hapter 36

Bobbie was fighting the urge to clean Nick's car as they drove.

"So, Bobbie," Nick said, trying to make small talk. "What's your story?
Study cupcakes under the French masters? Sell your soul to Satan for the
ability to bake?"

Her eyes tumbled downward. "Apparently, just a girl who seems to have
bad luck lately. My mom threw me out, and..." Bobbie's voice broke as she
started to cry a little.

"Hey, we all have bad luck. My parents and I aren't exactly close." He
put a hand on her shoulder. It felt different from Tim's touch, the
familiarity was there. She thought of Kim.

"Brothers and sisters?"

"Nope, only child. Kinda wished for... well, a different upbringing," Nick
shifted in his seat nervously. Through her tears, she noticed Nick's
darkness for the first time. It wasn't like any other she'd seen. It was
shaped to his body like a finely tailored Italian suit, and hung
tenuously close to his skin.

The Freddie's was full of people, well, as full as it could be on a
Tuesday morning. Bobbie grabbed a cart and walked through the entrance.

"I'll take that," Nick said. "You got a list?"

"List?" Bobbie wrinkled her brow.

"For shopping?"

"Oh, this is easy, where's... ah there." Bobbie was throwing two onions in
the bag. Cruising the aisle, she also grabbed a small pork roast.

"You guys need anything?"

The shopping continued. Bobbie buying more groceries than Nick had seen
at one time. They headed home. Once there, Bobbie went into the kitchen.
Nick followed, a look of unease on his face.

"Cut these," Bobbie told Nick, handing him the onions. "Just slices,
y'know, rings."

Nick grabbed the knife nervously. Bobbie laughed. "No. Like this." She
grabbed the knife and pinched it where the blade met the handle. "Don't
put your finger along the spine. Think of it as a sword." Minutes later,
there were uneven slices of onion.

Bobbie opened the crock pot. "Put the onions in the bottom." He did.
"Now rub the salt and pepper into the roast. Nick grimaced.

"What's wrong Nick?"

"I...I..." He sighed. "You're different to them. Faye and Rach. It's gonna
take some time to get used to. Faye's...not a regular girl."

Bobbie smiled. "Tell me about it. Different to?"

Nick smiled. "You like that, huh. Been saying it that way for years
since... since..." His eye twitched. "Since Kane and I...," His darkness
flared. "It's not important. What's next?"

Bobbie clenched her teeth at the mention of Kane. She realized that
while Faye's change was traumatic for Faye, she had not given much
thought to how it had affected Nick.

"Put the barbecue sauce and the cherry cola in. Put it on low."

"That's it?" Nick looked surprised, with a small sadness in his eyes.
Nick couldn't understand what he felt with this girl, it wasn't sexual.
But there was a connection, like...

That's it. Nick decided. A sister. He forced a smile.

"So, think I can kick your ass while we wait?" His teeth flashed
sharklike, gesturing to the game console. "AI is shitty." He handed
Bobbie a controller.

They selected characters and waited for combat to begin. Bobbie didn't
stand a chance. Fists and feet of fury pummeled Bobbie's pixilated
avatar to death, and again, and again."

"You've never played fighting games before?" Nick said, surprised at the
easiest victory he'd ever had.

"Not really. Last game I finished was Dead Space," Bobbie said, trying
to reorient her thumbs.

Nick raised a shaggy eyebrow. "Here." He switched controllers with her
and selected training mode.

"You have to be able to hit the combos, single hits only work as combo
breakers," Nick went into a long discussion about how to link the
buttons and joystick positions. Bobbie listened as well as she could, he
was talking so fast. Bobbie nodded understanding, then started to move
her fighter through a series of punches, flips, and kicks that looked
far more choreographed than any attack she'd pulled off before.

****

"Yeah, yeah!" Bobbie said, her voice louder than usual. Nick's warrior
died a violent death.

He smiled at Bobbie. "Looks like I've created a monster."

Bobbie smiled back. "It's alive, it's alive, it's alive..." Nick laughed,
a relaxed laugh.

"Bobbie, you're cool as hell." He sniffed. "That smells great."

"Hey, you made it." The creaking of a door went unheard.

"Uh. Please tell me there's coffee." It was Faye, she ran a hand through
her hair. Opening her eyes, she looked at the living room.

"What the fuck happened in here?" Faye asked, confused by the sudden
appearance of natural light. "Looks like a reverse cyclone came
through. And what is that smell?"

"Morning, sunshine," Nick said. "Bobbie straightened up a little and..."

"She made dinner?" Faye said, stifling a yawn.

"Nope, That was Nick," Bobbie said, starting the game again. "Defend
yourself, infidel."

Pouring the remainder of the coffee in the pot, Faye came in and sat
down.

"So, everything okay Bobbie?" Faye asked.

"A little. Thanks for making me go out last night."

"No problem. God, you were drunk."

Bobbie was gnawing on her lower lip as she worked the controller. One
more hit and...

HUUUAAAAAA! Bobbie's character laid on the ground, lifeless. "Victory!"
The voice proclaimed.

"So close," Bobbie said.

"You're getting better," Nick said. "So, Faye. Up for a catfight?" He
gestured toward her with a controller.

"Even hung over, I'll win. That's why they call me the professor, 'cause
I school fools."

Nick handed Faye the controller. "Good luck." He left the room and
entered the bathroom.

It was over quickly. Bobbie eked out a victory in the last second. Faye
looked at Bobbie narrowly. "Something's not right here. One more."

Bobbie repeated the win. "Nick? You showing Bobbie the ropes?"

"Yeah," he yelled back. "If she's gonna be here, she's gonna have to
learn." Faye's eyebrows knitted together.

"Hey," Bobbie said. "I need to start the slaw, want to stand in the
kitchen with me?"

"I'm bringing the coffee, it's the only thing preventing me from getting
stabby."

Bobbie made a simple cole slaw and stored it to allow the flavors to
marry. Faye was shocked at the amount of food in the refrigerator.

"You bought all that? Usually just cereal and fast food around here,"
Faye yawned, still paying for last night.

"Cooking keeps my mind off of things. Want some breakfast?" Bobbie was
pulling ingredients out.

"Sure," Faye said, reaching around to scratch her back.

