I had to admit. Robert was right. It was a good idea to experiment alone. I will not describe what I did. It was familiar and yet completely different from anything I had done as a guy in that same bed. Shelly had had the wherewithal to have me buy bath products while we were out and I made use of them afterward. It was my first shower in this body and it too was eye opening.

After drying off and getting dressed, I went back to Shelly's wearing a different set of clothes. I tried out the shoes with the low heel instead of the sneakers I had left the mall wearing. That little bump in height made me feel less small.

When she opened the door to her room, she said, “You got changed?”

“I showered, too. Robert was very understanding.”

I entered and we kissed.

“He was there? What did he say?”

I filled her in on what happened up until he left. She looked at my new ID. “You even photograph well.”

“Are you jealous?”

“A little. If you weren't my girlfriend I'd be green with envy.”

We settled down to do some studying as we normally did on Saturdays. It felt very normal until her roommate showed up. The door opened and she and her boyfriend entered.

“Hey, Shell, who's your friend?” Paula said.

“Paula, meet Eve. Eve, this is Paula and Brett.”

“Nice to meet you, Eve,” Brett said with a hand shake. He exuded something I could not ignore.

“Likewise,” I said and felt some disappointment when he let go of my hand.

“I just need to get changed so we can go out,” Paula said. She grabbed some clothes and went into the bathroom.

“I haven't seen you around,” Brett said to me. “What are you studying?”

“I'm a business major,” I said. His eyes were the brightest blue I'd ever seen.

“That's cool. You're also a business major, Shell, aren't you?”

“Yes,” she said. “We're studying together.”

“Where Dave?”

“He's away for the weekend.”

The two of them continued to talk while I stared at his body. I did not register what happened until he and Paula left. A tissue dabbed at my mouth.

“You were drooling,” Shelly said, holding the wet tissue.

“I was what?”

“I guess we now know you like guys. I hope this means you're bi and not straight.”

“I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to... I wasn't like this with Robert.”

“Brett is hot. It's not your fault. You haven't learned how not to drool over a guy.”

“That's a thing.”

“Not really. You're just extra boy-crazy apparently.”

I put my hands on her shoulders and looked her straight in the eye. “You're still my beautiful girlfriend.”

“That's good to hear. I even give you permission to fuck him if he breaks up with Paula.”

“Really?”

“You're considering it?”

“A little.”

* * *

I had a dream a few days later.

Robert rushed into the room and said, “Oh, good. You're here.”

“Glad to see you, too.”

“I had an idea,” he said and then he described some crazy thing I can't remember that would turn me back into Dave. I reluctantly tried and it somehow worked.

“I'm me,” I exclaimed.

“You're half naked and your makeup looks funny on Dave.”

“But, I'm me.”

“You're welcome. Now undo it to see if you go back to being Eve.”

“Why would I want to do that?”

“Are you crazy?” He said. “Why wouldn't you want to be able to switch back and forth? You were telling me last night about having new friends. You think they'll be friends with Dave or are they exclusively Eve's friends?”

“But...”

“No buts. You would be closing the door on the coolest life anyone could have. You've fooled around and I've seen you drool over other guys. Don't you want to know what it feels like.”

I just stared at him. My mind was in a haze. He took it to mean I did not understand what he was saying, even though I knew all too well what he was saying.

“Do I have to be graphic?”

“No, no, I understand you completely. It's just... well... I am curious.”

“I could help you out there, too.”

“Did you just ask to have sex with me?”

“You? Dave? Not at all. But, Eve? Certainly.”

“I couldn't.”

“You could.”

“No, I couldn't cheat on Shelly.”

“Ah. We could ask her.”

“You are out of your mind,” I said. I got dressed and left without saying anything else.

I went to Shelly's room. When I opened the door she did not seem surprised to see me looking like my old self. I hugged her and we kissed.

“That's great. Can you still go back to being Eve?”

“What?”

“Was that a one time thing, a glitch in the matrix, or are you some kind of sexually morphic being?”

“I don't want to be Eve.”

“Maybe not. But, I think Robert is right.”

“What?”

“He texted me.”

“He texted you what?”

“He suggested you should turn back into a girl and have sex with a guy.”

“With him was his suggestion.”

“Yeah, that part I'm not sure about. Although, I trust he would be good to you so there's that. But, I think it would be rather informative for you to have sex as Eve.”

“What?”

