Fantasy Island: Anniversary Gift free porn video

********************************************************************** Another chapter in the tales of Fantasy Island, and Mr. Rourke's gender- bending potion. Fantasy Island: The Anniversary Gift Don Jenkins should have been happy: He was sitting in a seaplane, flying toward an island paradise, for some easy consulting work. Why had he been picked by his company? He wasn't the best computer consultant; there were lots of younger, more ambitious people in the company. Such were his self-doubts that after he got the assignment, he went in to see his boss. 'Why me?' Don had asked. The boss just smiled, and said it was his turn. Besides, his work had been good, so this was a sort of reward. Don chewed over this, then decided to accept the assignment. All the while, he suspected that this job was very low priority to the company; he was going because all the better staff were working on more important jobs. Then he had another thought. 'Next weekend is my anniversary,' Don protested. 'The job can't be done by then.' But his boss was unwavering. It ended up in a decision by Don: take this assignment, or look for another job. Don sighed. Another anniversary missed. Not that Nancy would miss it. In fact, he and Nancy had spent the last several anniversaries apart. Sometimes because he was somewhere on assignment; twice, because she had decided to visit her family. Don sighed again. He didn't understand what had happened. He and Nancy had been so much in love when they got married. But over the years, they had slowly drifted apart. Sure, his job put demands on his time, but that had been true while they were dating, too. They had managed to make things work then. What was different? Why couldn't they get things to work now? Slowly, the plane descended, circling a tiny dot of green and tan in the vast blue ocean. Don watched, barely seeing the beauty of the island. Instead, he saw a job. Just a job. To be followed by yet another. All the while, his marriage crumbled around him. Don wondered why Nancy hadn't left him yet. Surely there were other men - real men - who would be better for her. More loving, more caring, more romantic. As the plane settled onto the waves, Don's mood settled into depression. ********************* The taller man, in a white suite, stood by the dock, with the short man beside him. He raised a finger, and a band began playing polynesian music as the airplane door opened. 'Smiles, everyone, smiles,' he commanded. And as the guests stepped from the plane to the dock, native girls draped leis around their necks and gave them glasses of an exotic tropical drink. 'Who is he?' the short man asked as Don stepped from the plane. 'Ah, Tattoo, that is Mr. Don Jenkins. He is a computer consultant, and his company was engaged to fix our Y2K problem.' The short man wrinkled his forehead. 'But boss, we don't have....' The taller man smiled. 'Of course not, Tattoo. But that was the pretext Mrs. Jenkins used to get him to the island.' Tattoo looked up. 'So this is her fantasy?' 'More of an anniversary gift, Tattoo,' the taller man explained. 'Mrs. Jenkins is concerned about their marriage. And she knows that he has a secret - a dark secret - which she thinks is poisoning their love.' The man took a glass as a waiter walked past. 'My dear guests, I am Mr. Rourke. Welcome to Fantasy Island.' ******************************* Don Jenkins sat back from the keyboard and gave a heavy sigh. Just at that moment, Mr. Rourke came into the computer room, and heard the sigh. 'You found a problem, Mr. Jenkins?' Don turned slowly. 'No, Mr. Rourke,' he said slowly, careful to choose his words. Anger simmered within him, and he fought to control it. 'There's no problem.' He turned the chair to face Rourke. 'And that's the problem.' Rourke screwed up his face. 'I'm not sure I understand you.' Don suppressed a derisive chuckle. 'Of course you don't.' He looked out the window for a few seconds, staring at the guests swimming in the pool. Finally, he turned back to Rourke. 'Your systems are fine. Better than fine. Perfect.' Rourke showed his surprise. 'Oh? Well then, I think that's cause for celebration, don't you? You have done such a marvelous job, and so quickly.' Don just sat in the chair, shaking his head. 'I didn't do anything. Your systems never had a Y2K problem. They're clean.' He stood quickly. 'So if you don't mind, I'll get my stuff and get on the next plane home.' Mr. Rourke gave Don a curious look. 'Ah, the next plane. That won't be until Tuesday, Mr. Jenkins. You see, the plane is due for its annual inspection, and it will be out of service until then.' Don sank into the chair, a defeated man. 'Great,' he muttered to himself, 'I'm stuck here with nothing to do.' Mr. Rourke smiled graciously. 'Of course, since the contract covered your stay, you are free to use our facilities. As a gesture of goodwill, let us move you to one of our better rooms.' Don looked up and surrendered. 'Okay.' He felt too tired to protest. ************************* A porter was just leaving Don's new room when Rourke and Don came around the corner. Rourke opened the door and gestured Don inside. Don took two steps into the new room, then froze. The room was certainly more luxurious than his old suite, but it was so ... so feminine! He turned to Rourke to protest. Rourke held up his hand, silencing Don's protest before it was even spoken. 'Yes, I know this room is somewhat feminine in its decor, but it is the best room we have available.' Don's heart raced, and he steeled his nerves, fearing that Rourke would see his hands trembling. Such a room. 'Okay,' he finally answered. 'I guess it'll do.' He laughed to himself. 'Besides, it's not like I'm going to have anyone here with me.' Rourke turned to leave, then hesitated. 'Oh yes,' he said as he reached into his jacket. 'I was told to give you this.' He handed Don a large white envelope. Don took the envelope and quickly opened it. To his surprise, it was an anniversary card from Nancy. Speechless, Don fell into a chair, staring at the card. And as he stared, a waiter appeared, carrying a bottle of champagne and a glass. The waiter set them on the table, then departed as silently as he had come. Rourke smiled at Don. 'Anniversary wishes are in order, I presume.' He smiled, poured a glass of champagne for Don, and set it on the table. 'Enjoy your stay, Mr. Jenkins,' he said as he silently slipped from the room. Don sat for several moments, staring at the card. Finally, he looked at the glass, then took it and raised it. 'Happy anniversary, Nancy. Wherever you are.' He drained the glass, then set it down. Suddenly, Don felt tired. Exhausted. 