and now she's wearing your clothes because she didn't want to put hers on. It's a sexy image and now you wonder if, despite your protest, you actually would have fucked Keith if he offered? Because everything about this body is the real deal. This <i>is</i> Jenny Ashton and even if it was Keith's mind or Caleb's behind her face it'd still be <i>her</i> face. You wouldn't be fucking them, you'd be fucking Jenny.<br/>
<br/>
This has to have been how Keith felt when he was in this mask and its no wonder, then, that he couldn't keep his hands off of himself. The feeling must have been strong for Caleb as well even if he wasn't inside of the mask for as long as Keith was. It's like we're all passing Jenny around, moving her from person to person so you all get a chance to play with her. Only it's her playing with herself.<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck me, this is awesome," you say, excited at hearing her voice come out of your mouth.<br/>
<br/>
"Told'ja," Keith smugly replies. If you had Jenny's brain to go with her body you'd probably want to punch him. But instead you silently have to admit he was right.<br/>
<br/>
"What do we do with it, though?" asks Caleb. "Like I said, we can't go out since we can't act like the person and I'm not, uh, going to stick my dick in you. And I'm sure as hell not letting either of you stick your dicks in me."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe there's some kinda answer with those things you all was makin'," Keith says.<br/>
<br/>
"Perhaps," you say, "and we can always finish them. But we should do that later. For right now we should use that car buffer trick that Keith discovered to polish up our own masks first. Then Caleb and I can each get a mask onto someone."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, pfft, wha'ever!" Keith responds. "Jus' lemme take those masks home an' finish 'em up. You guys work on those thingamajigs."<br/>
<br/>
You and Caleb look at one another for confirmation. Like a lot today, what needs to be said is unspoken because each knows what the other is thinking: you can't trust Keith to not waste those masks by using them the first chance he gets. You don't tell him that but instead massage his ego but telling him that he already did enough between coming up with that idea and getting a mask of Jenny. It's decided that you'll take he two unpolished masks back to your place to finish while Caleb will take the book and the bands. Then tomorrow you can use the masks to get some faces.<br/>
<br/>
You also decide to mollify Keith by letting him take home Jenny's mask for the night.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
School on Wednesday is a boring affair because you're so concerned with what comes after that you find it hard to concentrate or care at all about what's going on. Typical conversations with friends, typical classes, typical stewing over Mansfield and all the other assholes. Nothing exciting or out of the ordinary until the final bell rings and you bolt out of class and to your truck where you've agreed to meet up with Caleb and Keith.<br/>
<br/>
You hand Caleb one of the polished masks but he's less willing to hand over the two bands. "I was able to finish them last night so I tried one on myself since I needed to see what it does," he explains. "The Latin is pretty straightforward and says it copies the mind."<br/>
<br/>
"So it's like the brain version of these masks?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, probably," he answers. "Which is why I'm not giving you that band. You all don't need to poke around inside of my head."<br/>
<br/>
"But you got a blank one, right?" asks Keith as he stretches out his hand. "Then lemme have it!"<br/>
<br/>
"What for?" asks Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
"So I can use it on Jenny, duh!" he exclaims. "We got both her body and her brain, then we can go out as her an' fool others, right?"<br/>
<br/>
You're reluctant to have Caleb hand it over but he tells you that it's probably best to keep Keith happy for the moment since he's got a leg up on the both of you. So Caleb gives the band to him while you, perhaps a little pissily, tell Keith that the two of you aren't going to help him get Jenny. When he asks why not, you say it's because you and him are already going to find people to use the masks on.<br/>
<br/>
When Caleb counters that letting Keith do that on his own "wouldn't be fair to him" (translation: it'd be stupid to leave him unsupervised) you brush it off and say that Keith's perfectly capable of doing it on his own. You're surprised, though, when Keith voices his own reservations.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, it ain't easy man so maybe it'd be good to, like, get some help?" he says.<br/>
<br/>
"Like who?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck, I'unno, Mike 'n Carlos maybe?"<br/>
<br/>
You don't like that. Adding even more people to the mix could be a problem and you'd rather just keep it between the three of you; less chance of a slip up. But letting <i>others</i> watch him might not be a bad idea. But you don't really know Carlos and Mike so maybe it'd be better to bring in people you do, like James and Carson.<span class="fmjggefeegjf3711"></span></span></div></div>


path: 111241111521
author_id: rugal
id: JN5N9ZL5C
title: A Real Muck Up
chapter_content:
<div><div style="padding:0px;margin:0px;"></div><div> <span>"We're not bringing anyone else in," you declare. "I mean come on, think about it. With just the three of us there's already been some scares because one person," you glare at Keith, "went and did things on their own."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but—"<br/>
<br/>
"Will's right," Caleb says. "If there's more people then there's more of a chance for someone to muck something up or to say the wrong things to people who aren't in the group." But then he turns his attention to you. "But still, it might be good to get him some back up. Just in case—"<br/>
<br/>
"Then <i>you</i> go with him if you're so worried," you retort. "But I'm not helping him and we're not adding any more people. Period, end of story."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You stalk off without another word to look for someone to use the mask on. You need to get someone alone, you know that much, but you're not really sure who or even how. That experience of being inside of Jenny's mask was amazing and you kind of want to experience it again so do you try for a girl? You could always go after the kind of guy who could get with a girl but you realize that maybe that's not a good idea. Because you'd run into the same problems that you already castigated Keith for in regards to running into people. Maybe if you had their brain using one of those bands—if that's even how they work—but you don't, Keith has the only blank one.<br/>
<br/>
Besides, the kind of guy who could get girls is the kind of guy you wouldn't be able to get close to anyway. Of course you can't get close to most girls either but even some of the more homely ones that you probably <i>could</i> get close to would be amazing because hey, boobs are boobs right? So you walk until suddenly you find yourself standing in front of the building that houses the theater. With no better idea you head in hoping that you can maybe slip backstage or something. At the entrance of the building is a small lobby (that's empty at the moment) with a pair of double doors at the end.<br/>
<br/>
You're nearing the doors when suddenly another door on the right side of the room right next to you swings open. You're far enough back that it just misses you but not so far back that you don't collide with the person who steps out which causes the both of you to tumble and fall into a heap. It takes a moment to process what happened as you regain a sense of your surroundings.<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry about that," you say as you pull yourself up. You offer a hand to the other person and see that it's a girl though you're still a bit dazed and aren't paying much attention to her.<br/>
<br/>
"No, it's okay," she says as she takes it but instead of standing up, she stops and removes her hand as she seems to notice something, her face going from looking at you to looking at the floor. "What's this?" she asks as she notices an object on the ground... and you hold your breath as you follow her gaze because it's the mask! You were still physically carrying it in your hand—you hadn't put it in your backpack or anything—so you had to have dropped it when you'd crashed into her.<br/>
<br/>
"Ah, that's mine," you say as you lean down to take it before she has a chance to grab it. "A small art project."<br/>
<br/>
You're about to apologize again and then either head inside or leave the building whe you realize that this is the chance you were looking for. Sure this is some random girl but you weren't looking for a specific person or anything so before she can react you thrust the mask forward and into her face. She crumples, but perhaps thanks to Keith telling you about what happened with Stephanie and seeing what happened when he put on that mask of Jenny, you're able to react just quick enough to catch her before she falls completely to the floor.<br/>
<br/>
You wonder what you're going to do with her when you see the room that she came out of. It's a small, single occupancy bathroom. It's probably something for Mr. Wilkes to use but now it'll serve you. But the girl is complete dead weight so it still takes some effort to drag her into the bathroom. But you're able to prop her against the wall and then lock the door and once you do you can finally get a good look at her.<br/>
<br/>
Long dirty blonde hair that falls in waves to just past her shoulders. Her face is filled out though not in a way that makes her look chubby. Her nose is perfectly sculpted nose and she has large, pillowy lips. Her eyes—open and staring lifelessly ahead—are dark brown and something about the shape of them is simultaneously both large and open but sharp and squinty. She's very pretty and about the only off feature you can pinpoint is the beauty mark on her right cheek, about halfway between her mouth and her nose. There's nothing wrong with it, though. It's noticeable enough to be distinct and make her stand out, yet not unsightly enough to count as a blemish.<br/>
<br/>
You also get the impression that she's an underclassman but you can't really tell what grade. Maybe she's a junior? There's a youthful quality about her which makes her seem younger yet she seems so well put together that there's also a maturity. Everything about her, you decide, seems like it's in almost perfect balance. With nerves you watch her as the seconds and minutes tick away, realizing that once that mask pops out and you've got it sealed up, that face is one that <i>you</i> will be wearing.<br/>
<br/>
You're not aware of just how much time is passing and the only thing to break up the anxious monotony is when you hear a sound coming from the bag that the girl has with her. Someone calling her texting, you guess, but you're not about to check because you don't want to be digging through her stuff if she wakes up. You do your best to ignore it until finally the mask reemerges and with relief you snatch it off of her face. This time you make sure to stuff it into your backpack and then head out.<br/>
<br/>
In a semi-replay of earlier, you're about to head into the auditorium when one of the doors opens and you're almost bowled over by a girl. "Oh my gosh, I'm sorry!" she exclaims before she actually runs into you. "I'm kind of rushed so I wasn't paying attention!"<br/>
<br/>
"It's... it's fine," you say. But you're more nervous over the fact that she's even prettier than the other girl than you are about almost having her run into you.<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry," she repeats, "I'm just looking for my friend. Charles is throwing a fit that she's running late."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe I've seen her?" you volunteer. "What's she look like?"<br/>
<br/>
"Blonde, uh, a mole on her cheek," she states. "She said she was going to the bathroom to touch up her makeup."<br/>
<br/>
Your heart stops because that's probably the girl who you just copied. Seeing as she'll probably find her in a minute or two you feel the need to preemptively give yourself an alibi. "Oh, uh, yeah I... I ran into her actually. Um, literally," you explain. "She was coming out of the bathroom as I was walking by and we crashed into one another. She was, uh, out and I didn't know what to do so I just moved her into the bathroom and watched over her for a few minutes to make sure she was okay. I think she's starting to come to though. She's still in there."<br/>
<br/>
The girl's face shows both concern and relief. "Oh no! I'm sorry, uh, but thanks!" She dashes by you and opens the bathroom door. You hear her cry out "Brit!" as you duck into the auditorium, hoping you can find a place to hide out for a little bit until the coast is clear.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It's a few minutes with you sitting on the far end when you suddenly receive a text from Caleb telling you that you need to meet him and Keith "right fucking now" with all kinds of exclamation points for emphasis. You ask him where and he says out by the portables since that's the only place where there wasn't a lot of people hanging around. Even through text, there's a panicky nature to his words and you ask him what's wrong.<br/>
<br/>
<i>keith is a goddamn fucking IDIOT is whats wrong</i>, he sends you.<br/>
<br/>
You tell him that you're a bit tangled up but you'll be there as soon as you can. It's another few minutes before you see the two girls from earlier come through the double doors and then head down the walkway. Once they're a few rows down, you move as fast as you can towards the doors and then practically dash out of the building and across the school to where the portables are.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb meets you there and doesn't say anything beyond a simple "finally" before dragging you with him behind one of the portables. There you see Keith with his back up against the wall while every time he tries to get away, Jenny blocks him.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not asking again! What the fuck is going on you goddamn freak!?" she yells.<br/>
<br/>
"I toldja, I don't know anyth—"<br/>
<br/>
Keith's cut off by Jenny slugging him right in the breadbasket which causes him to double over. "I'm not fucking playing with you, Tilley! You're gonna tell me and you're gonna fix this or I'll rip your tiny pecker off and shove it down your fucking throat!"<br/>
<br/>
"The hell is going on!?" you ask Caleb in surprise. "Did Jenny find out what Keith did?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, it's way worse than that," he says as the two of you slowly and cautiously approach.<br/>
<br/>
It's only then that you notice that Jenny's wearing clothing that's way too big for her and as she paces angrily and continues yelling at Keith, she has to keep using a hand to hold her shorts up. They're basketball shorts she's wearing and a basketball jersey and that's when you realize just what Caleb meant. Because there's writing on the back of the jersey and as you get closer and can make it out, you see that it's a name.<br/>
<br/>
Javits.<span class="fmjggefeegie3711"></span></span></div></div>


path: 1112411115211
author_id: rugal
id: T6CVQ2FKQ
title: A Double Muck Up
chapter_content:
<div><div style="padding:0px;margin:0px;"></div><div> <span>"Whoa whoa whoa, what the hell is going on!?" you call out as you approach Keith and the girl who looks like Jenny Ashton dressed in what appears to be Seth Javits' basketball uniform. And that might have been a bad idea because now that girl's attention is on you.<br/>
<br/>
"The fuck is—<i>you</i>!" the fake Jenny snarls. "Wondered where the fuck you were when I saw these two losers. Guess I shouldn't be surprised that your skinny little ass is involved." She decides to leave Keith alone so she can go after you instead but that proves to be a mistake because she tries to grab you with both hands causing her shorts to slip which is enough to send her tumbling face first into the grass.<br/>
<br/>
"Son of a fucking <i>bitch</i>!" she explodes as, in frustration, she yanks off the shorts and tosses them at you. She pops up once more to lunge at you but Caleb is quicker and grabs her which just leads to him getting tackled to the ground. But he maintains his hold on her as she thrashes about, trying to shake him off. "I'm gonna kill all three of you!" she yells.<br/>
<br/>
"He's really gonna do it!" Caleb exclaims as he struggles to hang onto her. "I can't hold him forever!"<br/>
<br/>
"Look just... I'll explain, okay! I'll explain it all just... just calm down," you plead.<br/>
<br/>
"Calm down!? Who the fuck are <i>you</i> to tell me what to do, huh!?"<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, okay, sorry but if you kill me or... or beat me up, then I can't tell you what's happening," you say, "so I'll tell you everything I promise but just... I need to know what the fuck is going on!"<br/>
<br/>
The impostor Jenny glares at you before finally grunting and shoving Caleb off of her. She hops up and heads towards you and you're ready to end up like Keith, still trying to recover from having the wind knocked out of him. But while she gets in your face, she doesn't do anything. "You and your friends fucked up, Prescott," she says with a quiet fury.<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't... I wasn't with them," you insist.<br/>
<br/>
"Whatever. Anyway, practice was about to start and I get a text from Cindy telling me she's waiting for me outside the gym 'cause she wants to see me before she leaves," she explains. "So I go out there and I see she's with Ashton but your boy Tilley is creepin' around behind 'em. So I call him out and tell the girls to get lost because I'll be damned if he's gonna be doing any weird shit to Cindy."<br/>
<br/>
Keith's pulled himself up and is wheezing. "I... wasn't gonna... do... nothin'... 'cept—"<br/>
<br/>
"Shut the fuck up, Tilley, or I'll make you wish punching you was all I did," the fake Jenny growls before turning back to you. "So yeah, they scatter and I take rat boy somewhere private so I can talk a little sense into him. But he does something and I black out and when I wake up I'm a fucking girl!"<br/>
<br/>
"You're Seth Javits, right?" you ask which receives an affirmative. "Okay, well, you're not just a girl you're actually, uh, Jenny."<br/>
<br/>
"Ashton!?" she exclaims in surprise. He then wheels around back towards Keith. "The fuck did you do to us!?"<br/>
<br/>
"He didn't do anything to Jenny," you insist, "well kinda."<br/>
<br/>
"Then why the fuck am I her?" she demands.<br/>
<br/>
You launch into a whole spiel as you explain the book that you found, the spells it contains and the masks. You don't go into every detail, there's no reason to bring up that mask that mixed Keith's and Stephanie's faces for instance, but you do explain most of it at least. She doesn't really interject, only listens with a sour expression.<br/>
<br/>
"This is so stupid," Seth-Jenny finally states. "Just get this fucking thing offa me."<br/>
<br/>
"Sure, okay, and uh we'll be gone by the time you wake up. This was an accident so, you know..."<br/>
<br/>
"Nah, <i>you</i> know that I'll beat your ass if you're still here," she says, which is the same reason you plan on making yourself scarce.<br/>
<br/>
Keith's recovered by this time and Caleb is also fine so they quickly hightail it. You go up to the fake Jenny, reach towards her face while chanting the words and pull the mask off. She collapses and where she was now lies Seth Javits. You want to be amazed but you also don't want to be around when he wakes up so you take off as well, but you're barely past the portables when you spot something you wished you hadn't.<br/>
<br/>
It's those two girls from the theater and they look like they've been there for a while. Even worse, they spot you, call out to you and demand that you talk to them.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Oh my god," the blonde girl says as she studies you. "You look exactly like me!" She pokes you in amazement, touches your hair even... you jump when she grabs one of your breasts. "Sorry, but I just wanted to make sure it was all real. Wait, so that means that you have—"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes, I do, let's leave it at that, okay!?" you exclaim with anxious embarrassment.<br/>
<br/>
"Go on Addi, touch him. It's the real thing!"<br/>
<br/>
"No, I'll... I'll pass," her friend says. She's been staring at you in nervous disbelief the whole time.<br/>
<br/>
You're back at the basement, along with Caleb and Keith, showing the two girls everything because they'd <i>demanded</i> to know everything. Well one of them—the blonde—did anyway. But they it wasn't demanded out of anger, much to your surprise, but excited curiosity. It turns out that you hadn't exited the theater as stealthily as you thought. They'd come back into the auditorium to tell Mr. Wilkes that the blonde had fainted and was going to be going home but as you'd gotten up to leave they'd spotted you.<br/>
<br/>
The second girl then followed you out to the portables but stopped because, she said, she'd heard yelling and what sounded like a fight. But she'd texted her friend and told her to come out so they could get you when you left. Because the blonde had mentioned the mask and that she remembered you shoving it in her face before she passed out so the story you'd given had unraveled as soon as you'd told it. But you couldn't talk there because you were still worried about Seth so you decided that since you were screwed you'd bring them to the basement to physically show them everything, texting Caleb and Keith to meet you there.<br/>
<br/>
You'd also learned just who they were. The girl you'd copied is Brittany Fitzsimmons while her friend is Addison Ricci. They're also freshmen. This you'd learned because the reason Brittany had gone to "touch up her makeup" was simply a way to waste time because she's in the drama program but is annoyed at having to do basic intro classes on account of being a ninth grader even though she—she'd proudly said—she already knew what she was doing "better than most of them." Brittany does these little time wasters all the time, Addison (who isn't in the the drama program but was simply hanging out with her friend) had said.<br/>
<br/>
Brittany simply smiled and said that she gets away with it because everyone realizes she's a total prodigy so they ca't do anything but grin and bear it.<br/>
<br/>
So when it was your turn and you'd explained the the book and the masks (again) and insisted that copying Brittany had been a total happenstance thing, honest, they didn't get mad. Addison seemed more confused than anything but Brittany seemed excited... which you guess makes sense given that she's an actress (she'd made sure to correct you all when Caleb had said that she "wanted to be" one). She's even more excited now that she sees the results first hand, not showing even the slightest hint of hesitation even as she looks at a clone of herself.<br/>
<br/>
"Just think," she says with excitement, "you wear this and spend the day as me, fooling everyone else. It'd be the ultimate performance. Or I wear one of," she picks up the Jenny mask, "this person. Could I pull it off? Could you? Oh god, this is so much better than those stupid basic lessons that Wilkes has me do! Soooo much better!"<br/>
<br/>
She puts the mask down but looks at all of you, grinning. "I'm excited to see what we can do with all of this," she states.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't remember anyone telling her that she could join," you hear Caleb mutter.<br/>
<br/>
But you realize that you probably couldn't tell her no if you wanted. This girl seems forceful and the second you showed her everything she'd probably already made up her mind about it. She seems like she's used to getting her way so you'd guess that nothing was going to stop her and thus you don't really have a choice. Her friend, by contrast, is much quieter and even seems to lean more towards shy... surprising given she has all the visual hallmarks of a Grade A alpha girl type.<br/>
<br/>
Once you've broken up she doesn't even have much to say until you've dropped off Brittany (who lives in the chic condos near Keyserling) and she doesn't seem upset, simply apologizing for how brash her friend was being which you dismiss as not being a big deal. "When you were explaining everything," she says, "you said there was these bands that copied someone's mind?"<br/>
<br/>
"That's what we think, Keith had the blank one but, uh, he didn't get to try it."<br/>
<br/>
She nods and you ask what's up. "No, I was just thinking. You could use those things to really become someone, right? Like if you really wanted to understand someone else." She shifts nervously in the passenger seat. "I guess I just thought that was a little interesting, that's all."<br/>
<br/>
"Are there people that you want to, uh, understand better?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
She looks shyly surprised at that. "Maybe," is all she quietly says.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
So the thing with Brittany and Addison turned out to be... okay? Not as bad as you'd have thought? Certainly not as bad as the whole thing with Javits which, hopefully, is now in the rearview mirror. But the events of the day are exhausting all the same and you don't bother putting that mask of Brittany back on once you get home. In fact, you go to sleep pretty early.<br/>
<br/>
The next morning, you're feeling alright and maybe a little excited despite your protests yesterday about involving others. But that all evaporates when Keith—looking rough—finds you and Caleb before first period. Seth found him and wanted him to deliver a message.<br/>
<br/>
He wants to see all of you after school.<span class="geimnkffn358"></span></span></div></div>


path: 11124111152111
author_id: rugal
id: ZPWN3LWLT
title: One Girl, Two Places
chapter_content:
<div><div style="padding:0px;margin:0px;"></div><div> <span>"The fuck is that supposed to mean? Seth wants to see us after school? Why?" Your tone is incredulous and for good reason because you can't imagine that he'd ever want to actually <i>talk</i> to you, so if he wants to see you then it can't be for anything good. Looking at Keith, who looks like got hauled off and had his head dunked in a toilet, you can only imagine a scenario in which a swirly would be the best outcome.<br/>
<br/>
"I got no fuckin' idea, man! He jus' grabbed me as he was comin' outta morning practice an' then said he wanted to see us an' we better fuckin' be there."<br/>
<br/>
"Did he even say where?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
Keith shrugs. "I'unno, prolly by the gym though so he sees us as he's comin' out of afternoon practice."<br/>
<br/>
"Shit," you glumly mutter. "He's gonna kick our asses."<br/>
<br/>
"Then we jus' ain't gotta show up," says Keith.<br/>
<br/>
"He'll kick our asses even harder, then," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"And who's fault is that, huh!?" demands Caleb as he looks at Keith. "If you had any brains then we wouldn't be in this situation! I wouldn't have had to try and fight off an angry fake Jenny and I could've gotten a mask!"<br/>
<br/>
"Wait, you didn't get anything?" you ask him. In all of the excitement and confusion yesterday, you'd never actually bothered to get an update from Caleb on how things went for him.<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks to this dickwad," he states. "I was at the tennis court just sort of scoping things out, seeing if I had a chance at anything, and then I hear this fucking valkyrie war cry and next thing I know Keith is running by me and Jenny's giving chase."<br/>
<br/>
"But probably not doing a very good job on account of being in Seth's clothes," you observe.<br/>
<br/>
"Bad enough that I could keep up with them when I decided to see what the hell was going on and maybe try and calm them down." He winces. "You know, Jenny might not be as strong as a boy but it still fucking hurts when she hits you."<br/>
<br/>
"So you chased them to the portables and that's when you texted me?"<br/>
<br/>
"Right, which means I missed my chance." He stares daggers at Keith. "So thanks a lot, dipshit."<br/>
<br/>
"The fuck was I supposed to do!?" Keith whines. "I had'ta protect myself an' I just kinda reacted!"<br/>
<br/>
"You could have just lured Jenny away, said you needed to talk to her or something like how you go the mask," you say. "You didn't need to just... <i>fuck</i>!"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, an' you're one to talk, right?" he counters. "Least I had'ta fight off Javits. I wasn't gettin' outplayed by fuckin' girls. <i>Freshman</i> girls."<br/>
<br/>
You wince because he has a point, but at the same time he's now pissing you off as well because at least you got <i>something</i>. He couldn't even be bothered to do the thing he set out to do which is, admittedly, your fault. But even still, you're definitely annoyed now. "Yeah, whatever," you respond. "By the way, you still got that band that you were going to use on Jenny?" You ask. He says he does. "Lemme see it real quick."<br/>
<br/>
He takes it out and hands it over to you, then watches as you pocket it. "The fuck was that for!?" he asks in shock.<br/>
<br/>
"I may have messed up with those girls but at least my screw up still got us another mask and didn't get Javits about to pound us into dust," you tell him. "So I'll figure out how to get this onto Jenny myself."<br/>
<br/>
"Aw c'mon, man! That ain't fair!" he whines.<br/>
<br/>
"No, I agree with him," Caleb states. "Although maybe I should be the one to do it instead since I didn't mess anything up."<br/>
<br/>
"It's fine, I'll get it," you say through gritted teeth.<br/>
<br/>
"Man, whatever. Screw both 'a ya," Keith says as he stomps off.<br/>
<br/>
That makes you feel just a little bad and that maybe the stress of what Javits has planned for you is just making you more on edge and angrier. But Caleb tells you that the both of you have every right to be mad at Keith and that he's probably just going to blow off some steam before coming around again. "After all," he states, "we're the ones with everything."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Keith doesn't say anything to you in the second period class that the two of you share, nor does he join you and Caleb for lunch so the two of you instead go and sit down with James and his crew. Yumi, to your pleasure and surprise, is there too but does't greet you because she seems to be busy trying to calm down an upset Jenny.<br/>
<br/>
"You guys picked a great time to come over," Carson sarcastically observes.<br/>
<br/>
"What's wrong?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
Jenny, though, seems to notice you. Her expression is tight and her eyes, already narrowed, narrow even more. "Where the fuck is Tilley?" she asks. "Isn't he always with you two clowns?"<br/>
<br/>
"Whoa whoa! The hell did we do?" asks Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing, unless you're hiding that shithead!" she exclaims. "So where is he?"<br/>
<br/>
"No idea, we haven't seen him since this morning on account of the fact he caused some problems for us yesterday."<br/>
<br/>
"Your boy's apparently causing problems for everything," states Carson.<br/>
<br/>
"Seth caught him hanging around Jenny and Cindy yesterday," adds James, "and it pissed everyone off 'cause Jenny said that Seth went and hauled him off somewhere."<br/>
<br/>
"Then Ashton got her licks in as well," Carson says with amusement.<br/>
<br/>
"I already told you guys that I didn't!" Jenny protests.<br/>
<br/>
"People saw you chasing him though," states James, "and they were the ones who told us."<br/>
<br/>
"And I'm telling you that I didn't!" she responds. "Everyone's going to think I'm some kind of violent fucking lunatic!"<br/>
<br/>
"Well I mean, sometimes..."<br/>
<br/>
But Yumi gives Carson a look that shuts him up before he finishes that statement. "She couldn't have been doing whatever you say she is because she was with us," Yumi says. "After Seth hauled Keith off she and Cindy left and met up with me and Eva and Jessica. She wasn't even at school."<br/>
<br/>
You and Caleb exchange glances and now you're feeling even more irritated with Keith.<br/>
<br/>
"What do you guys think?" James asks you and Caleb. "You guys are Keith's buddies so do you know anything about what happened?"<br/>
<br/>
"Uh, no not really," you shake your head. "We were going to meet up with him and then he, uh, flaked and I guess getting his ass beat by Seth is why."<br/>
<br/>
"Only now Seth wants to beat <i>our</i> asses," grumbles Keith.<br/>
<br/>
"Seth wants to—!? Why?" Yumi asks.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't fucking know," you tell her. "I guess because we're his friends so he wants to make an example of us too or something?"<br/>
<br/>
"Did he tell you that he was going to, um, fight you?" she responds.<br/>
<br/>
"No, but Keith was messed up this morning and said that Seth wanted to see us after school."<br/>
<br/>
Yumi looks concerned when you say that. "Maybe he just wants to warn you to stay away from Keith for a while," she says glumly.<br/>
<br/>
"You better fucking stay away from him for a long time," Jenny adds. "Or if you don't, tell me where to find him so I can castrate him for all the shit he's causing me."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The bell rings to signal the end of lunch and it's as you and Caleb are leaving that you're taken by surprise as find yourself accosted by someone only to find that it's Brittany, the girl whose face you'd copied yesterday. "Oh, uh, hey," you say. "Uh, sorry about yesterday and all but—"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, whatever," she says dismissively. "I was just wondering what we were doing with it today."<br/>
<br/>
"What we... huh?"<br/>
<br/>
"We're not doing anything," Caleb states with mild annoyance.<br/>
<br/>
"Hmm, that's too bad because you'd said you still had a mask and one of those brain gadgets that you hadn't used, right?"<br/>
<br/>
"What about it?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, nothing, except I've got a really great idea that'll let you guys get something."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah? And what's that?"<br/>
<br/>
"You use that mask of me!" she says with excitement. "One of you puts it on and then you can be me at practice today and you can just use that stuff to get someone backstage."<br/>
<br/>
"We can't do that!" Caleb exclaims. "We wouldn't know the first thing about being you. We don't even <i>know</i> you."<br/>
<br/>
"You'd be fine, most people don't notice all the small details," she says. "But you could always use that band on me and copy my mind if it worries you so much."<br/>
<br/>
"Wait, what? And you're just fine with that!?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"It's not like I have anything about myself to hide," she states. "And I want to see how good these disguises are. Anyway if you think that's good," she says and then rattles off a bunch of numbers. "My phone number," she states when you ask what that is. "Just message me and we can meet up."<br/>
<br/>
At your request she rattle it off again and then, just as quickly as she arrived, Brittany is gone leaving the two of you mystified. She's like a tiny bulldozer or something, just coming in and knocking everything over. The only thing you either of you can parse is that, given what her friend said yesterday, she's probably just using this as an excuse to get out of doing something she doesn't want to do and foisting it onto one of you instead.<br/>
<br/>
But still, it's at least something that would allow you to be able to fill that blank mask and it gives you something to do until that "meeting" with Seth. Hell, it might even give you an out because maybe you'd get caught up in stuff that Brittany had to do and then wouldn't be able to make it. It'd certainly save you an ass kicking if that did happen. You more and more consider it as time ticks away and then the final bell rings. You make your way through the halls and head towards the doors that'll take you outside and to the parking lot when you're stopped by someone calling out to you from behind.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey," Yumi states as she catches up to you. "Is it alright if I come out with you to meet Seth?"<br/>
<br/>
"Huh? Why?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because Jenny's really upset about all of this but Carson and James aren't liars, either, so I want the whole story because wires got crossed somehow." She then gives you a friendly smile. "Plus if I'm there, then maybe I can talk to Seth and stop him from kicking your ass."<span class="fmjggefeffel3711"></span></span></div></div>


path: 111241111521112
author_id: rugal
id: P5ZRNGDPG
title: Tales of the Unexpected
chapter_content:
<div><div style="padding:0px;margin:0px;"></div><div> <span>While you see the <i>possible</i> benefits of the plan that Brittany had dropped, you immediately recognize how complicated and frankly nonsensical it is. You can't just do something in the field as a test, you need to know the things work as intended before doing anything else. Then there's the matter of how you'd even switch out with her; you'd need clothes for a start which means you'd probably need to waste time getting some from her place. It'd probably take so long that there wouldn't be a point in then heading back to the school.<br/>
<br/>
Meanwhile, Yumi is offering to help you out and if she can save you from getting your face pounded in then you'll gladly take her up on her offer. You send a text to that number that Brittany gave you telling her that you'll pass for now but if you think of something then you'll get in touch. She sends back a simple "<i>k</i>," in reply.<br/>
<br/>
"Sure," you then tell Yumi, "I'm fine with that. I really appreciate the help."<br/>
<br/>
"And I'm fine with offering it," she replies, "but in return I want to know what's going on."<br/>
<br/>
You look at her with confusion. "Uh, me and Caleb already said we know as much as you do," you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
Her expression, which had been warm and friendly, suddenly cools. "Will, I think you guys know more than you're letting on," she states to your surprise.<br/>
<br/>
"What, uh, makes you think that?" you nervously ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Well the way your whole demeanor just changed for one," she answers. "But there's more. Jenny told me that on Tuesday Keith called out to her and wanted to show her something and when he did, she passed out. Then yesterday, Seth catches him hanging around her and suddenly she's running after him only she couldn't be because she's with me."<br/>
<br/>
"According to James and Carson."<br/>
<br/>
"According to a <i>lot</i> of people," she retorts.<br/>
<br/>
She pulls out her phone and after some tapping, hands it to you. It's open to an x2z thread filled with comments about some girl chasing a guy around the school. Lots of laughing over how comical it is. The most damning thing is a picture that looks like it was taken around the baseball field or agriculture annex. "Jenny" is clearly visible and though her face isn't, there's enough identifying stuff to make someone guess think that it's her. People quickly identify her as Jenny and there's lots of chatter and el oh els about how they're not surprised because she's "a bitch" (if they're not being charitable) or that she "doesn't take shit" (if they are).<br/>
<br/>
Someone says that they think the guy is Keith Tilley since they share a class with him and he looks like him. This draws lots of guffaws from guys and ewwws from girls.<br/>
<br/>
"Well?" she asks as you hand the phone back to her.<br/>
<br/>
"Well what? What would I know about this?"<br/>
<br/>
"Come on, don't treat me like I'm an idiot, okay?" she replies. "I don't know <i>what</i> you would know but that's definitely Jenny, even though she was with me."<br/>
<br/>
"It could be someone who looks similar," you say unconvincingly.<br/>
<br/>
And unconvinced describes Yumi's reaction. "Will, she's my best friend. We've known each other for a long time so I know Jenny when I see her and that," she points at the image for emphasis, "is Jenny."<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, so say it is Jenny. What would I know about that?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know!" she answers, her voice filled with desperate frustration. "But you're Keith's friend so maybe you know more than you're letting on so just tell me!"<br/>
<br/>
She sounds like she's at her wit's end and like she could just drop the whole thing if you don't agree to help her. You need her help with Seth, which is why you blew off Brittany, but calming her would probably mean having to tell her everything and you have no idea how she'd react when you do. You feel like you don't have a choice and so with a sigh you speak up.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay," you finally say. "But not here. You know the old elementary school in Acheson?" She nods. "Me and the others use it as, like, a clubhouse. Meet me out there and I'll explain everything, I promise."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Holy shit," Yumi says as she looks at herself in phone's camera. She touches her hair and her face except it's not her's, it's the face that belongs to Brittany. She raises a finger and places it on the beauty mark on her cheek. She then looks at you in shock. "What the hell is this? <i>Who</i> is this?"<br/>
<br/>
"Do you know a girl named Brittany Fitzsimmons?" you ask. That gets a shake of the head. "No, you wouldn't because she's a freshman."<br/>
<br/>
"A freshman!?" she replies in astonishment. "What?"<br/>
<br/>
For the third time in as many days you begin to tell her about the book you'd found and how you and Caleb had tested it on Keith. Then Keith joined up and tried testing first on Stephanie Wyatt and himself and then... that brings up the topic of Jenny. "I don't think he was looking for anyone specific," you say. "I think he just saw an opportunity and took it. That was on Tuesday."<br/>
<br/>
"When she said she passed out."<br/>
<br/>
You nod. "That was because the mask knocks you out," you explain. "But the way it works is that when you do one spell it unlocks the next one and you don't really know what it does until you use it and <i>then</i> the book explains it. So after that it was a seal, then these metal strips that are supposed to copy someone's mind. That's as far as we got."<br/>
<br/>
"So then what does this girl," she gestures to herself, "have to do with anything?"<br/>
<br/>
"Me and Caleb figured we'd try it out on different people. Like see how different bodies were or try and mix someone else's faces with ours." It's a lie but you're not going to tell Yumi that you were intentionally targeting girls. Besides, it's not too far from the truth since you had considered mixing one of your faces with Jenny's. "I just ran into her in the theater and it was all kind of an accident."<br/>
<br/>
"Really."<br/>
<br/>
"I swear it was!" you say. "But she and her friend realized what had happened and now she's all excited about trying it out. She wanted to meet up after school but, uh, I realized that was dumb and really irresponsible so I turned her down. But I think she's going to keep trying because I don't think she's used to people telling her no."<br/>
<br/>
"Then you keep telling her no anyway," Yumi responds. "But that doesn't explain why you made me wear this... this mask."<br/>
<br/>
"Because," you sigh, "I think the only way you'd believe it is if I made you believe it. If I told you first then you would have dismissed it. But I made you experience it first, instead, so you really can't."<br/>
<br/>
"Right," she says quietly. Then realization hits her. "Wait, so then all that stuff from yesterday..."<br/>
<br/>
"Keith wanted to use the band on Jenny which is why Seth caught him."<br/>
<br/>
"Then that was <i>Seth</i>!?" she asks in amazement. She looks through her phone and at the x2z thread. "Oh my god, it is! That's... how the hell did I not notice that was a basketball uniform?" Then she does something unexpected: she starts laughing. Full on tears in her eyes and wheezing laughing. "Seth... as... oh my god...!"<br/>
<br/>
"You're... not mad?" you ask once she finally stops.<br/>
<br/>
"No I am. Kind of. I think. I don't know, maybe I'm too confused to know how to feel," she says. "But I know that you guys are really stupid for trying to use this and not knowing what you were doing."<br/>
<br/>
"Look, I'm sorry and if you, you know, want to just leave us to Seth then, uh, I'd get it."<br/>
<br/>
But she shakes her head. "No, I said I'd help you out in exchange for telling me what was going on and I'm not a bitch so I'm going to keep my word." But she does give you a mischievous smirk. "Whether or not my word's good or anything with <i>him</i>, though... well, we'll see."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
But it turns out that, now back to herself and out of the mask, Yumi's word <i>is</i> enough to prevent Seth from turning you and Caleb into paste. When he asks where Keith is you say you don't know, just that he got pissed off and hasn't talked to you all day since delivering Seth's message.<br/>
<br/>
"Hngh, guess it's good that he's not here because I don't think Yumi's word would've been good enough for <i>him</i>," he says. "It's his fault all this shit's happening."<br/>
<br/>
"You mean the stuff from yesterday?" Yumi asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, we said we're sorry. That wasn't our fault," Caleb protests.<br/>
<br/>
"But it kinda was, wasn't it?" Yumi retorts. "If you hadn't used a mask on Keith in the first place then he never would have joined up with you."<br/>
<br/>
"It ain't just the thing from yesterday," Seth states. "But it kinda is. Cindy was giving me the cold shoulder too 'cept to say that I need to watch how I behave. It's pissing me off."<br/>
<br/>
"She's worried about what she thinks you did to Keith," says Yumi, but Seth responds negatively.<br/>
<br/>
"Nah, it's something else, she ain't ever given a shit about that rat-faced fucker," he says with a sneer. "But I know she ain't gonna tell me what it is, either. That's why I wanted to talk to you geeks."<br/>
<br/>
"What do we have to do with anything?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Everything, 'cause you got that mask, right? That one that turned me into Ashton?" You answer affirmatively. "Well I wanna use it or, I guess, I want one of <i>you</i> dipshits to use it."<br/>
<br/>
You and Caleb look at one another and even Yumi looks confused. "What do you mean you want them to use it?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Exactly what I said. She ain't gonna talk to me but she'll probably talk to Ashton." He then looks directly at you. "So I want one of you fucks to pretend to be Ashton and get the truth."<br/>
<br/>
"And what if we don't?" you ask. "I don't know if Yumi would want—"<br/>
<br/>
"If you don't," he says with dreadful menace, "then you'll be drinking your meals through a straw for the rest of the year."<span class="flmgejjfmg369"></span></span></div></div>


