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"Mason! Hey Mason! Get up!"
I moaned, rolling over in my bed, "I don't wanna. Too comfy."
"Fine then. I guess you leave me no choice."
"Agh!" I lurched as I felt a weight fall onto my stomach knocking the air out of me. I opened my eyes to see Lilly's face sitting mere centimeters away from mine. "Dammit. Not a dream."
Lilly folded her arms crossly. "What's that supposed to mean?"
I rubbed my forehead. "It means 'shit, the past two days were real and I really am a girl now.'"
Lilly gave me an unamused look. "Well aren't you a smartass."
I put my index finger and thumb across my forehead. "Look, I'm not a morning person I'm sorry."
Lilly grabbed my arms and began to shake me. "Well you need to get up as my friends will be here soon."
"Why? What time is it?" I looked to the digital clock where it read 9:14 AM. My time it would be 10:00 AM. "Why so early?"
Lilly frowned. "They're eating breakfast with us is why and you're not going to meet them in only a pair of boxers."
I maintained a straight face. "Hey, I'm still wearing panties under the boxers."
Lilly grimaced. "That's not what I meant. You also need to take a shower before they get here. Or do you need me to help you due to discomfort at your new body?" Her sour expression turned into a smirk.
I brushed the hair out of my face and yawned. "No no, I took a shower the day I turned into a girl. Boobs are so big I can't see anything past them anyway so I got nothing down there to see. Now would you please get off me as it is quite difficult to breathe."
Lilly rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll get off." She slid off me and stood up on the floor. "I'll be making pancakes. Does that sound good to you?"
"Sure" I picked out a pair of my cargo shorts, the bra she gave me yesterday, and a yellow tank-top that read "Surf's up!" in white letters then began trudging groggily over to the bathroom. Once I reached the bathroom I leaned my back against the door to close it then reached for the door knob to lock it. Oddly enough I don't even remember my shower the other day though I know I took one. I swear there are some scary loopholes to this transformation. Lets hope they don't multiply or I run the risk of losing all that I am and have been. I moved towards the shower. It had those glass sliding doors instead of curtains an attribute to the more luxurious lifestyle the students of the academy led. I slid the door to the shower over and reached in to turn on the water, quickly turning the handle to a temperature I estimated to be comfortable before retracting my hand and sliding off my boxers and panties, being careful to keep my eyes away from my body as much as I could, while waiting for the water to heat up.
"Does the water take long to heat up?" I called out to Lilly.
"Nah, only takes a few moments." Lilly responded, her voice muffled by the barrier the sound had to move through.
I stuck my hand in and felt the water. She was right it had already warmed up. "Towels are in this cabinet adjacent to the shower I presume?"
"Yup. Just put it on the towel rack attached to the door."
I opened the cabinet and grabbed one of the neatly folded white towels stacked inside. "Got it, thanks!"
I slung the towel over the rack then opened the shower door again lightly stepping my foot inside to make sure the water was at the right temperature so as to not accidentally scald myself because I had made that mistake in the past and it was not a fun time. Having confirmed the water to not be too hot I put my other foot inside the shower then slid the door shut shuddering at the feeling of water pelting my skin and most especially my new assets. Okay Mason, girls still turn you on so only look when you absolutely have to. First off, shampoo. I looked towards the corner of the shower on the side the nozzle was on where a shower rack stood bolted into the wall filled with hair and body products and the like. I searched through the various bottles until I found one that said 'shampoo'. True to what Lilly said it was a girly brand with hot pink flowers around the brand name and a salmon color to the bottle. I sighed and knew it was better than nothing, so I overturned the bottle and squeezed some onto my hand, but more than I used to squeeze out as I now had more hair I needed to wash. A fact I had ignored when last I took a shower in this form. I clapped my hands together and rubbed them to lather on the shampoo before running my hands through my hair and scrubbing the shampoo in, this time making sure I got the hair that fell past my shoulders too. Sticking my head under the shower to rinse off and once again running my hands through to make sure all the shampoo was washed out I flipped my hair back out of my face and moved on to the part I had been dreading: washing my body. I grabbed the body wash bottle I had found earlier and a mesh scrubber ball hanging from the shower nozzle pouring some of the body wash onto it. I scrubbed all along my body with relative ease despite keeping my eyes closed or averted for the majority of the time. The only awkward part was scrubbing between my breasts which I'm not sure if girls do that but I did it anyway because I care for my hygiene. Having finished washing myself I turned off the water and stepped out onto the shower mat where I grabbed the towel and wrapped it around me using the edges to dry myself off. Again I kept my eyes mostly closed due to being uncomfortable with my new body. Eventually I would have to just get used to my new appearance, but for now my sense of modesty kept myself from possibly looking upon my body with lecherous eyes. Once I dried off I slung my towel over the edge to dry then proceeded upon getting my clothes on. I put on the same underwear due to an overall lack of clothes and unfamiliarity with the wardrobe Lilly had given me. They may be slightly dirty but I had only worn them part of the day yesterday so I rationalized it would be fine. I grabbed the boxer shorts I had worn to bed and stepped out of the bathroom.
"Okay, I'm done." I announced.
"Good our guests have arrived why don't you greet them." Lilly responded from the kitchen area.
"Guests?" I pondered. I turned out of the corridor and looked to my right at the table where two girls sat turned towards me. The one that sat on the side of the table furthest me was a tall overly well-endowed girl with long dark purple hair that she kept in a high ponytail and had cropped bangs. She looked rather mature with calm eyes and an almost motherly smile. Kinda reminded me of those really busty martial arts girls I had seen in some anime. The next one was almost the polar opposite. She was short and delicate seeming with a rather modest breast and snow-white hair that only fell to almost her shoulders. A length I had often grown my hair out to when I was a boy. In fact this girl... "She looks like Koneko from High School DxD!" I blurted out.
The girl slightly frowned and looked away while folding her arms across her chest. "Great another otaku." She grumbled in a squeaky voice.
I squealed like a fangirl. "She even sounds like Koneko! In the dub at least."
Lilly threw her hands up in the air. "Finally someone who gets where I've been coming from!"
The taller girl covered her hand as she giggled. "Come now Lucy, isn't it good that Lilly has finally found someone she can share her passion for anime with so we don't have to listen?"
Lucy kept her gaze averted. "No, because now she won't shut up about it."
Lilly pouted. "I will too. Anyway, Mason I'd like to introduce you to my best friends Lucy and Sarah. Lucy and Sarah, this is my new roommate Mason."
Sarah, the violet haired one, cocked her head to the side. "Mason? Isn't that a boy's name?"
I frowned slightly and drew my eyes into a half-lidded state. "Well it's supposed to be, but that fact didn't stop some people, my parents included in that number." Well that's not a complete lie. They were going to name me Mason even if I was born a girl though my Dad later came to regret that intention
Sarah folded her hands together. "Then why don't we call you Maci? That sounds cuter."
Lilly's face suddenly went placid. "Sarah, that's sweet of you and all, but look at what Mason here is wearing. Do you think she cares about being cute?"
"And to just answer that for you: I don't." I spoke up swiftly before Sarah had time to respond.
Sarah threw her arms up in the air. "This is a travesty! A girl as pretty as you should embrace the gift you have received! I won't allow this. From now on we will call you Maci!"
I looked towards Lilly. "And I thought you were forceful."
Lilly set out four plates then put two pancakes on each of them. "I'm only forceful with you, and Sarah do not force others to be called a name they do not wish to be called by. Yes, her name is traditionally a boy's name but if she wishes to be called it anyway it is her decision."
Sarah leaned back in her chair as Lilly set the pancakes on the table along with syrup and butter. "Well I think we should call her Maci. Don't you agree Lucy?"
Lucy nodded silently. "It suits her."
I sat down at the table, grabbing the butter and spreading it gracefully over my pancakes. "My name is Mason. Nothing else." I declared.
Sarah began cutting her pancakes. "An obstinate one aren't you?"
Lilly sighed. "Sarah, drop it. I want y'all to get along as I told Mason she'd be welcome in our group."
"You always make decisions without first asking us, Lilly." Lucy muttered while eating.
Sarah batted a hand at Lucy. "It's fine Lucy. Mason, I'll concede to calling you by your name but you have to promise me that you'll try on some cute outfits while shopping today."
I took a big bite out of my pancakes. "Sure whatever, but I ain't buying anything expensive as I don't want to drain my bank account." Dumbass, all I need to do is try them on and in return I keep my name the way I want it. It's also kind of creepy to be called the same name as my younger cousin.
Sarah snickered. "And don't worry, I'll pay for any outfits that suit you."
Doesn't mean I have to wear them! Sucker. I chimed harmoniously in my head.
Lilly took a sip from her glass of milk. "Which reminds me. Do you need a job Mason?"
I nodded. "Yeah I'd like one. I made money by doing odd jobs for my mom at her store, so I need a new source of income."
"Want to work with me? The place I work at is looking to hire."
I shrugged. "Sure, why not as long as it's good money."
Lilly clapped. "Yay! I'll take care of everything for you."
