Author's Note: Heya all, I'd just like to take a quick moment to remind y'all I currently have a book out on Amazon ("Elysium Shining"), and am working on more when time allows. I recommend giving it a look if you like my work so far.

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Chapter 7
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Judy walked into math class with less than ten seconds to spare. A few of the students stared as she sat down in her seat, which was close to the back without being in the same row as the usual troublemakers.

She was thankful to Denise for lending her a spare pair of shorts, which felt remarkably better than the boys’ pants she had worn earlier in the day, yet the shorts weren’t quite the right size. They were an inch too loose. She was going to need new clothes sooner than she’d thought she might, which came with a mix of emotions. She reined those feelings in when the teacher began to call everyone’s names.

Even though her last name was Tanimoto, placing her nearer to the end of the list, the teacher stopped roll call after only a couple names to look at her.

“I’m sorry,” the math teacher said, tilting her head and looking as though she were holding her head in place so that it wouldn’t screw off at the neck, “but who are you?”

“Just the same old me,” Judy responded.

“You look like the young man who normally sits there, but you’re a girl.”

“Paragon City happened? I mean, stranger things have happened than people changing genders. It’s really a longer story than I care to tell.”

The teacher tucked her clipboard under her arm while keeping a vigilant focus on Judy. She quizzed Judy, with everyone bearing witness, on the material they had gone over last week.

On the last question, Judy said that they didn’t go over the algebraic formula, and the teacher thought she’d caught an impostor in her lie. Then another student pointed out that class had been interrupted last Friday before the teacher could get to the formula, and the school closed down before class could end properly.

With a visible flush, the teacher admitted defeat, and the lesson went on.

This repeated, minus the math problems, in English class. But, the biggest bother Judy really had during the last two class periods of the day—and especially in the time between them—was her boobs bouncing and rubbing against the inside of her shirt. Why had no one told her before that a girl’s nipples were so sensitive?

Judy found Denise after school standing in the usual pick-up area. Denise looked her way with a gaze that hinted at worry before she said, “Our moms are parked next to one another. Are you ready for this?”

“No, but it’ll only be worse if we don’t go now,” Judy surmised. “Let’s go.”

They walked together toward the cars where they found Judy’s mom and Robin talking to one another. Judy grimaced while she trailed behind her friend between both vehicles, and the talking slowed to a stunning stop once the older women saw her. Both mothers glanced at one another, and then Robin got out of her car as Judy’s mom unlocked the doors and waved everyone over. All four of them sat inside of the one car now, with Judy and Denise in the back seat.

Their moms had turned in their seats, and said together, “Alright, talk.”

“I’m still figuring out what happened myself,” said Judy.

“Yeah, one moment she’s getting zapped inside of a computer, and the next she’s got a female body,” said Denise.

“All of this because of that shot I received on Saturday. The nurse whispered something about it being the wrong room.”

Robin raised her hand to stop them, and said, “Wait. Wait-wait-wait-wait, Henry came home and told me you nearly died because Leon Penne was there.”

“He was, and I did. I was out for five hours following a lightning storm. That I caused with my hands.”

“You died?!” asked Judy’s mom.

“Not exactly. Remember how the new batteries in the TV remote died? I think I might have drained them, along with several lights and instruments at the hospital, but I don’t really know the details of how it happened. I think that energy kept me alive until I could wake up.”

“And this happened after your shot?”

“Yes.”

Robin asked, “What kind of shot were you supposed to receive?”

“Estrogen,” said everyone else.

Denise’s mother squinted as if she was trying to pierce Judy with her gaze. “You were a transgender this whole time?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Judy averted her eyes from feeling uncomfortable.

“Wow, you’re a brave kid. Promise me you’ll be more careful in the future. Both of you. There aren’t enough understanding people out there.”

“It’s not like I look for trouble. But, I promise.”

Judy’s mom said, “You’re all girl now, though.” The look on her face seemed to ask if she was right, and that she waited for an answer.

“I think so. I have all the parts, but we didn’t really get a good look before the bell rang and we had to go to class.”

“I’d like to have a doctor look at you.”

“Oh, do we have to?”

“Oh yeah, we do. The question is who we can trust.”

“I might know someone,” said Robin. “There’s an O.B.G.Y.N who specializes in meta cases and confidentiality. I met her through my work, and happen to go to her even though I don’t have powers of my own. Call me later when we’re both home, and I’ll give you her information.”

“Thank you, Robin. That’s a big help. Now, Jude . . . Julie? Judy? We made plans to get you some clothes today. It looks like you’re going to need some now.”

“Oh yeah, Henry said that he and Denise didn’t get to buy a new outfit the other day. You don’t think that maybe we can go together somewhere?”

“We could. All of us in the same car, or do you want to go separately and meet somewhere?”

“I think meeting somewhere would be good.”

They agreed on a shopping center in Peregrine where there sat a respectable thrift store. Along the way, Judy and her mother talked more about her new powers, and how she was still learning about them. Her mom asked if she had any plans to use her powers in the capacity of a costumed hero, and Judy said that she wasn’t sure. She would love to help people, but she needed to worry about having a better grasp of her powers first. Her mom called that a wise decision.

Peregrine was the main beach district in Paragon City, located in the southeast corner of the mainland where there was a short peninsula. It was home to a few science laboratories as well as the shoreline. It had its own houses and shops too, of course, but those could be found almost anywhere in the city. This particular thrift store had a reputation for keeping itself, and its wares, cleaner than anywhere else in the city.