path: 1112411115211121
author_id: rugal
id: LZP388N7M
title: Reluctant Plans
chapter_content:
<div><div style="padding:0px;margin:0px;"></div><div> <span>You gulp at Seth's threat and when you look at Caleb you see that he's also looking very nervous. Both of you know that Seth could very well be serious about his threat and neither of you wants to find out if "could be" would actually become "is." But you're equally nervous about agreeing to it because you don't know how Yumi would react to one of you impersonating her friend. So you look at her and it seems like similar thoughts—how should she feel and react and such—are running through her head. Unlike either you or Caleb, though, she seems to have the ability to actually speak. The benefit, you think, of being one of the alpha girls. She's probably never at a loss for words.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't think that's really a good idea, Seth," she states. "And Will's right, I don't like the idea of someone running around and pretending to be her."<br/>
<br/>
"They don't have a choice," he growls at her. "They fucked with me so now I'm fucking with them and I'm being <i>nice</i> about it. Because it's better for them than me fucking them up."<br/>
<br/>
"Look, uh, Jenny is Yumi's friend though," you interject.<br/>
<br/>
"Huh?" Seth grunts as he wheel's on you. "The fuck did you say?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just th-that Yumi should, uh, should be able to have a say i-in what's done with... with that mask of Jenny and—"<br/>
<br/>
You're cut off by Seth grabbing your shirt collar and leaning in close which causes you to yelp. You can feel his breath on you and his anger is written all over his face. He's still pissed off from yesterday and maybe he's just looking for an excuse to pound you into next week. Maybe he intended for you to say yes or maybe he only came up with the idea once he saw Yumi and decided that he could offer something he knew would never be accepted so he'd have an excuse to kick your ass. So you ready for it as best you can while wondering how you're going to explain it to your parents. But it never comes.<br/>
<br/>
"Seth, cut it out!" Yumi interjects. "You want them to do it, then fine! Just stop acting like... like a stupid caveman!"<br/>
<br/>
Seth immediately lets go of you and turns to Yumi and you half-expect him to try and slug <i>her</i>. But he doesn't. Seth may be a lot of things but he's not dumb enough to try and hit a girl. He knows he'd destroy his reputation if he did that. So he just stares at her hard, trying to intimidate her, but Yumi shows no signs of backing down.<br/>
<br/>
"You can think that Cindy doesn't care about what you do but I guarantee you that she does," she follows up. "But if you think there's something else going on and you want Will and Caleb to find it out, then fine. They can do that. And when they come back and say that Cindy told them that she wants you to calm down, you won't do a damn thing except maybe learn how to not act like a thug if you don't want to lose her."<br/>
<br/>
With that she turns and, rather angrily, stomps up the stairs and out of the basement. Stunned, you watch her go before turnin back to Seth who looks like he's both surprised and seething. "We'll, um, do it. <i>I'll</i> do it," you say before you dash up the stairs. "Hey wait up!" you call out to Yumi once you're out.<br/>
<br/>
She's walking towards her car but stops and turns to you. "What?" she responds with a frostiness that chills you. "Don't think I'm happy with <i>you</i> either."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm, uh, sorry?" is all you can sputter out.<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry!?" she says with irritated disbelief. "This is messed up! This whole thing is... it's so messed up!"<br/>
<br/>
"I wasn't... we weren't trying to do anything bad," you assure her. "We were just messing around and trying to see what this book did."<br/>
<br/>
"You're messing around with <i>real people</i>, Will!" she cries out. "That mask... it wasn't rubber or some kind of cheap Halloween prop. I was that girl; I was really her. And when you use that mask of Jenny then whoever puts it on is really her and she has to deal with the fallout of someone else's actions."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I know," is all you can meekly utter.<br/>
<br/>
"No, Will, I don't think you do because if you did you would have stopped after the first time." She draws into herself, a gamut of emotions probably flowing through her right now. "I don't like it, Will, but I'm willing to go along with what Seth asked because I don't want to see you guys beaten to a pulp and maybe," she pauses. "Seth's not a bad guy, you know. Cindy wouldn't date him if he was."<br/>
<br/>
"Tell that to Keith. Or me or Caleb or anyone he sets his sights on," you say with bitterness.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't," again she pauses. "I think it's mostly the people he hangs around with, Steve and Gordon and them. They're the assholes and I think he thinks that he has to keep up with them to stay in good with them. It's all toxic masculinity bullshit. But maybe if he hears that Cindy herself wants him to change, that he has to choose between her or his stupid macho pride..."<br/>
<br/>
You're not inclined to feel any sympathy for Seth and you're only slightly more inclined to feel it for Cindy who's always struck you as being only marginally less of a bitch than Chelsea. But you like Yumi you do feel sympathy for her so you can't really dismiss the way that she feels, nor can you deny the negative effects that your actions (for she's right, you did bring in Keith) have had on her.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, I'm not going to do this for him," you say. "I don't give a shit about Seth Javits. but if this makes us even with him then fine. That's all I care about it."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, fine," Yumi replies. "But I'm not going to let you all off the hook. When this is done, I want all of that stuff."<br/>
<br/>
You look at her curiously. "What for?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"So I can burn it or toss it or lock it away or whatever. You don't need to mess with this stuff."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The next morning you meet up with Caleb and ask him how everything went since you'd left at the same time that Yumi did. He tells you that it was just awkwardly quiet until Seth told him to explain everything in detail. So Caleb did (not like he had a choice) while Seth just silently listened. At the end, he'd only given a perfunctory "huh" before reminding Caleb that he and his "butt buddy" better do what he said; the "or else" was implicit. Neither of you are really sure how you're going to pull this off since you don't even have Jenny's mind but you told him that part, at least, you don't have to worry about.<br/>
<br/>
In second period Keith doesn't talk to you when you come in and when you try to talk to him after class has let out, he blows you off and simply says that he's "done with all'a that bullshit" and that he "don't need to get beat on by both Seth and my supposed friends." Jenny is absent from lunch and Carson says she's still feeling pissy while James says that Yumi apparently took her off so they could eat and talk privately without everyone pestering her.<br/>
<br/>
Which, of course, is part of the plan. Because before you and Yumi had separated, you said that you expressed worry that Cindy would find out you were a fake since you didn't have a copy of Jenny's mind. After some reluctance, Yumi had you hand the band over and said she'd get it for you after you explained how to use it. "I think you just put it on their forehead and it does the rest, at least if it's like the masks," you'd told her.<br/>
<br/>
I's a plan that's worked because both Yumi and you have math classes for sixth with the classrooms for Mr. Kowalski (your teacher) and Mr. Muniz (Yumi's) being right next to each other and after sixth period, Yumi pulls you aside as you're coming out of the room to hand you the band. The name <i>JENNIFER ANNETTE ASHTON</i> appears on it in big, bold letters. If you put this on you'd have Jenny's mind and since you have a study hall for seventh, you can just duck into a bathroom to put it on.<br/>
<br/>
"Jenny told me at lunch that she made tentative plans to meet up with Cindy at Dairy Queen after school," Yumi tells you, "but I'm going sidetrack her. I'll tell her that Cindy is just going to reinforce Jenny's bad mood with her own or something and we should hang out instead. That should leave an opening for you."<br/>
<br/>
This is really it, isn't it? Pretending to be somebody else and fooling them. This is what others wanted to do and what you've put off... and you still have cold feet. Having Jenny's body and looking like her is one thing but even with her mind, could you think like her? Minds are complex, after all. Would you be able to parse any of it? The doubt is creeping in and you wonder if maybe it should be you who does it.<br/>
<br/>
You know you said that you would but maybe it should be somebody else. Caleb? No... Brittany! Yes, she's one of the ones who's been so eager to try it out. She seems to be self-assured and she's in the drama program so she probably knows how to act and get into a role, or at least she seems very confident in her ability to do it. Maybe she'd be better at playing the part of "Jenny Ashton" than you would and, you think, maybe Yumi would be more comfortable with another girl impersonating her friend.<br/>
<br/>
Granted she did say not to involve Brittany in anything but maybe she'd change her mind. Especially when you hear what she says next.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, what I said last night about getting rid of that stuff? Forget it. Keep it," she says to your confusion. "I'll tell you later but... I have my reasons."<span class="fenlefeekm3610"></span></span></div></div>


path: 11124111152111211
author_id: rugal
id: M4BYGS8S5
title: A Fool's Error
chapter_content:
<div><div style="padding:0px;margin:0px;"></div><div> <span>You contemplate, for a second, bringing up the idea of having Brittany play the part of Jenny at that meeting but you dismiss it for, despite what she just said, you wonder if she's making some kind of exception for herself. The bluntness of what she said as well gives off the impression that she's not saying it for fun either; that she's upset about something. So you decide not to press your luck and when you come to that decision you see that she's already let and disappeared into the crowd. You do the same, going through the sea of students until you come to a bathroom which you duck into and then into an unused stall. Closing the door, you take a seat on the toilet and hold the band in your hand.<br/>
<br/>
Jennifer Annette Ashton, that's what it says; Jenny's full name. Her entire brain is contained on this thin strip. It's sort of amazing when you think about it, as mind blowing as the fact that the phone in your pocket is filled with games and music and has access to pretty much the whole of human knowledge. This small band, though, only contains one person's mind but when you use this then you, theoretically, will know everything that Jenny does. Will it work? Will it allow you to pass yourself off as her? There's only one way to find out and so with a deep breath, you raise the band to your forehead and pass out.<br/>
<br/>
You're not sure initially how long it is when you come to though check your phone and see that it's only been a few minutes. You don't feel any different, you think, so does that mean the band didn't work? But no, it did, because you feel something in your head. Another voice and another presence and when you try and grasp it...<br/>
<br/>
You gasp. Holy shit, what the hell is going on? Where are you and why do you feel so weird? The "why" question is answered quickly when you get a look at yourself. You're skinny in a t-shirt and shorts, hair is on your arms and your legs and a—you feel—baseball cap is on your head. As for the "where," it looks like a bathroom stall. Slowly you raise yourself up and it takes a second to adjust to how weird and off you now feel. You open he door and head over to the sink so you can get a look at yourself and you gasp in shock when you do.<br/>
<br/>
Will Prescott stares back at you. That's definitely him. Then, to your shock, he mirrors your movements. That's <i>you</i>! You've, somehow, turned into Will Prescott or wound up trapped inside of his body. But if you're in his body, then is he in yours? If he is, then is he behind this or was it someone else? Your head is spinning, you don't really know how to process this. Because you're Jenny Ashton and just a few minutes ago, you were yourself.<br/>
<br/>
No, wait, that's not right. You weren't Jenny Ashton a few minutes ago, you were Will Prescott... and you still are! You place a hand to your forehead as you brace yourself against the sink. That was intense. For a second there, you actually believed that you were Jenny. That's rather frightening and you wonder if it would be possible to lose yourself in her identity completely, but then you have a second thought. You were worried about not being able to be Jenny but maybe your fears were unfounded. With this, you think, you definitely could be her, it's just a matter of figuring out the proper balance so you can access what you need to while retaining your sense of self.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You pull your truck into the driveway of an unassuming house in an unassuming neighborhood. It's Jenny's house and you know this because you've got her memories telling you as much. You'd decided to go back into the stall for a few minutes so you'd have privacy and peace and there worked on trying to draw upon aspects of your borrowed mind while not allowing yourself to fall into being her completely. It had been surprisingly easy. You'd think of your birthday for instance and you'd get two of them and then it was just a matter of "selecting" the one that you knew wasn't yours. Same with schedules and other such stuff.<br/>
<br/>
With access to Jenny's memories you'd decided to enact the next step. You'd need clothes appropriate for her body but you don't really have the funds but, you'd realized, you wouldn't need them. It was still only around two so her parents would be at work and your eighth period class... well, you weren't concerned with it since you hardly take it seriously anyway. You instead left school and made the drive out to her home.<br/>
<br/>
From her mind you're able to recall that her family hides an emergency key for the garage's side door inside of a birdhouse in the backyard so you head around and grab it, then make your way in. Once you're in the house proper you find it's both new and familiar.<br/>
<br/>
While part of you would like to explore, you realize that while you have about an hour and a half before school ends, you still need to be quick. So using Jenny's brain, you make your way to her room—and it's her brain which doesn't cause you to stop and take it in—look for clothes. You don't need anything fancy so you just quickly grab some jeans, a simple gray and black shirt, underwear, socks and an extra pair of sneakers. Then you're out of the house, locking the side door behind you and putting back the key. You hop back into your truck and drive out to the community center.<br/>
<br/>
Inside the basement is the mask of Jenny so you place her clothes on a table, strip out of your own, and then place the mask to your face. When you come to your body, much like her house, feels both alien and familiar. You go over to the clothes and take a look at your phone which also sits there. It's about three o'clock now. You still have time to kill and you need to figure out how to get into character. And you're here in this basement, in total privacy and hidden from the world and wearing the naked body of a girl who you are definitely attracted to.<br/>
<br/>
There's a feeling that runs through you; a temptation you can't deny as you look down at yourself and especially at your crotch. If you want to really get into the role of Jenny and really understand her, you reason, then it only makes sense to get as intimate with her as possible.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Hey," you greet as you casually plop down across from Cindy.<br/>
<br/>
There's a thrill that runs through you a the thought that you're so casually able to do that as you begin to chat with her, because Cindy Vredenburg is a gorgeous goddess who holds herself aloof from Will Prescott. But with Jenny she's much more open, as are most of the cheerleaders in her "faction" (for the squad is in a simmering civil war between supporters of Cindy on one side and of Chelsea Cooper, the beautiful and bitchy head cheerleader, on the other). Jenny would likely not have much to do with them either if not for her friendship with Yumi but it's through that friendship that she's gotten to know, and become loyal to, them.<br/>
<br/>
But where you, from the outside, simply see Cindy as being only a little less conceited than Chelsea, Jenny instead sees her as a girl who's both frustrated and sensitive, who feels stuck in the shadow of her older sister who had previously been the captain of Westside's cheerleaders. But—and Jenny is nothing if not honest and blunt in her assessments of others—Jenny finds her a bit too unwilling to actually move, more content than to complain than anything, and prone to dramatic histrionics. Of which, as the conversation has moved on, she's now beginning to engage in.<br/>
<br/>
"—and that... that <i>cunt</i>!" she exclaims. "She's not just going after me, but she was going hard on Yumi and Lin and the Garners too. On all of us!"<br/>
<br/>
"She's always hard on you guys, though," you counter.<br/>
<br/>
"Harder than usual," Cindy mutters as she buries her face. "Chelsea wasn't just being a bitch, she was fucking demonic." She lifts her face back up. "Poor Eva was in tears by the end of the practice and we had to talk her out of quitting!" she wails.<br/>
<br/>
"What set her off?" you ask. "Usually when she goes into overdrive like that it's because she's pissy about something."<br/>
<br/>
"It's Seth," she states. "That whole thing from Wednesday was just... she said that cheerleaders don't need to be dating 'animals' like that and that I need to start putting the screws to him. So I just... I was going to be a little cool to him for a few days so he gets the point but now she's saying I should just break up with him!"<br/>
<br/>
"She's what!?" you say in astonishment.<br/>
<br/>
"And it's not just <i>him</i> she's throwing under the bus. She's doing it to you too," she adds. "Saying that do we really want to be friends with crazy girls like you? That you're going to make the whole school look bad and that if we associate with you, then the cheerleaders will get it worst of all."<br/>
<br/>
"So she's trying to isolate all of you," you state. "Or give you all absurd demands hoping that one of you quits like Eva nearly did."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, probably. Then she can just fill the slot with another Michelle or someone even more pliant and then—"<br/>
<br/>
Cindy cuts herself off as her phone goes off. She looks at the screen and her eyes narrow, then she picks it up and opens it, intensely studying the thing as confusion appears on her face. Then she looks up from it back to you. "Hey, is something going on?" she asks you. You can only give your own confused response. "Well now that I think of it, you weren't wearing those clothes today. Also I saw what you pulled up in but I don't remember you driving a truck," she says. "Also, this."<br/>
<br/>
She hands you her phone, opened to her texts and your eyes go wide because right there, plain as day, you see a message from Jenny that was just sent.<br/>
<br/>
<i>can't make it today</i>, it says. <i>srry for makin u wait.</i><span class="tqbslzyLMN"></span></span></div></div>


path: 111241111521112111
author_id: rugal
id: HY4VJTKMM
title: Origins of an Operation
chapter_content:
<div><div style="padding:0px;margin:0px;"></div><div> <span>You feel a pit forming in your stomach as you read and re-read the text. You were feeling confident as you talked, drawing on Jenny's personality and convinced that you were going to get out of this with no issue. You'd even just gotten Cindy to reveal what was going on regarding her and Seth, which turned out to not be quite what Yumi assumed. And it's all ruined over a stupid fucking text. Why did Jenny have to send that? How come Yumi wasn't able to make sure that she didn't? Most importantly, how are you going to even get out of this?<br/>
<br/>
"No, for real, what's going on?" Cindy asks as you hand the phone back to her. "Because I don't think—" She pauses and looks around. Then she leans in. "I don't know what I think but I know that something weird is going on and—oh my god, this is related to that thing from Wednesday isn't it?" She asks in astonishment. "That whole thing where everyone insisted... but it couldn't have been you because you were with me! So what's going on? Tell me!"<br/>
<br/>
Unfortunately, the answer which would allow you to weasel out of this eludes you and so for fourth time in as many days you realize that you're going to have to explain everything to yet another person.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, okay," you sigh, "I'm not really Jenny. I'm just a fake."<br/>
<br/>
Cindy is taken aback by that. "A fake? What?"<br/>
<br/>
"There was this book I found," you begin to explain, "that made these masks and when you put the mask onto someone it copies them. Then you put the mask on and it changes you into them."<br/>
<br/>
"That's—" she starts but shakes her head. "No way, that's complete bullshit Jenny!"<br/>
<br/>
"I told you, I'm not Jenny," you insist. "That whole thing from Wednesday was, uh, <i>someone</i> saving Keith by putting a mask of Jenny they'd made onto Seth. And then once it had been explained to him he... insisted that the person pretend to be Jenny to talk to you because you'd been giving him the cold shoulder and he wanted to know what was going on."<br/>
<br/>
"But then... wait, where is Jenny then? The, uh, real Jenny?"<br/>
<br/>
"With Yumi," you answer. "That was part of the plan but I guess nobody thought to stop the real girl from texting you."<br/>
<br/>
"Yumi!?" Cindy exclaims in surprise. "She's part of this too!?" She looks like she's about to faint but recovers and instead buries her face in her hands. "Oh my god," comes her muffled voice. "What the hell is going on? None of this makes any sense."<br/>
<br/>
"It's just people messing around with a book."<br/>
<br/>
"A... a <i>magic</i> book!" Cindy cries. "And you and... and my boyfriend and Yumi... you're all trying to mess with me! This is so fucked up!"<br/>
<br/>
"We weren't trying to mess with you like that," you insist. "We were just trying to get Seth some answers. We didn't want to do, like, anything bad."<br/>
<br/>
Cindy's quiet for a good long while before finally she lifts her head and looks at you, her expression and body language guarded. "Who are you?" she finally asks. "Are you Keith?"<br/>
<br/>
"Am I... no way! Hell no I'm not Keith!"<br/>
<br/>
"But you knew about all of this so then maybe you're one of his friends. Caleb or... Will Prescott?" You flinch at that and she seems to pick up on it. "You're <i>Will</i>!? Oh my god, this really is completely fucked up!"<br/>
<br/>
"Like I said, we weren't trying to do anything—"<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up you fucking weirdo!" she loudly exclaims which draws some eyes to your table. "I want... I want to talk to all of you about this. <i>Now</i>." She begins tapping and typing furiously on her phone while you, reluctantly, send a text to Caleb. After a couple of moments finally looks back at you. "There, now we can get this all straightened out," she says bitterly.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The meeting doesn't necessarily amount to much, however. Just Cindy haranguing everyone for a bit before calming down when you finally agree to show her the book and all of the spells. Caleb must have already used his mind band to access the next page and you all look at everything it says. Most of the ingredients are fairly straightforward and Caleb, chemistry whiz that he is, is able to figure out appropriate substitutions for the ones that aren't.<br/>
<br/>
Then Cindy, still irritated at least in part due to disbelief, asks to see a mask being made. Then a mind band although you demure from inscribing the runs since that part takes a while. By this point she's finally accepted that what you'd told her back at the Dairy Queen about the book and the masks is real and when Caleb says that he wants to try out the next spell she doesn't object. But there's just one problem with said spell: the four hundred pounds of graveyard dirt it requires you to dig up. When you see that you're actually ready to just cut your losses and give up but to your surprise it's Cindy who pushes you forward.<br/>
<br/>
"You won't have any problem," she says, "because Seth will help you. Won't you, sweetie?"<br/>
<br/>
She dimples at him but he groans. "C'mon, Cindy, I was supposed to be doing something with the guys tonight. You know, on account of it's Friday and all," he complains.<br/>
<br/>
"But Seth, I'd really appreciate it. You know, given everything that you did to me."<br/>
<br/>
At that he wilts and you almost want to laugh at the idea that a guy as big and strong as Seth can be cowed by someone as petite as Cindy. But you think better of it, in part because you'd probably be no different and in part because you don't want to die. So it's decided that you and Seth will go and dig up the dirt while Caleb gets the ingredients and finishes transcribing the runes onto the band. The girls? Well... they're going to do what they want and you're not really going to argue with them.<br/>
<br/>
But you do ask Yumi before splitting up if the whole deal with Chelsea is why she changed her mind on the masks. She only gives a simple "maybe" before asking for your phone number. Then she's gone and so is Cindy which leaves you and Seth to take your trucks out to the old Masonic Cemetery after stopping by his place to grab some shovels and then a hardware store for bags. You're still in Jenny's mask by the time you arrive, partly because you haven't had a chance to switch and partly because she's in better shape than you are.<br/>
<br/>
"I think I'm out after this," he grunts as the two of you scoop up dirt. "I just wanted to know what was goin' on with Cindy. Should'a known it was that cunt."<br/>
<br/>
"You, uh, don't like her?" you tepidly ask.<br/>
<br/>
He grunts as he shovels another bit of dirt. "Everyone thinks she's a cunt," he says. "Although most everyone wants to stick their dick into that cunt too."<br/>
<br/>
"Including you?"<br/>
<br/>
He's quiet for a moment. "Nah, I got Cindy," he finally answers. "Anyway, me and you? We're even I guess. But I ain't gonna be your friend or anything so don't come walkin' up to me at school like we're pals."<br/>
<br/>
"I, uh, wouldn't think of it," you nervously state.<br/>
<br/>
It takes a while and you're sore as hell by the end but you and Seth finish getting everything and drop it off back at the basement where Caleb has also gathered everything. Seth, true to his word, then takes off leaving the two of you. You both agree to leave everything here and check back tomorrow to do the next spell and then Caleb heads home to finish the band. Finally having a chance you take off Jenny's mask, get dressed and head home.<br/>
<br/>
But you're not at home long when you decide to shower and, giving into temptation once more, Jenny's mask goes back on and you enjoy a nice, sudsy shower in her body.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You wake up the next day in a confused state as you note how weird your body feels. It takes a few minutes to remember that after the shower you'd headed back into your room to get intimate with Jenny's body once more and you realize that, maybe because you were worn out after getting that dirt, you must have fallen asleep while still in the mask. You can only hope that nobody came in while you were sleeping.<br/>
<br/>
You're ready to take off the mask and go back to being yourself when your phone buzzes. You take a look to see that it's a text from Yumi asking if you're willing to hear her out and you reply back that you are.<br/>
<br/>
<i>ok. cindy &amp; talked about everything after you guys left.<br/>
we're both pissed @ chelsea &amp; ready to see her go.</i><br/>
<br/>
You're surprised at that so you send her a text back asking what she means by that.<br/>
<br/>
<i>take her down,</i> comes the reply.<br/>
<br/>
You have no idea how they'd go about taking her down but you assume that if Yumi's broaching the subject with you then it would involve use of the masks. But, and maybe it's your experience over the last few days, you wonder if that's a good idea as it seems like there's a lot that could potentially go wrong. But there's also a part of you that finds the idea exciting, especially the part where you're involved in a conspiracy with two of the prettiest girls in school.<br/>
<br/>
And then there's the mask you're wearing because in the back of your mind you hear a voice. <i>"Yeah,"</i> it says, <i>"take the bitch down."</i><span class="fngigffkfmj3610"></span></span></div></div>


path: 1112411115211121112
author_id: rugal
id: M463R2X8R
title: A Plan Comes Together
chapter_content:
<div><div style="padding:0px;margin:0px;"></div><div> <span>Yeah, the temptation of it all, of being involved in something like this and of possibly helping to topple Chelsea, is just way too strong. But just to give yourself one last out you send a text.<br/>
<br/>
<i>u want my help? cuz ur askin me &amp; all,</i> you send.<br/>
<br/>
<i>yeah. i wouldn't as you if i didn't,</i> comes the reply.<br/>
<br/>
<i>then ill help u.<br/>
<br/>
great! meet us at milagro this evening?<br/>
<br/>
ok but why so late?<br/>
<br/>
still working out the details. anyway i'll text you when we're ready. seeya!</i><br/>
<br/>
It's around ten in the morning so you have some time to kill before meeting them (and isn't that a nice thought) and decide to message Caleb to ask if he'd be willing to meet at the basement so you can give him an update on what's going on. It's not immediate but he does get back to you and say that he was going to suggest the same thing himself. You decide to get ready and realizing that you can't continue to go out as her, you remove the mask of Jenny.<br/>
<br/>
But it's with great reluctance that you do and once you're back to yourself in both body and mind, you can't help but feel anxious. Maybe it's because you've just been pretending to be her off and on for close to the last twenty-four hours but you feel an odd sense of disappointment at no longer having Jenny's body to mess around with or her personality—much more assertive and confident—to reinforce you. Maybe it's just how amazing and unbelievable it all is, being able to turn into an exact copy of another person using these objects. But being yourself again feels almost odd and you quickly want an excuse to put the mask on once more.<br/>
<br/>
It almost feels as if you're becoming addicted to the feeling of it all; of having another body and another identity. But whatever's going on, you try to push everything aside as you get dressed in Will Prescott's clothes while shoving the mask inside of a bag. You head out to the community center and meet Caleb at the entrance of the basement. "This thing is pretty convenient," you say as you put the bag containing the mask onto the table. "You know, not having to put a band and a mask on separately at all."<br/>
<br/>
"No duh, I think that's the point," he says, "although I wonder if there's a way to make it even more convenient."<br/>
<br/>
"What do you mean?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, we had to capture a face and then a brain separate right? If we can just glue the band to the mask beforehand, then it'd be a two birds with one stone situation."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, right, yeah that makes sense," you reply. "We've got another blank mask and a band—uh, were able to finish inscribing that one?" He tells you that he did. "Okay, well we've got blanks ready to go so why not try it out? I have a feeling I'm going to need to use them soon, anyway."<br/>
<br/>
"Why's that?" he asks as he looks around and places everything onto the table.<br/>
<br/>
"Yumi texted me a little bit ago, saying that she and Cindy were thinking of dealing with Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
"How?"<br/>
<br/>
"Dunno," you admit, "but they wanted my help so I'm guessing it has to involving using the masks right?"<br/>
<br/>
"Makes as much sense as anything else, I guess, though why they'd want <i>your</i> help..."<br/>
<br/>
"Do you want to come with me?" you ask him. "I'm supposed to be meeting them for lunch soon so we can talk about it."<br/>
<br/>
He gives it some thought as he uses the paste. "Well hot damn, there you go!" you states as he looks at the combined mask and band. "Anyway, I'll think about it. We should be getting this thing done first."<br/>
<br/>
You both take a look at the book in order to read up on the next spell and what you can translate is grim. You have to dump all of the material, including the hundreds of pounds of dirt, directly onto the sigil, pour the gasoline on top of it and light it on fire. Then relight it when the fire goes out and keep relighting it until it no longer relights and unfortunately the book isn't specific on how long that would be. Which means that for an inordinate amount of time you'd be without use of the book or the ability to do any of the spells. That's a real bummer and you both wonder if there's a way around it when you suddenly get an idea.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, do you have a couple of bucks I can borrow?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"I really don't want to lend you lunch money," Caleb scowls.<br/>
<br/>
"No, I was just thinking... the spells require the sigils right? But once we start this spell then we won't have access to the book until it's finished. So how about if I just go out and grab something like a sketchbook and some pencils and just copied the sigils down? I mean, if we need them to do the spells then that should be good enough, right? The book doesn't say anything about needing it to work."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb looks at you in surprise and then slowly nods. "Actually yeah, that's not a bad idea," he says as he fishes some bills out of his pocket.<br/>
<br/>
You take them and run over to the nearest store, coming back a short time later. He's working on another mind band when you return the change. "What's this for?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"I still haven't had a chance to use my blank mask, you know," he answers. "So I figure I might as well have a band to go for whoever I grab since we still had some material left. Also gives me something to do while you're copying those whatzits."<br/>
<br/>
So the two of you get to work, Caleb working on the band while you do the sigils. You're actually surprised because despite how complicated they appear, you find that copying them is not hard at all. In fact it feels natural, almost relaxing, and you find yourself getting absorbed in it. Once you've finished the first spell you get a second idea and use another page to start writing out ingredients and steps for each spell. This work goes for most of the day, though Caleb takes a break to grab you both some lunch (you're too absorbed in sketching the sigils to want to leave) at one point.<br/>
<br/>
Eventually your sketching and his inscribing are done and not a moment too soon either for your phone goes off around five-thirty. It's Yumi and she's informing you that they're ready and also that they want you to bring a mask and one of the bands.<br/>
<br/>
"Alright, I'm definitely going because now I want to see just what the hell they're planning," says Caleb when you show him Yumi's texts. So you ask if it's alright if Caleb comes too since he's involved in all of this mask stuff as well and you get a reply saying that it's fine. "Hey, should I glue the things together real quick?" he asks as you gather your stuff. But there's no time, you tell him, because you don't want to keep two cheerleaders waiting.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Milagro Beanfield Warehouse is a fancy little cafe located out by the university and it's clientele is largely young, hip urbanites with a decor and staff to match. You and Caleb immediately feel out of place as you step inside and even Yumi and Cindy waving you over does little to help. That's only reinforced when they greet you and tell you that you just missed Kelsey Blankenship and Amanda Ferguson because if fancy AP snobs like them come here, then this isn't really your kind of place.<br/>
<br/>
They also insist on the two of you getting something, saying it would be their treat.<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks for coming," Yumi says once you have your coffees and sandwiches.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah it's, uh, no problem," you reply. "You guys wanted to talk though? About this plan to take down Chelsea?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'd like to hear it myself," Caleb mutters which Yumi ignores but earns him a glare from Cindy.<br/>
<br/>
"The plan," she emphasizes while looking at him, "is pretty simple. Chelsea does what she wants because she knows that nobody can really do anything about her."<br/>
<br/>
"Basically she knows that if we tried holding a vote of no confidence against her, then we'd lose," Yumi explains. "Or rather, it'd be a draw which would still be a defacto loss. Technically we outnumber her but the reality is different."<br/>
<br/>
"It's Michelle," Cindy states. "A no confidence vote needs a majority, so if there's one then she'll pressure Michelle into voting with her to deadlock things."<br/>
<br/>
"So what happens then? Do you guys, like, get kicked off the squad?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Not exactly," Yumi answers, "but Chelsea would make things so unbearable for us that we'd have no choice but to eventually quit and I'll be damned if I'm going to let that happen."<br/>
<br/>
"So what's the plan, then?" asks Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
"We rig it," states Cindy. "We get someone on the inside and then later in the week we'll call for a no confidence vote. Chelsea will think she's got us beat but then our mole will switch sides and vote with us and then," she smirks, "that's it for Chelsea"<br/>
<br/>
"It doesn't mean that she's kicked off the squad or anything," adds Yumi, "just removed as captain. But I don't think that she'd be able to handle not being captain so she'd probably quit."<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, so then who'd be your mole?" asks Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
The two girls look at each other but it's Cindy who speaks. "Why do you think we asked Will out here?" she says as she looks directly at you with a slight sneer. "You know, because he did such a great job pretending to be Jenny and all."<br/>
<br/>
"Basically we copy someone into a mask and then your face into another mask and swap the two of you," Yumi explains.<br/>
<br/>
"Without one of those brain things on your mask," adds Cindy, "because we don't want them to know what we're doing. That'd be bad for all of us."<br/>
<br/>
"So then who am I supposed to, uh, switching with?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"We thought about that; who from Chelsea's side would make the most sense. But there's problems with almost all of them," states Yumi. "Kendra is a snake who'd probably backstab Chelsea but only if she thinks it'd benefit her and right now, Chelsea's position is strong. Maria's too emptyheaded so I doubt she even has a real opinion and Gloria is total yes-woman. So any of them moving to our side on their own would be strange."<br/>
<br/>
"Right, but you know who could believably switch sides?" Cindy asks with a smile. "Michelle Estrich. How does that sound?"<span class="fngigffkgge3610"></span></span></div></div>


path: 11124111152111211121
author_id: rugal
id: KSMZ9H9NN
title: Makin' Copies
chapter_content:
<div><div style="padding:0px;margin:0px;"></div><div> <span>Michelle Estrich? You really only have a vague idea who she is. You know she's a cheerleader and from the way you've heard Yumi and her friends talk before you'd guess that she's not particularly popular. "I can't say because I don't really know who she is," you state. "So tell me about her."<br/>
<br/>
"If we had to describe her," Cindy says with a pause, "she's kind of nothing. Like she doesn't stand out. Not in looks or popularity or anything. Hell, nobody on the squad really gives her a second thought, although I guess doesn't try and reach out to anyone either. We all kinda wonder if she actually even has friends."<br/>
<br/>
"And that's who you want me to be?"<br/>
<br/>
"That probably all seems bad but in the context of what we're asking you to do, they're positives," explains Yumi. "Because it makes her a wildcard. See, we think she'd vote with Chelsea but we don't really know her so that's only an assumption."<br/>
<br/>
"Not like we don't have good reason to think that though," adds Cindy. "She owes her spot on the squad to Chelsea so common sense would say that she'd vote for Chelsea on any no confidence vote if only to make sure she doesn't end up on Chelsea's bad side."<br/>
<br/>
"But it's clear that Chelsea doesn't respect her and neither do Chelsea's friends," states Yumi. "So even if we think that she <i>would</i> vote or Chelsea, that doesn't mean it's certain, because she has to know how she's viewed. But I don't know if we actually could convince her to vote against Chelsea since either. Fortunately for us, we don't have to play fair."<br/>
<br/>
"So if I did this then how long would I have to, uh, pretend to be her?"<br/>
<br/>
"A couple of days? Maybe the week?" Yumi says with uncertainty. "It just depends on when or if we can convince the others to agree to hold a vote."<br/>
<br/>
"Lin and the twins aren't going to know about this, by the way. This stays between us," states Cindy as she then gives Caleb a hard look, "got it?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb in turn gives her a look and then turns his attention to you. "You want my opinion? This is all kind of harebrained," he states. "At least you'll have the band if you're pretending to be Michelle but the real one won't have that benefit and she might freak out or get pissed. Things could be completely FUBAR for you by the time you're done."<br/>
<br/>
"That's why you need to keep an eye on her. You know, since you're part of this whole plan and all now." Cindy tells him. You can feel the tension between the two of them. She then looks at you. "As for you, it'd probably be a good idea to get rid of anything incriminating from your phone—texts, search history and whatever—so she doesn't accidentally stumble onto it."<br/>
<br/>
"Are you really going to do this?" Caleb asks with wariness.<br/>
<br/>
You do have to agree with him in that this does seem kind of whacked out but they also do seem to have the general plot down pretty well and it's not <i>that</i> complicated. The possibility of what to do with your life afterwards is certainly something to give you pause... but then you think about the past day. It was so thrilling being Jenny. Not just looking like her but <i>being</i> her. The way she moved and talked, all of her little mannerisms, the way she thought, how she viewed others. You weren't simply pretending to be her, you <i>were</i> her and you kind of want the opportunity to experience something like it again. Because, you realize, it felt so different and yet natural as well. That Brittany girl would probably be impressed, you muse to yourself.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I am," you answer him. Then you turn back to the girls. "I'm in. I'll be Michelle."<br/>
<br/>
"Great!" exclaims Cindy. "So you brought some masks right? Because we're going to need one."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," you say as you look through the bag. You find the blank mask and with attached mind band and hand it over to them. "So when is this switch supposed to happen?"<br/>
<br/>
"Whenever we can get Michelle somewhere so we can do it," Yumi answers as she takes it. "Anyway, I'll text you when we've got something. But thanks, we'll owe you big time Will."<br/>
<br/>
"In fact," adds Cindy as she stands up, "consider the meal part of it; we'll pay. See? We're showing you that we're on the up and up and serious about this."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"You know, it really is a lot of bullshit if you ask me," Caleb says as the two of you head back down into the basement.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't have to ask for your opinion about it," you sigh, "because you've been volunteering it ever since we left Milagro."<br/>
<br/>
"Because this is stupid, Will," he argues. "There's way too many things that could go wrong. It's like with Keith but even worse."<br/>
<br/>
"First, no way are Cindy and Yumi that stupid and reckless. Second, it's a bridge we'll cross if we get to it," you tell him as you set everything down but take the blank mask out of the bag. "But the best rewards always come with risk, right?"<br/>
<br/>
"What reward?" he asks incredulously.<br/>
<br/>
"Yumi said they'd owe me," you answer. "Like two of the hottest girls at school would owe <i>me</i> a favor."<br/>
<br/>
"And you have no idea what it'd be."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe I'd get a date. You know, since I'd be the guy who slayed the terrible tyrant and all." You're only half-joking when you say it.<br/>
<br/>
"I think you're grossly overestimating things," he says dismissively. "It'd probably just be another stupid dinner and a pat on the back for a job well done."<br/>
<br/>
"The hell is your problem anyway? You've been acting like a dick all evening."<br/>
<br/>
"Aside from the fact I just flat out don't like this? Gee, I don't know. Maybe because, I have to give up the mask I've never even gotten the chance to use because everyone else is just plowing ahead and doing whatever they want."<br/>
<br/>
"That's what you're so pissed about?" you ask in disbelief. "I copied the fucking sigils, man! You should still be able to make stuff."<br/>
<br/>
"We don't know that it'll work, you're only assuming that it's the sigils that are important and not, like the sigils and the book together."<br/>
<br/>
"Then just try making a mask now," you implore him.<br/>
<br/>
But he demures. "I'd rather just get this thing done first," he says as he motions towards the dirt.<br/>
<br/>
So you tell him to get to work on that while you get things prepped for this whole undercover operation. He asks why you're making the mask now and you simply tell him it's better to be prepared since you have no idea when Yumi is going to contact you. It might even be later tonight! With annoyed resignation, Caleb starts getting to work on stuff for the spell ad as he does you decide to throw him a bone and tell him to take the Jenny mask home with him.<br/>
<br/>
"What for?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Take a guess," you answer while giving him a knowing grin. Then you take the blank mask and raise it to your face.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Here, remember what I told you," you say as you crack the door open enough to reach your arm through, handing a pile of your clothes as well as a brush and sealant to someone. A few moments later they knock on the door and a feminine hand reaches through to give you a different pile of clothing, a mask and the brush and sealant. "It'll be a few minutes so just, you know, work on trying to get her calm."<br/>
<br/>
The door closes and you lock it. It's early Sunday afternoon and Yumi had texted you to tell you that she'd agreed to get Michelle to come out to her place with "some BS excuse" and that you needed to come over too. You'd made sure to explain to her how to copy Michelle and then headed over to the address that she gave you. Once you were there, Yumi quickly ushered you inside and to the bathroom which is where things stand now: you in Yumi's bathroom with Michelle's mask and her clothes. You remember what Cindy said yesterday and take the time to delete all of your texts with Yumi, any conversations between yourself and both Caleb and Keith over the last week and go into your browser to get rid of your recent history just to be extra safe. Then with no trepidation this time, you grab Michelle's mask and put it on.<br/>
<br/>
A few minutes later and you're now getting dressed in her clothing and looking over yourself in the bathroom mirror. Michelle Estrich is not a great beauty like Chelsea or Cindy or Yumi but she's hardly ugly; in fact she's plenty attractive you consider. Her face is a little plain with her chin especially being longer and sharper than normal. But she has an athlete's build and especially nice legs with strong calves and thighs.<br/>
<br/>
No, you mentally correct yourself, <i>she</i> doesn't have any of that; <i>you</i> do. If you're going to do this, if you're going to pull this off, then you can't simply be someone pretending to be Michelle Estrich, you need to believe that you <i>are</i> Michelle Estrich... or at least your own interpretation of her. The first step, then, is to not think of this as Michelle's body.<br/>
<br/>
Yes, this is your body. This is you. Yumi invited you over to her place because she said that she had someone, a boy, that she was thinking of introducing you to and while you trust her as far as you can throw her, maybe she was looking to do right by you and start changing the relationship between the two of you. So she'd brought you to her house and up to her room and then... you'd blacked out and now you're here and you know the "boy" she's referring to is now in her room.<br/>
<br/>
You smile as you put on the last of your clothes and then stop there and let Michelle's persona slip a bit. Because you'll need to be yourself—be Will—to finalize things with Yumi.<span class="fmjggefeffkl3711"></span></span></div></div>


path: 111241111521112111211
author_id: rugal
id: EJVBD9RHV
title: Coming to Terms
chapter_content:
<div><div style="padding:0px;margin:0px;"></div><div> <span>You slip Michelle's persona back on as easily as you slipped on her shirt and then you take a look in the mirror and can't help but scoff. <i>"She could have at least grabbed the purse too so I could touch up my makeup,"</i> you think. Not that Michelle wears a ton of makeup—certainly less than Chelsea or Cindy or even Yumi—but she still wears <i>some</i>, even if it's light, and you can't help but feel the desire to make it look a little better. But you put the thought out of your head and make your way out of the bathroom over towards Yumi's room. You knock on the door and then at her insistence let yourself in.<br/>
<br/>
You pause when you see him and he double takes when he sees you. He looks somewhat gangly and... immature, is the word that comes to mind. His sense of style just isn't there and those clothes hang off of a thin frame. His hair isn't long but... well, shaggy isn't the right word because there's a straw-like quality to it, like the straw stuffed into a scarecrow. "Is this him?" you ask to the confusion of both he and Yumi. "The guy you wanted me to meet," you address her.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, uh, yeah," Yumi replies with slight confusion. "This is, uh, Will."<br/>
<br/>
Will says nothing but just quietly stares at you wide-eyed. You give him another good look, continuing to view him not through your eyes but through Michelle's. <i>"He's not unattractive but he looks so jumpy and immature. People like that are exhausting to deal with, it'd be like trying to go on a date with a middle schooler,"</i> you think.<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry, Yumi, but I don't think I'm interested."<br/>
<br/>
Both she and Will look surprised and Will especially looks too confused to even speak. So it's Yumi who does. "Um, yeah, okay," she says as she takes his arm. "Sorry for, uh, dragging you out here Will," she tells him as she leads him out of the room. To you she turns back. "I'll be back in a minute so just, you know, wait I guess."<br/>
<br/>
So you do, scrolling through Michelle's phone to reaffirm that she's supposed to be meeting up with some friends at Balducci's soon. Then the door opens and Yumi makes her way back in. "Will, what was all that?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Michelle," you correct her which earns you a confused utterance. "If I'm done up like this, then call me Michelle since it'd be less confusing. That's who you want me to be, right?"<br/>
<br/>
"Alright, fine, <i>Michelle</i>. What was that about?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"I wanted to have a little bit of fun," you state. "But mostly if I'm going to be Michelle then I needed to <i>be</i> her. You gave her that bullshit story about wanting to set us up so I figured I'd just do a little bit of roleplaying and approach it as if you were actually serious about it." You laugh a little bit. "Her judgment of me was pretty brutal but I guess looking at myself from an outsider's perspective, I can see where she's coming from."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't need to be that hard on yourself, and anyway what Michelle thinks about you isn't important," states Yumi. "We're not doing this so you can date yourself or whatever. There's a plan, remember?"<br/>
<br/>
"Right, the plan," you say and a lightbulb goes off. "You said you'd owe me when it's finished, didn't you?"<br/>
<br/>
Yumi's face bunches up; she seems a little annoyed wants to know where this is going. "Yeah, I guess I did. What does that have to do with how Michelle views you, though?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, Michelle is a girl obviously and I <i>am</i> concerned with what a girl thinks about me," you say. "So I'm thinking I need to be less nervous, less immature, and to do that I need to just bite the bullet. Aim high and shoot my shot."<br/>
<br/>
"What are you saying?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm saying that once this is done, once I've helped you all deal with Chelsea and I'm out of this mask and back to being myself, then how about we go on a date? You," you point a finger at her and then at yourself, "and me."<br/>
<br/>
"What!?" Yumi exclaims, taken aback. "Are you serious!?"<br/>
<br/>
"One hundred percent," you respond. "It's fair compensation for helping you get rid of someone you hate, right?"<br/>
<br/>
"This isn't a game, Will!" she exclaims, "This is fucking serious and you need to <i>take</i> it seriously!"<br/>
<br/>
"I am taking this seriously, all of it!" you shoot back. "I'm taking it so seriously that I'm looking at the world with Michelle's eyes, not mine. I didn't see myself when I came in here, you know. I saw that guy that you claimed you were trying to introduce Michelle to. I looked at everything as her. Not as someone pretending to be her but as <i>her</i> with all of her feelings and thoughts and everything. I am being so fucking serious about this that I'm dedicating myself into adapting Michelle's life, her very identity, and give up days of my own life to be her and see this through."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't—" Yumi starts in shock. "It's just a job, Will. You don't need to go that far. Pretending is good enough."<br/>
<br/>
"Is it, Yumi? Because if I pretended to be Michelle do you know what would happen when that vote came? I'd vote against you."...<span class="obibmjbSO"></span></span></div></div>


