# chapters

path: 11312211322123
author_id: seuzz
title: Rumors at a Distance
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Your eye falls on your cell phone—the one in the peach-colored protective cover that Chris gave Summer. The clock shows that it's a little after five. It won't be long now before the other girls start to show up.<br/>
<br/>
A sudden resolve fills you: If you're going to experiment with a third identity, you might as well get started on it, and that means not getting caught here by any of the other Rumorati.<br/>
<br/>
You pack up your things and scramble out to the parking lot. <br/>
<br/>
For a moment you look askance at the silver Honda Odyssey you'll be driving. It takes you a moment to realize that it's not just <i>you</i> who don't like it. Summer doesn't much like it either. But you swallow your distaste and climb in. It feels very big around your diminutive frame, and the anxiety you feel as you turn onto Twentieth Street isn't assuaged by the knowledge that it's Summer's own anxiety. She barely feels in control of the SUV.<br/>
<br/>
But you make it back out to the elementary school without getting into an accident.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"So, I guess we're gonna be hanging out, huh?" Will Prescott says.<br/>
<br/>
"Not that much," you reply, and bend your head to concentrate on the mixing bowl. "Just today, and then we'll see." <i>See you never, if I can help it,</i> you think to yourself.<br/>
<br/>
You're only meeting with him now because you remembered, on reaching the school, that your doppelganger still had the key to the lock. So you texted him—<br/>
<br/>
In between the other texts you were starting to get.<br/>
<br/>
—and had him meet you. You thought you might as well get some use out of the extra pair of hands, but now you're having doubts about that.<br/>
<br/>
Because it's making you really uncomfortable the way he's looking at you.<br/>
<br/>
Summer is really shy, and the sensation of guys looking at her gives her prickly feelings all over. She gets a lot of looks and, truth to tell, she's been getting more of them, along with some creepy smiles, since she started going out with Chris.<br/>
<br/>
With a very self-conscious movement, you tuck a strand of hair behind your ear to keep it from falling into the chemicals. It gives you a better view, out of the corner of your eye, of the leering looks that "Will Prescott" is giving you.<br/>
<br/>
Oh, the golem doesn't look like he's leering at you. He's not panting and his eyes aren't watering. But he's not shy about looking at you, and looking up and down your bare legs and tilting his head to get an angle on your breasts. Your skin feels hot except where you feel his eyes lighting on you, and there it flashes into a chill.<br/>
<br/>
The worst part is that you know he's not actually ogling you. He's just looking at you the way he'd look at any girl or any acquaintance. It's just that this is what it's like to have Summer's feelings.<br/>
<br/>
"So, does this girl have a boyfriend?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"This girl has a name," you snap back. "Summer Nguyen."<br/>
<br/>
"That's what you want me to call you?" He grins. "Call you 'Summer'?"<br/>
<br/>
"No. You call me 'boss' or something like that."<br/>
<br/>
"Mm. Okay boss. But it's gonna be funny if we're hanging out together and— Hey, you didn't say if you had a boyfriend or not."<br/>
<br/>
You don't answer, and when you put a lighted match into the bowl all further conversation is smothered by the stench that comes pouring out. <br/>
<br/>
Then, after dumping the resulting liquid over the convex mirror, which hardens it into the shape of a mask, you set the golem to polishing it with the buffer that he brought over, which keeps him quiet for another forty-five minutes while you start carving runes into a metal strip. <br/>
<br/>
And when he's done with that you make another mask and set him to polishing it ...<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
In the meantime, while tapping runes into the metal band with a tiny chisel and hammer, you field texts from Summer's friends.<br/>
<br/>
Your friends. It feels very odd getting so many texts on a peach-colored iPhone.<br/>
<br/>
Mandy: <i>late? r u coming?</i><br/>
<br/>
You: <i>Something came up. Won't be there today</i><br/>
<br/>
Lisa: <i>LMG Yves</i><br/>
<br/>
You: <i>No something else. Private</i><br/>
<br/>
Lisa: <i>does yves know?</i><br/>
<br/>
Mandy: <i>ingore lisa</i><br/>
<br/>
You: <i>I am. Want to be there with you. What's talk?</i><br/>
<br/>
Mandy: <i>nothing yet</i><br/>
<br/>
Tina: <i>where ur and y not coming</i><br/>
<br/>
Lisa: <i>wont tell u things if u not be here</i><br/>
<br/>
Mandy: <i>not our business.</i><br/>
<br/>
You grimace as you imagine them making things up about you. You really should come up with a story for them. The more mysterious you are about your absence, the more they'll speculate about you and the more chance that some made-up rumor will spin out of control.<br/>
<br/>
Trouble is, whatever you make up, they'll question you ruthlessly about it, especially after you told them it was "private." That was a huge mistake, you realize now. Anything marked "private" drives the Rumorati into a frenzy. Especially if it's one of the Rumorati who is trying to claim privacy.<br/>
<br/>
Your phone goes silent for a bit, then comes to life with a message from Alyssa: <i>heard u are grounded what happened?</i><br/>
<br/>
Yes, that's just the kind of thing you were worried about. <i>I'm not grounded,</i> you text back. <i>Just can't meet for study session today. Busy</i><br/>
<br/>
Alyssa: <i>What's going on?</i><br/>
<br/>
Mandy: <i>thought u said u were grounded</i><br/>
<br/>
You to Mandy: <i>I never said that.</i> You to Alyssa: <i>Just busy with other stuff. Not important</i><br/>
<br/>
Alyssa: <i>lisa says u said u were grounded</i><br/>
<br/>
Lisa: <i>sorry summer i ddnt say u were grounded i said SAMMY is grounded and someone misunderstodo</i><br/>
<br/>
You: <i>Ok that's ok.</i><br/>
<br/>
Mandy: <i>alyssas making us write everything down so u dont miss out and we dont make mistake again</i><br/>
<br/>
You: <i>Thanks. Send updates?</i><br/>
<br/>
Mandy: <i>sure</i><br/>
<br/>
That at least ends the back and forth, and for the next little while you're able to concentrate on your work. Every fifteen minutes or so a paragraph comes through with some news. Though the notes are brief, you can tell they are the product of long conversation. You let them sit a bit before replying, so the next text conversations stretch through most of the early evening. <br/>
<br/>
Mandy: <i>derek and susie fighting at lunch again. heading toward breakup. she better not try going out with another baskebtall player.</i><br/>
<br/>
You: <i>I hope they don't break up but you're right it shouldn't be another guy on the team</i> (That's a safe reply.)<br/>
<br/>
Mandy: <i>do you think bekcy and joe are going to happen? have happened? should happen? we're tring to figure out.</i><br/>
<br/>
You: <i>I don't know. Why not? They're both nice</i><br/>
<br/>
Tina: <i>u and lisa on same page. she calls them nice and dumb lol</i><br/>
<br/>
Lisa: <i>hey you know antying abut frank? joe's brother? yves or friends have antying to say abut him?</i><br/>
<br/>
You: <i>No. Why?</i><br/>
<br/>
Mandy: <i>tell lisa shut up we're not talking abt that.</i><br/>
<br/>
That last exchange comes in late enough in the evening that you decide to use it as a hook to catch Lisa. <i>I've got stuff about Frank only for you. Don't tell anyone, but come by my place around 9</i><br/>
<br/>
Lisa: <i>????? ok</i><br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It was a little before eight when you sent that text, and you have to send her a follow up saying <i>930?</i> when it gets too close to the rendezvous time without your being done with the mask. But by 9:20 you're home, with a completed mask ready to use on her. She rings the doorbell at 9:35, and after giving her a quick hug in the foyer you lead her back into your bedroom.<br/>
<br/>
Lisa Rickover is a hard girl to like. She has a sharp face, almost hatchet-like, with satirical eyes and a flat blonde bob that gives her a slightly mannish appearance. Like Summer she is skinny, but her Scandinavian coloring doesn't flatter her shape the way Summer's more exotic ethnicity flatters hers.<br/>
<br/>
"So where were you?" Lisa asks after you've shut the bedroom door. She turns on you with folded arms, as though expecting a damn good explanation for your playing hooky.<br/>
<br/>
"I had a project I had to work on," you reply, and you're very conscious of how soft and shy your voice sounds. (Lisa has a loud, honking voice.) "It's, um, this." You hold up the mask.<br/>
<br/>
Lisa just has time to crinkle her brow and frown at it when you shove it into her face. She falls backward, like a plank, onto the bed. The mask has already dissolved into her, leaving her to stare blankly at the ceiling, by the time the bed has stopped shaking.<br/>
<br/>
You wish you had some kind of clever quip you could murmur over her. But you don't. So for the next few minutes you just stare at her. Her clothing is as unfashionably direct as she is: blue athletic shorts; a short-sleeve, lavender button-up blouse that she wears untucked; ankle socks and ratty Converse tennis shoes. She isn't even wearing any makeup.<br/>
<br/>
You rub her skinny calves. The muscles are harder than you would have supposed, as though she has trained them for track.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Oh, God <i>damn</i> it, Lisa, I <i>told</i> you not to tell the others!" You fight back the tears of anger.<br/>
<br/>
She sulks. "That was before— Whatever this is we've got going." She snorts.<br/>
<br/>
Lisa Rickover looks angry, confused, and a little bit scared. She would. You've been ordering her to do things she'd never do, like giving you all the money in her billfold and confessing that she intentionally started that rumor about you being grounded.<br/>
<br/>
So that confirms she is your slave now, and that you now have a second identity within Eastman.<br/>
<br/>
So why not a fourth?</span></div></div>


path: 113122113221232
author_id: seuzz
title: Of Hooks and Hooky
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Lisa Rickover stares at you sullenly. You're tempted to rip her face off.<br/>
<br/>
You could if you wanted to, and she couldn't stop you. She's wearing a mask of herself, and it's got some stuff in that makes you her slave.<br/>
<br/>
But you fight down the temptation, and lean back against the edge of your desk with your arms folded, as though you were a teacher confronting a naughty student. Lisa certainly has the expression of a girl who's been caught doing something bad, and is truculently unrepentant about it.<br/>
<br/>
It's two things she's done that piss you off.<br/>
<br/>
First of all, despite your telling her not to, she shared with the other Rumorati at the coffee house the text you sent her about Frank Durras: <i>I've got stuff about Frank only for you. Don't tell anyone, but come by my place around 9.</i> And you didn't want her to share it because you didn't actually have any news. That text was just a hook so you could get her alone.<br/>
<br/>
But now all the rest of the Rumorati will be wondering what extremely juicy gossip it was that you only could share with her. If Lisa was going to double-cross you by telling them you had some gossip, she would certainly double-cross you by sharing it with them.<br/>
<br/>
Along about ten her phone will probably start dinging with breathless texts asking what she's heard.<br/>
<br/>
And the other reason you're ticked at her? Well, that's more personal. She tried starting a rumor that you'd been grounded, and only when she got caught out did she pretend she'd said it about Sammy Orson. It was obvious that she would be caught out, so the fact that she even tried shows just how spiteful she feels toward you.<br/>
<br/>
Well, toward Summer Nguyen.<br/>
<br/>
Briefly you're tempted to switch out masks, and to find out why Lisa has such ill-concealed hostility for Summer.<br/>
<br/>
But you suppress it. Not that you're very tempted. Summer is far sexier than Lisa. <i>And</i> Summer has a girlfriend, while Lisa has nobody.<br/>
<br/>
Maybe that's the root of Lisa's problem with Summer?<br/>
<br/>
"Well?" Lisa says. That's when you realize you've been staring at her. You make a face back at her.<br/>
<br/>
"Tell them—" You catch yourself. "People are going to ask you what I told you. Right?"<br/>
<br/>
"Probably," she mutters.<br/>
<br/>
"Tell them you have to check on some stuff first. Tell them—" You tense all over. "Tell them you don't believe me. Personally, you think I'm full of shit." The scatology doesn't come trippingly off Summer's tongue. You ignore the sly smile that is forming on Lisa's face. "Tell them—"<br/>
<br/>
You glance over at your book bag. It contains all the stuff you need to complete the second mask, but you probably won't be able to get it done until tomorrow.<br/>
<br/>
"Tell them it's something you have to talk about with Alyssa first."<br/>
<br/>
"Mm-hm?" Her expression turns puckish.<br/>
<br/>
"And if Alyssa asks you what it's about, just tell her you're checking some things out."<br/>
<br/>
She continues to smile. "Anything else?"<br/>
<br/>
You're at a loss, until you spot the obvious loophole. "And don't tell anyone I told you to say this stuff."<br/>
<br/>
Her expression falls. "Alright," she grumbles. "How long do I have to keep telling people this?"<br/>
<br/>
"Until I tell you otherwise. Oh, and skip the study session tomorrow."<br/>
<br/>
Hatred shows in her eyes.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You wake early the next morning despite having stayed up very late, and take a long shower during which you explore your new body all over with lots of lather and body wash. You put on a sleeveless dress with a very short skirt, but in deference to the weather you wear stockings underneath. You slide on bracelets and stick on some earrings, and you pin your hair back with some silver clips. When you're done, you look yourself up and down with the camera in your phone. On an impulse you snap a picture of yourself looking very gravely into the lens and post it to social media.<br/>
<br/>
It has already got a dozen likes by the time you get to school.<br/>
<br/>
Eastman High sits in the northeastern part of town, and if it was once on the edge of town, Saratoga High has long since grown up around it. It is surrounded on three sides by small, tidy houses, and sits across the street from a busy commercial district of strip centers, gas stations, and fast food restaurants. Buchanan Boulevard is a giant, slow-moving traffic jam every school morning, and you are only ten minutes from the first bell when you finally get a parking space.<br/>
<br/>
But then, it's not like you rushed to school. You're likely to be mobbed by the other Rumorati if you show up too soon.<br/>
<br/>
Sure enough, Tina Branson is waiting by your locker. "So what happened to you yesterday?" she asks in that lazy Georgia accent of hers.<br/>
<br/>
"I had some errands I had to run," you reply as you open your locker. "Then it was just easiest to go home. Besides—" You push your bag into your locker and wedge yourself between it and Tina, so she won't see what's inside it. "I had homework I had to get done, and I couldn't get it done if I was with you guys."<br/>
<br/>
Tina clucks her tongue. "Did these errands take you anyplace interesting?"<br/>
<br/>
"Tina," a voice sounds behind you, and you glance back to see Mandy Simpson push her way forward. "Stop bother Summer." She grasps her friend by the upper arm.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not bothering her!" Tina protests. "Summer, tell Mandy I'm—"<br/>
<br/>
But Mandy is already dragging Tina off into the crowd. You'd feel relief, except that you read in the bright glance Mandy shoots you over her shoulder the intention to grab you all to herself later on.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You spend the rest of the day dodging Mandy and Tina and Maddy Caron. (Lisa seems to be avoiding you.) It's made harder by the fact that Chris Yves appears to be absent, so you can't disappear into  her company. But your luck holds until the start of eighth period, when Alyssa Randal finally corners you.<br/>
<br/>
Alyssa isn't just the unofficial president of the Rumorati. She's also the head cheerleader, and like Chelsea at Westside, she seems to think that running the affairs of the student body is part of her job description. There the resemblance to Chelsea ends, however, for Alyssa, physically, is a buxom African-American girl, and she is much nicer than Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
But at the moment she is being just as forceful as her Westside counterpart, for after putting one arm around your waist she slams your locker shut and very firmly draws you down the hallway and out a side door. "Summer, sweetheart," she says as she stares you down with her big, brown eyes. "What did you tell Lisa last night?"<br/>
<br/>
You pretend to be shocked, and let your eyes widen. "What are you talking about?"<br/>
<br/>
"Lisa went out to your place last night. You had something to tell her."<br/>
<br/>
You gasp. "I told her not to tell anyone!" you squeal.<br/>
<br/>
Alyssa snorts softly. "This is why I want to know what you told her. I thought you'd have noticed, but Lisa isn't exactly your friend. So what did you tell her?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, God!" You hide your mouth with the back of your hand, and look away. You gulp.<br/>
<br/>
"Well," you continue after you've pretended to master yourself. "I don't think she believed me. Wait, what did she tell you?"<br/>
<br/>
"She didn't tell <i>me</i> anything, but she told the others— It's something about Frank? Frank Durras?"<br/>
<br/>
You nod guiltily, and look around.<br/>
<br/>
"What is it?"<br/>
<br/>
"Look, I can't tell you here, and I can't— Can you meet me someplace special, tonight, around six o'clock?"<br/>
<br/>
"Where? The Flying Saucer?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, no! I can't— I've been trying not to— Look, do you know the old elementary school down in Acheson?" She shakes her head. With trembling hands you take out your cell phone and use Google Maps to show her the location. "If you can meet me there at six, I want to talk to you about— I can tell you what—?"<br/>
<br/>
"Summer, sweetheart, are you in some kind of trouble? Is Frank in some kind of trouble?"<br/>
<br/>
"No! But after the deal with Lisa— Look, that's the neighborhood where I'll be, so—" The bell rings. "Please, Alyssa?" You give her your best puppy dog eyes.<br/>
<br/>
She sighs, but agrees to meet you there at the agreed-upon time. You snuffle out your thanks.<br/>
<br/>
Inside, though, you are warmly congratulating yourself on having baited another special hook for another special person.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"You know, Summer, I don't give you enough credit," you sigh. You stretch your arms and lie back on the table. You're undressed, and your dark, strong thighs are splayed out, and you cradle your prodigious boobs to keep them from flopping around. "I didn't see <i>that</i> coming."<br/>
<br/>
Summer—actually it's Alyssa Randal under Summer's mask—nods shyly.<br/>
<br/>
"Mmm." You put your head back and smile. It's good to be the head cheerleader of Eastman High. Better to be the unofficial head of the Rumorati. You've no worries about them now.<br/>
<br/>
Alyssa had met you at the appointed time. As she rolled her car window down, you'd slammed a mask—finished just in time—into her face. Then, after a little more work, you'd guided her down into the basement to complete the swap.<br/>
<br/>
Not that it's a permanent swap. You too much like the idea of running things from behind Summer's face. As you've just admitted in Alyssa's throaty drawl, no one would see it coming from Summer.<br/>
<br/>
But you want Alyssa's brain to figure out who's next.<br/>
<br/>
The most obvious course, naturally, is to complete your takeover of the Rumorati. There will be no more awkward questions when Tina, Maddy, and Mandy are part of Team Summer.<br/>
<br/>
Or maybe you should set a spy on Chelsea. You're not really scared of her anymore, but setting a mask on someone close to her could prove useful.<br/>
<br/>
Or maybe you should branch out, plant agents in every corner of Eastman. </span></div></div>


path: 113122113222
author_id: rugal
title: Only a Stepping Stone
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You awaken with a jolt as the alarm on your phone rings quite loudly and in still half-asleep daze you reach over to the bedside table where it sits, fumble around with it and finally shut it up. <i>Just ten more minutes,</i> you think but you know you're generally on a tight schedule so ten minutes is something you can't afford. With a groan you sit up and with a yawn you stretch before hopping out of bed. You dig through your closet for an outfit to wear and when you're satisfied with what you've got you lay it out on the bed.<br/>
<br/>
After that it's a trip to the bathroom to take a shower which feels oh so good and serves to make sure that you're really awake with the warm water doing almost as good a job as your hands at helping with that. Afterwards you get dressed in the outfit you had laid out, accessorize as necessary and apply any makeup you feel is required. That done you snap a selfie and post it to Instagram... not that you like doing it necessarily but hanging around Alyssa and coming out of your shell make it practically a requirement.<br/>
<br/>
You skip on breakfast this morning because you have places you need to be and the traffic on Buchanan means you may very well be late getting to school if you waste any more time than necessary. Instead of making the beeline to 20th as normal however you drive in the opposite direction until you arrive at the community center. It doesn't take long since you're coming from the far eastern side of Acheson but still time is of the essence. Quickly you pull in next to the lone truck there though facing the opposite direction so the only thing you need to do is lower your window.<br/>
<br/>
"You get that finished?" you ask Will once he's lowered his window as well. He doesn't say a word but simply hands you a mask shining a brilliant blue. "Great! And the other stuff?"<br/>
<br/>
"That too," he says as he produces a bag that contains everything needed to seal the mask, a band and glue to attach it, a container with some graveyard dirt and a clump of hair as well as a lighter.<br/>
<br/>
Another positive response and you take that too. "Did you stash the buffer in the basement like I told you?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Well yeah, but dad's going to be pissed if he finds out it's missing," he replies.<br/>
<br/>
At that you can only shrug your shoulders. "Not really my problem," you tell him. "Besides when's the last time you saw dad using int? He won't notice."<br/>
<br/>
"What if he does?"<br/>
<br/>
Another shrug and this time you hold your hand out afterwards much to his confusion. "The key," you tell him impatiently. "For the basement? Hand it over."<br/>
<br/>
"But then I won't have one," he pouts.<br/>
<br/>
"So get a copy made of Caleb's," you tell him. "I don't really care, just give it to me."<br/>
<br/>
With a grumble he pulls it off of his keyring and hands it over to you. "So are we gonna talk again any time soon?" he asks as his eyes roam up and down you. That causes you to shiver.<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe, but it's not going to be Summer you're talking to so if you see her don't try talking to her again," you answer. That only gets a confused response out of him but you don't expand on it. Instead you simply wave goodbye, put the window up and head out back onto the main road and towards 20th.<br/>
<br/>
As you drive to Eastman you muse that Summer seems to have a pretty good thing going: she's pretty, decently smart, friends with some of the most popular girls in school, has a girlfriend. All told it's not a particularly bad life. Good thing for her then that she'll have it back by the end of the day.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Making the switch hadn't been terribly hard. Two days ago you'd made that mask of Summer and were quite unsure of what to do. She'd make a good hiding spot and a place to think though so the next day you'd waited at the Crystal Cave and when she came in wasted no time in dropping it on her. With the mask having been treated she was then under your control so you brought her out to the school basement to make the switch leaving you as Summer while the real girl was under the treated mask of you.<br/>
<br/>
Not sure what to do afterwards you decided to just head back to the Cave and wait for her friends (used very loosely in regards to Lisa Rickover) to trickle in for a "study session" that, in reality, was nothing more than an excuse to exchange gossip and work on what information -- and what version of that information -- to present to Alyssa.<br/>
<br/>
It was all very complicated and even with Summer's mind and insticts to guide you it felt overwhelming. If anything they didn't help at all because when it comes to gossip and rumormongering it's not something that Summer's good at. Summer, by her nature, is rather meek and the world of popularity and gossip is very new to her. It's only because Alyssa, for whatever reason, took an interest in her that she came into her circle of information brokers.<br/>
<br/>
Compared to the others, Summer is way out of her depth. Lisa may be a scheming bitch but few are better at ferreting out information and knowing how to use it. Mandy Simpson is pretty and bubbly and popular while Maddy Caron is cool and sultry and people, especially guys, hand things over to them easily. Tina Branson's kind and down to earth and has a way of making one feel at ease and like they're the center of her attention. Natalie Dawkins has an in with most of the peripheral groups -- stoners and bohemians and such -- that makes her useful too.<br/>
<br/>
So Summer's not sure what she herself brings to the table and quite frankly neither are you. That's why after the session broke for the evening you called your double and told him to meet you back at the community center. There you made another mask though you said nothing about why to him and in fact got snippy when he did ask.<br/>
<br/>
When the mask was finished you locked up and told him to buff it and in the morning to drop the buffer off at the basement and meet you there.<br/>
<br/>
That brings you up to now. You'd spent a good chunk of last night thinking hard on what you were going to do. Summer might be meek but in spite of, or maybe because of, that she's on good terms with lots of people. Summer on her own doesn't offer anything you want and you plan on releasing her once the change is made since it'd be a waste to use another mask on her... that's if you can even have more than one of these things under your control.<br/>
<br/>
As a stepping stone to someone else, however, she'll fill your need quite nicely.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You arrive with maybe ten minutes to spare if you're lucky so it's a rush to get to Summer's locker and grab what she needs, especially when Alyssa corners you to make sure that everything's okay as well as inform you that she heard that Chris isn't going to be here today though she's sparse on the details since she herself doesn't have them. Mentally you curse as Chris was one of the two choices you'd narrowed down as your new identity. Chris had actually been your first choice due largely to ease; getting her as Summer would not be hard.<br/>
<br/>
At the same time you give Alyssa an overview of what was discussed yesterday evening. Not that she hasn't already gotten it from the others, it's more a way to make sure everyone's on the same page and giving the same story. Dealing with her is a bit trying and even Summer seems to think so as well. But if you were looking at someone because of ease...<br/>
<br/>
You don't share first period with her however so you tell her that you'll see her at lunch and head off to Mr. Katz's English class. In class, a couple of rows over, you do see your second choice however: a babyfaced girl with a pageboy cut. In terms of looks Summer has her beat but that's not why you want her.<br/>
<br/>
Ursula Jensen is a wannabe mystic and occultist interested in fortune telling, divination, astrology and magic of all sorts and you wonder to yourself about the possibility of her knowing Braydon Delp. Now the magic and divination she claims knowledge of is likely horse shit but learning is all about having the right mindset and if you want to know about the book then there's no better mindset to have than Ursula's.<br/>
<br/>
Better knowledge of the book would help you with step two of your plan. You can't stall Chelsea forever and if she decides to put the screws to your doppelganger then you worry he might squeal even if you tell him not to; even a golem wouldn't want to take a pounding from Gordon Black you figure. So you plan to present yourself to Chelsea later today as Ursula and sell her on the usefulness of your new position in getting through the book and finding a solution to try and get Gordon fixed.<br/>
<br/>
But even saying that one thought is nagging away at you. Summer doesn't talk much with Ursula which might make her harder to get. If you wanted ease, well, Alyssa would be no problem. You might be able to sell Chelsea on the idea of letting you have Eastman while she takes Westside and you work on the book together. Even without extra masks you'd still have the Rumorati at your disposal so you'd be on equal footing with her; Chelsea wouldn't be stupid enough to try something against you.<br/>
<br/>
You'll decide at lunch what you want to do: either talk to Alyssa or wait until fifth (when Summer will see her again) to talk to Ursula and try to get one of them to meet you after school.<br/>
<br/>
That should be the end of it but during third period study hall an intriguing wild card takes a seat right next to you in the form of Connie Choi, the Afro-Asian captain of Eastman's basketball team. Eastman's team is very good: they have Hannah Chamberlain, a girl being nationally recruited, and are expected to steamroll their way to a state title. But Connie's leadership and management skills are second to none and play as big a role as, if note bigger than, Hannah in the team's reputation.<br/>
<br/>
She wouldn't have quite the resources that Alyssa would but Alyssa, for all her benefits, could also put Chelsea on edge. Connie, then, could make a good alternative.</span></div></div>


path: 1131221132222
author_id: rugal
title: Distracted by the Sexy
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Much as you'd like to dive deeper into the book and try and understand it the siren's song that is those thoughts of Alyssa are far too strong and far too tempting. For as much influence as Connie might wield as captain of the girl's basketball team Alyssa wields significantly more. The desire then is far too strong to resist and by the time Connie's greeted you you've made up your mind: by the end of the afternoon you're going to be Alyssa Randall.<br/>
<br/>
You greet Connie in return and pull out your books and notes while she does the same. Connie had been struggling with a class that she and Summer shared last year so Alyssa had tasked Summer with helping her out, a prospect that terrified the horribly meek and introverted girl at the time. The two managed to get along however and Summer was able to help improve her grades. As the two share a study hall period this year they've begun getting together for general study sessions... real ones, not the fake ones that Summer participates in after school.<br/>
<br/>
Once the bell rings you gather your stuff and head towards the cafeteria to eat lunch with Summer's usual Rumorati cohorts and as Summer usually does you yourself mostly keep quiet. Instead you take the lunch period to get one final snapshot at the group that you'll soon be running. You sit next to Alyss and next to you sits Mandy Simpson, a pretty and fashion-obsessed blonde who's nice enough but not above flaunting her looks either.<br/>
<br/>
Next to Mandy is Tina Branson whose long red hair, blue-green eyes and southern lilt presents a very charming image... thankfully she's a sweetheart, probably the nicest of the entire group. Next to her is Maddy Caron, dark haired, ivory skinned and large chested. She's a much cooler and acerbic sort which makes the fact that her and Tina are best friends odd to most others.<br/>
<br/>
Next to Maddy is Natalie Dawkins, another freckled redhead though in this case her's is dyed. She's a spirited tomboy and if not for Summer would likely seem the most out of place in the group but her connections to the various underground scenes and even the nerds makes her invaluable all the same.<br/>
<br/>
And then there's Lisa Rickover. Blonde haired with a steely gaze and a nose that has a very Roman quality to it she looks a bit like a hungry bird of prey though it may be better to compare her to a vulture for Lisa is very deviously minded waiting, most likely, for Alyssa to slip up so she can swoop in and take her spot. Summer does not like the girl one bit and isn't sure why Alyssa lets her hang around but she knows that Alyssa's not an idiot so it would have to be for a good reason.<br/>
<br/>
As you ponder the various relations of the group and shoot a few quick glowers towards Lisa whenever she's talking you formulate some kind of plan to get Alyssa alone with you so you can slip the mask on her. You finally settle on something that's maybe not the grandest idea ever but you figure that it'll likely work all the same.<br/>
<br/>
Once the lunch bell rings you shoot a text to Alyssa asking her if she has anything going on after school. She says she does but should be free around four-thirty so you ask her to meet at your place because you've got stuff you want to tell her, however it's big stuff that you figure she'd want to talk about in person. She asks what it is and you simply say that it's related to Westside.<br/>
<br/>
You don't get an immediate response back but Summer knows that Alyssa likes to keep her ear on the ground in regards to your (now old) school and after fifth period has let out you finally get a text telling you that she can make it. Excitedly you shove your phone into your purse and you can barely contain your excitement for your final three classes.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I'm sorry!" you wail at a glowering Alyssa. "I didn't mean to... I wasn't trying--"<br/>
<br/>
"Trying to what?" she replies as her hands.<br/>
<br/>
"L-look, I can explain!" you exclaim defensively.<br/>
<br/>
She looks at you expectantly waiting for an explanation. It's intimidating but it's also quite sexy.<br/>
<br/>
Alyssa Randall is certainly a very sexy young woman; after all you should know since you're currently wearing her body. But that's also the problem, the entire reason you've now shot yourself in the foot and ended up in this little shit show, your plans having been smashed into pieces.<br/>
<br/>
"You want an explanation! Fine, sure, you'll get one," you tell her with a sigh before taking a seat on the bed. Your elbows rest on your knees while your forehead, in turn, rests in your hands. "Yeah, I'll tell you all about what a stupid fucking idiot I am."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Things had been going fairly smoothly so smoothly too.<br/>
<br/>
You'd spent the hour or so after school at home checking Summer's various social networks, updating and liking and responding where appropriate. You sent some texts out to some of the other members of the Eastman gossip peddling cabal -- Maddy and Tina as they're the ones Summer trusts most after Alyssa -- saying that you wouldn't be able to make it for the "study session" this evening. They helped you craft a story about a family dinner and Summer's worrying about her spending too much money in their eyes at Starbucks; a plausible story as they're frugal and it's a complaint they've had before.<br/>
<br/>
After that you decided that you could make the process of getting Alyssa copied a little bit easier and decided to just glue the band onto the inside of the mask so that it'd copy both her body and mind at the same time.<br/>
<br/>
With that done it was just a matter of time of waiting and when the doorbell rang you practically sprinted to the front door to greet Alyssa and let her in. Summer's parents were both still at work but even still you didn't want to do this out in the open so the two of you went into Summer's room. With the door closed and lock you grabbed the blank mask off of the nightstand and were quick to slip it onto Alyssa with little issue.<br/>
<br/>
From there you'd stripped out of Summer's clothes and ran a hand over your borrowed form, taking a few minutes to soak it in one last time.. You'd be lying if you said you weren't going to miss it but looking at Alyssa... well you were certainly in for an upgrade. You laid back on Summer's bed and chanting the phrase pulled the mask off. When you came to and shook yourself back to consciousness you looked over at Alyssa to see a glow on her face and a blue object emerge. Quickly you snatched it up and took the material needed to seal it before putting it on your face.<br/>
<br/>
Awakening this time was a new experience entirely. Your skin was darker. a nice smooth cocoa and your hair long, dark, wavy and voluminous. Your chest was certainly bigger than it had been as Summer as were your legs and arms. "Mmm..." you'd muttered as you sat up. You hefted and squeezed a breast and caressed a well-muscled thigh. Yes, this girl is certainly well put together, the result of a lifetime of gymnastics training, cheerleading practices and, more recently, weight training.<br/>
<br/>
You stood up to admire yourself a little better. It wasn't just her thighs that were well-muscled but her calves, arms, stomach... even her ass was large but nice and tight. Chelsea was one thing but this girl... "This girl is something else," you muttered and you loved the sound of the deep, throaty drawl as it reached your ears. So intoxicated were you by Alyssa Randall's body that you were completely blindsided when that same throaty drawl came not from your own mouth.<br/>
<br/>
"The fuck is going on here?!"<br/>
<br/>
You froze. Then slowly you turned not sure what you were expecting to see behind you. What you were met with, however, was one very confused and irritated looking Alyssa Randall and it was at that moment that you wanted wished you'd just drop into a hole deep in the Earth. So focused were you with Eastman's head cheerleader that, like a moron, you'd forgotten to put Summer's mask onto the real one.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You spend the next couple of minutes first begging forgiveness and then explaining your situation to her... that explanation also being peppered with random pleas and apologies. You left out some pieces, namely that you were going to trap her under <i>Summer's</i> mask (instead making up a story about letting Summer out and putting Alyssa under yours) but for the most part remained honest while trying to portray yourself (truthfully in your mind) as someone caught up in Chelsea's schemes and fearful of what she might do with this knowledge. That you weren't doing anything out of maliciousness but out of simple survival.<br/>
<br/>
By the end of it Alyssa can only sigh in frustration. "Will Prescott you said, right?" she asks with a shake of your head. "Yeah I don't think you're trying to be an asshole, you're just a paranoid idiot."<br/>
<br/>
With that she takes a seat on the bed and crosses her legs. She looks at the wall across from her, her face serious as her fingers drum the mattress. "But I can see <i>why</i> you'd be a paranoid idiot too. You're probably right to be worried about Chelsea as well," she says. "We cheered together in middle school and our paths cross often enough, plus word flows to Eastman. I know how she is."<br/>
<br/>
She then looks at you with seriousness.<br/>
<br/>
"I want you to show me how this works," she states. "I want you to make a mask for me right now and I want you to make that meeting with Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
"What?!" you ask in astonishment.<br/>
<br/>
"Chelsea's a problem and your school's all screwed up. I want you to get one of these masks and put it on her and then give it to me," she tells you. "You can take my place or come over and help me out, whatever you want to do. But I want to wear a mask of Chelsea and fix things over at Westside."<br/>
<br/>
Alyssa Randall fix Westside? That's crazy! So crazy that you should probably try and talk her out of it.</span></div></div>


path: 113122113223
author_id: rugal
title: The Plot Against Queen Chelsea
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You're still undecided on what to do as you take a car buffer to the blank mask that you'd made up over the weekend. The noise of the buffer is loud enough to not only drown out your own thoughts but loud enough to call the attention of your father who you don't realize has entered the garage until you feel yourself tapped on the shoulder causing you to yelp and jump in surprise.<br/>
<br/>
He asks how many you have to make and you simply tell him that you're fairly sure that this is the last one. He eyes you with what's either suspicion or slight disapproval as he looks at you. "Do you even know how to use this?" he asks and at first you're worried that he's talking about the mask. However he leans forward and instead picks up the buffer.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, uh, yeah? It's not hard right?"<br/>
<br/>
He places the buffer down and holds out his hand. He must be asking to see the mask and not feeling as if you have a choice you comply and hand it to him. He looks it over, makes a noise or two and seems to notice the bit of it that's turned a brilliant blue. He then hands it back to you.<br/>
<br/>
It takes you until around nine o'clock to finish polishing the mask that you'll be putting on your face and you throw it onto the bed as you go up to your room. This will soon be a mask of yourself that you'll use that new spell on and then put it on... you pause. You grab your bag and dig through it and pull out the mask of Summer Nguyen that you'd gotten this afternoon.<br/>
<br/>
Are you going to use it on her? Well this girl hasn't done anything to you... you don't even know her so how could she have? It's Chelsea that you're worried about so it's Chelsea that you'll deal with. What you'll do with this girl's mask now you have you no idea. Well actually you do have an idea but long term plans...<br/>
<br/>
Still you grab the mask, lay back and place it on your face. You come to and you're practically swimming in your own clothes. You grab your phone and flip the camera so you can see yourself on the screen. You drink in the Vietnamese girl that looks back at you. She's very cute and her face simultaneously shy, innocent and a little judgmental.<br/>
<br/>
Names and images rush through your mind: Alyssa Randall and her dark skin, strong thighs and well-muscled physique. Tina Branson's red hair and freckles and adorable southern twang. Maddie Caron's large chest, white skin, wavy raven hair and hooded eyes that makes her something of a "cool beauty". Mandy Simpson's more traditional blonde and bubbly looks and personality.<br/>
<br/>
You can feel yourself getting worked up as you picture them and more filter through. Dana Pak is someone that Summer's acquaintances with, both because there's a rather large Asian community in the area and lots of families (due to associations and clubs and such) know one another but also because she's someone that Alyssa's close to bringing into the group; that's also why she's been buttering up Dana's (very cute) sister as well. That's something that excites Summer because Dana is very pretty and if she didn't have Chris...<br/>
<br/>
Chris Yves, the tiger who turns into a house cat around Summer. The way she nibbles at Summer's neck when they're alone and the way her mouth tastes. It's at that point that you work yourself into orgasm. You take a moment to catch your breath and smile. Yeah, being Chelsea will be great but you'll keep Summer's mask around for times like this you decide.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<i>Need to meet and talk. 430 my place.</i><br/>
<br/>
That's the message you see from Chelsea when you wake up in the morning. There's no address much like there hadn't been last time but still you thrill. If she wants you to come over then that makes replacing her a far simpler process hopefully.<br/>
<br/>
<i>I can do that,</i> you text back.<br/>
<br/>
After getting ready, having a light breakfast you go into the garage and grab the buffer and when your mother questions you all you say is that it turns out your friend has one last thing he needs you to help with. For her part she simply shakes her head and mutters that you better make sure to put it back exactly where you found it before your father gets home. After saying goodbye to her you get in your truck but instead of driving in the direction of Westside you instead drive over the abandoned elementary school and the basement that you've been using as a makeshift base.<br/>
<br/>
There you make use what material's in there to seal the mask and attach the unused band to it before putting the entire thing on your face. When it's finished copying you repeat the new spell involving your hair, graveyard dirt and the mask and you notice the inside of it change color to indicate success. Once this goes on Chelsea she'll be your doppelganger under your own control and that thought is exciting<br/>
<br/>
But having wasted the mask you'd made earlier on Summer that means you're down to zero blanks. Given that by this afternoon you won't be yourself anymore you decide to skip school for the day and work on using the material you've deposited down here to make a new mask and new band. During the process you get a text from Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
<i>u in school? gordon didnt see u in prking lot</i><br/>
<br/>
You were supposed to meet up with Gordon? Now you're definitely glad you're skipping so you send a return text though it doesn't say that. <i>Cutting today,</i> it says. <i>Make up for lost time.</i><br/>
<br/>
<i>kk ill c u at 430 then.</i><br/>
<br/>
Once you've got both the mask and band made up you then head outside and pull your truck close to the basement door. This'll still be your base once you're Chelsea so you begin the arduous task of bringing the heavy bags of dirt down into the basement. When that's done you while away the rest of the day on your phone making sure to look up the address of the Cooper residence (which isn't hard to find). Once it hits four you gather up the masks, sealant, everything you'll need really, get in your truck and drive over to Chelsea's.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Is Chelsea in?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
The woman who had answered the door, who you assume is Chelsea's mother, looks as if she could be on either end of forty. There's some small wrinkles showing on the corners of her mouth but otherwise with her flawless looks and blonde hair it's like catching a glimpse of Chelsea twenty years down the road.<br/>
<br/>
But this woman's smile and mannerisms are much friendlier. "She's not here at the moment," she answers. "And just who might you be? A friend of her's?"<br/>
<br/>
"Something like that," you admit. "My name's Will Prescott."<br/>
<br/>
"Will Prescott!" she exclaims as she gestures for you to come in. "Well don't just stand there. It's crisp and Chelsea should be back soon."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh! Um, thank you very much ma'am," you say as you walk past her.<br/>
<br/>
"Chelsea said she was expecting you over when she left," she says. "Didn't say what a handsome young man you were though." You're glad that you're in front of her so she doesn't have to see your face turning red at the compliment. "Just have a seat until she gets back. Anything to drink I can get you while you wait?"<br/>
<br/>
You thank her but decline the offer as you take a seat on the sofa and she heads into the kitchen. You check your phone and notice a message from about five or six minutes ago complaining that Kendra needs to see her and that she'll be quick so you should just wait there until she gets back.<br/>
<br/>
As you look at the kitchen you catch sight of Mrs. Cooper as she pulls out what looks like some stuff to make tea. She's a very pretty woman and it's obvious where Chelsea gets her looks from but she also seems much nicer too.<br/>
<br/>
As you check the bag to make sure everything is still in place you're suddenly struck by an idea. Why not hide right under Chelsea's nose? You'd wanted to hide from her originally and surely her mother would be the last place she'd expect you to be. From there you could watch Chelsea's movements to see what she does while you work on the book and if need be you can always make up another mask to use on her, either to wear or to put her under your control.<br/>
<br/>
But at that point why not just cut out the middle man and work on replacing Chelsea if that's where it'll still lead anyway? No need to complicate things after all.<br/>
<br/>
As you look in the bag, there in the corner you see that Summer's mask is there too and you're hit with another idea as you're reminded of your original dilemma of whether or not to replace her. Show her the mask. Show it to her and tell her who it is and offer to use it to get into Eastman. If Chelsea could get a foothold into Eastman then that'd prove your worth to her and if you do that then replacing or hiding from her won't be necessary, right? And if things go sour and you do have to hide then you've already got a way to get deep into Eastman such that she'd likely never find you.</span></div></div>