Lucy rolled her eyes. "I think you should hear the job out before you decide."
I looked at Lucy. "I'm sorry I didn't catch that. What did you say?" I inquired, her words blotted out by the clang of silverware.
Lucy turned her head away from me. "Oh nothing. You'll find out."
Okay...That's weird.
Lilly set down her knife and fork, already done with her breakfast. "Mason, you wouldn't mind driving us there would you? None of us have licenses, and you don't have a bike which is what we usually use."
I took a swig of my milk to wash down the gooey syrup taste. "First, how do you bring back the stuff you purchased while riding bikes?"
Lilly made sparkly hands. "Magic."
I raised my eyebrow in doubtful suspicion. "Right. Yeah, I'll drive us there you just need to point me in the right direction as I'm not familiar with this area."
Lilly clapped her hands together. "it's settled then!"
"Why can't any of you drive?"
"We don't feel a particular need to, everything here is in relative walking distance. Get some exercise while working on a tan and enjoying sunshine. Of course Lucy stays pale no matter how much sun she gets." Sarah joked.
"You don't have to keep rubbing it in cowtits." Lucy grumbled in retort.
Sarah raised the back of her hand to her mouth and scoffed. "You just call me that as a reaction formation to cover up your own...lacking in the chest department. Besides, Lilly and even our newcomer, Mason, are well-endowed as well."
"Yes, but their size isn't downright outrageous like those behemoths are." Lucy rationalized, driving the validity of her previous insult.
Sarah huffed, her chest bouncing rhythmically with the heave of air she took in. Lucy did have a point, those things were gigantic, yet all the while gorgeous and something I wouldn't all that mind diving my face in... Dammit! You're better than to have such perverted critiques Mason! Although I should be relieved that I still am capable of having such sexual thoughts, but having such scandalous musings is somewhat below a man who strove to keep chivalry alive.
Lilly stood up, taking her plate and silverware. "Alright you two, you're not giving Mason an impression of us being fun people to hang around. Here Mason, I'll take your dishes to the sink." Lilly offered, moving around to my side of the table.
"Thanks Lilly" I said, giving her my plate and silverware now just having finished my meal.
Lilly smiled warmly. "Any time!" She then shot a glare at Sarah and Lucy. "You two stop fighting and finish eating."
"If she didn't go out of her way to make a jab at me I would have finished by now." Lucy muttered, but compliantly went silent and focused on finishing her meal.
Sarah folded her arms under her breasts and turned her head away with her nose upturned, but nonetheless picked her fork back up and resumed eating her pancakes. Meanwhile, I sat there with a deadpan. I swear I've seen this before. With the small little squabble now over I excused myself from the table and sat on the couch, picking up my laptop which still sat on the coffee table from yesterday, pressing the power button before letting my arms go slack while waiting for it boot up.
Once it booted up I opened a web browser and almost instinctively went to my e-mail to see a message from my mom. Fighting back the tears starting to well up in my eyes as to save face from the still ignorant Sarah and Lucy. I opened the mail and began reading the text displayed on the screen while silently mouthing out the words I read:

"Mason,

I'm sure you can imagine how worried I was when I woke up to find you nowhere to be found with much of your valued possessions gone from your room along with your car. I am thankful you at the very least wrote a letter to tell me that you had gone. You're a smart boy who I know can take care of himself when you put your mind to it and I understand why you left. You're no stranger to getting attention, but the whispers and looks from seeing you now changed by means that should be impossible would leave people to eschew your presence thinking you went through a sex-change surgery. At home would probably not be much solace as though we would stand by you I'd guess you'd get put off by how awkwardly we'd handle a son who suddenly became a girl. Know that we still love you and I'll hope you read this and reply to let me know you're alright wherever you are. As a way of saying we're still looking after you, your father will be making a deposit of cash into your checking account to help you along.

-Mom"

I sighed, I could tell my mom had a hard time putting her thoughts into the proper words, but vocabulary had always been the strong suits of my dad and I. I hit the reply button and typed a short message. "I'm okay, I miss you" I couldn't put more than that as it was a struggle to hold back the tears so I hit the send button before the waterworks began to be too much to hold back. I had taken my time reading the e-mail despite it being relatively short to conceal the emotional state I was in. If this were a story about another boy, the emotional turbulence would be the sign of a surfacing maiden heart, but I'm not that boy. Truth be told, I am and always have been highly susceptible to emotional moments. I guess I've always had a soft heart despite my often cynical judgments of human behavior. So no, me getting teary-eyed about my family is if anything, a sign that I'm still me. Probably more gender appropriate now though. So due to my snail-paced reading, once I had closed my laptop and laid it on the coffee table Sarah and Lucy had finished their breakfast and now them as well as Lilly were waiting by the entry-corridor with purses hanging from straps on their shoulders.
"You ready?" Lilly inquired in a honeyed voice.
I stretched my arms as I walked towards them, grabbing my keys which were on the kitchen counter. "Yep, les'go." Although I was the newcomer to the area, I took the lead as only I knew where the car was. We walked to the elevator and got in with surprising silence. Lilly, noticing my suspicion, whispered in my ear telling me that they're keeping quiet as to not wake anyone up since the doors were not as good at keeping sound out as the walls of the dorm rooms. Upon reaching the ground floor we walked out into the parking lot where I lead them to where I had parked my Lexus the previous day.
"This your car?" Sarah asked, peering at the vehicle as if inspecting a product and calculating if it's worth the given expense.
"Yeeeeeees? If you were expecting a Lamborghini Gallardo I think you overestimate my parents' income and underestimate their wisdom." I responded, jumping to the conclusion that she had given the judgment of the product being overpriced.
Sarah held up her hands in defense. "I was just expecting different is all."
I went around to the driver's side and pressed the button on my keys to unlock the doors. "I didn't choose the car. It was my dad's, then my brother's, now its mine."
Lucy got into the backseat of the car behind the driver's. "a hand-me-down car. That's a first." She remarked dryly.
I got into the driver's seat. "Yeah, I'm not a fan of it either."
Lilly hopped into shotgun while Sarah got into the seat next to Lucy's. "Enough about Mason's car. Let's go shopping!" Lilly thrust her arm forward with her index finger extended.
"It's not that exciting." I muttered, putting my keys in and switching on the ignition.
Lilly patted me on the shoulder. "Don't be like that! It'll be fun!"
I growled to indicate that her hand on me was unwelcome. "That remains to be seen. I take no joy in the time wasted as girls are caught between what to buy, and don't touch me while I'm behind the wheel it'll cause me to lose focus and as the driver your lives are essentially in my hands." I put my hand on the knob in the center, putting the car in reverse and backing out of the parking space before shifting into drive and pulling out to the parking lot entrance.
"Take a right." Lilly indicated with her hand.
I nodded. "Got it." Flipping on my right turn signal I looked for any incoming cars before turning into the main road, easing my foot onto the accelerator till I matched the speed limit.
"Once you see a section of the road turn into painted cobblestone make a left at the turn. The cobblestone is used to indicate a crosswalk area as part of the town is on the right side of the road where the dorm is." Lilly directed.
"...Not quite sure you used the right wording there, but alright." Seeing the patch of road mentioned i began to ease my foot onto the breaks and put on my left turn signal. Once I turned in I was met with more buildings with a semicircle strip-mall to my left with a parking lot filling in the middle part and a cement lined inner circle where plants gave a more decorated feel with a grass center and divided into three separate blocks by roadways which lead to further shops and commercial land Looking at the various stores, the avenue was nothing but girl's clothes and accessory stores with a couple of restaurants. This promised to be fun...
"Isn't it beautiful?" Lilly asked, looking towards me.
"Kind of reminds me of a mixture of Seaside and a place we call The Avenue where I live. Either way it's an abomination in my eyes." I stated my rather indignant observation.
Lilly folded her arms. "Okay, somehow I'll make a real woman out of you."
I scoffed, switching off the ignition and opening the door. "Many have tried to mold me, and all of them failed save those who raised me and even then, they were only successful during my early years of life."
"Oh we'll find a way to break your stubborn will." Lilly mused, grabbing me by the wrist. "Let's go give Mason some fashion tips, girls."
Knowing they would only find it amusing if I fought their pulling me towards the store I simply let them drag me, and boy did they drag me. In my obstinacy I refused to budge unless they moved me so they had to drag me on my rump across the cement sidewalk, my cargo shorts, fortunately, made of a durable fabric that would take the friction of my weight with the hard surface and prevented me getting a burn on my ass. I was getting some odd glances from some of the other girls shopping, whether it was because I was being dragged to a store or because I was wearing obvious guy clothes was unknown to me, but to ensure I had some will in my own embarrassment and to amuse myself, I would waggle my eyebrows at anyone who gave more than a fleeting glance just to make them feel uncomfortable. Abruptly Lilly stopped dragging me and before I knew what was going on I felt myself fly off the ground and take a tumble across a tiled floor surface. My friends often said I had a head of rock due to how hard it was, but that didn't stop it from feeling like someone just used my cranium as their personal punching bag.