'No surprise,' he thought to himself - it had been a long flight. He kicked off his shoes, pulled off his tie, and unbuttoned the top buttons on his shirt. Then he shuffled to the bed and laid down. Within seconds, he was asleep. Strange dreams raced through Don's mind as he slept. Beautiful young women of all shapes and sizes. Blonds, brunettes, redheads. Tall, short, medium. Thin, medium, athletic builds. All varieties of measurements, from tiny breasts to huge knockers. Wasp-waisted girls to medium figures. And throughout the dream, one woman kept appearing, more and more frequently, until she was the only one in his dream. Don realized subconsciously that it was his fantasy woman. A woman he had always dreamed of. A woman who matched his ideals to every last detail. Don snapped awake. He puzzled over the dreams as he lifted his head from the pillow. Absently, he brushed the hair from his face as he turned to sit. And then Don realized he had to pee. Badly. Still groggy, he pulled himself to his feet and took a couple of steps toward the bathroom. Don frowned. Something didn't seem right. The room seemed - different! And himself! Just walking felt wrong. He rounded the corner and flipped on the lights, and again reached up and brushed the hair from his eyes. And Don froze. His mind was clicking back into gear, and some of the data it was receiving made no sense to him. He wore his hair short - short enough that some of his co-workers called him 'Buzz'. Brushing hair from his eyes? And the walk. It was like his center of balance was off. Way off. Wider? Lower? And why did his chest seem heavier? Don glanced into the mirror. Staring back at him was his dream woman. Not Don Jenkins. A woman. A young, attractive woman. Don opened his mouth to scream, and saw the woman do the same. The hands, delicate feminine hands with red fingernails, reached up slowly to his face. He felt the hands pressing against his cheeks, his brunette hair brushing against those beautiful delicate hands. For long seconds, Don stared at his reflection, gawking at the long hair which had somehow replaced his short, light-brown hair. Cute little nose, slightly upturned, instead of his crooked broken beak. Skin that was soft and creamy instead of wrinkled, leathery, and badly needing a shave. Cheeks firm and high, instead of the sagging jowls of an overweight older man. Neck disappearing gracefully into his shirt, instead of the stout double chin, with the prominent male Adam's apple. It was starting to sink in - somehow, Don had been changed into his own dream vision! But that meant.... Don's new hands shot up to his shirt, now sloppy and loose, and fumbled with the buttons. Damn fingernails! One after another, Don practically tore off the buttons and pulled his shirt open, both curious and afraid of what he knew. He'd felt a strange heaviness in his chest, and when he peered down into his open shirt, he knew why. There, on the deflated remains of his once-large chest, stood two beautiful breasts! Capped with large brown nipples, his boobs hung perfectly. His boobs! Don's hands slowly rose until each hand cupped one of the magnificent boobs, palming the big nipples, fingers wrapping around the breasts lovingly. Don felt the boobs in his hands at the same time he felt his hands cupping his boobs! This was real! This wasn't an illusion! He felt them! A knock sounded on the door. Alarm on his face, Don pulled his shirt together, then fastened a couple of buttons. The knock sounded again, more insistently. Don silently padded to the door and pressed his eye to the peephole, a stretch for this shorter body. Instantly, Don recognized the man at the door, and he gave a sigh of relief as he unlatched the door. 'Did you have a pleasant nap, Miss Jenkins?' Rourke asked as he stepped into the room. Don started to speak, then stumbled, then opened his mouth again. 'Miss Jenkins?' He hadn't heard Rourke wrong. 'You know what happened to me?' Don demanded. Rourke looked surprised. 'But of course, Miss Jenkins.' Don scowled. 'And stop calling me 'Miss Jenkins.'' His voice sounded wrong in his ears. It sounded soft. Feminine. A rich contralto. Rourke smiled and gestured toward the chairs by the table. 'Please, have a seat.' 'Cut the crap, Rourke,' Don demanded, still surprised at his voice. 'What have you done to me?' Rourke gestured again, and after staring angrily at him, Don sat down. Rourke eased himself into a chair and waved his hand at the still-cold champagne bottle. 'This is Fantasy Island,' Rourke said, as if that were all the explanation required. Don scowled again. 'I just came here to fix your damn computers. This isn't my fantasy,' he said angrily. Rourke looked surprised. 'Isn't it? Haven't you always wondered what it would be like to be a woman?' Rourke shook his head. 'Of course this isn't your fantasy. You didn't pay for this. But someone did.' Don's face clouded, then twisted curiously. He was clearly having mixed emotions. 'Who?' he asked softly. Rourke waved his hand. 'I'm afraid that answer must remain confidential.' He poured another glass of champagne and handed it to Don, who looked at it warily. Rourke smiled, then produced a small vial and set it on the table. 'There is nothing in the champagne,' he said easily. 'This vial contains the potion which changed you.' Don tilted back his head and laughed. 'Someone else's fantasy! Magic potions! This is too much!' Rourke wasn't laughing. 'Do you deny that you are in a female body? A body which matches your ideal woman?' The laughter stopped abruptly. Don glared at Rourke. 'How could you know...?' Rourke sat impassively. 'Oh, I know a great deal about you, Miss Jenkins. I know that your favorite woman's name is Denise. I know that you have always felt inferior, primarily because your mother told you often that she wished you had been a girl. I know that you seldom dated in high school because of a cruel joke, and that you went to an engineering college where women were not plentiful.' Don's jaw dropped wider with each sentence. 'What are you?' Don asked softly, incredulously. Rourke smiled. 'I am your host.' He leaned back in the chair. 'Someone unnamed has the fantasy that you experience life as your dream woman. Since it happens to match a secret but unspoken fantasy of yours, you could have a most unique and enjoyable weekend.' He retrieved a second vial from his coat. 'Unless you wish to end this fantasy right now.' Don's heart raced. How on earth could Rourke know these things about him? Who could be behind this? His boss? A friend? Co-worker? Don was confused. And getting curious. Overwhelmingly curious. He bit his lip, not realizing how cute the action was. Could he? Should he? 'What do I have to do?' he asked very softly. Rourke smiled. 'That's the spirit. Enjoy the opportunity.' He replaced the antidote into his jacket pocket, then lifted the first vial. 'This potion changes you, as you have already seen. The effects are temporary, of course. The dose you have been given will keep you a woman until Tuesday morning.' His face got a stern expression. 'I must caution you. You must not take any more potion. Each drop doubles the time you remain a woman. A few too many drops, and the effect will be permanent, and not even the antidote can reverse the change then.' He stood and walked to the door, turning as he got there. 'Everything you need is here. Enjoy your stay, Miss Jenkins.' Don looked at the potion, then at Rourke. 'Denise,' he said softly. 'If I'm to be a woman this weekend, Denise seems a fitting name.' He smiled. 'Don't you think so?' Rourke closed the door behind himself as he left, and Denise smiled to herself. This might not be too bad, she thought. The pressure in her bladder reminded Denise that she had something to take care of. Quickly, she latched the door, then glided into the bathroom. She fumbled with her belt for a moment - it was so loose around her waist - then dropped the pants and underwear to the floor. Don had been a bit rotund, so even with female hips, his pants slid easily off. Denise turned toward the toilet and automatically reached toward her crotch. And came up empty-handed. Half-blushing, Denise reached down, lowered the toilet seat, then turned and sat. She sat puzzling for a second; how did this body work? But she found that the same muscles worked for her new woman's body as had worked for her male body. The next challenge - to wipe herself dry. Denise realized quickly why women insisted on soft toilet paper as she patted her genital area dry. And why they seemed to use so much of it! As she rose, Denise unbuttoned the shirt again, then let it drop to the floor. Now she stood naked, and she stepped out of Don's pants and in front of the mirror. A gasp of delight escaped her as she stared at herself. She was very attractive. Twenty? Nineteen? Standing about five-foot five, the body Denise was admiring was shapely. Well-proportioned. Nice breasts which hung and swayed just so. B-cups? Maybe small C-cups, Denise decided. Not huge stripper- boobs. A nice waist. Well-defined, but not cartoonishly wasp-like. As Don, she had hated such tiny waists. They looked ridiculous. Hers? It was about perfect. Maybe 26 inches. And her hips were similarly proportioned. 