path: 1131221132232
author_id: rugal
title: The Queen Mother
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You dismiss the possibility of convincing Chelsea to let you move to Eastman. You already told her that you had stuff that prevented you from seeing her yesterday so now you'd have to explain how you got this girl. You're not sure of what excuse you could conjure up to satisfy Chelsea and if she thinks you've been lying to her... well then it'll be you under one of these new types of masks probably. That seems like a risk that you don't want to take so you decide not to take it.<br/>
<br/>
So what should you do then? You go back and forth for a few minutes on your next course of action before you receive another text from Chelsea. <i>Fucking kendra!</i> she texts. You send a text back asking what's wrong. She doesn't tell you much else. <i>Its always sumthing w/ her,</i> is all she texts before adding, <i>U dont have to wait. Ill text when I can.</i><br/>
<br/>
She doesn't say it but that seems to imply that she won't be back for a while yet so now you're really left with a dilemma as switching with her was the entire reason you came over her and as fun as it might be to switch into her mother and watch things from there you'd really rather be Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
"Here you go," says Mrs. Cooper, your thoughts interrupted as she comes in from the kitchen carrying a tray with two cups. "Like I said, it's a little crispy out so you look like you're in need of something to warm you up."<br/>
<br/>
But as she's leaned over and is setting a cup of tea on the coffee table you're suddenly struck by her. She's wearing a long-sleeved shirt and you can see her breasts, nice and large and firm, press and strain against it. Her hair is cut into a bob and is a platinum blonde that's more in line with Cindy's than Chelsea's. Her face, however... she's certainly Chelsea's mother as you can recognize most of the features; it's just that they look a little more mature.<br/>
<br/>
And not for nothing but she smells very nice too.<br/>
<br/>
She then turns and takes a seat on the opposite end of the sofa. "So how do you know Chelsea?" she asks in a tone that conveys general curiosity and not suspicion.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, through a mutual friend," you tell her before quickly adding, "Yumi Saito?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh Yumi!" she exclaims, "Such a sweet girl and I swear she gets prettier by the day. Hmm, friend though... or girlfriend?"<br/>
<br/>
That throws you for a loop and you can only stutter out a response. "Um, n-no. Not, uh, we're just... just friends," is all you can say which causes her to chuckle a bit. "Actually I just got out of a relationship with someone."<br/>
<br/>
"Well I'm very sorry to hear that," says Mrs. Cooper. "You're such a handsome young man that I'm sure any girl would be lucky enough to land you."<br/>
<br/>
With that she gives you a wink and you feel yourself turning red all over again. Any girl lucky enough to land you? Or rather any girl you'd be lucky enough to land? As you feel yourself getting hotter, and harder, though you can't help thinking that the one you'd want to land is Chelsea's mom. Oh yes, you can land her alright. You look into the bag and place a hand on the blank mask you'd made up to use on Chelsea. Do you use it on her mom instead?<br/>
<br/>
<i>Yes,</i> you mentally tell yourself. You pull it out of your bag and Mrs. Cooper seems to notice it. "I was helping a friend with an art project," you answer her wordless question.<br/>
<br/>
"Would this friend have been Yumi too?" she asks in a playful manner.<br/>
<br/>
You continue to blush and shake your head. "No ma'am," you tell her, "just someone else. I was actually going to get this over to them after I was done talking with Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, let me take a look at it will you?" she asks and you hand it to her. She turns it this way and that as she looks it over. "I've done some ceramics work in my time and I must say you certainly have some talent. Handsome, polite and artistically gifted? My daughter could certainly do worse than you."<br/>
<br/>
You watch as she continues to look it over and then hands it back to you. But once you have it instead of pulling back you thrust forward... and land just short and tumble a bit.<br/>
<br/>
"What the devil?!" she exclaims in surprise as you pull yourself up.<br/>
<br/>
However she doesn't have much more time to react as you grab her wrist and are this time able to jam the mask onto her face. You watch as it sinks down into her and much like with Summer yesterday she goes limp, eyes opened but otherwise frozen. You lean her against the back of the couch and prepare to wait. That's when you hear a chime from your phone. You go back to the other side of the couch and look at it: another text from Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Got rid of kendra,</i> it says. <i>If u havent left just wait. B back soon.</i><br/>
<br/>
Well shit, how long is soon? From what you remember it took approximately ten minutes for the mask to copy Summer. Will you have that much time until Chelsea returns? Will you have time to complete the switch once it's finished? You'd best pray that you do because if Chelsea comes home and her mother's still conked out on the sofa or you're merely in the process of switching then you're dead; whatever fears about Chelsea you have will definitely be realized.<br/>
<br/>
So all you can do is anxiously watch your phone -- to check the time and any incoming messages -- and Mrs. Cooper. The mask thankfully reappears and Chelsea is still not back so you're left wondering if you should attempt to perform the switch.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<i>Chelsea wants to try the spell on Cindy later. Wants to meet around 430 or 5.</i><br/>
<br/>
Those are the texts that you'd received from Will Prescott around lunch time.<br/>
<br/>
You'd elected not to risk doing the switch yesterday and instead contented yourself to using that new spell on the new mask instead. To your pleasure, though maybe not as much to your surprise, it had worked: you'd told Mrs. Cooper -- Kelly as you now know -- to act normal and mention nothing about what had happened and she had. None too soon as well because Chelsea arrived only a couple of minutes after you'd finished. With her there and with no real choice you'd been forced to tell her about the new spell and what it's supposed to do.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea, of course, was thrilled about that. You'd lied and said you hadn't had the chance to try it out yet and of course you never mentioned the mask of Summer either (what you'll do with it now you've no idea) but none of that seemed to phase her. Instead she merely said that she'd get with you tomorrow and talk some more before saying you could go home since it was getting late.<br/>
<br/>
You'd done so and gone to sleep with fantasies of Mrs. Cooper, Chelsea and Cindy Vredenburg filling your dreams that night. The next morning you'd held off on going to school and instead hung around your usual hideout. After wasting some time until you determined that Chelsea would likely be at school you double checked that your mask was treated and drove to Chelsea's in the hopes that her mother would be there.<br/>
<br/>
Thankfully she was and the matter of getting her up to her bedroom to complete the swap was easy. You'd ordered her to strip and stripped yourself and you had to strongly fight the urge to not take advantage of the situation to become a literal mother fucker. Instead you double checked the book to make sure you got the incantation right and successfully pulled the mask off of her. Quickly you grabbed your own mask and put it on her face and watched as the gorgeous woman turned into an awkward skinny young man. You ordered him to get dressed, go to school and act normal both with Chelsea and everyone else.<br/>
<br/>
You also made sure to grab the book and hideout key before he left.<br/>
<br/>
You laid back and put on the mask you'd made yesterday. <i>Kelly Margaret Cooper,</i> was the first thought you'd had upon awakening. Married to Rob Cooper, a regional manager at a local restaurant supply company who makes quite a bit of money, enough so that Kelly can live the comfortable life of a housewife with a bit of interior design on the side as a hobby.<br/>
<br/>
More importantly is the close relationship she shares with her daughter... and the attempts she makes to keep up with her. But if only she'd get a better boyfriend. Kelly doesn't really care for Gordon and would rather see Chelsea with someone less brutish and more groomed for success; someone like Steve Patterson would be good for her Kelly's always thought. And that's now your thought. That closeness and one-sided rivalry with Chelsea are yours. That relationship with her husband is yours.<br/>
<br/>
After getting dressed you drove Kelly's car -- your car -- to the hideout and went to work on another mask. The power buffer is still there as you'd forgotten running back to grab it yesterday so it doesn't take long to finish. This you'll use on Chelsea (and it might be a good idea to get the rest of her family too so you can use the Cooper house as your base you think) though think you'll abstain from switching into her... for now anyway.<br/>
<br/>
You may still be Will Prescott mentally but you see no reason to go back. Not when being Kelly Cooper seems so much easier and so much sexier. You thrill and moan as you give one of your large breasts a congratulatory squeeze.<br/>
<br/>
And since Chelsea will soon be dealt with your mind turns to one more loose end: your best friend. Caleb's still out there and still knows about the book. Perhaps it'd be a good idea to bring him back into the fold. You can offer him Chelsea... or  Cindy because you like the idea of getting her too. He was the one you sold the book to originally so shouldn't he reap some of the rewards of your success?</span></div></div>


path: 11312211322322
title: The Mother of the Household
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"YES, FUCK ME JIM!" you say loud enough for your husband behind you to hear, but just soft enough not to be heard by your presumably sleeping son and daughter in the other rooms.<br/>
<br/>
You never pictured that this would technically be how you'd lose your virginity, but at the same time you're not losing it at all, you're a very sexually experienced and mature woman after all. You can confirm this by just staring down at your hand with the diamond wedding ring on it. The ring Jim your high school sweetheart had proposed to you with nearly 22 years ago. Of course it wasn't you who he had proposed to with it all those years ago, it was the original Kelly Cooper who he had prosed to, but she's now miles away under the golemized mask of William Prescott the boy from your daughter's high school class. And right now he can't even tell you apart from his loving wife of 22 years, and you're loving every second of it. The Kelly thoughts streaming through your head make this encounter extremely erotic, as the act of fucking another woman's husband even, (if its a copied woman's husband) makes it incredibly naughtier for you and you push your hips back harder against Jim Cooper's cock thats currently in your throbbing and wet pussy. <br/>
<br/>
He starts to the pick up the pace as he fucks you harder in doggy style and you have to face plant into your pillow to keep your moaning noises down from waking the children. He's extra pent up you realize from reviewing your Kelly memories. Kelly and Jim hadn't had sex for over the past two weeks and the lovey-dovey attitude you were showing him after dinner tonight had really got him in the mood. <br/>
<br/>
It was only this morning you had donned the mask of Kelly Cooper, becoming the splitting image of Chelsea Cooper's mother, and wife of the dotting Jim Cooper a regional manager of restaurant supply chain, an you've been in love with every second of it so far. You had come over today at 10 and had ordered the golem controlled Kelly to undress and put on the mask of Will Prescott and head to school for you. Then you had sat nakedly on the King sized bed, in the master bedroom of the Cooper household nursing a massive erection, as you knew in only a few minutes you would become the lady of the house. And so you did.<br/>
<br/>
The first moment of the switch was confusing enough, as you wondered how you woke up completely naked on your bed, but then the memories flooded in and that was confusing enough. Not just the memories of being a woman, but being an older woman at that. You had vivid memories of growing up in the early 80's a time before for you (Will Prescott) was even born. You remembered going to college and getting your Bachelors in Psychology. You remembered a high school of not being a social outcast but as a bright and shinning cheerleader. You remembered meeting Jim, breaking up and getting back together, then the marriage. You remembered getting pregnant at 24 and going through labor the following year. Chelsea Cooper your first child, and her brother the year after. So many memories all at once.<br/>
<br/>
Though you tried not to focus on all those memories and just get ready for your plan for the morning. Over the next two and a half hours you spent trying on various designer outfits in Kelly's closet, and putting on makeup and doing your hair. Finally in a red summer dress with sandal wedged heels you stepped into your garage and drove your White Lexus to Will's hiding spot to make up some new masks.<br/>
<br/>
With so much time as a housewife you decided to run to the grocery store and pick up the ingredients for tonight's dinner after the masks were finished. Normally this would be a very dull thing for Will but you loved every second of it today, especially showing off the great amount of effort you put into your look today, and you caught the momentary stares of various men throughout the grocery.<br/>
<br/>
When you got home and unloaded all the food, you started on the meal for tonight, a Garlic Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon, which you didn't even need a cookbook for just the distant memories in your new head. When the children got home you asked them how their day was and told them dinner would be ready in an hour. By the time "hubby" got home you had already changed your undergarments into a silk black lingerie set that you now wore under your red dress, and had kissed Jim quite passionately when he walked in the door.<br/>
<br/>
As the four of you ate dinner that night it took great resilience not to smile or smirk when talking to your daughter Chelsea, especially when she brought up what Will Prescott did when he arrived yesterday. You just smiled and told her you two just chatted until she arrived and he went up to your room. After dinner you had then told Chelsea to finish up everyone's dishes and put them in the dish washer which she did without a peep of disagreement. And you thrilled in the back of your mind on how much power you now held over her, you had originally wanted to throw a mask on over her to bend her to your control but then decided it was a lot more fun knowing that she is still herself but has no idea her very mother has been replaced. Though tomorrow you would have to search her room and confiscate any magical items in her possession, but right now that could wait. As after dinner you had taken Jim by his neck tie and dragged him into your room, and had him undress you revealing your sexy lingerie which you usually only saved for his birthday's.<br/>
<br/>
Suddenly your day dreaming of the past events of today is broken by the sudden feeling of the spasm of your husband's cock and the warm liquid now shooting into your pussy. He lets out a sudden moan and pulls out then rolls over on the bed, you are both panting from the love making but you quickly excuse yourself into the connected master bathroom to clean yourself up. After sitting on the toilet and removing most of the hot semen from your vagina, you wipe flush, then start up the shower waiting for it to warm up. <br/>
<br/>
As you stand outside the shower only feeling the water temperature with your hand, you once again glimpse your naked self in the mirror. At 42 years old you are still extremely attractive you can tell from the hidden Will voices in the back of your head. Wide hips, and large breasts and a flat stomach as you hit the local gym for spin classes, aerobics, and yoga. Yes, still just as sexy since high-school you grin to yourself. Your William mind wants to call yourself a sexy "MILF", but your Kelly mind thinks thats a dirty word and opts for being a "lovely mature lady". <br/>
<br/>
You smile once more into the mirror then get into the shower, where you can't help but notice a weird feeling... You're enjoying the life of a 42 year old woman much more than the life of an 18 year old high schooler who has his entire life in front of him....And it bites at you..Are you honestly thinking of staying as a woman who's literally 24 years older than you, for the unforeseeable future?<br/>
<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 113122113223221
title: Of course after all I am Kelly Cooper
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>As you soak your body in the warm water of the shower, and scrubbing the sweat off yourself from the romp in your bed, you start comparing your past two lives memories.<br/>
<br/>
 One is of an awkward 18 year old boy who had trouble making friends the other is a fully grown woman who sped through life on a breeze compared to the boy. She doesn't have to work, nor go to school ,her husband has already paid off over half of the house mortgage and she is given an allowance to spend money where she wants. Hell, all the hard parts of her life has been taken care of, her kids will be going off the college in a couple years too, in fact her life basically is an endless vacation compared to the other former life. Besides the obvious cleaning, cooking, and taking care of the household there's no real downsides...Of course sex with a man is very off putting in one sense, but feels completely normal at the same time too. Why wouldn't you want to stay in this life?<br/>
<br/>
The shower curtains are pulled back and in walks the naked and hairy Jim Cooper into your shower. He's 6'1 but compared to your 5'4 current stature he dwarfs you. <br/>
<br/>
"Hey Kelly-Belly." he calls you, (a high school nickname). As he steps into the water then pinches your ass.<br/>
<br/>
"Stop that." you say, playfully swatting his hand away. "I need to shave my legs, they are getting that stubble feeling."<br/>
<br/>
But he grabs you by the waist and spins you around in the shower facing him and plants his lips onto yours before you break the kiss. <br/>
<br/>
"You were extra horny tonight babe, almost like a cat in heat, what do you say we have a round two in here?" he says groping your breasts.<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry hun, maybe tomorrow, Marilyn and I are waking up early for 7:00am tennis tomorrow then brunch afterward, I can't miss this out on her again. Plus I really need to shave these legs." You say feeling your legs and feeling the miniature stubble on them.<br/>
<br/>
He only huffs, then turns back towards the shower head. But you press up against his backside and reassure him that "we'll" be doing a lot more of that soon enough.<br/>
<br/>
After he gets out and you've shaved your legs smooth, you turn off the shower and get out wrapping a towel around yourself. You're about to reach for your toothbrush like you always do after your showers every other night, when you glimpse yourself in the mirror. Its at this point you realize why you've felt so different in the body of Kelly Cooper compared to the body of Summer Nyguyen from just the other day. Its the fact that Kelly is so much older than the Will part of you. Hell, Will wasn't even half the age of Kelly thats why it seems so natural being her! You have the memories of 42 years of Kelly's compared to the 18 years of Will's, his life only now seems like a fraction of your total life experiences now. <br/>
<br/>
Of course you could always just take off Kelly's Mask and lose those memories instantly, but at the same time you don't want to do that either. You are enjoying this life far too much to suddenly call it quits less than a day later! In fact you kinda wish you could permanently be stuck this way (for at least a few months) just to get in the habits and routines of Kelly Cooper proper. The idea sounds incredibly fun to you, and it would spice this experience considerably. <br/>
<br/>
So after brushing your teeth and doing the rest of Kelly's usual before bedtime rituals, you put on your white silken nightgown and climb in bed with your sleeping husband. You turn off the night lamp and snuggle into the covers. Your last thoughts before sleep are "I'm literally going to be Kelly Cooper for the next 6 months."  <br/>
<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 11312212
author_id: seuzz
title: The Increasingly Complicated Life of Will Prescott
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Chelsea calls you early the next afternoon--it turns out she has to church too, so this is the earliest for both of you to get together--but she's not able to secure the school loft for a meeting. "Steve wants to get together with Gordon," she tells you. "I could make him say no, but maybe I should keep him in character?"<br/>
<br/>
Odd that it sounds like she's asking you, but you agree, and give her directions to the elementary school. Caleb calls about fifteen minutes later, to see about getting together for the afternoon, but you coolly tell him you've got other plans.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea meets you promptly at the appointed time. Her expression as she surveys the basement tells you she's not impressed with it--it is cold, dank, greasy, and smells like old iron--but she seems to accept it as a suitable work space.<br/>
<br/>
"I've gone through the spells again," you say, indicating the work you spread out on the old conference room table that dominates this side of the room. "I was paying real close attention to see if I could see anything that might, uh, be useful in figuring out what to do about Gordon." It's a lie--it took all your concentration just to get the spells done. "And I got that page to turn, the one I told you I couldn't get to?"<br/>
<br/>
"Uh huh?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah. I don't know what the problem was. But I thought we could go over it together. You know, it <i>might</i> be a way of fixing, uh, your boyfriend."<br/>
<br/>
"Sure," she says. But though she sounds interested, she doesn't sound excited or desperate, the way she sounded yesterday and on Friday night.<br/>
<br/>
"How is Gordon doing?" you ask as you measure out spoonfuls of powders and liquids. "I mean, the one we, uh, got back."<br/>
<br/>
"Fine, I guess." She shrugs. "He still can't remember anything since-- But he can fake it. And he does everything I tell him, which is kind of an improvement." You avoid looking at her face as she says that. "If this spell cures him, what do you think he'll remember?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know. Probably everything up until he set himself on fire. I don't know if he'd be able to remember anything that happened after that."<br/>
<br/>
"He can fake that too if he has to," she sniffs. "It's not like he's got a wild and varied life." She snorts and mutters a word that sounds like <i>Basketball.</i> She bends over to peer into the bowl of ingredients that you've mixed. "Is this the same stuff he used in his spell?"<br/>
<br/>
"It seems to be." You briefly cross-check the ingredients. "Yeah, and here it says it needs hair."<br/>
<br/>
She undoes a strand of her own. "We should probably use mine again, since he used it in his thing. Ow," she says as she plucks a few hairs out.<br/>
<br/>
You take and drop them into the bowl, then return to the book and your notes. "Hrm. It says we need to put it into a finished mask." You look at the two masks at hand--the one you made and the one Gordon made, which looks to be half-finished. "How long does it take to finish these things?"<br/>
<br/>
"Gordon says he spent hours working on that one," she says, pointing. "He finally just said 'Fuck it.'"<br/>
<br/>
"Then we should use this stuff on the mask your boyfriend is wearing."<br/>
<br/>
"What if it breaks it?" she says in alarm.<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe it'll pull that shit off him and cure him," you suggest. "It's the same stuff he put on himself."<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea runs a tongue over her lower lip, then shakes her head. <br/>
<br/>
"Too risky," she says. "Until we figure out what it does, I'm not putting it in the mask."<br/>
<br/>
You sigh. "Then I guess we need to finish up one of these."<br/>
<br/>
She snatches up the half-finished mask before you can move on it. "I'll take this one," she says. "You finish the other one."<br/>
<br/>
And that's the end of your day with her.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"So, whadja do this weekend?" your friend Keith asks you the next day. It's the start of second period, and Mr. Hawks is still sorting through the day's lesson plans. "Caleb wanted to see if you wanted to see a movie."<br/>
<br/>
"He coulda called me."<br/>
<br/>
"He says he did, says that you were doing other stuff. So he called me. Not that I mind being the back-up unit," he adds with some acidity, "but it makes me wonder why the main Prescott unit was out of commission."<br/>
<br/>
"If you must know, I was with a girl," you say, feeling a little smug. Of course, Chelsea would kill you if you mentioned her name. Not that Keith would believe you anyway.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, did your mom take you clothes shopping?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"No, I spent the weekend with <i>your</i> mom, and by the way, she says tell you I'm twice as good in bed as you are."<br/>
<br/>
He turns red. <br/>
<br/>
"Well, it can't be Lisa," he sneers, "because Caleb and me saw her and Geoff at the theater. I guess after the way she blew you off, you'll wanna keep the new one under wraps."<br/>
<br/>
You shove a middle finger at his face and turn around.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<i>Are</i> you keeping a girl under wraps? Technically, you are. Sort of. You saw Chelsea in the hallway just before class, but carefully ignored her. She ignored you too, but not in her usual, oblivious way. Naturally, you have to tell yourself, nothing is bound to come of this partnership of convenience. You haven't got a fix for Gordon yet, and you're pretty sure she'll blow you off afterward, even if you do you get one, and despite her promise to "make it worth your while." That's just the way she is. <br/>
<br/>
And yet, you can't help hoping--fervently fantasizing--that something might develop between you. That she might, maybe, become a little fond of you, might see that you're actually a sweet and decent guy. Maybe get a little crush on you?<br/>
<br/>
No, impossible. If you want <i>that</i> kind of attention from her ... <br/>
<br/>
Well, what if you could get under that mask of her boyfriend? You'd have to play dumb, pretend to be just that robot-thing that's wandering around in Gordon's place. And if she found out it was you and what you were doing-- <i>Yikes.</i> <br/>
<br/>
But if you did get under the mask, even briefly, even without getting together with her... Well, you'd be able to get at Gordon's memories, and you'd at least be able to "remember" what it's like to be with her.<br/>
<br/>
You have to crouch in your desk to control your stinging, throbbing erection.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div>  And maybe these fantasies bring about karmic retribution, for just after fifth period a strong arm closes around your neck, and you're dragged backwards through the halls into a bathroom, where you're shoved into a stall. "Message from Chelsea," Gordon tells you. "She wants to know how that project is going."<br/>
<br/>
The mask? "It's coming," you croak. "It takes awhile. Another ... day? Two days? How is hers coming?"<br/>
<br/>
"She doesn't tell me anything." He crosses his massive arms and holds your eye. Then he leans in close. "You touch her, and I'll stomp you into hamburger."<br/>
<br/>
<i>I guess she forgot to tell him to be nice to me,</i> you reflect as he leaves. <i>Oh, hell, that probably </i>was<i> him being nice to me.</i><br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I heard you had a run in with Gordon Black," Caleb says, leaning in close to you at your locker. It's Wednesday morning--two days after the toilet-side conference with the captain of the basketball team. It says something about how peripheral you and Caleb are to school social life that it has taken that long for gossip about it to filter from you to him. "What was it about?"<br/>
<br/>
"He caught me looking at Chelsea. Or he thought he did."<br/>
<br/>
"What did he do to you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Told me to stop it." You don't bother to hide your irritation. Caleb has been avoiding you for awhile now, it seems, and his sudden interest in your well-being vis-a-vis Gordon fairly reeks of ulterior motives.<br/>
<br/>
The motives of a guy who stole your face and tried using it to steal Gordon's. Probably with the same idea that you've lately had, of using Gordon's identity to squeeze up close to Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb is staring closely at you. "He didn't punch you out or anything, did he?" he asks. "No blank spots? You didn't wake up on the floor feeling like you'd been slugged?"<br/>
<br/>
"No. But speaking of blank spots--" You round on him with a glare. "Whatever happened to that screwy book? That's the last blank spot I remember--when you were at my place with that thingy."<br/>
<br/>
His expression tightens, but he returns your stare evenly. "There wound up being problems." He hesitates. "How about we get together at my place this afternoon?"<br/>
<br/>
"For another round of 'Truth or Fuck Me in the Head'? I'll talk to you about it later." You slam the locker shut as the bell rings, and brush past him hard.<br/>
<br/>
Maybe he finally has a bad conscience over what he did to you--or maybe news that Gordon was interested in you has given him a fright. Maybe you should get together with him and see what he has to say. <br/>
<br/>
Before you can, though, you get another summons from Gordon, this time via text message: "Chelsea says 5 above the gym."</span></div></div>


path: 113122122
author_id: seuzz
title: The Next Spell
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You have to go home before meeting Chelsea, so you collect the mask from your bedroom and rush over to the elementary school. She's certainly wanting to know about where you are with it. The answer is that after a lot of hard and fervent polishing (and working through the early morning hours), you've just managed to get it done, so that it shines a brilliant blue all over. You're not certain, but suspect a "finished" mask for the next spell also requires that one of those mind-strip thingies be included, so in the 90 minutes have before meeting her, you get the mind-strip you'd made attached to it. Then you gather up the various sealants and pile them into your truck.<br/>
<br/>
Sure enough: "How close are you to being finished?" she asks after greeting you at the door to the loft. She's dressed in small, tight cotton shorts and a sleeveless blouse with the top buttons undone. You nearly swallow your tongue as she plops cross-legged on the gym mat.<br/>
<br/>
"Huh? Oh, I finished last night."<br/>
<br/>
Her eyes pop, and pink shows in her cheeks. <br/>
<br/>
"Then what the hell am I doing wrong?" she exclaims. From beside her she picks up a rag and the mask she's been working on. "I've been at it for days I don't think I'm getting anywhere!"<br/>
<br/>
You kneel in front of her and try not to notice the faint perfume that gradually enfolds you. <br/>
<br/>
"Well, first of all, you have to rub really hard," you say, gently taking the mask and rag from her. "Also, you have to do it a really long time. I was up until three this morning. Yesterday night, too."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh my God! You must really--" She bites her lip. "That's really impressive."<br/>
<br/>
"I can finish this one for you."<br/>
<br/>
"No, I don't want you thinking I'm lazy." There's an edge in her voice. "So, can we try out that new spell now?"<br/>
<br/>
"Sure. I just got the mind-strip attached--"<br/>
<br/>
"What's that?"<br/>
<br/>
"These metal strips that you make. They're like a mind reader. If you just put a mask on someone it only copies their body. There has to be this special metal strip inside if you want to copy their mind--like their memories and personality--too. You know how that mask on Gordon -- Uh, where is he?"<br/>
<br/>
"Out getting some snacks for us? Why?"<br/>
<br/>
"I just noticed he's gone." Your eye locks onto the top of her breasts. "Anyway, you know how his mask has his name in it? That's from the mind-strip."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, I get it!" she exclaims. "Sometimes I'm as dumb as Maria!"<br/>
<br/>
You tactfully ignore the reference to her infamously flaky friend--another cheerleader. "Then after you copy someone into the mask, you seal it up with this stuff." You pull out a small jar. "Then you're ready to use the new stuff in it."<br/>
<br/>
"Wow, it's complicated. So we have to get a copy of someone?"<br/>
<br/>
"Before we use this mask, yeah. Or we can experiment on Gordon's mask."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't want to do that, in case it screws things up. I mean, we're lucky we had that mask on hand so he didn't just disappear!"<i>You're</i> lucky, you think. <i>Me, not so much.</i> "What do you think this new stuff will do?"<br/>
<br/>
You run your hand through your hair. "Well, it uses the same stuff that Gordon used in-- Oh, I looked up some of the words in that spell he-- Um, that he messed up on. 'Golem' is probably the right word for what he turned himself into." Chelsea just blinks. "Anyway, this is the same basic spell, just tweaked."<br/>
<br/>
"So you don't know what it does?"<br/>
<br/>
"The book doesn't say." You take out the tome. "See, the stuff that explains how it works will be on the other side of this page, but it won't turn."<br/>
<br/>
She frowns. "Gordon mentioned something about that, how you can't flip to later stuff in the book. I don't remember how he got past it."<br/>
<br/>
Speak of the devil: Heavy footfalls and then the creak of the loft door herald the arrival of the golem-Gordon. He's carrying a plastic sack, and stares at you with ill-disguised bile. <br/>
<br/>
"Here's your stuff," he says, dumping smaller sacks of chips between you and Chelsea. "Tomato juice for Chels." He tosses her a small can. "Jolt for me." He wedges the bottle under his arm. "A Mr. Pibb for the homo." He sets it right on your head.<br/>
<br/>
"<i>Could</i> you ask  him to be nice to me?" you ask Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
"Gordon!" she snaps. "You're being bad! Show me you're sorry." He stares for a moment, then to your astonishment drops to all fours, cocks his head, flashes puppy-dog eyes at her, and whimpers. "Now put your nose in your mess," she orders him. "Sniff it!" He rubs his nose on the floor, and snuffles up the dust.<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus!" you gasp. "I didn't mean for you to--"<br/>
<br/>
"That's nothing, Will. He does that all the time for me. I think he secretly likes it. Anyway, since the, uh, accident, he just doesn't argue as much before doing it. Okay, you're forgiven," she tells Gordon. "Come here for your treat!" Eagerly, he crawls over and lays his head in her lap, smiling beatifically as she strokes his head.<br/>
<br/>
To get yourself in that position, you think, you might beg and sniff your own mess too. "Huh?" you say in answer to something Chelsea said.<br/>
<br/>
"I said, what were we talking about?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh. Uh, Gordon, masks. Oh, yeah," you snap your fingers. "I was saying, I don't think this stuff will do anything bad to Gordon's mask. It <i>might</i> do something bad to the person who puts it on, though."<br/>
<br/>
"Like what?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm not sure. But if we don't try it on Gordon's mask, we'd have to try it in a mask of someone else. Like, one of us." There's no one else to try it on, after all.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea puts a thumbnail between her teeth and looks past your ear.<br/>
<br/>
"Alright," she says after a long moment. "I'll volunteer. Gordon and me might as well be a matched set," she adds as you gape at her in astonishment.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You grab your throbbing brow with a groan, and clench your eyes shut against the stinging light. When no one offers a sympathetic word, you groan again, more loudly.<br/>
<br/>
"Is that you?" Chelsea asks. "Are you awake?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know. Jesus! Can you get this thing off me? I think it's—"<br/>
<br/>
"Get what off you?"<br/>
<br/>
"The mask!"<br/>
<br/>
"It is off you. Why don't you take a look, if you don't believe me."<br/>
<br/>
Your eyes snap open, and you sit up. All at once, the pain in your head vanishes, so quickly it leaves you light-headed.<br/>
<br/>
You're in the loft (still? again?) on the gym mat. Chelsea is giving you a quizzical look. "So?" she says.<br/>
<br/>
"What happened?"<br/>
<br/>
"You tell me."<br/>
<br/>
You run a dry tongue over your lower lip.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, you put the mask on me," you tell her, "and I felt like I was about to pass out." <i>Like I was being dragged underwater by a boat anchor.</i> "Then my head started hurting and you told me to get up."<br/>
<br/>
Her eyebrows go up. "Is that all?"<br/>
<br/>
You feel yourself pale. "Why? Did something else happen?"<br/>
<br/>
Her lips twitch into a smile. "No, nothing much," she says. "Except that I had a twin sister for a little while."<br/>
<br/>
Your mouth falls open.<br/>
<br/>
The story she relates is an unsettling sequel to an unsettling prequel. It had started with her lying on the gym mat and you dropping the mask onto her. It had vanished into her, leaving her unresponsive and you alone with her thuggish boyfriend. Ten anxious minute had passed, then the mask had reappeared on her face. You'd shaken her awake.<br/>
<br/>
Then, after sealing the mask, you had painted its inner surface with the stuff made by the new spell. After it dried, you'd put it back on Chelsea. Again, it knocked her out, but this time it reappeared only second later, and wouldn't go back into her.<br/>
<br/>
So then it was your turn to try it.<br/>
<br/>
"We hung out for, like, twenty minutes, comparing notes," Chelsea says. Her expression is skeptical, even suspicious. "Talked about lots of stuff only we-- I'd know about. You, uh, sure you don't remember any of it?"<br/>
<br/>
"Not a word," you assure her.<br/>
<br/>
"Hmm. And you acted like me too. I think. Close to how I imagine myself acting, anyway."<br/>
<br/>
You take the mask from her and examine it. The inner surface is now bone white, where it was blue before. "So what do you think it's good for?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"What's any of this stuff good for?" she retorts.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
She's got an answer to her own question, though, when she calls you up to the loft the following Friday night.<br/>
<br/>
"Pick a hand," she says when you arrive. Her hands are behind her back, and her face shines with mischief.<br/>
<br/>
"Um, okay. Left?"<br/>
<br/>
She was holding a mask, and she hands it over to you. Then she looks at the mask she was holding in her right hand. "Oh, kinky!" she laughs. "Go ahead and change," she says. "I'll be back here!" She disappears behind a crate.<br/>
<br/>
"What's going on?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm taking you to a party! Don't you want to go to a party?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, sure. But what's with the--?" You turn the mask over. A name glares up at you. "Kelsey Blankenship?" you exclaim in surprise. "Is this a mask of--?"<br/>
<br/>
"That's right!" Chelsea calls back from behind the crate. "She's your costume!" She giggles. "Except no one else there will know it's a costume party! For you and me, at least!"<br/>
<br/>
"What's the idea?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's obvious, isn't it? We're going to a party, as Kelsey and--" She giggles. "Her date!"<br/>
<br/>
"But what if she's there?"<br/>
<br/>
"She won't. Put the mask on and you'll find out why. Oh, and there's some clothes over next to the fridge. They're not hers, but Maria is about her size."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, but--"<br/>
<br/>
"Will you please shut up? I have to change too."</span></div></div>


path: 1131221221
author_id: seuzz
title: A Costume Party
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You glance over at the clothes Chelsea indicated--some tight jeans, sandals, a light pink blouse, some underthings. Your first real dress-up opportunity with a mask.<br/>
<br/>
But as a girl. <br/>
<br/>
Nothing wrong with Kelsey, except for the smug, arrogant attitude that goes with her being an Ivy League-bound AP student from a rich family. But she was also a cheerleader up until last year, like Chelsea. You wonder how Chelsea got a copy of her. "Chelsea!" you call. No reply. "Chelsea!"<br/>
<br/>
She must already be inside the other mask.<br/>
<br/>
Well, there is another way to find out how she got a copy of Kelsey.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You wake, feeling unpleasantly drained, and flinch at the salty, grimy stench that fills your nostrils. You groan and grind the heel of your hand into an eye. The last thing you remember--but at the same time it feels like ages ago--was Karl leaning in close to you with a knowing smile. Then someone grabbed you from behind--<br/>
<br/>
You bolt upright. <br/>
<br/>
No, the <i>last</i> thing you remember was laying down on a gym mat in the school's "fuck room" and putting a mask of Kelsey Blankenship to your face. Fearfully, you look down at yourself. Night is settling in, and the lighting is dim, but you can make things out well enough. Thin arms, lightly tanned and downed with hair. Polished, manicured nails. You brush the front of your t-shirt, which is distended by twin bulges, neither very large. A lock of hair falls into your face, and with an irritable gesture you push it back.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, you're awake!" You start at the voice, and look over to see Karl Hennepin--his face framed by great, puffy clouds of soft, curly hair--grinning at you over the top of a crate. "You can start changing--I'll be done in a minute."<br/>
<br/>
Your head swims as you sit up. The crush of incompatible memories makes it very hard to think. "What party is this we're going to?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Guy named Joshua Cheswick is giving it. He goes to Eastman."<br/>
<br/>
Kelsey has been to Joshua's house, and you frown as you picture the scene. She'd like to go. So why wouldn't she be out there tonight?<br/>
<br/>
Then another picture forms, and you almost jump out of your new skin.<br/>
<br/>
"Jesus!" you yelp. "Kelsey and <i>Karl</i>?" You gape at your partner, who is fastening a thin silver chain around his neck. "At the <i>Donna?</i>"<br/>
<br/>
He--she?--freezes. "What are you asking?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm asking if--" You gulp. Why would you have to ask when you can actually remember them making plans? "They're going out to the Donna tonight, right?" That's a cheap-ass motel on the southwest side of town, where couples can hook up.<br/>
<br/>
Karl--it's hard not to think of Chelsea as "Karl," for she looks just like him--resumes buttoning up a flower-print shirt. "Did you already know about that, Will?"<br/>
<br/>
"Of course not! How would I?"<br/>
<br/>
"You mean ... you remember? Because you're Kelsey?"<br/>
<br/>
"That's what these masks are supposed to do, right? Make us just like them?" You shiver a little. Except for these clothes, you could completely pass for Kelsey. In fact, you're going to try to.<br/>
<br/>
"Huh. Well, of course you're right. It just, um, took me a little longer to remember what was up with them after I put on the mask. With you, it's like it was bang out of the gate."<br/>
<br/>
His words puzzle you. Chelsea can only have woken up a minute or two before you. But you dismiss it with a shake of your head.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, so they're going to be, um, busy with each other at the Donna tonight." You can't help flinging Karl a dirty look when he laughs. "But aren't there going to be some people out at Joshua's that we know? That Kelsey and Karl know, I mean?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, sure. That'll be part of the fun. Come on, start moving. I've almost got my shoes on." He ducks behind the crate.<br/>
<br/>
"You're not trying to fuck thing up for them, are you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Probably we're doing them a favor," he shouts back. "We'll be giving them an alibi."<br/>
<br/>
<i>That's true.</i> Kelsey doesn't want <i>anyone</i> knowing that she and Karl have been banging each other in cheap motel rooms since the start of August. "So what made you decide you wanted to do this?" you call out as you start tugging off your clothes.<br/>
<br/>
"I just thought you might want some fun. You don't go to many parties, do you, Will?"<br/>
<br/>
"No," you admit. "So these are Maria's clothes?" you ask as you pick up the jeans. "Whose clothes are you wearing?"<br/>
<br/>
"Mine. I made a thrift shop run." He steps out from behind the crate, dressed in distressed black jeans, ratty Converse sneakers, and a rag-like, button-down shirt. "I had Gordon grab his hat off him, though," he adds, perching a shapeless felt fedora atop a bouffant of hair as soft and capacious as the head of a dandelion. "It wouldn't be Hennepin without the hat." <br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
It's mostly Eastman students crowded into Joshua Cheswick's basement rec room, whose dark recesses thump with a techno beat, and whose ceiling and walls dimly reflect the neon glow of dozens of rave sticks. And none of the Westside crowd attending--pretentious arty types, mostly, and musician wannabes--are the type to get along with Chelsea (or vice versa), which makes the sight of the Karl-disguised Chelsea perched on a sofa and laughing with them very odd. She looks like she's enjoying the pretense immensely. <br/>
<br/>
She looks more comfortable than you feel. Despite the tequila, you are tense and nervous. It doesn't help that you know why you feel this way. <i>I'd rather be off alone with Karl, just the two of us, like we planned. And I don't want anyone here figuring out we're together.</i><br/>
<br/>
So where the other partiers gradually pair up and fall onto dumpy sofas and beanbag chairs to cuddle and nuzzle and rub at each other, you pass the time talking.<br/>
<br/>
"I never got a chance to congratulate you on the debate meet last April," a sharp-faced girl says by way of blunt introduction before giving you her name ("Lisa Rickover.") "You really schooled Alyssa on the drug war topic."<br/>
<br/>
"Still didn't keep Eastman from beating us," you sniff, and look past her ear.<br/>
<br/>
"It pissed Alyssa off, though. She says it was because she was arguing the opposite of her personal beliefs."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I think they should all be legalized, so I was arguing the opposite of <i>mine.</i> I guess that makes me the better debater." That's another reason you're tense: You can't help feeling bitchy. You fairly itch with bitchiness.<br/>
<br/>
"It was nice seeing her taken down a peg. She's a friend of mine, but sometimes she can be insufferable. Your friend's a good dancer," Lisa continues, nodding at Karl, who is dancing exuberantly in the middle of the floor: arms and legs pumping hard and rhythmically, head tilting and jerking, hands spreading and splaying. He seems to know the song, for he anticipates its pauses by jackhammering to a stop and then resuming right on the beat. "Is he on the cheerleading squad?" Lisa asks.<br/>
<br/>
"What makes you ask that?"<br/>
<br/>
"Because of the way he moves. He's a natural."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, well, he doesn't get along with the head cheerleader, so there's no way he could get on it anyway."<br/>
<br/>
"He should move over to Eastman. If your team won't have him, Alyssa would snap him up."<br/>
<br/>
Before you can reply, Karl struts over, takes you by the hand, and pulls you to your feet. You are stiff and awkward at first, but gradually loosen up. It feels good as his hands slide up and down your slim sides.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"So, you have fun?" Karl asks. It's close to midnight, and you're driving the two of you back to Westside.<br/>
<br/>
"It was interesting." You were wound too tight to have fun. "How about you?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, I had a blast." He giggles. "A little dancing, a little drinking, a little--" He mimes taking a hit on a joint. "I've done it before, with Gordon, you know. But it's different when you're doing it with the guys. And when you are one of the guys!" he laughs.<br/>
<br/>
"This is a side of you I never suspected," you tell him. You hope you don't sound prim.<br/>
<br/>
He doesn't reply right away. But when he does, there's a wistfulness in his voice.<br/>
<br/>
"Sometimes," he says, "I get really tired of being Chelsea Cooper. Perfect cheerleader, girlfriend of the basketball captain. Don't get me wrong, I worked hard to get all that, and I'll work at keeping it. But," he groans, "no way I could ever go to a party like that, dance like that, drink like that. Get wasted like this."<br/>
<br/>
"That's how come I'm driving."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't like me much, do you?" he says with sudden heat. "Kelsey, I mean. Well, she wouldn't, not after I--" He catches himself. "And you know, if I had her fucking brain and money I'd be pretty goddamn smug about it too."<br/>
<br/>
"Do you want me to talk to you like Kelsey would?"<br/>
<br/>
"Do <i>you</i> like me, Will?" Karl asks. I mean," he continues without giving you a chance to reply, "I know you wanna fuck me. That's basically what I promised you, right, when I asked you to fix Gordon? I said you could fuck me."<br/>
<br/>
"I haven't got him back yet." <i>And you're drunk.</i><br/>
<br/>
"Oh, Gordon," he sighs. "I feel sorry for him. Sometimes. Sometimes I wanna kill him. But God, he knows how to turn my motor." He writhes in the seat. "He wants too much of it though. 'Course, I can kinda sympathize now." He grabs and adjusts the crotch of his pants. "This ... thing you guys carry around. How do you keep it from driving you nuts?"<br/>
<br/>
Great, a question that has baffled philosophers, theologians, and teenage boys for millennia. The follow-up question is even worse, though.<br/>
<br/>
"I'd kinda like to know what it's like from the guy's point of view," he says, plucking at your thigh. "Would you like to know what it's like from the girl's?"<br/>
<br/>
Like she said earlier-- Kinky.</span></div></div>