"Owwwww" I rubbed my head trying to alleviate the pain. I looked up to where Lilly stood from where presumably she had just thrown me. "What the hell was that for!?"
"Making me drag your sorry ass all the way to the store." Lilly retorted.
"Could have busted my head open, crazy woman." I got up onto my feet, still rubbing at my head.
"Lilly has an odd way of knowing how to inflict pain in a cartoonish and comedic manner and predict whether the person will sustain serious injury from it." Lucy stated flatly.
I furrowed my brows together. That could not be humanly possible, but I brushed it aside to look around at the shop I was in. By the check-out counter there was a sign that said Beach Babes - girls summer attire on it. Looking at the clothes in the store it did indeed look like the rather skimpy raiment I see girls often wearing during the summer months and at the beach. Part of the reason I liked going to the beach in the past was when we were not at the actual beach I would see attractive girls wearing such garb and it was a healthy dose of eye-candy for the year. Call me a creep, but a teenage boy is going to have such thoughts, and though my body may have changed I am still very much a boy in mind.
"I reasoned that this was a good place to start. It's still early June so you'll need good clothes to wear for the rest of the summer." Lilly grinned deviously after finishing her statement.
Sarah herself had her thin eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "I don't understand, does Mason not have any girl clothes at all?"
Lucy sighed, "She accidentally left most of her clothes at home in her rush to get here. Lilly told us while Mason was in the shower, remember?"
Sarah frowned. "I wasn't paying attention."
Lilly heaved a sigh. "Let's start before they get into another squabble, come on Mason." She beckoned me into the maze of clothing racks, and I complied without a word. "Sorry about that, Lucy and Sarah often get into arguments, but I assure you it's only because they are such good friends that they can bicker so much."
"Yeah, I get ya." I responded while inspecting the various clothes on display.
"See anything you like?"
"That's a stupid question to ask."
Lilly laughed, "Yeah I guess it is."
"You sure it's okay to leave them?"
"Yeah, they'll keep each other company while I help you."
"Smashing."
"Here, try these on." Lilly rifled through one rack pulling out a denim mini-skirt, and a black top that according to the label was called a "strapped swing top," always wondered what they were called, wish this wasn't the way I found out.
I took the clothes and looked them over. I shrugged, they were girly for sure, but if they were comfortable then it didn't matter. "Suuuuuuure. Which way is the changing room?"
"Here I'll take you to it." Lilly then took me by the hand and led me through the labyrinthine maze of clothing displays and racks to the back of the shop where about four wooden doors stood adjacent to one another with a sign above them saying 'changing rooms'. She next opened one of the doors and pushed me into the stall, "and in you go!" closing the door behind me.
I sighed, looking down at the outfit I held in my hands. I slid my tank top over my head and reached around to unclasp the bra I was wearing which took me a couple tries due to my trouble with fine motor skills and guidance before sliding the top Lilly had given me over my head and working my arms under the straps. I have to admit I liked the loose breezy feel. Having gotten the top on I unbuttoned my shorts and unzipped the fly, letting them drop to the floor before lifting my feet out of the sockets. I held the mini-skirt out in front of me, trying to figure out how I'd put it on. Finding a button and small zipper, I undid them and sat down on the bench to wriggle the skirt up my legs, sucking in my gut a little as I moved from my hips to waist then re-buttoning and zipping it. A little tight, but there was a softer fabric on the inside of the skirt to keep the legs from chafing against the denim weave. Having finished, I checked to see how I looked in the mirror. "Not bad." I thought aloud, immediately covering up my mouth from unintentionally blurting my thoughts out.
Suddenly a knocking was heard on the changing room door. "Hey Mason, you done in there?" It was Lilly.
"Ummmm yes." I replied nervously, it was downright shameful for a man of my stature to be seen in such effeminate garment, and I wasn't willing to let Lilly see me dressed like this.
"Then open up and let us see how you look."
"Uh I'd rather not, it looks rather bad on me I think I'm just going to change back into my normal clothes." I stammered.
"Just let us see it, or I'll just have to get you to try on this frilly pink top I found that I'm sure you'd look absolutely adorable in."
Shit, she had me. No way I was going to willingly put on such a hideous color as pink! I guess being embarrassed while wearing something I'm okay with is better than wearing something I absolutely abominate. "Fine, I'm coming out." I reached for the door handle and slowly creaked open the door and stepped out. As soon as my hand left the door handle I brought my arm in front of me to grab my left arm which was holding the bottom hem of the skirt. I'm not sure what caused me to do such a shy gesture, it just happened in my embarrassment, but I was too worried with the situation at hand to be preoccupied by the girlish behavior.
Lilly's face lit up in a grin which she covered by cupping her hands over her mouth in surprise. "Oh my gosh, you look so pretty!"
My blushing cheek reddened in embarrassment. That was the last thing I wanted to hear
Sarah held her chin in between the crook of her index finger and thumb. "Not bad, amazing what a change of wardrobe can do on a girl's appearance."
Lucy simply gave two thumbs up while holding her face in a deadpan. Yep, she fit the anime archetype perfectly.
"Keep that on, I already bought it for you so you can walk out in it." Lilly smiled with triumph.
"What about the clothes I wore coming in?" I asked in vain hope of getting to walk out of the shop in clothes I felt confident wearing.
"Just put them in with the rest of the clothes I bought for you." Lilly opened up a shopping bag she held in her hands.
"You bought all of this for me?" I gestured at the bags she was carrying on her arms and holding in her hand.
Lilly nodded. "Yup, consider it a friendship gift to our future as roommates!" She then quickly winked at me.
I scratched at the back of my head, humbled by the gesture. "Well, thanks then. I guess I owe ya."
"apathetic one minute, then shy and timid the next. Are you bipolar, Mason?" Sarah asked, now scratching her chin.
"No. I simply seem like I don't get embarrassed by anything but in reality there are multiple chinks in my armor."
Sarah's mouth made a downward curve. "Interesting."
I sighed. "So shall we go to the next store?"
Lilly held up her index finger. "Hold on." She took a step towards me then pulled off the labels on the top and skirt. "Don't want you walking about with those still on!"
I shrugged. "I guess." I grabbed the clothes I had worn in them and tossed them into the shopping bag Lilly had indicated.
"Okay, lets go!" Lilly turned and led the way out of the store, waving goodbye to the clerk as we walked out through the exit. Meanwhile, I was trying my earnest not to look like a fool while figuring out how to properly walk in the skirt. Let's just say I am used to having something down there that makes me want to keep my legs apart, and the skirt was forcing me to adjust to not walking with my legs so close together. I was so preoccupied with walking correctly that when I looked up to see where we were going, Lilly, Sarah, and Lucy were nowhere in site. Ooooooh shit. It's not that I can't get back to the dorms without them. I looked around each way and took a step forward, but as soon as I did I was shoved back by a passerby. Presumably whoever pushed me back was someone of considerable strength for as soon as he pushed me I felt myself falling backwards off my feet. Shit. Regain balance Mason, if you fall then people will be able to see everything! Normally, I wouldn't care, but as alien as this body is to me I need to keep up appearances in case I'm in for the long haul. But there was nothing I could do as I felt myself come ever closer to the ground-
"Woah there."
I opened my eyes to find two large hands grasping me from underneath my upper arms.
"You alright?" A clear deep voice asked from behind me.
"Uuuuuuh yeah, you can let me go now."
"Oh, sorry about that." My unidentified savior then hefted me completely up onto my feet then released his grasp.
I spun on my heel to inspect he who preserved my modesty. The boy looked to be about my age with coarse light brown hair in a pretty average male haircut with no remarkable features other than the texture of his hair causing a slight spiky appearance. If Lilly's eyes were the dark depths of the Pacific Ocean then this boy's eyes would be the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico, his eyes like two pieces of jade instead of eyeballs. One could tell the boy was on the cusp of manhood with a light five o clock shadow taking dominance over the lower part of his face which sported a jawline that made me envious. Damn, that's a jawline I always dreamed of having, it's not fair! One would think with such a chiseled jawline as that they would be gearing up for a husky barrel-chested youth, but while the boy did have the makings of such a build, carrying broad shoulders and breast, his body kept a small lean quality to it like that of a surfers' or swimmers', and he might be one of those as one could tell he spent considerable time at the gym. He was dressed like a California boy, wearing a blue beach shirt and matching board shorts with leather flip flops. Instead of turning into a girl, I wish I turned into this guy. I'd never have girl troubles again. "If you think I'm going to blush and fall in love with you over that you would be wrong."
The boy chuckled, "No, I was just behind you when you fell backwards so I wasn't going to just let you hit the ground like that."
"Well thanks for that, I guess. I suppose introductions are in order: Name is Mason, pleased to make your acquaintance." I outstretched my hand in suggestion he shake.
"Krystoph, and the feeling is mutual," his hand all but enveloped mine as he grabbed it to give my hand a strong firm shake.
"Krystoph eh? You Russian?" I asked, curious as to the origin of the name.
Krystoph scratched at the back of his head, "well sorta, my mother came here from Russia, but my dad was born here in the US."
