Sophie smiled and there was a pause before she replied. "I can still be your girlfriend," she said before gently pulling me towards her and kissing me softly.   The Butterfly Effect Part 1 - Changes By Alys

 

---

Part 1
 
"OK, class, I think it's time to ask one of our boys who all seem to be sleeping today," said Mr Smithers with a little chuckle," what about you Alex, can you name this molecule?"

I looked carefully at a diagram on the screen.

Easy, I thought and opened my mouth to answer.

Suddenly there was a dissonance, a shimmering of everything around me as it merged into a kaleidoscope of infinite colours. Momentarily there was the oddest feeling, a sudden sense of disembodiment. Then in another moment it was gone and my eyes focused on answering the question.

"Well Alex, do you have an answer, or are you thinking about other things or maybe another person?" enquired our middle aged Chemistry teacher with a strange tone to his voice which made no sense to me.

"Yes sir, I...oh" I started to answer before being startled by a strange, higher, tone of voice coming from my mouth, sounding much higher than my normal pitch, I coughed to try and clear what I assumed to be some temporary constriction in my throat.

"I think it's........," I began again but hesitated as my voice stubbornly continued at a new, higher pitch. I coughed again and was forced to brush away some unexpected hair from my forehead.

"Something wrong?" asked Mr Smithers, a note of concern in his voice. I became aware, at the same time, of being stared at by the other students.

I breathed deeply, to try and regain a little composure and hopefully restore my voice to its rightful level. However this action only added to my increasing unease as I became aware of a strange constriction across my chest and back. I resolved to answer the question in whatever voice I could manage.

"It's 2,4 dinitro toluene, sir," I squeaked.

"Yes, a perfect answer Alex. Now let's try a question for one of the boys," commented the Chemistry teacher.

I was grateful for no longer being the centre of attention, even while a strange feeling of deja vu washed over me, as I listened to the teacher repeat his comment of a few moments previously.

As my gaze turned away from the screen back to my notes the reason for my feelings of otherness became apparent. The first thing I noticed was a black skirt and tights having replaced my trousers. The question "why was I wearing girls' clothes?" flashed through my mind. The answer to my self-query came almost instantly as the strange feelings from my groin and the angle of my crossed legs indicated the disappearance of my male organ while my glance down also revealed the explanation for the feelings of constriction across my chest. My boobs!

I resisted the temptation to publicly assess my physical changes in more detail and looked around. My eight fellow students were working through a class assignment without giving me a second glance. Suddenly one of them, a tall, attractive boy called Harri, raised his head and grinned, I briefly smiled back and then quickly looked away.

Clearly as far as everyone in the room was concerned my new gender was one they were familiar with. They seemed completely oblivious that a couple of minutes previously I had been the boy Alex. I found it hard to resist shouting out to everyone what they all seem to have missed. In front of them my unexplained, impossible change had happened. However some impulse of self-preservation stopped me.

I knew one thing though, I needed to get out of the room to be on my own to evaluate my situation. I quickly slipped my notepad and pencil case into my school bag, which now had a few flower motifs to place it across a gender line.

"Excuse me Mr Smithers," I said as I got up from my seat, "I need to go to the loo."

"OK, Alex," he replied as he glanced up from helping another student, "can you finish this assignment by the next lesson."

"Sure, no problem," I replied before taking a pace towards a door. This first step was almost a disaster when the combination of a two inch heel, too long a stride and the restrictions of my fairly tight skirt led me to come close to falling over. Luckily I managed to regain my balance, holding onto an unoccupied chair.

A few seconds later, after more measured, careful walking, I stood outside. I looked up and down the corridor and it seemed to be very little different in appearance, apart from a slightly brighter shade of paint on walls and subtly different posters.

I turned and, as quickly as possible, made my way towards a temporary sanctuary. As I walked along the hallway I was reminded of the full impact of my inexplicable weird changes with every jiggle of my constrained boobs and every sway of my hips.

With relief I opened the door to the toilets and immediately froze in my tracks.