path: 11312212211
author_id: imaj
title: Some flimsy self-justifications
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“I mean,” says Karl, looking at you with doe eyes, not an effect that you find convincing on Karl’s face.  “It’s not really cheating, is it - Karl and Kelsey?  We’re already doing it anyway.  I’m not Chelsea, so I’m not cheating on Gordon and your not Will so you’re not cheating on…  Oh, fuck, sorry.  Way to kill the mood Chelsea.  Not Chelsea, I mean…”<br/>
<br/>
His rambling is stopped by an effeminate hiccup.<br/>
<br/>
“You’re still her inside, I mean you.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh that’s so unfair,” interrupts Karl petulantly.<br/>
<br/>
“I mean you’re behaving like you,” you say quickly, holding you hands up in the air to placate him.  “I can’t do this like that.  If I try and be Kelsey, I see too much of Chelsea in you.”<br/>
<br/>
“And that stuck up cunt hates me,” interrupts Chelsea, repeating herself.<br/>
<br/>
“And if I’m myself,” you say gesturing at Karl.  “You’re a guy, and I’m a guy…”<br/>
<br/>
“You don’t look like guy to me,” smirks Karl.<br/>
<br/>
“I’m a guy <i>inside my head</i>,” you explain sharply, leaning forward.<br/>
<br/>
“What if I,” starts Karl before stopping suddenly.  He buries his face in his hands.  When he lifts his head again, every trace of Chelsea’s personality has slipped away from his face.  “I had a really good time tonight Kelsey.”<br/>
<br/>
He leans in close to you, closing his eyes and looking for a kiss.  You jerk back nervously and Karl’s eyes flick back open.<br/>
<br/>
“If I’m being Karl you need to be Kelsey,” he whines, the mask slipping for a second.  “Fair’s fair.”<br/>
<br/>
You close your own eyes for a moment to centre your thoughts.  Kelsey’s memories and feelings slip into place.  When you look on Karl again, it is through her eyes.<br/>
<br/>
“Like I said,” says Karl, slipping back into character.  “I had a really good time tonight Kelsey.”<br/>
<br/>
Karl leans in for the kiss again and this time, with Kelsey’s emotions to guide you, you meet his lips with your own. It is a weak thing, almost devoid of passion.  Even as Kelsey, you are almost disinterested in Karl.  He does most of the work, gently exploring your mouth with his tongue.  Then he brings a free hand up and starts to gently massage one of your breasts.<br/>
<br/>
Slowly, ever so slowly, you start to warm up.  You become more insistent, more energetic, returning Karl’s kiss with interest.  Fumbling at your seatbelt, you manage to free yourself and roll over onto Karl, straddling him on the passenger seat.  He pushes you back for a moment, breaking the kiss.<br/>
<br/>
You cock your head to the side, unable to think past Kelsey’s burgeoning lust, before diving back in to reconnect.  Karl jinks to the side and pushes you back again.<br/>
<br/>
“Not here,” he says, smiling easily.  “The gym loft.”<br/>
<br/>
The first thing you think is ‘that would show Chelsea’ before you remember who you really are, and who Karl really is.  Not that the realization stops you.  You practically drag Karl out the car and lead him away with barely enough presence of mind to shut the door behind you, let alone lock it.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
The gym loft, better know to the school as the Fuck Room, is empty when you arrive.  Not that either of you would notice, locked in an embrace and slipping your hands underneath each others clothes excitably as you are.  Karl manages to get a hand free and feels for the door.  He gets it on the third attempt and pushes it closed ineffectually, leaving it swinging ajar.<br/>
<br/>
You start grasping at the buttons on Karl’s shirt, not breaking from the kiss you are sharing for a second, pushing him slowly back to the centre of the room.  Karl in turn, lifts at your t-shirt.  That forces you lips apart for a moment as it comes away, exposing Kelsey’s smallish breasts to the air.<br/>
<br/>
Smiling, you pull Karl down to the floor, lying down on the old gym mat that has been placed there.  He fiddles at the buttons of you jeans, pull them down from your hips.  Your panties feel damp as he pries them away from your crotch.  In turn, you peel away his thrift store jeans and shorts.  His member springs loose.<br/>
<br/>
You feel a moment’s uncertainty, a flash of panic from your real self as you worry about where he’s going to stick that thing.  Then, slowly and deliberately, he thrusts inside you.<br/>
<br/>
You squeal involuntarily.  The sensation isn’t like anything you’ve ever experience and just as you are trying to work out if you find it pleasurable or not he starts moving again.  Slowly at first, building up a rhythm.  Karl starts to grind faster and faster and you find yourself bucking in time with him, squealing in time with him.  All your doubts are banished.  This much better than anything you’ve ever experienced.  Admittedly you’ve not experienced much, but the feelings you’re having now are <i>amazing</i>.  You feel the pressure building inside yourself, working your way to a crescendo.<br/>
<br/>
And then it stops.<br/>
<br/>
Karl pulls out and away from you, leaving you feeling empty.<br/>
<br/>
“That was different,” he says after a minute of though.  He continues obliviously as you sit yourself up and stare daggers at him.  “Intense, like everything was centred on my cock.  Oh…”<br/>
<br/>
Karl looks sheepish as he catches your eye.<br/>
<br/>
“Well now you know how we feel sometimes,” he says defiantly, slipping back into being Chelsea.  He holds your stare for a second before softening.  “I promised you a fuck and messed it up didn’t I?”<br/>
<br/>
You tap into Kelsey’s resentment towards Chelsea to try and stay angry because you know, just know, that he’s trying to manipulate you.  Karl, maybe realizing that his tricks don’t work as well looking like this, starts to tug at his face.  The mask forms out of nothing on his face and comes away easily, his body snapping into Chelsea’s like an elastic band.  She slumps prone for a moment, before jerking back to life.<br/>
<br/>
“You want to go again,” she asks, smiling insincerely.  “To make up for it?”<br/>
<br/>
“<i>Like that</i>,” you ask incredulously, pointing at her.  You’ve lost your hold on Kelsey’s personality in shock at what you’ve just heard.<br/>
<br/>
“Like that,” she confirms.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 113122122111
author_id: imaj
title: Even more flimsy self-justifications
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“Sure,” you say, trying and failing to affect nonchalance.  Hardly surprising, given the circumstances, but you prefer not to come across as too eager.  You reach to your face with one hand, ready to remove the Kelsey mask.  Chelsea reaches over and bats it away.  “What?”<br/>
<br/>
“Like that,” she repeats, this time pointing at you.<br/>
<br/>
Your jaw hits the floor.<br/>
<br/>
“But I’m, I’m,” you stammer.  “I’m a girl.”<br/>
<br/>
“You said you were a guy earlier,” says Chelsea quickly, suddenly serious.<br/>
<br/>
“It’s just that this is all a little, well, you know,” you reply, unsure how to finish what you’re saying.  There’s no easy way to say this.  No way to look at it that doesn’t drive a truck through the carefully stratified social scene at Westside.  A social scene, you remind yourself, that has been cultivated that way by the girl sitting in front of you.  You go for broke:  “It’s a little gay.”<br/>
<br/>
“No it’s not silly,” Chelsea says eventually, after staring at you a good few seconds more than was comfortable.  She’s smiling now, but it’s a smile that looks pasted on.  “I’m mean, I’m a girl, you’re a guy.  That’s not gay at all.”<br/>
<br/>
There is an uncomfortable pause as you try to rearrange all this to fit inside your head.<br/>
<br/>
“How could I be gay,” she says, uncharacteristically nervous.  “I’m the head cheerleader.  Whoever heard of a gay head cheerleader?”<br/>
<br/>
This scene is starting to veer into an unpleasant look inside the landscape of Chelsea’s psyche.  It is not a pleasant locale.  A survival instinct you did not previously know you possessed kicks in and you realise, with horrific certainty, that this could all go badly, badly wrong.<br/>
<br/>
You lean forward kiss Chelsea on the lips, a quick and simple peck to keep her mouth preoccupied before she says something both of you will regret.  Leaning back, you smile warmly at her.  Not an expression seen often on Kelsey’s face.<br/>
<br/>
“Not gay at all,” she says quietly as she crawls towards you.  Chelsea pushes you back to the floor and kisses you aggressively.  <br/>
<br/>
It’s shaping up to be a very interesting night.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
It’s been two days since the night at the Fuck Room.  You still can’t get over just how stupid you were.<br/>
<br/>
Stupid, stupid, stupid.<br/>
<br/>
Next time the head cheerleader eats you out, if there is a next time, it’s probably not a good idea to comment on how she was so good she must have done this before.  It’s a definite no-no if you’re getting a repressed homosexuality vibe from the girl.  There’s always been frightening stories floating around about what Chelsea was like angry, and you have to say they are pretty accurate.  You were lucky to get away with any of your clothes and had to drive home half naked.<br/>
<br/>
So that’s that bridge burned, and you’ve spent the last couple of days kicking yourself over it.  That and sulking in your room on your XBox.  In fact, you’re toying with turning it on for a while when your phone buzzes.  It’s probably Caleb, he’s been texting you since the day after the gym loft incident wanting to meet up.  You’ve not been in the mood.<br/>
<br/>
Your phone buzzes again, insistently.  You throw the joypad to one side and flip it open.  There’s no caller ID on the messages, just a number, but the content makes it clear who sent it.  The first reads ‘Need u at the gym loft’, the second is a more forceful ‘get ther now, txt back let me knowhen’.<br/>
<br/>
It’s probably an invitation to a beating.  Probably.  Best to get it over with and avoid the humiliation of having it happen at your locker tomorrow.  You wonder what Chelsea’s going to say about what happened before she gets her Gordon golem to give you a once over.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
It turns out what Chelsea has to say is not a lot.  You were ushered into the Fuck Room by an ashen faced Gordon Black.  He said nothing, just gesturing inside before taking up position between you and the way out, arms folded and radiating menace.   Chelsea, it seemed, didn’t want to talk about what happened.  Aware of Gordon’s eye’s burning at your back, you thought better of bringing it up yourself.<br/>
<br/>
“You know Will,” Chelsea says in her insincere voice.  “You’ve been real helpful with this mask stuff, super helpful.  I don’t think I could have gotten Gordon back without you, but…”<br/>
<br/>
Here it comes, you think.  With luck she’ll just brush you off and not bother with having her golem slave kick your ass on the way out.<br/>
<br/>
“It’s difficult to work with you.  I work so hard.  For the team, for Gordon and for the school.  We’re from different worlds, and if people start seeing us together all my hard work might fall apart,” she explains slowly, as if reading from an invisible script.  “If people start asking questions, well let me show you something.”<br/>
<br/>
“I understand,” you begin, head downcast.  Then your brain catches up with your ears – what does she mean show you something.  “Wait, what?”<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea beckons you into one of the corners,  gesturing dismissively to the floor.<br/>
<br/>
“What the fuck,” you shout, unable to stop yourself.  Steve Patterson is laid out on the floor in front of you, or more accurately, what remains of Steve Patterson is laid out on the floor in front of you.  Grey skinned and unmoving, he’s been turned into golem by exactly the same spell that got you into this mess in the first place.  “You used that spell again?  Knowing what it does?”<br/>
<br/>
“I had to,” shouts Chelsea and you feel yourself wither.  Behind you, you hear Gordon shift his weight.  Chelsea is riding on the edge right now and you realise you do not want to push her over it.  “He was asking questions, figured out something was up with Gordon.  He’s never liked me.  Fucker.  So I had Gordon spring on him, get a mask.  And now he won’t ask any more questions.”<br/>
<br/>
“Wait a minute,” you interrupt, puzzled.  “You don’t want me to wear that mask do you?”<br/>
<br/>
“Ick! No,” replies Chelsea vehemently.  “I just want a Steve slave that will do what he’s told.  No more getting between me and Gordon.  And we’ll get to use this place to figure out the rest of the book.  No interruptions once Steve and Gordon get rid of that faggot Jason like good boys.  You’re a good boy aren’t you Gordon?”<br/>
<br/>
“Yes,” Black replies monosyllabically.<br/>
<br/>
“We,” you ask confused.<br/>
<br/>
“Duh, I said I wouldn’t have been able to do it with out you,” replies Chelsea as if she was explaining something to simpleton.<br/>
<br/>
“But you said you couldn’t be seen with me,” you say, now more confused than ever.<br/>
<br/>
“<i>Will Prescott</i> can’t be seen with me,” Chelsea explains patiently.  “That’s why I’m getting you a spot on the team.  It’s perfect, I’ll be able to speak to you any time I need you.”<br/>
<br/>
“A spot on the team,” you parrot.  By this point your brain has given up on understanding what happening.  ‘Go with the flow’ an inner voice tells you, ‘It’ll be much simpler than trying to understand what’s happening’.<br/>
<br/>
“Yeah, like we make a Will mask with that goop on the inside, and mask of someone from the team.  You get to be them, they get to be you.  Isn’t it obvious?”<br/>
<br/>
“The cheerleading team?”<br/>
<br/>
“What other team would I be talking about silly?  You could be one of my friends, like Maria or Kendra.”<br/>
<br/>
You can’t quite believe that Chelsea would so callously do that to one of her friends.  Then you stop for a second and remember that it’s <i>Chelsea</i> you are thinking about here.  Of course she would sell her friends, and you use the term friends loosely here, out if it benefited her.<br/>
<br/>
“You know, now that I think about it there’s a lot of people on the team that don’t appreciate all the work I do for them.  For the school.  Maybe you could be one of them instead?  We could, like, stop them from hurting the rest of the team because they don’t know any better.”<br/>
<br/>
You hear Gordon shift his weight behind you again.  Chelsea’s got all the angles covered:  She deals with a rival, gets you to decipher the book for her and it’s an offer you can’t refuse. </span></div></div>


path: 1131221221111
author_id: imaj
title: With Friends Like These...
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“Who did you have in mind,” you say weakly.  “Which of your friends do you want me to… Um… replace?<br/>
<br/>
“Oh, I haven’t decided yet.” Chelsea responds airily.  “So many of them just aren’t pulling their weight right now, letting the team down.  We should pick the right one so the others…”<br/>
<br/>
“<i>Pour encourager les autres</i>,” you mumble, exhausting your sparse knowledge of French.<br/>
<br/>
“What,” asks Chelsea, bewildered.<br/>
<br/>
“It’s French,” you stammer.  “It means picking out one person so the rest of them get the idea.”<br/>
<br/>
“The French have a word for that,” asks Chelsea, brightening considerably.  “Wow.  If ‘d known that I might have paid more attention in class.  That’s really clever.  You’re really clever sometimes Will.  That’s exactly what I need on the team.”<br/>
<br/>
Only I guess you can’t tell the rest of the team what really happened,” you continue without thinking.  “Because you have to keep the book secret.  They’ll only be able to see that one of your friends is behaving a little differently and try to work out why.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oooh.  I like that.  Whatever reason they come up with on their own will be so much better at bringing them into line than anything I could tell them,” says Chelsea with a surprising insight.  You guess that Chelsea’s intellect, while overall not great, is highly developed in certain, very specific, areas.  “You’re showing some hidden depths Will, don’t you think so Gordon baby?  Will has hidden depths.”<br/>
<br/>
“Yes Chelsea,” rumbles the golem behind you.<br/>
<br/>
“Who needs to be made an example of then?”<br/>
<br/>
“Kendra,” says Chelsea, sucking on her teeth.  “She’s getting <i>uppity</i>, thinks she’s as important to the team as I am.”<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea’s revelation doesn’t surprise you as Kendra is, by reputation, more of an ally than a friend to her.  The stories go that Kendra is as manipulative as Chelsea, she just isn’t as good at it.  If she were a little better, Kendra would be running the school’s social scene.  As it is, she’s just biding her time and waiting for Chelsea to slip up.  It occurs to you suddenly that Chelsea taking an interest in someone like you could be exactly the slip up Kendra is waiting for.<br/>
<br/>
“Kendra wouldn’t be bad,” you concur, thinking for a moment on her body.  Exotic, like a Nubian princess rather than Chelsea’s all-American beauty.  You could do worse.  “Is there anyone else?”<br/>
<br/>
“Gloria,” ask Chelsea, more to herself than to you.  “No Gloria is more likely to fall in line if Kendra does than Kendra is likely to fall in line if Gloria does.  Michelle?  You wouldn’t want to be Michelle.  I don’t think Michelle wants to be Michelle.  Ooooh, Maria.”<br/>
<br/>
That Chelsea would even consider Maria is surprising, since she is the closest thing to an actual, genuine, friend for Chelsea.  Guileless and sweet, you’d almost feel guilty about stealing Maria’s life.  Except for that perfect, perfect ass.  And those legs, the long, taut, legs.  And the perfect complexion and beautiful face, that will be so much more beautiful once you get Maria perplexed expression off it.  Ok, her boobs aren’t as big as, say, Chelsea’s or the Garners’, but they are oh-so-perky.<br/>
<br/>
You gasp involuntarily at the thought of it all.<br/>
<br/>
“You like the idea of Maria,” snickers Chelsea.  “I thought you might.  Seriously, she is such a ditz.  If I’d asked her to help fix Gordon he’d still be a statue.”<br/>
<br/>
Actually, Maria is in a swath of AP classes, but that’s because her father sits on the school board.  That’s what everyone says, anyway.<br/>
<br/>
“So Kendra or Maria,” finishes Chelsea.  “And we can use the loft here to work on the book.”<br/>
<br/>
“To free Black and Patterson.  Gordon and Steve I mean,” you reply.<br/>
<br/>
“Yeah, that…” says Chelsea unenthusiastically.<br/>
<br/>
“There’s one problem I can see though,” you explain with what in hindsight will probably seem like a reckless disregard for your own wellbeing.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh,” says Chelsea, icily politely.<br/>
<br/>
“Wouldn’t people think it odd if Kendra or Maria suddenly started coming up here a lot?”<br/>
<br/>
“Well, no,” says Chelsea, clearly unsure of herself.  Her eyes flick about the room for a second before coming to rest on the golemized body of Steve Patterson.  “Because…”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh no,” you murmur, realizing where Chelsea’s train of though is leading her.<br/>
<br/>
“Because she’d be up here with Steve.  Imagine, being the girl that finally ties down Setve Patterson,” sniggers Chelsea, seeing the horrified expression on your face.  “Oh you don’t need to actually fuck him, just so long as everyone thinks you’re fucking him.  Unless you really want to.”<br/>
<br/>
“But… but… but…  Everyone knows he’s with someone different each week.”<br/>
<br/>
“Everyone will just have to be surprised,” says Chelsea before adding darkly:  “Steve will do exactly what I tell him to do.  Now.”<br/>
<br/>
“I guess I’ve got no choice in the matter, do I,” you ask, resigned to your fate.<br/>
<br/>
“You really are cleverer than you look Will.  Don’t be so down,” she continues, smiling wolfishly.  “Think of it as getting a free upgrade to first class on a plane trip.  I’ll even let you chose.  Kendra or Maria?”<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 11312212211111
author_id: seuzz
title: Commandeering Kendra
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Maria has the hotter body, but you're left cold at the thought of being stuck in a bubble head, and one all primed to flunk AP classes that you'd be no better at passing. Kendra would strike a better average.<br/>
<br/>
"I like your choice," Chelsea says, and you wonder if you even had one, really. "She always leaves me feeling like I need to watch my--" She stops, and shoots you a sharp look. "My figure," she finishes, lamely. "She can be <i>so</i> catty without realizing it."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Unlike you, Chelsea, who are very good at calibrating cattiness to within a micro-meter.</i><br/>
<br/>
"I can get her up here, too, without much trouble," she continues as she takes out her phone. "I could call Maria, but she'd forget as soon as she put the phone down." She reaches behind her and pulls out a mask. "You can put this on while we're waiting."<br/>
<br/>
<i>She's totally prepared,</i> you glumly reflect as you take the blank from her. <i>Has all the stuff prepped, probably has had it prepped for a few days now.</i> With a sigh, you lay back and put the mask to your face. The last thing you hear is Chelsea's chirpy voice: "Hey Kendra! Guess where I am and guess who's been looking for you!"<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You feel very cold when  you wake, as though you've been sleeping on a slab in a morgue, and your muscles respond only stiffly. You'd like to go back to sleep. But you raise yourself with an effort. "How long've'b'n out?"<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea is kneeling in front of a crate, on which is laying the book. A mask is balanced on one of its pages, and she's dropping some powder into it. "Beg pardon?" she says in a distracted tone.<br/>
<br/>
"I said, How long have I been out?" Your mouth is very dry.<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno, I didn't set a timer. Better go hide somewhere, though. Kendra will be here pretty soon."<br/>
<br/>
She undoes a hair clasp and draws out a few blonde wisps, which she drops into the mask. She reaches for a box of matches. "Whose mask is that?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Yours, of course," she says, striking the match and dropping it into the mask. A wave of blue flames springs up and burns briefly with a soft hiss. "Whose would it be?" She brushes the inside of the mask with a cloth, spreading the goop around.<br/>
<br/>
"Steve's?" you start to say, then look over. Gordon and Patterson--who is now alive to the world again--are sitting in a corner behind you. The latter's gray eyes bore into you, and he leans over to mutter something at Gordon; his "friend" snorts and mutters something back. Identical smiles, sour and unpleasant, spread over their faces.<br/>
<br/>
"Better hop to," Chelsea says, as she raises the mask and admires her handiwork. You swallow at the realization that the mask--and thus the fake you--will be under her control. "Wait down in the boys' locker. Wanna friend to go with?" She turns a bright eye on you. "I don't need Gordon up here."<br/>
<br/>
"That's okay," you hastily say as you rise. But it's too late. Gordon gets to his feet too, and, before you can croak out another word he pushes you from the room. With a meaty hand he guides you down to the locker room, where he blocks the exit with a smirk.<br/>
<br/>
You wander around the room nervously. You've always hated locker rooms, with their stink and wet and deeply unpleasant memories of being hassled by boys bigger and uglier and nastier than you. So sharp are the memories of Westside's changing room, in fact, that you instantly recognize your old locker from your freshman and sophomore years, with its dent by the upper hinge. David Kirkham caught you in front of it once, and warned he'd use your head to put a matching dent by the lower hinge if you failed to make any baskets for your team during class ...<br/>
<br/>
You continue to circle the space, nose and memories prickling sharply. Same corner with the discarded, unclaimed shirts and shorts. <i>Why doesn't anybody pick those up?</i> you irritably ask yourself.<br/>
<br/>
"We make people eat them when they fuck up."<br/>
<br/>
You jump at the sound of Gordon's baritone. You must have spoken your thought aloud. The idiocy of his reply inspires you to foolishly argue. "You can't make someone eat a shirt."<br/>
<br/>
Your bowels are loosening before the words have fully passed your lips, for Gordon's eyes gleam. "Sure you can. Lemme show you."<br/>
<br/>
"That's okay, I believe you, I shouldn't have <i>oh shit oh FUCK!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
He's grabbed you by the upper arm, and then he seizes a huge handful of your hair, setting your scalp afire with pain. You gasp and writhe-- Okay, writhing is a really bad idea. Carefully you anticipate and follow his movements as he draws you down toward the pile. "See, we keep a whole variety," Gordon explains. "Some are pretty clean. Some are just dirty. Some are dirty <i>and</i> sweaty." He picks up a shirt and lifts it to his nose, to delicately sniff it like a wine connoisseur sampling a bouquet. He tosses it aside and lifts a sock, to do the same. Then he paws through the pile. "If you're only a little bit of a fuck up, you get something not too nasty. If you've really fucked things up--" He laughs, hoarsely and gutturally, as he lifts a big, limp white rag: tidy whities whose elastic has completely sprung. "The fat kid who leaves skid marks."<br/>
<br/>
Your stomach simultaneously drops and rises. That chili cheeseburger you had for lunch apparently wants to revisit the outside world.<br/>
<br/>
Gordon brings the thing close to your face. "We put it in your mouth, and you suck on it and suck on it, until we think you've--"<br/>
<br/>
Ffffblaaaarrrttttt! A stinging geyser blows out of your esophagus and mouth, all over Gordon. Shocked, he lets go of your hair; and your vibrating nerves are like the tensed string on a stretched bow: you spring across the locker room, vaulting a bench, and are out the door faster than you think you've ever run before. He shouts after you, but you're out in the gym and across the floor. You cast a terrified glance back, but see no pursuit. The far bleachers loom, and you drop to the floor and worm your way underneath. From under the slats you watch the locker room entrance.<br/>
<br/>
Minutes pass before Gordon appears. He's changed shirts, and he briefly peers around the gym before trudging over to the stairs, to disappear into the loft.<br/>
<br/>
You sag and wait, heart hammering only a little less now that you've had time to recover. You jump a little when Gordon appears again, but it's only to cross to the side door, which he opens to admit Kendra Saunders; he leads her back up the stairs. <br/>
<br/>
Good. Maybe once you're in her you can be free of Gordon's nightmarish attentions.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"For Pete's sake, what were you doing hiding back there?" Chelsea's hands are on her hips, and she glares as you emerge from under the bleachers.<br/>
<br/>
"Just, uh, thought I'd keep a lookout. For when Kendra showed up," you lamely reply. <br/>
<br/>
"Well, you should've come when Gordon called," she says. "I shouldn't have to come down here and get you myself." Behind her, Gordon smirks, and clasps one hand around the clenched fist of the other.<br/>
<br/>
"Do you always cum when Gordon calls?"<br/>
<br/>
She frowns. "What's that supposed to mean?"<br/>
<br/>
"Never mind. I guess we should go back up."<br/>
<br/>
The creak of the stairs under your feet, Chelsea in front, Gordon behind: this must be what it feels like mounting the scaffold. <br/>
<br/>
Inside the fuck room, a slender, angular figure turns. You flinch: it's your own naked self. He looks at you, and without shifting his head looks at Chelsea and at Gordon. The incongruous thought forms: Does he have a half-digested chili cheeseburger inside him, and could he expel it all over Gordon?<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea pokes you in the arm. "He needs your clothes, sweetie. There's your things over there." You follow her glance: Kendra's neatly folded jeans and tank top and shoes and socks and crisp white baseball cap, with a mask laying nearby. <br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You are floating. You are empty. You are a soap bubble in a vacuum.<br/>
<br/>
Something brushes across you. Something slips inside you. A leg. A leg is inside your leg. You have a leg now!<br/>
<br/>
You have two legs! Arms, a torso, a head--<br/>
<br/>
You gasp. Something like fingertips, millions and millions of fingertips, play across the surface of your mind. They probe, and you meet them with your own-- You have millions of fingertips too, you realize. You touch the others with your own, and fingers, millions and millions of fingers, fold and entwine. You draw the others close to you--<br/>
<br/>
And then they are your fingers, folded and entwined with your own.<br/>
<br/>
"Hmm?" You say lazily. Your eyes, you suddenly realize, are open, staring up at a dark ceiling.<br/>
<br/>
"I said, do you want some privacy?"<br/>
<br/>
"Mm-hmm."<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea's face swims into your field of version. "Are you okay?"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm fine." You clap your hands onto your breasts, which are just the right size to cup. "I'm very fine."<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, yeah, you want some privacy," she says.<br/>
<br/>
You hear footsteps, and then the sound of the door closing. You smile.<br/>
<br/>
And then Steve Patterson's face looms into view. "Chelsea said you might want company."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Chelsea can bite me,</i> you think. <br/>
<br/>
You are very calm, so his smile doesn't alarm you. You smile back. The thought seems so obvious, that you wonder you didn't have it before: All you have to do is get his mask off him, make up some of that goop, and Patterson will be your slave, not Chelsea's.</span></div></div>


path: 113122122111111
author_id: seuzz
title: The Rise of Kendra Saunders
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>If Chelsea had put you under any other face ...<br/>
<br/>
If Chelsea hadn't put your own replacement under her control ...<br/>
<br/>
Oh, hell, if Chelsea hadn't decided to be such a controlling bitch after sleeping with you Friday night, you might have been inclined to go along with her.<br/>
<br/>
But three mistakes is at least one too many, even for Chelsea Cooper.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, I could use some company," you say, smiling at Patterson. You sit up and pat the mattress.<br/>
<br/>
He sits cross-legged, and you gently push him onto his back. His eyebrows go up expectantly as you straddle his chest. But then, as you reach for his face, he grabs your wrist, hard. "What are you doing?"<br/>
<br/>
"Making things more comfortable for you." He stares at you, but you don't flinch. Instead, you lightly pinch his ear with your free hand. "Just giving you a little ... <i>tweak</i>. To make the experience more ... pleasurable."<br/>
<br/>
He still looks skeptical, and he hangs onto your hand, but he lets you put your other hand to his face. The magic words, uttered three times, followed by a tug--<br/>
<br/>
<i>Shit.</i> He turns to stone, but he's still got a grip on you, and you can't pull yourself free. Breaking his hand off, you're sure, would be a really bad idea, even if you could.<br/>
<br/>
You could put the mask back on him, but he might decide to argue. Instead, since all the supplies are within reach, you just pull your own mask off. <br/>
<br/>
<i>Oh. Oh, ow!</i> That was stupid. Kendra's wrist was slimmer than yours, and now Steve's frozen grip pinches even harder. The pain is such that you don't even pass out as the mask comes off, and it's like hundreds of fish hooks trying to claw your soul out through your face. You slump and twist, and a stab like a hot knife shoots through your shoulder.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Fuck.</i><br/>
<br/>
Luckily, your right hand is free to clumsily prepare the spell. It's long and tedious work, and before it's done you are terrified that Chelsea will reappear. The hard part is striking the match and dropping it into the upturned mask: you have to grip the match book between your teeth and strike it just under your nose. The flame singes your nose hair.<br/>
<br/>
But it's done: flames briefly dance inside Steve's mask, and you spread the goop around, coating the inside. When it is dry, you set the mask back on Steve.<br/>
<br/>
He come back to life and stares at you, and then with an "Oh, fuck!" he lets go and pushes at you. His face turns very red, for you are still yourself, and are quite naked, and are still sitting on him.<br/>
<br/>
"Hang on, hang on," you laugh, and he freezes--a good sign. A nasty smile curls onto your face. "Fancy meeting you like this," you grin.<br/>
<br/>
"Get off me, you pathetic homo!"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, you shouldn't have called me that. It gives me an idea," you snicker. "Suck my cock, Patterson."<br/>
<br/>
He face twists in despair and horror, and he swallows hard. But with vast and easily apparent reluctance, he scoots down the mat until his face is close to your extremely flaccid penis. His mouth parts.<br/>
<br/>
"Okay, you can stop. Just testin'." You slap him lightly on the side of the head. "But whose bitch are you? Mine or Chelsea's?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yours," he grimaces. "And it's definitely not a trade up."<br/>
<br/>
"Just let me get Kendra back on." You pick up her mask and are about to put it back on when you remember who you're with. "Wait down in the gym," you order. Grimly, he complies.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Oh my God, Kendra, what did you do to <i>Steve?</i>" Chelsea says the next morning. All the cheerleaders are in the changing room, getting ready for first-period practice, and she has turned on you with the high-beams and a wide, knowing smile. Furtive glances shoot in your direction as the other eight members respond to Chelsea's loud exclamation. You just dimple back at her, not much liking the attention. "Come on, you can tell us," Chelsea goads you. "Where did you score that love potion?"<br/>
<br/>
The others busy themselves, but you can tell from the silence--broken only the soft sound of clothes sliding on and off gorgeous female flesh--that all ears are turned in your direction.<br/>
<br/>
You turn to Chelsea and throw out your boobs. "Simple. I blew his mind!"<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea's giggle is a loud shriek. But her smile turns metallic as she continues to stare at you, and ice crystals seem to form in her eyes.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Oh, fine, so she wants it to be like that.</i> You pluck at her elbow. "Thanks, Chels," you say in a voice that is low enough to sound like a confidence but strong enough to carry through the room.<br/>
<br/>
Her smile instantly warms, and she gives you a big hug.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Later, after practice:</i> "Nice work," Gloria Rea says as she falls in next to you. "Think you can keep him distracted from the rest of us?"<br/>
<br/>
"I found his soft spot," you reply. "And it's not in his shorts."<br/>
<br/>
The cause of the commotion, of course, is the huge PDA Patterson gave you in the gym before practice. He even swept you off the floor. It certainly appeared convincing--and you played along, though neither you nor Kendra's persona were very eager to participate--and it certainly should have seemed genuine: you spent almost an hour with Patterson yesterday, getting his attitude tweaked to your satisfaction. He is now besotted with Kendra Saunders, and is a loyal ally of the intelligence behind her; and though he will outwardly continue to obey all of Chelsea's commands, he will communicate them secretly to you for confirmation or countermanding. You were also careful enough in your "programming," you think, to avoid giving him the "robotic" appearance that even Kendra had picked up in Gordon's attitude around Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
But neither is Steve the only one giving you attention. You arrived at school early enough that there weren't many other students on hand, but now it's between periods, and it is very hard not to notice the open stares and casual leers of the male students. Heads turn and mouths open, and grins are hard to miss. You feel very small, what with at least half the student body being significantly taller and bulkier than you, and with that half taking the form of a multi-headed beast ogling you from every direction and perspective. But you feel your assumed persona basking under the interest.<br/>
<br/>
You're soon distracted by other interests, though. There's a jam near the main doors, and you and Gloria are stuck behind Rachel Burton and Anita Nuevo. It's a loud crowd, so the two of them are speaking up; it can't really be eavesdropping if everyone nearby can't help overhearing them. "I sure wouldn't want to go up against Amanda," Rachel is saying.<br/>
<br/>
"That's what I told Deanna," Anita replies. "And if she wants Ricky, she'll have to pry him out of her dead hands."<br/>
<br/>
Gloria jostles you, and you exchange glances. <br/>
<br/>
"It'll be a dirty fight," Rachel continues. <br/>
<br/>
"And for what," snorts Anita. "If Ricky were half as good as Amanda says he is--"<br/>
<br/>
But then the line begins to move, you and Gloria are separated from the other two.<br/>
<br/>
"You really think Deanna's trying to steal Ricky away from Amanda?" Gloria asks when you're free again in the halls.<br/>
<br/>
"That's what it sounds like," you reply. "Major earthquake for sure." You rock-paper-scissors over it, and Gloria wins the right to pass the tidbit on to Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Steve is entirely attentive to you during lunch, though he isn't nearly as rambunctious as he had been in the morning. Still, though he's more gentlemanly, he causes enough attention that even Chelsea feels the need to be extra demonstrative with Gordon. She seems unhappy with the competition that she herself had encouraged, for it's with a pinched tone that she speaks to you on the way out of the cafeteria, and her "request" that you meet her at her house that evening is rather peremptory. You anticipate unpleasantness.<br/>
<br/>
Fortunately, you'll be armed with something useful. She demands "intelligence reports" from Kendra and Gloria and Maria--hence your interest in news about Amanda Ferguson and Ricky Golia--and you've got a doozy for her. After school, on your way out to your car, you'd spotted Lin Pol and Yumi Saito. Instead of ignoring you, though, they'd gestured you over. "What's going on between you and Steve?" Yumi had asked over a narrow smile.<br/>
<br/>
"I think it's true love," you reply with pretended bashfulness. You can't help preening, though.<br/>
<br/>
"Is Chelsea really behind it?" Lin asks baldly.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, she set up our magical date--"<br/>
<br/>
"Because she looked pissed at lunch," Lin continues. You shrug weakly.<br/>
<br/>
"If it's for real, you know," Yumi says. "Well, Gordon's only captain because Steve's so loyal to him."<br/>
<br/>
"And you'd make a much better squad captain than Chelsea," Lin adds bluntly.<br/>
<br/>
"What are you suggesting," you ask with a lazy smile.<br/>
<br/>
They glance knowingly at each other. "Snap election?" Yumi says. "Vote of no confidence in Chelsea?"<br/>
<br/>
"Why would I--?" you start with feigned shock.<br/>
<br/>
"We can deliver five votes. Yours is six. If Michelle knows it's coming, that's seven to Chelsea's three."<br/>
<br/>
Of course you'll have to tell Chelsea about this. She'll tell you to play along, to smoke the rebels out. She thinks her control of Patterson could keep it from turning into an actual coup. <br/>
<br/>
Of course, you know different.</span></div></div>


path: 1131221221111112
author_id: gigantorzzz
title: Yumi Acquisition
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Chelsea's nostrils flare after you fluently, tell her the coup plan. Doesn't take a genius who the five people will be. Garner twins, Yumi, Lin and Cindy. The little bit of Kendra in you clearly is delighted watching Chelsea fumes, her expression crunches when she is in deep thought, but it also know that Chelsea is a cunning snake, at par with Kendra if not slightly more due to her position and influence. Your gaze shift uncomfortably at the Gordon golem standing behind her. The thought that Patterson is not with you is rather disconcerting, but self-control comes naturally to you. <br/>
<br/>
Chelsea looks at you, her best attempt at a sincere gratefulness. <i>She can try better than that</i>. WIll Prescott might be fooled, but not Kendra Saunders. And Kendra Saunders is who you are now, in body and in mind. You beamed at her however, indicating that you gracefully accept her acknowledgement. She then seems to be happy, dismissing you from her sight, with only a slightest reminder about Patterson. When you walk away from the Fuck Room, you breathe a sigh of relief. This will buy you much needed time. <br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">***</div><br/>
<br/>
Her plan is realised a day later. Chelsea Cooper moves quickly, and when she make the move, she does it with effectiveness and thoughtfulness. Chelsea makes sure that the Coopers residence is empty for her special guest. It is the first time for you to see the interior of her house, let alone her apricot hued room. You quietly wait at the sideline watching the scene unfolds, as Gordon restraines Yumi, her small frame trashes, and struggles to no avail.  Not a lot of people are stronger than Black, even Pozniak would be crazy to try such a thing, not to mention that as a golem, he is practically a beast. A part of your mind wonders what will Chelsea do next. Golemize Yumi and make her Chelsea's little spy? Oh how delighted Chelsea could be at that thought. Assign Yumi as your next body? You don't want to though. Kendra's mind is comfortable. If anything, you eyed Steve Patterson beside you, you can use him to subdue Gordon or Chelsea if it is necessary. <br/>
<br/>
''A little birdy told me that you want me out.'', Chelsea begins her show. It's tacky, even by your standard. Yumi's eyes widen in fear and she glances at you. Again, you feel a little bit of guilt, after all, you used to harbour a crush on her. Kendra's mind though, is enjoying her reaction. Yumi is the sacrificial tribute to endear yourself to Chelsea. ''Sorry Yumi.'', you smiled, there isn't a shred of guilt in your voice.<br/>
<br/>
''You know how much I talk about team unity.'', Chelsea murmures but loud enough to fill the whole room, Yumi averts her gaze back to her, mumbling incoherently through Gordon's fingers. ''We can't have <i>you</i> or your little group of friends endangering the harmony of the team.'' <i>Bullshit</i>, you thought. The only harmony for Chelsea is when she has all the members of the cheerleader team feeding from her hands.<br/>
<br/>
''But...'', Chelsea momentarily pauses for that dramatic effect. ''I can change your mind.'', you saw the Gordon golem rolls his eyes and takes his hand away from Yumi's face, with a swift-clearly-practiced move Chelsea slaps a mask on Yumi's face. Yumi's body goes limp as the mask disappears under her skin, Chelsea beckons to Gordon and he let the unconcious cheerleader lower on the floor. <i>Wait...</i>. You keep watching as the mask re-appeares on Yumi's face. You can see a faint image of Yumi on the mask when Chelsea swipes it away from Yumi's face. She then takes out another mask, this one with a greyish finish and slowly, as if savouring the moment, lays it on top of the slumbering cheerleader's face. Yumi's figure contorts and expands <br/>
<br/>
''You two can go out now.'', Chelsea commands the golems. As much as you can see the disappointment on Patterson's face, he makes a beeline for the door.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">***</div><br/>
<br/>
''You have to do what I say.'', a very smug looking Yumi points at Chelsea. The sentence drips with a sense triumph, not to mention a certain degree of sneer. <br/>
<br/>
''If you say so.'', Chelsea, or rather, Yumi slapped with a golemized Chelsea mask replies, looking rather dejected. You can only guess, that the Chelsea personality is appaled by the prospect of taking orders from someone like Yumi Saito. Even though knowing it's the real Chelsea Cooper behind that face.<br/>
<br/>
You look at the scene coolly, which cover the Kendra mind, working overtime inside your head. Now that Chelsea has Yumi, she is ahead of you in the game. It's quite a bizarre sight, the clothes on Yumi hungs loosely on her frame and Chelsea Cooper's wearing clothes clearly too small a couple of numbers if not more. What strikes you most is that Yumi appears to be more intimidating, if not downright menacing. <br/>
<br/>
''Good.'', Yumi smiles, a smile of triumph. ''Now we need to swap clothes.''<br/>
<br/>
''Finally!'', the Chelsea golem exclaims. ''It's very uncomfy in here.''<br/>
<br/>
You drink in the glorious sight. <br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">**</div><br/>
<br/>
The next day, the Fuck Room has a new face. Yumi Saito. Not somewhere she can usually be found, but there she is, talking to you.<br/>
<br/>
''I can read her mind like an open book, it's kind of kinky you know.'', she twirls strands of her black hair. ''Is that how it feels inside Kendra?''<br/>
<br/>
''Yeah.'', you give a half smile. You pray she is not on to something.<br/>
<br/>
''It is amazing!'' <br/>
<br/>
''Yes, I know Chelsea, I saw what you did today.''<br/>
<br/>
What you in fact see, is Yumi Saito getting through life as usual. She argued with Chelsea, or rather, golem Chelsea about the routine and how other cheerleaders were treated. She ate with her band of friends which includes Jenny Ashton, and Paul Davis whom you are pretty sure is crazy about Yumi. You saw her talking with Lin Pol, the Garner twins and Cindy Vredenburg, her arch nemesis for lack of a better term. She and Lin even asked about your decision to overthrow Chelsea discreetly.<br/>
<br/>
What people don't see is that, the Yumi they saw today is a puppet, a host, a dispensable disguise for Chelsea's scheming mind. <br/>
<br/>
Yumi looks at her petite hands, ''It's so fun being her.'' She gracefully performs a cartwheel towards you. ''And it will be fun playing around with people around her, especially that Davis boy.'' There is an uncharacteristic glint on her eyes. ''Then I can let her pick up the pieces of her life. '' <i>If there's any</i><br/>
<br/>
''Or I could become my own worst enemy.'', Yumi's arm interlocks with yours and she leans her head against your bosom. ''Isn't that a delicious idea.'', she says, half-whispering. My enemies will tell all their secrets to me without realising. She can go places, places where Chelsea Coopers can't.''<br/>
<br/>
Yumi looks up at your face. Her palm brushes against your cheek affectionately. She leans in for a kiss, and not wanting to make the same mistake you did some time ago in the past, you lean into her as well, embracing her petite figure.</span></div></div>


path: 11312212211111121
author_id: gigantorzzz
title: Chelsea Cooper's Strategic Management
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>''Congrats!'', you state bluntly at Yumi. The announcement came as a shock, but it is met with much welcome from some members. You notice Lin Pol's relief, before she catches your eyes and quickly adjusts her facial expression. Yumi Saito has been made a co-captain, just before the usual practice. Coach Tesla gave a nod, not that her approval means anything. The squad is and has been run by the head cheerleader.<br/>
<br/>
''Thanks.'', she nods, clearly not paying attention to your insincere tone. She gives you a hug, but before your mind could travel back to the event in the Fuck Room, she plies away and moves on to others. After all, it's a busy life ahead for the new co-captain.<br/>
<br/>
The practice goes without a hitch, routines after routines are done exceptionally and you wonder whether Chelsea - the real Chelsea, notices this as well. If she does, you can't really tell, because everyone seems to be engrossed into a new routine for the big game ahead. Westside and Eastman's basketball match. Taking charge seems to be coming naturally for Yumi. Her routine is flawless, she stops Chelsea from berating Michelle who struggles in her new place, and she lifts the squad spirit among other things. <br/>
<br/>
Kendra's mind can't recall the first time a practice ends in a high spirit like today and as much as she hates not being made the captain, she relishes the change.<br/>
<br/>
<i>***</i><br/>
<br/>
Ever since the Book of Masks falls into the clutches of Chelsea Cooper, the Fuck Room lost its original purpose. Gordon Black and Steve Patterson basically guard the place despite Chelsea's change of HQ. So it is to your surprise when you go up to the loft to find Seth Javits straddling over Yumi. Grunting, he continues to thrust, ignoring your presence. ''Oh, Kendra, hi.'', Yumi looks at you, her complexion reddens. ''You're early.'', she says. Weird doesn't even describes it, but you settle for bizarre. <br/>
<br/>
''Don't. You. Fucking. Dare.'', Yumi's voice turns icy which sends Seth into a momentary pause. You swear his face turns a shade of blue as his whole body tense in pain, but the guy soldiers on and this time almost desperately, thrust his member with more vigour. <i>Poor guy, he must've been golemized</i>Yumi seems to be enjoying the extra effort put in by the golem, her moans of pleasure is a crescendo as each thrust buries Seth's member deeper and deeper. <i>Dammit you're getting aroused</i>. There is a part of your mind thinking if you can use Patterson in this manner.<br/>
<br/>
Yumi's face is one of pleasure, in contrast, to the relief in Javits', a well earned relief at that too. Yumi is sitting contently on top of Seth Javits, her pear shaped breasts heave hypnotically as she regains her composure. ''Being cheerleader captain can be very stressful.'', she says unapologetically. ''But at least this time I don't have to fake it.'', her face glows.<br/>
<br/>
''Me and Seth makes a cute couple, don't we?'', Yumi beams at you, she rests her head against Seth's arm. Seth Javits, however shifts uncomfortably beside her.''Of course not.'', she sneers before you can even point out the bizarre sight. ''Poor Cindy, she never saw it coming.'', she chuckles, plying away from Javits to find her clothes.<br/>
<br/>
''Or maybe it's about time to utterly humiliate that Davis boy?'', she pulls up her panties to her hip, before wedging her breasts into the bra. Chelsea never likes Paul Davis, and she despise that one of the numerous unpopular guy in the school is trying to date a cheerleader. <i>Cheerleaders should be with jocks</i> that's what your Kendra mind tell you about Chelsea's attitude. <br/>
<br/>
''Or maybe... someone different.'', there is an uncharacteristic glint in her eyes, which still takes you by surprise, considering how many times you have come across that Chelsea-esque expression. <br/>
<br/>
''Now Kendra, I'll tell you other changes that needs to be made in this place.''<br/>
<br/>
<i>***</i><br/>
<br/>
You rotate the mask, it is blank with a mind band in it, but not for long. <i>Insurance</i>. You need to have an insurance against Chelsea Cooper, just in case she decides to enslave you inside one of those golemized mask. You have another one stashed somewhere safe, somewhere that neither Kendra nor Will would think about. You can't let the Patterson golem into it, so your progress is slow, but luckily your brilliant mind thought up of an idea to use power tools. Sure Kendra's parents might be surprised by the power bills and their daughter's sudden interest in woodwork, but at least it saves you sore hands from the arduous task of polishing. <br/>
<br/>
It's not much and you know that Chelsea has more firepower than you do. So you're thinking to swap into someone Chelsea Cooper will overlook. Someone non-descript, someone in Eastman. When's the better chance to do that than the big game and the party afterwards? <br/>
<br/>
You look at the mirror and you know you're going to miss the person staring back at you.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 113122122111111211
author_id: gigantorzzz
title: Yumi's Boyfriend Troubles
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>''Hi Kendra.'', Yumi chirps when she sees you and Gloria in the hallways leading to the cafetaria.<br/>
<br/>
''Oh, hi Yumi.'', you say, feigning surprise when you see the person in her tow. ''Who might he be?''<br/>
<br/>
Of course you know who he is, and Kendra's mind knows him well, but given her stature, cheerleaders shouldn't mix with small fries. Yumi is an exception, mixing with other relatively unpopular people, like yourself for instance. A slight pang of guilt, long surpressed, re-surfaces in your mind. Yumi was nice to you, although sometimes she can be rather irritable, though you think it might be because of what you did. <br/>
<br/>
Inwardly you shudder at what Chelsea is about to do to this girl's life.<br/>
<br/>
''You know who he is.'', Yumi shoots you her clearly-not-impressed look. <br/>
<br/>
''Are you like, going out or something?'', Gloria quips. <i>Good</i>, you were supposed to say that line, but as Gloria has brought it up, you feel less responsible about it.<br/>
<br/>
Paul Davis clearly isn't accustomed to being the centre of attention of several cheerleaders. He shifts uncomfortably, his gaze falls down to the floor, avoiding your stare and Gloria's. Kendra's mind thinks about how cute the guy is, totally submissive.<br/>
<br/>
''If I do?'', Yumi says hotly.''Any problems with that?'', she challenges Gloria. You notice Paul perks up at Yumi's answer, must've been a huge relief for the guy. <br/>
<br/>
''Chelsea will want to hear about this.'' Gloria says lamely. It's not just that Yumi's a co-captain, but the way Yumi says the words. There's an air of aggresiveness around her. An air of Chelsea Cooper.<br/>
<br/>
''Tell her to stick her nose somewhere else.'', Yumi explodes before she grabs Paul and leave you and Gloria standing there looking at her. You catches Paul glancing back, but the two then disappears in the midst of other students.<br/>
<br/>
You let Gloria break the news to Chelsea, after all, <i>she already knows</i>.<br/>
<br/>
Walking to the locker, you see your Will double and Caleb antagonized by Pozniak and Brown.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">***</div><br/>
<br/>
Two nights later, you and golem Chelsea knock on the door of the Saito residence. By this time, the gossip regarding Yumi's relationship with Paul has become quite a news in Westside. During the cheerleading practice, the two bickered and argued inecessantly. Yumi even stormed off a practice session, after the Chelsea golem mocked her in the dressing room.<br/>
<br/>
''Hey.'', a guy greet you. Mokichi Saito. The guy is as imposing as ever, you recall your earlier visits with Caleb and immediately noted that the guy definitely disapproves his sister hanging out with some losers from Westside. You tried to stay clear from him during your freshman year, but occasionally won't mind his presence. After all, he disapproves of Pozniak and his cliches as well. You wondered how many friends the guy got.<br/>
<br/>
You hear Yumi shouts something in Japanese from inside the house. Mokichi makes a disgruntled expression and shouts back at her. ''Come in.'', he forces a smile. Well, it's real nice to know that he's like this to everyone. <br/>
<br/>
''Sorry about that.'', Yumi greets you, nudging Mokichi away. You presume he is going to return to whatever he was doing. You see another girl looking up at you, she looks like a mini Yumi, only with much longer hair that extends down her back and a much cutesy face. ''Hello.'', the Chelsea golem greets her. <br/>
<br/>
''Say hi.'', Yumi pats the kid's back. ''She's my little sis, Chiho.''<br/>
<br/>
Chiho looks Yumi, before she turns her glance at you and golem Chelsea uncertainly. ''Hi.'', she then scampers off.<br/>
<br/>
''Shall we go upstairs then?'', Yumi beckons the two of you.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">***</div><br/>
<br/>
''Strip.'', Yumi orders the Chelsea golem. ''God, you don't know how much I want to say that.''<br/>
<br/>
''I- I never realized I was that bad.'', Yumi looks at you demurely. ''She, Chelsea, I...'', she confuses which pronoun she should use.''Criticize everything I do, nitpicks my routine and telling me how I've picked up a few pounds because of my thighs.'', you let her finish sobbing. ''I've to order her to be nice.''<br/>
<br/>
You wipe the stream of tears from Yumi's face. Somehow this sight is something you have fantasized about, although definitely in a different context. ''But she is you, Chels.'', you mutter. ''That's how people see you.'' Your words seems to send her into a state of shock.<br/>
<br/>
''Oh Will... You don't know how hard it is to become the head cheerleader.'', she dabs tissues on her moist face. ''Everyone is watching you, waiting for you to make the smallest mistake.'' She pauses to re-compose herself. ''I can't show any weakness.''<br/>
<br/>
''But I want to make changes.'', she finally says,''Not the same changes that I planned to make. A good change, a nice change.''<br/>
<br/>
You look at her. Chelsea Cooper being nice. Now that's a laugh. But that's what you think before you spent time with her decoding the Book. The golemized mask of Patterson seems to burn a hole inside your handbag along with a blank mask and mind band you had conveniently bring. You thought that this might be the best chance to finally reclaim your life back. You glance at the naked Chelsea Cooper, sitting contently, waiting for her master. <br/>
<br/>
You saw a different side of Chelsea Cooper, the better side. But you aren't too sure about it. Slapping a golemized mask on her might put a lot more certainty. Or maybe you should let the girl repent for all her past sins. <br/>
<br/>
''If being Chelsea Cooper is that bad, why don't you take some time off from yourself?'', you suggest.<br/>
<br/>
''That's a brilliant idea!'', Yumi half-squeals. ''Maybe you can also come with me to Eastman.'' <br/>
<br/>
You look at her quizzically. ''What's with Eastman?''<br/>
<br/>
''My - I mean, Yumi's cousin, Sarah is a freshman there.'', she stands up and rummage through a drawer to take out a mask and gently throw it to you. SARAH PAK the mind band soldered there read. ''I could start my life over again and you can be a part of it.'', your mind though squirms at the thought that Chelsea has already gotten Sarah, but wait... is she asking you out?<br/>
<br/>
You watch as Yumi put her hand on her temples and mutters the word, you have to make a snap decision.</span></div></div>