35 or 36 inches. Denise turned, and gazed admiringly at her round little toush. She smiled at the sight of her profile - it was perfect! She gazed again at her face. Nice sensuous lips - not thin, not fat. And her eyes! She stared for several moments at her own eyes. Big soft brown eyes! The kind that could swallow a man's soul! Her face was perfectly framed by her hair - longer behind her ears, with a slight curl, and long curled bangs parting near the center and sweeping the tops of her eyebrows and continuing back over her ears. Her ears were pierced; the hairstyle was designed to show off her ears, and any earrings which she happened to be wearing. Denise knew that she was Don's dream woman. Down to the last detail. And as Denise looked at her body, she felt an intense desire to explore, to find out more about the pleasures associated with womanhood. *********************** Denise emerged from the bathroom, starry-eyed and cupping one breast. She sank onto the bed, sighing dreamily at the aftereffects of the orgasms she had just given herself. 'Wow,' she said to herself, over and over. Absently, she took one of Don's cigarettes and a lighter. She took a deep draw, and suddenly spat the smoke from her mouth and lungs, coughing. Her throat burned, her eyes were watering, and she coughed for several moments. 'Damn,' Denise thought. 'This body has never smoked.' She coughed some more as she crushed out the cigarette, then wiped her eyes dry. And she found that her mouth tasted absolutely terrible! 'Well,' Denise thought wryly, 'this is one way to quit.' As she realized that her body wasn't craving the nicotine, she couldn't help thinking that she'd found yet another benefit of this fantasy. After a few minutes, Denise realized that she was feeling chilly. And still wet inside. Smiling to herself, she went back to the bathroom to clean herself. Next, she looked at Don's clothing, dropped on the floor. 'That won't do,' she said to herself. 'Rourke said I'd have everything I needed...' She stepped bravely to the dresser and opened a drawer. And found a treasure trove of underwear. Denise giggled with delight as she pawed through the drawer, looking at the dainty and lacy panties and bras. She selected a matching pair, then stepped into her panties. Without hesitation, she fastened the bra behind her back, then slipped her arms through the straps and pulled them over her shoulders, guiding her boobs into the waiting cups. 'Perfect fit!' she giggled. The next drawer had some blouses, shorts, and sweaters. Denise picked a blouse and pair of shorts and quickly pulled them on. Only the reversed buttons and the fingernails slowed her as she dressed herself. Then she opened the closet and gasped. Another giggle - the closet held several dresses, ranging from informal to one formal dress, in several colors and lengths. And shoes to match. She picked up a pair of deck shoes, having decided that she should look around the island a bit before deciding what to do. Denise stopped to look in the mirror, then frowned. Something didn't seem right. She looked ... plain. No makeup. No earrings. Still cute, but Denise knew that a little makeup would improve things. Without even looking, Denise found all the makeup she would need on the vanity. But she was slightly confused by the dazzling array of products. She had no idea what to use, how much, or in what order. Denise cursed herself for not paying attention to how Nancy applied her makeup. Don could have learned a lot from Nancy, and that would have helped Denise immensely. But he hadn't, and now Denise was stuck. She decided to minimize the makeup, so Denise took a lipstick tube and opened it. Red. Denise shrugged, then leaned forward toward the mirror and began to apply it. She grimmaced. First, the color was wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. It just looked ... cheap. Second, it wasn't very well applied. Denise took a tissue and wiped the lipstick off. She capped the tube, then picked another. It was more brown than red, and certainly less bright. Another attempt. This time, Denise was pleased with the color. It accented her lips slightly, without looking trashy. In fact, it wasn't even too obvious. But the application was messy. Damn, but this was tough. Denise wiped off this attempt, then tried again. This time, it was acceptable. She looked at her face, and decided something was still wrong. She looked so - pale. A quick search, and Denise found some blush. A quick brush, and her cheeks had some color. Denise straightened herself, and smiled. Not bad for her first try. Denise stepped to the door, then realized that she didn't have her room key. She scooped Don's pants from the floor and dug out the wallet, then placed the room key in her front pocket. As she started to dump the pants back on the floor, she somehow realized that these clothes - Don's clothes - were inappropriate. They didn't belong in this room. Denise picked up Don's shirt and shoes, then dumped them unceremoniously in a drawer and kicked it shut. She wiped her hands in an exaggerated gesture, then marched out of the room. **************************** For half an hour, Denise strolled about the resort, enjoying the warm weather, feeling the breeze caressing her new shaven legs. It seemed that every sensation was new, different, that her senses were truly alive for the first time. She felt her breasts swaying, barely controlled by the lacy bra, as she skipped up a few steps. Her hips were wider, and it took a while to adjust to the new balance, but Denise relished even that sensation. She could feel them swaying as she walked, and knew that her little tush was wiggling with each step. As she strode by the pool, Denise blushed when she realized that some of the guys around the pool were gawking at her. It felt so embarrassing. And at the same time, exciting! She lifted her head up, at the same time thrusting her chest out to better display her breasts. The actions had the additional effect of pushing her butt back, and when she walked, her wiggle was even more pronounced. A couple of women in bikinis were laid out sunning themselves, and Denise felt suddenly inadequate as she saw their pronounced hourglass figures and very generous bosoms. She wondered why she felt jealous - she'd never liked big boobs, and she'd only been a woman for a couple of hours. There was no reason to feel like she did. And yet she did. As she walked away from the pool, Denise reached up and unbuttoned another button on her blouse, folding back the lapels to display a bit more cleavage, and wondering why she was doing it. Somewhat self-consciously, Denise walked through the main building. Like most resorts, the Fantasy Island resort had a variety of shops to serve the guests. Denise wandered around for a few minutes, window-shopping and getting a feel for what the shops offered. She quickly realized that the shops catered mostly to female guests; except for the golf shop in one corner (and just out a door was the golf course), there was a jewelry shop, a beauty parlor, a variety of clothing stores, and some food stands. In fact, the main building was very much like a mini-mall inside! Denise felt a strange sense of delight as she thought about shopping; was this some side-effect of the potion? Don had hated shopping with a passion. But now, as Denise, the thought was actually pleasant! Denise's eye was caught by one boutique selling swimwear. She didn't remember seeing a bathing suit in her dresser, and the thought of sunning herself was suddenly quite appealing. So into the store she went. Instantly, Denise realized that this was going to take a while. The store had a dizzying array of swimsuits - traditional and thong bikinis, one-piece suits, exotic suits, and in nearly every imaginable color, pattern, and size. Denise caught her breath at the choices. 