"Hey Alex!?#!" yelled the nearest of two sixth form boys relieving themselves at the urinals.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry," I said as I immediately backed out into the corridor, feeling the strong heat of the visible signs of my embarrassment forming on my cheeks. I located the correct door and quickly entered.

To my relief there were no other students there. I cautiously made my way towards a mirror and was startled as a younger version of my adult sister suddenly appeared to be walking towards me. I stopped a little away from this complete stranger and marvelled as she copied every gesture I made.

"Hi," I said to my doppelgá¤nger, who opened her mouth in sync with me. It was then I noticed the frame of the full length mirror I was looking into.

I stood for a few minutes examining every possible view of my new female body. Apart from the strangeness of the shape and lost inches in height there was something reassuring in seeing so many traces of my sibling in the new me.

The bell for the end of lessons and the beginning of mid-morning break rang.

Anticipating the sudden onrush of girls who would wonder why I was studying myself so precisely I retreated into one of the cubicles*. I pulled the toilet seat up, pushed my tights and knickers* down and then reached for what was no longer there!

A little crestfallen I sat down and relieved myself, another alien experience, before examining the contents of my school bag.

Firstly I took what looked like my purse. The student ID card announced my new name as 'Alexandra Johnson', so not much change from 'Alexander Johnson'. Otherwise the contents looked remarkably similar to what had been in my wallet earlier. A debit card, my house key and a small quantity of cash.

I took out my school work and leafed through it. Apart from the expected name change, my subject files looked almost identical to the ones I packed this morning before leaving home. Maybe a subtle more feminine touch here and there was the only difference I could make out.

My mobile was similar but a smaller model and finally I took out a little bag which revealed itself to be full of make-up.

"Now that's different," I muttered to myself before repacking myself, drying myself, pulling up my skirt and knickers and making my way past some younger girls out of the loos.

"Hey Alex, how's it going?" asked a familiar voice behind me as I faced the school canteen trying to summon enough courage to walk in and face the complications of my new identity.

"Hi Sophie, good and you?" I replied after I had turned towards my girlfriend from a lost male life. I wondered what her status would be now.

She walked up to me and took my arm before steering me towards the double doors of the dining hall.

"I need a coffee desperately," she said, "Jones is such a dry teacher, I think I should have done Chem with you, anyway you got to tell me everything."

"Everything?" I asked, wondering what Sophie could be referring to.

"You know," she said, giving me a strange smile, "you and Jonny."

"What about him?" I asked wondering what could have happened between my best friend, well at least to the male me, and myself.

I was glad of the company as we made our way past the heaving cafe and picked up a coffee each from the drinks machine. We found two seats at a corner table. I busied myself with stirring my hot drink as I waited for some explanation for Sophie's ambiguous comments.

"You told me yesterday," she said, after a little pause, without making anything clearer.

"What did I tell you yesterday?" I asked, feeling increasingly exasperated.

My friend leaned forward and whispered, "don't you remember? You said you were going to Jonny's place after TJ's and.....you know."

I was beginning to get the gist of whatever might be happening between Jonny and myself but before I could question Sophie further I felt an arm around my shoulder. I turned to see the person we had just been talking about sitting next to me.

"Hello sexy," he said before pulling my mouth towards his. Caught by surprise I did nothing to resist this movement but then I almost retched as he kissed me with his lips wide apart, his tongue entering my mouth. I could feel myself getting increasingly nauseous as his superior strength kept me in an embrace.

After a few seconds, which had seemed like minutes, he disengaged and got up.

"See you later, baby, still thinking about last night," he said before striding off in the direction of the gym for what I assumed was rugby training.

As soon as he had left I got up and muttering to Sophie, "I need some fresh air," made my way as fast as possible towards the school grounds.

"Wait, what's wrong?" asked my friend as she gulped down her drink and followed me.

A couple of minutes later I was standing in the shade under a larger oak tree while all around me hundreds of my fellow pupils were enjoying the late spring warmth as they walked or ran around the school grounds.

The thought of what must have happened between me and Jonny the previous night increased the high levels of nausea from his embrace and kiss and soon I was emptying the contents of my stomach on the grass.

"Wassup?" asked Sophie, "you ate something?"