"You didn't tell me Nick was so cool."

"He's a ham and cheese fuckwich with hot sauce."

"No, I'm serious Faye. He mentioned you, you know."

"We live together. He always does. Damn, what is this itch? Something
must have bit me."

"No..." Bobbie said, breaking eggs into a bowl. "He mentioned Kane. I
caught him saying different to," Faye chuckled

"Yeah, I remember. His Monty Python phase. That's about the only thing
that stuck. Well that and his silly walk."

"He still misses you, I mean Kane."

"I know. I just can't be...him... anymore. I mean, haven't you noticed that
you feel... I dunno different?" Faye kept scratching, her top baring her
midriff. The bottom of her bra beginning to show.

Bobbie added cinnamon and milk to the eggs. She began heating the pan.
"I have. I was picked on a lot. I never felt like a part of... well,
anything. I grew up in a room, in front of a tv. Movies and books don't
judge, you know?"

Faye did.

Bobbie soaked the bread and added it to the buttered pan.

"So, what's the game plan, Kevin?" Faye asked.

Bobbie chuckled. "Vanity's your favorite sin, not mine."

"Really? What's yours?"

Bobbie flipped the pieces of French Toast. "Don't think I have one;
although, I hate unfairness. So... Wrath?

Faye looked at Bobbie intently. "Wrath? Now we're talking."

"Plan is for me to finish school and...I don't know, get out of
Delacroix?"

It wasn't long before breakfast was served. French toast, bacon, and
eggs. Nick dug in and was immediately busy not saying anything and
cleaning his plate.

"Jesus Bobbie. The inside is like custard, and it doesn't even need
syrup. I've never had anything this good outside of Benny's."

"Nick, she's not gonna go out with you, sicko."

Nick looked hurt. "Nothing like that, I couldn't... She's so cool. She got
my references."

Bobbie smiled. She liked Nick, Robb would have, too.

"She gets everybody's references," Faye said dryly. "She's seen more
movies than we've seen... put together."

As they finished, Bobbie cleared the dishes. The upset feeling she had,
while masked by the previous night's alcohol, had retreated far enough
to allow her to feel a sense of normalcy for the first time since
leaving home.

Faye, who had retreated into her room, came back with a wad of white and
black. "I got this for Rachel as a joke, but it seems to fit here. Try
it on." She threw the wad at Bobbie, who caught it out of midair.
Opening it to its full length, she saw what it was.

It was a French maid outfit.

"I'm not wearing that," Bobbie said incredulously.

Nick returned to the room in time to see the outfit. He chuckled
quietly. Faye pointed at Nick. "Maybe you should wear it. You made
dinner, right."

"I did mention the fuck you, didn't I?" said Nick, selecting his
fighters.

"Yes, just not today," Faye nonchalantly replied. "I've got a shoot at
Mt. Forbes this weekend, so I'm gonna be gone. Bobbie, you gonna feel
safe here with a repressed sex maniac?"

Nick, without taking his eyes off of the screen. "Blow me."

"You wish." A look of distaste flitted across his visage, lit by the
epilepsy inducing light patterns. An almost inaudible growl escaped his
lips.

Nick's phone rang. Pausing the game, he answered. "Hello... oh,
hey....Really?" A sigh. "Okay, I'll be right there."

"I've gotta run. Taylor needs help. His computer's fritzing again."

"That's because you fixed it," Faye quipped. "I still don't understand
why you don't fix yours."

"Because it's not broken. Just messed up in a way I understand."
Grabbing his laptop, he headed for the door. "I'll be home for dinner.
Can't miss this. See y'all in a bit," He smiled at Bobbie and exited the
apartment.

Bobbie watched him leave. "He's really cool. Kind of reminds me of
when..." Her face darkened.

"When what?"

"My little sister and I used to play together. Now she's..." Bobbie's eyes
became moist.

"A druggie?" Faye said. Bobbie shot her a look

"Yeah," A single tear rolled down the left side of her face, her
expression shifted to one of anger and frustration. "...and that
girlfriend of hers, OOOH! I just want to...."

"Wrath, right?" Faye said.

****

Bobbie and Faye continued the war of fighters for a while. Faye's trash
talking continually made Bobbie laugh. "These noobs, I swear."

"So," she turned to Bobbie, "how drunk were you last night?"

Suddenly Bobbie remembered. "Mary kissed me again, she must have been
drinking."

Faye's confusion was made plain on her face.

"Since I changed...I can't... well, I can't do anything. No smoking, no
drinking. At first it sucked, but now..." Realization dawned, Bobbie saw
what she had been doing unconsciously.

"I don't really need it anymore, When I do stuff for people...That's it!"

"What?"

"Helping people." Bobbie grinned like a lunatic. The doors were thrown
open. Everything that had happened made sense. Helping people was her
drug, her addiction, her vice.

"I understand now."

Faye reached around to scratch again. "Damn, this itch is driving me.
You wanna help? Could you...I just can't."

Faye pulled up the back of her top. Bobbie scratched with her nails.

"Oh, God. Yes!" Faye was reacting orgasmically to the scratching.

Bobbie noticed discolorations on her skin, some dark purple splotches
right above her tailbone, and some blotchy spots to both the left and
the right. "You might want to put some lotion on that, it looks, well,
like a rash."

"Lovely. Probably just stress, the shoot this weekend is a big one.
They're bringing in a snow machine. God, that does smell good."

"I just told Nick what to do. This is an easy one."

"I'm not sure about this, I don't trust food that doesn't come in a
paper wrapper, or a box."

"Hey, you model. I cook." Bobbie shrugged.

Faye stripped off her shirt leaving her in her bra. Bobbie looked away.
"Maybe if I let it air out, give it some sun." She moved the coffee
table closer to the window, allowing her to get the affected area into
the light.

****

Bobbie was feeling better. Looking at herself in the mirror, she noticed
her skin was brighter. Her bangs, still wet from the shower dipped into
her eyes. Looks like it's time to call Frankie again. Her situation
hadn't improved. Here she was, living in a stranger's house. She looked
around, what an insane couple of days.

When Bobbie reentered the living room, Faye was topless, and scratching.
"Bobbie, I need your nails again. Maybe I do need lotion, could you get
it out of the bathroom?"

