I walked to school that morning, a plan forming in my head. It wouldn't be that hard, I realized suddenly. All I had to do was play it right.
"Hey Jonni! Wait up!" yelled Karyn from behind me. I paused while she ran up. "How are you this morning?"
I smiled a toothy grin, "I'm fine, how're you?"
She paused a moment, "You're not upset that you're still a..." she trailed off and motioned at my body, then seemed to notice my clothes for the first time. I was wearing a low cut shirt that showed off my cleavage well and my midriff was bare save for my spotted fur. The jeans I was wearing were almost painted on. "No, I guess you're not," she said with a worried grin.
I shook my head. I had a strong suspision that she was responsible for more than she was letting on. I knew she still had the rock. I could still remember being a normal teenager, after all, and male at that. I could even remember being worried about these thoughts last night, even if I wasn't at all now. In fact,I was embracing them, loving them, excited by them. "Nope. If you're worried, don't be. This is a lot more fun than being Jon ever was." I put my arm around her and held her closely, "I think I feel almost more complete than I ever have." If I had my way, Jon wasn't going to return, ever.
Karyn was taken aback by that, but seemed to relax after a second, "That's good." she said quietly.
"Oh, by the way," I said going to the script in my head, "Mark called me this morning to go to the movies tonight."
"On a date?" she asked quickly, then recovered, "You going?"
I nodded, "Of course," I said swishing my tail.
Karyn thought a second, "Maybe we can get Zach to make it a double date?"
I smiled, good old predictable Karyn. She'd somehow caused this but was having second thoughts. "Sure! I'll tell Mark, you tell Zach."
We got to school and parted company. As soon as Karyn was out of sight, I slipped the rock out of my pocket. Sometimes, feline reflexs were a plus. It had been a snap to slip this out of Karyns backpack while she wasn't looking. There wouldn't be anymore interference from her. I loved her like a sister, but if she tried to stop me again, I'd turn her into a dog for a few weeks.
I ran into Mark outside my first class and gave him a hug. It caught him off guard a moment, but he recovered and returned it, carresing the fur on my bare back. "I told Karyn that we were going to meet her and Zach at the movies tonight," I whispered in his ear, "but if you'd rather have a little more private date, I'm yours," I said with a purr.
He smiled, "What do you have in mind?"
"Well...."