I used the paper handkerchief, I had grabbed from our table on the way out, to clean up my mouth.

I turned to face Sophie and noticed her expression of concern. I really wanted to try and tell her everything that had happened to me this morning but I sensed she would find it very hard to assimilate. I decided on a white lie.

"Listen Sophie," I started to explain, "for some reason I seemed to have lost my memory."

"You're kidding?" she asked in surprise.

"No and it's not only that, I had this strange dream that I was a boy and that you were my girlfriend," I continued.

Sophie smiled and there was a pause before she replied.

"I can still be your girlfriend," she said before gently pulling me towards her and kissing me softly.

*cubicle = toilet stall
*knickers = panties

---

To Be Continued...
 
End of Part 1

"You're taking an age, girl. How come I'm not the slow coach today?" she responded. "Sorry was day dreaming," I said, as I quickly unzipped my skirt and pulled up my own tracksuit trousers. "I wonder who," said Sophie with a big grin on her face. I poked my tongue at her and then concentrated on undoing my blouse...

The Butterfly Effect
Part 2 - Confusions
By Alys

---

Part 2
 
I looked at my locker in the main foyer of the sixth form block. It was the same one I had opened this morning and put my sports kit inside but with the name plate altered to reflect my new reality. I took my key out of my purse and opened it. I was surprised to see the same bag I had put inside this morning. However a quick glance at the pink trimmed tracksuit, sports bra and pink trainers was enough to remind myself of my changes.

"Hey, come on Alex, we're going to be late," yelled Sophie from the other side of the foyer next to her own locker.

I quickly shouldered my sports' bag and secured my locker before walking after my friend, as fast as possible in my tight skirt and two inch heels.

I joined the group of year 12 girls milling round outside the sports hall. As far as I could see there was no-one whom I didn't recognise from my earlier male reality. I received warm greetings from some of the girls who had usually spoken to me as Alexander and also from others who had never had anything to do with me as a boy. Courtney Williams, whom I saw no reason to alter my feelings of detestation for, was, as usual, doing her best to be the centre of attention for the majority of the group.

"If I'd known Lewis was going to have an extra five minutes fag* break I wouldn't have bothered coming, don't know why we have to do games anyway?" she complained, as she touched up her make up.

"It's bloody Mason and her stupid ideas," agreed Jeanette, one of Courtney's acolytes, referring to the new head-teacher's healthy living initiative, "who wants to do stupid sport?"

"Yeah, why can't we just watch the boys," opinioned Courtney, "running around is so for losers and lezzies."

A number of girls in the circle expressed their agreement.

"Well, I think it's good fun," I countered, to the general surprise of the rest of the group, including me.

Sophie gave me a funny look before contradicting me, "what you on about Alex, you hate this lesson."

"Well I meant....." I spluttered, trying to think of a sensible explanation, being pretty sure 'As a boy I loved sport' wouldn't suffice.

I was saved from the need to rescue myself from my previous faux pas by the arrival of Miss Lewis carrying an enormous kit bag bulging with rugby balls.

"Sorry girls I was caught up in a meeting," she said as she unlocked the changing room.

I noticed Courtney mouthing 'lying cow' to her friends, there was a titter of laughter which was cut short by Miss Lewis's scowl.

"OK, can you all get changed quickly I want to get started on this session, let's see if we can fashion a team out of you for next week's match," she said as she pushed open the door and walked in, turning on the light.

"Aww Miss do we have to do rugby again? I chipped a nail last week." whined Courtney as we all followed Miss Lewis into the room.

"Try looking at the person passing to you and catching the ball this time Courtney," retorted our tall athletic teacher before she went into her small office.

On entering I was initially confused by the shape of the changing room, being a mirror image arrangement compared with the boys' but, after getting my bearings, I walked over and sat on an equivalent bench to my usual one.

I emptied the contents of my bag onto the bench and then took off my shoes. I looked down at my legs and wondered what the best way of taking my tights would be. I looked around and noticed everyone else standing and carefully sliding their own tights down their legs.