Bobbie grabbed it and went over to Faye's makeshift gaming seat.

"Would you mind?" Faye asked. "I can't reach."

"O...okay." Bobbie felt a little strange from the proposition. Bobbie
began rubbing the thick lotion onto Faye's back.

It started with almost a purring, that graduated to a soft moaning. Faye
was getting pummeled onscreen as she sunk into the savory, meaty feeling
of Bobbie's hands sliding over her back. The itch was gone, replaced by
one far more insidious."

When Nick got home, Faye was dressed in the camo top that nearly caused
Playtread to close, still playing.

"God, these guys are terrible. Nick, We need to clean up in there.
Basements are being flooded by the tears of sweaty man children,
schooled by a pretty pretty princess.

"It's still release day, give the noobs some time to come up to speed."
He sniffed. "Wow, that smells like heaven."

"...and you're just in time to finish it," Bobbie said, getting up.

"Nick, the maid's outfit is on the lamp. Don't forget to wear the
tiara?? What is that thing called?"

"Again with the fuck you."

Bobbie helped Nick drain most of the liquid out of the crock pot. "Add
the rest of the barbecue sauce, then pull it apart with a couple of
forks. I'll cut the rolls." She pulled the slaw out of the refrigerator.
Bobbie sliced the buns cleanly, then piled them high with the shreds of
pork and onion. Topping each sandwich with a helping of slaw.

Nick watched with amazement as Bobbie flowed from movement into the
next, moving like water. "Wow, you're good." He took two plates out to
the living room. Bobbie followed with her own plate. Faye was the first
one into her sandwich. She moaned in ecstasy. The crunch of the slaw,
the sweetness of the pork, the resistance of the bread; the flavors and
textures mingled. Faye's tongue danced and twitched as flavor overloaded
her senses.

Nick was also impressed. His eyes opened completely, he bobbed his head
up and down. "I made this?" filaments of apple clung to his upper lip,
hanging like Velcro to his unshaven face.

"You sure did," Bobbie said, smiling as she took a bite. "Good stuff.
Tried other sodas, but nothing works like Cherry Pepsi," She shrugged.
"Don't know why though. But you could play with it. I keep thinking
Mango Habanero.."

Nick's eyes gleamed for a second. "...or like spicy Dr. Pepper?"

Bobbie cocked her head slightly. Holding her eyes up and to the left,
thinking, "Don't see why not. Kind of like Tetris. Cooking's like a
living puzzle, a really cool game." She hefted her sandwich "And you get
to eat your achievements."

"Didn't think of it that way, this might be fun. Faye..." She had gotten
up and left without anyone noticing.

"I'm sure she'll be back in a second. Bobbie," He gestured to his
sandwich. "Thanks. I haven't had real food in a while."

Bobbie shook her head. "You made it, not me."

Faye returned wearing a pair of pink camoflauge sleep pants. "Where'd
you go?"

"Just to change," Faye said quickly. A superfine sheen of perspiration
coated Faye's face, and Bobbie could have sworn that she was breathing
faster. "Gotta grab another sandwich, those are really good." Nick shot
a glance at Faye.

Several more sandwiches were eaten before the food was put away. Nick
finally decided to turn in when his phone rang. It was Taylor. "Shit,"
Nick grumbled.

"Hello...are you fucking serious?.... And you need it.." Nick ran a hand
through his hair. "I'll be right there."

"Why does he keep calling you?" Faye asked, eating her third sandwich.

"Faye, there's too much pork in your mouth." Nick was up and pulling a
Red Bull and a container of the leftover meat out of the refrigerator.
"I'll be back at some point, I guess. Faye."

"Hmmm."

"Don't burn the house down. Bobbie. Don't let the professor here do
anything stupid."

"Like what? I'm online, noobs need to learn their place." She lowered
her voice," And class is in session."

"Okay. Have fun."

Nick left, the sound of the car thunderous against the foreign screams
of the videogame still playing in the background.

"So. Up for a rematch?"

Bobbie grinned. "I think I can arrange that."

****

She was alone, whispers carried on the currents of air that twisted past
her. The walls were once white. Trails of black ran down the walls, as
if it were running mascara, flickering fluorescent bulbs cast a sickly
pall on the room.

"See? If we had waited, we wouldn't be having this much fun right now.
Would we?"

"Yes, Lust you're right. You always are. What's next?"

"We lay low for a bit. She's gone to ground. When she pops up again.
We'll be ready for the coup de grace."

Lust! Bobbie felt a chill splash over her body. That other voice, who is
it?

"Shh! She's here. How is she here? Than can only mean..."

"Go," The whisper chuckled. Then the sound changed, it became a low
voice. "And Advocate..." it teased.

Bobbie suddenly felt as if the walls were pressing in on her. Closer,
tighter.

"There's nowhere on this Earth..."

****

Bobbie flinched awake to see Faye's face hovering above her own, close
enough to smell the remnants of dinner.

"You can hide from me," she said. Her eyes blazing, yet dead, lifeless.

Finishing her sentence, Faye rolled off of Bobbie and back into her bed.
There was a rustling of linen as Faye's hand dove beneath her sheets.
There was a combination of moaning and squishy sounds that felt every
kind of wrong to Bobbie. Terrified, uncomfortable, and just wanting to
sleep, Bobbie quietly backed out of Faye's room and let her do her
thing. Her moans became louder the moment Bobbie closed the door. It was
as if the volume had been turned up with each quiet step. She tossed and
turned on the sofa. It wasn't long before she was asleep again.

But, it seemed like forever.

*****

CLANG!! CLANG!!

Bobbie saw the room materialize in front of her. And Justice came with
it.

"What do you think you're doing?" she said, a tinge of anger peppering
her voice.

"Huh?"

"She's a thrall. Lust will always have a link to her, however small. She
works against everything you do, they all do. Always have," Justice
snapped.

"Faye's not like that," Bobbie said, defending her. "And what else was I
supposed to do?" She sunk to the sofa, head in her hands, unable to hold
Justice's gaze.

"I'm a terrible Advocate," she cried, yelling over her tears. "I can't
help anybody. I just don't know how to fight this, or anything. That
video... dammit. I wish I could take it back. I can't help anyone. Kim's
on drugs, Mom threw me out. Tim and.... Everything's....everything's
shitty."