path: 113122122111111212
author_id: gigantorzzz
title: Chelsea's Big Plan for the Squad
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>''Ugh,'' Yumi complains. ''Definitely still not used to being Chinese.'' She makes a face at you. ''You know, slit eyed and all.'' You don't even bother pointing out Chelsea's politically incorrect quip.<br/>
<br/>
You wonder if Chelsea has lost her wariness around you. She almost never takes the golems to the Fuck Room anymore, it's usually reserved for girl talk between her, golem Chelsea and you. You wet your lips, maybe it is time to assert yourself into this whole thing or maybe time to finalize the move to Eastman.<br/>
<br/>
The big game is looming ahead, but the cheerleading squad is heading for disaster. Cindy caught Yumi putting the moves on Seth after practice. Yumi denied the accusation vehemently, although Chelsea made it very clear from the start that she wanted Yumi to be caught in the act. She was that close to groping Seth in front of the whole squad. However, the combination of Chelsea's deviousness and Yumi's track record and support from Lin Pol and the Garner twins meant that Cindy, although rather reluctantly, brush the matter under the carpet. Yumi gave you a sly grin as soon as Cindy left the gym with her boyfriend in tow.<br/>
<br/>
The next few days were very interesting, to say the least.<br/>
<br/>
*******<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
Back in the Fuck Room on a Monday afternoon, Yumi puts down her purse, and you can hear the clinking sounds of masks bashing against each other. You stand close enough to see the reflections in each individual masks when she happily doles them out and spread them on the gym mat. Jessica Garner. Eva Garner. Cindy Vredenburg. No surprise there, you thought.<br/>
<br/>
''She was bawling her eyes out when I took that.'' Yumi twirls the mask of Cindy in satisfaction. ''What a bitch, she's just manipulating Seth with tears and sex.'' Well, not much different than you and Gordon then, you snark inside your head. ''But she's a good fuck I can say.'' That's Chelsea talking. Kendra's scheming brainpower brings you up to speed. Chelsea must've donned Seth's mask, after all, it should have been golemized with her own hair.<br/>
<br/>
''Kinky,'' you quip. Screwing Cindy must have been at the top 10 of Chelsea's to-do list, at least figuratively. With the book, she was able to take it to the next level. Literally literally. Your wondering is cut short, when you hear Yumi give a sigh.<br/>
<br/>
''Couldn't get to Lucy though," she mutters. <br/>
<br/>
''Why?'' you inquisitively ask, although that's more of Kendra being nosy.<br/>
<br/>
Yumi looks at you sheepishly, but she explains, ''Study trip, with some creepo professor and her friend, Cindy told me.'<br/>
<br/>
''Never mind that,'' she cuts you before you can ask other stuffs. ''Let me see the shots, will you?''<br/>
<br/>
You take out a tablet from Kendra's satchel bag. It whirs to life and you hand it over to Chelsea after tinkering about it for a moment or two.<br/>
<br/>
''Oh Will, I hope you're not taking nude shots of Kendra or me,'' Yumi teases you, the line is pure Chelsea, the tone however makes all the difference.<br/>
<br/>
''No I didn't,'' your face flush at what she says. ''Besides...'' You don't complete your sentence as you see her completely engrossed in the tablet. Yumi's slim fingers flick through the photos, barely giving a glance at some, while snickering at others. She appears to be rather satisfied of your professional photoshoots, although she can't help but to jibe at some, lamenting the poor lighting or angles of the shot.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea's plan was to use Seth as a wedge between Yumi and Cindy, effectively destroying the cheerleading career and influence of them both. Cindy will lose her boyfriend and position, while Yumi will lose the Garner twin's and Lin's support, making her dependent on Chelsea. Kendra incidentally, is the perfect person to find out about the affair. In a matter of seconds, these pictures could be plastered all over Kendra's Facebook wall. Authentic proof that sometime in the last week, Yumi and Seth went out to Crystal Cave together for something more than a coffee between friends.<br/>
<br/>
Yumi's life would really and truly be shattered. ''Chels,'' you call out. Although it has been many many days since you held a crush for Yumi, she is a truly sweet girl and you think doesn't deserve her life to crumble before her. Lucy, however, is an entirely different being and you were glad to see the back of her when she moved on to Keyserling University. Something you and Kendra agreed on.<br/>
<br/>
''Mmm,'' Yumi gummaws, still engrossed on the pictures.<br/>
<br/>
''Let's do it.'' You pauses for emphasis. ''With Lucy, instead of Yumi.''<br/>
<br/>
''I'll think about it,'' she says afterwards. ''We'll have to get her first though. Not perfect, but good enough,'' is her comment when she finishes flicking through your shots and handing you back the tablet.<br/>
<br/>
Yumi goes back to her purse and fishes out two more masks. Kim Walsh and Andrea Varnsworth. The former is no stranger to you, the latter is something from Kendra's mind.<br/>
<br/>
''Look at the time!'' Yumi exclaims. She snatches the two masks away from your hands and gathers the others before forcefully jamming them all inside the purse. ''Jenny must've been waiting for me.''<br/>
<br/>
*******<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
''... so we decided to put you on the squad,'' Chelsea says.<br/>
<br/>
Yumi beams at her best friend, Jenny Ashton, who seems to be taken aback by the news. Yumi's bedroom seems to be rather cramped, as four girls sit together in an impromptu meeting. She then moves in to give Jenny a hug, despite the shell-shocked reaction.<br/>
<br/>
''But, I don't understand,'' Jenny says quizzically. ''The squad is full, the game is just ahead, and you don't really think I can get the routine memorised in two weeks!'' There is a very visible hint of suspicion in her voice.<br/>
<br/>
''Technicalities,'' Chelsea snorts. ''Yumi says you're good and it's enough.'', she pauses. ''But you're right, you are going to fill in for someone.''<br/>
<br/>
At this, Jenny tries backing away, but Yumi already had her in a very firm bear hug. ''Who is it?'' she is clearly getting very uncomfortable.<br/>
<br/>
''Who?'' Chelsea says enigmatically, then she fakes contemplation. Not again, you groan inwardly. Chelsea is not going to pull out another rather kinky-but cheesy villainous act, would she?<br/>
<br/>
Sadly, she doesn't disappoint.<br/>
<br/>
''You'll be replacing me of course!'' Chelsea exclaims. In one swoop she slam a mask on Jenny's befuddled face which subsequently sinks into her face. Chelsea makes a knowing face when she turns to you, ''Sorry, can't help it.'' You just roll your eyes.<br/>
<br/>
The mask re-appears shortly and Chelsea throws it to you for sealing, while she drops the re-charged golemized mask of herself.<br/>
<br/>
''And I'll be replacing you,'' Chelsea licks her lips as she brings Jenny Ashton's sealed mask on her face.<br/>
<br/>
*******<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
''She's going to wake up tomorrow with no memory about what happened,'' Jenny smirks, Chelsea's sexier clothing doesn't fit her, while across her, sitting cross-legged, Chelsea Copper fiddling in Jenny's rather conservative clothing. Conservative because she doesn't have much assets to flaunt. ''And a new best friend.''<br/>
<br/>
''I must say, you look a lot better in that, Jenny,'' the Chelsea golem says cattily.<br/>
<br/>
''Why, thank you. You too Chels,'' Jenny returns the compliment.<br/>
<br/>
''Do you really have to?'' you groan, unable to withstand the amount of cheesiness Chelsea and the golem has been trading. For all her worth as the queen bee, she can be very tacky.<br/>
<br/>
''Well, Will you did an absolutely fantastic job,'' Jenny begins.<br/>
<br/>
''But?'' you interject. Did she find out about your plan? You look at golem Yumi and golem Chelsea. Three against one, not good odds.<br/>
<br/>
''But, it's going to be a very rocky road ahead,'' she continues. ''So it's best for you to take some time off being Kendra. You know, let a golem handle the situation. When everything's clear, you can return to her, since you seems to like being her so much.'<br/>
<br/>
''Of course the golem will be under your control," Jenny says after a pause. ''Think of it as a reward, you know, pick a different life.'' She pauses again, an all too familiar glint appears in her eyes, ''Or maybe go back being Will Prescott and finally lose your virginity properly. I know some people who might be interested,'' she sniggers.<br/>
<br/>
You almost gasp. Chelsea giving rewards? The Will part of your mind sees this as something unreal, but the Kendra's part snorts in derision. You are her partner, without you, she wouldn't be able to dream anything like this up. Well, sure she can dream about this day coming true, getting rid of her two most dangerous rival and keeping the third working for her. Cindy Vredenburg and Yumi Saito fighting over Seth Javits. However, to turn them against each other? She must've gone to cloud nine multiple times.<br/>
<br/>
''Don't I get anything else?'' you say confidently. Kendra's persona allows you to do things that Will Prescott wouldn't have the balls to. Ironic really. You pull her towards you and you give her a playful peck on the lips. No lust or passion whatsoever as Kendra's rather appalled by the prospect of doing such a thing with Jenny, but enticing enough to leave her wanting for more. Your partnership with Chelsea certainly has its perks despite the trail of destruction that it leaves.<br/>
<br/>
Jenny giggles,'' Of course you do, silly.'' She wraps her arms around your neck. You stop her almost immediately, much to her disappointment. ''Not now, not here,'' You beckon at the still-golemized Yumi.<br/>
<br/>
''Oh, of course." Jenny nods in understanding. ''She'll need a good sleep to prepare her for the next day.''</span></div></div>


path: 1131221221111112122
author_id: bori258
title: Chelsea's Idea of a Reward
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>The first thing you do after you leave Yumi’s house is call Will Prescott.  It takes you a few moments to remember your old phone number since Kendra would never have the number of someone of his social standing in her phone.<br/>
<br/>
“I need you to meet me at the old elementary school by your house.  Be there in half an hour.”<br/>
<br/>
“Why?” your doppelganger asks much to your annoyance.<br/>
<br/>
“You don’t need to concern yourself with why, just get your scrawny white ass out there in 30 minutes,” you tell the golem.<br/>
<br/>
“And if I don’t want to, what are you going to do?” the golem snidely replies.  “You aren’t the boss of me, Kendra.”<br/>
<br/>
“That’s right, I’m not.  But Chelsea is.  And what do you think Chelsea would do if she found out you weren’t cooperating with me?” you ask emphasizing Chelsea’s name each time, hoping the rumors of how Chelsea deals with disobedience are as fresh in the golem’s memory as they are within yours. <br/>
<br/>
The shift in his attitude from indignation to compliance is instantaneous.  “Sorry Kendra.  We can keep this between us, right?  Chelsea doesn’t have to find out about this, right?”  He sounds truly nervous and that makes you wonder if you’ve actually underestimated what Chelsea is capable of if properly provoked.<br/>
<br/>
“Just get out here, and don’t keep me waiting,” you say fed up the conversation has already taken this long.<br/>
<br/>
“Ok, ok sheesh.  I’ll be there.  30 minutes.  Got it,” he says and then hangs up.<br/>
<br/>
You toss your phone back into your purse and head over to the meeting place and wait for your new/old face to show up.<br/>
<br/>
* * * * *<br/>
<br/>
You watch the golem peddle up on his bike from inside the school; he’s sweaty, red faced and panting.  You wonder why it was such a struggle for him to get here; the elementary school is within walking distance from his ... your house.  You decide not to concern yourself with it.  You send him a text instructing him to meet you in the basement, so as not to be seen by anyone you know or a curious passerby.<br/>
<br/>
While you wait for the golem, you stare at your hands lamenting the fact that you missed your last manicure in order to meet with Chelsea.  Your thoughts are broken when you hear the door to the basement open and Will Prescott steps through.  “Strip,” you tell the golem, forgoing all formalities.  <br/>
<br/>
Without saying a word, he does as instructed and you begin to disrobe as well.  Once you both are divested of all your clothing, you turn around and see the golem staring at you with lust filled eyes.  “See something you like white boy?” you rhetorically ask the golem with a smile that oozes nothing but sex appeal.  The erection and flushed cheeks your double are sporting tell you all you need to know.<br/>
<br/>
“Lie down on that table.  Let’s get this over with.”<br/>
<br/>
You twitch the mask off yourself first and feel the familiar head rush. “God, it’s like ginger ale in my brain…” you mutter to yourself.  You then relieve the golem of its mask and watch as its body darkens, expands in some places and contracts in others until Kendra Saunders, the real Kendra Saunders, is lying on the table before you.  You stand back and admire her beauty, calmly reaching forward to cup one of her breast; breasts which up until a few moments ago had belonged to you.  She begins to stir, which snaps you back to your senses, and you place the golemized Kendra mask onto her face.  She glows but doesn’t contort or change shape in any way and opens her eyes.  She blinks for a few moments then sits up and looks over at you with a mixture of befuddlement and fear on her face.<br/>
<br/>
“Where am I?  Where are my clothes?  Where’s Chelsea?”  This is exactly what you were hoping to avoid.<br/>
<br/>
“Kendra…Kendra…Kendra…” you stammer trying to get the golem’s attention before she begins to move about in a panic, “…Listen, I switched back with you so I can go back to being Will and you can go back to being Kendra…for the time being.”<br/>
<br/>
Hearing this seems to put her at ease and you take the opportunity, now that her mind is a bit more pliant, to tell her to get dressed.  You finish up with your clothes first and that gives you the opportunity to watch her put on the last pieces of clothing you had been wearing only a few short moments ago.  She really is beautiful, while not quite in either Chelsea or Gloria’s league according to some people, Kendra can more than hold her own.  <br/>
<br/>
After you both finish getting dressed, and after a few good-bye pleasantries, you part your separate ways.  You watch her drive off and feel a pang in the pit of your stomach.  That should be you heading back to her house, in her car, living her life.  It should be you who gets to wake up every morning and gets to see her beautiful face staring back at you in the mirror.  Solemnly, you hop back on your bicycle and peddle home.  You arrive home just in time for dinner.  You spend most of dinner hearing about your dad’s day at Salopek, devouring your mom’s cooking and fighting with your little brother Robert.  Lying in bed that night, you think back to having dinner with your family, your real family, and can’t help but feel content.  Maybe being Will Prescott isn’t that bad after all.  Maybe you didn’t realize how much of his life you missed and took for granted when you were only Will Prescott.  <br/>
<br/>
* * * * *<br/>
<br/>
The following day at school you slide right back into your old routine; hanging out with your old friends, pining over your old crush, and avoiding your old nemesis.  It was like putting on your favorite pair of old tennis shoes; they might be beat up and dirty, but they fit the best and are the most comfortable.<br/>
<br/>
You were sitting and eating lunch with Carson, Paul, Caleb and Keith the following day when one person’s absence caught your attention.  “Hey Carson, Jenny’s not eating with us?  I haven’t seen or heard from her today.  You know where she is?”<br/>
<br/>
“I saw her last period and she said she was going to be eating with Yumi and Chelsea,” he points a finger toward his open mouth and makes a gagging sound.  “I don’t know why she wants to associate with people like her.  It’s bad enough Yumi is caught up in their drama and now Jenny is too.”<br/>
<br/>
Before you can answer, you feel your cell begin to vibrate in your pocket.  Looking down to check it you see you’ve received a text from Jenny.  Two more follow in quick succession while you are reading the first:<br/>
<br/>
“dinner @ yumi” <br/>
“7” <br/>
“make SURE you show up”<br/>
<br/>
Reading the last message makes you gulp.  This wasn’t an invitation, it was an order.  She hasn’t given you a reason not to trust her, but the tone of that text worries you.  Who knows who or what she could have there waiting for you.  All it would take is her or a golem with Seth or Gordon’s mask on and… well you’d rather not think about that.  With your meal not looking quite as appetizing as before, you spend the rest of lunch a little withdrawn.  The remainder of the school day plays out in a similar manner with your mind going off in a hundred different directions about what Chelsea has planned for you later that evening.</span></div></div>


path: 11312212211111121221
author_id: bori258
title: Show up at Yumi's house for dinner as planned
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>*knock knock knock*<br/>
<br/>
The door opens and you’re greeted by a petite, early 40-something Japanese woman dressed in business attire.  “Hello, you must be William.  Please come in,” her perfectly straight white teeth create a warm, inviting smile.  “Yumi told me you would be coming over for dinner.”  She extends her hand toward you in greeting.<br/>
<br/>
“Uh, hello Mrs. Saito, nice to meet you,” you say reciprocating the gesture and shaking her hand, which your slightly larger then average sized one engulfs.  You enter the foyer while surreptitiously studying the rest of her features as she passes you.  Mrs. Saito is definitely beautiful and she looks ten years younger then she really is, even dressed as conservatively as she is right now.  You can tell where Yumi gets her pretty face and pert bust; from the waist up they’re almost mirror images of one another.  The lower body is a different story.  Mrs. Saito has slim, aristocratic legs while Yumi has the thick, muscular legs of an athlete.<br/>
<br/>
Mrs. Saito attempts to lead you into her home, but your legs don’t comply.  You’re naturally paranoid and you feel like this could possibly be a trap.  “Something wrong William?  You seem a little nervous,” Mrs. Saito remarks as she turns around to face you, breaking you out of your daze.  “Please don’t be, I’m not nearly as prim and proper as Yumi has probably made me out to be,” she says, once again flashing her smile.  “Just relax; I’m sure you’re going to have a wonderful time tonight.”<br/>
<br/>
“I’m…I’m sorry Mrs. Saito.  I’ve just been dealing with a lot at school lately.  Thank you for having me over for dinner.”<br/>
<br/>
“The pleasure is all mine William.  Now, would you be so kind and get Yumi down here so she can join us for dinner while I set the table?” she asks.<br/>
<br/>
“No problem Mrs. Saito.  Would you like me to get her brother and sister as well?” you ask wanting to go the extra mile to make up for earlier.  <br/>
<br/>
“How did you know I have two other children?” she asks with a look of mild surprise on her face.<br/>
<br/>
Shit!  It never dawned on you that Will Prescott has never been to this house before.  You have been here of course, but the last time you were here you were a beautiful black female cheerleader.  “Uh, uh Yumi told me about them when she invited me over,” you say hoping that sounds plausible enough.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh…well, her brother is on a date and her sister is at a piano recital with my husband so it will just be us three,” she says, much to your relief.<br/>
<br/>
Mrs. Saito then moves off into the kitchen as you head upstairs to retrieve Yumi.  Seeing her door closed, you softly knock, “Yumi, it’s Will.  Your mom wanted me to tell you dinner is ready.”<br/>
<br/>
From inside the room you hear some rustling around and then her voice comes through the door, “Come in Will, it’s unlocked.”<br/>
<br/>
You place your hand on the knob and all the anxiety you had before comes rushing back.  If Chelsea were going to set you up, this is how it would go down.  You open that door, a golem grabs you, she goes through one of her cheesy shpiels and you go to sleep…for-ev-er.  You hesitate and you feel the knob turn in the opposite direction in your hand.  <br/>
<br/>
Yumi opens her door and greets you with a friendly but platonic hug.  “Why didn’t you come in silly?  You could’ve helped me finish straightening out my room.  My mom always wants everything perfect when we have company over,” succeeding, once again, in making you feel like a buffoon for letting your paranoia get the best of you.<br/>
<br/>
“C’mon, we should probably head downstairs before dinner gets cold,” Yumi tells you before grabbing you by the hand and leading you back downstairs.  You follow her down the stairs, through the living room, and into the kitchen where you’re greeted not by a traditional Japanese dinner, but by Mrs. Saito…in all her splendid naked glory.</span></div></div>


path: 113122122111111212211
author_id: bori258
title: Continue
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>On the dinner table, on the living room floor, on the dinner table again, and on Yumi’s bed for good measure.  She made Yumi watch us the entire time; definitely deriving some perverse pleasure out of it.  We both were lying in Yumi’s bed sweaty and exhausted, with the whole room filled with the aroma of sex.  <br/>
<br/>
“You’re a quick learner, aren’t you Will?” referring to the fact that your first session lasted all of three and a half minutes, maybe four, but as the night went on you were able to start keeping up with her.  At one point toward the end, as you began to get a little more forceful and assertive, you swore she seemed to be enjoying it more than you.  “So…did you like your reward?” she asks, rolling over toward you and idly rubbing her smooth leg over your own.  She couldn’t possibly be trying to coax you into doing her again could she?<br/>
<br/>
You pause before answering, making sure what you are about to say comes out exactly the way you want it to.  “I did, I do…but…” you turn silent, realizing now that perhaps you should just keep your mouth shut and be grateful for what she’s done for you.<br/>
<br/>
“But what?” she asks, giving you a look that tells you your assumption may be correct.<br/>
<br/>
“Why Mrs. Saito?” you ask hoping not to upset her or make her feel like you are being unappreciative.<br/>
<br/>
“Well, the original plan was to just let you have your way with the golem, with Yumi.  But when I…I mean Jenny came over here with Yumi after school, Mrs. Sai…ugh, I was already home.  The easiest way to make sure she didn’t interfere with my plan and get in the way was to replace her.  I had an extra mask stashed in my bag so ta-daaa,” she says in a smug sing-song voice.  You can tell she’s very proud of the way her plan went down without a hitch.  “I know I could’ve stayed as Jenny and just given the golems my instructions, but where’s the fun in that?” she asks as she reaches down and playfully fondles you.  “The current Jenny Ashton is actually Jenny with a golem mask.  Yumi, the one downstairs cleaning up after us, is the real Mrs. Saito.”<br/>
<br/>
“Jeez Chelsea, are you sure this isn’t getting out of hand?” looking annoyed, she releases your manhood, sits up and swings her feet off Yumi’s bed.  You may be venturing toward a point of no return here.  “How many people are you planning on putting to sleep under those masks?” the slight rise in the volume of your voice mirrors your heightened anxiety level.<br/>
<br/>
“Take it easy Will,” she says without looking back at you, “this was just a temporary switch.  I’ll switch into Yumi tonight and just tell…well me I guess, that she fell asleep before dinner and that I didn’t want to wake her up,” Chelsea states obviously having thought all this out already.  “Then I’ll trade Yumi’s face for Jenny’s before first period tomorrow at school and everything continues on as planned.”  You can tell by the tone of her voice she isn’t mad, and that throws you off.<br/>
<br/>
Before you can think of how to respond, the door to the bedroom opens and Yumi steps in, completely unfazed at the sight of her married mother, naked in the same bed with one of her schoolmates.  “Everything is all cleaned up.  You two sure did make a mess.  I’m not sure I ever want to eat on that table again.”<br/>
<br/>
This elicits a brief chuckle from Chelsea and makes you feel somewhat guilty at what transpired here tonight.  Chelsea then turns to you and, reasserting the hierarchy of this coupling, instructs you to get dressed.  You begin rummaging around on the floor for your clothes when you notice Chelsea making her way over to the full length mirror in Yumi’s closet.  She twists and turns her body in front of the mirror, scrutinizing the form she currently wears.  She contorts her face every which way, seeing how different expressions look on Mrs. Saito’s pretty visage.  “You know, for an old woman, she’s not half bad.  She’s got a pretty face…for an Asian…nice boobs, great legs, not like thunder thighs over there,” she says motioning toward Yumi.  “Cute little feet too, right Will?  I know you’ve never had anyone do that to you with their feet before.”  Hearing that made you blush; partly from her being right about your level of inexperience and partly because you didn’t think you would enjoy it…but did.  “Will, you think I’m pretty hot like this don’t you?” finally turning around to face you.  She catches you lustily admiring the lithe form she currently wears, forcing you to quickly avert your eyes and pretend you’re still searching for something.  <br/>
<br/>
“Uh…yea Chelsea I think you are…” you stammer.  Chelsea smirks and turns back toward the mirror.  “Yea, I might just come back and visit her myself when I’m wearing a mask with the proper equipment...” she mutters under her breath, but makes sure it’s just loud enough for you to hear.  “Maybe if you’re good I’ll even bring you back with me Will...”   That last line gives you pause because you’re sure you know what she has in mind; and if you’re 100% honest with yourself, you’d like to be a part of it.<br/>
<br/>
Once she sees you are dressed she snaps her fingers toward Yumi and instructs the golem to wash the sheets, air out the room and clean it up before she gets back from dropping you off.<br/>
<br/>
You’re waiting out by the car when Mrs. Saito comes outside in a pair of jeans, a white sleeveless top, and flip flops.  She has her hair pulled back into a ponytail and she’s redone her makeup.  You’ve got to hand it to Chelsea; even in someone else’s body, she always looks her best when going out in public.  You watch her make her way towards the car and you can’t suppress the Cheshire cat grin on your face.  Every guy in school would give their left arm to do what you just did with Mrs. Saito or the person wearing her face…and you did both.  <br/>
<br/>
* * * * *<br/>
<br/>
The car ride back to your house is mostly quite as you mull over what transpired at the Saito house, assuming Chelsea must be doing the same.  Eventually you pull into the driveway of your house and Chelsea shuts the engine off, leaving the two of you sitting in Mrs. Saito’s car in almost complete silence. Before getting out of the car, you turn toward her and collect your thoughts, “I don’t know if I’ve ever thanked you for this. What you did for me tonight was great, probably the best night of my life. And I know you didn’t have to share this with me, but you did…and I appreciate it. Thank you Chelsea.”<br/>
<br/>
She doesn’t say anything and just stares straight ahead.  At this point you’re kicking yourself for coming across as such a wimp. Gordon would never do something like this, and that’s why she’s with him and would never be with a pussy like you. God, I never shou… Your train of thought stops dead in its tracks because Chelsea has leaned over and kissed you, but not in the same manner like she did earlier that evening. Those felt forced, like she had to do it because she was having sex with you. This one feels gentle and sincere, like she’s doing it completely of her own volition.  Your brain is flooded with a mixture of shock, apprehension and arousal; however, before you can even process a response, your lips separate and it’s over. “Arigato…I mean, thank you Will. That’s really sweet of you to say,” she smiles and you swear you can see Mrs. Saito’s cheeks turning a little red.<br/>
<br/>
“Well, you’re welcome,” you say looking down, letting your innate shyness get the best of you. <br/>
<br/>
Putting an end to the second short bout of excruciating silence she finally asks, “See you at school tomorrow?” lightening the mood in the car considerably. When you nod affirmatively she continues, “Good because we’ve got a lot of work to do before the big game.”<br/>
<br/>
Right back to business as usual you lament. “Do you want me to be me at school tomorrow, or am I going back to being Kendra?” <br/>
<br/>
“I think Kendra is out for now. She's served her purpose," she says matter of factly, "I'll text you when and where to meet me tomorrow during school and then we'll decide what your next move is.”<br/>
<br/>
“OK, goodnight Chelsea.”<br/>
<br/>
“Goodnight Will.”</span></div></div>


path: 1131221221111112122111
author_id: bori258
title: Chelsea wants you to take over for someone else
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You’re awakened by the sound of your alarm and quickly hit the Dismiss button.  As you lay there in bed you think back on everything you experienced last night.  If someone had told you a month ago that any of these was even possible you’d have thought they were insane.  But here you were, able to masquerade as different people, partners with Chelsea Cooper, and no longer a virgin.<br/>
<br/>
You throw the covers off yourself and delve into your morning ritual of getting ready for school.  You are just about done when you hear your mother’s voice yell to you from downstairs, “Will!  Your ride’s here!  Are you almost ready?”<br/>
<br/>
“My ride?” you mutter to yourself.  Your mother usually drives you to school and you hadn’t made arrangements to go to school with Caleb so this makes no sense.<br/>
<br/>
You make your way downstairs and see your mother engaging in some idle chit-chat with Yumi Saito.  “Hey Will,” she says as she walks over and gives you a quick friendly hug, “you look good today.”  Caught off guard, you spit out a quick “Thanks” before she turns her attention back toward your mother and they resume their conversation.<br/>
<br/>
“Yea, we had a great time.  My mom absolutely loved Will,” she says, winking in your direction “and said he’s welcome to come back anytime.”<br/>
<br/>
“Sounds like you made quite the impression Will.”  Mom was always a stickler for manners so this was music to her ears.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh he did, Mrs. Prescott,” Yumi said before you can even get a word in.  “My mom liked him so much she kept him all to herself all night.  I felt like I was a third wheel, just there to clean up after them.  Maybe next time you guys will let me join in on the fun,” she said as she seductively licked her lips after your mother had turned her attention back toward you. <br/>
<br/>
Wanting to end her playful tormenting you pull your phone out of your pocket and check the time.  “Damn, it’s getting late Yumi,” trying to hasten your exit.<br/>
<br/>
She glances down at her watch, “Yea I guess you’re right Will, we’ve got a big day ahead of us so we should probably get going.  It was nice seeing you Mrs. Prescott.  Take care.”<br/>
<br/>
“Bye Yumi, Bye Will.  Have a good day at school.”<br/>
<br/>
“Bye mom,” you say while closing the front door behind you.<br/>
<br/>
Once outside, Yumi can’t hold back any longer.  “Oh my God, you should’ve seen your face in there!” she says through bouts of laughter.<br/>
<br/>
“It isn’t funny…Chelsea!” you emphasize her name in a harsh tone more out of embarrassment than anger.<br/>
<br/>
“OK, OK, I know, I know, I just couldn’t resist.  Besides, I thought it was pretty funny.”<br/>
<br/>
The more you think about it, the more you realize she’s right.  It was just her messing around with you (is this how she treats a friend?) and she played her part perfectly.  “Yea,” cracking a slight smile “I guess you got me pretty good.”<br/>
<br/>
With your mood lightened, you ask her why she decided to pick you up and she says she figured you could brainstorm a little on the way to school.  Chelsea had never offered to do anything like this before; she was always the one making the decisions with you having to heed her will.  Did she really want your opinion?  Or is it something else?  Could it be possible that she actually enjoys spending time with you?<br/>
<br/>
The drive to school seems much shorter then it usually does, and before you realize it you are pulling into Westside’s student parking lot.  Yumi reminds you about the instructions she gave you last night; to wait for her text and then meet her up in the gym loft.  Before you both get out of her car, she asks you to hang back a little bit.  While Will and Yumi do kind of know each other, it might look odd if they walk into school together like they’re best friends.  This serves as a sobering reminder of where you stand in Westside’s social hierarchy.  If it weren’t for the masks, you would still be amongst the dregs of the school.  You both get out of the car and spot Jenny Ashton off in the distance.  You watch from a distance as Yumi approaches Jenny and the two of them greet each other like they truly are the real Yumi Saito and the real Jenny Ashton.  It still amazes you at how these masks can allow someone to so perfectly imitate someone else.<br/>
<br/>
Unbeknownst to you, while you were staring at Yumi and Jenny another group of students has formed behind you and is heading your way.<br/>
<br/>
“What are you staring at you freak?!” you hear a very familiar girl’s voice say from behind you causing you to turn around.<br/>
<br/>
Staring you down, the same way a lion does a zebra, is none other than Chelsea Cooper.<br/>
<br/>
The group approaching you is composed of Chelsea, Gloria, Kendra and Gordon.  All of them are golems, except for Gloria, under explicit instructions from Chelsea and you to act as the originals would when out in public.<br/>
<br/>
“Did you see him Chelsea, he was staring at Yumi and what’s-her-name,” says Gloria.<br/>
<br/>
“He was, wasn’t he?” she replies as the blood drains from your face.  Even though she is nothing more than a copy, she still terrifies you. <br/>
<br/>
“Yea he was,” the Kendra golem, your golem, chimes in.  Oh the irony of it all, a few days ago it would have been you standing over there, tormenting some poor soul, but now the roles are reversed and you have once again become the quarry.  You’re kicking yourself now for instructing her to act just like her original.<br/>
<br/>
“I think this loser needs to be taught a lesson.  Cheerleaders are off limits to nobodies like you.  Gordon, sweetie, would you teach him a lesson for me?”<br/>
<br/>
“My pleasure” he steps forward and grabs you by the collar with his left hand.  “I’m going to let you off easy this time dork.  But if I ever have to talk to you or your loser friends again, you’ll be sorry.”<br/>
<br/>
Momentarily letting your guard down, thinking the golem would spare you since you were a cohort of his master, was a mistake.  Still holding you by the collar, he throws a right hook into the left side of your body.  The air rushes out of your lungs as you double over and fall to the ground in a massive amount of pain, gasping for air like a fish.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea and her acolytes stand there laughing at you as Gordon squats down next to your head, “Like I said, you got off easy.  Next time you’ll be picking your teeth up in the nurse Diesel’s office.”  He walks back over to Chelsea, puts his arm around her waist and the group leaves you there as they make their way into the building.<br/>
<br/>
Laid out on the floor in the fetal position, doing your best to hold back your tears, you feel your cell phone vibrate against your leg.  It’s Chelsea, texting you from Yumi’s number.<br/>
<br/>
“Plan changed.  Won’t be moving til after school.  Meet me in FR ASAP.”<br/>
<br/>
You slowly get up off the ground, brush yourself off, gain your composure and trudge into school.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
You walk into the Fuck Room and see Chelsea is all alone.<br/>
<br/>
“I got the best idea ever while I was walking over here with Jenny,” she says with a big smile plastered on her face “That’s why I needed to meet you earlier then we planned and also why I needed to stay as Yumi.”<br/>
<br/>
“OK, so what do I do?”<br/>
<br/>
“I’m going to need you back inside Kendra, so strip out of those clothes and then call her up here so we can make the switch.”<br/>
<br/>
You walk over toward the boxes piled up in the corner to strip out of your clothes.  “Will?  Why are you changing over there?” she asks looking at you puzzled.  <br/>
<br/>
“Oh, uh, um, I just figured I’d change in private,” you say trying to sound nonchalant.  <br/>
<br/>
Chelsea has an amused look on her face.  She probably thinks you are trying to mess around with her now.  “Private?  Why?  I don’t remember you being too concerned about privacy last night.”<br/>
<br/>
She’s right and it behooves you to try and not arouse her suspicions any further.  You walk over toward the mats laid out on the floor and slide your backpack off your shoulders.  As you try to wriggle out of the straps the pain in your ribs intensifies, forcing you to wince in pain.<br/>
<br/>
Hearing you, Chelsea walks over with a concerned look on Yumi’s face.  “Will, is everything OK?  Did you hurt yourself?  Here, let me see,” she says while bringing her hands up toward you.  You involuntarily flinch away from her, still skittish from this morning, and clutch your side in pain.  <br/>
<br/>
She stares directly into your eyes, the levity in her face and voice gone, “Tell me what happened Will.”</span></div></div>


path: 11312212211111121221111
author_id: bori258
title: Tell Chelsea what happened
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“I told you nothing happened,” you say trying to get her to back off.<br/>
<br/>
“Bullshit, nothing happened.  Will, tell me...NOW.”  She was through asking nicely.<br/>
<br/>
After this morning, you don’t have it in you to argue with her so you recount the entire morning’s events to her in detail.  When she sees the bruises on your side, she can’t hold back her emotions any longer.  “Will, I am so sorry.  I am so so so sorry,” she says in between sniffles, while embracing you in a hug.  She accidentally squeezes a little too hard causing you to groan, which only serves to intensify her remorse.<br/>
<br/>
“It’s OK Chelsea, it’s OK.  In a week or two I’ll be fine,” you say trying to soothe her.  You look down into Yumi’s tear streaked face and see your words are helping with their intended purpose.<br/>
<br/>
“No Will, this is not OK.  This is definitely not OK,” you see her face sour a little.  You get the sense that Yumi’s kindhearted nature is mixing with Chelsea’s, seemingly genuine, contrition.  “I need to make this up to you,” she says as she releases you and walks over toward her bag “Here, I was going to use this today but I want you to have it.”  <br/>
<br/>
She hands you a blank mask.  You look down at the mask and back up at her, “Are you sure?”  She looks at you and with all sincerity says, “Yes, you can do whatever you want with that.”<br/>
<br/>
You sit there and let the events of the last few hours swirl around in your brain.  Truth be told, you're tired.  You're tired of the bullying, of the backstabbing, of the plotting, of ruining people's lives essentially.  “You know, I think I could use a little time away from this place, from everything.  I think I’d like to take a vacation.”<br/>
<br/>
“You mean from Westside?” she asks not completely catching your drift “Yumi has some cousins who go to Eastman if you’d like to go over there for a while.”<br/>
<br/>
Shaking your head, “No, high school is high school whether it’s this one or the next.  Westside, Eastman, it’s all same thing.  I want to get away from ALL of that.”<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea is silent and by the look on Yumi’s face you can tell she’s deep in thought.  You are just about to say something else when you see the proverbial light bulb go off in her head.  “What about Keyserling?  That would be different.”<br/>
<br/>
“Yea, that might work,” you say as you ponder her suggestion.  “But I don’t know the first thing about what goes on in college.  I’d be lost,” you state the obvious.<br/>
<br/>
“I think I can help you with that, but I’m going to need that blank back.”<br/>
<br/>
You stare down at the mask in your hands, rubbing your thumbs over its featureless face.  You go to hand it back over to Chelsea, but when she goes to take it out of your hands you don’t let go.  “Why don’t you come with me?  Getting away from all of this for a little bit might be good for both of us.”<br/>
<br/>
You can tell she’s surprised and appreciative of your offer, “Wow, you would really want me to come with you?”<br/>
<br/>
You nod affirmatively, to which she replies, “That’s very sweet of you Will.”<br/>
<br/>
You both demurely smile at each other and you relinquish your grip.  She tucks the mask back in her bag and tells you that once everything is prepared she’ll text you about when and where to meet.  <br/>
<br/>
Agreeing to this, you exchange goodbyes and walk back down into the main school building and head to class.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
Two days later is the next time you hear from Chelsea.  She tells you to meet her tonight at her house, her actual house, around 8:00 PM.  <br/>
<br/>
After finishing your dinner, you concoct a story about having to go to a fellow student’s house to work on a school project.  Your parents agree to let you go under one condition; you are home before 10:00.  You agree to their terms, hoping this doesn’t throw a wrench into whatever Chelsea has planned.<br/>
<br/>
Around 7:30 or so, you hop on your bike and peddle over to Chelsea Cooper’s house.  You arrive about five minutes early, but refrain from knocking on the door until a few minutes after 8:00.  You wanted to give yourself a little time to cool down from your bike ride so you didn’t walk into her house sweaty and stinking.<br/>
<br/>
You ring her doorbell and hear her voice yell out, “I’ll get it!”<br/>
<br/>
The door opens to reveal Chelsea standing there…in her pajamas.  You look at her a little dumbfounded, you’ve never seen Chelsea dress in anything this casual before, but are broken out of it when you hear her say, “Don’t just stand there, come in Will,” gesturing for you to enter her house.  As you walk into the family room, you glance over to your left spotting a woman you’ve never seen before.  She has fair skin and long black hair, which frames a pretty face.  Her breasts are average size and her arms are toned.  From what you’ve seen so far, you would grade her out as a solid 7.  Catching sight of you entering the room, she stands up to greet you giving you the opportunity to take the rest of her in.  Her waist is trim and her legs, which the romper and heels she has on accentuate perfectly, are well defined.  This woman is definitely either an athlete or loves to workout or something.  When she sees you looking at her, she smiles and reveals her perfectly straight, glowing white teeth.  You were mistaken before, she’s definitely a 9.<br/>
<br/>
“Nice to see you again Will,” says the mystery woman.  As she says this, you notice another person to your right stand up…it’s you, albeit a naked you.  The pieces begin to fall into place.<br/>
<br/>
You look back toward the mystery woman, “Hey Chelsea,” still not 100% sure of everything that is going on.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea sits back down, pats the sofa cushion next to her and invites you to take a seat.  She asks you if you’d like something to drink, to which you politely decline.  Once you are seated, she begins to relay the details of her plan to you.<br/>
<br/>
“Ok, first things first, I know you are wondering who this is,” she gestures down to her current body “Her name is Elise Turner and she’s my brother’s girlfriend.  They are both students at Keyserling.  I used the blank you gave me a couple days ago to snag her.  She and Jordan aren’t here all too often so I needed to be ready when the opportunity presented itself.”<br/>
<br/>
You sat there, silent, trying to take all of this in.  “So if you're going to be Elise, does that mean I’m going as your brother?” you ask with a little uncertainty.<br/>
<br/>
“Unfortunately, yes,” she seems none too pleased at the prospect of having to go out with her brother.  “But it’s only temporary.  I’ve got two new blanks we’re taking with us to the party tonight.  That way we can handpick who we want to spend our little “vacation” as.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh…Oooohhhh, OK, I get it now,” her plan finally coming into focus.<br/>
<br/>
Nodding your head in understanding, there was something major she was leaving out, “So where is Elise now?”<br/>
<br/>
“Sitting right over there next to Chelsea,” she says as she points to your double.  It surprises you she chose to hide her brother under her mask and his girlfriend under yours.  “My mom and dad are out of town and won’t be back until next week so they weren’t a problem.  With Jordan and Elise like that in the short term, they won’t be an issue either.”<br/>
<br/>
“I guess not,” you say not wanting to probe any deeper.  You’re sure Chelsea has a plan for letting them out without rousing either of their suspicions, much like she did with Mrs. Saito.<br/>
<br/>
“Your mask is upstairs in the bathroom with a change of clothes to go with it.  Put it on and meet me back down here when you’re done.  And don’t forget to bring the clothes you’re wearing back down with you,” she reminds you.<br/>
<br/>
You go upstairs and find everything has already been laid out for you.  The mask is on top of a neatly folded pile of expensive looking clothes.  You strip out of your clothes and lie down on the cold tile floor, slip the mask over your face and go to sleep.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
You’re disoriented when you wake up.  Taking a moment to get your bearings, you sit up, shake the cobwebs out, and pull yourself up off the floor.  You turn toward the bathroom mirror and are greeted by the face of Jordan Cooper.  "Shouldn't be too hard getting laid tonight looking like this," you say as you study Jordan's features and flex his muscles.  "...like a younger version of Jamie Lannister," you say to no one in particular as you put on the clothing Chelsea provided.  You fold your old clothes up as best you can and take everything back downstairs.  You can see your clone is quite aroused from being flanked by the fake Chelsea and Elise, a fact it tries to conceal to no avail.  You hand it your old clothes and it quickly gets dressed.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea gives you an appreciative once over as she circles you counterclockwise.  When she is directly behind you, you feel her run her hands across your broad back in order to smooth out your polo.  She picks a piece of lint of your chest as she comes up on your right side.  Once she is directly in front of you, she uses both hands to adjust your shirt collar.  At this point, Jordan's natural feelings for Elise are starting to bleed over into yours and something starts to stir in your jeans.  Satisfied, Chelsea looks up at you and asks, “Well Jordan, shall we go?”<br/>
<br/>
“Sure, Elise, but I need to talk to Will first,” you say turning your attention to the golem.  “Your mom wants you home by 10.  Make sure you leave by 9:15 so you aren’t late getting home.”<br/>
<br/>
Your golem nods affirmatively.  Chelsea gives her golem a few more instructions about what to do in case she doesn’t come home tonight.  Once she’s done, she hooks her arm in yours and you both head out the door.</span></div></div>