Courtney was still complaining about the choice of activities for the session as I rose, hitched my skirt up a little and took my tights off.

"Something wrong, Alex?" asked Sophie, standing next to me, already pulling up her tracksuit trousers.

"No, why?" I asked.

"You're taking an age, girl. How come I'm not the slow coach today?" she responded.

"Sorry was day dreaming," I said, as I quickly unzipped my skirt and pulled up my own tracksuit trousers.

"I wonder who," said Sophie with a big grin on her face.

I poked my tongue at her and then concentrated on undoing my blouse, initially quite confusing with the buttons on the opposite side. This accomplished I encountered a more difficult problem, how to unhook my bra without evolving some extra joints in my elbows!

I heard a chuckle behind me, "Let me do it, you'll be here all day."

I felt Sophie's hands on my back and then the pressure across my chest was released. I felt the straps being eased over my shoulders and my best friend's hands seeming to linger a little on my back. The unexpected subtle caress was very pleasurable and for a moment I forgot where I was. My inattention led to my bra slipping through my fingers to fall on the floor. I bent down quickly to retrieve it and in the process was reminded painfully of my gender change by the gyrations of my unrestrained boobs.

I was grateful for the support from my sports bra after I had pulled it over my head. I zipped up my top and quickly laced my trainers before looking round to see whether the rest of the girls were ready. After my earlier mistake about appearing too enthusiastic I wanted to wait for an appropriate cue before leaving the room.

My eyes wandered around the room, noticing most of the class to be almost ready, until my gaze stopped at Courtney.

Obviously doing her best to delay having to take part in the session she was still in her bra and panties and taking time in brushing her hair. Although I knew she was considered one of the prettiest girls in the sixth form I had never seen her in her underwear. As I stared at her perfectly proportioned body I felt my nipples enlarging and the need to touch myself between my legs. Without being fully aware of what I was doing I felt my hand slowly rubbing myself, in the new space where my male member used to be, as I continued to be captivated by Courtney.

The intensity of my gaze caught her attention. She turned to look at me and an unpleasant smile spread across her face. Embarrassed I turned away and quickly moved my hand to the bench.

"Were you ogling me, Alex?" she yelled.

All other conversations stopped and suddenly I was the centre of attention of everyone in the room.

"No of course not," I spluttered while at the same time my face went a very dark shade of red.

"Yes you were, look you're blushing," countered Courtney, triumphantly, "is there something you need to tell
Jonny?"

"No, don't be stupid...." I started to reply before being once again saved from further explanations by Miss Lewis.

"Come on girls lets go and Courtney, one thing." she said, loudly.

"What's that Miss Lewis?" Courtney asked as she slowly put her tracksuit on.

"If you're not down on the field in two minutes then you'll be doing five miles on the cross country track, which is very muddy after last night's rain," replied our teacher before she indicated for us to follow her out of the changing room.

I noticed Courtney mouthing 'bitch' at the back of Miss Lewis to the suppressed amusement of her little gang.

"You'll get it later, Lez," she muttered to me as I went past her.

As I went through the door I was glad to be back in the open air, after the previous surreal minutes in the changing room. I was going to have to be really careful and try and find out more about my new reality before I made any more mistakes.

I noticed Sophie was giving me a strange look.

"What's up Sophe?" I asked as we walked together down the gentle, grassy slope to the games fields.

"Nothing," she answered quickly.

"Yes there is, you were looking at me, like weirdly," I countered.

There was a pause before she replied," You were touching yourself, I saw you when you were staring at Courtney."

I felt my face redden again.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to," I muttered, before breaking into a jog to catch up with Miss Lewis and a few of the more enthusiastic girls accompanying her.

"Need a hand Miss," I asked as I noticed the heavy bag full of sports equipment she was carrying.

"Sure Alex, this is a surprise, thanks," she answered, "can you take a couple of balls over to Mr Renton on the other pitch with the boys."

I took two rugby balls out of the bag and looked over to where the other sports teacher was standing, about thirty metres away, looking in our direction. Without thinking I put one ball on the floor and kicked the other, with a smooth action, towards him. To my satisfaction I had measured the trajectory perfectly and the rugby ball landed in his arms without him having to move to either side.