"The path of least resistance is rarely the right one."

"Enough fortune cookie philosophy," Bobbie raged, locking her identical
eyes at Justice. "I don't want this responsibility. I hate feeling like
this."

"WANT?" A sudden breeze kicked up. Justice's eyes became bluer, more
piercing. The wind blew her hair away from her clear face. "Who ever
said this is about want?"

The wind started to howl. Justice's voice raising in volume, becoming
more authoritative. "Do you think her life is better? Do you want to see
how she lives? What Lust does to people? Then so be it. You need a
lesson."

"And I am the teacher," Justice said, drawing out the final 'r' into a
growl.

Bobbie blinked.

CLANG!!

Chapter 37

Bobbie woke up feeling... odd. Her hand felt moist, and it was in her... She
withdrew her fingers, gasping as she did so. Unfamiliar and unused
muscles tightened, thumped, and flexed. It felt good, really good, much
better that it should have. Finally disengaging her hands, she wiped her
fingers on the sheet, removing the resulting juices from them. She
finally got a look at her surroundings.

This wasn't the living room. As her eyes settled on piles of clothing
and different posters plastered on the walls, Bobbie realized she'd
woken up in Faye's room. Wiping the sleep from her eyes, she blinked
wearily as she struggled to force the arrival of more coherent thought.
Her hands drifted across cotton sheets, finding the softness of a
feather duvet.

Faye's room? How did I get back in here? And, why am I in her bed?
Confusion reigned supreme...And where's Faye?

She sat up, causing dark sheets to slip away from her body like the
unveiling of a new car. What she laid eyes upon caused her to gasp in
shock; Her breasts, now exposed and bare for all to see...were huge.
They'd doubled in size overnight, sitting pert and full atop her chest,
thrusting out proudly as if daring someone not to look at them.

Moving off the bed, a cold blast of air greeted her neck. She felt her
hair swing strangely. A glance in the mirror called her attention.
Panic, not just panic. The resin of panic, freebased in one enormous
dose.

Her breasts weren't all that had changed. Her nipples were dark brown
now to match her tan skin, looking fat and turgid, capping off each
enormous mound. Looking past her new endowments, Bobbie hastily tore at
the sheets, what lingering fragments of drowsiness still afflicting her
scattered, like leaves on the wind. Her waist was a little narrower,
tapering out into wide, luscious hips that swelled into a truly
magnificent ass that practically acted as an extra cushion between her
and the soft mattress. Nestled between her legs, her new vagina seemed
to almost bristle when exposed to the cool morning air. In her panic, a
lock of purple hair fell into her vision, and it caused the truth to
crash down on her so hard it sounded like thunder.

It was Faye, standing in the place her reflection should be. Bobbie put
her hands to her face, her breasts. The sensation of touching them was...
different, more sensual. The curves stuck way out. She wasn't bad, she
was just drawn that way. Looking around, Bobbie noticed that the world
seemed bigger, as if someone had rescaled everything while she slept.
Her hands moved over her body, her touch like arctic splashes of water
freezing over unfamiliar territory. It was like watching a foreign film
without subtitles, swim or drown. So many thoughts flitted rapid circles
in her mind. Rational thought was at a premium. She remembered the
dream...

Justice! Is this what she meant?

She looked at her body. It was sultry, curvy. Although she was shorter,
all that height apparently had gone straight to her breasts, they had
doubled in size where she had lost nearly another foot in height.. They
wobbled like perfectly made gelatin. It was if everything was suddenly
was seasoned with monosodium glutamate. That tiny thing that made
everything feel more complete. She looked into the mirror, the dark eyed
reflection staring back at her. Wow, Faye's cute...where did that come
from? Bobbie slowly turned and checked out that amazing derriere, a dark
shape was seeming to rise beneath her skin, like a blemish yet to bloom,
the dark splotches above her tailbone itching, burning with a heat that
was more penetrating than physical. She examined every inch of every
curve, hefting one breast, than the other. Heavy, Bobbie mused, no
wonder she doesn't exercise. Bobbie mused. The sublime calculus which
had allowed Faye's body to have curves that stretched into the eighth
dimension revealed themselves to her.

She was shorter, again. Bobbie looked in the mirror and stared into the
vaguely almond shaped eyes, veins of violet pulsated in her dark irises.
The face was cute. She turned her head one way, than the other, the hair
little longer than chin length. The purple streaks conveying a hint of
chaotic neutral, the almost Asian mystique completing the playful gothic
look, she continued to look. She pouted and widened her eyes. There was
just enough Suicide Girl to tease, and just enough innocence to provoke.
She was a well oiled and designed machine, one engineered to produce
stirrings of passion in any of those who appreciate the female of the
species.

Without even thinking, Bobbie watched her reflection as Faye's hands
went to her breasts. Her dainty hands couldn't hope to contain all of
the swollen flesh. As her fingertips made contact with the supple flesh,
Bobbie shivered with sensual delight. Her body instantly responded as if
on auto-pilot: Nipples hardening into aching nubs, her skin bristling
with excitement and the promise of further stimulation. Even her crotch
flexed and clenched, feeling a trickle of arousal slowly seeping in...

"Oh my god...!" she gasped in surprise, drawing her hands away before
she was tempted to explore any further. Just a simple touch of her ample
breasts had caused her whole body to respond like she'd been making out
with Tim.

Forgetting to put clothes on, she ran out into the living room. Ignoring
the acutely odd sensations of her hips rolling with every step, or the
way her bare breasts bobbed and tugged at her chest as if demanding
attention, Bobbie strode into the living room. A sense of relief washed
of her, as she spied her familiar blonde form sprawled out on the couch,
still clad in the same PJ bottoms and a nightshirt she'd worn last
night.

Bobbie saw her body sleeping peacefully. Bobbie bit her lip, trying to
think of the best way to wake Faye...assuming it was her in there...
without freaking her out. Sadly no particularly clever responses came to
mind, and she settled for nudging her awake. She shook the person on the
couch.

"Hey, wake up."

***

"Hey, wake up."