path: 1112411115211121112111
author_id: rugal
id: DRZY8KCF4
title: Method Acting
chapter_content:
<div><div style="padding:0px;margin:0px;"></div><div> <span>You do think that it's probably best to rip the band-aid off and hang out with Michelle's friends but before you can even turn the key to start the car, you get second thoughts. You think that you could pull it off because you seemed to be doing well with Cindy yesterday but that was just for a brief spell. This would likely be for longer; lunch and then them probably wanting to hang out further. What if you do something that makes them suspicious or worse, what if a similar incident from the one with Cindy occurs? If the real Michelle messages them or worse, shows up, then you'd be in big trouble. Because this wouldn't be simply a single person but a group of eleventh grade AP girls.<br/>
<br/>
Things have already spiraled enough as is and everything would go into freefall if you and the masks were exposed to a large group like that. Plus, beyond wanting to see how things are coming along with Caleb you think it'd be a good idea to show him that the swap went off without a hitch and talk to him a bit since maybe that'll fix the bad mood he's in. You don't want to distrust him but can't help but feel a small bit of worry that maybe he'd try and mess things up because of his dislike of this plan.<br/>
<br/>
So you take Michelle's phone out of the her purse and open it up to a group chat with her friends: a group of junior girls who are mostly in the AP clique and the upper tier of popularity. A voice in the back of your head insists that they're actually nice girls, not mean bitches like Kelsey or Chelsea. <i>Sorry. Family stuff came up and I can't make it,</i> you send. You receive a barrage of disappointed messages and sad emojis in response.<br/>
<br/>
You finally start the car and back out of the driveway, driving through town until you reach the old elementary school and it's there that you hit a snag. The door to the basement is locked and of course you don't have the key. It's with Michelle on your keyring so you obviously have no way of getting it without meeting with her, and that's something that you don't think that you should do. The only bit of relief you have is that there's no way that Michelle would know what the key is for. So you take out your phone (much easier to think of it that way) and are ready to contact Caleb when another worry hits you: you can't remember his number.<br/>
<br/>
You try and you try but it's just not coming to you and you almost want to smack yourself in frustration. You're so used to simply selecting his name in your contact list that you've never really needed to know his number. You need to see if he's down in the basement so you knock on the door, then knock again when you get no response and finally bang on it. But still there's nothing but silence so you wonder if he's maybe still at home instead. Thankfully you at least remember where he lives so you're able to drive to his place. When you ring the door, it's a moment before it opens to reveal his mother.<br/>
<br/>
Ms. Johansson answers the door and for a second you're take aback. You've always thought that she's a reasonably attractive woman, even if her age is beginning to show with a few fine lines here and there. But she's a working single mother and when you hang out with Caleb it's often at your place or somewhere else so you tend not to see her as much as one would expect. You've also joked with Keith before that Caleb probably got his looks from his dad because they sure didn't come from her. That ended when Keith, in his typical manner, expressed what he thought about <i>your</i> mother and you resolved to never again bring up the topic of MILFs around him.<br/>
<br/>
"Hi there. Can I help you?" asks Caleb's mother.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, um, yes. Is Caleb here?" you nervously ask.<br/>
<br/>
A suspicious look comes across her face. "He is, yes. Are you a friend of his?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes ma'am, or at least we're getting there, I hope," you answer with the type of midwestern politeness that Michelle was raised in. You quickly begin spinning up a story. "He, uh, started tutoring me with some classes I was having trouble with and we were supposed to get together today for a study session. But silly me, I never actually asked him for his number. I remember him telling me where lived though."<br/>
<br/>
"I see. Well, he's still in his room I think so if you want to come in I can—"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, no ma'am. That wouldn't be... uh... we were just going to go somewhere like the library." Michelle isn't quite the god-fearing girl that she was as a kid but she still attends church every Sunday (she'd just gotten home when Yumi contacted her) and so you're able to draw up on that to put forth the obvious implication.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb's mother looks amused but gives an understanding nod. "Caleb!" she calls out as she turns back towards the inside of the house, "You have someone here to see you!" There's no response so she shakes her head and marches back inside. She returns a moment later. "It might be a few minutes. You can have a seat if you want," she states as she invites you in. "What did you say your name was?"<br/>
<br/>
"Michelle," you state as you walk by her.<br/>
<br/>
"And you share some classes with Caleb?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, no actually," you answer as you take a seat. "But some of my friends on the cheerleading squad know him and said I should talk to him since I was having trouble with some of my classes."<br/>
<br/>
"Ah, a cheerleader, huh?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes ma'am, just like at my old school. I moved here right before the school year started so I'm still adjusting and that's throwing my grades off."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb's mother continues to appraise you with amused curiosity when Caleb finally appears. He double takes when he sees you.<br/>
<br/>
"Uh, hey Michelle," he says warily.<br/>
<br/>
"Caleb, hi! I just came over because we were supposed to go out to the library for a study session, remember? Do you have your stuff?" You raise your eyebrows as you ask that in a way that indicates he better know what the "stuff" is.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, just let me grab it. I'll be right back." He runs off but is back in after another couple minutes with a backpack. "Alright, I'm ready," he says and then turns to his mother. "I'll be back for dinner."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh that's fine dear, there's no rush. If the two of you want to grab something to eat the don't let me stop you."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb rolls his eyes as he walks past you. You follow him out to your car. "Great, now my mom thinks I have a girlfriend," he mutters as he heads around the the passenger side. You can only giggle in response.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"So, did you wear the Jenny mask last night?" you ask as you watch Caleb prep ingredients on the sigil. You'd decided to see if those spells you copied yesterday will still work so after grabbing Caleb you'd gone around buying ingredients. Thankfully Michelle has a part-time job she works (you'll actually have to go there tonight) so you have the money for material.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I guess," he says unenthusiastically.<br/>
<br/>
"You guess?"<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, yeah, I did. Why?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well what?"<br/>
<br/>
You huff and roll your eyes. "What's your problem? Are you still mad about me agreeing to help Cindy and Yumi?" you ask. "Because it's fine. Look at me, I'm a cheerleader. I've got Michelle's looks and her brains and everything."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, good for you, 'cause I sure didn't get that," Caleb replies. "I put the mask on and yeah I got to see Jenny naked and touch her tits and that was nice but I couldn't do anything else because I didn't have her brain. So when I tried, y'know, it was awkward because I didn't know what I was doing."<br/>
<br/>
"That doesn't make sense. I had everything immediately."<br/>
<br/>
"Well I didn't, okay?" he responds. "I feel asleep in the mask though and I think I had it all when I woke up but that's around when you came over."<br/>
<br/>
So that's why he took so long coming out of his room. "Okay, well, just take the mask again and use it when you get home. Then you'll have all night to make Jenny cum."<br/>
<br/>
"Whatever, just let me do this," he says as he turns back to the paper for the first spell.<br/>
<br/>
So you leave him alone as you slip Michelle's persona back on... but it's more like it's mingled with your own personality. Because you look at the lump of dirt shoved in the corner of the basement with purple flames dancing on it and know that it's for something related to the book. You'd watched Caleb, after arriving in the basement, pile it on top of the book and put the fuel on, then toss a match on it. So you, both Will and Michelle, are curious about what the end result will be.<br/>
<br/>
<i>"This is all pretty freaky,"</i> you find yourself thinking in Michelle's voice. <i>" Sure, I could become someone prettier or more popular or mess things up for someone who deserves it. But it's scary to think about too, being a high schooler and having access to so much power. It'd be very easy for things to go wrong."</i><br/>
<br/>
Your thoughts are cut off by a horrible odor and smoke and you rush to open the door and let it out. But when it's all clear you and Caleb look in amazement: a mask is sitting on the paper. "It actually worked!" you say in amazement. "Hey, you know what this means right? You've got a blank you can use again."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I guess so. Don't know how I'd get someone then."<br/>
<br/>
Even with this he still sounds disappointed. "Well let me take it, I can try for another cheerleader or one of my friends. If you're fine with eleventh graders."<br/>
<br/>
He's quiet.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't be so down on yourself," you say as you walk up behind him, place your hands on his shoulders and begin kneading.<br/>
<br/>
"What are you—"<br/>
<br/>
"You're not as good looking as that guy Yumi introduced me to earlier but you're smart, and funny and hard working. And that's plenty attractive or at least I think it is." You then turn him around so he's facing towards you, lean in, and give him a quick peck on the lips.<br/>
<br/>
"Will—!?"<br/>
<br/>
"Michelle," you correct him. "I'm Michelle, remember?"<br/>
<br/>
Yeah, you're Michelle Estrich and you kind of want this since you haven't felt a boy's touch since one of those last nights in Iowa with your now ex. But there's a voice in the back of your head screaming at you to stop.<span class="fngigffkgfh3610"></span></span></div></div>


path: 111242
author_id: seuzz
id: V6V39FZCF
title: Side-swiped by a Dumbass
chapter_content:
<div><div style="padding:0px;margin:0px;"></div><div> <span>You would love to procrastinate, but with a sigh you conclude that you might as well do it now as later. Besides, you have nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon, and Caleb might have an idea.<br/>
<br/>
Your dad is already snoring on the living room sofa when you go downstairs, so you quietly ask your mom, who is knitting, if there's a pair of bolt cutters anywhere in the house. She looks alarmed and asks why you need bolt cutters, and after you tell her that Caleb needs to borrow some to cut off a padlock at his house, she tells you to look in the garage. After a short search, you find them, and with them drive off to the school to meet Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
"Freaking Tilley," he mutters when you show him the bolt cutters and the snipped-off lock after he arrives, and explain why you needed them. "He makes trouble everywhere he goes. And not interesting trouble, either."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, he's in it now," you reply. "Do we keep him involved? Or tell him, yeah, it was a prank?"<br/>
<br/>
"I vote for the second," Caleb says after a moment's silent thought. "We'll never convince him, and it was a stupid idea trying to show him in the first place." You decide not to take offense at his calling your idea stupid—because it was your idea to call him out to the basement—and agree that's all for the best.<br/>
<br/>
And then Keith has to go and show up not twenty minutes after you came to that decision.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Dude, you should'a called me!" he exclaims after you get done grumbling at him over locking you out of the basement. (Yes, you had somehow managed to lay the key down on a table with all the supplies. "I could'a picked it for you! Then you wouldn'a had to cut it off!"<br/>
<br/>
"What the fuck do you know about picking locks?" Caleb demands, at the same time as you chide him again for locking you out in the first place.<br/>
<br/>
"It's not <i>my</i> fault," Keith retorts, "that you were a dumbass and went and left the key in here. But what are we gonna do now?" He saunters over to the dented and dirty conference table where you've laid out your supplies, and casually flips over one of the unpolished masks. "Do something with these things? Or have some fun?"<br/>
<br/>
"Like what kind of fun?" Caleb wants to know.<br/>
<br/>
"I 'unno. We could go hang out with Montoya and them, see what they're doing. Oh say, that' reminds me—" He snaps his fingers.<br/>
<br/>
"Montoya? Montoya who?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
He looks annoyed, whether at the interruption or your not knowing Montoya, you can't tell.<br/>
<br/>
"Carlos Montoya,"" he says. "An' Mike Hollister. Them guys I made that video with."<br/>
<br/>
"What video?"<br/>
<br/>
"For YouTube! I told you!" Now he really does look annoyed.<br/>
<br/>
"Remind me of the details."<br/>
<br/>
He makes a face. "I told you! I made a video with those guys! Well, I was in a video they were making—"<br/>
<br/>
"Like what, something for TikTok?"<br/>
<br/>
"No! A movie review! You know about those guys and their channel!" As he tells you about it, you dimly recall what he had told you before, but naturally you had filed it away under things to forget, so it's practically like hearing about it from scratch. "They have a channel, they post movie reviews, talk about them. Current movies, old movies. I'm gonna do one with them for extra credit in film class, but I helped them out with one last Monday, after school. We did a bit, and I was in it."<br/>
<br/>
"Aren't you in that class, too?" Caleb asks you.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah." You make a face. "Mr. Hawks."<br/>
<br/>
He snorts. "You knew what you were getting into."<br/>
<br/>
"No I didn't! I thought it'd be a blow-off class—"<br/>
<br/>
"Like all your classes this year."<br/>
<br/>
"Shut up! Like I said, it's Mr. Hawks teaching it."<br/>
<br/>
"And like I said, you knew what you were getting into. Or should'a known."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, fuck <i>me!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb looks at Keith. "You're getting extra credit in there? For making a video with Montoya and Hollister?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yep. Gonna, haven't done it yet."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb turns to you. "You should get in on this."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll talk to them," you grumble.<br/>
<br/>
"We could talk to them right now," Keith retorts. "Bet they're doin' something now!"<br/>
<br/>
And that's how you end up at the Top Shelf Storage complex.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Or is it called "Top Self Storage"? The "h" in "Shelf" is in parentheses, so that the name of the place is ambiguous. But it's screwy all the way around.<br/>
<br/>
Keith says that the place belongs to Carlos Montoya's uncle, and that he lets Carlos use a couple of empty units for his own purposes, so long as the units remain empty and unrented. They've got a little film studio set up inside one of the units, and Carlos has turned another one into a workout room. When Caleb observes it must be murder working inside a hot, metal storage unit, Keith retorts that they're set up inside a climate-controlled building. <i>Totally cool,</i> he assures you and Caleb. He even knows the codes to get in, both onto the lot and into the building.<br/>
<br/>
It's a very modern sort of building, you find when you arrive (you driving your truck, with Caleb and Keith hitching a ride), with a glass door that opens into a foyer stocked with hand trucks and carts. Keith, leading the way, swaggers down a wide corridor lined on both sides with metal doors. The air inside, as he promised, is cool and dry. Halfway down, you see one of the bay doors is up and open. Voices drift out.<br/>
<br/>
"—can do a better take than that," one is saying when the sound resolves into words.<br/>
<br/>
"You'll lose the spontaneity."<br/>
<br/>
"I sounded like a doorknob."<br/>
<br/>
"You always do."<br/>
<br/>
Keith, still in the lead, puts his head around the corner. "Hey dudes!" You and Caleb join him.<br/>
<br/>
He's looking into a storage bay that's much larger than you would have expected, one roomy enough to hold a green screen, a desk wide enough to have two chairs behind it, a flatscreen TV and disc-player mounted on a rolling cabinet, a camera on a tripod, and a bank of lights.<br/>
<br/>
Also, four guys you recognize from school.<br/>
<br/>
Carlos Montoya is a bluff and cheerful dude with coffee-colored hair trimmed into a slight fauxhawk, and a wide, white smile in his brown face. Mike Hollister's face is flushed cherry-red under a close-shorn crop of reddish-gold hair, and his grin is equally toothy. They are sitting behind the desk, and their two companions, manning the lights and the camera, are less happy looking. Josiah Shank is a short, blonde dweeb with glasses and a neurotic stare, while Philip Fairfax, with his reddish crew cut, pale skin, and black-frame glasses looks like a NASA aeronautics specialist circa 1966.<br/>
<br/>
They all look startled but not necessarily displeased by your appearance. Cries of "Keith!" "Prescott!" "Johansson!" go up from the guys behind the desk while the other two give you hooded but curious looks. You are all beckoned inside, and high-fives are exchanged. You and Caleb hang back, listening, while Keith perches comfortably on the desk to chortle and joke with Mike and Carlos. The chatter is a little hard to follow, but you gather they are recording a review of <i>Shock and A.W.,</i> a new action-comedy that opened on Friday. "This dumbass liked it." Carlos laughs and smacks Mike on the side of the head. "I liked it too, but I'm not a dumbass about it."<br/>
<br/>
Eventually Keith remembers that he brought you and Caleb along, and broaches the subject of your extra credit. "Yeah, so, Prescott's in that class with me, and he needs the extra credit too."<br/>
<br/>
Mike grins. "Mr. Hawks is a lot of fun, isn't he?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's a party every day," you grumble.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, well, he wants to do a video with you guys too," Keith says. "Like you set up with me."<br/>
<br/>
That seems to shock them into a sudden and awkward silence. "Um, did we set something up with you?" Carlos asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Dude! Yeah, when we did that bit on Monday! You said—"<br/>
<br/>
"I know we said we'd talk about it." Carlos looks at Mike. "Did you—?"<br/>
<br/>
"Dude!" Tilley's jaw drops open. "You said—!"<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, you can make one. Um." Carlos squints at you. "You and Prescott wanna make one together?"<br/>
<br/>
"I thought I was gonna make it with you guys!"<br/>
<br/>
"Keith, don't be a pest," Caleb warns him.<br/>
<br/>
"But—!"<br/>
<br/>
"It's just that we can't have— I mean—" Carlos backs up. "Guest videos, having guest reviewers, it kind of dilutes the brand."<br/>
<br/>
"A one-off is fine," Mike quickly puts in. "We can put you guys together in a video—"<br/>
<br/>
"You were talking the other day about how you <i>wanted</i> guest reviewers!" Keith protests. "You were even talking about having a third co-host!"<br/>
<br/>
Mike and Carlos look embarrassed.<br/>
<br/>
"We were talking about having a <i>cute girl</i> as a co-host," Carlos quietly explains as Mike's already flushed face flushes even redder. "You know. Like one of the cheerleaders."<br/>
<br/>
Keith stares at him. You have to turn away in sympathetic embarrassment.<br/>
<br/>
Then Caleb punches your shoulder and honks, "Prescott can get you cheerleaders."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Why'dja have to go and open your fat mouth?" you snarl at him after you're back at the elementary school, and Keith has driven off. "I don't know any cheerleaders!"<br/>
<br/>
"You were always hanging out with Jessica and Eva when you were going out with Lisa," he replies, sounding very pleased with himself. "At least, you were always bragging about—"<br/>
<br/>
Okay, that's true, though you don't think you were ever "bragging." But you did talk to them.<br/>
<br/>
And you didn't correct Caleb when he told Mike and Carlos that you hung out with them. Nor did you decline when they begged you ask them to come and appear in one of their review videos. So now you're stuck.<br/>
<br/>
But Caleb has something else on his mind. "I wonder if we should show this stuff to Fairfax," he muses. "You know, he went to Washington, D. C., in a science fair."<span class="fngigffkflm3610"></span></span></div></div>


path: 1113
author_id: rugal
title: The Search for Support
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You could very easily call up Caleb and ask him if he wanted to hang out on Sunday whereupon you would then be able to spring the book and mask on him and ask him for his help. But you quickly dismiss the idea. You've known Caleb a long time; he's like a brother to you and like a brother you know that he can at times be annoyingly combative seemingly for the hell of it. He's a good guy but can be more than bit acerbic and it's not worth the headache that'd ensue.<br/>
<br/>
So you do call up Caleb on Sunday so the two of you can hang out at his place. Any mention of magic books and the masks made from them are shelved. Instead you tell him about having asked your dad about any part-time work at Salopek. Afterwards, though, you ask Caleb if he has heard anything from Lisa regarding their break up.<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing you wouldn't already be able to guess," he says before giving a weary sigh. "It's not like I didn't have any sort of a chance to ask her."<br/>
<br/>
"You were with her at the mall!" you shoot back.<br/>
<br/>
"For a few minutes," he replies, "and even then it's not like she was really paying too much attention to me. She was too busy looking for Eva and Jessica."<br/>
<br/>
"Even still," you say in desperation, "you could've at least asked her! A few minutes is more than enough time!"<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe," he says as he absentmindedly looks down at his phone, "but did you ever think that maybe I didn't <i>want</i> to?"<br/>
<br/>
"Didn't want," you sputter out in shock. "What do you mean didn't want to?! You're my friend, Caleb! You're supposed to help me out!"<br/>
<br/>
"I am helping you out, goofus," he says as he continues to look at his phone. "Think of it like this: she broke up with you, she's dating someone else. Seems simple enough that I'm sure even someone like Call would be able to figure it out. In a way I'm helping both of us really since I don't have to ask her about it either."<br/>
<br/>
"I just want--"<br/>
<br/>
"Another chance?" asks Caleb.<br/>
<br/>
"No, some closure!" you retort in irritation. "A little bit of support would be nice too."<br/>
<br/>
"Well here's your closure then: she wasn't as into you as you were into her," he says matter-of-factly; it's like a punch to the gut. "That's also my support by the way. It was some dumb summer thing, there's no point in getting bent out of shape and obsessing over it. There's other girls out there?"<br/>
<br/>
"Like who?" you ask dismissively.<br/>
<br/>
"Jenny, for one," he answers.<br/>
<br/>
"Jenny?" you ask though you know who he's talking about: Jenny Ashton, the tomboy who usually eats lunch with yourself, Caleb and some other friends. Instantly, however, you're dismissive of that. "She's Lamont's girl so it's not like anything would happen there."<br/>
<br/>
"Lamont's? You know something I don't know?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I mean, there's the way he's always looking at her," you reply.<br/>
<br/>
"So?" Caleb shrugs. "Looking doesn't mean they're doing anything and I'd think we'd know if there was anything serious going on there. Look I'm not saying ask Jenny out or anything. I'm just saying there's options out there if you actually look."<br/>
<br/>
But you can do nothing but grumble a response. He's right you have to begrudgingly admit to yourself but you don't want to have to settle for other options. There's only one option you want right now and she's currently arm candy to a smug, overbearing prick. So with some bitterness you drop the subject of Lisa and spend most of the afternoon playing video games and talking about other stuff and when that's done you head home to spend the evening and night polishing that mask.<br/>
<br/>
Much like yesterday however, a few hours of work yields practically no results. In frustration you toss it onto your desk by the time you turn in for the night.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You make sure to grab the book, the cloth and the unpolished mask and shove them into your backpack. You've got a study hall so you can just duck into a quiet corner of the library, work on the mask there and maybe try to look at the book too just to make sure there's nothing you're missing. Hell, maybe you'll skip lunch too just to get this done. But that also leaves you short an item to put in the capsule and if you miss that then Walberg will have your ass for sure.<br/>
<br/>
Frantically you look around for something, anything, and eventually settle on a bottle of half-used cologne you find in the medicine cabinet. You give it something of a longing look as you head back into your room because it's this bottle that you'd bought at the beginning of the summer after Lisa Yarborough had started hanging out with you near the end of the previous school year. Now, of course, it's utterly pointless except as a reminder of something that wasn't even real in the first place. That longing soon turns to bitterness however and now feeling angry you stuff the bottle into your backpack. That can go in the time capsule and you hope that bury it might bury your thoughts about Lisa with it.<br/>
<br/>
In first period Walberg does not seem impressed when you hand him the cologne bottle though when he's ever impressed you yourself are not sure of. But he doesn't actually say anything, his disapproving gaze says it all, and he accepts the item without issue. The biggest problem is that you're left to wonder just how you'll write an essay about a stupid bottle of cologne.<br/>
<br/>
Second period goes off without a hitch either. You thrill a bit when Mia DeWitt, that little pixie firecracker of a girl, sits next to you and gives you a bright smile. She's a flirty sort, even with someone like you, and you wonder if maybe she's someone you should go after as your hopes for Lisa feel like they might start fading but you dismiss the idea. She's flirty with lots of people, not just you, so you decide that it's not worth getting worked up over. Instead you content yourself to merely stealing a few glances at her until the bell rings.<br/>
<br/>
As you make your way to Peters' room for your career planning class you suddenly see a horrifying sight once you arrive: loitering outside the room are Nicholas Horner and Jeff Spencer, two skeevy looking fucks how take any given opportunity they can find, along with their friends, to harass you and make your life a living hell. Worse yet you see them then enter the class room. Usually they skip but if both are in there that means you'll probably catch a beating once they catch sight of you and the ending bell rings. Instead you weigh your options: get harassed and beat up by Horner and Spencer or skip out on what amounts to a bullshit class. There's no real choice you figure so instead you beat feet past them hoping you're not spotted in the crowd.<br/>
<br/>
Instead you duck into the library.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The library this period is far more full than you'd have thought. Undoubtedly there's students here using the period as a study hall though you'd suspect a good amount of those are using that "study" time to simply goof off and get out of having to go to any classes. That's to say nothing of the ones who, like yourself, are genuinely skipping class. Most of the desks and tables are already taken up but you do manage to find one smaller round one on the far side of the library so you take your seat.<br/>
<br/>
You take out the book, the mask and the cloth and begin the laborious task of polishing it while doing a bit of people watching. You see Joe Ysleta from the baseball team as well as his wonderfully curvy girlfriend Victoria Rodriguez. There's Brianna Kirschke and Susie Loo... Lay... Susie Leeloodallas (those Hawaiian names can be tough), two girls from the marching band who you recognize from your sixth period class; you figure whoever they're sitting with is also from the band.<br/>
<br/>
Then there's Jenny Ashton sitting by herself and not doing much more than staring at her phone. Well, Caleb had brought her up as a name you could pursue so maybe... but no, you shake the thought off. No matter what Caleb says she's probably Lamont's girl and you're not going to try to move in on your friend's girl. But probably isn't definitely and maybe if you showed her the book; maybe...<br/>
<br/>
"Will Prescott!" comes a voice as boisterous as a quiet library voice will allow.<br/>
<br/>
This immediately snaps you out of your thoughts as you see a small group approaching your table to take seats. One's a guy and it takes you a second to place him but you realize that it's Michael Hollister who you've got in English next period. There's also two girls; one is Josie Holden, a girl from the soccer team who you sit near in sixth. The other, though, makes you almost catch your breath because it's Kim Walsh, the friendly (if a bit nosy) student council president.<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry," says the Josie apologizes as she sits down, "we don't want to just drop in on you but there's nowhere else to sit."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, um, no it's fine," you state as you grab your backpack. "I'm just hanging out here anyway so I'll leave you guys alone"<br/>
<br/>
"You're fine," Kim says with a friendly tone and matching smile, "we're not going over anything serious right now so we could use the company."<br/>
<br/>
"Looks like you've got some serious stuff going on though," says Hollister as he plops down next to you and points at the book and mask. "Cool looking book. Is that for some D&amp;D stuff?"<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, this mask is really nice," says Josie as she spots it. "It looks like one those theater masks." She then looks up at you with curiosity. "Did you make it?" she asks to which you give a positive response and her face lights up. "Wow, you're good then. It looks really well made."<br/>
<br/>
So it seems that they find your stuff interesting... and Kim's smart; she could help you with this. You'd wanted to show all of this to Jenny but if opportunity is presenting itself maybe you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.<br/>
<br/>
But then you also think about Hollister: you've seen him in the presence of Philip Fairfax before, a mechanically minded brainiac. If anyone could help you with this it would be him. Maybe you should ask Hollister about him?</span></div></div>


path: 11132
author_id: seuzz
title: Four Girls and One Red-Faced Guy
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You're settling back to spend the period with this unexpected party when the library door opens again and three girls walk in. One of them is Eva Garner.<br/>
<br/>
As in "Eva Garner, cheerleader."<br/>
<br/>
Not that she's dressed out as such today. She's wearing shorts drawn up over stockings, so you get a good look at her shapely, gymnast's legs. But from the waist up she's wrapped in a shapeless gray hoodie that, though it bulges where it should, doesn't exactly shape or flatter her figure. But at least her glossy blonde hair floats in loose curls down past her shoulders instead of being done up in a bun.<br/>
<br/>
She and the other two girls settle in next to Jenny with bright smiles and giggles.<br/>
<br/>
The circuitry in your brain warms and hums, and almost before you've decided what you're going to do, you're pushing your chair back and pulling your backpack off the table. "Uh, 'scuse me," you tell Kim and the others. "Someone just came in I gotta go talk to."<br/>
<br/>
Kim looks past you. "Hey Eva," she calls. Eva returns her a vacant smile and nod.<br/>
<br/>
Mike scrambles to his feet. "Me too," he says. "Gotta go talk to the cheerleader."<br/>
<br/>
"Down, boy." Josie hauls him back down by his shirt tail.<br/>
<br/>
"What? So come—?"<br/>
<br/>
The rest of Mike's protest is lost as you squeeze your way over to Jenny's table. You chew your lip the whole way over. You want to spend the period with Eva, but there's only one topic of conversation you could possibly broach with her, and it's not one you especially want to.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey." Your voice cracks as you drag an empty chair over so you can squeeze in.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, Will," Jenny says as you plop down next to her. "I didn't know you had this period off."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm skipping. It's just my Career Planning class." You shrug. "So, you know, pfft."<br/>
<br/>
"So you already got your career picked out?" says the girl on your left. She has curtains of reddish-gold hair that drape limply all the way to her elbows; the tightly tangled curls look like they need a good brushing-out, and both her upper and lower gums show pinkly when she peels her lips back in a smile.<br/>
<br/>
"Audrey's being funny," Jenny says as you stare at her. "Drop your backpack," she adds. "Stay awhile." But you just hug your books closer to your chest and turn to Eva.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, so, um," you stammer at her. "I just wanted to come over and tell you that—" You draw a deep, shuddering breath. "Lisa and me are broken up. Not going out anymore." You jerk your shoulders in an another shrug-like spasm.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh," Eva says. Her eyes widen slightly, and her mouth parts in an embarrassed-looking smile. "I'm sorry to hear that."<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, you knew that already." <i>Because, yeah, I've been bugging you and your sister for clues about why Lisa broke up with me.</i> "I'm just telling you that, uh, I've accepted it."<br/>
<br/>
"Mm, yes, it's usually best to—"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh my God, Will!" Jenny interrupts with mock excitement. "Are you saying you're on the market again?" She bursts out laughing as your face falls. "Got any one you're thinking of asking out?" Her eyes glint above her grin.<br/>
<br/>
You're saved from utter humiliation when that mask you were carrying slips to the floor with a clatter. The red-head (Audrey?) bends to pick it up.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, what's this?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Um, a project?" you tell her, grateful for the distraction. "Kind of an arts-and-crafts thing?"<br/>
<br/>
"Cool. What is it? Oh, it's a mask!" She flips it around to show the table. "Look, it's a mask!" she repeats.<br/>
<br/>
"What's it for?" asks her friend, who hasn't said anything up to now. You recognize her from the English class that you have next period, but you don't know her name. Her hair is long and thick and very dark, and she has olive-colored skin. Her nose is bold and prow-like, and she gives you a direct and speculative look with large, coal-black eyes.<br/>
<br/>
"It's not <i>for</i> anything," you start to say.<br/>
<br/>
"Did you make it yourself?" Audrey asks. "Like, you carve it? Wha'd you carve it out of?"<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't—"<br/>
<br/>
"Lemme see!" Jenny shoots her hand across the table. "Oh, cool. What's it made of? Alabaster?"<br/>
<br/>
"Um—"<br/>
<br/>
But no one's paying attention to you. Each of the girls, even Eva, takes the mask in turn, studying it and turning it over in her hands, and remarking that it's very cool and looks like it was done by a real artist. Finally it comes back around to you. You push it into your bag and murmur a general "Thanks" to the table.<br/>
<br/>
At least it got them off the subject of your love life. Audrey starts talking about an art class she took middle school, which sets Eva to barking about the awful art class that <i>she</i> took her eighth grade year, and from there it's off to general reminiscences about the horror that was middle school. You keep your mouth shut, only putting in a word or two when Jenny asks if you remember something about the classes that you shared with her back then.<br/>
<br/>
As the bell rings and you get up to go, though, Jenny pulls you back. "Hey, sorry I put you on the spot back there, talking about you being on the hunt for a girlfriend," she says. <i>It's alright,</i> you mutter. "But you need to get out and be seen," she continues, and pokes you in the shoulder. "What are you doing this weekend?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know," you reply through a kind of strangled panic. "No plans yet."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll text you then. We'll do something. A bunch of us, all together." Her eyebrows go up. "Are you okay?"<br/>
<br/>
"I think so?"<br/>
<br/>
She settles a pair of heavy hands onto your shoulders and smiles into your face. "Let's just hang out. Okay?"<br/>
<br/>
You jerk your head in a nod, and try not to notice how it looks like Jenny is about to burst out laughing as she picks up her own backpack and turns away.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Well, thank God for that," Caleb says at lunch, when you tell him what you told Eva, about being all done with Lisa. "Maybe now we can get back to your constant bitching about how unfair the most recent <i>Call of Duty</i> game is. That is a thing I can do something about."<br/>
<br/>
"What can you do about it?" you demand.<br/>
<br/>
"I can tell you to shut the fuck up about it, that's what I can do about it. I couldn't tell you that about Lisa, 'cos you'd'a hit me."<br/>
<br/>
So you hit him. Well, you sort of shove him in the face. You've got mustard all over your fingers, and you get it on all over his cheek.<br/>
<br/>
"Is that how come we ain't eatin' with Ioeger and them?" your other friend, Keith Tilley, asks. He shoves a fistful of orange Doritos into his mouth. "'Cos you don't wanna embarrass yourself in front of Eva again?"<br/>
<br/>
The three of you are sitting, as more often than not you are when you take your lunch together, in back of the school, facing the baseball diamond and the agricultural annex. It's a kind of no-man's-land, where the thuggish kids won't hang out for fear of being seen by the teachers, and the popular kids won't hang out for fear of <i>not</i> being seen by the other cool kids, and so it's a perfect spot for you and your trio, who'd prefer not to be seen by either the popular or the  thuggish kids, and who don't mind being seen by teachers because you're never up to mischief anyhow.<br/>
<br/>
But occasionally you do eat on the front quad with Carson Ioeger and his friends James Lamont and Paul Davis. But Jenny is a regular with them too, and sometimes Eva or her twin sister, Jessica, will sit with them. After today in the library, you don't feel like seeing any of those girls so soon, and so you vetoed Keith's suggestion that you eat up front with them. <br/>
<br/>
"I didn't embarrass myself," you retort. "I just told them, well— I told them I'm on the market again," you announce.<br/>
<br/>
Dead silence. You stiffen against what you know is coming next.<br/>
<br/>
"Pfwaaaah!" Keith guffaws. Caleb, at least, only pinches the bridge of his nose and smirks.<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck you guys," you tell them. "Fuck you guys," you repeat when Keith only laughs the louder.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Fuck you guys,</i> you tell them a dozen more times over the course of lunch, growing hotter and hotter, until you are boiling with fury by the time the bell rings.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Oh! Hey!" A hand grabs you as you exit your Calculus class. You wheel, expecting trouble.<br/>
<br/>
It is, of a sort. That girl Audrey grins at you. You can't help noticing that her gums are bigger than her teeth. "You have my friend Dorothy for first period," she tells you.<br/>
<br/>
You blink. "Dorothy Harmon?" you stammer after trying to remember every first-period class you ever took. "Yeah, I guess so."<br/>
<br/>
"She knows you. I mentioned you and your project to her. She wants to see it. What are you doing after school?"<br/>
<br/>
Funny. That's what Jenny asked in the text she sent you at the start of class. She made it sound like she had plans lined up.</span></div></div>


path: 111322
author_id: seuzz
title: Any Friend of Jenny's ...
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"I'm s'posed to get together with Jenny after school," you tell Audrey. Someone bumps you from behind, almost sending you flying into her face.<br/>
<br/>
Her eyes brighten. "Cool! What are you guys doing?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know. She just—"<br/>
<br/>
"I'll work it out with her." Audrey dives into her pocket for her phone. "We'll find a place to meet you!"<br/>
<br/>
Another jostle from behind, and what sounds like a muttered curse.<br/>
<br/>
You give up and let the milling crowd carry you away. "I guess I'll see you around," you call back to Audrey. She glances up only long enough to show you her gums and her teeth. "Uh—"<br/>
<br/>
And then the crowd closes around you, cutting you off.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
But despite her promise, that's the last that you see of her that day. When you meet up with Jenny in the student parking lot after school, she tells you that it'll just be you and her.<br/>
<br/>
Oh, and a third person, but it won't be either Audrey or Dorothy.<br/>
<br/>
"Never mind," she says when you ask her what happened to the other girls. "I worked it out with them. If Dorothy wants to talk to you, she can talk to you tomorrow in class. You have her for first period?" You nod. "You ever talk to her?"<br/>
<br/>
"Um, not really."<br/>
<br/>
"How come not?"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Because she sits on the other side of the room and I don't have anything to say to her anyway?</i> That, at least, is what your shrug means.<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh," Jenny says. She looks around. "Well, I guess we should drive separate. You like minigolfing?"<br/>
<br/>
"What? Oh, I guess."<br/>
<br/>
"We're gonna go minigolfing. Don't worry, there's no pressure."<br/>
<br/>
<i>No pressure for what?</i> you want to ask, but Jenny just tells you to follow her out to the Monte Viso Mini-Golf and Go-Kart park, which is in back of the mall, as though you don't know how to get there.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
She does get there ahead of you—she drives like a maniac; no way you'd have torn through that yellow-turning-to-red light at the intersection of Fortieth and Borman, like she did—and when you catch up to her, she's talking with her hands flapping to a girl you've never seen before. She waves you over, as though you wouldn't come over anyway.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, this is Joey," she tells you, indicating the girl. "This is Will," she tells her friend. "Prescott," she adds.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey." You nod. The skin all up your back prickles.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Joey?</i> you wonder. <i>Is she a lesbian?</i><br/>
<br/>
She could certainly pass as one. She is short and wan, with a stick-like figure under the flannel plaid shirt that drapes off her narrow shoulders, and her chestnut hair curls up stiffly on the back of her neck. But her skin and her eyes are both very clear, and there is something slightly elfin in the point of her chin and the arch of her eyebrows. She nods gravely at you.<br/>
<br/>
"So we're all up for a game of minigolf?" Jenny says. She slaps her hands together. "I call dibs on the red ball."<br/>
<br/>
"Green," Joey says after a pause.<br/>
<br/>
"Huh?" you stammer. "Oh. I guess I'll take blue."<br/>
<br/>
"Way to play it dangerous, Will," Jenny smirks. She tweaks the front of your shirt, then darts away.<br/>
<br/>
You find yourself falling in beside Joey as you follow, which was maybe Jenny's plan. "So, um, Jenny didn't mention your last name," you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
"Tartaglione," she says quietly. "Josephine Tartaglione," she adds. "But 'Josephine' is kind of a mouthful. So everyone calls me Joey."<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh." <i>So is "Tartaglione",</i> you think.<br/>
<br/>
"Also," she adds after a fractional hesitation, "it's what you call a baby kangaroo. A joey. So that's what my mom called me when I was little. Her little Joey."<br/>
<br/>
"Will's mom called him Willie Boy," Jenny says over her shoulder.<br/>
<br/>
"No she didn't."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm teasing. She should've." Jenny grins at you. "Her little Willie Boy."<br/>
<br/>
<i>The fuck is going on here?</i> you wonder, and hope that the obvious answer isn't the correct one.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The story emerges gradually as your trio wends it way from the first hole to the eighteenth. Joey is a friend that Jenny knows from church. They were in the same grade for a few years in elementary school, but then Joey's parents pulled her out to home school her. So she doesn't get to hang out with a lot people.<br/>
<br/>
You could have told. She's not much of one for small talk. <br/>
<br/>
<i>They don't carry Mister Pibb,</i> she observes when talk briefly lights on McDonalds and on what you like to get there. <i>Have you noticed that no one carries Mister Pibb?<br/>
<br/>
I was watching some old commercials on YouTube,</i> she says later, on the ninth hole. <i>I think I like commercials better when they're not trying to be funny.<br/>
<br/>
I used to have some rollerblades. I don't know what happened to them.</i> That's when you give up, and start rolling your eyes behind her back.<br/>
<br/>
At the end, when you're sitting in the game room, drinking sodas and crunching ice, she excuses herself to the restroom. Jenny gives you a very narrow, direct look. When you don't say anything, she says, "Would you rather of hung out with Audrey and Dorothy?"<br/>
<br/>
"No," you admit, which is about as feeble a gallantry as you've ever mustered. "This was fun."<br/>
<br/>
"You need to relax, Will."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Joey needs to relax,</i> you irritably think. <i>Joey needs to get a personality.</i><br/>
<br/>
And then, as if on cue:<br/>
<br/>
"Oh my God!" Joey's voice is tight with anguish as she runs back up. Pink spots glow in her cheek. "I think there's a <i>rat</i> in the girls' restroom!"<br/>
<br/>
Jenny gasps. "No! What?"<br/>
<br/>
"In the trash bin! Under all the paper towels!" Joey twists and fidgets on her feet. "Something was moving under them!"<br/>
<br/>
"Should we tell someone?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, come look first!" Joey grabs Jenny's arm. "I don't wanna say anything if it isn't—"<br/>
<br/>
But Jenny is already on her feet, running for the restroom. So Joey grabs at you. <i>God damn it,</i> you think. <i>As though there's anything I can do.</i><br/>
<br/>
Jenny is just outside the girls' restroom, hopping from one foot to the next and peering in through the half-open door, when you stumble up next to her at the girls' restroom. "I don't see anything," Jenny says.<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe it got out," Joey whimpers. "Oh, crap! Maybe it's under the sink or under one of the toilets!" She pushes you. "Check it out! Go look for it!"<br/>
<br/>
"Me?" you yell. "I don't—!"<br/>
<br/>
"Just look around! Look in the trash bin! Maybe it's still there!"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't want to! We should—"<br/>
<br/>
"Do you want <i>us</i> to look for it?" Joey gasps.<br/>
<br/>
You feel yourself flushing all over.<br/>
<br/>
This shouldn't be your job. You shouldn't even go in the girls' restroom. And if there is a rat (you gulp to yourself), it should be the job of the staff to find it and catch it and get rid of it.<br/>
<br/>
On the other hand, the last thing you want is to look like a jerk or a coward.<br/>
<br/>
So you suppress the tremble in your lower spine and step into the restroom. It smells of Lysol, and you make a face. Then you gulp as you turn toward the plastic trash bin, which just beyond the door. It's filled almost to the top with wadded-up paper towels. <i>Why can't they keep this thing emptied out?</i> you wonder as you tiptoe up to it.<br/>
<br/>
"Brush the top of it," Joey says from behind you. "See if you can stir it up to get it moving."<br/>
<br/>
"Why do I want it moving?" you gulp.<br/>
<br/>
"To see if it's still there! Just dig around a little, see if you can see anything."<br/>
<br/>
You grit your teeth and push aside some of the towels. Behind you, Joey hisses fearfully.<br/>
<br/>
Then she shouts, "Oh my God, it was under the sink!" You wheel as she grabs the back of your shirt, almost tearing it off you. "It's running up behind you, Will! Oh my God, it's running up your leg!" She pulls your shirt back. "<i>Holy crap, it's under your shirt, Will!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
A thing like scraggly claws scrambles down your neck and back.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"It was just a paper towel, Will," Jenny tells you later, when it's just you and her in the parking lot again. "A wadded-up paper towel. It was just a joke."<br/>
<br/>
You dig your nails into the palms of your hands. <i>Yeah, just a joke.</i> If only you hadn't screamed and jumped up onto the sink ...<br/>
<br/>
"And it got you to loosen up, finally," she adds.<br/>
<br/>
It got Joey to loosen up too. She was all grins afterward, and she fell against you, laughing, after you had all run out of the restroom.<br/>
<br/>
"So do you want to hang out some more?" Jenny asks. "Or do you want to go home and be mad?"<br/>
<br/>
You remember the mask you made with that crazy book, and the way it twisted itself in your hand like a living thing. Doing that to Jenny and Joey would be a way of getting back at them, maybe.</span></div></div>


