Zoe found herself peeking into Jon's room.
She figured that the incessant squeals of delight were coming from the ditzy blonde girl that came to her house an hour ago, Brittney-Lynne. Harder for her to believe, though, was that those same noises were coming out of her brother, too. She was rightfully shocked. This morning, Jon left the house in plain grey sweatpants and a tank top. When he returned in white short shorts and an electric blue spandex crop top she could hardly believe her eyes. And that was before she noticed the mascara and the way his eyebrows were shaped into two delicate arches. Whatever they were doing at that Career Center was serious. Athena and her would have to get to the bottom of it before it was too late.
God it was getting late! Jon thought as he opened the last box. He couldn't remember the last time he had so much fun. Brittney-Lynne was a riot! Her passion for cheering was only matched by her passion for clothes, it seemed. He was glad she came over to help him go through Sarah's boxes. They color-coded, divided by event, accessorized, and hung each and every one of the former most popular girl's wardrobe on hangers in his closet in between the other new outfits he got from the Career Center for his new role. It was pretty exciting to get all this new stuff! And to think, all clothes! He couldn't believe that he never gave them a chance before! It was almost like he was a natural stylist.
Brittney-Lynne looked on and held the bright-eyed smile plastered across her face. Even the slightest drop out of character could give her away to Jon, and she couldn't jeopardize the assignment. She was a smart girl, and the plan was going so well. Her entire training process was based on the fact that Jon would trust her. Trust her so much that he'd do anything for her, want to hang out with her, want to see her everyday. Which ultimately, would fulfill the Center's goal, getting him into a career path. But also, it would fulfill her own goal, to convert another apathetic, boring kid into a pretty, peppy, productive person of value! This time, she wanted a challenge, which is why she switched his card out for that annoying girl Sarah McMillan's. Besides, who wanted to be a computer programmer, anyway, especially when you could be dancing under the stadium lights?
Tonight's night was more than just getting him to trust her, though. Coming to the Gibson house, she was also assigned to study his family, and weed out any threats from them that might cause issues with her mission. So far, the whole family didn't seem concerned in the slightest about their son's transition. She was sure that Linda, the mother, had been through one of the Center's "compliance" courses, which was just mostly brainwashing that wouldn't wear off until it was too late. The youngest son, Mikey, really didn't have a clue. However, she would definitely have to keep an eye on Zoe, the gothic one, whose disapproving stares and inquisitive glances made Brittney-Lynne think she was up to something. She swiveled her head back and forth, taking in the information.
That's when she spied it. At the bottom of the last box. It was the outfit that could take Jon to the next level of his training. Gothic sister wouldn't matter much after that. Getting him to wear it would actually make Jon start thinking in his new role. Getting him to train in it would get him comfortable with the feel of his probable future. Getting him to step into it might actually bring him to the brink of wanting the changes to happen. She was sure Jon had fantasized about the girls that had worn it many times before. The tiny white socks, white body suit, royal blue hair bows, gold spankies and shell with LPHS emblazoned on the front were only less recognizable than the short pleated skirt they matched. It was Sarah McMillan's Lake Point High School cheerleading uniform. And she was going to have Jon try it on now .