That was the annoying sound that threatened to drag Faye away from her
dreams of flying through the air, bouncing from one snowflake to
another. Her hand shot up, slapping at the offender of her sanctuary of
slumber. "Too early," she heard another voice say blearily.

The eyes opened into the purple gaze she was used to seeing in the
mirror. Faye sat upright with the reaction time of someone on fire.
"Lust? What the fuck?" Faye screamed. Her hand shot out and nearly
caught Bobbie's throat. She fell backwards fleeing the grip, the landing
softened by the new insulation of her ass. "You're dead. How can you
even be here?" Faye remembered the last time she saw her supernatural
tormentor.

"Faye?" Bobbie raised her hands defensively. "Calm down. It's me,
Bobbie. Breathe and take a look at yourself."

"The fuck you're not her," She spat venomously. "You're bare assed naked
and you look exactly like me. Who the fuck else could you be?" Faye
looked into her own stricken eyes, realizing that there was none of the
black ichor that usually occupied Lust's orbital sockets. She jerked her
head downward and peered inside her shirt. Gone were the globes that
usually hung there; replaced, halved in size. She looked down at her
long legs. She grabbed a handful of hair and pulled it in front of her
eyes, it's whiteness and length both surprising her.

"I think... I think..." Bobbie watched as the eyebrows knitted, freezing
into a look equal parts rage, confusion, and fear.

Faye got up and sprinted to her room. She was looking into a mirror, she
pulled at her face.

"Holy fuckin' fuck. Bobbie? Why am I...you?" Faye was naked by the time
Bobbie entered the room.

"I'm a fucking cheerleader!" Faye exclaimed, pawing at her new body. She
pulled at her cheeks, working them in circles.

"That didn't take long," Bobbie muttered. God, that's what I look like?
No wonder people thought I was an angel. Angel, a concept she wanted far
from her mind, it had started this whole mess. What is Justice thinking?

"I had this dream... then you....I... Justice.." She collapsed to the bed.

Faye inhaled and exhaled deeply. "Justice? What did you do?"

"I don't know. She seems to think you're not good for me. Said I needed
a lesson."

Faye swept the white blond hair out of her face. "Any lesson I can teach
can't be a good thing." She sat next to Bobbie. "What a load of shit. So
she just pulls a Freaky Friday? This is crazy. And how is being me going
to teach you anything? Sounds like I'd rather tangle with Lust again.
She sounds less spiteful." She brushed hair out of her face for the
third time in as many minutes. "Just great, you'd think I'd be used to
this shit by now."

"I swear that's all I know," Bobbie decided to omit what she'd seen just
before the switch regarding Faye waking her. Clearly Faye didn't
remember it, and she doubted the girl was in the mood to hear any
implications this may be as much her fault as it was Bobbie's.

"Rent's due, Rach, Nick... Fuck. Justice did this, right?" Faye watched
her own head bob up and down. "Is she in your head like Lust was in
mine?"

Bobbie looked back, puzzled. "She said Lust will always have a link to
you. I don't know, I mean, she's only spoken with me a few times. I
don't remember most of it well, she just kind of points me in a
direction and let me do what feels right"

A sharp slap rang out as Faye facepalmed. "Perfect. So not only do we
not know why she did this, but we also don't know what she wants. We
could be stuck like this forever trying to figure it out."

"Yeah...I know."

She stared wide eyed back at Bobbie. "...Oh, shit, My shoot this weekend."

"GODAMMIT!" Bobbie shrieked. "I don't know how much more of this I can
take."

"You? What about me? Fuck, I just got used to all this. And..." Bobbie
crossed the room quickly and hugged her old body. Faye hugged back, she
was reminded of Tim and the feeling of being protected. The tears
started to flow for a second, as Faye's hug made her feel... antsy.

Faye noticed that the tactile overload that usually ruled her life was
gone, the sensory fuzz that fogged her mind slightly burned off. Bobbie
was squirming in her embrace.

"Um...Bobbie? You okay?"

Bobbie thought of the couch, of that video. God, that felt good. A
slight pressure in her nethers caused her to keep rubbing her thighs
together, "I'm a little...oooh..." Hesitantly, she lifted her hands to
those mammoth breasts, and began squeezing them together as a look of
pleasure crossed her face like a shadow. "Oooooohhhh...!"

Faye knew that look, it was one she'd been wearing a little too often in
recent memory. "Oh come on. You've gotta be kidding me!"

Bobbie looked at her pleadingly, biting her lip as she stifled another
moan. The obvious humiliation she felt clearly wasn't enough to stem the
tide of her building arousal.

"...Fine," she muttered darkly, stalking off toward the bedroom. "Just
do what you need to do. I'll be in my room when you're done."

She backed out of the room and left Bobbie to her... own devices. Faye
entered her room and looked at herself in the mirror, longer this time,
appreciative. The body she was wearing was cute. Definitely more of a
cheerleader type. Another body, Faye had the advantage of navigating
this dungeon before. At least this time, there was more information,
more knowledge. Bobbie what the hell did you get me into?

****

Bobbie was reminded of ecstasy, her tactile senses wired to the silicon
chip inside her head, and they were set to overload. The gentle probing
of her fingers was electrifying. Perspiration and nectar ran down every
curve, droplets clinging to every curve like millions of methed out
truckers all driving through breakneck canyons of pleasure. Her loins
swelled. Her hand snaked down to the smooth hairless crotch. Every move
caused the parts she only had a passing acquaintance with to quiver and
sing their siren song into the nerve endings not being teased by the
complete stimulation of her self caress. Everything had vibrant color,
smell, sound...

...and touch, rapturous touch.

Bobbie didn't want to do this, but her body ached for it so badly. It
needed release in the worst way. She felt her fingers tremblingly touch
the wet, velvet folds of her pussy, causing her back to arch. She
started to rub, feeling the velvet folds part, her body whispering
promises of pleasure in what lay beyond. She moaned and pushed against
that void, and felt a finger slide into her vagina.

She gasped sharply, pleasure filling her hips. Bobbie thrust further in
and wiggled her finger, feeling hot, wet and velvety flesh squeeze the
invading digit. The sensation was so acute, delicious like the sweetest
sugar rush, that she didn't stop. Couldn't stop. Her finger brushed
against a small, swollen bud that was beyond exquisitely sensitive.

