As they carried the dishes into the kitchen, Dustin whispered to Ty, "How do you come up with these amazing transformation ideas? I still can't come up with a single thing to ask you to transform me into!"
"This entire transformation was Lisa's idea," Ty explained. "I think she's far more imaginative than I am. I made only some very minor suggestions, and a change to protecting her fish from being harmed if she moves suddenly."
"Well, I'm very jealous," Dustin said, "but also very happy for you, that you have such an amazing girlfriend."
"Thank, you, Dustin," Ty said. "I'm sure you'll find a girlfriend soon."
After the dishes were done, they rejoined Lisa, June, and Mark, who were looking over their assortment of board games, trying to decide what to play. "I'd like to play Puerto Rico, if you all don't mind," Dustin said.
"I don't know how to play that one," Lisa said.
"We'll be happy to teach you," June said. "It's not as complicated as it looks, though it will take you a while to learn the special functions of each building. They're printed on the building cards, but it will be easier once you know them."
"OK," said Lisa, "I'm game to try."
June set up the board, explained the basics, and they started. Dustin couldn't help staring at Lisa again, and she winked at him. She knew that June, Mark, and Ty all were looking at her too, as much as they thought that they could get away with, without seeming rude. I'd have an advantage in the game, with them all distracted, she thought, if only I knew what I was doing.
The game was nearly over when Lisa got a text message on her phone. She looked at it, and then explained that Maria and Diego would like to speak to her and Ty, though it wasn't urgent.
"This game is nearly over," June said. "Why don't you tell them you'll see them in about ten minutes."
"OK," said Lisa, and texted that. After a few minutes, the game ended, and they tallied up the score. Mark was the winner, but not by a large margin. Lisa had a low score, but Dustin's was lowest. Not surprising, given how distracted he is, she thought. "I'd like to try that again, now that I have a little better idea of what's going on," she said. "If our discussion with my parents doesn't run too long, can we start another game?"
June looked at Mark. "Yes, that's fine," Mark said. "We'll watch TV or something while you do that. Just come on back over, when you're ready."
Lisa and Ty went upstairs to his bedroom, and closed the door. "I'd probably better start out normal," Lisa said, and reluctantly transformed herself back to human, with no aquarium. "I hope the fish don't mind."
"I think the fish don't experience time while you're in non-aquarium form," Ty said. "Similar to you in app form, when I switched to a different app to read the report you wrote."
"Oh, good," Lisa said. "I know they're only fish, but I don't want to hurt them or make them unhappy." They walked through the portal door into Lisa's bedroom, and she quickly changed her clothes, from the shorts and bikini top to jeans and a blouse. "Ready?" she asked Ty.
"Yes," he replied. Lisa opened her bedroom door, and followed her to the living room, where Diego and Maria were sitting. Ty greeted them.