I raised my eyebrows, interested in the background given, "interesting, so what is a guy doing all alone at a girls shopping strip?" I inquired with teasing suspicion.
Krystoph continued to scratch at his head, averting my gaze nervously, "well that's a funny story. My friends wanted to go here to pick up girls and for whatever reason decided to drag me along. Well as a joke, they stole my phone and ran off trying to get me to chase them, but I lost sight of the idiots, so now I'm just wandering around looking for them."
I pursed lips into a thin line. "Funny, I was here with my roommate and her two friends when I got separated from them."
Krystoph raised a brow, "roommate? You don't go to Seaside Academy do you?"
I looked up towards the sky, "Eh, not technically. I will be attending this coming school year. I just moved in to the dorm yesterday."
Krystoph opened his mouth and rocked his head back and forth, "aaaaah, so your room mate is Lilly Baron then," his smile grew wider and he chuckled softly, "you're lucky to have her as your roommate, Lilly is a nice girl if a bit pushy at times."
I cocked my head to the side, "How do you know Lilly?"
"Aside from going to the same school? She dated my best friend for a little while, they broke up when they figured they were better off as friends."
I formed an O shape with my mouth, "small world."
Krystoph smiled, nodding in agreeance, "Indeed it is. Come on, I'll treat you to some ice cream. Our two parties will eventually come looking for us." He began moving towards a nearby ice cream shop while beckoning me to follow.
I shrugged, "Who am I to say no to free ice cream? I'll take that offer," and followed in suit.
We walked into the shop, a bell ringing as we entered to indicate the staff that there were potential customers inside the store. The clerk, a tanned lady sporting a bob cut looking to be in her early 20s looked up from her cellphone to see us enter, greeting us with a friendly smile. "Welcome! How may I help y'all?" The use of "y'all" was a clear indicator she wasn't from here as I don't typically hear people in coastal Florida use a southern dialect.
Krystoph smiled back at her, "Hey, I'll have two scoops of mint chocolate chip in a waffle cone, and I'll leave my friend to say what she wants."
Taking Krystoph's queue I spoke up to my order, "I'll have two scoops of your cotton candy flavor in a cup please."
Krystoph snickered, "Usually when I'm with a girl, she only goes with one scoop."
I shrugged, "If you had asked for one scoop I would have done so as well, but since you asked for two I figured it would not be intruding on your hospitality if I did the same."
Krystoph shook his head, "I think you didn't catch what I meant."
The clerk handed us our ice cream then told Krystoph the total and Krystoph asked me to hold his ice cream while he got out his wallet and paid for our snack.
I handed him back his cone. "Thanks for the treat." I took a spoonful of my ice cream and stuck it in my mouth.
Krystoph shrugged, "It's no big deal, I was going to anyway and I figured it'd be best if we stick together to make it easier for our parties to find us, so I wasn't going to buy ice cream and let you watch."
I smirked, "rather noble of you."
"Hey, chivalry isn't as dead as you think," he joked.
"It's an uncommon gesture nonetheless."
"I guess it is," he conceded, "so why did you decide to enroll here?"
To avoid being shunned by my peers after I suddenly turned into a girl. "Ummmm, I heard about the school and there's not enough things to do where I live, so I figured I could be more active closer to the beach and make new friends." I wish I could just be a guy again, then there would be no more need for this deception.
Krystoph nodded to show that he understood where my false reason, "yeah, there are a lot of good people here, so where you from originally?"
"Georgia," I replied bluntly.
Krystoph laughed, "something tells me that's all I'm going to get out of you on that topic."
"You'd be correct on that hunch," he lead me over to a bench that was underneath the shade of a small tree planted in the center of a "garden square" as I called them.
"What did you do during your free time if there wasn't much to do outdoors?"
I smiled meekly, "this might sound like a surprise but I'm actually an avid gamer."
Krystoph jumped to the left away from me, covering his mouth in surprise, "Get outta here! You're a gamer?"
I nodded proudly, "been one since 3rd grade, not that I hadn't played video games before that, just it really became a hobby at that time."
Krystoph shook his head in disbelief, "that's crazy."
I lifted a finger, "this is a fairly recent pastime, but I also like watching anime."
Krystoph raised his eyebrows to convey his intrigue, "little bit of a geek are you?"
I smirked, "just a wee bit."
Krystoph snickered with a slightly downcast head, "as long as you're proud of it."
"So what about you? What do you like to do?"
Krystoph ran his hand through his hair, "I guess it's only fair I tell you about myself. I'm from Alabama originally then my family moved to a nearby city. When all my friends said they were going to attend Seaside Academy I decided I might do so as well. As far as hobbies go I'm on the Seaside Academy swim team, and I like to do a lot of beach activities like boogie-boarding and surfing, aside from that I also play a fair bit of video games, Lilly often comes over to my dorm room to play since she herself doesn't have a console. So if you don't do any sports how do you look so in shape?"
Good question, I'm terrible at sports so why the nice body? "I often go to the gym and work out to keep myself from getting fat or anything, I also just don't eat a lot."
"Huh, and lookie there, it seems our companions joined forces to look for us. Heeeeeey, have fun without us? Oh, I think you have an unhappy roommate."
I turned to face the direction he was and true enough I saw Lilly with a not so pleasant expression on her face, "Oh dear."
Lilly stormed towards me, I saw that she had made use of the boys she joined forces with as they were now carrying all the bags, "what the heck Mason? One moment you're behind us and the next we arrive at the next store and you're nowhere to be seen!"
I looked from side to side nervously, unable to look Lilly's piercing "Well I uh got pre-occupied."
Lilly turned and shot a look at Krystoph who threw up his hands in defense, "hey, all I did was keep her from falling on her butt after someone shoved her, you know I'm not going to lure a girl away from her friends, Lilly. We were both separated from our parties, so we decided to just hang out while waiting for y'all to find us," he turned to look at his two compatriots, the one that had been nearest to Lilly had a long blonde wavy surfer's cut and had obviously spent a lot of time in the sun, his facial features were relatively soft and based on my experience I could tell he probably smoked weed. The other one had short black spiky hair with bright countenance about him which made led me to believe he was your typical up-to-no-good teenage boy. "Have fun picking-up girls without your wingman to cover for you?"
The surfer boy sighed, "well, Lilly sort of found us and figuring what we were up to decided to utilize us as human pack mules."
Krystoph laughed, "serves you dorks right. Sorry, Mason these are my two friends. The blondie here is Dylan and this other spiky dude is Steven."
Steven looked towards me, his eyes down first before lifting up his head to look me in the eye, "well hello there beautiful."
I gave him a stare of death, "Don't you dare start."
Krystoph laughed while Steven held his hands up in defense, "woah there chika, just trying to be a kind gentleman."
Krystoph let out a hack of laughter, "that's the biggest load of BS I've heard all day."
"I thought I brought you here to play wingman?" Steven pointed a finger in accusation at Krystoph.
"You did, and my advice is don't try with this one or she will tear you a new one," Krystoph threw back his head and laughed again.
"What, you already got dibs?"
"Hold on, ain't nobody got dibs on me," I interjected, "and ain't nobody going to."
Steven breathed through clenched teeth and displayed a scared expression, "Looks like we got a feisty little southern girl."
While I did grow up in the south, nobody had actually called me "southern" before, but it made me feel happy that I was actually called southern for once in my life, "or maybe I don't like guys who think with hormones rather than their brains."
Lilly sighed heavily, "anyway, Mason, while you were missing we finished the shopping, don't worry we didn't get you anything pink, OH I forgot about your SIM card."
I waved a hand at her, "It's fine, I'll keep the one I have."
Krystoph furrowed his brows, "why would you need a new SIM card?"
"Don't worry about it."
Krystoph shrugged, "Okay then. Mind if I have your number, Mason? Not trying to hook up with your anything you just seem like a girl I could get along with, and seeing as you're new here I figure I can help you fit in."
I tapped my chin in thought, he seemed like a genuine and honest person, and it would be a relief to have a guy friend that I can converse with naturally... "Eh sure why not," I told him my phone number slowly so he could put it into his contact info.
"Thanks, see ya later Mason," he waved goodbye as we walked off towards my car leaving Krystoph behind with his two friends.
"Seems there's a bit of a maiden's heart buried within you, Mason," Lilly whispered into my ear.
"If you're talking about Krystoph, I think it would be more accurate to say I need a friend who speaks the same language as me," I rasped.
Lilly smirked slyly, "I have a feeling it's something more than that."
I flared my nostrils and growled softly. Don't matter what you believe Lilly, I am still a guy on the inside and believe me when I say you are not going to get anywhere past getting me to wear girl's clothes. And so my day of shopping came to a close, Lilly true to her word didn't buy me anything pink, and while some clothes were really feminine she did cut me some slack and buy me more moderate and gender-neutral attire. I now had a decent sized wardrobe to get by on, my parent's concession to not try and track me down, and what looks to be a few new friends to help me adjust to life here at the academy, I could think of a worse day. Hit me with your best shot, Fate.