"Ah...Ahhh...Ah!" she cried as the pleasure rose in her hips, her huge
jiggling breasts, capped with thick erect nipples, bounced and trembled
with every thrust. "Ahhh...AHHHhhhh....AHHHHHH!!!" she screamed as the
dam burst, and pleasure suddenly flooded her body from the cramping,
seizing canal between her legs! Her pussy throbbed and pulsed, and
Bobbie felt wetness flood from her, cream dripping down into the crack
of her rounded ass.

She fell back against the couch, moaning softly. Her body relished the
release, although she still felt horny, her pussy still craving further
stimulation. However she reluctantly withdrew her hand, the scent of sex
wafting through the air. She'd tested Faye's patience enough
already...pushing any further may be too much even for her to bear.
Besides, Bobbie was more than a little concerned about how easily she'd
caved in to her new body's need for pleasure and sensual delight. Bobbie
realized that she could have continued, but the burning, the itch. The
withdrawal, The Jones. It was held back. Enough to get through, but not
enough to sate.

Standing up, Bobbie quickly made her way to the bathroom, determined to
have a shower and clean up a little before meeting with Faye.

She toweled off her body, rapt in feeling the rough cloth against her
breasts. God, they're huge. Bobbie spent more time drying them than she
normally would have.

Her hair; however, took far less time. Strands fell in front of her
eyes, she brushed them away. The itch on her back started soon after.
She tried to scratch. Her arms couldn't quite reach its source. I need
to get dressed, where are my...? She looked down and realized that
'Bobbie's' clothes wouldn't cover her breasts, or fit her in any way.

She went to cover herself with a towel, but figured since it was Faye's
body she wouldn't mind.

***

As she walked into Faye's room, she was welcomed by the sight of Faye
standing in front of her mirror, posing like a cheerleader as she said
aloud, "Gimme an A!"

Bobbie tried to stifle a giggle, but was only partially successful. The
resulting sound caused Faye to spin around, her cheeks burning with
embarrassment at how she'd been caught out. She scowled at Bobbie,
holding up a hand to make her stance painfully clear "Not a fucking word
from you."

Bobbie nodded wordlessly, a few stray rivulets of water mapping the
terrain of her luscious curves as they rolled down her body.

"Trust me, I'm not thrilled with the current accommodations," She said
tersely, walking over to her bed and taking a seat on the edge. "I was
just messing around."

"I understand," Bobbie nodded sympathetically. "This is...pretty weird
for me too. At least this body's the same gender."

"You seemed pretty comfortable on the couch," she shot back.

"I know..." Bobbie said with an air of concern. "Are you like that all
the time? I mean...uh...horny?" She rubbed her thighs together.

Faye shrugged her shoulders, running a hand through silken locks of
blonde hair. "I dunno, maybe? I mean...I've always been pretty
sensitive. I just figured all girls were like that. But lately it's been
a little more intense than usual."

"Really? I think it's pretty obvious most girls aren't built like
Juggasaurus Rex." Bobbie hefted her bare breasts to emphasize the
effect.

Faye scowled. "You can blame Lust for that. Besides, it's kinda hard to
avoid. Any time I eat junk food, it just goes straight to my tits."

"Are you serious?"

Faye smiled darkly. "Why don't you grab one of your cupcakes and find
out?"

Bobbie let go of her breasts, which seemed to instantly lament the
sudden lack of attention. "Uh....maybe later. I was hoping to get
something to wear, unless you want me walking around naked all day."

"Yeah, I'd kinda appreciate it if you didn't. I've teased Nick enough
over time that if he saw you naked, I'm pretty sure he would
spontaneously combust. You got something I can wear? I'm pretty sure
none of my clothes are going to fit."

Faye turned to her closet. She laughed.

"What's so funny?" Bobbie asked, gaining control as she found something
to focus on.

"You're not gonna like it," Faye said as she started to look through the
closet. "Everything I have is... less conservative."

After some poking and prodding, teaching and toddling. Bobbie stood in
Faye's trademark boots, a puffy skirt that left Bobbie feeling a draft
and a tight cleavage building top. It took a minute to coax her breasts
into the bra Faye had handed her. "Tough to get stuff in my size. It'll
be nice to be able to buy off the rack for a change."

"Yeah, I'm sure it'll be great," Bobbie said. "There's got to be a way
back from this, right?"

"C'mon, beautiful. Let's get your makeup done. We better get this over
with."

"What?"

"Look, If you're gonna do that shoot..."

"Shoot? Me?" She shook her head, the tips of her hair touching her face,
she frowned.

"Allegra will have my ass. AAAAAAllllll of it. I need you to do this,"
Bobbie watched her own wide, blue eyes plead.

Bobbie looked down at her body, the thought of modeling terrified her.
All those people, staring, taking snapshots to be preserved forever.
"I've got a bad feeling about this."

Faye was rummaging through Bobbie's bag, looking for clothes. Dammit.
This sucks noodles. Jesus, another floral print sundress? Blue dress,
blue jeans, blue panties. She settled for Bobbie's Clash shirt and her
skinny jeans. The dressing wasn't as sensuous, she realized as she slid
the denim up the long, smooth legs of yet another body that wasn't hers.

Faye sighed, gesturing to her Heather inspired outfits. "Yeah, are you
trying to look like Taylor Swift or what? Feeling better?"

"Hey," Faye said sharply. "Let's not work under the assumption that I'm
enjoying this either. I need to be you. How's that gonna work? I can't..."

Bobbie narrowed her eyes. "Can't what."

"Look, no offense. But you're kind of a goodie two shoes."

Faye watched her face blush. "I was trying to help people," Bobbie said.
"I'm supposed to, it's something I am, not something I do."

"Exactly my point. You've got six hours in a car with Rach coming up .
And Nick... Oh, God. Nick... Hey, Nick. Remember when I was a guy, well, now
I'm Bobbie. Everything should be great." Faye slapped her head. "Bobbie,
school? What about school?"

Faye looked at Bobbie, it was weird to look down at her body. "We need
to figure out what needs to be figured out. But first. I'm hungry. Want
some breakfast?"

Did I really just say that?

Chapter 38

Faye was looking through the cabinet. The same boxes of cereal greeted
her. None of them looked appetizing.

