Two ordinary humans did, as ordinary humans had been doing for six months...
Hiding...
Waiting...
Setting clocks to sunset...
Getting by...
Bryan was a very ordinary teenage boy in Lakeside. There wasn't really anything to set him apart from anything else. Not in a bad way, of course, he just tended to stay in the background- though acutely aware of the fantastic occurrences around him. He was not coping too well, though not because of the situation, it was more with sleeping during the day and working at night...unlike his friend Jack who barely needed any sleep at all.
Their friendship... was a strange one. Jack was quite a joker, and a jock actually (Jack the 'Jokster' they called him sometimes.) while Bryan was more 'normal' and probably a bit of a nerd- though certainly not a recluse or anything. Still they were good friends...
Bryan was sleeping on the coach, still clothed in a T-shirt and jeans he had worn in the night. He had gone to Jack's house as they usually did, because it was closer to the school- and he had overstayed a little too long to make it back to his own house. Jack assured him that his house was completely sun proof.
Bryan opened his eyes, gasping to see colourful rainbow lights cascading around the room. What the hell?! God did someone open the window?! He felt something on his chest and he quickly woke up- to see the strangest piece of lingerie on his torso. "What the hell?!" He shouted jumping up. "Oh hell the sun got me!"
"No man I got you!" laughed Jack suddenly jumping from the back of the couch. "You should have seen your face!" He said laughing. He turned off some kind of torch painted with coloured glass and turned on the main-light. It gave the illusion of rainbow lights moving around the room.
Bryan was so mad at him! (Though he knew why Jack was doing this) He got up looking at the strange... 'triple bra' set. It looked like it was made for someone with six breasts? What the heck?! "God..." Bryan stared at it. It looked absolutely crazy! "Where did you find this?" Asked Bryan.
"I found it in the school on the floor," said Jack. "Just outside the girls gym."
"It's.. its a..."
"Its a six-pack bra," laughed Jack with a smirk. The jock shook his head. "Heck- even I would be impressed with that on a chick!" he said still grinning.
Bryan looked it over blushing, then threw it back to Jack. "You got to get that to the lost and found," he said.
"Yeah Yeah, of course I was going to. But come on. look at it!" he said like it was the strangest treasure anyone can find.
Bryan had to blush even more. "I know why you're showing it to me. But... I am still kind of curious about the sunlight."
Jack's smile faded a bit. He twirled the bra with a shrug. "Dude... we keep going over this. It's been what.. six months? You know your mom and dad would kill you. Heck, 'I' might kill you."
"Oh come on man," said Bryan annoyed. "It's just.. it's got to be better..."
The strong though young teenager looked curiously to Bryan. "Why would you even want to?" Asked Jack, with genuine concern.
Bryan shrugged. "It's just... their lives seem more interesting?"
"Eh? Our lives our plenty interesting!" said Jack. "I'm happy with it. I got a date with Janine." He said smiling still. "We can even make it a double date. I'm sure she has a friend."
"Well you're a jock. Sometimes I wonder why you hang about a nerd."
Jack rolled his eyes. "You're not a nerd," he said getting a bit annoyed. The truth is they both had pretty much the same intelligence and book smarts. But Bryan didn't get picked for the football team, and their paths changed after that. Jack didn't care though, Bryan was like a little brother to him- (though the same age). They had known each other since childhood.
Bryan glanced at the closed window, where the forbidden light was going rise. "Look at us. We're seeing probably the most significant event in all of history... and all we can do is hide in our houses like a bomb shelter. I... just kind of want to know what we might turn into."
"Hey, I am not risking my body," said Jack. "I worked damn hard for it thank you." He flexed his biceps for good measure. They were suitably impressive, for someone who has worked out as much as he had.
"But I might get 'instant' muscles..." said Bryan smiling a bit as his imagination ran wild. "I know one transformed person that turned into some kind of drow. He doesn't show it but he's 'really' strong.."
"Or you might end up wearing that bra," said Jack. He put it on his own body in mockery. "Hey look at me! I'm Bryan! I need six bras and three knickers!" He walked about the living room 'strutting'.
Bryan blushed again turning away from Jack's demonstration. Still... when all the possibilities were considered... infinite of infinite possibilities... turning into a girl had to be a very small risk... right? And if one considered all the possibilities of what one 'could' turn into.... "Well... it might be worth the risk? It might not happen..."
"You never go to the gym with me any more. Stick with me, and I'll sort some muscles out for you," said the jock encouragingly.