'May I help you, miss?' A friendly-looking saleslady had appeared by Denise. Denise turned, a bit startled. 'Oh, yes,' she answered quickly. 'I'm looking for a swim suit.' The clerk nodded agreeably. 'What style would you like?' Denise bit her lip. She didn't know. There were too many choices. 'Um, I think...' She thought for a moment, then decided to be a bit daring. 'Something bold. Like a thong. Or maybe ... ' she spotted an interesting one-piece suit, where the cups were like straps wrapping around the body. 'Something like this.' 'And what size?' the clerk asked. Denise panicked. 'Size? Um...' She didn't know her size. The lady smiled knowingly. 'Let me see. Probably a medium on the bottom, and maybe a 34C for the top?' She rummaged through the racks and retrieved some suits for Denise to try on. 'See how these fit.' Denise took the suits meekly and ducked into the changing room. Quickly, she shed her clothes and pulled on a thong bottom. Not a bad fit! Then she worked on the top. This was a bit trickier, but eventually, she got the straps tied and her boobs inside the tiny cups. The fit was pretty good, but the room didn't have a mirror, so Denise stepped outside to see how she looked. When she stepped in front of the mirror, Denise nearly fainted. The suit left almost nothing to the imagination. She felt naked! She turned quickly to retreat to the dressing room, and as she did, she saw another customer, a college-age guy, staring at her, his eyes wide open. Denise felt her face redden, and she fled into the dressing room, very embarrassed. After trying on a few more suits, she settled on a traditional bikini bottom, with a somewhat skimpy top. When she took out the room card to pay, Denise felt a moment of panic. The room was in the name of Don Jenkins. But when the lady rang up the receipt, she saw that the card was in the name of Denise Jenkins. Denise shook her head at that little oddity, then scooped up her shopping bag and continued to browse other shops. After an hour and a half of browsing, Denise decided she was a bit thirsty, and perhaps hungry as well. But as she turned to walk back to her room, she saw a cosmetics booth in one corner of the shops. In the back of her mind, she knew that she was Don, a man, and that makeup was strange. But an overwhelming curiosity ruled, and she found herself seated at the makeup counter, being pampered and shows a variety of products, as well as seeing how the saleslady was applying them. She left with a small bag of cosmetics, even though she knew some of them were in her room. She considered it a small price to pay to learn how to use the stuff! Denise, now feeling very pretty in some makeup, walked lightly back toward her room, a happy bounce in her step. She walked past the pool again, and happily noticed that she was again receiving admiring stares. With a happy smile, she strode back to her room. By now, she was beginning to feel a bit hungry, and she noticed that it was almost six-thirty. Maybe she should get something to eat. But where? She glance over the dining list, and decided almost immediately on what was advertised as a 50's malt shop. Denise looked in the mirror, and quickly decided that the outfit she had on was not quite right for dinner, even an informal one. How she knew that was a mystery, but she knew. Somehow. Shrugging her shoulders at this puzzle, Denise opened the closet to find something to wear. The formal dress was way too formal. Then she spotted a nice dress - sort of a white sun dress with a gathered waist. The dress was relatively long, but it looked light and comfortable. And the sleeves could be worn on the shoulders or down on the arms for a little more alluring look. Denise smiled. Then suddenly frowned. To wear it like she wanted, she'd either have her bra straps showing, or have to go without a bra. But when she looked in the lingerie drawer, she found a strapless bra - just what she needed! Happily, Denise put on the bra and dress. Then she dug out a pair of sandals and strapped them on her feet. A quick glance in the mirror to ensure everything was okay, a quick comb through her hair, and Denise was ready to go. She glanced at the clock - damn! It was already a quarter after 7. How could it have taken her so long to just get dressed for dinner? She walked quickly to the restaurant, only to find a few groups waiting for tables. Denise sighed, then stepped to the receptionist to get her name on the list. Table for one. And somehow, Denise found that very strange. Almost embarrassing. Even though, as Don, she had eaten alone many nights - most of the time he was out of town. She turned to find a place to sit. And bumped into a college-aged guy. Denise looked up to apologize. 'I'm sorry,' she said hastily. 'I guess I didn't see you there.' The guy looked down at her, frowned a second, then smiled. 'That's okay.' Then he broke into a grin. 'I almost didn't recognize you with a dress on.' Denise looked puzzled for a second, then blushed. This was the guy who had seen her trying on the bikinis. 'I'm sorry,' he said quickly. 'I didn't mean to embarrass you.' Denise forced a smile. 'That's okay. I just ...' she paused, trying to figure out how she was going to explain this one, 'well, I'm not used to such skimpy suits. I just wanted to be daring, but I guess I chickened out.' 'Too bad,' the guy said with a bit of admiration in his voice. 'You certainly have the figure for it.' Denise blushed again, but this time, she wasn't embarrassed. She looked at the guy again. Medium height, medium build. Not athletic, but not scrawny. Short cropped brown hair. Green eyes. Very nice smile. Denise found herself thinking he was attractive. And this thought was totally foreign to Don, so Denise was surprised by it. Two girls materialized, one on each side of the guy. 'Jerry,' one said impatiently, 'our table is ready.' Jerry smiled. 'Got to run. Maybe I'll see you around, um...' Denise smiled. 'Denise.' Maybe she would. He seemed kind of nice. Inwardly, Denise grimaced. Now where had that thought come from? She half turned, looking at the crowded lobby. 'It looks like I've got a long wait for a table.' One of the girls surprised Denise. 'If you're here alone, why don't you join us?' Denise's jaw dropped. For some reason, she had expected the girls to be jealous of her. Denise thought for a millisecond, then decided to accept their invitation. 'Thanks,' she said gratefully. 'I really wasn't looking forward to dining alone.' 'Well, that's settled then. Let's go eat. By the way, I'm Ann.' She held out a hand to Denise. 'And I'm Traci,' the other girl said. The two were both about Denise's age, but that's where the similarities ended. Ann was about Denise's size, with a slightly smaller waist and slightly smaller bust. Rich auburn hair, steel-blue eyes, and an infectiously warm smile. Denise took an instant liking to Ann. Traci, on the other hand, was a couple inches taller than Denise and Ann. She looked very athletic, despite her generously endowed bustline. Her blond hair, worn in a shoulder-length flip, could have easily made her look like a bimbo, but Denise recognized intelligence and compassion in her hazel eyes. She wasn't as pretty as Ann, but she was definitely attractive. And Denise thought that Traci could turn out to be very likable as well. As the new foursome started following a waitress, another guy joined them. 'Hi, Mike,' Ann sang. 'This is Denise. She's a friend of Jerry.' Like Jerry, Mike was an average guy. Not tall, not muscular, not a bronzed god. Just an average guy. Six feet, maybe 150, average build. Tussled mop of sandy-brown hair. And a scruffy mustache. Or the beginnings of one. Denise smiled to herself, remembering Don's first mustache, and how silly it looked. Denise smiled warmly to Mike. 