"Bobbie what goes in pancakes?"

"There's Bisquik up there... I can..."

"No," Faye sighed. "Look, if I'm gonna pull off this act..."

Bobbie turned her new eyes on her old body. "What exactly do you mean?"

"Well," Faye said, using her new height to grab things on the top shelf,
"everyone's gonna think I'm Bobbie and you're Faye. And we need to make
sure that everyone continues to think so. Being me is... complicated."

"Gee," Bobbie said sarcastically. "You think so."

"I'm not saying that being you is my life's greatest thrill either. Now,
what do you do with all this shit?"

Bobbie stood off to the side and watched Faye attempt to cook. Bobbie
cringed. Eggshell made it into the batter, which she fished out with a
fingernail. Flour messily dotted the counter. The batter was soon
together. She heated the pan.

"Add oil. Just a little. Let it heat up."

Faye did, brandishing a spatula like a samurai sword. She poured some
batter into the hot oil.

Soon, a burning smell started, the acrid burn smelled sour. Faye flipped
it. There was a black mass. Faye made a face.

"You probably have the flame up too high. It's okay. The first one
always comes out badly," Bobbie said, drinking coffee, still feeling the
abnormality of both her breasts and her coffee cup doubling in size.

Faye seemed to concentrate on the frying pan. The second came out
better, the third even better. The burn marks getting smaller. Bobbie
nodded approval on her progression.

"Look," Faye said, pointing out an unusual pattern on one. "Jesus,"
Bobbie frowned

"Maybe you wanna put that maid outfit on now?" Bobbie's sardonic smile
burst onto her face as she ate the first bite.

"Bobbie."

"Hmmm," she responded.

"Fuck you," Faye spat, the taste of the burnt spots bitter against the
maple syrup. "If we're gonna do this, we need to do this right," Faye
huffed. "We better fill each other in."

Bobbie grinned. It frightened Faye a little. "Serious here. What is
wrong with you?"

They talked about the minutiae of their lives. Bobbie figuring out that
this was going to be just as tough on Faye. She explained who everyone
was and their little quirks. Faye had the added advantage of having seen
them around before.

"Beth, be very careful around her. She's too sweet and innocent to get
caught up in all of our insanity. If you do anything to hurt her."

"I'm not that much of a bitch." Bobbie was still a little stunned to see
her mouth swear so casually. "Besides, I just talk about movies and
cooking and I'm golden, right?"

It was Bobbie's turn to facepalm. She was realizing that maybe this was
maybe meant to be a learning experience for the two of them.

****

"No, no. You're still too stiff," Faye told Bobbie. "Now arch your back
a little. Lean on your elbows. There." Bobbie lay fat on her stomach,
looking down at her cleavage. It was more than cleavage. It's Cleveland.

Faye had spent the morning showing Bobbie how to be a model. Faye had
paraded her around in what seemed like every one of her outfits. Bobbie
had gotten the basics easily, but she was always too stiff. Echoes of
her old modesty remained.

Bobbie felt a tiredness creep into the new body. "Faye. I need a break."
She rolled over onto her back and go up carefully. Once onto her feet,
she headed for the refrigerator and grabbed a Red Bull. Downing the
elixir, Bobbie swiveled towards Faye.

"Look," Faye said, pointing a long, blue fingernail at Bobbie. "You'll
be fine, you just need to relax." She turned and walked heavily down the
hall to her room. Quickly returning, Faye handed Bobbie five cards. They
were old Yu-Gi-Oh! Cards, battered and dogeared.

A Blue Eyes, White Dragon, Exodia: The Forbidden One, A Dark Magician, A
Mystical Space Typhoon, and a Chain Disappearance. Faye handed the cards
to Bobbie.

"Yu-Gi-Oh! Cards? Seriously?" Bobbie smiled, raising an eyebrow.

"It's called a metaphor, got a better one? No? Then can it, I'm working
with what I have here," Faye pointed to the cards. "See those cards.
They represent fucks. You have five cards, ergo, you have five fucks to
give, while I..." She held up her hands and wiggled her fingers.

"...have none. Really, Bobbie, People stare at me all damn day. After a
traumatic first few months I kind of got used to it. Now, I kind of like
it... a little." That devilish grin again, it was starting to look more
casual on that angelic face. Bobbie noticed. Ancient lizard memories
rustled in the carrion black void. Robb. The first time he had seen
unusual hair colors on girls, piercings in other than standard places.
Heavy, dark makeup... Bobbie shook her head, trying to clear out the new
old memories of what she used to be. And what it had led to.

The memories creaked slightly, breaking the dam of things forgotten,
allowing the two sets of memories to overlay each other like an old
videotape. Images of some memory played over another, more recent one.
The memories had a smell, one that stank gloriously of countless
unhallowed centuries. She looked at 'Bobbie's' body, its sensuality was
understated, but the features carried an unerring beauty that she'd
never noticed or thought possible. A visual representation of beauty,
perpetually trapped in the body of a game show hostess. She found
herself staring at the person she had become. The person Faye is. A
tingling spread through her body, Bobbie felt her nipples tighten. She
looked into those wide, blue eyes. I'm fucking gorgeous! A light sheen
of sweat appeared on her skin as she felt her cheeks get hot. She began
to squirm in her seat, the need was coming back. Made worse this time by
how easily she recognized that she was feeling the Jones.

Again.

Chapter 39

Faye couldn't quite explain it, but her craving for chocolate was an
itch in her mind. It replaced the one she had on her back, before...

She looked over, Bobbie trying in vain to scratch. "Easy, you're gonna
make it worse. I'll get the lotion. I know that helps," She grabbed the
lotion and started to rub it on Bobbie's back. The first touch elicited
a moan. Looking at the rash for the first time, she noticed the dark
lines converging in some places. The splotchy masses starting to join.
Kind of a cool pattern, Faye mused. She noticed Bobbie rubbing her legs
together absently, her breasts grinding slightly into the sofa's
armrest.

Thoughts of chocolate made her want cookies. "Bobbie, I think I know
what you need."

"Chocolate. I have some chips. I'm just gonna make some cookies."

"You?" Bobbie said. "You aren't gonna point at me and scream are you?"

Faye showed no recognition.

