Just a brief coda to a story I wrote a while back. I am unsure about continuing this tale as I have an impatient Dragon and rider to deal with and they are both getting rather short tempered!

Coming Solanth...

Summer was approaching and the weather was becoming much warmer than she remembered her previous life back in England. Strange, she thought¸ I remember the weather but it is almost as if somebody else was there too. A boy? She gave a shy smile to herself as she remembered Jack “No Hassle” Castle holding her in his arms last night and the warmth of their shared embrace at the Easter Dance. Their love had blossomed like the flowers in their gardens and she knew Jack would always love and care for her as much as she did for him.
Life in the School had settled down, well in so much as life in any High School might be considered “settled”. But there was something about Hill Street High that felt so different to life in her previous schools. One high spot was that somehow, just after Easter, the School Board announced that funds were available for a small indoor climbing wall to be built within the gym. Andrea had barely concealed her joy at the announcement as rock climbing was something she missed since leaving England. The local area was well served with amenities but nowhere reasonable for climbing, certainly nowhere that she considered safe. My cup runneth over, she smiled as she dug into her old outdoor bag and found her climbing harness, helmet and rock boots. Odd though, she thought, I thought they were a little more worn. Still, I don’t have to update anything and it is all a nice fit.

A reward, the School thought, Andrea has accepted her change and her giving nature and love for Jack may be helpful in the future. Remembering the relationship between Danny and Bree and how constructive it had proved, the School considered its relationships with staff and students. Better to move slowly and gently and really consider if change like Andrea’s is actually necessary. But LOVE was such an ephemeral thing but clearly important for its students. Best wait and let things develop in their own time and manner.

“Hey cutie, what’s on your mind?” Jack looked into the eyes of the girl he had come to love. He knew that certain things would have to wait for their proper time and the anticipation would add to the pleasure. Besides, his feelings for Andrea were too strong, he would never, could never, hurt her any more than he could remove an arm.
“Me?” Andrea smiled, curling a lock of hair about her finger and giving him a coy glance. Inside, she knew that once she was rather a tomboy but was becoming much more the “girly girl” as her growing circle of friends had taken to joking with her. Indeed, her dress sense was growing daily and she even enjoyed Connie taking her to raid the stores in the Mall. A feminine experience that she had willingly thrown herself into and was, surprisingly, turning out to be a great deal of fun. “Just remembering last night in the Mall with Connie, but you know for a girl, what happens in the Mall, stays in the Mall” she smiled innocently at him.
“Whoa Andrea, TMI!” Jack sniggered back. “Some things need to remain a mystery to us guys you know.” While privately thinking that Andrea might let him catch a glimpse if he stayed a good boy…

Dreams… sometimes Andrea thought she was a boy but that was silly wasn’t it? She occasionally woke in a cold sweat as though something was wrong but her heart told her that couldn’t be right, could it? If she were really a boy, why did Jack give her so many wonderful feelings? It felt so very right but something in her past felt odd rather than wrong. Why so often the dream of being a boy?
The School felt her thoughts, even when Andrea was away. It was as though she had developed a connection with the School but was not fully understanding herself yet. It was as though she had begun to touch the mind of the School but was not fully understanding herself yet. Andrea was adapting well but had the School overreached itself? What about her past? Records showed that there was no family but it had learned that on occasion, the records were flawed to say the least. Best to let things continue but be wary of any surprises.

A few weeks later and Andrea was surprised to see an unhappy boy sitting forlornly in the changing room.
“Hi there, whats’s up? You look like you’ve found thruppence and lost a shilling.”
“Wha… what?” the boy looked at her. Sadness and embarrassment mixed in his eyes.
“Sorry, figure of speech back home. My Dad used to use it…”
“It’s just that, well this is as girl’s room and I’m not a girl.” He looked down at his feet.
“It’s the overflow room, that’s all. I bet you’ll be first in line for a new locker when one becomes free. Frankly I like having a room almost all to myself and be honest, how many boys can claim to be allowed into a “girls” changing room with the Principal’s permission!” Andrea gave him a friendly smile. “Oh, introductions, I’m Andrea, you’ll probably meet Patty and Theresa soon. That lunk outside is my boyfriend Jack. You’ll like him, he’s really friendly and a great guy.”
“I’m F... Francis” the unhappy boy looked back down to the floor.
“Great to meet you Francis,” Andrea beamed at him. “This place is really great once you settle in. I bet you’re going to have a great time here.”
“Don’t know, I’m probably going to be the butt of everybody’s jokes now I’m in here.” Francis mumbled.
“Nope, I can guarantee that. I hope we can be friends too? Hopefully I’m just the first of many here. It’s odd but in all the time I’ve been here I’ve seen a few practical jokes but there’s never been bullying or anything like that.”
“Yes…but…”
“Nothing bad will happen! What do you think, that there is a girlitizer ray concealed in the room turning every boy who comes in into a girl?” Andrea giggled at the thought. “Really, look at your schedule, I bet it is just totally normal, yes?”
Francis looked at the sheet gloomily, frowned a little more, then the hint of a smile appeared as he looked back at Andrea.
“Well I have got dance and Home Ec but I do love dancing and I really want to work in catering after College. Not flipping burgers, not that there’s anything wrong with starting that way but I want to be a Chef.”
“See, what did I tell you! And it sounds like a great career plan.”
At that, Francis appeared to relax a little, “Yes, I suppose I’d best get the day started.”
“Sure thing, see you later. Tata!” Andrea smiled as she picked up her books and left for the waiting arms of her boyfriend.
“It could be that I’m going to like it here” Francis thought as he put his books away.
Andrea’s laughter rang like a bell as she thought to herself, “A Girlitzer ray! Changing boys into girls! Outrageous, it is just a changing Room and it sure changed me from total tomboy to a girly-girl with a fantastic boyfriend and our whole lives in front of us”
“Hi Hun, what’s with the giggle fest?” Jack looked a little worried. Last time Andrea had giggleitis she and her friends had been planning a series of practical jokes including an awesome “April Fool” spoof.
“Oh just a train of thought that snapped in a funny place. Now where’s my hug?”

The School watched as the two lovers made their way to class. It would take no action over Francis. Once it had been driven by a need to maintain balance but in its lessons over the years it had gained the understanding that change was only truly necessary when the person needed to change.