path: 113122122111111212211111
author_id: bori258
title: You both head to the party as planned
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You park about a block away from the party.  Before exiting the car, Chelsea fills you in on the cover story you both plan to use tonight.<br/>
<br/>
“OK Will, if anyone asks, you’re my cousin, in from out of town.  I decided to drag you out to meet someone.  Got it?”<br/>
<br/>
It seems plausible enough, so you tell her you do.  “There are two blanks in the back seat we can use to pick our new identities.  All you have to do is coax whichever girl you chose out here and get a copy of her, which shouldn’t be too hard looking the way you do now…uh, I mean the way…never mind.”  She’s flustered, and quickly gets out of the car to collect herself.<br/>
<br/>
Upon entering, you survey the scene.  There are quite a few quality candidates here, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find a suitable new home.  Turning back toward Chelsea, you realized she’s no longer there.  Scanning the party, you see she’s struck up a conversation with a very well-muscled, stereotypical frat guy.  <br/>
<br/>
“Guess I’m on my own,” you mutter to yourself.  You meander a while through the crowd, eventually winding up next to the epicenter of the college party universe, the alcohol.  You grab yourself a beer and notice a cute girl with dirty blonde hair looking in your direction from across the room.  You stealthily watch her for a couple minutes, trying to figure out if she’s here with a date or alone.  She catches you looking at her and when your eyes meet, she smiles and quickly looks away.  The Jordan part of you knows you’ve struck pay dirt.  You fill up another cup and walk over to introduce yourself.<br/>
<br/>
The closer you get, the more you can study her features.  With the heels she has on, she’s only a few inches shorter then Jordan which puts her around 5’9”.  Her body is muscular, without being masculine, and in phenomenal shape.  If Elise’s body looks like it enjoys running, this girl’s looks like it enjoys squats and presses.  Her skin is a nice, deep golden brown from tanning outdoors; the tan lines created by her bikini top give that away.  You extend your hand to greet her and when she reciprocates, you realize her hands are quite large as well.  Jordan has never been with a girl built like this before and a thought from both of your lizard brains creeps into your mind.  You won’t have to be gentle with her, no sir, you can fuck her as hard as you want and she’ll probably beg for more.<br/>
<br/>
“Hi, I’m Jordan,” you say introducing yourself “would you like a drink?”<br/>
<br/>
“Sure,” she says taking the cup from you “I’m Carolina.”  No doubt in your mind now, she’s Hispanic.<br/>
<br/>
“Well, very nice to meet you Carolina,” you say while tapping the lip of your red SOLO cup to hers. <br/>
<br/>
You both go through the normal, mundane ritual of getting to know each other.  You find out she is Brazilian, so not Hispanic but Portuguese, moved to the US during high school and is now enrolled at Keyserling.  You recite to her the story you and Chelsea cooked up before you came here.  After a few more moments of idle chit chat, you down the last bit of beer in your cup.  You excuse yourself and tell Carolina you’re going to get a refill and will be right back.<br/>
<br/>
“Não leva muito tempo,” she says flashing you a quick smile.  <br/>
<br/>
You have no idea what she just said, but it sounded sexy which you figure has to be good.  You feel like the deal is pretty much sealed and now it’s just a matter of getting her alone so you can use a mask on her.  Scratch that, make sure you get laid first, and then use the mask on her.<br/>
<br/>
While refilling your drink, you spot Chelsea making out with the same guy she had been talking to earlier.  Your cup full, you turn around and head back over to Carolina.  You pick your conversation up right where you left off.  She’s laughing at all your jokes, even the ones you think are corny, and has started to cross the threshold into your personal space.  The back and forth flirting is getting pretty intense and now, you think, would be a great time to ask her to leave with you.  Right before the words can come out of your mouth, you spot a familiar face in the crowd and it stops you cold.  It’s your cousin Umeko.  You hadn’t seen her walk in, probably because you were so engrossed with Carolina.    <br/>
<br/>
You try to keep your focus solely on Carolina, but can’t quite direct all your attention to her.  You find yourself slowly tuning Carolina’s voice out.  For so long, you pined over Umeko, wanting to be with her in the worst way; but the fact that she is your cousin, although not by blood, and a lesbian made that impossible.  Being so absorbed by thoughts of Umeko, you hadn’t even noticed Carolina was still talking to you.<br/>
<br/>
“Jordan?  Jordan, are you OK?” Carolina asked snapping you out of your daze.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh, yeah I’m fine.  Hey listen, I’ve gotta go talk to my cousin for a minute.  I’ll be right back,” you say leaving Carolina standing there with a slightly bewildered look on her face.<br/>
<br/>
You catch Chelsea just in the nick of time, as she was just about to head outside to her car with her frat boy.<br/>
<br/>
“I need to talk to you, right now.  It’s about your boyfriend,” emphasizing the last word so the meat head would get the picture.  He did and left more than a little pissed.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea turned toward you and through gritted teeth, “This had better be good or I’m going to fucking kill you.”<br/>
<br/>
“I need to speak with you somewhere private, right now, it’s important,” you say trying to mollify her anger.<br/>
<br/>
Going upstairs and making sure the coast is clear, you both duck into an empty bathroom.<br/>
<br/>
“So what’s so important you had to drag me away from Tony?”<br/>
<br/>
“There’s a girl here I want to…you know,” inferring your intentions, not wanting to say them.<br/>
<br/>
“And?  What do you need me to put it in for you?!” her anger is beginning to escalate.<br/>
<br/>
“No, no.  The girl I want to get with doesn’t like guys,” you say in a hushed voice.<br/>
<br/>
It takes her a few seconds to process what you just said.  “Oh I get it,” her anger is slowly being replaced with amusement at your predicament “so you need be Elise to have a shot?  I suppose that means I have to be Jordan?”<br/>
<br/>
“Yes, will you do that for me?” <br/>
<br/>
“Sure, but you’ve got to do something for me first,” she says with a wicked smile.  “Since Tony got me all worked up, and you ruined my chances with him, you are going to make it up to me.  Take it off.”  <br/>
<br/>
Her words sink in for about a nanosecond before you pull your shirt over your head and begin to fumble with your belt.<br/>
<br/>
“No,” she says as she grabs your hands, holding them in place.  “It,” she says as she motions toward your face.  You understand what she means now and lean back against the wall to steady yourself.  You recite the words and pull the mask off your face, doing your best to resist blacking out.  Chelsea closes the distance between you, sinks to her knees, unbuttons your fly, pulls your jeans and boxer briefs down, and gets down to business.<br/>
<br/>
Never in your wildest dreams could you even conceive of a blowjob feeling like this.  Comparing it to the one she had given you as Mrs. Saito would be an insult.  You have to brace yourself between the sink and wall because you think your knees might give out.  <br/>
<br/>
“I’m going to cum, Chelsea, I’m going to cum,” you say trying to keep your voice down as you lean your head back and close your eyes.  You feel her grasp your butt so she can force her head down and take your entire length.  You climax with her pert nose pressed up against your pelvis and your balls resting on her slightly cleft chin.<br/>
<br/>
“That…was…amazing…” you say, regaining your composure, your mind still a little foggy.<br/>
<br/>
She smiles and looks at herself in the mirror, using her finger wipe the side of her mouth, “Thanks, but that wasn’t me.  Elise has some serious skills.  Guess I know why Jordan likes her so much.”<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea instructs you to strip out of your remaining clothing.  She lies down on the floor, still clothed, and removes Elise’s mask.  When she comes back around, she exchanges masks with you.  “I’ll strip out of my clothes while you’re out,” which irks you slightly.  Why does she always get to see the real you naked, yet you never get to see the real her naked?  You file that thought away as you put the mask to your face.  Coming out of your slumber, the memory of that world class blowjob comes roaring into your head.<br/>
<br/>
“Was it as good for you as it was for me?” Chelsea asks with a grin and slight chuckle, as she stands there in Jordan’s shirtless body.  “Your clothes are over there Elise,” she says motioning toward the not-so-neat pile of clothing she had been wearing only about five minutes ago.  She then turns her attention away from you and regards herself in the mirror, “I really hope Carolina’s still waiting for me,” she says as she pulls her shirt down over Jordan’s muscular torso. “I’ve never been with a Brazilian girl before,” she says while idly grabbing her crotch through her jeans.  <br/>
<br/>
She’s probably picking up the feelings you were having while you were in that mask, you think to yourself.<br/>
<br/>
As soon as Chelsea’s dressed she exits the bathroom and goes back downstairs.  A couple minutes later, you are fully dressed and giving yourself a final once over in the mirror.  Satisfied, you head back down only to find that while you and Chelsea were trading places in the bathroom; the party has died down a bit and is beginning to thin out.  Fortunately for Chelsea, Carolina wasn’t one of the people who left.  You watch as the two of them round second base, and can see Chelsea whisper something into her ear.   Carolina smiles and gives Chelsea another kiss on the lips, obviously agreeing to whatever Chelsea asked her.  They both get up from the couch, and head out the door hand in hand, presumably back to her car.  <br/>
<br/>
You continue walking around and spot one of the people Umeko came where with, but she’s no longer with him.  If he’s here, chances are good she’s still around here somewhere.  You decide to make one last trip around to see if you can find her.</span></div></div>


path: 11312212211112
author_id: imaj
title: Solving a Problem Like Maria
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Was there ever any real doubt?<br/>
<br/>
“Maria,” you say rapidly.<br/>
<br/>
You think of all the features that make Maria so attractive:  Her perfect, perfect ass.  Those long, toned, legs.  Then there’s that perfect ass.  Her complexion is flawless and her features pretty, her hair long and lustrous.  And, of course, how could you forget her perfect ass.<br/>
<br/>
“You pervert,” smirks Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
“I didn’t say a thing,” you protest.<br/>
<br/>
“The look on your face says more than enough.”<br/>
<br/>
“She was your suggestion,” you say.<br/>
<br/>
“I did, and we can make the switch tonight if you want.”<br/>
<br/>
“Tonight,” you say evenly, trying to keep the excitement out of your voice.  “Well, sure, if you want.  I mean, there’s not a rush or anything is there?”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh you are too precious Will,” giggles Chelsea.  “But we can start right now.  I have blank masks.”<br/>
<br/>
“Might as well I guess,” you say.  “Nothing better to do after all.  I’m not very convincing am I?  Fuck, let’s do it then.”<br/>
<br/>
“Good, take your clothes off for me.”<br/>
<br/>
“What,” both you and the Black golem shout in unison.<br/>
<br/>
“Will, I’ll need you to come with me to Maria’s house, but you can’t come as yourself.  So you’ll be going as Gordon.  Both of you take your clothes off so they don’t get damaged,” explains Chelsea patiently.<br/>
<br/>
“Yes Chels,” rumbles the golem.<br/>
<br/>
“Hang on, Gordon’s mask is gooped up, right,” you ask.  “So I’ll be stuck under it till you take it off.  I’m guessing you’re going to hang a mask of me on, er, Gordon and use the Gordon mask to keep Maria out of the way.  Both the mask and Gordon are under your control.  Don’t I get to…”<br/>
<br/>
You tail off as you realise the Black golem has placed one of its meaty hand on your shoulder and is gripping it tightly.<br/>
<br/>
“I’ll just get undressed then, shall I,” you ask weakly.<br/>
<br/>
“You do that,” smirks Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
You remove your clothes, painfully aware of the golem’s presence behind you.  You can practically feel its eyes, staring right at your back.  It breathes heavily and with a barely suppressed rage until Chelsea finally manages to dig out the blank she was looking for.<br/>
<br/>
“Gordon sweetie,” she says, almost skipping round behind you.  “I’m going to need to take off your face for a minute.”<br/>
<br/>
Then the last thing you see is a mask being placed over your face.  The lights go out.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
The first sensation as you wake up is an overwhelming sense of pinkness.<br/>
<br/>
Something tells you are not in the Fuck Room anymore.<br/>
<br/>
There’s no way of telling how long you’ve been out for, or where you’ve ended up.  You realise that you are lying on your back and struggle to your feet.  Oversized clothes hang loosely of you.  They must be Black’s.  You try to recall exactly what the golem had been wearing earlier but the memory slips out of your grasp.  Instead, you look around to try and figure out where you are.<br/>
<br/>
Pink is definitely the main colour here, although lacy white frills are giving it a run for its money.  There’s also a faintly sweet scent in the air.  The ornate dressing table that your gaze falls upon is festooned with photographs.  Some of the frames, you decide eventually, are very tacky.<br/>
<br/>
“Earth to Will,” says a voice.   “Wake up, I need your help.  Is there something in this room that turns people into airheads or something?”<br/>
<br/>
Hearing your name brings you back to Earth with a jolt.  You spin round to see Chelsea struggling with someone’s prone form.  She’s trying to simultaneously drag it up onto the bed (pink) and remove the long, loose, t-shirt they are wearing (also pink).  You try, and fail, not to think about all the pinkness whilst you help drag the body onto the bed.  Chelsea finally manages to pull the t-shirt off, revealing an unconscious and very naked Maria Vasquez.<br/>
<br/>
Very naked.<br/>
<br/>
The stirring in your groin, however, is cut cruelly short when Chelsea drops a mask on Maria’s face.  The very naked girl is replaced by an equally naked Gordon Black.  The golem’s eyes flick open abruptly and it stares daggers at you.<br/>
<br/>
“My clothes,” it rumbles darkly.<br/>
<br/>
“Yeah,” you reply, starting to pull them off.  “Wouldn’t want you to catch Prescottitis or something”<br/>
<br/>
The golem tries to sit bolt upright but is pushed right back down by Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
“Boys,” she says smiling wryly.  “No need to fight.”<br/>
<br/>
“Yes Chels,” says the golem obediently.<br/>
<br/>
“Sorry,” you add, handing the golem its shirt.  “Have you got the mask ready there?”<br/>
<br/>
“I just need add that seal stuff,” replies Chelsea, waving a second mask about.  You can just about make out Maria’s reflection trapped in the mask.  “Give Gordon his clothes and I’ll finish it.”<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea starts looking round the room as you continue to disrobe.  Hopefully she hasn’t misplaced the mask sealant.  The golem manages to remain quiet as you hand it its clothes.  It does look at you with some askance when you pass over the boxers, however.  Chelsea passes you a mask as you remove the last of Black’s clothes.<br/>
<br/>
Blackness engulfs you again as you bring it to your face.<br/>
<br/>
This time your first sensation as you wake up is one of energy.  You bounce to your feet and take in your surroundings.  It’s still the exact same room, but now the colour and furnishings feel more comfortable than anything else.  You hold the thought for a second and trace it to its roots.  Maria’s persona lies dormant within you, offering only a few basic feelings now and then.  You put it to one side, you can try it out later.  <br/>
<br/>
Judging from where Chelsea is standing you can’t have been under for more than a few seconds.  You bounce over to her and hug her tightly.<br/>
<br/>
“Thank you,” you say with Maria’s voice.  It sounds strange without her accent.  “You’re the best friend a girl could have.”<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea, amazingly, blushes.  You realise that the Black golem is staring at you again.  Oh, right: Naked.<br/>
<br/>
“Go wait in the car,” says Chelsea addressing the golem.  She breaks from your hug and hands you the t-shirt Maria was wearing earlier.  You wriggle inside it.  It hangs off your curves pleasingly.  “How does it feel Will?”<br/>
<br/>
“Amazing,” you respond once the golem has trudged out.  You reach inside your mind to where you had found Maria’s identity earlier.  Pulling it round you like a cloak, you feel your stance slipping into a more comfortable one.  Maria’s presence is little more than a shadow that you can poke and prod to you own amusement.  “I don’t see anyone called Will around here Chels.  It’s just me, Maria.  Your best friend.”<br/>
<br/>
You sound exactly like Maria now, right down to her accent<br/>
<br/>
“That is <i>so</i> creepy,” says Chelsea.  “You’re exactly like her.”<br/>
<br/>
“I <i>am</i> Maria,” you pout.  “The new Maria.”<br/>
<br/>
You hug Chelsea again, this time placing your hands round her waist and pulling her close.  For a moment you look into each others eyes, barely a few inches apart.<br/>
<br/>
“I’ve wanted to do this for the longest time,” you say.  You pull Chelsea in the last little distance and kiss her full on the lips.  She is surprised and unresponsive for a handful of seconds.  Then she starts kissing back.  Forcefully.<br/>
<br/>
Your bold statement is completely untrue, but you’ve learned a few very important things in the last few seconds.  Firstly, Maria is not the dumb airhead everyone thinks she is.  She only plays the airhead because of a toxic mix of Chelsea’s and her own insecurities.  In fact, Maria is a lot cleverer than you and her brains have helped to realise something about Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea has a lot of repressed lesbian tendencies.  You’d already sort of realised this before, but now it’s clear as day to you.  Worse, Chelsea’s practically being torturing herself trying to live some television cliché of high school life.  That she has surrounded herself with some of the most attractive girls in school on the cheerleading squad has only made things worse.<br/>
<br/>
This all explains, and you think this very quietly in case you accidently say it out loud, why she is such a bitch.  It’s also a vulnerability, a vulnerability that you are exploiting right now.  Finally, you should probably stop kissing to breath for a second.<br/>
<br/>
“My parent’s won’t be back for an hour,” you say, smiling a Maria smile as you break off the kiss.  “Stay a while.”<br/>
<br/>
For a moment, Chelsea looks conflicted.  But it is only a moment.  “Oh <i>yes</i>…”<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
It has been less than an hour since Chelsea left.<br/>
<br/>
You’ve been basking in the afterglow since.  Laying in bed, waiting for sleep to take you and musing on how much better this time went than the time in the Fuck Room two nights previously.  Maria’s personality was less than enthused about your tryst but it was easy enough to override its instincts.  To Chelsea you were the real Maria throughout. <br/>
<br/>
Chelsea’s original plan had been to hook you, as Maria, up with her Patterson golem.  It’s not an idea that appeals much, to you or Maria.  Already, a fantastic, improbable plan is forming in your head.  One that you would never have been able to conceive, far less execute without Maria’s superior intelligence.  What if you outted Chelsea in front of the entire school?</span></div></div>


path: 113122122111122
author_id: imaj
title: But I'm A Cheerleader...
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“Do you trust me?”<br/>
<br/>
Few simple questions are as loaded as that.  Chelsea pauses from arranging her hair.  She’s got a small mirror pinned up in her locker for the purpose.  You are leaning back on an adjacent locker, arms folded to push up your boobs.  You’ve also got one foot planted firmly on the locker door to better display your legs.  The short cheerleading skirt you are wearing has settled nicely round your raised thigh.  No doubt some passers by are getting quite the view.<br/>
<br/>
That’s all part of the plan.<br/>
<br/>
In fact, both of you are in full cheerleading uniform.  An early morning flurry of texts persuaded Chelsea to call a ‘team spirit’ day – when everyone on the squad wears their uniform for the whole school day.  If you asked Chelsea she’d tell you it’s to encourage everyone to give the sports teams the support they deserve.  If you ask anyone else they’d tell you it’s to remind people where the power really lies.<br/>
<br/>
Without the rigours of practice to leave the them sweaty and unhappy, the cheerleaders usually end up looking their best on such days.  With the aid of Maria’s memories you’ve done a fine and subtle job with her make up today.  You look stunning.  Chelsea, of course, would do no less, although her look is a little stronger and more obvious than your own.<br/>
<br/>
This too, is part of the plan.<br/>
<br/>
“Of course I trust you Maria,” simpers Chelsea after a moment of thought.  It’s an act, you realise, thanks to the memories stored in your mask.  “You’re like my best friend and I’ve known you for years.  Why?”<br/>
<br/>
“I need you to trust me,” you lean in and whisper into her ear.  “I’m going to keep you on top of the school permanently.  No more worries, you’ll be untouchable.”<br/>
<br/>
“I’m interested,” she says casually as you pull back away from her, but you can see the hunger in her eyes.  “But can you deliver?”<br/>
<br/>
“Remember who you are talking to,” you smirk back, unfolding an arm and jutting a thumb back at yourself.  “Genius.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh Maria,” giggles Chelsea.  “I’m convinced.  Let’s see this great idea of yours.”<br/>
<br/>
That’s when you kiss her.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea is so surprised that she reacts entirely on instinct for the first few seconds, returning your kiss.  Her hands snake around your ass, holding it tight and pulling you in.  Then, abruptly, she stops as she remembers exactly who it is she is kissing and exactly where it she is kissing you.<br/>
<br/>
She doesn’t react with anger, but she does take a step back.  Looking directly into her eyes, you can see that she is<i> terrified</i>.  Chelsea is wearing a mask just like you, though her one is figurative.  For a moment, it slipped, and she wasn’t the all-American cheerleader-cum-homecoming-queen that she pretends to be.  You have to keep control of the situation before she lashes out in a panic.<br/>
<br/>
“Remember you trust me,” you say to her quietly.  “This only works if we put on a good show.”<br/>
<br/>
It is enough, and you suspect it is enough because Chelsea wants to be convinced.  She reconnects and you make out slowly and confidently.  You explore each other thoroughly with your hands for what seems like an age before the whistling and catcalls finally impinge on your collected consciousnesses.<br/>
<br/>
“Lookin’ good ladies,” hoots one brave soul.  You drift apart from Chelsea and she turns her laser glare on the interloper, Jason Lynch.<br/>
<br/>
“Show’s over cocksucker,” she says acidly.  Lynch flinches backwards, cowed.  “That goes for all of you.”<br/>
<br/>
The audience suddenly finds something else to do – sorting their lockers, examining their shoes, getting to class, anything that gets them out of eye contact with Chelsea.  You give her hand a gentle squeeze to draw her attention.<br/>
<br/>
“There’d better be a good explanation for this,” she hisses quietly at you.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh, there is,” you whisper back.  “Pick one of them.  Any of the guys there, someone you’ve never talked to before and ask him to do something for you.  Then come see me at recess.”<br/>
<br/>
She looks at you oddly, unconvinced.<br/>
<br/>
“<i>Genius</i>,” you say, pointing at yourself again before you walk off to your first class.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
You almost run into yourself between first and second periods.<br/>
<br/>
The sight is unnerving enough to give you pause for a few seconds.  A few seconds of thinking ‘what am I doing there?’ before you recollect your wits enough to remember who you are now.  Your golem, or more accurately the golem of you that is controlled by Chelsea, is hanging around at the base of the back stairs with your old friends Keith and Caleb.  You almost ran into it rounding a corner.<br/>
<br/>
Everyone reprograms their faces.  Keith gets there first, settling for a shit eating grin that comes naturally to him.  News travels fast at Westside.<br/>
<br/>
“Hey Maria,” he says, smile fixed in place.  You can tell he knows about this morning.<br/>
<br/>
“What is it pervert,” you reply, adding a little snark to Maria’s more normally soft voice.<br/>
<br/>
“So you <i>do</i> know who I am,” replies Keith sniggering before Caleb elbows him sharply in the ribs.<br/>
<br/>
“Come on Tilley,” says Caleb sharply.<br/>
<br/>
The use of his last name is a sure sign Keith has fucked up in some way, or at least annoyed Caleb.  Caleb walks off, climbing the stairs.  Keith follows along behind him but your doppelganger stops for a moment to stare at you.  It doesn’t say anything, but it seems almost imploring.<br/>
<br/>
You don’t have the time though.  Too many thoughts running through your mind, the precarious balancing act with Chelsea not least amongst them.  You rush off to your next class.  It is not until you have reached it and unpacked your bag that you realise that Keith, Caleb and the golem should have been on the other side of the building at that time of day.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
Chelsea is in a thoughtful mood when you finally meet up with her.  You give her a quick platonic hug before sitting down next to her.<br/>
<br/>
“Well,” you ask.<br/>
<br/>
“I picked some sophomore,” she says slowly.  “And asked him to carry my book bag.  He followed me round like a love sick puppy, right the way to my class.  Then he ran off saying he was sorry but was late for History.”<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea stops her tale for a moment to look at you directly.<br/>
<br/>
“That’s like on the other side of the school,” she says, not quite believing it.  “I think he was kind of sweet on me.”<br/>
<br/>
“Exactly,” you smile, grabbing both of Chelsea’s hands and giving them a squeeze.  “Last week that guy would have been scared of you.  Scared of Gordon.  Scared of what would happen if he was caught talking to you.  Today he was thinking of only two things:  You.  Me.  The two prettiest girls in the school kissing.”<br/>
<br/>
“Really,” asks Chelsea, smiling at the compliment.  “Do guys really think like that, I mean?”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh yes, trust me this is something I know about,” you explain, blushing slightly.  “The bigger losers we are, the more seeing something like that pushes our buttons.  It’s insane.  There’s no guy there, we think.  We have a chance, we think.  With one or, and this is the real killer, both, we think.”<br/>
<br/>
“Wow,” she giggles.  “I knew you were suckers and all, but I never thought you were all that gullible.”<br/>
<br/>
“It’s sad but true,” you smile.<br/>
<br/>
“There’s something else,” continues Chelsea.  “I spoke to Yumi earlier:  She was nice to me.”<br/>
<br/>
“Well,” you begin before thinking better of pointing out that that’s how Yumi generally is.<br/>
<br/>
“I mean really nice,” explains Chelsea.  “She meant it. That bitch never <i>means</i> it.  And she was with Eva, and I could tell Eva wanted to say something, but Yumi wouldn’t let her.”<br/>
<br/>
“Ah,” you grin.  “That’s the other part of it:  Hartlein.”<br/>
<br/>
“Hartlein,” asks Chelsea.  “What’s that faggot got to do with it?”<br/>
<br/>
“Well,” you snort at Chelsea’s use of the word faggot.  “Why doesn’t anybody do something about him?”<br/>
<br/>
“The last time someone tried he just ran straight to…”  Chelsea pauses as she realises what she is saying.  “Oh.”<br/>
<br/>
“Congratulations,” you beam.  “You’re part of a minority now.  The next time Cindy messes about with you, you can cry homophobia and the teachers will step in on your side.  I mean, it wouldn’t work in Hicksville, Arkansas.  Here though?  You are <i>untouchable</i>.”<br/>
<br/>
You move forward and peck Chelsea on the lips briefly.<br/>
<br/>
“We,” you laugh.  “Are untouchable.”<br/>
<br/>
“Ohmygod,” squeals Chelsea with a manic gleam in her eye.</span></div></div>


path: 1131221221111221
author_id: imaj
title: A Fly in the Ointment
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“This could totally work,” squeals Chelsea, hugging you tightly.<br/>
<br/>
“What could work,” asks a cold voice from the doorway.  You look up to see Kendra Saunders, her arms folded, an ugly sneer distorting her face.  She’s flanked by Gloria Rea, her pose mirroring Kendra’s.  This does not look like a social call.<br/>
<br/>
Your face must have betrayed some anxiety, because Kendra smiles triumphantly when she realises you are looking at her.  Chelsea looks over her shoulder to see what is happening.<br/>
<br/>
“I’ll handle this,” she whispers in your ear.  You gather Maria’s personality round you and prepare to play the frightened little girl that everyone thinks she is.<br/>
<br/>
“Kendra,” continues Chelsea, her voice losing any warmth it had.  “This is a private discussion.”<br/>
<br/>
Kendra turns briefly to Gloria for a second or two.  They share a knowing smile before Kendra addresses Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
“You should have thought about that before this morning’s little display,” she begins.  “I just wanted to let you know that you’re finished.”<br/>
<br/>
“Finished am I,” asks Chelsea politely.  You quake a little involuntarily.  Maria knows that Chelsea’s biggest explosions of temper come when she seems the calmest.<br/>
<br/>
“I knew you’d slip up sooner or later.  All I had to do was play along with you till you made a mistake and pick up the pieces.   I never expected that it would be something so…” Kendra pauses for a minute, searching for the right word.  “Spectacular.  Think you can stay team captain after that?   You’ll be lucky to stay on the team at all…”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh Kendra,” interrupts Chelsea with a laugh.  “I always knew you were gutter trash that would turn on me the moment you got the chance.  Do you really think you could take me down so easily?  Do you think Principal Sagansky’s going to enjoy the lawsuits the school will get hit with if you try to force me off the team.”<br/>
<br/>
“What,” asks Kendra, suddenly unsure of herself.  You’re a little unsure yourself, but you know from Maria’s memories that Chelsea has plenty of experience of putting down Kendra.<br/>
<br/>
“The lawsuits idiot,” says Chelsea as if she were explaining something to an small child.  You think Chelsea is laying it on a bit thick, but maybe that’s what works with Kendra.  “For discrimination.  And Maria’s daddy and the rest of the school board will have something to say too, wont they?”<br/>
<br/>
“You’re making this up,” says Kendra in a half hearted attempt at being defiant.<br/>
<br/>
“You don’t know that,” sneers Chelsea.  “Do you really want to take that risk?”<br/>
<br/>
“Well, I knew that you’d have a backup plan,” says Kendra, regaining some of her composure.  Gloria, however, looks pretty unsure now.  You watch as she quietly takes one step away from Kendra’s side.<br/>
<br/>
“I knew that you’d know that,” says Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
“But did you know that I’d have a back up plan too,” says Kendra triumphantly.  “Poor Gordon, he must be heartbroken right now.  It must be tearing him up inside that the love of his life abandoned him for another girl.”<br/>
<br/>
You take hold of Chelsea by the waist, giving her a little squeeze to give her pause.  You both know that Gordon is under Chelsea’s control, but the last thing you want is Chelsea accidently blurting it out.<br/>
<br/>
“I’m sure that he wants someone to comfort him right now.  There’ll be a new power couple before the day is out bitch,” says Kendra, he tone turning venomous suddenly.  “And it’s only a matter of time before Gordon’s new girlfriend becomes the cheerleader captain.”<br/>
<br/>
“We’ll see,” says Chelsea, very slowly and very carefully.  She’s close to exploding.<br/>
<br/>
“You never know how things will work out,” you add, trying to calm things down.<br/>
<br/>
“Yeah,” says Chelsea darkly.  “Sometimes the worst thing that can happen is you get everything you want.”<br/>
<br/>
“I don’t think so,” exclaims Kendra.  “Come on Gloria, we’re leaving.”<br/>
<br/>
Kendra turns round huffily and storms out.  Gloria, however, hesitates.  She doesn’t move, caught in indecision.<br/>
<br/>
“Well Gloria,” says Chelsea with a trace of wry amusement.  “Who’s side are you on?  Do you really want Kendra in charge?  You know what she’s like.  You know I’ve kept the worst of it from you for years.”<br/>
<br/>
“I, uh…” stammers Gloria.<br/>
<br/>
“You know I’ll make good on what I said to her,” continues Chelsea, more threateningly.<br/>
<br/>
“I need to get to my next class,” squeals Gloria.  She turns and flees.<br/>
<br/>
“Well fuck,” you say after a minute, letting Maria persona slide off you.<br/>
<br/>
“Did you notice she ran the other way from Kendra,” says Chelsea, turning to face you again.  Her eyes glitter with malice.  She’s right though:  Gloria did run in the opposite direction from Kendra.  Maybe things aren’t quite as bad as they seem.  “Now what were you saying about being untouchable?”<br/>
<br/>
“Ok, so one person is going to be a problem,” you smile goofily.  “One person out of hundreds.  If it’s really all that bad we can just slap a mask on her and control her like Gordon and Steve.”<br/>
<br/>
“Don’t think I haven’t thought about it,” says Chelsea, a quirky half grin appearing on her face.  “But we’re a team you and me <i>Will</i>.  It’s time  showed I showed you what I can do.  I’ll deal with Kendra, my way.”<br/>
<br/>
“You can handle it?”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh yes,” replies Chelsea, her voice as hard as steel.  Whatever Chelsea has planned for her erstwhile friend, you don’t want to know about it.  “I’ll deal with Kendra and you can do your part for our team by investigating my book.”</span></div></div>


path: 11312212211112212
author_id: imaj
title: Dinner With the Vasquezs
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>There was something about the look in Chelsea’s eyes that made you think better of getting in her way.  Leaving her to resolve the problem with Kendra was the obvious choice.  With Maria’s memories at your fingertips, you know that Chelsea’s been ‘resolving problems with Kendra’ for years.<br/>
<br/>
So you agreed to take the book and study it for Chelsea, trying not to dwell to long on the fact that she is now referring to it as ‘her’ book.  It’s upstairs right now, in the bedroom you have taken from Maria, hidden under a pile of her shoes.  You’ll have a chance to study it later.<br/>
<br/>
Right now it’s dinnertime with Maria’s family.  She’s an only child, so you only have her parents to worry about.  Naturally, you’ve slipped into Maria’s personality, to better fool them that you are their genuine daughter.  There’s a certain thrill in that, but as you push your food about your plate, taking only the occasional nibble, the core of yourself that is animating Maria’s persona like a puppet is starving.  It’s a small price to pay for the figure you have stolen.<br/>
<br/>
Maria’s mother is waffling on about her work day.  It’s not particularly interesting and you aren’t paying attention to what she is saying.  More interesting is your new family.  It’s clear enough that Maria got her looks from her mother.  She’s a little shorter though and, if anything, more rounded.  She would have been more cute than beautiful at Maria’s age.  Your new father is surprisingly like your old one.  He’s a serious, sombre man.  He prefers to let your new mother do most of the talking, and when he does speak it is with a slow deliberation that commands your, or at least Maria’s, respect.<br/>
<br/>
“How was your day sweetie,” says Maria’s mother to you, shaking you out of your reverie.<br/>
<br/>
Now there’s a question you’ve been dreading.  As Chelsea reminded Kendra today, Maria’s father sits on the school board.  Inevitably, he’s going to find out about what happened:  Maybe not immediately, but eventually.  Especially if Chelsea and Kendra come to blows as a result, because then the teachers will have to get involved.<br/>
<br/>
So it comes down to this:  Do you let Maria’s father find out himself, or do you tell him first?  Not much of a choice at all.<br/>
<br/>
“I’m a lesbian mother,” you say matter-of-factly as you chew some salad.  Better to spin the story yourself you decide.  “I came out today, at school.  Chelsea and I are in love.”<br/>
<br/>
You doubt you’ll ever forget the expression on Maria’s mother’s face.  Her jaw just goes slack and she works her mouth like a fish in the awkward silence that follows.  Maria’s father just stares at you blankly for what seems like an age.<br/>
<br/>
“Have you tried not being gay,” he asks eventually.<br/>
<br/>
“Josep,” exclaims Maria’s mother, finally regaining control of her voice.<br/>
<br/>
“It doesn’t work like that daddy,” you reply.<br/>
<br/>
“I see,” he rumbles before falling silent.<br/>
<br/>
“You ignore your father sweetie,” says Maria’s mother.  She reaches forward to hold your hand before thinking better of it.  “We’ll support you whatever you decide, you know that.”<br/>
<br/>
“I know,” you blush.<br/>
<br/>
Embarrassing as the dinner conversation was, one good thing has come of it. Your new parents have decided to give you some space for the evening. That’s allowed you to retire to Maria’s bedroom for the night, where you’ve been able to unearth the book from its hiding place and take out the small box of supplies that Chelsea had stashed in the Fuck Room.<br/>
<br/>
That’s the only good news though. When you opened the book to decipher the newest spell you made a terrible discovery. The page had been ripped in half, midway though the list of components. The weirdest thing of all was that you couldn’t see the contents of the page below. Oh there was writing there, but every time you tried to look at it, it seemed to swim before your eyes. When you got a splitting headache after the third attempt you almost cried in despair.<br/>
<br/>
Only the thought of returning to Chelsea tomorrow empty handed kept you at the book. With Maria’s personality to help you, you had worked away at the page: Noting down what components you could understand. Drawing the part of the of the symbol that was visible. Working out what the incantation sounded like.<br/>
<br/>
And that’s accounted for the last three hours of your life. You’ve made no progress, except maybe to fill Maria’s waste paper basket. The spell remains as tantalisingly out of reach as ever. It’s getting dark outside and you are getting tired, so you slip out of Maria’s personality and clothes and change for bed.<br/>
<br/>
Then you take one last frustrated look at the spell before turning the lights out. For a moment you think you can spot a pattern, some clue as to how the spell should work. You dismiss the idea. If you couldn’t work it out with Maria’s superior intelligence, how on Earth could you work it out on your own.<br/>
<br/>
Whatever it is, it can wait till tomorrow. You are now really tired. The last thing you think before you fall into a deep sleep is how Chelsea will react to your failure tomorrow. Should you be honest about it or lie and claim to still be making progress with the spell.</span></div></div>