'Not really a friend,' she explained, slightly embarrassed. 'We just sort of bumped into each other.' Jerry glanced at Denise, smiling. 'Trying on swimming suits,' he said mischievously. Denise avoided blushing this time. Mike's eyebrows lifted. Denise could tell he was considering that scene in his mind. And probably liking the thought. 'It's nice to meet you, Denise,' he said with a smile. 'The more, the merrier.' Denise ended up sitting between Mike and Traci, and Ann sat beside Jerry. She watched the others carefully, looking for any sign that they were paired up. But she got no clear sign. Still, Denise was on her guard. Ann gave her a funny look when she ordered a gin and tonic, sufficiently strange that she changed her order quickly and got the pina colada like Ann and Traci had ordered. Denise let the other girls order first before selecting a meal; while she was hungry, she knew this body couldn't eat as much as Don's, and she didn't want to look out of place again. And then she excused herself to visit the ladies room. Denise was surprised when Ann and Traci joined her. Denise felt very self-conscious in the ladies room, especially with Ann and Traci there. She finished her business quickly, then stood at the sink. Ann was checking her makeup. 'Um,' Denise began, not really knowing how to say what was on her mind. 'I kind of feel ... awkward,' she finally blurted out. Ann just stopped and looked at her. 'You know, out of place.' Ann still stared, and Traci was staring too as she washed her hands. 'You know, you two, and Jerry and Mike...' Ann stared for a second, then tilted her head back and laughed. Denise was confused, and looked to Traci, and found that she, too, was laughing. Traci covered her mouth with one hand, and slapped Denise on the shoulder with the other. Tears of mirth were forming in her eyes. 'Oh, that's good!' Ann said through her laughter. It took a few seconds, then Ann calmed down to mere giggling. 'You thought that me and Traci and Mike and Jerry...' Denise nodded dumbly. 'I felt out of place. Like I might be intruding.' Ann held onto Denise's shoulder, nearly doubled over in a new spasm of laughter. 'Oh, Denise!' Traci guffawed. 'That's good!' She wiped her eyes. After several moments, both girls regained their composure. 'They should be so lucky,' she said, bringing a fresh giggle from Ann. 'We're just friends. And classmates.' Ann straightened, holding her sides. 'We all go to Midwestern U,' she explained, trying to hold in her mirth. 'We just all decided to take the same vacation.' Denise's eyes widened. 'Midwestern U? In Springfield?' Ann and Traci nodded. 'I've got...' she hesitated, realizing almost too late what she was about to say, 'relatives there. My, um, aunt and uncle live there.' She sighed inwardly. That was close. She'd have to watch herself; she'd almost slipped up. 'Um, what are you studying?' Ann smiled. 'We're all in computer science,' she said proudly. 'I guess that makes us geeks,' she added, a tone of defiance in her voice. Denise grinned. 'They've got a good program there. The internship program is one of their strengths. It helps balance the theoretical stuff with more real-world problems.' She was talking in her realm now. 'And Kochanski is outstanding in the field of machine pattern recognition.' Traci's eyes widened. 'This is too cool!' she exclaimed. 'You're interested in computers, too?' Denise smiled confidently. 'I started on a PDP 11-34,' she said proudly. Ann frowned. 'How do you know so much about Midwestern's program? And what is a PDP 11-34?' Denise realized she'd been careless again. Her head spun as she scrambled for an answer. 'My, um, uncle was an industry representative for their curriculum revision committee.' That was partly true - Don had been on the committee. 'And he helped me learn about computers. He's got old machines in his basement. He made me start on them.' Traci was impressed. 'Your uncle must be pretty good. Who's he work for? Would we have ever heard of him?' Inside, Denise was near panic. This conversation was nearly out of hand. But the lie had started, so it had to go on. 'I think he's pretty good. He works for the Reynolds Consulting Group.' True statement - Don worked for them. Ann's mouth widened. 'Wow!' With Denise trailing, breathing a sigh of relief, the girls rejoined the guys for dinner. As expected, the light dinner was more than Denise could eat; a benefit of this more petite body. Then Mike suggested they go dancing. Denise tried to beg off. She didn't want to go dancing. Truth be told, Don hated dancing. But Ann and Traci were very insistent. And so was Jerry. In the end, Jerry was the one who persuaded Denise to go. The music was loud, fast, and very difficult to dance to. Or, it should have been. But Don found something peculiar - Denise's body was quite good at dancing. An occasional drink, some dancing with both Jerry and Mike, and Denise was having fun. But when another guy asked her to dance, Denise got shy. She mumbled an excuse about staying with her friends. Later, Ann cornered her in the ladies room and asked her why she didn't dance with the guy - after all, he was cute. Denise gave a lame excuse about being uncomfortable. To which Traci noted that she didn't seem uncomfortable with Jerry. As the dance was winding down, Denise was out on the floor with Jerry, when a slow song came up. Denise hesitated, but Jerry gently pulled her close. She found herself pressed against Jerry, her boobs rubbing against him. Denise found herself feeling very strange. On the one hand, she was dancing with a guy! But on the other hand, she felt his arms around her, felt her boobs tingling with excitement, felt his warm breath on her neck as he held her close. And she felt a warm glow spreading slowly from her crotch. She found herself wishing the dance would go on forever. Alas, it ended all too soon. Ann and Traci sidled up beside Denise as they strode through the cool night air. 'So,' Ann began softly, so the guys behind them wouldn't hear, 'I thought you didn't want to go dancing.' Denise sighed. 'A girl can change her mind, can't she?' Traci smiled. 'The way you were hanging on Jerry that last dance, yeah, I'd say that's changing your mind.' 'And he did seem a bit taken with you,' Ann agreed. 'Wouldn't you agree, Traci?' Traci nodded. 'I'd say that's an accurate statement.' Denise scowled. 'I don't know what you're talking about,' she said defensively. 'Right,' Ann grinned. Then she changed the subject completely. 'Let's do some swimming or snorkling tomorrow morning. You in?' Denise gasped. They were including her in their little circle. She was stunned. 