"Wow, great kick," said one of the girls behind me.

"How did you do that, Alex?" asked Miss Lewis.

"Miss, my foot hit the ball and it went up in the air," I replied with a slight chuckle.

"Yes, Alex, I know how to kick a ball but how did you kick it so well?" she asked.

"Want me to do it again?" I asked.

"If you can, please do," responded Miss Lewis.

"OK, here we go," I said before drop-kicking the second ball.

This time the trajectory I had chosen was slightly higher and it sailed over the head of Mr Renton.

"OK, first time luck...............how did you do that!?" asked an astonished Miss Lewis as the ball flew through the middle of the uprights of the rugby posts.

"Practice I guess," I shrugged before I made my way to follow the rest of the girls in the other direction.

"I don't know how you managed to do that, Alex, let's see if you can do anything else with the ball," responded Miss Lewis.

******************

Two hours later Sophie and I paused outside my house after the fifteen minute walk from school. I had enjoyed the games session as Miss Lewis, obviously intrigued with my unexpected ball skills, had put me into one of the trial teams. I had been pleased to find I had retained the abilities from my male self and had found myself shining in the training.

"I don't know what's happened to you today, Alex, I almost believe your story about losing you memory," said Sophie.

"It's been an odd day," I commented, as neutrally as possible.

"You were awesome in games, I can't wait to see you play next week," said Sophie, "gotta go now or Mum will be worrying, see you tomorrow."

She turned towards me, hesitated briefly then pulled me towards her, kissing me full on my lips.

Before I could say anything, Sophie had turned and hurried away along the pavement towards her own estate. I watched as she walked quickly away, wondering what her feelings were towards me. About fifty metres down the path she turned around and gave me a little wave, which I returned, before she resumed her rapid pace.

I walked along the drive and opened the door with my key

The house seemed quiet and I hoped there was no-one around so I could make myself aware of any changes since the morning's reality altering moment.

I picked up the Guardian** and looked at the story on the page where my Father had left it about a cluster of vCJD*** deaths in Cardiff in the last month. I quickly read the sad details before I was suddenly jolted by the sound of a familiar voice.

"Hi Alex," called Mum from the lounge, "there's a odd postcard for you on the stairs."

I walked along the passage towards the front door and picked up the card, with a picture of an idyllic country scene on the front. I turned it over and noticed it was addressed to Alexander Johnson with the 'er' crossed out and replaced with 'ra'. Apart from the address and a smudged postmark there were only four lines of text in black ink and a signature.

I quickly scanned the neatly written sentences.

'Changes unwanted and uncalled for
Confusions and the question why?
One day resolved by a basic law
And the beauty of the Butterfly'

it was signed 'Dirk Gently'.

*Fag = slang for cigarette
**Guardian - UK liberal paper
*** vCJD =Variant CJD, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creutzfeldt-Jakob_disease

---

To Be Continued...
 
End of Part 2

"Hi Babe" oozed a familiar voice "Hi Jonny", I responded without enthusiasm. "I'm just leaving, be there in about ten, can't wait to see you in your new sexy number," before he disconnected the call. I stood there, holding the phone for a few seconds, feeling even more dumb founded.

The Butterfly Effect
Part 3 - Emotions
By Alys

 

---

Part 3
 
I sat back in my fading brown leather armchair and re-read the postcard for what must have been the tenth time without making any more sense of it.

The only thing that made any sense was the deliberate amendment of my name, recognising the gender change and the reference to 'Dirk Gently', a favourite fictional character of mine. The person who had sent the card obviously knew quite a bit about me.

I tried to make some sense of everything. I thought back to when the change had taken place. One second I had been Alexander, about to answer a question in the Chemistry lesson, the next second I was Alexandra. How was such a thing possible?

At least the postcard had confirmed the basis in reality of my gender change and proved it wasn't the result of some bout of personal insanity.

My phone beeped the arrival of a text message.

I flicked it open and read it.