“I'm giving you permission to have sex with a guy and not consider it cheating on me. At least the first time. Make a habit of it and we probably would have to be BFFs instead of dating one another.”

“This is insane.”

“You don't have to do it today or tomorrow. But, the longer you put it off, the more likely you are to chicken out. And that's the part where Robert is right. You could be the best man on the planet because you would know exactly what it means to be a woman.”

“So, you're being selfish because you want the me that learns from all this to be your man.”

“I suppose you could look at it that way.”

* * *

Going to classes was extremely awkward at first. Luckily I was able to blend into the back of the lecture halls. I made friends with some of the girls in my classes. I had to admit I did not find them attractive. Other than Shelly, I had not seen a woman whom I was interested in. On the other hand, several of the guys were very attractive. It was very awkward knowing their names but having to make it seem like I was meeting them for the first time.

There was a group of friends that invited me into their inner circle. Maria, Candace, Rita, Ian, and Marc. We shared all the same classes. Only Ian remembered Dave. Maria was their ringleader. Candace was her yes-girl. Rita was the trouble maker. Ian was a the socially inappropriate one that none of them would hang out with except he was Rita's brother. And then there was Marc. He was the tall, quiet one. He had a crush on Candace that he never told her. And then I think his crush switched to me. Candace probably didn’t even notice.

The second week I attended classes, Rita noticed me getting leered at by a couple jocks and grabbed me by the hand to invite me to sit with her and her friends at a different table in the cafeteria. When we sat down, she said, “You should have told those jockheads off.”

“They caught me off-guard.”

“What's this?” Ian said. “What did they say?”

“They were sitting nearby make lewd gestures about having sex...”

“About fucking her,” Rita said. “Even you wouldn't say what they were saying, Ian.”

“Damn, they are fucked up.”

“You're welcome to sit here any time,” Maria said.

“Thanks.”

That weekend was another surprise. I stayed at Shelly’s the night before. Saturday, just before noon, I returned to my room. I let myself in with my card and Robert said. “Look, it’s Eve. Have you met Dave’s sister, Faith?”

“Nice to meet you,” I said. I had totally forgotten Faith was coming to see me this weekend.

“Are you Robert’s girlfriend?” Faith said.

Robert looked at me wondering if he should go with it. But, I put a stop to it. “No. Sit down, Faith. This is a weird story.”

It took a while to tell the tale. And Robert filled in some details I had already forgotten.

“This is some kind of prank, right?” Faith said. “Where’s Dave hiding?”

“No, Faith. It’s no joke. I know it makes no sense and you have no reason to believe it. But, I’m Dave, or use to be Dave.”

“What’s Mom’s original hair color?”

“Even she doesn’t know.”

“Where did we go on vacation when I was nine?”

“You were nine? Grand Canyon.”

“Why didn’t Dave enjoy it?”

“I got sick and threw up on my burro.”

“You threw up on a burro?” Robert said. “He’s never told me that story.”

“It was hot. I ate something that disagreed with me. I almost fell off the burro and down a cliff side.”

“He never tells anyone that story,” Faith said. “You’re really my brother?”

“Sister,” Robert said.

“I have a sister!!” She shouted.

“No, you have a cousin. We told people I’m Dave’s cousin.”

“No fun. Did you tell Mom and Dad?”

“No. I forgot you were coming this weekend. But now that you are here, and you believe my story, I’m hoping you can figure out how I tell them.”

“Let me think about that. How’s Shelly?”

“She’s helping me with clothes and stuff.”

“You’re wearing makeup?”

“She likes guys, too,” Robert said. “Tell her about Marc.”

“Who’s Marc? Is he hot?”

“I’m not ready for this.”

Thankfully, Faith could only stay until nightfall. She insisted on checking out my new wardrobe. She wanted to “borrow” a pair of my shoes. But, she relented when I pointed out how small my wardrobe and shoe collection were.

When she left, Robert said, “That was more fun than I thought it would be.”

“Why did you bring up Marc?”

“Worried Faith is going to steal your boyfriend?”

“I sleep lighter than you do.”

* * *

I would like to say the next month went by with nothing particularly interesting happening. But, I had my first period about a month after the night I became a woman. Any doubts I had about being a woman were washed away those few days. Shelly was my anchor. Candace and Rita helped as well.

Otherwise, over that month, I ate lunch with my new study group and did some studying with them. Shelly would join us occasionally. She had different classes and was part of another study group. We did have one big study group once. But, some of the people in Shelly's group didn’t want to study with boys. And Maria did not want to exclude Ian and Marc. That was the one and only time we met as a whole.

