Fuming, you stomp your way downtown. You just can't believe it; your own parents sold you out! Even if they thought they were helping you, they didn't ask you or anything! It's hard to even think straight, you're so angry. After some time, you find yourself standing in front of the mall. You hadn't really had a destination in mind, but this works, especially since your stomach is growling. You head into the food court and order some Chinese. You'll eat and then walk to the park; it's not far, and you'll get there at just about six-thirty.
The food is quite good, stir-fry on rice. As you're eating, a young man walks up to your table. "Hey," he says. "Nice costume."
You spend a moment trying to figure out what he's talking about, then realize that he's referring to your ears and tail. "Um, thanks," you reply.
"It's really good. You make it yourself?"
You shake your head. "Um, I had some help from a couple adults at my school." Not exactly true, but as close to the truth as he'll probably believe.
"Well, anyway," he says, "really nice job." You can feel him looking you up and down even as you stare intently at your food, but it doesn't seem like he's leering. Still, leering or no, it's highly disconcerting to have a guy sizing you up.
"Listen," he says, "I was gonna go catch a movie later this evening. There's a little theater in the other wing. Wanna come with? I'll buy."
On the list of things you didn't want to hear from him, that one's pretty high. Still, it's not his fault that he doesn't know you were a guy this morning, so you try to think of a nice way to phrase your response. "Sorry," you say. "I'm, um, I've got somewhere to be." Which is true, although you'll probably be done before he hits his movie.
He looks a little dejected. "Okay," he says. "If you change your mind, though, the offer's still open, um...?"
"...Stephanie." You really hate to use the name your parents gave their lovely new daughter, but it's a lot better than going by Stephen, as far as not arousing suspicion is concerned.
"Right, Stephanie. My name's Jared. Here's my cell number," he says, handing you a slip of paper which you unthinkingly place in your vest pocket. "If you do change your mind, give me a call or just show up at the theater. Either way, it was nice meeting you."
"Thanks," you say, as he strolls off. "It was nice to meet you too." You hope that doesn't encourage him, but you want to at least be polite. You finish your meal, then walk to the park.
Katherine and Jennifer are waiting for you. "Tuition," Katherine says. You nod. She sighs. "Who would've known my parents were so easy to bribe?"
"Well," Jennifer says, "in fairness, they were just thoroughly convinced they were helping us. Not that it really changes anything."
You sigh. "Yep. And it sounds like cutting out isn't an option, either."
Katherine's ear perk up. "Really?"
"Really," you say. "According to my mom, they're not bringing the equipment around until the end of the school year."
"I guess all we can do is get through this, then," Jennifer sighs.
"Or," Katherine muses, "we could hack into the school computers, find out where they're keeping the equipment, and then stage a daring break-in."
You very nearly laugh. "Sure. IMF, that's us."
"I'm serious," she says. "I've been talking with Jennifer, and she seems like enough of a geek to do the hacking part. I don't know what kind of luck we'd have with a break-in, but it's gotta be better than our chances of getting through a year of head games unscathed."
Jennifer shakes her head. "I might be able to get into the school computers, but there's no way we'd pull off Phase Two. Even if we did, we'd get caught when we went back home as our normal selves, and we'd have broken God knows how many laws. And our local judge is a complete nut; she's practically a militant lesbian. If we wound up in court, she'd most likely sentence us to multiple years under this. In short, that's a bad idea."
Katherine shrugs. "I still say it's better to try and fail than not to try at all. Do you think you could live through this knowing you could've tried to reverse it?"
Jennifer shrugs. "I think I could remind myself that it wouldn't have worked anyway." Both of them seem to be getting a little hot under the collar.
"Listen," you say. "Let's not argue about this. Here's what we'll do. We'll spend the week under this experiment. In the meantime, Jennifer, you think about how we would pull off a break-in if we did attempt it. Katherine, you think about the potential consequences, especially the possibility of spending multiple years in this form. I'll think about both. At the end of the week, we'll put it to a vote."
Katherine sighs. "I guess one week isn't going to permanently scar me. Okay."
"I'll do what I can," Jennifer promises. "I still don't think it'll ever work, but I'll try and draw up a plan."
"In the meantime," Katherine says, "I don't feel like going home and the theater in the mall is doing a 'retro night' where they're playing a double-bill of 'Manos' The Hands Of Fate and Prince Of Space. So whaddya say we catch it?"
"Sounds like a great idea!" Jennifer smiles. "If there's one thing we need right now, it's to relax."
You start to protest, but Katherine shushes you. "No arguments," she says. "We're all going together." They walk you back to the mall, hushing you every time you try to argue. Soon you're standing in the ticket line. Oh, please, you think, don't let...
"Hey, Stephanie!" a voice calls. You turn to look, and sure enough, it's Jared. "Looks like you changed your mind after all," he says, running up to you. "Like I said, I'll buy."
Well, this is just great. You try to think of anice way to tell him you aren't here to watch the movie with him, but by the time you tnink of something he's already bought your ticket. "But," you say, "my friends are..."
"Oh, no problem," he smiles. "They can sit with us."
Katherine and Jennifer look at each other and begin to snicker. Looks like you've got yourself a date for the movie. It could be worse, though, you think. At least he's pretty good-looking...for a guy...
Wait, did you just think that? No, that's not what you meant, you reassure yourself. You were just searching for a rationalization in case Katherine or Jennifer said anything. Obviously.