That morning, the 15-year-old Nicki (*author's note: I accidentally typed 16 in the last one, but the math adds up to 15,) sat, just as she always did, in her PJ's, slurping her Lucky Charms. Unlike usual, however, she did not have an early morning sluggishness about her. In fact, she was humming "Walkin' on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves. While Megan was pouring herself her coffee, she noticed this.
"Why are you so Ms. Mary Sunshine?"
"Oh, no reason." She smiled and looked up, "slept well last night."
"Okay, fine, don't tell me," Megan said. She figured it was a lie, because even to this date Nicki complained she couldn't get as comfortable sleeping as Nicki as Nick.
"Well, I heard some good news last night," Nicki beamed.
"Ooh, do tell. Is it that boy you like?"
Nicki groaned at this thought. If she was about to reclaim her manhood, the last thing she needed to be reminded of was that she'd been flirting with that guy in Math.
"No..." she dragged out the 'o' and turned her gaze out the window. She took another spoonful of Lucky Charms and slurped down the milk. She wiped the moustache from her lips and recited that old tagline, "does a body good."
Nicki then took a shower, but that didn't help her escape Megan's interrogation. When she got out, wrapped in a towel, Megan immediately asked, "so what's going on?"
"Jeez, Meg, can I please have some privacy?" she said, clutching the town to her breasts, "I know this is basically still your old body, but I think I've earned the right."
"Fair enough," Megan said as Nicki raced to her room. When she emerged, dressed in black dickies and a white tank top, she busied herself by putting her books into her backpack.
"You didn't use my razor again, did you?" Megan asked. "Because last time, you didn't clean it off so good."
"I'm probably going to have to get a new one soon anyway," Nicki said. At that point she realized she'd basically let it slip, so she dropped her bag and sat down at the table, motioning for Megan to sit across from her. Nicki clasped her hands, very seriously, and affected as serious a tone of voice she could muster. "Megan, I..." she didn't know where to begin. "I was looking around last night, and... on the web, and I came across this thing on EBay. Not just, uh, any old thing but the real thing. The Medallion."
Megan was gobsmacked. "You... you found it?" Her voice was half-shock, half-glee, with a dash of disappointment. "Did you..."
"It'll be here in a week or so. I hope you don't mind, but I used your Credit Card to pay."
"No, that's okay... I mean, it's the least I could do. I made you live the last 2 years of your life as a pubescent girl..."
"3 years," Nicki corrected her fake aunt.
Megan blinked rapidly and asked, "3? Wow, has it been 3 years?" Nicki nodded. "Well, I'm... happy for you. Happy is not the word," her voice grew steadily warmer, "I'm elated. This is incredible!"
"I know, right?" Nicki grinned a mile wide, "I never thought--" Nicki stopped herself, unable to continue from so much joy.
"Me neither! I mean, I always hoped, but, after that first year, it seemed... you know."
Nicki checked the clock. She was running late, as usual. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and bounded out the door excitedly. "I'm off! See ya tonight!"
"Bye..." Megan's voice trailed off as she watched Nicki leave. Her heart was full of conflicting emotions. Naturally, she was excited for Nicki, but she couldn't shake this feeling of loss... that life would be so much less exciting without Nicki. She knew these thoughts weren't the most positive in the world, and felt guilty about having them, but couldn't shake them.