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

"Mason! Hey Mason! Get up!"
I moaned, rolling over in my bed, "I don't wanna. Too comfy."
"Fine then. I guess you leave me no choice."
"Agh!" I lurched as I felt a weight fall onto my stomach knocking the air out of me. I opened my eyes to see Lilly's face sitting mere centimeters away from mine. "Dammit. Not a dream."
Lilly folded her arms crossly. "What's that supposed to mean?"
I rubbed my forehead. "It means 'shit, the past two days were real and I really am a girl now.'"
Lilly gave me an unamused look. "Well aren't you a smartass."
I put my index finger and thumb across my forehead. "Look, I'm not a morning person I'm sorry."
Lilly grabbed my arms and began to shake me. "Well you need to get up as my friends will be here soon."
"Why? What time is it?" I looked to the digital clock where it read 9:14 AM. My time it would be 10:00 AM. "Why so early?"
Lilly frowned. "They're eating breakfast with us is why and you're not going to meet them in only a pair of boxers."
I maintained a straight face. "Hey, I'm still wearing panties under the boxers."
Lilly grimaced. "That's not what I meant. You also need to take a shower before they get here. Or do you need me to help you due to discomfort at your new body?" Her sour expression turned into a smirk.
I brushed the hair out of my face and yawned. "No no, I took a shower the day I turned into a girl. Boobs are so big I can't see anything past them anyway so I got nothing down there to see. Now would you please get off me as it is quite difficult to breathe."
Lilly rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll get off." She slid off me and stood up on the floor. "I'll be making pancakes. Does that sound good to you?"
"Sure" I picked out a pair of my cargo shorts, the bra she gave me yesterday, and a yellow tank-top that read "Surf's up!" in white letters then began trudging groggily over to the bathroom. Once I reached the bathroom I leaned my back against the door to close it then reached for the door knob to lock it. Oddly enough I don't even remember my shower the other day though I know I took one. I swear there are some scary loopholes to this transformation. Lets hope they don't multiply or I run the risk of losing all that I am and have been. I moved towards the shower. It had those glass sliding doors instead of curtains an attribute to the more luxurious lifestyle the students of the academy led. I slid the door to the shower over and reached in to turn on the water, quickly turning the handle to a temperature I estimated to be comfortable before retracting my hand and sliding off my boxers and panties, being careful to keep my eyes away from my body as much as I could, while waiting for the water to heat up.
"Does the water take long to heat up?" I called out to Lilly.
"Nah, only takes a few moments." Lilly responded, her voice muffled by the barrier the sound had to move through.
I stuck my hand in and felt the water. She was right it had already warmed up. "Towels are in this cabinet adjacent to the shower I presume?"
"Yup. Just put it on the towel rack attached to the door."
I opened the cabinet and grabbed one of the neatly folded white towels stacked inside. "Got it, thanks!"
I slung the towel over the rack then opened the shower door again lightly stepping my foot inside to make sure the water was at the right temperature so as to not accidentally scald myself because I had made that mistake in the past and it was not a fun time. Having confirmed the water to not be too hot I put my other foot inside the shower then slid the door shut shuddering at the feeling of water pelting my skin and most especially my new assets. Okay Mason, girls still turn you on so only look when you absolutely have to. First off, shampoo. I looked towards the corner of the shower on the side the nozzle was on where a shower rack stood bolted into the wall filled with hair and body products and the like. I searched through the various bottles until I found one that said 'shampoo'. True to what Lilly said it was a girly brand with hot pink flowers around the brand name and a salmon color to the bottle. I sighed and knew it was better than nothing, so I overturned the bottle and squeezed some onto my hand, but more than I used to squeeze out as I now had more hair I needed to wash. A fact I had ignored when last I took a shower in this form. I clapped my hands together and rubbed them to lather on the shampoo before running my hands through my hair and scrubbing the shampoo in, this time making sure I got the hair that fell past my shoulders too. Sticking my head under the shower to rinse off and once again running my hands through to make sure all the shampoo was washed out I flipped my hair back out of my face and moved on to the part I had been dreading: washing my body. I grabbed the body wash bottle I had found earlier and a mesh scrubber ball hanging from the shower nozzle pouring some of the body wash onto it. I scrubbed all along my body with relative ease despite keeping my eyes closed or averted for the majority of the time. The only awkward part was scrubbing between my breasts which I'm not sure if girls do that but I did it anyway because I care for my hygiene. Having finished washing myself I turned off the water and stepped out onto the shower mat where I grabbed the towel and wrapped it around me using the edges to dry myself off. Again I kept my eyes mostly closed due to being uncomfortable with my new body. Eventually I would have to just get used to my new appearance, but for now my sense of modesty kept myself from possibly looking upon my body with lecherous eyes. Once I dried off I slung my towel over the edge to dry then proceeded upon getting my clothes on. I put on the same underwear due to an overall lack of clothes and unfamiliarity with the wardrobe Lilly had given me. They may be slightly dirty but I had only worn them part of the day yesterday so I rationalized it would be fine. I grabbed the boxer shorts I had worn to bed and stepped out of the bathroom.
"Okay, I'm done." I announced.
"Good our guests have arrived why don't you greet them." Lilly responded from the kitchen area.
"Guests?" I pondered. I turned out of the corridor and looked to my right at the table where two girls sat turned towards me. The one that sat on the side of the table furthest me was a tall overly well-endowed girl with long dark purple hair that she kept in a high ponytail and had cropped bangs. She looked rather mature with calm eyes and an almost motherly smile. Kinda reminded me of those really busty martial arts girls I had seen in some anime. The next one was almost the polar opposite. She was short and delicate seeming with a rather modest breast and snow-white hair that only fell to almost her shoulders. A length I had often grown my hair out to when I was a boy. In fact this girl... "She looks like Koneko from High School DxD!" I blurted out.
The girl slightly frowned and looked away while folding her arms across her chest. "Great another otaku." She grumbled in a squeaky voice.
I squealed like a fangirl. "She even sounds like Koneko! In the dub at least."
Lilly threw her hands up in the air. "Finally someone who gets where I've been coming from!"
The taller girl covered her hand as she giggled. "Come now Lucy, isn't it good that Lilly has finally found someone she can share her passion for anime with so we don't have to listen?"
Lucy kept her gaze averted. "No, because now she won't shut up about it."
Lilly pouted. "I will too. Anyway, Mason I'd like to introduce you to my best friends Lucy and Sarah. Lucy and Sarah, this is my new roommate Mason."
Sarah, the violet haired one, cocked her head to the side. "Mason? Isn't that a boy's name?"
I frowned slightly and drew my eyes into a half-lidded state. "Well it's supposed to be, but that fact didn't stop some people, my parents included in that number." Well that's not a complete lie. They were going to name me Mason even if I was born a girl though my Dad later came to regret that intention
Sarah folded her hands together. "Then why don't we call you Maci? That sounds cuter."
Lilly's face suddenly went placid. "Sarah, that's sweet of you and all, but look at what Mason here is wearing. Do you think she cares about being cute?"
"And to just answer that for you: I don't." I spoke up swiftly before Sarah had time to respond.
Sarah threw her arms up in the air. "This is a travesty! A girl as pretty as you should embrace the gift you have received! I won't allow this. From now on we will call you Maci!"
I looked towards Lilly. "And I thought you were forceful."
Lilly set out four plates then put two pancakes on each of them. "I'm only forceful with you, and Sarah do not force others to be called a name they do not wish to be called by. Yes, her name is traditionally a boy's name but if she wishes to be called it anyway it is her decision."
Sarah leaned back in her chair as Lilly set the pancakes on the table along with syrup and butter. "Well I think we should call her Maci. Don't you agree Lucy?"
Lucy nodded silently. "It suits her."
I sat down at the table, grabbing the butter and spreading it gracefully over my pancakes. "My name is Mason. Nothing else." I declared.
Sarah began cutting her pancakes. "An obstinate one aren't you?"
Lilly sighed. "Sarah, drop it. I want y'all to get along as I told Mason she'd be welcome in our group."
"You always make decisions without first asking us, Lilly." Lucy muttered while eating.
Sarah batted a hand at Lucy. "It's fine Lucy. Mason, I'll concede to calling you by your name but you have to promise me that you'll try on some cute outfits while shopping today."
I took a big bite out of my pancakes. "Sure whatever, but I ain't buying anything expensive as I don't want to drain my bank account." Dumbass, all I need to do is try them on and in return I keep my name the way I want it. It's also kind of creepy to be called the same name as my younger cousin.
Sarah snickered. "And don't worry, I'll pay for any outfits that suit you."
Doesn't mean I have to wear them! Sucker. I chimed harmoniously in my head.
Lilly took a sip from her glass of milk. "Which reminds me. Do you need a job Mason?"
I nodded. "Yeah I'd like one. I made money by doing odd jobs for my mom at her store, so I need a new source of income."
"Want to work with me? The place I work at is looking to hire."
I shrugged. "Sure, why not as long as it's good money."
Lilly clapped. "Yay! I'll take care of everything for you."
