Chapter Two- Curse Activated

The warm sun on his face woke Zane on Sunday morning. He laid there with his eyes closed and focused on his body. It feels strange and yet somewhat familiar. I don't want to look, but I'm curious and I can't lie here forever. Plus, if Melinda hasn't left yet, I might be able to convince her to lift the curse. Zane slowly exhaled before opening his eyes and getting out of bed.

Naturally, the first things he noticed were the breasts, meaning he was now a she. They were a little bigger than Alexis' and her pajama top was tight in that area. She noticed that her fingers were slimmer and the sleeves of her top nearly concealed them. It seems I got shorter as well.

There was a knock on the door followed by someone calling, "You awake, Zane?"

"Yes," she answered and then her fingers flew to her throat. She had responded automatically, forgetting that her voice would sound different.

"Zane? You okay?"

"I'm fine," she said, deepening her voice to sound normal. "You go on ahead." She heard footsteps recede before she sank onto the bed, her face in her hands.

"Fine?" she murmured. "I am far from fine. I need a counter curse."

A knock at her window made her look up and her eyes widened at the sight of Alexis in the tree with a duffel bag. She went over to the window and opened it before helping Alexis inside. "Alexis, why are you here?"

She blinked at Zane's new voice before holding up the bag. "I know you said no to girl clothes, but it seems you're a bit short for your own." Alexis looked Zane up and down before looking into her blue eyes that were level with her own hazel eyes.

"I could cuff my clothes," she protested.

"You could," Alexis agreed, unzipping the bag. "But, I do think you need these." She put a pair of shoes, socks, panties, and a bra on the bed.

Zane stared at the items. "You have a point." She gathered them up and headed for the bathroom, picking up a uniform along the way. She closed the door and turned to the mirror to see her face for the first time. Her blue eyes were wider and the shape of her jawline and chin were rounded. Her eyebrows were delicate and her hair had grown out, ending past her now shapely waist.

She moved away from the mirror and proceeded to get dressed. She had to cuff her pant legs and shirt sleeves before pulling on her long jacket. She frowned as she took in her clothes. It doesn't fit right. I think my…breasts and hips are the cause and probably my height, too. With a resigned sigh, she opened the door. "On second thought, I'll borrow a girl's uniform."

Alexis passed her the bag. "Once you're dressed, then what?"

"I'm going to look for Melinda and insist on a counter curse." Zane closed the door and looked in the bag. She soon emerged dressed in a blue skirt and a white shirt with ankle boots. She had used her hairbrush on her hair and found a tied in the bag to keep her hair back.

"Let me just say, you are a pretty girl, Zane," Alexis said as she headed for the window.

"Uh, thanks." She crossed to her room door and unlocked it.

"Uh, Zane? You better not go out the door. You're a girl and we're not really supposed to be here."

Zane jerked her hand away from the doorknob. Alexis was right; if someone saw her leave the room, she would be in trouble even though she somewhat resembled her male-self. She turned and followed Alexis out the window and down the tree.

"So, where do you want to start?" Alexis asked once they were safely away from the Obelisk Blue boys' dorm.

"I want to start with the docks and then the helicopter pads." She led the way to the docks and both students looked up and down it, finding no boats aside from the school boats. They climbed up to the air field and there she was. She looked as if she had been expecting them or at least Zane. A smirk appeared on her face as Zane came closer.

"Melinda, I ask that you reverse this curse. I would be willing to duel you to win the counter curse."

"No, a duel is not necessary nor will it help. I had intended to curse you with permanent womanhood." At that moment, a helicopter appeared above them and a ladder dropped down. Melinda climbed onto it and, as it rose, she called, "Goodbye and good luck, Miss Truesdale!"

Zane watched the helicopter leave in stunned silence. Permanent? I will be a woman the rest of my life? She felt her knees buckle and she sat on the pad, her mind reeling from the revelation. She bowed her head, willing herself not to cry as it wouldn't change anything, only embarrass her.

"Zane, I'm sorry," Alexis said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Alexis!" a male voice called that Zane recognized as Jaden's.

Jaden and Syrus had watched as a helicopter left and the brunette decided to see if someone had arrived. When they got there, there were two girls one of which was Alexis. He liked the blonde but knew she liked Zane; he didn't blame her as Zane was a handsome guy. His attention went to the other girl who was sitting on the pad. She wore an Obelisk Blue uniform and had long teal-colored hair. That's funny. I don't recall seeing her around school. A late transfer student or an early new student?

"Hi, Jaden. Hey, Sy," Alexis replied as she turned to them.

Syrus nodded in greeting, but he was focused on the other girl. He had his suspicions about who it was and slowly approached her and gently put her hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

The girl turned her head to look at him with wide blue eyes; eyes that were familiar despite their size. "Sy," she said in a mature voice. "Little brother."

Syrus backed away in awe as the girl stood and turned to him. His mouth fell open at the girl his brother had become before gasping, "Zane!? Is that really you?"

"It is. Remember, Melinda had accused me of being a ladies' man after the duel due to the girls cheering. She believed me when I said I wasn't and went on to say that she believed I wasn't a man at all. Her curse was that I would become like those that cheered for me."

Syrus nodded. "Oh, yeah. Alexis did mention all that yesterday, but it's strange to see you like this."

"We can help find her to remove the curse," Jaden offered.

Zane shook her head. "She left, just now." She pointed in the direction that the helicopter had gone. "Besides, she just admitted that it's…permanent."

"Permanent!? Syrus repeated. Zane's gonna be a girl forever? "So, you're my…sister now?"

"Afraid so, Sy. I will need to speak with Sheppard. I may need to switch dorms."

Syrus watched as Zane left the pad with Alexis as the blonde could confirm her story. "Poor Zane. I wish I could help, but I don't think there's anything I can do."

"We can support her. Let her know that we're still her friends."

"Yeah, we can. Thanks, Ja."

"No prob, Sy."