'Well, yes,' she stammered, 'if you want me to.' The group arrived at her building first. Ann and Traci gave quick 'We'll see you in the morning.' Mike stammered a 'Good night.' And Jerry just looked embarrassed as he tried to say good night. Denise, too, felt torn. She looked at Jerry, right into his eyes, and knew that he wanted to do more than say good night. At the very least, he wanted a nice kiss. But she felt the presence of the friends, knew that they weren't alone, knew the same embarrassment Jerry was feeling right now. They finally stammered their good nights, and Denise slipped into her room. Denise sank against the door as it closed behind her. She felt a bewildering mix of feelings. Delighted to have found some new friends, amazement at how they had accepted her so quickly. In Don's college days, he had been a nerd, with few friends and virtually no social life. But these kids - they were smart, and they had figured out how to have fun. Denise felt exhilaration at having experienced something which had been so foreign. She also felt her heart fluttering as she thought about dancing with Jerry. It was simply wonderful. But Denise wondered about Don - was Don gay? How could Denise have these thoughts? Finding herself all giddy over a ... guy? Feeling sexual desires - female sexual desires - about a man? Wondering what it would be like? Denise was confused. She knew that Don and Nancy had suffered mostly a marriage of convenience - Nancy found it convenient that Don was making lots of money. And Don found it convenient that Nancy had gone after him. Was that it? Was it all about money? His money? Denise crossed to the bed and lay down, flopping her head on the pillow. Was there really any love between Don and Nancy? Yes, there was. Some. But the more Denise thought, the more she realized it had been a platonic love. Sure, he and Nancy had sex. But Don had always wondered if he satisfied Nancy. To Don, sex was. That was it. Honestly, as Denise thought, she realized that Don got more of a thrill out of his computers than he had out of sex. Correction - long term, the computers won. Sure, there was the momentary rush, but it wasn't an all-consuming passion. Denise knew guys who would literally sell their souls for sex. It was that important to them. But not to Don. And maybe that was what was driving Don and Nancy apart. Nancy needed more intimacy than Don knew how to provide. When Don couldn't provide it, she hoped for children, perhaps as a substitute? And even that didn't work. As Denise drifted to sleep, she realized that Don did love Nancy. So much that he would do anything to make her happy. Including giving her a divorce if necessary. And she wondered if Nancy felt the same about Don. ************************* Denise couldn't believe that she'd actually picked out the swimming suit. It was so skimpy. So tiny! She was embarrassed enough to put it on in her room. And she was supposed to meet the others at the pool? She wasn't sure she had the courage to go out like this. Finally, she put on a robe and sandals and forced herself to march to the pool. Denise suddenly felt very self-conscious. Around and in the pool, she saw a number of female guests. And her bikini seemed to be smaller than any of them. And some of the girls were so generously endowed. Denise frowned. What was she thinking? As Don, she had never liked big boobs. Never. And now, in this body, she was thinking that she might look better with a larger bustline! Denise was shaken inside - lots of strange thoughts were forming, and she didn't understand why, or from where. Very modestly, Denise peeled off the robe, kicked off her sandals, and sat down on a lounge chair. She didn't see any sign of Jerri, Mike, Traci, or Ann. Might as well catch a few rays while waiting. 'Denise!' Denise turned to see who was shouting her name. She smiled when she saw Jerry running toward her. Then she frowned. He was wearing shorts and a t- shirt. 'We got a boat if you want to go sailing,' Jerry said breathlessly. Denise was elated, but also a bit hesitant. 'I don't know. I've only been sailing once, and I got pretty sick.' Jerry smiled. 'Same here. Just take a dramamine. It works wonders.' He was eyeing the skimpy bikini appreciatively. 'Nice bikini,' he said, a sly grin on his face. Denise blushed. It felt ... good .. to get a compliment like that. Even though it was weird. She shouldn't be pleased at having a guy compliment her body! It was wrong. But damn, it sure felt good! 'I'm not exactly dressed for sailing,' she managed to say. 'How about if I change, and I'll meet you down at the marina?' Jerry grinned. 'You might want to leave your suit on - under your clothes. We might do some snorking and swimming while we're out.' 'Uh, okay,' Denise said, somewhat surprised. She hadn't thought of that. She began gathering up her things to go back to her room. Then, for some reason that Denise couldn't understand, she glanced back at Jerry. 'You just want to see me in my bikini, don't you.' She smiled and headed back to her room. ******************* 'Are you sure you're okay?' Ann asked, still very concerned. Denise nodded slowly. 'I'm okay. I just swallowed a few gallons of seawater.' Sailing had been lots of fun - until the accident. They were sailing in a twenty- five foot Catalina - a relatively big boat, with cabin space below. The plan was to sail to an island for a big luau, then overnight in the boat and sail home in the morning. As they were sailing, not in any particular hurry to get to the luau, another boat had come by, and Mike and Jerry decided to race them. The girls were all hanging on one side, counterbalancing the boat as Mike steered as close to the wind as he could. Denise was having was lots of fun, feeling the wind through her hair, feeling the salt spray. And she got a bit careless. She slipped, and the next thing she knew, she was overboard. The impact knocked the wind out of her, and she was tumbling through the waves. Without a second's hesitation, Jerry dove into the water, pulling her above the water and holding her up while she gasped for breath. As the fog slowly cleared from her head, she realized that her boobs were bare; the impact had knocked the tiny cups from her boobs. But even though Jerry was holding his arm across her chest, Denise realized that he wasn't trying to cop a feel. He was swimming with her, rescuing her, professionally. Like a lifeguard. And as soon as he realized that Denise was overboard, Mike had turned the boat, coming around until he turned directly into the wind. The boat glided to a near halt an arm's reach from Jerry and Denise. As soon as she was out of the water, Ann wrapped a towel around Denise, both to get her dried off and to cover her bare boobs. Denise knew, beyond a doubt, that the girls were very concerned about her. So were Mike and Jerry. And she felt warm inside. Wonderful. Don had been somewhat of a social recluse, never really having friends. So Don never knew the feeling that Denise was now feeling. Traci peeked down the hatch. 'Do we need to get you to a doctor?' Denise tried to smiled. 'No, it just knocked the wind out of me.' Ann wasn't buying it. 'You don't look too good.' Denise shook her head feebly. 'My stomach is a little upset, but that's only because I swallowed so much water. And I'm sore from having the wind knocked out.' She saw the skeptical looks Traci and Ann were giving her. 'That all, honest.' Ann glanced at Traci, still not convinced. 'Well?' she asked simply. Denise knew what they were thinking. 'Honest, I'm okay. Let's go over to the luau, like we were planning. I'll be fine.' Ann glanced at Traci again, then nodded. 'We'll talk it over.' The two girls went topside. Denise sank back into the cushions. She was tired. And sore. A few moments later, the hatchway darkened again. She glanced up, and saw Jerry silhouetted. At least she thought it was Jerry. 'The girls think you're okay to go to the luau,' Jerry said cautiously, sounding unconvinced. Denise sat upright. 'I'll be okay,' she said defensively. Jerry shrugged, and started to turn. 'And Jerry,' Denise called after him. He turned back toward her. 