Lucy rolled her eyes. "I think you should hear the job out before you decide."
I looked at Lucy. "I'm sorry I didn't catch that. What did you say?" I inquired, her words blotted out by the clang of silverware.
Lucy turned her head away from me. "Oh nothing. You'll find out."
Okay...That's weird.
Lilly set down her knife and fork, already done with her breakfast. "Mason, you wouldn't mind driving us there would you? None of us have licenses, and you don't have a bike which is what we usually use."
I took a swig of my milk to wash down the gooey syrup taste. "First, how do you bring back the stuff you purchased while riding bikes?"
Lilly made sparkly hands. "Magic."
I raised my eyebrow in doubtful suspicion. "Right. Yeah, I'll drive us there you just need to point me in the right direction as I'm not familiar with this area."
Lilly clapped her hands together. "it's settled then!"
"Why can't any of you drive?"
"We don't feel a particular need to, everything here is in relative walking distance. Get some exercise while working on a tan and enjoying sunshine. Of course Lucy stays pale no matter how much sun she gets." Sarah joked.
"You don't have to keep rubbing it in cowtits." Lucy grumbled in retort.
Sarah raised the back of her hand to her mouth and scoffed. "You just call me that as a reaction formation to cover up your own...lacking in the chest department. Besides, Lilly and even our newcomer, Mason, are well-endowed as well."
"Yes, but their size isn't downright outrageous like those behemoths are." Lucy rationalized, driving the validity of her previous insult.
Sarah huffed, her chest bouncing rhythmically with the heave of air she took in. Lucy did have a point, those things were gigantic, yet all the while gorgeous and something I wouldn't all that mind diving my face in... Dammit! You're better than to have such perverted critiques Mason! Although I should be relieved that I still am capable of having such sexual thoughts, but having such scandalous musings is somewhat below a man who strove to keep chivalry alive.
Lilly stood up, taking her plate and silverware. "Alright you two, you're not giving Mason an impression of us being fun people to hang around. Here Mason, I'll take your dishes to the sink." Lilly offered, moving around to my side of the table.
"Thanks Lilly" I said, giving her my plate and silverware now just having finished my meal.
Lilly smiled warmly. "Any time!" She then shot a glare at Sarah and Lucy. "You two stop fighting and finish eating."
"If she didn't go out of her way to make a jab at me I would have finished by now." Lucy muttered, but compliantly went silent and focused on finishing her meal.
Sarah folded her arms under her breasts and turned her head away with her nose upturned, but nonetheless picked her fork back up and resumed eating her pancakes. Meanwhile, I sat there with a deadpan. I swear I've seen this before. With the small little squabble now over I excused myself from the table and sat on the couch, picking up my laptop which still sat on the coffee table from yesterday, pressing the power button before letting my arms go slack while waiting for it boot up.
Once it booted up I opened a web browser and almost instinctively went to my e-mail to see a message from my mom. Fighting back the tears starting to well up in my eyes as to save face from the still ignorant Sarah and Lucy. I opened the mail and began reading the text displayed on the screen while silently mouthing out the words I read:

"Mason,

I'm sure you can imagine how worried I was when I woke up to find you nowhere to be found with much of your valued possessions gone from your room along with your car. I am thankful you at the very least wrote a letter to tell me that you had gone. You're a smart boy who I know can take care of himself when you put your mind to it and I understand why you left. You're no stranger to getting attention, but the whispers and looks from seeing you now changed by means that should be impossible would leave people to eschew your presence thinking you went through a sex-change surgery. At home would probably not be much solace as though we would stand by you I'd guess you'd get put off by how awkwardly we'd handle a son who suddenly became a girl. Know that we still love you and I'll hope you read this and reply to let me know you're alright wherever you are. As a way of saying we're still looking after you, your father will be making a deposit of cash into your checking account to help you along.

-Mom"

I sighed, I could tell my mom had a hard time putting her thoughts into the proper words, but vocabulary had always been the strong suits of my dad and I. I hit the reply button and typed a short message. "I'm okay, I miss you" I couldn't put more than that as it was a struggle to hold back the tears so I hit the send button before the waterworks began to be too much to hold back. I had taken my time reading the e-mail despite it being relatively short to conceal the emotional state I was in. If this were a story about another boy, the emotional turbulence would be the sign of a surfacing maiden heart, but I'm not that boy. Truth be told, I am and always have been highly susceptible to emotional moments. I guess I've always had a soft heart despite my often cynical judgments of human behavior. So no, me getting teary-eyed about my family is if anything, a sign that I'm still me. Probably more gender appropriate now though. So due to my snail-paced reading, once I had closed my laptop and laid it on the coffee table Sarah and Lucy had finished their breakfast and now them as well as Lilly were waiting by the entry-corridor with purses hanging from straps on their shoulders.
"You ready?" Lilly inquired in a honeyed voice.
I stretched my arms as I walked towards them, grabbing my keys which were on the kitchen counter. "Yep, les'go." Although I was the newcomer to the area, I took the lead as only I knew where the car was. We walked to the elevator and got in with surprising silence. Lilly, noticing my suspicion, whispered in my ear telling me that they're keeping quiet as to not wake anyone up since the doors were not as good at keeping sound out as the walls of the dorm rooms. Upon reaching the ground floor we walked out into the parking lot where I lead them to where I had parked my Lexus the previous day.
"This your car?" Sarah asked, peering at the vehicle as if inspecting a product and calculating if it's worth the given expense.
"Yeeeeeees? If you were expecting a Lamborghini Gallardo I think you overestimate my parents' income and underestimate their wisdom." I responded, jumping to the conclusion that she had given the judgment of the product being overpriced.
Sarah held up her hands in defense. "I was just expecting different is all."
I went around to the driver's side and pressed the button on my keys to unlock the doors. "I didn't choose the car. It was my dad's, then my brother's, now its mine."
Lucy got into the backseat of the car behind the driver's. "a hand-me-down car. That's a first." She remarked dryly.
I got into the driver's seat. "Yeah, I'm not a fan of it either."
Lilly hopped into shotgun while Sarah got into the seat next to Lucy's. "Enough about Mason's car. Let's go shopping!" Lilly thrust her arm forward with her index finger extended.
"It's not that exciting." I muttered, putting my keys in and switching on the ignition.
Lilly patted me on the shoulder. "Don't be like that! It'll be fun!"
I growled to indicate that her hand on me was unwelcome. "That remains to be seen. I take no joy in the time wasted as girls are caught between what to buy, and don't touch me while I'm behind the wheel it'll cause me to lose focus and as the driver your lives are essentially in my hands." I put my hand on the knob in the center, putting the car in reverse and backing out of the parking space before shifting into drive and pulling out to the parking lot entrance.
"Take a right." Lilly indicated with her hand.
I nodded. "Got it." Flipping on my right turn signal I looked for any incoming cars before turning into the main road, easing my foot onto the accelerator till I matched the speed limit.
"Once you see a section of the road turn into painted cobblestone make a left at the turn. The cobblestone is used to indicate a crosswalk area as part of the town is on the right side of the road where the dorm is." Lilly directed.
"...Not quite sure you used the right wording there, but alright." Seeing the patch of road mentioned i began to ease my foot onto the breaks and put on my left turn signal. Once I turned in I was met with more buildings with a semicircle strip-mall to my left with a parking lot filling in the middle part and a cement lined inner circle where plants gave a more decorated feel with a grass center and divided into three separate blocks by roadways which lead to further shops and commercial land Looking at the various stores, the avenue was nothing but girl's clothes and accessory stores with a couple of restaurants. This promised to be fun...
"Isn't it beautiful?" Lilly asked, looking towards me.
"Kind of reminds me of a mixture of Seaside and a place we call The Avenue where I live. Either way it's an abomination in my eyes." I stated my rather indignant observation.
Lilly folded her arms. "Okay, somehow I'll make a real woman out of you."
I scoffed, switching off the ignition and opening the door. "Many have tried to mold me, and all of them failed save those who raised me and even then, they were only successful during my early years of life."
"Oh we'll find a way to break your stubborn will." Lilly mused, grabbing me by the wrist. "Let's go give Mason some fashion tips, girls."
Knowing they would only find it amusing if I fought their pulling me towards the store I simply let them drag me, and boy did they drag me. In my obstinacy I refused to budge unless they moved me so they had to drag me on my rump across the cement sidewalk, my cargo shorts, fortunately, made of a durable fabric that would take the friction of my weight with the hard surface and prevented me getting a burn on my ass. I was getting some odd glances from some of the other girls shopping, whether it was because I was being dragged to a store or because I was wearing obvious guy clothes was unknown to me, but to ensure I had some will in my own embarrassment and to amuse myself, I would waggle my eyebrows at anyone who gave more than a fleeting glance just to make them feel uncomfortable. Abruptly Lilly stopped dragging me and before I knew what was going on I felt myself fly off the ground and take a tumble across a tiled floor surface. My friends often said I had a head of rock due to how hard it was, but that didn't stop it from feeling like someone just used my cranium as their personal punching bag.