path: 113122122111122121
author_id: imaj
title: The Spider and the Flies
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Tuesday morning brings your first cheerleader practice since you assumed Maria’s identity.  The atmosphere in the changing room is restrained.  Eva and Jessica seem to be bound up balls of barely contained fury, but that isn’t unusual for them.  You carefully avoid their line of sight.  They, with uncharacteristic tact, avoid yours in turn, choosing to change at the opposite end of the room.  Yumi is cheerful and polite, setting her back down next to yours although you notice she carefully keeps her distance.<br/>
<br/>
The biggest shock of all is Kendra.  Gone is the arrogant expression of superiority she had yesterday.  Instead she does her best to ignore you, visibly flinching when you look at her.  Whatever Chelsea did, it must have been pretty bad.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea is already changed and waiting for you out on the court when you and the rest of the team troop out.  She gives a happy squeal before bounding over and greeting you with a long slow kiss on the lips.  You can feel the rest of the team’s stares, but when Chelsea finishes with you, she gives them such a glare that they all look the other way.<br/>
<br/>
Then it’s on with practice as usual.  Well, not as usual for you of course.  You’ve never done this before but you perform admirably once sink into Maria’s memories.  As is her habit, Chelsea singles out a member of the squad to berate.  On a normal day, the target of Chelsea’s ire can do nothing right in her eyes.  It doesn’t matter how well they actually do, because the goal of the exercise is to affirm Chelsea’s place as captain and put the other girl in their place - under Chelsea’s boot.<br/>
<br/>
Today her target is Kendra.<br/>
<br/>
That’s unusual.  As Maria, you know that’s unusual.  Even without access to her memories you’d guess that it was unusual just from the reactions of the rest of the team.  The Garners’ anger has vanished, replaced with a palpable sense of shock.  Gloria’s movements betray her anxiety and she keeps looking nervously from side to side.  Yumi and Lin keep giving each other meaningful looks.  Whenever they think you aren’t looking, they quietly whisper to one and other.<br/>
<br/>
It’s the way Kendra just stands and takes it that’s unsettling.  It is so unlike her.  She’s normally more forthright and strident.  Instead she just half-grins unhappily and continues practicing.  By the end of the practice session, everyone on the team is so thoroughly spooked out that they change back into their normal clothes quickly and silently.<br/>
<br/>
Everyone except Chelsea.  Her expression isn’t triumphant, as you might have expected.  It’s more, hungry.  She lingers round you as she changes, swaying in time to some unheard music.  As the last of the other girls scurries out changing room to their next class, Chelsea finally turns and kisses you.<br/>
<br/>
She practically sucks your face off.<br/>
<br/>
“I need you so bad right now,” she whispers huskily into your ear.<br/>
<br/>
After that there is no argument.  You let Chelsea drag you up to the Fuck Room where you share an intense and highly satisfactory lovemaking session.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
“So what was that about,” you ask, still lying at Chelsea’s side.<br/>
<br/>
The loft has change somewhat over the last few days, since Chelsea took charge.  An old and comfortable mattress has been placed in the room and someone has dug out sheets to put on it.  Several scented candles have dispersed the old musky smell of stale sweat from the room.<br/>
<br/>
“What was what about,” replies Chelsea.  She’s absently running a hand up and down your thigh.<br/>
<br/>
“You were just so… So…  So amazing and intense.  Oh god,” you squeal as she moves her hand down to your crotch.  Chelsea blushes for a moment.<br/>
<br/>
“When I was putting that witch Kendra in her place,” she explains.  “It just made me feel so powerful and in control and…”<br/>
<br/>
“Horny,” you ask.  “Oh my god, you got off on that?”<br/>
<br/>
“Is that a bad thing,” she pouts, her eyes flashing.  You’d better not push her any further, you realise.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh god no, you were amazing there,” you gush.  “Simply amazing.  It’s just, well what did you do to get her so under your thumb?”<br/>
<br/>
“I don’t think I should be giving away my secrets,” she says coyly.  She’s smiling now.<br/>
<br/>
“Not even for me,” you ask, giving her breasts a tweak.  She squeals appreciatively.  “Your friend and lover Maria.”<br/>
<br/>
“I love it when you pretend that you’re really her,” says Chelsea.  “It’s just so delicious.”<br/>
<br/>
“But I am Maria,” you play act, laying on her accent a little thicker.  You bat your eyelashes.  “Tell me please.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh all right,” she concedes after a few seconds.  You suspect she’s so proud of what she’s done that she just has to tell someone.  Chelsea fishes out her mobile from the pile of her discarded clothes.  She fiddles with it for a second and hands it to you.<br/>
<br/>
You recognise the Fuck Room in the photos on the phone.  You also recognise Kendra, although that’s a little more difficult what with her being naked and wearing a blindfold like that.  Worst of all you recognise the person she’s been photographed in compromising positions with.<br/>
<br/>
It’s you.<br/>
<br/>
Well the real you, Will Prescott.  It must be the golem that’s filled in for you sine you became Maria.<br/>
<br/>
“How did she,” you begin.  “Why would she…  Did you convince her…  She wouldn’t…  I don’t get it, I mean, that’s me.”<br/>
<br/>
“She’s blindfolded silly,” explains Chelsea.  “She thought she was getting Gordon.  It turned out she was wrong.  And if those pictures ever got out…”<br/>
<br/>
“You’re blackmailing her,” you say weakly.<br/>
<br/>
“Blackmail is such an ugly word,” smiles Chelsea.  “I prefer to think of it as…  No, your right, it is blackmail – isn’t it great?”<br/>
<br/>
“Fuck,” you swear.  The word sounds especially out of place coming out in Maria’s voice.  “I, I mean Will, could get in a lot of trouble as well if those pictures ever came out.  That blindfold, it makes it look like I’ve tricked her.”<br/>
<br/>
“You know, I really hadn’t thought of it that way,” lies Chelsea.  “But I would never do anything to hurt you Maria.  You’re my friend.”<br/>
<br/>
“As long as I am your friend,” you say quietly to yourself.<br/>
<br/>
“What was that,” asks Chelsea.  “Never mind.  I meant to ask you about what you found out about my book.  You were supposed to be looking at it while I dealt with Kendra.”<br/>
<br/>
“I, uh…” you stammer.  You’ve been dreading this moment all morning.  “There’s a problem.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh,” asks Chelsea ever so politely.  She rolls away from you and slinks out from under the sheets.  She then starts putting her clothes back on.  “What is that?”<br/>
<br/>
“The latest page is torn,” you explain.  Half of it is missing.  It’s not clear what you need to do to cast the spell.  I spent all night trying to figure it out and got nowhere.”<br/>
<br/>
“I see,” says Chelsea, adjusting her skirt.  After a minute of thinking she continues.  “Doesn’t that mean you can see the spell on the page underneath it?”<br/>
<br/>
“Not if you don’t want your brain to come dribbling out your ears,” you reply quickly.  “I tried that and it just made my head hurt.”<br/>
<br/>
“That’s unfortunate,” she says insincerely.  “I was really hoping you’d make progress <i>Will</i>.  We’re a team.  You handle making sense of my book and I’ll handle dealing with problems like Kendra.”<br/>
<br/>
She finishes buttoning up her blouse.<br/>
<br/>
“I’d hate to have to look for someone else to be on my team <i>Will</i>, to do the bookwork.  You’re making such a good job of being <i>Maria</i> it’s be really unlucky if you had to go back to being <i>Will</i>.”<br/>
<br/>
She lets the threat hang in the air for a few moments before walking out, leaving you alone in the Fuck Room with only your thoughts for company.<br/>
<br/>
Not good, not good at all.  The photos you’ve just seen give you an inkling of waits for you if you have to go back to being Will Prescott.  You’d have to redouble your efforts with the book, maybe even find someone else to help you with it.  The problem is it is not just as if you can go to the phone book and look up ‘wizards’ or ‘sorcerers’.  You wouldn’t even know where to begin.<br/>
<br/>
Then a treasonous little thought snakes its way into your brain:  What if you got Chelsea before she got you.  You can’t imagine yourself as the sort of person who would betray their friends, but then Chelsea has made it pretty clear she’s only your friend as long as it is convenient for her.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 113122122111122122
author_id: imaj
title: The Spider and the Fly
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Tuesday morning brings your first cheerleader practice since you assumed Maria’s identity.  The atmosphere in the changing room is restrained.  Eva and Jessica seem to be bound up balls of barely contained fury, but that isn’t unusual for them.  You carefully avoid their line of sight.  They avoid yours in turn, choosing to change at the opposite end of the room.  Yumi is cheerful and polite, setting her back down next to yours although you notice she carefully keeps her distance.<br/>
<br/>
Kendra, however, regards you with a cool disdain.  You find yourself drawn into staring at each other and she almost seems to snarl.  It looks like she’s about to open her mouth and say something then she falters.  There’s something not quite right, something different that you can’t quite work out what it is.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea is already changed and waiting for you out on the court when you and the rest of the team troop out.  She gives a happy squeal before bounding over and greeting you with a long slow kiss on the lips.  You can feel the rest of the team’s stares, but when Chelsea finishes with you, she gives them a fierce glare.<br/>
<br/>
“Dirty lezzes,” mutters someone under their breath.  It sounds like one of the Garners.  Out of the corner of your eye you see Kendra smirking, but again it seems only half there.<br/>
<br/>
“Let’s get moving,” says Chelsea with a fixed smile, pretending to ignore what she just heard.  “Fitness today, we need to keep ourselves at our peak.”<br/>
<br/>
“What,” shrieks Kendra.  There’s no mistaking the unhappiness in her voice.<br/>
<br/>
“You heard me,” replies Chelsea, this time she’s the one smirking.  “Let’s start with a warm up.”<br/>
<br/>
Then it’s on with practice as usual, except today’s practice is anything but usual.  It’s far more strenuous than would normally be the case.  You perform admirably thanks to Maria’s toned body, but even then you are sweating heavily very quickly.  The other girls aren’t faring much better.  It’s then that you finally realise what was nagging you about Kendra.<br/>
<br/>
It’s her make-up.  She’d clearly caked it on this morning.  Subtly, but not so subtly that you missed it entirely.  Between stress of the workout and all the times she’s paused to wipe her face, Kendra’s make-up is badly smeared and running now.  Looking at Kendra, you can make out a patch of discoloured skin where the make-up has been wiped away completely around her left eye.<br/>
<br/>
You look from Kendra, to Chelsea.  She smirks again as she spots your gaze.  Then you realise, of course Chelsea knew about this, and that the entire point of all this running about is to reveal it.  Suddenly you get an inkling of what Chelsea needs you to do, and somehow, as if she was reading your mind, she gives you the faintest of nods.<br/>
<br/>
“Ohmigod,” you say in Maria’s best airhead voice.  “Is that a bruise Kendra?”<br/>
<br/>
Kendra freezes, like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car.  Everyone else just stops what they are doing and walks over.<br/>
<br/>
“It is,” says Yumi peering closely, honest concern radiating from her voice.<br/>
<br/>
“No, it’s nothing,” squeaks Kendra.  “I’m fine.”<br/>
<br/>
“Look, Kendra,” says Yumi, as the rest of the squad starts to gather round.  “If there’s something you’d like to tell us, we’re all here for you.”<br/>
<br/>
“It’s nothing,” repeats Kendra, desperately looking round for an exit.  She turns and flees back to the changing room.  Gloria chases after her.<br/>
<br/>
“What was that about,” asks Eva, effectively ending the practice session.  The team rapidly descends into an animated discussion. <br/>
<br/>
Everyone except Chelsea, who stands to one side looking on.  Her expression isn’t triumphant, as you might have expected.  It’s more, hungry.  She lingers as the other girls drift away to the changing room.  You eventually follow, Chelsea tailing along behind you.<br/>
<br/>
It’s empty by now, everyone has left for their next class.  Chelsea sneaks up behind you.<br/>
<br/>
“I need you so bad right now,” she whispers huskily into your ear.<br/>
<br/>
After that there is no argument.  You let Chelsea drag you up to the Fuck Room where you share an intense and highly satisfactory lovemaking session.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
“So what was that about,” you ask, still lying at Chelsea’s side.<br/>
<br/>
The loft has change somewhat over the last few days, since Chelsea took charge.  An old and comfortable mattress has been placed in the room and someone has dug out sheets to put on it.  Several scented candles have dispersed the old musky smell of stale sweat from the room.<br/>
<br/>
“What was what about,” replies Chelsea.  She’s absently running a hand up and down your thigh.<br/>
<br/>
“You were just so… So…  So amazing and intense.  Oh god,” you squeal as she moves her hand down to your crotch.  Chelsea blushes for a moment.<br/>
<br/>
“Letting Kendra’s little secret fall out into the open,” she explains.  “It just made me feel so powerful and in control and…”<br/>
<br/>
“Horny,” you ask.  “Oh my god, you got off on that?”<br/>
<br/>
“Is that a bad thing,” she pouts, her eyes flashing.  You’d better not push her any further, you realise.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh god no, you were amazing there,” you gush.  “Simply amazing.  It’s just, how did you know?”<br/>
<br/>
“I don’t think I should be giving away my secrets,” she says coyly.  She’s smiling now.<br/>
<br/>
“Not even for me,” you ask, giving her breasts a tweak.  She squeals appreciatively.  “Your friend and lover Maria.”<br/>
<br/>
“I love it when you pretend that you’re really her,” says Chelsea.  “It’s just so delicious.”<br/>
<br/>
“But I am Maria,” you play act, laying on her accent a little thicker.  You bat your eyelashes.  “Tell me please.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh all right,” she concedes after a few seconds.  You suspect she’s so proud of what she’s done that she just has to tell someone.  “I like read somewhere that people who are abused as children can totally grow up to abuse people themselves.”<br/>
<br/>
“You’re changing the subject,” you cry.<br/>
<br/>
“Nuh-uh,” replies Chelsea.  “Have you met Gordon’s dad?  He’s never actually <i>hit</i> Gordon, but he so makes his life unbearable.  Maybe Gordon’s finally had enough and decided to spread it around.”<br/>
<br/>
“Gordon has to do everything you say Chelsea.”<br/>
<br/>
“So he does,” she says smiling like a shark, with no warmth at all.<br/>
<br/>
“Why would Kendra put up with that,” you muse.<br/>
<br/>
“Maybe Gordon promised everything she wanted?  Maybe he said she could be the cheerleading captain?  Maybe he said she could rule the school,” says Chelsea darkly.  Her voice lowers to a whisper as she finishes.  “Maybe he even said he used to do the same to his last girlfriend?  Maybe she thinks it’s a price worth paying?”<br/>
<br/>
“Did he,” you ask.  “I mean, with his last girlfriend.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh <i>please</i>,” says Chelsea.  “What do you think?”<br/>
<br/>
“Probably not.”<br/>
<br/>
“But it’s just believable enough for Kendra.”<br/>
<br/>
“And if anyone else finds out the whole deal is off,” you suggest.  “That’s so…”<br/>
<br/>
“Brilliant,” finishes Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
“Not the word I’d have used,” you say a little sourly.<br/>
<br/>
“She deserves it,” says Chelsea angrily, her cheeks glowing red.  Thinking back to yesterday, you are inclined to agree with her.   “Never mind.  I meant to ask you about what you found out about my book.  You were supposed to be looking at it while I dealt with Kendra.”<br/>
<br/>
“I, uh…” you stammer.  You’ve been dreading this moment all morning.  “It’s coming along fine.  It’s very complicated though, going to take a few more days yet.”<br/>
<br/>
“Good,” smiles Chelsea.  Her eyes bore into you, scouring your expression for signs that you are lying.  Luckily, Maria has become adept at hiding things from Chelsea.  She rolls away from you and slinks out from under the sheets.  She then starts putting her clothes back on.  “I’m looking forward to seeing what it does.”<br/>
<br/>
“Me too,” you say fervently and completely and utterly truthfully<br/>
<br/>
“Great,” says Chelsea, adjusting her skirt.  After a minute of thinking she continues.  “You’ll let me know as soon as it’s ready?”<br/>
<br/>
“Of course.”<br/>
<br/>
She finishes buttoning up her blouse.<br/>
<br/>
“We’re working so well together, you’re making such a good job of being Maria.  I never thought things would ever work out this way,” she stops to lean back down and give you one last kiss.  “I wish this could last for <i>ever</i>.”<br/>
<br/>
She smiles, and it is an uncharacteristically genuine smile, before walking out, leaving you alone in the Fuck Room with only your thoughts for company.<br/>
<br/>
Well the good news is that Chelsea is happy with you.  The bad news, she’s happy with the lie you’ve just told her.  The memory of Kendra’s livid bruise comes back to you.  You’d hate to think what will happen if she finds out the truth.  You’ll have to redouble your efforts with the book, maybe even find someone else to help you with it.  The problem is it is not just as if you can go to the phone book and look up ‘wizards’ or ‘sorcerers’.  You wouldn’t even know where to begin.<br/>
<br/>
Then a treasonous little thought snakes its way into your brain:  What if you remove Chelsea from the equation?  She’ll turn on you sooner or later.  She turned on Maria, Kendra and Gordon after all.  You know just the couple of guys who would be willing to help.</span></div></div>


path: 1131221221111222
author_id: imaj
title: Damage Control
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Just as suddenly the fire in Chelsea’s eyes dims.  She looks down at the floor.<br/>
<br/>
“This isn’t going to work,” she says quietly.  “Not like this.  I’m sorry.”<br/>
<br/>
“It’s too late to turn back now,” you reply, more in hope than anything else.  “Half the school saw us.”<br/>
<br/>
“I know,” says Chelsea, looking up at you.  Her gaze drifts to the side and she continues more loudly.  “It was a trick.”<br/>
<br/>
“A trick,” you say.  Another voice echoes your words behind you.  You spin round to see Kendra Saunders standing in the doorway, her arms folded.  She looks uncertain, like she wasn’t quite expecting events to play out this way.  Gloria Rea stands behind her, mirroring her pose.<br/>
<br/>
“How was it a trick,” asks Kendra, unsure of herself.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh isn’t it obvious,” asks Chelsea, getting into the flow of her lies.  It really isn’t obvious, you think.  You listen aghast as Chelsea continues.  “We were trying to make Gordon jealous.”<br/>
<br/>
You doubt anyone would believe that.<br/>
<br/>
“That totally makes sense,” says Gloria.  Ok, it appears you’ve overestimated the intelligence of your new team mates.  Kendra shoots Gloria a dark look.<br/>
<br/>
“Everyone is talking about you both right now,” agrees Kendra with a touch of amusement.  “Do you think it worked out the way you meant it to?”<br/>
<br/>
“Of course,” says Chelsea, smiling politely.  Maria knows that’s a bad sign.  “We meant to give all those people a show.  Otherwise how would it make Gordon jealous?  That and all the losers are fantasising about us now.  Which is a bonus.”<br/>
<br/>
“What,” says Kendra, shocked.<br/>
<br/>
“It all makes it so much easier to keep them in line,” says Chelsea, as if she was explaining something to a child.  If you hadn’t explained the whole thing to her not five minutes ago, you might even think it was her own idea.  “Now what have you got for me?”<br/>
<br/>
“Got for you,” echoes Kendra, now floundering badly.<br/>
<br/>
“Well duh Kendra,” says Chelsea confidently, she’s totally in command now.  “I mean you must have come to find me to tell me some juicy bit of gossip.  What is it?”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh, uh sorry Chelsea,” she says, shaking her head.  “I don’t have anything right now.”<br/>
<br/>
“You don’t,” exclaims Chelsea.  “Well don’t just stand there, get going.  After this morning, I need to know what’s happening.”<br/>
<br/>
“Got it,” says Gloria.  She turns and leaves.  Kendra is more hesitant, she shifts her weight from one foot to the other and back.<br/>
<br/>
“Yes Kendra,” asks Chelsea with a trace of impatience.<br/>
<br/>
“I…  Nothing,” Kendra eventually replies.  She leaves, bewildered and confused.<br/>
<br/>
“I’d better keep an eye on her,” says Chelsea to you.  “Wait for me at the end of the day.”<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
You cut a forlorn figure, out on the bleachers by the football field on your own.<br/>
<br/>
The football team is actually out practicing, but few people ever watch them.  They’ve never been as popular as the basketball team and, to be brutally honest, watching them practice is a painful affair:  It’s not so much that they are bad, just lazy and inclined to goof off.  So, aside from a smattering of girlfriends (a very small smattering, because more than a few of the football players are too habitually stoned to pay attention to such things) and friends, the bleachers are empty.<br/>
<br/>
And then there’s you.  The football team prefers to live without the attention of the cheerleaders, so there’s been a very cold reception for you.  You’ve been largely ignored save for a few polite ‘hello’s.  For your part, you are quiet happy to sit alone and sink into melancholy.<br/>
<br/>
Things haven’t worked out the way you might have hoped.  You are sure Chelsea’s main problem is fear.  Fear of what people like Kendra might have said about your shared kiss this morning.  To make things worse, you know you can’t call Chelsea out on this, she’s stubborn and it would only drive her further into denial.  What hurts most of all is that no-one is going to believe the pathetic ‘trick to make Gordon jealous’ story, but everyone is going to go along with it.<br/>
<br/>
Your chain of thoughts is interrupted by someone dropping a cigarette on the stairway aisle and grinding it out with a shiny black leather boot.<br/>
<br/>
“I know, I know, it’s a filthy habit and I really should stop,” says the boot’s owner.  You look up and see another student that neither you or Maria recognise by name.  She’s thin and dressed entirely in black in a way that says ‘stylish’ rather than ‘emo’.  Short dark hair frames a lean looking face and librarian glasses perch on somewhat hawklike nose.  She gestures besides you. “Is this seat taken?”<br/>
<br/>
You bark a short laugh.  “No.  Um, do I know you?”<br/>
<br/>
“I might ask the same question,” she says archly.  “You cheerleaders aren’t exactly known for hanging around with us Morlocks.  Apart from Yumi, she’s a special case.  I don’t have to ask though, because <i>everyone</i> is talking about you.”<br/>
<br/>
“We were just trying to make Gordon jealous,” you say flatly.<br/>
<br/>
“So everyone tells me.  I’m Jelena, by the way,” she says offering her hand.  You recognise the name now, Jelena Petrovic is one of the queens of Westsides small bohemian set.  They (wisely) keep clear of Chelsea so it’s hardly surprising you didn’t recognise her.  You take her hand and shake.  “That Rea girl especially.  I think the more she shouts it, the more she’ll believe it’s true.”<br/>
<br/>
“It is true,” you reply weakly.<br/>
<br/>
“You probably need to say it a few more times before you start believing it,” says Jelena mischievously, you fail to suppress a grin.  “I wasn’t there of course, sneaking a cig behind the bleachers but Fatima, sweetheart that she is, told me all about it.  It didn’t sound like you were faking it.  ‘Hot and steamy’, that was the phrase Fatima used.  I don’t think she really knows what that means, but it’s certainly descriptive.”<br/>
<br/>
“Ok,” you say, looking up.  “So lets say, for the sake of argument, that it isn’t true.  What would you say then?”<br/>
<br/>
“In that, purely hypothetical, case,” begins Jelena, her voice dripping with sarcasm.  “I would say that Chelsea was a fool.  Too concerned with what people think of her than what’s sitting right in front of her.  I know what I’d do if a beautiful girl kissed me.”<br/>
<br/>
Your eyes flick down for a second and you realise that Jelena has placed her hand on your knee.  She follows your gaze and jerks the hand away.<br/>
<br/>
“Sorry,” she says blushing.  “Look Maria, I know you’re feeling pretty low right now, anyone that looks at you can see that.  Why don’t you come and hang with me and the band for a couple of hours?  It’ll keep your mind off… …stuff.”<br/>
<br/>
“I was waiting for,” you begin in a small voice then stop.  You were waiting for Chelsea?  She’s been avoiding you since this morning.  Jelena is almost certainly right – Chelsea is more concerned about how people think about her than anything else.  You should just leave her hanging for the evening and see how she likes it.<br/>
<br/>
Then again, the last thing you want is to antagonise your partner any further.</span></div></div>


path: 11312212211112221
author_id: imaj
title: I'm With The Band
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Jelena pulls her car to a halt outside a small house within walking distance of Keyserling College.  Student territory.<br/>
<br/>
“Here we are,” she says.<br/>
<br/>
You peer round her and take a look.  It’s not the best neighbourhood in Saratoga Falls, and the house isn’t in the best condition, but still.<br/>
<br/>
“Your band has a house,” you ask, adding a little wonderment to Maria’s voice.<br/>
<br/>
“They rent,” she replies, by way of explanation.  “And there are four of them crammed in there.  Actually, only two of them are in the band, the others make themselves scarce on a Monday evening though.”<br/>
<br/>
She releases her belt and steps out.  You follow, closing the car door shut behind you.  Jelena pauses to look over the roof of the car at you.<br/>
<br/>
“Right, when we go in,” she begins.  She stops for a second and drums her fingers on the car roof, thinking.  “When you see Kurt…  Well…  Try not to stare too much.”<br/>
<br/>
She closes the car door and starts up the path before pausing to add.<br/>
<br/>
“He’s a big softie really.”<br/>
<br/>
Intrigued, you hurry up the path behind her.  You can hear the sound of drums from somewhere inside the house.  Jelena raps her knuckles on the door sharply.  You hear movement from within.  Not the drummer, presumably, as the drums are audible, seemingly from below you.<br/>
<br/>
The door finally opens inward, revealing an almost painfully thin young woman, at least a couple of years older than Jelena.  Her hair is cut short, unkempt and looks dyed.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh hiya Yell,” she says cheerfully before looking at you.  “Who’s the Cheerleader?”<br/>
<br/>
“How can you tell,” you murmur to yourself before remember that, yes, you are still dressed in your uniform.  It seemed like a good idea this morning.<br/>
<br/>
“This is Maria, she’s a friend from Westside,” explains Jelena, her arms moving animatedly.  “I said she could hang with us tonight.”<br/>
<br/>
“Cool,” says the young woman smiling at you.  She throws open the door and heads back inside, beckoning you both to follow.  “I’m K.C..  That’s with letters, not the name.”<br/>
<br/>
“Don’t ask her what it stands for,” explains Jelena as she closes the door behind you all.  “She isn’t going to tell you.”<br/>
<br/>
“It’s not like it’s some big secret,” interrupts K.C..  “I just prefer being called K.C..  It’s shorter.  Less embarrassing also.  It’s down this way.”<br/>
<br/>
K.C. leads you down a set of stairs to the basement.  The centre is dominated by a set of musical instruments.  There’s a couple of guitars, a bass, a keyboard and a drum kit.  Jelena drops herself into one of the comfortable old sofas that sit next to the walls and pats the seat beside her.  You sit down beside her, practically sinking into the cushions, and clasp your hands politely.<br/>
<br/>
The drumming finally stops.<br/>
<br/>
You hadn’t noticed the drummer before, but now he looks up to regard you and Jelena.  You can’t see much except for a shaven head, a tattoo at his neck and some piercings.  OK, a lot of piercings.  Just about everywhere you can imagine is pierced.  Eyebrows, nose, lips, ears – all pierced.  You’d bet his tongue is pierced too.  You try not to stare, like Jelena asked.<br/>
<br/>
You fail.<br/>
<br/>
“’Sup Yell,” he says, metal glinting from inside his mouth.  “Who’s the new girl?”<br/>
<br/>
“Kurt, this is Maria, a friend from Westside.  Maria, this is Kurt, who plays drums for us.”<br/>
<br/>
“Bah,” he says.  “Lesser mortals merely ‘play’ drums, I deliver an audio-kinesthetic experience.”<br/>
<br/>
“Whatever Kurt,” says K.C..  “Look, I got some bad news.  The keyboard player bailed on us.  Whatever his name was.”<br/>
<br/>
“You can’t remember his name,” you ask.  “Is that like because you fell out or something?<br/>
<br/>
“No, it’s more that I can’t remember his name.  Seriously, we’ve gone through like five this month.  I think he decided to sulk when he found out that Yell, me and Zoe were either hooked up already or unavailable.”<br/>
<br/>
“I told him I was available,” says Kurt a little pompously.<br/>
<br/>
“I don’t think that helped Kurt,” replies K.C. a little snarkily.<br/>
<br/>
“Did he leave his keyboard then,” you ask, pointing at it.<br/>
<br/>
“Nah, that’s mine,” explains K.C..  “That guitar too.  Music major.  I’ll go get some drinks.”<br/>
<br/>
She runs back up the stairs to the ground floor..<br/>
<br/>
“Not going to get much practice done today then,” says Kurt sourly.  “Zoe texted to say she’s held up with a new job or something.  I swear, if it wasn’t for the fact you’d fall apart without me I’d find a new band of my own.  One with artistic credibility.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh,” asks Jelena mockingly.  “Good luck finding one that can put up with you.”<br/>
<br/>
K.C. reappears holding a bottle of rum, a bottle of Coke and some plastic tumblers.  She pours a generous measure into three of the tumblers then tops each up with Coke.<br/>
<br/>
“There you go,” she says, handing you and Jelena a tumbler each.<br/>
<br/>
“Don’t I get one,” asks Kurt.<br/>
<br/>
“No, when you get drunk you’re an insufferable and pompous ass,”  explains K.C..<br/>
<br/>
“Like that’s any different from normal,” snarks Jelena.<br/>
<br/>
“True,” he concedes.  “But I least I enjoy myself more when I‘m drunk.”<br/>
<br/>
“Fine, fine,” says K.C., pouring out one last measure for Kurt.  Since she had the tumbler already, you figure the banter was little more than ritual for them.<br/>
<br/>
You sniff at your own tumbler.  It smells sickly sweet.  Taking a sip confirms it.  You’ve never been much of a drinker, you simply don’t get invited to many parties.  Even Maria, despite the reputation she’s carefully cultivated as an airhead, doesn’t drink much either.  The drink you’re holding doesn’t seem that appealing from either point of view, but…<br/>
<br/>
Well, it’s been a bad day.  Your plans have fallen apart and you suspect you’ve fallen out with Chelsea.  In that context, getting drunk, Monday night or not, suddenly seems appealing.<br/>
<br/>
So you down the contents of the tumbler in one go.<br/>
<br/>
“Whoa,” say Jelena.  “Easy there Maria.”<br/>
<br/>
“I’ve had a bad day,” you say morosely.<br/>
<br/>
“I suppose you have, haven’t you,” she admits.  “K.C., pour her another one and Maria, you’ll make this one last a little longer.”<br/>
<br/>
“Of course,” you reply.</span></div></div>


path: 113122122111122211
author_id: imaj
title: She Sounds Pretty
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“Hahahaha, oh that’s brilliant,” you laugh at something Zoe said.  You’re not quite sure what was so funny, now you think about it.  You suspect you might be drunk.<br/>
<br/>
Zoe was the last member of Jelena’s band to arrive, another Keyserling student.  A slightly plump blonde whose preference for black clothing doesn’t match the stylishness of Jelena.  She’s not been here long, so she’s not as buzzed as you or the other bandmates are.  Actually, most of the other bandmates aren’t as buzzed as you are either.  You may have gotten a little carried away.<br/>
<br/>
“It wasn’t that funny,” replies Zoe, a little peeved.  “I mean the guy is actually quite weird, and more self absorbed than Kurt.”<br/>
<br/>
“Thanks,” you hear Kurt muttering.<br/>
<br/>
“But the pay is pretty good,” continues Zoe.  “And I’m learning some interesting things from him.”<br/>
<br/>
“Um, oh, right, sorry,” you say awkwardly.  “I think I might be a teensy little bit drunk.  And I need to tinkle.”<br/>
<br/>
“Back up the stairs Maria,” explains Kurt from the sofa he’s lying on.<br/>
<br/>
“Thanks. You know Kurt, you are…  All right.”<br/>
<br/>
“Gee thanks,” he replies.  He may be being sarcastic, you just can’t tell anymore.<br/>
<br/>
You ease yourself to your feet and with exaggerated caution make your way up the steps to the ground floor.  As you reach the top of the stairs, your search for the toilet is put on hold as you hear some voices in earnest conversation.  With great cunning and stealth you sneak over to the open door to eavesdrop.<br/>
<br/>
“…and as far as I can tell she was pretty much hung out to dry by this other girl,” says the first voice.  It sounds kind of like Jelena.<br/>
<br/>
“Really,” replies the second voice, which sounds like K.C..  “That’s terrible.  After she…  In front of all those people?  Terrible.”<br/>
<br/>
“I know, right,” says probably-Jelena.  “It’s such a big step, and then to have that to happen to you.”<br/>
<br/>
“I’d be hitting the bottle if I were her too,” concurs might-be-K.C..<br/>
<br/>
“Yeah, so don’t judge her too harshly.”<br/>
<br/>
You feel sorry for this girl they are talking about.  Obviously she’s been messed about and you wonder who it is.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh my god,” says might-be-K.C. suddenly.  “You’re interested aren’t you?”<br/>
<br/>
“She is kind of attractive,” admits probably-Jelena.<br/>
<br/>
“Kind of,” snorts might-be-K.C..  “Try drop dead gorgeous?  I’d seriously consider playing for the other side for someone like that.”<br/>
<br/>
“I know, I know, I’m just going to take things slowly, to see if she’s interested too,” explains probably-Jelena.  “I know she’s, what did you call it, ‘playing for my side’ but this other girl.”<br/>
<br/>
“The cheerleader,” interrupts might-be-K.C..  Wow, how many cheerleaders does Jelena know?  “Well, the other one.”<br/>
<br/>
“Yeah the other one, she’s got a bit of a reputation.  Not someone I want to cross.”<br/>
<br/>
“But you said she pretty much abandoned her, went back to her guy.”<br/>
<br/>
“That’s the story,” explains probably-Jelena.  “I don’t believe a word of it, of course.”<br/>
<br/>
That’s it, you just have to know who is talking, and who they are talking about.  You prepare to sneakily sneak closer to the open doorway.  Unfortunately, your feet have other ideas and manage to get in the way.  Silly feet.  You tumble to the floor and land in the doorway.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh, uh, hi,” you say looking up at the two, cheeks burning bright red.  It is Jelena and K.C..  “I was looking for the little girls room.”<br/>
<br/>
Jelena kneels down and helps you back to your feet.<br/>
<br/>
“Come on,” she says, taking you by the shoulders.  “I’ll help you there.”<br/>
<br/>
Jelena guides you through the house to a small room at the back.  As you see the toilet bowl through the doorway, you feel your stomach suddenly lurch.  Breaking free of Jelena’s grasp, you dive towards the toilet and lean over it.<br/>
<br/>
Yeuuughh.  A stream of fowl tasting liquid escapes past your mouth and into the toilet as you are sick.  Jelena sits beside you and gently rubs your back.  Yeuuughh, you are sick again.<br/>
<br/>
“There, there,” she says.  You are sick one final time  “There, there.”<br/>
<br/>
“I’m done,” you say leaning back.  You wipe your mouth with some toilet paper before flushing it all away.<br/>
<br/>
“This is my fault,” apologises Jelena.  “I shouldn’t have let you drink that much.”<br/>
<br/>
“No,” you croak.  “I shouldn’t have taken what was offered.”<br/>
<br/>
“Come on,” she says compassionately.  “Let’s get you something that will make you feel better.”<br/>
<br/>
Jelena takes your hand and leads you back to the kitchen.  K.C. obviously must have had some idea about what just happened as you find three steaming cups of coffee waiting for you.  K.C. hands you one.<br/>
<br/>
“Drink this,” she explains, offering you a seat at the small kitchen table.  “It’ll make you feel better.”<br/>
<br/>
“Thanks,” you say, sipping at the cup.  “I’ve made a fool of myself haven’t I?”<br/>
<br/>
“Yeah,” agrees Jelena, sitting down opposite you with her own cup.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh god, at least I didn’t run round grabbing some random girl’s titties,” you say before realising your mistake.  You’ve managed to slip out of character, and you have no idea how long you’ve been out of character..  With an effort of will, you wrap yourself in Maria’s personality again.  You blush brightly.  “Sorry, that kinda just slipped out.”<br/>
<br/>
“It’s OK,” says Jelena, half grinning.  She gives K.C. a knowing look.  “Come one, we’ll get you back home once you finish your drink.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh my god,” you say anxiously.  “Daddy is going to be furious.”<br/>
<br/>
*****<br/>
<br/>
You were right.  Maria’s father was furious.  There was relief at first, when you finally made it back to Maria’s house.  Her parents had no idea what had happened to you.  Her mother in particular had swept you into a crushing hug as soon as you walked in the door.<br/>
<br/>
But then relief had given way to anger.  Once they worked out you had been drinking, it got very bad.  There had been The Lecture, a long calm talk about your behaviour from Maria’s father.  Then her mother had gotten emotional, and started to demand why you had done it.  You had kept quiet then, the truth of it would have only made things worse.<br/>
<br/>
In the end, Maria’s father had decided to ground you for the rest of the week.  That wasn’t nearly as bad as the palpable sense of disappointment from your assumed parents.  The feeling that you had let them down, and even the real Maria down too, wounded the most.<br/>
<br/>
But none of this is what’s keeping you awake now, lying the dark unable to sleep.  Because as bad as it was with Maria’s parents, there’s one more person you’ve let down tonight.  One more person whose wrath and disappointment you have yet to face.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
Ten text messages from her sit unread on your phone.  You hate to think what the say, or what Chelsea will say, or what you will say to her.  Tomorrow is going to be bad, almost as bad as what happened to that poor girl K.C. and Jelena were talking about.<br/>
<br/>
Oh…<br/>
<br/>
The penny finally drops, they were talking about you.   And that means…  Well, it means Jelena is sweet on you.  If you could somehow smooth things over with Chelsea long enough to survive tomorrow, you could maybe abandon her.  If you are inhumanly lucky you might even be able to sneak the book out from under her grasp.<br/>
<br/>
Or you could tell Chelsea everything and pray for mercy.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 1131221221111222111
author_id: imaj
title: The Fall of Maria Vasquez
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>The whispers start as soon as you enter the changing rooms.  Tuesday morning practice, your first since assuming Maria’s identity, should be a moment of triumph:  A chance to spy on the hottest girls in school without them realising.  Instead, well instead everyone looks at you like you are a dead man walking.  Eva and Jessica turn their backs on you as you pass by.  Kendra sneers with open disdain.  Only Yumi seems willing to talk to you, but the look of pity in her eyes tells its own story.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea is already changed and waiting for you out on the court when you and the rest of the team troop out.  She greets each member with a warm smile and a nod as they walk past.  Almost everyone.<br/>
<br/>
She misses out you.<br/>
<br/>
Instead her smile freezes as her gaze falls upon you.  She simply stares and says nothing.  As the squad forms in a rough line, you become aware that you are on your own at the end of it.  Only Michelle Estrich sees fit to stand next to you.  She gives you a little half smile, as if in sympathy:  Michelle is the doormat of the squad and Chelsea picks on her endlessly.<br/>
<br/>
“OK Michelle,” begins Chelsea.  “Step forward.”<br/>
<br/>
At the far end of the line, the Garners exchange puzzled glances.  Michelle moves to beside Chelsea, a hunted look in her eyes.  She’s actually taller than Chelsea, but right now she seems to be doing her best to cower and hide the fact.  The squad collectively holds it breath, waiting for Chelsea to rip the poor girl apart.<br/>
<br/>
Instead Chelsea hugs Michelle.<br/>
<br/>
“I think we don’t appreciate you enough sometimes Michelle,” she says, addressing the squad but staring firmly at you.  “You’re like, totally reliable.  I know you’ll always do what I ask you to.”<br/>
<br/>
“Th…  Thanks Chelsea,” stammers Michelle, quite unused to the praise.<br/>
<br/>
“Why don’t you show us a flip,” asks Chelsea innocently.<br/>
<br/>
Michelle might be insecure and she might be the butt of Chelsea’s abuse, but, technically speaking, she’s one of the better members of the squad.  With Chelsea picking up and berating her for even the smallest errors, she’s learned to perform under pressure.  Her flip is perfect.<br/>
<br/>
“Well done Michelle,” says Chelsea, clapping loudly.  Gloria and Kendra join in immediately, the rest of the squad follows.  “That was perfect.  Now why don’t you give that a try Gloria.”<br/>
<br/>
Gloria repeats the flip a little clumsily, not quite managing it as well as Michelle.  Despite this, Chelsea congratulates her just as effusively.  Chelsea works her way through the squad, praising each member in turn for their efforts.  Even Lin, who stumbles a little at the end of her attempt, gets applauded for ‘trying hard’.<br/>
<br/>
You are, of course, left to last.<br/>
<br/>
The smarter members of the squad have already worked out how this one is going to play out.  Yumi looks suitably aghast.  The more vicious cheerleaders too have an inkling of what Chelsea is up to too – Kendra is grinning like a shark when Chelsea finally calls your name.<br/>
<br/>
“Maria, wake up Maria.” Says Chelsea with false bonhomie.  “Honestly girl, you are such an airhead at times.  Why don’t you try too?”<br/>
<br/>
Whatever you do, you know it will not be good as far as Chelsea is concerned.  Even the tiniest mistake will be paraded in front of the rest of the squad.  Still, you gather what you can of Maria’s memories, try to dispel the lingering headache from last night and try your, no Maria’s, best.<br/>
<br/>
It isn’t enough.<br/>
<br/>
You’re not sure if it’s nerves or something else, but at the last moment your hold on Maria’s persona slips.  In a suddenly unfamiliar body, on the cusp of an acrobatic manoeuvre, the results are predictable.  You fall to the floor in a heap.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh my,” gloats Chelsea, your failure surpassing her expectations.  “That was appalling.  Completely, utterly, terrible Maria.  Take your sneakers off so I can see which foot is the left one again, or is it both of them?  My grandmother is more supple than you, and she’s in a nursing home.”<br/>
<br/>
Unbidden Maria’s personality surfaces and takes hold of you.  A relentless wave of emotions assaults you:  Shame, anger, fear.  Tears well up in your eyes and you suddenly find yourself trying to suppress the urge to run.  Maria, the real Maria, would want to be anywhere but here right now.  You are so used to being able to operate her personality like a puppet that its sudden bid for control takes you entirely by surprise.<br/>
<br/>
So you give up and run.<br/>
<br/>
And run and run and run.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
When Maria’s terrified personality finally subsides enough for you to control it again you find yourself sitting on the floor in the Fuck Room.  You wipe away the tears with the sleeves of your gym kit.  There’s no reason for you to have ended up here, <i>except for some sense of it being the source of the troubles that have overtaken your life in the last two days</i> comes a stray thought.<br/>
<br/>
Before you have any chance to examine Maria’s memories further the door opens.  Chelsea walks in flanked by the Black and Patterson golems.  She halts them with a flick of her wrist and kneels down beside you.<br/>
<br/>
“There you are,” she says quietly.  “I was just about to send the boys of to find you.”<br/>
<br/>
You look up at her, hunting across her face for some clue as to what is coming.  There is none.  Neither warmth nor cold fury in her eyes.  She waves the two golems out the room.<br/>
<br/>
“I’m sorry that had to happen like that,” she says, looking away from you.  It almost seems as if she means it.  “But Maria had to be put in her place.  If I had told you to expect it, people might have spotted it was all staged.  Not that I had the chance.  Where did you get yourself to yesterday?  I told you to wait for me.”<br/>
<br/>
Your lower lip trembles for a moment as you try to think of what to say.  Chelsea swings a leg over and straddles you, gently stroking your cheek.<br/>
<br/>
“Remember you are not Maria,” she says.  “Maria had to be put in her place, not you Will.  The rest of the team had to see that, but what happens up here they will never find out about.”<br/>
<br/>
She tilts your head by the chin and closes in to kiss you.  Chelsea explores your unresisting mouth for a few moments.<br/>
<br/>
“Do you understand,” she asks leaning back.<br/>
<br/>
“I think so,” you say, laying the last vestiges of Maria’s memories to the side.<br/>
<br/>
“Good.” She slaps you hard across the cheek.  “That’s for running off yesterday without telling me.  Where were you?”<br/>
<br/>
It all spills out.  You explain about Jelena and her band, the house near Keyserling and what you did last night.  Chelsea listens intently as you explain, laughing when you describe how drunk you got, frowning when you explain how Maria’s father grounded you.<br/>
<br/>
“And that’s it,” she asks.  “That’s everything?  You left me so you could go get drunk with a bunch of wasters?”<br/>
<br/>
“Actually, I think Jelena is kind of interested in me,” you finish.  “In Maria anyway.”<br/>
<br/>
“Interested,” asks Chelsea, “How do you mean?”<br/>
<br/>
“Like attracted to me, her, whatever.  I overheard her talking to one of her friends.  And she didn’t believe the story about trying to make Gordon jealous.”<br/>
<br/>
“Well, duh.  No one actually believes it.  It’s more to stop people asking questions,” explains Chelsea.  Her expression hardens.  “Questions they shouldn’t ask.”<br/>
<br/>
“I guess its working then, because I think it’s stopping her from making a move on me.  I mean because she knows that you really…” you tail off.  Chelsea lifts herself oft you and sits down on the floor with a thoughtful expression on her face.<br/>
<br/>
“You know what,” she says, brightening considerably.  <i>Uh oh…</i>  “I think I need a holiday.”<br/>
<br/>
“A holiday,” you parrot.  “I don’t understand.  Where are you going?”<br/>
<br/>
“I’m not going anywhere silly,” she says, playfully flicking your nose with a finger.  “I meant a holiday from myself.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh no,” you say, realising what Chelsea means.  “You’re not serious.  You’re not going to turn Jelena into a statue like those two outside.  She doesn’t deserve that.”<br/>
<br/>
“And when did you suddenly start worrying about whether or not people deserved to have their life stolen from them <i>Maria</i>,” she spits, suddenly acidic.  “Besides, it’s not like a permanent thing, just a few weeks and she can have her life back.”<br/>
<br/>
“But…”<br/>
<br/>
“No buts!  Unless you suddenly want the real Maria to have her life back.”<br/>
<br/>
She’s got you.  There’s no way you can argue with her, not if you want to keep on being Maria.  Is there?</span></div></div>


path: 11312212211112221111
author_id: imaj
title: Me two
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“Thanks for coming,” you say beckoning Jelena into Maria’s house.<br/>
<br/>
“Not a problem,” says Jelena cheerfully.  “Why is it you wanted me over?”<br/>
<br/>
“I wanted to talk and I uh…” you blush.  “I’m kind of grounded.”<br/>
<br/>
Jelena barks a short laugh as you close the door.  “Grounded?  Really?  What did you do?”<br/>
<br/>
“Daddy wasn’t too happy when I got home last night,” you explain, starting up the stairs.  The smile vanishes from Jelena’s face.<br/>
<br/>
“Ooops,” she says sheepishly.  “My fault.”<br/>
<br/>
“No, mine.  I’m not used to alcohol,” you blush again.  “I had a good time though.  Up until the being sick bit anyway.”<br/>
<br/>
“Well that’s something.  We should do it again sometime.  It’s not actually that hard to hide things from your parents.”<br/>
<br/>
“That’s great,” you say.  “I mean that it’s easy to hide things, not that you want to see me again.  Although that’s great too.”<br/>
<br/>
“You’re new at this aren’t you,” asks Jelena.  She favours you with a knowing smile and gives your arm a gentle squeeze.<br/>
<br/>
“Yeah,” you blush again as you reach Maria’s bedroom door.  “Sorry.”<br/>
<br/>
“I think it’s quite sweet actually,” she says opening the door for you.<br/>
<br/>
“You do,” you ask quickly, your heart leaping.  The excitement is more yours than Maria’s.<br/>
<br/>
“Of course,” says Jelena, entering the room behind you.  She does not notice as the Black golem closes the door silently behind you.  “Wow.  Your room is so… so…”<br/>
<br/>
“Pink,” suggests Chelsea, detaching herself from her hiding spot beside a wardrobe.  A polished mask hangs from on of her hands.<br/>
<br/>
“I’m so sorry,” you say, turning to face Jelena.  You find yourself unable to meet her gaze and instead stare at your feet.  “I tried to tell her ‘no’.”<br/>
<br/>
“You’re sorry,” ask Jelena, confused.  “I don’t understand.  What’s going on here?  Why’s she here?”<br/>
<br/>
“Why am I here,” snarls Chelsea through gritted teeth.  She lifts the mask up and holds it ready to plant squarely on Jelena’s face.  “I’m here to because someone thinks that they can take something that’s mine.  I’m here to show them what happens to people that don’t realise their place.  I’m here to…”<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea suddenly tails off.  She stamps one a foot.  “Oh shoot.”<br/>
<br/>
You look up sharply.  Everyone seems to be holding their breath, waiting for an explanation.<br/>
<br/>
“I was going to give my little speech and then slam the mask onto the loser’s face,” explains Chelsea.  Her tone is now more petulant than vindictive.  “But her glasses will get in the way.  She’s totally ruined my dramatic moment.”<br/>
<br/>
“I what,” asks Jelena, she's completely stunned.<br/>
<br/>
“Gordon, be a dear and hold her still for a moment,” says Chelsea matter of factly.  <br/>
<br/>
The golem, which has been standing silently behind Jelena since she entered grabs her.  She does not have enough time to scream before it places its heavy hand over her mouth.  Jelena struggles to no avail.  Gordon is simply bigger and stronger than her.  Chelsea reaches and takes off Jelena’s glasses before handing them to you.<br/>
<br/>
“Where was I,” she asks.<br/>
<br/>
“Uh… at ‘people who don’t realise their place’,” you say dumbly.<br/>
<br/>
“Thanks,” she smiles beatifically at you before returning her attentions to Jelena again.  Her expression darkens abruptly.  “I’m here to show them what happens to people that don’t realise their place.  I’m here to…  Oh it’s no good, the moments totally lost now.  And what are you looking at?”<br/>
<br/>
This last question is addressed to the golem, which looks about ready to explode.  It rolls it eyes.<br/>
<br/>
“Yes I’m letting you speak so you can tell me,” sniffs Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
“For fucks sake you dumb cunt,” explodes the golem.  Your jaw hits the floor.  “Just put the mask on her and be done with it.  This isn’t an episode of some shitty daytime soap opera.”<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea just stares at the golem in amazement.<br/>
<br/>
“I think you should be quiet from now on,” she eventually says to the golem.  It takes it’s hand away from Jelena’s face just long enough for Chelsea to place the mask.  Jelena’s body goes limp as the mask disappears under her skin.  “And you should go wait for me outside now.”<br/>
<br/>
The golem lowers Jelena’s slumbering body to the floor and stomps moodily off.  Chelsea kneels down and starts stripping her.<br/>
<br/>
“She sure likes black.  I guess I can make a few changes there. Fetch my bag Will,” she says.  “And get the mask inside it out.”<br/>
<br/>
You find Chelsea’s bag on the floor by your bed and peer inside.  Besides the rest of the mess inside you spy a single mask and some materials inside.  The mask’s already got a grey golem finish inside.  It looks like Chelsea came prepared.<br/>
<br/>
You hand her the mask.  In turn, she hands you the mask of Jelena, followed a few minutes later by a mind band.<br/>
<br/>
“You know,” Chelsea says, laying the golem mask on top of Jelena’s face.  The unconscious girl morphs into a perfect copy of Chelsea.  “I never realised just how hot I am.”<br/>
<br/>
The new golems eyes open lazily.  “Oh very nice,” it says.<br/>
<br/>
“You want me to put this all together,” you ask, indicating the mask and mind band.  There is no reply.  You look over to where Chelsea and the Chelsea golem are.<br/>
<br/>
They’re locked in a passionate embrace.<br/>
<br/>
Well at least Chelsea has finally found someone she truly loves, you think.  You watch as the real Chelsea starts rapidly removing her clothes.  You almost wish you had a camera.  People would pay good money for those sort of pictures.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
“Ahem,” you say.  Chelsea and the golem continue kissing each other, so you repeat yourself more loudly.  “Ahem.”<br/>
<br/>
“I was just taking my clothes off,” says Chelsea, suddenly sitting bolt upright.  “I mean, I have to take my clothes of so we can swap them.<br/>
<br/>
“Mmmm, maybe some other time then,” says the golem lazily.<br/>
<br/>
“I have the mask of Jelena ready,” you explain.  You know by now better than to contradict Chelsea when she says something like that.  You hand the mask to her and within minutes a perfect Jelena duplicate stands beside the duplicate Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
“Glasses,” says the fake Jelena imperiously.  Chelsea’s obviously not settled into Jelena’s personality yet.  She slips them one when you hand them to her.  “Better.  Let’s see.  Oh…”<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea points an accusing finger at her duplicate.<br/>
<br/>
“So,  I’m a fool who’s too concerned with what other people think of me?  Hah!  Who’s laughing now?”<br/>
<br/>
“Uh, I am,” asks the Chelsea golem.  “Remember, oh my <i>master</i>, I’m you.  The real owner of that face is asleep right now.  She can’t hear you.”<br/>
<br/>
“You have to do what I say,” says the real Chelsea, her finger staying in place.  “So you can stop being so catty with me.”<br/>
<br/>
“If you say so,” says the golem sullenly.<br/>
<br/>
“Good,” says the original,  lowering its finger.  “You know, this is kind of kinky.  I can read her memories like an open book, and I can pretend to be her so well not even her own sister would be spot the difference.  Is that what it’s like inside Maria?”<br/>
<br/>
“Yes,” you admit.  “Although I sort of got lost in her this morning at practice.  She wanted to run and ended up dragging me with her.”<br/>
<br/>
“Well that’s not going to happen to me,” snorts Chelsea.  “I can feel Jelena, but she’s so soft and pliable.  It’s going to be fun being her.”<br/>
<br/>
“It is,” you ask uncertainly.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh yes,” she says holding you tight.  “I’ve got you.  And the people she talks to – it’s going to be fun playing around with them.”<br/>
<br/>
She tilts her head to one side, eye blank.  You figure she’s looking through Jelena’s memories.<br/>
<br/>
“I could become my own worst enemy, isn’t that a delicious idea,” she says, interspersing the words with soft pecks on your lip.  “It’d be like a trap.  My enemies would tell their secrets to me without realising.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh that is clever,” says the golem.<br/>
<br/>
“Isn’t it just,” says Chelsea pulling away from you again.  She turns to the golem.  “Now put your clothes on and go off with Gordon.  Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”<br/>
<br/>
“You can rely on me,” replies the golem, its eyes glittering.<br/>
<br/>
“Now where were we,” says Chelsea.  She turns back towards you and smiles just the way Jelena would.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
“Do you think that was wise,” you ask Chelsea once the golem is gone.  She’s lying on your bed in Jelena’s clothes, her feet kicking in the air.<br/>
<br/>
“What do you mean,” she frowns.<br/>
<br/>
“With the golem,” you explain.  “Do you trust it?”<br/>
<br/>
“Why wouldn’t I?  She’s me after all.”<br/>
<br/>
“It,” you say, thinking through your next words carefully.  “It – it’s not really alive.  Um…  What if it decides it wants to start doing things on its own?”<br/>
<br/>
“Duh, I’ll tell it not to silly,” Chelsea replies.  “Now I was thinking we’d tell your parents about us and then tomorrow we’ll reveal ourselves as a couple at Westside.”<br/>
<br/>
“I’ll keep an eye on it...  Wait, what?”<br/>
<br/>
“We’ll be like the <i>alternative</i> power couple.”<br/>
<br/>
It seems that Chelsea has the next steps of her plan already worked out.  You, however are a little worried at how fast things are moving.  Will you let her get her way again or insist on keeping Maria and Jelena’s relationship a secret right now?</span></div></div>