path: 1113221
author_id: seuzz
title: Returning a Prank with Interest
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Hey, remember that mask I showed you this morning in the library?" you ask Jenny. "Wanna see how I made it?"<br/>
<br/>
She grimaces. You glance over at Joey, who is sitting in her car texting. "It's something we can all do together," you add.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I don't know, Will."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't you want us all to hang out?"<br/>
<br/>
It's a dirty trick, playing on Jenny's obvious desire to push you and Joey together. But it works. With a kind of strangled sigh, she accedes.<br/>
<br/>
"Cool. We can't do it at my place," you tell her. "It makes kind of a mess, and my dad wanted to kill me. What about your place?"<br/>
<br/>
"You want to make a mess at <i>my</i> place?"<br/>
<br/>
Joey starts her car. "Better go stop your friend," you tell Jenny, "before she drives off and it's just the two of us."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Jenny doesn't look much mollified by your assurances that you know what you're doing, and that you won't make a mess in her family's garage. "It'll be fine out here," you tell her as you set up a makeshift table in the space where she would normally park her car. "It was just up in my room that it made a mess."<br/>
<br/>
The sun is setting as you get to work, for of course you had to run home to get the supplies. You have the book at hand too, but you're working from a few notes you were able to scribble down, plus your own memory of making the mask. Jenny and Joey stand to one side, watching with skeptical interest. You pretend not to hear when Joey leans over to ask Jenny, "Why are we doing this?"<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, cover your noses," you tell them as you hold a lighted match over the mess in the bowl. "This is the part that's why my dad wanted to kill me." The girls only have time to look alarmed before you drop the flame into the bowl.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, <i>Jesus,</i>" Jenny yelps as a ferocious stench rolls into the garage. Joey covers her face with her shirt and jumps back a yard. You hold your breath. "You'll get used to it," you assure them.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, God, Will," Jenny says. "If you'd told me it was gonna do <i>that—!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"That's why I didn't tell you!"<br/>
<br/>
"Way to be an asshole!" She glares murder at you.<br/>
<br/>
But is it your imagination, or is Joey grinning behind the collar of her shirt? Certainly her eyes are dancing with what looks like amusement.<br/>
<br/>
"So," you say as you pick up the bowl. "Only two more steps, then we're through."<br/>
<br/>
"Are you gonna set anything else on fire?"<br/>
<br/>
"No."<br/>
<br/>
"Can I set <i>you</i> on fire?"<br/>
<br/>
"Funny, Jenny. No wonder James has a crush on you." Jenny's scowl deepens, but Joey drops her shirt, and there's no mistaking the mischief that plays about her lips. "Now, first, all I have to do is—" You pour the thin paste over the convex mirror. It hardens instantly. "And now we just have to peel it off."<br/>
<br/>
But you make no move, and only step back to smile at the girls. Their expressions turn puzzled. "How about one of you do the honors," you suggest. "I did the hard work, now you can do the easy part."<br/>
<br/>
Jenny's eyes narrow. "What's the trick?"<br/>
<br/>
"No trick. What makes you think there's a trick?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because you've got a look on your face, Will," Jenny says. "The kind of look that Carson and James get when they're planning to prank the basketball team."<br/>
<br/>
You shrug. The moment hangs. No one moves.<br/>
<br/>
You're about to surrender and pick up the proto-mask yourself, when Joey steps forward. Jenny clutches at her, but she touches the hardened half-sphere you have cast, then with her fingernails plucks it off the mirror. You bite your lower lip to keep from grinning.<br/>
<br/>
"Huh," Joey says as she turns the thin shell over in her hands. "So what do you do with it next?"<br/>
<br/>
But before you can answer, she cries out and flings the mask away. It rings as it bounces off the concrete floor of the garage. Joey nurses her fingertips and stares haggardly down at it.<br/>
<br/>
"Son of a bitch, Will!" Jenny snarls. "What did you do to her?"<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't do anything! I just showed you how I made that mask. There." You point. "Pick it up and see for yourself."<br/>
<br/>
Jenny snarls and doesn't move. But Joey does. She kneels to peer at the shell, which has come to rest on its face. You find you are holding your breath as she gingerly picks it up.<br/>
<br/>
She says nothing as she studies it. Jenny, noticing her fascination, steps in to study it too.<br/>
<br/>
For a long moment, no one says anything. Then Joey looks up at you. Her eyes are wide. "How did you do that?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
Now you do allow yourself to smile. "Do what?"<br/>
<br/>
Joey wrenches the mask away from Jenny. "This!" She shows you.<br/>
<br/>
It's another mask, like the one you made last weekend. A convex oval with bumps and protuberances like a forehead, nose, cheekbones, lips and eyes.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It was stupid of you not to foresee the consequences of your "prank." Now both girls want to see the instructions for making that mask, and demand to look at the book. Three times they ask, "Where did you get it?" and affect not to believe it when you insist you got it at Arnholm's Used Books for two dollars. You hover over them as they examine it, studying the shifting faces on the end sheets, and frowning at the sealed pages that follow.<br/>
<br/>
You might have been more forthcoming if it was only Jenny when they ask about those sealed up pages, for you're still undecided about Joey. But they press until you admit that you got the first few pages unstuck only after giving it some of your blood. You point to your bloody thumbprint. Jenny recoils, but Joey looks intrigued.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, God, Will," Jenny says when she finally pushes the book back into your arms. "This is really creepy."<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, you wanted to know how I made that mask."<br/>
<br/>
"No I didn't. You're the one who wanted to show me."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, someone was asking me in the library this morning how—"<br/>
<br/>
"Listen," Joey interrupts, "I have to get home for supper." It is now dark outside, and you've turned on the garage overhead light. "Are you guys still gonna be here when I get back?"<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno," you confess. You told your mom as you headed out that you'd be eating with friends, and now you are starving. "I need to get something to eat myself."<br/>
<br/>
"Me too," Jenny says. She glances over at the door leading inside. "My supper's probably in the oven."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, if I come back over after supper," Joey starts to say, but Jenny interrupts her.<br/>
<br/>
"Let's pick it up tomorrow," she says. She gives you a dark look. "If there's anything more that you want to show us."<br/>
<br/>
You hadn't been planning on it, but now that the preliminaries are out of the way, you decide that Jenny at least, and maybe her friend, can be the partner you were looking for when you brought the mask to school this morning.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, there's more," you tell them. "I'm still figuring the thing out. And there's the rest of the book to get through."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh God," Jenny says. "You're not getting me to put any of <i>my</i> blood in the thing." But though she looks grim, you can tell that she's surrendered, and that she will meet up with you again to look at the book and the masks you've made.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You have a text from Caleb when you get home, asking about Walberg's class and the time capsule. You call him up so you can brag about your afternoon. "Spent it with a couple of girls," you tell him.<br/>
<br/>
"Your mom doesn't count," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck you. It was Jenny Ashton and a friend of hers. A home-schooled girl. I'm pretty sure Jenny is trying to set me up with her."<br/>
<br/>
"How desperate is this girl?"<br/>
<br/>
"Fuck you. She was cute. She has a real sense of humor, too." You've not forgiven her for the "rat" prank, but there's no way you're going to tell Caleb about <i>that.</i><br/>
<br/>
"Well, she'd have to have a sense of humor, if she's going to let herself be seen with you."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Fuck you,</i> you almost say. Instead, you change the subject over to Walberg's class, and hang up without talking any more about Joey Tartaglione.<br/>
<br/>
That's because you're still not really keen on her. But you're wondering: If you got Caleb out to Jenny's tomorrow, you could show him the book and mask <i>and</i> maybe distract Joey with him.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You had been planning to look for Jenny in the library third period (another excuse to skip that dumb Career Planning class) but she finds you first, in Walberg's class, just before first period.<br/>
<br/>
"When we get together this afternoon," she says after hauling you out into the hallway, "is it okay if I have Carson and James there to watch? They're the science guys."<br/>
<br/>
You're still figuring out how to respond to that (unintentional?) insult when she grabs you by the shirt and pulls you in closer.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm trying to get Joey into some kind of circulation," she says. "I mean, you figured that out, right? You're not <i>that</i> dumb. Well, having them over would be someone else she could maybe get to know, start hanging out with."<br/>
<br/>
You blink.<br/>
<br/>
Does this mean you totally misread the cues from yesterday? Maybe Jenny <i>doesn't</i> mean for you and Joey to maybe start going out?<br/>
<br/>
You don't know whether to be relieved or even further insulted.</span></div></div>


path: 11132214
author_id: seuzz
title: Projects, Both Yours and Others'
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Sorry I'm late, I had a test," Joey gasps as she comes whizzing into Jenny's garage on a dirt bike. You jump out of the way as she skids to a stop only inches from your ankles.<br/>
<br/>
It's late afternoon, after the kind of school day that leaves you jealous of anyone who is home-schooled and doesn't have to deal with the kind of soccer-goalie bullies who loiter around the parking lot at the end of the day just so they can trip and push and jeer at guys like you who are trying to escape the school before being caught by assholes like them.<br/>
<br/>
So it's the mood talking (you tell yourself) when you snort, "What are you taking tests for, I thought you were home-schooled."<br/>
<br/>
"You take tests when you're home-schooled!" Joey retorts, looking shocked and angered. "I do, at least. All the flipping time!"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Flipping.</i> Instead of showing her how to make a magic mask, maybe you should be teaching her how to cuss.<br/>
<br/>
But you're about to apologize anyway, until you see the warning look on Jenny's face. Mulishly, you shut your mouth.<br/>
<br/>
"So what did I miss?" Joey asks as she drops her bike.<br/>
<br/>
"Will's showing us how to polish the masks," Jenny says. She holds up the mask you made yesterday, and a cloth. "He says it's going to take awhile."<br/>
<br/>
"Like how long? And then what?"<br/>
<br/>
"Then we try it out," you reply.<br/>
<br/>
Joey's eyes widen. "What does that mean? Try it out how?"<br/>
<br/>
"Not totally sure," you confess. "The, uh, the book—" You turn toward the workbench where you set it. "It says—"<br/>
<br/>
"Lemme see."<br/>
<br/>
You thrust an arm out, blocking her as she leaps for it. "Hang on there."<br/>
<br/>
"I just want to—!"<br/>
<br/>
"You wanna ask permission first?"<br/>
<br/>
"I thought we were working on this thing together!"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, do you read Latin?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes!"<br/>
<br/>
You blink, and look over at Jenny, who says nothing.<br/>
<br/>
"I can read Latin, Will!" Joey insists.<br/>
<br/>
So you withdraw your arm. "Okay. Show me."<br/>
<br/>
"Can <i>you</i> read Latin?" Joey asks as she takes the book.<br/>
<br/>
You tense up. "With an online translator."<br/>
<br/>
"Peh! With an online translator!"<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, it's not like they teach Latin at our high school!"<br/>
<br/>
"Actually, Will," Jenny says, "they do offer a Latin class."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It's awkward—"flipping awkward," as Joey would say—standing there while she pores over spell. "That's not an online translator?" you snark when she takes out her cell phone. <br/>
<br/>
"Vocabulary," she mutters back. Then she says, "It's all funky, like it's not even real Latin! Are you sure you're even doing this right?" She glances back at Jenny, who has stopped even pretending to polish the mask.<br/>
<br/>
"I think I did it right," you retort. Steam threatens to start seeping out from under your collar. "I made a flipping mask!"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I don't know if I could've figured it out, based on what it says here," Joey grumbles. "I'm not even sure if it's real Latin. Or maybe the guy who wrote it didn't know any real Latin."<br/>
<br/>
You roll your eyes.<br/>
<br/>
Eventually Joey gives up, and admits that, yes, you're supposed to polish up the mask until it glows, and that after that it will be able to "take on" the form of a person. "What do you think it means when it says that?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"You're the one who reads Latin."<br/>
<br/>
She makes a face, but doesn't otherwise rise to the bait. "I can read what it says," she replies, and pulls at the back of her hair with both hands. "I just can't figure out the sense of it. I think it means it takes the 'form'. But what's the 'form' of a person?"<br/>
<br/>
Jenny, sounding a little haggard, pipes up. "Maybe we can finish up and find out?"<br/>
<br/>
So you give Joey the first mask you had made, and a cloth, and set her to work. Then, when you flop to the floor with the book in your lap, she asks what you'll be doing. "Supervising," you reply. Even with your nose buried in the book, you can hear her snort.<br/>
<br/>
Ten, fifteen minutes pass, during which you decide (with the help of an online translator) that the Latin in the book makes perfect sense, though you too can't figure out what exactly it means to absorb "the form" of a person. Though, given that the book promises to show how to make magical disguises, you can make a shrewd guess.<br/>
<br/>
Then—<br/>
<br/>
"P'tah!" Joey exclaims. "This is taking forever!"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I think it's gonna take awhile," you drawl.<br/>
<br/>
Joey glowers at you, then looks over at Jenny. Your friend keeps her head down.<br/>
<br/>
Joey drops the mask, leaps to her feet, and runs into the house, banging the door behind her.<br/>
<br/>
"Will," Jenny says in a very measured tone.<br/>
<br/>
"What?"<br/>
<br/>
She sucks in one of her cheeks. "Nothing, I guess."<br/>
<br/>
And that's all she says. But you feel well and truly rebuked.<br/>
<br/>
So when Joey comes back out, you're working on the mask she dropped. She stands over you, her mouth hanging open, as you look up to return her stare.<br/>
<br/>
Then she wheels and paces the garage, looking over and under the work benches and inside the cabinets. "Do you have a car buffer?" she eventually asks.<br/>
<br/>
Jenny says, "A what?"<br/>
<br/>
"A car buffer.  A thing." Joey mimes with her hands. "A motor with a pad. It spins and you use it to polish a car."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe in one of the cabinets?" Jenny says. "Why?"<br/>
<br/>
"For working on these things. Make it go faster. Maybe."<br/>
<br/>
Jenny gives you a sidelong look.<br/>
<br/>
Much as you hate to admit it, but that seems like a great idea. "It's worth a try," you tell Jenny. "Definitely," you add, looking over at Joey.<br/>
<br/>
So Jenny gets up and the two girls go through the garage. They're not long in finding a buffer—it takes longer to find an outlet to plug it in—and you pull the supplies over to where they set it up. Joey puts out her hand to take the mask back from you.<br/>
<br/>
But you don't hand it over, and there's a frozen moment as you stare each other down. Jenny ends the standoff by saying, quietly, "It's Will's project, Joey."<br/>
<br/>
She drops her hand and shuffles back a step.<br/>
<br/>
You sit cross-legged with the motor between your legs and with the pad, like a floppy mushroom, pointing up at your face. You turn it on, and press the mask onto it. No one speaks for five minutes as you work . When you stop to examine the results, you find that the dull white surface of the mask has acquired a pearly sheen.<br/>
<br/>
"Do you think it's done?" Joey asks.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know," you admit. "I think we should keep working on it until we're sure."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll go home and get our buffer!"<br/>
<br/>
"I'll go with you," Jenny says.<br/>
<br/>
"It doesn't need both of us to bring it back."<br/>
<br/>
"No," Jenny says as she walks over to a side door. "But I could use some fresh air. And I got nothing to do here while Will's working." She gives you another very steady look.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Joey must live some distance away, because it's nearly forty minutes before they're back, and you've got a lot of progress to show them when they return. The face of the mask, under constant polishing, has turned from a dirty off-white to a deep and lustrous blue, the color of the sky on cloudless summer day. When it was obvious to you that it wasn't going to get any bluer, you turned it upside down and went to work on the inner surface. Jenny only shows a polite interest in the results of your work, but Joey's eyes glint and glimmer as she studies the results. She immediately sets to work on the second mask, using the buffer she and Jenny brought from her house.<br/>
<br/>
"So I had a little talk with Joey on the way out to her place," Jenny says when you and she have gone inside to get a drink. The aroma of lasagna comes steaming out of the oven, and dirty dishes are stacked up by the sink, but of her parents there is no sign. "I told her that she should be a little less pushy with you."<br/>
<br/>
"Is she autistic or something?" you ask. Jenny punches you in the shoulder. "Ow!"<br/>
<br/>
"And you need to be a lot less of a jerk, Will Prescott. No, she's not on any spectrum or anything. She just doesn't have a lot of practice being sociable with people. Well, with people she doesn't know. That's one reason I thought you two would go well together."<br/>
<br/>
"Me? How do I match up with someone like that?"<br/>
<br/>
Jenny puts her hand on her hip and gives you a look. "At least Joey knows she needs to work on her social skills," she says.<br/>
<br/>
Your jaw drops. But Jenny only turns around and goes back out into the garage.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
There's another round of argument when you're done, but it ends in an agreement that the only thing to do now is for one of you to try putting a polished mask to his or her face, and see what will happen.<br/>
<br/>
But who gets to be the lucky volunteer?</span></div></div>


path: 111322141
author_id: seuzz
title: Paranormality and Paramedics
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You and the girls stand in a tight circle, looking at each other.<br/>
<br/>
But you're the one cradling the newly polished mask.<br/>
<br/>
It's thin and it has no very great heft. It is cool to the touch. Yet it weighs heavily in your hands, and your palms are hot beneath it.<br/>
<br/>
Finally, Jenny speaks. "Will," she says, "it's your book and your project."<br/>
<br/>
It's an echo of when she snapped at Joey earlier. So ... your responsibility?<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, okay," you reply, and swallow. "Like, nothing's going to happen, right?"<br/>
<br/>
Jenny only looks surprised at your words, but Joey looks askance. Even you don't believe what you said, maybe because you said it mostly to reassure yourself. <i>There's no way those ingredients, burned in that bowl, and poured over that mirror, should have made a solid shell. And even if it did, there's no explanation—<br/>
<br/>
No </i>scientific<i> explanation.<br/>
<br/>
—for the way it twisted and turned itself into a three-dimensional shell of a face.</i><br/>
<br/>
"Will," Jenny starts to say again. But you brush her off.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, I wanna try it," you say. "I'd be doing this anyway, you know, even if it was just me, and I was back home. I just wanted—" You lick your lips. "I just wanted someone around to watch in case something went wrong."<br/>
<br/>
Jenny's eyebrows shoot up. Her mouth opens. You know what she's going to try doing next, so you pre-empt her.<br/>
<br/>
You lift the mask and put it to your face.<br/>
<br/>
The garage around you melts away, and you fall up into the sky.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
 Voices, indistinct. Words, like a foreign language. A weight, on your shoulder. Your eyes roll open, but you want to faint.<br/>
<br/>
"Easy there, champ," a gruff voice says. A man with a lean, brown face peers closely at you. You try scrambling back, but are pinned down by his heavy hand. "Hush, there," he says. "Calm down. You calm? How many fingers am I holding up?"<br/>
<br/>
You blink heavily, feeling as though you've emerged from a deep sleep. "Son?" says the man.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh. Um. Three?" You blink to clear the sleep from your eyes, and recalibrate on the fingers he's showing you. "Four. One."<br/>
<br/>
The man nods. "Okay. How about a little oxygen?" You don't fight the clear plastic mask he puts to your face, and you revive as the cold tang of pure oxygen rushes up your nose and into your lungs.<br/>
<br/>
He allows you only a few short breaths before withdrawing the mask and letting you sit up. "How do you feel?"<br/>
<br/>
"Um, okay? I guess?  A little shaky?" Mostly you're confused about what's going on. <br/>
<br/>
Your heart flares to life as you realize that you're surrounded by paramedics. "What happened?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
The paramedics look at each other, and back at another cluster of people. Jenny and Joey, and a man and a woman. (Jenny's parents, probably.) <br/>
<br/>
"We got a call that you fainted and were unresponsive," the man with the lean, brown face tells you. "Were you doing something that would have caused you to faint?"<br/>
<br/>
You would have said "No" even if you didn't see the panicked look on Jenny's face. "I don't think so," you say. "I was just talking to my friends and, um—"<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh." The man's tone is very dry. "Well, let's check you out."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It probably only takes ten minutes, but it feels more like an hour as they take your pulse and respiration, your temperature, and check you out in other ways that you don't understand or recognize. They ask your medical history, your medication, any history of seizures or similar experiences. They look skeptical when they're done, but there's nothing they can tell you about your condition or what might have caused the fainting fit, and they only tell you to be sure to tell your parents about it, in case it's a sign of other problems. When Jenny asks, "What other kinds of problems?" they don't answer, and only repeat that you need to tell your parents.<br/>
<br/>
As they leave, the lead paramedic looks back at you. "Is that your truck?" he asks. You nod. "Are you staying here or are you gonna drive it home?"<br/>
<br/>
"Drive it home?" you reply, none too certainly.<br/>
<br/>
He shakes his head. "Can you get someone to pick you up?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'll take him home," Jenny declares. "I feel kind of responsible." The paramedic gives her a long look, then follows his colleagues out to the fire truck. It's some minutes before it pulls away.<br/>
<br/>
Jenny's mother and father fuss over you after they're gone, asking again if you're alright and what happened to make you faint like that. "I think it's just stuffy in here," Jenny quickly says. "Doesn't it seem stuffy? I feel stuffy." Jenny's mom asks if you'd like to stay until you're feeling better, but her father says he thinks you should go home. "And remember what the paramedics said," he tells you, looking very serious. "Tell your parents what happened."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll get my keys and follow you out," Jenny's mom tells her daughter, "so I can bring you home after you drop Will and his truck off." She wears a very worried expression.<br/>
<br/>
But Joey jumps in. "I can drive him home," she says. "If we can stop and drop my bike off at my place. And then Jenny can follow, and pick me up?"<br/>
<br/>
So that's the way it works out. Though you're feeling awake and healthy again, you clamber into the passenger side of your truck and watch with bemusement as Joey—who is quite a bit shorter than you—grab hold of a wheel that is a little too big for her and reaches with legs that are just a little too short for the pedals. She shows a very child-like alertness as she backs the truck out of the driveway and turns it into the street.<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks for driving me back," you tell her. "But what happened? You guys called the paramedics just because I fainted?"<br/>
<br/>
"You didn't just faint, Will," she says, glancing between the road ahead and the road behind. "You were out cold. We couldn't revive you." She spares you a quick, wide-eyed look.<br/>
<br/>
"What?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah! We tried slapping you awake and everything, but you were totally out. So Jenny got her dad and her mom, and <i>they</i> couldn't get you wake you up or anything, so they called the paramedics."<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus!" You feel your jaw sagging open. "How long was I out for?"<br/>
<br/>
"About fifteen minutes, maybe. It happened right as you put that mask on. You just rolled up and fell. You almost knocked me and Jenny out as we went in to grab you. You were like a tree that someone cut down."<br/>
<br/>
You let out a low whistle. "So what happened to the mask? Where is it?"<br/>
<br/>
Joey is concentrated on her driving, so she doesn't answer right away. And when she does speak, it's to say "Be right back" as she parks in front of a house. She hops out and unloads her bike from the back of your truck, wheeling it around the back of her house; it's nearly a full minute before she comes running back out. She stops to talk to Jenny, who has followed her and is parked behind you, before scampering back up into the truck.<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry, where do you live?" she asks. "Acheson's nice," she observes after you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
"Uh-huh. What happened to the mask?"<br/>
<br/>
Joey sucks in her upper lip. "It's somewhere," she says. "We kind of lost track of it in the excitement. It must've rolled away. Jenny'll look for it, she'll bring it to you tomorrow at school or something, that's what I ran back there to talk to her about. Um, do you wanna go get something, go someplace and talk?" She gives you a quick look.<br/>
<br/>
"Doesn't Jenny have to come pick you up at my place?"<br/>
<br/>
"We don't have to take you home, Will," she says. "In fact, you can drive, if you want. You didn't have a seizure or anything, there's nothing wrong with you. It was the mask, that's what knocked you out."<br/>
<br/>
It sounds like she's trying to comfort you, but her words give you a chill. "Why do you say that?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, like you told the paramedics. You don't have seizures and you're not taking medicine. They think you were smoking marijuana or something, I could tell. Jenny's parents probably think that too, they're going to give her so much grief when she gets back. But I mean, what were we going to say when they asked what we were doing, that we were messing around with magic and that's what knocked you out?" When you don't reply, she asks, "Aren't you feeling okay?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, I feel fine."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, do you want to go out? You know, to, like, talk?"<br/>
<br/>
She gives you another quick look, and there's no missing the hope in her expression.</span></div></div>


path: 1113221411
author_id: seuzz
title: A Date with Joey
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Yeah, sure," you tell Joey. "I mean, I got homework to do, but I can hang out."<br/>
<br/>
She gasps. "Oh crap. You've got homework!"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but that's—"<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe we could do it together?" She darts quick looks between you and the road ahead, in a way that leaves you wanting to grab the wheel and slam on the brake. <br/>
<br/>
"That would be awesome," you stammer as you brace yourself for a collision with the car ahead. But Joey sees it in time, and lurches to a stop. "Um," you continue, "since I'm okay now, maybe I could drive?"<br/>
<br/>
"But I'm already driving," she protests. "Just tell me where to go. We'll go pick up your books and—" She sucks in a quick breath. "Go to the library?"<br/>
<br/>
You make a face. The library is for serious studying, and after this afternoon you don't think you could concentrate. "How about a coffee shop?" you counter-propose.<br/>
<br/>
Her ass leaves the truck bench. "Okay!" she exclaims.<br/>
<br/>
Too late, it occurs to you that she think you've just asked her out on a date.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Joey waits for you outside as you dash into your house to get your books. Supper is almost ready, and it kills you to have to skip it, especially as you're down to your last few bucks and will probably have just enough to get a coffee and maybe a muffin at whatever place you land at. Your mom gives you a tired look when you tell her that you're going off to study with friends. But when you get back downstairs with your book bag, she stops you at the door.<br/>
<br/>
"Is that the friend you're going to study with?" she asks, and jerks her head at the kitchen window, which looks out onto the driveway.<br/>
<br/>
"Y-yes."<br/>
<br/>
"Anyone else?"<br/>
<br/>
You feel the blood drain from your face. "Probably not?"<br/>
<br/>
Her expression remains very steady. "Where are you going to go?" she asks. "To study?"<br/>
<br/>
"Um, a coffee shop? Probably?"<br/>
<br/>
She gives you the kind of long, hard look that she used to give you when you were little. Then, with her mouth squeezed primly shut, she opens the kitchen utility drawer and extracts the emergency twenty that she keeps there.<br/>
<br/>
"To go with whatever you're already carrying," she says as she holds it out to you. "So go someplace nicer than you were going to go anyway."<br/>
<br/>
"Whoa, thanks," you gasp as you take the bill. "It's not a date," you protest as you back up toward the door.<br/>
<br/>
"Sure it is isn't," she says, and turns back to the stove.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
So you and Joey wind up at The Flying Saucer, which is one of the better of the coffee shops, inasmuch as it sells sandwiches too. The dining room is round, like the building, so there's no "corner" to huddle in, but you take a table as far as you can from the bearded weirdos crowded up near the front, and where the music maybe isn't quite so loud.<br/>
<br/>
Your homework, as usual, is Calculus, though you've got some reading in English that you're overdue on. Joey picks up the battered paperback of the <i>Aenid</i> that the school supplied you with, and flips through it. "I know this translation," she says.<br/>
<br/>
"You've read that?"<br/>
<br/>
"Two years ago, when I was starting on Latin."<br/>
<br/>
So, naturally, that comment develops into a topic: "So Latin is one of the subjects you're studying at, uh, home?"<br/>
<br/>
"Mm-hmm." She drops the book and looks around, like a squirrel on the lookout for dogs, as she talks. "My parents wanted me to learn a language, and there was just something, I dunno, about Latin that made me want to study it. We're all learning it together, my parents and me." Her mouth curls up into a pert little smile, and her eyes shine.<br/>
<br/>
And— <i>Holy fuck,</i> it occurs to you, <i>she actually is kind of cute.</i> "So why do your parents homeschool you?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"They didn't like the public schools." She shrugs. "I've never really asked them. I guess they figured they could do a better job." She pauses. "I guess that makes them sound kind of conceited?" she asks in a worried tone.<br/>
<br/>
Considering some of the idiot classes you've suffered through, you're pretty sure <i>anyone</i> could do a better job of teaching, and you tell her so.<br/>
<br/>
She grins. "That's what Jenny says too. At least a couple of time a year, she asks me what my mom would charge to teach her if her parents took her out of your school."<br/>
<br/>
"It's your mom who teaches you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Weekdays. My dad handles weekends."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, God, you have school on <i>weekends</i> too?"<br/>
<br/>
"I have Sundays off," she protests. "And Saturday is mostly a review day, mostly short. Except for the science stuff. That's what my dad teaches me."<br/>
<br/>
You ask her about her "classes," and learn that it's a fairly standard set of topics: math (she's learning Calculus too), science (physics and chemistry now, after studying some of the easier things like astronomy and geology in earlier years), history, social sciences, Latin, and English. She also practices the piano.<br/>
<br/>
English is her favorite, because except for some assigned authors that she has to read, like Shakespeare and Milton and Dante and Dickens, she gets to read whatever she wants. She mostly likes science-fiction, she eagerly confesses, but she'll read almost anything that dad puts in front of her.<br/>
<br/>
It all makes you want to crawl under the table, especially when she asks you about your classes, and you have to confess to taking a "Career Planning" class; and when you tell her about your "Film as Literature" class, her jaw drops in bemused horror. "That sounds like the kind of class that'd set my dad off ranting about the educational system!" she exclaims.<br/>
<br/>
Talk from there shifts and expands to take in related topics. You ask her about the friends she's got, and then it's her turn to wince. "I don't hang out a lot with people, I guess, not outside of church," she admits. "And they all go to regular schools and are busy with their school friends doing school projects. But I've got my books," she says. "I like to read." She takes a deep drink from her coffee cup and avoids looking at you.<br/>
<br/>
<i>You should start hanging out with me and my friends.</i><br/>
<br/>
But you don't say it, though it seems like the sort of thing you should say, and maybe she's expecting you to, because she falls silent. But in the first place you're worried about leading her on, and in the second you don't have a lot of really close friends either. Caleb and Keith are about it, with Jenny and Carson Ioeger and James Lamont and Paul Davis as people you sometimes hang around with. Moreover, Caleb and Keith you can't see being really patient with Joey; besides which, they sometimes get gross in a way that might scar her for life.<br/>
<br/>
So instead you say, "Well, if we've got this project we're working on, you and me'll be seeing more of each other." Too late you realize what it sounds like, and your legs jerk in horror.<br/>
<br/>
"Project?" she says while staring brightly at something over and behind your shoulder. She sounds breathless.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, the mask thing. There's a whole book of, I guess, stuff to get through. And you're the one who knows Latin."<br/>
<br/>
"Mm-hmm," she says, still gazing past your ear. Then: "I'll be right back." She leaps like a startled fawn and runs up to the front. The clerk—another bearded weirdo in a Rastafarian cap and a forked beard that dribbles from his chin to his bellybutton—points, and she scampers out of sight into an annex.<br/>
<br/>
You put your head in your hands and try not to think about things.<br/>
<br/>
And yet it's hard not to, in a dim and distracted kind of way.<br/>
<br/>
It's quite a change in Joey's attitude, in just twenty-four hours. Even less. She was still kind of pissy and impatient when you got together at Jenny's this afternoon. But now? She's acting like she wants to be your best friend.<br/>
<br/>
Well, Jenny did say she had that talk with her. Maybe she told Joey to stop fighting you, to stop being so bossy? (Which would be an odd thing for Jenny to advise, considering that Jenny Ashton is one of the most bossy girls you know. (At least she's mostly pleasant about it, unlike some of the other girls you know—the girls with a princess complex who are just nasty or vicious.)) <br/>
<br/>
Still, you can't shake the impression that her attitude has slid <i>waaaaaaayyy</i> over in the other direction. She's acting like she has a crush on you.<br/>
<br/>
Or are you just imagining it? Maybe it's just her weird mannerisms coming out in another weird way?<br/>
<br/>
But at the same time, you feel your own attitude toward her being wrenched off its axis. She's very weird, and you're not sure you want to hang out with—let alone "like"—a girl who's weird like she is. <br/>
<br/>
And yet—<br/>
<br/>
You lurch forward, hunching with your hands under the table, as your dick wakes up. There's no stiffening, no rigidity, none of the springing to attention that, even after four years of puberty, still hits you in the middle of class, the middle of dinner, or the middle of the night. But like a dozing dog that's heard a noise, just the thought, "Joey is kind of cute" has caused it to raise is head and cock its ears (so to speak). <br/>
<br/>
"So, I guess we should do some studying now," Joey blurts out as she hops back into her seat. "Or you should. Oh, jeez." She grimaces. "I've been totally distracting you."<br/>
<br/>
"No, it's okay. I should probably go home, if I want to study."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll let you," she says. "This has been—" She catches herself. "Fun."<br/>
<br/>
"We don't have to break things up now," you point out.<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe we should," she says. "Jenny texted me, she's going to bring your stuff over to my place. Oh, she, uh, found that mask. The one you tried on. If we go now, maybe you can collect it at my place?" She swallows a deep breath. "And you could come over to my place tomorrow to work on it? Jenny says she doesn't want anymore to do with it. Too much drama this afternoon."</span></div></div>


path: 11132214111
author_id: seuzz
title: Joey and You and You
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Yeah, we can get together tomorrow," you tell Joey. "Your place is fine." You diplomatically decline to comment, though, about whether it will be just the two of you.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
But the next day, at lunch, Jenny quickly makes it clear that she will <i>not</i> be participating anymore. You're still some yards off when she sees you approaching across the front quad. She hurls her food away and runs up, grabbing you by the arm and hauling you away from Caleb and Keith.<br/>
<br/>
"Did you get your shit back?" she growls at you through gritted teeth.<br/>
<br/>
You blink. "What shit?"<br/>
<br/>
"You know what shit I mean! Did you get it back?"<br/>
<br/>
"You dropped it off at Joey's."<br/>
<br/>
"I know what I did with it!" Her eyes blaze. "Did you get it back?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, it's still out at her place! I'm going out there this afternoon, though. Jesus!" You twist out of her grip. "What's your deal?"<br/>
<br/>
"You just keep that shit away from me. And Joey, too!"<br/>
<br/>
"What?" You jump back as Jenny bunches up a fist.<br/>
<br/>
"I got in a whole fuckload of trouble yesterday because of that stunt you pulled," she hisses at you. "We had to call the <i>fucking paramedics</i> out there because of you! My parents are all in a fucking panic about it. Like, what if you'd died out there, in our garage?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I didn't!"<br/>
<br/>
"You could have! You don't even know what you're fucking around with. God! Will!" Now she bunches up both fists and puts them in your face. "You can't come over to my house anymore. And stay away from Joey!"<br/>
<br/>
As she turns back toward her friends, you remind her, "I have to go out to her place to pick the stuff up." <br/>
<br/>
She wheels around again. "You pick it up and you take it away and you don't talk to her again! We're still friends, Will, you and me, here at school. But don't you try taking advantage of Joey. Kill yourself in your own garage, if you're going to kill yourself someplace."<br/>
<br/>
She stomps back over to where the others are sprawled out, taking her seat again. You stare after her, bemused, for a minute, then saunter over to join them all. Once you're seated, Jenny talks brightly and happily with you, as though no words at all had passed between you.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Without Jenny as a buffer, you give some cursory thought to inviting another out to act as a third. But you still have the same qualms about introducing Joey to Caleb or Keith, you doubt that Carson and James could refrain from telling Jenny about what you're up to if you got one or both of them out there. <br/>
<br/>
So that really just leaves you alone with Joey.<br/>
<br/>
Which means you're just going to have to put your foot down and make it clear to her that there isn't going to be anything between you and her. You'll be friends, and you'll work on this "project" with her—well, maybe; even that you're undecided on—but there can't be any question about there being anything more between you.<br/>
<br/>
Though on the drive out to her place after school, you can't help second-guessing yourself: Why <i>shouldn't</i> there be something between you? She is bright, and eager, and—dammit—kind of cute. So what's the problem?<br/>
<br/>
<i>Oh, right.</i> It's because she's got that weird "home-schooled" vibe. She spends more time with books than with people.<br/>
<br/>
At least you've lost that first-impression suspicion that she might be a lesbian. After spending more time with her, you're pretty sure that she dresses and styles herself in flannel and blue jeans because she still sort of thinks of herself as being in the seventh grade.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
She asked you to text her before you left school, so that she'd know you were on your way over. Her reply comes while you're on the road: <i>Okay text when you get here so I can let you in. My parents are away.</i> <br/>
<br/>
It makes your heart go sideways in your chest. Two feelings vie for control of your gut. <i>Whoa, maybe she's gonna try making out with me!</i> And: <i>Shit! Maybe she's gonna try making out with me!</i><br/>
<br/>
Jenny lives in a very middle-class sort of neighborhood, but the Tartagliones, though they live only a few blocks away, live in a much larger house: a two-story mountain of burgundy-colored stone that looks like three separate houses fought for possession of the lot and wound up in a dogpile. There's a carriage drive out front, and another driveway that leads around to the rear. A second text from Joey told you pull around behind the house and park in front of the garage, but you find two garages—one detached—when you pull in. <i>im here,</i> you text her, in case she wasn't watching from a window.<br/>
<br/>
<i>One sec,</i> she replies. When nothing immediately happens, you get out and lean against your truck and squint at the house, trying to spot which of the half-dozen windows that look down at you from the second floor might be hers. From a couple of houses down comes the bark of a dog.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Promise me you won't freak out,</i> Joey texts. As you ponder what that means, she texts again: <i>Promise?<br/>
<br/>
ok,</i> you reply, as you feel yourself starting to freak out just at the question.<br/>
<br/>
With a buzz and a hum, the white garage door starts to lift. You cock your head as you watch it lift, peering into the darkness within to try spotting the thing you're not supposed to freak out about.<br/>
<br/>
You see nothing but an empty space where a car should be parked, and another empty space where a wine-dark sedan sits. Oh, and Joey, of course.<br/>
<br/>
Except it's not Joey.<br/>
<br/>
Oh, she's dressed like Joey, in dark jeans and a black t-shirt with a long-sleeve purple-and-white plaid shirt draped around her shoulders. But she's a lot taller than Joey. She's about your height, in fact, And her hair is a shorter, or so you'd guess, from the way it sticks out like a wind-blown haystack from under a white, squashed-up ball cap. Whoever this girl is, she grins at you like she knows you.<br/>
<br/>
But is it a girl? The face, now that you've shaken certain expectations away, is more masculine than Joey's, though there is a resemblance. <i>Oh, shit,</i> you think with some embarrassment. <i>It must be her brother.</i><br/>
<br/>
Only after the door is fully raised, and the figure has grinned at you for a full count of five or so, and croaked out a greeting—"Hey, Will. What do you think?"—do you recognize him.<br/>
<br/>
He's you.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
After you finish freaking out—<br/>
<br/>
Which, you would hastily add, if you were telling Caleb or one of your other friends about it, only consisted of you grabbing the side of your truck for support as you slowly sank to your knees so you could pick your jaw up off the ground.<br/>
<br/>
—you hustle yourself into Joey's garage and pull her—him?—in after you. "Joey?" you squeak in a strangled voice.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah!" she giggles. "Except you'd never guess it, would you?" She goes up on her toes and twirls so you can see yourself, briefly, from the back.<br/>
<br/>
"The fuck? How—?"<br/>
<br/>
Oh, but you can guess. You don't know the details, but you can sketch the broad outline.<br/>
<br/>
"It's your mask," she says. "I finished it. Um, Jenny brought it over with the other stuff? Which is over there?" She points to the corner of the garage, throwing out her arm and finger, which are shaped just like yours, like a girl. "And I finished it up this morning?"<br/>
<br/>
You grab her by the shoulder, then let go like she's on fire. <i>I'm touching myself!</i> you think in something like panic. "What—?" But that's all you can force out.<br/>
<br/>
"Here, let me show you." She hops over to a workbench, where the book is sitting.<br/>
<br/>
"That page you were stuck on?" she says. "It turned loose. There was this ... oval ... stain on it. It's gone now. I dunno. This stuff is so freaky! Anyway, I turned the page and read and translated the back of it last night after you dropped me off? And it talked some more about what you had to do, how it works?" She smiles at you, brightly. "Did you know you can use this stuff to make new people?"<br/>
<br/>
"New people?" you echo in some alarm. "What do you mean?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, not like <i>making</i> new people. But I just went with you!" Her eyes glint. "I'm wearing it now!"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Yeah, it's hard to miss that fact ...</i><br/>
<br/>
"But you have to seal it up before you can put it on," she continues. "That's what the next spell is, it shows you how to make this paint or something that you put on the inside of the mask, to seal it up so you can wear it. It turns out you already had all the ingredients." She points into the box, where Jenny had packed up all the crap that you'd brought over to her place. "So this morning I made up some of the stuff and put it inside your mask. To seal it."<br/>
<br/>
"Instead of doing your schoolwork," you dryly observe.<br/>
<br/>
"I did my schoolwork! Only I did this too. And then my mom— Oh crap!" She wheels and punches a button on the wall, and the garage door grinds shut. "I should get out of it before she gets back home. She's off at her basket-weaving class. But I drove into town for a quick, you know, visit to Goodwill, to get some clothes like the kind you wear." She throws out her arms. "So I could surprise you. Did I?" she asks when you don't answer. "Surprise you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Uh, yeah!" You gulp. "So, uh—" You pluck at your shirt. "What do you want to do now?"<br/>
<br/>
"We have that other blank mask," she says. "You want me to put it on, like you put this one on?" She points to her face. "And then we could—?" She trails off, but her face shines with a mad light.</span></div></div>