'Thanks.' Jerry grinned sheepishly, then went back topside. ***************************** The luau was fun. There was no other way to describe it, Denise thought. Fun. She was feeling much better, too. The meal was classic Polynesian, down to the traditionally roasted pig. Denise found, once again, that this body couldn't eat nearly as much as Don's, no matter how delicious the food. Traci commented that Denise must have a super metabolism, considering what she had piled on her plate, whereas Traci had to watch her meals to keep her figure. Denise realized that she was trying to eat like Don. And the thought was repulsive. Don was overweight, unattractive, and badly out of shape. This body wasn't any of those. Denise shuddered inwardly as she realized what Don had let happen to himself. After the meal, they sat on mats, watching some traditional entertainment. Denise found Jerry sitting next to her, and for some strange reason, that made her happy. She glanced around, and met Ann's eyes. Ann smiled wryly at Denise. They watched fire dancers and hula dancers. And Denise realized, slowly, that Jerry was not watching the Polynesian girls, unlike Mike. Mike's eyes were glued to the grass skirts and bikini tops; he was almost drooling. But Jerry was watching Denise. After the luau, the group played on the beach for a while, then went back to the boat. Mike and Jerry galantly agreed to let the girls have the fore cabin. Ann and Traci almost immediately fell asleep in the fore cabin, but Denise was having trouble resting. As she tossed and turned, she finally decided to go topside for a breath of air. She stumbled through the dark cabin and emerged into the moonlight, sitting in the cockpit, leaning on the wheel. She felt kind of dreamy as she stared at the bright stars, listening to the waves lapping at the hull, feeling the boat bobbing lazily. It was so peaceful. Presently, another figure emerged from the hatch. 'Couldn't sleep either,' Jerry said as he sat down beside Denise. Denise looked at him and smiled. 'No.' Then she laughed lightly. 'Maybe it's a good thing. This is such a beautiful evening.' Jerry nodded his agreement. 'So peaceful. Nice moonlit evening. Sailboat bobbing in the ocean. Pretty girl next to me. I could get used to this.' Denise couldn't help but agree, even though she blushed at the comment. 'Is that only because you like how I look in a bikini?' she asked playfully. It was Jerry's turn to blush. He looked down, embarrassed. Denise smiled. She hadn't intended to make Jerry so uncomfortable. 'I didn't mean to embarrass you,' she apologized. Then she changed the subject. 'I really appreciate what you did for me this afternoon,' she said softly. Jerry shook his head, still looking at the deck. 'It was nothing,' he said humbly. Denise pulled herself closer to Jerry. 'No, it wasn't.' One part of her wanted so much to be closer to Jerry, while another part resisted. She leaned closer, her lips inches from his neck. 'You saved my life,' she said very softly. Jerry looked up, surprised. And before he could open his mouth to speak, Denise kissed him. She felt an almost electric tingling, a wonderfully pleasant feeling, as her lips met his. For a brief moment, they kissed. Then Denise broke the kiss, turning away from Jerry. She felt tears stinging her eyes, tears of confusion and anguish. What the hell was she doing? This was so wrong! How could she possibly be kissing a boy? Why did she want to keep on, to go so much beyond kissing him? 'What's wrong?' Jerry asked softly as he placed his hand gently on Denise's shoulder. 'I'm sorry,' Denise sobbed. 'I'm so ... confused!' She turned back toward Jerry, turning her body to give her some distance. 'I ... this weekend ... you've all been so wonderful! Like I'm part of your circle, your group!' She felt the tears on her cheeks. 'I've never experienced that before. I've never felt like I belonged to any group.' She shook her head. 'And you ... you've been so sweet! So nice to me! I want to be close to you, but I'm afraid!' Jerry nodded his head sadly. 'I think I understand. You're afraid that, if we do anything, you might hurt the friendships.' Denise looked in his eyes, then dropped her head, nodding sadly. Jerry smiled again. 'I think I understand,' he said softly. After a long pause, he reached out his arm. Denise looked at it, then scooted herself closer to Jerry, letting his arm wrap around her shoulder as she leaned against him. They sat for a long time, staring out over the water, watching the rippling reflection of the moon and stars. 'You know something,' Jerry finally said, 'you're not the only one who's scared.' Denise looked at him, surprised. Jerry continued. 'I'm afraid that you've stolen a piece of my heart,' he said. 'I could fall in love with you so easily. You're so special.' Denise smiled. 'I bet you say that to all the girls.' Then she saw a flicker of pain cross Jerry's features. She realized suddenly that she'd just inadvertently hurt him. 'I'm sorry,' she stammered. Jerry looked down. 'I've never been good around girls,' he admitted softly. 'Ann and Traci are the only two girls I could ever talk to. And you.' Denise realized the depth of his loneliness; Don had been there. For a long time, they sat, Denise resting her head on Jerry's shoulder. Finally, she turned back to him. 'It's late. I should get some rest.' Jerry nodded his agreement. And before he could move, Denise leaned closer and kissed him again. This time, it was more involved. More passionate. She surprised herself as her arms went around Jerry's neck, holding him close as she continued to kiss. Presently, she moved one hand onto Jerry's, then slid it gently onto her breast. She felt the surprise in his kiss, knew that he was thoroughly confused. But his hand followed her invitation and caressed her boob gently. After a few moments, he backed away from the kiss. 'Are you sure?' he asked. Denise smiled up at him. 'Yes,' she said as she lifted her mouth for another kiss. ***************************************** The hatch banging open awakened Denise; she opened her eyes slowly. It was bright - the sun was already climbing above the horizon. She realized that she was reclined against something - with a start, she remembered where she was. She bolted upright and turned. And found Jerry smiling at her. 'Good morning, sunshine.' Denise smiled back at him. 'Morning,' she echoed. She felt a very warm glow inside herself - happiness, contentment, peace, and more. Nothing like the explosion of passion the previous night. Don had never felt anything like that! Denise realized that she was lucky in that respect. Still, there was a lingering tranquillity. She heard the hatch bang again. Mike was centered in the hatchway, unsure of whether he should come out of the cabin. Denise walked lightly to the hatch, then ducked inside. Already, she felt the pressure in her bladder, and she knew she had to use the toilet. After freshening up, Denise sat down in the main cabin. Ann took her turn, then Traci went into the tiny bathroom as Ann sat across from Denise at the galley table. Topside, they heard Mike and Jerry setting the sails for the trip back to the main island. 'Someone didn't come home last night,' Ann said sweetly, her voice devoid of judgement. Denise blushed. 'Look,' Ann continued, 'Jerry's had something for you from the first time we met.' Ann reached across the table and lifted Denise's chin. 'You two aren't going to get hurt, are you?' Denise felt a tear roll from her eye. 'I'm so confused,' she finally admitted. Indeed, she was truly confused. She was really Don, a middle-aged, almost- washed-up computer consultant, living in a loveless marriage. But how could she explain that? How could she explain that what happened between her and Jerry felt so right, and at the same time, almost homosexual! How could she explain that she both wanted Jerry, and hated herself for wanting him? Or, at least, wasn't sure if she should hate herself. Was she Don? Or was she Denise? Traci glanced at Ann, and saw Ann tilt her head toward the hatch. Traci knew what this was about, and cheerily climbed topside. Denise was crying now. 'I don't know what to do. I've never felt like this before! I've never done this before!' Ann looked at her sadly. 'Morning after regrets?' she asked knowingly. Denise looked at Ann. 'Yes,' she admitted. 'No. I don't know.' She dropped her head again. 