path: 1131221221112
author_id: imaj
title: An offer you can't refuse
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“Who did you have in mind,” you say weakly.  “Which of your enem…  I mean, the people that don’t appreciate your hard work.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh, I haven’t decided yet.” Chelsea responds airily.  “So many people who don’t have the team’s best interests at heart.  Those Garner sluts, always backing each other up when one or the other goofs.  They aren’t team players at all.”<br/>
<br/>
You think of the Garners, Eva and Jessica, fixating momentarily on their prodigious breasts.   You’d wouldn’t mind a handful of that, more than a handful technically.  Chelsea, however either ignores or misses your wistful expression and continues.<br/>
<br/>
“And sometimes when they look at me, I can see they would so jump and attack me.  So violent, but they do what they are told.  Eventually.  It takes them time to get it inside their dumb slut brains.  Maybe not them then.  How would I tell you apart from the real one anyway?”<br/>
<br/>
The Gordon Black golem behind you dutifully brays with a witless laugh at Chelsea’s non-joke.<br/>
<br/>
“Those two Chinese girls, Lin and Yumi,” continues Chelsea, pulling at her eyelids with her fingers.<br/>
<br/>
“Isn’t Yumi Japa…” you begin before thinking better of it.<br/>
<br/>
“Especially Yumi, have you seen those losers she hangs out with?  Uh, no offence,” says Chelsea, quite offensively.  “She’s totally undermining what it means to be on the team, and she thinks she’s so clever too.”<br/>
<br/>
Cleverer than Chelsea, you suspect, is not that hard - although she clearly makes up with base cunning.  Yumi is, in some ways, Chelsea’s opposite in that she’s open, approachable and friendly with people outside of her social circle.  You suppose that with Chelsea’s worldview that makes her a threat, or perhaps a spy if she could be suborned to Chelsea’s will.  You certainly wouldn’t mind being Yumi, even if she is more girl-next-door cute than outright beautiful.<br/>
<br/>
“Yumi could work. Or,” and at this point Chelsea’s anger suddenly flares up till she is almost red in the face.  She hisses out a name:  “<i>Vredenburg</i>.”<br/>
<br/>
The name hangs in the air for a moment.  Cindy Vredenburg is a platinum blonde to Chelsea more honey blonde locks, but otherwise both are perfect pictures of a high school cheerleader.  Cindy is even dating one of the basketball team, just like Chelsea is:  Seth Javits.<br/>
<br/>
“It’s always ‘Lucy this, Lucy that’,” fulminates Chelsea, reminding you that Cindy’s older sister was once head cheerleader, a couple of years back.  “Here’s a clue, your dumb bitch sister doesn’t know anything more about cheerleading than you do witch.”<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea pauses and takes a deep breath.  Her rage subsides and soon there is no sign it was ever there at all<br/>
<br/>
“Sorry,” she dimples.  “I got kinda carried away there, but either Yumi or Cindy would be good, don’t you think?”<br/>
<br/>
“Um,” you stutter.  “Wouldn’t people think it was a bit odd if either suddenly became one of your friends?”<br/>
<br/>
“We’d be meeting up here mostly, duh.  And I have to talk to them sometimes anyway because of, you know, team stuff.”<br/>
<br/>
“Er…” you stutter again, not really wanting to ask the obvious question.<br/>
<br/>
“Go on, spit it out,” says Chelsea, catching your expression.<br/>
<br/>
“Wouldn’t people think it odd if they suddenly started coming up here a lot as well?”<br/>
<br/>
“Well, no,” says Chelsea, clearly unsure of herself.  Her eyes flick about the room for a second before coming to rest on the golemized body of Steve Patterson.  “Because…”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh no,” you murmur, realizing where Chelsea’s train of though is leading her.<br/>
<br/>
“Because she’d be up here with Steve.  Imagine, being the girl that finally ties down Setve Patterson,” sniggers Chelsea, seeing the horrified expression on your face.  “Oh you don’t need to <i>actually</i> fuck him, just so long as everyone <i>thinks</i> you’re fucking him.  Unless you, you know, really want to.”<br/>
<br/>
“But… but… but…  Everyone knows he’s with someone different each week.”<br/>
<br/>
“Everyone will just have to be surprised,” says Chelsea before adding darkly:  “Steve will do exactly what I tell him to do.  Now.”<br/>
<br/>
“I guess I’ve got no choice in the matter, do I,” you ask, resigned to your fate.<br/>
<br/>
“I told you he was clever,” says Chelsea to the Gordon Black golem.  “Didn’t I tell you he was clever?”<br/>
<br/>
“Yes Chelsea,” it says dutifully but impassively.<br/>
<br/>
“Don’t be so down Will,” she continues, smiling wolfishly.  “Think of it as getting a free upgrade to first class on a plane trip.  I’ll even let you chose.  Yumi or Cindy?”</span></div></div>


path: 11312212211121
author_id: imaj
title: You, Me & Yumi
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>The way Chelsea was talking about Cindy suggests that it wouldn’t be much fun to be her.  It’s unfair on Yumi, who alone amongst the cheerleading team has been friendly towards you, but it’s you or her.  You feel a little guilty, but only a little.<br/>
<br/>
“Yumi,” you eventually say unhappily.<br/>
<br/>
“Oh, good choice Will,” says Chelsea brightly.  “I knew you would make a good choice, I remember saying exactly that to Gordon: ‘Will will make the right choice’.  Don’t you think that’s a good choice Gordon?”<br/>
<br/>
“Yes Chelsea,” replies the golem, its voice devoid of emotion.<br/>
<br/>
“Then once we hook up Yumi and Steve, it will be just our little club up here.  You’ll need to get rid of that idiot Jason though Gordon.”<br/>
<br/>
“Yes Chelsea.”<br/>
<br/>
“I’m getting sick of this,” says Chelsea, stamping her foot.  She turns and points an accusatory finger at the golem.  “It’s all ‘Yes Chelsea’, ‘Yes Chelsea’.  Is it all you can say?”<br/>
<br/>
“No Chelsea,” says the golem. Its face remains stonily impassive.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea stares at the golem for a few seconds, trying to work out if she’s just been cheeked by it.  “Don’t you have somewhere else to be,” she eventually says.<br/>
<br/>
“No Chelsea,”<br/>
<br/>
“That wasn’t a question Gordon…”<br/>
<br/>
“Yes it was Chelsea,” interrupts the Golem.<br/>
<br/>
“It was an instruction,” she continues smoothly, ignoring the interruption.  “Find somewhere else to be. Now.”<br/>
<br/>
The golem stomps off, still betraying no emotion.<br/>
<br/>
“Honestly, I don’t know what’s gotten into him,” says Chelsea with exasperation after the golem has gone.  “You’d think if he had to do everything I said he would be a little bit more co-operative.  It’s like I have to hold his hand for everything.  At this rate I’ll need to remind him to breathe by the end of the week.”<br/>
<br/>
“Maybe that’s the problem,” you suggest tactfully.  “I mean he’s acting a bit weird and everybody is noticing.  If you told him to be himself he could just get on with things and you’d only need to give him instructions every so often.”<br/>
<br/>
“Ooooh,” coos Chelsea.  “That is a good idea Will.  I’m glad you’re helping me out on this one.  Like I’m helping <i>you</i> to be more popular and you’re helping <i>me</i> with all this magic weirdness.  Let’s see if that works with Steve.”<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea sweeps past you and grabs a mask from the top of a crate.  She drops it onto the flinty grey face of the Patterson golem.  Colour bleeds back into it and it props itself up and looks around woozily.  It seems uncharacteristically uncertain as it spots Chelsea kneeling down beside it.<br/>
<br/>
“Hi Steve,” she says, smiling like a shark.<br/>
<br/>
The golem looks around the room, trying to get its bearings, trying to work out what is going on.  “Chelsea,” it eventually replies guardedly.<br/>
<br/>
“You have to do what I say, don’t you,” she asks it sweetly.  You don’t know Chelsea that well but you suspect it’s not a good sign when she talks like that, a suspicion confirmed by the look on the Patterson golem’s face.<br/>
<br/>
“Uh… Yeah,” it admits unhappily.<br/>
<br/>
“Good,” says Chelsea.  “You can just behave like you normally do, but if I ask you to do something, you have to do it.”<br/>
<br/>
“I’ll have to live with that,” it says gloomily.  Desperate to change the subject it points at you.  “Who’s this loser and what’s he doing here?  If I’m going to do what you asked I’ll need to get Gordon and give him a special welcome.”<br/>
<br/>
You gulp.<br/>
<br/>
“Gordon’s busy,” snaps Chelsea.  “And there’ll be no ‘special’ welcomes for anyone I invite up here.  <i>Don’t look at me like that</i>.  It’s not like <i>that</i> at all.  Will’s just helping me with things.  You won’t be seeing him up here again after tonight anyway.”<br/>
<br/>
“If you say so,” the golem acquiesces.  The look on its face that next time you meet it, without Chelsea to tell it otherwise, it will not be so pleasant.  You pray that will be after you make your swap with Yumi.<br/>
<br/>
“Now,” says Chelsea, her expression brightening considerably.  “What do you think of Yumi?”<br/>
<br/>
“Yumi,” repeats the golem, puzzled.<br/>
<br/>
“You know, Yumi Saito,” explains Chelsea impatiently.  “The little Chinese…”<br/>
<br/>
“Japanese,” you interrupt, but Chelsea ignores you.<br/>
<br/>
“…girl on my squad.  The short one.”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh her,” says the golem dismissively.  “She’s cute enough if you like that sort of thing.  I’d still tap that.  She must be pretty tight, being so small and all.”<br/>
<br/>
“Steve,” she exclaims, a shocked expression forming on her face.  “I don’t think you should say things like that.”<br/>
<br/>
“You said I could behave like normal,” says the golem huffily.  “That’s what I think of her.”<br/>
<br/>
“It’s right,” you explain.  “If you stop Steve Patterson thinking about girls like that, he basically stops being Steve Patterson.  Better to leave him be in case people spot any differences in his behaviour.”<br/>
<br/>
“Thanks,” says the golem in a way that somehow rearranges itself to be ‘I’ll beat you up later for that’ in your ears.  “Look’s like your pet loser isn’t as dumb as he looks.  She wouldn’t go with me anyway, snotty little bitch.  Too uptight, not going to put out for a one night stand.”<br/>
<br/>
“You know what,” say Chelsea, in that worrying sweet tone of hers.  “I think you’ll find she changes her mind tomorrow.”<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
You find yourself sitting on the toilet of the little private bathroom attached to Chelsea’s bedroom.  The seat’s down, you’re just waiting till Yumi arrives.  Chelsea insisted on doing it this way and you decided it was better to let her have her way.  It’s always better to let her have her way.<br/>
<br/>
So you amuse yourself by examining Chelsea’s copious collection of cosmetics and bathroom goods.  What kind of person needs five different types of soap, you find yourself wondering.  And how many shades of lipstick does she have?  You open a couple of tubes experimentally and find it impossible to see the difference between the two.  You idly consider the possibility that your opinion on the matter will change drastically once you are under Yumi’s mask.  Your concentration is broken by the muffled sound of a conversation from the bedroom.  Yumi has arrived.<br/>
<br/>
“Ok Chelsea,” she says with little patience.  “What is it that’s so important that I had to come over here?  Why can’t it wait to tomorrow?”<br/>
<br/>
“Thanks for coming,” replies Chelsea.  You can’t see her through the door of course, but you’ve got enough of an idea about her personality to realise that she’ll be staring at Yumi coolly right now.  “I’m making a couple of important changes to the squad and I wanted to let you know about them first.  I’m afraid I’m going to have to replace some people.”<br/>
<br/>
“Who is it,” asks Yumi, interrupting Chelsea.  “Lin?  Cindy?  You can’t just ditch people because you don’t like them.  Lin’s as good as I am and Cindy is better than either of us.”<br/>
<br/>
<i>Ooops</i>, you think.<br/>
<br/>
“It’s not either of them,” says Chelsea through what must be gritted teeth.  “I wanted to speak to you because I wanted to let you see who I’m putting on the team first.”<br/>
<br/>
“Ok, lets see this mystery girl,” says Yumi.  Chelsea opens the bathroom door and pulls you out, blinking, into the light.<br/>
<br/>
“Will,” says Yumi, her voice rising, clearly surprised at your identity as the mystery new squad member.<br/>
<br/>
“You know each other,” asks Chelsea, equally surprised.<br/>
<br/>
“A little,” you admit.  “I sometimes help Yumi with her maths homework.<br/>
<br/>
“Well isn’t this just a great big happy reunion,” smiles Chelsea unpleasantly.  The fact that you know Yumi a little makes this whole exchange more awkward.  Unfortunately that just seems to make Chelsea enjoy herself even more.  “Will is going to be our new squad member and the person he’s replacing…”<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea pauses for dramatic effect, like some cheesy comic book villain.<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 113122122111211
author_id: imaj
title: You, Me & Yumi Part 2
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>“The person he’s going to be replacing is you Yumi,” she finishes.<br/>
<br/>
“What?  Is this a joke?  I mean, first off he’s a guy and you’ve never wanted guys on the team at all Chelsea.  And I know he’s a nice guy and all but he’s just not athletic enough for the team anyway.” stutters Yumi.  She turns to you and continues.  “Look I don’t know what she’s promised you, but you shouldn’t let her muck you about like this.”<br/>
<br/>
“It’s true Yumi,” you say ruefully.<br/>
<br/>
“And he isn’t just replacing you on the team,” cackles Chelsea, really getting into the swing of things.  She’s picked up a blank mask and is swinging it about in her hands.  “He’s replacing you at school.  He’s replacing you at home.  He’s replacing you everywhere.”<br/>
<br/>
“I don’t understand,” splutters Yumi.  “He can’t, people are going to notice the difference.”<br/>
<br/>
“They won’t,” says Chelsea leaning in close for the kill.  She whispers into Yumi’s ear, loud enough for it to carry across the room.  “Because he’ll look like you.  He’ll sound like you.  He’ll know every little secret you do.”<br/>
<br/>
Satisfied that she’s wrung every last drop of enjoyment out of taunting Yumi, Chelsea finally presses the blank mask against her face.  Yumi collapses in a heap on he floor.  Chelsea springs away from her, preferring to watch rather than lower Yumi to the floor gently.<br/>
<br/>
“Well don’t just stand there, get her up on my bed and start taking her clothes off,” snaps Chelsea.  She doesn’t help you, of course, just stands around enjoying the scene.  Yumi isn’t exactly heavy but you labour to haul her onto Chelsea’s bed.<br/>
<br/>
Taking her clothes off, though, is a lot more fun.  She’s casually dressed, hair tied up in a loose pony tail wearing a sweater and jeans.  You place her hair scrunchees carefully to one to one side so as not to lose them, then you turn your attention to her sweater.  Tugging it off, you reveal her apple sized breasts, sitting in a plain bra.<br/>
<br/>
“Will, you can stare at her boobies all you want from the inside later,” says Chelsea.  “Hurry up.”<br/>
<br/>
So you slip her sneakers and jeans off, laying them in a rough pile on top of her sweater.  You are about to start on her underwear when the mask emerges from Yumi’s face.  Chelsea snatches it away and hands you the mask of yourself you both prepared earlier.<br/>
<br/>
“Put it on her before she wakes up,” snaps Chelsea.  “Then come seal up the new mask.”<br/>
<br/>
You drop the mask on Yumi’s recumbent form and turn away.  You’ve no desire to see yourself naked, even less to see yourself naked except for a set of panties and a bra.  Instead you focus on the mask you’ve just added Yumi’s image to.  A mind band is already soldered inside, so it copied both Yumi’s form and persona.  All you need to do is seal the mask and it’s ready to use.  If you could just remember where Chelsea left the…<br/>
<br/>
Your attention is drawn away by a sudden flash behind you.  Chelsea has her phone out and is taking snaps of your near naked duplicate.<br/>
<br/>
“What the fuck,” you say.  It seems like the only appropriate response.<br/>
<br/>
“She made me do it,” says the golem unhappily.  “She’s the boss.”<br/>
<br/>
“Jeesh Will, don’t be such a spoilsport,” Chelsea whines.  “I just wanted a couple of souvenir shots, just to remind me of today.”<br/>
<br/>
“Well put it away,” you growl, suddenly finding your anger.  The last thing you need is for Chelsea is to have blackmail shots of you.<br/>
<br/>
“Fine,” she says, rolling her eyes.  “I’ll just wait downstairs.  You can come down when you are ready, Yumi.”<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">*****</div><br/>
<br/>
Everything goes dark as you place the mask on your face.  You experience a moments pain, like you are suddenly and sharply being squashed.  Then everything goes dark.<br/>
<br/>
The world drifts back into focus.  Thoughts slip across your mind:  That bitch.  How dare she?  She’ll get what’s coming to her one day.  You reach out for the thoughts in your mind and make them your own. As you do so, you can feel Yumi’s personality, waiting for you.  It’s all there, everything she knows.  You can use it, act like her, fool everyone.<br/>
<br/>
Or not.  You shunt her persona to one side and sit up.  Your golem duplicate is standing in front of you with a big grin on its face.<br/>
<br/>
“Pervert,” you mutter, channelling just a little of Yumi.  You sound just like her.  “Hand me my clothes.”<br/>
<br/>
“You’re not the boss of me,” it says somewhat defiantly.<br/>
<br/>
“I suppose Chelsea is,” you groan.  It nods.  “Well hand me my clothes anyway unless you want her to tell you what to do.  And you know she’s far more imaginatively ruthless than I am.  Don’t tell her I said that.”<br/>
<br/>
Damn, you’re going to have to be careful around the golem.  For all you know Chelsea has ordered it to report back to her.  Nevertheless, it complies with your instruction and even looks the other way as you slip on your new clothes.<br/>
<br/>
Walking down the stairs to meet Chelsea is an odd experience, at least until you tap into being Yumi.  She’s just so much smaller than the real you, and your new centre of gravity is totally off.  It’s only when you realise if you hold your shoulders like this and move your hips like that that you go from clumsily half falling to moving gracefully.<br/>
<br/>
“Well, well, well,” says Chelsea smirking as she waits for you at the bottom of the stairs.  “It looks like you are settling in nicely there.”<br/>
<br/>
“Ugh,” you squeak.  “This isn’t what I was expecting.  I need to concentrate on being her just to move around without falling down and everything is so much…”<br/>
<br/>
“Bigger,” sniggers Chelsea.  “I’m sure you’ll start enjoying it soon.”<br/>
<br/>
“At least I’ve got these to keep me happy,” you admit cupping your new breasts.<br/>
<br/>
“Will,” says Chelsea chastising you.  “Real girls don’t do that.”<br/>
<br/>
“Ok, ok,” you say waving your hands about.  “What next then?”<br/>
<br/>
“Back to school tomorrow, and do make an effort this time Yumi.  A little bird told me Steve Patterson is interested in you,” says Chelsea, gesturing at your clothes.  “He’s not going to be impressed if you look like a slob.”<br/>
<br/>
“Right, look pretty for Steve,” you say quickly.  “Yumi’s got, I mean:  I’ve got some nice clothes I’ve been looking for an excuse to wear.”<br/>
<br/>
“Good,” smiles Chelsea.<br/>
<br/>
“Wait a sec,” you frown.  “I’m not going to have to… to…  You know…”<br/>
<br/>
“Oh this is priceless,” laughs Chelsea.  “You don’t have to let him fuck you if you really don’t want him too.  Just pretend that you have.  You should give it a try though.  You might find you like it.”<br/>
</span></div></div>


path: 11312212211122
author_id: seuzz
title: The Plot Against Cindy Vredenburg
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>Yumi a friend of yours. Not a close friend, but friendly enough. Cindy Vredenburg, on the other hand, isn't. So it's not a hard choice.<br/>
<br/>
"That's a really good decision," Chelsea brightly replies. Her eyes go slightly out of focus even as her smile remain fixed. "In fact, that will work very nicely all the way around. Gordon," she says. "I really think Jason needs to stop spending so much time up here. He's a bad influence on you."<br/>
<br/>
"Yes, Chelsea," Gordon says tonelessly.<br/>
<br/>
"Seth Javits would make a much better friend. Tell Jason he can't come up here any more. Tell Seth <i>he's</i> now one of your VIP buddies."<br/>
<br/>
"Yes, Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
Dammit, you'd forgotten about Javits. He's not the psycho that Jason Lynch is, but he has a special kind of love for your friend Keith Tilley--the kind of love that manifests as bi-weekly humiliations and bi-monthly beat downs. And now you'll get to be his girlfriend.<br/>
<br/>
"What's wrong, Will?" Chelsea asks, and there's a manic gleam in her eye. She must have caught your expression.<br/>
<br/>
"I guess Javits is going to be, you know, the connection that lets me up here."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't be silly. Cindy's going to be breaking up with him."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Huh?</i><br/>
<br/>
"He's one of the reasons she think she can be my rival," Chelsea continues. "Because she's got a would-be star basketball player coming inside her every other night. I don't know <i>how</i> she's avoided having an abortion yet. And actually, when I say Cindy's going to be breaking up with him, I mean that <i>Seth</i> will be breaking up with <i>her.</i> Isn't that right, Gordon?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes, Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't keep 'Yes Chelsea-ing' me, Gordon--"<br/>
<br/>
"No, Chelsea." She frowns, and the golemized Gordon shifts nervously on his feet.<br/>
<br/>
"You can <i>ask</i> what I mean, can't you?" she says. "Or did that fucking mask give you psychic powers?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes, Chelsea. No, Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
You raise a hand. "You know, maybe one reason Patterson spotted something wrong with Gordon is because you've turned him into this robot."<br/>
<br/>
She opens her mouth to retort, and then stops. "Huh. You know, you may be right. You <i>are</i> smart about these things, Will. Gordon, stop being a robot."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, goddamn it, make up your mind, you dumb cunt!" Gordon exclaims, and stalks angrily from the room.<br/>
<br/>
You both stare after it, you with trepidation, and Chelsea with dumbstruck amazement. You swallow; the thing is probably going to be extremely unpleasant if you run into it again. <br/>
<br/>
But back to the matter at hand: "What do you mean, Seth will break up with Cindy?"<br/>
<br/>
She starts to answer, but then scrambles over to where a mask rests on a crate. She sweeps it up and drops it onto the recumbent Steve Patterson. A flush of flesh sweeps over him, and he sits up with a glare, then does a double take at the sight of Chelsea. Then he does a double take at the sight of you. "The fuck--?"<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea shoves a finger in his face. "You have to do what I say, don't you, Steve?"<br/>
<br/>
He looks at her warily. "Uh ... Yeah."<br/>
<br/>
"But you're not a robot."<br/>
<br/>
"If you say so," he says, guardedly.<br/>
<br/>
"Good. Now, Steve, tomorrow you're going to get together with Jason, you and Gordon are, I mean, and you're going to tell him he can't come up here any more, because he's a dumb and gay and has to learn his place."<br/>
<br/>
Patterson's expression combines shiftiness and confusion. "Yeah, sure."<br/>
<br/>
"And then you're going to talk to Seth Javits. Tell him that you like how he's developing as a basketball player. Tell him whatever crap you tell people who are doing good. But tell him he has to show he's a team player. Tell him he has to break up with Cindy." You start in surprise and even a little horror. "Tell him if he breaks up with Cindy, then he'll get a key to the--" She says the next few words with distaste. "To the fuck room, and he can take girls up here whenever he wants. But not Cindy. Because he's broken up with her, you know. And if he doesn't break up with her, then he's off the team and he's not your friend, and you'll show him what it means to not be your friend."<br/>
<br/>
"Mmhn," Patterson says. She frowns at him fiercely. "Yeah, I'll do it, but-- Is Gordon down with this?"<br/>
<br/>
"You tell him that's what I said to do, and if he has a problem he can see me. Tell him he's not a robot, but he has to do what I say anyway." She smiles smugly at you. "That'll be like our secret pass phrase."<br/>
<br/>
You carefully <i>don't</i> roll your eyes.<br/>
<br/>
"What about this fucker?" Patterson asks, jerking his chin at you. <br/>
<br/>
"Don't mind him. He's my guest. It's not like <i>that</i> and <i>don't look at me that way!</i>" she exclaims. Patterson recomposes his features. "And you won't see him up here anymore after tonight." She casts a coy look at you. "Isn't that right, Will?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes, Chelsea," you say tonelessly.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You turn from the window as Chelsea's bedroom door opens and Cindy Vredenburg walks in. She stops dead just inside, her eyes widening as she sees you. Then she lurches forward as Gordon and Chelsea push her inside. She looks rapidly between you and Chelsea. "Okay, so what's this so-important conference about?" Her eyes crinkle in suspicion as she turns back toward you.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, do you know Will Prescott?" Chelsea asks brightly. Cindy nods curtly but none too convincingly; you'd bet money she only now has a name to connect to your face, and that she'd just as soon forget it. "Will, do you have that <i>thing</i> ready?"<br/>
<br/>
"What, this?" you ask with feigned innocence as you hold up the blank mask. Gordon closes the bedroom door.<br/>
<br/>
"Exactly. Cindy, you'll never guess what, but Will wants to join the cheerleading squad!"<br/>
<br/>
Cindy jerks a little, and stifles a laugh. "Um, I thought you said we were never going to let any boys join."<br/>
<br/>
"I know! But after what Will has shown me--" Chelsea's grin is so wide it's terrifying. "I had to change my mind!"<br/>
<br/>
"Really."<br/>
<br/>
"Really. And here's the best part." She clutches Cindy's arm. "He's going to be replacing <i>you!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
Cindy's face seems to lengthen by several inches. Her shock is only momentary, and she puts a hand on her hip.<br/>
<br/>
"Actually," Chelsea continues, "When I said he'd be replacing you, what I meant was, he's going to <i>become</i> you. Gordon, now!"<br/>
<br/>
You groan inwardly at the cheesiness of Chelsea's melodramatic villainy. <br/>
<br/>
Gordon clasps strong hands on Cindy's arms. Chelsea whips around to you. "What are you waiting for? Do it!"<br/>
<br/>
You sigh and lumber forward, and as Cindy struggles you put the mask to her face. She goes very rigid, then slumps.<br/>
<br/>
"What the hell were you waiting for?" Chelsea's mouth twists into a rictus.<br/>
<br/>
"Sorry, I was drinking in the moment," you dryly reply. "Do I get to undress her now?"<br/>
<br/>
"Show a little decency," Chelsea says primly. "You'll get to play with her boobies soon enough. How about you just wait in the bathroom."<br/>
<br/>
You do as instructed, and amuse yourself in Chelsea's private bath by picking up and putting down her various feminine products. You twist a lipstick open and hold it thoughtfully near your mouth as you regard your reflection. <i>Tomorrow morning I'll be doing this, and it'll be Cindy's face looking back at me.</i><br/>
<br/>
A short eternity passes before Chelsea peremptorily summons you back. Your twin is there, holding himself crookedly to shield his nakedness. Your spirits sink a little more. "Okay, is it my turn to have some privacy?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't whine like a girl, Will. Wait until you <i>are</i> one. But okay. Meet me downstairs when you're done. Come on, Gordon." Her boyfriend leers and winks at you as he leaves.<br/>
<br/>
"This is all kinds of fucked up, boss," your twin moans. <br/>
<br/>
"I know, but we have to live with it." You pull off your shirt.<br/>
<br/>
"Gordon snapped a picture of me while I was--" He jerks his head at Cindy's clothes. <br/>
<br/>
"Perfect, and why am I not surprised."<br/>
<br/>
"So what am I supposed to do?"<br/>
<br/>
"About Black and Patterson? Stay out of their way. About Chelsea? Play along. Just keep things, you know, normal."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, yeah, this is totally normal."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You walk slowly down the stairs, not because you feel unbalanced--it took very little time to get used to the subtle changes in weight distribution--but because you're conscious of Chelsea and Gordon watching you. Gordon smacks his lips loudly, and Chelsea beams. "You are just the prettiest thing," she exclaims.<br/>
<br/>
"Thank you!" You step forward and hug her and she hugs you back, and the embrace on both sides feels totally insincere. "So you want me to ...?"<br/>
<br/>
"Spend the first day getting used to things, I guess. Seth will hit you with the breakup on Tuesday, probably. Be a total wreck. You know, play it real." She sniggers. "Oh, and here." To your surprise she hands you the magic book. "Have a look at the next spell. I can't make heads or tails of it, but I know you can, because you're the smartest girl I know!"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Can't be much competition for that title.</i> But you're glad to have the book. Now if you can just get some supplies ...</span></div></div>


path: 113122122111222
author_id: seuzz
title: The Blitz
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>It's already evening, so there's no time to go out and get any supplies. In fact, now that you think about it, going out to get supplies might be hard. Cindy hasn't a car of her own, and usually has to rely on Seth or her sister, Lucy, for rides. Tonight you're in her dad's car, and that's only because it's Sunday night and he doesn't need it.<br/>
<br/>
So, soon after getting home you stick your head into Lucy's bedroom. "Can I borrow your car tomorrow afternoon," you mousily ask.<br/>
<br/>
Lucy closes her laptop and frowns at you. "What's wrong with Seth's car," she asks without bothering to hide her disdain.<br/>
<br/>
"I just need to run some errands. I'd only need it for a few hours."<br/>
<br/>
"I said, What's wrong with Seth's car?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, what's wrong with yours," you grumble.<br/>
<br/>
Wrong question. "Nothing," she snaps. "Except I need it. Ask Dad for his, if a blow job won't get you Seth's." <br/>
<br/>
You wince: Lucy can't stand Cindy's boyfriend, and it was a mistake for Cindy to get Lucy to start buying condoms for her. "What do you need it for that you can't loan it to me?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's my car, so I don't need a reason," she snaps. "But since you want to know, I'm taking a short road trip, starting tomorrow."<br/>
<br/>
"Don't you have classes?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's <i>for</i> a class!" She's very red in the face by now. "My work study professor is sending me and another girl out of town to do some research."<br/>
<br/>
"Like an archaeological dig? Okay, sorry, I just thought I'd ask. Jeezy Lu-eezy, Lucy." You close the door against her glare. <br/>
<br/>
In your own bedroom you clear a space off the desk and set out the book. You flip past the first page, with its metamorphosing faces under the title page (<i>Libra Personae</i>) and turn to the first spell. You snap open a pen and start to copy down a list of ingredients into a notebook.<br/>
<br/>
The pen runs dry, leaving only blotchy creases across the page. Same thing happens with another pen. The mechanical pencil keeps breaking. In frustration, you start typing into your computer, but the word processing program crashes, and crashes again.<br/>
<br/>
You delicately scratch an eyebrow. Chelsea had mentioned something about not having any luck copying anything from the book, but you'd put that down to her general taffy-headedness. Now you're inclined to think some kind of magic protects the book from being copied.<br/>
<br/>
But you're able to get a translation program working long enough to get the words translated into English, and the book seemingly doesn't object to your making an English version of the shopping list. You also get down, in scratchy form, a précis of the techniques needed to put them together.<br/>
<br/>
But then there's the sigil. It's an intricate design composed of smaller interlocking designs, and all the ingredients are supposed to be put inside it when casting the spell. You and Chelsea have been using the sigils in the book, because it would be just too much of a pain to copy them. If the book doesn't want you copying ingredients, there is no way it will let you copy the sigils. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, so they say, and you'll need copies of them if you're to make masks after Chelsea has reclaimed the book.<br/>
<br/>
Not that you have a firm plan in mind. You just don't like Chelsea having a monopoly on pawns. Maybe Seth would make a good pawn, if he's going to be getting access to the fuck room now. Or one of Chelsea's own close friends, like Maria. Chelsea <i>had</i> suggested you replace one of them.<br/>
<br/>
To your immense surprise, the previously busted pens come to life again as you trace out the sigil in a large sketchbook. You're careful not to jinx it by congratulating yourself, and diligently work for long hours. The lines seem to flow smoothly and naturally, with no need of correction, out of your pen ...<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Oh God, he's wearing that t-shirt that lets you see his bellybutton," Gracie McGraw gasps. "I bet you could bounce quarters off that thing." Sophia Wilson nudges her, and Gracie blushes. "Sorry, Cindy, I--"<br/>
<br/>
"It's okay," you smile, after turning to see Seth Javits approaching. "My boyfriend <i>is</i> sexy." You slip a slim arm around his waist as he steps up and press a palm against his six-pack--voted sexiest in the junior class last year!<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah," he says absent-mindedly. "Can I talk to you alone?"<br/>
<br/>
"Anything you want. I'll get that homework back to you before second period," you call to Sophia as you walk off with Seth.<br/>
<br/>
He's quiet until he's got you by a deserted corner of the main building. "Um, listen," he says. "We're gonna have to, uh, stop seeing each other. For a little while."<br/>
<br/>
"What do you mean?" You frown, even though you're sure exactly what he means. <i>Chelsea got her pawns to move fast.</i><br/>
<br/>
"Team building exercise," he says brusquely. "Gordon and Steve. They, uh, they want me to, kind of, cut back on social activities."<br/>
<br/>
You arch your eyebrows. "What kind of bullshit is this?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's not--!" He looks over your head and around the quad. "Look, it's just temporary. To show that I'm, you know-- Loyal."<br/>
<br/>
You drop your hand from his hip. "You're just going to let them push you around?"<br/>
<br/>
"Well, sometimes you gotta give things up, you know, temporarily, in order to get ahead."<br/>
<br/>
You stare at him. His cheeks have paled, but red spots show in them. "Well, I guess we can stop seeing quite so much of each other."<br/>
<br/>
"If anybody asks," he says bluntly. "We broke up." <br/>
<br/>
Cindy's persona closes around yours. "Well, are we breaking up or aren't we," you shriek.<br/>
<br/>
He winces so hard it looks like it hurts. "No, we're still together." He tries brushing your shoulders, but you push his hands away. "Come on, we just have to pretend."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, I'm really good at pretending, if you want me to pretend," you hiss. "I can't believe you're--"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't make this hard." His face tightens into a glare. "Like I said, we just ... pretend."<br/>
<br/>
A tremble of anger runs through your slim body. "Okay, Seth, we'll <i>pretend,</i> Totally and absolutely." You shove him as hard as you can, which is only enough to force him back a step. "Go fuck yourself. Go fuck yourself, and go fuck Gordon and Steve while you're at it. Asshole!"<br/>
<br/>
You swing around and stalk away. "Cindy!" he calls, but you flip him off. Not daintily either.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"It's Chelsea," Lin Pol says meaningfully. "Honestly, Cindy, you shouldn't have kept getting all up in her face and everything."<br/>
<br/>
Yumi Saito puts her arm around you and gives Lin a dirty look. "You can't seriously blame this on <i>Cindy.</i>"<br/>
<br/>
"No, the blame is Chelsea's, totally," Lin says serenely. "I'm just saying why she did it."<br/>
<br/>
"She did it because she's a cunt," you say. "A jealous, insecure, no talent, two left-footed ..." You sputter to a halt.<br/>
<br/>
Lin glances around with a faint smile. It's lunch, and the three of you are sitting out on the grass while knots of students walk past, many of them furtively eyeing you three good-looking cheerleaders. "Point taken, but you gotta credit her with cunning. Like you could any snake," she hastily adds as you glare at her. <br/>
<br/>
"We should hide a mongoose in her gym locker," Yumi giggles.<br/>
<br/>
Lin leans close. "Don't let her get in your head, Cindy. That's what she's trying to do. Get you all messed up inside, so you'll start screwing up. She can't kick you off the squad. You're too good. But if she can make you miserable enough to quit, or at least ruin your concentration--"<br/>
<br/>
"Oooh, I bet you're right," Yumi exclaims. "Sneaky."<br/>
<br/>
"Ultra sneaky," Lin says. Her eyes drift upward, thoughtfully. "Chelsea can count. Most of us hate her. She's only got three solid allies on the team. If she gets rid of you, she can add another. Then if she can keep Michelle in line--or scare <i>her</i> off the squad--she's got a majority, and no one can touch her."<br/>
<br/>
Lin and Yumi continue talking, but you stop paying close attention.<br/>
<br/>
There is something in what Lin says. Chelsea, Maria, Gloria Rea and Kendra Saunders form a solid block of four out of the ten members. Michelle Estrich would be a weak fifth supporter. By sticking you in for Cindy, she's got the six she needs for a majority. She might tell you that she wants you to quit, but you doubt it; she's counting on you being a spy, and Cindy's disgruntlement over Seth would give you the perfect cover as a double agent.<br/>
<br/>
"Someone on the swim team," Yumi is saying, which jerks you back briefly into the conversation. "That's where she found Michelle. Christine Coolidge, maybe?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, Christine hasn't got a spine. A bust, but no spine. Maybe Jamie Bornholm."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Well, what if Chelsea did get a new ally--but an ally who's actually under </i>your<i> control,</i> you muse to yourself. What if one of her friends quit, and you talked her into putting Christine or Jamie on the team--after you'd secretly enslaved them? She'd be down to three sure votes without realizing it. A quick coup, instigated by Yumi and Lin and the Garner twins--something to make <i>you</i> the cheerleading captain, but without your fingerprints on it?<br/>
<br/>
A coup would be much trickier than just putting a spy on her, but much more gratifying.</span></div></div>


path: 1131221221112222
author_id: seuzz
title: Swimming with the Sharks
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"If that's what she's planning, we ought to keep an eye on some of those girls," you say slowly.<br/>
<br/>
Lin and Yumi seem surprised at your words, and exchange veiled glances. "It's not going to happen," Lin says guardedly. "Unless, you know, you're actually thinking of ... quitting."<br/>
<br/>
"She'd have to put a bomb in my car to get me off the squad," you spit. "But she might try breaking one of you guys. Or Michelle. She can't trust Michelle."<br/>
<br/>
"Michelle just follows the current," Lin says. <br/>
<br/>
"Right. And if there's five us who are pissed at Chelsea, she may want to get rid of Michelle and bring in someone who'll be suitably grateful, just to be safe," you snort. "So, who might it be?"<br/>
<br/>
"Um ..." Lin says. Maybe she didn't mean her own conspiracy theorizing to be taken so seriously.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, Christine and Jamie," Yumi says. Her eyes glint. "I don't think she'd bring in Andrea."<br/>
<br/>
"Kristy Suffolk, maybe?" you suggest.<br/>
<br/>
"She couldn't bring in anyone from one of the girls' teams," Lin says. "The schedules wouldn't allow it."<br/>
<br/>
"Then it can't be Christine or Jamie," you point out.<br/>
<br/>
"The swim team sucks," Yumi says. "Any of them'd jump at the chance to make a swap."<br/>
<br/>
You briefly choke at the unintentional echo on the word "swap."<br/>
<br/>
"It could be anybody," Lin scoffs. "Some nobody who'd be pathetically grateful to Chelsea."<br/>
<br/>
"But it would have to be plausible," you say. "It can't be just anyone, or Chelsea would look like she's screwing up the squad. Listen," you say, warming to your own plan. "Talk to Eva and Jessica about this, see what they think. Then talk around, find out who might be interesting in taking a spot on the squad. Give them a little taste of what it's like being under Chelsea. Don't be real obvious about it, though. Just so they aren't star struck if Chelsea approaches them."<br/>
<br/>
Lin still looks dubious, but Yumi eagerly agrees. You volunteer to approach Christine Coolidge first.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"So what's Trencher like?" you ask without preamble as you slide into the desk in front of Christine during fifth period.<br/>
<br/>
She looks at you blankly. "Um ... Okay, I guess."<br/>
<br/>
"I mean, is he a good teacher? I hear he's kind of a creep."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, he smells funny and he has no sense of personal space. But he knows what he's doing. I guess."<br/>
<br/>
You look over your shoulder at the kid--some sophomore twerp--who has materialized next to your seat, and stare until he gets the hint and finds himself a different desk. "You have a sketchbook or something I could look at?" you ask Christine as you turn back to her.<br/>
<br/>
She fumbles about in her backpack, which gives you a good look at her profile. A little horsey in the face, with prominent teeth. Dirty blonde hair that falls in tight curls to her shoulders. Dowdy dresser. But she looks really good in a swimsuit, and she's very lithe and flexible. <i>Just the kind to fall under Chelsea's domination,</i> you quietly snort to yourself. <i>Plausible from the neck down, but probably insecure about her face, and therefore easily bullied.</i><br/>
<br/>
You crane your neck to look at the sketch book. "That's a pretty design." You point to a swirl of colors.<br/>
<br/>
"I was just picking which chalks to use," she says a little testily as she turns the page to a portrait of a feminine head, with some nice curves and shading. <br/>
<br/>
"I can't draw like that," you say. "I do more abstract stuff." She grunts softly. "And a little sculpting. That's why I was asking about Trencher. I need to pick an elective for next semester, and I was thinking of getting an art class in before graduation."<br/>
<br/>
"He's good with beginners," she says. You carefully cover the distinct cooling of regard you feel for her.<br/>
<br/>
"I was going to run around after school and pick up some supplies," you say. "Like I say, I dabble in a little sculpture. Give me a ride, and I'll pick up anything you need."<br/>
<br/>
"You don't need to--" Luckily, she stops before the word "bribe" can come out; luckily for both of you, as you'd have to be offended, which you don't want. Instead, she smiles, though it's a little brittle. "Sure thing, Cindy."<br/>
<br/>
You smile back. Mrs. Lepine is moving toward the front to start class, so you rise and go over to the desk holding that sophomore. You glare down at him silently until he gets his gear stowed and moved back over in front of Christine.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
The shopping trip is a success, though Christine's caterpillar-like eyebrows (doesn't she know how to use a pair of tweezers?) go up and down repeatedly over the odd things you purchase from half a dozen places. "The sculpture stuff," you explain. "It's a ceramics thing." "Trencher might give you an A just for originality," she replies.<br/>
<br/>
She's rather more impressed back at your house--you grumpily note to yourself that Lucy's SUV is still out front--when you show her into the bedroom and take out the sketchbook with your sigil copies in it. "Oooh," she gasps. "That is freaky."<br/>
<br/>
"What do you think of this one?" You turn the page.<br/>
<br/>
"They make my eyes hurt," she says. She pulls the page close to her face and stares at it closely. "It's not just, like, geometry or abstract either, is it?" Her mouth hangs open and her tongue protrudes stupidly as she studies it. <i>Horse? No, fish. No, sea horse.</i> You tell yourself to stop having mean thoughts, but it's Cindy's brain that's coming up with them. Christine traces part of the design with her fingertip. "Are these, like, runes or something? Like an alphabet?" She looks at you sharply. "Did you come up with these designs?"<br/>
<br/>
"Mostly," you say with quiet but undeserved pride. "I adapted some stuff. I'm calling them Persian prayer wheels because-- Well, just because." You shrug.<br/>
<br/>
There's a sharp bang on your door, and a startled Christine drops the sketchbook onto the floor. The door opens and Lucy's face appears. "I'm leaving now, so don't think you can borrow the car," she snaps. She frowns briefly at Christine, then disappears.<br/>
<br/>
Your classmate swallows. "I was so scared of your sister when I was a freshman."<br/>
<br/>
"She's okay when you get to know her."<br/>
<br/>
"Really?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah. And when you <i>really</i> get to know her, that's when you realize what an utter shit she is." You stick your tongue out at the door.<br/>
<br/>
Conversation continues most nicely for another thirty minutes, and you feel like you've made a real connection with Christine. More important, it looks like she feels a connection with you, so that when you say you'll have her over when you get one of those sculptures done, she seems genuinely excited. <br/>
<br/>
"They really are something if I say so myself," you say as your cell phone rings. You glance at the screen: Chelsea. "Can you find your way out?"<br/>
<br/>
Your abrupt dismissal seems to shock her, but she recovers and smiles and waves back at you as she tiptoes out the door. Yes, she's <i>totally</i> believable as a new bitch for Chelsea to slap around. Speaking of whom--<br/>
<br/>
"How are you doing with the book?" she asks.<br/>
<br/>
"Haven't figured anything out yet," you reply.<br/>
<br/>
She sighs heavily. "Well then, I'm going to leave three new masks in your gym locker. Gordon and Steve just finished them up. I need you to make those mindy-bandy things for them and stick them on." <i>Yikes! More recruits?</i> "One of them is for your new boyfriend," she adds.<br/>
<br/>
"Who's that going to be," you ask, dreading the answer.<br/>
<br/>
"Your pick," she says sweetly. "Make him a good one. You're not going to go with him long, just long enough to give him a shag and then break up in a psycho frenzy. After that, you can move into him. You won't want to be Cindy after <i>that!</i>"<br/>
<br/>
<i>Lovely.</i> "Who are the other two for?"<br/>
<br/>
"Charles Hartlein and Kim Walsh. Well, it's none of your business, but yeah, them."<br/>
<br/>
"What if I want Hartlein to be my boyfriend?"<br/>
<br/>
The line goes dead for a moment. "Oh, that's real funny. We could pretend you fucked him up so bad he turned gay, except he <i>already is.</i>" She snorts, and then goes quiet again. "Are you really saying you want to switch with Hartlein?"<br/>
<br/>
"No. I was being funny. You two will look lovely together, though."<br/>
<br/>
"Ha ha. Anyway, I'm putting a bag with the masks into your gym locker."<br/>
<br/>
"You know the combination?"<br/>
<br/>
"Of course!"<br/>
<br/>
Your lip twists into a pout. She's got your life all nicely plotted out, hasn't she? At least she's letting you pick which of her puppets you can inhabit.<br/>
<br/>
Except she's not the only one with a plot, you smirk, even if her plans are going to make yours more complicated. You'll just have to run the cheerleader coup from a different hiding place. In fact, it would be a better hiding place from Chelsea, because you'd just be using the girls as pawns instead of being in the thick of them yourself.<br/>
<br/>
You lean against the desk. Christine ... No boy connections there. Jamie Bornholm? Technically unattached, but gossip has linked her to Laurent Delacroix. <i>Mmm.</i> You feel a flush of Cindy's approbation. <i>Hot.</i><br/>
<br/>
You trace the complicated motions in the air. Get a mask onto Laurent, have the affair, break up, move into him. Get masks onto Jamie and ... oh, Kendra. Make Jamie your official girlfriend. Have Kendra quit the squad. Then propose Jamie as a replacement ...</span></div></div>