path: 111322141111
author_id: seuzz
title: Turnabout
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Sure, we could do that," you stammer with a gulp. "Or, couldn't I just, you know, try on that one?" You point to her face, which is yours.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't be a doofus!" your twin exclaims. "If you put it on you'd just look like yourself!" Then her face falls. "I mean, unless you don't want to try ... my ..."<br/>
<br/>
"No, that's fine!" you rush to assure her. "I was just thinking, um—" You feel yourself floundering. "But yeah! Dur!" You smack yourself in the head. "I just can't hardly think straight!"<br/>
<br/>
Joey's eyes light up.<br/>
<br/>
"It is incredible, isn't it?" she exclaims. "Come on!"<br/>
<br/>
She grabs you by the wrist, and you're struck by how warm her palm is. <i>Is that me, does it feel like that to other people when I touch them?</i> you wonder as the person who looks exactly like you drags you into the house. <i>Or is it Joey? Or does it only feel warm and prickly and weird because it's </i>someone else who is looking like me<i> that is holding me and—?</i><br/>
<br/>
"I got everything laid out upstairs," Joey gushes. "And we don't have to worry about something for you to wear, 'cos, you know, I got all my clothes up there too and—"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Holy shit,</i> you think, <i>I'll be wearing her clothes </i>and<i> I'll have her body, which means I'll have her—!</i> You gulp. <i>Has Joey thought this all the way through?</i><br/>
<br/>
Up a broad flight of stairs she hauls you to a second floor landing, then down a broad hallway. At the end of it is her bedroom.<br/>
<br/>
But it's two bedrooms. The one you enter contains a desk the size of an aircraft carrier with a desktop computer and a laptop in addition to the wide space covered over with books. But there's a double doorway, which Joey pulls you, into another spacious room dominated by a queen-size bed under a navy blue bedspread. Two dressers, a vanity table, and small bookshelf lined with porcelain figures complete the spread.<br/>
<br/>
In the middle of the bed, its burnished blue contrasting with the deeper blue of the bedspread, is a mask. Joey squeezes your arm, and squeaks.<br/>
<br/>
"You go ahead and start getting undressed," she says. "Oh! Um." She wheels to give you a feverish look, and bites her lip.<br/>
<br/>
You can see it her eyes: She's just realized she's asking a guy to get naked in her room. Probably on her bed. Maybe she's just now seeing all the way to the end of her idea.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't have to get undressed," you tell her. "Do I? Is it going to interfere with the—?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know," she stammers. "I mean, I took all mine off, just in case— Oh God!" She slaps her hands over her face and wheels around. The back of her neck—your neck—starts to blush.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Fuck,</i> you think with a sinking heart. <i>I'm going to have to be gallant or some shit like that, aren't I?</i> And it's not like you've had a lot of practice.<br/>
<br/>
You take a deep breath.<br/>
<br/>
"Joey," you say, "it's totally up to you what we do. I mean, you tried on that mask, and you saw it worked. If you don't want to— If you change your mind—"<br/>
<br/>
She's got her hands pressed over her nose and mouth when she swings back around, and her eyes are watering, but they're twinkling too. She sucks in a couple of deep breaths before speaking.<br/>
<br/>
"No," she says. "Let's go do it. If you're okay with it!"<br/>
<br/>
"You're the one who—"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't you want to?"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Christ!</i> you want to shout. <i>Will you stop putting it all on me?</i> Farther back, under that shout, is another, discordant thought: <i>Is this what it's like having a girlfriend?</i><br/>
<br/>
"Joey," you tell her, "I said I wanted to do it. If you want to change your mind, we won't do it. Okay?"<br/>
<br/>
She squeaks and wobbles on her feet.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay," she says in a croaking voice, and pushes you to the bed. "But wait till I've brought you some of my clothes first! Then I'll go downstairs and ... wait out in the back yard."<br/>
<br/>
You nod and sit on the edge of her bed. You keep very still—by being very quiet you will calm her down—as she bustles through dressers.<br/>
<br/>
"There," she says as she drops the clothes beside you. "Do you know how to, um—?" She points at the bra, which is very small.<br/>
<br/>
"I'll figure it out."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh God! Then I guess I'll— Oh wait!" She snatches up the mask. "I'm such a moron! I have to <i>make it for you first!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Make it?"<br/>
<br/>
She nods. "Yeah, I didn't— I haven't actually—" She gulps. "Copied myself—"<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, then <i>I'll</i> go downstairs and wait in the back yard." You cross to the door. "Come get me when you're ready. And Joey?" you continue. "It'll be okay. Just take deep breaths."<br/>
<br/>
She cringes, but smiles. You pull the bedroom door shut on her.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
In fact, you're sitting in a breakfast nook by the back door when she comes downstairs in about fifteen minutes time. When you opened the back door, a black and white spaniel leaped with a howl off some patio furniture and hurled itself at you. You slammed the door in its face, and for five minutes it scratched at the door and barked.<br/>
<br/>
Joey is looking like herself again when she finds you. She hasn't changed clothes, though, and has to hold her pants up with one hand. "All ready," she tells you from the stairs.<br/>
<br/>
"What's your dog's name?" you ask. You feel a desperate desire to make small talk.<br/>
<br/>
"My dog? Oh! I forgot about— Did you make friends with her?"<br/>
<br/>
"No. She jumped at me like she wanted to tear my arm off, so I came back inside."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh God, I'm sorry. She's usually such a sweet dog. Oh, it's Monday."<br/>
<br/>
You blink and do a quick mental calendar check. "No, today's Wednesday."<br/>
<br/>
Joey giggles. "People always get confused. Her <i>name</i> is Monday. My dog."<br/>
<br/>
"You named your dog <i>Monday</i>?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, we named her a couple of years ago!" Joey bursts into peals of laughter. "It was my dad's idea!"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Is your whole family like you?</i> you wonder as you follow her back upstairs.<br/>
<br/>
"Now, you were <i>supposed</i> to say, 'It was your dad's idea to name her a couple of years ago?' And then I would say— Oh, here we are again." She stops short in the middle of her bedroom. "Tell you what, you change in the bathroom, and then pass your clothes out to me, then put on my things. And I'll change into your things in here."<br/>
<br/>
"You're going to put on my clothes?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure," she says with a shy smile. "If you're going to put on mine."<br/>
<br/>
You shiver hard. Somehow, the idea of Joey <i>in your clothes</i> is even more exciting than the idea of yourself inside hers.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The first thing you notice when you wake is the cold. You feel like you've been sleeping on a block of ice, and the chill has got all the way down into your bones.<br/>
<br/>
The second thing you notice is that the bathtub has gotten bigger. It gigantic to begin with, almost big enough for you to lay down in, like a coffin, when you clambered into it with the mask. But now it completely swallows you up.<br/>
<br/>
You draw a very deep breath. <i>Oh God, what am I going to find when I touch myself?</i><br/>
<br/>
In spite of what happened when you made that first mask ... and in spite of what you saw when Joey opened the garage door and showed you your own face ... there was a still a part of you that didn't believe anything was going to happen. It's just so incredible. You actually felt silly as you stepped into the cold tub. <i>It's just a silly piece of theatrical decoration,</i> said some mulishly skeptical part of your brain as you studied the mask. <i>Come on! Don't be a dumbass. You'll die of embarrassment when you put it on and nothing happens.</i><br/>
<br/>
It was with an exasperated sigh (at yourself, at Joey, at a universe that would tip itself upside down and throw you into this bizarre afternoon) that you settled back in the tub and lifted the mask to your face. For a moment you felt yourself suffocating as it settled over your nose and mouth.<br/>
<br/>
Then it gripped the front of you face and stuck there. You tried to suck in a breath, but your brain got very gauzy and your muscles relaxed, and you felt a syrupy warmth oozing and welling up all around you. It felt like you were smiling to yourself when you slipped underneath.<br/>
<br/>
But now you're awake. The mask is gone and you're staring at the ceiling. The chill of the tub is like an icy spike driving into your spine. You sit up.<br/>
<br/>
The first thing you notice is that nothing is flopping around down below, like there should be. There's hair between your legs, but it's all the wrong shape: a woolly patch with nothing inside. Then you look at your chest. Your pecs are all the wrong shape. Tiny bananas are sprouting there.<br/>
<br/>
You touch your face and climb all the way out of the tub. A figure moves in the mirror over the sink. You gape at Joey Tarwhatshername as she gapes back at you.</span></div></div>


path: 1113221411111
author_id: seuzz
title: The Touch of Magic
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Joey stares back at you from the bathroom mirror. You rub the side of your face, and she rubs hers.<br/>
<br/>
It's funny, but it's like you're seeing her face for the first time. Have you ever given her a close, direct look in the short time since you've met her? Oh, the form of it is familiar. The clear skin. The slightly elfin cast of the face, with visible cheekbones narrowing down to a pert chin. The dirty blonde hair that lays in stiff, shallow waves atop her head, but curls tightly behind her ears and at the top of the neck. But when you look more closely ...<br/>
<br/>
Her eyes are dark, and there's a small but noticeable bump in the middle of her nose. There's a vast empty space between her black eyebrows. Her lips are full and a pale pink, and when you part them, her two upper front teeth are very prominent. Her neck is smooth, with no hint of an Adam's apple. And in the lobes of her ears are tiny dark depressions where earrings would fit.<br/>
<br/>
As for the rest of her body ...<br/>
<br/>
You can't help flinching, and you won't look at it directly, and your eyes water as you look at yourself in the mirror out of the corner of your eye.<br/>
<br/>
Your boobs are tiny things, like the bottom quarter of two banana stuck onto your chest. You're skinny, too, with ribs that show when you suck in a breath. Your stomach is soft, but at least it curves inward. Your limbs are thin as well. If it weren't for the boobs, the bush, and an unmistakable femininity to your face—a softness to your jaws and lips, and a wetness about the eyes—you'd swear you were looking at a freshman boy.<br/>
<br/>
Movement outside the door reminds you that the real Joey is around. You shouldn't waste time ogling yourself.<br/>
<br/>
But as you pause as you pick up the clothes she gave you with the mask. <i>Did she ogle herself—yourself—in the mirror after putting the mask on, the way you just did?</i><br/>
<br/>
You shudder all over. Joey is very smooth all over. How awful must it have been for her to find all that hair, especially that wild patch below with an ugly, one-eyed worm inside it. You can't believe she didn't tear the mask off right away.<br/>
<br/>
And that thought nearly causes your heart to stop. <i>How do you get the masks off?</i> you wonder, and quickly begin shoving yourself into your new wardrobe.<br/>
<br/>
The bra is more like two small slingshots that have been sewn together, and almost you discard it as unnecessary when you can't quite figure out the hooks. But after a short, patient examination you get the straps hooked around you and turn it front to front to tuck what breasts you now have into the cups. You pull on the panties and the narrow-waisted Levis, then the black t-shirt. ("Apollo's Creed" it says in narrow white letters across the front, but the words are meaningless to you.) Then over the t-shirt you pull a scratchy, purple-hued plaid shirt with the sleeves pre-rolled up to your elbows. <i>God,</i> you think as you look at yourself in the mirror, <i>I remember seeing boys dressed like this back in the eighth grade.</i><br/>
<br/>
There's a soft knock at the door as you're pulling on some ankle socks. "Will?" a voice says. You almost panic, because it's deeper than Joey's, so you think it must be her dad or someone. Then you remember that it will be ... gulp ... your voice.<br/>
<br/>
"Just a minute," you holler back. "I'm coming." You finish tying the black sneakers, turn off the light and open the door.<br/>
<br/>
The boy on the other side is shockingly tall—you have to tilt your head back to look him in the face—but he scrambles back a couple of steps and pales. "Oh my God!" he gurgles. "Ah ... ah ... ha!"<br/>
<br/>
"How do I look?" you ask, and your voice sounds funny in your ears, like you've been breathing helium. "About normal, all things considering?"<br/>
<br/>
He stares back with a gaping mouth. Again, it's like seeing yourself for the first time. The brown cheeks just losing their summertime tan. The whiskers popping out in weird places on the upper lip, upper cheek, and chin. The big, crooked teeth inside the twisting lips. Straw-like hair sticking out in tufts from under a sloppy ball cap. There's also a musk coming off him: dry and earthy. <br/>
<br/>
"Your hair's parted wrong," he says. His voice doesn't crack, but you can hear a seam inside it that threatens to split open. "You need to comb back over—"<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't touch it," you protest. "I just got up and got dressed."<br/>
<br/>
His eyebrows twist. "No, it's wrong," he insists. "It—" He pushes you back into the bathroom. "Lemme just get a brush and—"<br/>
<br/>
You sag and prepare to be made over. But when you look up again, you find he's frozen and is staring at your reflection in the mirror. "What?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing," he says. "Oh, God, this is so weird!"<br/>
<br/>
"You knew it was going to be."<br/>
<br/>
"But I didn't expect it to be—!" He hops up and down, as though on a pogo stick.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, just what's the deal with my hair?" you demand, and pat at it. "Are you okay with it or not?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, it's fine," he gasps. "I was just confused is all. It's perfect. It just looks weird because, um, I only ever see myself in a mirror."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't you ever take selfies?"<br/>
<br/>
"No. What for?"<br/>
<br/>
You shrug, for you don't take that many selfies either. "So what now?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
He blinks, sucks in his lower lip, and gives you another long, hard stare. "Can I touch you?"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Oh God,</i> you think, and your heart beats hard.<br/>
<br/>
"Sure, I guess," you stammer. "But it won't it be just like—?"<br/>
<br/>
You break off. <i>Won't it just be like touching yourself?</i> is what you were going to ask. But with an electric thrill you realize it won't be. Touching ... him ... won't be like touching yourself, even though it is your body. Because it's someone else. And you'll be someone else who is being touched.<br/>
<br/>
<i>This is what it is like for other people to look at me,</i> you think, and your head reels. <i>And this is what it would be like for other people ... for other <i>girls</i> ... to touch me!</i><br/>
<br/>
The boy in front of you lifts his hands but pauses with fingertips outstretched. Gingerly, with the pressure of a feather dropping, he touches you on the shoulder. A hard thrill runs through you, and you see the answering shudder run through him. Then he touches your collar, and your hair, and finally with one fingertip he touches the side of your chin.<br/>
<br/>
"Wow, it feels real," he breathes. He leans over and puts his nose to your ear. "And it ... Is that what I smell like?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know." There's a tremble in your voice. "Is this what I smell like?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't think you smell bad!"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I don't think <i>you</i> smell bad either!" you retort.<br/>
<br/>
He straightens up and grins at you. <i>Gosh, I look like a rabbit,</i> you think.<br/>
<br/>
"Come on." He grabs you by the wrist. "I want to see something!" He yanks you from the bathroom. He seems much stronger now.<br/>
<br/>
Together you tumble down the stairs and over to the back door. You shrink back as he yanks it open. "Go out and say hi to Monday," he says, and pushes you outside.<br/>
<br/>
"What? No! I—"<br/>
<br/>
But it's too late. With a laugh he slams the door, and you spin about and shrink from the spaniel that has come running up.<br/>
<br/>
Only it doesn't bark at you, but with a panting tongue jumps up to touch you on the thigh with a paw. It drops down and wags its tail at you.<br/>
<br/>
You're fooling the dog! "Hey there, Monday," you say to it, and bend to scratch it behind the ears. "Who's a good, uh, girl?" It grins up at you, and wags its tail harder.<br/>
<br/>
But when the door opens behind you, it barks and runs at it. "Hey! Monday! It's me!" yells the guy on the other side as the dog digs at the door to get inside. Joey lets the dog in, and it snuffles and sniffs at the intruder's feet. With a muffled bark it trots back to paw at your shin. You give it another scratch behind the ears.<br/>
<br/>
Then you're startled by a much more frightening sound: a garage door going up.<br/>
<br/>
"Shit!" you exclaim. "Is that your mom?"<br/>
<br/>
Joey stares back with horror in her eyes. "Must be. Come on!"<br/>
<br/>
You dive into the house, Monday following with a bark. "What are we gonna do?" you shout.<br/>
<br/>
"Wait for me down here!" Joey she gallops for the stairs.<br/>
<br/>
"But your mom!"<br/>
<br/>
"You'll be okay! You belong here!"<br/>
<br/>
A door opens, and you hear footsteps and a deep sigh. Something heavy drops onto a countertop. You'd run, but your feet won't let go of the floor.<br/>
<br/>
A short, plump, dark-haired woman in green—looking like an avocado in a wig—comes in. She looks tired, and she blows out a deep breath. "Who's truck is that in the driveway?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Um—" Your vocal cords don't want to work. "A friend's?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not in the mood to play twenty questions, sweetie," she says as she waddles into the living room. "Whose truck is it?"<br/>
<br/>
"Um, it's a friend of Jenny's." You are shaking all over. "I, uh, was over at her place? And he gave me a ride back here?"<br/>
<br/>
"He parked in the middle of the driveway." She falls onto the sofa. "Where is he now?"<br/>
<br/>
"Um, upstairs? Using the bathroom?"<br/>
<br/>
"Something wrong with the downstairs bath?" She peels off a sandal and massages a foot. It's pale and wrinkly, like a fat fish.<br/>
<br/>
Footsteps sound on the stairs, and a boy in a floppy t-shirt and jeans appears with Monday bouncing alongside him.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, hi, Mrs. Tartaglione," he says. "My name's Will. Will Prescott."<br/>
<br/>
That's the moment it all becomes real to you. You're Joey Tartaglione, and he's Will Prescott.<br/>
<br/>
"So, are we off to study now?" he asks you. He has that crazy book under his arm.</span></div></div>


path: 11132214111111
author_id: seuzz
title: Personas, Grata or Not
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Where are you off to?" Mrs. Tartaglione asks. She winces as she continues to massage her foot.<br/>
<br/>
You glance at the boy. His eyes crinkle up. "Up to you, Joey," he says. He hesitates just fractionally at the name.<br/>
<br/>
"Um, maybe a coffee shop downtown?" you suggest. "Those are fun to study at."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe we should go to the library," the boy says. "University library."<br/>
<br/>
"Be home by six-thirty," Mrs. Tartaglione says. She sighs. "I should have dinner on the table by then."<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, we won't be long," Will says. He pokes you, then pokes you again, but you've no idea what he means or wants, so you just say, "Bye" to Mrs. Tartaglione and shove Will toward the door.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh my God," he mutters when you're outside. "You almost messed things up so bad."<br/>
<br/>
"Why, what did I do wrong?"<br/>
<br/>
"A coffee shop?" he exclaims. "I can't go to a coffee shop!"<br/>
<br/>
"Why not? Are you a Mormon or something?"<br/>
<br/>
You're opening the door to your truck when you and Will both realize that he should be the one driving. He circles around the back of the truck while you go around the front.<br/>
<br/>
"No, we're not Mormon," he grumbles when you've gotten in and are putting on your seat belts. "But you don't go to a <i>coffee shop</i> to study!"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure you do."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I don't! At least, my parents won't let me." He feels at his jeans pockets for the keys. "I asked one time if I could go to a coffee shop to do my studying, and I got a lecture."<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus, your family's weird! What's wrong with going to coffee shops?"<br/>
<br/>
"They're just for goofing off in! Anyway, that's what my dad says." Will starts the truck, puts it very carefully in reverse, and backs slowly out into the street. He idles there a moment. "Do your folks let you get on the internet when you're doing homework?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know how they'd stop me. I do my homework up in my room. And how do you do 'homework' when you're always home?"<br/>
<br/>
"Assignments, I mean. But my parents don't let me get on the internet until I'm all done with my school work. They turn the wifi off." He puts the truck in drive. "And I have a classroom downstairs where I do my work."<br/>
<br/>
"Did they grow you in a test tube or something?" you ask. "Because this doesn't sound human."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Joey gives you some of the details of her life as you drive toward the university. She attended a public school until the third grade, but she hadn't gotten along well there. The other kids bullied her, and she didn't have any friends. There was also talk of her skipping a grade. So her parents decided to take her education into their own hands. Joey's mother had studied to be a public school teacher, and her father was a professor of computer science at the university, so they were confident they could do the job. They also had the time and money. Her dad (who is quite old, in his early sixties now) did really well in the stock market, and her mom (who is twenty years younger than her dad) devoted herself to taking care of Joey and the house.<br/>
<br/>
And is Joey smart? Well, she knows Latin and is studying out of college-level science and math books. But without other students to measure herself against, she's not sure how good she is. "My dad says it doesn't pay to compare yourself to other people, unless you think you're not doing good," she says. "And he says he knows I'm doing good." To your mind, her dad sounds like he's raising her the way a biologist might raise a new breed of mushroom.<br/>
<br/>
You go up to the college library and find a table in a corner of the third floor that's cut off by the stacks from everything else. You've only been on the Keyserling campus a few times before, and inside the library only twice that you can remember (both times with Carson Ioeger, who was looking for some books for a research project), and you don't like it. It feels dark and dank, and there's a faint smell of wet in the air. It comes over you in a curious way: the premonition that a tentacle might slide out from between the books and grab at you.<br/>
<br/>
Joey doesn't notice, and falls onto the table with barely disguised glee, to page through the book until she comes to the last sheet that will turn. "This is the one that makes the stuff we used to seal up the masks," she says. "And this one—" She turns to the facing page, and tries to pull it away. "It's really funny," she says, "the way you have to do a thing in order to get the pages to turn."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, hilarious," you reply.<br/>
<br/>
"I wonder why that is. Do you know who wrote it? Where'd you get it?" You tell her about Arnholm's. "My dad says those guys are a couple of crooks," she declares. She turns back to what passes for a title page. "And you know, I don't think the guy who wrote the book knew how to speak Latin. Not really."<br/>
<br/>
"We managed to work out his instructions," you point out.<br/>
<br/>
"That's no excuse. God, don't you just want to smack people who are sloppy?"<br/>
<br/>
Considering that she's looking like a very scruffy teenage boy, you consider it wisest to not answer.<br/>
<br/>
"So, this one right here," she says, flipping forward to the first spell, "makes a thing called a 'persona'."<br/>
<br/>
"I thought it made a mask."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, it does. But the guy doesn't call it a mask. He calls it a <i>receptaculum</i> until you put it on someone. Then it becomes a 'persona'."<br/>
<br/>
"Like a person?"<br/>
<br/>
"Exactly like a person. Except—" She squirms and drums her fingers on the book. "A 'persona' is like a pretend person. Like a— Well, like a mask. But not physically. You know how you sometimes pretend to be different than how you are with other people? Like, when your aunt and uncle come over, you pretend to like them? It's like that. Like an act. A character you're pretending to be with other people. That's a persona."<br/>
<br/>
"Like you're pretending to be me, and I'm pretending to be you."<br/>
<br/>
She raises her head to give you a direct look. Her eyes—your eyes—crinkle up again, and she grins at you. It strikes you how big and yellow your teeth are.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," she says softly, and holds your eye. It begins to get a little creepy.<br/>
<br/>
Maybe you get a look on your face, for she suddenly turns away. "Except, you know, except in this case it's not a <i>character</i> but a ... a disguise. But you <i>can</i> make up a new character."<br/>
<br/>
"Like how?"<br/>
<br/>
She turns the book around, flips back a few pages, and points to a paragraph.<br/>
<br/>
"It explains it here. It says that after you copy someone into a <i>receptaculum</i> you can keep putting it on people, and their— It calls it <i>imago,</i> which just means 'image', you know, or 'likeness'. But the other person's <i>imago</i> will get added to it, and it will mix all together to make a new one. Like when you use software to merge the faces of lots of people to get a blend. You'd get someone who looks new!"<br/>
<br/>
"That'd be kind of cool," you concede. Then a thought occurs to you. "What happened if you blended a guy and a girl? Like, your 'imago'"—you stumble a little over the unfamiliar word—"and mine?"<br/>
<br/>
"<i>Ewwww!</i>" Joey slaps at your arm.<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, would—?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't even want to think about it!" She pulls the book back to her. "But it would be a fun thing to try. Not putting guys and girls together, I mean!" she exclaims. "But a couple of guys or a couple of girls. Then you could seal it up and wear it and go out and no one would know who you are!"<br/>
<br/>
"No one knows who we are now."<br/>
<br/>
"I meant, no one would recognize you. Not who you are are or who you're supposed to be. Like, now, if one of your friends—"<br/>
<br/>
She whips suddenly around, as though startled by a noise. "Do any of your friends like to come up to the library?" she asks in a strained voice.<br/>
<br/>
"None of my friends like to read."<br/>
<br/>
"Really?" Her brow furrows, and you wince a little. Apparently, you look like a retard when you're puzzled.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm exaggerating. But you don't have to worry."<br/>
<br/>
"Okay. But you get what I mean, if we made a couple of masks and filled each of them with a bunch of faces—"<br/>
<br/>
"Is that what  you want to do?"<br/>
<br/>
Joey freezes. "Do you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, if we're trying things out," you say.<br/>
<br/>
It's when she doesn't answer that you realize what you just said. You were implying that you and she are partners or something in this project.<br/>
<br/>
As though, by finishing and putting on that 'persona' you accidentally made of yourself, she hasn't already pushed her way in through the door that you opened when you showed her and Jenny the book.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, okay," she says. "That could be—"<br/>
<br/>
"Or we could just go on to the next spell."<br/>
<br/>
Joey drums her fingers on the book again, then flips forward a page or two. You give her a chance to study the most recently uncovered spell before asking, "What does it do?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not through it yet," she says. "It calls for some new stuff we don't have, though." She traces a line of text with her fingertip. "And there's some words here in another alphabet or something I don't understand." She bites her lip and looks up at you. "Maybe we should play it safe and hold off?"</span></div></div>


path: 111322141111111
author_id: seuzz
title: The Rapunzel Protocol
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"There's no reason we can't try both things, is there?" you ask Joey. "Do we have enough stuff to make another mask?" She nods. "What about the stuff for the new spell? Does it look like it'd be expensive?"<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno. I'm not through translating. But—"<br/>
<br/>
She doesn't finish. Instead she plunges back into reading the spell.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You're in the women's restroom washing your hands when the phone in your shirt pocket chimes. It's only the latest in a rapid burst of mortifications when you open it up to see it's a text from Jenny: <i>Yure not ignroring me r u?</i><br/>
<br/>
As Joey studied the new spell, you had felt the first twinges in your bladder. At first you thought you could ignore them, but they rapidly grew worse, so that you were soon twisting in your seat to keep from pissing yourself. "Be right back!" you'd gasped at Joey, who only grunted without looking up. Off you waddled, your toes pointing inward, searching for a restroom. Almost you went into the men's room before correcting your course.<br/>
<br/>
Peeing was a huge relief, so much so that you wondered if Joey had slammed a liter of cola just before you got to her house. Or was it you that needed to pee? You spent a good minute on the toilet, puzzling and procrastinating over the issue until, with gritted teeth, you got up and unspooled a length of TP and patted yourself dry in front. It was doubly awful, with <i>I'm touching Joey's hoo-hah</i> struggling with <i>Dude! Where'd my dick go!</i> for top honors in the body horror category. <br/>
<br/>
Okay, it wasn't <i>horrible.</i> But it was damned excruciating, and you slapped some cold water against your cheeks afterward and gave yourself a steady look in the mirror afterward. <i>I like her complexion better,</i> you decided. No little patches ready to break out into zits. No scratchy little hairs on the cheek and chin. Soft skin, too. If it wasn't so <i>girly,</i> you'd almost prefer this face to your own.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Oh God, what am I thinking?</i> you thought. And while you were still recovering from that is when Jenny's text came in.<br/>
<br/>
You scroll back with your thumb. The string of messages from Jenny goes back half a dozen entries with no interruption or reply from Joey herself:<br/>
<br/>
<i>Im sending will over to pick up stuff frm u. Dont blor urself up<br/>
<br/>
* dont blow yurself up<br/>
<br/>
Did will pick up stuff from u yet? B nice to him but tell him ur not intretesd n his bullsht<br/>
<br/>
Dont get me rong wil is nice guy but hes too flaky for u.<br/>
<br/>
Just got thru talking to frinds who know will good. I like will but they say hes got smthing to prove aftr braking up w old gfrined. Ill call u tnite n we ll talk.</i><br/>
<br/>
Your knees are trembling as you scroll back further to see what else Jenny and Joey have been saying about you. But except for one or two texts indicating that they mean to talk on the phone, there's nothing except brief texts about when and where they will meet.<br/>
<br/>
You shut down the app and return to where Joey is sitting. "Where'd you go?" she mumbles without looking up.<br/>
<br/>
"Restroom."<br/>
<br/>
It takes a second for her to react, and even then she just looks up at you from beneath her brows.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," you say. "Sorry."<br/>
<br/>
"It's alright." She goes back to reading. "I had to pee just before you got to my house."<br/>
<br/>
At first you think she's accusing you of lying—that she already peed and so you wouldn't have had to. Then you realize what she's really saying.<br/>
<br/>
She herself has already run some water through your spigot.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You and Joey are each expected home by six or six-thirty, so you don't linger at the library. You drive around town for a little bit, wracking your brains for a place where you can exchange clothes and identities again. (To your relief, Joey assures you that the book does detail a way of getting the masks off.) At last you agree that, as you've already seen each other naked in the most intimate ways possible, you will find a secluded spot and swap out together inside your truck. The exchange takes place behind a strip center, next to a garbage dumpster.<br/>
<br/>
You start by taking the mask off Joey. The procedure (which she explains to you) consists of laying your hand across her brow and muttering some weird, untranslatable magic phrase three times fast, and pulling, as though wrenching the front of her forehead away. It takes you two tries before you succeed, and to your momentary horror and subsequent relief, a mask comes away in your hand and an unconscious Joey Tartaglione materializes inside your clothes. You shake her awake as gently as you can—but she's very hard to wake, and extremely groggy when she does come around—and then so as not to tear her clothes you take off her clothes and let her clamber atop you to pull the mask off of your face. You feel very hot when you awake, as though you've been wrenched suddenly out of a deep and paralyzing sleep. She is already out of your clothes and inside of hers as you rub the rags of sleep from your face. Then you dress and take her home.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Did you get your stuff back from Joey?" Jenny asks you the next morning. It's just before class and she's hanging out by herself next to the office, watching the front doors of the gym. She gestured you over when she saw you coming in from the student parking lot.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," you tell her. After seeing those texts she sent to Joey, you don't feel much like talking to her.<br/>
<br/>
She was looking past you, but maybe she caught something in your tone, for she turns to face you.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, good," she says. "You know, if you want to get together later, me and Eva and Jessica—"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm gonna be busy."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh?" Surprise shows on her face. "With what?"<br/>
<br/>
"I can have fun on my own, Jenny," you inform her. "I don't need <i>you</i> to set me up with ... whatever!"<br/>
<br/>
You brush past her toward the door, with all the stiff dignity you can muster. It's only when you're inside that you realize you turned down a possible afternoon date with at least two members of the cheerleading squad.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Then he had me bend over and shot free throws at my butt!" your friend Keith Tilley exclaims. "And every time he hit me with one, he shouted 'Swish!'"<br/>
<br/>
His face is red with indignation. Or embarrassment. It's lunchtime, and he's relating his most recent run-in with Seth Javits, the basketball-playing bully who seems to have made it his life's work to torture and humiliate Keith.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't get it," James Lamont asks. "Was this a basketball he was throwing at you? 'Cos where'd Javits get a basketball inside the G-wing boys' bathroom?"<br/>
<br/>
"It was D wing! And it wasn't a basketball! I told you, it was wet, wadded-up paper towels!"<br/>
<br/>
Behind his back, you and Caleb wince at each other. Neither of you want to laugh at Keith—Lord knows you've got problems of your own with asshole jocks, and Javits has sometimes been one of them. But he's not helping his case if he wants people to feel bad for him.<br/>
<br/>
So you're not surprised when James snorts. "Paper towels? What are you bitching about, then? That's nothing, I've had—"<br/>
<br/>
"He had me bend over and put my face in a urinal while he was doing it!"<br/>
<br/>
"Your problem, Tilley," says Carson Ioeger, who having finished his banana-and-peanut-butter sandwich is lying back on his elbows, sunning himself, "is that you're a victim. Guys like Javits can sniff it out. Stop being a victim and he'll stop harassing you."<br/>
<br/>
"How did we got on this topic?" Caleb asks.<br/>
<br/>
Keith gives him the stink eye. "Because you wanted to know how come I didn't want Cindy coming over here to talk. Because I like her exactly as much as I like her boyfriend!"<br/>
<br/>
"No wonder Javits has it in for you," Ioeger says. "He must'a heard that you fantasize about him as you're jacking off."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Joey's wifi might be turned off during her school hours, but you text her anyway to tell her you made a third mask last night with the book and the supplies you brought home. You were smart enough to do it in the garage, too, so as not to stink up your room, and you polished it out there, too, with your dad's buffer. You have the mask and the book in your locker now.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Sorry, you can't come over,</i> she replies. To your <i>???!!!</i> she says, <i>My mom and dad don't know you and you're a guy.</i><br/>
<br/>
You roll your eyes. Do her parents think Joey's made of fine china?<br/>
<br/>
You text: <i>So how we sposed to get tgtrhr agin?</i><br/>
<br/>
She says: <i>At Jenny's?<br/>
<br/>
Im not talkng to jenny any more.<br/>
<br/>
I mean, I could tell my mom that's where I'm going. You could pick me up close to her house.</i><br/>
<br/>
As you mull this, she sends a follow-up: <i>Or you could stop by to give me the book so I can work on next project. My mom just doesn't want me going off alone with you anymore.</i><br/>
<br/>
Yes, that's a possibility, and it's probably the safest thing to do for today. Later on, you could figure out a way of meeting up with her that wouldn't set off any—<i>pffft!</i>—alarm bells at her house.<br/>
<br/>
But as you sit back and prepare to send a reply, you have a sudden thought.<br/>
<br/>
You have a blank mask and the stuff to seal it up. If Joey's mom doesn't want a guy showing up at her house to pick up Joey, how about showing up at her house as a girl?</span></div></div>


path: 1113221411111112
author_id: seuzz
title: The Cheerleader Proxy
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You're too proud to crawl back to Jenny for the chance to hang out with her cheerleader friends. But you're not too proud to crawl back to her for a chance to copy one of her cheerleader friends into a mask so you can impersonate them.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<i>Three forty-five.</i> You are lurking outside the breezeway that connects the school to the student parking lot, waiting for Jenny and her friends to appear. You were lurking <i>inside</i> the breezeway until just a few minutes ago, when you saw a pack of basketball players swaggering your way. That was bad enough, but Seth Javits was in the lead, and though Seth prefers to work out his aggressions on Tilley, he will sometimes chase down you. And though he was on his way to after-school practice—the breezeway runs between the theater wing and the gym—it seemed wisest to duck out of his eye line.<br/>
<br/>
It's another ten minutes before Jenny and her friends come barreling out into the parking lot with a lot of chatter. Almost you don't recognize them from behind after they pass you. Not until your eye falls to take in their asses do you recognize them.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey Jenny!" you call. "Jenny!" The quartet of girls pause and glance around. <br/>
<br/>
Jenny's eyes light up. "Hey Will, there you are!" she calls. "You been waiting long?"<br/>
<br/>
You could say something cheesy like <i>It was worth the wait</i> or <i>I'd wait ages for you,</i> but you just roll your shoulders in a shrug. "Just waiting. Hey Eva, Jessica." The Garner girls smile warmly back at you. "Cindy," you choke out through your rapidly constricting throat.<br/>
<br/>
Cindy Vredenburg has an unimpeachable claim to be one of the "Five Sexiest Girls at Westside," and she's a contender for the number one spot. She is a willowy blonde cheerleader with a waterfall of platinum-blonde hair that cascades past her shoulders in a shimmering sheet. She has big eyes, a tiny nose, and a small mouth that naturally falls into a kissable pucker, all set in a pie-pan face with a peaches-and-cream complexion. <br/>
<br/>
And she has breasts like cantaloupes. She must have an amazing sense of balance to be able to tumble and somersault with those things wobbling around.<br/>
<br/>
She gives you a quick, polite smile, and your eyes (after making a quick stab at her chest) dart back over to Jenny. "So," you stammer. "Coffee shop?"<br/>
<br/>
Jenny looks around at her friends. "Flying Saucer," Jessica says. "One of those big round tables so we can spread out."<br/>
<br/>
"You know where that is?" Jenny asks you.<br/>
<br/>
"I've been to the Flying Saucer before," you stiffly inform her.<br/>
<br/>
"So I don't have room for all of you in my car," Jenny says. "Cindy, can you ride with Will?"<br/>
<br/>
You can see the twinge in Cindy's eye—she wants to protest. But she shrugs and says, in a very cool voice, "Then I guess I'll see you out there."<br/>
<br/>
Jenny smiles at you all and turns. There's a fractional hesitation before Eva and Jessica turn to shuffle after her. That leaves you alone with Cindy.<br/>
<br/>
Alone, with your feet rooted to the asphalt. <i>The fuck?</i> you want to shout out after Jenny. <i>The fuck are you trying to do to me?</i><br/>
<br/>
Because Cindy Vredenburg isn't just a gorgeous cheerleader. She is also Seth Javits's girlfriend.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It's with a tongue-tied mumble—<i>I'm parked over here</i>—that you gesture Cindy to follow you. She says nothing, and your own brain is seized up. Not until you are both buckled into your truck and you've turned the key in the ignition does someone speak. "Seth has a truck like this," Cindy says.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh. Cool." You wince internally. "So I guess, um— You can put your feet up on the console if you want." She turns to give you a look, and you shrink up inside. "My friends do it all the time," you mutter.<br/>
<br/>
"So what do you have to study?" she asks you after a pause.<br/>
<br/>
"Math, I guess. Mostly. Calculus. You?"<br/>
<br/>
"We're in the same math class, Will," she reminds you.<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, do you have anything besides calculus?" Your forehead begins to burn.<br/>
<br/>
"Chemistry."<br/>
<br/>
"I could do your math for you," you offer, "while you work on your chemistry. Like you say, we have the same math class."<br/>
<br/>
She gives you another look. "I like doing my own work. It's how you learn."<br/>
<br/>
You glance around as you pull out of the parking lot onto Borman Avenue, searching for a pot hole deep enough that it would kill you if you drove into it.<br/>
<br/>
"Is Seth going to be joining us?" you ask after you've driven a couple of blocks. "I know he has practice now," you add before she can remind you of that, too, "but I mean when practice lets out."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe. I don't know." She folds her arms. "We're not really talking right now."<br/>
<br/>
"What? You have a fight?"<br/>
<br/>
"We'd have to be talking in order to have a fight." Her tone is very frosty.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm sorry to hear that." You keep your eyes on the road, even though you see her, from the corner your eye, turn her face to you. "I mean, you and Seth, everything I hear from Jenny, it sounds like, I dunno—" The blood boils in your face, but the words come rushing out anyway. "True love."<br/>
<br/>
Half of a city block passes before she replies. "It's nice when it's working," she says, and turns away.<br/>
<br/>
<i>I'm trying to be nice to you, trying to make conversation, trying to be a fucking human being with you, you cunty cow!</i> you want to shout. <i>I know I'm like a muddy splotch of bubble gum stuck to the bottom of your brand-new sneaker, but would it kill you to be polite to me back? </i> "Well," you mumble, "guys can be real dicks sometimes."<br/>
<br/>
Again, you sense it rather than see it when Cindy turns her face back toward you.<br/>
<br/>
"Excuse me?" she says. "What do <i>you</i> know about my boyfriend and what's going on between us?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, nothing," you stammer. "I just, um—"<br/>
<br/>
"So where the fuck do you get off calling him a dick?"<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't, I just—!"<br/>
<br/>
"You did, you called him a dick!"<br/>
<br/>
"You said you guys had a fight—!"<br/>
<br/>
"<i>I'm not even talking to him these days!</i> And where the fuck do you get off thinking it's his fault?"<br/>
<br/>
"Are you saying it's yours?" you gasp.<br/>
<br/>
Cindy turns away, and the temperature between you plunges to somewhere between the sub-Arctic and absolute zero.<br/>
<br/>
After another block of this, you decide to fuck it. While idling at a stoplight, you haul your backpack onto the bench between you, and with one hand unzip it. You dig around inside it until you've loosened the mask. And at the next stoplight—the last before  your destination—you pull the mask out, lean over, and smash it onto the side of Cindy's face. She just has time to squeal and try turning away before she slumps over, unconscious.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
So that ruins your chances of hanging out, studying, with Jenny and her friends. Not that that was your plan anyway. But Cindy is a cyclone of fury when you drop her off at The Flying Saucer, and she doesn't even wait for you to bring the truck to a full stop before she jumps out. As for your explanation of what happened: Well, you figure it doesn't much matter what you say, she's going to be pissed at you anyway, so you just tried gaslighting her by denying that you'd done anything to her at all. You even denied that she'd passed out on you.<br/>
<br/>
Your phone has been chiming with texts from Joey, asking where you are and what the plan is, but not until you've dropped off Cindy and pulled into a nearby parking lot do you reply: <i>Just getting away fm schl b at ur place thirty mins.</i><br/>
<br/>
It will probably take you longer, though, for in addition to sealing up the mask and putting it on, you're going to have to stop someplace to buy a brassiere. Double-Ds, at least. Maybe more.<br/>
<br/>
Nirdlinger's Department Store isn't far, so that's where you go. And once you get there, you're glad that you are on a time table, or else you would probably stagger for twenty minutes through the women's department in a haze of fear and shame. Instead, you grab a package that advertises a reasonable size and take it up to the cashier. She says nothing as she rings it up, but you can't help blushing furiously as you pay for it.<br/>
<br/>
Then it's back out to your truck, where you pull out the rest of your supplies and seal up the mask. You turn it this way and that, admiring the sheen and drooling slightly at the ghostly image of Cindy's face that it contains. <i>That's going to be me in a minute!</i> you think as you squeeze yourself down into the passenger-side footwell of your truck.<br/>
<br/>
Not until you've got the mask almost to your face does a discordant thought occur: <i>I hope Joey won't be jealous when she sees the girl I copied.</i><br/>
<br/>
But it's too late for that second thought, for the mask is already touching your face. It seems to latch itself onto you, gripping the front of your head and sucking you inside of it. You become very giddy and lightheaded for a moment, then feel yourself sinking into a tarry blackness.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You are stiff when you awake, and your head hurts. <i>Oh, God,</i> you think as you pull yourself out of the footwell. <i>Why didn't I just use a changing room inside the store?</i> But despite the soreness, you are trembling with anticipation as you settle yourself back behind the wheel of your truck. Your hand shakes as it pushes a sheet of hair from out of your face.<br/>
<br/>
Your phone chimes with another text, from Joey. <i>On your way yet?</i> she wants to know. It's the second text she sent while you were unconscious. The first wants to know if you want her to wear your mask to the meeting.<br/>
<br/>
But you're distracted by the slim hand and the tapering fingers with which you are holding the phone.</span></div></div>