"Owwwww" I rubbed my head trying to alleviate the pain. I looked up to where Lilly stood from where presumably she had just thrown me. "What the hell was that for!?"
"Making me drag your sorry ass all the way to the store." Lilly retorted.
"Could have busted my head open, crazy woman." I got up onto my feet, still rubbing at my head.
"Lilly has an odd way of knowing how to inflict pain in a cartoonish and comedic manner and predict whether the person will sustain serious injury from it." Lucy stated flatly.
I furrowed my brows together. That could not be humanly possible, but I brushed it aside to look around at the shop I was in. By the check-out counter there was a sign that said Beach Babes - girls summer attire on it. Looking at the clothes in the store it did indeed look like the rather skimpy raiment I see girls often wearing during the summer months and at the beach. Part of the reason I liked going to the beach in the past was when we were not at the actual beach I would see attractive girls wearing such garb and it was a healthy dose of eye-candy for the year. Call me a creep, but a teenage boy is going to have such thoughts, and though my body may have changed I am still very much a boy in mind.
"I reasoned that this was a good place to start. It's still early June so you'll need good clothes to wear for the rest of the summer." Lilly grinned deviously after finishing her statement.
Sarah herself had her thin eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "I don't understand, does Mason not have any girl clothes at all?"
Lucy sighed, "She accidentally left most of her clothes at home in her rush to get here. Lilly told us while Mason was in the shower, remember?"
Sarah frowned. "I wasn't paying attention."
Lilly heaved a sigh. "Let's start before they get into another squabble, come on Mason." She beckoned me into the maze of clothing racks, and I complied without a word. "Sorry about that, Lucy and Sarah often get into arguments, but I assure you it's only because they are such good friends that they can bicker so much."
"Yeah, I get ya." I responded while inspecting the various clothes on display.
"See anything you like?"
"That's a stupid question to ask."
Lilly laughed, "Yeah I guess it is."
"You sure it's okay to leave them?"
"Yeah, they'll keep each other company while I help you."
"Smashing."
"Here, try these on." Lilly rifled through one rack pulling out a denim mini-skirt, and a black top that according to the label was called a "strapped swing top," always wondered what they were called, wish this wasn't the way I found out.
I took the clothes and looked them over. I shrugged, they were girly for sure, but if they were comfortable then it didn't matter. "Suuuuuuure. Which way is the changing room?"
"Here I'll take you to it." Lilly then took me by the hand and led me through the labyrinthine maze of clothing displays and racks to the back of the shop where about four wooden doors stood adjacent to one another with a sign above them saying 'changing rooms'. She next opened one of the doors and pushed me into the stall, "and in you go!" closing the door behind me.
I sighed, looking down at the outfit I held in my hands. I slid my tank top over my head and reached around to unclasp the bra I was wearing which took me a couple tries due to my trouble with fine motor skills and guidance before sliding the top Lilly had given me over my head and working my arms under the straps. I have to admit I liked the loose breezy feel. Having gotten the top on I unbuttoned my shorts and unzipped the fly, letting them drop to the floor before lifting my feet out of the sockets. I held the mini-skirt out in front of me, trying to figure out how I'd put it on. Finding a button and small zipper, I undid them and sat down on the bench to wriggle the skirt up my legs, sucking in my gut a little as I moved from my hips to waist then re-buttoning and zipping it. A little tight, but there was a softer fabric on the inside of the skirt to keep the legs from chafing against the denim weave. Having finished, I checked to see how I looked in the mirror. "Not bad." I thought aloud, immediately covering up my mouth from unintentionally blurting my thoughts out.
Suddenly a knocking was heard on the changing room door. "Hey Mason, you done in there?" It was Lilly.
"Ummmm yes." I replied nervously, it was downright shameful for a man of my stature to be seen in such effeminate garment, and I wasn't willing to let Lilly see me dressed like this.
"Then open up and let us see how you look."
"Uh I'd rather not, it looks rather bad on me I think I'm just going to change back into my normal clothes." I stammered.
"Just let us see it, or I'll just have to get you to try on this frilly pink top I found that I'm sure you'd look absolutely adorable in."
Shit, she had me. No way I was going to willingly put on such a hideous color as pink! I guess being embarrassed while wearing something I'm okay with is better than wearing something I absolutely abominate. "Fine, I'm coming out." I reached for the door handle and slowly creaked open the door and stepped out. As soon as my hand left the door handle I brought my arm in front of me to grab my left arm which was holding the bottom hem of the skirt. I'm not sure what caused me to do such a shy gesture, it just happened in my embarrassment, but I was too worried with the situation at hand to be preoccupied by the girlish behavior.
Lilly's face lit up in a grin which she covered by cupping her hands over her mouth in surprise. "Oh my gosh, you look so pretty!"
My blushing cheek reddened in embarrassment. That was the last thing I wanted to hear
Sarah held her chin in between the crook of her index finger and thumb. "Not bad, amazing what a change of wardrobe can do on a girl's appearance."
Lucy simply gave two thumbs up while holding her face in a deadpan. Yep, she fit the anime archetype perfectly.
"Keep that on, I already bought it for you so you can walk out in it." Lilly smiled with triumph.
"What about the clothes I wore coming in?" I asked in vain hope of getting to walk out of the shop in clothes I felt confident wearing.
"Just put them in with the rest of the clothes I bought for you." Lilly opened up a shopping bag she held in her hands.
"You bought all of this for me?" I gestured at the bags she was carrying on her arms and holding in her hand.
Lilly nodded. "Yup, consider it a friendship gift to our future as roommates!" She then quickly winked at me.
I scratched at the back of my head, humbled by the gesture. "Well, thanks then. I guess I owe ya."
"apathetic one minute, then shy and timid the next. Are you bipolar, Mason?" Sarah asked, now scratching her chin.
"No. I simply seem like I don't get embarrassed by anything but in reality there are multiple chinks in my armor."
Sarah's mouth made a downward curve. "Interesting."
I sighed. "So shall we go to the next store?"
Lilly held up her index finger. "Hold on." She took a step towards me then pulled off the labels on the top and skirt. "Don't want you walking about with those still on!"
I shrugged. "I guess." I grabbed the clothes I had worn in them and tossed them into the shopping bag Lilly had indicated.
"Okay, lets go!" Lilly turned and led the way out of the store, waving goodbye to the clerk as we walked out through the exit. Meanwhile, I was trying my earnest not to look like a fool while figuring out how to properly walk in the skirt. Let's just say I am used to having something down there that makes me want to keep my legs apart, and the skirt was forcing me to adjust to not walking with my legs so close together. I was so preoccupied with walking correctly that when I looked up to see where we were going, Lilly, Sarah, and Lucy were nowhere in site. Ooooooh shit. It's not that I can't get back to the dorms without them. I looked around each way and took a step forward, but as soon as I did I was shoved back by a passerby. Presumably whoever pushed me back was someone of considerable strength for as soon as he pushed me I felt myself falling backwards off my feet. Shit. Regain balance Mason, if you fall then people will be able to see everything! Normally, I wouldn't care, but as alien as this body is to me I need to keep up appearances in case I'm in for the long haul. But there was nothing I could do as I felt myself come ever closer to the ground-
"Woah there."
I opened my eyes to find two large hands grasping me from underneath my upper arms.
"You alright?" A clear deep voice asked from behind me.
"Uuuuuuh yeah, you can let me go now."
"Oh, sorry about that." My unidentified savior then hefted me completely up onto my feet then released his grasp.
I spun on my heel to inspect he who preserved my modesty. The boy looked to be about my age with coarse light brown hair in a pretty average male haircut with no remarkable features other than the texture of his hair causing a slight spiky appearance. If Lilly's eyes were the dark depths of the Pacific Ocean then this boy's eyes would be the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico, his eyes like two pieces of jade instead of eyeballs. One could tell the boy was on the cusp of manhood with a light five o clock shadow taking dominance over the lower part of his face which sported a jawline that made me envious. Damn, that's a jawline I always dreamed of having, it's not fair! One would think with such a chiseled jawline as that they would be gearing up for a husky barrel-chested youth, but while the boy did have the makings of such a build, carrying broad shoulders and breast, his body kept a small lean quality to it like that of a surfers' or swimmers', and he might be one of those as one could tell he spent considerable time at the gym. He was dressed like a California boy, wearing a blue beach shirt and matching board shorts with leather flip flops. Instead of turning into a girl, I wish I turned into this guy. I'd never have girl troubles again. "If you think I'm going to blush and fall in love with you over that you would be wrong."
The boy chuckled, "No, I was just behind you when you fell backwards so I wasn't going to just let you hit the ground like that."
"Well thanks for that, I guess. I suppose introductions are in order: Name is Mason, pleased to make your acquaintance." I outstretched my hand in suggestion he shake.
"Krystoph, and the feeling is mutual," his hand all but enveloped mine as he grabbed it to give my hand a strong firm shake.
"Krystoph eh? You Russian?" I asked, curious as to the origin of the name.
Krystoph scratched at the back of his head, "well sorta, my mother came here from Russia, but my dad was born here in the US."
