Jennifer answered the door and greeted Matt Hooper. He was a senior like her, but was slightly built, a
couple inches shorter. Still, he was fairly bright and kicked field goals for the junior varsity team
on Saturday mornings.
"Like I said Matt, we're gonna have a meeting in about ninety minutes. Did you want something to
drink?"
They went up to Jen's bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. She smiled at him gently
"Matt...um, I know this sounds kinda awkward and all...but why do you want to go out with me?
Matt sighed, "I'd always kind of liked you...but I'd never had the guts to ask. I just figured that you
weren't dating anyone."
Jennifer giggled, "No, I haven't been recently. I've been kind of occupied." She became serious. "Were
you just curious about what I look like now? You do know what's happening to us don't you?"
Matt looked uncomfortable. Jen squeezed his hand to reassure him, "It's okay..."
"Well, yeah I'm curious. I just know that Cromarte put hormones in your food and it's changing you."
"That's right Matt, and we have no idea how far it will go. But however far it goes, it's probably
permanent. So...do you still find me attractive?"
"Yes!"
"I think you're really cute, Matthew...and I do like you." She stroked the boy's cheek. "I...right now
I just can't have my heart broken." Jennifer stood up and locked the door. She took off her sweater.
Matt's heart pounded as he saw the golden-brown curls on her muscular arms. She removed her
shirt, leaving only her bra on her torso.
"You were curious, right? Go ahead and touch me."
Matt's hands trembled as he touched Jennifer's shoulder. Her fur was thick but wiry like human hair.
"I don't bite, Matt."
He put his arms around her. Jennifer sighed, she hadn't been hugged by a boy in a long time. "You have
no idea how good that feels, Matt..."
"Jen, I want to touch you all over..."
"I know...Matt...I wish you could - but what I have is contagious." She moaned as she broke the
embrace. "It's OK if you hug me...but if we slept together...or maybe if you just kiss me...you'll start to
change too. I have all these weird hormones coursing through my body, they can be passed on very
easily."
"Jennifer, I don't care about -"
"You say you don't care now, hon. What I'm going through is terrifying. I'm turning into a different
species, geneticists are trying to figure out what exactly. Connie's boyfriend got infected with just one
night in bed. I can't do that to you, Matt."
"But you do like me?"
"So much that I want to protect you from me. Look...Matt...some of the girls are coming by for a meeting
where we talk about what's happening. If they agree to having an outsider observing, would you like to see
what you could be letting yourself in for?"