path: 11132214111111121
author_id: seuzz
title: When Carly Met Joey
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You swallow hard as you stare, boggle-eyed, at your fingers. <i>This is not my hand,</i> you think. <i>These are not my fingers!</i> You turn your hand over, studying the pearly nails. The skin is soft and smooth and so pale it is almost translucent.<br/>
<br/>
Your heart is in your throat as you sit up in your truck, and there's a warm throbbing between your legs. It's the kind of throbbing that should go with an erection, but— <br/>
<br/>
You bite down hard on your lower lip. When you slide a cautious hand down over the crotch of your cargo shorts, and dig for it, you find that you haven't got a dick down there. Gingerly, you push at the zipper, and gulp. <i>Oh my God,</i> you think, <i>I must have a—</i> You swallow hard. <i>I must have </i>Cindy Vredenburg's—!<br/>
<br/>
You shouldn't be freaking out this hard, you know. This isn't a new thing for you. Hell, only yesterday you were inside a mask, one that also gave you tits and a pussy and the elfin frame of a teenage girl. <br/>
<br/>
But this is different.<br/>
<br/>
There was something very ... <i>coltish</i> ... about Joey's body. With its narrow hips and almost flat chest, and the short, curly bob of hair, having her body wasn't much different from being a twelve-year-old boy again. (But without the cock bobbing like a dowsing rod, of course.) <br/>
<br/>
But this body belongs to <i>Cindy Freaking Vredenburg,</i> who is a cheerleader at your high school, and she's—<br/>
<br/>
The phone dings again with another text, but you ignore it to wrench the rear-view mirror over so you can look at yourself. Cindy stares back at you, her large, round eyes almost popping with fearful astonishment. Your ivory cheeks redden with an excited rash, and your eyebrows nearly elevate to your hairline. You clap your hands over your small, prim mouth and pert nose. <i>Oh my God!</i> you want to shriek, like the girl you now look like.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Center, Will,</i> you tell yourself as you shut your eyes. <i>You can't just sit here freaking out. You've got to meet up with Joey. And that—</i> You nearly topple over as a dizzy spell hits you. <i>That will be all kinds of awesome!<br/>
<br/>
Yes,</i> you decide as you shake yourself loose inside your clothes, and brush back your long, pale hair while giving yourself a sidelong smirk in the mirror, <i>doing something with this body is going to be ten times funner than just sitting here, jerking myself off inside, over having this body!</i><br/>
<br/>
You shoot Joey back a quick text: <i>Just stay at ur house will be ther soon in new mask u will luv.</i> You ignore her reply (<i>Omg ???</i>) as you crouch back down into the footwell to pull off your shirt and put on the bra you bought. It turns out to be a too large. But who cares. You've got boobs to play with!<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You didn't buy any new clothes to go with your new look, so you're in your old clothes—t-shirt, cargo shorts, and ratty sneakers—when you pull into the driveway that fronts Joey's stone-pile of a house. You're even sporting your shapeless white ball cap, pulled down low over your face as you hop out of your truck, so you feel like a sexy tomboy as you saunter up to the front door. You can't help grinning.<br/>
<br/>
You've barely touched the door bell when the massive door swings open. Joey, her eyes and mouth wide with wonder, stares at you, but she says nothing.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, you must be Joey," you exclaim around your grin. "I'm, uh—" <i>Quick, what's my name?</i> "Carly. I'm a friend of your, uh, friend, Jenny? And Will?" You're too giddy with excitement to kick yourself over not inventing a plausible opening line. "I hear you're going to study with us this afternoon?"<br/>
<br/>
Joey stares at you, what little color is in her face draining down her neck and vanishing beneath the collar of her red-and-black flannel shirt. Her jaw works. Then, over her shoulder, she shouts, "Mom?!"<br/>
<br/>
"You really need to clear this with your mother?" you murmur at her through frozen lips. Joey stares and stares. Then she gives you a single, short nod.<br/>
<br/>
Joey's mom waddles into the cold foyer behind her daughter. "Yes?" she says to you. "Hello?"<br/>
<br/>
"Hi, Mrs., uh, Tartaglione?" You smile back her. Even though you've none of Cindy's personality to go with her looks, you thrill to feel something like her confidence and poise. <i>Maybe confidence is a glandular thing,</i> you find yourself thinking. "I'm Carly. Carly Simmons." Another improvisation. "I'm a friend of Jenny Ashton's?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, yes?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well." You eye Joey, who seems rooted speechlessly to the spot. "Jenny told me that we were all getting together, her and me and Joey, to do some studying in town, and Jenny asked me to pick Joey up on the way over." You cock your head and smile brightly at the pair.<br/>
<br/>
Mrs. Tartaglione turns to give Joey a long and steady look. The color that had flushed from her daughter's face slowly flushes back into it.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh," says Mrs. Tartaglione. "Well. How long were you planning to study for?"<br/>
<br/>
"What time is Joey's dinner?"<br/>
<br/>
"Five-thirty."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Damn. That's hardly an hour from now.</i> "Well," you say, "how about me and Jenny— I mean, how about Jenny and I," you correct yourself, "treat Joey to supper?  We'll probably wind up at Panera anyway. That's where the college girls like to study, you know." From the way her expression changes, you can tell you've impressed Mrs. Tartaglione. "And we can have her back here by—?" You give Joey a querying glance.<br/>
<br/>
"Nine?" she says through a clenched jaw.<br/>
<br/>
"I guess that will be fine," Mrs. Tartaglione says. She lightly touches the top of Joey's head with her palm. "What are you going to be studying?"<br/>
<br/>
Joey bolts from the foyer without answering, leaving you to field the rest of the interview. "Math, history, social studies, everything," you tell her. "Oh, and Latin, too. Jenny says that Joey's probably going to be tutoring <i>us.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Mm. Well." Mrs. Tartaglione hesitates, then asks, in a low, hard voice. "Is it just going to be you three?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes. Unless our friend Mary can get free." Your heart starts to race. <i>So many improvised lies to keep track of! Maybe I should jot down notes when I get back to my phone.</i><br/>
<br/>
Mrs. Tartaglione asks you a few more polite but leading questions—what grade are you in; what classes are you taking; how long have you known Jenny—that you brush back with answers that are as close to truthful as you can muster. At last, Joey runs back in with a backpack the size of a small refrigerator bouncing on her shoulders. "Bye Mom I'll see you later," she says as she squeezes out the front door to join you. Her eyes are wet with fear and anxiety. You pat her on the backpack, give her mother a wide, lazy smile, and lead Joey back over to your truck.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh my God!" Joey squeaks after you're inside the cab. "What's your name again?"<br/>
<br/>
"Uh, Carly? I think that's what I said?"<br/>
<br/>
"And you know, uh, Will?"<br/>
<br/>
You give her a look. "Jesus, Joey, it's me. I told you I'd be showing up in the new mask."<br/>
<br/>
Joey hiccups, and slams her hands over her mouth. " "Oh my God!" she gasps. "Will? Where—?"<br/>
<br/>
"Do you like it?"<br/>
<br/>
Her jaw works soundlessly before she's able to squeak out, "Who <i>is</i> she? Is she a <i>friend</i> of yours? Is she—?" She gasps again. "Are we going to <i>meet</i> her? Did you tell her about the—? The—? And the—?"<br/>
<br/>
"Relax, Joey! I didn't tell anyone anything. Her real name's Cindy's, and she's a friend of Jenny's, but she's no friend of mine." You shake your head as you pull out into the street.<br/>
<br/>
Joey's jaw drops. "So how did you—? The mask, how did you, uh—?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I jumped her," you confess. "Ambushed her. I was giving her a ride someplace. Fuck," you exclaim, as you remember that Jenny and Cindy and them will be loose somewhere in the city, also getting coffee and studying. "They were going into town, and I volunteered to give Cindy a ride, and while I had her alone I—" You mime pushing a mask into Joey's face.<br/>
<br/>
"Eep!" she says. "Oh my God!"<br/>
<br/>
"What are you freaking out about?" you ask, as though you too hadn't surprised yourself with your boldness. "You said I couldn't come over to your house 'cos I was a guy, so—" You shrug. "I figured I'd show up as a girl instead!"<br/>
<br/>
"But you <i>assaulted</i> that girl!"<br/>
<br/>
"No I didn't! I just copied her is all. What did you want me to do?"<br/>
<br/>
Joey doesn't answer, and the ride passes in silence for a long minute. At last, she shakes herself and looks around. "So where are we going?"<br/>
<br/>
"How about the college library again?" you suggest. "I don't want to run into anyone. Not while I'm looking like this."<br/>
<br/>
"So you just put it on long enough to pick me up?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well—"<br/>
<br/>
"And you could change out of it?"<br/>
<br/>
Yes, you could. Not that you want to. But maybe this is Joey's way of saying that she would like to wear Cindy's mask.</span></div></div>


path: 111322141111111212
author_id: seuzz
title: The Shopping Spree
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>If Joey wants to put on Cindy's mask, she can ask. Until then— Well, you've barely had more than an hour inside it, and you're far from sick of it yet.<br/>
<br/>
"There's not much point in making these things, Joey," you tell her, "if you don't use them."<br/>
<br/>
But then you find yourself wondering, <i>So what are some other ways of using these things?</i><br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You change your mind about going up to the school library, though. You need to study the next spell, but after that you'll probably have to buy supplies. So to save time you drive directly to Home Depot and settle in the parking lot. Besides, it seems like a safe spot where you're not likely to run into any schoolmates. <br/>
<br/>
But you haven't been there long—sidled up next to Joey in the truck cab with the grimoire between you, Joey translating while you use your phone to check out the prices of the items that the next spell calls for—when you suffer two strokes of bad luck.<br/>
<br/>
The first is the quick realization that you're going to have to buy a lot of new stuff, including some metal-cutting tools. But even though it should cost less than a hundred all together, that's at least sixty more than either you or Joey have on hand, and neither of you are sure of being able to pry the extra funds from either of your families. <br/>
<br/>
The second stroke arrives with a tap at the driver's side window. You do a double-take, and almost shriek with horror at the face that grins in at you.<br/>
<br/>
Well, at least it's not Seth. But it's still a very masculine face; even worse, it's one you recognize from school, even though you can't immediately lay your finger on a name to go with it. He has a butterscotch-colored buzzcut, and his eyes crinkle up as he grins at you. He's dressed in a sloppy gray hoodie.<br/>
<br/>
For a moment you stare, and are tempted to brazen it out by pretending that you're someone else. But you give up when the boy squints defiantly at you and mouths, "Come on, Cindy, roll down the window and talk to me." You turn the key in the ignition and slide the window down.<br/>
<br/>
"So, pretty girl, what's up?" he growls in a very masculine baritone. He glances past you at Joey. "Where's Seth?"<br/>
<br/>
"Huh? Oh, we're not talking these days," you quaver back. <i>Fuck,</i> you think in a panic. <i>Am I really going to try faking my way through by pretending to be Cindy?</i><br/>
<br/>
The boy smirks and nods, then glances again at the girl on the other side of you. Joey is staring at the guy with an open mouth.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, uh, this is Joey," you stammer. "She's a, uh, friend from church."<br/>
<br/>
"Cool. Watcha doin' hanging out up here?"<br/>
<br/>
"We're, uh, working on a project. I'm helping Joey out. Mentoring her. She's a freshman." You feel a hard blush beginning to break across your face, and wonder what kind of look Joey is giving the back of your head. <br/>
<br/>
"Huh. What kind of a project? Home Depot project? Anything I can help out with?" the guy offers.<br/>
<br/>
Your brain feels like it's overheating as it tries to solve a multi-variable equation involving yourself, Joey, this guy, the spell, and the stuff you need to buy here at the store. "What are <i>you</i> doing up here?" you ask in order to play for time.<br/>
<br/>
"Picking up some box gutters. Old ones need replacing." He jerks his chin at a big, black SUV parked a couple of rows away. "Flippin' Eric was s'posed to do it, but he's got a 'study group' he's s'posed to hang out with this afternoon." He rolls his eyes.<br/>
<br/>
Your gridlocked brain finally coughs up a name to go with the guy: Alec Brown. "Brownie" to his friends. He's a wrestler or a football player or something up at the school. Naturally, someone like that would be up at Home Depot. "So what do you guys need to pick up here?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
You stare at Brownie, then swing around to stare at Joey (who at least has recovered the presence of mind to close her mouth up) and then down at the book. That equation you were struggling with ... the answers are starting to come through.<br/>
<br/>
"'M not sure yet," you confess. "We're still— We're working out of an old arts and crafts book."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh yeah?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah. I think— We need to make up a list. How long are you going to be in there?"<br/>
<br/>
Brownie shrugs. "Long enough to find the stuff and run it past a cashier."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, can we come find you inside? When we get our list together?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, sure. Think you're gonna need help finding stuff?"<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe. Also— Well, we'll come find you. Okay?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure." Brownie leans over to flash Joey another quick smile, then lopes off toward the store.<br/>
<br/>
"Who was that?" Joey asks when he's gone. <br/>
<br/>
"A guy who goes to my school. Jesus, that was close."<br/>
<br/>
"We should get out of here."<br/>
<br/>
"No we shouldn't." Your heart is beating. "Just read me off the things we need while I make a list." Your hands are shaking as you open up a notepad app on your phone and start typing into it.<br/>
<br/>
"What for?" Joey squeaks. "We don't have enough money!"<br/>
<br/>
"We don't," you retort, "but I bet Brownie does!"<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You practically have to drag Joey into the Home Depot behind you, and she is pale and fidgety the whole time you're inside. It turns out that, yes, everything you need can be got there: some narrow strips of metal; heavy-duty cutters; engraving tools; and some chemicals. Brownie doesn't bother to hide his curiosity, and asks you what it's all for; you improvise that it's for a "spice rack," and shrug when he looks incredulous. <br/>
<br/>
He also wants to know about you and Seth. "I don't want to talk about it," you brusquely inform him. "He's being a bastard. He's always been a bastard, you know that." Brownie says nothing, though he is paying very close attention to you. "What about you?" you ask, desperate to change the subject. "You and—?"<br/>
<br/>
"Me and who?"<br/>
<br/>
"Um. Well, aren't you going with—? I thought you were going with—"<br/>
<br/>
"Who?" he says, and looks amused.<br/>
<br/>
"I guess I was confused."<br/>
<br/>
"No, really." He grins at you. "Who'd you hear I was going around with?" He leans in close enough that the scent of his hoodie envelops you, and he peers down into your face with a warm smile.<br/>
<br/>
"I guess I was confused," you repeat with a blush. "I thought you were going around with someone."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, I'm going around. Laurent thinks I'm spreading myself too thin. But he's one to talk. You know?" His eyebrows arch into a leer.<br/>
<br/>
An abyss seems to open at your feet, and you step into it with a lurching gut. "Well, if me and Seth are, like— I mean, if we don't get back together—"<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh?" Brownie's eyes glint.<br/>
<br/>
"I've got your phone number." Almost you faint.<br/>
<br/>
His grin widens. "Can I have yours?"<br/>
<br/>
"Lemme call <i>you.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
Brownie grunts appreciatively. Joey is boggling at you when you glance over at her.<br/>
<br/>
But the magic—the magic of being a sexy girl, of being a sexy high school cheerleader named Cindy Vredenburg—has worked itself on Brownie, and when you pretend that you've forgotten your billfold at home, he manfully steps up to pay for your purchases with his own credit card. He's not real happy about it, you can tell, and hesitates for a couple of seconds before surrendering to your not-so-veiled pleas.<br/>
<br/>
"Talk to me about it at school tomorrow," you promise him as you trudge out into the parking lot together. "I'll bring the cash to pay you back." He mumbles rather than replies, and is cold and stiff even when you throw your arms around him to give him an awkward hug. "Love you lots, and thanks again!" you gasp, then scamper back over to your truck, where Joey is waiting with the bags.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh my God," she says as you climb into the truck. "How are you going to pay him back?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't have to," you retort as you buckle yourself in. "Cindy'll pay him back. Except she won't, 'cos she doesn't know she owes him!" You feel almost hysterical with suppressed laughter.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh my God!" Joey gasps again. "You just—! This is basically stealing!"<br/>
<br/>
"Couldn't happen to a nicer couple of assholes." You start the truck. "Did you see him coming onto me in there?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, it was gross!"<br/>
<br/>
<i>It was exhilarating!</i> you silently reply. Really, how amazing is it to be a sexy girl who can get what she wants just by smiling at a guy? If Cindy had been nice to <i>you</i> after school, instead of screaming obscenities and treating you like a piece of shit on the bottom of her shoe, you'd have done almost anything for her too.<br/>
<br/>
"Listen," you tell Joey, "Cindy is a bitch and a spoiled cunt who's stuck so hard on herself that— That—" But words fail you. "And Brownie's a randy goat who was hitting on me in there even though I'm supposed to have a boyfriend and him and my boyfriend are both friends." (You don't know that they are, but it seems a safe bet.) "So he deserves what he got, and him and Cindy deserve to get in whatever kind of fight they're gonna get into tomorrow when Brownie tries collecting his money from her. So, like, it's all gonna work out. It worked out for us, right?" you add as you pat the bags bulging with your loot.</span></div></div>


path: 1113221411111112121
author_id: seuzz
title: Real People
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Joey wasn't much interested in Cindy before your trip to Home Depot, but now she wants to know all about her—and about Brownie too—so she pesters you with questions as you drive off from the store. <i>Who is Cindy? Who is Seth? How long have they been going out together? How did they get together? Are they a "major couple" at school? Are they "the" power couple at the school? Are there any other power couples? Do Cindy and Seth fight a lot? Do you think they really love each other? Do they cheat on each other? Are they really going to break up?</i> As for Brownie: <i>Who is he? Who is he friends with? Does he have a girlfriend? Does he really have a reputation for hitting on girls or was he just acting that way with you? What kind of a girl do you think he likes?</i><br/>
<br/>
For some reason, it's the last question that really sets you off, and leads you to snap at Joey. "Fuck, how would I know and why would I care?" you cry. "I told you, I don't really know him, I couldn't even remember his name at first!" Joey looks hurt after that explosion. You feel bad, but you're also relieved that you finally shut her up, so you don't apologize.<br/>
<br/>
You fetch up in the parking lot of a suburban middle school somewhere on the east side of town. The grounds are deserted, so there is no one around to see as you and Joey—in muted, clipped conversation—squat in the bed of your truck and unpack the supplies you picked up. The actual magical part—the part that involves the book and the sigil—doesn't look like it takes much work, but the prep work does take awhile. You bought some sheets of copper and zinc, which you cut into small strips about five inches long and an inch wide. These you place atop each other with a drop of quicksilver in between, and sandwich them between two inward-facing pocket mirrors. Then comes the magic: You place a bundle atop the sigil and with a steel-nib pen—the most expensive item you bought—you scratch a set of runes into the back of one of the mirrors. The stack hisses malevolently as you copy the runes, but it ceases abruptly—and the runes you wrote vanish—once you've made the last stroke. You remove the topmost mirror.<br/>
<br/>
You and Joey exchange an uneasy glance—will you ever get used to the magic?—as you pluck up the result. It's a silvery metal strip, no thicker than either of the original metal strips you used to make it. It is very thin and flexible, more like paper than metal, though it has more heft. It bends to fit comfortably in the palm of your cupped hand.<br/>
<br/>
It's getting past supper time, and you're hungry, so you're all for cutting things off there. But Joey wants to make another one. <i>There's more work to be done on them before they're finished,</i> she points out. <i>So if you make two of them, each of you can work on them at home, and then when you get together tomorrow ...</i><br/>
<br/>
So you make a second dingus, then pack up. Neither of you says anything until you're back in the truck and driving Joey home. <br/>
<br/>
You tense during the drive, because Joey is making lots of small, snuffling squeaks, and shifting in her seat like she's sitting on an ant hill. Finally, just a few blocks from her house, she breaks down.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, I'm sorry if I made you mad, Will," she says. Her voice is aggrieved but ragged. "I didn't mean to, by asking you about, you know."<br/>
<br/>
"It's alright. I'm not mad."<br/>
<br/>
"Only, you show up today looking like this girl, and then that guy shows up, and—"<br/>
<br/>
"We had to do it that way," you gruffly insist. "No way we could have afforded to buy stuff for the spell if—"<br/>
<br/>
"And then you started talking about them!" she interrupts you. "You started telling me all about them! So I wanted to know more! That's all!"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, okay," you mumble. "Only I'd already told you most of what I know. I told you, I don't really know them <i>that</i> well, just by reputation and—"<br/>
<br/>
"But you know them better than me! All kinds of people like that! I haven't been to school," she grumbles, "to a public school, I mean, since I was eight! I don't—! It all made it seem real to me, is all! All of a sudden!"<br/>
<br/>
"What do you mean, 'real'?" you ask. You have no idea what she means.<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, it made it real! Like, suddenly it was like I was hanging out with actual people who go to your school, and you were talking about other people at your school, and it was, like, for real! It suddenly seemed like there really was a place where you, and Jenny, and all those other kids go! Where I <i>don't!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
What she's saying doesn't make a lot of sense, and you give her a puzzled look.<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, I know it's real," Joey says. "But it's like I can't visualize it! It's just, like—" She waves her hands in front of her face. "It's like the difference between knowing there's an ocean out there, and actually seeing it! Have you ever <i>seen</i> the ocean? Or just pictures of it?"<br/>
<br/>
You don't answer, but you dimly start to make out what she must mean.<br/>
<br/>
"Like, it made it real to me that there really are a bunch of kids out there who know each other and hang out together, but I don't know them! I remember the third grade, you know," she says. "But high school— Like, suddenly when your friend Brownie showed up—" She squirms. "It was almost like meeting a celebrity."<br/>
<br/>
<i>You're easily impressed,</i> you think, but you say nothing out loud. Mostly, her outburst reminds you of how weird she is. If Jenny is trying to teach Joey how to be normal, she's really got her work cut out for her.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I'm sorry I yelled at you," you tell her. "I just don't like thinking about these people. Cindy and Seth. One's a cunt and the other's a bastard."<br/>
<br/>
"That's what you said."<br/>
<br/>
"And I'll keep saying it," you tell her as you pull into her driveway. "Because it's never going to stop being true."<br/>
<br/>
Joey looks at you. "Except Cindy's so pretty."<br/>
<br/>
"I know," you say, and scoop back a handful of the long, blonde hair you're sporting. "I'll let you try on the mask next time."<br/>
<br/>
Joey turns pink and mutters under her breath as she busies herself with pulling out her part of the project. You don't accompany her inside, but sit and watch and wave at her as she disappears through the front door.<br/>
<br/>
It was quite an afternoon, from start to finish, and it's with a groan of relief that you sink back down into the footwell of your truck when you've found a private spot behind a strip mall, and pull the mask from your face. You contemplate it for a little while after waking up. You can't help wondering: <i>When Joey puts this on, assuming she does, will she let me kiss her? Or would that be too weird for both of us?</i><br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You've got texts from Jenny on your phone—they started coming in while you were still with Joey—but you ignore them until after you've collected some leftovers for dinner and hidden yourself in your room. Even then, you only glance at them while you finish up on the metal band you brought home. The last step in the process is to scratch another set of runes onto it, and this turns out to be a much longer and more frustrating bit of work, for you have to press the pen deep into the metal for each stroke in order to make an indentation. But the metal doesn't like to be indented, and you have to work each stroke hard, over and over again, before the metal yields. Even then, more than half the time, the stroke fades away after you've moved on to the next rune, so that you are constantly having to go back and scratch lines where you had scratched some already. One hour passes as you work, and then another hour. <i>Just one more rune,</i> you tell yourself over and over again, <i>and then I'll get on to my homework.</i> But all the runes are done before you take a break, and it's nearly ten, and your homework has gone untouched.<br/>
<br/>
And still the messages from Jenny have piled up.<br/>
<br/>
<i>What happened w u n Cindy?</i> she asks.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Y s Cindy so mad at u?<br/>
<br/>
Did u do smthign to Cindy she's acting like u did smithing to her<br/>
<br/>
Will I'm sure whatever it was it was a joke but u need to apologize to Cindy anyway she's not talking to seth these days but she's not going to be mad at him forever n when she talks to him u won't be happy u know that right?<br/>
<br/>
If I give u Cindy's contact will u text her n apologize if she is too mad at u like i think she is she might tell Seth anyway abt it and u need to remember some of the things Seth's done to keith<br/>
<br/>
Will, don't ignore me I'm telling u this fr ur own good I'm trying to look out for u.</i><br/>
<br/>
Her nagging just makes you tired, so you shove your phone under your pillow and climb into bed.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You're woken very early the next morning by an angry buzz, which you eventually trace to your vibrating phone. The alarm still hasn't gone off—that's how early it is—but Joey is texting you. <i>Did you finish the thing?</i> she wants to know. She also wants to know if you can meet before you go into school.</span></div></div>


path: 11132214111111121211
author_id: seuzz
title: Do You Mind?
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Your eyelids feel weighted with lead as you mash a reply into your phone with your thumbs: <i>Y meet</i> you ask Joey.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Did u finish?</i><br/>
<br/>
You grunt to yourself. <i>Y,</i> you ask her.<br/>
<br/>
Joey types in a long reply. Your eyes are crossing themselves with sleepiness when her text finally pops up.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Did you try it out? I tried mine out and if you tried yours out I think we should meet before school. Or maybe we should meet if you not tried yours anyway. Hurry say yes I don't got much time.</i><br/>
<br/>
Whatever is going on, it's dumped a bucket of ants down her pants, so with a sigh you text that you'll be along in an hour or so to pick her up at her house. You're levering yourself out of bed and feeling for the clothes you dumped on the floor when another text comes in: <i>Meet now somewhere I can drive to meet you.</i><br/>
<br/>
<i>Does she even have a driver's license,</i> you wonder. Then how come you ever had to pick her up? You text her back to suggest meeting at the McDonalds at the South Creek shopping center. That's about halfway between your houses.<br/>
<br/>
Your parents aren't up yet, so you leave a note on the dining room table, telling them that you're out early to meet a friend and will be back soon.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<i>Early bird senior citizens,</i> you think to yourself as you prowl through the McDonald's parking lot, looking at license plates. Lots of veterans plates and the kind of bumper stickers that grandparents put on their cars.<br/>
<br/>
Oh, but one of them is being driven by a teenage girl. Joey jumps out of a green minivan and hurries over to meet you as you pull into an empty space. You roll down the window and give her a look as she bounces up.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey," she gulps. "Did you bring the doohickey with you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes. So what's all the—?"<br/>
<br/>
"Did you try it out last night? When you finished making it?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, I just went straight to bed. I was—"<br/>
<br/>
"I tried mine out." Joey holds up a gleaming silver band. Her expression mixes terror and exhilaration in equal parts.<br/>
<br/>
Up to now you've been too exhausted to feel much, but now a sense of wariness steals over you. "So what happened?" you ask her.<br/>
<br/>
She hands it to you, then runs around to the passenger's side.<br/>
<br/>
You're frowning at it as she hops into the seat next to you. It doesn't look like the band you made. Yours has runes scratched into it. Hers has ...<br/>
<br/>
You have to blink a couple of times, and you feel your eyes wobbling in their sockets as you try to take it in. One side of the band is blank, but the other has Roman lettering on it. No, the letters are <i>floating over</i> it. That's what makes your eyes hurt. The name JOSEPHINE MARIE TARTAGLIONE seems to be floating over the blank surface. The name glows with a bluish light, like neon. <br/>
<br/>
"Mine didn't turn out like this," you tell Joey. Your tongue feels thick in your mouth.<br/>
<br/>
"Not if you didn't finish it!" she retorts. "You finish it by putting it on your forehead! You didn't do that, did you?"<br/>
<br/>
"No. I was wiped out, went to bed early." You rub your eyes.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, get yours out and do it now," Joey insists. "I wanna—"<br/>
<br/>
"Hang on. Why couldn't this have waited till this afternoon?"<br/>
<br/>
She doesn't answer right away, and when you look over she's biting her lower lip, like she's trying not to burst out crying.<br/>
<br/>
"Alright," you sigh, and turn to dig inside your book bag. "I'll try it out and—"<br/>
<br/>
"And I'll go get us some coffee! You got any money?"<br/>
<br/>
"No."<br/>
<br/>
"Well— You take yours black? Or with cream? Sugar? How much?"<br/>
<br/>
"Uh, two sugars, no cream."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll be right back." She hops out. "And lay down when you do it. It'll knock you out, like the masks did!" She slams the door on you, and sprints to the restaurant.<br/>
<br/>
You cuss silently to yourself, and wonder for about the tenth time since you've met her what you've gotten yourself into by getting chummy with Joey Whateverhernameis.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Someone is stroking your forehead when you wake up. You twist around and look up. A pale, upside-down face frowns down at you.<br/>
<br/>
With a groan, you turn onto your side and push yourself up. Joey's frown, seen right-side-up, turns into a tentative smile. "It worked," she says.<br/>
<br/>
"What worked?" You're stiff all over, and grumpy.<br/>
<br/>
"The thing. See?" She holds up a metal band.<br/>
<br/>
You suck in a deep breath as you take it from her. It makes your heart go sideways to see your name floating over the metal strip. WILLIAM MARTIN PRESCOTT. "So what's it do?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Did you bring the book?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, it's in my bag. Why didn't you take it out?"<br/>
<br/>
Joey shrinks a little. "I didn't wanna go digging through your stuff without permission."<br/>
<br/>
<i>What is with this girl?</i> you ask yourself as you haul the book out of your bag. She pushes up close to you as you flip to the spell, and lay the metal strip on the page. You can hear her breathing heavily as the page comes loose, and turns.<br/>
<br/>
There's only a single sentence of Latin on the other side. "I knew it!" Joey squeaks.<br/>
<br/>
"Knew what? What does it say?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's a mind-reader thing! It copies minds!"<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
Joey is so excited that it takes her a full minute to stammer out her explanation of what the Latin says, and how she has deduced what the metal strips are for. <br/>
<br/>
<i>To know the mind of another,</i> she tells you, is the best translation of the book's instruction. "So it's got to copy people's minds, right?" she exclaims. "Like, that's how you get to know someone else's mind! You copy their mind with this thing, and then you can put it on, like you put on a mask, and then you've got their mind inside yours! Their memories and stuff. Like the masks copy bodies? These things copy what's in your brain! I mean, that's gotta be what it means! Right?"<br/>
<br/>
It gives you a pretty queer turn, to think that this metal band that you're holding may have copied the inside of your skull, the way a memory stick copies the hard drive of a computer. And that if somebody plugged it into their skull ...<br/>
<br/>
You swallow. "So how do you use them? How do you, um—"<br/>
<br/>
"I think we just put them on," Joey suggests. "I mean, we'd have to put on each other's." Her eyes are very wide, and she gulps. "Like, putting on a mask. Maybe, if we put them onto our foreheads—"<br/>
<br/>
"Do you really want to do that?" you ask her.<br/>
<br/>
"D-do you?" she stammers.<br/>
<br/>
She does. You can she does. But she's too scared to come out and suggest it.<br/>
<br/>
Because to get inside someone else's mind ... To know what they think and how they feel ... To remember what they remember ... All the stuff that they've done ... <br/>
<br/>
Joey interrupts your reflections. "Okay, I guess this was a bad idea," she says, and she scrambles for the door handle. "I'm sorry, I—"<br/>
<br/>
"Joey."<br/>
<br/>
"I just get really excited, I get too excited, I know," she gabbles as she falls out of your truck. "I should get home anyway, I—"<br/>
<br/>
"Joey!"<br/>
<br/>
She stops, and gives you a fearful look.<br/>
<br/>
"If you want to do it," you say around the blockage in your throat and chest, "if you want to try it out ... Yeah, I'm up for it. It's just, you know—" You rub your temple. "It's still kind of early for me. My brain—"<br/>
<br/>
"You want to wait till this afternoon?" Her eyebrows peak.<br/>
<br/>
"No, we can do it now." You check the time on your phone. You've still got an hour before classes start. "And then, well—"<br/>
<br/>
Joey sucks on her upper lip. Something inside of you seems to break.<br/>
<br/>
"Here," you tell her, and shove the metal strip at her. "Go put it on."<br/>
<br/>
Her face lights up, though she is still pale. "I'll be right back," she says as she takes the strip from you. "And here's mine!" She presses the other strip into your hand, then hops across the parking lot to her minivan.<br/>
<br/>
But you do nothing, not yet. The thing feels hot in your hand, and after another minute you drop it onto the truck bench and look away. You catch your expression in the rear view mirror, and wince.<br/>
<br/>
Do you really want to get inside Joey's head, to find out what she thinks and how she feels? You've got an awful feeling that she takes you, and this stuff, and your relationship, a lot more seriously than you do. Do you want confirmation of that?<br/>
<br/>
Or would it be worse to find out that, no, she's just a really excitable girl?<br/>
<br/>
And when she puts your thing on, she's going to get a pretty good idea of what you think about her—and she might not be flattered. Is that going to freak her out? Maybe that's another reason to hold off and not put the thing on. If she has some kind of freakout and wants to break things off with you, you could do that without having violated her privacy in such a bad way. </span></div></div>


path: 111322141111111212111
author_id: seuzz
title: A Mix-Up at the McDonalds
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Joey gives you a lot of time to wrestle with the dilemma. You keep glancing over at her minivan, but there's no movement inside it. And the longer you wait, the less inclined you are to put the thing on. <i>I just wanted to see if it worked with you.</i> That's what you'll tell Joey when she gets back, and finds you still sitting here. And she'll understand, right? If she really does "know the mind of another"—yourself; <i>gulp!</i>—as the book promises.<br/>
<br/>
But your nerve crumples when you finally do see a shadow move behind the tinted windows of the minivan. You suddenly worry you'll look like a chickenshit, so you hurriedly duck back down inside your truck. For a long moment you hold the metal strip over your head. Then you drop it across your forehead.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You are woozy and disoriented when you are next aware of your surroundings, and the world reels as you sit up. Your brain feels like it's on fire.<br/>
<br/>
You are sitting in a truck, in a parking lot, and you feel as though you've woken from an extremely vivid dream—the kind of dream that leaves you feeling as though you're suffering from double vision. <i>I'm here but I'm somewhere else,</i> it feels like. <i>I'm here in the parking lot of the McDonalds on a weekday morning, but I'm also at home, at night, working on that project with Will. I'm working on that project, and the parking lot is the dream.</i><br/>
<br/>
You nurse your head between your palms as you are nearly capsized by a sense of vertigo. Behind one world—the world of McDonalds and parking lots; of truck cabs and your house in Saratoga Falls; of your mom and dad and little brother, and the homework stacked on a small work desk in the corner of your messy bedroom; of your friends Caleb and Keith, of your teachers, of the stink and press of the milling crowds inside Westside High, and of the life that carries you from your bed to your school to your friends' houses and back to your house and family and then back to your own bed—there is another. Like one detailed photograph superimposed over another, the life and memories of William Martin Prescott are superimposed over the vivid details of the life and memories of Josephine Marie Tartaglione.<br/>
<br/>
So you have also the memories of the spacious house, cool and quiet and professionally cleaned once a week. The classroom in the downstairs den, where you sit at a desk and read books and scribble in notebooks and enter math answers into a laptop computer. A dumpling-shaped mother who checks your work with crisp professionalism, and a roly-poly father with a frizzy gray beard who works with you on weekends. Brisk walks and bike rides in the neighborhood (and for a couple of years, skateboarding too). Friends and acquaintances at church, like Jenny Ashton. Your dog, Monday. <br/>
<br/>
You frown and blink at the twinge of fear. Monday is getting old. How much longer she'll live, you don't know.<br/>
<br/>
And then there's Will.<br/>
<br/>
You suck in a hard breath, and grab the truck console to balance yourself.<br/>
<br/>
He's tall, but all the boys are taller than you. He's gangly, with a shock of blonde hair under a sloppy ball cap. He dresses sloppy too, but that's okay, because clothes don't really matter. (Your mother dresses nice, but your dad likes to shamble around the house in an undershirt, cargo shorts, and black socks.) Mostly what you notice about Will are his eyes, and the way he looks at you. He gets this weird, crinkly twist in them when he's looking at you, like he <i>just can't believe what you just said,</i> and you get the impression he's always impatient with you. It makes you hot when he gives you these looks, and almost every time you're with him you're tempted to yell at him, to tell him to go sit on a tack and stay there! But always you catch yourself in time, because—<br/>
<br/>
Well, it's hard to explain, but there's something ... <i>real</i> ... about Will, the way there's something <i>real</i> about Jenny—a reality that's not the same kind of reality like you get at your house, with your dog and your parents, or even with most of the kids at church, who pretty much just ignore you. With Will and Jenny, it's like they <i>bruise</i> you when you're with them. With your mom and dad, all the talk and all the feeling just roll off. But with Will and Jenny, it's like it <i>hurts</i>—it hurts in a good way, like you're stubbing your toe on reality—even when you're having fun with them.<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head, trying to clear it, trying to get back to that feeling that you're <i>Will Prescott,</i> but those alien thoughts and feelings cling to your brain like a burr in a sock. Like a skin that's been grafted onto your brain. And you jump with a shock when you glance down and catch sight of your hands. They're too big and too bony, and the fingers are too long. <i>These aren't my hands,</i> you think, and your breath shortens when you touch your chest. <i>This isn't my chest either. This is Will's chest.</i> Your heart beats harder when you remember yourself sitting with Will. Only it was <i>you</i> you were sitting next to. <i>It was Will but he was looking like me, and I were looking like him. <br/>
<br/>
Oh my God,</i> you think, <i>This is what it was like for Joey, when she was wearing my mask. This is what it was like for her to look down and see that she had my body!</i> You have to cover your face with your hands as another wave of vertigo washes over you.<br/>
<br/>
But you pull yourself together with a sharp breath, and shake yourself all over. You're still trembling as you tell yourself, <i>Time to go find Joey. Find out how badly </i>she's<i> freaking out over all this. Jesus, I hope she's okay. It's bad enough for me, for her it's probably—</i><br/>
<br/>
You glance over at the minivan, then do a hard double-take. Your jaw falls open.<br/>
<br/>
A teenage boy is sauntering toward you, a crooked grin on his face. Except that he hasn't got a ball cap on, he is your twin.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Yeah, sue me," he says, "for having a pretty good guess about what these things could do!"<br/>
<br/>
You give him a dirty look, which he returns.<br/>
<br/>
It's an exact replay of the other afternoon, when you arrived at Joey's place to find <i>yourself</i> waiting for you. Joey is not only back in your mask, she's back in those same clothes that you found at the thrift store when you went looking for a wardrobe to go with the mask.<br/>
<br/>
You flinch. <i>No, it's the same clothes that </i>she<i> found at the thrift store when </i>she<i> went looking for a wardrobe,</i> you correct yourself.<br/>
<br/>
So here you are, again chatting with a twin of yourself, and you can't stop from glancing uneasily around the parking lot. <i>If someone saw us here— If someone saw </i>two of me<i> here—</i><br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, so," your twin says, "I had kind of an inkling what the thing-a-bobby would do. Like, if you can copy a body, why can't you copy a brain? It kind of surprised me, actually, that the mask doesn't copy the brain too. Like, it's part of the body—"<br/>
<br/>
"So you came prepared," you grumble as you glance past her ear at the restaurant entrance as the door flashes in the sunlight. Two old men come out. "Like a fucking Boy Scout."<br/>
<br/>
"What are you freaking out about, dude?" your twin asks. "Isn't this cool?" He slouches and puts his dirty sneakers up on the truck console.<br/>
<br/>
You knock them down, and he gives you that dirty look again. The kind of dirty look that Will gives you when—<br/>
<br/>
Okay, that's probably what's got you so upset. It was one thing when Joey was just <i>looking</i> like you. But now it's like she's trying to <i>act</i> like you ... And she's doing a pretty good job of it.<br/>
<br/>
"Come on," you tell her. "Fun's fun, and we can do something this afternoon, but I gotta get to school."<br/>
<br/>
"One of us has to get to school," she retorts.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, you got class at home too," you snap back. "I knew that before even without—"<br/>
<br/>
Your voice dies in your throat as your twin just smirks back at you. "Oh my God," you mutter.<br/>
<br/>
"You <i>know</i> what I'm thinking, dude," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"No! You're not going to—"<br/>
<br/>
"Come on!" He bolts upright, and Joey's squeal pops into his voice. "I can do you perfect, Will! I know your schedule! You got Mr. Walberg first period. With Caleb. And then you got Keith second period in— Pfft!" He snickers. "Your film class. Oh my God, your classes are gonna be so easy for me!"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't want you to—! And what am I supposed to do while you—? And <i>you</i> have to go home too 'cos <i>you've</i> got classes too and—! <i>Ohhhhh!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah!" His eyes light up, and he grabs your arm with a girlish enthusiasm. "We could swap places for a day! See what it's like for each other!"<br/>
<br/>
Of course, you don't have to swap to know what it's like at her house, being tutored by her mom while she does her own learning. You've got her brain and memories to tell you.<br/>
<br/>
But it's for that same reason that you also know how badly Joey wants to make the swap.<br/>
<br/>
So she can get out of the hothouse where she's spent the last ten years of her life, and get out with and among people who are <i>real.</i></span></div></div>