path: 11312212211122222
author_id: seuzz
title: Two Love Lifes for the Price of One
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>You study the invisible pattern you've traced in the air. <i>Too complicated. Stick to using Christine, and hook up with her in a new guise as her boyfriend.</i> <br/>
<br/>
With a sigh you start unpacking the loot from your shopping trip. Chelsea didn't even ask if you had material to make a mind band, just assumed you'd get some. Luckily, you did, so you set to work ...<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Tuesday passes without any notable incidents. You collect the polished masks that Chelsea left in your gym locker. You show one to Christine during class, and she oohs and aahs over it with great appreciation. In fact, she asks if she can take it to show to Mr. Trencher, but you demur. You do promise her, though, that you'll have her come over Saturday and watch you make one. Of course, you'll have the mask for her made by then.<br/>
<br/>
Yumi and Lin (the latter with somewhat less enthusiasm than the former) have been sounding out various girls who might get called up for the team. You pretend to listen to them closely at lunch, but you actually don't care, for you've already picked Christine as your Trojan horse.<br/>
<br/>
After school you go home so you can finish up the new masks for Chelsea. You're tempted to claim one for your own use--and cover up the appropriation by claiming you screwed it up--but you don't want to give Chelsea any cause to suspect your real intentions. So when she calls you late in the evening and asks in a hectoring voice if they're done yet, you're able tell her they are. Patterson comes around to collect two of them--along with some of your own hair for use in the third--and he doesn't neglect the opportunity to indulge in some heavy leering.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Things move much more quickly on Wednesday morning. You're on the gym floor, standing next to Chelsea and her chief flunkies, and watching Lin, Yumi and the Garners practicing a short routine. Possibly reports of their snooping around have gotten back to Chelsea, for she is putting them through some hard and unforgiving paces. "My grandmother could come out of that tumble faster, Jessica," she yells at one point. "And she's in a nursing home!" She closes an arm around yours. "I'm so sorry to hear what Gordon and Steve made Seth do," she says in a voice that is obviously meant to sound private even while being broadcast to all nearby. "I've <i>told</i> Gordon those 'team building exercises' he keeps reading--Earth to Yumi! Hotfoot it to the back of the line! Pretend Godzilla is after you! Well, those exercises of his are just bullshit."<br/>
<br/>
You smile tightly.<br/>
<br/>
"But you'll bounce back--unlike Eva, whose fat ass seems stuck to the floor! Really, Cindy, any boy would cut off his own dick for the chance to be with you." She squeezes your arm. "Have you thought about who the next lucky boy might be?"<br/>
<br/>
"Not really," you mutter. "I've been kind of busy with other things."<br/>
<br/>
"Lin! Why can't you be smaller like Yumi? I thought all you people came in subcompact form!"<br/>
<br/>
"There are lots of possibilities." You grit your teeth--it's not hard to feel angry with Chelsea under the circumstances.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, how about Jonas Martin? Gordon thinks he's been getting a lot better--"<br/>
<br/>
"Whatever."<br/>
<br/>
She releases  your arm and stomps over to your unfortunate teammates. "I could stack eight pygmies inside four dresses and get better results than I can from you!" Beside you, a soft groan escapes Gloria's lips.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Your love life seems to be an object of fascination all day, even when you're not being the person whose love life is being discussed, and even when the love life being discussed never really was a love life. <br/>
<br/>
It starts in third period, which you now share with Caleb and Keith. Monday morning you saw the opportunity for a little mischief, and moved your seat so as to sit in front of Keith. Ostentatiously you've been flashing your breasts at him as you hang your backpack on the back of your chair; and you've been constantly<br/>
tossing your long, flashing hair back in class. Monday, it may have looked like a one-off; Tuesday, like a coincidence. But on Wednesday Caleb and Keith are both furtively looking at the door when you come in. You don't disappoint, either, stopping just in front of Caleb so you can stick a leg out behind you and peer down at your ass with a frown, brushing at an invisible speck of dirt. When you sit and turn to hitch your backpack onto the chair, you make sure your boobs briefly come to rest on the back edge of the chair.<br/>
<br/>
You avoid looking at either of your old friends in the face, but their loud breathing is enough to tell you the desired effect is coming off.<br/>
<br/>
Then to their irritation as well as your own, the show is interrupted by Kim Walsh.<br/>
<br/>
The student council president is a petite red-head, always chipper and helpful; and if she is always sticking her nose into other people's business, at least she also knows how to keep a confidence, even if it's not one that she's been asked to keep. Normally you would ignore her, but your ears prick up at the sound of her voice. "Caleb, do you know what's going on with Lisa and Will?"<br/>
<br/>
"What about them?" he asks in an exasperated tone.<br/>
<br/>
"Did they have a fight or something? Because I heard they were dating over the summer."<br/>
<br/>
"I dunno," Caleb says. "Ask Will, he's got a whole Russian novel about the thing plotted out."<br/>
<br/>
<i>Fucker. Just for that, tomorrow you're going to wear that very short pair of cutoffs and let him get a glimpse of the birthmark Cindy has just below her--</i><br/>
<br/>
"Can't you give me the short version?" Kim sounds very insistent.<br/>
<br/>
Caleb sighs and gives a very partial summary--one heavily freighted, you notice, with veiled insults about your intelligence in dealing with Lisa.<br/>
<br/>
Worse than that, though, is the way you feel the fine hairs on the back of your neck rise and rise. There is no reason for Kim to be interested in the relationship between Will Prescott and Lisa Yarborough--unless someone else is interested in it and is using Kim to collect information on it.<br/>
<br/>
So your eyes drift up as Kim passes your desk, to take her own seat one row over and three chairs up. She twists all around in that bird-like way of hers, and she smiles at Beth Tanner, and there's nothing to suggest she isn't completely herself. So maybe it's your imagination that catches just a glimpse of a hollow place behind her eyes, and a stiff consciousness to her movements.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
But you've got business of your own. After class, you search out Gloria Rea. "So, what was all that about at practice this morning, with Chelsea and Lin and--"<br/>
<br/>
"Don't play dumb," she quietly replies. "You know it was all for your benefit."<br/>
<br/>
"I know she's behind Seth breaking up with me. Is she trying to get me to quit?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just stop fighting with her," Gloria says. She lowers her head. "We've all got our places in her world."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, mine's on the squad, and she's not gonna get rid of me. Though if she keeps riding the others she might find half the squad quitting on her."<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe more than half," Gloria mutters, then seems to catch herself. "Look, the best thing you can do for the others is to just let Chelsea run things."<br/>
<br/>
"She's running things into the ground." You lean in close to her. "Look, if enough of us band together, we can force her back. She can't fight <i>seven</i> people."<br/>
<br/>
You can tell the number "seven" has caught her attention, and can see the calculator running in her head--who would be the "seven" you would be referring to? It can only include her. "If you've got ideas," she says, her voice just above a whisper.<br/>
<br/>
"Not yet. Shall I keep you in the loop?" She tenses and says nothing. "We didn't have this talk, of course," you conclude.<br/>
<br/>
Chances are she'll scurry directly back to Chelsea with news that you're "plotting" against her. That's okay: Chelsea already thinks you're an ally, and your easy excuse will be that you're testing everyone for possible treachery. But that's much less important than your strong conviction that Gloria is very unhappy with the squad, and would make a plausible pawn you could force to quit the squad.<br/>
<br/>
So wrapped up are you in these thoughts that you don't notice the hand on your back until it becomes a steady pressure. You turn suddenly to find Seth standing behind you. "Gotta minute?" he asks.<br/>
<br/>
"What do <i>you</i> want?"<br/>
<br/>
"Just a quick talk. Come on, out behind E wing."<br/>
<br/>
Grimly you let him guide you to a spot where the stoners and losers like to hang out, which makes it a safe spot for a not-to-be-witnessed conference. Still, he glances nervously around before speaking.<br/>
<br/>
"I think we can get back together soon," he says when he's satisfied there are no observers worth worrying about.<br/>
<br/>
"What makes you think I want us back together, you--"<br/>
<br/>
"I told you, this is all just pretend," he says in a pained voice. "Steve and Gordon, they're just testing me--"<br/>
<br/>
"And like a good little pet you did exactly what they wanted. You're really pathetic, Seth."<br/>
<br/>
"And now they're happy, yeah. But Gordon was talking last period about how, like, I've proved myself. So I think they'd be okay if we--"<br/>
<br/>
You let him prattle, for now you're thinking you want to get as far away from him as possible. And that means you don't want your new "boyfriend"--and eventual identity--to be on the basketball team.</span></div></div>


path: 113122122111222221
author_id: rugal
title: Diving In
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Seth, stop." you tell him holding out a hand.<br/>
<br/>
He's taken aback by your suddenly sharp tone. "Cindy..." he begins, "I was just saying we're in the clear now. Gordon's said I'm in so we're back, babe. Me and you."<br/>
<br/>
You shake your head. "No." you say, an emphatic tone in your voice. "There is no me and you, just me..." you point a finger at yourself, "and you." and then at Seth.<br/>
<br/>
He looks at you desperately, trying to figure out what's going on. "What are you talking about? I said it was temporary didn't I?" he says, a confused tone in his voice.<br/>
<br/>
"And I didn't." you shoot back, "In fact the more I think about the more I think it's time to upgrade from temporary to permanent. You can say everything you want, all the words you want but that's all they are Seth: words." You sigh in an exasperated manner. "Actions matter and your actions have shown exactly what space I occupy on your list of what's important. Goodbye, Seth."<br/>
<br/>
You begin to walk away but he grabs your arm. "Cindy, please."<br/>
<br/>
You turn back to him, a pleading look in his eyes. It just strengthens your resolve. "Let go." The words are cold and full of contempt.<br/>
<br/>
"Cindy..."<br/>
<br/>
"GET YOUR FUCKING HANDS OFF OF ME!" You shout the words such that you arouse the interests of a few of the slackers that have started to arrive, deciding to cut class. You're a bit surprised at the forcefulness but not more surprised than Seth who, taken aback, lets go of your arm. "Fuck off, Seth Javits!" you yell as you trudge away and push your way past the small group.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"I can NOT believe you did that." Chelsea's words carry an amused tone.<br/>
<br/>
"How the... nobody was there except for those loser stoners." you reply.<br/>
<br/>
"And those stoners have friends." retorts Chelsea, "Word gets around. It's like chicken pox: one kid catches it and suddenly everyone in class has it."<br/>
<br/>
"So what now?" you ask as you flop onto your bed.<br/>
<br/>
"Well you're off the team. Cindy is anyway." she answers, "You really hurt Seth you know? Gordon says he was moping around all day. You know the tight relationship between the cheerleaders and the basketball team so he didn't need Cindy there distracting him. So Cindy had to go. I'd say sorry but you weren't going to be in her much longer anyway, were you?"<br/>
<br/>
"How quickly are you going to replace me?"<br/>
<br/>
"Tomorrow. I'll tell Coach that there's going to be an invite only tryout lasting through first or second period. I'll get to around a dozen girls, they'll have an excuse to miss those classes"<br/>
<br/>
You're suddenly struck by an idea. You had intended to move into Jonas but an opportunity's come up that you can't really pass up to get to your real goal of planning against Chelsea so it's time to put it into motion, at least a little bit. "Put Christine Coolidge in the open spot." you say, "And then put me in Christine."<br/>
<br/>
There's a small silence. "Why Christine?" comes the question.<br/>
<br/>
"Natural dexterity so physically she'd handle it well." you say, "But, you know, her face. Makes her insecure so it makes her someone you could manipulate. Means you'd be around her and I could stick close to you. Plus Yumi, Lin and them might try and take pity on her so I could hang around them as your mole. Undermine them for you, you know?"<br/>
<br/>
You hear a small laugh on the other side of the phone, "Will, it seems that spending time around me really IS paying off for you!" she exclaims, "Alright, can you meet me in girl's lockerroom before school? I know Andrea likes to hold a short, unofficial practice for the girls team early every couple of days before school so I should be able to get to her."<br/>
<br/>
"I'll have to get my dad to drive me, Lucy said something about being out of town, but yeah." You smile to yourself, "I'll be there."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"Nice job Christine, that's your best time today!" Andrea Varnsworth exclaims to you as you come up out of the water, "You've been crushing it since coming out of the lockerroom."<br/>
<br/>
"Thanks." you reply as you catch a breath. Christine keeps in excellent shape and you effortlessly glides through the water. "Yeah I feel great! Chelsea said she's going to be holding a tryout for the squad. Invite only and I got one of the golden tickets!"<br/>
<br/>
"So that's why she was hanging around." The voice comes from Bethany Lewis, another teammate, "Doesn't explain why Cindy was either."<br/>
<br/>
You get a kind of uncomfortable look on your face as you remove your cap and goggles, "Something about getting Cindy's 'approval' since it's her spot that's open."<br/>
<br/>
Bethany snorts in derision, "Oh that's it, huh?" she replies, "It's probably Chelsea trying to put the screws to Cindy over what happened yesterday."<br/>
<br/>
"What happened with Cindy yesterday?" asks Andrea.<br/>
<br/>
"God, Drea, some times you need to come up for air you know?" laughs Bethany.<br/>
<br/>
Andrea folds her arms under her chest, a large chest, and glares at Bethany. "Hey I stay 'down here' by choice. If being at the top includes being with people like Chelsea, Gordon and Steve then no thanks." You can tell that it's a very genuine feeling she has.<br/>
<br/>
"So what if I get on the team?" you ask climbing up out of the pool and sitting on the ledge.<br/>
<br/>
"Christine..." she puts an arm around you, a friendly gesture but you're suddenly very aware of who exactly it is making you a bit nervous. "You're incorruptible. You'll be fine. There's some good people on the team too so stick with them."<br/>
<br/>
"Aaaaanyway." Bethany chimes back in, "I heard from Amanda Levins who heard from Lynette Warren who heard from Jessica Garner who was apparently right there when Gordon and Chelsea talked about it that Cindy got into a huge fight with Seth. Cussed him out and she may have slapped him. Gordon wanted her gone because he was afraid she'd go off on Seth again."<br/>
<br/>
You snicker a little bit at how a game of telephone can warp a story so much. Andrea then calls an end to the workout and you decide to hang back a bit to watch Andrea, Bethany, Olivia Byrne, Kat Newman and your other teammates in their swimsuits. Being Christine definitely has it's advantages you mentally smirk.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
And so you're chosen for the now open spot on the squad from a small group that included Cassie Harper, Jenny Ashton and a few others. Cindy was there too, officially to approve of her replacement but in actuality she moped and responded with lots of "whatevers". Bethany was on the nose: Chelsea was definitely having a ball rubbing it in Cindy's face and you feel a pang of guilt for the girl whose life you lived and ruined. You make a mental promise to get her back on the squad after you've finished dealing with Chelsea. Yumi welcomes you to the team warmly and though they're a bit uncomfortable Lin and the twins try their best to be accommodating. In fact they invite you to hang out with them at the Garners' place after school and it's something Chelsea encourages with a "be on the lookout for talks of dissension".<br/>
<br/>
Later in the day, during drama class, Elle Moore and Audrey Briscoe ooh and aah over the cheerleading uniform that you wear. It does look great on you, showing off your toned legs, though it does make you even more self-aware regarding your face... and you realize that that's how Christine must feel. Her body would drive any guy wild but she's the definition of a butterface especially due to not taking care of it. "Because what's the point?" is a common thought for her about it; she sees it as being unsalvagable. The only boy who really seems to not care is...<br/>
<br/>
"Hey Christine." Jimmy Brewer gives you a greeting, "Nice uniform. It looks great on you."<br/>
<br/>
"Thank you Jimmy!" you say excitedly, "Yeah being part of the squad's already so cool. They're all pretty nice!"<br/>
<br/>
"Even Chelsea?" asks Audrey.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, she was nice to me at least." you reply.<br/>
<br/>
You talk for a little bit, ostensibly under the guise of "rehearsing" a section of a play you're supposed to act out at the end of the week, and notice a few looks exchanged between Elle, Audrey and Jimmy. "Ugh, god this play sucks. I can never get these Greek names down." Audrey suddenly chimes in.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah for real." Elle adds, "Hey me and Audrey are gonna go ask Wilkes if he'll give us a different play."<br/>
<br/>
And suddenly it's just you and Jimmy together and you notice he looks a lot more nervous and awkward. "Hey Christine, so you're a cheerleader now right?" he asks rhetorically, "And I like hanging out with you but I'm kind of worried that if you're hanging around THEM I won't get the chance to anymore so, um, I was wondering..." he takes a breath and steels himself up, "Um, if you wanted to, uh, go see a movie. On Friday. Together."<br/>
<br/>
Oh my god, he finally did it! Jimmy finally asked Christine out... probably with a bit of prodding from Audrey and Elle.<br/>
<br/>
"Jimmy..." you begin.<br/>
<br/>
Christine's aware of his crush but likes him only as a friend. He'd look better if he'd fix his flaws: kinda chubby, messy hair, not a great dresser, awkwardness and general lack of confidence. And while you still were intending to get with Jonas as it's what Chelsea wanted, you're Christine but you're NOT Christine. And it might throw a wrench in Chelsea's plans if the new cheerleader went out with an awkward dork.</span></div></div>


path: 1131221221112222212
author_id: rugal
title: A Little Makeover
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"Jimmy, you're a great friend and all you really are. You always cheer me up and always make me laugh and you're super nice." you explain. You notice his expression darken a bit and clasp his hands. He knows what words like those mean and they're words you're all too familiar with yourself. However you can't risk pissing Chelsea off by going against "her plan" this soon so for now you need to play it safe. "Jimmy, look at me. Even asking me out doesn't change anything but if we went out and it didn't work... things would change dramatically. They'd change dramatically no matter what. I don't want to ruin that, you understand that right?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah." he nods, "I do."<br/>
<br/>
You cringe a little bit inwardly; you're seeing way too much of yourself in him. Is this what it's like on the other side? How bad did saying stuff like this make Lisa feel, you wonder. You give him a smile. "Look, just keep at it alright? I might not have been interested but you'll find some girl who IS, I promise you." You try to cheer him up a little, "Hey maybe I'll get you a cheerleader. Yumi's supposed to be really sweet."<br/>
<br/>
"Heh." Jimmy replies though you know he's not actually amused. "No it's alright. These things happen, you know? But hey at least I tried right?"<br/>
<br/>
With that he walks off and as he moves farther away you can see him sulk a little more with each step. "You didn't have to crush his spirits!" Elle exclaims trudging up to you while Audrey, on the other side of the room, does her best to cheer Jimmy up.<br/>
<br/>
"It's not like I told him to fuck off! I tried to be gentle!" you reply, "He worked up all that nerve, anything short of a yes would've hurt no matter how I said it!"<br/>
<br/>
You look up at Elle, not a hard feat as she stands close to 6'0", crossing her arms and glaring at you. "You'd know wouldn't you? Remember when you asked out Omar Reyes last year?" she retorts.<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah, so?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
"He was a senior!"<br/>
<br/>
"So what?"<br/>
<br/>
"He was on the baseball team!"<br/>
<br/>
"So what?!"<br/>
<br/>
"You haven't even had a boyfriend since the middle of 10th grade! You could stand to be a little less..." she catches you glaring at her and immediately shuts up.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm picky? So you're saying I couldn't get someone like Omar last year? Or that I can't get someone like Jonas Martin?" you continue staring daggers into her. "Sorry we can't all date cute soccer players from the school across town."<br/>
<br/>
"Peter IS a great guy isn't he..." Elle regains herself, "Sorry Christine I didn't mean to be a cunt. I just don't want to see Jimmy go back to being even MORE meek. He was starting to come out of his shell hanging around us." she explains before adding, "And I don't want that uniform going to your head."<br/>
<br/>
You sigh, "Sorry for flipping out too. And you don't have to worry about me becoming some kind of mega bitch since I've got you and Audrey and my teammates. This is, like, a fun little diversion." you state, "Although I DO have to meet with Yumi, Lin and the twins today. Orientation thing or something."<br/>
<br/>
"Well Yumi's at least better than Chelsea..." Elle says as she heads back over to Audrey and Jimmy, "But really, don't lose sight of yourself, okay?"<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
The stay at the Garners' is quite short as you pile the five of you pile into your car, as the newbie it's your job to drive they tell you, and head out to the mall. They all agreed that being on the squad requires a certain... level of beauty to maintain. They do it of their own volition, of course, but they know Chelsea won't accept any less and the first thing you don't want to do is disappoint Chelsea. You can hear the contempt dripping from the voices of Lin and Eva as they tell you that; Yumi and Jessica are slightly more diplomatic in their versions. So the mission is to give you a bit of a makeover. Some new clothes and make-up advice mainly. You've got the money, the benefit of living with a mother who holds fairly high management position at Salopak. Kathleen Coolidge, however, is a driven woman and has her eye on the mayoral seat eventually and that lifestyle can have its drawbacks...<br/>
<br/>
"Chelsea's going to try and manipulate you, look for any cracks in the armor and then rip them open with her hands." Eva's voice says from outside the dressing room, "Her ugly, clawed, witch-hands." She knocks and you open the door a little bit, enough for her to poke her head in. "Yeah, that looks great on you too. All these shirts have." she says referring to the dark purple shirt you're now wearing, "You'll look good in lots of stuff so that's one less thing she can get at anyway."<br/>
<br/>
"She thinks because you're new that you're going to be grateful so don't be afraid to stand up to her." You're looking at pants, jeans and such with Yumi now. "You have to show her that you're not spineless and you're not someone who's easy to push around."<br/>
<br/>
"Well I've got Andrea and SHE'S got Sienna and Sienna's the type who'd probably want to mess with Chelsea's face a bit." you reply.<br/>
<br/>
Yumi giggles at that, "Well back-up's good but you have to rely on yourself some times as well. Oooh, go try these shorts." she shoves a pair of small denim shorts into your hands and shoos you off towards the the dressing room.<br/>
<br/>
"One of her tricks is that she'll try and make the squad dominate your life." Jessica explains to you as you look over shoes and footwear, "Random practices in the morning, after school, on weekends... it's par the course. She's a tyrant exercising what little power she has over what she perceives as her subjects. Don't let her try and seperate you from your friends. Michelle was on your team right? And look at her now. That's what happens when she gets her venom into you. Oh, these boots! These might work!"<br/>
<br/>
"It's not that we HATE Chelsea." Lin is now helping you with your makeup after having fixed your eyebrows, "It's just that we don't particularly like her. We know why she picked you and why she kicked Cindy. No offense Christine but she wants you to be another Michelle. She'd be happy if we ALL were Michelle. Don't be Michelle. Tell her to cram her attitude up her ass when you have to." She eyes you a bit, "The hair...? Nah, the curly thing works. It's unique. It's you."<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
<br/>
"Wow, don't YOU look... different!" Chelsea greets you Friday morning. "Kinda like Sarah Jessica Parker but a little more fabulous."<br/>
<br/>
You definitely turned a lot of heads that Christine might not normally turn when you arrived. A long-sleeved and slightly loose purple blouse with a smaller white shirt worn under it. A black skirt worn over black tights that hugged your thighs and ass and a pair of smart black boots that blended into your tights. No more bushy eyebrows and make-up that enhanced her features well. Christine looked a sight more fashionable than people knew. The Anti-Chelsea faction's work had paid off.<br/>
<br/>
"Thank you Chelsea!" you exclaim, "Eva and them helped give me a bit of a makeover. I guess it worked although I don't know if I'm used to the attention."<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea eyes you wondering how far into character you're getting but smiles back. "Well that's great! You have to look good to be on the team after all. It's like a rule for being a cheerleader." She replies, "Although speaking of 'Eva and them'... what have they said?"<br/>
<br/>
"Said?" You laugh a little bit, a move that seems to make Chelsea a little irritated. "Sorry Chelsea, I mean I just started on the team. They're not going to open up and start confiding all their deepest, darkest secrets and evil plans to the newbie. They said exactly what you think they'd say. You know how they feel about you so if they're plotting a revolution they're not very open about it."<br/>
<br/>
"Ugh, whatever. I guess I'll have to play the long game." she finally says, "Speaking of... weren't you supposed to move into Jonas? Are you still doing that?"<br/>
<br/>
You shrug your shoulders, "I'm fine in here for right now. Although if Christine could still use Jonas as a boyfriend. You know if I'm on your side wouldn't it make sense for me to have a basketball playing boyfriend?" you ask.<br/>
<br/>
Chelsea clasps her hands, "That's actually a good idea. You'll get status and solidify your new position on the squad." She looks around to make sure nobody's there to hear this part, "I can have a mask for you tomorrow. You know put the stuff in, put him under your control."<br/>
<br/>
"That could work, although..." you look down at yourself and think back to your conversation with Elle from yesterday, "What if I tried to get him on my own? You think I'd be able to do it?"</span></div></div>


path: 113122122111222222
author_id: seuzz
title: Practice Makes Imperfect
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"That's nice, Seth," you say. "And maybe it will work out. But how do you know Gordon isn't testing you <i>again,</i> to see if you actually broke up with me, or if you're just--" Your lip curls. "Pretending."<br/>
<br/>
"I know Gordon," Seth says, "and I don't think he'd--"<br/>
<br/>
"And I know lots of other people, and I know them better than you know Gordon," you coolly reply. "If you want to get back together with me-- Don't interrupt! We're broken up, we're not <i>pretending!</i> If you want to get back together with me, you're going to have to wait. You're also going to have to give me one <i>hell</i> of an apology." You push past him and return to the building. The tardy bell rang some minutes ago, and you're late.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
You can't sleep, and are up early, which is fortunate, because with Lucy out of town you have to get a ride from your dad if you're not to take the school bus. So you arrive well before classes are to start, and wander into the gym.<br/>
<br/>
Cindy doesn't often attend the basketball team's pre-class practice session, but you can tell something special is up. There are two new guys on the court, easily picked out because-- Oh my God, they're in the uniforms of your crosstown archrivals, Eastman High! You stare at them. One is tall, almost as tall as Gordon, with dark hair and lean limbs. He stands calmly in front of one basket, making free throw after free throw, and dropping most of them with an almost languid ease through the net with an inaudible swish. Steve is standing nearby, cocking his head thoughtfully.<br/>
<br/>
The other guy is much shorter and boasts stronger, more rounded muscles. His blonde hair flies in all directions as he weaves and darts on the other half of the court in a makeshift game with the other players. His face is bright and alert, enwreathed by a wide, hungry grin, and he shouts and yells and whoops as he dribbles and passes. At one point Darren Green shoots the ball toward Brendan Tummler, and-- You blink. The blonde kid seemed to blur as he moved to intercept the ball. He swings out to the half court, running and dribbling low to the ground, curves back in, and leaps to make a distant shot. It bounces off the rim, but it's recovered by Ryan Shuler, who tips it in. The blonde guy sprints over to Ryan and slaps him a hard high five. Gordon steps back from the midst of the commotion to put his hands on his hips. <br/>
<br/>
Practice continues for another thirty minutes or so, though without the two Eastman players, who confer briefly with Gordon before leaving. There is one slightly odd moment involving them before they disappear, though. The taller one glances up into the upper loft behind you, and nudges the blonde one, who follows his gaze. You look back, and see Sean Mitchell--a football player and wrestler you vaguely know--on the weight machines. The Eastmanites watch him briefly, then exit.<br/>
<br/>
Your attention returns to the basketball players, and to Jonas. He's not a big guy, and he's not a tall guy. But he is wiry and strong, and seems quite agile. You don't know him well, except by reputation: sarcastic, a little bitter, a little wild. When not in the thick of things on court, he drifts close to Luke Bennett and Kyle Sanders. Your stomach clenches a little. They're not bullies, but they do have a reputation for delinquency, and warnings about being caught alone in their company are common currency among Cindy's crowd. <br/>
<br/>
<i>Ugh.</i> No, you're not interested in him in any capacity. You sigh and cup your chin your hand: You'd better come up with an alternate boyfriend candidate, and fast. A clang of metal draws your attention back up to the weight loft. <i>Sean.</i> There's something about him you're forgetting. <i>Oh yeah.</i> Caleb had mentioned at one point he was working alongside Sean out at Salopek. <br/>
<br/>
<i>Fucking Caleb.</i> It comes over you all at once that the whole mess you're in is his fault. And with that, your decision is made.<br/>
<br/>
Shortly before basketball practice breaks up, other cheerleaders start to appear, including Chelsea, and you call out to her. She glances over at Gloria and Lin, who are with her, then trots up the bleachers to you. "Have you snagged Jonas Martin for me yet?" She shakes her head. "Then don't. Get me Sean Mitchell instead." When she looks puzzled, you jerk your head toward the figure in the weight loft.<br/>
<br/>
She pulls a face. "Why him?"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't want anyone on the basketball team. It's less awkward that way."<br/>
<br/>
"Well, I don't see Gordon or Steve letting <i>him</i> into their little--" She stops cold, then titters. "Maybe you're right. It'd be kind of funny. Gordon!" Smoothly, her boyfriend/slave swerves off the court and over to the bleachers. She pulls his head close, and mutters at him; his eyes travel up to the weight loft, and he nods. Chelsea turns expectantly toward you, and you follow her into the girls' changing room. Behind you, you hear Gordon calling an early end to the practice.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
After second period you go in search of Charles Hartlein, to whom you pass along a rumor--which you invented yourself--that Sean Mitchell is chasing after Christine Coolidge. If Chelsea has gotten a hook into Kim, chances are she's gotten Hartlein too; and with luck Hartlein will pass along that invented rumor to Chelsea in such a way that she won't recognize you as the source. That way, it won't look odd if you follow your move into Sean by hooking up with your next catspaw-to-be. <br/>
<br/>
The real danger is that the rumor might not reach her, or might be lost in the noise of all the other news she's getting from Charles and Kim and Gloria and Kendra. For just before sixth period Kim pulls you aside. "I heard you and Seth are thinking of getting back together--"<br/>
<br/>
"It's not your concern, Kim."<br/>
<br/>
She hugs her bag to her chest and pales a little. "Maybe not. But--" She glances nervously around. "Chelsea wants to talk to you after school. In that ... place ... over the gym."<br/>
<br/>
You snort: for two girls who are supposed to be feuding, Chelsea and Cindy are seeing an awful lot of each other.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
Actually, you find Chelsea sitting on the bleachers, cheering at the basketball players doing their after-class session, and you join her with a strong feeling of déjà vu left over from the morning. "Did you hear there's going to be a party tomorrow?" she says. "My place, at seven."<br/>
<br/>
"What's the occasion?"<br/>
<br/>
"Welcoming party for the two new players. You know, those Eastman guys who are moving out here? Well, okay, that's the <i>official</i> reason."<br/>
<br/>
"Unofficially?"<br/>
<br/>
She cries out over a missed basket by Jeremy, then pats you on the hand. "I need you and Seth to get ... well, caught."<br/>
<br/>
"Caught?"<br/>
<br/>
"You know what I mean. Naked."<br/>
<br/>
You swallow, but the lump stays in your throat. "Are him and me getting together again? Seth said--"<br/>
<br/>
"Seth's an idiot, which is why it'll work. Gordon and Steve'll catch you guys--do it my bedroom, to make it extra, you know, nasty--and they'll beat the snot out of him. So much for his--" She laughs. "His fuck room access." You suppress a shiver. "After that you can move into Sean Mitchell." She clucks her tongue in distaste.<br/>
<br/>
"And what happens to Cindy?"<br/>
<br/>
She casts a malicious glance at you. "Once you're moved, what will <i>you</i> care?"<br/>
<br/>
Your eye returns to the gym floor, but you barely see it. The enormity of what Chelsea is planning; the number of people she's ruining; the ingenious cruelty with which she has plotted it. You feel your nerves vibrating, and your muscles twitch. You are very close to leaping to your feet and telling her you'll have no part of it, when Gordon calls an end to practice. Chelsea nudges you to follow her as the court clears, and with trepidation you follow her. She leads you up the stairs to the fuck room, to unlock the door and gesture you in.<br/>
<br/>
You stop with a gasp as you cross the threshold. Sean Mitchell is seated on the floor with his back against the support pillar. He glares at Chelsea, but as his eyes swing toward you--<br/>
<br/>
Your gazes lock, and his face twists up in shock. He stares at you for what feels like a solid minute, and then he sags.<br/>
<br/>
"Gordon says it took quite a fight to get him up here." You jump at Chelsea's voice, for you'd forgotten she was behind you. "Key's by his feet. I'll leave you to have some fun." The door closes behind her.<br/>
<br/>
Numbly you step toward Sean, and discover that his hands are bound around that pillar with a pair of handcuffs. <i>Where and why the fuck--</i> You shudder, and try not to finish the question, let alone ponder the answer.<br/>
<br/>
Sean says nothing but "I'm late for work" after you've unlocked the cuffs, but he makes no move, except to look at you sullenly. <br/>
<br/>
Yeah, Salopek. That connection to Caleb was the reason you ... You chose him as a victim of your own. Your objections to Chelsea's schemes suddenly feel very hypocritical. <br/>
<br/>
You should let him go to work. On the other hand, he <i>is</i> your slave, and that's all he is. You need a ride home--and someone to polish that mask you've made for Christine.</span></div></div>


path: 1131221221112222221
author_id: seuzz
title: The Ruination of Cindy Vredenburg
chapter_content:
<div><div> <span>"I need you to give me a ride home," you say. "I've also got some extra work for you. And don't worry. It'll be better for you after tomorrow." Sean just stares daggers at you.<br/>
<br/>
And you wonder if it will be better for him. Chelsea couldn't have turned the real Sean into a golem, like she did with Steve and Gordon, because the book is still at your house. She must have just made a mask of him, put a golem shell inside it, and then put it directly on him. Clearly, it still has the effect of turning him into a slave, but you have to wonder if the real Sean is still awake under the thing, and still conscious of everything that is going on. Which would be worse, you find yourself musing on the drive back out to your house: to be a slave and know yourself a slave, or to be asleep under a different mask, the way the real Cindy is asleep under--you swallow--under the mask of Will Prescott?<br/>
<br/>
Lucy's SUV is back out in front when you arrive, but you don't see her as you dash into the house just long enough to pick up the two masks you made Tuesday night: one each for Gloria and one for Christine. You've been working on them in a desultory fashion over the week, polishing them up for final use, and one of them seems to be about halfway there. Back at Sean's truck--a much nicer vehicle than the one you used to drive--you show them to him and tell him what he needs to do. "Don't let anyone see them," you tell him, "and work on them as fast as you can." <br/>
<br/>
You suddenly feel irritated with yourself. You've already got a slave of your own--Will Prescott. Why hadn't you already palmed this work off on him? As you watch Sean drive off, you find yourself wondering if, all this time, you've really been as enthusiastic for this mask stuff as you've been pretending to be.<br/>
<br/>
<div align="center">* * * * *</div><br/>
"You're shitting me!" the blonde one exclaims. "He was a real guy?" He pulls a fistful of dollar bills from his pocket and examines them. "Are all the guys on money real people?"<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, fuck," Lin groans. "Who did you think they were?"<br/>
<br/>
"I thought were, like, mascots. You know, like on Monopoly money?" He gasps. "Is the little dude in Monopoly real too?"<br/>
<br/>
"His name is Rich Uncle Moneybags," snorts Gloria.<br/>
<br/>
"Whoa!" The blonde kid's eyes dance. "No wonder they picked him as their mascot!"<br/>
<br/>
You softly choke down some cola. It seems impossible that anyone--no matter how blonde--could be as stupid as this new transfer student from Eastman. Even Maria--the biggest space cadet you know--is staring at him and blinking in a way that looks like fake-Morse code for "Dummy Dumb McDumDumb." But there seems no sparkle of satire or pretense behind the guy's bright gaze.<br/>
<br/>
As for the other one--taller, with dark hair--he doesn't say much. Their names--which Gordon gave during his badly delivered introductory toast to them--are Frank and Joe Durras; Frank smiled enigmatically at his introduction, while Joe let out a war whoop when Gordon boasted that the brothers would be helping Westside trash Eastman's ass.<br/>
<br/>
"Why are you transferring out here," Eva is asking Frank when you bump into them in the living room. All the girls are crowding around the new guys, who are, yes, pretty good looking. That leaves the other members of the basketball team to congregate mostly with each other. "I mean, if you were only there for a few weeks--"<br/>
<br/>
"Turned out we were living in the wrong district," Frank says. "We looked at the map wrong."<br/>
<br/>
"I'm glad you got it turned right side up," you say, and he smiles at you. Out of the corner of your eye you see Seth, who's been staring at you, start to move in your direction, so you slide around Frank, to put him between you and your ex. "So, I guess there's no old loyalties to feel bad about."<br/>
<br/>
"Oh, the guys back at Eastman were great," Frank says. "It won't be personal when we beat them."<br/>
<br/>
"Stomp all over them, you mean," a voice says behind you. It's Chelsea, and her smile is brittle. She reaches past you to pluck at his elbow. "You don't want to get stuck in one place," she says as she tugs back toward the kitchen. "And your brother has run out of intelligent things to say."<br/>
<br/>
<i>He ran out of them right after he said 'Hi',</i> you think to yourself. And you blink. <i>I asked how he was doing, and he said 'Hi.' Maybe he was telling me he was wasted.</i><br/>
<br/>
You start to follow Chelsea and Frank, but she deftly blocks you with a sharp elbow. You deflate. <br/>
<br/>
"Hey," Seth says over your shoulder. "So, um ..."<br/>
<br/>
You wheel and throw your arms around him. "Let's go upstairs," you mumble in his ear. He freezes, and mumbles something. "I said, upstairs," you hiss again.<br/>
<br/>
Smiling tightly, you lead him over to the staircase. Chelsea's parents aren't home, and no one would dare cross her by snooping around her room, so you won't run into anyone as you ascend. In fact, even Seth seems reluctant, and tries to restrain you. "If you wanna talk, we can go outside."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't wanna talk, Seth," you say. Your stomach flops around like a dying fish. "I'm so fucking sick of Chelsea, and God! I've missed you!" He gulps, but lets himself be led along. "Is Gordon serious about letting us get back together?"<br/>
<br/>
"Um, we really haven't talked anymore." Now that you're outside a bedroom door, he again pulls you to a halt. "You, uh, said you'd want an apology from me."<br/>
<br/>
"Yeah. Make it a hard one. Eight inches." You open Chelsea's bedroom door, jerk him inside and close it. "On her bed." Seth's jaw drops. "I won't lie to you, Seth, this is as much about fucking her as it's about fucking you. But that only means I'm twice as horny as usual." You wrap a single leg around his waist and tear a hard kiss off his lips.<br/>
<br/>
His knees give way, and both of you topple back onto Chelsea's bed. You dig under you skirt and twist down your panties. "Get 'em off me and touch me, Seth. No, wait, get your clothes off, all of them, first. I want to bite you all over while you do it." You stifle a small scream and arch your back. "Hurry up! We have to do this fast!"<br/>
<br/>
He gapes and swallows, but your ravenous expression must have quickly stirred him, for with both hands working he tears simultaneously at his shirt and pants. He has to roll off you to pull off his shoes. "You know, I don't have any, uh ... I mean, since we haven't been doing it--"<br/>
<br/>
"I don't have any either but that's okay. I wanna leave a mess all over Chelsea's bed."<br/>
<br/>
And then he's on top of you. He frowns a little as he guides himself inside, for your protestations to the contrary, you are neither hot nor wet, and you grimace too. So maybe it's not pleasure, but desperation that stokes him as he starts to pump back and forth.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh ... Oh ... Oh ..." You rhythmically groan as he goes at you like a piston. You close your eyes in feigned ecstasy. "Oh ... Oh ... Oh ...", and you have to bite your tongue lest a contrapuntal chant slip out: <i>This is stupid, this is stupid, this is stupid.</i> Stupid? You jerk a little when Joe Durrases idiotic grin materializes, Chesshire Cat-like, before your mind's eye.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Thbump!</i> Your eyes pop open again at the sound of a door, and you shriek as Seth is torn from atop you. You scramble back as Gordon, his face purple with fury, hurls Javits at Steve, who catches and holds him while Gordon pounds him hard in the stomach and clips him across the jaw. Only when Gordon turns and roars "Shut up!" do you realize you are screaming.<br/>
<br/>
Steve hauls the bent Seth out of the room, and Gordon follows. Trembling, you pull your panties back on; you're grateful for the quick interruption, but horrified by its consequent. You cower when Steve reappears; firmly he hauls you to your feet and pushes you out and down the stairs. A crowd is gathered in the foyer, and you hide your face as you pass them. Steve pushes you out the front door.<br/>
<br/>
He says nothing as he drives you back to ... where? ... until his cell phone rings. After answering, he hands it to you. "Oh, great job!" Chelsea bubbles enthusiastically. "You won't believe the mess out here!"<br/>
<br/>
"I'm so glad it was good for you," you hiss, and can barely stop yourself from hurling the phone out the window.<br/>
<br/>
If she catches your sarcasm, she ignores it. "Now, get back over to the fuck room and call Sean and Will Prescott, get them out there. Here's the rest of what you have to do."<br/>
<br/>
You listen in a daze of horror as she outlines the final ruination of Cindy Vredenburg.<br/>
<br/>
"You got that?" she says, and the manic grin she is certainly wearing hovers before your dazed vision.<br/>
<br/>
"I heard you," is all you can say. You let the phone slip from your nerveless fingers.<br/>
<br/>
"Where to?" Steve asks.<br/>
<br/>
"The school," you murmur, and then jerk yourself. <br/>
<br/>
You don't have to do it. You have to release Cindy, but you don't have to do it the way Chelsea wants. You can release her, and tell her all that has happened, and beg her forgiveness, and work with her to take down Chelsea. She would understand that--<br/>
<br/>
You quail. But would she? And would it really solve your problem, or would it just be launching a new phase of a horrible and pointless war?</span></div></div>