I raised my eyebrows, interested in the background given, "interesting, so what is a guy doing all alone at a girls shopping strip?" I inquired with teasing suspicion.
Krystoph continued to scratch at his head, averting my gaze nervously, "well that's a funny story. My friends wanted to go here to pick up girls and for whatever reason decided to drag me along. Well as a joke, they stole my phone and ran off trying to get me to chase them, but I lost sight of the idiots, so now I'm just wandering around looking for them."
I pursed lips into a thin line. "Funny, I was here with my roommate and her two friends when I got separated from them."
Krystoph raised a brow, "roommate? You don't go to Seaside Academy do you?"
I looked up towards the sky, "Eh, not technically. I will be attending this coming school year. I just moved in to the dorm yesterday."
Krystoph opened his mouth and rocked his head back and forth, "aaaaah, so your room mate is Lilly Baron then," his smile grew wider and he chuckled softly, "you're lucky to have her as your roommate, Lilly is a nice girl if a bit pushy at times."
I cocked my head to the side, "How do you know Lilly?"
"Aside from going to the same school? She dated my best friend for a little while, they broke up when they figured they were better off as friends."
I formed an O shape with my mouth, "small world."
Krystoph smiled, nodding in agreeance, "Indeed it is. Come on, I'll treat you to some ice cream. Our two parties will eventually come looking for us." He began moving towards a nearby ice cream shop while beckoning me to follow.
I shrugged, "Who am I to say no to free ice cream? I'll take that offer," and followed in suit.
We walked into the shop, a bell ringing as we entered to indicate the staff that there were potential customers inside the store. The clerk, a tanned lady sporting a bob cut looking to be in her early 20s looked up from her cellphone to see us enter, greeting us with a friendly smile. "Welcome! How may I help y'all?" The use of "y'all" was a clear indicator she wasn't from here as I don't typically hear people in coastal Florida use a southern dialect.
Krystoph smiled back at her, "Hey, I'll have two scoops of mint chocolate chip in a waffle cone, and I'll leave my friend to say what she wants."
Taking Krystoph's queue I spoke up to my order, "I'll have two scoops of your cotton candy flavor in a cup please."
Krystoph snickered, "Usually when I'm with a girl, she only goes with one scoop."
I shrugged, "If you had asked for one scoop I would have done so as well, but since you asked for two I figured it would not be intruding on your hospitality if I did the same."
Krystoph shook his head, "I think you didn't catch what I meant."
The clerk handed us our ice cream then told Krystoph the total and Krystoph asked me to hold his ice cream while he got out his wallet and paid for our snack.
I handed him back his cone. "Thanks for the treat." I took a spoonful of my ice cream and stuck it in my mouth.
Krystoph shrugged, "It's no big deal, I was going to anyway and I figured it'd be best if we stick together to make it easier for our parties to find us, so I wasn't going to buy ice cream and let you watch."
I smirked, "rather noble of you."
"Hey, chivalry isn't as dead as you think," he joked.
"It's an uncommon gesture nonetheless."
"I guess it is," he conceded, "so why did you decide to enroll here?"
To avoid being shunned by my peers after I suddenly turned into a girl. "Ummmm, I heard about the school and there's not enough things to do where I live, so I figured I could be more active closer to the beach and make new friends." I wish I could just be a guy again, then there would be no more need for this deception.
Krystoph nodded to show that he understood where my false reason, "yeah, there are a lot of good people here, so where you from originally?"
"Georgia," I replied bluntly.
Krystoph laughed, "something tells me that's all I'm going to get out of you on that topic."
"You'd be correct on that hunch," he lead me over to a bench that was underneath the shade of a small tree planted in the center of a "garden square" as I called them.
"What did you do during your free time if there wasn't much to do outdoors?"
I smiled meekly, "this might sound like a surprise but I'm actually an avid gamer."
Krystoph jumped to the left away from me, covering his mouth in surprise, "Get outta here! You're a gamer?"
I nodded proudly, "been one since 3rd grade, not that I hadn't played video games before that, just it really became a hobby at that time."
Krystoph shook his head in disbelief, "that's crazy."
I lifted a finger, "this is a fairly recent pastime, but I also like watching anime."
Krystoph raised his eyebrows to convey his intrigue, "little bit of a geek are you?"
I smirked, "just a wee bit."
Krystoph snickered with a slightly downcast head, "as long as you're proud of it."
"So what about you? What do you like to do?"
Krystoph ran his hand through his hair, "I guess it's only fair I tell you about myself. I'm from Alabama originally then my family moved to a nearby city. When all my friends said they were going to attend Seaside Academy I decided I might do so as well. As far as hobbies go I'm on the Seaside Academy swim team, and I like to do a lot of beach activities like boogie-boarding and surfing, aside from that I also play a fair bit of video games, Lilly often comes over to my dorm room to play since she herself doesn't have a console. So if you don't do any sports how do you look so in shape?"
Good question, I'm terrible at sports so why the nice body? "I often go to the gym and work out to keep myself from getting fat or anything, I also just don't eat a lot."
"Huh, and lookie there, it seems our companions joined forces to look for us. Heeeeeey, have fun without us? Oh, I think you have an unhappy roommate."
I turned to face the direction he was and true enough I saw Lilly with a not so pleasant expression on her face, "Oh dear."
Lilly stormed towards me, I saw that she had made use of the boys she joined forces with as they were now carrying all the bags, "what the heck Mason? One moment you're behind us and the next we arrive at the next store and you're nowhere to be seen!"
I looked from side to side nervously, unable to look Lilly's piercing "Well I uh got pre-occupied."
Lilly turned and shot a look at Krystoph who threw up his hands in defense, "hey, all I did was keep her from falling on her butt after someone shoved her, you know I'm not going to lure a girl away from her friends, Lilly. We were both separated from our parties, so we decided to just hang out while waiting for y'all to find us," he turned to look at his two compatriots, the one that had been nearest to Lilly had a long blonde wavy surfer's cut and had obviously spent a lot of time in the sun, his facial features were relatively soft and based on my experience I could tell he probably smoked weed. The other one had short black spiky hair with bright countenance about him which made led me to believe he was your typical up-to-no-good teenage boy. "Have fun picking-up girls without your wingman to cover for you?"
The surfer boy sighed, "well, Lilly sort of found us and figuring what we were up to decided to utilize us as human pack mules."
Krystoph laughed, "serves you dorks right. Sorry, Mason these are my two friends. The blondie here is Dylan and this other spiky dude is Steven."
Steven looked towards me, his eyes down first before lifting up his head to look me in the eye, "well hello there beautiful."
I gave him a stare of death, "Don't you dare start."
Krystoph laughed while Steven held his hands up in defense, "woah there chika, just trying to be a kind gentleman."
Krystoph let out a hack of laughter, "that's the biggest load of BS I've heard all day."
"I thought I brought you here to play wingman?" Steven pointed a finger in accusation at Krystoph.
"You did, and my advice is don't try with this one or she will tear you a new one," Krystoph threw back his head and laughed again.
"What, you already got dibs?"
"Hold on, ain't nobody got dibs on me," I interjected, "and ain't nobody going to."
Steven breathed through clenched teeth and displayed a scared expression, "Looks like we got a feisty little southern girl."
While I did grow up in the south, nobody had actually called me "southern" before, but it made me feel happy that I was actually called southern for once in my life, "or maybe I don't like guys who think with hormones rather than their brains."
Lilly sighed heavily, "anyway, Mason, while you were missing we finished the shopping, don't worry we didn't get you anything pink, OH I forgot about your SIM card."
I waved a hand at her, "It's fine, I'll keep the one I have."
Krystoph furrowed his brows, "why would you need a new SIM card?"
"Don't worry about it."
Krystoph shrugged, "Okay then. Mind if I have your number, Mason? Not trying to hook up with your anything you just seem like a girl I could get along with, and seeing as you're new here I figure I can help you fit in."
I tapped my chin in thought, he seemed like a genuine and honest person, and it would be a relief to have a guy friend that I can converse with naturally... "Eh sure why not," I told him my phone number slowly so he could put it into his contact info.
"Thanks, see ya later Mason," he waved goodbye as we walked off towards my car leaving Krystoph behind with his two friends.
"Seems there's a bit of a maiden's heart buried within you, Mason," Lilly whispered into my ear.
"If you're talking about Krystoph, I think it would be more accurate to say I need a friend who speaks the same language as me," I rasped.
Lilly smirked slyly, "I have a feeling it's something more than that."
I flared my nostrils and growled softly. Don't matter what you believe Lilly, I am still a guy on the inside and believe me when I say you are not going to get anywhere past getting me to wear girl's clothes. And so my day of shopping came to a close, Lilly true to her word didn't buy me anything pink, and while some clothes were really feminine she did cut me some slack and buy me more moderate and gender-neutral attire. I now had a decent sized wardrobe to get by on, my parent's concession to not try and track me down, and what looks to be a few new friends to help me adjust to life here at the academy, I could think of a worse day. Hit me with your best shot, Fate.