path: 1113221411111112121111
author_id: seuzz
title: Schooled
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Swap places with Joey? Even for one day? That could be really dangerous. She could really fuck things up for you.<br/>
<br/>
You're about to say "No" when you catch the eager look on her face, and flinch.<br/>
<br/>
And because you've got her brain wedged inside yours, you can guess how crushed she'd be if you refused.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, okay," you say. "But—"<br/>
<br/>
"Awesome!" she exclaims, and tugs at her t-shirt. "Think I can go like this? Oh, but you'd have to put on my clothes anyway," she prattles, "so you'd have to take off yours, so I might as well—"<br/>
<br/>
She isn't just dressed like you, she's wearing a copy of your face, so you flinch again under her exuberance. <i>Jesus, is that what I look and sound like when I get excited? Do I </i>squeal?<br/>
<br/>
You follow Joey back over to her minivan, and climb into the back seat. "Shouldn't we drive someplace else?" you ask as she prods you into clambering into the storage space in the very back of the minivan.<br/>
<br/>
"Why?" She looks around. "No one's going to notice if we do it here. Come on, get moving!"<br/>
<br/>
She's quick to pull off her things as she crouches in the back seat. You undress much more slowly, and you dodge looking her in the face (your face) as she grins at you. "Here," she says as she rummages around. "You better put this on before you try putting on any my things." She titters as she hands you a mask.<br/>
<br/>
"You really were prepared for this morning," you mutter.<br/>
<br/>
You look up when you're answered by silence, to see Joey giving you a hurt look. "Are you not okay with this, Will?" she asks in a small voice.<br/>
<br/>
"No, I'm fine," you tell her. You force a smile. "You're just going so fast!"<br/>
<br/>
She smiles and says, "It'll be fun. You'll see!"<br/>
<br/>
"Do you have fun being homeschooled?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well—"<br/>
<br/>
"No, you're right. It'll be fun," yo mumble. You see the day spreading out before you—the same school day that Joey suffers five times a week. No wonder she wants to try something new. "And you'll have fun," you tell her. "I hope you'll have fun."<br/>
<br/>
Her smile widens, and her eyes glint. Probably it's the first time that someone with your face has looked so happy at going in to Westside High on a school day.<br/>
<br/>
After your clothes are all off, you lay down on the scratchy carpet, and hold Joey's mask over your face. Slowly you lower it. <i>Here comes the rest of me,</i> a Joey-like voice says in the privacy of your skull as the mask settles over your features.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You're woken by a hard poke in the shoulder. "Hey, Joey," a voice says. "Joey! Wakey-uppy!"<br/>
<br/>
You frown and force your eyes open. A boy is peering down at you. He has crinkly eyes and a crooked smile, and his straw-like hair sticks out from under a shapeless white ball cap.<br/>
<br/>
His name is Will Prescott, and when you woke up this morning, you were him.<br/>
<br/>
"Ugh," you groan as you start to sit up. Then you remember where you are—the back of a minivan, parked in a McDonalds parking lot—and that you're naked. You gasp and curl up into a small ball.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, here's your things," Will says. He drops a bundle of clothes at you.<br/>
<br/>
"And you're already ready," you grumble as you disentangle them.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, well, I was already ready to go," he replies. "Just had to put my things on." He plucks the green t-shirt you were wearing just a few minutes ago.<br/>
<br/>
"My things," you correct him.<br/>
<br/>
"Not today they're not," he retorts. "But I gotta get going. I can't wait on your slow-poke ass."<br/>
<br/>
You give him a look as you snap the tiny bra around your chest. He's not talking like Joey anymore. It sounds like he's trying to talk like you.<br/>
<br/>
"You think you can pull this off?" you ask him.<br/>
<br/>
"I told you I can. I know your schedule. Sociology, Film, Career Planning." He rolls his eyes. "Maybe I'll skip that one. You don't like it anyway. English. Oh, hey!" His eyes light up. "I think I'll try having lunch with Jenny and them today. That'll be fun!" His laugh is like a hiss.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, watch out for the Molester," you warn her as you slide on some jeans. "And the rest of them."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh God." His face falls hard. "Shit!" He feels for something at his knees, and comes up with your phone in his hands. "And Jenny was telling me to watch out for Seth!"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Jenny was telling </i>me<i> to watch out for Seth,</i> you silently correct her. "Yeah. And if you see Jenny, what'll you tell her about what you did to Cindy."<br/>
<br/>
"What <i>you</i> did to Cindy," she retorts.<br/>
<br/>
"What <i>I</i> did? Like those are <i>my</i> clothes? If you're <i>me</i> today, then it was <i>you</i> who—"<br/>
<br/>
"Shit." He looks like he's going to throw up.<br/>
<br/>
Then a little smile twitches at his lips. "Whoa. It's fun saying those things. Shit. Fuck. Piss. Cunt!"<br/>
<br/>
Before you can make a waspish reply, he drums his hands on the back of the seat.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, I'll take care of it," he says. "I'll just, you know, do whatever you would do, follow your instincts." <i>Oh God, please, don't,</i> you think. "But I gotta go. Oh," he adds, turning to snap his fingers at you. "I'll text you after last period, see what we're doing then. My mom lets me turn the internet back on after three."<br/>
<br/>
"I know," you tell her. "I'll be waiting." You have a sinking feeling of dread as you say it.<br/>
<br/>
Will snaps off a little salute, then hops out, slams the car door, and sprints back over to your truck. You watch him as you button up the blouse and slide delicate white feet into canvas sneakers. You hold your breath as the truck brake lights come on, and Will backs out of the space. He gives you another salute before driving off.<br/>
<br/>
Only after he's gone do you realize you were holding your breath.<br/>
<br/>
You clamber into the back seat and crawl out of the minivan. Joey's phone is in the front seat, and you check the time once you're behind the wheel. Will can make it to the school in plenty of time, you notice. Joey just wanted to get to Westside early.<br/>
<br/>
You're pulling out of the parking lot when you remember the excuse Joey gave her parents for running into town early—to get coffee and breakfast for herself and for them—and you turn around to pull into the drive-thru. Not until you are handing over the money does it strike you how normal it felt to finger through her billfold for the money. And then it doesn't feel like it was normal. It feels like it was very strange.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I'm back!" you call out as you come into the kitchen. With a scrambling of nails on tiles, Monday runs in, panting, to greet you. "Mom? Dad?" you call as you rub the dog.<br/>
<br/>
"Just set it all on the island!" your mom calls back from upstairs. You unpack the bag, then take your coffee and sausage-and-biscuit into the classroom. It's an asymmetrical hexagon at front of the house with tall windows looking onto the street, tastefully decorated with blonde bookcases and a large desk where your mom does her work. Your desk is a complicated thing of chrome struts and fake-wood surfaces, with a built-in bookcase and sliding drawer to hold the computer keyboard. A small monitor sits in one corner, leaving plenty of room for books and papers to be spread out in front of you.<br/>
<br/>
"You were gone awhile," your mom says as she comes waddling in a little later with her coffee. "Longer than I expected." The hackles on the back of your neck rise. She never says anything directly when she's unhappy. She just gets very passive-aggressive.<br/>
<br/>
"I felt like driving around," you reply. You hate the defensive note that has crept into your voice. "Sometimes I get tired of this neighborhood."<br/>
<br/>
Mrs. Tartaglione settles behind her desk with a sigh. "Maybe we could take a field trip," she says. "We haven't been out to the Suffolk Wilderness in awhile."<br/>
<br/>
<i>That's not what I meant,</i> you think. But you bite your tongue and lower your head and take out the calculus book.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
As you got started, you were anticipating the day with dread. But as you get into the work, you find that it's not so bad. By lunchtime, you find yourself half-wishing that your own parents had decided to homeschool you.<br/>
<br/>
For a start, there are no distractions—no other students, no noises from outside, no thinking about what's going to happen next period. There's just the work to occupy you, and it all goes pretty quickly. By lunchtime you have finished all your math for the day, along with the Latin and French and social studies. After lunch—which you prepare under your mother's supervision, using recipes that she sets out—comes the day's reading in English and history. Joey's parents give her a lot of latitude there, approving or disapproving of her own choices, so you settle in for ninety pleasant minutes with Anthony Trollope, followed by another ninety with a history of Venice. (Joey has already mastered the outlines of world and European/American history; now she just reads history for the details.) When your phone dings with an incoming text, it actually startles to see that it's three o'clock already.<br/>
<br/>
There's two texts, both sent a little over half an hour ago. Jenny Ashton's text is blunt, asking if you're up for hanging out this afternoon. Will Prescott's text is more devious: <i>Talked Jenny into asking u to meet her but ditch her n come meet me instead.</i><br/>
<br/>
Joey's is the better plan, probably. You could switch back with her before going home. But she got to have fun pretending to be you with Jenny. You could have fun being Joey with Jenny.</span></div></div>


path: 11132214111111121211111
author_id: seuzz
title: The Sudden Crush of Events
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You still owe your mother thirty minutes of reading, but your mind isn't on the preparations for the Battle of Lepanto. It's on how to meet up with "Will" without Joey's mother knowing that's who you're meeting with. You entertain various complicated schemes—including another McDonalds run—before settling on the simplest and most obvious course.<br/>
<br/>
 To Jenny, you text your regrets at not being able to hang out. To Will, you text instructions to pick you up on a street corner two blocks away. And you tell Mrs. Tartaglione that you're going over to Jenny's house to hang out until dinner time. She nods absent-mindedly. "I'll text you when it's time to come home," she says.<br/>
<br/>
You have twenty minutes or so to kill before Will can show up at the rendezvous spot, and you spend it in the bathroom. Using the toilet has been a little easier today, what with Joey's familiarity with her own body, but it's still a little weird. Much weirder—so weird that you force the thought away as soon as you think it—is imagining Joey dealing with <i>your</i> genitalia, and not just when she has to piss. You get at least a dozen erections a day at school from looking at the girls in your class. Did she get any? How did she react? Or, being a girl herself, did she just ignore the Andrea Varnsworths, the Yumi Saitos, the Mia DeWitts ... ?<br/>
<br/>
You change from a blouse into a black t-shirt and one of Joey's flannel shirts before heading out, and you give yourself a look over in the mirror before you go. She is cute, with an elfin face that tapers from a broad forehead down to a small, narrow chin, and her ears lack only a slight point to give her a decisively elf/Vulcan look. But are her features elvish? Or are they androgynous? With a sigh you conceded that they could go either way—that maybe she looks vaguely elvish <i>because</i> she's got a boyish look. Her hair is cut short, so that it curls up just over the nape of her neck, and she combs it to the side with a part. She has to, because it's not sleek and silky like a girl's, but thick and coarse, like a boy's. And she has no chest to speak of.<br/>
<br/>
You sigh and break eye contact with yourself before you can depress yourself further. Not having hung out with a lot of boys, Joey doesn't miss their company so much. But she does wonder how she's going to handle herself when she goes to college. It frightens her. It frightens her to hang out with <i>you,</i> it occurs to you. At least, it <i>feels</i> like fright when you trawl her memories for those times you've hung out. The beating heart, the twitchy skin, the wretched clumsiness while grappling for the right words, and the awful feeling that you're about to say exactly the wrong thing at the wrong time. But there's an excitement as well. <i>Like trying to ride a wild pony,</i> you think.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Your alter ego is running late, and you've plenty of time to pace the grass and swing yourself lazily around the stop sign as you wait for him to show up. You're on the point of texting to ask if something has gone wrong, when your familiar truck comes roaring around a corner and lurches to a stop opposite you. You run up and hop into the cab. The driver leers back at you.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey," he says. "Whadja tell my mom?"<br/>
<br/>
"The usual, that I was going over to Jenny's. So how did—?"<br/>
<br/>
"Whadja tell Jenny?"<br/>
<br/>
"That I was staying in at home. What hap—?"<br/>
<br/>
"Perfect. Where do you wanna go hang out?"<br/>
<br/>
You give him a long, steady look, until he guns the engine meaningfully. "How did you do at school today?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
He laughs. Is it your imagination or is there a nervous edge to it? "Oh, it was the normal," he says. "Mostly."<br/>
<br/>
Your heart sinks. "What?"<br/>
<br/>
"Whaddayou mean, what?"<br/>
<br/>
"What did you <i>do?</i>" you demand.<br/>
<br/>
With a laugh, he puts the truck in motion. "You wanna pick up a bag of fries or something someplace? Split them?"<br/>
<br/>
"No, I want you to tell me how you fucked up my life at school!"<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't fuck your life up, man! It was all normal!" He snickers again, and again, almost under his breath, he adds, "Mostly. Let's go by Carls Jr. It's close."<br/>
<br/>
"So tell me about it!"<br/>
<br/>
"Tell me about <i>your</i> day," he ripostes.<br/>
<br/>
"It was normal! I did your schoolwork! You got— I got you a ninety-three on today's math quiz!"<br/>
<br/>
"That's pretty good," he says. "But I got you better on <i>your</i> math quiz!"<br/>
<br/>
You pale. "We had a quiz in math today?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but you did fine. <i>I</i> did fine for you!" he adds boastfully. "Better than you could've done!"<br/>
<br/>
Your eyes narrow. "Is that how come my day was only 'mostly' normal?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well," he concedes, "today was the day we buried the time capsule in Mr. Walberg's class. That's not so normal, right? Oh, and you have to write a paper on what you put into it. And by the way, what's the flippin' idea—? Excuse me, but what kind of <i>goddamned fucked-up idea was it you had</i> for putting in a busted hair dryer?" He laughs. "I ain't writin' that piece of shit paper for you, Will!"<br/>
<br/>
You glare at him, but you only say, "Well, if that's all that wasn't normal—?"<br/>
<br/>
"I lunch with Jenny and them."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh?" Your hackles go up again.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah. I teased her and James, gave 'em shit about— You know, she's never told me about him!"<br/>
<br/>
You cast your mind back. "Yeah, I guess she never has mentioned him to—"<br/>
<br/>
"So that was fun. I got her pissed off at me. At you. But she's pissed off at you anyway. I mean, she really is, and not in that 'Oh, I'm mad at you but not really' way like she has. You know?" He casts a crinkly grin at you.<br/>
<br/>
"So you had to go and make it worse."<br/>
<br/>
"No, <i>you</i> made it worse by doing that thing to Cindy. But I get now why you did." He accelerates through a yellow light, even as it turns red. "You know, we could go by your place and pick up that mask, and you could put it on, and we could—"<br/>
<br/>
"We could what?" You swing around at him.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, you know." He hangs a sharp left into the parking lot of the Carl's Jr., and pulls to a hard stop in a parking space.<br/>
<br/>
Your jaw drops. She is playing your fantasy—her in Cindy's mask, you in your own face—right back at you!<br/>
<br/>
"Or," you stammer, "we could pick up the mask, and <i>you</i> could put it on and I could take off yours—"<br/>
<br/>
"But wouldn't it be more fun the other way?"<br/>
<br/>
"You mean you <i>want</i> to—?"<br/>
<br/>
"Or maybe we don't need the mask. Maybe we can just—"<br/>
<br/>
He leans in on you, and covers your mouth with his.<br/>
<br/>
There's a tongue inside it.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The kiss probably doesn't last long, but it feels like it lasts forever. You can hardly bring yourself to look at him after he's pulled away.<br/>
<br/>
But even as you grope for a reply or a response, he reaches over and starts scratching gently at the inside of your knee with a single fingernail. His eyes are downcast, but there's just the faintest trace of a smile on his lips.<br/>
<br/>
<i>What is he thinking?</i> you pant to yourself. <i>What does she think that </i>I'm<i> thinking? Am I supposed to react as her? Or react as myself? React as myself to her as me? Or as myself to— Who exactly?</i><br/>
<br/>
And while you're all jammed up this inside inside, he just keeps patiently scratching away at your knee.<br/>
<br/>
"Well," you finally say in a quavering voice. "That wasn't normal either. For me or for you!"<br/>
<br/>
He lifts his eyes, finally, to look at you. There's a very rabbity expression on his face—shy, but also sly and mischievous—as he smiles at you. "We could make it normal," he says.<br/>
<br/>
Your mouth falls open. He shifts in his seat, and his eyes fall again.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, uh, Will," he says. "I know it's none of my business. And this isn't, like, something we've both done before. I mean, you and, uh, Lisa— I know that's something you don't want to get into!" he hurriedly adds. "I'm just saying, we are hanging out together lots anyway. And I guess this was just my way of saying I'd like if we— Um—"<br/>
<br/>
"Do you have a crush on me, Joey?" you demand.<br/>
<br/>
His eyes roll in their sockets, and he takes a breath so deep that he levitates. <br/>
<br/>
"Do you think I do?" he asks in a squeak. "I mean, you, um— You know—"<br/>
<br/>
"Do you think <i>I</i> have a crush on you?"<br/>
<br/>
He freezes. "Don't you?" he asks through frozen lips.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Do I have a crush on Joey?</i> you ask yourself. You don't think you do.<br/>
<br/>
But you didn't think that <i>she</i> had a crush on <i>you.</i><br/>
<br/>
In these new and surprising circumstances, you cast your mind back to the feelings Joey has had around you, and— Well, now that you know what to look for, you'd have to concede that they are actually like the feelings you get when you have a crush on someone.<br/>
<br/>
So maybe she's just confused. She thinks that the feeling she has for you are also the feelings you've had for her. Because she, like you, are all mixed up with someone else in their head.<br/>
<br/>
That's going to make things tricky. Especially right now.<br/>
<br/>
On the other hand, though ... Okay, she's been a handful to deal with, but you have ... enjoyed ... her company. For the most part.<br/>
<br/>
"I guess we should switch back and talk about it," Will says in a low voice.<br/>
<br/>
But should you? It suddenly occurs to you that talking to each other <i>as</i> each other might be a better way of exploring your feelings.</span></div></div>


path: 11133
author_id: rugal
title: The Westside Book Club
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You can show them the book and Kim could certainly help you with this stuff... if she even believes it of course. But at the same time someone like Fairfax might just have the kind of detail-oriented mind that could help with something like this. Of course that doesn't mean that you can't just both show them the book and ask Mike about Fairfax either. So you decide to hedge your bets. You'll show them the book and if you can get them, or at least Mike, on board then you'll ask about Fairfax.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, all I did was follow the instructions that were in the book," you say as you open it up to the first spell.<br/>
<br/>
"Latin?" Kim asks as you hand her the book and she's able to get a good look at it. "Where'd you get this book again?"<br/>
<br/>
"At Arnholm's?" you answer more nervously than you'd intended. "I got for two bucks because the pages were stuck together."<br/>
<br/>
"Hmm," is all Kim says as she examines the book further. "No wonder the pages were stuck together," she says as she hands it back, "it looks really old. I mean what was the last book you can think of that was written in Latin?"<br/>
<br/>
"It gets crazier," you say as you flip the page back to the warning. You point to it. "It translates as 'claim me with blood'."<br/>
<br/>
Josie pales. "That is <i>so</i> creepy," she says.<br/>
<br/>
"I like the addition of the bloody thumbprint though," Mike laughs. "Really going the extra mile with that. It'd make a great prop in some horror piece."<br/>
<br/>
"That's my thumbprint."<br/>
<br/>
"Dude!" he exclaims as you show him the cut left on your thumb from your pocket knife. "That's maybe going a little too far."<br/>
<br/>
"It was," you start and now you're suddenly very wary that you're probably going to be embarrassing yourself in front of these people. "It was the only way I could get that page to turn. I told you that when I bought it all of the pages were stuck together and that included that first page there. But I did that and then I could turn the page."<br/>
<br/>
You notice the three of them look at you skeptically so you pass the book off to Mike. "It's true. Try to open that page with the diagram," you tell him.<br/>
<br/>
He takes it and pulls at the page. He pulls at it again and grunts. "Man, I don't want to tear the thing," he says.<br/>
<br/>
"What's the matter? Is a little glue too much for you?" teases Josie. Mike just shoves the book over to her in a wordless invitation for her to try. She trues to pull it but to no luck. She pulls it a little harder but again no dice. She tries to see if she can work her finger underneath the page but there's absolutely no space for her to do it. Turning red from embarrassment she then slides the book back to you.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't understand," she says quietly. "It's like it was one big, solid block. Like it's some kind of novelty fake book or something."<br/>
<br/>
Mike, though, is feeling jovial again. "Maybe it's magic," he says half-jokingly which causes Josie to make a face.<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe it is," you chime in, "because the way this works is that I guess as I finish each thing it unlocks the next page. I 'signed' the book with my thumb print and it turned. So if I finish polishing this," you say as you grab the mask, "then I guess that would mean this page would turn too."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't think it's <i>magic</i> like in magic spells or anything," says Kim, "but I could see it being like a magic trick. Well maybe not a magic trick, more like a puzzle perhaps? Like a mental challenge." She takes the book and studies it and you see her eyes begin to light up as she gives it back to you once more. "It'd be pretty neat to try and solve it and see if the puzzles get harder over time don't you think?"<br/>
<br/>
"Uh, so, do you want to maybe meet up after school and take a better look at it?" you ask her and suddenly you feel like a doofus because you realize that could easily sound like you're asking her out which you're not. Not that you wouldn't want to, Kim is cute with her long red hair and glasses, but you figure... well, you're just not asking her out.<br/>
<br/>
But if that's the interpretation one could make then Kim either doesn't pick up on it or ignores it. "That would be fun and I'm off work today," she says as she gives it a moment of thought; her face soon softens considerably. "Oh, why not? Sure, let's do that."<br/>
<br/>
Your heart skips another beat at that but it's broken up by Mike. "Man, if Kim's in then I'm in," he says as he flashes you a smile. "I kind of want to see what this thing has going on. What about you, Josie?"<br/>
<br/>
"Me?" she asks as she looks at the book and mask. She looks over at Mike and yourself and seems to relent. "Sure. I guess the book's kind of creepy but it's harmless right?"<br/>
<br/>
"So then we'll need to meet up somewhere," Kim says. "Unfortunately I don't really have anywhere."<br/>
<br/>
"There's the community center in Acheson," you chime in. "I've got a key for a basement in the old elementary school. Me and my friends have been using it as a hang out spot."<br/>
<br/>
"I like it," Mike declares with a grin. "I mean what better place to do magic than in a dank old basement?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't have any problem with it," Kim agrees. "Okay so we'll meet up at the community center after school and then Will can show us the basement if he's alright with it."<br/>
<br/>
You're more than alright with it to be honest. You've never talked much to Mike but he seems like a friendly enough guy, plus spending some time in the presence of Kim and Josie sounds like a definite good time. So you agree with her and plans are set to meet up there once school lets out.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Hey, so you know Philip Fairfax right?" you ask Mike as the two of you head off to Gladstone's class.<br/>
<br/>
"I know him, yeah? Why?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because," you begin to admit, "I've just heard he's got, like, this really mechanical mind and I thought someone like him might help with these, ah, puzzles."<br/>
<br/>
"He does," Mike says. "So you want me to ask him if he wants to meet up with us?"<br/>
<br/>
You nod, but then Mike snaps his fingers. "Forgot," he says. "I'm s'posed to make a video today with him and Carlos, some other guys. How about we all come out after to meet up?"<br/>
<br/>
You hate to say no, but you try to soften it. "Maybe just you and Fairfax?" you suggest. "This isn't such a big deal that we need to tell everyone at the school."<br/>
<br/>
You worry that you'll have insulted Mike, but he takes it in good spirit. "Gotcha," he says. "I'll put the bag on Philip and haul him out here after we're done making our video."<br/>
<br/>
You don't really want to know about what this "video" is he's talking about, so you ask instead how he came to be hanging out with Kim and Josie.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, it's not too interesting I guess," he says with a shrug. "Josie took one of the acting classes last year. I wasn't in the same class but the actors and theater people all know each other so I helped her out some with being comfortable in front a camera and on stage and stuff; I'll still help her out with that.. With Kim, I think it's because the two of them have to do some kind of two-person speech for their seventh. So we all got kind of mixed in together."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Fairfax studies the mask and the book for quite a bit in silence as the five of you hang out in the basement that's served you and your friends as a makeshift clubhouse.<br/>
<br/>
It's Tuesday. Mike was too busy with his friends to make a time to get together yesterday, but he's more than made up for it by bringing his friend Philip along. You're still more surprised that both Kim and Josie accepted your texted invitation to  join you and the others to study that book.<br/>
<br/>
"I think yours and Kim's assessment of how the book works is correct," he says, "or rather it's what makes the most amount of sense. It's always the simplest answer." He then takes the mask and turns it over. "How long have you been working on this?"<br/>
<br/>
"A few hours yesterday and a few hours on Saturday," you tell him.<br/>
<br/>
"It looks like it's barely even been polished," he says in surprise. "And you've been using this cloth?" he says as he picks it up off the table. He examines it and this causes him to shake his head. "If you need to polish it why even waste time? Nothing will get done at this rate so you might as well give up."<br/>
<br/>
"What are you trying to say?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm saying," he replies, "to get yourself a car buffer or something twenty-first century. It should probably work just as well."<br/>
<br/>
It takes you a second to process that and then you're kicking yourself. "I'm such an idiot," you groan. "Hey, I live right down the street so will you guys hang out if I go and check to see if I've got anything like a buffer at home?"<br/>
<br/>
Everyone else says they're fine with that as long as you don't take too long so you head up the stairs and out of the basement. You're surprised, then, when someone calls out to you and you turn to see that it's Kim. "Hey there," she says with a friendly smile. "Is it fine if I come with you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Um, you want to... with me?" you ask dumbfounded causing her to giggle.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, there's some stuff I want to ask you about. You don't mind do you?"</span></div></div>


path: 111331
author_id: rugal
title: A Renewal
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You're feeling awkward as you put the truck in gear and start pulling out of the parking lot. As you look left then right for any traffic you catch a glimpse of Kim looking absentmindedly out of the window. What's she thinking about, you wonder? She couldn't possibly be thinking about asking you... no, of course not. That's obviously not in the cards because you've never really talked with her. Not for a while anyway. You'd have considered her a friend in middle school and into early high school but by some point in the tenth grade she'd started to focus on the more ambitious path culminating her being elected senior class president just a few weeks ago.<br/>
<br/>
Your interactions gradually became less and less throughout the rest of high school and while it sucked at first you'd accepted that. You're just glad that Kim's ambitions manifest themselves benignly and not in the manner that they do for, say, Chelsea Cooper.<br/>
<br/>
"So, you wanted to talk?" you ask as you turn out onto the road.<br/>
<br/>
"Right," she says as she turns back to look at you. "I just wanted to know if you're feeling alright."<br/>
<br/>
"Alright how?" you ask in confusion.<br/>
<br/>
"About, well, you know," she answers rather obliquely. "It's just... I don't really want you to feel bitter or angry towards her or Geoff."<br/>
<br/>
Geoff?" you respond in confusion before it sinks in. "Wait, is this about Lisa? How do you even know about that?"<br/>
<br/>
"As senior class president I need to know these things," she states rather proudly, "or rather I make it a point to need to know these things. I can't really do much for the senior class if I don't know what's going on in it right?"<br/>
<br/>
Of course she'd know about Lisa and your situation. She's part of the student council with a lot of the other AP types, especially that jackass Mansfield; plus she's naturally nosy anyway. But you can't fault her for knowing or wanting to know like she'd said so you let it blow past you and try to swallow any negative words regarding Mansfield.<br/>
<br/>
Still, though, you do sigh a bit. "It does kind of suck," you tell her, "and it hurts but I'll get over it. I just need a little bit of time probably." As you turn onto your street, again it's a short distance between your home and the community center (almost right across the street), you steal another glance at her. "I'm surprised you're worried about me."<br/>
<br/>
"Well I'm worried about any of the seniors," she tells you, "but even ignoring that we're friends so I don't want to see you too down in the dumps."<br/>
<br/>
"Friends? Kim, we've barely talked in like two years," you say and quickly you're mentally kicking yourself. "Um, sorry if that came out pissy. I didn't mean it like that."<br/>
<br/>
"No, it's fine," Kim says as she goes back to looking out of the window. "That's mostly my fault; I let stuff get in the way but now that things hopefully aren't going to be as hectic..."<br/>
<br/>
"Are you saying that you want to start hanging out again?"<br/>
<br/>
"It'd be nice. Don't get me wrong I like putting in the work and doing what I can to help everyone and the school but it gets exhausting," she admits. "I do kind of miss being able to spend time with you and Caleb after school like we did."<br/>
<br/>
"It'd be nice," you say as you pull up into the driveway of your home. "I'm actually glad you agreed to hang out. I guess this book gives us a good excuse." You put the truck in park, kill the engine and give her an appreciative look.<br/>
<br/>
"I just wish I didn't <i>need</i> an excuse, I'm sorry. Tell Caleb I said that too," she says and you can note the hint of shame in her voice. "I guess I always felt so awkward about it though."<br/>
<br/>
You brush off her concerns. "Well, just forget about it okay?" you tell her as you exit the truck. Suddenly you're feeling a lot more bashful though. "So, uh, I'll probably be in and out but if you want to come in instead of sitting out here..."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Hey mom, you home?" you call out as you enter the house.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm in the kitchen," she answers, "did you need something?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, does dad have a car buffer around here anywhere?"<br/>
<br/>
"A car buffer? Why in heavens name would you ever need--" she stops herself as she rounds the corner and sees you and, you can tell from her gaze, Kim. You can tell from the way she's looking that she can't quite place her which is understandable considering it's been quite a while since Kim's been around. Any confusion is confirmed by what she says. "Oh, hello! You're a friend of Will's?"<br/>
<br/>
"Mom, it's Kim," you tell her. "Remember Kim?"<br/>
<br/>
"Kim? Oh my, yes! Kim, it's nice to see you," she exclaims.<br/>
<br/>
"Hi Mrs. Prescott," Kim says a little nervously. "It's been a while."<br/>
<br/>
"Forever and a day," your mom beams. "Have a seat! Do you need anything to drink?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm alright, ma'am, thank you though," she answers. "Actually Will's helping me and some friends with an art project that requires some polishing."<br/>
<br/>
"Right, we just stopped by because I figured dad probably has a buffer we could use," you tell her. "We'll be in and out."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, if he has one then it's probably somewhere in the garage," she says as she heads over to the garage door. "Here, I'll help you find it." To Kim she turns and says, "Have a seat if you want. It'll only take a minute."<br/>
<br/>
You follow your mom into the garage where the two of you look among your dad's tools to see if there's anything you can use. "I think this is it," she states as she spots a box with a picture of a buffer. You grab it and open it and are relieved to see it in there.<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks," you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
"It's nice to see Kim again, it's been so long," she sighs. "How long has it been? I honestly can't remember."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe the summer between ninth and tenth grade?" you shrug. "We drifted apart not long after."<br/>
<br/>
"You two got along so well," she says as she leans against a shelf. "She was always so pleasant. It was really nice having her around."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, things happen I guess," you reply not really sure of what to say. "We just had different paths we took. I don't think I told you that she's student council president did I?"<br/>
<br/>
"Really?" she responds though it's not actually a question. "I can't say I'm shocked, she always seemed very bright." She then gives you a very motherly smile. "You know, she'd really be a good influence on you."<br/>
<br/>
"What's that supposed to mean?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
Your mom, however, merely chuckles and brushes it off. "Oh it's nothing dear, don't worry about it," she says as she turns towards the door. "Just thinking that it would be quite nice to see her more regularly, that's all."<br/>
<br/>
Before you leave to head back to the others you make a quick stop in your room to get any of the leftover material just in case you need it; all part of the art project you tell your mom.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I think my mom wants us to go out," you say as you pull back into the parking lot of the community center.<br/>
<br/>
Kim just lets out a giant, surprised laugh. "Oh my god, what?" she asks in shock. "What makes you say that?"<br/>
<br/>
"She was laying it on really thick when she was helping me find the buffer," you tell her as you hop out of the truck and lock the doors. "Saying that it was nice to see you again and that you'd be a good influence on me and that it'd be nice if you were around more regularly."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh jeez, I'm sorry Will if I'd known my presence would've led to something like that..."<br/>
<br/>
You dismiss her concern. "It's fine, it's more funny than anything that's all. Just a mom being a mom I guess," you state as the two of you begin walking towards the portion of the old school and the basement. "Besides the two of us? I just don't see it."<br/>
<br/>
"Why's that?" asks Kim.<br/>
<br/>
"Well it's just that, uh, I'm kind of on the lower end of things socially. Like I think it'd cause Kelsey and Amanda and them to look down their nose," you say as you dredge up memories of the disapproving glowers they'd give to you when you and Lisa had started talking in May. "That and you just don't seem like you've got the time for anything like that."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't sell yourself so short, Will. You got Lisa to go out with you right?" she says in an attempt to boost your confidence. "But you're right on that second part. I guess I've been so tied up in all of this throughout high school that I haven't even really thought about dating."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"So somebody has to put that on?" asks Josie skeptically. "I don't really see how that would let the book know you solved the puzzle."<br/>
<br/>
"As best as I can figure that's what it says," states Kim; you're thankful that her Latin is far better than your own. "Something about 'absorbing the form' of whatever face it's laid on?"<br/>
<br/>
"God, that <i>is</i> spooky," Josie shudders.<br/>
<br/>
"It's supposed to be," Fairfax says calmly. "It wouldn't be as fun of a puzzle, I suppose, without a little character to go with it."<br/>
<br/>
His idea of using a buffer worked wonders, and now only forty-five minutes later you have finished something that would have taken you forever, leaving you thankful that you'd asked Mike about him.<br/>
<br/>
"So who puts it on?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
Everyone looks at each other. "It's your book," Mike says to you.<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe we should draw straws," Fairfax suggests.<br/>
<br/>
Josie gives him a look. "Or maybe the guy who says we should draw straws should try it out," she says.</span></div></div>


path: 1113311
author_id: rugal
title: The Test Dummy
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>What Mike says is true: you found the book so of course you should take lead. You admit there's trepidation but what's the harm? Besides with Kim and Josie here you can't help but want to be a bit brave to impress them... and impress Mike and Fairfax to a lesser extent.<br/>
<br/>
So you pick up the mask from the table and brace yourself by leaning against a stack of boxes. Taking a deep breath you raise the mask and put it to your face. For the briefest of seconds it seems like nothing happens, then everything suddenly goes dark.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"Oh my god, Will are you okay?"<br/>
<br/>
It's Kim's voice that you hear as you come to. How long were you out for? Doesn't seem that long really but you suppose that's because you spent all of that time unconscious so it seems more like the blink of an eye. You can merely try and shake your head to try and get rid of the grogginess. "Hey, Kim. You sound freaked out," is all you can mumble.<br/>
<br/>
"It was pretty freaky, dude," says another voice, Mike you realize. "You dropped like a sack of potatoes."<br/>
<br/>
"Michael!" comes the admonishing voice of Josie.<br/>
<br/>
"It's a crude way of putting it but it is true," says the calm voice of Fairfax as he and Mike help you to your feet. "You put that mask to your face and you were out."<br/>
<br/>
You're starting to feel a little better now. "I guess I just got too nervous or something," you say. "I can't say that I've ever gotten so nervous that I've passed out before. Where is that thing anyway?"<br/>
<br/>
The answering silence unnerves you. "A better question might be, where did it go while you were unconscious," Fairfax says.<br/>
<br/>
Before you can ask what he means, Kim bends down and picks the mask up off the floor. "It went <i>into</i> you," Mike says.<br/>
<br/>
That doesn't make any sense, and you ask him what he means. "He means just what he said, Will," Fairfax replies. He wears a very sober expression. "You put it onto your face, and it got very bright, and then—"<br/>
<br/>
He raises his hands to his face, holds them there, then drops them. "Then it just vanished."<br/>
<br/>
You lick your lips and glance around the faces of the others. They all look very serious, and Josie looks a little scared. "Yeah?" you say.<br/>
<br/>
"Mm-hmm," says Fairfax. "Then you fell over and we couldn't get you to wake up. We were on the point of carrying you out and calling an ambulance when the mask reappeared on your face." He eyes you closely. "It doesn't seem to have left you the worse for wear, though."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, that's a relief," you start to say with no little sarcasm, but you're interrupted by a shriek from Kim. The mask clatters on the floor as she drops it.<br/>
<br/>
"Jeez, what's got you so spooked?" Mike asks as he goes to pick it up himself. "I'd have expected that out of Josie not you."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh fuck off Michael," Josie says as she crosses her arms in a huff.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm just joshing you," Mike says, "you don't need to get bent out of sh--whoa!"<br/>
<br/>
"I am <i>not</i> getting bent out of shape," she replies in a manner that betrays her. "And what are you all 'whoa' about anyway?"<br/>
<br/>
"Here, take a look at this," he says as he holds the mask near her. "Notice anything?"<br/>
<br/>
Josie, arms still crossed, bends a little bit to look at the mask. You see her eyes begin to narrow as she focuses intently on it. Then you see a look of slight confusion appear on her face. She then raises her head to look at you as if she's studying you, then she looks down at the mask once more. "That is so freaky!" she finally exclaims as she looks back at Mike. "I think you should show that to him."<br/>
<br/>
Mike passes the mask to you and you study it. It looks like the same brilliant blue it had been once you'd finished polishing it and you're not sure what's got the two of them amazed at first. But you look at it a little more and suddenly something catches your attention. Popping out from the face of the mask is what looks, very faintly, like the ghostly hologram. Though colorless you can eventually make out that it's a face and with a bit more effort you realize that it's your own face. You turn the mask left, then right and are able to view the face from those angles. From the top down you can see a chest, shoulders, torso... everything.<br/>
<br/>
"What the hell?" you say as you pass the mask to Fairfax who looks it over closely.<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe that's the trick," he says as he goes over to the table where the book is. "Putting the mask on activates something in the mask which then responds to the book and should, in theory, allow the page to turn."<br/>
<br/>
"But that's bullshit because that implies that there's some electronics in the mask or something," you counter, "and I made that thing so I can tell you there's nothing electronic in there. Plus Kim said the book looked old back in the library so if it's old I don't think they'd have something that advanced."<br/>
<br/>
"Looked old, yeah, but maybe I was wrong," she says quietly.<br/>
<br/>
"There's what it did when Will put it on," Mike says. His voice rings loudly in the confined spaces of the basement, and makes your ears hurt. "I can't think of anything electronic that could—"<br/>
<br/>
"When I said 'activate'," Fairfax says as he opens the book, "I was speaking in the broadest possible sense. And we can at least try to confirm the broad hypothesis about unlocking the next page or puzzle," he continues as he opens the book. The rest of you crowd around him as he turns to the page with the spell.<br/>
<br/>
"Wait, what?" you say as you look at the page. "That wasn't there before." You point towards what looks like a stain, oval-shaped and approximately the same size as the mask.<br/>
<br/>
"Are you sure?" asks Fairfax.<br/>
<br/>
"I've seen enough mystic jungle society genre stuff to know that you probably have to put the mask on that thing," Mike points out.<br/>
<br/>
Fairfax does so for a moment and there's, you believe, the faintest of glows coming from the area where the mask is. Fairfax removes it and nothing seems to happen. But then he reaches for the page and is able to turn it. That causes loud gasps and murmurs from everyone else, yourself included. All of you had seen how the pages wouldn't turn no matter the effort put into it. Only Fairfax retains his stoic mask as he looks at the next page.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The reverse of the page contains a continuation of the spell, but it's not so long that it takes more than ten minutes or so to decipher with an online translator. It explains that the mask, if left "unsealed" will continue to absorb images and mix them so as to form new images.<br/>
<br/>
"I suppose this means," Fairfax says, "that if Mike or I put on the mask, it would mix our features with Will's, the way certain algorithms can mix photographs so as to form a composite or average of the originals." He cocks his head. "Very interesting that someone should have had the idea several centuries ago," he murmurs.<br/>
<br/>
"Or you could mix all three of our faces into it," Mike says, and Fairfax nods.<br/>
<br/>
Mike then points at Josie. "Hey, what would happen if we put it on Josie and mixed her image with Will's? I mean, if it copies the whole body," he continues, apparently oblivious to the green color that Josie is turning, "what would it look like between the neck and the knees?"<br/>
<br/>
The suggestion may have left Josie speechless, but she doesn't need her voice to punch Mike hard in the arm.<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe we should figure out how to seal it," Kim says after Mike has finished howling. "Maybe that's what the next spell does?" She pulls the book over to her.<br/>
<br/>
Fairfax pulls it back. "I think we should be meticulous in the way we approach this. Let's put another face in this thing—mine or Mike's, or both of ours," he says, and you notice he edges a step away from Josie. "We'll have time to figure out later how to seal it."<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, it's my face in that thing," you interrupt. "I think I should be the one to decide what we do next with it!"<br/>
<br/>
"That's reasonable," Fairfax replies. He cocks his head. "So what do you think we should do?"</span></div></div>


path: 11133111
author_id: rugal
title: Discomfiting Doubles
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"I think we shouldn't get too fancy," is your judgment. "Let's see what comes next." Fairfax makes a sour face, but doesn't argue.<br/>
<br/>
Kim's suggestion turns out to be right: the next spell in the book does tell you how to seal a mask. The materials required are nothing that you don't have since you had the foresight to grab everything from your room. Everyone pitches in to get the ingredients together, and soon you have the bowl with the completed mixture balanced on the sigil at the bottom of the spell. There's a bit of mist and hissing from the bowl but no loud popping or explosions like there was with the mask and within only a few minutes what's left is a gloop that looks like paint.<br/>
<br/>
You'll need a brush as you have to coat the inside of the mask with it. None of you have anything like that with you, but Josie and Kim find a thick painter's brush in a corner of the room, like something you'd paint a door with, and Mike dips it into the gloop and he coats the inside of the mask with it. It dries almost instantly and aside from that coating you see no visible differences.<br/>
<br/>
Going back to the book, however, you see that oval has now appeared on this page too so Fairfax places the sealed mask onto it with the same effect: you can now turn this page too. The reverse side essentially re-affirms that, now sealed, the mask can be used as intended allowing it to be used as a disguise. The next page is a new spell but at the moment the rest of you ignore it for the moment as everyone is caught up on that "used as a disguise" passage. What could that even mean? Another trick? Mike states that someone will have to put the thing on to see what it means and volunteers himself.<br/>
<br/>
He takes the mask, but having learned from your adventure he lays out on a table in case he passes out. The four of you watch as he then puts the mask to his face.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I can't believe it I just can't... can't fucking believe it," states Josie in amazement. You agree with her wholeheartedly. All of you do though none of you say it.<br/>
<br/>
Because what you see here, dressed in the now loose-fitting clothing of Mike Hollister, is yourself. Your own clone, your doppelganger, your evil twin, whatever you'd want to call it. Mike put that mask on and he'd been transformed into your duplicate. Even Fairfax had reacted with genuine shock at what had happened.<br/>
<br/>
"That's... that's still you, isn't it Michael?" Josie asks tepidly.<br/>
<br/>
Mike can only grin, an act which freaks you out as it looks unnatural on your face you think. "Up here, sure," he says as he taps the side of his head. "But physically, well, seeing's believing right?"<br/>
<br/>
Kim appears to be shocked more than anyone else as she looks at your double. You can see, too, a sense of unease on her face. "It just doesn't seem right," she says. "I mean if he put it on then that means... it means..."<br/>
<br/>
"Magic's real?" Josie asks as she's catching on. "Oh jeez, yeah, this kind of flips the world upside down doesn't it?"<br/>
<br/>
"t's not just that," Kim replies. "Seeing two Wills is just freaking me out right now. I don't really know what to say about it. About any of this."<br/>
<br/>
"I say we bring some more people in," says Mike; it's so freaky hearing your own voice speak in a way that is not you. "I really, really want to show this stuff to Carlos, he'd get a kick out of it for sure."<br/>
<br/>
"We still don't really know what we're doing," Kim tells him.<br/>
<br/>
"We're figuring it out though and so far so good, right?" he responds. "This just seems too cool to leave all to ourselves."<br/>
<br/>
"But maybe we should," she counters "This isn't something that we should probably be going and telling the world about or even a lot of people."<br/>
<br/>
"Right," adds Josie, "we should probably just keep it between us. If more people know then the word can leak out easier and imagine what someone like Chelsea could do with something like this."<br/>
<br/>
"At the same time I don't see much of a problem if we brought in a few other people," says Fairfax. "So long as that person was run by all of us and we were able to vote on whether or not to bring them in. I would have no problem with someone like Carlos for instance."<br/>
<br/>
"But even with just us there's the risk of it getting out," says Kim. "And even if we trust someone there's no guarantee that they won't slip up somewhere."<br/>
<br/>
You can certainly see both sides of the argument yourself. Having more people to work through the book might be better and you know that you want to tell someone, Caleb most definitely, about this. Plus if you're going to be using this basement as a work station then it'd probably be a good idea to let Caleb in on it anyway. At the same time, however, you know exactly where the girls are coming from.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea having access to this would be bad enough but what if Steve Patterson somehow learned about this? Or one of your bullies? Bringing more people in is definitely a large risk.</span></div></div>