Candace and I were the first to be seated at one lunch one afternoon when she said, “You really need to talk to Marc.”

“Marc? Why?”

“You haven't noticed? He follows you around like a puppy. He always sits next to you. He is so shy. But, he has a huge crush on you.”

“I know.”

“You know? Why haven't you said anything to him?”

“He use to follow you around before I joined your group.”

“I know. I told him I wasn't interested. Rita also told him she wasn't interested. I think the only reason Maria hasn't had to say anything is he's completely intimidated by her,” Candace said. “The difference is, I've seen you checking him out when he isn't looking. You like him like that.”

“I-- I don't-- I've never.”

“Calm down. I didn't say you should jump his bones. Yet. Just acknowledge that you like him and see where it goes.”

“What if we don't work out?”

“He'd probably leave the group before you even tried to leave. It would be a shame because he's good at math tutoring. But we'd survive.”

“I don't know.”

“Do I need to talk to Shelly?”

“Shelly?”

“You and her seem to be really tight. I bet if she knew about Marc she'd be pushing you to give him a chance.”

“Don't talk to Shelly.”

“Why not? Oh, oh, do you have a thing for Shelly?” I could not believe I had thought Candace was not observant. As I contemplated that, she continued, “The way you look at her is sort of how you look at Marc. It's okay if you're Bi. I think that's great. But, I don't think Shelly swings that way. I won't talk to her. You would probably be better off with Marc, if only, because he will definitely want to go out with you, assuming he doesn't faint first.”

Ironically, as soon as I could be alone with Shelly, I talked to her about what Candace said. I did not expect her first reaction to be, “Marc is hot. You should go for it.”

“What?”

“You've been Eve for well over a month. I don't think you are going to just snap back into being Dave.”

“What about us?”

“There isn't much of us left. And much of that is my fault. As cute as you are, I'm straight. It's nice when we fool around. But, I feel like I’m leading you on. Making out with you doesn't rev my engines like it did when you were Dave. When I dream about you, you’re Dave. Even you aren't as into me as you once were. I will be your BFF. But, I don't think we can be lovers. I hope that doesn't hurt you too much.”

I sat there for a moment before saying, “I'm surprised only because it doesn't hurt like it should.”

“I'm sorry. All of this is my fault.”

I pulled her into a hug. “Don't blame yourself. I don't.”

She sat back. “Good. Just think, that dream you told me about – it came true.”

“That’s not comforting.”

“Sorry,” she said. “How are you are you going to talk to Marc?”

It took a week of Candace and Shelly hounding me to finally get Marc alone, the two of them may have helped set that up. The study group was in a private room in the library studying when the other four suddenly couldn't stay as late as we usually spent studying. Marc and I were going over some math problems that, admittedly, I did not need help on. Candace winked at me as she left, leaving the two of us alone in the room. I was looking at the door to say goodbye to her. When the door closed I turned back to Marc and our noses touched. Neither of us flinched or backed away from the other and a moment passed as our eyes locked onto one another.

“Do you like me?” I said.

He sat back a little. “Of course, Eve.”

“No, I mean do you like like me?”

“Yes.”

“Why haven't you said so before?”

“You didn't ask.”

“You were never going to tell me?”

“I didn't want to risk not having you as a friend.”

He smelled so nice. His brown eyes had little flecks of green in them that made me feel funny inside. I leaned toward him and kissed him. His hands wrapped around me and he kissed me back. His arms enveloped me and I felt warm being held by him. Time stood still.

The embrace ended abruptly when he pulled back and said, “Why are you crying?”

“I'm crying?” I had not realized. The kiss had felt exactly the same as when I kissed Shelly the first time, except I had melted into him. She had told me she never wanted that kiss to end. And I thought that was just something lovers said. This time, I had not wanted it to end. “I'm sorry.”

“No, no,” he said. “It's okay. I just didn't...”

“It's not you. I was a little overwhelmed. It was a beautiful kiss.”

“Yes. It was.”

He closed his eyes and leaned toward me and I did the same. The second kiss was even better. He held me without being inappropriate. I have no idea how long this kiss lasted or how it broke up.

“That was nice,” I said.

“We should probably go get dinner.”

“I was going to meet up with Shelly.”

“Okay. Um.”

“I could cancel with her.”

“You don't have to.”

“No, I don't have to. I want to.”