"I can't... I'm too tired all the time." He leaned back onto the couch annoyed with himself. "I don't know how you do it," he said. "That's... why I also want to go into the sunlight. I just ... I just want to try it."
Jack sighed. They had this debate in different ways, for months... ever since the sun started, Bryan had been curious... so very curious, to try going into the sunlight. He wanted to see what would happen- as if.. it was a calling? Maybe it would have been better if Bryan had been caught unaware by the sunlight... but he was not. He was 'lucky', just like him. Honestly, Jack didn't understand it. Still, fear kept Bryan on the straight and narrow... not to mention that his parents would kill the both of them for it. Why would anyone do this 'intentionally'?
Jack in the end went to the kitchen and brought a can of... something. "Drink?"
Bryan gasped at the can of alcohol. "Beer?"
"Hey, you're the one thinking of going in the sunlight. I'm just getting a drink for the two of us. Who's being more stupid?" smiled Jack.
The two sat down on the coach, with a small in front of them. Bryan reluctantly tried some of the beer. He found it very bitter and winced at the taste.
"Ata-boy! Now don't tell the cops" He winked. "It'll grow on you," said the jock. "It took me a few drinks too."
"You don't drink a lot of this do you?" Asked Bryan concerned.
"No of course not. I ain't turnin' into an alcoholic. I just like to know how far I can push myself with what I can afford."
"All just testing your limits hm?"
"You know it," said Jack nodding. "I don't drink much not really. Maybe a 'bit' more since all this started.. eh, being cooped up in a house, you got to do something."
Bryan and Jack drank the beer, getting- not exactly 'drunk' but certainly more relaxed. They would talk about the changed, and the sunlight... and what Bryan hoped for. He felt his life was just... so 'boring'. Especially as they were stuck in a house now, until the next sunset.
"Eh, you know you won't do it, so don't" said Jack a little buzzed from the drink. "Just live the same day before that, and the same before that, and the day before that... see That's why I got into the football team and you didn't. I push myself and take risks. You play it safe all the time. It ain't a bad thing though. I nearly broke my leg that first practice. But they saw my drive and ambition," said Jack. "That gets you ahead of the game. You need that edge inside you."
Bryan fumed a little as Jack's words hit harder then he could have ever thought. He 'always' played it safe, he was 'never' going to do anything... he just lived his life the same day over and over... "I'm going to do it!" said Bryan suddenly.
Jack folded his arms not believing him. "Yep..."
"I am! I'm going to the front door."
"Yep..." said Jack watching.
"I'm turning the handle. Look see? its sunny, and I'm turning the handle!" Bryan continued glancing to Jack.
"He's turning the handle. He's a mad man. A mad man!" chuckled Jack some more.
Bryan was undeterred. "I'm opening the door. Its going to bring the sunlight in and.. I'll turn into... something cool!" he shouted as if to establish this 'fate'... tensing picturing all the great possibilities in his mind.
Jack at this point, was a little tense. he heard the click of the door... and- thankfully, his friend just... paused.
There it was. Hesitation. Sweat and fear. Bryan got a lot further then he usually did... but this was it. He wasn't going to do it. Jack was actually very relieved. he really didn't understand why his friend would be tempted to turn himself into a freak. Maybe the drink to help him relax was a bad idea. He had to defuse the situation. "Yeah yeah... maybe tomorrow huh? We gotta think it through some more" said Jack.
"T-Tomorrow," said Bryan... letting go of the door. "I guess... I can try tomorrow," he said with a sigh.
Jack looked a bit sadly to Bryan as he turned on the television. Once again he saw Bryan entranced every time he saw a changed person show up. The jock sighed... "You know, it isn't a brave thing to go into the sunlight. It's just being stupid."
Bryan glanced at him. "You... wouldn't get it," he said quietly.
"You're right, I don't get it" The jock said with a shrug. "I'm happy you're you, and you got a good life."
"It's... a normal life," said Bryan wistfully. "I go to school... I study... I come back. I am to get a job, work in some office, come back home... pay bills when old enough... then that's it. Can't there... be more? I just want there to be more to life. I just..." He trailed off. Maybe he was being a little selfish. There was nothing wrong in his life.. nothing at all. He was healthy, could be quite happy... so why did he feel like this was something he wanted to do?
"Well, you could always try to get rich. That might make life more interesting," Said Jack. "Honestly, I'm happy with my life. Why don't you join the army if you want an 'exciting' life."
Bryan gasped. "God no! I... I don't have that in me. I don't want to kill people! I just... wish life could be more. I just want something fun. Like... I already 'know' what's in store for me if I stay here. I wonder if I could just... step outside and live some other life. It's like when be played dungeons and dragons? You remember don't you?"