'Hi babe, u hve a gd day?' xx Jon'

I quickly typed 'fine thanx', pressed 'send' and then switched it off and threw it on my bed. I felt the nausea returning, the same feeling I had had when Jonny had embraced and kissed me in the school canteen.

I didn't know how my transformation had been possible but, however it had been accomplished, it had been done in such a sick and twisted way as to leave me in a serious relationship with the boy who had been my best friend before this morning.

In addition to me apparently being his 'girlfriend' there had been a strong undercurrent earlier that we had had sex for the first time last night. I tried to imagine what sort of experience that could have been.

From somewhere an image appeared in my mind. A face that was sweating profusely while at the same time projecting an urgent unmet need. It was Jonny!

The queasiness became overpowering and I jumped out of the armchair and rushed into the bathroom.

A few minutes later, after losing the contents of my stomach for the second time in a day, I was washing my face and feeling relieved that I hadn't yet changed out of my dirty sports kit.

I quickly stripped out of my messy clothes, put the shower on and stepped into the cubicle.

"Ouch," I exclaimed as the hot jets hit my boobs and quickly turned my back towards the powerful pulses of water. I raised my hands and briefly massaged most of the pain away before pouring shower gel all over my upper torso.

As I lathered myself with the perfumed suds I marvelled at how sensitive my new body seemed, at least in comparison to what I remembered from showering my previous male self in the morning.

It was the first time since my transformation that I had had a real opportunity to examine my new shape. Although I was used to the feel and movement of my new body after spending the last six hours in it, this was the first time I had been able to take all my clothes off in privacy.

I took my time to use my hands to explore myself. I started with my face, marvelling at the new roundness, then slowly let my fingers slide over my slippery back. I continued my self exploration over my more rounded bum, down the back of my legs and then back up the front to my vulva. I lingered there a little while pleasuring myself with some gentle rubbing before passing my hands slowly over my firm and slightly rounded tummy before finally caressing my bosom.

The feeling was more tactile than erotic, which was a little disappointing, until my fingers began to trace the shape of my areolae. I felt my nipples becoming erect and began to run my fingers over them. This action heightened my feelings of arousal and without a thought I slid my right hand down to the space between my legs which I felt an increasing need to touch.

As I brought myself to a climax an image formed in my head. To my shock it was the face and perfect body of Courtney Williams, my nemesis from the sports lesson.

The waves of pleasure, when they came, were so overwhelming that I almost lost my footing on the shower mat. It was only by grasping the shower pole that I managed to stop myself falling while gasping with the intensity of the experience.

"Wow," I said to myself," there is at least one benefit of being a girl."

Within a few minutes I felt almost back to 'normal', apart from a very pleasant warm feeling still suffusing my body.

I was soon engrossed with the technical challenges of washing my thick, shoulder length hair.

Eventually I finished the shower, feeling grateful that our water supply had not been metered yet, otherwise my parents would be about to make a major deduction from my monthly allowance to pay the bill.

I dried myself and in doing so reminded myself of one of the problems associated with long hair as my quick rub with the towel failed to halt the continuous dripping down my back. I tried to remember how my sister and mother coped with their long hair phases and quickly fashioned a loose turban around my wet follicles.

I picked up my dirty clothes with one hand while the other held my impromptu headgear and walked out of the bathroom.

Suddenly there was a yell, "Alex! You can't wander around naked, your Dad'll be home any minute!"

I stopped in my tracks and turned round to see my Mum walking up the stairs from the lounge.

"Sorry Mum," I responded before fleeing into the safety of my bedroom.
 

****************
 
"Dinner's ready!" shouted my mother from the bottom of the stairs about half an hour later.

I logged off my computer, having spent an interesting twenty minutes or so acquainting myself with the bookmarks the female me had saved. There wasn't a huge difference in general, the new me obviously had similar musical tastes and awareness of the environment and current affairs. The main variation was a lot less sport and more clothes and fashion websites.

"Why are you doing dressed like that?" asked my father, in obvious surprise, as I sat down at the table for our meal.

"What's wrong with these clothes?" I responded as I looked down on my loose sweatshirt and jogging bottoms.

"Surely you haven't forgotten dear?" asked Mum.