Inside the store, Denise wasted no time picking out an outfit for herself, and then holding up something provocative to her friend. Judy blushed like crazy when she saw what her friend had picked out for her, and declined excitedly.

Judy’s mom said that they’d need to go to another store later to pick up a couple bras for Judy, who then added a swimsuit to their list of things to get.

After a sigh, Judy’s mom said, “I suppose so. Do you really need one? The summer’s over.”

“I still have swimming on Fridays until around Halloween,” said Judy.

“I’m starting to think we should get a doctor’s note to excuse you from P.E.”

“Mom, come on. You know how much I like swimming.”

“Your powers, though. OK, fine. We’ll get you a swimsuit as well, but I want you to be extra careful inside the pool.”

Denise and her mom were done in no time, but they stuck around for a bit to spend more time with their new friends. Judy caught both moms gabbing in one corner while she carried a few changes of clothes into the fitting room.

Gyah! she thought when she was down to her underwear. I wish I had panties already. She removed her shirt, and stopped mid-reach before grabbing the first change of clothes.

The timid, dainty girl in the mirror was her in every way. If having this new body was a fluke, she hoped that it never reversed. Every curve, every inch of smooth skin. Her boobs were small and cute. There was only one thing she had not yet seen in the last few hours. Judy pushed on the front of her underwear, revealing some hair that she would have to keep with the occasional trim, but an otherwise smooth mound with a slit at the bottom.

She fought her urges to explore further. There would be time and a better place to do it when she got home, she thought to herself. Resisting the persistent pangs of curiosity, Jude pulled on the jeans first.

They fit so snug, and so right, unlike men’s pants, which were too thick. The thinner fabric was comfortable as it wrapped around her legs. The only downside she could notice was the lack of pockets. Then came her first new shirt. It again felt so right, and not like it was assaulting her nipples, though they were barely visible through the shirt.

Judy thought she liked the color and design of it, but she wanted someone’s opinion. Was that a thing? She never thought to ask anyone for an opinion on her look before. She unlocked the door to her stall, and the door opened in an instant. Denise and Judy’s mom rushed into the stall and closed the door behind them.

“Come on,” said Judy’s mom, “We need to hide our feet. Oh, that looks nice on you. More later, more later. Hurry.”

“What’s going on?” Judy asked.

“Three men in ski masks and guns walked in just now. Robin’s still out there, but she said she’ll be fine as long as her daughter is here with us. Let’s keep it down, and crouch on the seat here. Hopefully, they won’t see our feet and that’ll be enough.”

“Men with guns? Are they robbing a thrift store?” Judy’s hoarse whisper did nothing to hide her cynical question.

However, her mom and friend each put a hand over her mouth.

Moments later, Judy heard heavy footsteps enter the fitting room. A distant voice called for the man to check every stall.

Her heart pounded, and one of the lights flickered. She could hear the man walk to the end of the line of stalls, and how he was pushing each door open. One by one. He got closer, and Judy’s heart pounded harder while her friend shook against her side.
The man only got closer. Judy knew that she had to do something, but her mind swarmed with too many impossible ideas. Then, finally, she saw the metal handle on the door, and grabbed it while hoping for the best.

Please don’t hurt Mom and Denise. Please don’t hurt Mom and Denise.

On the other side, the man reached the door and pushed it. He met some resistance, and must have reached for the handle next, because Judy felt the reverberations. It was now or never, and Judy felt for the buzzing energy within herself. Then she tried to connect that energy to her hand.

“Arg!” the man shouted. He took a step away from the door and turned. “What was that?”

Judy reached under the door and tried once again to connect the buzzing energy to her hand, and then through it. A visible spark shot out, but it felt like so much more.

She watched and listened as the man not only screamed out again, but he fell to the ground.

Her mom ran out of the door and pounced on the man. It happened so fast that Judy didn’t quite see her mom knock the man out. She did, however, see a second man spot them from a distance and point his gun with a shout.

As if that wasn’t enough, the manager on duty came out with a shotgun, and then aimed it at each of the two masked men still standing. The manager had already taken one shot, possibly at the man Judy could not see, but it was enough to make the second man turn back and forth between the manager and the fitting rooms.

Robin threw something at the second man, and ducked back behind the shelving partitions while the object struck the man in the head. The man shot at the ceiling in reflex. While he was too distracted by everything going on, including the bits of ceiling falling on him, Judy stayed low and shot a spark toward his legs.

She missed; the electricity hit the floor below the man, but it was enough to ground him. Robin, Judy’s mom, and another customer took the chance to pile onto the man and subdue him, leaving the manager to keep focus on the third masked man.

The other customer gave no indication that he saw Judy use her power. Then again, it was Paragon City. Random people with superpowers weren’t exactly a rarity.

When they got home, Judy and her mom dropped their personal bags near the small table in the entryway, and Judy’s mom said, “What a day. I hope you got everything you needed.”

“I think so,” said Judy, still carrying a few big bags of clothes that she knew she’d have to clean before the night was over. “Do we have enough laundry soap?”

“I’m too tired to remember. How do you feel about take-out tonight?”

“Sounds good to me.”

It took a few odd moments before Judy started a load of laundry, and then she was back in her room, sitting on her bed, and trying really hard to ignore the boy’s clothes hanging in the closet. She couldn't.

“Oh, couldn’t you have changed too?” she asked her old clothes.

Then she fell backward, catching sight of the poster that she was glad did not change. How could it, really?

“We’ll meet again,” Judy said. “And then we’ll save the world, maybe.” She giggled all the way until she dozed off.