Jack rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah, I played it with you a few times. It was fun, but that's just a game. You're talking about your life. Your entire life... it ain't worth it man, it just ain't worth it. You won't be able to escape that game, and you can't undo the dice either. Whatever happens to you is for keeps in the real world."
"Maybe... I think it might be worth trying though?"
Jack mulled a bit over Bryan's words. "I think you're crazy. Shall I call 911?"
Bryan laughed. "Yeah... okay. I am crazy," he said wistfully again as another changed person appeared on the television. If only he knew what he would turn into... if only he could have some way to guess... to know if he would like whatever life would show itself in the light... if only he wasn't such a God-damn chicken!
Jack sighed. "Look... it's a human life. Human life isn't worse then the changed life you know? In fact in some ways, its better. We live in a human town. The changed can't do everything we can." Jack didn't speak out of any maliciousness to what was a simple fact of observation. Just yesterday he helped some strange spider-child onto a bus, who didn't know how to elevate her new legs. It was a sad thing to see.
Bryan shook his head. If only he could convey... just how curious he was of... of them.
The jock continued to study Bryan. He was getting a bit annoyed as nothing he was saying was getting through to him. Maybe it was time to use reverse psychology. "Well... if you want to do it, just do it."
"W-what?" asked Bryan confused. "What about all that stuff about how you would kill me if my parents didn't?"
"You got to do what you go to do too," he said. "Don't let a little thing like 'fear' get in the way. Just don't be a chicken. The sunlight might turn you into one." he said grinning.
"Yeah fine. Okay I'm doing it!" he ran back to the front door.
"Yeah Yeah, of course you are." Jack shook his head. He wasn't going to buy it again.
"I am! Look see? I'm opening the door.. .and...
...With that Bryan just.. ran out.
"Dude No!" Jack just ran to the threshold of the door. "Shit! He went out he bloody went outside!" Bryan! Bryan!" he called for him hoping he was okay.
He was surprised as the door opened again.. and.. Bryan stepped inside looking... very... sad.
Jack touched Bryan's shoulder. "D-Dude.. Bryan? You... you okay?"
Bryan looked down. "N-No..."
"What happened? God Speak to me! What happened?"
Suddenly Bryan pushed the door fully open. Jack tensed thinking he had damned them both and was about to give him a good beating for it before the sun did- whatever... but..
...there were no rainbow lights.
...The sunlight was just... normal now.
The two stepped outside, staring into the normal sunlight. It had been so long since either of them had seen the sun... and... it was all fine. It was early so they were probably the first people to notice this new sunrise... a sunrise of a normal ordinary sun, in a normal ordinary world.
...There would be no more transformations.
Jack looked to Bryan, surprised to see the boy in tears.
"God what's the matter with you?!" asked Jack. "A bloody miracle just happened and all you can do is get upset about it? We're safe now! The suns no longer gonna change us!"
Bryan stared sadly. If... if only he had been braver just a day before. "... all I can ever live, is a normal life... forever... now."
It was Jack's turn to look sympathetic now. He didn't really know what to say to that. Was living a normal life really that 'crushing' to people? To anyone? To his good friend? "Come on man... lets... heat up the pizza," said Jack with a sigh. "It's over. Let's celebrate!"
"...yeah... okay Jack..." Bryan was downcast in disappointment. Maybe this was just... how it was. His life was his life... and it wasn't a 'bad' life... not at all. Just... a normal life.
Quietly the two went back to the house... though... Jack felt just the strangest, slightest itch on his body along his torso... A tingle that...
"... nah... couldn't... be..."
The two boys were not 'completely' alone... There was... someone else. He was an ancient force, that had found himself on this world, with the coming of the fey, and 'before' they had to leave this world, he just absolutely had to do one thing.
"Two boys that would be wary, your life you wish to change for merry! Thou must see thy flesh as prison, and know not the wonder out of fear and disillusion. But I am Puck, and I know a trick or two. But only one of you, would be better off, and the other sad to let him go."
The strange invisible being could hear the call of the fey ordering his return... he had to work quickly.
"I have but a midsummer second, upon this Earth, but leave with a spell upon you. That whatever he becomes, so will the other share the same perspective. That you will be as siblings and closer still. May your lives be interesting! Even Puck does not know, what the result will be but keep that bra handy-
He paused again tensing.
"Yes my Queen I return now I return... I was just looking at the mortals... yes yes..."
