T.T.S.D. 5: Dot Hunting

Last time, Dot’s hugglebug put Chris in a dress, which led to them having a conversation about their feelings for each other. Unfortunately, the group of students called the Wolfpack had taken note of the incident, and began planning how to bully Dot and Chris ...

Saturday, my period started.

It was one case where my dreams of being a girl when I was Thomas and the reality of being Dot didn’t align all that well, and therefore a struggle.

That struggle was made harder by Jesse’s reaction when I told the other girls. For some reason, she was very angry, even more so than when she realized I was crushing on Chris.

Finally, on Sunday night, I got Chris to get her to agree to meet me in one of the PDE rooms, so we could talk.

When she arrived, I said to her, “You’ve been giving me the stink eye ever since my period started. I may not have Chris’ abilities, but I’d say you can’t decide if you're more mad at me, or jealous. But your body will mature too and then you’ll get to experience this yourself and ...”

Jesse interrupted me by breaking out in laughter, and then she said, “I guess you didn’t understand what I told you. Dot, I may look like a girl, but inside I have essentially the same reproductive system as a plant. I won't have a period, I’ll flower and wait for some insect that has been at a plant-boy to come and pollinate me. And since there are no plant-boys, my flower will drop off. The scientists here still aren’t sure if I’ll be in flower all spring like most plants, or what.”

I facepalmed, and said “No wonder you’ve been annoyed at me. I’ve been upset about getting something you only dream of having.”

“Yeah, I was hoping my complicated biology would get simpler, so I could be a regular girl, but that’s not what happened.”

“I’m really sorry, Jesse”

“It’s okay Dot.” She replied, “Chris helped me see you were not trying to hurt me.”

“He’s a really great guy,” I said.

“He is. You’re a lucky girl.”

I blushed, and said, “We’re just friends.”

Jessie replied, “For now.”

I could think of nothing to say to that, and instead pulled her into a hug.

All things considered, I would be glad the next couple of days were quiet.

Because the Hunt had started.

Afterward, I would learn that the Wolfpack was tracking me, learning my routine. And not just me, but Jessie as well.

The first indication that something was up happened in a Chemistry class. Jessie and I were trying to use a bunsen burner as part of a class assignment, but no matter what we tried, we couldn’t get it to light.

Our teacher noticed, and soon the rest of the class was giggling at us as well.

Finally, a girl in our class who had chosen the code name “Hottie” used her powers to light our burner, while the class and the teacher laughed.

I spent the rest of the day in a funk, until I had some time with Chris, Jesse, and my other dorm mates in one of the PDE rooms. Jess told Chris about what had happened in our class, and he talked about a group of students who tried to scare him, but were foiled by his awareness, and added “The thing that bothered me is it seemed like they took me not falling for it as something really serious, based on how they reacted.”

“I wonder if the same group was behind our little accident,” Jess said.

“Not sure, we’ll have to see if something new happens.” Chris replied.

It didn’t take long for the next shoe to drop.

I was on my way to my weekly counselling session, when I opened the door . . .

I was no longer at the school.

I was back in the office of the man who caused me so much harm back when I was a boy.

At first I thought I was in a flashback as events were playing out as they had done the first time.

But there was one difference, which finally got me realizing I was not trapped in a memory - I was still Dot, and not the boy I had been.

But that wasn’t enough to free me.

Then I felt something coming from reality.

It was my mother, trying to reach me with her calm-down power.

Trouble was, I wasn’t upset - I was disconnected.

But I tried to reach toward it anyway.

I could feel myself returning to my body, but suddenly realized it wasn’t my mother holding me - it was Chris.

For a second my fear of masculinity rose, until I realized that Chris was in fact wearing the same dress the hugglebug had put him in before.

“Oh Chris!” I exclaimed, “Did I do this to you again?”

“No. Your hugglebug asked me, and I said yes.” he replied.

“Why?” I asked. “You have been working hard at being a real dude.”

“Sometimes being a real dude means knowing when to put embarrassment aside, especially if it helps someone you love.”

“Love?”

“Yes. Love.”

I thanked him the only way I could - with a kiss.

To Be Continued . . .