"Forgotten what?" I asked as I took my first mouthful of cottage pie.

My parents exchanged glances.

"What have I forgotten?" I asked as innocently as possible trying not to make my complete ignorance about whatever they were talking about too obvious.

"You've been talking about it almost non-stop for the last few weeks

Before either could answer the house phone rang. I quickly jumped up and picked up the receiver.

"Hello'

"Hi Babe" oozed a familiar voice

"Hi Jonny", I responded without enthusiasm.

"I'm just leaving, be there in about ten, can't wait to see you in your new sexy number," before he disconnected the call.

I stood there, holding the phone for a few seconds, feeling even more dumb founded.

"Who was it Alex?" called my Dad from the sitting room.

I put the receiver back and walked back to the table before replying, "It was Jonny."

"What did he want?" asked Mum.

I took another mouthful of my meal before replying, whatever the mystery was I didn't see any point missing my food.

"He said something about picking me up in a few minutes and me wearing some 'sexy number'," I answered.

"Oh, that's great," responded Mum enthusiastically," I've been looking forward to see you in your new dress, you were so excited when you bought it."

I shrugged my shoulder and carried on eating, deciding not to interrupt Mum in full flow

My father, seeing an opportunity to catch up on his newspaper while the conversation turned to female things, had surreptitiously moved his copy of the Guardian next to his plate.

"I remember now, you said something like, 'wait till that.....', rather a rude word to use too Alex, 'wait till that....Courtney sees me in this she'll be ...' then you used another rude word Alex dear, but I understood your meaning," she effused.

"Cool, Mum," I responded, hoping she would tell me more about whatever event I was supposed to be attending.

"I really don't understand your attitude, Alex," she continued, "surely you wouldn't want to upstage someone at their birthday party?"

"Just a bit of fun, no big deal," I replied, glad at last to have the mystery solved while at the same time dreading the prospect of having to spend the evening with Jonny, playing the role of his 'girl', in the house of the school arch bitch.

"So how was school today, Alex?" asked Dad, obviously having finished reading the contents of the page of his newspaper next to his plate and deciding not to risk my Mother's wrath by openly turning it over.

"Good," I responded, "I got in the rugby team too."

Both my parents stopped eating and stared at me as if I had suddenly grown red satanic horns on my head.

"The what?" asked Mum.

"Did you say the rugby team?" asked Dad.

"Yep, can't wait for the match next week," I commented while finishing my portion of cottage pie.

"Did you bang your head on something this morning?" asked Dad.

"But Alex, you hate sports." responded Mum.

"Maybe I changed my mind," I said, which under the circumstances I considered to be the a very truthful reply.

Further discussion was halted by an urgent knock on the door.

"Oh dear that'll be Jonny, what'll he say when he sees you're not ready?" asked Mum, sounding a little flustered.

"'Hello, how are you all?', I hope." I replied before I tucked into my fruit salad dessert.

Mum got up to answer the door. She called down the corridor, "If you hurry up and finish your sweet I'll help you get ready Alex."

Well I can't see any bumps, anyway," said Dad, with a little smile on his face before he took advantage of Mum's brief absence to turn the page of his paper.

"Anything interesting Dad," I asked.

"Well, yes there is Alex, it's a bit worrying there's an article about this cluster of vCJD deaths in Cardiff in the last month. It's quite alarming really, listen to this prediction," he replied.

I nodded my head in response and listened intently as he gave me a brief synopsis of the article. I noticed Jonny come in while my Dad was talking so to avoid an immediate interruption I put my finger to my lips while indicating for him to sit down at the table.

Jonny looked a little surprised by my gesture, but followed my instruction, while frowning at me.

"I hope you're wrong about that, Dad," I commented as he finished before turning to look at my 'boyfriend', "hi Jonny."

"Hi babe, how come you're not ready yet?" he asked a little peevishly.

"Just going to change now, why don't you wait here and talk to my Dad about dangerous incurable epidemics," I replied before standing up and making my way towards the stairs.

"But I said we'd pick up the others in fifteen minutes," Jonny whined.