"Pod people? Invasion of the oh, never mind," Bobbie gestured. Faye
recognized her own 'piss off' gesture as she turned to the kitchen.

The real world melted away. Equipment appeared in front of her...

The flour packed the cup...

The sugars and butter were dropped in cleanly, each exactly measured...

The eggs were cracked, one handed. The shells cleanly delivering their
contents, she threw the spent casings toward the trash can, where they
flew in cleanly.

Nothin' but net.

The dough became unto its destiny, Faye's hands bringing everything
together into a rough ball. Faye delighted as perfection moved its
focus, like targets in an arcade shooting game. Each fading into the
next, like pulling off a perfect combo with finishing move, Achievement
unlocked: In the Dough.

Before she knew it there were two dozen cookies. Some burned, but most
were chewy and filled the biochemicals of passion that chocolate
carried. Bobbie ate three at once. The flavors so intense, so fully
realized.

"Easy, killer. Remember that's still my body. Buying clothes is hard
enough."

"But it's soooooo good," Bobbie said, eyes closed. Bobbie could bring
the house of Yu-Gi-Oh! cards that was her life crashing down, Faye
decided that she couldn't let that happen.

Faye refusing to leave the kitchen. "You were right. This is the best
puzzle game I've ever played."

"Certainly tastes like it," Bobbie agreed.

"So, you think you can handle everything? This should be easy. Nick'll
be in and out. And Rach... well. I don't know what you're gonna do about
her," She brushed at her bangs.

"Call Frankie," Bobbie said. "She'll take care of it. I am due for a
trim. The card's in my purse."

"Okay, but stop with the eating. You wanna wind up on a diet of
vegetable juice?"

Bobbie slowly backed away from the table.

Faye called Shear Ecstasy. Booking the appointment was simple, there was
a one day wait. She was sure she could wait that long. She sighed.
"That's done," She hung up the phone. "Look, I get that done and you're
fine. Just don't..."

Bobbie dismissed Faye's line of inquiry. "I've seen this movie." She
laughed. What the hell was happening here?

"Look, there's no way I'm going anywhere other than the shoot. I'll stay
right here," Bobbie pointed at the ground

"Hair appointment and home. Heh, hair appointment. I do the dying
myself, always have. Bobbie, I'm gonna rip Justice's eyes out if I see
her. I swear." The expression on Faye's face was frightening, Bobbie was
reminded of umpteen horror films. She had never worn or seen that face,
nor saw the frosty fire within.

She turned away. Bobbie raised a hand to shield herself. "Hey, Doctor
Pretorious, look away."

Faye wrinkled her face. "Speak fucking English. What are we doing for
dinner? And why do I care?"

***

Faye was making meatloaf, with minimal help from Bobbie, who was
drinking Red Bull with a coffee chaser and screaming into a headset
unintelligible syllables that could have been any one of a dozen
languages.

"Do you even know what you're saying?" Faye asked.

"Well, yeah," Bobbie said. "Watch enough movies and you kind of figure
it out. The insults and cuss words anyway. More than an average baka
little gaijin boy would ever get anyway."

"Bobbie, did you buy cheap spaghetti sauce?" Faye looked at the jar, she
remembered seeing it at the store once, on the bottom shelf. Why am I
even asking that question?

"Yeah, it was for the meatloaf... why. YES, goodbye. OOOH! Reality,
you're soaking in it," Bobbie was rotating the joystick and pressing
alternating patterns of firing buttons and shoulder bumpers... and
completely destroying challenger after challenger.

Faye was forming the loaf and pouring the sauce over the lump of meat,
watching the speckles of mierpoix disappear under the spreading red
mass. Putting the dish in the oven she turned and looked at her...No,
Bobbie's hands. She looked over into the living room. If Faye didn't
know better she would think that Faye was out there.

And Bobbie was in here. What was all the cooking all of a sudden? What
can I do with potatoes? Faye shook her head violently.

Faye's phone rang, Bobbie answered it, sticking the phone in her
cleavage. "Yeah? Hey, Nick...No problem... yeah, meatloaf, I guess. Okay.
See ya."

Faye looked at Bobbie incredulously. "What the hell is that?"

"Honestly," Bobbie said. "I wasn't sure it would work either. What good
is all this cleavage if you can't put it to good use? It's almost like a
third hand."

"What did Nick want?"

"Oh," Bobbie said. "He's coming back for dinner, then he's heading back
to Taylor's," Looks like it's just us."

***

Nick arrived and sat down his bag. Faye had plates ready and in the
plate warmer. So that's what that drawer at the bottom is for. Meatloaf
with Au Gratin potatoes and succotash. What the fuck is happening to me?

"Hey, Faye."

"Faye!" Faye felt weird screaming her name. Bobbie jumped, dislodging
the forgotten cell phone.

"Oh, right. Thanks, Bobbie. Looks great."

Bobbie started eating, she saw something around Nick...The Darkness. She'd
forgotten about it, what with suddenly having reality upended again, but
Nick's seemed different somehow. Ribbons of violet, fuchsia, and green
seemed to rotate and twist inside and through each other, like moebius
strips within each other, writhing at perpendicular angles. Does Faye
see it?

"Alright. Hate to eat and run. Bobbie. My mom used to make meatloaf. It
was awful. Brown gravy, and just...yuck. And those potatoes," Nick patted
his stomach. He reached over and side hugged Faye. Her shocked
expression turned to Bobbie, as he got up. Look, don't wait up. This
might take a while. Some genius decided to try to put the wrong CPU and
motherboard together."

He left and started the Camaro. He was gone. Faye noticed Bobbie
squirming in her seat, staring after Nick.

"God, he needs to get laid."

"Really, Doctor?" Faye looked at her. "He's shy, and fragile. That's why
Rach and I give him so much shit."

"You ever..."

"No, you see that hug he gave me a minute ago? That's the sister hug.
The same one I get... you know what I mean. He just has to follow his own
road."

Bobbie noticed that she couldn't stop thinking about Nick, she smelled
detergent and milk. The odd combination combined with the odd behavior
of his darkness made her lose some focus. She lost the last three fights
quickly, unable to link combos. Faye attributed it to tiredness.

Shit, Faye thought. Tomorrow's gonna be hell.