“Didn’t you hear me?” Jen sounded somewhere between puzzled and annoyed. “I said that guys like me! More than ever, too!”
Lisa cleared her throat. This was going to sound all wrong, but she figured that she could well be saving her friend from future pain. “Ah, Jen,” she began, trying to conceal her nervousness, “Last time I checked, people who looked like us were largely segregated from society. I don’t want to make it sound bad, but really people tend to gawk at different people, not want to do them. Besides, it’s Matt Hooper. I rest my case.” She paused for a moment before concluding with, “I really think you should see a doctor and have your hormones checked.”
Jennifer’s face grew a trifle annoyed by this; meanwhile Carol was busy watching from the kitchen. She hoped her daughter didn’t end up losing control of her own hormones – Lisa had enough self control to keep things in check.
“You’re jealous,” Jen replied, tilting her fuzzy nose up at Lisa.
Sensing a quarrel on its way, Carol came to rescue. She put one arm around Jen’s shoulders and calmly explained that she was going to call a doctor just as a checkup.
“It’s been a while since we last had you two in, anyway. Lisa will be going in for one as well. I think we ought to at least try to keep up with what’s happening, especially with the holidays coming up and bringing your mother and Andy along the way!”
This seemed to calm Jennifer down a tad as she assumed a more relaxed posture. She knew that both Carol and Lisa suspected something wasn’t right, but had elevated her self esteem so much to feel that people liked her! She hoped the two were wrong, but was it right to abandon hope?
“I’m going to take a cold shower, I think,” Jennifer stated, also feeling that it was time to empty her breasts. She trudged up the stairs, two at a time since her muscles had grown – it just seemed more natural.
Carol watched her go and put her arm around her own daughter’s shoulders next. Lisa had a pained look on her face that she’d managed to keep from Jennifer, but not from Carol. She knew why; she could tell that Lisa could see in Jennifer one possible fate for herself, and it tore her up.
“It’ll be okay,” Carol said softly into her daughter’s hairy ear. “You work to keep aware of who of you are, all right sweetie? And whatever happens, I’m right here for you. This isn’t going to take you away from me.”
Lisa nodded, choking slightly. If made her feel good to be lucky enough to have family who would care for her like that. She wondered about Jennifer and her mother. Would she be as lucky? Even if Jennifer’s body and emotions were a bit out of whack right now, she would always be there for her to support her, and to try and drag her back to reality if need be.
Carol brought Lisa into the master bedroom to look her over, not having done so for a while. Meanwhile, Jennifer stood under the cold shower, trying to shake herself free from what Lisa had accredited with hormones. She looked down at her now very hairy body. You could hardly see them anymore, but running her hand down her abs allowed Jennifer to feel how hard they had become, as well as her thighs. Soft fur on hard muscle is what she felt. It was hard to imagine that this had once been a smooth, slightly fleshy – though not fat – cheerleading body. She had taken so much pride in it – religiously shaving her legs and armpits, applying various skin creams, worrying about zits. None of that was left now.
She stepped out of the shower and began to dry herself as best she could. She didn’t want to admit it, but the shower had, indeed, made her calmer. Perhaps she could think of Matt in a clearer train of thought. Then again, thinking of Matt at all seemed to make her hormones kick in strong again.
She stared into her reflection – at the mildly furry face staring back at her. “If I am to resemble an animal,” she told herself, “and if the causes of these feelings are from hormones and lust, I will not give in.” She just had to reassure herself of that. She had to be strong for her own mother, and for Carol and Lisa. She was human, regardless of her body, and she was going to behave like one.
Feeling fresh and anew, she quickly changed and headed back downstairs.