'I'm afraid,' she finally muttered. Ann slipped to the Denise's side and put her hand on Denise's shoulder. **************************** After they docked the boat, they agreed to meet down at the beach after cleaning up and changing clothes. While the others went to their own rooms, Denise lay down on her bed for a few moments, trying to sort out her feelings. What was she? Who was she? Denise? Or Don? Was she a mixed-up guy stuck in a girls' body, or a girl finally free from a man's body? Why was it so easy to talk with Ann and Traci? Why couldn't Don have ever talked with people like that? Why couldn't Don make friends? Was she more comfortable as Denise? She was slowly beginning to realize that she was. Even though this was a completely new experience, Denise realized that, for the first time in a very long time, she was happy. A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. 'Come in,' she answered, not bothering to sit up. Ann and Traci came barging into the room happily. 'Ready?' Ann asked. Then she frowned. 'Are you okay?' Denise smiled thinly. 'Just resting. And thinking.' Ann smiled as she slid into a chair. 'Anything in particular?' she asked knowingly. Denise sat up wearily. 'Not really. Just thinking.' Traci glanced at Ann, grinning. 'Told you.' Denise frowned. 'Told her what?' she demanded. Traci turned back, smiling sweetly. 'That you were probably thinking about Jerry.' Denise started to protest, then decided against it. She jumped from the bed and opened a drawer, pulling out some clothes. 'Let's get down to the beach.' Ann smiled. 'Changing the subject. I'd say you hit it right on the head, Traci.' Denise didn't bother to respond. She just pulled out some clothes and started to change, stopping, thought, when she heard Ann's tsk-tsking. 'What?' she asked, frustrated. Ann and Traci shook their heads. 'Must be pretty distracted,' Traci said. 'Look at the outfit you've picked out.' Denise did look. It looked fine. 'So?' she asked. Traci smiled sadly. 'No fashion sense, knows about computers. Face it. You're a geek.' Denise slumped onto the bed, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. 'So I don't know much about clothes,' she said. 'So what?' 'Or guys,' Ann added. Denise felt a tear roll out of her eye. 'So I'm new to this stuff. Is that a crime?' 'Sorry,' Traci said quickly. 'We weren't trying to make fun of you.' Ann nodded her agreement. 'I knew you were confused about Jerry. We thought you'd like to talk about it.' Denise looked at Ann, and saw sympathy, not mockery. 'I've just never done anything like this before.' 'Was that your, you know, first time?' Traci asked softly. Denise dropped her head, biting her lip, as she nodded. She felt herself flushing with embarrassment. Finally, she looked back up at Ann. 'I really don't know what I'm doing. I feel like I'm in over my head, and I don't know what to do.' 'About Jerry?' Traci asked softly. Denise felt tears explode from her eyes. 'About anything.' She saw Ann exchange a puzzled glance with Traci. Traci shook her head. 'I don't get it. You're such a puzzle.' Denise looked warily at Traci. 'What do you mean?' Traci scowled. 'It's like you're two different people. On one hand, you seem, I don't know, almost wise. Like you've experienced more life than we have.' She glanced at Ann, then back at Denise. 'And on the other hand, a shy, scared little girl who's never seen the world.' Denise gulped. Traci was much closer to the truth than she knew. 'Look,' Denise finally said. 'Let's assume I was raised in a very strict convent in Nebraska and never got out. Never saw a boy, never wore anything but long dark dresses. Never wore makeup. Never saw the outside world until this weekend.' Ann's eyebrows raised. 'Must be a pretty progressive convent to teach you so much about computers.' Denise stared at her, tears still trickling down her cheeks. And then she started laughing through the tears. Ann's statement sounded so patently ridiculous that she couldn't help but laugh. Traci smiled at Denise. 'We've been there,' she said soothingly. 'Look, any girl who knows anything technical has been there. You don't fit in with the 'cheerleader' crowd. Fashion is irrelevant. Dating is tough - jocks don't like girls with brains, and nerdy guys are afraid of asking girls out.' Ann nodded her agreement. 'Especially girls who are pretty.' Traci smiled sadly. 'You're lucky you didn't go to school where I did. The guys were very mean. And the other girls were vicious. Especially the cheerleader types. I learned not to trust any girl who's even half-attractive.' She shuddered at her own memories. 'But you're different!' Traci continued. 'You're so ... so nice. So easy to like. No hidden agendas. No envy or backbiting.' Denise smiled gratefully. 'Thanks. It's just that, well, I've never had any good friends. I've never been good at sharing things with other people.' And she spoke the truth. Don had been so reclusive. Denise shuddered, seeing him from the outside for the first time. No wonder his life had been lonely. Ann smiled and sat beside Denise, giving her a half-hug. 'Well, I think you've found a friend,' she said. 'If you want one.' Traci smiled. 'Make that two.' Denise felt tears of joy running down her cheeks. She looked at Ann, then at Traci. 'So now what?' Ann glanced at Traci, smiling. Simultaneously, both girls answered. 'Shopping. What else!' *************************** Ann, Traci, and Denise spend most of the afternoon shopping. Even though they didn't buy much, Denise tried on lots of outfits. And Ann and Traci gave her their judgement on styles, colors, patterns, and general fit. What would flatter her figure. What would conceal it. Denise had to admit that she was having a blast. And while they shopped, they talked. Guys. Dating. Guys. College. Guys. College guys. Sex. Guys. The time flew by. An early dinner with Jerry and Mike, and the group went swimming on the white sandy beach. Denise noted that Jerry was paying lots of attention to her. Inwardly, she was delighted. And at the same time, she felt a twinge of guilt. This was only a fantasy weekend. This wasn't real. No matter how much she was enjoying it, the fantasy would be over soon. While the others joined in a game of beach volleyball, Jerry said he didn't want to play. He asked Denise if she wanted to go hunting shells on the beach. With her heart pounding with joy, Denise agreed, and Denise and Jerry went walking, splashing in the waves and holding hands. They found some shells, and Jerry put a couple in his pocket to save for Denise. And then they forgot about the shells. Slowly, the beautiful red orb of the sun set, sinking slowly below the horizon, casting reddish-golden rays which danced and rippled across the waves. And silhouetted against the sunset, Denise lifted her arms around Jerry's neck, pulled herself up, and kissed him, a long and passionate kiss which seemed to consume her whole being. ************************* Denise and Jerry shared a light breakfast, smiling at each other as they ate. And then the others joined them. Fighting back tears, Denise finally told them that she was leaving that afternoon. And she saw a look of anguish in Jerry's eyes. Denise struggled with her feelings. The fantasy was over. It was time to go back to Don's life. Don's hum-drum life. Don's boring, dead-end job. Don's loveless marriage. Denise felt an inward shudder as she thought of going back to Don's life. And she found herself thinking that she wasn't sure she wanted to go back. She was crying as she walked back to her room. According to Rourke, the magic should be wearing off within a couple of hours. The fantasy was over. It was time to say goodbye to Denise and go back to life as Don. Denise opened the door to her room and slipped inside. As she closed the door behind her, she realized that someone else was in the room. She turned, fear clutching at her throat. Nancy Jenkins sat at the table, sipping a cup of tea. 'How are you doing, Don?' she asked easily, as if finding her husband as a nineteen-year-old girl were an everyday occurrence