path: 111331112
author_id: rugal
title: A Surprising Start
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>To bring in more people is most definitely a big risk; and it's a big risk that you're not willing to take at the moment. The possibility of someone slipping up and information about this getting back to Patterson or, god forbid, Mansfield is not something you want to think about anymore. Besides, aren't things like this generally supposed to stay between the people who uncover it? A sort of secret that binds everyone together?<br/>
<br/>
"I agree with Kim and Josie," you finally speak; you've been silent this entire time. "If more people know then it becomes way easier for stuff to get out," you explain. "Maybe down the road, once we've got an even better handle on things, we can look at bringing in a few people but until then? Forget it."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but even with the five of us something can still get out," Mike counters.<br/>
<br/>
"It's always a possibility," replies Kim, "but think of it like this: if more people know then it becomes less of a possibility and more of a certainty. I agree with Will," she says as she gives you a faint smile, "maybe later we can start looking into bringing some friends in but for now it'd be best if we keep it as is."<br/>
<br/>
"It's a fair assessment," notes Fairfax before looking at Mike, "and seeing as we're outvoted it's one that we'll have to listen to."<br/>
<br/>
"That's good because we should probably get Michael out of that that thing," Josie says as she reaches towards Mike's face. She then grabs it and gives it a tug. She then pinches it and gives it another tug.<br/>
<br/>
"Jeez!" Mike exclaims as he wriggles himself free of her grip. "You were doing that on purpose weren't you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe you deserve it for being an idiot," she replies with a bit of admonishing concern, "we don't know what that could've done before you just shoved it on your face like that. But I <i>was</i> trying to get it off for your information. I just thought it would pull off."<br/>
<br/>
"Wait you mean it doesn't?!" you ask in shock. "It has to come off, right?!"<br/>
<br/>
Kim and Fairfax go back to the book and look over the opened pages. Kim seems to find something and calls Josie, Mike and you over. "It looks like," she says as she points out the page with the seal, "that this is continuing from the actual mask itself so it's talking about how to use the thing. It looks like if you want to remove it you have to say these words here and then pull and it should come off."<br/>
<br/>
She points out a group of words that, you're assuming, are some kind of spell that activates the magic (and that's a strange thought to be having) so that the mask can come off. She then turns to Mike and raises her hands to his face. She looks over at the book again as she goes over the words than starts chanting them. As she chants them she grabs Mike's face and pulls and the mask comes off. Mike instantly starts to collapse so you and Fairfax are quick to catch him and lay him down gently as he changes back into himself.<br/>
<br/>
The actual change is very quick, taking no more than a few seconds at the very longest and it's not long before Mike is awake again. "That was a trip," he says as he pulls himself back up to his feet. "That's cool as hell though. I definitely see how that could be used as a disguise; nobody would ever be able to tell the difference."<br/>
<br/>
"Well you only looked like Will right?" asks Fairfax. "If you could somehow get his mind too then you'd be a perfect duplicate."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe there's something on the new page about that?" asks Mike.<br/>
<br/>
You go back to looking at the page with the others. It doesn't say what the spell does going by what Kim can translate. Mostly it goes over materials that you'll need -- most of which you don't have on hand -- and shows what the end result will be: a metal band that you'll have to inscribe some sigils onto. For the tools to do that Fairfax states that there should be some carving tools in his garage as well as an old buffer his dad no longer uses; you only got the one from your house because of location. You don't dare use it again because your dad would undoubtedly know if it was missing.<br/>
<br/>
It's decided that, due to having to get the materials for the next spell, you'll close up shop for the day and come back tomorrow after school with those materials as well as stuff needed to make up more masks just to be on the safe side.<br/>
<br/>
"So who gets to hang onto the book?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Well it's your book," says Kim, "so you should probably keep it right?"<br/>
<br/>
"That's true but maybe we should think later on about some kind of neutral storage for this thing," replies Fairfax. "In fact if we're going to be advancing through this book then it would be a good idea to only do it while we're all here. We make sure that everyone is aware of what everyone else is doing."<br/>
<br/>
"That's a little paranoid don't you think?" asks Josie.<br/>
<br/>
"It's probably good to be paranoid with something like this," Kim answers as she looks at the book. "I don't think any of us would do anything bad but there's no harm in having that level of security either."<br/>
<br/>
You then go over who will be getting what. You've still got some money left over so you'll get more of the mask material. Kim says she's been good about saving up money from her job so she'll grab the stuff that's needed for the next spell. It's agreed, then, that once you've got the stuff needed that you'll get in touch with everyone else and that everyone will meet back here. Numbers are exchanged between everyone and the five of you then march out of the basement.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I'm really glad you showed me this stuff," Kim says as the two of you stand between her car and your truck. "It's a little scary but it's really awesome to see that stuff like this actually exists. Kind of like... remember when you and me and Caleb would play Dungeons &amp; Dragons with Christian and some of his friends back in ninth grade?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, it's not actually a game," you tell her.<br/>
<br/>
"No, I know, but there was that magic element and it's just," she pauses, "I like that we've got the opportunity to reconnect. I really did miss being able to hang out together."<br/>
<br/>
"I missed it too," you admit and more shamefully you add, "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't completely written it off though."<br/>
<br/>
"I figured as much," she sighs. "That's my fault. I'm so sorry, Will."<br/>
<br/>
"What do you have to be sorry for?" you ask. "People go off in different directions all the time. You're doing great too; it's really cool that you're head of the student council now."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't regret it if that's what you're thinking," she replies, "but it does get exhausting some time. There are times where I just want to relax. I told you that I haven't been able to even think about dating right? But that's not true, I want to. But everyone sees me as Kim Walsh, the future valedictorian or something and not just Kim Walsh, the person." You can see her face fall a bit at that. "Some times I just want to be treated like a normal girl."<br/>
<br/>
Before you can think your mouth blurts out something to your horror. "Why don't we go see a movie some time?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
Her eyes go wide and she laughs nervously a bit and you instantly wish a hole would open up under your feet and swallow you. "I... I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking... I didn't mean..."<br/>
<br/>
But what looks like relief seems to wash over Kim's face. "You're... you're asking me out on a date?" she asks nervously.<br/>
<br/>
"N-no! I mean, I did but I didn't mean to but--"<br/>
<br/>
"Will, Will, it's okay!" she says and you can see her turning red. "It's just that... that nobody ever asks, has ever asked..." she pauses and you can see the gears working in her head. "Oh, why not? Yes!" she says with another nervous giggle. "Yes, I'd like to go to a movie. I've got some time off I can use so I'll call in tomorrow and we can do the stuff with the book but... Wednesday!" she declares. "I don't work Wednesday so we can go then."<br/>
<br/>
With that she giggles a little more as she leans up and gives you a kiss on the cheek. "We'll meet up with everyone tomorrow," she says as she walks around to the driver's side of her car before adding, "but I guess <i>I'll</i> see <i>you</i> on Wednesday."<br/>
<br/>
You're left stunned as Kim waves to you and drives off. You're only brought back to reality by an arm slamming itself around your shoulder. "My man!" comes the boisterous voice of Mike. You don't even really have much to say in regards to everything so you simply laugh, tell him you'll see him tomorrow and get in your truck.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You say nothing to your family, especially not your mother, about anything that you and Kim had talked about. You eat dinner quietly and don't engage in much conversation with the rest of your family beyond the standard updates on how your day went and such. Your mom does mention Kim coming by which doesn't get much of a reaction from your dad. You tell him about having to use his buffer but told him that it's returned back into the garage; he's slightly more reactive to that mainly to say that you should ask him before using his tools but after that is back to eating quietly.<br/>
<br/>
You go through the usual night time routine of washing up, making sure you've started any homework that needs to be started and so on before going to bed. However you're now feeling antsy and excited and you have trouble at first getting to sleep. When you do though, you don't quite remember the dream that you end up having but there's a pleasant feeling associated with it all the same.</span></div></div>


path: 1113311121
author_id: rugal
title: If They Only Had Your Brain
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Where'd you disappear off to yesterday?" asks Caleb as the two of you walk towards B-wing and Walberg's class. In your excitement over what had happened in the library yesterday you had completely forgotten to mention any of it to your friend. You hadn't really spoken to him at all, not even to call or text him.<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry," you apologize, "but I got caught up in things and... it's a long story."<br/>
<br/>
"That's too bad because I'm sure it'd cut into our 'jerk each other off before class' time," replies Caleb with typical sarcasm.<br/>
<br/>
"Fine," you say as you stop to loiter around outside of Walberg's room. "So I was heading to third when I saw Horner and Spencer fucking around outside of class; then I saw them go in."<br/>
<br/>
"Then you ran like a wuss?"<br/>
<br/>
You want to counter and argue but in all honesty you can't. "Yeah, I did; so what? I wasn't about to get my ass kicked," you tell him. "Anyway I hung out in the library for third period and ran into Mike Hollister and a few others and that led to us getting together after school. Kim says hi by the way."<br/>
<br/>
Caleb just eyes you oddly and shakes his head. "I don't even know who you're talking about," he sighs.<br/>
<br/>
"Walsh." You notice a flicker in his eye at that. "She was one of the people in the library; we reconnected." You can't help but feel extremely smug. "We're going out to a movie tomorrow," you say with a broad smile.<br/>
<br/>
"I think Lisa's driven you insane," he replies dismissively. "Kim hasn't hung around us in god knows how long so you really expect me to believe that not only are you talking to her but you've got a date with her too? You've lost it; gone utterly cuckoo."<br/>
<br/>
"Who's cuckoo?"<br/>
<br/>
As if on cue Kim's voice cuts in with a response. She's dressed in her typically modest manner -- sandals, black tights, a longish light-colored floral print skirt, white blouse and a dark blue cardigan to round it out -- and there's a bit of a spring in her step as she comes up. You notice a bit of a glow to her pale skin as she gives Caleb a friendly look and you a more flirty one. "Hi Caleb," she says with a small wave, "it's been a while."<br/>
<br/>
"Too long," he replies and you note that there's a tinge of bitterness. Whether warranted or not, Caleb's felt that Kim didn't just drift away but actively dropped you guys. He's not bitter to the point of hating her but it's always been a bit of a sore spot for him.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm kind of surprised to see you," you tell her. "I mean because I figured you'd be busy with, uh, stuff? Student council stuff?"<br/>
<br/>
"We keep all of that until the end of the day," she states.<br/>
<br/>
"And you're here because..."<br/>
<br/>
You glare a little at Caleb. You don't know if he's trying to be rude but he's certainly coming across like that. Though Kim, as usual, seems to either not notice or just ignores it.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, my class is a few rooms down from yours," she states. "That and I just saw you guys and figured I'd say hello." She then turns to you with a friendly expression. "I wanted to make sure that we're still meeting up today and tomorrow." You thrill a bit when she clasps your hands in her own and gives them a tight, affectionate squeeze.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, yeah sure!" you say excitedly before turning to Caleb. "Yeah, we're meeting up with those other people from yesterday too. You didn't have any plans to use the old hideout today did you?"<br/>
'<br/>
"Not really," he answers but he does raise a skeptical eyebrow. "Why? What do you've got going on there?"<br/>
<br/>
"Nothing," you answer, "it's just that we needed a spot to hang out so I figured why not? You don't have any issue with that do you?"<br/>
<br/>
Caleb assures you that it's not any of his business and he's fine. Kim then says that she has to get to class but that she'll see you after school if she doesn't see you beforehand while telling Caleb that the three of you should get together some time. Caleb, for his part just turns to you once she's gone and you begin making your way into Walberg's classroom.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, seriously, what the fuck did I just see?" he asks. "How in the hell did you go from Lisa to Kim?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's my boyish charm?" you reply and laugh as Caleb, in more of a friendly manner, thwaps you in the back of the head as you take your seats.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
After school, you all rendezvous at the old school in Acheson. It's some before everyone arrives, for Mike and Philip have to bring in some tools, while Kim and Josie make a supply run. But once everyone is together, you all get quickly to work. You and Josie work on making another mask -- and she and everyone else suitably freak at the loud hissing and fumes and popping of its creation -- while Mike and Fairfax make the object from the next spell. It only takes an hour to complete the mask, but the second object takes hours, so that Kim and Josie have to make a food run to bring back dinner for everyone. It's pitch dark outside, and you've had to fetch a couple of desk lamps from home, before Philip says that he thinks the item done.<br/>
<br/>
The result of all that labor is a small metal band carved all over with runes. According to the book (says Kim), you're supposed to place it on your forehead. Still wanting to show off and having already used that mask on yourself you volunteer to test this out as well.<br/>
<br/>
That still leaves the other mask to be used and Mike initially says he'll do it but instead it's Josie who steps in and offers to try it, saying that she's been kind of a wet blanket about things so far so she wants to show that she's all in with this stuff too. So both of you grab your stuff, you the metal band and her the mask, and take seats next to each other. You give each other quick looks of reassurance, then put on the respective items.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The mask copies Josie successfully but sealing is held off for the moment at the insistence of both Fairfax and Josie herself who's now feeling reluctant again.<br/>
<br/>
The band, meanwhile, shows your name floating in blue letters: William Martin Prescott. It's placed onto the book and the now expected action of being able to turn the page happens. It's a band, it turns out, that copies another's mind much like the the mask copies bodies. The next page is relatively straightforward as well as it's using some of the leftovers to make a sort of glue that will bind the strip to the inside of the mask. That glue is easy to make, the band is placed into your mask and it binds almost instantly. You place the new mask/band onto the book and look at the next spell.<br/>
<br/>
It causes all of you to deflate.<br/>
<br/>
It requires dirt. Lots and lots and lots of dirt; tons from what Kim can translate. However if you can substitute normal dirt with graveyard dirt then you'll need "only" four hundred pounds. Nobody is really sure how to proceed from there because you'd need either a backhoe or you'd have to dig around the cemetery (at night most likely) and neither seems feasible. So instead you focus on what you have. There's one completed mask of you that has your mind attached to it and one unsealed mask of Josie with no mind.<br/>
<br/>
"In theory," says Fairfax, "it seems that if someone put on this mask of Will then they'd be able to impersonate him perfectly as they should have both his mind and body. Whereas if someone put on this mask of Josie, then they'd merely look like her but would have none of the mental stuff to go with it."<br/>
<br/>
"So what do we do then?" asks Josie.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, if it's fine with you then I'd like to make another band to put inside your mask after we seal it," he replies. "With that you and Will could put each other's masks on and we can see how well that lines up with what I said." This causes shock and gasps and murmuring but Fairfax presses on. "In fact, I'd like to see how well this could go. If you don't mind I'd like to see the switch continue into some point tomorrow."<br/>
<br/>
"Tomorrow?!" you exclaim in shock.<br/>
<br/>
"Right. It doesn't have to be all day, you and Josie can work out how long it would be." Fairfax then gets a thoughtful look. "Actually I would prefer if you did that and didn't tell us when or if you switched back until the end of the day. If you switch back partway through and we can't tell, that would prove what these can do."<br/>
<br/>
You're reluctant but you notice a determination from Josie that wasn't there yesterday. "I'm fine with it," she says in a manner that sounds confident but you assume is probably anything but in reality. "If Will wants to switch then..."<br/>
<br/>
"But you'd be fine switching with a guy?" asks Mike in surprise. "Maybe you'd be more comfortable switching with Kim or something."<br/>
<br/>
Kim goes to say something but pauses and looks over at you first. "Okay, sure. If Josie wants to switch with me instead then I'll do it."<br/>
<br/>
"We already have their masks," Fairfax points out. "It'd be much quicker than having to make a new one."<br/>
<br/>
"It doesn't matter how quick it is," Kim counters. "It's after eight, and I have to get home. Besides," she adds, "I bought plenty more stuff. We've got more than enough for a third mask and band."<br/>
<br/>
So your company breaks up for the night, agreeing to meet again the next day. You are preoccupied all night with what Philip has proposed.<br/>
<br/>
The idea of switching with somebody else, especially a girl, is a radical thing that Fairfax is proposing yet there's something exciting about it too. Especially if it's a girl like Josie who's pretty and athletic. But you feel nervous too. What if you messed up things for her even with her mind? Maybe letting Kim switch with her instead would be better.<br/>
<br/>
Or maybe you should use Josie's mask for the experiment that you skipped, and put some additional faces into it to see what happens.<br/>
<br/>
<b>* You'll switch with Josie (non-canonical version): "<a href="https://www.Writing.Com/main/interactive-story/item_id/2236945/action/view/chapter_map/11133111211" target="_top" title="Interactive Story Chapter in Item # 2236945">Getting Familiar with the Unfamiliar</a>" <a href="https://www.Writing.Com/main/interactive-story/item_id/2236945/action/view/chapter_map/11133111211" target="_blank" title="Open in new window."><img border="0" height="12" loading="lazy" onmouseout="$(this).css('opacity', '.4');" onmouseover="$(this).css('opacity', '1');" src="https://www.Writing.Com/nw.gif" style="opacity:.4;" width="12"/></a></b></span></div></div>


path: 11133111211
author_id: rugal
title: Getting Familiar with the Unfamiliar
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>It's Thursday evening -- the week has gone by fast! -- and your occult study group is meeting again in the basement of the old elementary school. But you had the afternoon all to yourself, and you spent the long hours carving runes into a second metal band, while Josie did things with her soccer friends, Kim took care of student government matters, and Philip and Mike worked on YouTube stuff. But you can tell by the wary expressions on their faces when they join you, that they've been thinking about what comes next.<br/>
<br/>
Fairfax begins by again proposing that two of the group switch places. Before he can make the argument again that it should be you and Josie, you jump in. "I'm up for whatever," you say. "Whoever. The other person should just be up for it too." You find you can't look Josie directly in the face, and you wonder why that is, as you didn't mention her by name.<br/>
<br/>
So you're looking into a dark corner of the basement when Josie takes a deep breath and says, "Yeah, I'm up for it, I think."<br/>
<br/>
"You think?" asks Mike.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, I <i>know</i>," she retorts. "Is that good enough?" To Fairfax: "I want to get this out of the way as fast as possible before I can change my mind." There's a moment of hesitation as everyone looks at everyone else. Then Josie marches over to the table where you set out the second metal band for inspection, and grabs it up. She hops onto the table, lays back, and settles the thing onto her forehead.<br/>
<br/>
You haven't actually had the chance to see how these things work because you've been the one plopping them onto yourself so it's amazing (and a little unnerving you'll admit) to see a solid object just fade right into someone's head like that.<br/>
<br/>
Everyone mills around for a few minutes as the magic, you assume, does its work in copying Josie's brain. After a short while however, shorter than the time it took for the mask from what Fairfax says, the band eventually emerges from Josie's forehead and you snatch it up.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Josephine Grace Holden</i><br/>
<br/>
That's the name that shows on the band that you hand over to Fairfax so he can attach it to the mask; that's the name of the person who you'll be spending some time as.<br/>
<br/>
The process of attaching the band to the mask is very quick and soon you're left with two now completed masks. Josie and you hold them in your hands, Josie yours and you Josie's. You glance at one another and then Josie turns her attention to the others. "Hey, so we're going to do this but, uh, do you think we could maybe have a little privacy?" she says.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, right! Yes, of course," says Kim as she begins ushering Mike and Fairfax towards the stairs. "We'll just wait outside and you guys can come up when you're done."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
There's a noticeable tension as you and Josie say nothing to each other for a bit once the door's shut. It's to your shock, then, that after a few minutes Josie slides her shirt over her head and tosses it onto the table leaving you to see her, from the waist up anyway, in only her underwear.<br/>
<br/>
"Whoa!" you exclaim as you turn away trying not to catch an eyeful (much as you'd want to otherwise). But the tense atmosphere is still there so you decide to lighten it. "Didn't know you were an exhibitionist," you joke lamely.<br/>
<br/>
That fails though and Josie continues to say nothing as she takes off her shoes and pants. "You should probably start taking those things off too," she finally says.<br/>
<br/>
Not wanting to argue you comply. "I'm surprised you're undressing right in front of me like this," you admit. You're feeling self-conscious yourself so you can only imagine how she's feeling.<br/>
<br/>
"You're going to see it all anyway," she shrugs as she removes her bra.<br/>
<br/>
"I won't... I won't do anything weird," you promise her, suddenly struck by feeling like you need to take an apologetic tone for this.<br/>
<br/>
But that earns another shrug. "What you do in the privacy is between you and God," she says. "so long as you keep it that way I can't really do anything about it. It's not like you won't be doing anything I haven't done." With that she turns back to you, still clad in only her panties but covering her chest. To your surprise there's a playful look to her. "I won't be doing anything you haven't done either."<br/>
<br/>
You're not really sure if you needed that admission that she was going to jerk off in your body but you guess you can't be surprised she would either.<br/>
<br/>
"It's not really what you'll see physically that I'm worried about. It's what you'll see up here," she says as she taps her forehead much like Mike had done when he'd had your mask on.<br/>
<br/>
"You're not hiding any dark secrets or anything are you?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know about anything dark," she says, "but secrets are secrets all the same. It'd be like if you read through my diary only about a thousand times more personal. If Philip's right then we'll be able to know everything about each other which is kind of funny I guess since before yesterday I only knew you as a guy from math class."<br/>
<br/>
"Well I only knew you as a girl from math class so we're even there," you say.<br/>
<br/>
"That doesn't make you nervous?" she asks. "That I'll go from knowing nothing about you to knowing everything? That I'll know every little secret inside your brain?"<br/>
<br/>
"I guess when you put it like that it is a little nerve wracking," you admit, "but it's the same thing for you. I'll know everything that's going on upstairs."<br/>
<br/>
"Right which is why I want you to promise me, Will. I want you to swear to me that you won't tell <i>anyone</i> about anything you find in there."<br/>
<br/>
"I didn't really have any intention to so I promise," you tell her. "Was there stuff you wanted to hide though?"<br/>
<br/>
"Not hide," she says as she's suddenly looking nervous, "but there are things that maybe I want to say when I feel I'm ready to say them, know what I mean?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I get you. Well, I won't tell if you won't tell, how does that sound?"<br/>
<br/>
You extend a hand which she grabs with her free arm and shakes. The two of you finish undressing and grab the masks you'll be wearing. You sit down next to each other and glance at each other one more time. Then, on the count of three, you raise the masks to your faces.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You're not sure what to think of this as you search for your clothes and begin dressing. Here you are naked in a dingy basement in an abandoned school with another naked boy who you'd never spoken a word to until yesterday when that magic book came into your life. A magic book that can make masks of other people which act like perfect disguises. You brush a bit of long chestnut hair behind your ear. It's so weird to think that magic exists and it's a little scary if you're being honest but there's something cool about it too you'll have to admit.<br/>
<br/>
After all you'd seen what it could do when Michael put on Will's mask and then turned into a copy of him. A perfect magical copy of someone else. It was so exciting and you'd wanted to tell someone immediately. Well not just someone but Christine of course because you've known her for a long time and you've shared lots of personal secrets with each other. And she's the one who got you to go for the acting class last year when you were looking for an elective and like she insisted you would you came to enjoy it.<br/>
<br/>
And you wanted to tell Christine too because if magic disguises are real then maybe...<br/>
<br/>
You shake the thought out of your head. Those thoughts definitely belonged to Josie and not to yourself. But if you picked up on those then that means Fairfax's assertion that wearing one of these could allow you to perfectly impersonate anyone is correct. That's something really amazing you think to yourself as you finish getting dressed. With this that means you should have little issue being Josie tomorrow.<br/>
<br/>
You look over at the other person in the basement. A hunched figure, sitting cross-legged on a rickety work table in the basement. He hangs his head and stares into his lap.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Poor Josie,</i> you think. It's gotta suck for her, to be sitting inside your brain. It's hard to dodge the stray memories that come popping up, from Josie's school day, her home, her friends. You hope she's not drowning in some of your more lustful instincts.<br/>
<br/>
She was already up and mostly dressed when you woke, but you haven't spoken yet, only exchanged wary nods. After getting your shirt and shoes on, she moved into that corner of the basement. But you feel like you should talk at least a little before going outside to see the others.<br/>
<br/>
"How are you doing, Josie?" you ask. Your voice startles you, and you get goosebumps as you study the lanky figure with the stiff, straw-like hair sticking out in every direction. <i>That has got to be gross, sitting there in that body,</i> you think, then flinch at the unkind thought.<br/>
<br/>
The boy makes a face, then says, "How are <i>you</i> doing?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm doing okay. I mean, I'm trying really hard to respect your privacy."<br/>
<br/>
"You mean you're remembering stuff?" His expression darkens.<br/>
<br/>
You nod. "You could try asking me something, I suppose."<br/>
<br/>
He doesn't answer, but grabs his head with a scowl. "How do you take these things off, again?"<br/>
<br/>
Her gesture, you find, is crushing.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm sorry," you say in a small voice. "I know it's probably like a cesspool up there. If you want to take these things off and just tell Philip that they worked—"<br/>
<br/>
"But they didn't!" he cries. "That's the problem! You say you're getting my thoughts. So how come I'm not getting yours?"</span></div></div>


path: 111331112111
author_id: seuzz
title: Does Anybody Mind?
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"What do you mean, the mask isn't working?" you ask the straw-headed boy.<br/>
<br/>
He gives you a look. "What part of 'The mask isn't working' doesn't make sense?" he demands. "I mean, <i>this</i> part"—he sticks out a skinny arm—"works fine! And <i>that</i> part"—he points at you—"looks like it works fine!" His eyes narrow. "You said you're getting my, uh, thoughts?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, not like telepathy," you stammer. "But if you mean, like, do I remember—" You bite your lip as you get a vivid flash of the girls' locker room, after soccer practice today, as the girls changed out of their uniforms and into their classroom clothes. "Uh, yeah." You feel your face hotting up, and that makes it hot up even more.<br/>
<br/>
His glare narrows. It's an ugly look—a dark, mulish, resentful scowl—that makes you blanch. <i>Is that a look I usually get?</i> you wonder. <i>Is that a look I ever give my dad? No wonder he sometimes acts like he wants to slap me!</i><br/>
<br/>
"Well, I'm not getting anything," he says. "Where do you live?"<br/>
<br/>
"Um—" You find you have to think a moment, to disentangle Josie's address from yours, before you can answer. "When's your birthday?" he continues. "What's your mom's name? What's your dad's name? Do you have any brothers or sisters?" He grows more and more angry as you answer him. "No," he says when you ask if your answers are jogging anything loose. "I'm trying to picture your mom and dad— But I'm not getting anything!"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, you're not missing much. In fact—"<br/>
<br/>
But before you can tell him that he's probably happier for not being able to remember some of the stuff he might remember, you're interrupted by the squeak of the basement door opening. "Hey!" a voice calls. "Are you guys decent yet?"<br/>
<br/>
You and the boy exchange a glance. He hops off the desk. "I guess we better go tell Philip," he says. "This is something he's going to want to hear."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Fairfax frowns and pulls at his lower lip as he receives the report.<br/>
<br/>
"Interesting," he says. "I suppose the thing to do is—"<br/>
<br/>
"Unplug them and plug them back in?" Mike offers with laugh.<br/>
<br/>
Fairfax gives his friend a look, then says, "I know you're joking, but that is more or less what I think we need to do. Can everyone stick around for the next hour or so?" He glances around the group.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I need to get back home pretty soon," Kim says. Her eyes dart.<br/>
<br/>
"Then we'll hurry," Fairfax says. "You and, uh, Josie and Will come back down into the basement with me. Um, Mike too."<br/>
<br/>
"So all of us," Mike says.<br/>
<br/>
Fairfax gets a distant look, as though performing elaborate mathematical calculations on what Mike said.<br/>
<br/>
Then he says, "Yes."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It's the start of a convoluted shell game. Fairfax makes everyone (himself included) strip off their pants, then has everyone lay out side by side on the biggest table in the basement. Masks are torn from your face and Josie's, and when you wake you find two of her and another one of you, dressed in Mike's and Kim's clothes. Fairfax questions them about your biography, and Josie's, without success, and he double- and triple-checks with you that you got Josie's memories immediately on waking. Then he switches Josie's mask to Mike and your mask to Kim and puts them through the same interrogation when they wake. Then—after Kim has left—<i>Fairfax</i> takes one turn apiece in each of the masks, and reports after some long and intense thought that he can "remember" nothing of either her or your biography. He concludes by putting Josie's mask back onto you, then asking you questions whose answers he checks with Josie. She confirms that you get all of them right.<br/>
<br/>
But she's also lost all patience by that time, and after shoving herself inside her clothes she announces that she's leaving. "You guys figure it out," she says before running for the stairs.<br/>
<br/>
You and Mike and Philip all look at each other after she's gone. Somehow, it doesn't surprise you that the girls were the first to bail on the experiment. But no one says anything, and Fairfax hops onto a desk with the book and begins carefully rereading all the spells you've unlocked thus far, cross-checking the text with a translation on his phone.<br/>
<br/>
"I would hypothesize," he says after a while, "that we introduced an error into the masks during the manufacturing process. In the item that replicates memories, to be exact. However, the fact that Will is able to successfully extract the memories from Josie's mask when no one else can—" He pulls at his lip. "I would like to make another mask. Or at least another memory strip—"<br/>
<br/>
"I have to get home," says Mike. You also have to get home, and Philip, with a sigh, adds, "As do I. But," he continues, "if I have Will's permission to take his book and the supplies home, I can at least get a start on another item."<br/>
<br/>
"It makes an unholy fucking stink when you make a mask," you warn him.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm going to restrict myself to the memory strips," he says. "The masks themselves seem to work perfectly at capturing and recapitulating the physical image."<br/>
<br/>
You glance at Mike, who rolls his eyes.<br/>
<br/>
"Fine by me," you tell Philip. "Are we done?"<br/>
<br/>
He thinks a moment, then nods.<br/>
<br/>
"In that case—" You sweep up the two masks and shove them into a drawer. "Let's all go home. Suddenly, I'm starving."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You turn over the day's events in your head after supper, as you struggle to do your homework. <i>If Fairfax is going to make a new thingummy,</i> it occurs to you, <i>he's going to have to test it on himself.</i> You wonder if it would make you smarter if you put it on.<br/>
<br/>
As for the screw-up with the masks, you don't understand why it happened. How come was it that <i>you</i> could get your head into the masks when the others couldn't? Maybe (you theorize) it has to do with the fact that the book belongs to you—it has got your blood in it, after all. But why would that make a difference to the metal doohickeys but not to the masks?<br/>
<br/>
Close to bedtime, you get a text from Josie, asking for an update on what happened after she left. You tell her that you only talked a little more but couldn't figure anything out, and that Philip is going to try making some more of the metal strips to do some more experiments with. She doesn't answer for a very long time. When she does reply, it's to ask if you are going to be the guinea pig again. <i>I bet we all r,</i> you reply. Fairfax seems nothing if not thorough.<br/>
<br/>
And because Josie asked you about the rest of the afternoon, you text Kim an update. Her reply seems unnecessarily prim: <i>Thx Will. But pls don't text me abt this things. Now I have to delete the conversation.</i> You make a face at that.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The next day is Friday, and there is an extra exuberance in the flocks of students sauntering across the student parking lot toward the school. Too much exuberance for your taste, as you loiter near the entrance of the breezeway that connects the parking lot to the school proper. A couple of times you have dip out when you see someone—Lester "The Molester" Pozniak; Dalton Douglas; Stephanie Wyatt—heading in your direction. You don't want any of them (including Stephanie) to get the idea that Friday should be celebrated by beating you up.<br/>
<br/>
Eventually the guys you were waiting for arrive: Mike and Philip. You weren't expecting them to arrive together, but they come sauntering up side by side when they appear. "Hey, did you get the thing made?" you ask Philip.<br/>
<br/>
"Affirmative. The process was tedious but the results satisfactory. Exemplary, even, and I have already formulated a set of adumbrations for the further investigation of the phenomena. When we reconvene this afternoon I will propose several possible verification techniques to further extend our inquiries."<br/>
<br/>
Your jaw drops. For it wasn't Philip who reeled out this mouthful. It was Mike. He holds your eye for a moment, then breaks out in a wide, shit-eating grin.<br/>
<br/>
You look between him and Philip, who looks like he's patiently trying to hide his exasperation. You point between them, and gesture at their faces. "Did— Did you two, um—?"<br/>
<br/>
"No," says Philip. "I didn't make any more masks. I just used the <i>mens</i> on myself—"<br/>
<br/>
"—then prevailed upon my collaborator to confirm its efficacy," Mike finishes for him. "As our company can now attest, it was a resounding success." He pauses, then adds, "Don't I just sound like the perfect, motherfucking genius?"<br/>
<br/>
"Are the rest of us going to get a chance to try it out?"<br/>
<br/>
"That's the plan," says Philip. His brow creases. "That's the motherfucking idea."<br/>
<br/>
"I suggest," Mike retorts, "that you refrain from any attempted impersonations until—"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, shut up." You point to his forehead. "Any chance I could take a spin with that thing after lunch? I got Calculus, and—"<br/>
<br/>
"You will have a chance after school, Prescott," Mike snaps. "But presently, I am strategizing a  rendezvous with Carlos, for an extempore colloquy on the possible ramifications and complications attendant upon a— Uh—"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes?" says Philip, dryly.<br/>
<br/>
Mike's eyebrows work. "How do I say, 'I want to talk to Carlos about seeing a movie tonight'?"<br/>
<br/>
"How about, 'I want to talk to Carlos about seeing a movie tonight'?"<br/>
<br/>
"That's so pedestrian!"<br/>
<br/>
You follow them into the school. Philip soon breaks away to visit his locker, leaving you with the swaggering Mike. "So you can talk like him," you observe.<br/>
<br/>
"Converse like him," Mike agrees. "Reason like him. Emote like him."<br/>
<br/>
<i>If I asked a personal question,</i> you wonder, <i>could you answer for him?<br/>
<br/>
Because Josie Holden has a crush on him.</i></span></div></div>


path: 1113311121111
author_id: seuzz
title: New Partners, New Digs
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"So what would Philip say," you ask Mike, "if I told him that someone has a crush on him?"<br/>
<br/>
Mike's eyes pop, and for a moment he only stares back at you.<br/>
<br/>
Then he breaks out in a devilish grin. "Are you saying you have a crush on Philip?"<br/>
<br/>
"What? <i>No!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"I think you just did!"<br/>
<br/>
"I did not! I just— Fuck you!" you holler, for Mike is chortling wetly through his nose. "It's someone else!"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure. You're asking for"—Mike hooks the air with a couple of air quotes—"'a friend'!"<br/>
<br/>
You punch him in the chest, and he shoves you back with a laugh. "It's Josie, okay?" you shout.<br/>
<br/>
That catches him off guard. In fact, he reacts like he's been slapped. His face goes very white, but an angry red spot blazes out at one of his temples.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," you say, and glance up and down the hallway. It's crowded with students—too crowded to even really make out faces—so you push up close to Mike. "Yesterday, trying out the— You know, the thing. It's something I picked up on."<br/>
<br/>
"Josie has a crush on Philip?" Mike's voice is strangled.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah. Not massive, but— Well, she likes him a lot. I think— I got the impression—"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah?"<br/>
<br/>
"Look, I wasn't trying to snoop or anything. It just sort of came to me, and— And then I tried <i>not</i> thinking about it, because her and me talked about respecting each other's privacy—"<br/>
<br/>
"Is she going to ask him out?"<br/>
<br/>
"Huh? I dunno! Like I said, I tried not to think about it too much. But—"<br/>
<br/>
"So why are you asking me this?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because of that thing you're wearing. You can say if Philip'ld be interested."<br/>
<br/>
"What do <i>you</i> care?"<br/>
<br/>
That angry spot on his forehead has spread to engulf Mike's whole face. It is now a flaming pink, and there's an angry spark in his eye.<br/>
<br/>
"Look, man, chill out," you say. "I don't care. I mean, it's not <i>like</i> I care—"<br/>
<br/>
"Then why are you asking?" he demands.<br/>
<br/>
You're not sure. Maybe it was just to be nosy. But now you have to make up an excuse.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, if we're all going to be working on this stuff together," you improvise. "You know. The, uh, personal chemistry—"<br/>
<br/>
Mike's eyes harden.<br/>
<br/>
"Look," you gabble, "if she asks him out or something, and he says no, it could, like—"<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe we should wait to worry it if it happens," Mike says. Flecks of saliva appear on his lips. "And maybe you should keep your fucking business out of <i>other</i> people's fucking business."<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, I'm just—!"<br/>
<br/>
But Mike has already wheeled and is stalking away. You make a face at his retreating back. But it's yourself you want to punch in the face.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It might be your imagination, but Mike seems to ostentatiously ignore you when you see him in English class later that day. And in sixth period math class, you hesitate a very long time before shuffling over to Josie to ask if she's going to be at the "study thing" after school. She looks unhappy at the question, but says she will.<br/>
<br/>
<i>God, this is fucking complicated all of a sudden,</i> you sigh to yourself when you're back at your desk, slumped. <i>I shouldn'a shown the book to anyone. Or I just should'a shown it to one person. Caleb, I should'a just shown it to Caleb. It wouldn't be so fucking complicated. There wouldn't be all this trouble.</i> Because "trouble" is what it feels like you're heading toward.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You're not even able to get the full group together after school, for Kim has some kind of emergency student council thing. But that's okay, because Mike and Philip have brought another friend along: Carlos Montoya.<br/>
<br/>
"What the fuck is going on?" you growl at Fairfax when you are finally able to get him alone. It's getting on toward suppertime, but Mike and his friend are hard at work down in the basement, polishing two new masks with the car buffers they brought along. With them so distracted, you finally managed to catch Philip's eye and gesture him to follow you upstairs and outside. "I thought we said we weren't going to bring any more people into this!"<br/>
<br/>
"I understand, Will," Philip says. He looks abashed, and has a hard time meeting your furious glare. It wasn't my idea. But—" He pauses as the door opens, and Josie comes hurrying up to join you. "Mike said he felt really funny not telling Carlos about all this. They're best friends."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I got best friends too," you retort. "And I haven't told <i>them!</i> And neither has Josie! Right?" you ask her.<br/>
<br/>
"No," she says. "I mean, I haven't."<br/>
<br/>
Philip shrugs. "Fair's fair," he says. "So if you guys want to each tell one of your other friends—"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but then where does it stop?" you exclaim. "So I bring in my friend Caleb, and Josie brings in her friend, uh—" <i>Don't say 'Christine',</i> you warn yourself off in time. "One of her friends. And then <i>you</i> bring in someone else—"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not going to," Philip says.<br/>
<br/>
"—and so does Kim. But then what happens when Carlos starts 'feeling funny'"—you make air quotes—"about not having <i>another</i> of his friends in the group? Or Josie's friend decides to tell another of her friends. Or Caleb—"<br/>
<br/>
"I know, I know," Philip says. He begins to look harried. "And I told Mike that he could tell Carlos but no one else—"<br/>
<br/>
"Why didn't you at least ask the rest of us?" Josie asks. She's got her hands on her hips, but it's like she keeps glancing at you for support. "I mean, great, you're going to give <i>us</i> permission to tell some of our other friends. But why do <i>you</i> get to be the one to decide if—"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah!" you interrupt. "Whose book is it anyway?"<br/>
<br/>
Fairfax puts his hands up in total surrender. "You're right," he says. "You're totally right. I fucked up. So now I guess we, uh, say that we can't tell anyone else—"<br/>
<br/>
"I thought that was something we already decided!" you explode. "We already said that! Then Mike goes and—!"<br/>
<br/>
"Hey!" The shout comes from the basement door, where Mike himself is standing with a wary expression on his face. "We having some kind of conference out here?"<br/>
<br/>
You and Josie both look at Philip. He's gone very white in the lips, and he kicks at the ground.<br/>
<br/>
"We don't add anyone else to the group," you call back to Mike. "This is it. No more people get to know about this."<br/>
<br/>
Mike nods. "I'm cool with that."<br/>
<br/>
"Carlos doesn't get to tell anyone."<br/>
<br/>
"He's cool with that too."<br/>
<br/>
You glance between Philip and Josie. "That's what the conference was about." A trace of relief shows on Fairfax's face.<br/>
<br/>
"Cool," Mike says. "I just thought I'd poke my head out, see what all the yelling was about." A swath of pink runs over his face. "To see if, like, if you were actually trying to get someone to come out and <i>find us here!</i>" His complexion deepens to a fiery red. Then he turns and stalks back down into the basement.<br/>
<br/>
Fairfax nudges you. "That's actually the whole reason I went along with Mike," he says. "Carlos has a place where we can work on this stuff without worrying about getting caught."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It's a storage unit, you find out the next day (a Saturday), when you're invited out to look the place over. Carlos's uncle owns a storage complex, and Carlos has been given the use of two of the largest units inside the climate-controlled building. In one he keeps his workout equipment to make an improvised gym. In the other, he and his friends have set up a studio for watching movies and making YouTube videos. You also learn—you don't know how you didn't know this—that your friend Keith Tilley has been making videos with them. In fact, they have just uploaded a video featuring him.<br/>
<br/>
There's bigger news reported, though, which Philip delivers to the group—himself, you, Mike and Carlos, Josie and Kim—late that afternoon, once everyone is squeezed into the makeshift TV studio. He thinks he's figured out what went wrong with the masks that didn't work.<br/>
<br/>
"They do work," he announces. "Probably. I'd like to test them out again. With Will's and Josie's permission, of course." He pauses, as though expecting a reply, but neither you nor Josie say anything. "But last night," he continues, and he resettles his glasses, "we completed a set of new masks, for Mike and Carlos." The two boys exchange bright, secretive grins at the mention of their names. "Though I suppose they ought to be referred to as 'personas'," Philip continues with the air of an afterthought. "That's the term the book itself uses to describe the union of a mask with a <i>mens.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"A men's what?" Mike asks. Carlos giggles, and he and Mike grab and tickle each other.<br/>
<br/>
"A <i>mens,</i>" Fairfax soberly repeats. "That's what you call the metal strip that copies memories. And other things, apparently," he mutters as Carlos and Mike wrestle, oblivious to his reply. "Anyhow," he continues, turning to you and the girls. "We tested Mike's <i>mens</i> separately and successfully upon Carlos, and it continued to function on him even after attaching it to a mask to make the complete persona." He glances back at the boys, who have fallen back, exhausted. "But Carlos's persona, though it effected the physical transformation, wrought no mental changes upon Mike. Until after he had gone home and slept in it."<br/>
<br/>
Kim raises her hand, like a good student. "Do you mean that Mike went home and pretended to be—"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, this is boring!" Mike cries out. "Come on, we want to get to the next spell! Shopping trip!"<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
So a list of items gets made, and destinations assigned. Carlos and Mike will head off in one direction; Kim and Josie in another; Philip in a third.<br/>
<br/>
And who do you go with?</span></div></div>


