Eric shifted uncomfortably. The girl’s top, with its pastel patterns and frills, felt foreign against his skin, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of embarrassment as he felt something growing on his chest!
“Dude, you got boobs!” Tommy exclaimed
“Shut up, man. It’s your fault I’m wearing this,” Eric shot back, trying to downplay his discomfort. He plopped back onto the bean bag with exaggerated irritation, the fabric rustling as it made contact with the plush surface. “Let’s just get back to the game.”
For a moment, Eric’s frustration mounted, but soon his attention shifted back to the screen. He had almost forgotten about the clothes completely until he felt an unusual tingle somewhere that sent a shiver up his spine. Confused, he brushed it off as a side effect of embarrassment or his imagination running wild with the situation.
As the game progressed, however, Eric became increasingly aware of the changes happening to his body. The tingling surged again, and he felt a strange warmth spreading through him. It was as if something deep within was shifting, altering. He glanced quickly at Tommy, who was audibly immersed in the game, completely oblivious to the war raging within Eric.
“Tommy, I feel weird over all my body?” Eric cried in growing panic.
Then Tommy realized what happened to his best friend:
“Eric? You okay?” Tommy finally turned to look at him. Eric’s appearance stirred the deepest questions within him. Confused, he stepped closer to examine his face, and a shiver ran down his spine as he realized his best dude’s facial features were softening. His jawline rounded ever so slightly, and even his hair seemed to react, softly curling as it fell against his cheeks.
“Okay… this is not happening,” Eric stuttered, backing away but the reflections wouldn’t relent. Familiar aspects of himself melded with unfamiliar tinges.
An overflow of emotions swirling within him. Tommy was focused, mouth wide open: “Eric! You’re a girl!”
“Tommy!” Eric nearly shouted, scooting closer, urgency spilling from him. “Something’s going on—like, really wrong. We need to figure out what’s happening.”
“Okay, okay, let’s think,” Tommy replied, his brow furrowing as he processed Eric's words. “Could it be the clothes? You said they were from your dad’s lab, right?”