"Then just send them a text, genius, and tell them we'll be late," I said with a strong hint of sarcasm, before closing the kitchen door behind me.

"Don't worry Jonny, I think she banged her head today she doesn't seem herself at all," I heard my Dad say, "now let me tell you about this vCJD......."

I chuckled to myself as I made my way up the stairs. Science and Technology were not something Jonny had a lot of time for normally, I could almost sense his eyes glazing over already.
 

****************
 
"Hey Jonny! Don't YOU look fit tonight," yelled Courtney, suggestively, across the room, as we walked into her house just over an hour later.

Jonny's head seemed to almost visibly swell with the compliment, "Thanks Courtney, you don't look too bad yourself. Wait here Alex I'll get us some drinks."

I looked around the large front room of the six bedroom detached house. There were quite a few members of the sixth form present at what was expected to be one of the parties of the year.

Earlier I had managed to get my Mum to do my makeup after I'd put on the few pieces of fabric that represented my 'sexy number'. I felt very exposed but it had had the desired effect and Jonny, and later on his friends, had found it very difficult to keep their eyes off me.

"Hi Courtney, happy birthday, nice dress," I said as pleasantly as possible, hoping she would have forgotten about our disagreements of the afternoon as she basked in the attention from all the party guests.

"Thank you Alex, yours is almost as nice," she said as she sidled past me on her way to greet some other arrivals, "don't forget lez, no ogling or else."

I gulped and turned away from the unpleasantness.

"Hey Alex, you're looking hot," said a quiet voice to my left.

I turned and found myself in an embrace with Sophie. Before I knew it her lips had found mine and she was giving my a full lip lock.

I returned the favour briefly and then my self awareness returned and I pushed her away.

"Sophie, not here," I whispered, "I'm with Jonny."

"What do you mean?" asked Sophie, looking angry, "you were into it this afternoon and you said how much you were sick of him."

"Please Sophie, I can't explain now, it's very complicated," I replied touching her shoulder tenderly, "I really do like you."

"Yes, yes, that's what they all say, 'sorry Sophie I only like you as a friend'," Sophie replied sounding very bitter as tears began to fill her eyes, "next time you want to try your lesbian fantasies out, try it with someone who's not been in love with you for ever."

With that last hissed comment she turned and strode away out into the garden.

I sat down, feeling very deflated. I really wanted to go home and forget about this day, the worst in my life, when almost everything possible, and things that should not have been possible, had gone wrong.

"There you go Babe, try this it's the party cocktail," said Jonny a few minutes later as he returned carrying two glasses.

"Thanks," I said, taking the proffered drink and sipping the sweet but strange tasting concoction.

"That is nice, very refreshing," I said, "thanks Jonny, I feel much more relaxed now."

"No problem, Babe, and after you've finished that maybe we can find somewhere to be alone together," he responded.

"Um, Jonny I was hoping we wouldn't have to stay too long, been a difficult day," I said.

"No problem, Babe, just finish your drink and I'll get it all sorted," he said reassuringly, "look why don't you have mine too and I'll go and get myself another."

"Thanks Jonny, you are so sweeeet," I replied, beginning to feel a little tipsy, "this is strong stuff, good job you're driving."

He walked off in the direction of the drinks table. I saw him in earnest conversation with Courtney and her boyfriend. They were all smiling and making frequent glances in my direction.

Jonny saw me staring and smiled at me, I waved my hand back at him.

A few minutes later he came back, sat next to me and put his arm around me.

I was beginning to feel a little drowsy and was glad of a shoulder to rest my head on.

"You remember what you promised yesterday about tonight," asked Jonny as he gently caressed my shoulder.

I smiled back, feeling a little befuddled and completely unsure about whatever Jonny was talking about.

"You said you might need some help to help you lose your inhibitions," he said, "Courtney was insistent on helping too, she is a really good friend to you, she really cares."

I smiled again, "Thanks Jonny can I go home now?"

"Come on babe, I think you need to lie down and let me take it from there," came the voice of Jonny through my muddled consciousness as he led me slowly up the stairs.

---

To Be Continued...
 
End of Part 3